They spent the next hour or so like that, just talking and laughing quietly. John would tell stupid jokes and Sherlock would laugh out of pity, but John didn't mind.

"Do you think your brother knows we're here?" John asked.

"If he does, he's chosen to leave me alone, which is perfectly fine with me." Sherlock answered, going to sit against the wall on the bed.

"Well don't you think he should know you have company? And besides, I'm hungry."

Sherlock sighed. "Fine, fine. Come on; let's get the introductions over with."

Sherlock brought John out to the living room, where Mycroft was sitting and reading one of his University text books. Sherlock coughed, alerting him of their presence. Mycroft looked up, and immediately raced towards Sherlock.

"What the hell happened to you?! Was it those bullies again? Oh, I should- I'm having a word with your principle tomorrow!"

"Mycroft, please quiet down, we have company." Sherlock said calmly.

Mycroft paused, and then looked over at John.

"Hmmm…..I approve. Seems fine for you," Mycroft said after a moment of silence.

"Mycroft!" Sherlock half-yelled.

"Oh hush, it's obvious you like him. Now, tell me who did this to you, Sherlock!"

"Oh my god, why? What, do you care?"

"Of course I care! You're my little brother!"

"Never made any difference before…" muttered Sherlock.

"Excuse me?" Mycroft asked concern in his voice.

"Nothing. Anyway, I just wanted to introduce you to John, because he's hungry and we need food." Sherlock said, taking John by the hand and walking him to the small kitchen.

"What do you want to eat?" Sherlock asked.

"How about I take you to my house? I'd love for you to meet my dad, he'd like you. Well, he likes just about everybody…but still."

"Are you sure your father won't mind?" Sherlock asked, after hesitating a bit.

"Of course not, any friend of mine is a friend of my dad's." John smiled. Sherlock blushed and thought: he has an amazing smile.

After debating Sherlock about it, John walked Sherlock down a few blocks to his house. His house was a bit bigger than Sherlock's, but not by much. The roof was new, and the garden was nice because John often tended to it himself.

"Come on, let's go in. Oh, and one thing. My dad doesn't know I'm gay yet, so until he does, please just don't say anything to him, got it?" John said, turning to Sherlock.

"Got it," Sherlock answered, nodding to himself.

They walked in. John had been keeping the house nice and clean, so there were none of Harry's beer bottles or clothes lying about. His father was almost never home, so John wouldn't have been surprised if he wasn't there tonight. He'd just make Sherlock something. But the car was there, so he must have been home.

"Dad? You here? I've got a friend I'd like you to meet!" John called inside the house.

A man in a suit came to the door, smiling kindly.

"Hello, Johnny, who's this then?" he asked, still smiling. Sherlock had already started his deducing.

"Dad, this is Sherlock. I met him at school today."

"What's happened to his face? He get beaten up or something?"

"Erm…yes, that's how I met him. I saved him from some bullies." John explained.

"Well, come on then, boy, we've got to get some ice on that. Come sit at the table, I'm making spaghetti." He turned on his heel and walked back to the kitchen, John and Sherlock following.

"Here, Sherlock, sit down, I'll get you an ice pack." John offered, pulling out the chair for him. Sherlock smiled and sat down.

He'd already deduced a few things about John's father. He'd kept his ring polished and on, so he still missed his wife dearly. The suit he was wearing was one of business, and his fingertips had calices on them, so he worked some sort of office job. Perhaps head of a company, seeing as his haircut was so professional. Like John's was, so it was obvious John wanted to be a man like his father is. His shoes are polished, so he must not go outside much, or if he does, he polishes his shows far too often and-

"Sherlock? You okay?" John was asking.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, fine. Sorry, just caught up in my own thoughts." Sherlock smiled at John gently.

John smiled back.

Dinner went by rather slowly, John and his father doing most of the talking. After dinner, John put the dishes away and offered to walk Sherlock home.

"Oi, not too late now. You need to be in bed by the time Harry gets back, d'you hear? You need to be rested up for school tomorrow." His dad said.

"Yes sir, I'll just be a few minutes!" John yelled into the house.

Sherlock and John walked side-by-side, with occasional talk about dinner and school.

"What's your favorite subject?" John asked, attempting small talk.

"Science, of course." Sherlock answered.

"Mine's English, though I did enjoy taking health last year."

"Health's okay. So…when are you going to tell your dad you're gay? I would wait until I didn't need his money anymore if I were you." Sherlock said.

"Oh, well, I'm not really sure. He didn't take kindly to Harry coming out, so how do you think he'll feel if both of his kids are gay? My guess is that he wouldn't exactly like it."

Sherlock shrugged. They were almost to his house, when he saw his mother and father's car in the car park.

"Oh god…um, okay, this is far enough. Thanks for dinner, I'll see you tomorrow!" Sherlock said, rushing away from John.

"O-oh, erm, yeah! Yeah, see you tomorrow! Bye Sherlock!" John almost yelled.

Sherlock didn't turn back.