AN: Back again. I'm kind of on a writing roll lately. :) But it works. So here is chapter four of "Fraternizing with the Enemy." Basically this chapter is like a two-for-one since part of it is Anna and Jim after the disastrous meeting in the café. And then the other part is Sherlock, John and Mycroft as they (meaning Sherlock and Mycroft) plot to "save" their baby sister. Read and Review, please! – Kay xoxo

Chapter Four

It was late when Anna finally joined Jim on the couch. She had her hair pulled up to avoid dripping water on his button down. She curled up against Jim, who was going over some sort of plan on his laptop. His arm moved up to allow her to rest against his chest before placing his head on her silk covered thigh.

The Holmes sister closed her eyes as she nestled into his warmth, sighing as Jim's lips pressed against her damp hair. His long fingers tapped a discordant rhythm on her thigh, his dark eyes remaining locked on the computer screen. She "hmm-ed" as she wrapped an arm comfortably about him, his designer cologne filling her nose with its musky aroma.

"Just a few more minutes, darling," Jim's voice sounded overhead.

"Mmmm, take your time," she replied smiling. "I'm quite comfortable."

"I can tell." And another kissed was bestowed upon her head.

A short time later, Jim closed down the laptop and set it off to the side. He stretched out his legs and wrapped his other arm about Anna, bringing her closer to his body. Silence reigned in the room for a moment before Jim finally asked.

"What is worrying you, love?" He had read the residual tension in her body as it rested against his own. As relaxed as his girl was, something was bothering her deep in that pretty little mind of hers, so much so that her body, which was normally as poised and controlled as her brothers', was reacting to it and gradually tensing up more and more.

Anna sighed. Of course Jim would figure it out; he was damn near as clever as her beloved brother. Speaking of whom…

"I'm just worried about how Sherlock is handling everything," she finally revealed. "He didn't exactly react well to it. I mean, we did metaphorically drop a bomb on him in the café, but… I don't know. I just don't want to end up losing my brother because I happened to fall in love with his nemesis."

Of course. It was her brother that was bothering her, Jim thought, a bit petulantly. It was astounding how much she admired the middle Holmes. Jim knew that Sherlock was a bit of a hero in Anna's eyes, mostly because he hadn't been like Mycroft and had actually let himself care for the only Holmes daughter. But still, it was somewhat irritating to the consulting criminal, who had always like having the attention solely upon himself.

"I'm sure it will turn out," he soothed. "Eventually they'll have to accept it, won't they?"

"Or they'll just cut me off." The words were a mere whisper.

"They wouldn't do that Anna," Jim tried to assure her, but Annaleth wasn't having any of it.

"Wouldn't they?" She sat up and faced Jim. "My icy eldest brother and the one convinced he has no heart wouldn't cut off their wayward younger sister who has fallen from grace into the arms of the man they hate?"

"Are you regretting it?" His eyes turned away from her, unwilling to let her see his weakness in that moment. He didn't wish to see her face as she told that him that all of it was a mistake, that they were a mistake.

Pale and delicate hands gently turned his face back to hers. Softness had replaced the worry and tension on Annaleth's face as she moved one her hands back down to rest upon Jim's chest.

"No, love. I don't regret us. I just wish we had done all of this before you and Sherlock started your games. Then they couldn't really do a whole lot about it. Although," she mused, "knowing my brothers, particularly Mycroft, they'd probably figure something out."

Jim laughed slightly with her in agreement before becoming serious once more.

"I don't regret anything I've done in the past, Anna," he said. "It isn't in my nature. I don't feel bad for any of the horrible things I do. But I am regretful of how the next few months will affect you."

"Just don't kill them," she replied leaning back into him. "Not even Mycroft. We may have our issues, but we're still family. I don't want to lose them, for real or otherwise."

"I'll try my best, darling," Jim promised, sealing the deal with a kiss.

-Line Break-

That same moment found Sherlock pacing the floors of 221B Baker Street in frustration. The faceless murder case had been solved fairly easily after Anderson had managed to do his job. Thus, Sherlock was left alone with his thoughts; always dangerous.

Currently those thoughts were centered around his baby sister and her involvement with Jim Moriarty. He was missing something important, he knew he was. Sure Annaleth had been in some illegalities, but they had never been as terrible as Moriarty's various misdeeds.

Finally John could take it no longer.

"Sherlock could you please sit down? You're driving me mad with all of that pacing."

Sherlock leaped over the back of his chair and sat down on it in his usual manner. John sighed as he once more viewed Sherlock's complete lack of regard for furniture.

John went back to blogging about the faceless murder case, his focus returning now that Sherlock wasn't distracting him with the pacing.

Then the tapping started.

Sherlock's long, slender fingers were tapping against the arm of the chair with no particular rhythm to it. John tilted his head back slightly in resignation before saving the draft and closing his laptop.

The consulting detective looked up as his blogger leaned forward towards him.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Talk about what?" Sherlock asked, poker face perfectly placed.

"Your sister and Moriarty."

"Not particularly, no."

The answer was brusquely given in typical Sherlock fashion, but John had been around him long enough to know the subtle nuances of it. He may not want to talk about it, but it was obvious he needed to.

"Are you going to warn Mycroft in advance or let him be as taken off guard as we are?" John asked with a little laugh, mischief in his eyes. Personally, he was inclined toward the latter; it was a rare occasion when one managed to shock the Iceman.

Sherlock didn't laugh. Instead he took out his phone and pressed a few buttons on it.

"I already texted him. Knowing Annaleth it could be days before she actually tells him about her association with Moriarty. Not strange considering Anna holds a rather intense dislike of Mycroft." Sherlock smiled for a moment before becoming serious once more. "But we don't have time for her to wait. We need to figure out how to get her away from Moriarty. It's only a matter of time before he puts whatever plan he has into action."

"You really care for her don't you, Sherlock." John said. "I don't think I've ever seen you so worried before. Even when Mrs. Hudson got hurt, you weren't terrible worried, at least not externally. You may have beat the living hell out of the man responsible, but you certainly weren't like this."

"She's my baby sister, John," the genius stated, as if it was obvious. "Harry may be older than you, but you'd still do anything for her. Any idiot could see that, especially considering how you've stuck by her through her drinking problems. Also, you may want to keep your phone on and charged; I expect she'll be back at the bottle soon."

John rolled his eyes derisively before getting up. He headed toward the kitchen and began the slight obstacle course of making tea.

"What are you doing?" Sherlock asked, observing his flatmate's actions.

"I don't need to be as smart as you to know that Mycroft is on his way," John replied with a smirk. "Might as well have tea ready for when he gets here."

Sherlock laughed before getting up.

"Shall I get some biscuits? I do love messing up his diet."