Molly sat alone again. She seemed to spend all her time alone but tonight was meant to be different. Tonight she should have been out with Jim. He had said he would meet her at the fox but she had sat there all alone nursing a drink until he had sent a text saying he wasn't coming

.

Earlier today Sherlock had said Jim was gay. Surely he was joking Jim had been nothing but attentive until tonight. She hadn't even noticed Jim. He had come to her, he had bought her coffee, then lunch, then flowers. He had sent her texts and left her notes and been just so sweet. Yet here she was once again on a Friday night sat on her own.

Taking a deep breath she stood up and made her way out of the crowded pub and headed back home. She may as well change into something more comfortable. In fact she may as well go finish the work she had left half done so she could get ready for the date.

73~73

Dressed now in jeans and jumper Molly grabbed her bag and keys and left the flat. As she walked down the stairs to the tube she took her oyster card out of her coat pocket and in one movement was through the barriers without even slowing down. Most of the other passengers were tourists heading into town for the night life, Molly kept her head down and made eye contact with no-one.

As she entered her lab Molly saw the microscope Sherlock had been using earlier still on the bench. She was sure she'd put it away but she had been excited and distracted so maybe not. Closing her eyes and breathing in she could almost smell Sherlock's aftershave. He had been his normal self today. Shoving his opinions at her then looking shocked when she got upset. Even John looked shocked at his suggestion that Jim was gay. He must be wrong mustn't he?

Moving quickly to tidy, which she should have done earlier, Molly let her mind wander. She loved the peace at this time of night, no interruptions, no phones; just her and her work. That was one thing she could identify with Sherlock over. He had the same focus and drive. She loved watching him work. He was so intense. The afternoon she had watched him with that whip still haunted her dreams. Not that she was into that sort of thing, in fact what he was doing almost hadn't registered, she had been so focused on his muscles moving as he swung the whip she could still picture it.

But if she were honest Jim didn't haunt her dreams like Sherlock, she didn't wake in the night almost panting in excitement at the dreams featuring Jim. No Jim was nice and safe. Texts and flowers and calls.

Deciding she was not going to get much done in the way of work Molly pulled out her files and began filling in the paperwork she had neglected. The florescent lights of the lab were beginning to make her eyes ache. Perhaps she was just tired. Moving to get some coffee Molly thought back to her offering Sherlock coffee, she had wanted to go out for coffee, to talk to him, maybe get past that mask he always had. She wanted him to see her.

Jim took her for coffee, Jim was happy to chat or more precisely he liked to listen. He was attentive; asked her about her job, asked her about her interests and friends. He had been patient when she was angry because Sherlock had upset her again. He listened when she told him about the insults and dismissive behaviour.

Why then when he had been so kind had he not turned up tonight? Molly frowned. It didn't make sense. And the real question; why when her boyfriend had stood her up was she here wondering where Sherlock was? was he at home? On a case?

Sipping her coffee Molly wondered what he would do if she turned up at his door. Would he invite her in? Would she be brave enough to tell him how she felt? Confess her dreams and desires? Shaking her head she finished her coffee and the file she was working on and put them back in the drawer. She must be more tired than she thought.

He phone vibrated in her pocket. Picking up her bag and her coat she turned off the lights and walking down the corridor opened the text message. It was from Jim,. He apologised for standing her up said he had had to meet an old friend. He would make it up to her.

Back on the tube Molly looked at the headlines on the paper of the man sat opposite her. It said the hostages had been released. Molly smiled, she bet Sherlock was involved. He was always involved in these things it seemed. once home Molly began to get ready for bed. Maybe tonight she would dream about Jim instead of Sherlock, maybe.

73~73

She had been lying awake for an hour. She had played a game on her smart phone, checked her emails and was now staring at the text she had just typed out her finger hovering over the send button. Closing her eye she hit send. Maybe she should have had that coffee, lying awake to see if he would respond was almost worse than dreaming about him!

She turned over and stared at the ceiling. Maybe it was Jim she should have sent the text too, she should have invited him over and then she could have proved to Sherlock he wasn't gay. Turning back to stare at her phone she knew she wouldn't do it she really wasn't interested. It was always just him. The one she knew would never look at her as she did him.

She nearly fell out of bed as her phone lit up in response. Grabbing it she opened the message.

The phone hit the wall and shattered. Why? Why was he always right? OK so he hadn't said this would happen but he had told her she was wasting her time and he was right. How could her Jim be a criminal? Had he been using her? Sherlock said he had, using her to get to him. Closing her eyes and curling into a ball Molly tried to sleep. Maybe tomorrow would be better.

73~73