Mycroft Holmes' mobile buzzed in his vest pocket. He was stuck in a tedious meeting, something about the faults in governmental policies, and was desperate for an escape. As the presenter droned on in front of him, Mycroft took his phone out of his pocket and glanced at it.
Sherlock is sick and refuses to go home. Come get him, please. –GL
Mycroft quickly texted a reply to Lestrade's plea.
I'll be there momentarily. Send me a location. –MH
We're at a suspect's place of resisdence. 3120 Jackson Way. –GL
"Ah, excuse me, Mr Hashe. Family emergency." Mycroft stood up abruptly. "Do forgive me."
The man cleared his throat. "Er, quite alright, Mr Holmes. I'll have Mr Wilder fill you in next week."
"I'b find!" a noticeably congested Sherlock protested. "Hardly sigk at all."
Lestrade threw his hands up in the air. "You're clearly fevered, mate! You thought my name was George!"
"Isn'd id?" Sherlock gasped out before going into a coughing fit. Detective Sergeant Sally Donovan edged away from him wearing a disgusted face.
"No! It's Greg, Greg!"
"Greg, he doesn't know your name on a normal basis." Mycroft pointed out, earning a triumphant grin from Sherlock. "But let's play deductions, shall we brother?"
"Bycrofd, don'd be like this."
Mycroft stepped closer to Sherlock until their noses were almost touching.
"Let's see. Your brow is lined with sweat, though your hands appear to be shaking and you have evident goosebumps, suggesting you're chilled. Therefore, I conclude fevered. Additionally, your nose is tinged pink, probably because you've been excessively blowing your nose which must be running because even now, you're sniffling."
Sherlock blushed, bringing his wrist to his nose.
"Itching too I bet, so you've been sneezing? I saw you coughing earlier as well. I can narrow down illness by your symptoms, so I'd diagnose you with a head cold, worse enough because of the fever to require bed rest."
"Shame Dr Watson isn't present to take your temperature and make you a cuppa." Sally commented.
"Shud up, Donovan. Do one deeds your idput. He's gone away with Mary for a bit."
Lestrade bit down a smile but Mycroft was frowning. "Case closed. Let's go home. And you can stop holding in your sneeze, by the way."
"Huh… hurESHHH!"
"Bless you!" Lestrade called after him as the two walked off.
"Into bed." Mycroft ordered flatly. Sherlock groaned.
"Haven't you tortured be enough?"
"Nope. I'll fetch the thermometer."
Sherlock sighed and obliged, crawling into bed.
"Right." Mycroft announced, striding into the room. "Open up."
"Is this really decessary?"
"Now, I'm not a certified doctor, but I believe this is the part where you say 'ahhh'."
Minutes later, the eldest brother clucked his tongue disapprovingly.
"38.5°C. I prescribe you sleeping for once."
Sherlock rolled his eyes. "For once? I do sleep… occasionally. HurCHOO!"
"I put some tissues on your bedside table. Please do get some rest, I'll be just outside."
"Okay." Sherlock sniffed thickly, blowing his nose and then turning on his side.
After an hour of watching re-runs of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Mycroft's shameful guilty pleasure show, the young man thought it best to check on his ill brother. Softly humming "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah, he opened the bedroom door.
Sherlock was completely submerged under the blankets and only some bits of his dark, curly hair were sticking out. He was snoring, though not too loudly, a definite sign that he was sick. Despite this, Mycroft smiled. Seeing his brother this tired and helpless had a sort of humour to it.
Still gently humming under his breath, Mycroft turned to leave.
"Wait. That was… dice." a voice mumbled from underneath the sheets. "Don'd go yed."
"What was nice?"
"Your hubbing. Huh… eh…" Sherlock began to sneeze again, but it got caught in his throat. He exhaled in frustration.
"Okay, I'll stay for awhile." Mycroft agreed. "But promise you'll get some rest. Lestrade and his 'crew' can wait."
"M'kay." Sherlock mumbled sleepily before slipping into unconsciousness.
AN - First off, thanks to everyone who reviewed (VioletErin.26, battlemaiden518, Prothoe, GloriousMuser and ShipAllTheShipsForever), favourited and followed! It means so much to me. One more chapter to go! Hope everyone enjoyed this one; next chapter should be posted late tomorrow night. Have a fantastic rest of your evening.