John returns with a nurse who immediately takes to wrapping Mycroft's wounds. He looks utterly devastated. "I've been gone 5 minutes. What the hell happened?" Mycroft's gaze falls on his phone which lays abandoned on the ground at his feet. John picks it up and reads the message. "Just ignore it," John shrugs. "It means nothing. He's just trying to scare you."

The nurse finishes up and stands, "Alright. I'm all done. Per your request, I'll keep this under the radar, but you're going to have to watch him. I don't think we can cover it up a second time." John nods his thanks and she continues. "I am going to have to ask you to leave though. Visiting hours are over. You can come back tomorrow."

"No! What if he needs me?" Mycroft cries desperately, looking to John for support.

"He's in a coma, Mycroft. I don't think-"

"What if he stops breathing or…or his heart stops…or someone comes in and drugs him?"

"There's plenty of medical equipment that will prevent that from happening. He'll be fine for a few hours. Nobody can even find his room right now. It took… convincing to get the room number myself," John assures, but the panic in Mycroft's eyes didn't subside.

"And who's to say someone else couldn't 'convince' the room number out of someone?"

"Because-" John stops. He'd told the nurse he was Sherlock's husband. His face starts to turn red.

"You didn't…" Mycroft suddenly looks slightly angry.

"So what if I did? It's almost true."

"Not if I have any say in it. My little brother is my responsibility. If you allow the relationship to progress, I will intervene."

"Who your brother chooses to marry is not your responsibility, you prat!"

"I'm sorry to interrupt." The nurse speaks up and both men look over heatedly. "I really do need you to vacate the room."

"Fine." Mycroft nods and stands. "But I'm staying in the hallway. I want his room monitored and I don't trust anyone to do it but me."

"I… I'll see what I can do." The nurse ushers them out and closes Sherlock's door before rushing up the hall.

"Why does it matter so much?" John lowers his voice, returning to the earlier conversation. "You know me. Are you expecting that I would hurt him or something?"

"I just don't think you're the best option for him." Mycroft gingerly folds his arms, avoiding the bandaging.

"And who is? Irene?" John takes a deep breath. "Whatever. You're not in the right headspace right now. I'm not going to fight with you over this. I'm going to go get Carly and your brother. You stay here," he commands and walks off. Mycroft glares at his turned back.

John returns a few minutes later with Caroline and Sherrinford. Mycroft is sitting in a chair the nurse must have brought. Sherrinford rolls his wheelchair in front of Mycroft. "I can't stay long. The staff insists I return to my room to rest. All this activity is 'bad for my healing' or some other bullshit."

"If you're here to lecture me, I'm not going to hear it."

"Yes, John told me what happened. I think the little one might have overheard."

Right on cue, Caroline crawls into Mycroft's lap. "Daddy, what did you do to your arms?" Mycroft glares at John.

John catches the look and raises his eyebrows as if to say, 'you brought this on yourself'. "Walk with me for a second Sherrinford." Sherrinford shrugs and rolls up the hall with John.

Mycroft glances down at his daughter and shrugs her question off. "Nothing. They're fine."

"Alright…" Caroline is unconvinced, "is that why John is sad?"

"What are you talking about?"

"He looks sad now." Caroline leans into Mycroft's chest. "Really sad. He was happy a little while ago, and then he came to get us and now he's not happy anymore. And then he said-"

Mycroft cuts her off, "Caroline. See that sign?" He points to the Emergency Room sign.

"Yeah. So?"

"Sherlock's room isn't here by coincidence. He could go from stable to critical without any notice. They have him close because-"

"Daddy, can't you focus on something else? Like…like having Mummy come back?"

"She's safe where she's at," Mycroft says dryly.

"I'll bet if you called her, you'd feel better. You're acting weird."

"I'm not in the mood."

Caroline frowns. "Come on Daddy. You're not giving me much to work with here."

"I just…" Mycroft sighs. "I need to sleep."

"I could get you a pillow! We have my stuff in John's car."

"If you want," Mycroft yawns.

"Okay!" Caroline struggles down and runs over to grab John's hand. "Can we get my pillow and blanky for Daddy?"

"I guess that'll be alright. You got your eye on him?" John asks Sherrinford.

"Yeah. I'll be here until you get back." Sherrinford is silent until John and Caroline are out of earshot before turning on Mycroft. "You started cutting."

Mycroft's stomach drops at the scrutinous tone of his brother's voice. He'd hoped they wouldn't have to discuss it. "Yes."

"Why?"

Mycroft's eyes fill with tears again, "I… I didn't plan on it. I just-"

"Don't be me Mycroft. Especially now in life. You need to be stronger than the urge. For Caroline. She looks up to you."

"I know!" Mycroft drops his head into his hands. "I know. It was just… the pain. It felt like I deserved it and-"

"You could have killed yourself," Sherrinford scolds.

"I could smother myself accidently while sleeping. Your point?"

Sherrinford closes his eyes. "I just don't want you hurt. Do you understand? Seeing Sherlock like this, yeah. It's a heartbreaker. But it was mostly your anger that got him here in the first place. Your feelings of guilt don't warrant that kind of behavior," he gestures to Mycroft's wrists. "You need to get your emotions under control. Maybe he had it coming, I don't know. I didn't know him all that well, but-"

Mycroft stands suddenly. "Well I did! He shouldn't have been acting like that. He knows what happened the last time he almost died! How it affected me. How it affected everyone who gives a damn about him!" Sherrinford stares back, surprised, unsure of what to say. Mycroft sits back down, slightly stunned at his own outburst.

"You look shocked."

"I'm sorry. I don't know where that came from."

"Don't apologize." Sherrinford puts a hand gently on Mycroft's shoulder.

"I know I shouldn't have cut again. The opportunity came along, and- and my emotions took over. It felt good to… feel something."

Sherrinford groans. "Why did you leave? I told you to stay where someone could watch you. This is precisely why. I knew you'd do something stupid."

"It was a mistake. I just wanted to see Sherlock. Wanted to-"

"I don't blame you for what you did, Mycroft, but when I tell you to do something, it's for your own good."

"I can make decisions for myself."

"That's obviously not the case. Don't try to argue with me Mycro. You always lost." Sherrinford raises an eyebrow warningly.

Mycroft struggles for a comeback but then closes his mouth in defeat. "Fine. Just…give me some leeway."

"After the stunt you just pulled? I don't trust giving you leeway." Sherrinford smirks.

"John has the knife I used and you're welcome to frisk me if you like."

Sherrinford examines Mycroft's face closely, looking for any change of expression. "That's not what I'm afraid of."

"I know." Mycroft tries to keep eye contact but ends up backing down and looks away. "I couldn't do that to Caroline."

"But you would cause yourself harm. What is she supposed to think? It's not like you can hide it from her. She's much more observant than others her age."

"I know! I know." Mycroft's chin trembles as he fights back tears. "I'm supposed to be strong. I'm supposed to be unbreakable. I'm supposed to be a superhero and never let anyone down, but I can't. I've done nothing but let everyone down."

"You can't be strong all the time Mycro. You have to let yourself be vulnerable. Besides, you have me to lean on now."

"You're not in much of a condition to hold me up. Shot in the chest, broken foot, wheelchair ridden…" Mycroft gestures at each infliction.

"Don't even start with me, little brother. We could play a game of tag right now and I'd have you beat."

Mycroft chuckles. "I'm sure."

Sherrinford smiles back. "I've missed you Mycroft. Really, I have. I… uh… I've been meaning to thank you. For not judging me."

"We all make mistakes." Mycroft glances briefly at Sherlock's closed door.

"My mistake, if I got convicted, would grant me multiple death sentences. I just…"

"The past is behind you now. No one else has to know."

"I still know it happened."

"It's not your fault. You were being manipulated."

"I appreciate that. But if it came to-" Loud beeping from Sherlock's room interrupts and Mycroft stands abruptly.

Over the intercom, a woman's voice says, "Code blue, room 173. Code blue, room 173." Several doctors and nurses flock to Sherlock's hospital room and Mycroft pushes Sherrinford's wheelchair out of the way.

"What's going on?" John returns with Caroline, who's carrying her travel pillow and blanket, close behind.

"I don't know. You must have heard the announcement. Code blue? I can only assume that's no good considering the reaction." Mycroft's hands are trembling, and he shoves them in his pockets to still them.

"Damn right that's not good!"

From inside the room, a nurse yells, "Clear!" and Mycroft immediately charges toward the open doorway, crying out Sherlock's name. John's reflexes are much faster and he all but tackles him to the ground.

"No. You'll just be in the way. Come on. We need to move. Mycroft!" John commands.

"I can't lose him!" Mycroft cries as John fights to pull him away.

"What's going on with Sherlock?" Caroline's voice sounds scared for the first time all day. Sherrinford picks her up and places her in his lap, rolling his wheelchair quickly down the hall away from the ER.

Just as they disappear around the corner, Sherlock's bed is wheeled from the room. At the sight of Sherlock's open gown and masked face, Mycroft collapses and John cautiously releases his hold. "There's nothing you can do for him now." John's voice is strained but forceful. "You have to trust them, and if not them, me. Sherlock will pull through."

The last nurse leaves the room, speaking into an earpiece, "Patient went into cardiac arrest. Managed to get heart started again. Heading in for emergency surgery now."

Mycroft chokes and slams his fist into the ground. John turns and kicks the chair over, breathing heavily, trying to keep from breaking something. He glances down at a tug on his jeans and sees Mycroft holding to the fabric, as though attempting to keep himself grounded. John sits on the floor beside him and breaks into tears. Maybe Mycroft was right. They were going to lose Sherlock, the only man he'd ever loved, and he couldn't hold it in anymore. He allows himself to cry alongside Mycroft and honestly, it felt good to not be the strong one.

Song: No Light, No Light - Florence + the Machine