Aftermath

24~Mycroft

"Don't call me..." and the my brother's eyes roll back into his head.

"Sherlock!" John screams. He runs to him, and starts shaking him. "Sherlock!"

"John!" he doesn't turn. "John!" I grab his arm and turn him around. "He's not dead, just unconscious. Leave him." I turn to Greg. "Do you mind? I'll explain everything later, but this is just kind of a family thing."

"What about John?" He says angrily.

"John's his boyfriend. What I'm about to tell him... Sherlock's going to be angry, I know. I promise I will explain everything." He rolls his eyes. I say, softer so John can't hear, "I will tell you everything, I swear. Please, just go." He turns on his heel and goes without another word. I sigh and turn back to John. "He'll be alright, John." He gives me the saddest look.

"I can't lose him, Mycroft. I can't."

"I said the same thing, not 24 hours ago."

"What did you say? To make him pass out like that?"

"I said 'I'm so sorry, Will.' I always called him Will until he told me to stop."

"Well, what were you sorry about?"

"Because I figured it out. Hazel, his old babysitter, the flashbacks, they're connected."

"How?"

"Well, my parents fired Hazel because Sherlock kept getting hurt while she was with him. We never suspected anything, other than she was inattentive.There was one point where he fell down the concrete steps in our basement and sliced his back open."

"Yeah, he told me about that. I've seen the scar."

"None of them were accidents."

"What?"

"She was abusive. She willfully hurt my brother. She sliced his back, broke his arm, and, if my theory is right, it didn't stop with the years of physical abuse."

"What do you... oh." John looks back at Sherlock with fresh tears in his eyes. He leaned down and kissed his forehead. "I am so sorry. I love you, Sherlock."

"Nnh..." Sherlock groans slightly.

"Oh Sherlock!" John exclaims, embracing him again.

"John..." Sherlock moans.

"Yes, Sherlock?"

"Why are you crying?"

"Because I'm so sorry. You... you make so much more sense now. I'm so so sorry you ever had to go through that. I'm here for you. You're safe now." Sherlock turns and looks pointedly at me.

"You figured it out?"I nod solemnly. "And you know how much I love this man?" He points a finger at John. I nod again. "Then why, dear brother, would you TELL him?" His eyes narrow.

"Why shouldn't I tell him? His feelings for you are just as strong. He has a right to know."

"No he doesn't!" There's and audible spike in his heart rate, and John's just standing next to him, looking lost. "He has no right knowing that I'm broken, let alone what the hell broke me! it's none of his god damn business! He doesn't get to know because then he'll treat me differently!" John started to protest but Sherlock just glares at him and says "Shut up it's already happened." He rolls eyes and turns back to me. "Get out. I don't want to see your face."

"No, little brother, I will not leave. You tried to kill yourself. I'm not leaving."

"I don't want you here. Go away!"

"It's fine, Mycroft. I can handle this," John says softly.

I start to protest, but John's pleading looks and Sherlock's angry ones compel me to leave. With an angry huff, I turn and go, pulling my phone out as I do so.

"And don't tell Greg!" Sherlock yells after me. I roll my eyes. Twat.

I pull out my phone and call Greg. He has to know. This information is part of an investigation. He has to know.

That's what I'm telling myself when Greg answers. "Hello?"

"Do you want to know what happened? I'll tell you everything, and Sherlock can hate me if he wants."

"Mycroft? Uh, yeah. Yes. I need to know. For the um... investigation. Yeah, okay. When..." I sense something off in his tone.

"Are you alright?"

"Huh? Oh yeah I'm fine. Just uh where to you wanna meet?"

"Your flat? I'm just leaving the hospital now, I'll be there in a few minutes."

"NO! Mycroft! Uh..." I hang up and hail a cab. Something's wrong, and I'm going to figure out what it is.