Chapter 6

September 1996

Sherlock lies on his bed sulking as he listens to his brother packing his clothes and books for university. A knock sounds on his door but he ignores it. The door opens and Violet enters. She moves his legs to make space for her to sit on the bed. She looks around his room in silence. 'You really need to tidy up in here.' Sherlock grunts in reply. She looks over to her youngest son. 'Why don't you want Mycroft to leave?' Sherlock utters something unintelligible into his pillow. Violet tucks a curl of Sherlock's hair behind his ear. 'Pardon?'

'I need him.'

'I know you need him. But why do you need him?' Sherlock tucks his head back into his pillow. Violet sighs and pulls her ten-year-old son onto her lap and cuddles him. Mycroft appears at the door. 'How's your packing going Croft?'

'It's okay Mummy.' Mycroft replies watching his little brother 'It should be finished by the end of the day.'

'Ready to go to university?' Mycroft looks at his brother in their mother's lap and shakes his head. 'Why?' Mycroft's gaze stays on his little brother. Violet sighs again heavily. 'I wish the two of you would tell me what's going on.' Sherlock stirs from his mothers lap and lunges at his brother wrapping his arms around Mycroft's waist.

'Don't go. Please Crofty.' Sherlock buries his face into Mycroft's chest. 'I need you here.' Sobs rack though Sherlock's body as he clings to Mycroft. Mycroft gently disentangles himself from little brother and holds Sherlock's shoulders. Mycroft's eyes search his brother's tear stained face.

'I have to. It's a great opportunity for me. Lockie, you have to learn to do things for yourself. I'll miss you little brother.' Mycroft draws Sherlock back in for a hug. 'I'm sorry Sherlock.' Mycroft looks at his mother helplessly over Sherlock's head. Violet shrugs and shakes her head

'If you don't tell me I can't help.' Mycroft feels Sherlock shake his head.

'Don't tell her.' He mutters muffled. Violet rises from the bed.

'Calm him down, lunch in twenty.' She edges around the brothers and leaves Sherlock's bedroom heading for the stairs. Sherlock pulls his head out his Mycroft's chest and watches his mother descend. He pulls Mycroft into his room and shuts the door.

'Sherlock we have to tell her.'

'No.'

'It will only get worse.' Tears flow freely down Sherlock's cheeks.

'Why do you think I don't want you to go?'

'Mummy needs to know Sherlock. Those threats. They're just empty threats.' Mycroft lifts Sherlock's chin forcing him to look at Mycroft's eyes. 'They don't mean anything.' Mycroft uses his thumb to wipe the tears from his brother's cheeks. 'Listen, I told a half-truth to mummy. It will take me another hour at the most to finish my packing. Why don't we go for a walk after lunch, just the two of us.' Sherlock nods reluctantly. Mycroft smiles. 'Lunch in fifteen, remember.' Mycroft turns to the door but is restrained by Sherlock.

'Where are you going?'

'To make a couple of calls.'

Ten minutes later Violet, Sherlock and Mycroft are seated at the lunch table eating. Or rather Violet and Mycroft are eating while Sherlock picks at his food. 'Sherlock eat your lunch properly.'

'Not hungry.' Sherlock mumbles. Mycroft gives him a look and Sherlock takes a proper mouthful of food and chews it scowling.

'Thank you, Sherlock. Mycroft what are your plans for later?'

'I thought that Sherlock and I could go for a walk so we can just talk about stuff.' Violet nods in agreement.

'And your packing?'

'It'll take an hour, two maximum Mummy.'

'Go when Sherlock,' violet shoots a warning look at Sherlock, 'has finished at least half the food.'

Two hours later, Mycroft walks back into the house and pauses in the entrance hall. He listens to silence of the house. He frowns. Violet walks out of the kitchen and watches him for a moment. 'What's wrong Croft?'

'Hasn't Lockie come back?'

'Haven't heard him.' Mycroft's frown deepens. 'Why?' Mycroft forces himself to smile at his mother.

'I'm probably over reacting Mummy. It'll be nothing.' Mycroft hastily makes way to his room to continue his packing.

'What time do you want to leave tomorrow?' Violet calls up the stairs after him.

'I want to be there by two. Anytime between ten and twelve I guess.' Mycroft calls back down relieved with the change of conversation subject. Mycroft disappears into his room after quickly checking Sherlock's room to see of little brother was hiding in there. 'Where are you Lockie?' he murmurs to himself as he finishes packing. As he zips shuts the final suitcase Mycroft hears the front door slam ad footsteps running up the stairs with hisses of pain. He steps over the suitcases and pokes his head out of his door in time to see Sherlock run into his room and slam the door. Mycroft winces as the door rattles in its frame. He walks down the stairs to the kitchen and retrieves the first aid kit. He re-ascends the stair and knocks on Sherlock's bedroom door. 'Lockie? Can I come in?'

'It's open.' Sherlock's reply is muffled. Mycroft opens the door and walks in. he lets out an involuntary gasps at the state of his little brother. He shuts the door behind him and steps over all the debris on the floor to the bed. He helps Sherlock take off his shirt and jacket.

'They're completely ruined.' Mycroft exclaimed as he dumps them on the floor.

'Blame the Pycrofts, not me.'

'What did they do this time?'

'Chased me into the woods while you were talking to Mrs Nelson and Mr Drake in the bakery. Then kept pushing me into brambles and the like.' Sherlock hisses as Mycroft rubs his back with the antiseptic.

'You seem to be relatively lucky. No punches or kicks.' Sherlock arches his back to dislodge Mycroft's hand. With a lot of difficulty and pain he turns on his side so his back is facing away from his brother. In the middle of his abdomen a round bruise has started to form just above Sherlock's belly button. 'Jesus!'

'Where's Mummy?'

'Garage, she's filling the car ready for tomorrow.' Mycroft collapses onto his brother's bed. 'Now I really don't want to leave you.'

'I'm sorry Myc.' Sherlock says softly.

'Why are you apologising? It's my fault I-'

'If I hadn't had that tantrum earlier we wouldn't have gone for that walk and…' Sherlock trails off.

'Yes but I started the conversation with Mrs Nelson and Mr Drake. I ignored you. I left you outside. I failed to notice the Pycrofts watching us.'

'It was all four of them Myc.' Sherlock whispers softly. Mycroft freezes. 'They were expecting you to follow.' Mycroft freezes. Sherlock painfully gets off his bed and takes his jeans off revealing a myriad of bruises covering his skinny legs. Mycroft's jaw drops. 'No punches or kicks, that'll be the day.' Sherlock laughs humourlessly.

'WHO DID THAT TO YOU?' Violet demands as she strides into Sherlock's room. Mycroft and Sherlock spin to look at the door.

'M-Mummy.' Sherlock stutters. Violet stands there with her hands on her hips.

'Well?'

'Umm.' Sherlock looks to Mycroft.

'I'm waiting.' Sherlock's face crumples. Violet reaches out to him and draws him into her embrace. 'I'm sorry baby.' She whispers into his hair. 'Is this why you don't want Mycroft to leave?'

'Yes Mummy.' Sherlock mutters into her chest. Her expression hardens again.

'Croft tell me.' Mycroft drops his gaze to the floor. He sighs.

'The Pycroft boys, all four of them.' He glances up to his mother's eyes before dropping back to the floor. 'They've been making our lives misery ever since the moved here five years ago.' Violet guides her youngest back over to the bed.

'That's why you want out of here?' Mycroft nods. 'And Lockie why you begged for a personal tutor?' Sherlock nods against her chest. 'I'm sorry boys. I should have noticed.' Mycroft puts his hand on her shoulder.

'Mummy, we've been hiding it well.'

'Mr Drake knows.' Sherlock mutters.

'What?' Mycroft says stunned. 'How?'

'When you two went to look at universities. I went into town and Tom and Jerry started taunting me. When they moved onto pushing and shoving Mr Drake pulled me behind him and shouted at them to run off. He made me tell him everything.'

'Why didn't he tell me?'

'I begged him not to.'

Jim stretches in his bed having just woken up; he rubs his eyes and glances at the clock. 10 o'clock, he groans and snuggles back under the duvet. Jared bangs on his bedroom door. 'Jim get up, son.' Jim groans again but louder. 'Get up or I'll pick the lock.'

'It's bolted.' Jim mutters. He pushes his duvet back and rubs his eyes again. He stands and walks over to open the door.

'About time. Jimbo.' Jared pauses and looks at the thirteen year old boy in front of him. 'What time did you get in last night?'

'Two thirty, stupid gits didn't know what they were supposed to do.' He peers up at Jared. 'Remind me why I have to go through this.'

'People respect experience, you can plan all you like but if you don't actually experience the emotions and the on-the-job problem that can crop up.'

'I learnt that all right last night.' Jim grumbles. 'I made them stand guard while I executed the theft.' Jared smirks.

'Your thirteen, they were?'

'Sixty-three between them. Thirty and thirty three.'

'How?'

'Punched Seamus in the throat and Fionn in the stomach. Disarmed them. Made them stand guard.' Jared snorts in distain.

'Your tutor will be here in ninety minutes.' Jim groans but Jared ignores it and walks away

Irene walks along the racks of expensive and revealing clothing looking for suitable items. She pulls out a couple of things and holds them against herself. She looks in a mirror and muses. She shakes her head and puts them back. 'Find anything Rene?' Sophia breezes through the store towards her. Irene shakes her head. 'Shame.' Sophia scans the rack with a practised eye. 'There's usually something. But I suppose there can be one season in which nothing is… hello?' Sophia swoops on a very low cut crop-top further along the rail from Irene. She holds it against herself and turns to Irene. 'What do you think? For the general?'

'Perfect.' Irene grins back. 'Wait.' She dashes over to a different rack and rummages trough it to find a very short mini skirt. The two Adlers put the outfit together and…

'Won't the general be surprised?'

'Especially with those heeled boots.'

'The black ones?'

'The studded ones you bought last week.' Sophia smiles crudely.

'That's me sorted, what about you?' Irene dashes around the shops and in not time at all has a similar but more conservative outfit put together including shoes.

Sherlock helps his mother and Mycroft carry all of Mycroft's things to the car. As Violet closes the boot and Mycroft stows some of the smaller and lighter stuff in the rear passenger seats Mr Drake walks down the drive. Sherlock spots him first. 'Hello Mr Drake!' He calls. Mycroft looks up and Violet

'Good Morning Mr Drake.'

'Mr Drake It's good to see you.' Violet pauses. 'May I ask why you didn't tell me about the victimisation of my sons?' Mr Drake freezes for a second.

'They told you then?'

'Only after I walked in on Mycroft tending to Sherlock's wounds yesterday afternoon.'

'Mummy, I think it's best to talk inside.' Mycroft says nervously. Violet nods and gestures for Mr Drake to enter the house, Violet follows on his heels and after sharing looks Sherlock and Mycroft follow behind.

'Mrs Holmes, I didn't say anything behind young Sherlock was in a great deal of distress,' Mr Drake begins as soon as the door is shut. 'And I didn't want to add to it so I promised. Intending to break said promise if I caught the boys at it again.'

'They made sure that no one could see what was happening after you helped me Mr Drake.' Sherlock interjects

'And kept his face free of injury.' Mycroft adds.

'However, I spotted Sherlock leaping my fence yesterday afternoon and hiding in my garden. No.' Mr drake holds up a hand to stop Violet from interrupting. 'In our talk the other month I told Sherlock that he and Mycroft are welcome to use my premises to hide if the situation were to arise as it evidently did yesterday.' He turns to Sherlock 'I saw that your clothing was in a right state.' Sherlock nods.

'It was completely ruined.' Mycroft intercedes.

'Brambles?' Sherlock nods.

'Their favourite spot, brambles and nettles.' He mutters darkly. 'Near that rundown old house.' Mycroft glances at the clock on the wall.

'Mummy, we should be getting going.' Violet hesitates.

'Violet.' Mr Drake rests his hands on her shoulders. 'I'll stay here with Sherlock. Don't you worry about him for today. Okay?' Violet nods and offers him a small smile. He turns to Mycroft. He reaches into his jacket and withdraws a chunky envelope. 'Here's a little something for you from myself and Mrs Nelson.' He offers to Mycroft but moves it out of his reach. 'Only on the condition that you don't open it until you are settled into your room at University.'

'Understood Mr Drake.' Mr Drake gives the envelope to Mycroft who tucks it into his pocket. Violet and Mycroft leave the house and climb into the car. Mr Drake and Sherlock watch as the car pulls out of the drive and onto the main road. Once the car is out of sight the two of them withdraw to the kitchen.

'What's in the envelope then Sherlock?' Mr Drake asks as Sherlock makes him a cup of coffee.

'Four hundred, two from you and two from Mrs Nelson.'

'Go on.'

'You gave him the condition so he wasn't in a position to refuse the money on account that both you and Mrs Nelson basically live on your pensions. He would say it was too much.' Mr Drake smiles warmly at the boy now sitting opposite him with a glass of milk.

'Now tell me about your experiments.' Sherlock grins and begins talking.