3. Catharsis
T: All warnings/disclaimers remain the same.
O
Things at home are all long, drawn, silences and an atmosphere that's never quite existed between them even when everything was new...uncertain...then the hospital calls with news that Sherlock's been in an explosion and suddenly everything else becomes insignificant.
He's awake by the time they get to the ward, all compressed, aimless, energy and dark, sharp mood.
"We're running in circles." He's clawing at his iv line as he makes the statement, as though offering evidence for why he shouldn't be trapped down by it and, blank though Mycroft's face remains, he can knows his husband is concerned by the stubbornness.
"There is a parallel, of course and yet I do not believe the situation identical. He has, after all, spun you in simply because he wishes entertainment rather than for the sake of a personal vendetta."
"Which means there's even more risk, because the moment I become a bore he shall simply dispose of me as he likely has countless others."
"Perhaps and yet that is not, I think, why you are so very agitated."
At that Sherlock finally stills and, sounding all together world weary, he states, "Would that that were not the case," before curling down into himself.
A long moment, then Mycroft steps from his side, from the room, without so much as an explanation,
"He thinks I'm holding back because of his presence...because I truly view him as my enemy."
"Yes, well, side stepping the larger issue IS there something you're holding back?"
"He took John, trust him up in the bomb that's put me here and I didn't know...didn't even register that anything was remotely wrong until John was there in front of me and then..."
"You thought he was there for the confrontation...thought you had once again had your trust betrayed?"
"Yes."
"But that's not what has you like this, is it? No this is because doubting him, even for a moment, has proven more unsettling for you than missing something, isn't it?"
"It is still so irrational...there's a kind, pretty, woman slowly taking any place I might have had in his heart...and yet..."
"Love isn't something you can rationalise, Sherlock."
"Did you get an update on his condition?" It's such an obvious dodge that he has only the smallest thought of applying a little pressure, of gaining some small verbal conformation that he's 'hit the nail on the head', before responding,
"Mm, apparently he's got a pretty nasty crack on his hip but otherwise he's in a nice, solid, condition given the circumstances."
A noise of what might be affirmation or, perhaps, confirmation, then Sherlock is turning over...is sending an affective 'go away now' message.
When next he sees Sherlock, he is lost to his grief.
Which means it's only once the other is standing at the foot of Mycroft's hospital bed that he registers the changes. Tiny, likely insignificant, things such as the easing of a few lines about his forehead and a shift in his posture and yet...
Sherlock smiles when he catches his eyes on him, the thing softer and somehow more 'human' than the usual twisting of his lips, "Well done, Patterson, I knew you'd catch on eventually," which is entirely typical of a Sherlock compliment, all doubled edged and slightly insulting, then he's enquiring, "Could I steal a moment do you think?"
It's vulnerable and not at all how he usually is, but he doesn't find himself surprised by it, finds himself simply responding,
"Of course, but try not to wear him out, ok?"
Mycroft grumps at this, of course, because he's taken the bizarre tack of viewing his kidnap and therefore the subsequent torture and hospitalisation, as little more than annoying inconvenience. A headset means he's trying to pretend himself utterly unaffected by the whole affair and thus more than a little prickly at any reminder, deliberate or otherwise, that that's not actually the truth of the matter.
He lingers a moment after Sherlock and he have exchanged places to insure that the younger man is heading his caution despite his brother's stubbornness and then, when their gentle conversation turns at last to more personal matters, he drifts out into the hall.
He goes to sit with John because somewhere along the line he's begun to think of the doctor as a friend, because given everything that's just happened it's really not all that fair to have him waking up alone and because now's as good a time as any to have that 'little chat' with the other.
O
T: In which we reach a somewhat stilted end to this one…honestly, I'm still not all that happy with the narrative flow here and I may yet come back somewhere along the line with an edit of some form, though I promise nothing as I think I've at last exhausted the well of inspiration that this verse gave me!