Author's Note: Has it only been a week? It feels like forever since I last updated between reports for work, that essay I had to do, and family junk. I could barely remember what chapter was last posted. Speaking of which… THANK YOU very much for all the fantastic feedback. I was so worried about that stupid action scene, I'm so glad you all enjoyed it. This chapter is just a short one. I didn't have time for a long one but it's important I guess. I hope you like it. Please read, review, and enjoy.

Disclaimer: Clearly I don't own Sherlock. The show is the baby of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, while Sherlock Holmes itself is the creation of Arthur Conan Doyle.

The First Time She Did Her Own Investigating

Mycroft was never pleased to have an unnecessary phone call interrupt his day, even if his day consisted of absolutely nothing. He was even less pleased when it was a day off and he was planning to hibernate in the house all day away from the noise and the people. Anthea couldn't help but smile lovingly as Mycroft groaned when his phone run. He looked at his phone and rolled his eyes in the most dramatic fashion.

"Family?" Anthea asked. That reaction was usually reserved for people who should know better but bother him anyway. Mycroft's lip pulled into a scowl.

"Perhaps worse." He muttered. The genius clicked answer and brought his phone to his ear. "What do you want, James?" He asked fiercely. Anthea raised her eyebrows and cocked her head to the side. James? Really? She was asking silently. Mycroft rolled his eyes again in his confirmation.

"Don't you have friends to bother?" Mycroft answered whatever James had said. She loved his disdain of that word. How dare anyone have friends? "Carol? Anyone else, actually?" To James' unheard response Mycroft sighed. He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"No, no. It's fine. I'm not diffusing a bomb or rather stopping my brother from setting off one. I have some time." He looked back at Anthea with forlorn. Like a soldier going to war and this was the last time he'd see his love. And Anthea just grinned.

"Anthea is here but I believe she is about to run errands so she won't be a problem until later." He said. Anthea's expression dropped slightly. She was indeed about to 'run errands'. She was going to go to Jamie's salon to do some Emily investigating, but she did not appreciate being run out of her house.

"Certainly. I'll call security and they'll let you in." Mycroft spoke with a heavy, tired breath. The thought of interaction really exhausted him. "See you." He hung up his phone. As Mycroft put his phone down Anthea raised her eyebrows at him again.

"Do I have to vacate for James?" She asked with humour dancing in her words.

"I'm afraid so." Mycroft widened his eyes.

"Why?" Anthea asked. Mycroft flicked his wrist, waving her off.

"Something about visitors." He spat. "I don't know, I often don't listen when he speaks." Holmes boys. They're the same. "You can ask him when you get back."

"He doesn't want to talk to me." Anthea smiled. "He wants to talk to you." Mycroft scowled at her.

"I don't know why." He said. "I'd make a shocking therapist."

"And an even worse friend?" Anthea teased.

"Which is why, my love." Mycroft hummed. "The only friend I have is you." Anthea chuckled. She placed a hand against her heart and smiled at him. He even smiled back.

Whether because Anthea was there with her shady persona in place or because Jamie wasn't there being bright and bubbly, there was no way to tell. Either way, Jamie's salon seemed like a different place. It seemed more pretentious than usual. A high end salon where all the customers valued their hair, nails, or make up more than they valued their lives. Jamie had to be good to work in a place like this. Naturally that also meant Emily had to have some sort of skill.

Had the walls always been so white or was that a new development? Anthea noticed the black floor before – it reminded her of a dance studio – but the walls? Mixed with the lighting it kind of looked like an art gallery space. Which was fitting given that this was the type of salon to compete in artistry and high end competitions. Anthea had been Jamie's practice model many times over many years. Who knows? Maybe this was just the type of thing Alice didn't care about but Anthea noted carefully.

With Jamie on maternity leave and only planning to return part time Anthea was sure she was going to find Emily here today. Nope. No sign of her. Jamie's station was empty and in Emily's station was a guy with the most plastic immovable face Anthea had ever seen. His work on his client however, was phenomenal. He was absolutely the right choice to take up Jamie's extra shifts. Still, Emily should be here learning, should she not? Anthea had come in on a Friday before and seen the woman either watching Jamie or working on her own client. It was good for Anthea, considering why she was here, but it just added to her suspicions. Everything about Emily rubbed her the wrong way. Except her eyes and her laugh. They were strangely familiar and comforting. Everything else was wrong.

The important thing was Jamie's boss was there. The owner of the salon was standing behind reception with the receptionist going through the computer. Presumably they were going through the books or accounts for the week. Their discussion seemed serious but not like it was going to take a long time so Anthea waited. She stood in the waiting area and browsed the product. They had nice shampoo here. Maybe she'd buy some on her way out so this entire thing wasn't unsettling for the salon. She looked at the small selection of wigs and smiled at the time Jamie had tried on the pink one and almost bought it just because. Wigs were fun. Even Mycroft had fun with wigs when he had to dress for undercover work. Walter has a photo of a very young, very blonde Mycroft that Anthea begged him for a copy of. She never got it and she suspected Mycroft stopped that.

When Jamie's boss approached she smiled familiarly, not the fake smile given to customers.

"You know Jamie's not here, right?" She asked, a smart mouthed smirk on her face. Anthea rolled her eyes with a small laugh.

"I know." She faked a laugh. She cleared her throat and straightened her face. "I'm actually here about Emily." The salon owner's facial expression dropped into a pout.

"If you're looking for her she quit." The woman shrugged her shoulders. "It's a shame too, she'd be talented if she wasn't so flighty." She said. Anthea hummed and nodded sympathetically, pretending like she cared.

"Actually, I was wondering if I could look at any information you have on her." Anthea said, tucking a curl behind her ear. The owner's expression darkened further.

"That's illegal. I'm sorry, I can't." She said in a low tone. Anthea sighed. She opened her bag and pulled out her credentials.

"Not with me, it's not." She said as she handed them to Jamie's boss. She watched as the woman flickered through the IDs. None of them with a full name but all containing her face and the correct watermarks. MI6 credentials, government passes, FBI and CIA documents. The lot, all set up in a clear wallet and ready to go for a mission at a moment's notice. She watched the woman's eyes grow wider and wider as she went through.

"Does Jamie know about this?" She asked breathlessly, going through them once again.

"She has some idea." Anthea answered, amusement dancing on her tongue. "But when she jokes that I could shut down an airport I don't think she knows how right she is." Jamie's boss made a strange noise between laughing and gasping. With wide eyes, blowing air through her lips, she handed Anthea back her IDs. "Emily gave me a fake name. One that does not exist. She's also been asking about figures important to the country and their family." Anthea used her most professional tone. "Scotland Yard would like to investigate any name she gave you to test the fidelity of that identity. We'd rather not get MI6 involved but if it comes to that we are willing to." Anthea was aware she had just changed this woman's opinion of her for the rest of time. She wouldn't see Alice anymore, she'd see the shadowy government figure. It's a shame, but it had to be done. The salon owner scratched at her collar bone and expelled air through her lips once more.

"Sure, if it's that official and that important." She said. She gestured for Anthea to follow her. "Come through to the back."

"I really appreciate this." Anthea said sweetly, trying to mitigate any of the damage this might have done. "It's so much easier with people you know and trust." The owner smiled sheepishly at her. It worked a little bit.

Donavon, I've got it. – A.

?

Emily Rundell. – A.

Right. I'll give it search when I've got time and give you a call.

I'm going to tell Mr. Holmes to tell DI Lestrade that you deserve a raise. – A.

Damn right, I do.

Anthea pulled up to the house just as Mycroft was walking James out of it. As they caught sight of one another Anthea pulled a face at James. He laughed as he and Mycroft drew closer.

"Hey there beautiful." James greeted once they were close enough to talk.

"Don't sweet talk me." Anthea teased as she looked him up and down. "You need something and you call Mycroft but not me?" She asked. Mycroft clicked his tongue while James laughed lightly and scruffed up his blonde hair by running his hand through it.

"Just needed to get out for a second, you know?" He kicked the pavement. "We've had someone staying in the house since Hope was born." He bit the inside of his bottom lip like he felt bad for feeling this way. "I'm waiting for Jamie to just ban everyone." Anthea nodded sympathetically.

"Sorry James, it's your fault for having a big family and then adding to it with your own baby." She said.

"I told him the same thing." Mycroft hummed. James shook his head and sighed but he couldn't keep the glitter of light out of his eyes.

"You two need to get out of the office and into the real world." He patted Anthea on the arm. She scrunched her nose up at him. "Well, I'm off. Thanks, sir." James said. Mycroft nodded a single time in acknowledgment. Anthea and Mycroft watched as he walked down the path to his car. They watched as he started it up and drove away.

"Is that really all he wanted?" Anthea asked as they watched the car. Mycroft hummed.

"For the most part, yes." Mycroft breathed. "Jamie's brother is staying prior to Hope's christening." She loved his voice when he explained things. "And I doubt it will surprise you to learn that someone as driven and goal orientated as James can't stand someone as laid back and outright lazy as Jamie's brother for long periods of time." Anthea mimed an 'oh'. She looked up at the sky through the corner of her eye as she let this peculate.

"And naturally, as someone who hates everyone, James thought you'd be the most understanding person and let him come have a break here." She finished the train of thought that Mycroft had been explaining.

"Precisely." The genius stated factually, face neutral and blank. Or it was neutral until he caught wind of Anthea's smirk. Then it dropped into a suspicious glare. "What?" His tone oozed with venom. Anthea laughed in her throat.

"You're such a good friend." She cooed. Mycroft scoffed.

"Oh, do shut up." He scoffed as he began walking towards the house. Anthea laughed deeply from the stomach. She jogged to catch up and linked her arm with Mycroft's he immediately pulled it back.

"Don't be that way." She still laughed. "You were a good friend to James today, keep it up and be a good friend to me." Mycroft stopped with his hand on the front door, looking at her with steely daggers.

"I'm being good to you by not murdering you where you stand." He said. Anthea laughed again. She stroked his head out of his face and kissed him of the cheek. The fact that he let her showed that he wasn't really angry or embarrassed.

"Why don't we be really good friends to each other and go somewhere nice for an early dinner?" She asked. Mycroft pulled a face and walked through the door. "Or!" She practically bounced after him. "Or we could be really mean to each other and I could cook tonight. Would that make you feel better?"

"Didn't I tell you to shut up?" Mycroft called over his shoulder. Anthea giggled quietly as she shut the front door.

"Love you." She called joyfully out to the fleeting frame disappearing into the living room.

"I love you, too." The reply was faint but it was there. Annoyed, bitter, but full of equal amounts of love and affection.

Author's Note: How was it? Okay for the length I hope. Thanks to our guest reviewers last chapter; Guest, shortblondeone, Eva's Dreaming, B, and Christie. Thanks to all my reviewers – you guys sometimes get me through the week. I love you all. I hope to see you all again in five days.

OH! And someone asked about Hope's christening. I was going to skip it but if enough of you want that I'll do it. I mean I have ideas but it's really up to you guys.