Mycroft insisted on Annie learning how to fight and put her through a seemingly endless training regimen. She had learned quickly however and she was put on a team as the tech expert. She did very well and did things that she wasn't proud of or even admit to herself that she had done. She was not cleared to know that Sherlock was still alive either.

"Can you hurry it up a little?" Adam shouted at Annie as he fired his weapon at an enemy. Annie was typing quickly with her head down.

"I can only go so fast." Annie said. Another few keystrokes and the information was downloaded onto her drive. She tore it from the port and crashed the hard drive of the laptop, shooting it for good measure. "I got it. Let's go!"

They started running and barely made it out of the building. Adam shoved Annie forward when he heard a vehicle coming their way, taking cover in some shrubbery. They stayed hidden for a few minutes while they tried to catch their breath. Adam spoke first. "What does Mycroft need this information for?"

"I don't know." Annie said. "He just told me he needs it."

"I certainly hope he doesn't need you." Adam said, grabbing a handful of Annie's hair and shoving her face to the ground, pinning her arms behind her with his knee. He dug in her pockets to find the drive and shoved it in his own pocket. "I've seen what you're capable of. You've certainly earned the name of Death, haven't you? You've risen so quickly the past two years. What a shame to have you die now."

Annie struggled against his hold on her. "I'm not going to die. You are."

Adam laughed at her and she took advantage of his distraction. She rolled, causing him to fall off her, and had him pinned to the ground in a matter of seconds. Her gun was shoved under his jaw and she glared at him.

"I'm not going to beg for mercy." Adam said.

"I wouldn't grant it even if you did." Annie said, pulling the trigger. She took back the drive and stood, wiping the blood off her hands. What she hadn't seen was one of Adam's men coming up behind her, picking up the rock, and smashing her head with it. Annie crumpled to the ground, her skull cracked and bleeding.

Sherlock had planned for a long while how he would reveal himself to Annie once the time had come. What he didn't know was that Annie was one of Mycroft's agents now, one the elder Holmes was particularly proud of. Sherlock had already revealed himself to John, an action that had earned him a bloody nose and several new bruises. John was having a party that night and Annie was invited. Sherlock would arrive and surprise her.

Annie stared at her reflection and straightened her hair once more before being pleased with her appearance. Her dress was black and fell to her knees, fitting her body perfectly. The black stilettos had been hard to get used to but Annie loved them now. Her hair was down around her shoulders with her bangs pinned back away from her face.

"Be good Roger." Annie scratched the head of her Irish Setter and kissed the top of his head. "Don't give Mrs. Hudson any trouble."

Roger licked her hand then laid down on her bed. Annie smiled and exited her flat at Baker Street, claiming a cab. She gave him the address of the party and played with her phone until she got there. She paid the cabbie and went inside the building.

"It's good to see you, John." Annie said, kissing his cheek.

"Good to see you too, Annie." John said. "How have you been feeling?"

"Better. Thank you." John had several more guests to greet so Annie went off on her own. She picked up a flute of champagne and sipped it carefully, watching the other guests as they danced.

Sherlock straightened his bow tie, something that John had insisted upon, for the thousandth time. He was actually nervous. John had tried to tell him something about Annie but he refused to listen, only interested in whether she would be here or not. He was staring at her now, clad in a form fitting black dress that made him want to take her back to Baker Street. Her long brown hair was down in the way he preferred and she looked perfect. Something was different about her, he could tell that much, but he didn't care. His Annabel Lee was there. He started to cross the floor when she was claimed by another man to dance. Sherlock had waited two years, he could wait a few minutes more.

Annie had only accepted the man's invitation to dance to be polite. She wasn't looking for a shag tonight. She nodded at the man's attempt at conversation, excusing herself after he stepped on her foot for the second time. The song ended and as a new one started, she was once again asked to dance.

"Care to dance?" Sherlock held his hand out to Annie and she smiled widely, taking it and letting him lead her to the floor. So Close started to play as they waltzed around the dance floor and Sherlock felt his heart swell with the music as he gazed into her eyes. "I've missed you."

"I'm sorry." Annie said as she stopped dancing and looked at him quizzically. "Do I know you?"

"This is hardly the time for games." Sherlock said, gripping her hand. He lowered his head to kiss her but she moved away from his touch.

"What are you doing?" Annie asked, starting to wonder who this man was.

"I'm going to kiss you." Sherlock said, taking her face in his hands and pressing his lips to hers. He was rewarded with a slap. Annie tried to walk away but Sherlock grabbed her arm. "Wait."

"Let go of me." Annie slapped at his hand. They were starting to cause a scene. "John! Help me!"

"Annie." Sherlock said, barely keeping the desperation out of his voice at her vacant and terrified stare. "It's Sherlock."

"I don't know any Sherlock." Annie said. John came to her rescue and she went to the ladies room.

"What's going on?" Sherlock demanded when John escorted him outside.

"I tried to tell you Sherlock." John said. He had been dreading this. "Annie had a cab accident and suffered a blow to her head. She has amnesia. She doesn't remember anything before her accident."

"When was this?" Sherlock asked, his mind reeling.

"Six months ago." John said. "I've been looking after her. We've even had her placed at Baker Street so Mrs. Hudson could keep an eye on her."

"How long?" Sherlock asked.

"How long what?"

"How long until she remembers?" Sherlock was trying to keep the frantic tone from his voice.

"Sherlock, stay calm."

"How long?!" Sherlock shouted.

John sighed and stayed silent a few more seconds. "There's no way to tell if or when she'll get her memory back. I'm sorry."

A/N: I do apologize for this update taking a while. I started a new Avengers fic and got preoccupied. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please feel free to leave a review on your way out, darlings. They're always appreciated.