Chapter One
There was something vulnerable about Molly Hooper that brought out DI Greg Lestrade's protective instincts. He knew he was hopelessly out-dated in this respect, women these days found the idea of male protectiveness more quaint than anything and he took some ribbing for it at work. But he respected Molly too; she was tough when it came to her work and smart he thought, as he knocked on the door of the lab above the morgue.
She looked up as usual, smiling at him as he entered the room, but giving no sign of anything other than professional courtesy. He gave a small inward sigh.
"Hello Greg, which case is it today?" she asked in her friendly manner.
She ran the morgue with astonishing efficiency and could remember the details of every case for at least the past twelve months. He wished more of his officers had her brain and commitment. He paused some way off from her with his hands in his pockets; for some reason he always felt a little clumsy in her presence.
"The Sylvester file", he said looking down with a shake of his head, "Again." "His widow's saying now it was poison…."
"You'd like me to run more tests? I'll start on it straight away."
"No, no," he replied hastily, "Just when you have time, not a high priority, I know how busy you are." The thought of her working late in the lab at night disturbed him although like his ex-wife she would probably laugh off his concern if she knew of it. He supposed it was patronizing to suggest women couldn't look after themselves, even at night in the city. Still, after the things he's seen in his long career, terrible things, the feeling was impossible to shake.
"Oh, it's no bother," Molly was saying brightly.
"Ah, well, thank you."
He smiled and turned away, unable to think of anything further to say although he wished he could.
Just at that moment the ear-splitting ringing of the hospital emergency alarm began to sound.
"Oh dear!" exclaimed Molly, flustered.
Greg noticed that she started violently at the sound and sensitive to her agitation he smiled reassuringly at her and gestured courteously for her to proceed him toward the fire exit.
They made their way up the stairs, Molly explaining nervously over the sound of the alarm, "It will be just a drill, they said we'd be having one this week."
He nodded in reply, feeling distracted by her nearness but firmly trying to repress the sensation. She was much younger than he and probably considered him old. She was staying very close to him however, as they moved to the entrance crowded with staff and patients leaving the building and he wondered if he should offer her his arm. He hesitated, not sure if the gesture would be welcomed.
They were descending the main front steps of the hospital moving toward their muster point when he heard a shout and a scuffle behind them. Turning quickly, his reflexes fast from years of police work, he was able to deflect the oncoming figure that without his action would have knocked Molly to the pavement. Still, she stumbled; losing her balance and hitting her head on one of the main entrance pillars before he was able to catch her. Alarmed, he lifted her into his arms and intent on getting her away from the crowd, left hospital security to deal with the panicked patient who had flung himself down the stairs and into Molly.
He carried her in the direction of his vehicle since returning to the hospital was impossible for the moment, noting with relief that she wasn't completely unconscious. He could feel her struggling to move but too dazed to do so. She was surprisingly light, too light he thought; there must be almost nothing to her under the baggy clothing and the too big lab coat. He murmured something soothing to quiet her, deftly opened the passenger door of the car and placed her gently onto the seat. He then carefully reclined it and leaning forward, felt for her pulse.
Her heart rate was good and he could see some colour returning to her cheeks. He was leaning over her, gently examining the side of her head where it had come into sharp contact with the pillar when her eyes opened.
She stared up at him shocked and just as he was about to say something to her, she gasped, "No, don't! Please don't!" and flung herself wildly away from him toward the driver's seat.
He drew back in such surprise that he banged his head on the roof of the car. He watched stunned, as she clutched her head in pain, staring at him in fear, as tears filled her brown eyes.
"Molly!" he exclaimed, "What is it?"
Wanting to calm her, but afraid to move, he stood helplessly at the open car door. As he watched, he saw recognition start to return to her eyes, perhaps at the sound of his voice, although the confusion remained.
"Molly," he said again, softly.
"Oh God," she said, still holding her head and trying to cover her eyes at the same time. It was the first time he'd ever heard her swear, mild as it was, and it alarmed him further.
"It's okay," he said awkwardly, "You bumped your head while we were going down the stairs and I brought you to my car, that's all. You are going to be fine." He smiled encouragingly, wishing she would look at him.
"Oh, Greg, yes, of course!" she attempted a laugh, struggling to regain her composure. "How silly of me! Thank you, I'm fine now, thank you," she said again, trying to sit up, clearly wanting to leave the car.
"Molly, I think we should get someone to look at your head…"
"Heavens no! I'm fine, I'll just go back to the lab now, thank you I'm fine."
Except she couldn't stand up on her own.
"Please, Molly, let me help you," he said, full of anxiety now, knowing something was wrong, but uncertain what it was.
There was a pause, during which she must have realized she couldn't stand or walk on her own before she said in a small voice, "Yes, a…..alright, thank you."
He put his arm around her, keeping his distance as best he could for that seemed to be what she wanted. Slowly, they made their way back to the hospital.
She didn't seem to have a concussion but she needed to be careful for at least twenty-four hours the intern who examined her announced cheerfully. She could expect a strong headache and there would be significant bruising he added. A lump was already forming.
Glancing at her as they left A&E, Greg could see she was near complete exhaustion. She had assured the intern that she would not go home alone but would go to her sister's place for at least the night and had accepted without protest Greg's offer to drive her there. He left her briefly in the care of a hospital aide and went down to the lab to collect her bag and coat, locking the lab doors on his way out.
He brought his vehicle to the hospital entrance, assisted her into the passenger seat and drove to her sister's flat. Her sister, whom he had talked to briefly from the hospital, was waiting for them. Molly had said nothing during the drive, not that he had expected her too, but it worried him none-the-less. He left them with both his mobile and home phone numbers with a request to call him if they needed anything. As he handed her over to her sister, Molly smiled politely from a pale face, but did not meet his eyes. He puzzled over this, and indeed the entire incident, as he drove somewhat distractedly back to his office. Something was clearly wrong with Molly.