Ciara was walking home one evening after her shift. A co-worked who lived in the apartment building three blocks before hers offered to walk with her as it was late in the evening and she was walking rather clumsily into moving people, never mind what she would be like around traffic. They chatted animatedly and traded funny stories about experiences in the hotel business. It was not often that Ciara hung out with colleagues outside of work, but she saw potential for spending more free time with this one in particular as he lived so close by. She had to insist on him not walking all the way home, and recited the alphabet backwards to prove that she was alert enough to make it home in one piece. She chuckled as he gave her an enthusiastic wave goodbye and continued on her way. Whipping out her phone, she began to type a text as she walked.

"I'm fine, Mr Holmes. Don't think I didn't notice all the CCTV cameras in the area suddenly take an interest in my movements either" she sent to his private number. Seconds later, her phone vibrated in response.

"I assure you, I am unaware as to what it is you're referring. Should I be taking an interest in your whereabouts?" – MH.

"Not at all, though I can still sense you're lying to me. I presume you're done your homework on my colleague. What was his previous life like? Pimp? Drug cartel?" – CM

"I admit to nothing. However, whoever it is you are referring to, I'm sure he is clean" –MH

"Oh dear, he is now sending you a Facebook friend request" –MH

"Ah, so you do know who it is I was with!" –CM

"I should be careful if I were you. He's browsing all of your photos. Browser history also shows some unsavoury sites" –MH. "I'm old enough to enter into an adult relationship, though I appreciate your concern" –CM. By now, Ciara had reached her home on the first floor of the apartment complex and let herself inside. She planned to take a hot shower, make some tea and toast and snuggle up on the couch with Netflix until she fell asleep. At least, that was the plan.

She made it as far as her bedroom when suddenly a loud explosion went off a few apartments from where hers was. The entire street shook from the force. Windows shattered and walls crumbled within several hundred metres. Ciara lost her balance and had to roll to avoid falling with her floor into a massive crater. The air was hazy and dusty irritated her eyes. A slight ringing sound pierced her eardrums, making it difficult to maintain focus. The apartments above hers had also been split in half, and loose chunks of concrete had pelted her body on the way down, bruising and disorienting her. In the distance, people screaming and sirens approaching was heard.

An ambulance and squad car eventually arrived at the scene. Ciara slowly managed to get to her feet and stumbled into the stairwell. She made it down the first half of the stairway before sinking down weakly against the wall. Paramedics were cautiously climbing the stairs when they happened upon her. The first one made his way to her directly while the rest continued to investigate.

"Hello Miss. Can you tell me a bit about your injuries? Where are you hurt? Did anything fall on you?" he asked, beginning to check her over. Ciara hissed as he prodded the back of her head and twisted her wrist. She did her best to recount what happened and finished exiting the building with his help. Two bodies buried in rubble were not too far away from their exit. It turned her stomach to see her new neighbours (a man and woman, married she supposed) covered in blood and dust. She averted her gaze and swallowed back the lump of bile that was gathering at her throat. Outside, a crowd of spectators gathered and cheered to find at least one person walking out unharmed. A policewoman met her at the back of an ambulance and asked questions for her report while the paramedic bandaged her wrist. Apparently she had sprained it and possible sustained a concussion. They wrapped her in a blanket for shock and Ciara watched as several more people were evacuated from the unsteady building and given similar treatment. It felt like an eternity before the emergency services were offering people transport to any relatives or friends they could stay with. Ciara considered going to Flower Bed and seeing if her boss could help her out, or possibly walking the few blocks to her co-workers place. Before she could make a decision though, a familiar face appeared, hidden behind a phone.

"I'm to take you to some temporary lodgings, Ciara Murphy". It was Mycroft's assistant, Anthea.

"Wha- how? When? Where is he?" Ciara stumbled over words.

"You're clearly still in shock Miss" Anthea smiled, lowering her phone slightly. Ciara blushed lightly and stood up with a deep sigh.

"Clearly, otherwise I wouldn't question him or his methods. Lead the way" she gestured and followed the other woman back to the main road where a car was waiting for them. It drove for some time and Ciara closed her eyes tiredly, dozing slightly at the lulling movements. It wasn't until Anthea cleared her throat with purposeful volume and a light elbow nudge that Ciara woke. She had a headache and felt slightly nauseous but convinced herself to summon the strength to get out of the car. She was outside a massive country house. The sky was dark and thick with black clouds so it was hard to determine anything else about the area other than it smelt of grass, rain and trees. The windows were lit brightly and Ciara was ushered inside. She met Mycroft in his kitchen, sitting at a table reading a newspaper.

"Glad to see you're not dead" he greeted. "Hello to you too. How did you kn- no. Stupid question. Better one in mind. Did you know beforehand that my apartment was about to be totalled?!". "Not quite. We knew that you had foreign spies for neighbours and that they had a bounty on their head. We did not realise the extent to which their adversaries would go to terminate them" he said mournfully, standing. "You look terrible, by the way. Would you like to go take a shower? And would you like something to eat? I can ring for Chinese?" he offered, pulling a menu leaflet from a fridge magnet. Too tired to argue, Ciara conceded. She told him what she wanted and was shown upstairs to where she would be staying for the night and had a shower in the en suite. She found a pair of tracksuit bottoms and a loose t-shirt on the bed to change into when she had finished, as promised by Anthea before she had left for the night. Ciara rejoined Mycroft downstairs in the kitchen moments after their food had arrived and he was plating it up. As they ate, they discussed what Ciara's next moves were to be. She refused to stay with Mycroft for longer than necessary, though he assured her that the spare room had no near-future purpose if she wanted to remain. She planned to search for a new apartment first thing in the morning and to ask work for a few days leave in order to right herself and contact the insurance company to replace her valuables. Of course, Mycroft insisted on being of as much help as he could. She graciously accepted but swore that she would repay him for his generosity. "I dunno. I'll buy you another set of armour. It looks like your house can never say no to a suit of armour!" she teased as they walked into the living room to watch a movie of Mycroft's choice.

"You don't need to do th-"

"Or I could buy you a horse! Every knight needs a trusty steed!" "That's really inappropr-" "Or how about-" "You don't have to buy me anything!" he shouted from his place of setting up the film feature, silencing her immediately. Her mouth closed promptly and she pouted sullenly. He sighed at her behaviour and made his way to sit on the opposite side of the couch to her.

"I apologise for shouting but it's really not-"

"Fine. I'll take you out for dinner and an old school class movie. You seem to like that so no refusing" she cut him off, proud of herself as he threw his head back with a groan.

"You simply aren't letting this go are you?".

"Nope! I'm a damsel in distress and I plan on thanking you appropriately" she concluded, growing silent as the opening credits began to play. "I don't see how it fits the deed" he muttered to himself, but she heard him. She glanced across at him in thought.

"What I need most right now is someone to give me a place to stay and help getting back on my feet. What you need the most is a distraction and possibly a companion to reign you in when you become too much yourself to function happily" she said gently, turning her gaze back to the film. She could feel him looking heatedly at her and smirked.

"I'm not lonely" she spoke in sync with him, mocking his predictability. She tried to supress outright laughing at him, and continued "Maybe not, but you do still enjoy having someone to bounce ideas and complaints off of, so that's what I'll be there for. So for once in your life, allow yourself some positive rather than negative emotions!".