"Ultra Infirmitatibus Meis"
Chapter 9
"What's hidden beneath the ice: Loss"
There was a knock on the door and Mycroft already knew whoever it was, it couldn't be good news.
"I'll get it!" Thirteen-year-old Sherlock called, before rushing to the front entrance.
The ginger youth could hear the door swing open and a knot tightened around his stomach.
After a few minutes his curly haired brat of a brother was banging against his bedroom door.
"Hey, Fatcroft! He says he's here to talk to you." He made a small pause to catch his breath, but to the elder Holmes it felt like an eternity. "It's about uncle Rudy."
Mycroft's heart sank.
"...what?"
He knew this was stupid...
He knew he shouldn't be questioning what the agent just told him...
But it was just so hard to believe...
The man before him didn't seem to mind the dumb question being thrown his way, as he simply gazed at Mycroft with a sad look on his face as he repeated what he came here to say.
"Rudolph Holmes has been shot during his conference with the Turkish president. I'm afraid the wound is fatal. He is now awaiting you at the hospital. I'm sorry."
Despite hearing this a second time, the fox-haired teenager's brain refused to accept it as a fact.
It wasn't true.
It COULDN'T be.
Uncle Rudy can't die NOW!
He… He wasn't READY.
Mycroft felt like a child being told his parents were dead and that he was now solely responsible for his siblings.
Mainly because, he was.
That's exactly what was gonna happen after Rudy breathes his last breath.
Swallowing the cries and screams that desperately wanted to get out of his throat, he schooled his face into something more professional before addressing the agent.
"I..." He hated this. This… this plain show of weakness. The way his body shivered, the way his voice broke… He was supposed to be better than that.
"Caring is not an advantage."
He repeated those words like a mantra, until his body decided to act like a respectful adult that knew what he was signing up for, and wasn't affected by a family member's death.
"I would like to see him now, if you please."
"Of course, sir."
The hospital room was as sickly looking and pale as the man it was holding.
Uncle Rudy's face was white, his skin clammy and covered with sweat, breathing ragged and painful to listen to.
The bandages over his heart sporting growing bloodstains.
Mycroft bit his lip.
His uncle didn't have long.
10-15 minutes.
That's all the time the boy had before the weight of the world was placed on his young shoulders.
He took a break and quietly closed the door behind him, trying not to disturb his injured relative.
Despite his efforts, the older man still woke up.
"Boy?" He whispered, opening one eye to look towards the entrance to his room.
"Yes, uncle." Mycroft nodded and walked up to the bed. "I'm here."
Rudolph smiled a pained smile at his star pupil before his face turned serious again.
"You know what's happening, don't you, Mycroft?"
Mycroft nodded, not trusting his voice enough to speak.
Rudy let out a dry chuckle, though it sounded more like a pained groan.
"Perceptive… .as always... my boy."
He began closing his eyes but Mycroft grabbed his hand ruffly.
"Don't!" The boy didn't mean for it to come out so loud. Nor that desperate and begging. "I… I'm not ready!" He squeezed the cold hand with his two warm ones, willing his life force into the hurt man. "There are still so many things you haven't taught me..."
Rudy fixated his nephew with a disapproving glare.
"Life rarely asks if we're ready, boy." He grumbled. But then his demeanor softened. "You'll figure it out, dear boy. I know you will."
But Mycroft shook his head.
"I won't… I can't." His ice-blue eyes shined with unshed tears. "Have someone else take your place."
"We talked about this." Rudy let out an annoyed huff. "There is no one else, but you."
Mycroft grit his teeth.
"Look at me, uncle!" He gestured at his young body. "To them I'm just a child, a brat with too many privileges! They'll never listen to me!"
"Then make them!" Rudolph's voice suddenly regained a bit of it's usual fire. "Show them the brilliant mind you hide under those ginger curls, like you've shown me." He looked deep into the youth's eyes. "You're the leader England needs, Mycroft, even if you yourself don't see it. You just have to prove it to the rest of the world."
But the teen just shook his head.
"You don't know what you're asking of me."
"I do, boy. I truly do." Rudy squeezed the boy's hand. "I'm asking you because I know that, no matter how much you protests, you'll do what must be done." He smiled a sad smile at his favorite nephew. "You're stronger than you give yourself credit for, dear boy."
"Your trust is misplaced." Mycroft was still shaking his head. "If I was half as strong as you believe me to be, I… I wouldn't be begging you to delay the inevitable. I would have accepted the fact and did as you asked."
"Oh Mycroft..." Rudy shook his head gently and pulled the teen into a hug. "Most people wouldn't have survived half of what life put you through, dear boy." He hugged him tighter. "No matter how hard it is, I know you will do me proud." He then patted the Ginger's back. "This country needs you, Mycroft." His voice grew weaker, along with his hug, as his time was drawing to a close.
"Don't go..." Mycroft was crying, Rudy could feel the tears on his hospital gown. "Please… I can't do this without you."
But Rudolph just shook his head and, using the last of his strength, whispered.
"You'll have to."
AN: Hello everyone! Wojtek, Julie's beta reader here! JA is currently on summer holidays, but she couldn't wait and sent me this chappy to share with you on her behalf. We hope you like it and if you do, show your love in the comments!
PS: Updates won't be as frequent for a while, because we gotta give other fanfics a chance too ;)