My thanks go again to my Canadian Beta Mapleleafcameo, to all those who read my story and of course those who follow, review and favour. For some obscure reason I still don't own any of the characters but still do as I please. :-)

27th December

Greg got up after another nightshift around noon. Yawning, stretching and trying to bring some order to his short hair, which was sticking in all directions, he pulled back the curtains to look outside. Didn't look too bad, no snow or rain and he was in desperate need of daylight. After having a glass of orange juice and a banana for breakfast, he changed into his joggers and went outside for a run.

oOo

Work at the office was slow. Many people had taken the days off between Christmas and New Year, and Mycroft for once didn't mind that he had not much to do. Gregory had been working nights. It was almost one and he should be up and about by now. Most likely he wouldn't mind getting treated to some lunch. Mycroft decided to buy some sandwiches and salad, and half an hour later stood in front of his friend's door.

He was a bit surprised that Gregory opened the door for him freshly showered, 'dressed' in only a towel, a phone pressed to one ear.

Gregory's face lit up visibly when he caught sight of Mycroft. "Come on in," he greeted him and pointed at the phone in his hand. "I just have to finish this call." The Inspector turned and walked away from the door, talking into his phone.

"Terrific. Yes, I can take care of that tomorrow. Hang on a sec." He turned around and came back to the door, where Mycroft was still standing.

"Are you planning to put down roots? It's getting cold in here." Greg grabbed Mycroft by the wrist, pulled him inside and closed the door. He shooed him towards the living room with a wave of his hand, dislodging the towel he was wearing in the process.

"For Christ sake..." Greg cursed, juggling with the phone and the towel for a moment before he disappeared inside his bedroom.

Mycroft decided that this had been way too much information to process. He kept staring at the empty space for a whole minute, waiting for his brain to reboot, before he put his coat on the rack and made it towards the living room. He very deliberately looked straight ahead when he passed the bedroom, but the door was closed.

Greg appeared only a couple of minutes later, dressed in jeans and a pale green shirt. He threw his phone on the table and sat down on the sofa to put on his socks.

"Sorry, Mycroft." Greg wiggled his toes in the woollen socks he had chosen. "Work." Turning his full attention to his friend, Greg smiled. "So, what brings you here?"

"I wanted to thank you for B & B the other night. Care for lunch?" He held up the bag he had brought.

oOo

Mary had waited half an hour after John had left to visit Sherlock, before she dug out a mobile that she kept hidden in an old shoe box in her closet. She activated the phone and dialled a number outside of England.

"Yes!" a male voice answered.

"There might be a change of plan."

"He won't be pleased." The male voice was perfectly neutral.

"I'll call again tomorrow."

Mary ended the call and powered down the mobile. Her voice had been calm and composed but she felt herself shaking slightly. One hand automatically went to her belly protectively. It all depended whether Sherlock would stay in prison or not. She hoped she would get news from John when he got home.

John came home only one hour after he had left. He was fuming. "They didn't let me see Sherlock!" John shouted. "I tried to get hold of Mycroft bloody Holmes but he didn't answer my call nor the text."

"Maybe he didn't have his mobile with him," Mary suggested.

John gave her a look like she had suggested inviting the Queen for a barbecue and maybe she could bring a salad. Mary had been closer to the truth than any one of them could know. For a whole hour Mycroft had been separated from his mobile. It had been in the pocket of his coat while he had lunch with the DI.

Knowing he couldn't calm down in the confinements of the house, John shrugged into the jacket he had just discarded. "I need some air." He left the house, almost running.