I am soooo glad you guys are all enjoying the story so far, I feel been so pleased with all your comments. I hope this chapter is as well received. Sherlock is still on his mission to be more thoughtful around Molly, let's see how he gets on.

And for those wondering (probably none of you) the filing system described in this chapter is one I used to have to work to, it was so tedious going through and pulling out all the out of date files. Thankfully that job is well behind me now.

Chapter 3

Day three found the two of them in the morgue filing room. Molly had queried John's absence and had learnt that he was away with Mary and baby Elizabeth. Apparently his sister had a new partner and was living down near Brighton so they'd gone for a mini holiday.

The filing room was tucked away down a long corridor near to the generators which powered the hospital in the event of a power cut. The room was small and pokey and lined with shelves and shelves of folders.

'The files are held here for about seven years then they get shipped to an archive centre off-site. We take it in turns to come down here every three months and box up the files that need to go away. It's a bit of a boring job because they're all held alphabetically with an archive date marked on the side. Archiving means we have to go through all the racks and pull out those files that have an expired date.'

'As you can no doubt deduce I'd done up until the letter H. Those files are all here, boxed up. I still need to do the rest.' Molly looked round at the row upon row of files she still needed to go through.

'I'll look through these whilst you finish the archiving,' said Sherlock gesturing towards the box. 'It makes sense that we look at deaths in the same time period as your father. If there was someone actively causing deaths we may be able to find other similar occurrences. Now, coffee?'

'Oh sorry yes of course, I'll get you one.' Molly made to leave the room until Sherlock caught her arm. 'No Molly, coffee? Would you like one? I'll get it.'

Molly looked at him in shock, 'you? Why?'

Sherlock frowned; surely it wasn't that strange for him to offer to get coffee, was it? He was sure he must have got her a drink before. 'Yes me and why not. Now, I'm assuming you'll want your normal latte?'

'Well, I would but the staff canteen's miles away.'

'Yes but the cleaner's entrance is not and there's a decent coffee shop only a short distance away from there. Back in a minute.' With that he swept out of the room leaving a slightly baffled Molly behind. She couldn't honestly remember Sherlock getting her anything other than a bag of quavers the day he almost died and the chips the previous night.

He was back within ten minutes and he settled down on the only chair to look through the folders one by one. Given the number he only gave them a fairly cursory glance just enough to initially assess whether there was any possibility of the death being accelerated in any way.

After two hours Molly was up to Q and Sherlock had a pile of ten possibles. He stood up to stretch and look out of the dusty window for a minute before turning back and leaning on the wall whilst he watched Molly working.

'So Molly, you've been here five years now. Isn't it about time they gave you some kind of promotion or pay rise?'

'What? Why on earth are you asking about my job role? You've never cared before.'

'Well, I don't want you leaving. You are important to my work and I can't afford to have any disruption to my access. Maybe I should have a word with Mycroft; he can sort things with Mike.' Sherlock stared into the distance as he worked out the best way to go about securing Molly some more money. He barely heard her speak.

'No, absolutely not. Sherlock you cannot interfere with my career.'

'Why can't I? I take advantage of it enough, the least I should do is ensure you are adequately rewarded for it.'

She stopped what she was doing and turned to face him, stepping a bit closer. 'What's brought this on Sherlock? You've never considered my grade or salary before. Why now?'

Sherlock looked at her assessing the best way to handle this, 'John's always telling me I take advantage of you. He's right, this seems like the best way to compensate you without me having to change my ways.' He gave her a quick smile ignoring the roll of her eyes. 'Right back to work, this case won't solve itself.'

When Molly had come closer to him earlier she had stood between a pile of archive boxes and the shelves, rather than wait for her to step back Sherlock just squeezed past, automatically putting his hands on her hips as he did. The space was slightly narrower than he'd gauged and there was less than an inch between them.

He hesitated when he heard Molly's breath hitch in her throat and for a moment they stood chest to chest with just a brown folder between them, clutched in Molly's slightly trembling hands. Molly looked up to see why Sherlock had stopped and held her breath when he brought his hand up to her cheek. For a split second she thought he was going to kiss her, she saw his eyes flick down to her lips but then his thumb brushed the side of her face, 'you have jam on your face Molly, the downsides of toast in the morning.'

It was at times like these that Molly wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. Sherlock slid past her and made his way back to the desk picking up the next file.

Stupid, stupid, stupid of course he wasn't going to kiss you. Molly berated herself as she carried on with the archiving hoping he hadn't noticed either her reaction or her subsequent blush. She certainly wasn't paying attention to Sherlock and she certainly hadn't noticed his accelerated breathing.

Sherlock sat down and picked up the next file trying to act as naturally as possible. He had almost kissed Molly Hooper, how had that almost happened. One minute he was moving to go past her and the next he had been caught by her eyes as they tried to look anywhere but at his face. He was suddenly struck with an almost overwhelming desire to feel her skin and brush his lips against hers.

He had even got as far as lifting his hand and starting to cup her face, his eyes on her mouth watching her lick her lips so slowly. At the last minute his brain engaged again and he made up some stupid excuse about her having a mark on her face.

He felt as though he were claustrophobic, he glanced up at Molly to see if she had noticed anything but she was just happily carrying on going through the files, but dear God she was bending over right in front of him her backside encased in a tight pair of blue jeans; her waist narrowing to almost nothing beyond them. Her shirt had ridden up slightly and he could see a half inch of creamy skin and he swallowed as he tried to concentrate on just breathing in and out, getting his heart rate back to normal.

He tried to remember when he had last 'relieved' himself. He had found over the years that complete repression was a 'not good' thing to do. The best way to suppress his sexual appetite was through regular habits which meant a once a fortnight ejaculation. It had only been a week ago so he shouldn't be suffering like this.

He stood up so fast he almost knocked the chair over, causing Molly to jump half out of her skin. 'Right, well I can't stay all day. I have enough for now. I'll text you later. Goodbye Molly.'

He picked up the files and left so fast Molly barely had time to mumble a quick 'oh OK' at his retreating back. Used to his strange moods she just shrugged and carried on.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Sherlock was still worked up (in more ways than one) by the time he got back to Baker St. He made his way up the stairs and flung the files onto the kitchen table before leaning on one side of it, his head down, eyes closed, breathing heavily.

'Oh hello Sherlock, are you back already? I thought you were staying out with Molly all day.'

Sherlock looked up at his landlady irritably, she had just emerged from the bathroom carrying her cleaning stuff in a carry box. 'Well you thought wrong Mrs Hudson. I have more important things to do than help Molly do her filing.'

'Course you do dear, you sit down then and I'll make you a nice cup of tea.'

She eyed him as he made his way to his chair and sat down heavily immediately leaning his elbows on the arms and his chin resting on his hands.

'What's on your mind? Are you missing John?'

'No, of course not.'

'Oh, I expect you probably are. I know you don't like to admit these things but it's natural to feel lonely.'

'I am not lonely.'

'Spending time with Molly, it's good for you. For her too. She hasn't had a boyfriend since she split up with that nice young fella. You know she's probably still holding a torch for you. God knows why. You should snap her up whilst you still can.'

'Mrs Hudson...'

'Oh I know you say you don't care and that you don't need anyone, but you're just as human as the rest of us. You need someone around, it's not healthy talking to that skull, and you could do a lot worse than Molly Hooper. Unless you'd rather have a boyfriend. I couldn't believe it when John said he was marrying a woman but it takes all sorts and Mary's lovely. Maybe that detective you hang around with. He's single now isn't he...'

'MRS HUDSON!'

'Alright no need to shout, I don't know why I'm bothering anyway, you let John slip away and now it'll be Molly. You're not made for relationships are you? Well I'll leave you to it.' She patted him on the arm as she put the tea down by his side before making her way out of the flat.

Sherlock felt a relief in her leaving but a certain churlishness in her last comment. What did she mean he wasn't made for relationships. He could have one if he wanted, he just chose not to. It was the work that was important; the work that mattered wasn't it?

He picked up his cup of tea. If he ever decided to woo Molly Hooper he would be brilliantly at it, of that he was certain. After all he'd seduced Janine and he hadn't even liked her, not sexually anyway. If he decided to seduce Molly he'd have her eating out of his hand in no time.

Before he could stop himself his mind went back to that moment in the filing room. Molly had been so close, he could close his eyes and recall the feel of her slim hips under his hands his thumbs resting on her hip bones. Her mouth had been inches from his own and he imagined what could have happened if he had succumbed to his desire and kissed her.

Was Mrs Hudson right; was there a chance Molly could slip away? How would he even feel about that? He frowned, he needed her in the morgue, but was that all...he certainly hadn't liked it when she had been with that imbecile last year, but why? And anyway, what would be the worst that would happen if he did pursue Molly, her knowledge complimented his own, she would be permanently at his disposal regarding lab and morgue access. A small part of his brain traitorously thought of Molly laid out naked in his bed and he gasped; his eyes snapping open.

He squirmed in his seat, his trousers suddenly tight. Before the last couple of days he had never really considered Molly and sex before and he was surprised by how strong his reaction was to the idea. Even Irene had not elicited a physical reaction; hers was purely a mental one. He had been intrigued by her, she was a puzzle to solve, an attractive puzzle but still just a puzzle. Molly wasn't even particularly attractive. As soon as he thought that he squinted; his eyes, frowning, feeling a sense of discomfort, no she wasn't made up or 'fashionable' but she was sensible, practical. He liked that her make-up was minimal and her hair was simple, she didn't need to look like a painted doll. Molly was pretty, very pretty.

But that brought him back round to Molly and sex and what, if anything he should do. In the end he took the easiest route out. He would do nothing, at least nothing proactive. He could revisit his decision in the future if he should ever feel the need.

He counted without Mrs Hudson's involvement though.

Molly's starting to get under his skin, we always knew she would didn't we. Next chapter will hopefully be up Thursday. Until then take care xx