CHAPTER 11. HINDSIGHT

Mycroft didn't have time to be looking over a certain soldiers medical discharge papers, or therapist notes that his blackberry carrying PA had acquired. Still, there he was doing just that, the Doctor would have to leave the invalid home soon, his therapist suggest he move in with his sister. Doesn't look like that was an option the Doctor cared for, he had an intermittent tremor and PTSD, Mycroft continued to scan the notes and the man's service record.

He should not feel guilt, he offered the younger man a way out. His family had been very generous in the past. Mycroft had made sure those scholarships went to John Watson, father agreed that it would be best to keep John and Sherlock together, knowing his brother's self destructive personality, and then his sudden interest in drugs.

John had discovered this faster than anyone in the family, he'd come straight to Mycroft, Sherlock felt betrayed at first but agreed to rehab. That was the first time, but he still maintained a habit until recently. Something Mycroft was keeping an eye on, all this and juggling this whole Moriarty problem. He didn't have the time to deal with an ex army doctor, who would refuse any help he or his brother would offer.

No, John was not his problem, Sherlock was hard enough to keep in line. Still he sat back remembering that first summer that Sherlock hadn't been underfoot starting fires from experiments gone wrong, harassing the house staff with frogs, rats and birds he'd brought into the house for yet another experiment.

It seemed the days that John Watson came to visit were the quieter days at the Holmes estate. Mycroft remembered the first encounter in which he offered John Watson monetary compensation, or rather incentive to keep Sherlock company. Astonishingly enough it would be the first time among many that the younger man would refuse to take any kind of payment for his troubles, irrational and foolish.

The British Government closed the file again, pushing it aside, he refused to waste anymore time on this. He should have let father separate the two, this mess would have been avoided. In fact towards the end of that summer, Mycroft learned just how much the young John Watson kept Sherlock in line.

~0~

Mycroft hadn't been happy with the plane incident he and a group of his acquaintances had put a wager on things to see whose plane could go higher, yes a childish game and below Mycroft's station, but the son of a certain board member liked this hobby. Mycroft knew he would need to move people like chess pieces. To do this he first needed to be in a position on the board, to come into play. And Sherlock almost made him a fool by switching the controls of the plane, luckily Mycroft caught on a faster than his brother would give him credit for.

First he'd have a sit down with his brother, it was then he was greeted by a very perturb nanny and another five servants had quit, the butler was more than ruffled and Mummy was refusing to leave her room. Mycroft had arranged for a trip to the beach hoping the sunshine would bring their mother out of this depression, knowing he wouldn't have to go along if John agreed to accompany Sherlock and mummy. Besides the few instances mummy had met the other boy, she'd taken a liking to his easygoing personality. At least he had manners, yes, Mycroft decided he would make the necessary arrangements. But first to find his brother.

"Sherlock."

"Piss off Mycroft you're not my dad I don't have to listen to you. Stop trying to boss me around!" the six year old crossed his hands over his chest, he'd been sitting under a tree pouting.

"Brother. Cursing is not very becoming. And it is the language of the witless. You could do better I think."

"Shut up Mycroft. Shouldn't you be off with your new friends?"

Mycroft took a deep breath. "Where is your little companion, I haven't seen him in a few days." Mycroft caught how his brother's shoulders sagged he shrugged. "Did you two fight?"

"No. I don't think so. He was fine a couple days ago. But he hasn't come since; I went to his house but his sister, nothing at all like John. But then again, we can give praise that we aren't our sibling's likeness."

"Sherlock-"

"Well, I asked her if John was home, I had Royce take me, she said he was sick. But-"

"But?"

"I know she was lying. She told me to 'get lost'. I would have called him but I don't have his number." Mycroft sighed heavily; his plans would be ruined if his brother's normal minder wasn't around. Mother would never be able to handle a week at the beach with Sherlock, the nanny would definitely quit. He would go and find out what was wrong, surely whatever his brother had done could easily be rectified, John Watson was a reasonable boy. For his sake, Mycroft thought darkly he better be.

"Stay out of it Mycroft." Sherlock growled reading his brother's face easily. And Mycroft looked at his younger brother, offering him a tight smile, "Oh, I could care less brother. I have better things to do. Now you apologize to Agnes, and whatever you've done to ruffle Royce you rectify it. "

"Make me." Sherlock tried to stand up straighter to meet his taller brothers eyes. Mycroft pinched the bridge of his nose closed his eyes tightly silently counting to ten before speaking.

"Do not make me tell mummy, you know how this would upset her."

"Fine." Sherlock grumbled marching off irritably.