School Life: Chapter Fourteen

John watched his father carefully as he administered to his friend. He had gotten the story from Victor and it broke his heart.

"John come help me put him on your bed." His father ordered and John hastened to comply. As his father lifted Sherlock, he blinked.

"Maybe I don't need your help, John, after all. Does this boy ever eat?"

"Bane of my existence, dad, is trying to get him to eat. Something. Anything." John whined as he helped his dad carefully lay Sherlock on the bed.

"Silly git." His dad agreed.

"Um... I should call, Mycroft..." John murmured.

"That'd be a good idea, honey. Me and your dad will watch over him and let you know when he wakes." his mother told him as she gently nudged him toward the hall.

John sighed and with a single backwards glance at his friend he went to the hall to call Mycroft. He flipped through Sherlock's contacts and chuckled at the names. Mouse, he assumed was Molly. DI must be Greg. He must have had a lot of faith in Greg to give him that one. There was a Wolfgang, which John assumed was Victor though why John couldn't figure. And then there was a Janus. He clicked on it and it came up his number. He did a search on his phone was a little surprised to find that he was the two headed god of Roman mythos. Did Sherlock think he was two faced? A liar? No that didn't fit. He read further to find that he was the god of beginnings and transitions. And well, he'd be damned if that didn't fit what he done with Sherlock. The final entry was archenemy, which must have been his brother.

He chuckled and imported the number into his phone and made the call.

"Hello?" came the smooth voice on the other end.

"Mycroft, it's John."

"Hello, John. How did you get my number?"

"I got it off Sherlock's phone." he admitted.

"And he let you touch his phone?" Mycroft asked incredulously.

"Not exactly..." John hedged.

"John... what happened?"

John sighed. "It's a bit of a clusterfuck, really. Some jackass told Victor's apparently homophobic dad that Victor was not only gay but dating Sherlock. According to Victor, he's forbidden Victor from seeing Sherlock and he put a restraining order against Sherlock. If he comes near Victor the cops get called. Well, you know brother... when he heard this he passed out. My dad's taking care of him. He's good at what he does, Sherlock will be fine."

"I have no doubt about that, John. Would you mind if stays there the whole vacation?"

"I'll have to ask mum and dad but I don't think they'll have a problem with it, why?"

"He's going to need you during this time. I think separating you two right now would be disastrous to his mind."

"I can see that, yeah. I'm sure if I explain that to my parents they'll be more than happy to have him stay."

"Will that be all John?"

"I don't usually condone this sort of thing... but Mycroft..."

"Say no more, John. It'll be taken care of. Have no doubt. Just one more thing from me, John."

"Yeah?"

"I don't care what name you use, but don't use my real name in your contacts please. This is a secure line and it could cause trouble in the wrong hands."

"Oh. Um. Wow. Okay, sure." John blinked. His mother appeared at the door and he held up a finger, she nodded and went back inside. "He's awake now. I've got to go."

"Please keep me informed, John."

"Will do." John hung up and went back into his room. Sherlock's pale skin was practically translucent.

"How is he dad?" John asked as he saw the bags under his friend's eyes.

"He's fine. He just a bit of shock. We'll talk in a bit okay?" John nodded as his parents left the room.

"Hey, mate..." John inquired as he sat on the bed next to his friend's pale form.

"Hey," Sherlock muttered. "I didn't mean to ruin your Christmas." Sherlock whispered.

"What? No! You didn't!" Sherlock had a look dubiousness on his face. "Look, I know this came as shock, and when I find the bastard that told Mr. Trevor about you and Victor, I will kick his ass so far into next week."

Sherlock chuckled weakly.

"But listen okay? I'm here for you. And you are staying here until we go back to school. Mycroft will send over somethings for you."

"Does Mycroft know my troubles?" Sherlock asked.

"So you have been reading it then?" John chuckled.

"Of course John. I'll delete after I don't need it anymore but stop avoiding the question."

"Yeah. Of course. He had to be told Sherlock. It would be like you not calling my parents if something like this happened to me." Sherlock groaned.

"John..."

"No. It's okay. He's not going to meddle, alright? I promise." Well... he's not going meddle in your love life per se. He's just going to mess with Mr. Trevor a bit. I just hope he doesn't hurt Victor in the process. John thought as looked down at his friend.

"He always meddles, John. You can't stop it."

"I suppose not but doesn't a part of you want revenge against Mr. Trevor?" John asked him honestly.

Sherlock blinked. "Not if it hurt Victor, too."

"Agreed. And your brother is a smart enough man to realize that."

Sherlock scoffed.

"Come on man, let's get some tea in you. Tea makes everything better."

"Earl Grey?" Sherlock inquired as he struggled to get up. John helped him to his feet.

"My mum's favorite."

"Smart woman." Sherlock muttered as he let John help him to the kitchen. The best part about being poor is that their house only had one level. No stairs for Sherlock to struggle with.

"How do you take your tea, Sherlock?" Mrs. Watson asked as removed the tea bag from a cup.

"Just two sugars, please." Sherlock replied as John sat him down.

"She'll take care of you, I'm going to go to talk to my dad." John told him and ruffled his hair before he walked off.

Mrs. Watson turned to the dark haired boy at her table and set the cup in front of him.

"My son thinks the world of you, you know?" She said as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

Sherlock looked down at the cup as he wrapped his hands around the warm object. "I think the world of him too." Sherlock sighed. "I've never met anyone like him. He's like a walking contradiction. Built like a brick house but really sweet and friendly. Wants to be a doctor to save lives but also wants to join the army where he'd have to hurt people. Likes quiet afternoons in the park but craves adventure. He's a mystery wrapped in an enigma. I never get tired of learning new things about your son."

Mrs. Watson laughed. "I don't think I've ever heard him described that way but you're right of course." She watched Sherlock drink his tea for a bit. "Will you watch over him for us? He seems tough on the outside but he's soft on the inside."

Sherlock laughed. "He usually the one taking care of me. Making sure I eat and sleep. He fought a bully for me because I couldn't. They broke my ribs."

"That's my John. But he's use to taking on too much, just be there for him as he's here for you now."

"Is there something you aren't telling me?" Sherlock asked.

She laughed. "No, no. I just know being a teenage boy isn't the easiest thing in the world. Just be there for each other, alright?" Sherlock nodded.

Just then Dr. Watson and John walked through the door. Dr. Watson came up to his wife and kissed her on the cheek.

"Looks like our house guest is staying a bit longer than planned." He explained and then winked at Sherlock.

"Oh good, I thought I was going to have to twist your arm into letting him stay as long as he needed." Mrs. Watson smiled.

"Nah, doctor's orders." Dr. Watson winked at her as he filled his own cup with hot water over his tea bag.

John beamed at all three of them, amused at how easy it was to have Sherlock stay the whole holiday. The next morning a car came with everything Sherlock would need for the next couple weeks plus his school things.

John grinned about that one.

"This means we get to ride the train together. It'll be like Harry Potter." Sherlock just shook his head at his friend's enthusiasm.

New Years eve had been fun, as John got to introduce both Sherlock and Mary to his hometown friends. He was pleased to see Mike and Sarah together. It made the party that more enjoyable. He was also pleased to see Sherlock get along them as well. At first dismissed them like he does everyone but once they proved their intelligence, Sherlock warmed up to them very quickly.

There had been a moment when Sarah had asked about if he had a girlfriend that could have turned bad but Sherlock just waved it off. He never answered her directly but John made sure later to let her know what had gone on, on Christmas. She apologized over and over again. John waved it off, there was no way she could have known.

The train back was subdued. Sherlock looked as though he couldn't bare the thought of returning to Westminster without Victor.

It appeared that Greg had heard about what happened and him and Molly were very supportive. They fielded questions about Victor so Sherlock wouldn't have to. Sherlock was grateful. John did notice a change however. Out of probation and Victor gone, Sherlock's mouth took on a life of its own.

Anderson bore the brunt of this verbal attack. Not that John cared one way or another about Anderson, it was still a shock to see Sherlock behave the way everyone told him he did.

It got really bad when Greg told him that Victor had been shipped off to one of those schools where they try and brainwash you into thinking you were straight. Sherlock started to really lash out than. John got so worried, he hauled him into see Mrs. Hudson, see if she could get him to calm down.

But the final nail in the coffin came a month later. The hammer fell and it shattered what was left of Sherlock's heart. It would take a miracle to put it back together again.

Greg hadn't even been called, he found out the same way Sherlock and John had.

Victor's obituary in the paper. It merely said:

Victor Trevor, son of Chief Superintendent Graeme Trevor and his wife Ailsa was found dead in the dorm room of St. Benedict's School for Boys, having chosen to take his own life. He was well liked and great rider. He will be missed.

Followed by the funeral information. John could understand why Sherlock hadn't been told but Greg? Greg was Victor's best friend and straight. There was no reason for this. It really bothered John. He could only imagine how Sherlock must have felt. Sherlock was practically catatonic. He wouldn't eat or get up for class. He got the nurse in to give him a note to miss classes.

John finally got him roused up for the funeral. John didn't care if Mr. Trevor would be upset, Sherlock had every right to be there. In fact John got a bunch of Victor's friends at Westminster and got them all to go with them. There was the five of them and then Victor's riding mates and other school friends.

They stood a sea of black with yellow and purple arm bands. Yellow for suicide prevention and purple for gay rights. Victor's father was too lost in his own grief to notice them but his mother did and she flashed them a grateful smile.

After the funeral she put her husband in the car and came over to them. She handed each one of them a white flower to place on the casket and silently thanked them for their support.

One by one they placed their flowers until it was just Sherlock. He looked down at the flower. He untied his arm band and wrapped it delicately around the flower and placed it on the casket.

"I'll miss you, love." He kissed his fingers and then pressed his fingers to the casket before John led him away.