Mycroft stepped out of the bathroom dressed in his usual three piece suit. After seeing him clothed in pyjamas for almost a week, it was refreshing to see that austere elegance surround him again. He wasn't handsome in the way that Sherlock was with his cheekbones and riotous curls. Mycroft was more subtle in his physical attributes, that aquiline nose and a brow that was able to convey a myriad of thoughts if he so desired. I had seen more than one subordinate cower under his glare. What made him stand out was the way he carried himself. The man exuded power and it fit him as well as his bespoke suit. I noticed that the first week I had worked for him. It was incredibly sexy.

"Serena!" he called my name, not for the first time I suspect and brought me back to the present. He raised his eyebrow and I knew he was reading me. I had to turn away for fear of him seeing me blush. I knew he couldn't actually read minds, but what he could deduce from minor tells was unbelievable.

I grabbed my £600 shoes and slid them on my stocking clad feet, schooling my features into what I hoped was a neutral expression before turning back. "Yes?"

"Are you ready? Anthea has sent word that she is waiting at the front of the hospital with a car."

"I am." I reached for my coat, but Mycroft was quicker and held it open for me to slide my arms into. He was ever the gentleman, and it made me wonder about the people that taught him those flawless manners. "Are you sure you don't want to call your parents and let them know you have been ill?"

"No!" he squeaked. "They will worry."

"That's what parents are supposed to do, silly." I smiled as he gave me that look that said I was the one being silly.

"When Mummy worries she tends to meddle and you meddle enough for the two of you." He grudgingly sat in the wheelchair manned by a hospital attendant that would escort him to the car. We had already had a heated discussion about that matter earlier.

"I am just doing my job," I leant over and whispered in his ear, maintaining the ruse of being his wife in front of the hospital staff.

"Then your contract has been fulfilled. Now, leave me alone," he muttered back at me, with just a hint of childishness in his tone.

I laughed and seeing that our escort was busy conversing with Timothy, Mycroft's bodyguard today, I leant in again and whispered seductively, "Yes, but you didn't hire me. Anthea did, and the job isn't over until SHE says it's over." I placed a kiss on his cheek and strode over to push the button to call the lift. I'm not sure what made me do it, but the look on his face was worth it. I didn't imagine any of his other employees were so bold, but I was an affectionate woman by nature and I don't think he was as offended as he pretended to be.

Anthea left us after making sure Mycroft was settled in at his home in Belgravia. If he was unhappy that I was spending the next few days there to make sure he behaved, he made no further mention of it. Mrs Greeves, his housekeeper, greeted us warmly and tutted over Mycroft, telling him she knew he worked too hard and should take more time for himself. She obviously cared deeply for her employer.

After a delicious meal of roast and vegetables, Mycroft retreated to the library and I chatted with Mrs Greeves while helping with the dishes. After she had left for the evening, I wandered the house familiarising myself with its layout. Eventually, I got bored and slipped into the library. Mycroft was sitting at the desk composing an email. Being as quiet as possible, I browsed the works on the shelves behind him. The creak of his leather chair made me turn.

Mycroft stood at a small table off to the side, crystal decanter in hand. He held it up in an offering, I nodded my acceptance and moved to join him. He poured the amber liquid and held it out for me. I took it and he turned to pour his own, frowning back at me when he noticed my hand covering the top of the other tumbler. "Serena."

"Mycroft," I countered. Neither of us spoke another word, we just stood staring into the others eyes. And, I wondered if this was the point he ceased to find me more interesting and less irritating. "You just had a heart attack."

"I am fine," he growled.

"Yes," I took the decanter from his hands and placed it back on the table. "You are. But only because you are young and have been healthy up to this point. Mycroft, you probably have the most stressful job anyone could have. You don't always eat as you should and you smoke too much. Let's give it a day or two before you go back to bad habits."

"I hardly think one drink will matter that much. I rarely have more than one or two in a day, some days not at all."

"Just give it a day or two, alright?"

He glowered at me, stepping up into my personal space and I had to look up sharply to maintain eye contact. I felt my heart skitter in my chest at his proximity. He loomed over me. I am not a tall woman and without those infernal stiletto heels Anthea had bought me, I only came up to his shoulder. I had no doubt why his minions, as I liked to think of those under his employ, claimed him the most powerful man in all Britain or even the world. His mere physical presence and self-confidence were enough to make anyone cower before him. I knew what he was trying to do, and if I wanted to do my job effectively I had to stop this before it went any further.

"Stop trying to intimidate me, Mycroft," I said sternly, trying not to sound as breathless as I felt.

It must have worked because he narrowed his eyes at me for just a second or two, then he broke out into a laugh as he stepped back. This was the laugh I had wished for in the car so many months ago. A genuine laugh. He was truly amused. "You are made of fine stuff, Serena. You are a tiny woman, but you have the courage of ten of my best agents," he declared. "If you weren't such a fine nurse, I would grab you up and together we could rule the world."

"I don't want to rule the world," I stammered.

He laughed once more, grabbing the tumbler from my hand and downing the last of the whisky in salute or maybe defiance. I didn't know which. He had me so confused.

"No, but you would make an excellent partner in it. Now, do sit and outline your plans if not of world domination, then my pathway back to health."