AN: For all of the faithful; thanks for sticking with this story :)
Chapter 5
I had never been so nervous checking in and going through security at the airport as I was that particular early morning. I was positive that I'd be pulled over and frisked, questioned at gunpoint, and thrown in jail for carrying false identification. Holmes tried to reassure me by patting me on the back, but it didn't help; rather, I became even more nervous. The pit in my stomach continued to grow, until finally Holmes pulled me to one side after we passed the second security checkpoint, and were on our way toward the gate.
"Laura. It's still not too late to go back, you know." His eyes, normally cold and distant, were unreadable.
I shook my head slowly. "I'm coming with you."
"Then you need to stop hyperventilating."
I swallowed uneasily. "All right, Holmes." I took a slow, deep breath.
He shook his head. "Not Holmes. Start calling me Jake, or you might slip up."
I nodded. "Ok, Jake." The name even felt foreign on my tongue. I could feel myself tensing up again.
After a moment of hesitation, he reached over and grasped my hand, interlocking his fingers with mine. "Let's go, wifey. I hear New Orleans is very hot this time of the year." He winked at me.
I blushed, and did my best to suppress my giggles. Wifey? If this was his way of putting me more at ease, I didn't mind one single bit.
We arrived at New Orleans around eleven in the morning. I was starving and still exhausted, even though I slept the entire plane ride. The airport was rather crowded when we arrived, but Holmes managed to maneuver us deftly through the crowds; before I knew it, we were standing at the airport curb waiting for our ride to the hotel.
Holmes had been playing the "dotingphysically affectionate husband"since we had stepped off the plane. As we were waiting, his arm was snaked comfortably around my waist, while I held my carry-on in front of me with both my hands. I was still nervous about the whole thing, as he still hadn't told me what the plan was. That, plus the mere physical proximity of my crush object made for a very- uh, uncomfortable- wait.
I was slightly surprised when a flashy electric blue BMW M3 stopped right in front of us, being driven by a very attractive female with flaming red hair down to her waist and legs that went on forever. She stood a good 5'7", clad in a scanty leopard print top and a black mini skirt with knee high boots. My jaw almost dropped when she got out of the car and walked towards us with a huge smile.
"Hello, Jake," she purred. 'It's so good to see you again." She threw her arms around him and planted a feathery kiss on his cheek.
I didn't miss the slight blush creeping up on Holmes' face as he tried to disentangle himself. "Hello, Maggie. I missed you too."
They were staring into each other's eyes like long lost lovers. I cleared my throat, suddenly wide awake.
Holmes gathered himself, shaking himself free from her arms. "Uh, Maggie, this is Laura. Laura, this is Maggie."
I plastered a fake smile on my face and offered my hand. "It's a pleasure," I managed to say through gritted teeth.
She shook it heartedly, and addressed her comment to Holmes. "How'd you manage to land yourself this one, Jake?"
It had only been two minutes, and I found myself really disliking this girl.
Holmes stifled a laugh as he observed my face scrunch up inadvertently (hey, I can only be polite for so long). "Aw Mags, come on. Don't scare my wife like that."
I smirked as I saw her eyes bulge in surprise. "Jake Young! I never got an invitation," she managed to sputter.
Holmes shrugged his shoulders as he popped open the trunk and loaded the luggage. "I never mix my personal and business matters, Mags. You of all people should know this."
She laughed in agreement. "Hop in, guys. I'll take you to your hotel."
I don't remember much of what was said on the ride to the hotel. Holmes and Maggie were pointing out various landmarks of New Orleans to me, but the prior exhaustion I was feeling resurfaced with a vengeance, and I fell asleep after we passed the Superdome.
"Laura." I felt a warm hand on my shoulder. "Wake up." I rubbed my eyes briefly, and noticed that the car had stopped, and was parked in front of an elegant hotel entrance. Holmes had opened the door and was gesturing for me to get out of the car. I took Holmes' outstretched hand and gingerly stepped out of the car, eyes trying to adjust to the bright noontime sun.
Maggie, the annoyingly perky redhead, emerged from the hotel's grand entrance and handed Holmes a large manila envelope. "Inside are your hotel keys and some papers from Carlos. He says he wants to hear from you in two days."
Holmes accepted the package, and smiled warmly at Maggie. "Thanks Mags. Send him my best."
Maggie suddenly seemed like she couldn't wait to leave. "All right, dahling, I'll see you in a few days. And Laura, make sure you keep him in line. Ciao, Jake!" She blew a kiss at Holmes, got back into her car and peeled away.
I cast an annoyed look over at Holmes. "When were you going to tell me about her?"
Holmes chuckled. "Maggie is an interesting girl."
I couldn't resist scoffing. "Understatement of the year."
He put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer. "Watson, if I didn't know you better, I'd say you were jealous."
My face flushed and I gulped. Was I that transparent? "As if. I just don't like being… broadsided like that. I mean, how was I supposed to know what to say- or not say- to her? You really need to fill me in, because otherwise, I'm just here," I gushed, trying to cover my embarrassment.
He nodded, agreeing. "All right. But let's unpack first, and then I'll go over what your role is. But I'd rather not discuss this in the hotel, if that's all right with you."
I smiled. "Sure thing. But can we get some food before we unpack? I'm starving."
Holmes grinned. "Don't worry. This will be some of the best food you'll ever have."
Holmes began to sketch out the details of his plan over lunch. "You have to understand, that I'm operating as Jake Young here. This persona I adopt- he started out dabbling in narcotics, and made his name in cocaine. That history has been concocted by Lestrade for me to use when going undercover a few months ago. Now, my story is that I'm looking to make my name bigger. Dealing weapons."
"Weapons?" I squeaked, jambalaya soup temporarily forgotten.
"Yes, bioweapons. A much bigger profit margin for the same risks running drugs."
"I don't see what this has to do with Sebastian." I was really confused. What did Holmes want with biological agents?
"I got a tip. Carl Sebastian is looking for a supplier."
I put my spoon down as my mind began to work in hyperdrive. "You mean-"
"Yes, Laura. He's still knee deep in criminal activity- and what's worse, is that the locals can't do anything about it because he's being protected," Holmes spat out with an intensehatred I had never heard.
I swallowed uneasily, dreading the answer to my next question. "So what type of biological agent is he looking for?"
Holmes looked around nervously before taking a pen out of his pocket, jotting something down on his napkin and pushing the napkin across the table at me.
I picked it up. Written in Holmes' precise handwriting was a single word that shocked me to the very core of my body- anthrax.
AN: Again, I apologize for the huge delay. I just hope that my portrayal of modern day Holmes' isn't too out of character, but this idea has been churning in my head for a long time...
Afew personalized notes of thanks: Horsefeathers103: Thanks, I tried to incorporate the old stuff as much as possible into my stories- this one, however, will be a deviation from any of Doyle's stuff (I mean, can you imagine bioterror back in Victorian England?); brdtpst: Thanks for the many reviews you left- hahah, I don't want to give too much detail because I want to leave some stuff up to your imagination; Cap'n Cory: I really appreciate your encouragement!; Jilla de la Rio: yes, the bar bit was something I've wanted to write for a long time, I'm glad you enjoyed it as much as I did; Kittenchatter: oh my faithful reviewer- your compliments mean so much! Yes, they are on their way...
