Chapter 5

Sherlock's palace was in shambles. The door that had opened had tainted everything. All his careful work keeping sentiment at bay wasted, he still turned out like his father. All the spiteful deductions, all the snide put downs were his version of abuse. Where did his plan go wrong? Mycroft wasn't like this, not to his extent. He had a wife, children and could function in society. How had he escaped his father's shadow. What had he done differently? Was it because he got to escape the worst of it when... no he didn't get to escape it either.

-blink-

10 year old Sherlock, all curls and eyes, sat in the library trying to shut out the sounds of the beating raging next door. When his father came in ready to unleash his anger at anyone and anything. He bellowed at the thin boy. "go next door and take care of that cunt you call mummy!" even at yen knew knew that word and knew that his mother wasn't one.

"she's not one" escaped quietly and that was all it took.

Smack- did you just talk back to you betters?

Smack- smack -smack the blows left Sherlock's head reeling.

Punch- Sherlock doubled over from the pain but not a tear nor sound escaped him.

Wrench- as his shoulder was dislocated, still quiet, his father seemed to just be getting started and was getting angrier by the moment.

"Should fucking kill you!, never wanted a second brat anyway! Not even sure you're mine. Since your Mother-punch-is a whore!-punch-

The last punch pulled a groan from Sherlock. He knew he was dying and he welcomed it but if he survived this … he never let his emotions rule him, he would never let caring turn him into this monster. He would never let fear rule him he would lock that part away. He would have peace. His eyes closed.

In the silence he heard a distinctive -click- he felt his eyes fly open. His mother stood at the door. She looked as bad as he felt. Black eyes, torn dress and bruises everywhere. She was limping but to Sherlock she looked magnificent. Her voice was raw from the strangulation marks on her throat, but her voice was strong

"Step away from my son NOW!" her hand shook from the weight of the gun (where in the bloody hell did my mum get a gun!) "You are not going to hurt us ever again! I will stop you!"

Holmes senior turned nuclear, he gave another swift kick to Sherlock to keep him down and then turned to his wife.

"are you actually threatening me!" He roared the walls seemed to shake with his rage. He took a step toward his wife. "I AM GOING TO KILL YOU AND THIS FUCKING BRAT! YOU THINK YOU CAN...

GASPING Sherlock came to. Scanning the flat he looked liked a trapped animal he grabbed a fag and lit up.

Mycroft looked up from his papers. Grabbing the sandwich that John had left. He went over and sat down next to Sherlock. It's been hours. He held it out to his brother.

Sherlock took the sandwich without complaint and ate silently, collecting his thoughts. Mycroft quietly said "i am hear if you want to talk about it."

Sherlock turned to sneer at his brother but stopped. Mycroft looked different. He was wearing jeans and a button down. He looked approachable, all most human. He opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out.

Finishing his sandwich he cleared his throat and tried again.

"i am sorry Mycroft."

"what ever for Sherlock?!" Mycroft blurted . It was the last thing he expected to hear.

"I was so mad and upset at you when you left to go to school...i felt so abandoned. Then it happened you weren't there till later."

Mycroft didn't leave the flat for 4 days. He did get the fans for the flat, though and two estranged brothers started to rebuild their relationship. John was included most of the time to serve as interpreter for the emotionally challenged. He kept Molly updated as much as possible but he knew Sherlock would have to agree to trust Molly with this. Once again it wasn't his place.