Molly sighed as she examined the microscope. Her head pounded and her chest felt tight. She'd gone to bed with a headache and awakened with a fever and the case of a typically horrid flu.
However, she loved her job and had work to do, so wasn't going to let a cold stop her. The afternoon dragged by, and molly wondered whether Sherlock's particular absence had made the day go slower.
She enjoyed their time spent together working, even on the days when he would seem insensitive or blunt. She replayed yesterday's conversation in her head, the warmth of his eyes and he told her that she has always counted and always been important to him. She smiled to herself.
He was out on a case with John all morning, leaving Molly no distraction from the pain and discomfort she was in.
She looked at the clock. Only 12pm. How was she going to get through the day with all this work to Do?
Her head pounded and she felt hot and fatigued. Her mind was foggy and dizziness was consuming, leading to beginner level mistakes in her work, further frustrating to her day.
She leaned on the bench for support as she became absorbed into her work through the microscope. She heard the lab door open and shut just as a coughing fit racked her chest.
Sherlock entered, his expression quickly turning from indifference to concern as he took in Molly's body language.
Her watery eyes looked up to see a concerned Sherlock.
He walked up to her quickly.
"Molly, are you alright?" He looked down at her small form and his eyes narrowed in concern. Molly straightened defensively.
"Oh, Sherlock, hi, um, yes I'm fine thank you." She stammered nervously.
Sherlock's expression turned suspicious.
"Well, I believe that the definition of 'fine' typically would not involve exhibiting obvious fatigue along with an elevated heart rate and body temperature with congested sinuses and an inflamed chest cavity."
Molly's smile fell.
Sherlock stepped closer.
"You're sick, Molly. You should go home and rest for the day and you need to consume fluids regularly. I'll see you tomorrow."
He smiled, gathered some documents and left the lab. He was finishing the case with John.
A few more hours had passed and Molly refused to leave. She didn't want to seem weak or show a lack of endurance to her work, especially not to Sherlock.
As she sat writing lab reports and analysing data, she coughed violently. She felt extremely dizzy and her vision kept going in and out of focus.
She barely noticed the sound of Sherlock's return.
Sherlock entered, slowly removing his snow covered coat and hanging it behind the lab door.
He turned towards the desks when he saw Molly still working, her face pale and weak. The sight of her in obvious pain and discomfort struck him, as he felt his heart accelerate in fear and then in irritation.
"Molly Hooper, why are you still working in your condition?" He scolded her as she gasped and sat upright.
"I've done it! The woman must have been poisoned with her blood pressure medication! However I don't know which one so once you figure that out, we've cracked it!" She smiled to herself, pleased to be of use to Sherlock's case.
His expression grew irritated as he barely heard her conclusion, too focussed on her deteriorating condition.
"Molly, you will go home immediately and rest."
His voice rang with sternness and finality.
Molly pouted.
"Sherlock, I just need a few more hours on this case and I'll identify the medication it was, here let me show you-".
Sherlock immediately blocked her path to the laboratory. His tall frame looked intimidating compared to her small height.
She steadied herself slowly, standing as tall as she could. She refused to look weak.
"Molly Hooper, if you think that I'm going to let you stay and work, despite your obvious state, then you do not know that I value you. Now the case can wait, but you are leaving now."
She glanced to his right side, anticipating pushing past him.
Sherlock sighed in annoyance, anticipating her attempt. His eyes narrowed.
Molly shuffled her feet before dizziness causing her to sway heavily.
Sherlock gasped slightly and grabbed her forearms strongly, steading her.
He looked into her eyes, laying a long palm on her forehead.
"You're burning up and I'm not happy with the lack of colour in your face. Come now, I'll escort you home." He turned his body towards to door, slipping into his coat quickly.
Molly stayed put defiantly. "Sherlock, I'm so close to finishing this case and it's just a cold. I'm not leaving."
Sherlock breathed in slowly, refusing to become angry at her obvious lack of care for her own wellbeing.
He marched over to her, towering over her.
"Molly Hooper, in case you haven't noticed, I am significantly taller, larger and stronger than you and if you continue to disregard your own health, then I will have no choice but to force you."
She took a swaying step backwards.
He could see her eyes drooping and her face growing paler by the minute.
She decided to call emotionless Mr Holmes on his bluff. Plus she didn't have much strength left to argue with.
"You wouldn't."
Sherlock smiled a large sarcastic smile before swiftly but gently scooping Molly up , cradling her into his chest. He smiled to himself as her protests soon diminished as she slowly lost consciousness from the exhaustion.