[He turns to focus on Sherlock. He's not seen the obituaries yet, and the words are out of his mouth the moment he realizes what's happened, without bothering to check the network.]
Ah. It's John, then. Bound for a funeral home or two, are we?
[His face softens, not for any sorrow on Watson's actual loss, but because of the effect it would have on his brother. Again.
[He's not going to show that he's upset, certainly not to Mycroft. After all, it's not logical to be upset when there's an excellent chance that John will return and everything will go back to how it should be. Why mourn over something temporary? Except that the logic doesn't seem to be stopping the cold dread in the pit of his stomach.]
[It's a sigh borne from expecting the inevitable, tedious trekking in the near future, but there's no way on earth he was going to leave Sherlock on his own like this.]
Do you know what happened?
[He keeps his voice neutral, but getting his brother to talk might glean him a little more insight into his state of mind.]
[Sherlock tosses his tablet at Mycroft, open on the obituary page where Beckett is explaining everything that happened in rather cold and clinical detail.]
Unnecessary and pointless.
[Though he appreciates the offer, even if he won't say so.]
[After a quick scan, he hands it back over to Sherlock. Logically speaking, he completely agrees, and he's mildly incensed at John for being stupid enough to get into that situation in the first place, resulting in this. Now Sherlock's upset and this is the last thing Mycroft wants in this environment.
But that won't help matters if he vocalizes it.]
The chances are very good for his return. I'm sure he'll...turn up in no time.
[He can tell that Mycroft is trying to be comforting in his own way, and he does appreciate it. Not that he's going to say so, their relationship is built on a mutual understanding that they must outwardly detest one another.]
Obviously, which is why we'll be leaving for the revival points immediately.
[He could ask the Admin, others have, but he'd prefer to do it under his own steam.]
[The fact that he can indeed, make half hearted jabs relieves Mycroft of some of his worry. There's a ghost of a smile on his face before it disappears.]
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[He turns to focus on Sherlock. He's not seen the obituaries yet, and the words are out of his mouth the moment he realizes what's happened, without bothering to check the network.]
Ah. It's John, then. Bound for a funeral home or two, are we?
[His face softens, not for any sorrow on Watson's actual loss, but because of the effect it would have on his brother. Again.
How painful sentiment was.]
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[He's not going to show that he's upset, certainly not to Mycroft. After all, it's not logical to be upset when there's an excellent chance that John will return and everything will go back to how it should be. Why mourn over something temporary? Except that the logic doesn't seem to be stopping the cold dread in the pit of his stomach.]
Are you coming, or not?
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I'm coming, of course.
[It's a sigh borne from expecting the inevitable, tedious trekking in the near future, but there's no way on earth he was going to leave Sherlock on his own like this.]
Do you know what happened?
[He keeps his voice neutral, but getting his brother to talk might glean him a little more insight into his state of mind.]
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[He tries to recite that as just as list of facts that occurred, but his voice is too tight with anger and sorrow to quite pull it off.]
Must you ask? This seems to be a regular occurrence whenever John goes alone to meet a patient.
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[Ordinarily Mycroft would keep his own tone clipped and clinical, no need to bother with sentiment when one of them was already caught in its hold.
But this has happened too many times, Norfinbury has happened too many times.
Maybe he's just getting soft in his old age--appalling--but he sounds far kinder than he usually does.]
It should not be a regular occurrence.
If you would like, I could arrange...something for the murderer.
[He's good at vengeance, brother dear.]
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Unnecessary and pointless.
[Though he appreciates the offer, even if he won't say so.]
It seems the fault lies with John, anyway.
[Objectively speaking, logically speaking.]
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[After a quick scan, he hands it back over to Sherlock. Logically speaking, he completely agrees, and he's mildly incensed at John for being stupid enough to get into that situation in the first place, resulting in this. Now Sherlock's upset and this is the last thing Mycroft wants in this environment.
But that won't help matters if he vocalizes it.]
The chances are very good for his return. I'm sure he'll...turn up in no time.
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Obviously, which is why we'll be leaving for the revival points immediately.
[He could ask the Admin, others have, but he'd prefer to do it under his own steam.]
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[In other, kinder words: I shall provide any support I can, brother mine, even if you stubbornly and pointlessly add to the effort.]
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[It's a half hearted jab at best, especially when Mycroft is underweight by now like everyone who has spent months in Norfinbury.]
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Not my first choice of exercise regimen, though.
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[He shoulders his bag and heads for the door, trusting in Mycroft to follow.]
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[The answer was obviously yes, but he couldn't let this stand. There's a mild grumbling sound as Mycroft follows him to the door.]