1969. America. Sherlolly AU.
Story Title taken from the song "Half Moon" by Janis Joplin. I don't own anything; all rights to Moftiss and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Sorry if this is super rough, I haven't written a fic in YEARS. Please review!
Chapter 1
Molly Hooper desperately needed a job. The idea of being a housewife and wasting her life away being stuck at home cleaning, made her physically sick. So obviously, when her cousin's best mate offered her a job with the government, she left her boyfriend, Tom. Although she felt bad about leaving him, he would get over it soon. Tom wanted a woman that he could manipulate and control, and Molly Hooper was nothing of the sort.
She knew very little about her job other than where she was going: a place called California on the west coast of the United States. Molly was excited, to say the least. Not only was she leaving behind her boring life, but she was getting to see a whole different part of the world. Sure, it may not have been some exotic country, but it was different. And that's all that mattered to Molly.
Molly nervously boarded the government plane at 11:00 pm. She sat in one of the twelve seats on the private jet and admired the fancy interior. As she began to get settled, a tall, thin man strutted onto the plane. Is he a colleague of mine? Molly asked herself, concerned. The man was dressed very well: a black suit and a red tie, while Molly simply wore favorite jumper (a light knit-perfect for London summers) and an old pair of bell-bottoms that she had sewn patches on. She knew that it would be a long flight, and wanted to be comfortable. Maybe I should've dressed better. The man looked straight at her with what could only be described as a condescending smile. He stuck out his left hand for her to shake, as his right was holding a black umbrella. She reached out to take his hand and he spoke, startling her.
"You may wipe the confusion from your face, Miss Hooper. I will explain all you need to know when you wake. But first, why don't you get some sleep? It's late and you must be exhausted. Mycroft Holmes, by the way. Your employer."
Molly nodded with wide eyes and wondered how she was supposed to sleep with a strange man, employer or not, sitting near her.
She did not wonder that for long, however, as sleep soon grasped a hold of her. When Molly woke, it was to the feeling of the plane flying very roughly through the sky. Her eyes jolted open and her body became stick straight. This was Molly's first time on an airplane, and she felt like this was definitely not right. She looked over at Mycroft, who was gazing back at her in a very amused fashion.
"Just a bit of turbulence, Miss Hooper. I know you've never flown, but surely you know of turbulence?" Mycroft asked her, his voice taking on a soft tone that did not match his face.
He think's I'm unintelligent! Molly thought, horrified. But as soon as she did, Mycroft's voice rang through the cabin again.
"No, Miss Hooper, I think you are scared. Is that not what most people find comforting? Softer vocals?"
He raised his eyebrow at her, quizzingly.
"How did you-" Molly didn't get a chance to finish her question though, as Mycroft spoke again.
"You are very easy to read. That is why I have chosen you for this job. You will be able to be trusted."
Before Molly could speak another word, Mycroft bellowed an unexcited, "And now, Miss Hooper, for your job description."
Molly looked at Mycroft intently, ready to listen.
"You, Miss Hooper, the lucky woman that you are, will be looking after my younger brother."
Molly quickly became outraged. "Mr. Holmes, sir, you.. I'm.. I'm not a babysitter! I am a registered nurse!"
Mycroft shushed her with a raise of his hand. "And now, Miss Hooper, you will be a private nurse of sorts for my younger brother, who incidentally, is four years your senior. Now, if you would be so kind to let me continue?"
Embarrassed, Molly nodded.
"My brother, Sherlock, has a bit of an addiction. Well, I say a bit, but it's become quite bad. We moved him out to North America as a way to keep him away from the scrutinizing eye of the public, but he has seemed to get worse. You see, he moves from camp to camp full of hippies-" Mycroft took a second to visibly shudder, then continued, "and uses quite a lot of drugs."
Molly nodded, understanding the severity. One of her brothers used to use heroin until just the year before.
"So, I'm to help him clear his system then?" Molly asked.
"Clear his system and keep it clear, Miss Hooper. I have a house purchased, very nice little place. You and he will stay there. I know it may look quite scandalous, but it is necessary."
Molly thought for a moment and then spoke. "How long has he been in California? How long has he been recovering?" She asked.
"In California? Seven Months. Recovering? Zero. You see, Miss Hooper, the last three women I chose for the job, and the one man, could not handle my dearest brother."
Molly became very concerned and asked Mycroft, in a small voice, "Then why would I be able to?"
Mycroft smiled. "Because Miss hooper, you were offered a private government job and turned it down until you were told it was to help people. You want to help. Plus, you won't be able to lie to my brother, which will hopefully work out in our favor."
Molly swallowed and her mouth went dry. For the first time since she took it, Molly Hooper was regretting her new job. And she hadn't even started yet.