So Lily's getting her game on and Jim is none the wiser! She'd better be careful!

The trial had been a complete sham. She knew that it would be but it still scared her a little. He had managed to infiltrate 12 innocent people's lives and threaten them with the things they loved most dearly, all while he was sitting in a prison cell. He had been back for a few days and his excitement was on another level. Everything was falling into place with brutal precision and she could no longer ignore the twinges of guilt at what she had been a part of. She tried to focus instead, on was getting out, and she had not been idle in this matter. He had very little interest in her wardrobe at the moment, so she was safe to hide her escape kit in there, with her warm clothes and phone tucked safely away, ready for a quick getaway. Amalik, it seemed was a very patient man, Jim had even mentioned that his accountant had made some solid investments well into the million pound region. A million pounds? Amalik was getting too greedy.

One morning Jim had returned home and she couldn't place her finger on what was wrong, but something just didn't sit right with her. She was sorting out his laundry when it hit her like a lightning bolt. "This stinks of perfume" she said as she threw his t-shirt onto the sofa next to him. He glanced at the shirt and shrugged, his eyes flicking back to the movie he was watching. "I told you I needed a journalist." She moved to stand in front of the television, blocking his view. "You needed a journalist for reporting, not for shagging!" He pressed the pause button and rolled his eyes at her, "Don't be so narrow-minded! I need to be convincing as a complete wuss. Pretending that I need looking after, especially in an intimate way, just makes it more convincing. I just pretended I was like you...y'know weak." He threw the shirt back at her and she felt her face flush, a mixture of anger and embarrassment boiling under the surface. She turned on her heel and left him to his film throwing the garment into a pile of clothes and slamming the bedroom door behind her. Only a few more days and then we'll see how weak he thinks I am.

Things moved fairly quickly after that. She hit the roof when she found out Jim had abducted two children, but Jim paid her no heed. "You could have killed them! What if he hadn't have found them in time?" He pushed her aside and headed to the lift, dressed in what was going to be his taxi-driver costume. "That's not the point stupid! I'm trying to set him up as a show-off, not a killer. If they had died, they never would have been able to point the finger at him. Duh!" He walked over to her and grabbed her face, holding it tightly in his grasp. "Don't tell me you're getting cold feet now? All you've done is criticize, and I'm getting a bit bored of you Lily-pad. There's still time for you to make a swan-dive down that lift shaft." He snarled at her and she quickly shook her head watching as he jumped into the lift, the doors sliding closed on his evil smirk. She massaged her cheeks and inhaled deeply, trying not to panic. She was going to have to try harder if she really wanted to make it out alive.

Moran had once again invaded the apartment, but she was happy just to ignore him. He tried engaging her in small talk, but gave up eventually as she stared into space, the cogs of her mind churning. She was lost deep in thought, remembering her days of training when she was in her 20's. It played back like a cheesy montage in an action film; assault courses, weapons training, sparring matches with cocky boys who thought they were tougher than the quiet red head in the corner. She had excelled in it, so she was lead into a world of espionage, and her first of many meetings with Mycroft Holmes.

"You're trainers have all selected you as their top student Miss Dean. You must be very proud?" She blinked once and said nothing, smiling ever so slightly. "Top marks in combat, languages and one of the fastest times on our course!" He flicked through the files on his desk with mild interest and opened up one of his desk drawers. He tossed a file towards her and rested his chin on his hands, surveying her. "If you are interested in pursuing this career, all the while helping to atone for your father's past...misdeeds...then I think this would be a suitable start." She slowly pulled the manila file towards her and flicked through the first few pages, ignoring the jab at her father as she skimmed through the relevant information. "You want me to be an assassin?" He chuckled and shook his head, "Miss Dean, the British Government don't have assassins! We just need you to make sure the man in that file is dealt with in such a way that he can no longer be a threat to our country's citizens."

She raised an eyebrow and continued flicking through the paperwork. She put the folder back on his desk and lent back into her seat. "Do you think you are ready for this assignment Miss Dean?" he said as her eyes met his. Her eyes burnt into his, with a ferocity that took him by surprise. "I am happy to take on the job, and any other you deem appropriate, but I want one thing in return." He smiled and motioned for her to continue. "I want you to promise that you will keep my family safe. They don't know anything about what my father did, or what I'm doing now. They are innocent and they shouldn't be punished as I am for my father's crimes." He considered her for a moment and shook his head, "You are not being punished my dear..." She slammed her hands on his mahogany desk and stood up. "I want a personal promise from you that they will be kept safe." His watery eyes widened as she continued to glare at him and he was left with no choice. "I will put my best men on the job Miss Dean." Without hesitation she picked up the file and swept to the door. "Thank you Mr Holmes. I'll see you when I get back."

She had returned within a fortnight, and Mycroft couldn't have been more thrilled with her. She sat again in his office and watched as he paced around behind his desk reading a newspaper article aloud to her. "They think it was his own henchmen! Just brilliant! Very neat, very neat indeed Miss Dean." She nodded her head in thanks to his praise but still said nothing, until he tossed another, heavier folder her way. A few months passed this way, she would do a couple of jobs a month, always solo, always very tidy. Her reputation as Mycroft's favourite caused problems during training sessions, but she easily brushed the competition off. The boys from her training days were now her colleagues, each one of them more arrogant than the last, but she occasionally let them into her private life for a quick roll in the hay.

She found it ridiculous that they would constantly try to beat her at everything, yet a few batted lashes and a push up bra later; they were all desperate for her approval. Her assignments became more complex and eventually she was offered the chance to seek revenge on those who had murdered her father. She was fearless and cocky as she began worming her way through the Eastern European Underworld, but by the time she had reached a position of influence her cards had already been marked...

She shook her head absentmindedly as it all played out in her head. She was positive that the Lily from all those years ago would have been horrified by what she had become. How had she lost her way so badly? She frowned a little and chewed on her nail. That wasn't completely fair. She was still stronger than most, it took a lot to go toe-to-toe with Jim Moriarty and still be alive after this long. Habib had broken her, that was for sure but she had definitely rebuilt herself enough that she was ready to get moving again. She didn't want to be weak anymore.

She was distracted from her thoughts as Moran fiddled with the safety switch on a handgun he had been playing with. "That's pretty" she said and moved over to sit next to him at the dining table he had set himself up on. He looked at her with surprise and held it up to her. "This is not pretty! This is a work of art" He said and shoved it back into his holster, which sat just below his armpit. He then pulled a silver box towards him from a small pile and flipped the lid open, revealing another gun. "Sorry! Where did you get all these from?" She said motioning to the small mountain of gun boxes that he had out. "Armoury on the 6th floor...but don't get any funny ideas. You need a badge and I'm pretty sure the boss hasn't given you one..." She shrugged and picked up the gun in front of him, "No he hasn't...pity though...I do miss them." She clicked the magazine out and relished the sound it made. She inspected the cool chrome bullets that sat within then slid the chamber back, flicked the safety on and handed the gun back to Moran. He snatched it from her, but she pretended not to notice, smiled and headed off to the kitchen. Thanks for the info Sebby.

When Jim finally returned a few days later she was back on form, behaving like a little school girl trying to please her master. He seemed to buy it, forgiving her previous misdeeds, putting it down to worry about him. She sat on his lap, her knees sinking into the sofa, stroking his soft skin and planting kisses on his pink lips. The smell of perfume was a little overwhelming, but she figured he had put it there to test her, but she had no intention of falling for it. "So what happens now? Sherlock is on the run and everyone thinks he's a fraud. What's left to do?" She said, her fingers gently massaging his neck and shoulders, as his hands slowly unbuttoned the shirt she was wearing. "Well Lily-pad, he's so predictable and stupid, he'll probably try to be all noble and save the people he loves or whatever, but I'm going to box him in to a tight little corner so he has no other choice..." She tried to remain focused as his fingers pulled at her lacy bra and he massaged her breasts in a way that made her question all her decisions to leave. "No other choice than to what?" She sighed as she rested her head on his forehead, her eyes fluttering closed. "Than to kill himself of course." She held her breath for a moment and pulled away, her eyes fixed on him. He waited for her response and her hands returned to his shoulders and she nodded. "Amazing. You've really done it. A perfect plan from start to finish..."

He smirked a little and trailed his hands along the scars on her stomach, "Are you disappointed that Sherlock is going to die poppet?" She pulled on his tie and loosened it, running the silky fabric between her fingers and laughed a little. "No. Not particularly. It might mean you spend a bit more time with me and less worrying about him!" She planted another kiss on his lips and felt his teeth nip at hers, making her giggle. He hummed a little in response and ran his hands along her thighs, gently enough to raise goosebumps on her sensitive skin. She dragged her nails down his exposed chest and broke the kiss, "When do you think it will happen?" He shrugged and kissed her again, his hands running through her soft hair, "I don't really care" he whispered as his lips brushed against hers, until he pulled her in and deepened the kiss, as her hands clung to his cheeks, not wanting to let go.

Later that evening, while Jim was on the phone she snuck into the bedroom, and found the phone hidden in her wardrobe, switching it back on and waiting with baited breath. Finally the screen flashed brightly and she flicked through to her messages. Any day now. I need you to be ready to go as soon as I message you. If not, you don't get a penny. L. Her heart pounded as she waited for a response which came briefly after. This is getting to be a little dull Miss Dean. However I am quite capable of doing the work remotely so please don't worry about that. We may have to add an extra charge but I am a flexible man, I'm sure we can arrange something. A. She rolled her eyes, knowing full well the rhetoric of perverts and gave a perfunctory response. Of course. L. She hastily switched the phone off and stashed it away. Then she headed into the bathroom, flushed the chain and headed back out into the living room, Jim none the wiser.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please let me know your thoughts. I promise the next installment will be up much sooner!
xxx