"How are we going to find the right swimming pool?" Annie asked as she was hunched over her laptop.
"Process of elimination." Sherlock said, clicking buttons on his phone.
Annie's phone started to ring and she rolled her eyes at Sherlock's griping, going into the kitchen to answer it. "Hey, Jim. What's up?"
"Hey. I need your help." Jim said.
"Is everything okay?" Annie peeked in the living room at Sherlock.
"Yeah. I have a surprise for Molly." Jim replied. "Can you meet me outside of St. Barts?"
"Sure. I'll be there in a few minutes." Annie hung up and made an excuse to Sherlock. He waved her off with a grunt and didn't look up from his phone. She grabbed a cab and when she arrived outside of St. Barts, Jim was waiting. To her surprise he was wearing a suit.
"You look great." Annie said after hugging him. "What's the surprise?"
"Get in the car. I'll explain on the way." Jim gestured to the black car behind her. He smiled but it was a dangerous smile. "Do you know the exact moment when I knew that to get to Sherlock, I had to get to you?"
"What?" Annie asked, the smile dropping from her lips.
"It was when I saw you two dancing at your parent's anniversary party." Jim had glanced out the window. "How long ago was it? A year? Ah, it doesn't matter."
"Jim, you're starting to freak me out." Annie said, her voice shaking.
"Good. You should be scared." Jim chuckled. "The little sex ring was good, clean fun but this music box puzzle has proved boring. So obvious."
"Where are we going?" Annie asked, looking out the window.
Jim grabbed her face and squeezed it. "I don't understand why Sherlock seems so fascinated with you though. You and Molly are amusing enough but you're a bit...boring. I really thought you would figure out the memory stick."
"I did." Annie pulled her face away from him. "It wiped my hard drive and crashed my computer."
"Silly, stupid girl." Jim chuckled. "It let me into your computer. Let me spy on you and your dearest Sherlock. Oh and the things I've seen. We're here."
Annie thought about running but Jim thought of that. One of his men was waiting for Annie when she got out of the car. She paled and followed Jim as he practically skipped into the building. When she got inside, the smell of chlorine assaulted her nose. The swimming pool was empty. They took her to the locker room and shoved an earpiece in her ear.
"Listen carefully," Jim said, his voice echoing in her ear. "I'm going to tell you what to say when dear old Sherly shows up and you're going to repeat it. No fair trying to warn him or else."
"Or else what?"
"I love it when they ask." Jim giggled to his henchmen as they put a vest on Annie. It was wrapped in explosives. "Boom."
"You don't know that Sherlock is going to come here." Annie said. "There's dozens of pools in London."
"Here's the best part: you're going to tell him that you found the appropriate pool and he'll come running. Tell him to bring my memory stick." Jim smirked again. He tossed Annie her phone and she texted Sherlock then she sat and waited. "It's been fun to get to know you, Annabel. Trust me, listening to you drone on and on about Sherlock has been enlightening."
"The five pound note plates were a lie, weren't they?" Annie asked.
"Of course. Darson brought them to me right after he got them. That's so boring though, isn't it? I thought this would be fun but you and Sherlock are both so...good." He said the last word like it disgusted him.
"Is your name even Jim?"
"It's actually James but that's neither here nor there." Jim said. A grunt told him that Sherlock had arrived and he squealed. He shoved a thick coat at Annie. "Put it on. It makes for a better surprise."
Annie glared at him but did as she was told. She was led to a door and she could hear Sherlock calling for her. When she stepped into his line of vision he said, "Where have you been?"
"Around." Annie said, Jim's voice in her ear. "You're a bit dull, aren't you Sherlock?"
Sherlock stopped looking and stared at her.
"A bit stupid even. I've set up all these fascinating puzzles for you and you ruined them all. You're so perfectly...ordinary." Annie spoke through clenched teeth. Jim continued to whisper in her ear. "I should have known that you were so dreadfully boring when we first met."
"Annie, stop this." Sherlock commanded. She could see pain in his eyes despite the fact he was fighting to keep it out of his voice.
"What would you like me to make her say next?" Annie said, opening the large coat at Jim's command. Sherlock's eyes widened. She started to hum the tune from the music box.
"Stop this. Now." Sherlock said loudly.
"I can stop Annie. I can stop her heart." Annie said, keeping her voice from breaking as she saw the red dot appear on her chest.
A door opened and Jim came out. "Is that a British Army Browning L9A1 in your pocket or are you happy to see me?"
Sherlock pulled the small pistol that Annie had assumed John took with him.
"I've been playing nice, Sherlock." Jim said, pausing by Annie and grinning at her. "All of your silly little trinkets are nothing compared to what I've got in play. I'm a specialist, you see. Like you."
"Consulting criminal. Brilliant." Sherlock said.
"Isn't it?" Jim said. "No one ever gets to me. No one ever will."
"I did." Sherlock said, moving his hand to steady the gun in his other hand.
"You've come the closest but now you're in my way."
"Are you alright?" Sherlock asked Annie.
She didn't reply until Jim smirked at her. "You can answer Annabel."
Annie nodded once to Sherlock.
"Take this as a friendly warning, my dear: back off." Jim said.
"I will stop you." Sherlock promised.
"No you won't." Jim said.
Annie had a moment to think about a way to get Sherlock out of the pool when Jim stepped in front of her. She wasn't strong enough to hold him back. Making a decision, Annie moved quickly and grabbed Jim's suit, ready to push him in the pool.
"Sherlock, go!" Annie said. In a quick movement, Jim had her wrist twisted behind her back.
"She's brave, I'll give you that. I can see why you keep her around. But people are so sentimental about their pets. You have shown your hand there, darling." He used her hair to bare her neck to him and pressed a kiss where her pulse throbbed. Sherlock cocked his pistol and Annie nodded to him, silently telling him that his plan was okay with her.
"If he shoots this vest, we both die." Annie said, holding Sherlock's gaze.
"If he does that, he can cherish the look of surprise on my face. It wouldn't be for long though." Jim promised. He released Annie. "Ciao, Sherlock Holmes."
Jim walked through a changing stall as Sherlock said, "Catch you...later."
"No you won't." Jim said in a sing song voice.
Sherlock waited a few seconds before lowering his pistol and undoing the buttons on the explosive vest. "Are you alright?"
Annie nodded as he tugged the vest and coat off of her, almost pulling her over. "I'm fine."
Her legs were shaking and she leaned against a wall for support while Sherlock looked for any snipers. "Are you okay?"
"Me?" Sherlock asked, pacing. "Yeah. I'm fine. That thing that you offered to do...that was—um...good."
"No problem." Annie said. Sherlock helped her up and they left the pool. "There was never any real plates. I mean there was but he has them already. This was all a game."
"I know." Sherlock said.
"He made me say those things, Sherlock. I'm sorry." Annie apologized softly. "I don't think you're stupid."
Sherlock nodded and offered a half smile to her. The cabbie dropped Annie off at her flat and she had the horrible job of telling Molly exactly who Jim was. It seems that Molly had dumped him the night before and hadn't had the chance to tell Annie. Molly was on her way to work and, after making sure that Annie wasn't hurt, she left. It was too early to go to bed but Annie decided to go visit Julian.
"My day has just gotten exponentially better." Julian smiled brightly at her when he saw her.
"How are you feeling?" Annie asked with a grin.
"Much better. Can hardly feel it." Julian winced as he tried to sit up.
"You've got a broken rib. You should take it easy." Annie advised. They made flirtatious small talk for a while before a nurse ushered Annie out, telling her it was the end of visiting hours. Annie picked up some take out for dinner and, on a whim, ordered enough for Sherlock as well. Sherlock was playing his violin when she arrived at his flat and she went into the kitchen and portioned out their dinner. She hummed while she did so and it caught Sherlock's attention. He stopped playing and turned to face her.
"What's this?" He looked at the food with a quizzical expression.
"It's Indian food. I thought we could try something new tonight." Annie smiled widely. "The case is over and I know you haven't eaten. Come on."
Sherlock sat down and realized how hungry he was when he smelled his food. They didn't talk much. Annie knew how much Sherlock enjoyed silence. After they got done eating, she turned on the telly and saw that Pirates of the Caribbean was on. It was one of her favorite movies so she got comfortable in John's chair and watched it. Surprisingly enough, Sherlock did as well. When it was over, Annie went home and slept in her own bed and found herself missing the scent of Sherlock's cologne.
Chaoscrew: Thank you for your lovely compliment. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.
Cara Tala: I'm glad you like Annie and Sherlock. I was worried she might be a bit boring for him. :)
Thank you to everyone who reads, follows, favorites, and reviews my story. I love getting feedback so feel free to leave a review or PM me. xo
