Not Much, No
Title: Not Much, No
Rating: PG for super sad stuff
Summary: Based on tajaen's prompt: Mycroft has security surveillance everywhere doesn't he? (Prompt cut to avoid spoilers)
Spoilers: For Reichenbach Falls
Mycroft was shocked when he heard the news of his brother's death. It was so… uncharacteristic. With the limited affection he held for his brother, he thought that Sherlock loved himself too much for something like suicide. Especially with no warning.
It wasn't until he saw the CCTV footage that was sent to him that he understood. It wasn't in Sherlock's repertoire. It made him all the more glad that his surveillance of London was so thorough.
Lestrade was equally surprised by the news, unsure of what to say to Mycroft who had come to the scene not to see his brother's body but to pass on a video.
"I hope you see fit to show this to everyone at Scotland Yard." Mycroft said. "At the very least, you should know what happened."
"What is it?"
"Important information."
The first time through, Lestrade watched the tape alone. Most of it was Sherlock and Moriarty talking on the rooftop of Bart's. His breath caught when he heard his own name.
"Three bullets. Three gunmen. Three victims. There's no stopping them now unless my people see you jump. You can have me arrested, you can torture me, you can do anything you like with me, but nothing's going to prevent them from pulling the trigger. Your only three friends in the world will die unless-"
"Unless I kill myself. Complete your story."
That was when he stopped it and called everyone who had ever worked with Sherlock to one of the conference rooms.
"What's this all about, Lestrade?" Anderson asked.
The Detective Inspector didn't answer his, but addressed the entire assembly. "For any of you who believed the papers - anyone who thought Sherlock was a fake or that he made up Moriarty - I want you to watch this." He had to stop for a moment to keep his voice steady. "My mum always told me never to speak ill of the dead. None of you should either no matter what you had against him."
He started the tape and walked out, unable to handle a second viewing. But it hardly mattered. He returned in time to hear
"Goodbye, John."
And, though there was no sound once Sherlock was out of the frame, a shudder rippled through the conference room as though they could all hear the crack of a body hitting the ground.
No one spoke for a long moment after the tape shut itself off. The first sound was of a secretary whom Sherlock had badly insulted bursting into tears. A few others followed suit, others stood, dumbstruck.
"I'd've never thought…" Sally started, then cut herself off. "I'm sorry, Greg."
Lestrade pinched his mouth into a line and nodded in acknowledgement. He took the tape and excused himself before the strange eulogies began. He later heard about how many people admired Sherlock despite not really liking him.
He never told anyone that he noted that neither Sherlock nor Moriarty included Mycroft in his list of people he cared about. He arrived at Mycroft's office just as the man was clearing his desk.
"I figured you'd want this back." Lestrade said, awkwardly placing the tape on the corner of Mycroft's desk. "I wanted to say that I'm sorry-"
"Thank you for the sentiment, but I assure you that the contents of the tape came as no surprise to me, Detective Inspector." Mycroft replied. "As you say, your mother told you not to speak ill of the dead."
"Right."
Lestrade was only vaguely surprised that Mycroft knew about the meeting he called and what was said. Very little about Mycroft surprised him anymore despite their limited contact. Sherlock was his brother after all.
And, somehow, it seemed fitting that Mycroft wasn't considered one of Sherlock's "friends." They weren't friends - they hated one another because they were too similar. The same.
"You're me."
A/N: So, that wasn't at all the direction I thought this was going to take, but there you go… The writing runs away without me yet again! Also, the title is from the Journey song "After the Fall." The line is "What's left after the fall? No not much, no."
Rating: PG for super sad stuff
Summary: Based on tajaen's prompt: Mycroft has security surveillance everywhere doesn't he? (Prompt cut to avoid spoilers)
Spoilers: For Reichenbach Falls
Mycroft was shocked when he heard the news of his brother's death. It was so… uncharacteristic. With the limited affection he held for his brother, he thought that Sherlock loved himself too much for something like suicide. Especially with no warning.
It wasn't until he saw the CCTV footage that was sent to him that he understood. It wasn't in Sherlock's repertoire. It made him all the more glad that his surveillance of London was so thorough.
Lestrade was equally surprised by the news, unsure of what to say to Mycroft who had come to the scene not to see his brother's body but to pass on a video.
"I hope you see fit to show this to everyone at Scotland Yard." Mycroft said. "At the very least, you should know what happened."
"What is it?"
"Important information."
The first time through, Lestrade watched the tape alone. Most of it was Sherlock and Moriarty talking on the rooftop of Bart's. His breath caught when he heard his own name.
"Three bullets. Three gunmen. Three victims. There's no stopping them now unless my people see you jump. You can have me arrested, you can torture me, you can do anything you like with me, but nothing's going to prevent them from pulling the trigger. Your only three friends in the world will die unless-"
"Unless I kill myself. Complete your story."
That was when he stopped it and called everyone who had ever worked with Sherlock to one of the conference rooms.
"What's this all about, Lestrade?" Anderson asked.
The Detective Inspector didn't answer his, but addressed the entire assembly. "For any of you who believed the papers - anyone who thought Sherlock was a fake or that he made up Moriarty - I want you to watch this." He had to stop for a moment to keep his voice steady. "My mum always told me never to speak ill of the dead. None of you should either no matter what you had against him."
He started the tape and walked out, unable to handle a second viewing. But it hardly mattered. He returned in time to hear
"Goodbye, John."
And, though there was no sound once Sherlock was out of the frame, a shudder rippled through the conference room as though they could all hear the crack of a body hitting the ground.
No one spoke for a long moment after the tape shut itself off. The first sound was of a secretary whom Sherlock had badly insulted bursting into tears. A few others followed suit, others stood, dumbstruck.
"I'd've never thought…" Sally started, then cut herself off. "I'm sorry, Greg."
Lestrade pinched his mouth into a line and nodded in acknowledgement. He took the tape and excused himself before the strange eulogies began. He later heard about how many people admired Sherlock despite not really liking him.
He never told anyone that he noted that neither Sherlock nor Moriarty included Mycroft in his list of people he cared about. He arrived at Mycroft's office just as the man was clearing his desk.
"I figured you'd want this back." Lestrade said, awkwardly placing the tape on the corner of Mycroft's desk. "I wanted to say that I'm sorry-"
"Thank you for the sentiment, but I assure you that the contents of the tape came as no surprise to me, Detective Inspector." Mycroft replied. "As you say, your mother told you not to speak ill of the dead."
"Right."
Lestrade was only vaguely surprised that Mycroft knew about the meeting he called and what was said. Very little about Mycroft surprised him anymore despite their limited contact. Sherlock was his brother after all.
And, somehow, it seemed fitting that Mycroft wasn't considered one of Sherlock's "friends." They weren't friends - they hated one another because they were too similar. The same.
"You're me."
A/N: So, that wasn't at all the direction I thought this was going to take, but there you go… The writing runs away without me yet again! Also, the title is from the Journey song "After the Fall." The line is "What's left after the fall? No not much, no."