Sorry this is a really long Author's Note,
I just realized that John, himself, has never told anyone about his rules. So...I'm going to change that.
Thank you everyone for your input, I've decided to make Mycroft 'friendly' but that doesn't mean there won't be conflict between John and the politician, scientific purposes of course.
The Mycroft/John story arc will be two, maybe two and a half chapters.
Mycroft's true intentions won't come for another chapter yet, so please be patient.
Also, I'm working on editing pictures (I'm a photographer) as well writing two stories at once.
This fic has gotten over 100 reviews, that just makes me swell with pride, I really appreciate you guys and when I start my other stories, (after this one is finished of course) I will respond to each and every review. There are too many to start with this story.
Also, if you guys have any prompts or plot bunnies, I would be more than willing to write for you.
I love making new friends.
Peace&Love
Sophie
John doesn't make a habit of shopping on his own, not after Mycroft so rudely kidnapped the doctor and threatened to keep him against his will and use John as a tool in the British Government. Yes, the doctor avoids Tesco shopping alone for the sake of his sanity.
As if Mycroft impending presence isn't enough, John especially doesn't make a habit out of shopping alone because of a certain criminal mastermind who has made his his motivations clear and known recently.
However, sometimes life can't account for a stroppy consulting detective who refuses to leave the flat for nonsensical reasons, at least they are nonsensical to John.
The exploding of unsupervised acid couldn't make any less sense, in fact it's the logical thing to do. What is senseless to John is the fact that there is a necessity for exploding acid in the flat, in the first place.
It just gives the doctor two reasons to leave, the shopping and escaping the acid experiment that he will not be cleaning up when it backfires.
The footpaths of London are busy as usual and so John finds himself weaving gracefully, yet lazily, taking his time getting to Tesco, mostly because he knows how busy the shop is going to be and that is something that John is not looking forward too, but also because John doesn't want to come home prematurely to the experiment.
However, for some reason fate, at least when it comes to Mycroft, doesn't like it when John tries to get the groceries, this will be twice now.
John turns the last corner, onto the street that the shop is located and stops instantly, creating a small traffic jam behind him.
"No, honestly, does this man not have a phone." John thinks bitterly to himself and looks around quickly. The politician stands against his black sedan right in front of the very Tesco that John is trying to escape too. Mycroft's stance is non-threatening and even friendly, his face relaxed and welcoming. John isn't placated so easily, all the ex-soldier wants to do is retreat. Irrationally, he scans the area and makes an escape plan, because there is no way he is getting in that car, not after the last time.
"John," The doctor can hear the man's voice clear as day, even though they are still quite a bit away from each other. The tone is a dark contrast to his stance, it's threatening and impatient. John bows his head and starts to pivot, turning back towards the way he came, when a hand clamps on his good shoulder.
The doctor sighs in resignation when he looks up to see the burly, suited man. The hand is gone as quickly as it came and now the two of them look like they are just standing strangely in the middle of the footpath.
John looks to Mycroft again, who is examining his cuticles, with an surrendering huff. Mycroft's goon behind the doctor nudges him, rather gently actually.
The doctor walks hesitantly towards the elder Holmes, who straightens, his eyes beaming like the thought of John complying actually pleases him.
John literally has to resist the urge to vomit.
Finally, the doctor reaches the sedan and glowers at the politician.
"So nice of you to join me." Mycroft says pleasantly, as if he weren't about to kidnap John, in front of Tesco, in the middle of London.
John contemplates briefly about calling for Sherlock, just opening up the connection and making the detective aware of his brother's latest conquest.
Two things stop him,
The first reason is the fact that Mycroft chose not to bring Sherlock into the situation, which he could have easily done by calling upon Baker Street (which the politician also has a habit of doing, kidnapping sedans and unexpected visits, that's Mycroft Holmes). Instead, he chose to abduct John again, seemingly ignorant to the last time when Mycroft took John somewhere against his will. The doctor knows that Mycroft isn't moronic and just like his younger brother, the elder Holmes always has a plan. So why take John in the most threatening way, is it purely out of convenience or is Mycroft setting the hostile and threatening stage for the rest of their chat, and John hopes to god it's just a chat and not imprisonment.
"Would Mycroft do that? After everything that's happened?" John asks himself with doubt.
The politician is obviously trying to not be threatening, he is waiting patiently for John still friendly, if not, a little impatient. "Is the friendlies for me? Or in case of a scene, in front of citizens?" John questions the politician's grounds.
Maybe Mycroft chose this way to 'meet' with him is because the politician is truly not trying to take John away from his life, it truly is the most convenient.
"Couldn't he have done it more civilly." John thinks with resentment, stilling scanning the politician with hidden disgust.
The second thing that stops the doctor, as if the first reason isn't sound enough, is the fact that they don't have a code, or an emotion for Mycroft. "Well, that was stupid of us." John scoffs to himself. Obviously, the oldest Holmes brother is the one they should have been watching out for. How stupid to have a code for Moriarty and not one for the most dangerous man in London.
Suddenly, John becomes frustrated. His mind is reeling and for the life of him can't understand why the elder Holmes insist upon playing John like a puppet in the doctor's own life.
Realising that he hasn't even attempted to the read the man's thoughts, John pushes himself in without hesitation, his frustration, anger and fear of the situation fueling his decision. One thing is for sure, John finds no qualms in reading the politician's mind, even if the man can feel it. For the most dangerous man in the world, John throws his rules out the window.
The doctor, in his new confidence, notices Mycroft's grimace immediately but doesn't stop. Instead, he lets the caramel and chocolate wash over him as he dives into the man's thoughts.
Mycroft's thoughts are fast, like usual. John concentrates hard and actively slows down the rapid thoughts. Images of the Diogenes club comes into view, at least John knows where they are going. The doctor digs deeper trying to find something, anything to gain the upper hand. The connection expands as John continues to hold the thoughts hostage and slow, the tension like a rubber band and the further John digs, the farther the rubber band stretches.
A firm grip on John's upper arm stops the doctor, the fingers digging into his skin with bruising force. The sting of the grip makes John loses his concentration and Mycroft's thoughts snap, sending a slight stab of pain, jolting the doctor before fading away. With John's focus lost, the images pick up their pace and fly by rapidly. John lets them go, somewhat tired by the exertion, he hardly ever uses this much energy when reading someone's mind.
John contemplates keeping the connection open, but a firm look from Mycroft makes John back out, not out of obedience but fatigue. The politician's mind is so intricate and hard to follow, it practically zaps the energy right out of the doctor.
"Get in the car, Dr. Watson." Mycroft commands, breaking John's reverie, his face smiling, but his eyes bright with impatience and anger and his tone holding authority.
It takes everything in John power to not answer the command in the politician's voice. John may be a telepath now and a man who bloody well fears Mycroft but he once was a soldier and the soldier part in him is trying to tear itself away from the disobedient John.
The ex-soldier stays still, looking right at Mycroft, John's face cool and neutral.
"Do you remember what happened last time?" John asks, still catching his breath from invading Mycroft's mind. The doctor keeps his tone slightly threatening but with his usual good-nature. His eyes, however, tell a different story, the icy blue erupt with hesitant defiance and unwillingness to bow to Mycroft's demands.
The politician narrows his eyes, no doubt remembering their disastrous last meeting, he leans closer to John, the doctor holds his ground, letting Mycroft, rather reluctantly and awkwardly, into his space.
"John, I understand this may seem...alarming for you, but you will be getting into this car no matter what." Mycroft hisses and John doesn't have to be a mind reader to know that Mycroft is serious and unfortunately confident and right.
John, very briefly debates dropping Mycroft and his goon to the pavement with calm and sleep. Something stops the doctor, "Yeah that would go over well, Mycroft wouldn't leave them alone ever again if John took that offensive strike."
John's defiance shatters.
In the end, John really doesn't have a choice. He is getting in this car, regardless of the scene, the yelling or the insulting he could possibly do. So, instead of doing either of those previously mentioned, the doctor gets into the car wordlessly, his head held high and his thoughts jumping.
The thing is, John should feel fear, downright terror for getting into this situation again, maybe even anger that he could so easily be persuaded into the government sedan en route to (hopefully) the Diogenes estate. Instead, all the doctor feels is slight apprehension and a sudden longing for exploding acid.
Mycroft enters the sedan just as quiet, sitting opposite John, his eyes smug. The goon shuts the door and places himself in the front seat, next to the driver. The inside is plush and annoyingly luxurious. With a snap of Mycroft's fingers, a black, soundproof barrier slides up, effectively cocooning the two men in the backseat.
John glares at the politician, refusing to speak but keeping menacing eye contact.
"John. Can you pick up some more cleaners?" Any other day, that thought would have caused annoyance and fear but the detective has been strangely absent this entire time and John welcomes the sudden impression of Sherlock on his brain, not to mention the probable acid spill is the least of his worries at the moment. He instantly opens up to the comforting connection whilst he continues to glare at the elder Holmes, the two of them locked into a sort of staring contest that John never wanted to be involved in, ever.
John decides to send a wave of contentment to the detective, while the sedan remains silent. John doesn't dare reach for his mobile, even though it's been burning a whole in his pocket the entire time.
Part of the doctor wants Sherlock to know that he is with Mycroft and that he may or may not be in danger but for the most part is fine.
Eventually, John gets bored, yes bored, and breaks the eye contact, he turns to the tinted windows and looks out onto London. His mind twitching with questions and thoughts, panic raising slightly as the streets becoming unfamiliar and the day grows darker.
"He's not going to let me go this time." John can't get the idea out of his head, the fear that Mycroft will keep the telepath for himself and use John for government purposes.
"Why would he let me go last time just to go back on his word." The doctor tries reasoning with himself, even though numerous arguments dissuade John's thoughts.
Sherlock being the number one reason. Yes it would be unbearable for the politician if the youngest Holmes interjected himself into Mycroft's life, trying to find John, trying to avenge John. But considering the advantages of using someone who can read minds, one, lanky six foot Sherlock Holmes is a rather small downside, one the politician could decide to ignore for the greater good of the government or, maybe, Mycroft's own selfish needs.
John shakes his head, trying to dispel thoughts. For know he would just have to wait and see and in the mean time try not to get Sherlock wound up.
"John, what's going on?" Sherlock pieced together the contentment, knowing immediately that John is in some sort of situation, because contentment is code for "I'm fine. I'm not hurt."
Not the correct answer for agreeing to pick up more supplies.
John just sends contentment again.
"It's not Moriarty," John holds in his huff of annoyance and sends a wave of happiness and then lets his annoyance shine into Sherlock.
"Mycroft." Looks like they found a code for Mycroft after all. John actually snorts while sending the happy yes to Sherlock.
"Something funny?" The politician's voice echoes in the backseat. The doctor glances over to see the quizzical expression of Mycroft. John doesn't answer and continues to stare out the window, waiting for their destination.
"Sherlock will not be able to interrupt us this time." Mycroft says conversationally, his words alarming but the tone is not, it's nonchalant and small, an attempt to appear as less threatening as possible
John scowls out the window incredulously, "What, are we just going to circle London in the car until I talk to you?" John questions huffily. When silence answers him, John turns his head to the politician. "We are aren't we?"
"Yes." is Mycroft's simple answer and John's face drops.
How is going to communicate that to Sherlock? There isn't an emotion for driving endlessly around London with his boyfriend's crazy brother in charge.
Actually there is, an emotion that is, annoyance, pure unadulterated vexation. However, John couldn't convey that because that's already the emotion for Mycroft in general, not to mention how would the detective put two and two together, he's brilliant, but not that smart.
"Fantastic." John mutters petulantly.
"Where are you?" Sherlock thoughts are calm and collected but John can feel and see the panic as the detective whirls around the apartment, flashes of coats and pacing passing between the couple.
John sends confusion and irritation, hoping to give the idea to the detective that they, Mycroft and John, cannot be found.
"Mycroft," John starts exasperated, "Why am I here?" John slides away from the window and turns to face the politician, maybe this time they can be civil. John snuffs at the thought of Mycroft being accommodating, let alone civil.
At least, if John talks they can hurry it along and John can return to Baker Street.
"I only wish to talk, John." Mycroft states, raising a surrendering hand, John's pose a little more defensive then normal. John huffs and crosses his arms across his chest.
"You have a mobile, we could have arranged a meeting," John sneers, clearly annoyed.
"That's not how I work." is Mycroft's simple answer and John, surprisingly, accepts it.
"Yes, your right, dramatic kidnappings and theatrics are more your style." John says snidely, looking the politician straight in the eye.
"Are you at the Diogenes Club?" John, without alerting Mycroft, sends a wave of unhappiness towards the detective.
John sits, waiting. "What do you want to know, Mycroft?"
"Everything." The politician responds, and John is instantly propelled back to when he was telling Sherlock about his gift. Mycroft is as eager now, just as Sherlock was then.
"Are you at the first manor? The second house?" John sends two independent waves of unhappiness.
"Let's start with the rules?" Mycroft asks, and for the first time, he is hesitant, asking for permission rather demanding. "You mentioned them before."
"Are you at his office?" Sherlock's thoughts are panicking as the list of the places John could be grows shorter. John sighs, resisting the urge to shake his head in response. He sends another wave of brief unhappiness, indicating his no. "Where the bloody hell are you?" John can see, through Sherlock's thoughts, the detective literally pacing on the pavement of some street.
John exhales with resignation.
"Rule 1?" Mycroft encourages, the first time he has showed any sign of humanity. This just makes the man more bloody terrifying.
So what did you think?