The Little Mouse (BBC Sherlock Fanfic)

Chapter 12: Another Day with Mycroft

Rose got up early and went to work at Mycroft's office. She smiled once she saw him, though, he did not smile back. "Good morning sir."

"Mycroft, good morning Mycroft, not sir." He insisted, before looking her over. 

"Oh right, sorry." She said sheepishly. "It's hard to remember sometimes."

"And why is that?" He asked as she nosed around the room, looking at the paintings and such. "Because you're my boss."

"Hm." He hummed as he watched her.

"What am I to do today Mycroft?"

"Today you are merely my assistant, nothing too strenuous." He said.

"For the mind or body?" She asked as she continued looking.

"Both."

"It's nice that you care so much." Rose teased, coming back to him.

"I never said that." He gave her a bit of a dirty look but she only smiled sweetly in return.

A beautiful woman entered the door holding a file. She was surely the envy of many a woman with the looks she had. But Rose didn't seem affected, just curious as she handed Mycroft a file. "That's the last of the work you had given me." She said.

"I noticed you took an extraordinarily long time to do so which I assure you, was not necessary." He said. "I haven't the time for such meaningless displays."

The woman looked over Rose with a bit of a sneer. "Is this the little girl who is replacing me?"

Rose made a face and decided now that she did not like her, though she was surprised that Mycroft was completely unaffected by her charms towards him.

He looked over the file instead of looking at her. "She is a woman who is most capable in all respects and now that you are finished could you please move on to annoying your next employer?"

"Ugh!" She huffed. "That scruffy old man? How mean you are to banish me to him when my Mycroft is so close by."

He rolled his eyes and shooed her away with his hand.

She simply smirked and placed her card in his coat pocket. It was as if Rose were not even in the room. "Well... If you need me for anything do let me know." She purred before leaving the room, her high heels clicking against the floor.

Once she was gone Rose looked at Mycroft with a big smile. "Well aren't you a stud?"

He rolled his eyes again and threw the card in the trash. "I am in a position of power, apparently that attracts some women. But I will not be swayed by superficiality, it's a dangerous game for a man like me."

"Oh? So... if you weren't worried about a woman stealing your secrets then... would you call her?"

Mycroft paused then looked at little Rose thoughtfully. "No. I don't need such distraction in my life."

"But-"

"Now can we please change the subject?"

Rose was persistent. "But you're a man with needs..."

"Change it; now." He said, clearly embarrassed as he moved to put the file away.

Rose giggled then took the file from him. "Fine. Is it better to use paper or digital these days?" She looked at the file but he took it from her.

"Both, some paper some digital, much information fake. In fact-" He stopped suddenly and stared at her and pursed his lips. "Don't do that."

"Do what?" She smiled, looking up into his eyes with her sweet ones.

"You'll get yourself into trouble," Mycroft said then started to leave the room, holding his umbrella, and signaling for Rose to follow.

"What are you talking about Mycroft?"

"I don't know how you do it but you get me to talk now stop it." He said, then used his umbrella to guide Rose closer to him gently from behind.

"I don't mean to, Mycroft, I just get curious is all," Rose assured.

"Curiosity is a dangerous thing for you, you're not ready for the sort that you aspire to investigate," Mycroft said sincerely and lead her to a meeting.

Mid-meeting Rose became antsy and she got up to leave but Mycroft gently held her forearm and gave her a disapproving look and slightly shook his head. Rose protested silently but Mycroft tilted his head further to assert himself and she sighed and sat back down. "I could have needed to use the restroom you know," Rose whispered.

"No, you couldn't."

"How could you possibly know that and why?" Rose asked incredulously though still quiet.

"Shh." He chided.

Once the meeting was over he escorted Rose out of the room. "Did you write down what was important?"

"You didn't ask me to but yes I did."

"But you were going to leave."

"The conversation wasn't going anywhere special and you were finally attentive. Unless it was because of me." She smirked.

Mycroft shook his head slightly mumbling, "Cheeky thing."

Sherlock walked up to them and Rose smiled brightly. "Sherlock!"

"Rose, Mycroft." Sherlock greeted them stiffly.

"Where's John?" Rose asked.

"He's at the flat," Sherlock explained. "I thought we should assess Rose's mindset today, and since you never answer your phone Mycroft I decided to come here in person."

"You and I would assess her?" Mycroft asked.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"She was around Moriarty long enough and I don't know what he might have done to one of a weaker mind-- not to offend, Rosemary." He said, once Rose looked upset.

"Very well, where should we do this?" Mycroft asked.

Rose didn't look too happy. "I don't understand why this is such a concern. You're lying to me. You're acting as if I could have been brainwashed when really you're wondering if I side with him, aren't you? You don't trust me." She started to leave from hurt and anger but Sherlock stood in front of her. 

"If you want us to trust you this needs to be done." Sherlock insisted a bit more gently now with his deep, velvety voice.

She sighed and finally agreed. "Fine... But what is the nature of this test?"

"We can't tell you," Mycroft explained though he sounded careful. "But it will be painless."

Rose was incredibly nervous as to what this would mean. The results of the test were anxiety producing, to say the least. Somehow, she still felt like an outsider.