"He isn't, you know," John said to Mycroft after Mycroft had 'invited' him to a talk a few days after the incident at the flat where John had thrown Mycroft out of the flat to avoid an escalation between the two brothers. It had surprised him that Sherlock considered Magnusson a case while Mycroft seemed the man worthy of protection. Despite all their quarrels both brothers usually had the same opinion where good and bad were concerned. they just hid it well, sometimes.

"He isn't what?" Mycroft asked back. "Are you really that naive, John?" He added after he had taken a look at John's face.

"Molly tested him. And there weren't any drugs in his room."

"What else could there be?"

John gave Mycroft a look, which for once Mycroft couldn't make any sense of. Living with Sherlock seemed to have taught John to hide what he was thinking from the two Holmes' brothers. Mycroft wasn't so sure whether he should be impressed or worried.

"You really want to know?" John asked him.

"Obviously."

"The question isn't what. The question is who," John answered, and enjoyed the look of surprise on Mycroft's face. Hadn't he been still shocked about the fact himself he would have enjoyed himself with no end.

"Don't tell me Sherlock has a girlfriend," Mycroft finally managed.

John nodded: "He has. I couldn't believe it too until she sat on his lap and kissed him."

Mycroft stared at John, and tried to figure out whether John made fun of him or not. But as John wasn't the kind of guy who usually made fun of things like that for one thing, and as he never made fun of Sherlock for another thing he decided to believe him. It still as a lot to take in.

"When did that happen?"

"I don't know. I hadn't seen him for a month, so I'd say that it happened during that period. But I honestly can't get more precise than that."

"Good enough. Do you think I have to have to talk to him?"

John couldn't believe Mycroft even asked that question: "For god's sake. He's not stupid. He wouldn't listen to you anyway. And between the two of us, and with no offense intended: I'm not sure you know that much about these things either. If anyone talks to him it'll be me. He trusts me, and will ask when he wants to know something. If he doesn't I'll not bring it up."

"Alright," Mycroft knew a lost battle when he saw one. Without another word between the two of them he took John back to Baker Street.