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Greg and John were companionably sipping tea when a grim-faced Mycroft deposited a smirking Sherlock back at Baker Street.
"All ok there?" John asked.
Mycroft inhaled, slowly, before plastering on a polite smile and turning to face his brother's friends.
"Perhaps you will have more luck with him." He glared at the younger Holmes, flopped on the sofa, as if wishing to set him on fire. "Trying to save his sorry skin, I arranged a consultation with the four most powerful decision-makers in the country. He spent the session tweeting. The most useful piece of information we got from him was that he loved ginger nuts."
John couldn't help grinning. "Well, they are the best biscuit, 'specially if you like a bit of spice."
Mycroft turned the glare on him, drawing himself up to his full height before intoning, "Some of us have better things to do than debate preferences for baked goods." He inclined his head in Greg's direction. "Pardon me, Detective Inspector, but work awaits."
As Mycroft departed, now that Greg was out of the politician's too-aware sight, he took a moment to admire the view. The fancy suit covered a lot, but he appreciated the long legs, the broad shoulders, and the firm arse.
Sherlock broke his silence to snicker. "You may have more creativity than I thought, Lestrade. Too bad you aren't as inspired at crime scenes."
"Oi!" Greg stared into his mug. "'s my business. No harm in looking."
"Much as I do not want to contemplate my brother's" Sherlock wrinkled his nose before spitting out "body, I will help your imagination with a fact Mycroft hides -- he dyes his hair."
"Why?"
"His natural color is still considered too emotionally revealing. That's why he's so careful to hide any hint of his body hair. He can't dye it, with his pale skin sensitivity." Sherlock paused a moment. "Hmmmm. That's probably why his hairline is receding."
Greg was stuck on one point. "You saying the carpet doesn't match the drapes?"
"If one must be crude, yes." Sherlock turned his back, conversation clearly over.
Suddenly, Greg understood what Sherlock was hinting at. "No! So, secretly, Mycroft's ginger?"