Chapter 25: Answers

"Pre-flight checks completed, Captain." Douglas says as he ducks into the cockpit. He gives Martin a pat on the shoulder and basks in the smile that is turned up in his direction. He settles into his chair and picks up his headset as Martin radios the tower. They are cleared for takeoff.

Martin guides the bossy old plane into the air and for a few moments both men simply enjoy the feel of flying, each remembering why he got into this business in the first place.

0o0

In the past two weeks, Martin's life has changed radically, in a large part thanks to Mycroft. On the day he and Douglas returned to work, they were delighted to discover that a constant backlog of flights scheduled by the eldest Holmes brother will keep MJN in the red; and for the first time, Carolyn is able to offer Martin a reasonable salary. Martin breaks down in tears and hugs Carolyn who sputters some baloney for a few seconds before returning it.

"Douglas." She says sternly, stepping away from Martin but not quite letting him go.

Douglas walks over to where they stand in front of Carolyn's desk in the portakabin. He strolls, carefully carrying his tea and looking very much like a man out for a walk in the park.

"Yes Carolyn." He draws, giving Martin a wink. Martin blushes, naturally, and Carolyn tightens her hold on his trim waist.

"Lean down here." She orders.

Douglas complies and is gobsmacked when Carolyn kisses him on one cheek and slaps the other one. "What was all that for?" He asks, rubbing at the burning spot on his smooth face.

"The kiss was to thank you for bringing Martin home in one piece." Carolyn tells him simply. "The slap is a warning because if you hurt my other son here, I will brain you." With that, she gives Martin another squeeze, turns on her heels and marches out. The door swings shut behind her with a dramatic bang.

Douglas does not know whether to laugh or be offended. "I had no idea you were her favorite pilot, even after her always telling me I was the good one." He quips.

Martin sputters and his fingers worry the hem on his crisp new uniform shirt. "I had no idea!"

0o0

They are now flying smoothly. Martin relaxes his hold on the yoke and turns to Douglas, noting how the first officer seems to be daydreaming as he gazes out the windscreen.

"Douglas, I heard from Mycroft this morning."

"Ah, you did. Why didn't you say anything?" Douglas' attention is now fully on the captain.

Martin's blush is answer enough. "Well…"

"No, no, that's fine Martin." Douglas laughs. He pats the captain's knee and Martin cracks a smile.

"Well, anyway." He grins. "He called to let us know that John and Sherlock are now engaged."

Douglas laughs again.

"Yeah, that's what I thought, too. It's good, though, really."

"Good for them, Martin. John is a good man." Douglas says.

"Yeah. Yes he is. Sherlock has changed so much, Douglas."

Douglas nods. "I'm sure he has. You most certainly have."

Martin is quiet for a moment. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me, Martin." A companionable silence falls between them. "Did he say anything about your aunt and all of that…" Douglas waves his hand around in the air between them.

"He did. Apparently, the woman is completely off her rockers."

Douglas suppresses a childish duh.

Martin continues. "Back in the day, she and Mycroft and Sherlock's mom, Rose, were in a stiff competition for the attention of George Holmes."

"Mycroft's father?" Douglas asks.

"Yes. Apparently, Rose won and Renee was shafted. She told Mycroft that she has been obsessively building that house for close to thirty years. Her 'entertainment' is quite the talk of the underworld from London to Madrid."

"Good God." Douglas performs a quick scan of the controls.

"Those fights are now linked with at least seven deaths over the past ten years. That information came from Sherlock, you know he's been texting me at least once a day since we left." Martin's eyes are soft when he looks at Douglas this time.

"So, all of that was what? Revenge over a man? That's ghastly." Douglas smiles broadly at the captain.

"I'm sure there's more to it, but Mycroft said he would tell me more the next time we all get together. I have to tell you that I suggested maybe flying everyone someplace for their engagement party."

"John's throwing an engagement party?" The first officer queries.

Martin laughs. "Oh no, Mycroft is throwing it. Sherlock says he will have to kidnap both of them in order to have it, and well, they can't exactly leave if we are in the air, and…"

Douglas is chuckling. "What a wonderful idea, captain."

"What's a wonderful idea?" Arthur asks as he steps into the flight deck, two steaming mugs of coffee in his hands.

The pilots accept their hot drinks and proceed to fill Arthur in on most of the details from their short holiday. Arthur is at times curious, elated, scared and then very impressed. They spend the rest of the flight to Madrid being quizzed every way from Sunday.