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Mycroft felt his phone buzz in his pocket and tried to remain as impassive as always while listening to the speaker.
He cleared his throat and took a sip of the water provided. Anthea looked up, knowing something wasn’t quite right. She was sat behind Mr Holmes, phone and pad in hand, watching and listening herself.
Mycroft put his right hand on the left side of his chest, seemingly to brush off some dust but Anthea noticed a stilled moment over the part where his phone would be in his inside pocket. He cleared his throat again. Something was definitely wrong. She looked at her phone, checking for anything of concern. Nothing.
‘Can we please have clarification regarding page 34 of the document please?’ someone said.
Mycroft’s shoulders dropped slightly as he took a deep breath. It was going to be a long meeting.
[22:08] I hate you.
[22:15] Im sorry I love you love you so much
[22:24] im forgeting about everythin
[22:25] forever
By the fourth text alert Mycroft excused himself momentarily, Anthea following. She found him in the corridor reading the texts on his phone.
‘Everything alright sir?’
Mycroft nodded, anxiousness written all over his face, as he placed the phone to his ear calling out.
‘Damn!’ he shouted, ‘No answer!’
‘Er…excuse me Ms Anthea you’re needed inside,’ a junior official stood nervously waiting, unwilling to intrude.
‘Of course,’ she replied, her voice cool. She walked in.
Mycroft read the texts again from Gregory and, again, called his phone. Still nothing.
[22:42] Gregory, I apologise again. Where are you? MH
‘Sorry Mr Holmes you are needed in the meeting to present your findings.’
‘I am coming now,’ he answered tersely. This was unbearable! Gregory was drunk, that much was clear by his spelling.
Pfft! was Gregory’s response to his ringing phone. As if he would answer that man!
‘Another pint mate when you’ve got a minute,’ he called, waving his arm at the bartender.
Where was I? Where I always am! At the bottom of the list, in fact he was on the piece of paper that got ripped off from the bottom of the list – not even on the list! Bastard!
[22:50] im out – somewere
There! That should suffice. Bloody cameras are everywhere anyway, don’t even know why he’s asking. No privacy, no privacy at all. Sod him! He was going to have a good time.
But…he wasn’t. The blazing row he had had with Mycroft earlier that evening had left a heavy ache in his chest. Well, it was more of a one-man shouting match while the other took deep breaths, apologised a lot and refused to shout back. Grrr! He was so infuriating, just standing there. This was supposed to be their ‘date night.’ They hadn’t seen each other properly in weeks, due to work, then on the one night they plan to be together, to put each other first, Mycroft announces he has to work. Gregory had done his fruit and stormed out.
[22:55] stay away from me, want to be alon
[22:57] I might pull tonight
There! Let him stew on that! Bastard!
Mycroft smiled blandly through the last of the presentations. He was reaching his limit. Gregory was angry and out somewhere getting drunk and that was all he could think of. An emotional, angry, agitated and drunk Gregory was not a good combination, especially if he was out in public somewhere. The meeting had reached its conclusion and was now ending. Reaching for his phone, Anthea saw, from behind, Mycroft read several texts and noted his body language change dramatically. Minutes would be his limit now, she suspected.
Two minutes later, ‘Thank you gentlemen, that was a most successful meeting and I shall ruminate on the information given and get back to you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I do have a pressing matter to deal with.’ And he shot out of the room, Anthea on his heels.
‘Get the car and find the location of Gregory.’
‘Yes sir,’
This was great. He was on his fifth? sixth? Whatever..pint with a whiskey chaser. And what was even more amazing was that he had developed an extra arm, complete with hand! He knew that because as he reached for his pint there seemed to be two arms there and, actually he must have a three arms because one was on his shoulder. Turning, he saw….twins was it?
‘You’ve got beautiful hair,’ one of the twins said, stroking his hair. Bloody cheek! ‘Fancy some fresh air and a little something else?’
‘Huh?’ grunted Greg, then getting up said, ‘I’m just going to ….’ pointing in the direction of the toilets. He staggered accordingly.
[11:01] pl pic me up
]11:02] Where are you? MH
[11:03] ??????
[11:03] Stay where you are. I will come for you. MH
Stumbling back out, he fell into the arms of one of the twins.
‘Hey! Get off!’
The bartender sensing a fight brewing, pulled Greg to one side and offered him a seat in the corner with a pint of water. He waved the other man away, who just shrugged and went in search of another victim.
‘Do you have someone I can phone for you mate?’ he asked.
‘That will not be necessary. I have come for him.’
The bartender turned around to see a tall, elegant, irate looking man, tapping an umbrella on the floor.
‘Oh, you know him then? A mate of yours, is he?’
‘You could say that, yes.’
‘My…you’re here!’ exclaimed Greg, ‘I’m sorry…’ he slurred, ‘…I’m a bit drunk….did I ruin your saving the world thing…..?’
Mycroft grabbed Greg’s bicep and hauled him up and out of the pub, ensuring payment was sorted for the alcohol consumed.
‘I will say that collecting my drunken husband from the pub was not at the top of my list of things to do tonight but my ‘saving the world thing’ has not been affected by your inebriation.’
‘Smart, very smart!’ slurred Greg, tapping his nose. ‘Have I got beautiful hair? ‘
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Beautiful hair me?’
‘Yes.’ Trying to steer Greg to the waiting car.
‘Two man…twins…was stroking me…hey!’ stopping dead in the middle of the pavement. It was amazing how strong drunk people could be. ‘You’re a twin also! Why you not tell me? What’s his name?’
Pausing momentarily, to study the map for this conversation. Mycroft replied,
‘Gregory, you are seeing double due to your intoxicated state. Please get in the car,’ replied Mycroft tersely.
‘Oh, you’re cross with me, aren’t you?’ Very distressed now.
‘No.’ Yes actually.
‘You cancelled our date!’
‘Would you like to say that again a little louder? I’m not quite sure everybody heard you.’
‘My hair.’
‘Pardon?’
‘My hair.’
‘Beautiful.’ Pushing Greg into the car.
‘And the world.’
‘All saved.’ Sliding into the back seat and closing the door.
‘I love you.’
‘Oh, not hating me now?’
‘Who hates you? I’ll arrest them.’
‘Let’s just go home. I know where your handcuffs are.’