Hi, I'm back with a short fic to take me through to half term week when I go on holiday. We're back to being modern day and I challenged myself with writing a fic in which ALL of the scenes were based in Barts. Not sure why I decided to do that but I did. Hope you guys like it.

Chapter 1

Sherlock found himself distracted from his thoughts by the sound of thunder outside. It was only as he looked up from the microscope that he realised quite how dark the room had got.

Molly pushed her stool back with a scrape and made her way over to flick on the switch that flooded the lab with overly bright fluorescent lighting. 'So much for summer! Looks like we're in for more rain.'

As she walked back to her seat he couldn't help but notice she was rubbing her neck and he glanced at the wall clock to see how long they'd been there working together. He was shocked to see it was well after four pm. He had been there working non-stop for five hours and now he thought about it he realised Molly had been with him the whole time.

'You OK, you look like something's bothering you.' She smiled warmly and he was reminded all over again just how loyal and reliable she always was. Yes, she called him out if he was being rude or unreasonable in his requests but when he was on a case, as he had been today, she stayed and did whatever was needed without question. He had always been aware of this but for some reason it rarely made its way through to his conscious brain.

He hesitated as he replied. 'I'm fine. You? Maybe I should get us some drinks or food. When did you last eat?'

Now it was her turn to be surprised. 'Well, a coffee and a sandwich would be good but...um..it's not like you to offer refreshments when we're working.'

He pushed away from his desk. 'I know, I just...maybe I need a break, we both do. Come on, I'll treat you in the cafe.'

She chuckled and shook her head. 'I'm not about to turn that offer down but I might need to take photos otherwise John and Mary won't believe me when I tell them.'

Molly chattered away happily to Sherlock as they made their way up to the canteen on the first floor. 'I didn't think you'd want anything to eat, what with being on a case and everything. It feels weird almost like we're going on a date or something...I..I...mean, not a date date just well..umm.'

Sherlock let his lips quirk up in a smile at her tying herself up in knots just like she used to when she'd fancied him all those years ago. He felt a sudden pang remembering that but he ignored it and turned his head a little as he reassured her. 'If it were a date Molly I'd take you somewhere a lot nicer than Bart's canteen but don't worry it's fine, I proved her cousin was the killer almost an hour ago and texted Lestrade so he could make the arrest. I just got caught up trying to work out what the other compound was under her fingernails.'

'Oh, and did you?'

'Did I what?'

'Did you work it out?'

He felt himself blush a little and then rolled his eyes at his own embarrassment. 'Yes.'

Molly pushed through the doors to the food hall and held one whilst Sherlock followed her through.

'So...what was it?'

He felt himself hesitate before spitting it out. 'It was silicon-based sex aid lubricant.'

Molly turned her head away quickly but not before he saw the light blush and grin spreading over her face. 'Oh'.

'Are you laughing at me Molly Hooper?'

She turned back and her grin was firmly fixed in place. 'Maybe...it's just funny. You spending all that time trying to work out what it was.'

He huffed, feeling a little defensive in the face of her amusement. 'Yes...well, I didn't spend that much time. So, what do you fancy? My treat so feel free to go mad.'

Molly widened her eyes. 'Wow, so generous. Hmm what have we got...yesterday's left over roast chicken recycled into a dried out chicken pasta bake or some sort of stew. I think I'll just stick with a sandwich.'

They picked out what they wanted and true to his word Sherlock paid before they made their way over to a quiet corner with Molly saying hi to a couple of colleagues as she passed them. She seemed to be acquainted with so many of the staff in the hospital; her warm openness the polar opposite of his own personality.

Molly settled in and opened up the cardboard packet of her sandwich. 'So, do you remember the last time we ate together here? Well, I ate and you just huffed and grumbled about how long it was taking me. It was years ago...those bodies with the lotus tattoos on their feet.'

'Ah, yes I think John called that one the Blind Banker...quite a fascinating case.'

'You were a terrible flirt back then when you wanted to get your own way.'

'What do you mean terrible?'

'Well...I think you complimented my hair didn't you? It didn't take me long to figure out your tricks. You were never very good at it; must be lack of practice.'

He frowned and grumbled. 'I'm very good at flirting when I put my mind to it.'

Molly carried on eating ignoring his frown. 'Maybe to people who don't know you Sherlock but I soon got wise to it.'

By the time they made their way downstairs Molly cited her intention to get off home. 'I've been here since eight this morning and if you haven't got a case anymore I may as well shoot off. Are you coming?'

'No, I have a bit more work to do but thank you for helping this afternoon.'

As he looked down at the small woman by his side he was filled with a sudden rush of...well, he wasn't sure what it was...maybe fondness. She had always been there for him and in the last few months since John and Mary had been busy with their new baby his friendship with her had become even more important to him. He realised he really didn't really appreciate her as much as he should.

'That's OK Sherlock, anytime, you know that.' She hung up her lab coat and started to put on her jacket and pack up her bag.

He felt a sudden need to impress upon her how serious he was and as she went to walk past him he caught her arm. 'No, I mean it Molly. Thank you for everything you do for me.'

She gave him a slightly confused smile but didn't say anything as he bent his head to kiss her on the cheek. He had no idea what came over him next but at the last minute just before his lips met her cheek he tilted his head slightly and pressed them instead onto her mouth.

It lasted no more than a couple of seconds before he pulled away and when he did he couldn't help but notice how dilated her pupils were and how attractively flushed her face was. He could feel his own heart beat thundering in his ears and he wondered what exactly had come over him.

He could see she was about to ask him what that was and he quite simply had no idea so instead he turned away and just brusquely added. 'I'll no doubt see you soon then Molly. Good night.'

'Um..night Sherlock.'

He didn't look around until he heard the door quietly shut behind her and then he seemed to let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding onto as he sagged against the desk.

His mind was whirling far more than it had been when he'd been solving that puerile case, but then it had just been a five at best. Whereas this...he had no idea where that kiss had come from but he needed to solve it and fast because even he knew the consequences if he messed Molly around and it wouldn't just involve a punch in the face from John.

He sat down on his stool, thankful that the lab was completely empty, and he went back to that moment when he'd changed from kissing her cheek to kissing her lips. What had been going through his mind?

He recalled her laughing at his attempts to flirt with her, his sadness that she no longer seemed to have romantic feelings for him, how good she was to him and for him and that rush of feeling he'd had for her. It had all come together in a perfect storm and for a split second he'd wanted to connect with her on a closer, more intimate level.

The most frightening thing was that that simple kiss had evoked more desire and feeling in him than he'd felt in the last decade combined. It was dangerous and he needed to shut it down and shut it down now! He vowed to stay away from Barts for the foreseeable future and to delete all memories of the kiss. He considered doing it straight away but then hesitated; maybe he should wait until he was at Baker St or until the danger had passed. He shouldn't act too rashly.

When he opened his eyes it was getting dark outside and the rain was still coming down though it was a bit more drizzly than it had been earlier. He supposed it was time for him to go home but he had to say it wasn't particularly appealing. John had been gone a few months now and if Sherlock were honest he was lonely when he was there on his own too much. Mrs Hudson wouldn't even be in tonight as he knew she went to her bridge club on a Thursday. He didn't have any better options though and so he picked up his jacket, turned off the lights and left.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

When Molly came in the next morning she walked into the lab, flicking on the lights as she went and the memories of the evening before came flooding back; not that they'd gone very far in the first place.

She was still confused about that KISS and yes in her mind it was very much a kiss with capital letters. She wasn't sure either where it had come from or what it meant and she certainly didn't want to get her hopes up but how could she not. The feel of his lips pressed against hers had been electric. All those feelings for him that she had tried to damp down and ignore over the last couple of years had come roaring back. She'd spent the evening going over and over their conversation and the meal and the kiss until her head had hurt but she was no closer to figuring him out than she ever had been.

She stood by the desk where it had happened and trailed her fingers slowly over his seat before rolling her eyes and shaking her head at herself. What was she...twelve? She resolved to ask him about it if he came in later, she just needed to get it out there.

The problem was he didn't come in later, or the day after or the day after that. In fact it was almost a week before he appeared and by the time he did Molly had long since decided that actually it had meant nothing to him and it was just one more anomaly for her to try to ignore.

Here's hoping you like the start, I'll be posting regularly over the next two weeks to fit it all in.