I apologize for the delay. Once again, Doc has me working diligently on about four different projects...He and I are currently arguing about whether I'm going to ever get to move forward on a couple of OC stories that I want to finish...so far, he's winning...and who am I to argue, right? At least I'm putting things down and compelteing stories! That's SO much better than my last muse...Anyway, this chapter doesn't move the story foreward as much as I'd like, but it was kind of necessary to show some things for the future chapters. Hope you like!

The Holmes' family driver, Michael stood outside 221 Baker Street as John opened the door. Michael was about 6'2" with graying hair and a small goatee. He wore the typical driver's uniform of a black suit and tie and cap. He nodded at John and gave a small smile.

"Sir, I'm here to take you to the airport," he said.

"You must be Michael," John said, "I haven't met you before, but I have heard of you."

"Yes, sir," he said with a wry smirk, "May I take your bags?"

"Thanks," John said with a smile, handing him the duffle bag and travel case.

Michael took the bags and stowed them in the boot of the car. John stepped the few steps to the door and had it open before Michael could shut the boot and come back to his side of the car. John gazed surreptitiously around the neighborhood, feeling a little sad. He had a feeling it would be a very long time before he saw Baker Street again. He noticed the maintenance chap that had been following him talking to someone in a dark, late-model SUV down the street. He caught Michael's eye over the roof of the car. Michael nodded imperceptibly and then climbed int the front of the car. John got in the car and pulled his mobile from his pocket

Tail spotted. Mike's on it. – MFS

Gud. Dnt let Michael heA U cll him Mike! LOL

LOL. OK. I won't – MFS

Kip me n d loop

Will do – MFS

As Michael pulled away from 221 Baker, John risked a last glance back at the building and noticed the SUV pulling from its spot.

"We're not going to try to lose him, Mr. Smith," Michael said seriously, "My employer said there was no point. He made sure people knew you flying out, but nobody knows where."

"I'm going-"

"Don't say, sir," he interrupted, catching John's eye. "I don't know and really don't need to know. That's between you and my employer."

"OK," John said quietly, feeling slightly chastised.

As they approached Heathrow, Michael started giving instructions.

"Once I drop you, go straight to the lavatory. At some point, change your look. Use reflective surfaces to look behind you. Never turn your head to look behind you. Right now, they think you don't know you're being followed. Therefore, they are a little more lax in their tail, which is to your advantage. But if you look back, they will realize their mistake and up their game.

"If you do need to look behind you to check your tail, make it look like you are lost or confused. Never keep your gaze on any one person too long and don't make eye contact with anyone you don't need to. Understand?"

"Understood," John said with a grin. Suddenly, he was curious and wanted to know, "How long have you worked for your employer?"

Michael caught his eye in the mirror again. John held his eye steadily. Something in John's face must have made Michael feel safe in answering.

"I've worked for my current employer's father when my employer was twelve…So I would say about twenty-five years or so?" he said with a slight smile.

John blinked.

"Wow," he said honestly, "I would have never guessed."

Michael smiled slightly and said, "I get that a lot. But these old eyes and ears have seen and heard a lot."

John saw Michael's eyes turn sad. It was in that moment he realized this man could tell him more about Sherlock than he'd learned in the last two and a half years. But he also knew that Mycroft would never allow that.

They pulled up to the terminal. Michael got out and grabbed John's duffle bag from the boot. John exited the car and stood on the curb as Michael brought it to him, his hand out. John took it and shook it.

"Thanks for all your help, Michael," John said genuinely, "I hope to see you in a couple of weeks."

Michael pulled John a little closer and said, "Tell Mr. Sherlock to hurry home, sir. The family misses him somethin' terrible."

John schooled his face not to show shock as he pulled back. It was his turn to nod imperceptibly before he turned and headed toward the entrance doors. He looked back at Michael and waved, catching a glimpse of the handyman getting out of the SUV that had followed them there. He quickly turned back and headed straight to the lavatory as Michael had suggested.

He went into the handicapped stall to change his clothes. He removed the small duffle bag he had stowed in the pack and folded up the larger to stuff in the bottom of the smaller. He pulled off his jumper and traded his trainers for a pair of brown dress shoes. He stuffed the jumper and trainers into the duffle and pulled the dress coat on. He rumpled his hair, making it look completely wild. He stepped out of the stall and found himself facing a mirror. He looked nothing like what he had when he'd stepped into the lavatory ten minutes before.

'Perfect,' he thought and head out to the gates. He checked a departure board and found that he had about ten minutes to get through security before boarding would begin. There was nothing to be done about it. He needed to be past security sooner rather than later. Before he turned to head to his gate, he used the trick Michael had told him and noticed his tail searching the crowd. Apparently his quick change had been enough to confuse the guy for the moment. He texted Sherlock.

Quick change has confused the tail. Heading to the gate now. MFS

Bcful SYS

He quickly stepped away from the boards and headed to the gate. As he stood in line at the security check point, he used the skills Sherlock had taught him during their time together to observe the people around him.

He was careful not to stare at any one person too long. He made quick decisions as to whether someone was a danger to him or not and moved on when he could determine they weren't. Before he knew it, he was through the check point and was heading in the general direction of his gate.

Checking the time on his mobile, he realized he had timed everything just right. He heard the call for final boarding for his flight and headed that way.

He arrived at the gate and waited on the outskirts of the area, making sure to look like he was not interested in that particular flight until he saw that everyone else in the boarding area was on the ramp. The attendant was making the motions to close the door to the ramp. He caught the attendant's eye and headed straight for her. He handed her his ticket and she smiled.

"You just made it, sir. You're our last passenger and we're closing the doors now."

"Thank you," he said politely and headed down the ramp. It wasn't until he got into his seat in first class that he let himself breathe just a little bit easier.

As soon as the plane took off for the US, he allowed himself to relax enough to doze in and out of sleep for the flight.

OK...hopefully things will move along a little faster now...You ALL know the routine...R&R=3