John excused himself from the lab. Once he got out at a safe distance where no one could hear him, he pulled out his phone and dialled the number.
He had to wait only two seconds before a voice answered.
"I take that this has to do with Sherlock." There was no need for niceties. That just was his way.
"Yes, Mycroft, I found him. He was in an opium den and at the moment he is completely high. He claims that he was taking it for a case, but I don't believe it for a second."
Mycroft sighed. He and John had kept in contact ever since John first discovered that Sherlock was missing. It was no secret between them about how much John felt for Sherlock and he never denied it. They never mentioned that night, as if it never existed at all, but John knew that it had some effect on Mycroft. Mycroft tended to treat John with an inch more kindness and respect.
"Alright, I will send someone to investigate the apartment." And with that Mycroft hung up.
John pocketed the phone, pinched his nose and squeezed his eyes shut. He should have been relieved that his friend is safe, but he knew their relation was delicate and any wrong move could destroy whatever they had.
"John, are you alright?" Mary asked as she came out of the room.
He gave her a small smile. "Yeah, I am just worried about Sherlock that's all."
She nodded. "Well that is Sherlock for you. Always has to make a dramatic entrance. Do you remember when I first met him? He literally rose from the dead and pretended to be our waiter."
John's mouth tugged to the corner at the memory. John remembered how angry he was to find that he finally got over his best friend and first love, then out of nowhere he popped up, expecting a welcome party.
"Anyway," Mary's voice snapped him out of that memory, "I just came to tell you that Molly is all finished up. I am going to take boys home." She pecked him on his cheek and walked away.
John knew he should tell his wife. He should tell her that he is in love with Sherlock, but he had no heart to.
Too be perfectly honest, married life with Mary has gone a bit cold. The spark that he had with Mary had gone. He wanted to blame Sherlock, but it wasn't his fault. It was John who initiated the kiss; it was Sherlock who wanted to forget everything. It was John's fault. And he felt so guilty keeping this secret from his wife. She deserved better.
XXX
Mary finally arrived home with the two boys in tow. Mrs Whitney was sitting on the brick wall, fidgeting with a bunched up tissue. Her face was strewn with tears and her eyes red.
Her face brightened up with relief when the car stopped. The three got out of the car and Mrs Whitney ran to her son and squeezed him. Isaac, who was still a bit confused, patted his mum awkwardly on her back.
"Thank God that you are safe! I thought you were lying in a ditch somewhere!" She pulled away and looked him in his eye, her expression changing slightly. "But that doesn't mean that you are not in trouble young man. You and I are going to have a long talk."
She then dragged him in. Poor Isaac still trying to get his bearings right nearly tripped over his own feet. Mary turned to Bill Wiggins and sighed. "Come on in, I suppose. Do you want a cup of tea? I wouldn't mind one myself."
Wiggins followed her into the house, clutching his arm. He still was in pain from Dr Watson, breaking, sorry, spraining his arm. Dr Watson was not as nice as Shezza (sorry Sherlock) made him out to be.
Oh yes, Sherlock spoke about his friend a lot. Sure he was high, but Wiggins could hear the emotion behind the name. Wiggins wondered if there was something more that friendship between the two.
Mary popped on the kettle and brought out two mugs. "This will take a bit of time. You can use the bathroom to wash up, if you want. It is upstairs to the left."
"Ah, thank you, Mrs Watson." He turned and trundled up the stairs. As he left Mary the doorbell rang.
Oh God, what does Kate want now!?
Mary put the teabags down in the mugs. The bell rang again.
"I am coming!" She shouted to the visitor. She got to the door and opened it up only to find that it wasn't Kate Whitney. Mary flinched when she saw who it was.
She looked to either side of the house and then beckoned the man in
"What are you doing here!? I thought we were done doing business." She hissed.
He gave her his sinister smirk, adjusting his glasses ever so slightly. He glanced at Mary's swollen tummy. "Does John know the whole story?"
Mary's face paled. How does he know? "What do you want Magnussen?" She managed to choke out.
"Just one more mission."
XXX
Meanwhile, at 221B Baker Street…
"It's for a case, you say?" John asked. He was now starting to believe his friend. Mycroft's reaction to the name was all the information he needed to change his mind. Especially when Sherlock nearly broke his brother's arm when Mycroft told them to stay out of it. If there is one thing John had ever learned about Sherlock, it is to never tell him to back away from a case unless you do actually want your arm broken.
"Yup." Replied Sherlock as he walked towards the bathroom for a much needed shower. You would think that Sherlock would be solely focused on the case. Nope! He, at this moment in time, was more worried by the fact that there is something that would kill John even more behind his bedroom door.
"What sort of case?" Sherlock smirked. He could always tell when he peaked John's interest. And that is exactly what he was aiming for.
"Too big and dangerous for any sane individual to get involved in."
"Are you trying to put me off?"
"God no." Sherlock gave his friend a grin. "Trying to recruit you." He went into the bathroom. "Stay out of my bedroom." And with that he closed the bathroom door.
John felt relieved, and for the first time in ages he allowed himself a real smile.
Yet one thing bothered him.
Sherlock made a constant effort for people to not go into his bedroom. This statement was strange because it was universally known to never go into Sherlock's bedroom uninvited. So why was he trying to be so secretive about it?
John waited for a few heartbeats before he cautiously ventured towards the room at the end of the hallway.
I bet that he is hiding something embarrassing, like, I don't know…maybe…
John didn't get to finish his thought as he was interrupted by the door opening by itself. He stopped in his tracks when he saw who it was, his heart sinking to the bottom of his stomach, breaking into little pieces.
"Oh John hi." She greeted, awkwardly pulling her shirt over her hips. "How are you?"
"Janine?" Whatever elated joy he felt had disappeared.
It does seem that there was a lot that happened during this past month.
Howzit my mooi bokkies
So what a plot twist with Mary, amiright?
I just want to thank bakazuki26 again for all those plot prompts. I am surely going to have more interesting story now. Cheers bru.
Hopefully I will post at least one more chapter before Christmas!
Love from thecapefangirl