Guardian Chapter 14
John met Mary about a month after he had moved into his new flat. John was on his way home from work when he saw her at the side of the road with a broken down car. She had short blond hair and gorgeous eyes. He had helped her get the car started again, and before she left he tried his chances and asked her out for a drink. He was surprised when she agreed.
Three nights later they were both sitting in a pub near John's flat with a pint each. Mary had been telling him about how she worked at a local nursery school, and how she had told herself that she would go for a run every morning this year (though it hadn't turned out as planned), when the dreaded question arose.
"So John, tell me about yourself."
The doctor's mind raced. Should he tell her about Sherlock? About the crime solving? Surely a first date was too soon to talk about his time with Mycroft.
He smiled.
"There's not much to tell really."
Mary smiled slightly.
"I don't believe that for a second. What did you do before you were working at the health centre?"
"Well in my younger years I was an army doctor. I was posted in Afghanistan for a while."
Mary raised her eyebrows. Her smile widened.
"See, I knew there was something more to you. Why did you leave?"
"I had to. Got shot."
The pretty blond woman's expression changed immediately to a look of sorrow.
"That sounds awful. Is that when you started working at the health centre?"
John's mind raced again. Should he tell her? Not yet.
"More or less."
That was when John's mobile started ringing. He looked at the screen and saw it was Mycroft calling. It felt like a knot had tightened in his stomach. Mycroft never called him; he would usually just send a car to 'kidnap' him. He apologised to Mary and stood up from the table. He answered the phone as he walked towards the exit.
"Hello" he breathed.
He expected Mycroft to be crying. John prepared himself for another night like the one where he had found Mycroft with the gun. The voice at the other end of the line sounded urgent.
"John, are you okay?"
The sandy-haired doctor had a look of confusion on his face.
"Yes. Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
There was a sigh of relief from the other end of the call. Mycroft didn't reply.
"What about you. Are you okay?" said John, still confused.
There was a long pause.
"Mycroft?"
"Yes, sorry. I'm fine."
John thought of something to say. He had so many questions, but in the end he only managed to choke out one word.
"Good."
There was another long pause as John thought of something else to say.
"Is there anyth-"
"I'm sorry about this, John."
There was a click and the other phone hung up. John's hands stopped shaking. He hung up the phone. With a sudden sense of urgency, he rushed back into the pub to where Mary was sitting.
"Mary, I've got to go. I'm so sorry. I'll explain everything later."
Mary looked worried and stood up.
"Do you want me to come with you? I could-"
"Sorry, I have to go on my own." He cut across her.
John ran out the door leaving the pretty blonde woman standing alone in the middle of a pub. When he was in a Taxi, John stopped and thought. That was one more girl he had most likely lost because of a Holmes brother.
The black cab pulled up outside Mycroft's enormous mansion. John thrust some notes into the driver's hand without counting them and shot out the back door. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a key he still had from living there. He rushed through an over-sized porch, a short hallway and the modern kitchen until he reached a thin corridor. He slowed his pace. Mycroft's bedroom door was slightly ahead of him, just to his right. He walked up to it slowly. He stood outside for a couple of seconds and held his breath. There was no noise coming from inside. John prayed that he wasn't too late. After he had prepared himself, he turned the door-knob, unaware of what he would find.
The sight that met him was nothing he'd been expecting.
Mycroft was sitting in his bed wearing green silk pyjamas, looking slightly surprised. He had his laptop balanced on his lap, and in his hand was what looked like a mug of hot chocolate.
"What are you doing there?" asked John, almost breathlessly.
Mycroft raised an eyebrow. He paused before answering, as if to make a point.
"This is my bedroom, John."
There was another pause until Mycroft spoke again.
"What are you doing here?"
John stood open mouthed in confusion. Mycroft took this as a chance to take a sip of steaming hot chocolate.
"I thought you were-" "You were going to-" John stuttered.
Mycroft furrowed his brow.
"I thought you were going to try and kill yourself again."
For a moment, The Government 'Official' looked ever so slightly vulnerable, but his expression changed to one of amusement so quickly that John barely registered it.
"You sound disappointed." laughed the tall red-haired man.
All of a sudden, John felt a throbbing pain return to his knee. He felt so stupid.
"What was all that about with the phone call?"
Mycroft looked suddenly understanding.
"Oh, so that's what you thought I was talking about…" he trailed off. "Sorry. I didn't mean that."
John was still standing by the open bedroom door. Realising he was letting in a draught; he closed it and walked over to Mycroft's desk in the middle of the room. He pulled out the chair he had sat on the night he had found Mycroft with the gun and sat down.
"Talk." he ordered.
AN: Thanks for continuing to read after the long wait!
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