Title: Unexpected
author: Cindy Ryan
pairings: Lestrade/Molly pre-ship
timeline: This is AU after A Scandal in Belgravia so Reichenbach Fall never happens in this timeline :)

Doctor Molly Hooper rubbed the bridge of her nose tiredly as she returned to her desk. She hated the first of the year. She was happy for new beginnings and clean slates and all that but it was inevitably busy. Busier every year. Not just with her case load but more paperwork. Molly never seemed to be caught up on one thing or the other. Plus with the department budget cuts her staff got smaller.

It was two weeks since Christmas and Molly was doing her best to forget the awful holiday party. She'd worked a double on new years which had helped. Now though as she sat down to yet another paper bagged lunch from home Molly began to wonder if anything would change. Despite her best intentions of maybe because of them Molly always seemed to be back at square one.

With a sigh the young brown haired woman sat down and scooted the chair closer. It was only then that she noticed the lavender paper bag with matching handles sitting on the far left corner of her desk. It'd been partially hidden by her metal folder divider. Puzzled Molly reached for it wondering who could've left her a present. It wasn't her birthday and if it was a belated Christmas present it was the wrong color wrapping. Molly picked up the small bag and sat back down. Flipping the square purple tag over Molly recognized Greg Lestrade's familiar scrawl.

'Molly, saw this and thought of you. Greg'

Pushing aside lavender tissue paper Molly found a round object wrapped carefully in the same color paper. Pulling the tape off gingerly the doctor opened the bindings to find a crystal light catcher the type people hung in windows. This was in the shape of a butterfly. The lights of the morgue already making colors dance off the crystal. Molly smiled and shook her head. How Greg had remembered that she used to collect them when she was little and was restarting her collection Molly didn't know. Maybe it was what made him such a good policeman. Or maybe it was what made him such a good friend or both. Either way it warmed her heart that he would not only take the time to purchase the gift but to deliver it to her office. Molly's cell phone rested next to her desk phone and she reached for it and flipped it open. She found Lestrade's number and sent a text. Molly knew if she called she'd trip over her words as always. She glanced over the text once before hitting send.

"Thank you so much for the beautiful gift."

Setting the phone aside Molly carefully placed the sun catcher in an inner compartment of her purse. Once that was done Molly finished her lunch. Just as she was throwing away the remains Molly's cell phone beeped. Finishing tossing the rubbish Molly opened her phone and saw a waiting text message. She clicked on it and found Greg's reply.

"You're very welcome. Glad you liked it. "

With a smile Molly put the phone aside, stood and went back to work. Sometimes people surprised you in a good way.