Chapter 7

March 1999

Jim sits in a café in the middle of Oxford observing the people walking past. He periodically sips from his drink. And watches out for the man who had set up the meeting. He glances at his watch and grimaces. Twenty minutes late. Rapidly Jim makes a calculation for the add-on charges the client when he turns up. Loud cheers from the other side of the square makes him glance over to see what was happening. He glances at the clock in the clock and notes the date. Happy birthday Mykey, 20 today, hope you are alive and having fun he thinks. He smiles sadly. 'Mr Jonathan Woods.' Jim glances up and rises from his seat, his face impassive.

'Mr Warren Dale I presume.' Warren Dale sticks his hand out but Jim ignores it as he gestures for him to take a seat. A waitress walks over to their table. 'Two coffees.' The waitress walks away leaving the two of them sat at the table in silence. Jim glares at Warren. 'Well what is your problem?' he growls.

'Moving, selling and removals.'

'It'll cost you.'

'How much?'

'Plus extra for tardiness-'

'How much extra?'

'Excluding the usual charges.'

'How much?' Warren's face darkens.

'I think it's safe to say there won't be much profit for you.'

'Just as long as there is profit.' Warren snarls. The waitress returns carrying the coffee cups and she removes the remains of Jim's first drink. The two of them wait until the waitress has moved out of earshot.

'Don't take that attitude with me.' Jim's voice is low and threatening. 'You deal with me. If I say no, you won't have any help ever.'

'You're what fourteen, fifteen? Easy prey.' Warren grins manically. 'Boy, you are in way over your head.' Jim's expression becomes positively demonic. He rises slowly.

'Come with me.' Warren flinches at the tone of Jim's voice and complies with Jim's instructions. The two of them walks out of the café and Jim leads Warren to an isolated spot on the river Isis. Jim reveals a couple of weapons concealed on his body. Warren audibly swallows. 'You really don't want to mess with me. I may be young but it doesn't mean I'm not dangerous.' Jim steps forward crowding Warren. 'I've killed before.' Warren steps back, stumbling on the bank. Jim's hand shoots out and steadies Warren. Jim's expression relaxes and pulls Warren onto firmer ground.

'T-Thanks.' Warren stammers. Jim straightens the man's clothes, soothing the lapels of his jacket.'

'Don't stammer it's not becoming of a gentleman.' Jim steps back. 'Fortunately for you; your problem being solved will help me and my business.'

'The charges?'

'The usual twenty per cent commission.' Jim states blandly. 'Plus thirty per cent of the total amount for making me wait and a final ten per cent for insolence.'

'You want sixty per cent of the total profit?'

'No, Sixty per cent of everything!' Warren swallows but offers his hand t seal the deal. Jim takes it gladly, smiling. Warren makes his escape even more unnerved by the gentle smile on Jim's face than the evil expression that had preceded it. Jim smirks as he watches Warren's disappearing figure. After Jim replaces his weapons in their places he follows Warren back to the café. He enters the café and walks to the counter. 'I'm sorry. I left earlier with out paying my bill. Important business. How much do I owe?'

'Seven pounds twenty.' Jim fishes out his wallet and removes a ten-pound note. He passes it to the girl behind the counter.

'Take the change as a tip. An apology.' He smiles graciously and leaves the café accidently bumping into a student entering the premises. 'My apologies.'

'My fault.' The student brushes off the incident and walks past him into the interior of the café. Jim walks out of the café into the square slightly ruffled at the incident. Something about that student disturbed him.

Mycroft walks into the square in Oxford carrying his notes from the lecture he had just attended. Absorbed in his thoughts he bumps into a younger man at the entrance to his favourite café. 'My apologies.' The man apologises. Mycroft smiles.

'My fault, I wasn't paying attention.' Mycroft walks past the man into the interior of the café to the counter. 'Afternoon Jenny.'

'Your usual Mr Holmes?'

'How many times Jenny? Call me Mycroft.' Behind the counter Jenny smiles. While he waits for his order to be fulfilled he leans on the counter watching the square. He spots the young man he bumped into loitering in the middle of the square casting glances over his shoulder at the café. Mycroft's eyes widen as he recognises the youth. Mentally he slaps himself that it took as long as it did. 'Jenny, look after my notes for a couple of minutes please.' He leaves his papers on the counter and walks swiftly out of the tearoom. He cautiously approaches the youth still loitering in the square. 'Jimmy?' the youth starts and turns to face him.

'Mykey? Mycroft.' Mycroft smiles.

'Hello little brother.' He gestures to the tearoom. 'Care to catch up on the last thirteen years?' Jim opens and closes his mouth but no words leave it. Mycroft chuckles and steers his little brother towards the café. 'We seem to have a similar taste in tearooms.' Mycroft guides him into a chair and heads back to the counter to retrieve his notes and his order. He orders another coffee for Jim.

'What, where-'

'Very eloquent Jim Jimmy Jim.' Jim scowls.

'No one has called me that for years.'

'I am the only one who called you Jim Jimmy Jim. What happened to you?'

'Where were you and Mummy when me and Rene needed you?' Tears prick at Jim's eyes.

'How did you need us?'

'Daddy died two years after he took us.' Mycroft's jaw drops. 'You didn't know?' Mycroft shakes his head dumbly.

'What happened?'

'Twenty foster homes in six years, before moving in with Mr Jared Moriarty who adopted me on my thirteenth birthday. You really didn't know Daddy was dead?'

'No. He and Mummy agreed that she would never try to look for you.' he sighs. 'It didn't stop her trying to find out where you moved to though. She hated that she didn't know where two of her babies were. Thank you Jenny' he thanks Jenny as she refills their coffee cups. 'Every August on your birthday she would bake a cake. Alternating between chocolate fudge and vanilla cherry cakes.' Jim's mouth waters at the mention of his favourite cake.

'Really?' Mycroft nods.

'Sherlock never understood why she does it. Mummy didn't want to upset or worry him.' Mycroft pauses staring down at his coffee. 'He remembers you, vaguely, but he remembers you all the same.'

'He was six months old when we left.'

'A six month old baby, born to parents who are both from families known for their increased brain size. Put him in a situation with increased emotion. The child will pick on the emotions and remember it even if the child doesn't understand.'

'He told you and not Mummy?'

'I think he attempted to talk to her but I think she rebuffed him so he came to me.' Mycroft drains his coffee cup. 'Where's Rene?'

'London. She was adopted to her new mother at the same time as me. Sophia's a consultant. She grew up with Jared for a time.' Jim glances at the clock. He offers Mycroft small smile. 'I've got a train to catch.'

'What are you doing here?'

'I'm running an errand for my father. He runs an import/export business. He's hoping to open an office in Oxford. You are obviously at university.'

'Which year?' Jim studies his brother

'Third.' Jim leans back grinning. 'Studying politics.' He sneers. 'Boring or what?'

'Philosophy, Politics and economics to be precise brother.' He huffs. 'It's rather quite interesting actually.' He smiles 'Well the politics and economics are. The philosophy not so much.' The two brothers stand and embrace. 'It is really good to see you Jimmy. If you ever want to see Mummy we never moved.' Mycroft moves swiftly over to the counter and pays for their drinks. He nods and smiles to his brother as he collects his notes. 'You've got a train, me a lecture.'

'Is this goodbye again?'

'How about au revoir, see you again?'

'Au revoir grand frère.' Mycroft chuckles and leaves the café heading back to his college. Jim sinks into his chair before leaping up and rushing out after his elder brother. 'Mycroft!' He calls and Mycroft turns back to look at him 'Happy Birthday.' Mycroft smiles broadly.

'It is now!' he calls back 'But would be even better for Sherlock and Rene to be here as well.' Mycroft turns and walks away. Jim watches him before turning in the opposite direction and heading for the train station. Both of them walk to their destinations deep in thought.