fossilised | For John Watson

[Sherlock knows exactly what that means and he sighs irritably, turning his attention to Molly instead. He softens his voice, knowing she'll respond the best to that.]

Perhaps I am tired; Molly, why don't you take my parents and Mycroft to get some coffee? I'm sure John will join you after he's spoken to the doctor.

[Molly flushes a bit, still reeling from what Sherlock had said about Jim (he had to be wrong) but touched that he would trust her to look after his family. She can't quite look at Mycroft, a bit worried since the last time they met she did slap him.]

Right, um-- Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, do you want to? And, um-- all of you?

[Mycroft speaks up, even as Sherlock's parents are eyeing Molly a little uncertainly. His apparent focus is on the phone in his hands.]

I'll remain with Dr. Watson. I wouldn't want him to miss any details at such a trying time.

[His mother sighs, exasperated.]

Oh, Mike, do get off your phone sometimes. Your brother's just come back to life!

[Mycroft bristles at the name, but puts his phone away.]

If you'd like to join Ms. Hooper? We won't be a moment, I suspect.

[The elder Holmeses shuffle out with Molly to lead them, leaving John, Sherlock, and Mycroft.]

Another daring escape from hospital, brother mine? You're becoming repetitive. I've indulged your disregard for your health and well-being long enough. Dr. Watson, you're free to go about your business as my brother's assistant. He will not be leaving this bed until one of the medical staff in this facility that I deem competent has said he is welcome to do so.

[John is silent, looking from Sherlock to Mycroft and back again. He'll do what Sherlock wants him to, but it would seem the brothers are going to have it out for a moment.]

[Sherlock waits for about thirty seconds after his parents leave the room, just to make sure they're really gone, before he starts pulling off the various pads and wires that connect him to the machines, ignoring Mycroft's instructions completely.]

What are you still doing here, Mycroft? Make yourself useful for once and find me some clothes, you know as well as I do that there's nothing that can be done for me here now. The ricin will no longer kill me, I've survived the dangerous period, and the only long term effects are a fifteen percent chance of repeated seizures throughout life. Well, we won't know if that's to happen until one does or does not happen.

[He swings his legs from the side of the bed, fixing Mycroft with a serious expression.]

I am not running into self-destruction, Mycroft, this is nothing like last time. [Drugs and no direction in life, before Lestrade, before cases.] I have a case to solve, so either find me some clothes or go and have coffee with Mummy and Father, because I'm leaving.

I fetched Mummy and Father down in a helicopter, Sherlock. You will spend time with your family after almost dying. Or I will call the nurse and have Dr. Watson admitted to hospital. And have them strap the both of you to your beds.

[There's no playful or even sarcastic tone, just cold fury as Mycroft meets Sherlock's eye.]

I allowed you to do this, Sherlock. I will not make that mistake a second time.

[John pipes up, more than a little annoyed that he's being used as a bargaining chip.]

I don't need to be in hospital. And I'm a fully trained physician, if you could be bothered to remember, Mycroft. Anything Sherlock could get here for care, I can give to him. We can go and have a coffee with your parents, but there's work to do. The Alphabet Woman's next... phase is up... [He has to check his watch.] Today. It's up today.

[Mycroft doesn't even look over at John as he speaks, his eyes are fixed on Sherlock.]

I'm waiting for you to get back in your bed, Sherlock. Or I will make you.

[It's not that Sherlock doesn't care about his family, or even that he wants to cause them pain, it's just that other things take precedence. When he gets a case between his teeth then nothing else matters, he needs to pursue it, and Mycroft should understand that.]

Very well, Mycroft, I shall remain here in hospital growing ever more bored with a ready supply of narcotics. Is that what you wish?

[His voice is still mildly sarcastic, and he shows no sign of getting into bed.]

As John has already assured you, he is a more than competent doctor who is capable of taking care of any future issues. Now, as you are clearly not going to be of any use, step aside. Don't embarrass yourself by trying to make me get into bed, we both know that you're not the physically active type.

[Mycroft continues to stare Sherlock down, and then turns to grasp the door. He opens it and calls out politely, but firmly.]

Nurse, we require some assistance.

[John bristles.]

Mycroft, this is-

[Mycroft just speaks over John.]

Time is ticking, little brother. I will have you sedated. You will remain here for at least one hour for observation and to sit with our parents. Then you may run off as you please with Dr. Watson. Or you and Dr. Watson may remain here indefinitely.

[It's acquiescing a lot on Mycroft's side. John glances to Sherlock.]

One hour is better than days, Sherlock.

[He hates conceding to Mycroft even a little bit, but he knows that his brother is capable of having orderlies pin them both down to sedate them. So he sits back on the bed with bad grace.]

Why are you doing this, Mycroft?

[Surely he knows that the case is everything. Is it just to be annoying and frustrate Sherlock? It doesn't really occur to him that Mycroft is actually worried.]

If Caroline Matthews strikes while we're playing house, I shall be certain to hold you responsible for your poor decision making.

Perhaps you'll understand when you're older, little brother.

[Mycroft relaxes as the nurse steps in.]

What's problem?

[Mycroft:]

We require discharge papers for my brother to be drawn up and delivered precisely one hour from now. Additionally, if you could please locate out parents in the cafeteria, that would be most appreciated. Thank you.

[She sputters a bit.]

He'll need to be under observation for at least-

[Mycroft cuts her off, much as he'd to John, although he's directing a smile at her, something cool, but polite.]

Thank you. I believe your hospitals will be receiving a sizable donations from my parents after the good care you've taken of their youngest son. One hour, now. Good morning.

[The nurse moves away, and admittedly, John thinks Mycroft would make and excellent Bond villain. John turn his attention to Sherlock and goes to check if he's pulled out his IV, yet. It really would be best to keep that in and the fluid running for as long at possible.]

Do you want me to do anything while you're laid up here for the hour? [He glances back to Mycroft before dropping his voice lower.] I'm glad you pulled through. I don't know... [He clears his throat.] Thanks for coming back.

[Sherlock's petulant expression fades into surprise at John's words. He knew that John would be an adequate flatmate when he turned up and didn't immediately run from the room in Barts, he knew that John would be even tolerable when he didn't tell John to piss off for deducing him, but he didn't know that he would gain a friend. It's so strange to him, new.

His lips twitch up slightly, though his words aren't especially sentimental when he replies.]

You're not nearly ready to graduate to solving crimes without me, I hardly had a choice in the matter.

[Sentiment. Mycroft must be laughing inside.]

I suppose that while I endure the torture of an hour in the company of my family, you could talk to Molly about Jim and get any contact details she has for him.

[The sentiment does pull a smile from John, something warm and relieved. Mycroft just rolls his eyes and returns his attention to his phone.]

Sure. I can do that. I can actually go find her in the cafeteria, send your parents over.

Don't think it'll take that long to get the details, but I can ask her how she met him and when he turned up for her. [John pulls a face.] He was... kind of weird when we met. He came over to the ambulance to grab Molly and drive her over. Really giggly, like he was enjoying himself.

Good. Very good.

[He's pleased that John is taking the initiative with questions beyond the contact details, though he's sure that John won't quite manage the level of pertinent detail that he would.]

Don't actually contact him, and if he's there with Molly then give no indication that we know he is anything other than her current boyfriend.

I don't think he will be. She's been sitting with us the past few hours and he hasn't turned up. I'll, uh... let Lestrade know not to send flowers just yet, too. I'm sure it'll ruin Sergeant Donovan's morning. Anderson's, too.

[They can joke about Sherlock nearly dying now because he's not still dying. Laughing is better than the crying from last night, certainly.]

I'll be back in a bit.

[He offers the other man another smile before turning to head out and off to the cafeteria. He stops by the nurse's station to let them know he's fetching Sherlock's parents, just so they're not duplicating effort. Then it's away, searching for Molly. With as early as it is, John imagine there won't be too maybe people there. The painkillers from earlier have worn off, so he's moving rather stiffly when he arrives and casts about for the familiar brunette and Sherlock's parents.]

Sherlock sent me to fetch you back, Mr. and Mrs. Holmes. He's feeling up to talking now.

[Molly feels so awkward as she drinks coffee with Mr. and Mrs. Holmes. They're so... nice, and so normal, and they don't insult her even once. But she can't find it in herself to enjoy the conversation or get information about Sherlock in his younger days, because all she can think about is if her boyfriend really was in on this.

Surely not.

But if he was, if Jim is the one that's been helping to hurt John and Sherlock, then isn't she complicit? Is it somehow her fault? She barely even notices when John appears and Mr. and Mrs. Holmes thank him to hurry back to the ward and their two sons, just staring down into her coffee as if she might either shout at it or cry any moment.]

[Time to return a favor now that he's not in a worse state.

John sits down next to Molly and places a hand over hers for a moment to draw her attention.]

Hey. I'm sorry about how that went back there. We've got it so Sherlock's at least staying for an hour of observation. I'll be watching him once we're out, as well.

[He'll lead with that and then get to Jim.]

[She jolts when his hand comes over hers, flushing with the awkwardness of it. She tries to offer a smile, it's good that Sherlock is going to be okay, but it still comes out a bit watery.]

Who's going to be watching you?

[This is why she needs to stop and think before she speaks.]

I mean, um, sorry, it's not my business.

We'll keep an eye on each other. And we have your number. [He quirks his lips at her, trying to play it off as a joke.]

Talking of, I was hoping to actually get Jim's number, if you have it. I know what Sherlock was saying in there sounded mad. I'd rather mark him off the list quickly, y'know? How did you two even meet?

You mean because he's right.

[Molly can't help the slight bitterness in her tone, staring into her cup of coffee.]

Because he's always right about things like this, and of course the only guy to be interested is a criminal murderer. I mean-- oh sod it, that's exactly what I mean.

Molly, that's not... I'd be interest if I weren't... [He trails off, awkwardly. This isn't exactly the best time to be flirting with anyone.]

You're a good person, Molly. Even if Sherlock's right--and that's a big 'if,'--that says nothing about you and everything about Jim. You'll find someone who's right for you--who appreciates you like you should be. I'm happy to help on that front.

[Two bright spots of colour flame her cheeks, but she must have understood. John didn't just register some interest, he's trying to be kind. It's more than Sherlock would be, he'd probably just tut in impatience that she hadn't handed over Jim's number yet. It's a small kindness, but she appreciates it.]

Oh.

[She ducks her head and rummages through her bag.]

Forget it, it's fine. I'm-- It's fine, really. I'll get you his phone number and then you can go back to-- right.

[Why did this have to get so awkward. A part of John would like to just take the number and flee, but the Holmeses probably aren't going to look on him with terribly much gratitude for his presence. Not to mention, he'd promised Sherlock to try to get more information. It will be easier being interrogated by John than the consulting detective.]

It's not fine. Molly, hey. You won't let me get away with that. Just because Sherlock's not interested, that doesn't mean other blokes don't want you. You're just... when you're focused a lot on one person, even if you're not actually dating them, it makes it hard to see where there's room for another relationship. [A pause. Which is probably why he just broke up with Sarah a few days ago. John could sigh at himself. He'll fix that relationship later. Much later.] I'm seeing someone else right now. Sort of. We're on a break. If that weren't the case, though, honestly... getting to know you just the little bit I have? You're amazing. You're clever, you're beautiful. But when I look at you, your eyes are turned toward Sherlock. I wasn't even sure you knew my name for a while there.

[Even if he is just being kind, it's pretty much the nicest that anyone's been to her in a while and she can't help the smile that she directs down at her coffee cup.]

Thanks.

[He's a nice man, good, from the little she's come to know of him too. It makes her a bit ashamed that he's right when he says she didn't even know his name, it's so humiliating that everyone can see just who she's infatuated with. She can't help it. He's a brilliant man, he has a gift to help the world with; but, more than that, she knows there's good underneath the sometimes callous exterior.]

You won't tell him, will you?

[She's not stupid, she knows that he already knows, but it's less painful to delude herself into thinking that he's just oblivious rather than so disinterested that he doesn't even consider her worth acknowledging most of the time.]

[Unlike Sherlock, John isn't about to shatter the delusion. And he knows full well what it's like to get caught up in the brilliance of Sherlock's light, even when there isn't any sort of physical attraction there. The man burns brighter than anyone John's ever known, and he and Molly are both moths in their own way.]

'Course I won't. Wouldn't do to go outting my fellow officer and partner in crime. Our secret.

[He offers her a tired smile with a finger pressed to his lips.]

I do want to give him some time with his parents, though, if you wouldn't mind suffering my company a little while longer. What can you tell me about Jim?

[She gives a tired smile right back. There's still hurt in her eyes, she's alone again now and Sherlock is never going to look at her. Not even as a friend, she's just lucky he bothers to remember her name. But at least John is trying to be nice, and that's a big deal considering what he's been through recently.

His sister has died, he's got burns, and all of this is because of something her boyfriend might have been involved with. The least she can do is find the strength to help. Her shoulders square just a bit.]

He works in IT at Barts; you know, helping out when the systems go down. I met him a couple of months ago at a retirement party for one of the nurses, he was-- I mean, I don't know much about him other than that. I have his phone number, but I never went to his place and we only ever really talked about work, and... and Sherlock.

[Now, that's interesting.]

What about Sherlock?

It wasn't really anything personal.

[She can't help but sound a bit defensive there, she didn't mean for any of this to happen.]

We just talked about work, and he mentioned that I must not get a lot of conversation because all of my coworkers are dead, and I said not quite and-- well, Sherlock's interesting, you know? I didn't tell him anything about your cases.

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HOLY TYPOS, BATMAN. Sorry, friendo.

/never forgives. shuns forever

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