Chapter 28: Chip And Pin Machine War

"Her shoulder is healing quite well but she's lost quite a bit of weight – this may be due to remnants of shock, or stress, or her body putting its energy into healing. Either way, she should be eating more. We can give you some shakes to get her weight up but she shouldn't become dependent on them. Is there anything else you'd like to bring up?"

John shook his head no and I mimicked the action. I'd had enough of hospitals. In the month and a half since my, shall I say, accident, I'd been visiting weekly and it was my professional opinion that everybody involved was sick of it. Sherlock included, despite his absence from all but one of the trips. He was definitely not pining, he'd assured me, merely bored. 'I didn't go through all the trouble to get a flatmate for him to be missing all the time,' according to him. I was of the opinion that, taking in the (temporary) loss of his skull, he merely missed having someone to talk at.

"Do you mind if we get groceries before we go back to the flat?" John asked me as we got into the cab. I raised an eyebrow.

"You're asking for my permission?"

Flustered, John shook his head and got into the cab, providing the name of one of the supermarkets nearby as the destination. I smirked and got in behind him, laughing slightly.

"You got into an argument with a chip and pin machine!"

"Like you were much help. You can barely get your phone to work!"

"...Shut up."

"Mature. But the real question is: who's going to be the one to tell Sherlock that the reason we don't have more tea is because we couldn't work a chip and pin machine?"

"You've known him longer. Your job."

"But-"

"We're 'ere."

John remained silent as we got out of the cab. I took this as a victory and skipped up to the door, smiling. Using the doorknob as a mirror, I saw him smiling at my antics and turned and grinned. He didn't quite hide his fast enough.

We entered the flat to see Sherlock sitting in the same place he had been when we left. He hadn't moved – or so it seemed. Was that a- sword?

"Sherlock, you haven't even moved since we left! What have you been doing?"

"Not true. I've made some tea."

I raised my eyebrows at him and Sherlock seemed to curse internally. 'Secret stash?' I mouthed and he nodded almost invisibly.

John rolled his eyes and muttered, "And I suppose you didn't bother to wash the dishes afterwards." Making his voice louder, he addressed Sherlock again, "Do you have any money on you?"

"No, why?" Sherlock asked, readjusting himself and tapping his fingers against his face, seeming bored with the situation. "Also, why haven't you got any groceries?"

"Because I got into an argument with a chip and pin machine," John admitted in a frustrated tone. I burst into laughter, putting my hands on my hips and bending over in an attempt to calm myself.

"How did you manage that?" Sherlock queried an eyebrow lifting.

John purposely avoided answering, instead choosing to state, "We'll need to go to the bank, then. Kayla, would you like to come or shall Mrs Hudson watch you for half an hour or so?"

I crinkled my nose. "The latter, if she wouldn't mind." All I really wanted to do was be alone - people were exhausting.

"Alright then," John affirmed, nodding his head. "Sherlock, are you coming?"

"Yes, I suppose so, lest you get Mrs Hudson to babysit me also," the consulting detective stated dramatically, standing up as if it were a great skill.

"Are you sure you'll be okay here on your own," John asked, crouching down to look eye-to-eye with me.

"Yes, John," I replied, exasperated, "Now go get money for our tea."

They hadn't been gone for more than ten minutes before I heard a knock that was decidedly Mycroft's.

"Well, hello, Umbrella-boy. I never would have expected you to be here," I greeted dryly, smile not absent. The brother of the great consulting detective allowed his lips to twitch slightly in return.

"These visits are costing me precious quality time I should be spending with my peers. They really should cease," Mycroft responded with a sardonic air, moving into the room and sitting down on the couch Sherlock had recently vacated,

Allowing my gaze to wander over him, I nodded, pleased at what I saw, He had gained weight, enough to be closer to healthy than he was before. The shadows underneath his eyes had let up, leaving him looking younger. His hair had seemed to recover from the stress somewhat also.

"In all seriousness, Mycroft - why are you here?" I asked before frowning apologetically, not wanting to appear rude.

"Some of my sources have informed me of a potential case that Sherlock may be getting involved in at present. I may not know your brother but I do know mine and having him worry about you while on this case will be detrimental to every party involved. So I am graciously giving the invitation for you to stay with me for the next week or so - until this case clears up. Sherlock doesn't seem to realise that even though the culprits have been caught there are still remnants of damage remaining. I have already spoken to Mrs Hudson regarding this and should you accept my offer everything will be set out."

I took a moment to think. "Okay."

Mycroft blinked, appearing nonplussed (the second meaning, that of where they are surprised or shocked rather than unaffected). "Well, that was much simpler than I expected."

"Of course. It is the logical thing to do."

"Thank you for logic, then."

We shared a smile.

Edit: 25.2.16

I am endlessly laughing at the thought that I would have finished this by February last year. I think we all know how that turned out.

- Little