Soon enough the boys retrieve their bag from the hiding place, though John keeps it close to him, refusing to let the driver or anyone else take it from him, and it sits at his feet inside the car. When they are getting into the car though, Mycroft is on the phone, frowning a little as he speaks to whoever is on the other end. And whatever news he is getting is obviously not good.
"Yes, I quite understand, I will be having a talk with them shortly. We'll see you soon." Mycroft says before he hangs up his phone and looks at the two in front of him, pausing for dramatic effect as he evaluates them. "That was Detective Inspector Lestrade. Can either of you hazard a guess as to why he was calling me? He asks as he looks between them.
While Sherlock looks indifferent and innocent as can be, "You obviously think it has something to do with us, Mycroft, so why don't you just tell us what you think we did?" He asks in a bored tone as he leans back against the seat, glancing out the window for a few moments.
Shaking his head a little at his friend, John looks back at Mycroft. "He's right, you think we've done something wrong, so at least tell us so we know how to defend ourselves." He reiterates as he continues to watch the older man, shifting the bag at his feet.
Mycroft watches the two boys, looking from one to the other for a moment before he focuses on Sherlock. "It appears that someone set off a bomb with a very distinctive stench in Mr. Anderson's office. It went off about ten minutes ago. Apparently it was rather foul." He says as he glances at his phone for a moment, and then he looks up at the two boys. "According to Mr. Anderson, anyone with access to his office would have been able to make such a device, but he believed it was aimed at him as it did not go off until he pulled out his desk chair." he says before he sighs a little. "I understand you were also wandering the building unsupervised for quite some time. This is the sort of prank that I would expect from you, Sherlock. You did more than a mere stink bomb in your first youth, and your disagreements with Mr. Anderson are quite well known. You however, John. I am quite disappointed to know that you may have been involved in this. I thought you were more responsible than that." he says in a scolding, disapproving tone the type that only parents can seem to manage.
Child or adult, that tone combined with thinking about what he did really does get to John, and his shoulders sag a little as he looks down at the floor for a few moments, feeling thoroughly chastised. He knows that maybe he's been a little irresponsible, trying to recapture some of his youth maybe, but it's all been harmless so far, or so he thought.
With a small frown, Sherlock glances at his brother. "Mycroft. You are not related to John, you are not his father nor his brother, you have no right to speak to him like that." he says in a sharp tone as he looks at Mycroft. "It was my idea to play a prank on Anderson since as you said, my dislike for him is rather well known, I felt I needed to take the opportunity to teach the prat a lesson." He says before he waits until they're at a stop sign and then he adds, "I thought perhaps this... event.. had changed something, but it appears not." he says before he gets out of the car, quickly disappearing into the crowd.
"Sherlock!" John yells after his friend, staring at the open door in shocked surprise. He's not sure what's more surprising, that Sherlock just took off like that, or that he abandoned the doctor. Instead of guessing, he glares at Mycroft. "So help me, if he gets hurt.." He mutters, digging into his bag until he gets his gun out, tucking it into the back waistband of his pants before he lips out of the car and heads off in the vague direction that Sherlock went, searching the crowd quickly for his wayward flatmate.
Unfortunately tracking him down is not an easy thing to do, but John has known him long enough to have a vague idea where to go, even if he doesn't have the map of London in his head like a certain consulting detective. What tips him off is the sound of his friend's voice, sounding bored and almost insulted, and then others in return. Quickly, he darts down the alley, mentally berating Sherlock for going into such dangerous places on his own, which was bad enough when he appeared to be an adult, but when he looks to be a kid, it's even worse.
Slowly approaching the corner of the alley where it intersects another alley, John pulls out his gun, holding it in an expert grip with both hands even though his smaller hands are not as suited to it. When he peeks around the corner he sighs a little as he sees two thugs have cornered Sherlock against a wall. They are young, probably still in their teens or just out of it, but they look like gang types. When one of them pulls a knife, John steps around the corner. "Drop it." he says in a flat, dangerous tone while holding his gun up, aiming it at one thug's head.
"Ohhh... lookie there, another midget, and this one thinks he's tough stuff." The taller of the two boys says, turning toward John with his knife in hand. "You shouldn't go through your daddy's stuff, some of it can be dangerous." He says slowly, sounding like he's under the influence of some sort of drug. And when he gets closer to John, the doctor can see his dilated pupils.
"This is an army issue Sig Sauer, and it was not my father's. Yes, it is dangerous, so I suggest you and your friends leave." John says in a cold voice, facial expression not changing when the thug continues his forward motion. Making a decision, John shifts his aim and shoots, grunting when the recoil is harder for him to handle, but he recovers quickly as the bullet just grazes the thugs arm.
Stumbling back and grabbing his arm with a yell of pain, the thug stares with wide eyes at John. "You're crazy, you little shit!" He yells, but he's too freaked out by what he thinks of as an insane kid to move further. "Come on, let's get out of here!" The thugs friend yells, and they both decide that is a splendid idea as they dart out of the alley.
Once John is sure the two are gone, he lowers the gun and shakes one of his hands. "Ow.. bloody hell.. Right. Smaller body, recoil hits harder." He says before he tucks his gun away again and walks over to Sherlock. "You insufferable prat, you left me alone with Mycroft, I've been looking for you for an hour." he says as he gives Sherlock a half-hearted shove, although he is tempted to hit the brunette.
Sherlock stumbles back a step as he looks at John, then nods quietly. "I'm surprised you found me so quickly, John." he says as he looks at the blonde. "And you escaped Mycroft. That's very surprising." He says as he glances around the alley, sighing a little. "I suppose we should go back to the house, I don't fancy eating out tonight, and it's getting a bit late."
Shaking his head for a few moments, John sighs. "Fine.. let's go find a cab to bring us back to the house.. I am not going to deal with Mycroft yelling at us for whatever reason though. We are going home, I am going to take a ruddy shower, and then I am going to get something to eat. And none of that will be happening during a lecturing." He says in a firm tone before he walks to the mouth of the alley, starting to try and hail a cab.
As always, Sherlock steps up to the curb and helps John out, raising his hand and almost immediately a cab pulls up for them. "If that's what you want, John." he reassures, sounding indifferent but wanting to make sure that he doesn't upset his friend anymore. "I'll make sure we get a nice pot of tea, maybe some sandwiches and make it clear we will not be disturbed." He says imperiously as he gets into the cab.
With a firm nod of his head, John gets in as well, looking out the window for a moment. "Good. That sounds.. good." he decides as his mind drifts off a little, ending up with him quickly falling asleep with his head against the window of the cab as they head back out to Holmes Manor.
Smaller filler chapter, and Mycroft reverting to his more jerkish self. He really can't help himself, and he has sort of taken on a parental role over the two since they became young. Don't worry, their struggle between their adult minds and their child bodies will (partially) be over soon! Next chapter will have more stuff resembling plot. :)
Hope you're all enjoying this!
Reviews/comments welcome!