fossilised | For Mycroft

For Mycroft

[Seventeen, in university already after completing his A-levels alongside his GCSEs, and arguably one of the more brilliant students in the country. Sherlock Holmes had a bright future ahead of him, or should have done. But he's bored. Oh, so very bored. He can't stand the banal chatter of his peers, caring more about how much alcohol they could consume without dying and who could manage to copulate with who, than they cared about what chemical compounds could be taken from a small patch of hair.

He hates his teachers, they're all dull-witted and far less intelligent than him. He hates the coursework, he completed it in a week and promptly deleted the majority of it from his mind palace for being utterly pointless information. His mind is always running, always chasing thoughts endlessly, the observations from the world around him impossible to stop. He has no funnel to keep them focused, no specific experiment to distract him, and so it's all very overwhelming. Very tiring. Very tedious.

When he discovers heroin, it's bliss. It wipes his endlessly busy mind blank and allows him rest. When he discovers cocaine, it's better, it lets him focus and work far beyond his normal capacity. It enhances him. When he takes them in combination, it's the least bored that he can ever remember being. It's a thrill. He's not an addict, he's far too clever to fall into a trap of addiction, he just uses to augment his natural abilities. There's no need for anyone else to know.

Until one particular night when he finds that the solution he's taken, the added little pills given to him to create a potent cocktail, is killing him. He can feel it, he knows his own body better than anyone else, and he can feel the rapid beat of his heart and the ache in his head, the danger zones. He tries to roll off the mattress in the crack house he found himself in, and can't. He can't go anywhere.

Which is why, for the first time in months, Sherlock digs his phone out and dials the number for Mycroft's phone. Better him than their parents, Mycroft will probably understand. Drugs aren't the demonic big deal with the media makes them out to be.

Pick up, Mycroft. Pick up.]

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[Somehow it was just as alarming to see Sherlock go limp. Mycroft's eyes are wide, staring at his brother, struggling to breathe. He's mostly on autopilot now, obeying the operator perfectly, and he scarcely realizes how little time has passed when the paramedics come bursting through the room.

He doesn't let go of--or at least tries not to let go of--Sherlock's shoulder as they do so, even though he realized on some level he was in the way.

All he could see was his little brother suffering, possibly dying, and he couldn't do a thing about it. For all his grand plans, his career aspirations, all of it so that he could gain some measure of control over the chaos that was life, the chaos that was Sherlock himself, it was all for naught in the end when things like this could happen.

How did this happen?]

W...what?

[Was someone talking to him? It takes him a second to register what they said. He swallows and nods.]

I'm coming. Uh...parents. [He rubs his face, trying to steady himself.] Our parents, I need to call them...

[One of the paramedics makes sure to help Mycroft down to the ambulance, words low and calming because the poor man is obviously in shock. They're all very efficient, so it's not long at all before they're speeding through the streets of London heading for a hospital.

The paramedic working on Sherlock already has an oxygen mask over his face and various temporary machines hooked up in order to monitor him.]

Alright, you can give them a call when we get to the hospital, Mr. Holmes. You did the right thing in calling us, we'll do the best we can for your brother, okay?

[Poor guy, he looks so shaken.]

Do you have any idea what he's taken? Has he done this before?

[Mycroft lets them lead him along, he usually would scoff at the techniques people would use to calm others down, he wasn't like that, only ordinary people were like that, and yet here he was, utterly useless against his own sentiments.

Sentiment.

How he had tried to tell Sherlock it was never worth it. He'd seen what Victor's loss had done to the small child. How Eurus had grown jealous of their friendship. Caring wasn't an advantage. It never was.

And yet, here he was, caring.]

Yes--ah, yes, I'll do that.

[He's broken out of his reverie by the other paramedic. Mycroft shakes his head.]

No, he wouldn't--or couldn't say. No, I mean--it's possible he could have been taking drugs some time before this, obviously he's overdosing but I've no idea when he started...I should have. I should have seen this coming!

[Frustrated. Angry. Angry at himself, really, rather than Sherlock. His brother had been through so much, it was obvious now, with his mindset, with his talents and personality, he should have seen this coming. He'd failed him time and time again. When would he ever do right by Sherlock?]

[It's normal for family members to blame themselves, and it's a shame to see a drug problem in someone so young. Barely more than a kid, maybe experimenting with his friends at a party or something...

Poor Mycroft will be left behind when they get to the hospital, stopped at a pair of double doors as the paramedics rush Sherlock through them on the gurney.]

I'm sorry, sir, but it's no public access past this point. The waiting room is just down to the right, and there are payphones there to call your folks. Someone will come out to speak to you when we have more news.

[Mycroft looks aghast, he tries to push through before he realizes that he's not going to have much luck, and besides, what's he going to do in there except get in the way and distract the doctors and nurses, who actually have jobs to do?

Sentiment, it makes one do foolish things.]

...I, right. Of course. Thank you.

[He hovers in front of the waiting room, too wired and anxious to go in there and actually sit down, as he takes out his cell phone and, after hesitating, and a large sigh, dials their parents. Hopefully he's skilled enough to explain this in the least shocking way possible.

Yeah, right. How on earth was 'your son is possibly dying of a drug overdose?' going to be anything but shocking? He rubs the bridge of his nose, and looks anxiously back over at the door of the waiting room.

[They had been against allowing Sherlock to go to university so young, but he could be extraordinarily stubborn and they trusted Mycroft to keep an eye on him since they would both be in London.

It's their Mother that he gets hold of, and she's not happy. Her strained and tear-choked voice is full of recriminations. How could he let this happen? How could her Sherlock be in such trouble? They're on their way.

Poor Mycroft will be left alone for the next two hours, until finally a doctor steps out and calls into the silence of the waiting room.]

Mycroft Holmes? Is there a Mycroft Holmes in here?

[Mycroft takes it all with heavy sighs, and a lot of acquiescing and agreeing, at least to make her rant end much quicker than if he protested. He rubs the bridge of his nose as he gets verbally shot down, and hangs up without much else to say. What could he say? He did fail Sherlock.

The next two hours pass by in a bit of a blur, with worse and worse scenarios happening in his mind. He sat back, fingertips steepled under his chin, his eyes lost in dark thoughts and worry.

And then...]

Yes? Yes, it's me. I'm Mycroft Holmes.

[He stands up, mindlessly adjusting his vest as if it mattered what he looked like. His heart had never beat so fast. His stomach had never been this twisted into knots.

Please don't be dead, Sherlock. Please.]

[The doctor smiles reassuringly at him and gestures for him to follow her, in through the double doors that he had been barred from earlier and then towards a lift.]

We managed to get your brother stabilised, and he regained consciousness about fifteen minutes ago. He's a little drowsy, but he should be fine to go in the morning.

[Better than many outcomes this night could have had, there's no point worrying him with how close Sherlock came to slipping away.]

We've got some literature about drug addiction and services available for helping if you want them, both for the user and family members trying to support them through it.

[He was alive.

Mycroft's shoulders sag with relief.

His little brother was alive. He made it. He weight of the world that Mycroft always seems to carry felt just the tiniest bit lighter.

And then, heavy again with those next words.

Sherlock had a drug problem. This might not be the only overdose scare he'd have to put up with if they didn't get...whatever this was under control.]

Mm, yes, thank you.

[Embarassing. People of their intellect should not be relegated to reading reassuring pamphlets and going to meetings. But the facts were the facts. Maybe their parents would send Sherlock to some kind of program. His brother wouldn't do good in a facility though.

Like their sister.

A shudder.

Why'd he have to go and do something this...this stupid? Now that Sherlock was on the mend, anger was starting to seep in.]

May I see him now?

Edited 2017-06-14 14:46 (UTC)

Yes, I don't see why not.

[She's glad that he seems to have supportive family here, it's always sad when someone so young threatens to throw their life away on drugs. Definitely posh, judging by the brother's suit and accent, so maybe a rich kid rebelling against his upbringing? It's not her business to judge, only to help.]

He might be a little drowsy and out of it, but you're welcome to go in.

[She steps out of the lift with him and points to the third door down the corridor.]

Through there.

[Just as she said, Sherlock is laid out in a bed in that room. Drip in his arm, oxygen tubes in his nose, and a variety of machines beeping by his bedside. He opens his eyes when Mycroft walks in and scowls.]

This isn't home, Mycroft. Honestly, are you completely stupid?

Thank you.

[He's silent the rest of the way, his face impassively cool and collected, though if anyone knew him, he was anything but, right now. His eyes hold a storm of worry and relief.

Without another word he strides into the room, his heart skipping a beat when he sees Sherlock with the oxygen and the drip in his arm, not to mention what he actually looked like. As painful as it was to see him like this, it was certainly preferable to the alternative.]

Sherlock.

[His voice holds the enormity of the effect this has all had on Mycroft. He's unsure of what to say next, not sure if he should yell at him, lecture him, or tell him how glad he is that he's all right.

He should. Maybe if he'd been...more open, this wouldn't have happened.

His mouth opens and closes. What was he so afraid of?]

I informed our parents.

[Brilliant. Exactly what Sherlock needed to hear.]

Edited (Tenses again ) 2017-06-16 15:47 (UTC)

Obviously.

[He thought the hospital would have done it, actually. He's still a legal minor and they're his guardians, even if Mycroft was there, they had an obligation to inform them in case anything needed to be signed regarding his care. It's irritating, it means he'll no doubt have to deal with his mother being disappointed, and it's all Mycroft's fault.]

They wouldn't have had to know if you had simply took me home as I asked you to.

[Mycroft isn't the only angry one here.]

[The sheer relief and remnants of fear faded to the anger that he'd kept quiet in fear of Sherlock's recovery, for good or ill.]

I'm sorry, you were too busy dying of an overdose, 'home' isn't exactly outfitted with lifesaving equipment and doctors.

What on earth were you thinking, Sherlock!? Where did you even get them!?

[Them, of course, meaning the drugs.]

They didn't know what you were on. Do you have the faintest idea how incredibly lucky you are!?

[Of course, and now it begins.

Sherlock sighs and somehow manages to flop further back into his pillows in an extremely teenage show of petulance.]

Please, spare us both the tedium of this conversation.

[He is not having the drugs conversation with his brother.]

Make yourself useful and get me discharged before Mummy and Father show up.

No.

[Mycroft set his jaw, he was livid Sherlock had put him through this.

For making him recognize how much he cared.

For bloody scaring him.]

Tell me. What was going through your head? Why!? Why do this?

If you're not actually going to be useful, then do me a favour and piss off.

[There's the hint of fear beneath the annoyance, he really didn't want all of this to come to a head in such a messy way.]

Listen to yourself, Mycroft, you sound like one of those ridiculous soap opera dramas.

[Jaw set again, he ignored the insult. He wasn't going to leave Sherlock alone. Ever.

Maybe he could use some of his resources from work...yes, it would be simple to arrange. Especially if he was able to get a certain job, no one would ask questions. Or would be able to ask questions.

Sherlock clearly demonstrated the inability to be trusted on his own. It would be for his own protection, after all.]

Do you not care, at all? What you've done to yourself, what you've done to our parents?

[To me?]

Stop being so dramatic, you're making it sound as though this is some insurmountable addiction problem.

[He starts to peel off the various small bits of tape holding the instruments in place, planning to discharge himself if Mycroft won't.]

I use, I'm not addicted, and you should know that controlled recreational use is rarely fatal.

[Mycroft's eyes fall to the peeling tape.]

I will call someone if you even think about trying to run out of here. And I'm not talking about the nurse.

[He lets the threat sit a second before he continues.]

You call this controlled?

[He waves a hand at the hospital bed.]

A slight anomaly in usual proceedings.

[Which should probably tell Mycroft that this really isn't a one-off affair.]

I shall simply not buy from that particular man again. He's only harming his own business, really, by cutting his products with dangerous or inferior materials.

[Blast, it was even worse. Usual proceedings.]

Are you even listening to yourself speak? You're smarter than this, Sherlock.

[Perhaps that would motivate him to see reason. Appealing to his intellect. Mycroft looks appalled what Sherlock was implying. This was basically confirming that he was an addict.]

No, Mycroft, you're smarter than this. Surely you know better than to buy into all the fear-mongering propaganda surrounding drugs.

[He sighs and pulls out the drip in his arm with one sharp tug, the spot of blood welling where the needle was is ignored.]

I don't need you to babysit my life, Mycroft.

Because the dangers of addiction and overdose are lies and misinformation, right?

[A steely look.]

Put that back. Now.

And clearly you need someone to, because you can scarcely handle yourself. Look at you! Look at where I found you!

Edited 2017-06-23 16:20 (UTC)

[He sighs, but his mind is already working overtime. He might still be able to make this as minimally tedious as possible by playing on Mycroft's need for control.]

If you force me to stay here and deal with the doctors and Mummy, I promise you that none of you will ever get a word out of me on where I've been or what I choose to take recreationally.

[He knows this will work, he can feel it.]

Get me out of here, and I'll at least answer a few questions in payment.

[There's a long pause from Mycroft. He's miffed with himself that he's actually considering it. They needed to know what he took. And he was being foolish if he thought that Sherlock didn't have a serious problem. Which meant that this...this could happen again.]

You realize that you can't run from them forever. Whether you face this now, or you face this tomorrow, our parents will confront you.

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