Chapter 2: Anthea's Visit
Anthea's POV
She had been surprised when her phone had vibrated just after dinner with a message from her boss's brother asking that she stop by in order to help him plan for a surprise for Mycroft's birthday. While she is a bit weary, particularly of the fact she had never seen him do something nice for her boss, she was willing to hear him out at least. So she had finished out her day, making sure that her boss ate dinner and helping with any paperwork as he needed.

After work she had drove over to Baker Street, knocking twice before Mrs. Hudson had let her in, mildly shocked according to her expression.

Heading up the stairs, she knocks once on their door before John bids her to enter, asking if she wants a cuppa nearly as soon as she is in the door.

"Yes, thank you," she replies politely, mildly surprised at the offer.

When she had first met the doctor nearly four years prior she had thought him a bit thick, particularly when he continued to flirt with her despite the fact she was ignoring his existence. Then she had discovered that he was fiercely loyal, and pretty much flirted with all females, though he didn't seem to really be interested in any of them. She had seen the attraction between the younger Holmes and the doctor long before either of them ever acknowledged. She had also been the one to watch as the doctor went on dates and selected women that nothing ever came from.

A few moments later he is returning with that tea as if he had expected her answer and motioning her towards the sofa to sit on.

With a glance around the room she takes in all the details that she had previously only seen through cameras. It does seem to be a lot cleaner than it used to be, with the mess being mostly confined to the kitchen table and a u-shaped desk. Apparently the doctor was good for the younger Holmes brother. However, despite glancing around, she does not see him anywhere only the doctor, why would he request she come over and not be here?

"Sherlock will be just a moment. His last experiment somehow sort of changed his hair blue so he is trying to wash it out." The doctor explains after sitting down in an armchair with a union jack pillow.

She blinks at him for a moment, not sure if the shorter man is serious or not though his expression says he is. "Does this sort of thing happen often?" she eventually inquires, glancing towards where she knows the bathroom to be.

Shaking his head slightly, the doctor replies, "Luckily no, though this is a rather small accident compared to some of them that have occurred."

She nods and sips at the tea, mildly surprised by the fact it is almost exactly the way she prefers it. Pulling her phone out of her pocket she decide to check the following days schedule, make sure that everything is perfectly orderly and time will not be wasted. There will be three appointments with other 'minor officials' tomorrow, along with one with the heads of both MI5 and MI6. The rest of the day will be spent in the office, running errands for her boss, and trying to get a head of paper work. Maybe they will get out early, though she doubts it, this time of year is particularly busy with everything going on between holidays, the after effects, and all the law makers thinking that it's now a good time to start change stuff during the time of new begins.

Less than ten minutes later, a still moist Sherlock emerges from the bathroom grumbling, his hair a dark shade of blue in the bright light of the kitchen, though closer now to its normal coloring.

Still grumbling, he grabs a pad of paper off the messy u-table, before taking his seat in the second armchair, after a quick glance at the doctor he mutters, "Thank you for coming over," before she has a chance to respond, he continues in his normal tone, "I have recently decided that my brother is in need of companionship. After a careful review of his tastes I have come to a decision on who would be a good match for him."

Her eyes widen at that statement. In all the years she had known the elder Holmes he had never dated or even looked at a person for intimate moments. To her knowledge he was as asexual as she had originally thought that Sherlock was until he had met the doctor. Who would be a good match? And why was he telling her? Probably because she could insure that the two had time together, after all, she really would like to see him happy for a change because she had a feeling he was never happy, merely content and existing.

What about yourself? She thinks, you have wanted him since you started but heard that it wasn't wise to flirt with the Iceman so you didn't. Hell, if he even noticed the types you dated he'd see a pattern of they look like him, though it had taken five of them before she had noticed the pattern. Then there was the fact they were all high powered in their fields. Still, she'd help Sherlock with his quest and give up on her secret hopes that someday her boss might notice she was a breathing, feeling woman, not just an extension of himself.

So the next words out of the younger brother's mouth completely freeze her mind, "You happen to be his type. You have intelligence, just a little shorter than him, physically the build that he prefers. Even better, he seems to be your type from the ones you have dated that I know of."

She's not sure what to say to all of that. Is he trying to taunt her? That does not seem to be his style. This is not some elaborate scheme to embarrass his brother is it? Why would he even approach it?

"What Sherlock is trying to get to is, he wants to hook the two of you up, but it was suggested that he actually speak with you first, make sure he hadn't misread the situation since personal relationships is not his strong suite." The doctor remarks from his chair, his eyes warm as he watches her.

"You're serious?" she queries, still having a hard time to believe it.

"I originally considered just kidnapping the two of you, but John reminded me that the protection detail might take it wrong and cause problems. So here we are. So?" Sherlock replies staring at her hard.

She is certain that there is an important detail she is missing but she is not sure what it is.

"Did I read the situation right or not? You're his birthday present if you want him." the younger man demands.

Glancing at her phone, she considers everything she had eaten today, a small part of her is wondering if she had eaten enough or been drugged. Did he really just ask if she wanted his brother in a sexual fashion?

"I thought he was asexual," she eventually remarks.

"No, he just does not like meaningless sex, the last time he had a proper relationship was uni." The detective answers, "He was rather fond of her but stopped dating after they graduated because he saw it as a dead end despite the fondness. After that," he shrugs, "well he saw it as pointless and turned his attention to excelling in his field instead."

"You have a plan," she inquires, "What is it?"

"Was I wrong?" he repeats.

She shakes her head, "You're not. I do find your brother attractive."

"Attractive you wish to keep him in bed for a week or attractive you wouldn't mind a relationship?" he questions with his intense focus completely on her.

Lifting her head, she replies, "Relationship," years of working around crude men is the only reason she's not blushing right now.

"Good," he smiles suddenly, "First off, I debated about his birthday, which is several months away, or Valentine's Day. So we have time, but I want to start the planning now, particularly since it is going to take careful planning. Which would you prefer?"

"Valentines," she replies, "less waiting, this is one subject I really do not wish to keep waiting for."

He nods, using a pen that he pulled from somewhere and starts scratching notes quickly, before firing off a round of questions, barely giving her a chance to answer before he was asking the next. For just about an hour and two cups of tea later they did this before he finally sits back with a smile.

"Perfect, that's five weeks away, plenty of time to get his mind geared in that direction and make some arrangements. I'll be in touch," the detective tells her before standing and heading over to his computer, promptly forgetting she is there.

For a moment she just stares at him not sure what to do before standing gracefully, "Good evening Doctor Watson, Mr. Holmes," she murmurs as she heads to the door.

"Have a good night Anthea," the doctor replies as he collects the tea cups.

In her car she stares at the wheel for a moment as she considers the fact she just spent the last hour, nearly two conspiring with her bosses brother and his lover as to how to kidnap her boss so he would end up in her bed. This could easily be a sticky situation, but if the younger Holmes was right, the pay off would be excellent. She would have to see what happens next.