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."