I think Mycroft, even though he claims not to be "given to outburst of brotherly compassion", would most definitely "choose" his little brother -Sherlock is, after all, Mycroft's pressure point.
In the event in which he'd have to choose between the security of the country (again, remember in ASiB when Irene says that she knows Mycroft won't lift a finger against her or he'd have to tell his bosses that "his biggest security leak is his own little brother"...and Mycroft ends up doing just that : not lifting a finger to protect his brother) and Sherlock, it seems rather obvious that he'd do everything he can to protect his family.
What's more...his (Sherlock's) loss would break his (Mycroft's) heart.

Throughout all three series we have been treated to how much Mycroft actually cares for Sherlock. In Series 1 it is admitedly creepy -kidnapping John Watson and trying to bribe him out of "concern". In Series 2 it becomes more apparent (again, the scene in the aircraft with Irene) until it just cannot be ignored in series 3 (TSoT he mentions "Redbeard" to try and help Sherlock prevent an emotional crisis, in HLV he tells Sherlock in so many words "Your loss would break my heart", and the look on his face after Sherlock shot Magnussen speaks volume).

Also, I would like to point out that, to me, when Sherlock tells Irene in ASiB that "this is your heart...never let it rule your head...sentiment is a chemical defect..." he is acknowledging the fact that Mycroft is right, and asking him for forgiveness -before saying it explicitly after he's cracked the password to her phone.

I'm sure there are other moments which could also be used to put emphasis on Mycroft's affection for his brother, but those are the only ones I can come up with at the moment.
 

I hink that, too. He would choose Sherlock. This "it would break my heart" if something bad would happen to Sherlock says it all. Even if he was slightly tipsy while saying that, drunk people tell the truth.

When Sherlock was faced with a similar "Sophie´s choice" in TRF (committing suicide or letting his friends killed), he invented a third way, a way out of this wretched situation.

I imagine that Mycroft too would rather invent some new situation or a strange compromise, rather than sacrifice either Sherlock or his country....

Yes, but if he had absolutely no choice, and couldn't engineer a third option, which would be the most likely, in your opinion?

Edited because it was really not English. Ugh. Sorry about that.

Last edited by Lilythiell (August 6, 2015 12:33 pm)

I always understood the "Your loss would break my heart" came from the spiked punch. Not the alcohol, but the drug Sherlock (or Billy) put in it. So I've never taken that sentence at face value, I don't know if he said it because he actually means it, or if it was just the drug talking.

Vhanja wrote:

I always understood the "Your loss would break my heart" came from the spiked punch. Not the alcohol, but the drug Sherlock (or Billy) put in it. So I've never taken that sentence at face value, I don't know if he said it because he actually means it, or if it was just the drug talking.

In vino veritas / in oino aletheia / in wine there´s truth.

If it was a drugged punch speaking, then I think Mycroft meant every word and the punch just loosened his inhibitions to admit the truth to Sherlock.
 

I also definitely agree that he would choose Sherlock. I don't think there would be anything more important than him.

And as for the comment at Christmas - I took the remark about the punch to be kind of like 'joke' to make light on the fact that Mycroft had just confessed his feelings to Sherlock (which he doesn't do, especially so explicitly)

Also, of course, it was Mofftiss setting up the following scene, to drive it home for us that Mycroft really would do anything for Sherlock (which is secretly why I hope Mycroft will go apeshit on Mary at some point for what she did to him ;p )

I have my own question regarding Mycroft.  I think we all agree that he cares deeply for his little brother, their sibling rivalry notwithstanding.  But I wonder--does he also care for John?  Obviously, he doesn't have the same kind of relationship with John--they're not brothers, and he doesn't even make John's acquaintance until John has met Sherlock in "A Study in Pink."  But do you suppose that in the course of the TV series, Mycroft comes to care for his brother's flatmate, or does he simply see John, from start to finish, as a means to an end (mainly, watching after Sherlock)?
 

Last edited by kgreen20 (August 25, 2015 8:55 pm)

Yes, I'm sure he does appreciate that.  But does Mycroft, I wonder, ever come to care for John in his own right, as opposed to simply appreciating how well he works with Sherlock and looks after him?  We all know that he worries about Sherlock--do you suppose that he ever begins to worry about John, as well?

(Hey, there's an idea for a fanfic!)

 

Last edited by kgreen20 (August 25, 2015 9:09 pm)

I agree with Susi, I think Mycroft cares for John in the way that John does what Mycroft is prevented to do: take care of Sherlock. I think he is thankful for Johns presents at Sherlock’s side, for the fact that he has someone he can trust who has as much an interest as Mycroft himself in keeping Sherlock safe. But I don’t think he cares too much for John on his own. His dismissive comments about meeting up with him “for fish and chips” and his sneering at Sherlock’s “friends” point to him not being terribly interested in John himself. To Mycroft, John must seem like a perfect goldfish, albeit a helpful one.


As for the original question. I think in the end Mycroft would choose Sherlock over his country. I think it has been made clear that his baby brother is the one weak spot Mycroft has; he has been attracted through Sherlock repeatedly and yet he cannot bring himself to distance himself from Sherlock.