Greg had apologised to John for his behaviour the previous week. John had been understanding, but he still felt guilty for such expression of emotions. He'd been honest though - he did intend to propose to Mycroft once he got back. He'd even gone out and bought a pair of rings: a matching set, one gold for Mycroft, and one silver for him.

It still stressed him out that Mycroft was gone and out of contact. He'd noticed he'd been smoking a lot more the past few days. He'd started the habit again after his suicide attempt, but kept it fairly minimal.

Anderson had been glad that he'd shown up for work the next day following his little breakdown. He didn't say anything, but Greg knew he was the one that had told John something was up. Greg thanked him for it anyway.

He sat at his desk wondering how John was. Tonight was the night he was taking Mary to The Landmark, and so no doubt he was panicking. Greg assumed Mary would say yes, but he couldn't be sure - no one could. He chuckled to himself when he remembered John calling him and telling him of his encounter with Mrs Hudson.

"She still thinks I was dating Sherlock!"
"Just let her think it, what's the harm?"
"'Cause I'm not gay, that's why!"
"John, relax. It's ok to like one particular person even if they're not your gender of preference." Greg mentioned, remembering Mycroft's deduction that John was rather repressed in his attraction to men.
"Would you quit it?"
"Hehehe, John… don't take it all so serious. You two were a couple, even if it wasn't how some people thought it. You can't blame her for thinking it."

John sighed.
"Well, I will be glad to finally stop being told I'm gay."
"I… I don't think people actually have been telling you that, just that you were Sherlock's boyfriend. As someone who likes either, I can tell you that liking a guy doesn't make you gay exactly."
"Ok, I can see you're fixated on this so I'm just going to drop it."

Greg laughed.
"Sorry mate. But other than that, how'd it go?"
"Well she was pretty pissed that I hadn't called or anything."
"Damn, well… I guess she had a point."
"I know… I know. I really should make it up to her and keep in touch more. You haven't though."
"Yeah well I wasn't living above her, either, mate."
"True."

Greg smiled while lost in the memory. It was sad that John had let some people slide in his life. Mrs Hudson and Molly in particular. Greg knew that he himself should have been in contact with Molly more often, but she was always distant whenever he'd tried… and so he just gave up. He felt guilty about it now, of course, but at the time he'd been preoccupied. He knew Molly wouldn't really blame him for it. She hadn't tried to contact him, either.

Greg organised the things on his desk ready to head home. It was late, but he'd been doing anything he could to avoid going home to an empty house. Yet another cold empty night alone. He sighed.

John hadn't contacted him to tell him how everything went down. He wasn't sure why he'd expected it, since he was likely too busy 'celebrating' with Mary. The thought made him yearn for Mycroft to be back. He'd stopped thinking that it was a 'possibility', and firmly told himself that it was a certainty.
He WAS coming back, and I AM going to ask him to marry me.

Part of him really wanted to know what it was that Mycroft was doing. He hated sometimes that he could know literally nothing about the man's work. Mycroft had been so upset, and looked at him like he wasn't going to see him again - and Greg wanted to know what it was that made the British Government give him that look. Those eyes had been burned into Greg's memory.

He left the office, and headed down to his car. He fumbled in his coat for another cigarette, when he heard a noise. Adrenaline rushed through his body, his mind instantly thinking it could be Mycroft; but he didn't hear anything else, and so told himself it was nothing. A criminal wouldn't pose that much threat to him, even if it was much more likely than Mycroft appearing out of nowhere to surprise him.
Heh. Like that will happen.

He flicked the lighter and cupped his hands around the flame and his cigarette when he heard a baritone voice that made his blood run cold. He froze.

"Those things will kill you."

It can't be. That's… no, it can't be. He's dead… isn't he? Could… could Anderson have been right all along?

"Oooh, you bastard!"

He looked over and out of the shadows appeared none other than Sherlock Holmes.
Was he hallucinating? Surely not…

"It's time to come back. You've been letting things slide, Graham."

It's him. It's actually him.
Greg couldn't believe what his eyes were seeing. Those curls bouncing like always, the sharp cheekbones under the smooth pale skin, and those piercing blue eyes. He was here, and he was talking to Greg like old times… and Greg's heart leapt. He never thought he'd play that game again.

"Greg." He snapped back.
"Greg." Sherlock answered with the usual face he gave.

Greg could hear his own voice resound through his head from his conversation with Mycroft.
"I'd give anything for that daft git to be around again. I don't care how it happens."

He'd been given that miracle. Here he was worried he might loose Mycroft, and he was given Sherlock back. He threw his arms out and pulled the man into a tight loving hug.


Thanks for everyone who reviews for this part! I know it got a bit long, but I'm happy with the developments.

Now, on to part III where everything gets turned upside down, Mycroft's deception causes some serious problems, and Sherlock realises the world he left isn't the same one he came back to.
Part III is here (remove spaces) : www . fanfiction . net s/12668460/1/A-Forgotten-Miracle