A/N: I gave Seb a new fake name. Cookie to everyone who recognizes it. :)

Leaving the cafe a little over an hour later, comfortably full (John had to admit, Sebastian certainly knew how to pick out a good eatery) John was startled to see a man outside who looked suspiciously like-

"Greg?" John wasn't really aware he had said the name out loud until the man turned to reveal it was, in fact, Lestrade.

"John," Lestrade said, sounding equally surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"I live a few streets over. What are you doing here?"

"There was a case not far from here. Normally they wouldn't send me out this far, but I think that they're still secretly trying to punish me." It was at this point Lestrade noticed Sebastian. "Who's this?"

"Oh, this is my, um, friend," John paused, knowing he couldn't give Lestrade Sebastian's real name.

"Peter Vincent," Sebastian cut in and introduced himself, shaking Lestrade's hand. "You must be Greg Lestrade. I've heard quite a lot about you." The way he said it, John had no doubt in his mind it was absolutely true, though he was also certain he had never mentioned Lestrade to Sebastian.

"Really?" Lestrade asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well, I'm afraid I can't say the same for you."

"I would be rather surprised if you had heard of me," Sebastian repleid with an almost dangerous looking smile.

"Right," the DI said theword slowly, suddenly looking wary. He stared at Sebastian for a moment longer before turnign back to John. "Well, I'd better get back to the Yard. It was nice seeing you again." With that Lestrade turned and walked away.

"He seems nice," Sebastian commented. John couldn't tell if the sniper was being sarcastic or not.

_x_X_x_

By the time Greg got back to Scotland Yard almost an hour later he was annoyed enough before he spotted the familiar black car idling (in quite an illegal spot, the detective part of his brain noted) in front of the station. Walking up to the vehicle he was quite unsurprised when the door swung open, revealing a familiar brunette.

"So what are you calling yourself today?" It was his standard greeting to the woman considering that she had a different name everytime they met.

"Alice," she replied, not looking up from her phone.

"You really do like those 'A' names, don't you?" Greg noted. Alice said nothing, as per usual. "So, Alice. What does his eminence want with me today?"

"He wishes to ask you something."

"And he couldn't just give me a call? I'm sure by now he has all my phone numbers." Alice just looked at him, arching one eyebrow. "No, of course, what was I thinking," Greg grumbled as he got in the car. "Calling wouldn't be nearly dramatic enough."

The drive to Mycroft's office was quiet, the only sound in the car came from Alice typing away at her Blackberry. Greg often wondered just exactly what her job was that required her to spend so much time doing whatever it was she did on her phone. They pulled up to a buiding Greg knew all too well and he followed obediently as Alice led him inside and straight to Mycroft's office. She disappeared inside for a moment before letting Greg in. Walking through the doors, Greg stopped short at the sight in front of him as Alice slipped out of the room.

"Hello, Detective Inspector," Mycroft greeted without looking up from his desk, currently containing a sandwich amidst all the files. Greg just gaped a little. Noticing Greg's silence, Mycroft looked up, frowning. "Is there something wrong?"

"Sorry," he said, shaking himself a bit. "It's just, I've never actually seen you with food. It's strange."

"Oh," Mycroft sounded faintly surprised. "Well, even politicians need to eat."

"I suppose so, just seems so..." Greg paused searching for the right word. "Normal," he decided upon.

"Are you suggesting I'm abnormal?" Mycroft asked and Greg was sure he was being teases, but that couldn't be possible, because Mycroft Holmes did not tease people.

"Who are you, and what have you done with Mycroft Holmes?" Greg asked, only half joking.

"I assure you, I am very much myself," Mycroft informed him with a small half-smile. "Now, then. I did call you here for a reason."

"Ah, yes," Greg said. "I heard you wanted to ask me something, but for some reason couldn't just pick up a phone."

"I dislike communicating remotely," Mycroft all but sniffed. "Now then, I understand that this morning you had a run-in with Doctor Watson."

"I'm not spying on John for you."

"Now, really. If I wanted a spy I would hire one. Besides, I believe I learned my lesson the first time I tried to convince you to gather intel for me." Mycroft's face remained neutral, but Greg couuld see a glimmer of amusement in his eyes as they both recalled their first meeting. Mycroft had given him the same offer he had given John. Greg had tried to have him arrested for bribing a police officer.

"So what do you want then?"

"There was a man with Doctor Watson." Greg decided not to ask how Mycroft knew that. "I simply wish to know that man's name."

"That's it?" Greg couldn't quite keep the incredulity out of his voice.

"That's it," Mycroft confirmed.

"Um, I think he said his name was Peter."

"Last name?"

"I think it was Vincent."

"Thank you, Lestrade, you've been most helpful," Mycroft smiled. Somehow sensing that the meeting was ending, Alice came back in the room to escort Lestrade out.

"I suppose I'll see you next time you kidnap me, whenever that is," Greg said as he followed Alice out of the room.

"Yes, I suppose you will," he heard Mycroft reply as Alice shut the office doors behind them.

_x_X_x_

Mycroft was distracted from the file he was currently working on by the sound of someone shouting. Recognizing the voice easily he sighed and set his work aside, standing to brace himself against the oncoming conflict.

"Sir, you can't just barge in-" Anthea was cut short as the doors to Mycroft's office slammed open, revealing Sherlock, a very annoyed Anthea clutching his arm, obviously attempting to stop him. Releasing the detective, her eyes flicked between the two brothers apprehensively. Mycroft gave a dismissive gesture and she nodded before exiting the room, closing the doors softly behind her.

"Mycroft." Sherlock's voice was cold and the word was obviously not a greeting.

"Sherlock," Mycroft replied evenly.

"Moran is back in London."

"Yes, I am aware, but surely you already knew that." Mycroft gestured for Sherlock to sit. The detective remained standing. Mycroft suppressed his exasperation at his brother's stubbornness.

"Of course."

"So what do you really want, Sherlock?"

"When all of this started, this plan to take out Moriarty, I asked you for something. One specific thing."

"Sherlock-" Mycroft attempted, already knowing what Sherlock was getting at.

"One thing, Mycroft. What was it?" Sherlock pressed on determinedly.

"You asked me to keep John Watson safe."

"Exactly. Which is why I can't help but wonder why he was just having breakfast with the most dangerous man in London."

"I've been monitoring the situation since it began-"

"Oh, you've been monitoring."

"Sherlock, I have been keeping a close eye on both Colonel Moran and Doctor Watson for the past three months now, and I can assure you-"

"Three months? You've known about this for three months and saw fit neither to inform me nor do anything about it?"

"Like I said, Sherlock, I've been watching them both and if anything had happened to indicate John's life might have been in danger I would have taken immediate action."

"Well that makes me feel so much better."

"Sarcasm doesn't suit you, brother."

"And caring for people other than yourself doesn't suit you," Sherlock spat.

"So hypocritical, Sherlock, what would mummy say?"

"Very little considering she's dead."

"There's no need to get nasty."

"You seem to possess a depressing inability to keep one ex-army doctor safe. I'd say that that's plenty reason to get nasty." Sherlock actually snarled the words and for a moment Mycroft had to wonder if he had been wrong about Sherlock's feelings towards John Watson.

"Sherlock, I am trying, but you have to understand that there is a bigger picture here."

"Right, a bigger picture," Sherlock snorted derisively. "Always a bigger picture with you lot, isn't there?"

"Sherlock," Mycroft attempted, but Sherlock cut him off.

"No, I understand perfectly, Mycroft. I'll let you get back to your bigger picture." Sherlock stalked to the doors, throwing them open.

"Sherlock," Mycroft called, but Sherlock had already disappeared. Mycroft sighed, slumping back into his chair. He stayed like that for a moment before straightening and calling Anthea into his office.

"Have this sent to Scotland Yard," he told her, handing her the file he had just been working on. "And make sure I am alerted the instant you finish the search for Colonel Moran's current location."

"Yes, sir," Anthea replied obediently, taking the file. "Anything else, sir?"

"That will be all," Mycroft dismissed her. He had an important phone call to take.

_x_X_x_

"Hello, Doctor Watson."

"You bastard."

"I'm sorry?"

"Don't give me that, Mycroft, you know exactly what I'm talking about."

"I'm rather afraid I don't."

"You bugged my flat!"

"Oh, that."

"Yes. That. Anything to say for yourself?"

"I believed it to be in your best interest-"

"My best interest? You took it upon yourself to decide what my best interests are?"

"I told you before, Sebastian Moran-"

"Yes, I get it, he's dangerous. But so was Sherlock, and so are you. So stay out of it, Mycroft."

"Doctor Watson-"

"I don't want to hear it."

"Sherlock asked me to-"

"Asked you to what? Spy on me?"

"To keep you safe!"

"In case you haven't noticed after keeping me under surveillance for months I am quite safe. And even if I wasn't, I certainly wouldn't need any help from you."

"Doctor Watson-"

"Sherlock is dead, Mycroft. And I hereby relieve you of your obligation to look after me, okay? So just leave me alone."

"Doctor-"

"Goodbye, Mycroft."

_x_X_x_

It took Greg a lot longer than he had expected to get back to the Yard and he felt a surge of annoyance at Mycroft for taking him away from his work for so long. Once he had made his way to his office he was relatively unsurprised to find a folder sitting in the center of his desk. He sat down heavily in his chair and pulled a sticky note off the top of the folder, frowning when he realized he recognized the handwriting. The note read, 'It was the brother-in-law.' Flipping the folder open, Greg was shocked to find it contained all the completed paperwork and evidence from the case he had been working this morning and he had the identity of the perpetrator.

Greg leaned back in his chair, a smile playing at his lips. Somethimes being kidnapped by Mycroft wasn't so bad.

A/N: I know I've been just calling her Anthea up to this point. In my head, her name really is Anthea, but only Mycroft knows that, and she gives other names to other people. Kinda like what Seb is doing with John. Just so you know, and in case you were confused about the Alice thing.

So, love it? Hate it? Want me to sample the peril of Castle Anthrax for writing it? (not that I would mind ;) ) Let me know!

-badgermushroom out! :d