I do not own this show at all. Now that that is out of the way please enjoy the story.

The last thing Mike Stamford expected to happen that day was to receive a phone call from Anthea. He hadn't heard from her since he'd last seen Sherlock Holmes shaking and screaming as he was loaded into the back of a van. Sherlock had been in a bad way in those days and though the junkie had saved him on more than one account Mike had agreed with Mycroft that Sherlock needed to be stopped for his own good. So when Mycroft told him his plan he went along with it. He lied through his teeth about what happened to the police telling them the story Mycroft had supplied him. He even spoke at Sherlock's false funeral as one of the only people that could stand the man. After that business was over Mycroft sent him money to keep him quiet and though it had helped to pay the bills and keep his family comfortable the money dried up but the guilt never did. He used to visit him in the Garden but he quit after a few months unable to take the look of disgust and betrayal on Sherlock's face.

"Mike Stamford." The voice on the other side of the phone chimed and the only thought that went through Mike's head was that Anthea did not sound as sinister as she should.

"Yes." He hoped he did not sound as weak as he felt. This felt too much like what had led him to betray Sherlock already.

"We have an offer for you." Anthea said and she barely gave him time to answer before she began laying out a plan that involved another old friend and another betrayal. His face paled and he was certain that his heart had taken up a different beat. When she hung up Mike looked at his phone his hands shaking. He had to take a seat and hold his head in his hands. John Watson one of the few people he could remember from university. John Watson who had been a good friend and a good man, they wanted to bring him into the same mess he'd gotten Sherlock into. Mike had listened as Anthea told him where to go and when to get there so that he could bump into John and lead him into what could only be a trap. The worst thing though was that he had to go along with it. What choice did he have? Mycroft Holes only cared for two things in this world his country and his brother and Mike had seen what he'd done to his brother.

The next day as he sat where they told him to wait on a bench in the park and waited for John to walk by, he resolved that if John looked well, if he looked happy with his life he wouldn't say anything. In fact he would attempt to get Mycroft to leave him alone, but if John looked like he wasn't doing well then whatever Mycroft had planned wouldn't be so bad then. At least he wouldn't be ruining a good life and he was lying to himself. He would do it no matter what because if Mycroft Holmes wanted him there wasn't anything anyone could do to stop him. This betrayal may hurt but at least it would be better for John to be eased into it instead of being kidnapped and drugged by Mycroft's men.

Mycroft's intel appeared to be as creepily accurate as ever as John walked by at the exact second that he was scheduled to. When he saw John limping past him on a cane with his face shadowed and dark as though a lifetime of horrible things had etched themselves onto his face, the first thought that went through Mike's head was 'this is not the John Watson I knew'. But he had a pat to play and even though he knew he would regret it he got up and ran after him calling out. "John! John Watson."

He watched the other man do a double take and turn to see him. There was no recognition on his face though there was the look of someone trying to remember. He smiled trying not to look strained or guilty as he took the other man's hand and shook it enthusiastically to cover his nerves. "Stamford! Mike Stamford. We were at Bart's together."

"Yes sorry yes Mike hello." John said as he transferred his cane into his other hand so that he could shake Mike's.

"Yeah I know I got fat." Mike said with a smile that was almost genuine, he had been good friends with John.

"No." John said trying to save his ego and with that Mike knew that some of the man he used to know was still there.

"I heard you were abroad somewhere getting shot at. What happened?" Mike said and regretted it instantly he'd always had a habit of saying the wrong thing.

John gave him a self-depreciating smile and shrugged. "I got shot."

Mike frowned and tried to backpedal the conversation to take back what he said somehow. "Come on let's get a cup of coffee and catch up."

"I think I'd rather have a tea." John said with a tired smile.

They walked to a small coffee stall that was set up near the park and walked back to a bench with their drinks. The small talk between them had fallen into a rhythm of missteps and awkward pauses. Neither of them were comfortable with each other again yet but the awkward pauses were becoming less and less frequent and the conversation was beginning to flow more naturally. John was changed by the war and that was obvious but in many ways he was the same. He still didn't have a clue how to dress, in truth neither did he but he had someone to prevent him from looking like a complete disaster, and John still had that morbid gallows humor he'd always had.

"Are you still at Bart's then?" John asked and Mike began to see an opening for Mycroft's plan forming.

"Yeah. I'm teaching now though, bright young things like we used to be. God I hate them." He laughed and to his surprise John laughed too. "What about you just staying in town until you get yourself sorted?"

John shifted on his seat. "I can't afford London on an army pension."

Mike closed his eyes with a silent prayer that this slight would be forgiven. "If you're looking for a job I have an old friend who is looking for a doctor to see to his younger brother. The man has poor health and he can't even leave the manor. They also need a hand with the grounds keeper she's getting on in years and needs a helping hand. Its good money and food and board are included. You might never want to leave." He said with a laugh that quickly turned sour.

John laughed though his was tinged with bitterness. "I don't think they would take me, an ex-army doctor with a psychosomatic limp and a tremor in my hand, who would want to hire that."

"No I think that you would be perfect for the job John and you're not really in a position to refuse it." Mike said over his tea faking happiness like he faked interest during his student's oral reports. "From what you've told me finding work has been tough and you live in a depressing little bedsit. I know these people and they've helped me out of tough scrapes before and I hear the garden is very nice."

John frowned into his drink. "It's a lot to take in, but why would they want me to be an assistant to their groundskeeper I have no experience with landscaping and with my leg..." He trailed off giving a dirty look at his cane.

Mike shrugged. "They mostly want you to see to Sherlock and he spends a lot of time in the garden. As for helping out the groundskeeper the chores they give you shouldn't put too much strain on you. Mrs. Hudson probably just needs an ear to listen to her gossip apparently her and Mrs. Turner had a falling out. Word to the wise never give her your phone number."

John sighed heavily. "I do need a job what with Harry cleaning out my bank account all the time and I could use a change of scenery, but I don't want to leave London."

"Then you should go stay for a while and if you don't like it then you should leave. Until then it's a job you desperately need. As far as your issues with Harry go I think you should get a new card and cut her off if she's that bad." Mike said as he lifted his tea taking a drink when he finished speaking.

"She's all I have left and right now I'm all that she has. I'm not going to just abandon her like that even if she does use all my money. Besides can you imagine what would happen if I did cut her off?" John said with an exasperated sigh.

"I shudder to think of it." Mike said with a smile. "Well I think I'll give them your name and number and they can call you if they are interested."

"Alright. We'll see if they want me." John said with a nod. He stood to leave but turned back to Mike before he left. "Some other time then?"

"Some other time." Mike said raising his tea.

Once John was out of earshot Mike pulled out his phone, shaking his head in regret even as he did so, and called Anthea. "He accepted the offer."

"Good would you like a cheque or would you prefer it if we wired the amount to your account." Anthea asked him.

"Just wire it to my account." Mike said through gritted teeth already feeling the guilt crushing him again. He wished he still had his flip phone so that he could snap it shut and settled for angrily pressing his finger against the end all button. He looked to where John was limping away and said under his breath. "Good luck mate."

Sorry for taking so long I got caught up in some other things but I will not be abandoning this story. I may have a few long hiatus's but I will be completing this. Thank yous to everyone, who read, reviewed, followed, and/or favorited.