Sorry it's taken me so long to get some chapters up. Went through some of them last night so I should be updating fairly regularly for a little while. Some of these chapters are a bit shorter than I'd like, but hopefully I'll make up for it. Please check out my other stuff as well, I'm working on a Christmas story as well. Enjoy! Please review!
There were some mistakes in the plan, Mycroft admitted to himself. Things did not go as he necessarily wished them to, but it worked out in the end. In actuality, it probably worked out better than his original plan, Sherlock having to rescue Sofia brought out protective instincts Mycroft didn't know his brother possessed.
Still, there was something that bothered him about the situation, which is why he had his personal assistant and his best agent leading the team to investigate the kidnapping. It wouldn't hurt to cover all of his bases after all.
Leaning back in his chair slowly, he looks at his computer monitor where he's been reviewing the CCTV footage, tilting his head slightly to one side as he watches how his brother behaves in Sofia's company, and the fact that a certain army doctor was with them as well. "Interesting.. very, very interesting, brother. What have you got planned?" he asks as he narrows his eyes at the screen. If he were a betting man, he would lay money on the fact that Sherlock wanted to have his cake and eat it, too. Ensuring that his assistant, colleague and sometimes minder, would not leave him, while also ensuring that none of them would be lonely. A part of him wondered if Sherlock was even aware of what he's doing, or if he is merely arranging his toys the way he likes unconsciously, making sure everyone around him is fit into whatever role Sherlock wants for them.
After his brother and the others step into Angelo's, Mycroft reaches out for his tea, knowing it will be some time before they emerge again, and he does have other matters to attend to. However, those are put on hold once again as there's a knock at his office door. "Come in." He calls, shutting off the CCTV footage.
A woman, ever on her blackberry, comes in with a folder tucked under her arm, finishing whatever she was texting before looking up at her boss. "Sir, we have found something somewhat disturbing regarding Ms. Charles' kidnapping." She says as she holds the folder out to Mycroft. "It seems it wasn't random. Someone else knows about the Dollhouse. We found another location that has what appears to be a very crude device similar to what the Dollhouse uses, sir." She says as she watches her boss, glancing down at her blackberry and tapping a few things on it before looking back at Mycroft.
"Was it operational?" Mycroft asks, and if he felt any sort of surprise or alarm, it didn't show on his face, he just continued to look through the folder of information he was given.
"No, sir. That may have been why they continued to hold her rather than using it or selling her, as it was first suspected." Anthea explains as she looks at her boss, watching him closely for any sort of response, something she's gotten very good at.
The older man slowly sits back in his seat and nods a little. "Good. Very good. Still, this was not anticipated. We will need to find out more about these people. I am confident Sherlock can keep Ms. Charles safe, but we must keep him from taking ay unnecessary risks with her.." he says, folding his hands together in front of him in thought.
"We could tell him the truth, sir. Perhaps not that you set her up to be his.. romantic companion, but about her being a Doll. All he needs to know is that her time with the Dollhouse was done and she was released. Sir." Anthea decides to offer in a move that is unusually bold for her, watching him for a few moments to see how he takes that.
Mycroft looks up sharply at his assistant, who is not usually one to speak out of turn. "I know you did not approve of this plan from the beginning, Anthea." he says as he watches her, before he sighs a little. "Would it be wise to put him on the trail of the Dollhouse? Dr. Watson surely would not wish to allow such an organization to continue. And what of society if they found out that this technology existed?" he asks as he sits back slowly.
"It would not be so bad if it were shut down, sir." Anthea says quietly, never having approved of the Dollhouse being allowed to continue. Also in small part afraid of the type of technology that they've discovered, to so easily take a person's mind and make them into something else.
Mycroft watches Anthea for a few moments, before he considers. "I will arrange a meeting with my brother. Surely he can leave Ms. Charles' side for a few hours while I discuss the situation with him." he says in a somewhat bored tone, though Anthea knows better than to assume Mycroft has no feelings about this. For a few moments, Mycroft is silent as he thinks over something, his eyes unfocused, before they slip back over to Anthea. "I think perhaps I will bring this news to them tomorrow, they seemed to have settled in quite nicely together, no need to stir the pot just yet. One more day will not make any difference when Ms. Charles is still so nervous to be out in public." He says quietly, and Anthea knows better than to question how he knows this.
"Yes, sir." Anthea replies simply, glancing down at her phone and tapping away for a few moments before she looks back up at her employer.
"I will send you instructions tomorrow, I think it would be best that Ms. Charles be kept busy for a few hours while I have a talk with my dear brother, don't you?" Mycroft asked with a lighter tone, yet condescending when he talks about his brother.
"That might be best, sir. She's been through enough already." Anthea agrees with a small nod of her head, waiting for another response, but all she gets is a little wave of his hand, the indication that she's dismissed, and she turns to walk out without another word. There is a reason she got the job as his personal assistant and she decided long ago she was not going to do anything to lose it.