Til Death Do Us Part
AN: After Greg is kidnapped, Mycroft finds him and tries to bargain with the man but it doesn't matter. Is the end for Mycroft and Greg?
"NO!" Greg screams before the shot echoes around the warehouse.
The bullet hits it's target, the gruesome crunch of metal hitting bone and Kevin laughs loudly; the only sound in the warehouse besides the muffled sobs of a man over the loss of his partner.
"Did you here that?" Sherlock asks worriedly, staring at his partner.
"Yeah, I did. Gunshot. Sherlock, we need to get in there! Hurry up with the lock!" John cries desperately, trying to find a window to look through.
"I'm trying. It's a lot harder than it looks, John." Sherlock snaps, continuing to fiddle with the padlock.
x..x
Meanwhile
"You didn't have to do that. We have two children." The man sobs, looking at the body of his dying partner.
"Yes I did, Mycroft Holmes! I told you I'd destroy you and I will!" Kevin screams, waving the gun around.
"Then do it! Kill me!" Mycroft yells back, knowing Greg will die before John can save him.
"My … No … The chil-dren." Greg chokes, fighting his body's instincts in order to talk.
"Gregory, I'm nothing without you. I need you. The children need you. If I survive, I know I will resent them … because they remind me of you. I cannot go back now. Besides I doubt he will let me. After what I did, I know I will die here. I'm so sorry for dragging you into this, Gregory, I never meant to hurt you. You would have been better never knowing me." Mycroft replies, fighting the tears that threaten to fall.
"Don't say that … I love you … wouldn't have missed it … for the world. Don't give up, My. Please. You've … got to live. Please." Greg sobs, now struggling to breathe.
"No, together forever … til death do us part. Those were our vows, Gregory. I'm just sorry that death came so soon for us."
"No, My, please."
"I love you, Gregory." Mycroft replies softly, kissing his partner's forehead. "Let me untie him. He's going to die anyway. And I know how this ends. We won't run." He informs Kevin calmly.
Kevin looks at him and Mycroft knows he's going to say no; but instead he nods in reply, obviously convinced Mycroft is telling the truth.
Mycroft works on the knots and finally frees his partner, bringing him into his arms.
"Go, My. Go now. Forget about me." Greg whispers, now able to get more oxygen into his lungs.
"Never, Gregory. I'm staying, with you. I love you too much to forget you."
"I love you too, My. Together forever?" Greg replies, nodding slightly.
"Together forever." Mycroft agrees, kissing his partner as he feels his breath leave him.
The older Holmes closes his eyes as tears begin to fall before looking up at Kevin; who seems to pity the other man for a moment, before his eyes go cold again.
"One thing, if I may. Leave my family alone. Don't waste your time. Kill me then run as fast as you can." Mycroft says strongly, gripping his partner tightly.
"How do I know no one will follow me?" Kevin asks, seemingly considering the offer.
"You don't, but the only man who could possibly track you down with ease, is about to have his heart broken."
"Sherlock." Kevin replies, nodding in agreement. "So be it. Goodbye, Mycroft Holmes."
"Goodbye, Kevin." Mycroft replies sadly, looking down at his partner. "Soon, my dear, very soon."
A second gun shot rings out in the large warehouse and Mycroft slumps to the floor, still gripping his partner.
x..x
"Sherlock!" John shouts, having heard the second gun shot. "This is why you should have let me use the gun!" He adds frustratedly.
"Got it!" Sherlock exclaims, pulling the chain off and yanking the doors open.
"Oh God." John gasps, seeing his friends' bodies far too still.
"John."
"Hello, Sherly. How've you been?" Kevin smiles brightly.
"You're here to kill me too." Sherlock replies calmly.
"No, actually. I made a deal with your brother. But, you have to let me leave."
"Like hell we will." John growls, pulling his gun out and pointing it at Kevin.
"Come on now, boys. I wouldn't want to go back on the deal. I promised him that I wouldn't kill you. But I will if I have to."
"John ..."
But it's too late, the shot rings through the empty warehouse and Kevin falls down dead.
"I had to, Sher. I couldn't let him get away with it." John whispers, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Sherlock looks at his partner before walking over to him, "I know, my love, I know." He replies, wrapping his arms around John tightly, feeling him melt into the touch.
"I'm sorry." John whispers into Sherlock's shoulder, sobbing and shaking.
"What for?" Sherlock asks unsurely, pulling away from his partner to look at him gently.
"For not being able to save them." John chokes, gripping Sherlock's arms tightly.
"This wasn't your fault, my love. If anyone is to blame, it's me. I should have let you shoot the lock. I'm sorry." Sherlock replies gently, kissing his partner's forehead.
"No, you were right. Conspicuous. They would have been dead sooner. Although, it looks like Greg took the first shot and ..."
"What, John?" Sherlock asks worriedly, wondering why John broke off so suddenly.
"Did you ever doubt that Mycroft loved Greg?" John asks randomly.
"Once, why?" Sherlock asks, moving over to his partner's side.
"Mycroft could have escaped. He was clever enough. But, he stayed, in fact, he allowed Kevin to shoot him. Look at his face, Sher, he looks … peaceful. He died by Greg's side because he couldn't live without him. I know the feeling." John replies solemnly.
"As do I." Sherlock whispers, resting a hand on his brother's chest.
"We need to call the police. This is a crime scene now. And one that we won't be working." John replies professionally, standing back up and looking for his phone.
"What? John, we have to work this case."
"No, we don't, Sherlock. Not even Donovan and the team will be working it. We're all too close …" John tells his partner softly, "Yes, hello, I need the police. There's been a double homicide … No, the killer is dead. I'm Captain John Watson of the Northumberland Fusiliers. I'm also a doctor. Yes, all three are … dead." John speaks over the phone, his voice breaking on the last word.
John hangs up and turns back to his partner, "Their tracking our location now. When they get here, I'll explain the situation and I'll see if Donovan or someone else can take our statements tomorrow. Okay?"
"We should be working this case." Sherlock replies, looking at the bodies of his brother and friend.
"I told you, we're too close. And when you're too close to a case, you back off. Now, come on, let's wait outside." John replies softly, grabbing his partner's arm gently.
Sherlock pulls out of his grasp and kneels down next to his brother's body; pulling his ring off.
"Sherlock, you can't take that, it's evidence."
"No, it's Mummy's ring. I'm going to take it back to her."
"Sher, darling, they will give you all the personal effects when they have sorted this." John says softly, reaching out to his partner.
"I'm taking it, John! I will not have some incompetent fool breaking the news to Mummy!" Sherlock snaps, standing up to glare at John.
"I'll let them know." John sighs, holding a hand out for Sherlock.
Sherlock slips the ring on his finger before grabbing his partner's hand and allowing himself to be led out the building.
x..x
"Here you go, darling." John says softly, handing Sherlock a cup of tea.
"Thank you, John." Sherlock whispers, gratefully taking the tea.
"I was thinking, if you needed some space tonight, I can sleep on the couch."
"No, please stay with me, John. I … I can't be alone right now." Sherlock continues to whisper, staring into his cup.
"Of course, love. I was just thinking, that's all. But I'll stay, if that's what you want." John smiles softly, resting his hand on his partner's knee.
"Very much so, John. I've never had to deal with Mycroft not … being around. I don't know how to feel." Sherlock whispers softly, hands shaking the cup.
"Come here, sweetheart." John replies gently, taking the cup from his hands and bringing the younger man into his arms. "I'm here, baby. I'm always here." He whispers, stroking his partner's face.
"What about the children?" Sherlock asks suddenly, while John's strokes his curls.
"Well, given their high-risk jobs and the possibility of an early death, they left the children to us. Didn't want them put in care where there was a possibility they could be fostered into an abusive home."
"So we have two children now? Mm, can we … get one of our own. I love the twins but I'd like one we could call ours. I think I like the idea of being a father. And I know you be a wonderful dad, John." Sherlock whispers softly, holding his partner tightly.
"You … You want to adopt? Are you sure? Children are a big responsibility, Sher. We can rush into something like this mindlessly. Do you … really want a child?" John asks gently, his hands stilling as he tries to process the information.
"I believe I said I did, John. Please don't make me repeat myself. Life is sufficiently short and I want what Mycroft and Greg can no longer have ... a family." Sherlock replies, finally looking up at his partner with soft eyes.
"Right, okay. Mm, well, we'll have a couple of weeks with the twins while they settle and then we'll readdress the situation. Okay?" John says softly, kissing his partner's head.
"Alright." Sherlock beams, snuggling into John's chest tightly.
"I love you, ya know that, right?" John asks softly, breathing into his partner's hair.
"Of course I do, John. And … I love you too."
"I know. Let's go to bed, we can pick up Izabel and Sherlock tomorrow morning, after we've given our statements that is." John smiles at his partner, pulling him up off the couch.
"Goodnight, John. Sleep well." Sherlock smiles as John tucks them into bed.
"Goodnight, Sher. I'll be here when you wake." John replies softly, kissing his partner's forehead and letting him rest his head on his chest.
"Thank you, my love." Sherlock whispers, listening to John's rhythmic heartbeat like some sort of lullaby.
John smiles softly, stroking his partner's curls as the younger man begins to drift into sleep.
"I'll do anything to keep you safe, my darling." He whispers to the sleeping form of his partner before falling asleep himself.