CHAPTER 30. LITTLE BROTHERS

"Let him be Mycroft. He's learning a valuable life lesson."

"Father?" Mycroft turned to look at his father.

"He is learning he cant always say what's on his mind. One must learn when deducing to keep the information for later use. Your brother seems to spill out everyone's secrets without a regard of who it humiliates and angers. When he could really use such things against those that would oppose him."

"Father it's school not politics." Mycroft stood in the foyer his eyes lingering at the top of the staircase where his younger brother had mechanically escaped to. Mycroft had seen the bruises, his brother wouldnt even greet him or father, Rodeny said he was quiet the whole ride from the train station.

"That's what school is really, just on a lesser scale. Boys are much like countries, the bigger ones will always bully the smaller ones. Either you alley yourself with other more well known and powerful countries, or you stand and fight until those who threaten you back down. Your brother unfortunately has yet to figure a strategy out." Mycroft winced inwardly, his brother didnt think a long these lines,he wasnt like that. "Forget about the bothersome little anomaly, tell me about the friends you 've made. And what clubs you've started."

Later after father was called away to the take an important phone call, Mycroft slipped away to find his younger brother.

"I wont be you Mycroft." The dark haired boy was standing by his window overlooking the garden, he held his violin in his hands, not meeting Mycroft's gray eyes.

"No, I suppose you wont be. Father is always going to be father, I will always be me and you-"

"Will always be just a freak." He sighed heavily.

"Anyway I'm surprised to see you up here, it's only half past noon. Have you and Mr. Watson ended your friendship? I half expected him to be here already." A sad attempt at changing the subject he knew it but still, he had nothing else he could say, comfort was never a strong point in any Holmes, well except mother but she was 'away' at another hospital. "How is the young man? I had heard his aunt came to stay with him and his sister at the end of summer."

"Yes, his father had to go away on business for a while longer, he was sick."

"Oh, I hope it wasn't serious." Mycroft sat on his brothers neatly made bed, Sherlock had yet to unpack his case.

"Mycroft don't placate me. I know his drunkard father had to go to rehab." The younger boy just gave a shrug, turning to look from the window to his older brother. Mycroft could see a cold hurt in his brother's eyes.

"Well, I'm sure John will be around. He's your assistant after all."

"Just leave me alone Mycroft. Go be with father in his study." The older boy wanted to say more but couldn't find the words. The rest of the day his brother refused to come down or leave his room, it ran into two more days. On the third day, their was a commotion in the foyer.

"Where is he?" a young boys voice demanded.

"Mr. Watson-." The butler started.

"Oh, I know he's off for winter holidays. I just want him to say it to my face." This disturbance naturally brought Mycroft out of the study where he had a hot cup of coco and a newspaper sitting in a comfortable chair near the fire.

He immediately recognized John Watson, who really hadnt grown to much in the few months, he looked thin again, but no bruises lined his face just flushed cheeks from the biting wind. He removed his hoodie the snow on his shoulders, Mycroft didn't think his coat was suitable for the elements even with his brown hoodie under the thin black jacket.

"John I hope you didn't walk, the weather is just dreadful out." The younger boy flashed those blue eyes on Mycroft, and the teenager read challenge.

"Did you put him up to this?" he shook a paper in his red hands.

"John?" Mycroft took the wrinkled paper.

"I want him to tell me to my face." John stubbornly huffed. Mycroft read over the letter in shock.

John, I believe it is about time to terminate our association. We are completely incompatible as friends. I will not waste your time to explore the issues or reasoning any further. I haven't the patience and nor you the intellect. Any other correspondence will not be answered only returned promptly unopened or recognized. So I will now say goodbye. –Sherlock Holmes.

"Oh forget it. He's up in his room is he? I know the way." John marched past the older Holmes like a soldier heading to battle. Rodney moved to intercept the young boy but Mycroft put a hand up to halt such action. Sure he wished for such an ill advised friendship to last but clearly something was wrong. He didn't like to see his brother upset, perhaps it was because he reminded him of mummy when she was in such dark moods. So he waited until John was almost at the top of the stairs before he followed.

"John, oh. Why are you here? I thought I was completely clear in my letter." Sherlock greeted his friend in a bored tone. Mycroft could see that Sherlock remained at the window holding his violin, refusing to turn and acknowledge his only friend.

"No actually you weren't. Do you want to explain it to me? Please. Seeing how my intellect is so beneath yours? Did you make some new friends at your fancy school? Cant be seen hanging out with some State School kid?"

"I don't have to explain myself John Watson."

"The hell you don't." Mycroft stood unnoticed in the dark hall, he went unnoticed as the door to his brother's room was just slightly closed. He could see Sherlock with his back to John still standing at the window. John was starting towards his brother. And Mycroft was ready to intercept if he meant any physical harm.

"Go away John. You do know the way out."

"Oh. No. You don't get to brush me off that easy. The least you can do is look me in the eye and tell me why we cant be further associated Mr. High and Mighty. Was it your father or beak face? Your-your new friends?" John's voice dropped down. Mycroft touched his nose wondering who beak face was.

"Sherlock?" he was whistling now, a hand cupped the younger boys chin. "Ouch. That's a pretty good shiner. Not as impressive as the one I had over the summer but it's noteworthy."John received a shrug in reply and the younger boy tried to take a step back pulling out the hand holding his chin. "You dont wanna talk about it?It's Fine." The blond removed his coat and hoodie, he wore a maroon jumper beneath it, he sat down with a bounce onto Sherlock's bed with a heavy sigh. Sherlock glared at him disapprovingly, John ignored this pulling at his maroon jumper."Don't you dare snicker, my aunt made this for me. I didn't have a choice but to wear it." To Mycroft's surprise his brother turned away to hide a grin.

"Alright, well if you aren't going to talk I'm not leaving. So out with it genius."

"Why do you want to know so badly?"

"Why not? I'm owed it. I mean didn't I help you investigate that old abandoned bees nest. I almost fell and broke my neck getting it down."

"Well no one told you, and I said I would get it."

"Oh yeah, so you could break your neck?" the blond was leaning back onto Sherlock's bed his feet hanging over the side. "Come on. You know I wont just let this go. Besides it's kind of a long cold walk, so I'd like to know before dark." No answer. "Well this is a turn up. I was going to see if you wanted to build a snow fort. But, I can see you're happy just sulking."

"Why are you my friend John?"

This caught Mycroft as well as John off guard, his brother was looking even more vulnerable it was so out of character. To John's credit he sat up looking thoughtful.

"Well I don't know. That's a good question." Sherlock shook his head.

"I thought so." the younger Holmes sounded defeated and for once he looked his age.

"Hey, I didn't even say anything, so let me finish. You're my friend cause you make me laugh, you're brilliant. You have all the fun adventures. We can sit quietly without a word to each other and it's fine. You never ask me questions about my-about my dad or sister." It was Johns turn to lower his voice."I don't know. I cant really explain it but I like hanging out with you. I've never had a little brother. I expect this is what it would be like. Why are you asking?"

"Well some of the boys in my class said that I'm a-freak and they say-"

"Well what do they know?" John was suddenly on his feet in the defensive, "Obviously they're jealous of you being smarter than them, really what do they like to do in their free time fly kites and play footie? You can take apart a kite and make it fly higher. Huh." He nudged the younger boy.

"Well I thought with you starting school and joining the rugby team and-"

"and?"

"That you would have enough friends."

"Sure. I have friends Sherlock. But I've only got one best friend you dolt. And don't you know best friends don't ever get traded in, once you're a best friend it's until death. I will swear on my favorite jumper to it." Mycroft watched his brother start to smile.

"Hopefully not that one John."

"What, but this one is fastly becoming my favorite." he gave his friend a soft shove.

"It's hideous."

"I know. I had to wear it, to appease my aunt."

"You're correct John they're idiots. I hate them all. Even the teachers are dim."

"Well, I'll say one thing they're lucky I'm not going to school with you, I wouldn't be letting them push you around." Sherlock smiled brightly. "Now, if we are done being girlie and stuff I say we take advantage of all the untouched snow out in the gardens and build a fort we can ambush the unsuspecting groundskeeper. And maybe after we can teach you how to properly fight. Take it from me, I've been in more than my fair share of scraps. So I'll give you some pointers. Don't they at least teach you to box in that school?"

"I never really gave it much thought."

"Well, maybe you should, you know fighting can come in handy. When words fail."

"Interesting theory John."

"Go get your warm coat, you'll need boots and some gloves."

"You don't have gloves." Sherlock protested.

"I don't need them. I'm older than you."John smiled easily.

"John, age does not make you superior your circulation is the same as mine, and seeing how we are the same size the elements would affect me the same as you."

"Fine professor. Got an extra pair?"

"Do you think your aunt will let you stay the night." The younger boy gave a tight smile. "Oh, I don't think she'll mind."

"Then it's settled."

Mycroft had to move out of the way before he was seen, later he stood in fathers study looking out over the gardens, his brother was standing with his small fists up as if ready to take a swing.

"Oh, I see your brother is still indulging that boy." Mycroft didn't answer his father moved away from the window.

"Father, it maybe advantageous if maybe they attended the same school."

"Surely you're not saying that I take your brother out of a prestigious school to attend some state-"

"No father. Rather the complete opposite. You see how Sherlock is, his teachers no doubt are at their wits end. Perhaps if he had someone to keep an eye on him. Perhaps rein in the boys reckless impulses, it would be easier on your pocket book as well as the Headmasters nerves."

"I see what your saying." Of course he did, the man only ever understood money or power. "What do you propose?"

Mycroft turned from the window and poured his father another brandy, "Well you could either have Sherlock tutored at home. Or I suggest a scholarship program. Something discrete, and –"

"Mycroft what could we possibly hope to gain from this alliance?"

"The boy father, this John Watson I've looked into him. He has good marks in school, is on the rugby team yes despite his size, he's honest and determined. If you asked the boy what he wants to become he will tell you a Doctor. It would do our reputation perfectly well to be associated with a skilled surgeon. After all there are countless heads of state, politicians and military generals who employ a private physician. " Mycroft knew it to be a stab in the dark but he had nothing else. His brother was miserable and Mycroft couldn't be there to protect him surely he could be allowed just one friend.

"You think this boy-"

"I am only saying father. Isnt it worth a few pounds in tuition to keep the Headmaster out of your hair, Sherlock from causing more trouble and mummy in her fragile state, she wouldn't be upset hearing her precious baby came home next with broken bones. You did say it is a game of alliances and strategy."

His father took another drink of brandy Mycroft was sure to pour more into his glass.

"I want to meet this boy, this John Watson. Then I will judge him myself. Of course we cant let your brother know he'd be against it. All I need is for him to act out even more."

"OF course father. I'll arrange it."

"What of the boy's family?"

"You know these types father I'm sure they would be more than happy to have son go away to a prestigious school on a scholarship. They wont be a problem."

~0~

Mycroft didn't tell his brother about his plans to have John go to his school. Instead he went through other lines, he had a friend contact another friend who worked with the schools, they pulled John from his class and offered him a chance. Describing the scholarship program he could join, he needed to write an essay and if he was picked he would be given a chance at a better education. Of course it meant he would be away form home and only to return on holidays.

The younger boy nearly snatched the envelope from the woman's hands. Mycroft of course read over the essay himself, it was well written, John actually had a talent for words. He described his wish to become a doctor and to help people. If anyone else would have been competing against the boy Mycroft knew John would have won. And he was later sent an acceptance letter, Mycroft of course hadnt said a word to Sherlock, and from the correspondence he knew John hadnt said anything in case he didn't get it, so as not to give his brothers hopes up.

After that John Watson and Sherlock Holmes were joined at the hip and the rest was history.