Chapter 4
Thank you so much for your kind reviews they mean so much to me! Please keep them coming I'd really like to know what you think!
Disclaimer
I still own nothing and this still makes me sad!
"John, this would go a lot easier if you would focus," Sherlock pointed out.
"It's a lot to get my head around in a short space of time, cut me a bit of slack Sherlock," John protested.
"Hours after we met you agreed to move into my flat, chase a criminal round London and make a miraculous recovery from your psychosomatic limp yet this is a lot to take in?" Sherlock asked with a smirk.
"Even so, this is still a lot to take in," John argued.
"Fine, what can we do to make you more focused? We can't possibly do this when you are incapable of focusing on anything for any longer than three seconds," Sherlock said wearily.
"Where do you want me to start?" John asked in slight disbelief.
"By telling me what is making you so distracted then we sort it so we can get back to work. I would have thought that was obvious," he answered.
"I'm worried about you. You have told me you have a serious medical condition and are now refusing to talk about it," he said trying to keep the depth of his concern from his voice especially as he noticed the constant slight tremor in his friend's hands.
"You know everything that you need to know .and that I can tell you at the moment. I am hoping the medication change will reduce the seizures again," he said.
"Promise me you will stop hiding it from me and let me try and help," John pressed.
"John, we are wasting precious time! I have already agreed to this so long as you don't fuss, now lets move on, next problem," Sherlock instructed.
John sighed but answered his question. "You don't know what it was like thinking you were dead and thinking that your brother had sold you out like that. I couldn't get the image of you jumping off that roof out my head, it haunts me," he said with a slight shudder.
"I'm sorry about that John but I did what needed doing. I had to keep you all safe," he said hoping this discussion would be over soon he wasn't very good at this sort of thing.
"I think I know what might help," John said eventually.
"Finally! What is it?" Sherlock asked.
"I think we should go speak to your brother. I want to hear it from him, from both of you what happened," John said.
"John, that really isn't necessary, we have too much to do to waste time on my dear brother," Sherlock argued.
"You asked me what would help and this is it," John said calmly.
"Fine but lets make this quick," Sherlock snapped standing. He pulled his coat and scarf on trying to ignore the sickening headache pounding through his skull that was guaranteed to get worse in the presence of his brother.
"Right, you alright?" John asked looking at him.
"Fine, now come on!" Sherlock said. He really didn't need another person fussing over him, yet somehow John's gentle concern didn't feel quite as oppressive as his brothers but still not something he felt totally comfortable with. He was used to getting by on his own, it would take a lot to change that. "John?" he said after a moment.
"Yeah?" he asked zipping up his jacket.
"It's just a headache," he said quietly, almost uncertainly as if unsure if he should be divulging this information.
John looked at him and nodded. "It can be common when they change your medication doses do painkillers work? If they do take them, no point being your usual stubborn self over this and lets face it, if we are going to see your brother, you are going to need the painkillers," John said with a slight smile. He slipped out the room a moment giving him the chance to take the tablets in privacy. Sherlock noticed, John really did under estimate his abilities at times but he was still grateful as he swallowed the two painkillers with some water.
"Right, lets go," Sherlock said buttoning his coat as John came back into the room.
"John, Sherlock what brings you here?" Mycroft asked as they sat in his living room.
"I'm not here by choice, trust me," Sherlock said sitting.
"Then what are you doing here?" Mycroft asked.
"Ask him," Sherlock answered.
"John?" Mycroft enquired.
"I...I want you to tell me what happened. Tell me what Sherlock told you to say. Tell me why you knew what was going on while I was kept in the dark," John stated struggling not to yell.
"Is that it? I thought my brother could have told you all that," Mycroft said quietly.
"I did but seems he would rather hear it from you. He doesn't trust you. It must be all your over the top almost Mafia antics," Sherlock said sounding almost bored.
"Are you really one to comment on over the top antics, dear brother? Mycroft asked mildly.
"Yet it's me he trusts, what can we deduce from that?" Sherlock asked dully.
"I'll leave the deductions to you, seeing as you enjoy that sort of thing," Mycroft said.
"Can we get to the point," Sherlock briskly interrupted.
"What exactly is the point?" Mycroft asked.
"Why you? What was it Sherlock asked you to do? How do I know that you did what he asked and didn't deviate from his plan to suit yourself?" John asked looking at Mycroft. Sherlock kept silent but was amazed at John's loyalty to him.
"My position within the government has certain advantages for my brother. Jim Moriarty is aware of my position and how I tire of my brother's antics and worry about the ramifications it could have on my career," he said with a pointed look to his brother. When he received no reaction he continued speaking. "Naturally he reached out to me when looking to destroy my brother's reputation."
"Didn't Moriarty consider that Sherlock might work out what he was planning, he is known for that afterall," John pointed out.
"Yes, but he never thought I would provide him with the truth. When he got that, he thought he had finally got the better of my brother," Mycroft said calmly.
"You just agreed to all this even although you knew what it would do to him?" John demanded.
"It was the only way.." he began before John cut him off.
"No, no it wasn't the only way!" he argued.
"Yes it was, please let me finish before you start shouting at me. As I am sure Sherlock has already told you he knew what Moriarty was planning and had to stay at least two steps ahead of him. I told him what Sherlock told me to tell him, nothing more. Hard though it may be for you to believe Doctor Watson I do care about my brother," he said quietly.
"Happy now? Can we go now?" Sherlock asked
"Can I not finish my tea first?" John asked also eyeing up the plate of biscuits on the table.
"We have tea at the flat ! Come on John we have lots to, do lets go!" Sherlock said impatiently. This had been delayed long enough there were things to be done.
"Alright," John said sighing. He knew there was no stopping Sherlock when he got like this and he had to admit he was more than glad that he was here for him to be weary of his actions.
"Before you go brother, are you sure you are well?" Mycroft asked looking at his brother carefully.
"I'm fine," Sherlock said crisply as he pulled his scarf on.
"Are you sure, afterall your..." he was instantly cut off by Sherlock.
"I'm fine, I'll be even better when John and I can get back to work," he said refusing to be pulled into the discussion.
"Call mother, she worries," Mycroft called to his brother's retreating back.
"What exactly is your relationship with your mother?" John asked.
"We don't talk very often why were you looking to meet her? Come home for dinner to be introduced?" he asked with a smirk.
"No, no, then people would definitely talk and that isn't the press we are looking for right now," John said.
"Why, are you ashamed of me?" Sherlock responded causing both of them to laugh.
"Sherlock have you told Mrs Hudson you are still alive?" John asked on their way back to Baker Street.
"No, but I will," he said calmly.
"Sherlock! Why haven't you told her?" John demanded.
"She hasn't been here to tell," Sherlock answered.
As they arrived at 221b Baker Street they saw Mrs Hudson arriving back from visiting her sister. "Perfect timing, come on," John said looking to him.
"John..." he began to protest but stopped himself. He knew there would be no way of getting John to concentrate until he had done this. Sherlock paid the driver and headed with John up to Mrs Hudson's flat.
Sherlock knocked on the door while John called out for her. She gasped slightly on hearing his voice the last she had heard he had moved out a while but was still refusing to let her sell the flat. He said he intended to keep paying the rent. She wondered how he had planned on paying two rents but these boys often did things that she would never understand. "Just a second," she called. She opened the door and froze as she took in the sight before her. "Sherlock?" she near screamed in shock.
"Yes now please be quiet! Can we come in?" Sherlock asked already moving closer to her door before she had the chance to shakily nod.
"Thank you," John said as he and Sherlock stepped inside.
"Sherlock what are you doing here? We thought you were...well you know... how are you?" she asked confused. She longed to hug the man before her. She found him insufferably irritating at times yet she loved him almost like a son.
"That doesn't matter Mrs Hudson what does matter is that i'm back," he said evasively.
"How could you do this to us Sherlock? To let us think you were dead you should have seen the state poor John was in. I have rarely seen a man so down," she scolded.
"Yes Mrs Hudson, alright," John said embarrassedly.
She watched the men before her. She had learned long ago that asking questions was pointless even in something like this. She told herself the main thing was that he was alive and well. She looked closely at him thinking he looked a little pale again but he was alive that was what mattered. "Well it is nice to have you back Sherlock," she said not really sure what else to say.
"I was shocked too," John said smiling slightly at her but then where Sherlock was involved he wasn't sure why they were still shocked by his antics.
"Do you want a cup of tea?" Mrs Hudson asked at last.
"No time Mrs Hudson!" Sherlock said.
"What do you mean no time?" she asked before she could stop herself.
"Things to do Mrs Hudson!" Sherlock said kissing her cheek before heading for the door again with John.
"Bye," John said to her as she watched them leave shaking her head slightly in disbelief wondering what they would get up to next.