I don't know why I'm still posting this here. Does anyone even read it?
I don't own the characters or places!
"So the Borgia Pearl was in London this entire time?" John asked incredulously, staring at Greg with wide eyes. "It never left?"
Greg nodded and took a sip of his drink. "Locked in the cellar of some rich politician who thought it would be useful for blackmail."
John groaned and leaned back in his chair, shaking his head slowly. "Now I see why Sherlock thought the case was boring. Mycroft knew where it could be the entire time?"
Another nod. "Seems like he was just waiting for me to ask. He's always like that. He just knows things, but when I don't say something, he also remains quiet about it."
"I think it's still new for him. This whole thing between you." John smiled slightly. "It took ages before communication got easier between Sherlock and me. I doubt that it's easier for Mycroft."
James followed the whole conversation in silence. It was Friday evening and they'd met in their usual bar. After the incident with Moriarty half a year ago, it had become some kind of tradition that they would meet every week, if work allowed it. Most of the time, it worked for John and Greg, but James was often busy in other cities or even countries, so he couldn't join them each time. At the moment, however, he didn't have a mission going on and he was glad about it. With someone wanting to kill him, he rather stayed at home where he could keep an eye on those he loved. This evening, Q was at Eve's place. They wanted to watch movies. James knew that there weren't many places safer than Moneypenny's flat. That's why he allowed himself to relax for a few hours.
"Mycroft isn't like Sherlock at all." Greg protested, but when John just stared at him patiently, he gave in with a sigh. "Alright, he is like him when it comes to many things. Like feelings and people."
This time, John nodded in satisfaction. "You shouldn't think about it too much. It will all work out. He's so into you, sometimes it's scary."
"Like the way Sherlock is with you." James pointed out, including himself in the conversation for the first time since Greg's relationship with Mycroft was mentioned. "Even looking at you in the wrong way is already a crime in his eyes."
John already opened his mouth to protest, but then he seemed to change his mind. He just ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. "Holmes brothers and feelings."
To that, Greg raised his glass. "It will always be a challenge."
"A good one." John added and raised his glass as well. James could only join them, even if Q wasn't as complicated as his two brothers.
After that, they talked about a few unimportant things, like the latest stories on John's blog. Q and James were frequent readers of the stories. A surprise, however, was that Moneypenny also loved to read the blog. "She's disappointed because she only got to meet you once to plan our final move against Moriarty." James explained with a grin. "You have another fan."
John chuckled at that. "It's not like you couldn't bring her along when you come to Baker Street."
"Sherlock wouldn't like that." He pointed out thoughtfully.
"He doesn't like many things." John threw in. "He also claims that he isn't happy when you all visit. That's not entirely true. I've already been thinking about how we'll spend Christmas this year. We only have a little less than three months left, we should start making a plan."
"You let it sound like a case." Greg grinned. "I thought we'd come over, just like every year?" With we, James suspected that he meant Mycroft and himself.
John nodded. "Mrs. Hudson will also be there, of course, and I'll ask Molly. She has a boyfriend now, but maybe they'll want to come anyway." He focused on James then. "What I've been think about is if you want to join us."
That question took James by surprise. Until now, he and Q had spent Christmas alone since there weren't many people they could invite. Last year, Moneypenny had been busy with her boyfriend. "We don't have any plans yet. And I think Q would love to come." It was true, his boyfriend loved being around other people.
"You could also ask Eve." John added. "Maybe she wants to join us. The more people will be there, the merrier."
"I'll ask Q about it." He promised and was surprised that he didn't find the thought of spending Christmas with the others annoying. He was rather looking forward to it. Another thing that had changed since Q was in his life. Before they met, James had always been lonely. Yes, he had a few partners, but it never lasted long, mostly due to his job. He'd always been fine with his life, but only now that he had Q, he realized how much he'd missed.
"Amazing." John grinned, but then he got serious again. "How is everything going, by the way? Could you find out anything?" He didn't voice what he meant, but he also didn't have to. From the way Greg's face turned serious as well, he also realized what the topic was.
James shook his head. "Still nothing. It's driving Q crazy. But I think it will stay like this until they make the next move."
"Apparently, Mycroft has realized that his people also won't find anything, if Q can't get any information." Greg added. "I could see how frustrated he was about it." It was strange to hear someone saying that they could see how Mycroft Holmes was feeling. James always thought that the other man was incredibly hard to read. But maybe it was different when Greg and Mycroft were alone. Maybe he opened up more then. With John and Sherlock it definitely was like this. Sherlock was always much calmer and easier to get along with when John was around.
"Sherlock thinks they'll act soon." John explained. "Normally, his instincts are never wrong."
"We'll just have to keep our eyes open." James was about to say more, but he stopped himself when he saw someone approaching their table. It was a woman, with short blond hair and grey eyes. Her hair framed a friendly face in soft waves and she was wearing dark jeans and a white shirt. She was smiling and James noticed that her eyes were on John. The others seemed to notice his hesitation and followed his gaze, Greg having to turn around to see the newcomer.
"Good evening. I'm sorry for so rudely interrupting your conversation, but I just saw you from over there at the bar and I thought…" She hesitated and shook her head with a nearly helpless laugh. James noticed that there was a faint blush on her cheeks, her eyes still on John. "I didn't really know what I was thinking, to be honest. Just that I would regret it later if I didn't come over and talk to you."
John looked taken aback by this, but he smiled at her nevertheless. "Good evening to you, too, Ms…?"
"Morstan. Mary Morstan." She introduced herself with a smile. "And you're John Watson. I'm a big fan of your blog!" She looked away at this, clearly embarrassed by her words.
John, however, just chuckled. "You won't believe it, but it happens quite regularly that someone approaches me because of that." James kept his face neutral, knowing that this was a lie. Most of the time, people approached Sherlock, not him. A look at Greg's face told him that his friend thought the same, but just like James, Greg had decided not to mention it. Then John gestured at them. "Those are my friends Greg and James, by the way."
"Nice to meet you." Mary looked at both of them for a short moment, her face showing open curiosity. James wasn't sure why, but something about this woman bothered him.
He smiled at her anyway. "Why don't you sit down?" He gestured at a free chair. "Then you don't have to spend the evening all alone."
While she thanked them and turned to Greg, asking if it was alright for him if she joined them, James exchanged a short look with John. He was still smiling, but his eyes showed that he found this encounter just as strange as James did. But then Mary was sitting down and all John's face showed was friendly interest again.
"Do you come here often?" John asked her. "We've never seen you before."
"It's my second time, actually." Mary explained with a smile. "I moved to London only a few weeks ago."
"What do you think of the city so far?" James wanted to know.
"I already lived here as a child, so it's not entirely new for me. But in my memories, the city was never this busy." She chuckled. "Most probably, it's just my imagination."
"The city's always been busy, that's true." He replied, returning her smile. "Personally, I think London has a charm that lacks many other cities." She nodded at that, but didn't look entirely convinced.
"Why did you move here?" Greg was the next one to ask a question. James thought that somehow, it was like an interrogation.
"Work." Mary sighed then, as if it was an uncomfortable necessity to move for work. "I'm a nurse." She grinned at John then. "You don't have to explain what you're doing, I already know that. But I'm curious about your companions."
"Scotland Yard." Greg said and something like recognition flashed in Mary's eyes. Most probably, because his name was mentioned in John's stories regularly.
"I work in finances." James explained when she turned to him. "Quite boring, if you ask me."
"Did you ever think of doing something else, then?" Her endless curiosity was bothering him, but he didn't let it show.
"All the time." He replied simply.
They kept talking for about half an hour and it became obvious very soon that she was mostly interested in John. Her eyes followed all of his movements and she asked many questions directed at him. He seemed to notice her interest in him as well since at some point, he let it slip that he was gay. The disappointment on Mary's face couldn't be missed.
In the end, Mary had to leave and some time after she was gone, they decided to head home as well. "She's strange." John said when they walked away from the bar. "Mary."
"She was very interested in you." Greg pointed out.
"Not just John." James threw in, shaking his head. "All of us. I just wonder why."
"Let's see if she shows up again." John muttered. "Maybe we can find out more then. And we should tell the others about this meeting."
Greg looked at them in surprise. "You think she's not who she claims to be?"
They were just walking through a narrow alleyway that connected two main streets. It was dark because there was only one street lamp and nearly no windows looked to this side. The alley was not frequently used, but they walked this way every week, it being the fastest way back to their homes. When someone appeared at the end of the alleyway and walked in their direction, James first thought nothing of it. Most probably, it was just someone else who wanted to take a shortcut home. But then he took in the posture of the man, as well as his clothes. Black, and was he wearing something on his head? It was hard to see in the dim light. Then another person appeared behind him, making James come to a sudden stop.
The others also halted, turning to him in surprise. But then John spotted something behind James and he only had to glance over his shoulder to realize that the other people who walked in their direction had attracted his attention.
"I assume those are just other people on their way home?" Greg asked, his voice doubtful.
John moved so he was standing back to back with James. Probably an instinct from his days in the army or all his adventures with Sherlock. "They don't look very friendly."
"I don't think that they're here to talk." When they got closer, James noticed that one of the men was holding a stick. So not just people on their way home. "How many do we have on your side?"
"Three." John whispered back.
"Can you take them down together?" James looked at those in front of him closely. One tall and muscular, the other one small, but also with broad shoulders.
"I think so." John didn't sound very convinced, but his voice had a hard edge now. Just like a soldier.
"Good. Don't wait for them to make the first move." He said and then he already stormed towards the men, wanting to cover the distance between them as fast as possible. James knew that if it were just normal people, they would run away now. But they didn't. Instead, they also broke into a run, right towards him.
Behind him, James could hear a shout. Most probably because John and Greg had also started an attack, but he didn't have time to turn around. The first man was already right in front of him, swinging the stick. James sank to his knees, ramming his shoulder into the stomach of his attacker in one swift movement. Even as the man coughed and fell to the ground, he was on his feet again, turning to the next one. He had just enough time to move sideways so the fist didn't hit his face. Luckily, his attacker was tall and muscular, but his movements were also predictable. It was easy for James to hit him a few times. It got a little more difficult when the second man stumbled to his feet again, but he could also deal with two people without difficulties. Especially when they weren't properly armed.
Only minutes after the fight started, it was over again. When James' two attackers lay on the ground, motionless, he turned around to see if he could help John and Greg somehow. But he didn't have to. They had the situation under control and when James approached, John just took the stick one of the men had carried and hit him on the head with it while he was distracted by Greg.
Silence filled the alleyway when the three of them exchanged a look. "I assume they're here for you?" John asked and pointed at the men on the ground while James nodded darkly. He was breathing heavily, but didn't seem to be injured.
On Greg's lip, however, was blood. "I didn't move away in time." The DI said with a shrug. "Nothing serious."
"I'll call someone to deal with them." James said, pulling out his phone. "You should warn the others. I bet they'll have lots of questions."
"To Baker Street, then?" John asked while James dialed Tanner's number. When James glanced at him, he noticed that John was kneeling next to one of the unconscious men, pulling up his sleeve to reveal a strange looking tattoo on his arm. Greg copied John's movement, revealing the same on another man. Maybe, James thought, they finally had their first clue.
He nodded. "To Baker Street."