'The only question is, what happens next?'

Mycroft looked at the young woman before him. When he saw the cctv of herself and a stocky man walking into his brothers and then her not leaving he wondered what the hell his brother was doing now. He knew it couldnt be some romantic notion, his brother didn't understand feelings and whatnot. No his brother must have sensed that she needed help. despite the constant ribbing between the two he knew his brother better than anybody and he knew he wouldn't let this girl walk away to be killed. He had recognised her face on the camera, but he couldnt foe the life of him remember how. He immediately had his team cross reference her features and a few hours later he was given her personal file. After reading through and learning that she was the late Mayor's daughter who had been missing for 8 years he ordered a car and hurried off to Bakers Street. She was different than he thought she would be. At first glance be thought she would be downtrodden and basically a shell, He could only imagine what horrors she had been put through for years but when she deliberately tried antagonising him he smiled inwardly, an errant thought of God she's like Sherlock, they'd be perfect together. ran through his mind before he could stop it. Shaking himself he kept his face blank, lest his brother deduce what he was thinking, he would never live it down if he tried to set them up together. He say and watched her read her file. He wouldn't admit it but he did have alight sympathy for her. To be kidnapped and not actually know had to be a hard thing to find out. Then to find out she also had no family at all obviously no friends and basically nowhere to go he couldnt fathom how she may be feeling.

'Well first things first Miss Taylor is getting you situated in a safe location. I'm thinking Spain, possibly Ireland...'

'No' Mycroft was shocked, of all the things he expected Sherlock to come out with it had not been that. Even Sherlock himself seemed startled that had come out of his mouth. Oh well, can't back out now..

'No?' Mycroft questioned, raising his eyebrow.

' She stays here, she has important information on a criminal which has had us following breadcrumbs for years. She could be useful.'

Sophie cringed, wow, useful.. way to make me feel wanted..

'Sherlock you can't seriously be suggesting she stay at 221b , not only does he know she's here but you couldnt possibly have a girl as a roommate, you could hardly look after yourself when you had John! 'Sherlock growled lowly, he didn't need to be reminded of when John lived here. it wasn't going to happen again! He wouldn't tell Mycroft that the main reason is he didn't want to let her out of his sight, He wanted to pick her brain and get to know her. He was intrigued by her.

'She stays.'

And there you have it really, Mycroft sighed and left with a huff, taking the folder with him and leaving Sherlock and Sophie in the lounge to ponder what just happened.

Sherlock stood abruptly and stalked to his room, grabbing a fresh set of clothes he stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door hard, Leaving a belweildered Sophie to stare at the wooden door.

'What the hell was that all about?' Oh well.Standing up, Sophie went to the kitchen and washed her plate and mug, noticing there wasn't much in the way of shopping she wrote a short list of essentials needed and started to tidy, humming to herself as she did so. Sophie was so far in her own little world that she didn't notice a woman had come up behind her until she turned to put the plate back in the cupboard. Jumping a mile and dropping the plate on the floor it smashed into little pieces.

The old woman started fussing immediately,

'Oh I'm so sorry dear I didn't mean to startle you! What's your name darling? I'm Mrs Hudson the landlady not the housekeeper though I'm sure Sherlock will tell you otherwise. Have you been here long? I didn't see you come in, where did you come from? Sorry what did you say your name was?'

Before Sophie could even comprehend the questions being thrown at her Sherlock opened the bathroom door wrapped in a towel and glaring at the older woman.

'Mrs Hudson give the woman a chance, Her name is Sophie and she will be my new roommate, what are you doing here anyway? Now if you'll excuse me we have things to do.'He started shuffling her outside the door.

'Oh Sherlock put your clothes on young man or you'll catch a cold, Nice to meet you dear, come and see me later for a cup of tea a nd we can get to know each other!' She shouted over her shoulder as Sherlock practically pushed her out the door and towards the stairs. Sophie Blushed, she hadn't missed the fine chiseled chest and the small line if hair trailing down his front and disappearing below the towel. His hair was dripping all over the floor and falling into his eyes. Looking at her carefully and wondering why he had rushed out to stop her being pestered by Mrs Hudson before getting dressed he turned back to the bathroom. Before closing the door and not looking at her he said.

' Mycroft will surely have Anthea here in a moment with some clothes for you, there is a spare towel in the linen closet and another shower down the hall.Get sorted, we've got places to go and people to see.' With that he shut the door and let out a breathe he didn't know he was holding. Shaking it off he continued getting ready.

Sure enough not 5 minutes later after Sophie had cleared away the China shards of plate and thrown them in the bin, Anthea had returned with a plastic bag and left promptly giving a small wave of goodbye. Opening the carrier, Sophie saw a new outfit in her size, toiletries including shampoo and a hairbrush. A new bra and undies and a toothbrush and toothpaste.

Shocked and a little worried as to how they knew her bra size, Sophie made her way down the hall, picked up a fluffy towel from the cupboard and went to find the other shower. It felt amazing to have the hot water cascade down her back. Back with Fabien she hadnt been allowed to use much, only 5 minutes of hot water and he would turn off the boiler making it go cold again. Giving her hair a good wash and her body a good scrub she stepped out of the shower and looked in the small mirror opposite. Wiping away the condensation she gasped at the bruise that was shining brightly on her cheek, her eyes looked tired and she could see where she had been biting her lip so much. Brushing her teeth and brushing her hair, she put it up into a high ponytail with the hair bands she found at the bottom of the bag. Leaving a few tendrils to frame her face and hopefully hide the worse of the bruise she got dressed. Black underwear, Black ripped jeans, a scarlet red top and a black leather jacket she donned it all. Rummaging in the bag she came across some size 5 black pumps which she slipped onto her feet. Feeling very confused and very beweildered that this man knew everything about her sizing, she hung her towel on the rack, opened the little window at the top to let the steam out and walked back to the lounge where she found Sherlock standing at the window watching the world outside.

Sherlock couldnt believe he had rushed out when he heard Mrs Hudson questioning his new roommate, not only did he not have any clothes on he was practically naked in front of his landlady! Shuffling her out he didn't miss the blush rise on Sophies neck when she took him in. Not immune to looks then. He thought smugly, before he felt uncomfortable enough in just a towel.

After getting sorted he could hear the other shower going. Trying not to imagine her in there he went to the window and watched below, seeing one of his homeless network out front and staring at him he gave a sharp nod and watched the the old man scurried down towards the alleyway, knowing he would stay there until he could see him. Unsure of whether to just leave her here but wanting to keep her in his sight he waited for her to finish and emerged from the bathroom. Hearing her to come in and turning to look at her his gave a small gasp. The clothes Anthea had chosen for her suited her very well, her slender figure was shown in all the right places with the tight jeans and top. Wow, she scrubs up well.' He coughed, he didn't know where these thoughts were coming from and he didnt understand them. Shoving them far into his Mind Palace to deal and analyse later he said.

'Come we need to go and see somebody.' Looking slightly lost, she followed him down the stairs and out the house, trying to keep up with his long stride she stumbled a few times. Sherlock slowed, telling himself it was because he didn't want to have to deal with her if she fell over and not so it made it easier for her, He made his way to the abandoned alleyway, looked around discreetly and veered off into a little hidden alcove where he saw his minion holding something in his hands.

Sophie stayed quiet, she knew she would find out what was going on eventually but it didn't mean she wasn't Ansty at going into a hidden alleyway. Standing silently behind Sherlock, not wanting to get in the way she eyes the man opposite carefully. He looked familiar, but she guessed him being homeless she had probably seen him around the city.

Sherlock held up a £10 note and the man snatched it out of his hands, he held put the paper towards Sherlock and waited for him to take it. However unlike leaving like Sherlock had expected he stayed, staring at Sophie and making her feel self conscious.

Unconsciously sherlock shifted and stood infront of her, blocking her from view. with a firm and sharp voice he said

' Anything else Brian?' The man's eyes widened and slipped his hand into his pocket, withdrawing a photograpgh in black and white. Holding it out but not releasing it until Sherlock had given him another tenner. He took one more look at Sophie and shuffled out of the alcove and down the street.

Feeling a little braver now that the strange homeless man was gone, Sophie inched forward and looked at what Sherlock was holding. She gasped at the sight of the paper, Sherlocks head whipped up and he saw her start to tremble. Her hand came to her mouth and she starting muttering. not that he could hear what she was saying but she was getting more distressed by the minute. Looking closer he couldnt quite make out what it was, deciding to deal with that in a minute he flipped over the photograph. There, lying face face in the dirt, was the bastard from last night. Knife sticking out of his back and a gunshot wound to the head he could see the faint gold ring he'd noticed the day before. This was definetly Fabien. He must have been killed not long after leaving Bakers Street. Not wanting to show Sophie yet as she was still trembling and staring at the other piece of paper Sherlock shoved the photo into his pocket and took a closer look. It was ripped right down the middle but he could see immediately that these were blueprints. And from the reaction from the girl he assumes it is the blueprints she worked hard to get rid of at risk to her own life. It was wet and smudged extensively so it obviously had been in water. it was almost falling apart in his hands so it had been in water for most of the night he would say. Where the hell had Brian found it?

Thinking fast, he places it unto his photo and turned to the girl. He reached for her hand and stroked her knuckles. Before either could say something his phone rang. Dropping her hand and fishing put his mobile.

' yes?'

' We've got a case!'