It always seemed to be the most ordinary of days when things happened. One Minute you were sat in your club enjoying a cup of earl grey and a biscuit, the next you had a text to say your little brother had just broken in to a government research facility and just what were you going to do about it? That sort of thing. But out of the ordinary always seemed to come the extraordinary. And then you were unable to forget the boring and the mundane...

It had started out like every other Saturday morning. With Nick sneaking into his room at six thirty. Nick wearing just his pyjama trousers and looking adorable in the early morning light pouring through the chink in the curtains of Mycroft's room. All the older boys had their own rooms. Nick's was next door. Nick had recently had a growth spurt of one and a half inches and was rather proud of his rapidly broadening shoulders and chest hair. Mycroft was still awaiting the development of the five or six red hairs on his chest into the respectable sprinkling he would have as an adult. Nick woke Mycroft up in his usual fashion by launching himself at Mycroft's legs.

"Come on Mikey. Wake up!" Mycroft could feel Nick's early morning erection through the blankets, and felt himself responding. They both knew it was getting closer. That moment. That moment when they would cut the last few strings of restraint holding them back and would belong to each other completely. Mycroft reached sleepily for Nick, feeling his soft bare skin. Tracing his hands across the lines of his back and never wanting to let go. It was risky of course. If they were caught they would be in trouble. Mycroft ran a hand over Nick's belly, he still had a little bit of puppy fat to lose, and slowly inched his fingers into Nick's pyjamas, feeling Nick pushing against his hand. Yes they were so close.

And then there had been the bang on the door.

"Garrideb? I know you're in there you little poof. Leave Holmes alone. Not every one is a deviant like you."

"Buggar off Rickman. Unless you want to join in."

"Just remember you're supposed to playing Badminton later." The voice and its owner stomped off.

Xxx

"Mikey are you coming to watch?"

"Do you want me to?"

"No its fine. Read your book." Nick knew how Mycroft felt about sports. But he couldn't keep the small note of disappointment from his voice.

"I'll just finish this chapter. Then I'll be out."

"Okay." Nick had turned to go, the soles of his trainers squeaking on the floor. Then he had turned back, leaning on the door frame. "Mycroft?"

"Yes?"

"I love you. You do know that right?" Mycroft had nodded but had found himself unable to speak. So he hadn't said I love you back. Because there was time. Time to finish the chapter. Time to go and watch the stupid Badminton game. Time to say everything he needed to say. That he should say.

Xxxx

Half an hour later there had been a knock on the door. Mycroft had typically got so engrossed in his book that he had forgotten about the time, forgotten about Nick's Badminton game. Professor bell stood in the doorway, a tall imposing man with curly white hair.

"Mycroft?" He almost fell off the bed. Professor Bell was very much a Surnames only kind of man.

"Professor." It had to be bad news. Perhaps his Mother or Sherlock. But it would be okay. He'd find Nick and then it would all be fine.

"I'm afraid something has happened. Mr Garrideb collapsed during his Badminton match."

"Is he all right?" Bell probably wanted him to get Nick's pyjamas for him or something.

"I'm afraid not. He's dead." And Mycroft felt his legs buckle under him. All the time he thought they had just ran out. There was no future any more, just past. And the ordinary day had just become extraordinary. The moment burnt into Mycroft's brain, searing itself into his soul like a cattle brand. And then after the burning, he was numb, as though he had been turned to ice.