Fading out

First reaction is Lady Smallwood; after all, she was the one he called, the one with satellite images all over the world, the one who would watch his death.

Hell I'm making myself sad.

Ripples in a stream

Lady Smallwood

The screens were on, the satellite images focus on the town Karbala; two government cars were slowly making their way down the street. Lady Smallwood eyes were glued to the screens, her eyes pooled with unshed tears, her phone next to her ear.

"I know. It was a pleasure working with you Alecia." She closed her eyes, trying to memorise the sound of Mycroft's voice in her mind, this would be the last thing he would ever say to her, her voice was soft, trembling when she replied.

"You too."

There was so much she wanted to say but there was a moment of silence and then line went dead. She lowered her hand the same time her other hand rise to close over her mouth, trying to steady her breaths. She opened her eyes to watch the screen, holding her breath for the inevitable that is about to happen. He said five minutes, her breath was shallow, her adrenaline levels high as it rushed through her veins, and she wanted to yell, to scream for someone to stop this, for another way.

It didn't happen.

The first explosion was a bright light on the screen and she gasped the fire high in the air, she could see the people around screaming and running all over the place but her eyes were glued on the car behind. The back door opened and she felt a stab of hope. Yes! Mycroft is running away, he is going to make it. She watches as he dragged the driver to the side.

"Come on Mycroft, stay there, please…please…don't go back." She whispered the words softly, begging him to stay back but he didn't, she watches as he turned back to his car, coming halfway when that car exploded. She couldn't stop the "No!" from escaping her lips as she saw the force lifting Mycroft off his feet and threw him on the ground several meters away. Even through the pixels, the black and white screen, she saw his chest turning darker, the dark black pool underneath his body and then it stopped moving. A tear ran down her cheek, it was over. Mycroft was dead. She turned around and her eyes widen. Anthea was standing behind her, tears running down her face as her body shook, not a sound came out. Their eyes caught each other, the feelings the same, they are mourning for one of the greatest man they have ever met. Lady Smallwood took a deep breath and walked towards her.

"Take a few minutes, I'll be in the bathroom, taking mine, as many as you need, come to my office and we can make…..we need…too…" Her voice broke, they need to make arrangements, his body, and the after effect and then….she needs to inform Sherlock. Anthea nodded.

"Yes…sir…ma'am." Without waiting for an answer she left the room, Alecia following a few steps behind. It was the worst day in their lives.

Anthea

Anthea hardly closed the cubicle behind her before she fell down her knees, her sobs racking through her body. She clutched her chest tight but it didn't help, the aching, the sorrow was ripping through her, the sobs loud in the silence. He was dead, her mentor, her boss, her friend. They were colleagues for several years and she knew that he cared, he tried so hard not to show it, but it did, they both knew it did.

Everything was going well, and then Sherlock happened. Sherlock and John and their little hide and seek game in his house and it all went pear-shaped. She knew something was going to happen one day, she just didn't expect it like this. She protected him, she saved him multiple times from assassins, poisons, attacks so many things, but she couldn't save him from himself. She tried to do what she could about Sherringford, about Euros, about keeping Mycroft's name clean and out of it, but she failed, he lost everything and she was reassigned, she couldn't see him, she couldn't talk to him, she couldn't explain that she tried, she really did, and it was all for nothing. Lady Smallwood told her in the week that she was to work with her now, that Mycroft requested it, and she was happy, doing that for her, in this business was massive. He secured her future, he secured her place in the chain of events, and she couldn't even say thank you.

She was unsure of how long she sat there when she finally got up, her legs were numb, but it was okay, because she was numb too. She took all of fifteen minutes to make herself presentable again. She was still trying to steady her breaths as she made her way to Lady Smallwood's office, she knows exactly where it is, all of them, and her routine. She can start right away. She knocked on the door and when she received the 'come in' went in. Lady Smallwood was sitting behind her desk, her eyes still red and puffy, she didn't even try to hide it or compose herself. Lady Smallwood saw her look and smiled.

"We will be working close together and Mycroft assured me of your loyalty and trust, so I'm really not going to try and keep my composure, I can't, not now, and I need to discuss a few things with you."

"I've been debriefed on all open investigations…"

"It's personal, I know you can start immediately, I need to show you some documents, and a recording. This is to do with Mycroft's lass Will and Testament and the interview we had a few days ago, I'm going to show you the whole thing, not parts, because I trust you, and you deserve to know everything." Anthea frowned slightly before she nodded and sat down. Lady Smallwood pressed a button and the interview started to play, they had in the room. She watched her eyes wide as he talked, a new wave of tears as she listened as he gave her half of everything he owned, he owned a lot, she basically never has to work again, and on top of that the trust he put in her. The faith in her abilities, the fact that he trusted her more than the people he worked with, she can never be angry with him. She agreed with Lady Smallwood when she went off at him, trying to redeem him for other's mistake. A new found respect bubbled in her for Lady Smallwood, she will do everything in her power to make sure she keeps her safe; they will be a great team.

When the video was done and she looked at the documents she was still crying. So was Lady Smallwood, she handed Anthea a tissue.

"My dear, I know this time ahead is going to be rough and we will have some hard times, but I know we can do it, I've already arranged for the retrieval of the….of Mr…of Mycroft's body, and the arrangement in regard to the ambassador, and the president, the only thing left now is to go and tell Sherlock, do you want to come along or wait here?"

The last thing she wanted to do was to see Sherlock, not for a long time, however she had a new duty.

"I'll come with you, if it is okay, may I wait in the car?"

"Yes. Of course."

Together they stood up and made their way to the car. They got in and Lady Smallwood looked at the driver.

"Baker Street."