AN: Hello! Sorry for the delay, life is getting in the way big style! This chapter is slightly shorter than usual, but sets up some major plot bunnies for the future...
As always a HUGE shout out to naturerocs! She is very awesome!
Chapter 40 – Spying Games
The next morning I woke up feeling somewhat refreshed. I'd forgotten how comfortable my room was at Mycroft's house. It hadn't changed much since I was a teenager. A new coat of paint and some slightly more age appropriate bed linen, but otherwise the room remained the same. I felt safe in this room. I felt looked after. It was nice, I didn't have to worry or fret, everything was taken care of.
I walked into the en-suite bathroom, showered, cleaned my teeth and got dressed. I chose a crisp pale purple striped shirt, a black pencil skirt and my favourite velvet blazer, and I slipped on my heels as I looked at the clock, it was quarter to eight. Mycroft would be having his morning tea before leaving for work. I walked downstairs into the kitchen and found Mycroft with his paper and tea. He looked at me curiously. He hadn't seen me in a suit for a long time.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing. I'm leaving in five minutes." Replied Mycroft, still looking at me.
"I know, and I'm coming with you. If you want me to sway the North Korean to your cause, you'll need to brief me." I smiled. That was obviously the right answer; he gave me a brief smile.
"Very well. Everything is as you left it, well the computer has been updated." He replied concisely. Mycroft never wasted words at the best of times, and work was no exception.
"Thank you." I replied graciously. There was a part of me screaming to turn and run away before I got in over my head and couldn't leave. I ignored it and forged ahead. I smiled to myself as Mycroft collected his trusty umbrella and briefcase. He'd had that umbrella for a long time, I bought if for him one Christmas.
With that short encounter, I grabbed my bag and followed Mycroft outside to his waiting car. Thus began a routine. Everyday I got dressed and would meet Mycroft in the kitchen and we'd travel to work together. I'd easily swayed the North Korean; he was most appreciative of Western accoutrements.
Before I knew it a week had past, then two. We spent a lot of time at the office and rarely sleeping. Somehow I'd been promoted and was heading up a team of people in Mycroft's office. Most of them were nice people, none of them knew my personal link to Mycroft or Jim, I used Richter as my surname at work it almost felt odd hearing my old name. Although I did insist everyone calls me Percy, most of the still called me 'ma'am.'
One cold and wet Thursday evening I was called into Mycroft's office, I thought another job had come up that needed my 'unique and specialist skills'. Mycroft seemed to have coined this phrase for when I was hesitant about the task before me. I didn't take pleasure in luring, trapping and killing, I could just do it easily. Maybe Jim was right; perhaps I should've been an actress? I knocked on the door and was called in. I was met with the sight of dinner and a slightly relaxed Mycroft. It was a pleasant surprise. He indicated that I sit down. I sat opposite him, kicked off my heels and picked up the box that had Percy written on it. I grinned at him as I opened the box, I found Angelo's special meatball pasta inside, and it smelt heavenly. Neither of had slept or eaten over the last few days due to a state visit that was politically volatile and needed to be handled with the utmost care.
"So, Persephone how was your day?" Mycroft asked with a smile. I shot him a look for using my full name, a habit he'd never fully broken.
"Not too bad thanks, although if that intern tries to chat me up or grope me again he may disappear." I replied with a wry smile. Jack was a sweet boy, fresh out of University. Sadly he didn't understand the word 'no' or 'married'. I didn't want him hurt, just made aware that flirting with me wasn't going to get him anywhere with me or garner him a promotion.
"Hmm. I'll speak to him." Noted Mycroft. He gave me his signature eyebrow raise. Poor Jack, but my sympathy wore off the moment he thought he could slap my behind when I bent over I nearly broke his arm. Good job Jim didn't see that, Jack would probably be dead. I pushed nay other thoughts of Jim aside and kept munching away at my dinner.
"Thanks. How's your day been? I feel like I haven't seen you all week." I asked. Even though we'd been working on the same job, Mycroft had been out of the office actually being around said dignitaries. He gave me a knowing smile.
"Tedious, but nothing to complain about."
"That's good. Where'd you order dinner from, its delicious." I beamed. It tasted familiar.
"That quaint little restaurant on Northumberland Street, Angelo's." Mycroft caught my eye and chuckled. "A known favourite of yours." I nodded.
"You're so good to me, thank you. If I get time, I promise I'll do some cooking and baking, but that would mean I'd get to leave the office before midnight." I chanced. If you don't ask you'll never get…right?
"I'm sure we could arrange it." Smirked Mycroft. He knew what I was doing.
"Could I have half a day off? Then I could bake your favourite carrot cake and do the list of jobs that I have mounting up...pretty please?" I asked, whipping out the puppy dog eyes. Mycroft chuckled at me.
"Of course. You more than deserve it. Take it as appreciation for all your help lately." I grinned.
"Thank you. So all I have to do is bribe you with cake...interesting. If only I'd worked that out when I was younger." I tried to out stare Mycroft, but it was pointless, I just laughed.
"Well, after all, you did only come here to get away, not to work." Replied Mycroft wryly.
"Okay, that's kind of true. I don't mind working, but it tends to take over, its either work or life, not both." I answered honestly. I truly didn't mind working, sometimes it was kind of fun, but when all I did was work with no break, it became tedious and I missed doing normal things. I actually missed having time to do the ironing.
"Well, hopefully the next few weeks will be quiet, not much to do. Perhaps you'll get a rest." Smirked Mycroft.
"It's not that I need a rest, just some work life balance. Anthea needs and deserves a holiday." I added. Anthea, when you got to know her or if she put her Blackberry down was a lovely person, and devoted to her work. She'd just got engaged, Mycroft didn't even know. We had been discussing wedding details over coffee one morning.
"Noted." Mycroft nodded. It was odd at times he would do as I asked, but other times I would be ordered to do something like a child and expected to just follow.
We lapsed into silence as we finished our dinner. It was actually quite nice to just spend sometime together. Just as siblings, not at work, not because of business, just two family members having a cheerful dinner together.
"You don't happen to know where Sherlock is do you? I can't get hold of him." I asked, breaking the silence. Ever since my exile to Mycroft's I'd really needed someone to talk to and he really needed to get in contact with Angie.
"No, he seems to be ignoring me. I would be worried something has happened to him, except for the fact that another criminal involved in Moriarty's web was disposed of the other day." Mycroft answered smoothly. Mycroft did spend a lot of time worrying about us both. It was endearing and terrifyingly annoying.
"So he's still playing the great protector." I scoffed and let out a long sigh. "I wanted to talk to him."
"He can be difficult." Smirked Mycroft, and with tone of a doting and exasperated parent.
"Yes, but so can we. There is scary level or stubbornness in this family." I agreed.
"Well, it can be beneficial at times." He countered.
"True. Not always though." I smirked.
"Well, nothing is, really. Everything has its problems." Mycroft finished. He had a way of ending discussions abruptly. It could be very annoying.
"I know. Oh you don't want to listen to me moan about life." I sighed. I really needed to vent about everything, but I didn't want to seem burdensome.
"I will always lend a listening ear to you, Persephone." He offered. I was slightly taken a back at the softness of his voice.
"Well the topics to choose from are patching up my friendship with Angie or repairing my crumbling marriage. Take your pick." I replied dryly. Wow, what depressing topics.
"I hadn't realised you and Miss Watson had fallen out." Asked Mycroft.
"Over the same reason Jim and I aren't speaking. Apparently I'm getting too much like Jim. Neither of them have any idea of the things I've done for you. It had to be done, he attacked Angie, and you don't target my family and get away with it." I replied angrily.
"I'm sure they'll both calm down and if they truly care about you, they will value their relationship with you more than this...incident." Mycroft looked a tad uncomfortable, but he was sincere in his words. Sharing emotions was not a strong suit for the males of the Holmes family.
"Maybe. Angie probably will, but I'm not so sure about Jim. I don't know what I'll do if he leaves me Mycroft. I love him so much, the look of hatred he gave me..." As I explained the memories flooded back and I couldn't help but cry. I tried to stop the tears and wiped my eyes sniffing. Mycroft stood, and came round the desk; he put a comforting arm around me. He'd probably only seen my cry three times in the twenty years he'd known me.
"Come now, none of this. You know very well how much he truly cares for you. I myself have seen it plenty of times. I'm sure it will all work out in the end." He said soothingly. I really wanted to believe it, but something in my mind just wouldn't let me.
"I'm really scared. I want to believe you, but I'm really not sure."
"Have I ever lied to you?" He smiled gently. I shook my head, still sniffing.
"No. You're probably right, as usual. Sorry to burden you with my excessive amounts of sentiment." I said.
"Don't apologise. I can tolerate it when it comes to you." He said, squeezing my shoulder in reassurance.
"I'll remind you of that one day." I said with a watery smile.
"I'm sure you will." He smirked.
"Thank you for always being there Mycroft." I said honestly. Mycroft had always been there to help me and guide me. I needed and relied upon him a lot.
"Anything for you, Persephone." He smiled warmly. We tucked into our puddings, a delicious chocolate cheesecake and relaxed.
Mycroft Holmes was irritated, why he had let Persephone have the day he was unsure, but her begging eyes and excellent baking had distracted him. She had a talent for distracting men in whatever capacity needed, and apparently he was not immune to her skills. He listened for a moment and realised the office seemed too quiet, just as he stood to investigate, his office door opened to reveal Moriarty.
"Mycroft, how nice to see you. Your department seems awfully quiet today, it's so easy to make the ordinary people dance and we need to have a title chat." Moriarty said smiling darkly.
"James. Exactly what would this 'little chat' be concerning?" Mycroft asked with a raised eyebrow. Jim settled himself across from Mycroft.
"A few things, most importantly it concerns someone close to us both. Where is she?" Moriarty asked quietly. It was a controlled anger.
"I can hardly help without specifics." Quipped Mycroft smiling. He saw the control snap.
"Don't play dumb Mycroft, it doesn't suit you. Where is my wife?" Moriarty shouted. Anyone less than Mycroft Holmes would be shaking with fear. He sat there unphased by Moriarty's anger. His mouth twitched into a slight smirk, enjoying the situation.
"Persephone is currently working."
"Yes she's been working a lot. Are you enjoying having her back?" Retorted Moriarty.
"She is a valuable worker." Replied Mycroft in a bored tone. Jim's eye twitched infinitesimally, but Mycroft noticed.
"I agree she's incredibly talented. I know she spies for you, she's good at sneaking into places she's not supposed or be, but what else are you making her do?" Moriarty asked darkly. He wanted answers and he would get them.
"Now, James, you know better than that." Smiled Mycroft, replying like they were friends. It was a game of wit and evasive tactics. Mycroft could see Mycroft's temper slipping.
"You seem to forget what I can do Mycroft. I wonder if you know the things I've done to people who even looked at Percy the wrong way?! The way you are treating her, well I think it would take 206 different boxes to bury you." Smirked Jim. He hoped Mycroft would understand that each box would contain one bone each. They would be buried in 206 separate locations and never truly found. Mycroft did understand and frowned.
"Do you really think it wise to threaten me? I don't think you quite know the extent of what I am able to do." Mycroft countered.
"On your own not very much, you see I wanted your office out of the way, so they disappeared, oh don't look so worried, they're still alive...for now. I want answers." Moriarty demanded.
"James, you really should know better." Mycroft Sighed. "Do you honestly believe I wouldn't have added extra measures; measures that you would not be able to find out about, after you've married my sister? As I said, I believe you underestimate me."
"I did find the bugs in the house. They were a bit cheap, if I'm being honest. Does Percy realise what you want with her? She always was too trusting." Moriarty asked, he knew Mycroft has plans for her; he hated not being in control of her, he needed to know these plans.
"I assure you, she is perfectly fine." Mycroft evaded smoothly.
"My associates say otherwise. Now who I am more inclined to believe?!" Smirked Jim.
"I prefer employing spies, not being on the receiving end of spying. I strongly suggest you refrain from making that mistake again." Mycroft warned.
"You've only noticed my spies now I've told you?! Tut. Tut. Mr. Holmes. You'll bring the family name into disrepute. Sherlock interfered and he had to fake his death to get some peace and quiet, the only reason he survived is because of my darling girl. Do you want to play games too? I have some wicked plans." Jim chuckled, thinking of the wonderful chaos he could bring to Mycroft's feet. Again, Mycroft quipped and eyebrow in disdain.
"I don't have time for games. If you wish, though, I could arrange for Percy to have some more free time, without a husband distracting her." Smirked Mycroft. "Sentiment, after all, is a detriment." That obvious threat did not sit well with Moriarty, it was time to change tactics, shock and awe it was then.
"She's using you as the distraction. That's what you don't understand about Percy she is like fire and ice; she'll burn you either way. She's more deadly than me and she'll probably kill us both. Tell me where she is and Anthea won't lose those pretty eyes." Jim sneered. It was a moment when Mycroft saw the evil inside of him, the man that would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. For a nano-second he felt a pang of fear.
"Shame, it will be difficult to find another personal assistant that can be trusted. However, it isn't as important as giving away any classified information." Mycroft dismissed. Never let your opponent see your weakness.
"The Iceman strikes again. I thought asking was more polite; I will just take what I want. Your biggest mistake will be pushing Percy too far. You underestimate her heart and where her true loyalties lie. Expect some hazardous packages. I'll be watching Mycroft." Jim suddenly stood up, smiling gleefully as he left the office. As though Moriarty had never been there, the outside office magically seemed to fill with people and noise.
However much Mycroft wanted to deny it, that experience was more than a little harrowing. The maniacal genius doing it's job, leaving a haunting impression that's not easily forgotten.
A week later and at the end of my blissfully quiet day off, Mycroft strolled into his library looking pleased. I smiled at him. I was curled up next to the fire in his favourite, green leather; wingback chair with a copy of George Orwell's Animal Farm, my glasses perched on the end of my nose and a large mug of tea and a plate of brownies next to me.
"Hello, Persephone. How was your day?" Mycroft greeted cordially.
"Hi. Very nice thank you, I needed the day to myself. I did bake some brownies, if you're interested?!" I smirked at him. I knew he wouldn't be able to resist. He smiled warmly.
"Perhaps just one. I am still on a diet."
"Oh yeah, the diet. Don't let Sherlock see you." I grinned back. His constant dieting was humorous. The diets never lasted long, and occurred after Christmas and before the summer. I obviously had Sherlock's metabolism. I could solely eat junk food and not gain weight, but then again, I usually went for a five mile run everyday. My quip received the infamous Holmes eyebrow quirk.
"Do you think you'll be able to return to work soon? I have some pressing matters that would be very suited to your...'expertise'." Asked Mycroft, his demeanour changing instantly from jovial to business. I put my bookmark into the book and placed on the table beside me. I looked at my eldest brother.
"Mycroft, I've had one day off. I was planning on coming in tomorrow." I answered, irked by his insinuation I was becoming unreliable.
"Of course. That's perfectly acceptable." He nodded. I wanted to make an incredibly sarcastic comment about how gracious he was being, but I held my tongue.
"You make it sound like I've been away for weeks. You need to relax bother dearest; you'll give yourself a heart attack." I said instead, still scathing, but more polite. I did worry about his health.
"Don't worry yourself over me." He smirked. I rolled my eyes.
"What is it with men in this family and their hatred for any form of care or emotional attachemnt?!" I sighed.
"Do I really have to explain that to you again, Persephone?" Mycroft asked. His tine implied frustration at my apparently idiotic statement.
"You could, but then you'd just get all grouchy with me. When you're moody you're more annoying than Sherlock." I sniped. He was being irritating. I again received the eyebrow quirk.
"I can expect you early tomorrow, yes?" He said in a clipped manner.
"Yes you can. Where has your sense of humour disappeared off? What is so urgent that I have to be in early tomorrow?" I asked.
"A certain party that we require information from. I was hoping you would be able to...persuade him." I looked up at his answer. Mycroft was giving me a knowing look over his steepled fingers. I wanted to throw something at him.
"I seem to remember we've had this conversation before. I am married; I am not cheating on my husband." I answered firmly.
"Of course. Apologies." He said with a nod. I instantly felt bad, not that I'd said 'no' about cheating on Jim, just that I knew Mycroft needed and wanted my help. I took a deep breath before speaking.
"I will flirt with him, but I want someone there to help me stop him if he gets too enthusiastic. I may be arguing with Jim, that doesn't mean he deserves to be betrayed. If he ever looks into any of this, it needs to be erased. Do you understand me?! You know what he could do if he found out…" I hadn't realised I had stood up until I found myself pacing anxiously. I never wanted Jim to really know what I had done.
"Calm down, Persephone. I assure you he will not find out. I appreciate your cooperation. I will arrange it." Mycroft answered. I just nodded. Scenarios of doom and destruction were running through my head if Jim ever found out the extent of my work for Mycroft. I would be dead for sure and I hated to think what could happen to Mycroft.
"Thank you. It's just...don't underestimate James; if he truly wanted the government gone, they would disappear." I stated. It was true, all Jim had to do was want something, and he could have it. I was never sure if Mycroft understood the true reach of Jim's power?
"I am quite aware of James' abilities. He will not find out." Mycroft assured me, but there was a nagging sense of dread lurking in the recesses of my mind.
"Good. I'll come with you when you leave for work tomorrow." I replied quietly. I picked up my book and glasses in one hand and my tea on the other. I went up to my room and swiftly locked the door, a strange action, that didn't mean safety or security, but he physical act of locking my door meant the world was shut out.
Mycroft Holmes stayed sat by the fire in the library, a smile gracing his features. Everything was falling back into place; it was only a matter of time. She was one argument away from giving in, and when she did he would be waiting for her. "Excellent." He whispered to the empty room.