On Mycroft and trust

 (Sherlock Meta by thenorwoodbuilder)

I’m always amazed at the amount of information about the characters that the writers (here Moffat) managed to convey through this very short exchange:

1. John establishes himself again as “Queen and Country”: he is initially very surprised that Mycroft doesn’t trust his own men, because he, instead, implicitly trusts his Country’s institutions: he once decided to serve his Country in the army, after all, so he supposes that one can trust one’s own Secret Service…

This is also one of the reasons why, according to me, once he realized that Mycroft was actually NOT a criminal mastermind, but instead (not only Sherlock’s elder brother, but also) a government official (or the British Government…), John coudn’t help but feeling that it was his duty to help him, both in relation to the cases he decides to submit to Sherlock (see tGG), and when it comes to keep Sherlock himself safe (albeit, in this respect, he was, of course, primarily driven by his affection and concern for Sherlock himself, as well as by his ability to relate to situations where one sibling has to deal with a “problematic” other sibling - two traits which, of course, both he and Mycroft share).

2. John is not the only one to have “trust issues”. Mycroft confirms himself (after his first appearance, in ASiP, upon which I’ll come back soon) as a person who doesn’t easily grant his trust to anybody, not even to people - his own colleagues and subordinates - who, afer all, have taken an oath to serve and protect their Country.

On one hand, it’s quite logical, in his line of work: for a man who (presumably) has made a career into the Secret Service, and who has a certain experience, is a sort of professional bias to always suspect of anything and anybody, just on principle. He presumably had occasions, in the past, to get first hand experience that this world is full of double- or even triple-agents, that almost nobody is what appears to be, and that almost everybody has his own secret agenda…

But, on the other hand, it’s also possible that Mycroft chose this particular line of work - in the Secret Service, amongst all the ways he could find to put his talent at the service of his Country and of its innocent citizens - also because of a certain personal attitude towards people: that is, it’s possible that he chose a work that requires, as a prerequisite, the attitude to suspect everyone, always, because he intimately was already persuaded that people - or at least the vast majority of people - can never be trusted. So, he entered the Secret Service (also) because it was a work that suited his persuasion that the majority of people would be capable of everything, under the right (rectius: wrong) circumstances, that nobody is totally trustworthy and loyal, and that always be on guard is however a necessity for any sensible person. A persuasion that, of course, his experences at work could only have strenghtened.

But then the interesting question becomes: WHY did Mycroft feel this way? WHAT in his past experiences - in his childhood or youth - persuaded him that nobody can be really trusted? WHICH betrayal had he to endure, from a person or persons he should have been able to trust unconditionally (and of course I’m thinking primarily to one or both of his parents…), and who, instead, revealed him/herself unworthy of such trust?

3. Obviously, this little exchange also offers the final proof that Mycroft’s initial “abduction” of John, in ASiP, with its corollary of threats and offer of a bribe, was just a way to “test” him, his courage, his honesty, and more generally his personality, in order to satisfy himself that Sherlock was not going to share his flat with someone who could be tempted to “sell” him away out of fear or greed - or, even worst, who since the beginning approached him with evil intentions (first of all, the intention to get leverage upon the British Government by hurting or kidnapping his one little brother…). A “procedure” that, given Sherlock’s quite placid - and even a little amused - reaction when John related his recent experience to him, was probably a sort of tried and tested routine, for similar occurrences. But a “procedure” the whole purpose of which John probably only realized after this little exchange at the Palace, given the small, understanding smile with which he replied to Mycroft’s observation about the “venality” of professional spies… (albeit I’m persuaded that John started to suspect Mycroft’s true motives since he discovered his identity, that is, that he is Sherlock’s brother; but he got a confirmation from the man himself only at this moment).

Even more, in this little dialogue Mycroft is basically telling John that he trusts him much more than he trusts his own men - not only when it comes to his loyalty to Sherlock, but also when it comes to dealing with delicate matters of State… And I suppose that, if already before this John’s attitude towards Mycroft was certainly not an hostile one, after this display of trust on Mycroft’s part, he couldn’t but reciprocate, as it is an instinctive reaction for human beings to trust in turn a person who demonstrates to trust us.

Hence, probably, the escalation of cooperation with Mycroft we see through this episode, with John and Mycroft discussing how to deal with a foreseable “danger night”, first; then John willingly reporting to (the person he believed to be) Mycroft (but was instead Irene) about Sherlock’s reactions to Irene’s death; and finally John and Mycroft discussing together whether tell Sherlock about Irene’s “second” death, in order to spare him more suffering.

Hence, also, the fact that Mycroft, during his second confrontation with John in tRF, feels the need to apologize apparently to Sherlock, but in fact, according to me, actually (and mainly) to John himself…

4. Finally, the other thing that gets a confirmation in this scene (albeit, in this case, we already could infer it by tGG) is that, when it comes to really delicate matters, the only person Mycroft feels he really CAN trust, his Sherlock. That is: he may not always trust his maturity and ability of stay out of danger’s way, but  he has not the slightes doubt that Sherlock could never, ever intentionally betray him, or his Country. Mycroft knows that his little brother may be stubborn, may be reckless, may be - as he’ll have to aknowledge on the “Bond Air” - a “lonely, naive man desperate to show off”, and therefore make foolish mistakes; but Sherlock would never deliberately hurt or harm his elder brother, would never intentionally fail him. Mycroft knows this, and is openly (or at least, as much openly as being an Holmes would allow…) aknowledging it in this scene.

With regard to Sherlock reciprocating this sentiment, and to my theory about the Brothers’ secret conspiracy in tRF, I’ll just point you to my previous posts.