Pain is a poison

by thestormweaver

Story starts immediately as HLV ends, Sherlock returns to England as all is not well. Neither he or Mycroft is prepared for Moriarty's first move and someone vital to London's Consulting Detective is in the crosshairs. I don't own the characters, those are property of ACD's estate, Gatiss and Mofatt. This is posted on Ao3 where I'm known as Stormweaver.

12. Chapter 12 - Mummy

Quiet had descended on 221B giving Mycroft Holmes a much needed opportunity to sit and think. Molly and Anthea had buttressed themselves into the quiet of John's former bedroom after Molly had claimed several large bowls from Sherlock's kitchen. If the scent of lemon and cucumber was anything to go by, they were attempting to use the time honoured tradition of having a facial to relieve stress.

With a sigh, he crossed the room and sat down in Sherlock's leather chair. Folding his fingers in a manner very similar to that of his younger brother, index fingers lighting tapping the tip of his nose, he focused on the painting of a skull adorning the wall opposite him.

He sat that way, oblivious to everything around him when his phone chirped. Thumbing the call answer button, he drawled, "Yes."

"Mycroft," Mummy'stone was curt, dry and utterly devoid of any warmth. "What have you learned?"

He looked at the stairway, making certain that Molly was still in the bedroom with Anthea, "Evidence to date indicates that either Moriarty or a minion is at play. While Dr. Hooper was a target, she appears to be a secondary one. The primary target was autopsy records."

There was a pause, "Have ties to Moriarty been proven or are they assumed?"

"At the moment, assumed," he admitted and before she had the opportunity to chastise him, remarked, "DI Lestrade has gone with Sherlock to collect the computer from the morgue – we'll have a better idea once we've looked at the records."

"I expect you to keep me informed, Mycroft," she said simply, "Moriarty has twice tried to destroy this family and I won't stand for it, not again. I want to see a copy of that autopsy report when you have it."

"We'll look it over and I'll contact you once we have more information, most likely by text."

"Don't placate me, Mycroft, I'm retired not an imbecile. Send me the report as soon as you get it." With that she disconnected the call and Mycroft was left alone once again with his thoughts. He sat there, alone with his thoughts until Sherlock and Lestrade returned.