Author's Note: Thanks for agreeing with my compromise from last time, guys. It's nice to know you guys prefer quality over quantity. I've been so busy this weekend. I had a convention to go to and as most of you probably know those events run all weekend. Lauren and I cosplay too, so we have to get up early to get ready and then taking everything off in the evening takes ages too. Man, all I want to do right now is sleep but I forced myself to complete this chapter. I wasn't going to post it if I didn't like it but I think it turned out quite well. I hope you like it too. 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 They Saved Jamie

"We are taking a small team of four agents chosen by Carol." Mycroft sat at his desk, his hands clasped together on top of the wooden desktop. Anthea stood beside him while Carol and James stood across from the desk, watching and listening to the instructions. Like good, loyal dogs. "The aim is to route the enemy. Take down anyone working with him with nonlethal force for interviewing and processing later." Mycroft paused. He and Anthea watched the agents until they nodded in agreement. The nonlethal thing was very important here. Information was needed. They needed to know how this was planned, how Richter broke into the agency with all new codes and procedures. "I believe that if we take a small loyal team and present ourselves as a united front," Mycroft's gaze lingered on James. "That we have a far greater chance of taking down Richter quickly and without any harm to ourselves or Jamie."

Silence.

Mycroft and Anthea looked between the agents. They looked at each other. Anthea smirked wryly. They turned back to the agents.

"If you have any objections please voice them now." Mycroft continued. "We leave in an hour and any changes that result from your objections – however unlikely it is that we will make changes – should be enacted as soon as possible."

More silence.

Carol looked over to James. She looked over him the way a teacher watches a student who has been misbehaving – with attention, weariness, and a little bit of hope. James pursed his lips and shook his head.

"You've never failed to get results before, sir." The blonde muttered quietly. "I have no reason to doubt you." Anthea's smile turned more kind as James' words came out. Mycroft's stern expression did not change, but he nodded.

"Good." The genius didn't sound completely convinced. "I'm pleased you see it that way." James looked down to the floor, and Carol sighed. Anthea had to fight the urge to chuckle. Nothing was ever easy with Mycroft. Though she understood why. It was hard for him to open to people and he felt like James had slammed that door shut. And Anthea was on Mycroft's side always, she'd defend him even if she couldn't see why he behaved the way he did.

But none of this drama really mattered at the present time, not to Anthea at least. All that really mattered was that they were going to go save her best friend today. Soon enough Jamie would be safe, free, and home. That was the only thing that mattered.

The old dance studio was located an hour and a half out of London. It was in an old shopping district in which most stores were abandoned or being run by a single person at the register who spent the entire day reading the newspaper or on their phone.

The studio itself was a sectioned off section of a building. It was single story to which Anthea initially found very weird. It was such a small space and a studio that wanted to thrive would need more than one rehearsal space and some place for the dancers to change. She then realised there must have been a basement that could be transformed into a studio with the right type of flooring and the right lighting. It also made a lot of sense considering most people she knew kept her hostages in basements. The present company included in this.

An initial scope from agents and a look at very old blueprints confirmed two entrances. The front glass doors, and a door to the back that lead to the loading zone for the entire building. Anthea, Mycroft, James, and another agent would take the front door and Carol would lead the other three agents through the back. They would sweep the first floor and then head for the stairs as a group. Stealth was not important, but information was.

Mycroft, being quite the expert on letting himself into people's places unwanted, picked the lock to the front doors with such ease it caused the agent with them to look at Carol with concern. Naturally. If Anthea wasn't on Mycroft's side she'd be a little put off by this skill of his as well. As he pushed the door open a little rusted bell chimed from above the door announcing their arrival. Mycroft held the door open and gestured to the agents.

"After you." He spoke with all the charm of a gentleman holding the door open for a lady he liked. Expecting company thanks to the bell, Carol and the agent entered with guns in hand. Mycroft looked at Anthea and nodded. She took a breath, took out her gun, and entered. Mycroft followed only one step behind her.

The front counter space was empty. Abandoned. Aside from a can of coke sitting open, still bubbling away, on the counter there was absolutely no sign of life. That is until they were aware of a noise. The commotion through the door that lead to the studio proper grew louder. Shuffling and heavy breathing.

A man came charging through the door. He had a gun in hand was at the ready and aimed within seconds. No doubt he had heard them enter. The issue was he was out of breath. Not out of breath like you'd run a few hundred metres or up the stairs. He was red in the face and breathless as if engaged in a difficult and extraneous task. Mycroft took a sidestep past Anthea to step in front of her as Carol and the agent pointed their guns.

"Don't move!" Carol projected her voice. The man opened his mouth to talk but never got the chance as the door was pushed open.

"No you don't." James stepped into the room and took the man into a hold. The man scratched at James' hand and shouted profanities but the blonde agent remained calm and unbothered. He pulled out handcuffs and gestured for the agent next to Carol to come over to him. James put the man in handcuffs. "Take him out back." He patted the agent on the shoulder. The agent nodded and took the man.

Mycroft looked James up and down. James' clothes were askew and there was a red mark on one side of his neck.

"They were hanging near the back." James answered Mycroft's unspoken question. "This big guy was having a smoke and saw us coming."

"Big?" Carol asked, questioning what muscular James would consider big. The blonde's eyes widened as he nodded.

"Like sumo big. Fat but still strong enough to get me against a wall." No one answered, too focused. Mycroft flicked his gun towards the bathroom door and then to the one leading to the back again.

"Sweep the rest of the floor." He said to Carol, and by extension also James. "Meet at the stairs."

Carol and James headed one way, Anthea and Mycroft another. The place was empty. It looked as the owner had closed up shop and it had never been open again. If it weren't for the people that had already been apprehended Anthea might think this was the wrong place.

"They didn't touch anything?" Anthea suggested in a hushed voice as Mycroft opened the fridge in the office. "They were instructed not to leave fingerprints." Mycroft made some sort of humming noise as he came away from the fridge with a scrunched up noise and regret in his eyes.

"Most likely." He agreed as he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his gloves on it before stuffing it into a pocket. "The man was competent, after all."

The four of them met at the stairs. They didn't speak. Mycroft looked at Anthea and then to James. James nodded and took the lead with Mycroft following and Carol behind Anthea. They came to the door that lead presumably to the other theatre/dance space. James looked back at all three other people to check their levels of preparation before he pulled open the door.

They couldn't look into the space. They couldn't even tell if it was a studio or not. Right in the doorway blocking the view of the space was the ex-agent Richter. He was still an absolute brick wall of a man. Taller than Mycroft long limbed Mycroft, and stronger than James who could bench-press an actual person. He looked more intimidating in civilian clothes than he ever looked in a suit. His very being made a room feel crowded let alone a hallway. He had a gun in hand and had it pointed right at James. He also had four guns pointed at his own head.

"Mr. Holmes," His beady green eyes flashed with recognition. "I didn't expect to see you, sir." Before Mycroft even got a chance Anthea scoffed for him. Those eyes too small for the raven haired man's head landed onto Anthea, but his gun remained trained on James.

"A," He spoke sombrely. "Please let me apologise f-"

"Don't speak to her." Mycroft's voice rose only slightly above his usual calm decibel level. "Don't you think of saying another word to her." To watch how this skyscraper of a man seemed to shrink at the words of Mycroft Holmes was incredible. It was one of those moments that reminded you that Mycroft was not one to be trifled with. Ever. Anthea could take care of herself, of course, but as she looked at Mycroft and she could see the tension in his neck she had to appreciate that a man who was feared by many had her back always.

"I deserve that." Richter acknowledged.

"You're damn right you do." James spat. "Where's my wife?" Richter didn't look into James' eyes. He looked at where his gun was pointed at James' chest.

"I don't answer to you, James. You answer to me."

"Sir, lower your gun." Carol ordered to her ex-boss. He didn't even look her way.

"You're just a kid who made the right friends."

"Richter, sir, lower your gun." Carol ordered again.

"You took my livelihood."

"You took my best friend." James argued. "You took one of your superiors' assistant. Who is technically your superior."

"I had no choice, I was being blackmailed."

"There is always a choice." Anthea sneered. "Now I suggest you listen to agent Carol and lower your gun." Richter's eyes linger on Anthea's for a second too long before he looked down to Mycroft.

"Sir, you know what Magnussen is like." Mycroft rolled his eyes.

"Trying to appeal to the human side of me, are we?" He sighed. "Haven't you heard? I'm not human."

"Where's my wife?"

"He backed me into a corner. I needed to."

"Did you need to take Jamie Thompson?" Anthea cocked her head to the side. "Or was that for fun?"

"This boy can't do my job."

"Richter. Lower your gun and let me see my wife."

"I suggest you do as he says."

"Look at the mess he's created already."

"Lower your gun, sir."

"Let us in."

"Richter, you have to the count of three."

"He's a follower, nothing more."

"And what are you?"

"One."

"Sir."

"He can't lead."

"Lower you gun."

"Oh and you're so much better."

"Two."

"He can't even babysit."

"Sir."

"He-"

BANG!

The loud noise echoed and reverberated off the walls of the small space causing a strong ringing in Anthea's ears. The pain of the noise leaving her wide eyed and blinking.

Richter dropped his gun as he hissed and swore. His hand was bleeding profusely and his trigger finger was missing and in its place was bone and blood.

James blinked.

"My finger slipped." He said coldly as he shrugged. Mycroft's steely, icy eyes landed on James' face.

A pause.

Mycroft pursed his lips.

"That's what I saw." He replied flatly. "Ladies, did you see any differently?" They shook their heads. "Good."

Carol stepped forward. She took Richter's bleeding arm and pulled it behind his back, pushing him into the wall. She placed her handcuffs on him tightly. Mycroft placed his gun back in its holster as he turned around to face Anthea.

"Go with James to get Jamie. I'll assist with this situation." That wasn't it at all. Mycroft just wanted to avoid emotional and messy reunions. Emotions are scary, dealing with gun toting crazy people is not. That's how it worked it a Holmes' head. She didn't argue though, she didn't even smile. She was working. Instead Anthea nodded as if it made perfect sense.

"Yes, sir."

Anthea and James walked right into the dance studio. Against the curtained wall, tied to the ballerina bar, was dear little Jamie. She looked tired, so tired, as she sat there with her arms dangling above her head. Her sparkly hazel eyes looked sleep deprived and fed up. Her blonde hair was mattered and knotted, dulled by the dust and dirt in it. But as tired and dirty and done as she looked she didn't seem to have any more injuries than were already present in the ransom video.

"Jamie." James sighed with relief. The blonde girl's disposition seemed to brighten immediately. Like she finally realised this wasn't a figment of her imagination and that her husband and best friend were really there.

"James!" Jamie instantly began weeping. It tore Anthea's heart into two as she remembered also breaking into tears the moment James spoke to her. "I missed you so much!" James ran straight to her, falling onto his knees and pulled his wife tight to his chest.

"I missed you too." His voice was shaking. He was no doubt crying too now. "So, so, so much!" His big hand was stroking her mattered hair. "I never want to let you go ever again."

"That's okay." Jamie rested her head on his shoulder. "I don't want to leave you ever again either." Anthea licked her lips and sniffed as she tried to hold it together. She pulled out the agency cuff keys and walked over to the two blondes.

"Here." Her voice cracked, betraying her. "Let me get these off."

Click.

Clank.

The heavy metal cuffs fell to the floor.

"Oh, Ali!" Jamie held her arms outstretched to Anthea. "Come here." Anthea got to her knees next to James. Jamie placed her hands gently on either side of Anthea's face. "I hope you're okay." Her hazel eyes search Anthea's face. "I hope this didn't cause you any painful memories or any problems."

That's it.

That's the moment that Jamie boke Anthea.

Anthea began laughing and crying at the same time, her body not quite sure how to comprehend that statement from the blonde woman who had just been held hostage for about a week and a half. She pulled Jamie into a tight hug.

"Don't worry about me, I'm always fine." She closed her eyes as she held onto her best friend. "I should be asking you that. I was so worried."

"I did okay." Jamie spoke into Anthea's neck. "I think I did okay. I knew your boyfriend wouldn't let anything happen." Anthea laughed again. She pulled away and wiped her eyes.

"He was very proud of you in his own way." Anthea sniffed, smiling proudly at Jamie. "He called you clever."

"He did?" Jamie asked. Anthea nodded multiple times. Jamie smiled. She then blinked and turned to James. "Can Ali stay over tonight?"

"Aw, baby." James wrapped his arms around his wife once more. "A can stay forever if it will make you happy."

"I think we need to share her with Mycroft."

Silence.

"I love you, Jamie." James sighed. "I love both of you girls so much."

Anthea wishes she could say it was all sunshine and rainbows from that moment on but that was impossible in this line of work.

The next morning Mycroft requested James' presence in the office bright and early. The agent turned up in his best suit with a sombre look on his bright face. He looked like he was about to receive a death sentence as he stood in front of Mycroft's desk with Mycroft and Anthea on the other side. Who could blame him? Many people had walked out of this office wishing they were dead.

James stood in silence for a good five minutes as Mycroft finished answering an email. And he stood for another two minutes as Mycroft rearranged objects on his desk and tidied the space. And another seven as Mycroft sent Anthea to fetch him another cup of tea. And another one as he placed it on the perfect position on his desk then placed his fingers together.

Mycroft cleared his throat.

He looked at the time.

He looked to his left and offered Anthea a small smile.

He looked at James.

He looked down to his hands and sighed.

"Now," The government official finally spoke. "I've put this off as I understood that finding Jamie was more important. However, now she is safe at home we can avoid this no longer." Mycroft looked up to the room and then at James. "You understand the mess you made with your little lapse in security?" James nodded.

"Yes, sir." He answered, eyes firmly on the wooden desk. "I do."

"No, you can't possibly comprehend it, James." It was harsh, yes, but spoken is soft tones. "My superiors are out for blood. They have been inconvenienced and it is unacceptable."

"I understand that, sir." James nodded again.

"They demand ramifications for such an absurd mistake. And if it were anyone else I'd agree."

James looked up. He looked at Anthea. Anthea shrugged.

"You will not lose your job this time, James. However you will not be the only one in that position." Mycroft stopped as he pulled on his cufflinks. "I have promoted Carol. You are still technically the higher authority but only by an inch. You clearly can't handle this alone and what you have skill Carol has in experience."

A pause.

James nodded furiously.

"Absolutely, sir. I understand, sir." Mycroft stood up from his desk. He walked around and sat on the lip of the wood, arms folded across his chest.

"Make sure you understand what I'm saying here, James. Listen well. Walter and I have vouched for you. We did everything short of a blood pact to promise that you would not make another blunder like this again. This is the very last time I stick my neck out on the line for you and if this happens again I'll have your head on a platter so fast you won't see it coming. Understand?"

"Of course, sir! Absolutely, sir! I'll provide the platter, sir." James continued to nod. Mycroft flicked his wrist to the door.

"Go before I change my mind."

James was out the door in a flash. Anthea had to laugh as the door slammed behind him. Mycroft sighed as he buried his face in his hands. He looked tired now, as tired as Anthea had felt when Jamie was missing. She came to sit on the edge of the desk next to Mycroft so that their shoulders touched. Anyone else she might put her arm around them, but this simple level of contact was more than enough assurance for Mycroft to know that Anthea was there.

"Why do I bother?" He asked as he dragged his hands away from his face. "Why do I even try with people?" Anthea smiled warmly at the genius as she searched his eyes.

"Because you're a lighter shade of grey." She said. And because you have a good heart. She thought but dared not to say out loud.

"My dear, you have far too much faith in me."

"Maybe." Anthea pouted as she shrugged yet again. "But I'd vouch for you any day."

Author's Note: So what do you think? Was it alright? I did have a lot of fun coming up with everything. It was a great time hashing out all the details with Lauren, too. I can't wait to hear what you thought of this whole little arc. Thanks to our one guest reviewer this time: Bunnyrabbit100. I'd say I'm surprised but I know a few people (like ovejalucifer) who don't like to read cliff hangers until they're completed. Thanks to everyone else who reviews, I get to tell you personally how awesome you are. See you in five days!