Tumblr about my stories: JaimiStoryTeller

Thank you for any form of communication, I love it and it keeps me writing!

Lots of thanks to NoOrdinarySouthernGirl for all of her help


James' POV
The ride from their small shared flat to his brother-in-law's flat is quiet. He is lost in thought and gets the impression that the alpha driving is working on controlling his temper. When they pull into a parking garage, he closes his eyes for a moment to center himself before getting out of the car. He had left all of his things in the his car but that was alright, items were not why he was here. Casting a quick glance at the taller alpha, he nods once, waiting for him to lead the way.

Scowling, the blonde nods once before the two of them head into the flat complex attached to the garage. Several of the guards and people roaming about give him varying looks, some dirty, some annoyed, some pitying. One alpha even growls at him. He ignores it, focusing instead on following the sniper.

"John's well liked. The alphas adore and respect him for his ability to work in spite of his hormones and depression, because he is fair to everyone regardless of second gender. The omegas love him for the fact he is willing to work with them, help them find jobs and get beta's respect him for his hard work and determination," the taller alpha remarks as he continues walking, heading towards the stairs rather than the elevator.

Giving the taller man a questioning look, the two of them start on the way up the steps.

"Left my keycard upstairs," the alpha answers the unspoken question. "Easier to work off annoyance when I do not have it. Unlike the three geniuses, I can't just hack the system."

"Oh," he mutters as they go up a second flight.

They are on the third when a dark-haired woman steps onto the landing. "Mr. Holmes requires his presence now, I am to escort you." She remarks without ever looking away from the phone in her hand.

"Great, if you're here, that means the four of them have already gathered." the sniper grumbles as he holds the door for them to go through.

Her eyes barely flicker away from her phone just long enough to relay the message that she feels the sniper is a fool in a glance.

As he passes her, his nose twitches and he is slightly startled that she is a beta. From her posture, he had thought she was an alpha. Silently, the three of them head to the elevator. The ride up is very aggravating. In the confined space of the elevator the blonde alpha's scent is particularly thick. The small space seems to be full of anger and agitation making his nerves clamor and his instincts rise to the surface. He is relieved when the elevator stops, the door silently sliding open.

Just as quietly the three of them get off the lift. The female beta stays by the door but the alpha heads in, holding it open for him.

Nodding politely, he enters the room, nearly driven to his knees by the scent alone. His vision clouds for a moment at the various emotions swarm him. As he adjusts, he notices that there are three men, all in bespoke suits. They are arranged with the slender, dark-haired alpha he recognizes as his mate's half-brother, an auburn haired man, and the dark-haired alpha that his mate shares a flat with.

"Take a seat, Mr. Sholto," the auburn-haired man orders, voice low and commanding, this is a man used to being obeyed.

Straightening, he falls into parade rest, but does not sit. With three alphas at the least all with furious scents, there is no way he will put himself in a vulnerable position.

Stormy eyes narrow on him before the auburn-haired man states clearly, "That was not a request."

"Seb could help you if you need help being seated," his brother-in-law states, dark humor filling his tone.

"Or we could," the dark-haired alpha at the other end offers.

"Why don't you three sit down first, I wouldn't sit down in his position either," he hears the detective inspector remark as he enters the room, "It's been awhile James."

"Hello Greg," he greets the other alpha as he settles on the arm of one of the chairs.

"I'd ask how you've been but I know the answer to that already, particularly easy to tell going off of how John's been lately." A sarcastic smirk curves his lips as he states, "Beside, I don't think these four care for the pleasantries right now"

He nods slowly moving towards the second chair he sees without turning his back on the others. At the seat, he stands by it but waits for the others to find their spots before sitting down. When the auburn-haired man moves to sit on the chair that the detective inspector is perched on he is mildly surprised until he remembers that his mate's friend was bonded while he was gone. Slowly, the five of them take their seats, almost as if making sure that no one stays standing.

"Now then, since everyone is seated like they should be, let's have a little chat shall we," the detective inspector remarks calmly, eyes sweeping the room. "First introductions: James, this is my mate Mycroft Holmes, the curly dark-haired alpha perched on the edge of the sofa is Sherlock Holmes, you've previously met Jim, and I am guess you have met Sebastian since you walked in with him."

"Boring." the one identified as Sherlock states, "Pointless."

"Agreed." his brother-in-law snaps, "Why have you been mistreating John?" his voice is a whip of anger, his scent the primary one in the room.

"Don't you think it would be best to find out if he even realizes that he's fucked up?" that's out of the detective inspector.

"He knows. I sort of already bitched at him." the blonde alpha remarks.

A soft growl escapes both dark-haired alphas sitting on the sofa, making the blonde alpha on the floor by the fireplace flinch.

"I am aware I have errored in my treatment of John in the last two years," He answers calmly.

"Give me one reason not to have you shipped off to a war-zone to get killed," the auburn-haired man identified as Mycroft comments with deceptive calmness. "He would survive the breaking of the bond, we'd make sure of that."

A shiver crawls down his spine, his instincts telling him that he should believe the other man's words.

"Boys, remember your long and well written promises," the detective inspector suggests in a deceptively mild tone.

All three alphas on the floor shoot the detective inspector looks.

"How do you plan to correct the situation?" Mycroft inquires in a cadence that implies he better have an idea and a good one.

"Firstly apologize. Second have a detailed conversation with him," he replies keeping his voice as even possible.

"Your apology better involve groveling," his brother-in-law snarls softly.

He does not answer that, merely nods once. His instincts tell him this is more than depression that has this group of men glaring at him.

"Perhaps we should give him something useful to make sure he does not act foolish," his mate's flatmate remarks, "I am sure you have plenty of options."

"Recall I am a cop there, Sherlock," the detective inspector reminds the dark-haired alpha.

"I would clear it," the auburn-haired man states levelly.

Chuckling, the detective inspector states, "Again, your agreement with John."

"Boring." both dark-haired alphas state at the same time.

Glancing at a clock on the wall, his brother-in-law utters commandingly, "He should be waking up soon, it will be dinner time in roughly half an hour. Sebastian go make sure we have enough food prepared."

Standing the blonde alpha nods once before leaving the room.

"May I inquire as to where John is?" he considers calling him his mate, but realizes that the current mood in the room makes it unwise.

"I'll show you," the detective inspector answers as he stands, "Mycroft, are we going to stay for dinner?"

The two Holmes brothers share a speaking look before glancing at his brother-in-law.

"We shall," the auburn-haired man answers.

"Come on, James," the detective inspector prompts him.

Rising, he follows the other alpha down a hall. "That's Jim's room, that's Sherlock's, that's Sebastian's, and this is John's." he states as he motions to the different doors. Stopping in front of the one he motion to as his mate's the once-dark-haired alpha tells him, "Listen, I know how hard being injured can be. I've seen the physical and mental toll it takes, but you will heal better with him than by yourself. At this point, if not for Jim and Sherlock, I am fairy certain that John would either be dead or nearly so because he has been struggling with Abandoned Omega Syndrome."

His eyes widen at that, a deep chill rushing through his body. He is well aware of AOS and the damage it can do. Why had his mate not told him? Of course he answers his own question moments later, he had not given his mate a chance to. Closing his eyes he nods, focusing on their bond and realizing that it is very fragile.

"Thank you, Greg," he murmurs before squaring his shoulders and facing the door, "I need to speak with my mate now, I feel him waking."

"Good luck," the detective inspector tells him before turning and heading back into the main room.

Lifting his hand, he knocks twice before falling into parade rest once more.