Simple Addition (Mycroft Holmes)

Minus One

I don't remember warning you guys but this is a sad story...

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She's had three servings of chips dipped in vanilla ice cream and two smoothies since... dinner last night. Considering the massive vegan breakfast Anthea made her, she thinks it evens out on the health scale. Standing in the chilly drizzle outside, curled into a raincoat and munching on a chocolate bar, Dani looks up from the body before her as Sherlock slips under the police tape.

He stops and stares and she knows immediately than he can see her shirt is fitting a little differently and the breakout on her forehead is not from stress. She hasn't told the crew yet but trust Sherlock to do that for her. She shrugs and lets him, figuring it gets it out of the way. Waving him forward, she takes another bite of the chocolate. She's not even hungry, why is she eating?

"It's disturbing to think you willingly decided to procreate with my brother." Sherlock says on his way to her. Movement in the small crime scene stops. Everyone turns to her. "How is brother dear taking the change in his status?" Sherlock tilts his head and shoots her a teasing smile.

She shrugs. "He's considering leaving me? But your mum says he's a git and he'll probably spoil the child with its own library so..."

"Wait." John shakes his head and holds up a hand. "You're pregnant?!"

Sherlock, rolling his eyes, scoffs. "Of course, John. Look at her, for god's sake."

"Wha- but... how?!"

Pursing her lips, Dani gnaws on the last piece of chocolate. "Well when a man and woman love each other-" She and Sherlock break into giggles at John exasperated curse. "John, please don't curse around my baby. That's Abe's job."

Abraham, her newest sergeant, grins as he comes to her side. "Damn straight."

Rolling her eyes, Dani gestures to the body between them. "Would someone do their jobs and tell me how this man died!"

"Oh asphyxiation." John says simply, gesturing to the marks on the neck.

"I'm not blind, John." She points to the CCTV camera. "There was no one else in the shot when he started choking."

"Ghostly asphyxiation." John corrects, sniggering under Sherlock's withering gaze.

The detective bends down to examine the body and Dani takes a moment to rub a hand into her lower back, wincing at a twinge of pain. It feels like cramps and if she hadn't frantically called her mother, she'd be worried. Her mum had said it's probably just her body adjusting to hormones and preparing to grow outward. So she rubs her back and reminds herself to take a painkiller when she gets back to the office.

John continues watching Sherlock, still fascinated after all these years, smiling slightly at his friend's muttering. Without looking at her, he reaches into his inner pocket and pulls out a small bottle of paracetamol. He shakes it in her direction and she leans against his arm with a sigh of thanks.

This case, thankfully, doesn't require her to run frantically after Sherlock. She calls it a day after they hit a roadblock and the paracetamol wears off. Mycroft is home by the time she steps in the door, having taken a half day at the office. She's been giving him space, trying not to pressure him into a decision. She's approaching her ninth week and they've had very little discussion about it. Running her hands down his shoulders and arms, she plants a kiss on the top of his head and leaves him to his work. He catches her hand in a brief squeeze before letting her go, his eyes never leaving his screen.

She remembers that the hot water bottle is upstairs after Mycroft, feeling foolishly romantic, tried to carry her upstairs and strained his back. Groaning to herself, she trudges up to get it. A quick detour to the bathroom seems to be the gateway to her troubles as a few minutes later, she's staring in shock at the sight of blood. A lot of it.

"Mycroft?" She whispers. "Mycroft?" She stands, clutching her belly as the pain in her back wraps around to clench at her front. It doubles her over, gasping through the cramp. The blood is still trickling down her leg. "Mycroft!"

Her next scream brings the sound of footsteps pounding up the stairs. Mycroft catches her as her knees give out. She can't get the words out around her heaving breaths. Her chest clamps tight and her throat works only when she sobs.

"Mycroft-"

"Hush, I've got you." He says, holding her against his chest. "I've got you." He wraps her in a towel and lifts her into his arms, turning for the stairs. She doesn't know how but he maneuvers her into the car while holding his phone between his ear and shoulder. Dani loses track of everything after he closes the driver side door. She's reduced to every quiver of pain, every warm rush of blood, the panic flowing through her with the knowledge that it's all over.