“Thanks, Sam. I don’t need to tell you he’s going to need to be watched for a while.”
“I’ll sort it out,” Sam answered. “Thanks for the call.”
He hung up and turned to find Brandon behind him. Shit.
“What’s going on?”
Sam closed his eyes. “I didn’t tell you because I was protecting Sherlock.”
His best friend scowled and glanced over his shoulder outside where the others were gathered.
“Get Amy. You both need to hear this.”
“You’re not making me less worried,” Brandon said as he walked out.
Penelope slipped inside. “Is something wrong?” She crossed the room to him and he slid his arm around her, glad for her presence.
“It’s Sherlock.”
Brandon walked back in with Amy, and Sam wasn’t sure where to start.
“What’s going on?” Amy crossed her arms across her stomach.
Brandon placed his arm around her. A team. “It’s something about Arthur.”
“I didn’t tell you because Sherlock swore me not to.”
“What’s changed?” Brandon asked.
“Let me start at the beginning.”
Amy nodded.
“His last mission, the one he went on while you got married, ended badly,” Sam began. “Land mine took his leg, and he was evacuated home. He was in hospital for months and wasn’t coping.”
Amy gasped, placing a hand over her mouth. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I was worried about his mental state. He was discharged from the army and he stopped talking to anyone. He was in a low place and I was worried the extra pressure of seeing you would send him over the edge.”
Brandon scowled, but he gave a small nod of acknowledgement.
“I visited him every day and the doctor and nurses kept me up to date with his progress. He wasn’t coping with his prosthesis, and had given up. He was discharged just after I moved here, but despite my prompting, he wouldn’t join me.”
“The army was his life,” Brandon said.
“Yeah,” Sam agreed. “I just had a call from his therapist. He’s back in hospital, this time because of an overdose.”
Penelope slipped the tablet from his hand and started looking for flights. She knew exactly what was needed.
“Accidental?” Amy’s eyes filled with tears.
Sam glanced at her. “He knew the correct dose.”
Brandon tried to pull Amy into his arms, but she pushed him away. “That coward! I’m going to kill him. How dare he do that to me again!”
Penelope spoke. “I can get three tickets on this afternoon’s flight, but it leaves in an hour.”
“Book it,” Amy ordered.
