John sat with Livvy for a few minutes, watching her work, struck by how much she reminded him of Sherlock, both in looks and in her temperament when she was focused on her work. After a while, Napoleon came back, and gently suggested that John had other places to be. John took the hint and left, heading back down the hallway towards the Hub.
"Hi, Doctor," Baz called as John walked into the Hub. "Coffee, tea? Something to eat?"
"Tea, thanks." John walked towards him.
"I was looking for you. I'm next," Baz said as he passed a heavy mug over to John. John took a sip and smiled - the tea was perfect.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," he said.
"No worries. Keeping an eye on the whiz-kid?" Baz nodded towards the hall where John had been. "Amazing what she can do with a computer. Between her and Tobe, they could take down the entire city, if they wanted."
"Good thing they're on our side," John agreed. "Shall we?"
"Sure." Baz picked up his mug and fell in next to John as they walked towards John's office. "What do you think so far?"
"That I was never meant to be a spy," John answered immediately, making Baz laugh.
"I think spies are a rare breed. Look at Napoleon and Illya, for example. Not that you will, I don't think."
"Why not?"
Baz shrugged and pushed the office door open, standing out of the way so John could enter. "They won't come to you," he said as the door closed behind him. "I heard Napoleon telling the boss - he said he and Illya have had enough of doctors. So I doubt you'll see much of them professionally."
"Ah. Yes, my uncle was much the same way," John said. "You're... what? Thirty-five?"
"Thirty-three."
"Young to have retired from the military," John commented. "And how did an American army soldier end up serving the British crown?"
"First answer? They asked, I told," Baz answered. "Second answer? Met a nice guy here in London. He travels a lot, though. Business."
"That's a shame. To both, actually," John said, and meant it. He set his mug down on the desk and gestured to the other door. "Let's get your exam done, then we can chat."
"Right," Baz headed for the door, then stopped and looked around, puzzled. "Hey, do you smell that?"
John took a breath, and caught an acrid tang in the air. "Smells like... an electrical fire?"
Baz nodded and tapped his headset. "Tobe, we're smelling smoke down in the doctor's office. Anything on the system?" He paused, then shook his head and looked at John. "Tobe says the system reports green. Nothing-"
When asked later, John couldn't tell Mycroft what made him move, made him grab Baz by the coat and drag the taller man behind the heavy desk, but they were both under cover when the door to the examination room exploded into the office. Then it was Baz's turn, grabbing John's arm and dragging him to his feet, through the smoke-filled office and out into the hallway.
"...four, three, two, one... thank God!" Baz breathed as a heavy metal door slid into place, sealing the office off from the hallway. He reached up towards his headset, then cursed when he realized it was gone.
John looked up at the sound of running feet, in time to see Mycroft, leading the charge. The idea of Mycroft running struck John silly, and he bit down on a giggle. Then he saw the gun in Mycroft's hand; the giggle vanished, and John sat down on the floor opposite what had been his office.
"What happened?" Mycroft demanded.
"No idea," John answered. "Malfunction? The equipment in the examination room blew up."
"No way!" Tobe protested, from behind Mycroft's shoulder. "It was perfect! I set it up just the way they taught me to! There's never been a problem with the system in Cardiff!"
Mycroft scowled, looking at the sealed door. Then he looked down at John, and his expression spoke volumes. John got to his feet slowly, and almost immediately found himself engulfed in a hug from Baz.
"That's twice I owe you for," the American said.
"We're even," John answered. "You got me out before the room sealed. What's going on in there now?"
"Fire suppression system," Tobe answered. "It flushes all the air from the room. If you were still in there, you'd be dead."
Mycroft looked at Tobe, then back at John. "Doctor, when you're feeling up to it, I'd like a word. Mr. Hunter, please tell Doctor Kuryakin that he has some work ahead of him. This room remains sealed until he has a chance to go through it. I want to know what happened, and the cause, before the end of the day."
"I'm fine, My... sir," John answered. "If you want to talk, we can talk now."
"Very good. Colonel Moran?"
"I'm fine, sir," Baz answered.
"Colonel?" John asked.
"Lieutenant-Colonel, actually," Baz said with a grin. "USAF. You were close." He looked at the door and grimaced. "I liked that mug."
John shook his head and followed Mycroft.
#
Mycroft said nothing until he and John were behind the locked door in Mycroft's office. He set the gun down on his desk, sat down, then looked at John. "You're certain that you're unhurt?"
"Yes, I'm fine," John said. "You think it was sabotage."
"Yes, and so do you," Mycroft answered. "The question is, who?"
"I've been in and out of the office all morning," John admitted. "It could have been anyone. Any cameras on that hall, or in that office?"
"Yes, and Olivia is checking them now." Mycroft leaned back in his chair and scowled at the ceiling. "My brother would have found very inventive ways to murder me if I'd had to tell him you'd been killed on your first day of work. So I am very glad that you are all right. Theories?"
John considered the question, absently flexing the fingers of his left hand. Then he shook his head. "Not yet. Too many people through the office. I saw you, Tobe, Livvy and Baz today. And I was in and out of the office. I never locked the door, so anyone could have gone in there. And I'm not even sure I've met everyone here!"
"Barring Doctor Kuryakin, you've met the entire staff of this location," Mycroft answered. "Anthea left the premises shortly after you were introduced around."
"I'd hate to have to think of her as an enemy, but if I were planting an explosive, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near it when it went off," John said.
"Unlikely. She knows how the fire suppression system works, so she knows that there was no danger to the rest of the facility."
John nodded. "All right. So, whatever it was, it could have been planted before I got here. When was that equipment set up?"
Mycroft nodded slightly. "Mister Hunter finished the installation three days ago. What are you thinking?"
"And how long ago did you tell the staff that I was coming on board?" John asked, ignoring the question.
"Only yesterday," Mycroft answered.
"That is still more than enough time for someone to get that information to Moriarty, and to receive orders," John said, and sighed. "Are you monitoring communications? Personal cell phones, computers?"
"We are, and Olivia says that she has seen nothing untowards," Mycroft answered. "You can see the files, if you like."
John cocked his head to one side. "Is she the only one who knows that you are monitoring?" he asked. "And are you sure?"
"You're thinking that someone knows?"
"And if someone knows, then that someone might have a line of communication that you don't know about."
"Or, this could have been a strike at the organization as a whole," Mycroft suggested. "Someone who took an opportunity."
John looked at Mycroft, who shook his head. "Unlikely, I do realize that. But we cannot simply jump at shadows."
"Especially since sometimes the shadows jump back," John muttered, rubbing his hand over his face. "All right. Now what? Someone tried to kill me and whoever was with me... wait."
"What?" Mycroft asked.
"I was late, getting to the examination room," John said. "Baz had to come find me for his appointment. I was supposed to be in that room when the explosion went up... and so was he."
Mycroft blinked, nodding slowly. "Whoever it is doesn't care about collateral damage. That does sound like James Moriarty."
#
*Jimmy, what the hell was that?*
*It didn't work?*
*No, it didn't work! And it damn near killed me along with him!*
*Darling, you knew the job was dangerous when you took it.*
*...*
*You have something to say, my dove?*
*Jimmy, I swear to God, if you start calling me Fred again, I am going to spank you!*
*Promises, promises.*
*...*
*Anything more, Seb?*
*I miss you. When are you coming home?*
*Soon, my dove. As soon as you take care of that one small detail for me.*
#
John and Mycroft stayed closeted in Mycroft's office throughout lunch, served to them by the newly-returned Anthea. John noticed that neither tray was at all similar - a precaution that he knew was to ward off poisoning attempts. As they ate, he chatted with Mycroft, about the upcoming wedding, about what to expect at dinner, and about Sherlock.
"He's going to want in on this," John said, waving his fork vaguely. "He's going to read what it is that I'm doing in my shirt cuffs and in the smell of my jacket, and he's going to want to get involved."
"If he does, he will have to follow my rules. That has been enough to stop him for quite some time," Mycroft answered.
"I can imagine," John said. Before he could say more, Mycroft held up one hand and touched his headset with his finger. His eyebrows arched, and he set the cup he was holding down on his desk.
"Doctor, they've found something in the wreckage."