"You're not haunted by the war, Doctor Watson. You miss it." Mycroft said as he met John's eye. "Welcome back." he said as he walked away from John, who stared at his phone that had pinged with another message and watches the retreating form of Mycroft, trying to deduce whether he had found out or not.
The moment Mycroft stepped into the car, he asked Anthea to hand over all the files of John Watson the moment she drops him off wherever he wants to be dropped off. He then returns to his office to keep an eye on Sherlock.
The moment he gets his hands on the files though, he was totally shocked. Seeing the Captain's past and all his records... he was... baffled? Surprised? It would be an utter understatement. He could see that Watson had been totally under appreciated for everything that he had done.
He was also surprised that none of his individual exploits had been mentioned anywhere. All the missions were under the file of leave, including the one where he had save Tony and Mycroft and this angered him a little. All the struggles he had gone through and being underestimated and under appreciated was something Mycroft couldn't stand.
He also gained a new found respect for the former captain, looking at all his achievements and dedication. He now knew that he could very well trust the doctor with his brother as he knew from his former experience that John was trust worthy and was the only one he knew who could put up with his brother.
So Mycroft sat back and silently drank his cuppa as he watched the monitors, completely sure that his brother was in safe hands.
John meanwhile had gone back to his flat to pack up and move into his new flat. And then was there was the chase on foot halfway across London in middle of eating. John had felt and enjoyed the adrenaline rush he had after a very long time, one that he hadn't felt since Afghanistan.
And then there was the 'drug bust' that just confirmed his suspicions on Sherlock being a drug addict before. And then there was Sherlock's mind blowing deduction about the tracker in the phone and cracking the code.
The only thing that confused John momentarily was the fact that the location pointed at 221B. It was also as mentioned only for a few moments but long enough to lose track of Sherlock to the cabbie.
The moment the officers went out, he took out the laptop and tried locating the cab, which finally stopped at a college, to where John wasted no time to call a cab and hoped that Sherlock would stall enough for him to reach there. He called up Lestrade on the way just to give him a heads up.
The moment he stepped out of the cab, he randomly chose one of the buildings and rushed inside, running along the corridors, shouting out for Sherlock. He finally stops in a room that is just opposite to the room Sherlock was... in the other building, and to his horror, just in time to see him putting the pill into his mouth.
Not wasting a moment, John instinctively took out his gun and shot the taxi driver close to heart and quickly went to hide, not wanting anyone to know he had shot the driver to his death. He cleared out any signs of him shooting the gun (apart from the bullet hole in the glass and the bullet itself obviously) and rushed downstairs to avoid any suspicions.
Mycroft meanwhile nearly got a heart attack when he watched the tracker on his brother pointing to a college and he panicked when there were police cars surrounding the very place. Panicking, he called Anthea to quickly take him to the college and sighed in relief when he found his brother unharmed there, along with the good doctor.
Sherlock had by then come down and refused another shock blanket while talking with Lestrade. "Why have I got this blanket? They keep putting this blanket on me." he asked, slightly pouting at the fact.
"Yeah, it's for shock." he replied. "I'm not in shock." Sherlock denied and Lestrade just rolled his eyes. "So, the shooter. No sign?" he asked, trying to change the subject. "Cleared off before we got 'ere. But a guy like that would have had enemies, I suppose. One of them could have been following him but... got nothing to go on." Lestrade said.
Sherlock just looked at him pointedly and said "Oh, I wouldn't say that." challenging Lestrade that he could catch the guy and starts to list off. "The bullet they just dug out of the wall's from a hand gun. Kill shot over that distance from that kind of a weapon – that's a crack shot you're looking for, but not just a marksman; a fighter."
By this time Mycroft had figured who had shot the guy and looked over at John, who was innocently looking over at Sherlock and Lestrade talking.
"His hands couldn't have shaken at all, so clearly he's acclimatised to violence. He didn't fire until I was in immediate danger, though, so strong moral principle. You're looking for a man probably with a history of military service ..." Sherlock trailed off, finally figuring out who he was deducing as he looked at John.
Lestrade too followed his line of sight and was about to comment when Sherlock just said to ignore him and said that it was the shock talking, not wanting to out his friend and started walking towards John.
"Now where are you going?" Lestrade asked. "I just need to talk about the rent." Sherlock replied calmly. "But I've still got questions for you." Lestrade stammered out. Sherlock just turned out, irritated at the sudden outburst and just snatched a blanket and wrapped it around himself.
"Oh, what now? I'm in shock! Look, I've got a blanket!" he said and walked off, ignoring Lestrade who was repeatedly calling out for him. "And I just caught you a serial killer ... more or less." Sherlock continued as he walked off.
Lestrade just shook his head as Sherlock strolled off, smiling slightly at his antics and turned to Mycroft. "Seems like John has really found a way to his heart." Lestrade commented to Mycroft. "And I do trust that man to look after my brother sincerely, he is trustworthy after all" Mycroft replied, with a small smile on his own face.
"John was the one who killed the cabbie right?" Lestrade asked him quietly. "That he is but don't you dare arrest him for that or else you would face both Sherlock and I" Mycroft warned.
"Wasn't dreaming of it. Sherlock trusted him pretty soon though. Running around crime scenes the moment he met him. He seems to do Sherlock some good." Lestrade replied.
Meanwhile Sherlock had taken the blanket off his shoulders and approaches John, who is standing at the side of a police car. Sherlock tosses the blanket through the open window of the car and ducks under the police tape.
"Um, Sergeant Donovan's just been explaining everything, the two pills. Been a dreadful business, hasn't it? Dreadful." John comments upon noticing Sherlock coming towards him. Sherlock just quietly looks at him for a moment before quietly commenting "Good shot."
John tries to look innocent and brush it of by saying "Yes. Yes, must have been, through that window." to which Sherlock just says "Well, you'd know." John just looks at Sherlock, unsuccessfully trying to hide his expression.
"Need to get the powder burns out of your fingers. I don't suppose you'd serve time for this, but let's avoid the court case." Sherlock said, pointing towards his hands. John clears his throat and looks around nervously.
"Are you all right?" Sherlock asked, slightly concerned at what John thought about killing a normal person. "Yes, of course I'm all right." John said, shrugging it off. "Well, you have just killed a man." Sherlock points out. "Yes, I ..."John said and trailed off. Sherlock just looked at him closely.
"He wasn't a very nice man." John said nonchalantly. Seemingly reassured that John really is okay, Sherlock nods in agreement. "No. No, he wasn't really, was he?" Sherlock asked, wanting to carry forward the conversation with one of his first friends who seemed to accept him.
"And frankly a bloody awful cabbie." John hummed in agreement. Sherlock chuckles, then turns and starts to lead them away. "That's true. He was a bad cabbie. Should have seen the route he took us to get here!" Sherlock exclaimed. John giggles, and Sherlock smiles.
"Stop! Stop, we can't giggle, it's a crime scene! Stop it!" John said, still trying hard to fight off the giggles. "You're the one who shot him. Don't blame me." Sherlock said, trying to fight off his own giggles.
"Keep your voice down!" John whispered harshly as they passed Sergeant Donovan. "Sorry – it's just, um, nerves, I think." John stuttered out as Sherlock backed him up with a sorry. "You were gonna take that damned pill, weren't you?" John clarified after they had passed Donovan.
Sherlock stops and turns back to him. "Course I wasn't. Biding my time. Knew you'd turn up." Sherlock said, trying to act innocent. "No you didn't. It's how you get your kicks, isn't it? You risk your life to prove you're clever." John said, staring hard at Sherlock.
"Why would I do that?" Sherlock asked indignantly. "Because you're an idiot." John replied. Sherlock smiled, delighted that he has finally found someone who understands him and doesn't care about his behaviour.
"Dinner?" Sherlock questioned, pointing out their half finished dinner. "Starving." John replied in turn. "End of Baker Street, there's a good Chinese stays open 'til two. You can always tell a good Chinese by examining the bottom third of the door handle." Sherlock ranted off.
As he has been speaking, he spotted Mycroft standing with Lestrade, chatting casually. John, wanting to confirm his suspicions and at the same time wanting to keep up with his act. "Sherlock. That's him. That's the man I was talking to you about." John said.
"I know exactly who that is." Sherlock replied, confirming a part of John's suspicions. 'Now just for the other part...' he thought as they walked closer to the man and stop, Sherlock looking at Mycroft angrily.
"So, another case cracked. How very public spirited ... though that's never really your motivation, is it?" Mycroft queried. "What are you doing here?" Sherlock asked, slightly irritated. 'Not a very good relation between the two then' John thought.
"As ever, I'm concerned about you." Mycroft replied. 'Another part correct' John mused. "Yes, I've been hearing about your 'concern.'" Sherlock deadpanned. "Always so aggressive. Did it never occur to you that you and I belong on the same side?" Mycroft asked partly curious, partly sarcastic.
"Oddly enough, no!" Sherlock said. "We have more in common than you like to believe. This petty feud between us is simply childish. People will suffer ... and you know how it always upset Mummy." Mycroft said, completely confirming John's suspicions. 'Brothers it is. No wonder the relation is this damaged.' John thought and mentally chuckled.
But still John frowns as if unsure of what he just heard. He had an act to keep up after all. "I upset her? Me?" Sherlock asked, totally not believing it. Mycroft just frowns at this. "It wasn't me that upset her, Mycroft."
"No, no, wait. Mummy? Who's Mummy?" John asked, feigning confusion. "Mother – our mother. This is my brother, Mycroft." Sherlock pointed out, as if it weren't obvious. "Putting on weight again?" Sherlock asked Mycroft, wanting to rile him up.
"Losing it, in fact." He replied calmly. "He's your brother?!" John asked, still not 'believing'. "Of course he's my brother." Sherlock deadpanned. "So he's not ..." "Not what?" Sherlock asked as the brothers pointedly looked at him.
"I dunno – criminal mastermind?" John asked, totally wanting to humour them. "Close enough." Sherlock replied. "For goodness' sake. I occupy a minor position in the British government." Mycroft protested humbly.
"He is the British government, when he's not too busy being the British Secret Service or the CIA on a freelance basis." Sherlock explains in detailed. Mycroft just sighed at his brother's antics. "Good evening, Mycroft. Try not to start a war before I get home. You know what it does for the traffic." he stated, clearly wanting to get away.
Sherlock walked away and John started to follow him before stopping and turned to Mycroft. "So, when-when you say you're concerned about him, you actually are concerned?" John asked, knowing the answer already.
"Yes, of course." Mycroft replied. "I mean, it actually is a childish feud?" John asked, now really curious. "He's always been so resentful. You can imagine the Christmas dinners." Mycroft sighed. "Yeah ... no. God, no!" John exclaimed.
"How is Stark by the way?" John asked, carefully searching Mycroft's face for any recognition. "Stark who?" Mycroft asked, feigning innocence. "Well Mr. Carter, hope Mr. Anthony Jackson is doing well" John said, clearly stating that he knew that he knew.
"Nice to know you are doing well as well Johnathan. Keep him safe. Good night Dr. Watson." Mycroft said in dismissal and John walked back to Sherlock, who was waiting for him impatiently. 'Seems like the world is really small' John thought as he walked away with Sherlock.
"Sir, shall we go?" Anthea asked Mycroft, watching the receding figures of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.
"Watson could be the making of my brother – or make him worse than ever. Either way, we'd better upgrade their surveillance status. Grade Three Active." Mycroft said with a smile. "Sorry, sir. Whose status?" Anthea asked.
"Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson." Mycroft replied. "Are you sure that you can trust Dr. Watson with this though Sir? He is new after all." Anthea asked doubtfully. "I trusted him with my life once and I am alive today. Fate has brought the man who saved me to my brother and if he is the same then I am sure that he would protect Sherlock at any cost." Mycroft said as he proceeded to depart.
A/N: Hey there people! I know long time no see and all but exams suck dude. Good thing I had got at least a few days break to complete this chapter. Hope you all liked it though! All comments and criticism are appreciated and accepted.
So... due to school, exams and homework, my updates may be a little bit slow... sorry about that though. I really can't help it.
Anyways... Thank you all for reading!
Rasi10 signing off
Published on 23 July 2018