For John Watson

[howdull]

[Sherlock is still finding pieces of the melted laptop in the carpet.

It had actually been quite an ingenious booby trap to be devised by a fourteen year old boy with only household chemicals to work with but, as Sherlock surmised, rather overkill to keep his mother from finding his extensive porn collection. Not one of their more illustrious cases, but it had been quite entertaining to watch both the boy and mother's faces as he revealed that he did know the how and why. He lost interest after the mother started shouting and John started shouting and the whole thing turned tedious.

He rather thinks John won't actually be doing a full write-up of this one on his blog.

It's been two days since their last case and he's beginning to get more than a little antsy. Lestrade has sent him nothing, just a boring hit and run that he refused to even leave the flat for, and nobody interesting has appeared through the blog. Said blog he is currently scrolling through on John's laptop, having borrowed it again.

He did ask, it's not his fault John hadn't been in the room at the time.]

Bored, John.

[He doesn't even know if his flatmate is even in, but that's hardly a necessity for him to actually speak to John. Frustrated, he throws the laptop across the room to hit the wall, where it summarily breaks. Which is where he can be found whenever John appears, sulking amidst pieces of laptop, both from the melted one of their last case and John's poor broken one.]

Comments

[howdull]

[Unfortunately for John, Sherlock already has his eyes closed and is too busy thinking to respond or even hear what his flatmate has to say. His fingers ache for his violin, destroyed in the explosion at Baker Street.

There is indeed a car waiting outside, with not-Anthea in the back as always. Except now her hair is cherry red and cut cropped close to her ears, and she's wearing denim rather than a smart skirt suit.]

[jumpthegun]

[John blinks a few times at the sight of her as he slides carefully into car with a grimace of pain.]

Does he just... sort of send you everywhere?

[howdull]

[She glances up from her phone and smiles.]

Pretty much. That is my job.

[And then it's right back to her screen, John not that interesting to her. They will be driving for over fifteen minutes, thanks to London traffic, so John's phone will ring while he's in the car with Sarah's number.]

[jumpthegun]

[John looks at the number and seriously considers not answering. That's going to cause more problems than it will solve, though. He puts on his best impression of being not in pain and completely on top of things.]

Hey. I haven't got to much time. Are you doing okay?

[howdull]

John!

[She sounds harried, half worried and half angry.]

I saw on the news what happened to your flat, I tried to call and your phone went to voicemail, I called the hospital and they told me you had burns and that you were missing. John-- what's--

[No, not what's going on.]

Are you okay?

[jumpthegun]

Yeah, lost my phone. It's all right. I'm all right. Sherlock and I are staying somewhere else. I think everyone got out okay, too.

[He hopes everyone did.]

The burns weren't really that bad, and we've got work to do. There's been a murder before that, then the bomb. Someone's targeting me, which is why you need to close down the clinic for the week. They've sent a message that they're planning something worse in the next three days.

You, uh... might want to leave London for a bit, too.

[howdull]

[After what happened at the Chinese circus, she's not about to discount the possibility of being in danger and it does give her pause. But she's not a coward, or she'd have dumped him after that first date went so poorly.]

I can talk about the clinic with the board, but I can't just skip town. John-- if you're in trouble then you should come to me, you can stay here for a few days and let the police look for whoever is doing this. Sherlock-- He'll just drag you into more danger.

[jumpthegun]

[John rubs his forehead and closes his eyes. This is why he didn't want to talk to her.]

I can't do that, Sarah. Anyone around me right now is going to be in danger. I won't risk putting you in the middle of it. It's safest just to keep away from me and take a holiday. Maybe to Spain. I hear it's nice this time of year, and you could use the break.

[howdull]

Don't... John, don't talk about this like it's a joke and I'm just going to go away on holiday.

[She doesn't know if she's more annoyed or more worried right now. She wants to slap him and hug him, stupid man.

The car pulls up smoothly outside the Diogenes Club.]

[jumpthegun]

I have to go, Sarah. I'm meeting someone. I'll call you later. Please talk to the board. Love you.

[He hangs up before she can protest, and feels more than a little bad about it. But it's for her own good and safety.]

I'm assuming this phone is tapped already, but if you could... not mention that conversation? [John knows it's a lost cause with Anthea, and just hauls himself out of the car, taking a moment to get his balance. Sherlock was right. He should have slept. But for now, he has to deal with Mycroft. Game face on.

John steps into the club and looks around for a receptionist of some sort... or anyone in uniform.]

I'm here to see Mycroft Holmes?

[It's said to the room at large.]

[howdull]

[She half snorts, because of course Anthea has already told her boss about the conversation. But she doesn't say anything, and the car soon pulls off to leave John on the steps of the prestigious club.

Nobody responds to him when he requests to see Mycroft, even though there are three people sitting reading newspapers. One of them looks highly affronted, but a man in uniform does hurry on over and try to take John by the elbow.

Come along, Dr. Watson, you're making a scene.]

[jumpthegun]

[John looks back with confusion, then there's affront on his behalf as he's grabbed and pulled away.]

He invited me. John Watson.

[But he'll go along with the man, frowning in irritation. If he gets thrown out of this damn club, he's walking back to Sherlock's flat if he has to.]

[howdull]

Yes, sir.

[The staff member doesn't reply until they're well outside that room and walking up the stairs.]

Mr. Holmes is waiting for you in the Cherry Suite, the main reception room is Silence At All Times, sir.

[jumpthegun]

[John sighs in irritation. He already doesn't want to be here.]

You might put a sign out for that. Where's the Cherry Suite, then?

[howdull]

Second door on your left, first floor, sir.

[The man's voice is always perfectly polite and he gestures in the right direction, before letting the irritated miniature army doctor stride off alone.

Mycroft is relaxing in a wing-backed armchair with a glass of fine scotch and a newspaper, he glances up when John enters and folds the paper neatly.]

Dr. Watson, do sit down, have a scotch.

[jumpthegun]

[It's not exactly striding so much as making his best go of not limping. But John does head off. When he steps into the room, John stops next to the chair, but he doesn't sit down.]

I'm not thirsty, thank you. What can I do for you that I couldn't have done over the phone, Mr. Holmes?

[howdull]

[He smiles thinly, his brother's new pet is rather fierce sometimes. He places two electronic key-cards on the table and slides them across.]

Your rooms. I expect them to be used.

[jumpthegun]

[John glances down at the key cards and doesn't take them. He rolls his shoulders back, even though that's minor agony, and straighten up fully.]

We have accommodations, Mr. Holmes. I appreciate your generosity, but it's not needed.

[He knows it's not generosity, either.]

[howdull]

[Interesting, what has Sherlock done to earn such fierce loyalty from a man with trust issues?]

You are aware, I'm sure, of my brother's past issues with illicit substances.

[He knew about the drug raid on the flat, but he doesn't know how much more Dr. Watson knows than that. Still, it's enough that he knows.]

Would it surprise you to learn that your current 'accommodations' are at the centre of the local dealing community?

[jumpthegun]

[There's a flicker of confusion across John's face before it smooths out. Sherlock had told him he wasn't a junkie. They're in the middle of a case, and the man doesn't even smoke now. It seems unlikely Sherlock took them there just to get high.]

Considering that flat doesn't look like anyone's stepped foot in it in months, I reckon the local dealing community's moved on to darker and seedier accommodations.

[howdull]

The role of a fool doesn't suit you, Doctor Watson.

[Mycroft's brows draw together, mild annoyance the only thing showing despite his underlying concern for Sherlock.]

Even had your late sister been sober for months, would you allow her to return to accommodations above the local pub?

[jumpthegun]

[Bringing up Harry is a very poor tactic indeed. John almost visibly bristles.]

I'd like to go back to Shepherd's Bush Green now, Mr. Holmes. Again, thank you for your offer of accommodations. You're welcome to ask your brother if he'd like to move to the Hilton. I'm comfortable in his current flat.

[howdull]

[He detests that flat. He's been there more than once to personally ease Sherlock through an overdose or bad trip, sweating and a shadow of what he should be, it's not a position he wishes to be in again.

For a moment he looks as dangerous as he's sometimes made out to be, before it smooths into his usual polite nonchalance.]

I would strongly advise you to reconsider your position. There are certain protections that can be employed for your coworkers and Dr. Sawyer.

[He's fairly sure that Sherlock hasn't told Dr. Watson that he's already negotiated for these things.]

[jumpthegun]

[That offer does draw John up short. But his expression stays as it has been. He pulls out his phone.]

If you'll give me a moment to talk to Sherlock before I make decisions on his behalf that he hasn't agreed to.

[Unlike Sherlock who will make decisions for the both of them as he sees fit. John starts typing out a text even before Mycroft has given him leave to do so.]

TO: Sherlock Holmes: Mycroft's offering protection for Sarah and the others if we stay at the Hilton. H is for hotel? Think it's even worth risking it?

[howdull]

[Sometimes normal people really are annoying. But he waits, fairly confident that Sherlock will be too busy thinking in order to respond. Which is why his expression falls slightly when John's phone does indeed beep a few seconds later.]

FROM: Sherlock Holmes: C is for Consulting Detective.