Cars that break down and then require extra parts to fix are annoying, sorry this is a day late, hope everyone
June 18th, 2005
Sherlock's POV
Breakfast is a quick affair. He probably doesn't eat as much as he should, but he really isn't all that hungry. There is still a nagging worry that he will do something wrong and ruin it.
Shaking his head, he heads to the door to wait for his companion and the car.
Less than a minute later Jim is beside him, a minute after that and they are walking out to the black car that pulled up.
-Things will be fine, I am sure,- Jim reassures him with a small smile on his expressive face.
Why is he so expressive? Not important.
The two of them climb into the car, heading to the clinic in silence.
He spends the ride studying his companion.
Jim is absolutely still. Even his chest seems to be barely moving as he sits staring straight ahead. What is off about this man? He is an agent for MI6.
He should find the file his brother probably has on the agent to see what type of personality type they classify Jim as. He also wants to know if his minder has any other notes of interest. Like the fact he is sure that the agent is somewhere on the antisocial scale, he is just not sure exactly where because Jim is an excellent mimic from what he can tell.
When the car pulls to a stop, he is out before the drive has even put it in park. Excitement strumming through his veins as he hopes he does nothing wrong. This is the first time he has left the house for a reason other than visiting the clinic and the first time in six months he has been somewhere other than a controlled environment. To say he is attempting to ignore the feeling of hope and dread would be a lie.
-Good morning, Doctor,- Jim greets John as soon as the blonde appears by the door.
-Good morning Sherlock, Mr. Moriarty,- John answers with a smile in his direction and nod to his minder.
He smiles and nods, happy that his doctor is alright with him not trying to speak.
-Call me Jim,- his keeps replies with a nod of his own. –Mr. Moriarty makes me think of work. I'd really rather this not be really like a work situation.-
Curious by that statement, he arches an eyebrow towards the black-haired agent.
Apparently Jim understood, because he replies, -Work is rarely fun or interesting, you are both, why would I want to think of you as boring?-
He blinks, because that is nothing like he expected his minder to say. There is nothing fun or interesting about him, if there was, he probably wouldn't be ignored so much.
-All right then,- John replies, not commenting on the rest, he then goes on to describe where they will be going and for how long each part of the trek should take. He also outlines where they will be stopping and why.
Afterwards, he nods in agreement, wondering what good he will be but happy to be outside.
-I have a challenge for you, if you're interested,- Jim signs, eyes watching him seriously.
He nods again, waiting to see what the challenge is.
-Pay attention to where we are in the city. When we return to the flat, mark on a map every road we were on with green and the best paths for getting to each primary stop with red.- his minder continues.
He has no interest in maps, why would he want to do something like that? He wonders, as he frowns slightly.
-Ready boys?- John asks with a look between them, a large satchel thrown over his shoulder and a backpack hanging low on his back.
He nods in agreement, still thinking about the challenge as they start walking. Is there any practical use in learning all the streets of the city? Several times he glances over at the doctor, as he continues to think. They had just stopped for the doctor to have a conversation with an old man that smells rather offensive when he realizes that it is something John probably does in order to take care of his patients and it's probably something Jim does for fun.
I'll do it, he decides, worse case I can just delete it later, and it is a way to think of something besides how useless I am.
So he starts paying attention to the streets, along with the people he sees. His eyes sweeping over them calmly as he reads everything he can about each one. Mind supplying the facts of each, little things like whether they are content with their home life, what type of job they have, and their current moods. It has been so long since he actively used his ability to read people that it is almost overwhelming and he ends up stopping to just stand there with his eyes closed while he tries to catch his breath.
He can't do this in front of John! He wants the doctor to like him, maybe even be his friend eventually, that doesn't happen if he is weak and pathetic.
The touch of a hand lightly against his arm draws him out of his mind to discover John standing directly in front of him, eyes caring as the doctor studies his face.
-It's alright,- the blonde comments, -Many people going through recovery of most types have times when they doubt themselves. There is nothing wrong with that.-
Biting his lower lip, he intentionally studies the doctor to see how serious he is or whether he is really just hiding his disgust. He is shocked when he realizes that John is being completely serious. Why is John being so understanding? It doesn't make sense to him. Yet he cannot deny it as he keeps looking for any of the things he expected.
-Would you like to continue or return to the clinic?- the blonde inquires calmly, giving him the choice.
-Continue,- he signs slowly after staring at John for several long minutes, mind whirling.
-Perfect, we have one more group before we stop for tea,- the doctor remarks, before asking, -Unless you would rather the tea first?-
-No.- is all he replies.
Nodding, the doctor turns back to the pavement, and continues walking.
His eyes flicker over to Jim, wondering what the other genius thinks of the fact he keeps having these damned moments. He is startled to see concern, or at least a good mimic of concern, in those dark brown eyes.
-Everything will be fine,- Jim states calmly. –Brilliance requires an audience to keep it from being too much. Otherwise the brilliant mind starts double guessing itself and that causes all sorts of annoying situations.-
Blinking, he thinks that makes sense. Jim is a genius like his brother and him, so of course he would understand one of the problems genius' have.
Grinning mischievously, Jim queries, -Would you like to know how I got my job?-
-I would,- John answers before he has a chance to, letting him know that the smaller man is keeping track of the conversation as they walk.
-When I was a kid, I was bullied a lot. So much so, that I was withdrawn and jumpy of everything. Despite that, I loved swimming, still do actually.- the agent pauses, a wistful smile curving his lips for a moment. –One day, the person who liked to bully me the most decided to dunk me under the water, nearly drowning in me in the process.- Jim's dark eyes seem to get dark, going almost black. –That was the last straw. Since the 'adults' and 'people in charge' refused to do anything because it was a star pupil, I decided to deal with him myself.-
-Why do I have a feeling your 'deal with him' was violent?- John remarks during a pause.
-Violent? Not so much. Sweet revenge? Yes.- The dark-haired man replies.
Impatient to know what Jim considered sweet revenge, he waves a hand in a hurry it up motion.
-I poisoned his water, then watched in pleasure as he drowned right during a swimming contest he would have won first prize in.- Jim states, tilting his head and shrugging slightly, he continues, -Of course that was only the beginning of my career. Over the next four years anyone I perceived as a bully ended up either in a lot of pain or dead.-
John stops, a small frown furling his lips, his brows drawn together as he considers the implications. –That doesn't sound like a good reason to be Sherlock's assistant.-
The agents lips quirk in a smile as he replies, -Normally I work for MI6, I applied for the position on purpose.- Tilting his head and rolling his shoulders, Jim continues from his original point, -So when I was seventeen I killed off a man who kept kidnapping street boys for reasons that annoyed me. Apparently, one of the street boys was actually an agent doing recon on him. That put me on MI5's sight. Another situation came up, and I killed someone MI5 wanted alive for a client.- the dark-haired man shrugs, -Well I became a target, and the man they sent was supposed to eliminate me. However after we had a few rough days of tag, the agent decided recruiting me was a better option.-
-Explain- he signs, wanting to know why Jim applied for the spot as his 'assistant'. From the sounds of it he was better suited to being an agent.
-I worked for MI5 for three years, keeping my contacts in the various places I had been, before MI6 found themselves in need of an agent for a situation and I got pulled over to fulfill the role.- Jim remarks, -I did so well that they decided to keep me. So for the last few years I have worked for MI6, however I have never been a fan of field work. Too many stupid people I want to get rid of just to help Darwin. So when I saw the position come open as a PA or assistant, I applied. I figured if you were even one tenth as smart as your annoying brother you would be interesting. I was very happy to find you are equally intelligent. It is a different type, but no less.-
He just shakes his head in disbelief. He has always been stupider. It's the reason he is in this situation. Just ask him mum or brother. Both would agree on that. Nothing he has ever done has been right. Otherwise he wouldn't be unwanted. He is quite sure that the 'helpfulness' his brother is currently showing is fake.
"Sherlock, believe me when I say that you are just as intelligent." Jim states aloud, voice full of conviction and soft hints of an Irish drawl. It takes him a moment to realize this is actually the first time he has heard the agent speak. All their communication up to now has been non-verbal.
The small frown is back as John glances between him and his minder. –In no way are you stupid.- the doctor comments, -You are dealing with trauma. I am guessing more than is in your file. Considering what is in your file, I would say you are doing perfectly well. Many intelligent people have a hard time recovering from trauma because their mind plays far too many tricks on them. I believe that is what is happening here. We have only known each other a short while, but I am quite certain you are highly intelligent.-
Slowly he nods, not sure he believes either of them but really wanting to. Just once in his life he wants someone to think of him as something other than an extra or a foolish child. He had thought he had that with the man he had started a relationship with before it had all come crashing down. This will probably come to a painful end to but he still wants to believe.
His attention is drawn out of his mind as the doctor turns his focus to his minder.
- As for you Jim, I don't care how intelligent or deadly you are, if you harm him, I'll give you a lesson in why doctors make very bad enemies.- John firmly signs.
The agent surprises him by beaming at the smaller man, -That's fine doctor. I would expect nothing less.-
-Good, now shall we continue? We are less than ten minutes away from where we stop for tea.- the doctor replies.
His lips twitch in a small smile, curious how he ended up getting these two in his life. Of all the doctors his brother could have found, he is quite sure there are no others like John. As for minders, if he has to have one, at least the one he has is interesting.
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