BIT OF BAD LANGUAGE IN THIS BIT GUYS- BE WARNED... IT GETS ANGSTY AGAIN :/ AS YOU MAY HAVE GUESSED FROM THE ENDING OF THE LAST CHAPTER.7

If I Could Turn Back Time

"Good morning Mycroft... John" Sherlock muttered without looking up from the cup of tea he was stirring. Sure enough his flat-mate and his brother were staring at him from the sofa. John a face like thunder, eyes dark and threatening, Mycroft with his cool expressionless stare. Sherlock turned and returned their stares, stony faced. The silence remained, the three men in a showdown, eyes flickering between them.

"It's clear you want to say something you two... so go ahead" he sniffed, taking a sip of his tea. John ground his teeth.

"Sherlock... how could you?" he whispered, the quiet words overshadowed by the obvious anger in his voice. Sherlock surveyed him coolly, taking another slow sip of his drink.

"How could I... what John?" he replied. Mycroft looked at his brother. Typical Sherlock, the barriers are up again. John however having never truly experienced emotional Sherlock was unaware of this character quirk. His back rose like a jested cat and he hissed through his teeth.

"You know what Sherlock! You took advantage of Karen" he snarled, his face turning redder by the second. Sherlock remained stony faced.

"John... as much as it surprises me at your concern for Karen; I must suspect your motives. It doesn't have anything to do with your recent split with the lovely Sarah does it?" he asked his voice laced with implications. John remained silent. Sherlock not content with this raised a finger, and looked at his friend questions in his eyes.

"Jealous are we? As you lose a girl, I get the girl?" he hissed cruelly. John jumped to his feet fists clenched, stopped only by a hand on his chest from Mycroft.

"John settle down... He gets like this... all part of you sociopathic charm huh Sherlock?" Mycroft said, voice calm and collected but with a sarcastic undertone to his voice. Sherlock merely glared at him.

Mycroft stood up, one hand still on John's shoulder stopping the quivering doctor from leaping on his brother.

"Which begs the question Sherlock, how you allowed yourself to get attached to this girl... don't say you're not Sherlock, your more than aware I've been watching you" he said as Sherlock opened his mouth to protest.

"I am protesting Mycroft... you know I'm unable to form attachments" he muttered. Mycroft laughed.

"And yet somehow you managed with... Karen, wasn't it?" he said her name like it was a deadly disease, ignoring the fact that not only had he met the girl a few weeks previously, he had actually liked her, although there was no way he would be telling this to anyone. Sherlock pinched his nose with his thumb and forefinger.

"Mycroft! Why must you always meddle... yes I slept with her, yes she's still lying in my bed and yes she was upset last night but if you must know she made the first move not me... Don't look at me like that John; I know what happened the night Sarah's cat died "he snapped at an aghast looking John, who immediately flushed bright red.

"Ah-but-you-Sherlock! That's not the point! And there is a slight difference between someone's pet dying and someone taking advantage of someone who was kidnapped and tortured." He snapped the redness in his cheeks now from anger.

"And you!" he screamed, turning on Mycroft finger pointing at his chest.

"Where were you when she was being kidnapped? Mr keeping an eye on his brother... would it have killed you for once to step in and help? You could have stopped it you complete and utter bastard!" he shouted hysterically. Sherlock bristled with anger.

"John! Don't you dare talk to my brother like that!" he snapped at his friend, in an uncharacteristic tone. John flinched and rounded on him.

"You're just as bad! You dragged me and Karen into this! Moriarty wouldn't have gone after her if it wasn't for you! She would have been fine if she was with me!" he snarled. Sherlock let out a sigh of realisation, he laughed, shaking his head.

"Oh and now we get to the crux of the matter. Is the real problem that I took advantage of Karen or the fact that she didn't take solace in your bed?" John howled and jumped forward, trying to strangle Sherlock. Mycroft jumped up simultaneously and held a yowling John and taunting Sherlock apart.

"YOU DONT LOVE HER! SHE'S JUST A DISTRACTION TO YOU! SHE'D BE BETTER OFF WITH ME!" John screamed from behind Mycroft's chest.

"Sure... she'd be better off with the failed army doctor, prone to nervous breakdowns and nightmares, than someone who will fulfil all her needs even though he can never truly feel what she feels!" Sherlock all but screamed. John and Mycroft however had stopped tussling and were staring behind Sherlock.

"Sherlock..." Mycroft whispered. Sherlock however was oblivious to this as he was in full rant mode.

"And yes... she could be considered a distraction, I mean sure I have no cases and I have nothing to do, and I was bored witless- oof!" he exhaled, as something collided into the back of him. Sobs were echoing from behind him.

"You disgusting-FU-PIG!" the person attacking his back sobbed. Sherlock span.

"Get off!" he shrieked, practically throwing the person off him. Karen collapsed before him, cradling her cheek where she struck the table. Her mouth was open and sobs were shaking through her body. Sherlock paled.

"Oh..." was all he could manage. Karen slowly got to her feet. Sherlock reached a hand out pitifully whispering her name.

"You... you... YOU BASTARD!"She screamed and punched him squarely on the nose. The sound ricochet around the silent room. She glared at him, watching the blood begin to pore from his nose. Sherlock clutched his nose, groaning.

"A distraction... Is that all I was to you? I fucking loved you!" she sobbed, fresh tears peeling down her cheeks, before turning on her heel and fleeing from the flat. Sherlock collapsed where he stood tears mixing with the blood flowing down his face.