Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Steve Moffat, Mark Gatiss own Sherlock and his realm. I just own my computer,my version of Openoffice, and my sick fantasies. English is not my native language, please forgive the mistakes and the typos.

First of all, I'm sorry for the delay : I have a sore throat and a ear infection, plus this chapter was really hard to write - I had to write and rewrite it at least three times, so please forgive me! And now, enjoy !

Chapter 3

John Watson's first reaction to Sherlock's statement was a giggle. Well, it was inaccurate. It started as an innocent giggle, but when the former soldier caught the outraged expression on the consulting detective face, he started to laugh. It was a proper belly laugh, and John didn't seem to be able stop. It had been a long time since he had laughed like that: surely it had happened before Sherlock's false death, maybe when Donovan, Anderson, Lestrade and others at NSY gave the infuriating man the infamous deerstalker ."Could you...could you repeat,ple...please ?" He said, a hint of amusement still in his words.

Sherlock Holmes was absolutely offended by his friend's reaction. How could he not understand the seriousness of the situation ? Yes, John was still an idiot sometimes, he needed some more training...

" I said..." Sherlock took a long breath " that Molly Hooper is in love with someone, and it's really dangerous - we should make an end of this liason as soon as we can. It's a matter of national security"

" How ?" was Watson exasperated answer. " How could Molly's love life affect the lives of poor innocent people ?"

" Well, she dated Moriarty, and before him that sordid lawyer who was incriminated for fraud, so clearly she has a kink for criminals..."

John shook his head " I don't know a thing about the lawyer, but Moriarty was not her fault. He used her, like...". John stopped, but Sherlock finished his sentence.

" Like me ?". His voice was low, and the doctor picked a hint of regret in his tone.

" Yes, like you - and anyway, you're wrong. Molly may be unlucky, or better: her taste in men is not flawless, but she dated some kind and respectful men, too. Sometimes relationships dont' work, that's all." John continued to defend the pathologist.

Now Sherlock was intrigued: John had started to blink more frequently , and his fingers were typing slower on the laptop's keyboard after years, he could see the clues even blind. He was hiding something.

" Like who ?"

Silence.

" John..."

Still stubborn silence.

" I will find out anyway, John..."

John raised his head, but didn't say anything; he just gave Sherlock the laptop and moved to his armchair to read the newspaper . "Another puzzle...but now back to the task!" the consulting detective was ready to find out the identity of the mysterious man who had stolen Molly's Hooper's heart - and diverted her attention from him, most importantly. Half an hour later, Sherlock's frustrated shrieks interrupted his flatmate's quiet reading.

" This database is useless ! " he shouted, and then he started to punch the laptop.

" Sherlock, stop ! It's mine ! This is the third one you broke, why can't you behave like an adult ?" . John approached him and noticed that luckily tha laptop was still functioning. " Would you tell me what are you looking for ? Maybe I can help..." he offered.

" A list of male doctors at St. Barts, to start with it"

"Well, I don't think it will be difficult...but why are you looking for male doctors at the hospital ? Is Molly's new boyfriend a doctor ?"

Sherlock glared at him. " He's not his boyfriend..."

" Yet" John threw in.

Another homicidal glare. " Please refrain from predict the future, John".

John Watson smirked. " Any other information ?"

" Male, probably tall, unshaved, uses a walking stick so he's probably walking with a limp..."

John listened carefully : there was something familiar in Sherlock's description, but he couldn't put a finger on it. He shrugged and said " I don't think that you can find this kind of information on the hospital's database...Anyway, how do you know all this ? You eavesdropped her conversation on the phone, didn't you ? This is not a polite thing to do, Sherlock..." John started to censure his behaviour, but Sherlock glared at him " You did the same thing, John, so don't lecture me".

John blushed , but continued "How are you supposed to find him, you can't start to stalk every male doctor at St. Barts, you kn-"

John stopped when he saw Sherlock stood up, taking his coat and scarf and approaching the door. " Sherlock, no ! You can't do that !"

" Why not ? Oh, you were thinking I should ask Mycroft's help, weren't you ? With his control of every CCTV in London, it should be quite an easy task, I suppose...but no, I think I will do it by myself,thanks for the suggestion ! " Sherlock smiled coyly and started to open the door.

" Stop, Sherlock ! It's insane ! And anyway, when did Molly's love interests become so important to you ? She doesn't count to you... " That sentence had the effect John was hoping for. The consulting detective froze and turned towards him, very slowly.

" You're wrong" Sherlock declared, his voice steady and low. "She counts. She saved my life , John"

" So you're doing all this out of gratitude ? Because she helped you faking your death ? " John asked.

Sherlock hesitated. It would have been so easy to say yes, that he was doing it only because Molly Hooper was her friend, a dear friend who had always believed in him, even when he treated her like an idiot, when he insulted her and manipulated her feelings, and he wanted only to return the favor, be sure that this guy was right for her and then leave her live her life, and be happy for her. He knew it wasn't the truth. He was an egotist, he wanted Molly's attention on him, and not divided between him and another man. Why ? Why do I want it, now ? Sherlock asked himself.

John observed the man before him; he could sense he was troubled, and he felt bad for the words he said. It was true, Sherlock had used Molly's affection for him several times, to gain something - free rein at the morgue, mostly - but not lately - because Sherlock was gentler with her, not only because Molly didn't let him do it. She was indeed stronger now, probably because of this new man in her life. Now Sherlock Holmes was just another man - a clever man, but a man, nonetheless , who had no power on her. Not anymore.

" I'm sorry, Sherlock, I didn't want to-" John started to apologize, but Sherlock raised a hand ." You're right, I used her , and I never thanked her . I want to do something to show her my gratitude, that's it "

" By stalking her future boyfriend ?" John asked, a little amused. " I mean, if you put it this way, I can quite understand your strange behaviour, but..."

" But what ? There's no other way to put it." Sherlock retorted.

" Are you sure ? Are you completely sure that this is the only reason you're doing all this ?" the doctor inquired.

" What are you trying to imply, John ? "

" I mean, it's the timing..."

" Not good ? " Sherlock asked.

John smirked, remembering all the times he had scolded the man-child about his poor timing. " Well, it's quite suspicious...you start to care about her love life just when she starts to treat you like an ordinary man, so it's natural to think..."

" To think what, John ? I'm starting to become rather annoyed with your nasty habit to not finish your sentences, so please, explain to me: what is my hidden agenda ? And before you answer, remember: I'm a lot of things, but not ordinary "

" Yes, of course : you're an extraordinary man, and you love when people praise your intelligence, your acumen,...and Molly was - he stressed the word - one of your most dedicated fangirl, and so it's probably very disturbing to you that she changed her mind, isn't it ? " John knew Sherlock was a narcissist, but he was starting to see something different in his friend: he just needed to prod him for a little while, to let him admit what he suspected.

" You're saying that I'm an egomaniac, so this is your opinion ? After what I said to you about Dr. Hooper - a published author, John, not an american cheerleader, by the way - , this is your conclusion ? " Sherlock Holmes was now tired of this discussion: he was only wasting time, while Molly was alone at the morgue...or maybe not alone. Maybe she was already in the company of her mysterious doctor. He needed to leave Baker Street and go to the hospital, immediately. The detective approached the door again and opened it hastily; he was on the stairs, when John's voice reached him.

" Do you still want to know the name of the nice guy Molly dated when you were "dead" ?"

For the second time that day, Dr. Watson saw his best friend froze. He didn't wait for him to open his mouth to continue " It's Greg".

John Watson had never seen Sherlock's face crumple in confusion like that, or his neck turning so fast . He could actually see the sentence " Who the fuck is Greg ? " displayed on his forehead.

" Greg . As in Greg Lestrade. DI Gregory Lestrade" he explained finally.

" Lestrade. She dated Lestrade. Molly Hooper dated Lestrade." John didn't know how many times Sherlock needed to repeat the concept to let it finally sink in his mind, but he didn't want to hear any other version of the sentence.

" Yes. They went out two or three times. Does it bother you ?"

Sherlock was silent. "Does it bother me ?" . If someone would have asked him the same question six months ago, when he was still hunting down Moriarty's web, his answer would have been a sure "No". What about now ? Now the mere thought of Molly dating Lestrade months ago, and the awareness that another man was succeeding in stealing her from him -" did I really used this expression" he asked to himself , rather disgusted - made him feel something. Something the mighty Sherlock Holmes had never felt . If only he could understand what it was !

" Sherlock ? Are you ok ?" John asked to him, and Sherlock became aware that his hands were clenched into fists.

" Yes. And if you would excuse me, I have som-". The sound of John's mobile ringing interrupted him. The doctor ran back into the living room to retrieve it, and Sherlock strangely didn't storm out like he intended to do, because the first words John said while answering the phone were " Molly ! Oh yes, don't worry, I'm coming - just give me twenty minutes! See you later, bye !"

John Watson took his jacket and passed his flatmate on the stairs. " Do me a favor, Sherlock. Don't go to NSY to harass poor Lestrade. And please, don't follow me at St. Barts. Stay here, let Mrs Hudson make you a cup of tea, and wait for me, because the discussion isn't over. Do you think you can do that ?". He waited for his friend to nod, and then John went outside.

Only when he was sure the door was closed behind him, he smirked. John Watson was not Sherlock Holmes, but he had solved the mystery of Molly Hooper's mysterious guy.

At the beginning of this story I was trying to write only my first Sherlolly oneshot, now I'm starting to write the fourth chapter and I hope it will be the last one ! ( I'm still not sure about that...). I want to thank again the follower, the reviewer, the one who added this story to their favourites- you're great ! I hope you liked this chapter, thanks for reading, and remember : the reviews- every review, even the one when you point out my obvious mistakes - are always welcomed !