Archive of Our Own

the probability of an event ( A ), given that another ( B ) has already occurred.

'He doesn't want it.'

John bit his lip and glanced up at Greg before dropping his gaze back down to his cup with a shrug. Greg felt suddenly deflated, and he leaned back in his chair, hissing out a breath.

'Are you sure?'

John nodded.

'He said that? Clearly?' Greg pushed, 'You know what he's like when-'

'He couldn't have been any clearer.'

'What exactly did he say?'

John sighed, 'He said, 'I don't want it, John.''

Greg had to admit that Sherlock had been clear. For once.

'He might change his mind,' he said, but they both knew that was a lost cause.

For a long moment neither of them spoke, each thinking over what that meant for the future. For John and Sherlock.

'So what will you do?' Greg asked.

John shrugged again.

'Can't exactly force him into parenthood, can I?'

'But it's you that's-'

'Yeah, I know.' John cut him off sharply.

'Sorry. I just meant, well, it's your body, right. So...' Greg trailed off, 'Look, I don't really know what to say. I would have thought he'd have been excited.'

'So did I.' John said, a bitter cut to his voice, 'I was standing in the middle of the kitchen, grinning like an idiot when I told him and he just looked at me and went 'No

' and then went back to his bloody microscope like I'd just offered him tea instead of-.'

John looked on the verge of tears, and for a second Greg thought about trying to change the subject, but there was nothing he could say that was going to drag John's mind away from his current problems.

'What if you have it?'

'Well, that's just it, isn't it. I would have it. Me. On my own.'

'He wouldn't leave you.'

'Oh, he would. He was pretty clear about that too.'

'Jesus,' Greg breathed.

'Or, to be more accurate, he would expect me to leave,' John picked up his cup, but set it down again without taking a drink, 'I can't support a baby on my own. Where would I live, for a start? And then there's Sherlock...' John straightened up, trying to gather his resolve, 'I don't really think I've got much option.'

'Of course you do,' Greg's voice was louder than he intended, but John just shook his head.

They fell into silence again for a long moment, and eventually Greg spoke.

'If you don't have it,' he began carefully, aware of the sudden intensity of John's gaze, 'Then it doesn't mean the end of the world.'

John just stared at him, and Greg licked his lips before continuing.

'I mean, you didn't plan it, you're only a couple of weeks along and you and Sherlock could be fine again.'

'Do you really think anything is going to be fine ever again, Greg?' John sneered, 'Either I have it and end up on my own, a broke, single parent. Or I don't have it and spend the rest of my life resenting Sherlock. Either way, everything is ruined.' 

'It's not.'

'Of course it is!'

'Not necessarily.'

'Oh really? And what would you know about it?'

Greg took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

'Mycroft had one,' he said quietly, careful to keep his voice neutral.

John blinked at him in surprise.

'Mycroft? Really?'

Greg nodded, 'It was long before me. And he's never just come out with it but...well, over the years he's said a few things and...well, it wasn't hard to piece together.'

He avoided looking directly at John, not wanting to give too much of his own thoughts away, and very aware that Mycroft wouldn't appreciate him telling this to John. But Greg knew that John would keep it to himself.

'You're sure?'

Greg nodded. He was completely sure.

'Why haven't you talked about it?'

'You know what Mycroft's like.'

John nodded. He did know all too well.

' I bet he didn't get worked up about it though.' John ventured.

'I think he probably worried more than he let on.' was all Greg said.