Madison King
Chapter 9
"Sherlock, what are we doing?" John asks.
"You going to go talk to Mycroft, and I am going after Moriarty," Sherlock responds. "Mycroft should be at the Diagnosis Club by now."
"And what about that thing that imitated your brother?"
"Those Zygote things are a figment of the Doctor's imagination, nothing more."
"Then how do you describe how the text from your brother, and how do you describe 'Mycroft's' behavior?"
"Easy. I was able to receive the text from Mycroft's number because someone stole his mobile. That is undoubtedly being worked out as we speak. Mycroft may have been acting strange because he has been cutting cake. The lack of sugar in his diet may be causing some fluctuations in his mood and behavior."
"Sherlock, I think the Doctor may be correct in his theories."
"What?" Sherlock looks at his blogger. "How could his preposterous theories be true?"
"What is you're theory then, Sherlock?"
"I just explained it!"
"Explain it again."
"Mycroft's not thinking straight because of lack of sugar in his system, and he is distracted because someone stole his phone and is digging through all of his private information as we speak."
"Unless I head Mycroft wrong, he said, 'friends.'"
"I heard him."
"Plural, Sherlock. It was plural."
"I know"
"What happened to 'I don't have friends. I only have one'?"
"John, I do have only one friend."
"Your brother should have remembered that much!"
"I don't care! The Doctor is wrong!"
"Fine, fine. Don't listen to us." John sighs and gives up his argument.
The taxi stops in front of the Diagnosis Club. Sherlock hops out, leaving an irritated John Watson to pay. Sherlock turns back to his friend any says, "Go back to the warehouse, and don't get yourself killed in the process. Moriarty is still at large, as is his sniper." Sherlock slams the cab door in John's face and turns to walk into the building.
Sherlock walks down hallways and through doors. Although he knows he should wait until he is dragged to Mycroft's office, he waltzes up to the barely-noticeable door and knocks once before forcing it open. Mycroft turns around to face his baby brother from his desk chair. "Hello Sherlock," Mycroft sighs as he rolls his eyes.
Sherlock watches his brother carefully. Mycroft stands up and moves away from his desk. There's a white…something under Mycroft's left armpit. "I believe you need another suit jacket, brother," Sherlock says rather than saying hello to his brother.
"What are you talking about Sherlock?" Mycroft asks without looking to see what's on his jacket.
"Deodorant stain?"
"I have no such thing."
"Yes, you do," Sherlock says with a nod.
"How could I have gotten deodorant on my jacket when any reasonable person would have put their deodorant on before their coat?" Mycroft asks with a look of bitterness on his face.
"I don't care, but there is something white under your left armpit. The reasonable explanation would be that you have somehow acquired a deodorant stain since you were at my flat."
"I was never at your flat, brother, dear. Are you high again?" Mycroft watches his little brother's movements to try to figure out whether he is actually high or not.
"I am clean Mycroft," Sherlock says as he rolls his eyes. In that moment, he reconsiders the Doctor's theory. He thinks to himself: How could it be true? One alien was hard enough to believe, but my deductions are rarely wrong and he did not correct me. His theory about this shape-shifter is ridiculous science fiction nonsense and is not to be believed. I am the master of deductions! This strange alien-man is not going to show up out of practically nowhere and outsmart me! I will prove that my deductions are right and his preposterous ideas are wrong! I will! I—
Sherlock is brought out of his thoughts when Mycroft clears his throat and says, "I worry about you, Sherlock. I have to make sure that you are not falling for the siren call of old habits."
"I am not, brother."
"Very well. You—"
"It was a test, Mycroft. I was testing a theory. A man disguised as you appeared at my flat earlier. I was checking to see if he was really a fraud or if your sugar was low. Speaking of sugar, how's the diet? I bet you're dying for a piece of cake right now."
Mycroft opens and closes his mouth a couple times without speaking before the words finally come. "I-I was…I am perfectly fine, Sherlock, and the diet is going well. Thank you for your concern." In those moments Mycroft's normally pale complexion acquires a very slight pinkish tent that is so light that only Sherlock would be able to recognize it if they were among a crowd rather than the privacy of Mycroft's office. Sherlock suppresses a chuckle at his elder brother's embarrassment in order to keep his cold demeanor as Mycroft starts to speak again. "Was someone impersonating me?" he asks as he raises an eyebrow.
"I believe so, brother dear." Sherlock says. He pauses before verbally saying what he knows Mycroft will do next. "I suggest you go find them, but don't start a war or whatnot until I'm home."
Mycroft rolls his eyes and turns to his phone on the desk to make a call. While it rings, he looks up at his brother. "I believe you are on the case?" Mycroft questions although he believes he knows the answer is yes. In the odd chance that he is wrong he adds, "If not, I need your help, Sherlock."
Sherlock doesn't respond to this comment, but instead says, "Mycroft, go home. Get a shower and change into fresh clothes. Now, I must be going." With that said, Sherlock turns around and strides out of the room.
Still awestruck by Sherlock's denial of the facts, the Doctor goes downstairs to find Amy and Rory. He searches Mrs. Hudson's apartment, but cannot find his companions or the kindly older woman. "Amy?" he calls out. "Rory?" No one answers. Suddenly two doors slam at the same time—the front door and the door to 221C. The Doctor freezes and tries to listen for footsteps. Questions rush through his mind. Is someone in the flat, or did something leave the flat? Why didn't Sherlock listen to me? Why did they leave? Where could he have gone? How did Zygons get here? How are we going to get home? Despite these questions, the most important thing circling his mind is where are Amy and Rory?