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Even all the blue light and sirens in the world couldn’t help him to drive any faster. Please, say it’s not too late…
He abruptly stopped the car in front of the hospital and jumped out, already sprinting towards the door of St. Bart’s, when his phone rang. It was Mycroft’s ring tone. Greg stopped dead in his tracks to answer it. „Mycroft, thank goodness, you’re alright. There was no-“
„Please, go back to your car“, Mycroft interupted in a calm tone.
„M-My car? Mycroft? What’s going on?“ Greg turned, looking everywhere for his significant other, but he was nowhere to be seen. „Yes, your car. Go back. Now.“ His voice was cold and ordering, the same one he usually used in his job. The one he had promised to never use on Greg.
„Mycroft what is wrong?“
Nothing. Than a barely audible whisper. „Everything.“
„Let me he-“
„You would help by going back to your car. Now, Gregory.“ And, when he still didn’t move: „Please.“
Greg carefully walked back to the police car, still looking around in every direction to find Mycroft. It was only when he reached it that he noticed the silhouette of the man he loved standing at the edge of the hospital’s rooftop.
„Mycroft, no!“ Greg instinctively leaped forewards again, but Mycroft’s words stopped him.
„Don’t dare to come any closer!“ He could hear a deep breath. „I’m sorry. I have failed to protect my brother and I have failed to protect my country. And all along I had no problem taking advantage of one of the best people I ever had the luck to meet. Just to end up all alone with no chance of making things right again.“
„No, Mycroft.“ Greg’s voice was quivering. „I love you. You’ve shown me what love can feel like. I… I’m sorry if I was unable to repay the favour but noone could make me happier than you. So please“ – his voice broke – „Don’t jump!“
He could hear a huff. „Didn’t you listen? I used you. You were just a means to an end. To protect my brother. Nothing more.“ Greg shook his head. He knew he was lying.
Tears streamed down his cheeks. „Goodbye, Gregory.“ The phone disconnected and he could see Mycroft stepping into the fall.
„NO!“ His cry echoed over the street, but it was too late. Mycroft was dead.
two years later
He could still hear the DI’s voice, a scream unlike anything he’d ever heared before. Its reverberation haunted his nightmares, just like everything he had said to the man he once loved. The man he still loved. But it was necessary. It made his suiced believable and – at least he hoped so – it made it easier for Greg to forget about him. It was bad enough that he’d had to fake his death and break the poor man’s heart. This way he didn’t have to mourn him.
Now that Moriarty’s men (and women) had finally been taken care of, he was able to return home. He just wasn’t sure that he wanted to. He had no idea how Greg would react to his return…
He had spent the entire day following the Detective Inspector. Incognito of course. He had waited for a good moment to talk to him, to reveal that he wasn’t dead, but he hadn’t found any. God, he had almost forgotten what a pleasure it was to see the man in his natural element. Or to see the man in general.
But he had apparently also forgotten the detective's sharp senses. When he was on his way home he suddenly stopped and turned around, shouting. „I know you’re there. I know you followed me. Show yourself.“ Mycroft smiled ruefully and stepped out of the shadows he’d been hiding in.
Greg looked like he had seen a ghost. He had not noticed who followed him, then. „Mycroft?“ It was hard to read his mood, as so many different emotions slid accross his face. Disbelief. Hurt. Anger. Happiness. Relief. Uncertainty. They all came so fast, they seemed to almost mix into one. „Good evening, Gregory. I apologize for sneaking after you.“
That seemed to finally set him into motion. „You bastard!“ He started moving towards Mycroft but stopped himself half-way there. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to hug or strangle him. „You died! You disappeared on me for two years! You broke my heart and now you apologize for following me?! God damn it, Mycroft, is that really all you have to say?! Don’t you think I deserve an explaination of how you magicked yourself back into existence?!“
Against his urges he held eyecontact with the man in front of him. Because Gregory was right. He deserved an explaination. And an honest apology. The least he could do was look him in the eyes when he gave it.
„I’m sorry, Gregory.“ He bit his lip. He wasn’t sure if using his first name was still welcomed. „I hoped to spare you the heartache when I… with the words I told you that evening.“ The DI huffed. „I had to disappear for a while. It was the only way to guarentee my brother’s safety, and more importantly, yours.“ He hadn’t really thought before he said that, but realized it was true. There would have been other ways to save Sherlock, but this was the only one that had guaranteed Greg’s safety as well. Mycroft swallowed. „I realize that you will probably have no interest of having me back in your life, but I thought you should know that I’m back to London. And that you’re out of danger.“
„Danger that you didn’t even think to let me know I was in in the first place!“
Greg closed his eyes and took a deep breath. „You realize I never believed that bullshit you told me on the phone back then, right?“ Mycroft swallowed. „I didn’t. I hoped I made it easier for you to forget me.“
„I could never forget you. Unlike you, I meant those last words I said that day.“ The words that had roamed through Mycroft’s head on a daily basis and that he had ached, but not dared to reply back then. You’ve shown me what love can feel like. „Gregory, I… I know nothing can make up for what I did. But what I did, it was… I couldn’t lose you. I love you too much. I’m sorry. If there had been another way… I just wanted… I hoped…“ He was at a loss for words and tears streamed down his face.
Suddenly Greg urged forewards, hugging Mycroft tightly. „Good to see I can still leave a Holmes at a loss for words.“