A/N: Thank you soooo much for your nice reviews to the first chapter. I'm so happy, you wouldn't believe it. So, here's Chapter 2 now. I hope you'll enjoy this one too. I have to admit I struggled a bit with the last part, because somehow my writing skills seem to be better on some days than on others. At least it feels like they are. Sounds weird, I know. Haha, well… here it comes :)
Molly was already standing in his living room when he came in. She stared out of the window, arms crossed in front of her chest. Sherlock's heart started bounding and he took a deep breath to slow it down a bit. It made him quite nervous because he wasn't used to feel like that at all. When Molly turned around, he immediately noticed her red eyes and wet cheeks. She was crying. Why was she crying? A lump built up in his throat as he stepped closer and touched her upper arms cautiously.
"What happened?"
"Tom cheated on me." she said between two suppressed sobs that let her whole body shiver.
Sherlock clenched his fists. "Silly idiot."
She lowered her head and looked down on the ground, a small tear hitting her left boot. Sherlock hesitated for a moment before he stepped forward and drew her in his arms. Molly buried her face at his chest and cried in his shirt. He didn't mind though. He caressed her back and her head with soft strokes up and down to sooth her. He wasn't really the ideal person for a matter like that, but he could at least try to help her. Her tears and her desperate sobs made him want to cry too, which was another feeling that was completely new to him. How could somebody ever do this to her? Sure, he'd made her cry a few times himself, but never intentionally. Sometimes he just tended to say rude things to people while thinking he was helping them. He'd learned, though, because John had told him that he was rude. Nobody had ever done so before, so how had he been supposed to know?
He tightened his arms around her and placed a tender kiss on her hair.
They were staying like this for a few minutes until Molly pulled back again and wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand.
"I'm sorry. I know you don't like sentiment… and people crying… or hugging. I'm sorry. I didn't want to bother you, I just didn't know where else to go. Baker Street felt like the right place."
Sherlock reached out and cupped her cheek with his hand. "No, it's okay. I don't mind. Would you like to have some tea?"
Molly smiled slightly and nodded. "Tea would be nice."
She sat down on the couch while Sherlock walked over to make tea in the kitchen. She still couldn't quite believe that Tom had been cheating on her for months and that she'd run directly to Sherlock Holmes to find comfort. But apparently he didn't mind. He'd even hugged her and caressed her back. She hadn't expected him to do such a thing but was glad that he'd done it anyway.
A few minutes later Sherlock came back with two steaming mugs.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked and surprised her once more.
"I caught them right in the act. I wanted to surprise him in his flat… well, in the end I was the one who was surprised. And not in a pleasant way, really. Turns out he's been cheating on me for months. Great, huh? I really have no luck with men. This time he may not have been a sociopath, but a notorious cheater. I really don't know what's worse."
"I'm sorry that this happened to you. You don't deserve this. You deserve to be happy."
Molly sighed and looked at him with reddened eyes. He was so nice. Once more she realized how much he'd changed. He'd grown to a better person.
"Thank you. For everything. For being there for me. That means a lot." she said with a smile.
"Oh, it's the least I can do after everything you've done for me."
"People might disagree with me, but you are one of the good ones, Sherlock Holmes."
She laid her head down on his shoulder and sighed once more. Sherlock wrapped an arm around her and pulled her closer, so that she could bury her face at his chest.
As they sat there in silence, Sherlock came to the conclusion that he liked this closeness to her. He usually felt awkward and uncomfortable when someone touched or hugged him, but with her it was different. It felt good. He was comfortable with her. The warm, tingly feeling was also back and put him in some kind of euphoria. He was in love with her.
Later that day Molly was lying on his couch, sleeping peacefully. At some point her tears had exhausted her and she'd fallen asleep against his chest, so he'd stood up carefully and placed her head down on the cushions. Then he'd placed a blanket over her and had softly kissed her forehead.
While she was sleeping, he started his work. Tom would suffer for what he'd done to her. That was for sure. When he was good at something, then it was at bringing people down. He would find something. Someday he would find something and that day wouldn't be Tom's lucky one. He was so lost in research that he almost failed to notice John entering the flat. Almost.
"Sherlock-" he started with a loud voice, but was cut off immediately.
"Shhh!" Sherlock turned around, a finger positioned in front of his lips, another one pointing in Molly's direction.
John stopped in his tracks, frowned and followed his finger with his eyes. When he saw her sleeping on the couch he shook his head in disbelief and walked over to Sherlock to see what he was doing.
"Is she okay? What happened?"
"Well, turns out famous Tom isn't as nice as you all thought."
John looked over Sherlock's shoulder to read the opened website, but it didn't give him much information.
"What has he done?"
"CHEAT-ing." Sherlock pronounced the word intentionally weird, probably to sound cool and random, while he opened a new tap on his browser. "And now I'll find something to make him suffer."
John sighed. "And Molly's okay with that?"
"Why wouldn't she be?"
"Because it's still her ex-fiancé you're trying to destroy. Maybe you should ask for her permission first."
Sherlock frowned. He didn't really understand why it would be a problem, but since John knew better about people, he decided to trust him with this. He didn't want to offend Molly or make her mad at him, so he just nodded and hesitated only a few seconds before he closed his laptop
"Any news from Lestrade?" John asked and Sherlock shrugged indifferently.
"No idea. I haven't checked my phone. I was busy trying to fix what that Tom-moron has destroyed. It was the best example why sentiment is a bad thing."
John raised an eyebrow and smirked, question marks popping up in his eyes.
"So what have you done?"
"Molly was crying her eyes out, so I comforted her. I hugged her and stroked her back. Isn't that what people do when someone's crying? Had to change my shirt after, which is another downside of human sentiment. Crying is wet."
John couldn't avoid to chuckle at this and Sherlock's half confused, half disgusted face. There was no denying that his best friend had changed during his absence, during the time he'd thought of him being a dead man. He'd gotten more human, more sensitive for the people around him. He was still an original and far from being ordinary, but John knew he was trying.
"So… uhm, still feeling sick and tingly?" he asked casually, changing the topic. It made no sense to discuss with him about the sentiment thing anyway. Plus he was obviously far beyond curious about Sherlock's new discovered feelings.
"Unfortunately, yes. It's like a disease. It just won't go away."
"It's her, isn't it?" John nodded in Molly's direction.
Sherlock stood up from his chair hastily, nervously rubbing the back of his neck and trying hard to keep a poker face. He failed. Obviously.
"Oh, don't bother, I already know."
Sherlock was relieved that John had released him from having to admit it out loud. He was already confused and annoyed enough by having to admit it to himself. With an agonized look on his face he walked over into the kitchen and started to make tea.
It was early in the evening when Molly woke up on Sherlock's couch and blinked in confusion. She needed some time to process and remember what had happened, but when she did she sat up, sighed and rested her head in her hands. She had a headache and felt quite knackered.
"Oh, good, you're awake." Sherlock said from the other side of the room and folded his newspaper. "Mrs. Hudson is making dinner."
"Oh! Good, that's so nice. But you really don't have to do this. I don't want to bother anyone of you, really. Maybe I should go home. I know you don't…"
"Molly Hooper, you should know me better. If I don't want someone here, what do I do?"
"Throw them out?"
"Correct. So, please stay. You shouldn't be on your own now."
Molly smiled acquiescently. "Okay, okay. I don't really want to be on my own anyway. How long have I been sleeping?"
"About four hours. No small wonder after all that crying. Emotions tend to exhaust people."
"So what have you done all this time then?"
"First I was looking for a way to make your ex-fiancé suffer, but John said I should ask for your permission first. Then examining that brain you gave me last week. Really quite interesting, considering the age of it. Thanks again for finding that gem for me."
Molly stared at him for a moment, processing what he'd just said. When realization washed over her, she blinked and shook her head.
"You want to make him suffer?"
"Of course. He deserves the worst after what he's done to you. You just have to say yes and I will most certainly find something on him. There's always something."
She smiled at him, still not really believing what she was hearing. He was so sweet. Did he even know how sweet he was? Probably not. A warm feeling overcame her when she looked at him. Yeah, you've totally moved on, Molly, totally, she thought and cringed a bit inside. No, she wasn't over Sherlock Holmes, now less than ever and she'd probably never be. The difference was that she wasn't that shy and insecure mouse anymore that couldn't even talk to him properly. She wasn't obsessed with him anymore, adoring him from the far. No, she felt almost equal to him and she knew she still loved him, but she did it without sacrificing her dignity now, which was a huge and important change to her past.
"Thank you, but I have to decline. I don't want to be that vengeful ex-girlfriend. I just want to let it go and stop thinking about it. But thank you for the offer. That is very sweet."
"Well, fine. But it would have been my pleasure."
"Oh, I don't doubt that."
They smiled at each other for a second, before Sherlock stood up from his chair and cleared his throat. "So, what do you want to do? I don't really know what people do to overcome such an occurrence. Mrs. Hudson said something about chocolate or ice cream. Do you want chocolate or ice cream? Do you want to watch another film? I can go and get everything you want."
Molly's smile widened. He really was sweet. That was new.
"Well, that certainly sounds nice, but I don't want to shoo you out and let you be my servant. How about I come with you?"
One hour later, Sherlock and Molly were sitting together on his couch again, eating the food Mrs. Hudson had brought them and watching Breakfast at Tiffany's, Molly's favorite. Chocolate and Ice Cream were stored for dessert. Molly really started to feel better. Sherlock was surprisingly kind and obliging and cared perfectly for her. It was a complete new side of him she was discovering and she was sure that it was also the first time he himself was discovering it. He was trying. He really was trying and Molly couldn't help falling a bit more in love with him. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all that Tom had turned out to be a cheating bastard. Maybe he'd never been the one for her anyway…
"A cat called cat. Because she doesn't want to become attached. That's genius. I like her. If I ever happen to get a cat, which is highly improbable because I don't like pets, but if it happens anyway, I would call her cat too. It's simple and convenient." Sherlock smiled while commenting on Holly Golightly's cat, something that usually didn't happen very often, but seems to happen more and more often lately. And he wasn't even at a crime scene or in the lab examining dead body parts. He was just talking about a cat in a movie. Molly couldn't help smiling back. She really liked this new, nicer version of him. She sighed when she returned her attention to the screen.
"New York in the 60s. I wish I'd live there. It's so beautiful."
She almost expected some unintentionally rude comment from Sherlock, but he stayed quiet and watched her favorite film. Her favorite film. Sherlock Holmes was watching Breakfast at Tiffany's and he wasn't even bored. On the contrary even. He was almost lost in watching.
Thus, when Mrs. Hudson came in to take away their plates, she was quite surprised about the situation she was witnessing. Molly smiled at her when she raised an eyebrow.
"It's Breakfast at Tiffany's, Mrs. Hudson. Would you like to join us?"
"Breakfast at Tiffany's! Oh, I love that film! I used to watch it in cinema when I was so much younger! Even got my first kiss during that film!"
Molly patted on the free space next to her on the couch to invite the older lady at the same moment as Sherlock hissed an annoyed "Shhh!" and looked at them as if they'd just declared to throw his skull out of the window.
The two women exchanged an amused look, trying hard to stay calm. Mrs. Hudson sat down next to Molly and turned her attention to the film, even though she kept stealing glances at Sherlock and his new girlfriend. She knew of course that Molly wasn't really his girlfriend, but the prospect of it was quite nice, wasn't it? Oh, it was about time that boy would find someone to be happy with.
When the film was over, Mrs. Hudson was gone and Molly was full with chocolate and ice cream the atmosphere in the flat suddenly changed. Sherlock was sitting awkwardly beside her, struggling for words. He didn't want to sound inappropriate. Molly sensed his tension but didn't really know what to do or say either. In the end they both found the courage to speak at the exact same time.
"I guess I should –"
"You can –"
Molly took a deep breath and couldn't help laughing slightly at the weird situation. What had suddenly happened? "You first."
"You can stay here if you want. I mean, that's what friends offer friends in those situations, isn't it?"
Molly smiled broadly at this. His new behavior never ceased to surprise her. But she couldn't really stay, could she? It was a tempting thought, though.
"Well, it is, but I don't want to bother you and I know you need your space. I should go home, really. I'll be fine. It's okay. You've done so much for me today I really can't demand much more from you."
With a quick move, Sherlock grabbed one of her hands and started to draw circles on its back. It seemed to calm him down and let him think more clearly.
"Bloody sentiment." he hissed so quietly, that Molly didn't understand him.
"Huh?"
"Oh, nothing, just… You don't bother me. I'm glad you're here, as unbelievable as it sounds. I'm so good in pretending I have no feelings and I really wish I wouldn't, but other than Mycroft I actually have feelings. They annoy me and I don't like them, but I can't get rid of them."
Molly stared at him, surprised and curious about what he was trying to say. She blinked a few times while trying to process his words. She knew him well, but he rarely talked about his personal thoughts or feelings. How was she supposed to react now?
"I happen to like you, Molly and I care about you. I wouldn't feel at ease if you go home alone."
He looked her directly in the eyes and she noticed the honesty of his expression, but also the uncertainty that laid underneath. He wasn't used to situations like that. His words gave her butterflies and let her heart melt like wax. But she knew that she needed to go home now. For their both sakes. Without looking away, she pulled her hand away from him and smiled gratefully. He's done so much for her, more than she ever thought he was capable of.
Sherlock knew she wouldn't stay. Of course not. Molly was an independent woman now that knew exactly what she wanted. Well, most of the time. He was well aware of the feelings she still had for him, recognized every single glance she gave him and every admiring smile in his direction. That was something that hadn't changed. But at the same time it had changed completely. Her affection was different now. She was different now. She was no longer nervous and shy in his presence, instead she was confident and completely comfortable being around him. This new version of her stunned him again and again and left him with that annoying feeling in his stomach. And of course he remembered what she'd done for him. She'd trusted him when nobody else - except John - did. She'd risked her job for him and he knew of course who much she loved her work. Molly was a true friend. She knew him, knew his quirks and rudeness and that he was an ignorant asshole. But she still wanted to spend time with him, still loved him. Loved him. Did she? Did anyone? Did he even want to be loved? Mycroft always told him that sentiment and love were bad things. There were no advantages of being sentimental. But what if he was wrong? What if he wanted that? If he needed that? Despite the disadvantages? No. No. Why in hell would he ever want that? Why in hell would anybody ever love him anyway?
"You are a very good friend, Sherlock." Molly said eventually as she stood up. "But you know I have to go."
Sherlock nodded and rose from the couch to hug her a bit awkwardly.
"Oh, come on, let me hug you properly." Molly laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck to hug him tightly. His heart was bounding against her chest, but she pretended to be oblivious about it. She knew it already made him uncomfortable without her pointing it out or making a joke about it. Also, she was quite surprised. Did she really make him nervous?
After a few seconds she pulled away and smiled. Sherlock returned it, but it didn't really reach his eyes. Something seemed to bother him. Molly decided that now wasn't the time to wonder what it was. She'd already enough problems to handle herself. And so, even if she was curious and even if it was against her need to help everyone she loved, she said goodbye.
"See you in the lab?"
"Most certainly."
Then she turned around and left him once again on his own.
When Molly entered her empty flat, a depressing feeling overcame her and she could only manage to pull off her shoes before she fell on her bed, trying hard to blink away her tears. Somehow her life wasn't at all going the way she'd planned. Every man she came close to seemed to turn out being an absolute disaster – be it a criminal mastermind or a notorious cheater – and the one she wanted most she knew she could never have. Still, her hope never ceased.
In some moments she wondered if she was wrong. In those moments, when Sherlock's heart was bounding against her chest or when he smiled at her in his own special way. Or when he told her he cared about her. Then again, she knew him well enough to know that he wasn't like that. He wouldn't simply fall in love with all of a sudden, would he? He wouldn't just change who he was and become more ordinary when it came to relationships.
Sighing, she turned on her side and closed her eyes. Maybe, someday, she would wake up from that nightmare that was her life. Someday. Maybe…
It took her a while to fall asleep that night and when she finally did, she drifted off into a world of weird dreams that kept her unsettled the whole night.
A/N: That's it. Chapter 2. I hope you liked it as much as you liked the first one. Again, if you find any mistakes/ grammar errors please tell me – I'm studying English and I'm always happy to erase mistakes and learn from them. I've already written a part of the next Chapter, so stay tuned! :)