Disclaimer: I own nothing! I claim nothing! I'm just borrowing the characters for my own pleasure and the pleasure of whoever reads this!
Chapter One
A Plan Unfolding
"Jim, why do I have to do this?" Margret Anne Moriarty whined to her brother, James Richard Moriarty as she prepared for her first day at her new job, working as a pathologist in the morgue at Saint Bartholomew's Hospital. It wasn't the job that upset her, but the reason she was taking it. She loved working with the dead - it had always been a morbid fascination, ever since she helped Jimmy with his first murder. Even big brothers needed help sometimes.
No, it definitely wasn't the job itself that had the twenty - nine year old whining softly like a child. It was the role she and Jim had decided on, the role that had been over a decade in the making, ever since they saw that teenage boy trying to solve Jimmy's first murder. They had both known he would be a threat to Jim's later plans. Molly would always protect her big brother, just like he protected her. Carl Powers wasn't as nice a lad as everyone thought. She once had bruises to prove it too, but Jimmy had taken care of him for her.
She had somewhat hoped that Sherlock would die of an overdose, once she and Jim learned he was in rehab a few years back. But alas, he had lived, and that meant their plan was still in action.
She turned to her brother, who was giving her an appreciative eye. Well, more like judging her choice in clothing.
"Really Margret, isn't the cherry print a bit much?" He asked, tutting.
She glared. "Isn't playing the love sick fool for the most asinine person on the face of the earth a bit much, James?" She shot back, hands on her hips.
Her glare only made her brother laugh. He came over and gently patted the top of her head, just like he used to when they were little. "That's exactly why we have to play this little game. He doesn't like feeling anything. He's such a bad man. Wouldn't it be fun to see him slowly crumble before finally admitting he can feel? And then, of course, when he's finally broken down, we'll break his heart. Well, you will, my dear." He kissed her cheek softly.
She smiled. Right. That was the plan. She'd been watching him with her brother as Jimmy built up his crime organization. And Sherlock had begun slowly picking at it from the start, even if he didn't realize it yet. He was a thorn in their side, right from the start. And he had the gall to claim to be a sociopath. Margret rolled her eyes at the thought. He really was an imbecile.
She nodded. "All right. Promise you'll pick me up from work at least?" She asked, purposely pulling the sweetest expression she could. Even though they were adults, she knew the perfect way to wrap her big brother around her little finger. Which was why she was surprised when he shook his head no.
"I'm sorry Margret, but you've got to remember your background now. We can't risk being seen together yet," he reminded her sternly, even as sh e began to pout. "Don't worry, one day everyone will know of the last two Moriarty's, and how they brought London to it's knees."
That thought cheered her up. "All right." She was grinning again.
James cocked his brow. "Just to be sure, why don't you tell me who you are now?"
She sighed. "All right. I'm Molly Anne Hooper. I live alone except for my cat, Toby. My dad is dead from cancer and my mum and I are estranged. I don't have any siblings. I'm new to Bart's, and to London, but I come with good recommendations." Bits and pieces of the story were true. Her father had died of cancer several years ago. her mum though - she'd never really been in the picture at all. The only part of that that was the unedited truth was that she came with good recommendations. Her professors in Uni were astounded by her aptitude for pathology. If they only knew.
She looked down at the Identification card currently pinned to her jumper. Molly Anne Hooper. She had legally changed her name to that three years ago, but until now it hadn't meant much. She was still Little Margret to Jimmy. Now would be a real test, with her new name and identity. She was looking forward to tricking the supposedly great Sherlock Holmes.
"Jim grinned. "Perfect Margret. Now, off you pop. Can't be late on your first day."
She sighed. "All right Jimmy. Just make sure my flat's ready for me." She kissed his cheek and left.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
"I thought I said start at the beginning, not at you and your brother's demented discussion beforehand."
Molly looked down, twisting her hands together. "I'm sorr-"
"Molly, just continue. Sherlock, shut up." John said, cutting off her apology.
The consulting detective glared momentarily at his friend. "This is a waste of time. She just said herself, she's been planning to kill me since Carl Powers."
"I haven't wanted to kill you in several years, Sherlock." She muttered, closing her eyes. As if that helped anything.
The silence was stark between them.
John cleared his throat. "Carry on, Molly."
"Margret."
"Shut up, Sherlock." John hissed.
Molly sighed. Once, she had been proud of her birth name. Now, it only brought disgust. Still, she swallowed, and continued.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Margret - Whoops, I need to remember now, it's Molly - had been working for four hours alone in the morgue before the doors slammed open. Despite herself, she jumped, and for just a second her hand went to her hip, where, up until today, a small firearm would have been expertly hidden for those sticky situations a girl could get into. Now, it looked as though she were gripping her stomach against a fright, which worked well, considering who entered.
She widened her eyes as Sherlock entered, followed closely by her new boss. It was the moment of truth. Would her disguise last?
Sherlock gave her barely a passing glance. It was her boss who introduced them. She forced her eyes to go wide, her voice to fluctuate in that way that girl's voices tend to when they're overwhelmed. In truth, she was a bit overwhelmed.
She'd seen him in pictures and far away, but nothing could have prepared her for the depth and intelligence in his eyes. And damn if he didn't have the most beautiful eyes she'd ever seen on a man. Pictures really did not do him justice.
She held out her hand. "H-hello," she put the stammer in her voice, "I'm Molly. I just started today. I.. I hear you do cases. Is that what you're doing now?" She asked. As if she didn't know he was working on one of her brother's jobs now. She could have rolled her eyes. As pretty as he was, he was still an ass. He didn't even shake her hand, like a polite man would. He just kind of looked at it and dismissed it as unimportant before turning away.
Her boss wasn't much help. He just shrugged hopelessly, wished her luck, and left. Useless man. She'd ask Jimmy. She frowned. No, she couldn't ask him to clean up this mess. She had to deal with this part of the plan herself. She couldn't just start asking her brother to get rid of annoying co-workers. Even if it would make Bart's a better facility overall.
So, she stuttered and stumbled her way through a greeting, and when Sherlock dismissed her, she went back to the body she'd been working on, making sure to throw in the perfect amount of dejection. A few glances at him out of the corner of her eye, all of which she was sure he caught and took as puppy love yearning, and it was gold. She could practically see his mental cogs turning, and deeming her malleable to his whims in the future. It really was too easy.
She completed the autopsy and pealed off her gloved as she looked at the clock. Five minutes until her shift ended.
She glanced once more at Sherlock. He was busy messing around with some slides, which she would no doubt be left to clean up. Obnoxious man. She walked over, and glanced over his shoulder.
"Oh, um, excuse me," she said, more stuttering and stumbling over the simplest of words.
Sherlock sighed dramatically, and lifted his head. "Yes?"
"It's just, my shift's ending, so I have to, umm..." She swallowed, fiddled with her fingers, bit her lip gently, all signs of nervousness and attraction. Playing the game. "I have to lock up, you see, so you... you really should be going... please."
And then he pulled the most interesting look, as if he was playing his own game. He probably was. It was equal parts sadness, curiosity, interest, and sweetness. "You have a nice smile." And he flashed one of his own.
She felt a very real rush of blood to her cheeks. What bloody game is this man playing?
And then, with his next statement, it hit her.
"I'll only be a bit longer. Couldn't you wait to leave?"
Her mask almost slipped then and there. The sneaky bastard was flirting to get what he wanted!
Instead, she looked down and away, pursed her lips as if in thought, glanced back towards his smile, and nodded. "I suppose so." she said softly.
They ended up staying another three hours, even though she was bored and ignored, he got to finish his experiments. He left in a flurry of movement, saying how he had to contact Lestrade. He's solved her brother's case.
On her way home - well, to Molly Hooper's home. Her home was with Jimmy - she cursed Sherlock name.
Woah, One chappie down! I am so shocked at the huge amount of people who have shown an interest in this story. I mean, the prologue was soo short, I was worried, but ohmygod you all are amazing. I think this is the most amount of reviewers for a first chapter on any of my stories so far, and it's also my shorted chapter ever! Just AHH I want to hug you all!
The list of beautiful people who reviewed: MorbidbyDefault, whenisayrun, PurpleYin, belle0029, teyze, Rocking the Redhead, Tenshi, Shayran16, FanFicGirl10, Anon, lavanyalabelle, Irivel, BelleIllumina, Jessiekat89, Lanceletta, Guest, Renaissancebooklover108, and Brytte Mystere. I mean, wow. 18 of you guys. That seems like a huge number. And of course, that's only those who reviewed. Everyone who's read it as well, it astonishes me. Thank you all so much 3
And thank you to Cumberburch. You put up with so much as a beta. All the horrid mistakes that thankfully no one else has to see XD You're the best 3
Until Next Time! :*