Lady A: Hello ladies and gents and welcome to Two Minds, One Heart. I know all of you have been dying for me to post this story. If you have not read One Night and One Morning then go read them now. Otherwise you will not fully understand what is happening.
John: Where exactly does this story take place in the series?
Sherlock: I should think it was obvious, John.
John: It's not obvious to me.
Sherlock: Therein lays the problem, John. You see but you do not observe.
Lady A: Settle down, boys. The beginning of this story is interwoven with Season 3 Episode 3: His Last Vow. Also apologies, but I am skirting the whole issue with the resurgence of Moriarty. I don't want to muck it up because the series hasn't returned yet for me to know the answer and I refuse postulate on the outcome of that particular case.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sherlock.
Chapter One: Secrets and Dragons
Two women sat at the dining room table in their spacious one story house. The brunette was chattering away about the latest gossip of her highly intricate social network, her forest green eyes aglow with excitement and happiness. The second woman with crimson red hair and eyes of royal blue sat adjacent to her talkative friend; she was reading the newspaper in her right hand and sipping periodically from the tea cup in her left.
"Are you listening to me, Artimes?" The brunette asked pushing the paper down to see her friend's face.
Artimes gave her flat mate an amused look. She was fortunate that she had long ago mastered the art of multitasking. Otherwise she would have one pissed off best friend.
"Yes, Lily, I am listening. You just finished telling me about the recent wedding of Doctor Watson and Mary Morsten." She answered smirking slightly at her friend's playful scowl.
She had not yet told her best mate that she had driven up to that area on their wedding day nor had she revealed her very intimate interlude with the consultant detective. A week has passed and she was still sore. She was grateful that he didn't know that little fact. Men were so easy when it came to inflating their overly large egos.
"Yeah okay, Miss Smarty Pants. Try this on for size. Rumor has it that Doctor Watson's best man, the detective Sherlock Holmes, met a woman that night." Lily informed.
Artimes's mind froze at that statement. To her knowledge, she was the only woman Sherlock had met that night and she was absolutely certain that they had been alone on that street. Were her skills slipping from disuse? If that was the case, then that was extremely dangerous.
"He has apparently had some sort of tryst with her. No one knows the specific details, but everyone agrees that it was intimate." Lily continued not noticing how her friend's face had become like an emotionally blank slate.
Artimes raised the newspaper again, so she could block Lily's view of her face. Her mind was reeling at the information, but she was going to verify it at the very least.
"Does this mysterious woman have a name?" She asked blandly.
She needed to know just how accurate their information was so she could ascertain who was tailing her or the detective. Once discovered, they would be dealt with.
"Yep. Her name is Janine. She was one of the bridesmaids at the wedding." Lily answered nibbling on her nearly forgotten toast.
The red head digested that information and a part of her wanted to sigh in relief, but another part of her was worried that Sherlock had gotten over her too quickly. She knew that she didn't have the right to be jealous. He wasn't her boyfriend, husband, or significant other, but alas she was jealous. She was also hurt that he didn't treat that night with the same reverence and respect she did.
While her heart continued to ache at the implications of the rumor, her mind was going along a different path. Janine, why did that name sound so familiar to her?
"What does this Janine do for a living?" Artimes asked setting her paper down and taking a sip of her tea.
"Um…I think she is a PA or something for one of those newspaper bigwigs. Why?" Lily answered curious.
No, she couldn't be that Janine, could she? Why would Sherlock become involved with her of all people unless…he was going after him. It couldn't be a coincidence. It was simply too much like a calculated maneuver for it to be mere chance.
Artimes set down her tea cup and grabbed her mobile. She needed to know that bastard's latest acquisition, because Sherlock would not have become involved with him unless someone asked him to.
She pulled up her text conversation with her elder brother, Trinity. If anyone had the answer to this little conundrum then it was her brother.
'Trin, what's Mag's latest toy?'
Within seconds, her brother responded.
'Lady Smallwood. Why?'
'What kind of person is she?'
'To put it simply, she is a proper British woman with a proper British backbone. Again why?'
'So that's why.'
'Are you involved with him?'
'Indirectly. Thanks for the info.'
'Anytime and be careful.'
'Always.'
"So?" Lily demanded annoyed that her crimson haired friend was ignoring her.
Artimes set her phone down on top of the newspaper.
"I was checking on a theory. As it turns out, I was right." The red head answered directing her full attention to the brunette.
"About?" Lily prompted annoyance morphing into eagerness.
It never ceased to amaze Artimes how her flat mate would jump at any opportunity to witness her intellect. Lily loved it when Artimes solved puzzles whether large or small, no matter their complexity or simplicity. Personally, the red head believed that her best friend simply wanted to figure out how Artimes's mind worked.
"Janine is the personal assistant of one Charles Augustus Magnussen, by far the worst man you could possibly have the misfortune to meet." Artimes started.
The brunette frowned at her friend's wording.
"Why's that? I thought he was the owner of a newspaper company. You make him sound like Hitler." Lily interjected confusion etched on her face.
"Magnussen is an extremely dangerous man who preys on those who are different and uses their secrets against them." The red head answered.
"You mean blackmail?! Why would he do that? What purpose does it serve?" Lily asked angrily, her green eyes blazing.
"Magnussen is a business man, Lily. He acquires assets which includes people. He uses them to get what he wants by finding their pressure points. As of now, he is the Napoleon of the Modern Age." Artimes explained resting her chin on her intertwined hands.
"But what does Janine have to do with this?" Lily asked settling down a bit when she decided that it was not worth the effort to stay angry.
The red head fought to keep the smile off her face and ended up with a small smirk. Her best mate had a knack for directing the flow of a conversation to where she wanted it to go. It was this particular skill that charmed many a man out of their pants and into the brunette's bed.
"Janine is the key that Sherlock needs to get closer to Magnussen." She stated bluntly, knowing her friend would immediately jump to conclusions.
"Would he really use her like that?" Lily asked in disbelief.
To get what he needed to solve the case or protect what was his, Sherlock Holmes would go to whatever lengths were necessary to see it done…which included facing down a Modern day dragon in the form of Magnussen.
"Yes, because he is working a case." She stated simply while sipping her tea.
It had apparently gone cold at some point, but she didn't really mind all that much.
"Why would he go after Magnussen?" The brunette asked trying to wrap her head around what Artimes was telling her.
There were many reasons for the detective to pursue the newspaper owner. The most obvious reason was because Lady Smallwood had asked him to become involved. The less known reason and probably the most overlooked was the dark and turbulent past of Doctor Watson's wife. She was very good at covering her tracks, but Artimes was an expert at finding what people wanted to hide.
She knew that Mary Watson was a former intelligence agent for the CIA and had a very long list of successful missions. If Magnussen were to learn that Mary was a former assassin then it would get John involved and in turn, Sherlock. She hated the concept of a slippery slope, but it was an adequate description for the very bleak possibility.
Sherlock wass fiercely protective of those he cared for and he would not stand idly by and allow Magnussen to manipulate his friends like puppets. Her jaw clenched for a moment. She knew what he would do if he was forced into that situation. It was the same thing she would do if that bastard threatened Lily.
"The reason is obvious given recent information. Magnussen's most recent endeavor is his attempt to blackmail Lady Smallwood into submission; however, it would seem her ladyship is a very stubborn woman and refuses to give up without a fight. She has enlisted Sherlock's help to contend with the problem." Artimes explained sipping her tea again.
Lily's face scrunched up in concentration then fell into an almost defeated confusion.
"But why Janine?" The brunette asked still very upset about the woman being used in such a manner.
The red head inwardly face palmed. She understood the detective's logic and that it was the most efficient path he could take. She also understood where Lily was coming from and the idea didn't sit well with her either, but no one said life was fair. No matter how the events played out, Janine would still get the short end of the stick.
"Magnussen's office has a great deal of security. The only way to get in is by the lift which requires a personalized key card. If the incorrect key card is used, security is alerted and the offender will be taken away. Now if the card registers as corrupted, a video link is activated so proper identification can be made. This function is carried out by Magnussen's personal assistant, Janine." Artimes explained.
Lily's eyes lit up with something akin to a Eureka moment.
"Sherlock is banking on his relationship with Janine to get him into Magnussen's office!" The brunette exclaimed.
The red head nodded.
"Human error, precisely." She concurred.
Lily's shoulders slumped.
"It's still not right…using her like that." She commented.
"Sherlock Holmes is a high functioning sociopath, Lily, who solves crimes as an alternative to getting high. To put it simply, he is the slayer of dragons in this Modern Age and sometimes there are casualties." Artimes replied setting her now empty tea cup back in its saucer.
"Supposed you're right. It must be hard for him though…to make those kinds of decisions." The brunette commented.
"He makes the decisions that mortals dare not to. On his shoulders alone, rests the fates of the countless souls lost in the sea of darkness and corruption. Who would have courage if not him? Who would dare enter the dragon's den if not him?" The red head replied her eyes becoming distant.
Lily noticed the change in her friend and she knew what it meant. If anyone could understand what it felt like to make impossible choices then it was her Artimes. Her past was filled with such darkness and she hated it when her best friend was forced to relive those days in her mind.
Fortunately, she knew how to bring her out of it. Lily flashed her best mate a huge and silly grin and it held the same impact as it did when they first met. Artimes's eyes cleared and redirected her gaze towards the brunette. Lily stood up from the table.
"I'm gonna grab a shower and then we are going shopping." She stated happily.
Artimes raised an eyebrow.
"Again? We just went shopping two days ago." The red head commented.
"Yes again. You need more sunlight, Miss Night Owl." The brunette stated with a huff.
Artimes smirked slightly before responding.
"Hoot hoot." The red head replied while blinking owlishly at her flat mate.
Lily sent her a playful glare and sauntered out of the room. Once certain her friend was gone, Artimes sighed heavily. She was relieved that Sherlock's involvement with Janine was strictly professional and was nothing personal. Still, she worried for him. Magnussen was dangerous…perhaps even too dangerous for the consultant detective.
Artimes knew she needed to keep tabs on this case for if she didn't, something terrible might happen. If she had to get involved then she would do so indirectly. There was a long list of people who owed her a plethora of favors and for Sherlock, she'd call in every single one to keep him safe.
A weak smile appeared on her face briefly. Sherlock Holmes was slowly becoming an obsessive interest of hers and it made her feel a little bit like a stalker…how domestic.
Lady A: There you have it! Chapter 1: Secrets and Dragons is complete!
John: We weren't even in the chapter.
Lady A: I mentioned you.
John: Yeah, in passing.
Sherlock: It's not important, John.
John: Well of course it is not important to you! She mentioned you practically through the whole damn thing!
Lady A: *sighs* In all fairness, John, you will sorta be in the next chapter.
John: Really? *perks up*
Lady A: Yes, really…maybe. Depends on how long the chapter runs. It might just be a long chapter.
Sherlock: This is getting us nowhere. For all those reading this, leave a review and tell me how brilliant I am.
John: More like how much of a drama queen he is.
Lady A: *snickers*