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[bigbrotheriswatching]

Sherlock is half blown up, lying in a hospital bed with machines attached.

Mycroft moves purposefully down the hallway and into the room as soon as he hears, as soon as he can make it there.

Comments

[bigbrotheriswatching]

"If you try to come between my little brother and I at this particular moment, I'm honestly not sure how I shall react."

He informs him. Fair warning.

[fearfulhand]

A deep breath. He curses.

"Brother. Well. Can't disobey orders, I'm afraid. I've known more than one man who'd disconnect his brother's life support."

[bigbrotheriswatching]

"Go ahead, then."

Turning to face him.

"Try me. Or else, phone James and get his permission to leave me, if you don't care for a dislocated shoulder."

[fearfulhand]

He frowns.

"You don't-"

And his phone vibrates in his pocket, and Sebastian curses, taking a step back and fishing it out, never taking his eyes off of Mycroft. He only shifts his gaze for a split second to read the text, before taking a step back and putting his phone away.

"...'m afraid there's been a bit of a misunderstanding, mister Holmes."

[bigbrotheriswatching]

"I won't hold it against you."

He informs him, utterly mildly, where Sherlock or Jim might take the opportunity to mock furiously for being ordinary.

"Who in the family were you pretending to be?"

[fearfulhand]

He scoffs a laugh, lifting up the eyedrops from his pocket and setting them down on the small table.

"Cousin. I've got papers."

[bigbrotheriswatching]

"Very well."

Brushing Sherlock's curls back off his face.

"You needn't concern yourself for much longer."

[fearfulhand]

"Hopefully not," he grumbles, moving to sit back down.

"Been sitting here for hours already. Boring. Wish you were an assassin, really."

[bigbrotheriswatching]

"Give me your version of what happened."

He orders, lifting the blanket up to assess the worse of the damage personally.

[fearfulhand]

He tenses up, despite the text telling him to stand down.

"I don't take orders from you."

[bigbrotheriswatching]

"Then consider it a request, if you wish."

It isn't one.

[fearfulhand]

"One which I politely decline."

His eyes are slightly narrowed.

[bigbrotheriswatching]

"I urge you to reconsider."

He murmurs, staring him right in the eye.

"He is my family."

[fearfulhand]

"I'm not one of your secret service."

Levelly.

"I don't talk about my boss unless he tells me to."

[bigbrotheriswatching]

"In that case, please excuse this call."

Pulling his phone out, since neither of them is going to leave, obviously.

[fearfulhand]

Sebastian sits back for a moment, before pulling his phone out again and beginning a furious text to Jim.

[bigbrotheriswatching]

They're phoning the same person, in that case. Jim's phone will start to ring.

[napoleonofcrime]

"Hiiiii."

Is the first answer.

"I see you've met Sebby."

[bigbrotheriswatching]

"Yes. He's charmingly devoted."

He observes, looking him up and down.

"Why he's invested in you I have no idea, Moriarty."

Deliberately saying the name, since Sebastian will probably need it spelled out for him.

[napoleonofcrime]

"Don't be daft, dear. I'm his tiger."

He hums a little, and Sebastian turns to watch Mycroft with narrowed eyes. Meanwhile, Jim continues.

"And he's better than any and every man in your service."

[bigbrotheriswatching]

"Than most, I'll give you that."

He agrees, hand resting on his brother's shoulder without realizing it.

"What happened?"

[napoleonofcrime]

"You'll see soon enough."

And then, quietly-

"He showed up a few minutes before it was supposed to blow, wouldn't listen when I told him to leave. I sacrificed three men getting him out to that."

[bigbrotheriswatching]

"He always was obstinate to a fault."

Sighing, looking away from Sebastian for a moment, to focus on his brother.

"Very well." Jim isn't going to end up skinned.

[napoleonofcrime]

"Anyone comes near him, Sebby will feed them their fingers."

Lightly.

"Except for you now, of course."

[bigbrotheriswatching]

"Give him a better cover story next time." Mycroft suggests, glancing Sebastian up and down. "You only need to be of average intellect to see through this one."

Never mind the people they usually tangle with.

"I'm considering the advantages and disadvantages of moving him to a private facility."