AN: Thank you so much for the reviews, alerts, faves and views! I love the Sherlock fandom, especially you Sherlolly shippers! Thanks for the positive feedback: Guest, musicchica10, magicstrikes, Zora Arian and Day! You are all so brill!
This chapter would have been up sooner if not for a small earthquake here in LA this morning haha. Oh nature!
(Update: This chapter has been edited by the brilliant Daisherz365. Thank you for being a fantastic Beta and friend.)
Disclaimer: I wish I owned Sherlock and Whitechapel, but alas I don't.
After Molly had returned with the packets of crisps and two cans of Pepsi she sat on the stool next to Sherlock's. When she'd handed him the very unhealthy snack (lunch for both actually, as they'd forgotten to eat) Molly had noticed that Sherlock had seemed more frustrated then when she'd left. She'd only been out of the lab for five minutes at most, and couldn't understand what had frustrated him in such a short window of time. Maybe one of her colleagues had entered the lab and annoyed him?
When she was about to ask him if anyone had been by while she was out he'd surprised her as his demeanor completely changed, "How's Toby?"
The random question had thrown Molly off, causing her to stumble over her words a bit, "Um, he's fine. I suppose? I mean, his hair is just starting to grow back"
Sherlock's lip upturned slightly at the annoyed look that now marred Molly's countenance.
As a house guest, Sherlock could be difficult. He kept strange hours, stored stomach churning experiments throughout Molly's flat, and didn't always remember to knock when entering a room. However, there was one ritual of Sherlock's that always managed to annoy Molly – his habit of shaving poor Toby's fur off. The first time it had happened Molly had gone mental. The grey eyed man had never seen the petite woman in such frenzy before. He'd kept his demeanor neutral and detached, but inside he had been amused as she'd shouted at him and chucked his freshly laundered linens at him. "Why on earth would you do this to poor Toby," the brunette asked as she held the nearly fur-less cat to her chest.
Sherlock scoffed, "for some reason 'poor Toby' has decided I make a comfortable cat bed. I'm tired of waking up to cat hair in my mouth and all over my clothes. This is the only viable solution."
Any argument had died on Molly's lips as she remembered that Toby hadn't been sleeping on her bed since Sherlock's arrival. She'd also noticed the excessive amount of cat hair on his clothing – apparently Molly wasn't the only Hooper smitten with the fascinating detective.
"Well, just don't do it anymore," she'd demanded. Naturally, Sherlock ignored her request every time he stayed over.
Even now that Sherlock was back at 221B she'd occasionally come home to find Sherlock lying on her couch thinking over a case, while petting a short haired Toby.
Shaking off the memory Molly turned to Sherlock, "Why do you continue to groom Toby?"
The tall man shrugged, "Your cat is far more helpful to speak to than my skull, so his hair must be kept short so that I can deduce without getting cat hair all over my clothes"
Molly rolled her eyes at the answer. Sherlock smirked, 'I also quite enjoy seeing you frustrated,' he thought to himself before clearing his throat, "I much prefer Toby's company to Gladstone's."
Molly smiled at the reference to John Watson's young bulldog. "You don't get on with him then," she asked with a smirk.
"He's an amicable creature, but drools far too much. Toby has much better hygiene," he sniffed causing Molly to smile
"I'll be sure to pass the compliment on to Toby."
Sherlock grumbled something that sounded like, "best not to, the news will surely go to his head," before turning to his crisps. The pathologist giggled and mumbled an agreement, before the two ate their snack in amicable silence.
As she took small nibbles of her snack she peeked over at the detective. Sometimes it was hard for her to believe that she and Sherlock could enjoy each other's company like this. For years she had wished that she could sit near the brooding detective without hyperventilating – now here she was. Outwardly calm, cool, and collected.
Then again, the man sitting to her left had changed.
The changes were subtle; those around him most were probably the only ones able to notice. He was kinder to those that mattered to him now, especially towards her.
Yes, he could still be an arrogant git when he wanted and he still was "a bit not good" when it came to social etiquette.
For instance, when he had made his public return to London he made it very public and very uncomfortable for those that had played a role in discrediting his work. The memory caused Molly to smile.
"What are you smiling about," Sherlock asked scrapping the bag of Walker's for the last remaining crumbs. Molly smiled as she grabbed a handful of crisps before handing her bag to Sherlock.
"I was just remembering the day you reappeared in London"
(3 months previous)
Molly Hooper sat in the crowded ball room, wearing a trench coat and a fake press badge. Her seat was located in the middle of the room, reporters from the Daily Mail and Daily Sun sitting on either side of her. The front half of the room was occupied by reporters and photographers from various types of media. At the back sat the general public. At the side of the room were three empty chairs.
Molly's eyes turned towards the front of the room where two large posters rested on easels. One poster was a headshot of a blonde woman. The second, a photograph of a book titled the Consulting Fraud. Between the posters were a table and two chairs.
Suddenly a door at the front of the room opened and in stepped the woman from the picture to waves of camera flashes. Molly Hooper ground her teeth as Anderson, Sergeant Donovan, the Chief Superintendent, an unknown man in a suit and Kitty Riley entered the room. The first three sat at the three chairs off to the side, as though they were honored guests. Kitty Riley and the suited man took their seats at the front table.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we thank you for joining us today to hear Ms. Kitty Riley discuss the launch of her first book, Consulting Fraud. We would like to recognize the presence of Mr. Anderson, DS Donovan, and Chief Superintendent Fink today, as they greatly assisted in the investigation of the original case of Sherlock Holmes, but were great assets in providing facts for this book.
"Now if you have any questions…"
The man had no sooner finished that statement when questions began to be hurled at Ms. Riley. Molly only partially listened at the questions being asked and the answers given. Instead she looked at the woman. Sherlock had described to Molly in great deal his original meeting with the journalist. He'd described the state of her dress and upkeep, which at the time was of a low wage writer.
Kitty Riley was no longer that bottom rung journalist. After her exposé on Sherlock the woman had gained infamy and as a result was far more polished. Her hair was now professionally dyed and styled, her gel manicure looked fresh and expensive, and her wardrobe was luxurious.
Yes, Kitty Riley had started living the high life at the expense of Sherlock Holmes, but that would end now.
Molly took a quick glance at her watch before standing up and speaking in a loud voice that rang with authority, "Ms. Riley isn't it true that on the day of Jim Moriarty's trial you entered a men's restroom at the Old Bailey and attempted to seduce Sherlock Holmes in exchange for an exclusive interview? And isn't it also true that Mr. Holmes denied you on both counts and said that 'you repelled (him)'?"
The blonde's mouth dropped open and no sound came out as camera's flashed attempting to photograph her reaction, and Molly. The murmur among the journalist rose and the pathologist continued, "Furthermore on the night of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson's attempted arrest, did they not both arrive at your flat?" Kitty Riley looked at Molly with wide eyes, "how do you know this?"
The pathologist's face remained stoic, but she pressed on, "And is it not so, that while they were speaking with you Jim Moriarty entered your home with a set of keys you had given him, carrying grocery's and referred to you as darling?" At this news the whole room erupted in loud murmurs and questions being shouted at both women. Molly's chest heaved at the news cameras but she did not stop speaking, "These are all true statements, are they not? How are we supposed to trust the credibility of your reporting? Your judgment was clouded by anger towards Mr. Holmes and your intimate relationship with James Moriarty! And was Mr. Moriarty not your only source in your original piece?"
Suddenly Kitty stood up, hands slamming against the table. Her face contorted into a feral growl, "Who the HELL are you? HOW do you know all this?"
Sally Donovan and Anderson looked at Molly closely, before a look of recognition washed over Sally's face, "she's the mousey pathologist! The one who was in love with that FREAK," Sally shouted pointing at the petite brunette.
Holding her head up high Molly slid out to stand in the center aisle, "My name is Molly Hooper and I am a pathologist at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. And I believe in Sherlock Holmes."
At this Molly opened her trench coat and allowed it to fall on the ground. She was wearing a black t-shirt that said 'I believe in Sherlock' on the front and 'James Moriarty was real' on the back
"Sherlock often worked in my lab while trying to solve cases. I saw how hard he worked to help those that came to him for assistance. He picked up clues that you Mr. Anderson and you DS Donovan missed. That angered you didn't it? You couldn't stand that someone who wasn't professionally trained in your field could consistently figure out cases that you struggled with"
At this Anderson bristled, "the man was an arrogant nuisance and he planned all those crimes didn't he? He was the one behind EVERY case he 'solved'."
At this statement someone in the general public shouted "No". The person was Angelo. He stood up and spoke in a loud voice, "that is not true! Mr. Holmes helped clear me of a crime I didn't commit. He was a good man. I believe in Sherlock" at this he unzipped his jacket, revealing that he too wore a shirt like Molly's.
A woman in the back row stood up then, undoing her pashmina to display her own I believe shirt, "Mr. Holmes helped me discover that my brother was embezzling funds from our company".
Then a little boy stood up wearing the same shirt and carrying a puppy (Molly wondered how the dog had been kept quiet for so long), "He helped find Miles! And Mr. Holmes told me that I was going to be a grandfather!"
At that point nearly everyone in the general public stood up, removing their outerwear and shouted how Sherlock had helped them and their loved ones. The media were in a frenzy snapping pictures of anyone they could. The man in the suit attempted to calm everyone at no avail and threatened to call security.
All of the sudden the double doors in the back of the room slammed open and the room grew deathly quiet as a man wearing a black coat marched in, tailed by two men in suits. Molly smiled at him and stepped to the side. As he passed his pathologist, as he'd started referring to her as, he let his fingers brush her hand. The action caused a little jolt to pass between the two. The dark haired man hid the reaction by relaxing his shoulders, and Molly ducked her head to hide her blush.
Sherlock stopped his march at the center of the room, his trademark smirk in place as he first looked at the crowd and media, before he slowly turned and scanned those now standing at the front of the room. Anderson looked about ready to shout when Sherlock gave him a sharp look, "Anderson what have I told you about speaking? I've told you not to speak as it lowers the IQ of all those in the room"
The crowd of supporters gave a loud shout of agreement and erupted in applause and laughter. Suddenly Kitty let out a wail, "Noooooo! What are you doing here? You're dead! This is my press conference for my book. How DARE you ALL interrupt!" At the last sentence she glared at Molly and Sherlock in particular.
"Oh, about that," Sherlock took three decisive steps back and nodded at one of the men in suits.
The man stepped forward and pulled out an envelope, "Ms. Kitty Riley, I would like to present you with this court order and restraining order on the behalf of my client, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. My client is suing you for defamation of character and slander. I've just been on the phone with your publisher and the printing and release of your book is being held back pending the results of the court case"
A look of shock marred the journalist's features as two hotel security guards and the hotel manager approached her asking the woman to leave the primacies. "You cannot do this! This is my press conference! My publisher hired out this room for me"
"Actually," Molly said stepping up towards the front of the room, "I hired out this facility. You're simply a guest. Now, I'd like to ask you to leave, as you are causing a disturbance and to be quite honest," the petite brunette leaned forward, a smirk appearing on her lips and whispered, "you repel me"
Kitty let out another cry as she made to attack Molly. Luckily the security guard's caught her in time and the now disgraced journalist was practically dragged out of the room kicking and screaming. The crowd of supporters cheered and clapped. Molly then turned to the press, "Now ladies and gentlemen if you have any questions –"
"Just wait one moment young lady," the until now quiet Chief Superintendent roared as he stood up, "this man is a fugitive and under investigation for various crimes"
The large man marched up and stood practically toe-to-toe with Sherlock, "DS Donovan, arrest this man"
Sally made to do as she was ordered when the other suited man stepped up to the irate man, "Chief Inspector Fink, I am a representative of MI6 and would like to inform you that Mr. Holmes has been cleared of all charges brought against him in the past. Intelligence has acquired sufficient, valid evidence that Richard Brooke was in fact James Moriarty, a terrorist. Furthermore, we have had the children assessed by therapists and they have admitted that Moriarty was the one who kidnapped them. So it was James Moriarty and his criminal ring who committed all the crimes you accused Mr. Holmes of doing. And it is Mr. Holmes who acted as a consulting detective for us and helped bring down that crime ring."
The three Scotland Yard employees visibly withered at the weight of the revelation and looked at each other nervously. The MI6 agent nodded at the three and asked to speak with them in private at the corner of the room where he informed them that they were all to meet with the head of the Yard tomorrow morning. While this all had happened two more chairs were added to the front table and the posters were taken down.
"Now," Molly said as she, Sherlock, and his attorney took their seats, leaving one empty for the MI6 representative, "any questions"
(Back to the Present)
The pair laughed as they shared the fond memory, "the whole thing was staged rather brilliantly," Sherlock said. Molly laughed, "Always arrogant."
Sherlock rolled his eyes, "hiding behind false modesty is such a waste. Besides, I also was referring to your role. So much for being mousey."
Molly laughed and was about to say something when Sherlock's phone went off, informing of an incoming text message. "Could you get that for me Molly," he asked
The petite brunette's brows furrowed, "isn't it in your inner jacket pocket," she stated. Sherlock nodded, "yes, but I am eating crisps"
Molly rolled her eyes at Sherlock's self-centeredness, but did as he asked. As her hand brushed across his chest she felt her heart flutter. The pair pretended not to notice and Molly quickly took the phone. "Read it out loud please."
Rolling her eyes she readjusted herself in her seat, slightly turning her body towards him, "it's from Greg. Says there was a murder. Apparently, the scene of the crime and the murder looks similar to the latest string of murders in Whitechapel"
At that Sherlock jumped up, grabbing the rubbish from their improvised meal. He asked Molly to text John the address and inform Lestrade that he'd be there shortly. The pathologist did as he asked, watching the man throw on his coat. When she was done with the text messages Sherlock took his phone. "Thank you Molly. You might want to prepare for the post mortem"
"Me?"
Sherlock nodded as he put on his scarf, "Of course. I only trust the work of My Pathologist"
He winked at her before exiting the room in his usual dramatic fashion. As Molly watched the doors slam behind him she smiled and blushed.
'He might not love me,' Molly thought as she started walking out of the lab, 'but at least I matter to him.'
AN: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Yeah, the big reveal was a bit dramatic, but I think they deserved it don't you. Plus, Molly is such a strong woman and I wanted the world to see that.
PS Reviews are like endorphins, they make me happy!
