"Hi sweetheart", with a smile that to the untrained eye would look insincere. But Greg knows that she is just trying to be a usually smiling self in a difficult situation, and he is grateful. So grateful, he wants to cry again. The numbness is alleviated slightly by the flash of normality, and for that he feels the guilt intensive, and the numbness returns.
"This young gentleman was waiting outside when I got here." She pauses, waiting for a reply that doesn't come. "Would it be okay if we came in dear, I'm starting to feel the chill." With that request Greg is brought out of his trance, realizing he was just staring, and he stumbles a little.
"I, yes. Of course. I'm sorry. Come in."
Mumbling her thank you's, Mrs. Hudson picks up her bags, presumably shopping for himself and Mycroft Greg thinks, and goes straight through to the kitchen.
The stranger stands just inside of the door as Greg shuts it, removing the rucksack of his left shoulder, he just waits.
"Is there something I could help you with?" Greg says as calmly as he can when he realizes he's got to say something.
"My names James. I was hoping to speak with Mycroft if it's not too much trouble." He replies, not quite looking Greg in the eyes.
"Look," Greg says with a sigh, as he senses the man's sincerity. "It's not really a great time for visitors right now."
"No, of course not," James says with a half-smile. "It's just, I'm an old friend, and when I heard he was off work, I knew instantly what had happened…. And I just wanted to see him, let him know I'm here and that. But it's stupid, you don't need me randomly turning up on your doorstep. I'm sorry, I'll go."
Something in his voice makes Greg stop him from leaving, maybe the genuine concern he seems to feel for Mycroft. "Wait here. I'll tell him you want to see him, see what he says okay?" Don't get your hopes up, Greg thinks.
"Okay," James says as he turns around, the small sound of hope and sadness in his voice is evident, from the possibility of being reunited with his friend for so long. "Thank you."
Greg nods softly, and heads first into the kitchen, where he notices the shopping but no Mrs. Hudson, and then into the living room where he thinks she must be with the others.
Standing outside the Livingroom door here can hear the quiet conversation of everyone he knows is on the other side of the door that's been left slightly ajar, everyone but Mycroft.
Taking a deep breath, he opens the door enough to step inside, and the conversation halts completely. Mycroft gives that look, that look that Greg has been so uncomfortable accustomed to. He's trying to be warm, like he used to be. But the small smile he can manage, never quite reaches his eyes.
Greg stands there for a moment, in the doorway, looking at Mycroft, who still has the ability to make his mind go infuriatingly blank. John must pick up on the blank look, the way Greg's eyes gloss over and the tears that want to fall. The way Mycroft subconsciously mirrors the look, the two lost briefly in a silent pain, John coughs a little to loud and with a sharp intake of breath, the two break out of their trance. Mycroft resumes his task of looking out the window.
"Is our mystery guest still here?" Mrs. Hudson asks.
"Visitor?" Sherlock asks, with a questioning look in his eyes.
"Someone to see Mycroft, actually." Mycroft turns around a little too quickly, that Greg is able to see the dizziness that momentarily overwhelms him, he has to fight the urge to run over to him. "You don't have to see him, if you don't want to. I can send him away."
"Its fine, he's here now. You might as well send him in." Mycroft says trying to sound as professional as he can, no one dare comment on how fake he sounds. "Yes, I'm sure."
"Right, Okay then." Greg says, mostly to himself, as he turns to leave the room. Returning with James in tow a minute later.
When the two men re-enter the room, James stands where Greg stood a few minutes earlier.
With a small genuine smile, looking directly at Mycroft and just above a whisper James says, "Hey stranger".
Tears immediately overflow Mycroft eyes, and Greg who is now standing here he in front of the window, Mycroft was just looking out of for so long, is shocked. Mycroft stands seemingly propelled by this onslaught of emotions, and with a quiet cry, he practically throws himself a James.
"You came." He whispers in between sobs.
"Of course, I did. I would have been here sooner I just….", realizing there is no way that Mycroft is even listening to him he stops. "Hey now, sh sh. You're alright, I've got you."
And with that Greg leaves the room before he throws up. The front door is heard being slammed shut a few moments later.
Only then does Mycroft realizes what he's done, but he can't bring himself to care, as he continues to cry in James' arms.
"We'll give you two some time," Mrs. Hudson interjects with a sad smile.
With that John stands, "We'll go and find Greg, come on Sherlock." Sherlock sighs and mumbles something about not finishing his tea yet, being careful not to look at Mycroft, knowing his brother wouldn't want him to see him in this state. John replies quickly with something about promising him a fresh pot when they get home and rushes him out of the room.
Realizing that Mycroft isn't in a position to take in any information, as he leaves the room John speaks to the James, "We'll be around tomorrow, if you need anything in the meantime Mycroft has all of our numbers. We'll ring young when we've found Greg."
"Okay." James replies, with a smile and watery eyes, tightening his grip on Mycroft.
As they leave the house, they stand for a moment hearing the suddenly louder cries of Mycroft, and James repeated assurances that it would be okay. John and Sherlock look questioningly at each other, before they quickly leave the house. Sherlock intending to get straight home and process what he's seen, John desperate to find Greg.