CHAPTER 39. EXTENT

"Then why are you here Mr. Holmes? Is your brother needing to be committed again?" The dark haired woman turned to face the tall man's grayish green eyes.

"Oh, Doctor Bales we have a family physician now that takes care of all necessary paperwork."

"Then what?" The older woman narrowed her eyes, adjusting her hornrimmed glasses.

"I was only concerned for the Doctor's well being. Perhaps working a busy A&E wasn't such a great idea."

"Mr. Holmes you know what they say about the road to hell being paved by good intentions?"

"Glass houses Doctor, glass houses." Mycroft answered in his usual bored tone.

"Tell me Mycroft why are you suddenly so concerned with the young man? Hasn't he been through enough? Why are you here? It's not because you dont want to upset mummy because Mrs. Holmes has been gone for a while now. I seem to remember about that time you committing your brother to rehab. I think you have forgotten I was there when that little hospital scene played out. Always wondered where Sherlock's little babysitter had gone to, thought you might have disappeared the poor boy and buried him out in some desert. After seeing his employee file, turns out I was close enough. Now I think you should know, I consider myself clear of owing you any more favors. Whatever you have planned, I wont be apart of it."

"Doctor Bales always the humanitarian. Since when have you grown a conscious, I seem to remember you had no objections to my family paying you for all services rendered. I'm sure some of that money has even benefited your grand children's university fees. And did you not put to use the money my family so charitably donated to this hospital. That said Doctor Bales I think you've convinced me working here is a good place for the Doctor Watson. I'll be checking in every once and a while and you'll be happy to find newer equipment donated to your lab here next week. Have a wonderful night Doctor Bales. Sleep well." Mycroft smiled and with a quirt nod, he took his leave, Doctor Bales hadn't failed to notice the smile never reached those cold gray eyes.

The Holmes family was an interesting bunch, how the hell did John Watson ever get mixed up with that lot? Poor kid.

Up until a few weeks ago she thought she truly had seen the last of Mycroft Holmes. Unfortunately he'd appeared in her office two weeks back offering her a donation of significant size. Remembering the last time the man had come into her life she knew that there were definite strings attached.

She didn't know what to expect when he claimed that his only wish was for her to contact the local clinic and ask Doctor Sawyer if she had any extra hands to send her way.

Yes her hospital was short handed, so it wasn't something she didn't already need, then Sarah had sent her Doctor Watson and two other doctors to be interviewed.

She should have recalled his name, but the years had stretched her memory, and it wasn't until she met up with the young man that she recognized him.

It was a different system back when she first started out as a medical resident, a system that allowed too many children to slip through the cracks. Now the laws were stricter and less lenient. People then were more apt to look the other way especially if the child's only parent was a decorated veteran, temper be damned.

Back in her early residency she had come across the young man, instantly having her suspicions.

Suspicions that lead her to fill out reports and make inquires to child services. Only the over worked child services liaison had gone to the Watson house and found it clean, nothing out of the ordinary, and upon questioning the neighbors they had nothing ill to say about the Watson's. It had taken further urging of Doctor Bales for the old grouchy liaison to speak to the boy's school.

The boy's teachers had expressed the child's talent in sports, and academics. Sure they'd reported injuries and bruises but nothing that wasn't explained away as normal childhood tumbles and rambunctious boys clumsiness. No one would listen and she knew that the system would fail this young man, it had frustrated her then. Even more so was the unwillingness for anyone to help the boy and his rebellious wayward sister, Mrs. Coleen Harrington child liaison, was an old school believer in spare the rod spoil the child. So nothing would be done.

Then came Mycroft Holmes and a deal with the devil was struck and once a deal with the devil is struck you are forever in his pocket. And the devil went to any extent to keep control of what was his.

~0~

Mycroft thought the woman was always so overly dramatic, he'd only ever had good intentions when it came to his brother and by extension his brothers only friend John Watson.

When he learned that the doctor was looking for employment he thought it best for the Doctor to work at a busy A&E instead of just another locum clinic doctor. The man needed to be active to stay busy, and feel needed. It was a full time job keeping an eye on Sherlock and now his flatmate, so much so he had assigned several agents to it. Then he received a call alerting him to Doctor Watson's injury. Really the man was just as bad as Sherlock, it's like trouble and men with knives, explosives and guns just happened to gravitate towards the two. This made the British Government yearn for the old days when it was bully's, garden walls and tree's, he had to worry about.

And how dare that woman bring mummy into this. Sure much of what he did was to keep mummy from being upset, but he did care for his brother and he worried about John Watson. Tonight was a prime example of why he constantly worried.

Mycroft walked steadily down he Hospital corridor he paused hearing that officer fellow, the same the Doctor had patched up a month ago. Mycroft could almost forgive the fool, seeing how he took down this knife-wielding assailant.

"He'll be back wont he?" the young red haired boy was asking, his arm in a sling.

"I wont let him come back Matt you'll be safe. They are going to keep you over night, after you have surgery."

"I want to go home."
"You cant just yet." The officer was trying to explain.

"Well can I go home with you?" the young boy mumbled.

"Now the nurse is going to take you to a room to rest and we'll get some things sorted alright?" the boy nodded.

Mycroft watched the boy being lead away, the young officer was asking the liaison if he could take him on. Explaining that he and his wife had adequate room, she was a business owner.

Mycroft had run a background check on the young man after the Russian incident, he liked to have information on everything. One could never be too careful, so he knew the young man was correct. He may be young but his grandfather had left them a house he only paid property tax for, instead of rent the mans wife Gloria worked at her family owned Bakery a rather popular bakery in London he would know of course being a fan of their Battenberg cake. He watched the young boy square his shoulders holding his head up he allowed the nurse to lead him gently down the hall.

Mycroft felt the past start to pull on his memory and he made a quick phone call.