The Doctor And The Detective (Johnlock)

Eighteen

"SHERLOCK!" John shouted as he leapt into their flat. He was met with ugly, ugly silence, and a stillness that made him sick to the stomach. He fumbled for his phone, finding Mycroft's number in his 'recent calls'.

"John," Mycroft greeted. John found himself unable to speak.

"I'll take you to him," Mycroft said, and John's heart leapt.

"Thank you," he whispered.

John met Mycroft with silence, his heart pounding hard in his chest as he slid into the car. His fingers anxiously dug into his knees, his eyes staring ahead yet not seeing. Mycroft watched him. The driver, a hat crammed hard over his head and a scarf wrapped around his mouth and nose, pulled into the street and the car began to roll forward, picking up speed.

"You love him," Mycroft said eventually. "That's good."

"I thought you were the one who told Sherlock that caring is bad," John muttered.

"I was trying to protect him," Mycroft answered simply. "In a way, this entire journey was somewhat cliche - I released that by trying to protect him I actually was holding him back, and that if I truly want what is best for my brother I should let him have this. He cares for you, John, a lot. That's why he came back all those times."

"He came back once," John sighed. "But I blew it."

"He came back twice," corrected Mycroft, "and I didn't understand why. That was poisoning him, I think. Both you and I not understanding was toxic to him."

"Twice?" John chuckled. "I don't think-" He stopped, realising. "You mean...?"

"I just assumed you remembered," Mycroft shrugged.

"I had sex with him twice? I-..." John was lost for words.

"He really loves you, John."

"I know. He wouldn't have come back if he didn't," John sighed. "Lord, I was stupid. I was so afraid of it, I thought it was wrong. I never once thought about how Sherlock might have felt."

"We make mistakes," Mycroft admitted quietly. "We make mistakes and at some point we have to learn."

"Unless you don't permit yourself. If you have a conservative mind."

"Do you have a conservative mind?"

John sighed. "I'm not sure."

"But you love him?"

"That's the one thing I'm sure about out of all of this," John smiled softly. "I'm one hundred percent, absolutely sure that I love William Sherlock Scott Holmes."

"You even know his full name. You'll make a very good husband to my brother."

"I hope so too. And-" John frowned. "Wait, husband? I mean, I don't think we should think that far ahead..."

"And I'm sure you'll be an excellent father to your kids. Our parents always wanted grandchildren, but I think they accepted it was unlikely quite early on. It'll be a pleasant surprise for them."

"Children?! You're taking this a bit too-"

"Of course, Sherlock would be a lousy parent on his own. You, however, I can see you being a good dad. Your kids would love you."

"Mycroft!"

Mycroft hid a small smile by turning his head to gaze out the window. John, his face flushed, mirrored his action. The landscape rolled past, barely registering in John's vision.

"In all seriousness, do you think you're ready?"

"Ready for what?"

"Ready to enter this kind of relationship with my brother. Sherlock's attitude can be testing sometimes."

"Believe me, I know."

"Especially in this type of relationship. You shouldn't expect it to be perfect. This is new to Sherlock. He won't understand how you're meant to act."

John bit back a smile. "Look, if you're trying to scare me off it's not working. If this is some type of test then I've passed it, because I am never ever going to leave Sherlock's side. Even though I didn't want to recognise it, I love Sherlock, and there isn't a thing in the world that can change that. You don't need to pep talk me, I already know how hard it'll be for both of us. But we'll make it work."

Mycroft couldn't hide his smile. "Well, Sherlock, you've earned my consent to have a relationship with this man."

The driver of the car chuckled, and in a very familiar baritone voice said, "Thank you, John, you'll find I feel the same way about you."

end