Chapter 1~ Welcome Home
It had taken being given his own title in the British Government as "Detective Consulting" ,or "D.C. Holmes", before New Scotland Yard had been convinced it was safe to work with Sherlock again.
It had been Mycroft's doing, as he had had a personal meeting with fellow officials, discussing his brothers status in government, after his efforts during what was being known as "The Spider Infestation".
There had been no ceremony. John had joked that this was the closest thing to knighthood Sherlock would ever come.
And then Mycroft went to New Scotland Yard himself, brother in tow, and confronted the Chief Superintendent himself.
Had informed him that his officers would be allowed to work with Sherlock as an extreme privilege of superiors in the British government, only under certain circumstances, and , as Sherlock had refused an official salary, he was to be properly paid, at least the rate of any other Detective Inspector, when he did assist the police.
The Chief Superintendent had been utterly floored,
"You can vouch for this man? He's twice the fraud he was before ,now that he somehow faked his own death!" he had gasped.
"He is an agent of the British government. Which,by the way, is confidential information. His 'death' was not fraudulent, it was operational, and I myself assisted in it."Mycroft had said, eyes gone snake-cold.
"And unless you wish to experience an extended holiday in Chernobyl, I suggest you obey my orders, word for word..."
"How do I know that you really are who you say you are?"
Mycroft didn't have to say anything else, because a SWAT team was suddenly in the room, if only just for show.
Sherlock was silent the entire time.
"He's putting me off, if I'm being forced to allow him to work with my force, shouldn't he be at least constrained to speak to me one on one...?"
"If he chooses not to ,then ,no...He doesn't work for you ;he works for me." Mycroft said ,coldly. "Come along, brother mine."
"Och, he's your brother! Well that's just great-I!"
"Don't speak again. I can have you removed for said Chernobyl holiday in this very moment, and have you on a plane on the way within the hour."
This shut the Chief up.
"One more thing...Sherlock will work with only the Detective Inspector he chooses...And who will that be, brother dear?"
"Lestrade , of course." Sherlock said, speaking at last.
"The same bloody idiot as got us in the mess before?!" the Chief howled.
"And John Watson, my assistant, same as before..."Sherlock said quietly to his brother, ignoring the Chief.
"Any other specifications?" asked Mycroft, grinning from ear to ear.
" I can smoke at the crime scenes?"
"Out of the question."
"I can keep the bodies for experimentation?"
"Unbecoming of your office, brother dear."
"I am never constrained to work with Dimmock again?"
"Reasonable..."
"That ridiculous hat is against dress code?"
"Alright, now we're being silly, aren't we?"
"I really can't think of anything else that needs to be specified. Just Lestrade, and Doctor Watson. Please, thank you, that is all..."
Tired and bored, Sherlock turned on his heel, and left the room, long dark coat swishing behind him.
John was waiting outside, leaning against a light pole, arms folded against the chill of the settling winter, frost hanging in isolated shapes on the edges of the leather jacket he was wearing.
"Welcome home..." he said, grinning from ear to ear.
Sherlock smiled, drawing close.
"I believe that is 'Welcome home, sir'."
"Oh ,this title hasn't gone to your head at all, has it?" John laughed, leaning his head back, and studying Sherlock intently.
"Yes, Welcome Home, Detective Holmes, sir."
Sherlock laughed a deep, dark laugh.
"Are you hungry?"
"Famished."
"What's say we scare the daylight and the dark out of Angelo ,then, for old time's sakes?"
"Sounds like a plan."
John is on his feet, beaming. Suddenly, his brows crinkle, and he swallows, heavily, fists clenching and unclenching.
"What is it?" Sherlock asks, blinking in confusion.
"It's just so good to...have you back." he says, drawing a deep breath of the chilled night.