Hello! Here is another chapter...Back to normal length this time.
As always a HUGE thanks to naturerocs. She is amazing! Check out her stories from Angie's point of view 'Didn't Expect That' and 'Didn't Want That'
Quick update on the disclaimer...I own nothing, this is non-profit and I have no affiliation with the BBC. I am just borrowing these characters with no copyright infringement intended. I only own Percy. Angie belongs to naturerocs.
Chapter 41 - Making Amends
I had been at Mycroft's for two weeks. I had heard nothing from Angie or Jim. I had tried calling Sherlock, but he was still silent. I had been working every hour I was legally allowed to work, and a few illegal hours, just to keep the sadness and boredom at bay. People surrounded me, but I felt so lonely.
On grey afternoon chaos erupted through the office. People began to panic and fret about children and getting home. Apparently there had been an explosion in central London. I played dumb when asked if I knew what was going on, my gut told me Jim wanted attention.
As people ran about flapping and being generally ignorant to what was actually happening, I grabbed my jacket, bag and headed out. I logged onto the BBC News website and found the location of the explosion. I flashed my government badge at the policeman and he let me through. Technically, I was there on Mycroft's behalf.
I surveyed the scene before me. This couldn't be more obvious if Jim had sprayed his name across the building. A gas leak, his particular favourite, where one body had been found. It was most likely a male client who couldn't pay and had particularly irritated Jim in some way. Also he was probably bored and wanted some attention. Typical. The obvious give away were the powder burn on the bricks; they screamed C4, not gas. He had hardly done anything to conceal that it was his doing. It was sloppy at best.
I spotted DI Greg Lestrade and wandered over to him, next to him stood Angie. Fantastic, this would awkward. Oh well. There was work to be done. I was keeping an eye out for my wayward husband. He was in so much trouble.
"Anyway, so this was a pretty nasty explosion." Said Greg, standing in front of the chaos.
"I can see that. What caused it?" Angie Asked.
"Looks to me like a gas explosion." I said coolly. "Sloppy" I added.
"Oh, Hi Percy. It does look like it was a gas explosion, but there were remnants of a bomb found in the basement." Greg told me.
"Hi Greg. Like I said sloppy." I nodded and replied coolly. It was kind of obvious.
"Are you two working together again? You both did great last time." Greg Asked. I avoided his gaze and looked more closely at the scene. I just needed a minute and I could tell them exact explosive used. Great, I had a cover up job to do.
"I don't need help." Snapped Angie.
"No, I have a more personal interest in this." I replied casually.
"Well, I suppose you would, considering who most likely did it. Covering up his tracks again?" Asked Angie spitefully.
"Well it is ridiculously obvious, he may as well have sent out an invitation. No, I think I might wring his neck though." I replied crisply.
"So, what, this was just another warning? For what?" Angie asked.
"Not this time, there was a body found in the wreckage." Greg added. Oh Scotland Yard, always stating the obvious. Greg was intelligent, but sometimes they really did miss the obvious.
"Who was it?" Angie asked.
"His name was Edward Pierce." Answered Lestrade.
"Pierce? That was the last name of that girl in that last case. Any connection?" Angie asked.
"Yeah, turns out this guy was her twin brother."
"Idiot, why now?" I said to myself. I was trying to think like Jim. What had Edward Peirce done to irritate Jim, I assumed money, probably a debt, seeing as his sister's case had been about money. Angie's voice broke my train of thought.
"Of course. Let me guess, this guy hired your husband to help set up that last crime, and considering your husband's mood, he changed his mind. Did you know about it when we were working on that case?"
"No, I didn't know, I did suspect there was a twin involved, it wasn't relevant so I didn't mention it. Yes his mood is delightful isn't it? Why do you think I left?" I retorted snidely. I was getting quickly irritated.
"Yeah, thanks for that. Leave him to take it out on me and threaten me." Snapped Angie.
"It's great having your husband look at you with such disgust that you know he hates you; I really want to live that way?!" I bit back.
"Nobody asked you to go out and...do what you did." Hissed Angie.
"Yes, thank you for you sparkling deduction." I replied sarcastically and turned my back on Angie. I looked at Greg.
"Greg, can I get a look in there?" I asked bluntly.
"Uh..." Greg stuttered as Angie interrupted him.
"I am perfectly capable of handling this on my own." Snapped Angie.
Just to make the day better 'Tweedle Dee' and 'Tweedle Dum' appeared, Anderson with his usual supercilious sneer and thinks that by opening his mouth he can be considered clever and Sergeant Donavon, a catty and vicious witch who doesn't like people who are cleverer than her.
"Oh look it's the other freak. Do you come from a family of psychopaths?" Asked Anderson, his whiney voice making me want to shoot him.
"Anderson, I believe I already told you to knock it off. Try to act a like a professional." Barked Lestrade.
"Neither of them has clearance to be here." Moaned Donavon.
"Actually, they both do. Angie's got clearance from the CIA, and Percy's got clearance from the Government." Greg countered.
"No Anderson, but I am married to one. How useless have you been today? I see Sally's moved on." I smiled insincerely.
"Like I'm scared of you or your husband, he must be mad to have picked you." Insulted Anderson.
"That's none of your business, freak." Spat Sally.
"Sally, how nice to see you." I greeted.
"So can I take a look or not?" I asked Lestrade. I had better things to be doing than clearing up after Jim and having to suffer the idiocy of Anderson and Donavon.
"Seriously, guys, enough. Now start acting like professionals, or you can go home." Greg threatened sounding thoroughly annoyed.
"While you're discussing all this, I'll go take a look, since I'm already cleared to work here." Said Angie as she walked further into the crime scene.
"Do you want me sort this or not? I have things to do." I asked more sharply. Sounding a lot like Mycroft.
"Uh, sure, go ahead, Percy." Nodded Lestrade.
"Right, thank you." I smiled. I caught up with Angie and started looking around. I as right, he used C4. The body was in a bad way; dental records would be the only definitive conformation of ID. Jim must've been in a bad mood. Peirce had been blown up alive.
"I don't know what point there is in my being here, if you're just going to clear the whole thing thanks to your contacts." Angie moaned. It was the second time she'd interrupted my train of thought today. I ignored her and went back outside. Angie followed me. I was just about to tell Greg what had happened when I head a very familiar voice.
"Hello all, having fun?" Greeted Jim. He was wearing a dark grey suit, a white shirt and green tie. He looked positively sinful. For a moment, I forgot why I was annoyed with him.
"Oh, as if this day couldn't get any better." Grumbled Angie.
"What do you want?" Demanded Greg. Jim just smiled at them.
"I came to see my wife, and I do love to watch you all scurry round." Jim smirked.
"You really are the world's most idiotic man." I shot at him.
"Good to see you too." He smirked, trying to wrap his arms around me. I pulled away from him. No caring that this would be a very public fight.
"How on earth is this helpful? What did you gain out of this?" I asked angrily.
"He didn't pay his bill, also he was irritating. So whiney. I got to stop being bored for ten minutes." He replied, his smirk never falling.
"It's amazing how casual a view you have to life." Spat Angie.
"Fantastic, at least you're happy. Greg, I would say arrest him, but you know it's pointless. I'll get it sorted with Mycroft. You, husband dearest, stay out of way, I'm not in any mood to deal with you." I replied icily. I really was at the end of my tether.
"Why be anything less than people expect? You're too kind Percy, you'll sort out any trouble for me, you always have." Goaded Jim. I whirled round, slapping him.
"You have no idea how much I hate you right now." I shouted.
"Such passionate words. I think I'll watch this play out, could be fun." Jim didn't lose his smirk, but held his face where I'd hit him.
"What did you do to my crime scene?" Demanded Anderson.
"Nothing, do you notice anything? I never made it in there. Although, it is blindingly obvious what happened." I snapped.
"Anderson..." Greg warned. I think more for Anderson's safety over his lack of professionalism.
"You did something, contaminating evidence is a crime. Did you want a trophy?" Asked Anderson.
"Well, that's one difference between you and the main freak. He would have been done with showing off and would be out of our hair by now." Donavon stated snidely.
"Anderson, we haven't even reached the main area of the crime scene!" Exclaimed Angie exasperated by Anderson's idiocy.
"I'd watch who you were calling a 'freak' Sergeant Donavon, you never know who is listening." Replied Jim darkly. I momentarily enjoyed the fear cross Donavon's face and then rounded once more on Jim.
"Jim, shut up. I think you've got work to be doing Anderson instead of making empty threats." I ordered. Jim caught my eye, knowing I wasn't to be argued with. Anderson stood there like a fish out of water, gaping at Jim and I.
"You do know who you just told to shut up?" He asked disbelievingly.
"Yes, why?!" I asked.
"She knows. After all, he is just a human being." Angie said scathingly. She really was in a bad mood.
"You're obviously not as bright as the other one. Moriarty, you know the guy who broke into the crown jewels, sent the freak jumping off a roof?" Anderson explained. I was enjoying playing dumb until he brought up the roof incident.
"Can you get any more insensitive? Just because you didn't like the fact that he was a billion times more intelligent than you doesn't mean you can talk about a dead man like that." Snapped Angie.
"Really!? He did all that? Anderson, you the have the IQ of a dead skunk, of course I know who he is I'm his wife. Oh, one more thing, never talk about my brother again. You have his blood on your hands too." I answered darkly. Anderson did another impression of a fish.
"Wife?! I-I..Right, move out of the way, this is a crime scene. There is work to do."
"And we're investigating!" Shouted Angie.
"He is so incompetent, I'm surprised you solved anything without help Greg, not you personally, but your team." I said.
"I know what you mean, Percy. I guess maybe I'm just spoiled from Sherlock's help. And you, of course, Angie. And John." Greg said sadly.
"It was all Sherlock. We were just...someone to talk to." Angie replied glumly.
"Well, that's not true, you helped with that one case on your own." Greg offered as reassurance. She was really down.
"You were and are more than that. Don't think he didn't appreciate you he did." I said.
"It's fine." Dismissed Angie. "I don't think I'm needed here anymore. You've got a confession, however pointless it is." She said darkly. This whole situation was so messed up.
"No, stick around. You might need to reprimand Anderson again. Let me take to you lunch after this, my treat." Greg offered.
"You don't have to do that." Angie tired to wave away, but Greg stopped her.
"I know. Care to join us, Percy?" He asked. I shook my head.
"Thanks, but I can't. Sorry I wasn't much use. I need to head back to work anyway. Greg, are you free tomorrow at all, I've got some stuff from Mycroft for you." I said as I turned to leave.
"Yeah, that's fine. See you then." Greg nodded.
"Bye. If you need a motive, he wanted attention, and he got it. He won't bother you for a while now. Sorry for everything." I apologised as I made my way back to work. I missed Jim slink away, unusual, but I really wasn't in the best frame of mind.
"It's fine." Greg dismissed.
A week after the gas explosion, I was sat in a very lavish restaurant in Mayfair. It was for work, not pleasure. The meeting had gone very well. I left the restaurant with a smile. I had been successful in getting the North Korean asset to fully defect to Britain. It had taken a while and some serious flirting. I was for once glad, and not freaked out, that I had a body double when he made it clear he wanted to sleep with me. Mycroft knew I would not cheat on my husband, not even for Queen and Country. Thinking of Jim, I fingered the long chain hidden under my shirt, it held my wedding and engagement ring. I didn't feel right unless they were close to me. I was about to hail a cab back to the office, when Angie's voice came from behind me.
"So is this what you've been doing these past two weeks?!" Angie asked sharply.
"I'm sorry?!" I asked confused. Was Angie stalking me now?
"Oh, don't give me that. I just saw your little rendezvous." She accused.
"That was nothing." I dismissed. It may have looked like something, but that was the point.
"Oh, because you're still mad at Jim, so it's nothing?" She asked. So she thought I would cheat on my husband. That's reassuring.
"This has nothing to do with him." I replied coolly.
"Obviously. I mean I knew your morals were iffy, but I didn't think they were nonexistent." Angie hissed.
"What are you talking about?!" I asked. I really wasn't sure what the problem was.
"Percy, I'm not stupid. I could tell what that was about. Just because I would never do that doesn't mean I can't tell when someone else is seeing another man; to put it lightly." She replied angrily. I couldn't help it. I laughed.
"You think I'm having an affair?" I laughed again. I sobered as I realised what she was implying.
"Wow, thanks Ang, good to know you think so highly of me." My voice had become cold again.
"Well, obviously your relationships don't mean what I thought they meant to you. Like, most people would visit, or at least call, their best friend when they're in the hospital." Her words confused me further. I had no idea she'd been in hospital.
"You were in the hospital? What, When?!" I asked quickly.
"The day you disappeared, actually. I had to go back home and...I guess the head injury was worse than I thought...so John knows about the accident now, and the attack, and then Moran thinks I still have amnesia and is being a total idiot trying to use that to his advantage to get me back, and then Jim's threatening to take you away somewhere to keep you from me...and then God knows what's going on with Sherlock, cause I don't have his number anymore because my phone broke, so...then I see this happening." She expelled quickly. I finally understood. No wonder she was hacked off.
"Angie I'm so sorry, I haven't been home in two weeks, and I left my personal phone there, I only have my work phone. I had no idea any of this was happening. I've been so busy working. If I'd known I'd have come and seen you." I told her earnestly. I really would've come to see her if I'd known.
"Sorry. I just overreacted. I am really sorry. I should have known you would never do that...I don't know, I just need to stop opening my mouth." She replied sadly. She's had so much going of late. I think she needed to vent. I couldn't blame her for being grumpy.
"It's fine, honestly. I would've probably thought the same." I smiled. "How are you feeling?" I asked.
"Uh, better. The bouts of amnesia are getting farther and farther apart. Thankfully they don't happen when Moran's around."
"I'm so sorry. That's a bit of luck, I suppose." I said.
"It's not your fault. Just part of my life, I guess."
"It shouldn't be."
"I chose to associate with certain people, I didn't have to. Ultimately, I did choose this life, more or less." Admitted Angie.
"Yeah. I know what you mean." I agreed.
"Well, at least we can deal with it together...as long as we don't blow up at each other like that. I am really sorry, again." Apologised Angie. I smiled.
"Hopefully, don't worry about it." I smiled, and we hugged. It felt good to know our friendship was repairing.
We walked back towards Baker Street.
"So life's still bad at home, then?" Angie Asked.
"I don't know, not been back, heard nothing from Jim. I've never seen him look so disappointed."
"He's just worried about you. He doesn't want you to end up a heartless criminal like him." Angie said kindly.
"I'd love to believe you." I scoffed.
"He told me so himself. Before he freaked out at you. Then he yelled at me about it, and then I went home." Angie replied evenly. That explained a lot.
"Good for him, if he wants to see me he'll find me." I said coolly. I wanted Jim to come after me, but at the same time, I didn't.
"Oh, and in case it comes up, I didn't want anything to happen to you, so when Moran asked about who attacked me, I told him Jim killed him." She said quietly.
"You didn't need to do that, but thank you." I felt so lucky to have a friend like Angie.
"Well, I worry about you. I just...I don't want him to have any advantage over you. And what he doesn't know won't kill him." She smirked.
"I suppose it won't. Though, you don't need to worry, I'll be alright." I smiled.
"I know. I can still help though." She looked at me and smiled, I gave her a quizzical look. "I'm currently in the process of freaking him out."
"Really how?"
"Alright, so with the head trauma, I have slight amnesia, and it's not even all the time, just here and there, and it's barely any now, but he somehow found out, but he thinks I have total amnesia, that I can't remember anything, so he's trying to use it as an opportunity to get me to fall for him again. So I decided I would play along for now, act like I don't know anything about him, the only downside is that I have to act like I'm actually enjoying his company. I'm just waiting for the perfect opportunity to bring him crashing back to earth. Not sure how exactly, I want it to be good." She finished, her grin growing wider.
"I can't believe I didn't know about you suffering from Amnesia?! I do like your plan, do want some help?! I could do with a laugh and I actually have the rest of the afternoon off and tomorrow free." I offered, any excuse to mess with Seb and I was there.
"Oh, I like the sound of this. Oh, that would really freak him out if you acted like you didn't know him; like time's been rewritten or something? Oh, this is going to be fun! " She giggled.
"I could do that, I wish I didn't know him." I smiled wryly.
"Agreed."
"I am at your disposal, when do you want to execute our plan?" I asked.
"Doesn't matter to me, we can do it now, or...speak of the devil, look who's in Angelo's. Care for some lunch?"
"What a surprise, I would love some lunch, lead the way Miss Watson." We grinned at each other and linked arms as we walked into Angelo's.
We walked over to Seb's table. I was glad I was dressed for a date; it always took him off guard when he saw me dressed up.
"Hi, Seb! What a surprise!" Greeted Angie enthusiastically.
"Hello, Angie. How are you recovering?" Smiled Seb.
"Much better, thank you. Oh, Seb, this is a friend of mine, Percy. Percy, this is Seb." I smiled warmly, extending my hand to shake his.
"Hello." He smirked.
"Hi, nice to meet you." I said chirpily. "So how do you know Angie?! Oh right, yeah tricky thing memory loss." I said, as though I didn't know much about the situation
"Yeah...Angie didn't tell you how we met?" Seb asked confused.
"No, we've been catching up on early life." Angie offered.
"No she didn't. Early days, so long ago. It was a simpler time." I smiled.
"Listen, Princess, I don't know what game you're trying to play..." He asked in a low voice that only I could hear.
"Game? I'm sorry; I don't know what you're talking about. I've never met you before today; Angie has never mentioned you to me before. I apologise if I've offended you?" I said sincerely.
"I'm sure. Seriously, Percy, you can stop now." He said so both Angie and I could hear. He was irritated. I feigned innocence.
"Stop what? I don't understand. Are you always this rude?" I asked indignantly.
"Seb, are you alright? You look a little stressed out." Angie asked.
"Alright, fine. I'll play along. You married, Percy?" He asked a good question.
"I wish, haven't found the right man yet." I said with a sigh. I deliberately kept both my hands on the table so he could see no rings. Seb looked confused.
"Are you sure you're alright, Seb? You look really confused." Angie asked, concern filling her voice.
"Uh, alright. What do you do for work?" He asked. He didn't really know what I did anyway.
"I'm a psychiatrist. I meant to say to you Angie; I read this really interesting case study on Doppelgangers, the idea that there is an exact replica of a person roaming around." I quipped nonchalantly.
"Oh, yeah, that would be weird. How lucky is it to have a psychiatrist as a friend, after what I've just been through? She's really been helping a lot." Beamed Angie. I smiled back at her.
"Any way I can help, you've been making remarkable progress." I said, sounding like a please doctor.
"Thank you. Anything to help me piece my life back together. Are you sure you're okay, Seb?" Angie questioned him again. He shook it off.
"Uh, fine. Psychiatrist? Why a psychiatrist?" He asked me.
"The human mind is fascinating and I've always been interested in people, why not combine two interests? What do you do Seb?" I replied. I couldn't wait to hear his answer.
"Yeah, we've never gotten around to that." Angie said looking excited too.
"Oh, is it a secret?" I asked, like I'd brought up a taboo topic.
"Of course not. I'm a sort of a freelance...bodyguard, I suppose." He answered smoothly.
"Oh." Replied Angie. She shot him a smile.
"How interesting, do you like protecting people? Sorry, bad habit." I asked, like I was trying to psychoanalyse him. This was too much fun.
"In a manner of speaking." Seb replied.
"Oh, he is mysterious, isn't he?" Gushed Angie.
"He is." I agreed with a smile.
"A mystery waiting to be solved by a detective?!" I hinted at Angie, giving her a discreet wink.
"Oh yeah! Apparently, before...all this, I was a detective! How cool is that? Like a TV show!" Angie said excitedly.
"Really?" Seb asked surprised. It was then he really did begin to look uncomfortable. He was looking anxious and his muscles were twitching.
"Oh, you've gone all quiet now. Is something wrong?" Angie asked innocently.
"No, no, I just, uh...forgot about a previous engagement. I have to go, sorry. See you later, Angie. Percy, until next time." Seb said quickly. He got up and left.
"Bye, it was nice meeting you." I called after him, watching him leave.
"Bye!" Said Angie. We both watched until he was out of sight, and the laughter started.
"Oh that was too easy." I laughed.
"I know! He was so confused! Maybe he's more of an idiot than we take him for. I hope he enjoyed being on the receiving end of his mind games." Giggled Angie.
"I know! That was actually kind of fun." I smirked.
"It was! I had such a hard time keeping a straight face when you said psychiatrist!" Smiled Angie. Again, both us dissolving into fits of laughter.
"Really?! I thought it was an apt job...I nearly said dancer." I grinned.
"It was brilliant!" Smiled Angie.
"Well sometimes inspiration strikes. I felt bad saying I wasn't married. I wonder where he ran off to?!" I asked.
"I don't know, and quite frankly, I don't care. It'd be nice if he stayed away, but I don't think I'll be that lucky." Said Angie dryly. Just as I was about to speak, my phone rang it was the office. I was supposed to be having the afternoon off.
"You never know?! I'm going to burn this phone soon, sorry, I really after to answer it."
"That's fine." I smiled at Angie.
"…No...seriously, right now?...Yes, alright. I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
"Everything okay?" Asked Angie as I put my phone back into my bag.
"Yeah fine, Sorry, I've got to go. Work calls again. I'll try and catch up with you soon, I promise. Here's my number for this phone if you need me." I said, slipping a piece of paper over to her. I got up and hugged Angie, leaving some money on the table for lunch.
"Okay. I'll talk to you later." She smiled and I waved as I left.
I walked back to Mycroft's office and spent the rest of the afternoon finishing paperwork. My urgent need to return had not been urgent and had taken five minutes. The person, who phoned me, got yelled at. It was extremely boring and tedious, but it was a good distraction from reality. I didn't want to leave work, it meant facing life. On my way back to work, I had been sure someone was following me. It was unnerving, but I ignored it. I decided to stay later and change my work pattern to confuse anyone who might be tailing me. When I left it was 11:30pm. I wandered the dark streets for a while and eventually found a late night café. I ordered a cup of tea and sat watching the world pass by through the large glass window.
Seeing Angie today had been good, but talking and thinking about Jim brought out an odd mixture of attraction and fury that rolled through me when I thought of him, and it was exhausting. I realised how much I missed him as well.
I felt a person sit next to me. I turned my head to glance at them and saw Jim. He was still in his suit, but he looked more casual, he'd lost the tie, opened the top two buttons of his shirt. He looked worried and relieved.
"What do you want?" I asked disgruntled at being found.
"I want to know where my wife has been?!" He asked sharply.
"Busy, working. There now you know." I replied bitterly.
"You really think I'm gonna be satisfied with that? It would be nice if you were a little more specific." He pushed. I sighed. Why did he care? He'd not said a word to me in two weeks.
"Does it matter, its not going to change anything?!" I asked.
"Change what? What you're becoming?!" He exclaimed.
"Please tell me what that it is, I'm dying to know." I replied sarcastically. I didn't care what I was or wasn't becoming.
"Did you even think when you went out and killed that man? You would never have done that before; but you just went and killed him in cold blood." Jim asked looking me in the eye. Something shifted; he was actually scared I'd lost it. I could see the emotions running behind his eyes. All the emotions scared me. I pushed them away.
"Sometimes these things happen, they need dealing with. It wasn't the first time. I was just doing what I was trained to do." I answered numbly. I was a killer and a good one. I didn't like it or even enjoy it, but it's one of the many talent's I'd had to learn working for the government.
"Well, I never trained you to do that. I don't like it, Percy." Jim said, taking my hand in his. I pulled it away.
"I never said you did. I had a whole other life before I met you; it was much darker than anything you've ever exposed me to. I don't need you to like it; I just need you to accept it." I said. I didn't want forgiveness or absolution, just acceptance.
"I haven't exposed you to that sort of thing because I...I don't want you becoming like me. One reason I love you is because you keep me human, but now...I don't know what's happening to you." He told me. The emotions flowing through us both were starting to break our calm facades.
"You've always known there was a darker side to me, something not quite right. Usually it sits in a box locked away in the deepest part of my mind, but sometimes its escapes and I can't stop. Why do think I started taking drugs, I could just escape everything, just let it all float away. The look in your eyes when you understood what I had done, I felt sick and scared." I admitted.
"I guess I overreacted. It isn't really any worse than anything I've done. I just don't want you having to do anything like that. I mean, look at what it's doing to you and Angie. This is what I'm talking about. The more you do this sort of thing, the more it affects you, and your life, and I don't want that happening to you. Please, just promise me you'll try not to do anything like this again." He asked me. His eyes pleaded that I promise. I looked at him before turning back to look outside, I was going to be honest.
"I can't make that promise, if someone hurt you, I wouldn't hesitate. I've fought my entire life to keep my loved ones around me and all people try to do is take them away. I know it affects us, but that's why we have each other. Angie is so good; she doesn't need me in her life. I'm sorry I ran away." I turned to look at him again, offering a small smile.
"It's okay, I understand. I'm just glad you're alright." He answered, returning a smile. He took my hands again, this time I let him keep hold of me. "I'll do my best to make sure you never have to do anything like that again. And before you say that about Angie, maybe you should ask her before you throw away your friendship. She still cares about you, and she took it out on me." He chuckled lightly.
"She said the same about you. You're not going to like this, but I've been working for Mycroft again, he needed help. It actually helped, in odd way it gave me a focus." I admitted.
"Just be careful when you work for him. I know you can take care of yourself, but I still worry about you. In the meantime, do you think you can forgive me enough to come home?" Jim asked. I nodded with a very sheepish smile.
"If you'll have me back. I've really missed you."
"I missed you too, love." He replied.
"I really am so sorry for how I've acted." I apologised. I felt dreadful.
"It's fine." He dismissed, kissing me gently.
"You're too good to me." I smiled.
"Don't be ridiculous. You deserve it." I felt myself tear up at his words. I sniffed and chuckled, wiping my eyes.
"Take me home?" I asked. He nodded. As we stood, he wrapped his arm around my waist. I rested my head on his shoulder as we walked.
"Come on. The house has been lonely without you." Jim hailed us a taxi and we headed home.
We were home in twenty minutes. Jim paid the cabbie and led me to our front door. It felt good to be back, but also strange, just two weeks away and I felt quite removed from the large house. We hung up our coats and made our way to the kitchen. We hadn't said much on the journey home, just kept our hands laced together, that connection reassuring the other person that they were still there.
"So have you actually had a chance to eat the last couple weeks, or should we have dinner?" Jim asked. He was giving me a knowing look.
"Dinner would be nice, I think I last ate on Wednesday. It's been very busy." I said lamely. I knew I was going to get lectured about not eating. Jim shook his head exasperated.
"You know, that's really not healthy." He said coolly.
"I know, I just forgot." I replied quietly. I sat at the counter, feeling a bit useless. I didn't want to cook, but I was kind of hungry. I'd have been happy with just some toast and a cup of tea, but Jim started making soup, the one thing he seemed able to cook and not burn.
"So what exactly has your brother been making you do?" Jim asked scathingly, as he set a steaming bowl of soup in front of me. I dipped some bread in it and took a bite before answering. The soup was good.
"Um, it's more a case of what haven't I done. I seem to have fluctuated from his PA to other less easy jobs." I answered.
"Nothing too dangerous, I hope." Jim enquired. He knew I wouldn't tell him anything, but the fact he asked made me smile.
"I can't tell you that." I said honestly. It was so frustrating that I couldn't tell Jim about what I was doing. Sometimes, I needed someone to talk to, Jim out of anyone in my life would understand.
"It would have been better if you had just lied and said no." Sighed Jim.
"Then you'd know I was lying. If I could tell you everything I would, but it would mean both our heads." I said gently, taking his hand in mine.
"I know, I know." He nodded and pulled his hand away, the movement stung.
We lapsed into a tense silence as we finished our late meal. Jim automatically picked up the plates, bowls and cutlery and placed them in the dishwasher. He stood at the sink, looking out into the dark garden. His shoulders held his unspoken frustration and stress. I stood up and wrapped my arms around him from behind. I lay my cheek against his shoulder blades.
"I really am sorry I was away for so long, apparently I can still sulk like a two year old." I felt Jim's posture change at my words. He straightened and turned in my arms, looking down at me. He wrapped his arms round my waist.
"I'm sorry I acted rashly. Although, I hadn't blown anything up in a while, I was getting restless." He smirked.
"I noticed. Seriously, it was so obvious. What did Pierce do to upset you so much?" I asked, letting my head rest against his shoulder.
"Well...honestly, you didn't notice? You helped Angie with that little case a few weeks ago, the older couple murdered then the younger woman's body found upstairs. Supposed to look like a double murder/suicide." He paused and I looked up at him and nodded. "The younger woman was Pierce's twin sister, and the old man was their real father, the kids were scandals, so they wouldn't have gotten the inheritance, unless the will was conveniently changed for the inheritance to go into a particular bank account. He was supposed to hand over a portion, he didn't follow through, and so he didn't get any of it. Before you say anything, no I didn't take that job for you and Angie to keep busy." Jim finished. I smiled to myself, I'd been right it was about money.
"I did wonder if it was money. You're getting predictable darling. I know you didn't take it to keep us busy." I told him gently. For anyone with an ounce of sense, you could see Jim's trademark 'gas leak' written all over that crime scene.
"Well, there isn't anything more interesting with having to play nice with Sherlock! I can't mess around with Angie anymore cause you'll get mad at me, and she knows where I live now, so...What else is there?!" Said Jim putting, he almost sounded like he was whining. I smiled at him indulgently.
"Mycroft is always fun to annoy, but I'd rather you not kill him. There are plenty of people out there who need your services." I told him honestly. There really were, you should see some of the e-mails and weird mail we receive.
"It's not the same, though..." Moaned Jim.
"Sweetheart, he'll back soon enough and as long as you don't kill him you can have your fun." I consoled, sounding like a mother soothing a disappointed child, but in that moment, I was dealing with an overgrown child.
"Fine. I don't know why he's being so boring like that…" Jim narrowed his eyes at me and asked: "What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything. I haven't had time to think about, let alone help Sherlock. I would've told you if I had spoken to him." I defended slightly annoyed at his accusation. I stepped away from him.
"Why do you think I did something?!" I asked a little more forcefully than it should've been.
"Sorry, I was just kidding." Apologised Jim. I smiled at him letting him know I hadn't taken it too personally and padded out of the kitchen to the living room. I flopped onto the sofa. Jim sat next to me. I laid my head against the back of the sofa and closed my eyes, I felt content and relaxed.
"Maybe you should take it easy for a while, you need some time off. You don't actually work for Mycroft, so you don't have any obligation to do all this for him." Suggested Jim, if only it was that easy.
"Well I kind of do work for him, I don't necessarily get paid, but I never officially resigned, I just told him to stick his little jobs where the sun doesn't shine. It's really complicated and I'd love some time off, but it's not going to happen." I answered. In truth I did get paid, it was just under the radar, a bit like my position in Mycroft's office; I was part of his personal attaché.
"If he isn't careful, I'll make it happen." Frowned Jim. I knew he was serious, if Mycroft pushed me further, he would have Jim to answer too and it would get very…messy. I snuggled up to him to try and calm him down, he was always more relaxed when we were physically touching.
"You say the sweetest things. If it gets too much I'll just yell at him and leave." I smiled, I could handle it, and I didn't want Jim or Mycroft to get hurt.
"Alright. Don't let him guilt you into anything, either." He chided, kissing my hair.
"I'll try not to. You know other than basically being his post lady; this is the first time I've worked for him since we started dating. When I fell for you, that's when I quit." I admitted. My admission was supposed to be romantic, but it fell flat. Jim stared at me looking confused and hurt.
So, when you marry me, that is when you start up again?" He asked incredulously. I sat up to look at him.
"It wasn't intentional, I was in a bad mood, he offered me a distraction. At least I don't have to do what I used to do now I'm married." I defended. The morning after I accepted the job looking after the North Korean, I refused to go back to how my life was before. No more honey traps, seductions, no sleeping with assets for information. I was married and would be faithful to my husband. Mycroft argued, I just threatened to leave and magically got my way.
"Let's not talk about that. The point is, don't work yourself too hard." Dismissed Jim. He knew a little of my past dealings, because of the whole Sebastian incident before we got married. He didn't like hearing about it, talking about it or thinking about it.
"I'll always come home to you, I promise." I told sincerely.
"You'd better." He smiled. We kissed and for that moment, all of the bad feelings and crap that had been daily life in the last two weeks, ebbed away.
"Who else would have me?" I smirked.
"It doesn't matter, you're mine. Remember, I don't like sharing." Jim smirked half playful and half serious.
"I'm not sharing you either!" I flirted.
"Good." Nodded Jim and kissed me again. I giggled coquettishly.
"I love it when you go all cave man." I admitted huskily.
"Is that sarcasm or are you serious?" Jim asked confused. I stood up, quickly kissed his lips and ran to the door, I turned as said:
"If you catch me you can find out..." I ran upstairs laughing. I heard quick footsteps behind me.
We lost ourselves in one another and reconnected. In the morning life wouldn't be perfect, it wouldn't have magically sorted itself out, but we were on the road to recovery.