Stereotypical (BBC Sherlock)

Chapter 7 - Germans

I ran upstairs, pulling my jacket on as I went. I popped some bread into the toaster and put the kettle one. John was just coming down as I pulled the toast out. I fixed his tie and brushed his hair down, the usual routine. He smiled and sat down to his breakfast. Sherlock sat down with a grumble. I handed him a newspaper and set his coffee down next to him.

John raised a brow at me. "Trying to domesticate us?"

I smiled and pulled my flats on. "Someone's got to take care of you two. I'll see you later!" I slammed the door and ran downstairs, stepping outside just as Alvin pulled up. When I arrived at Mycroft's office, he opened the door. He looked me over, taking in my new business pants and white shirt.

"Good. We'll start you off with general secretary work. I don't have anything going on today." He led me to a filing room and gestured to a cart. "Have at it." I smiled once he left. If there was any work I really enjoyed, it was organizing. Something about putting things in their place while I had music blaring in the background put me at ease. This would be an easy job. Putting my jacket on the back of a chair and leaving my flats under it, I pulled out my Ipod and dove into my work.

I started wondering exactly why Mycroft wanted me to work for him. As a secretary, it was likely Sherlock had talked to him. But I was paid way too much to be a secretary. It was possible he knew about my dealings back home.

It started in college, or Uni, whatever they called it here. I'd been head of the debate team and president of DECA, a leadership and business club. I'd handled people's problems on the side, for money of course. Students and teachers alike came to me with problems.

I never expected it to go anywhere, I just sort of did it to make some money on the side. But it got me a job right out of college. A great job that my parents loved to brag about. I had quit and moved away without telling them the whole story as to why. They never approved. Maybe Mycroft knew about it?

I got my answer in a little while. He called me into his office after my lunch break. I sat down in front of his desk and he slid a folder in front of me. "You had quite the influence in your university, didn't you?"

I rifled through the files, surprised to see they were all reports of my dealings in school. "Yeah, sort of. How'd you get this?"

"I had someone research you. How did you like it?"

"It was nice. Kept me busy, kept me thinking. I liked it. I liked the way people looked at me when I walked down the hall. I didn't get stares because of looks or money or being weird. I got stares because I had power. It was pretty nice. That makes me sound a little power-hungry, huh?"

He shrugged one shoulder and sat back, steepling his fingers. "Would you like to do it again?"

"Sure."

"Wonderful. Anthea works as my PA. What I need is an apprentice. I only had you doing the filing because I didn't have everything sorted yet. Now I do. You'll start your real job tomorrow."

"So I'm... your apprentice. Meaning?"

"You'll be helping me fix problems. Missile plans in the wrong hands, power-hungry politicians, so on."

"Right... You are the British government, aren't you? Sherlock wasn't exaggerating."

He gave me a small smile. "I understand you have some reservations about working for me, however?" I nodded. "I'm well aware of your history although, I don't see it being a problem. I think we can find a way to keep the past where it belongs?" I nodded again and he gestured for me to get back to work. I plugged my headphones back in and finished filing. When I was done, I buzzed Alvin and he took me home. John looked up as I came in with dinner. He sniffed the air.