Work Text:
"Mycroft! I don't want to hear it! I'm taking you home now!"
Greg had been in Mycroft's office before coming home and it had only taken him a few seconds to see that Mycroft was really sick and once again working beyond his strength.
He rushed to him to help him up. Mycroft groaned in protest, but still leaned against Greg's side, whose arm wrapped around his waist to keep him from falling to the middle of the office. The mere fact that he allowed himself to do so with almost no protest told Greg just how bad his lover was.
"Come on," Greg mumbled, his lips brushing Mycroft's hair as he began to guide him down the hallway, "Once you get home, you're not getting out of bed."
"I can take care of myself just fine." Mycroft tried to free himself from Greg's grip, but he really didn't have the strength anymore. Greg sighed and simply held him tighter.
"I know you can do it," Greg said softly, "but Mycroft, you don't have to do it alone anymore. I'm right here. Let me take care of you. You do it for me too, right? Then let me do it for you."
Mycroft tried to answer, but it turned into a coughing fit that forced them to stop. Greg stroked his back until the worst of the coughing fit was over. When Mycroft caught his breath, Greg held him close and asked, "Are you okay? Do you think you can go on? Do you want me to carry you?"
Despite the state he was in, Mycroft couldn't help but find the way Greg was acting like a mother hen adorable.
A little later as they arrived in front of their house, Mycroft smiled weakly in an attempt to pretend, "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
Greg sighed as he opened the door to their house, "Idiot, I love you. You'll never be able to stop me from worrying about you. You're going to have to get used to it."
If Mycroft was honest with himself, he would admit that it felt really good to have someone looking out for him. So he leaned a little closer to Greg, finding comfort in his lover's warm body against his own.
Greg led him into their bedroom and sat him on the edge of the bed. Mycroft whimpered as Greg pulled away to go to the bathroom. He returned quickly and crouched down in front of Mycroft and said softly, "I'll be right back, love, I'm just going to get some medicine before I help you get undressed."
Mycroft remained dazed on the edge of the bed, unable to make a single movement. Now that he had let go, he was aching all over and could feel the fever rising.
Greg quickly returned with a glass of water and some pills, which he forced down his throat.
Then Greg ran a hand through Mycroft's hair, and Mycroft leaned into the contact and gave a moan of well-being.
Greg first removed Mycroft's shoes, then all the rest of his clothes, leaving only his underwear, and Mycroft let him do it without protest, exhaustion showing on his face.
Greg opened the bed and helped Mycroft into it, before joining him and covering them both.
He pulled Mycroft against him, placing his hand on the back of his neck and pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "Now sleep my love, you need your rest, you're not getting enough sleep."
Mycroft tried to protest, "But I am sleeping..."
"Not enough. I know your work wears you down, but you force yourself to stay up at night to spend time with me. As a result, you've only slept four hours a night for the past few days, and don't protest, you know how true that is. I'm not going to consider you any less if you show your weaknesses, you know. You accept mine and you support me so please let me return the favor, okay?"
Greg told him all this in a gentle but firm tone.
Mycroft recognized that Greg was right, he was so used to being on his own that he didn't know what to do now that he was no longer alone. He forced himself to let go of the old demons with a sigh and simply nodded against Greg's chest.
Greg pressed a kiss to his head again and said, "Sleep now, I'll watch over you."
Mycroft smiled, reached up and brushed Greg's cheek with his fingertips, whispering in a voice made hoarse by coughing, "I just didn't want you to see this. I didn't want you to see me like this, but I forgot that with you, I don't have to pretend anymore. "
"Never," Greg replied, taking his hand in his before continuing, "Show me everything about yourself. Even what you think is the most hideous, it won't stop me from loving you."
He kissed him gently on the lips and whispered, "And now, sleep."
Mycroft nodded and sighed in contentment as Greg pulled him close. Before he closed his eyes, he heard Greg's voice against his hair again, "Never again will you have to pretend with me. Ever."