The Least

Sherlock was gone. It had been his belief for years that he would outlive his brother but even now after having attended the funeral he couldn't quite believe it to be true. Everything he had become was the result of an effort to make that belief false. An effort to protect that in the end wasn't enough. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy the challenge his self-made job entailed, he did, but for so long his job had been his secondary focus. A means to another end despite the thrill he found in it. It seemed self-indulgent and irresponsible that he should consider so important a position to be of little interest to him now that he had no one to protect. There was someone else who would understand this though; this need of his to focus on another's wellbeing. There would be a great deal of fallout from these recent events that would need to be managed and despite his part in them John Watson had forgiven him in recognition of their mutual loss. Dr. Watson, John, would understand it if he became his new focus. He was all that was left to link him to his brother and letting John Watson become his focus was the least he could do for the brother that was now out of reach.

So how was it?
I like the postRF stories where Mycroft looks out for John (and where John looks out for Mycroft as well as he can), this was born of that. Consider it set just after Reichenbach and Mycroft doesn't know Sherlock is alive yet.
I'm supposed to be writing a different postRF section for another fic I'm trying. I can't get it how I want so you got this little piece instead. 05/18/13