Sherlock sat in his arm chair snuggled in a blanket tipping away on his laptop. John was upstairs in his room, trying to catch up on sleep he much needed after Sherlock's 'I'm-just-going-to-have-a-quick-look' turned out to be a whole-night-chase after a thief who was quickly to move and kill. John lived only a week with his insane/brilliant flatmate but he had already killed a man to save this madman's life and he had a feeling that wasn't the last time, he was like a magnet for trouble.
He felt affectionate to him, the name Holmes always having a special place in his heart. He did not ask if he was related to his Holmes, there was enough evidence, but for now he just enjoyed the thrill and adrenaline that came with living together with the self proclaimed sociopath. He didn't want to think about things that lay in the past. Sherlock was still tipping on his laptop as he heard movement on the stairs, careful placed steps, a familiar breathing pattern and every other step accompanied by an umbrella carefully used as a cane.
"Go away, you are not welcome!" Sherlock shouted before the door even opened
"Now brother dear, you shouldn't be so impolite to your guests." A smooth voice almost purred gliding inside.

"You are not a guest Mycroft, you are a nuisance; I could call the police and ask them to arrest you for unlawful entry, brother dear." Sherlock said venom in his voice as he spat out the last words, a smile like a grimace on his face.

"You can try." Mycroft said with a false smile on his own lips as he sat opposite of Sherlock fanon the other armchair.

Sherlock huffed "What do you want?" He practically shouted now.

"Calm down little brother." Mycroft answered calmly "I'm here to see your so called flatmate." He added his voice like silk.

"I don't see why?" Sherlock huffed back.

John woke up from Sherlock's loud voice and decided that that was enough sleep for today and that it was more important to check that Sherlock didn't do anything stupid. He quickly put on jeans and a jumper before descending the stairs.

Mycroft wanted just answer Sherlock when his jaw dropped open; he saw the figure on the stairs, short sturdy man, more grey than blond hair and night blue eyes; his usual fake expression was replaced with and honest expression of shock, confusion and happiness.

When John saw the figure sitting opposite of Sherlock he halted for a second before going further; dark hair, ginger shimmering through, pale skin, soft blue grey eyes.

"So you are related." He said his eyes smiling. "You have to excuse me, I thought that might be the case, but I wasn't 100% sure, you don't exactlylook alike, well now at least." A smile spread across his lips.

"He took after Mommy." Mycroft answered shortly, his face still full of emotions.

John nodded "Never had the honour to meet her." his face losing a little of the smile.

Mycroft nodded almost invisible.

"Oh," John laughed and brushed a hand over his face "I'm so stupid sometimes, that's Sherry, oh my God..." John said as he moved and sat down on the sofa a fond expression painted on his face "He was much shorter back then and ... fluffier, somehow." he laughed again.

"Growth spurt when he was 17." Mycroft said watching the shorter man sit down, his eyes never leaving him.

Sherlock followed the whole conversation in shock "Why...?" he started but couldn't finish, he started again "Is he...?" he couldn't finish his sentence again and just looked at both man with a shocked and freighted expression.

"He does not work for me Sherlock, if you wanted to ask that." Mycroft answered Sherlock's stammer never letting his eyes drift away from John.

"Never." John laughed "And for the rest, deduce it Sherlock, aren't you the genius here?" John added with a happy smile.

"Tea anyone?" he asked as he stood up again.

Sherlock not able to comprehend what just happened just looked between the two men. Mycroft slightly nodded at John who then went into the kitchen leaving the two brothers alone.

Sherlock stared at him "What's going on?" he breathed out after a while.

Mycroft forced his gaze away from where John went and looked at his brother. "Nothing, Sherlock." He said a genuine smile plastered on his face.

Sherlock narrowed his eyes "Like John said, you are the genius here, deduce it." Mycroft said as he stood up and went into the kitchen.

Sherlock confused by the whole situation followed the two men into the kitchen where he found John standing in front of the stove and Mycroft besides him leaned against the work top with his back, his head turned to watch John with a smile on his face, who returned the same sincere smile.

"You two are close, even if you haven't seen each other for a long time. He knows me, he also knows father. And you..., you like him and John likes you. Why?" Sherlock half stammers his eyes wide and disbelieving.

"Good thing he's off the drugs, you took good care of him." John said ignoring Sherlock and turned towards Mycroft placing a hand on his arms and brushing slightly over it.

"It's not only my doing." Mycroft answered placing his hand over Johns on his arm and squeezing it lightly. "I didn't know you got hurt." Mycroft said with a steady voice even if his fingers slightly trembled against Johns as he took his hand away.

"I know-"

"Halt stop! What is going on here?" Sherlock couldn't hold it in any more, he looked pleading at both man.

John chuckled and Mycroft grinned "Can't you work it out, little brother?" Mycroft teased, Sherlock's expression changed from shocked to angry. John slightly squeezed Mycroft's arm and shook his head a little.

"The tea is ready." John said giving each man a cup, while Sherlock stared at them both not knowing what to do.

"Shall we go back to the living room?" Mycroft asked already making his way there followed by an angry but still shocked Sherlock who didn't understand why his flatmate, whom he came to like – even if he would never admit it –, knew his older brother and apparently him and his father and why it seemed that both of them were close, he didn't like that.

This time Mycroft sat down on the sofa and John sat next to him, what earned them an ugly look from Sherlock who sat down on his armchair looking distressed.

"Explain." Sherlock demanded. Mycroft only raised an eyebrow at him and took a sip form his tea.

"Oh, no sugar." He said while smiling happily.

"Figured you wouldn't take any after-" His eyes wandered over to Sherlock.

Mycroft chuckled "Mhm" he hummed in agreement.

"What? After you diet failed?" Sherlock snapped grinning like a hyena, mad and frustrated at his lack of knowledge regarding the whole situation.

"Oh, he still does that?" John looked surprised at Mycroft who just shrugged "I thought he would have grown out of it." He said while placing a protective hand on Mycroft's thigh.

"Sherlock you do know that My was only once slightly cubby, no need to rub it in his whole life, does no good." John said looking at his baffled flatmate.

"That's it, I'm calling Diana." Sherlock said while pulling out his phone.

Mycroft huffed a laugh.

"Diana?" John asked little confused.

"Come here immediately." Only seconds later Diana – former Anthea – stormed through the door.

Sherlock grinned knowing that he would now get answers.

But to his surprise John jumped up grinning like the Cheshire Cat "Lillian, my God, you still work with him!" He exclaimed "I would have thought he had driven you insane by now" he added laughing.

Her phone dropped on the ground and her jaw dropped. "You...but you...how?" She stammered and John grinned and took a few steps forward. Mycroft eyed the whole situation with a pleased smile on his lips.

Lillian threw her hands around John's neck and pulled him into a tight hug "John..." her voice soft and trembling "I'm so glad." She said hugging him even tighter.

Mycroft saw Sherlock's expression "Not exactly what you expected little brother, eh?" he teased his flabbergasted brother.

"He knows her name." Sherlock breathes out heavily, trying to put all the facts together he knew.

He knew that John was an army doctor wounded in battle and sent back to England, he wasn't remarkable in any way except that he was a crack shot. And now he knew that John knew his brother and his assistant, he knew his father and it seemed him too. He was close to both Mycroft and Lillian and he knew her real name. He glanced in disbelief at the scene in front of him, not making any sense of it. It was as if he was missing a big piece of the whole puzzle.

Lillian had let loose the tight embrace but still held him by his shoulders as if to assure that he really was there. "It's really me, Lill." He said hugging her lightly and brushing her hair out of her face. He bowed down and picked up her BlackBarry "I don't think you should let go of this, might be important." He said and chuckled and Lillian grinned, too. She fast regained her composure.

"I think you can go now, I don't think you'll be willing to provide my brother with answers he's currently trying to find." Mycroft said laughing.

"I'll arrange for you to be free today, Sir." Lillian said smiling at her boss and John, who smiled back at her.

"You can join us later if you like, Lill." Mycroft said with a sincere smile spread on his open face and no hint of hierarchy in his voice.

"I'll leave today to you, My." Lillian answered smiling at John. "I can punch him tomorrow." She added still smiling at John.

"Thought so." John laughed pulling her in a hug again. "Thank you for taking care of him." He said quietly.

Lillian smiled "I'll be going now." She said and went down the stairs with light steps.

"God, I'm so glad she is still with you..., taking care of you." John turned around and said with fondness in every word.

"I don't think I can handle this." Sherlock breathed out, eyes wide.

"I think he might pass out." Mycroft said concern in his voice "You know he can't handle emotion well." He added getting up and placing a hand on his brother's forehead who just stared at him.

"That would be good; at least he would sleep then." John added lightly "Don't worry, My." He said standing next to him putting his hands on Sherlock's pulls points. "He's all right, a little in shock and a little distressed and exhausted as he haven't slept in three days, nothing he can't cope with." John said brushing through Sherlock's hair "Sherry darling, you should go to bed and sleep a little." He added softly and helped Sherlock get on his feet guiding him to his bedroom with Mycroft on the other side, steadying the frail body of the Consulting Detective.

They laid him on his bed and pulled the duvet up to cover him.

"This feels familiar." Sherlock said looking up at the two figures, which were now looking down on him. John tucked the duvet around his shoulders and as he straightened Mycroft's hand glided through his hair, he closed his eyes and fell asleep