Hi guys! Thank you so much for the kind reviews! It means a lot! I also realized a bunch of grammar mistakes as I re read my last chapter, so I apologize for those! I really need to re read everything before I post. *Shakes head.* But anyway, here we go!
Also - I had a crazy dream last night about a new idea for a story…however I don't know if I want to make it Sherlock themed or create a new original story all together. Think of Sherlock and Titanic mixed together…with some different twists. Let me know what you think!
The first thing she realized was that she wasn't in a hospital.
There were no bright lights or beeping machines. Instead, she was laying in a large bed, with dark blue covers and sheets. The bedroom was simple, with no pictures giving her hints as to where she might be. Clothes were strewn everywhere and from those she deduced that she was in a man's room.
"For goodness sake," Molly thought. "I'm beginning to think like Sherlock."
She tried to sit up to get a better view, but the searing pain that ripped through her shoulder stopped her. Glancing down slowly, she realized that her arm had been bounded and put through a sling.
"John's handiwork, then?" Molly mused. Breathing through the pain, she looked around again, debating whether she should call out or not. As she searched, her eyes settled on a purple shirt she knew all too well that was hung up carefully in the open closet. She gasped.
"I'm in Sherlock's room," she said aloud to no one in particular. The door began to open slowly and she saw John's head poke through.
"Oh, Molly. You're awake." He opened the door fully and stepped in, careful not to step on any of the clothes.
"Yes," she answered. Her voice was hoarse, but she was quickly relived when she noticed John had a glass of water in his hand.
"Here, drink." He helped her sit up and placed the glass carefully in her left hand. After taking a couple of sips, she looked at her shoulder.
"Bad?"
"Not really. It was a through and through. You just need some time to heal."
"Not that I'm not grateful, but - "
"Why are you not in a hospital?" John raised an eyebrow at her. She nodded. "Because Sherlock and Mycroft are paranoid. They believe that anyone in the public view are easy targets for Moriarty. Although, after what I've seen today, I kind of agree with them. If we put you in a hospital, it would be more difficult for us to monitor and protect you."
"I don't need protecting," she spat suddenly, placing the glass on a nearby table.
"I know you're strong, Molly," John agreed. "But Moriarty is devious and cunning. He'd find a way to get to you."
Molly studied him carefully. "Sherlock's already convinced you hasn't he?"
"Convinced me of what?"
"That we all need to hide from Moriarty."
That took John by surprise. "He doesn't think we need to hide. We just need to come up with a plan."
"He didn't hide before."
"And he's not hiding now," John insisted.
"He's not?" She glanced around the room purposefully. "Then why am I not in a hospital?"
John sighed. "He's just worried - "
"Sherlock Holmes doesn't get worried." She shot back. John looked at her strangely.
"Why are you so against being here?"
Molly sighed, leaning back against the pillows. "I'm not, I mean - I'm just…thank you."
"For?"
She gestured at her arm. John gave a slight smile. "But there's something that you may not have noticed about Sherlock, John."
"And that would be?"
She looked him square in the eye before answering. "He doesn't really plan."
John stared at her for a minute before grinning and nodding. "I know. It's like he already has the answer in his head at all times and he just goes through the actions like he knows it's all going to work out in his favor. Did you know that when he went up to the rooftop to see Moriarty, he knew all the ways he could possibly get off the roof?"
"Safely?"
John chuckled. "Yes."
"But John?"
He looked at her curiously. "Yes?"
"I know he knows what Moriarty is capable of. He doesn't have to plan anything involving himself. But he will plan for you. For Mary. For Mycroft. But he can't do this alone. I think last time proved that."
"I know."
"Don't let him push you away."
For the umpteenth time during their conversation, John looked confused at her. "What?"
"If I know anything about Sherlock he's brash, loud, annoying, cruel…but he's also intensely protective. He pushes away so much…just to keep everything in the clear."
John stared at her, his eyes downcast.
"He never told you about faking his death because he didn't want you to have that burden. He didn't want you to worry about him constantly."
"But he told you - "
"Because he needed my resources - "
"He let you worry."
"I don't count." The familiar words flooded from her mouth before she could stop them. John looked sadly at her, but she barreled on. "Just, keep your head in the game and help him. He'll try to push you away, you'll see it. But he also wants you to help because he respects you. Help him, he'll need it."
"I know," John agreed. They were silent for a while until John spoke again. "You know, he sat in here all night."
"Pardon?"
"While you were out. He sat by your side all night, even though I told him you were going to be okay. Only when Mycroft called him did he leave."
"Oh," was the only response she had. John smiled and stood, slowly making his way to the door. Before she stepped out however, he turned toward her one last time.
"What I'm saying is…you do count. He's going to plan for you, too."
She gave him a small smile. "I doubt it."
He looked sadly at her before shutting the door behind him. Suddenly tired again, she sank into the pillows and listened to the soft sounds of Baker Street. John's voice fluttered softly from the sitting room and she could hear Sherlock's deep voice answer. The heavy footfalls that succeed the short conversation confirmed her suspicions that he'd come see her.
Although his footfalls were loud, he opened the door with a soft hesitance, peeking in before opening it all the way.
"Molly?" He called.
"Yes?" She smiled. He opened the door fully and stepped inside, only a step, to gaze at her.
"How are you feeling?" For the first time since Molly had known him, Sherlock actually looked…shy.
"I'm fine. A little sore, but nothing worse. What happened while I was out?"
Sherlock took Molly's willing conversation as an okay to walk toward the bed. Surprising herself, she didn't look away even when his eyes looked at her hands instead of her face.
"Nothing of importance. Mycroft has his associates looking into the street shooting and my homeless network is covering the places his resources cannot reach."
Molly didn't miss the slight biting tone Sherlock used when he spoke of his brother. She knew of the almost comical sibling rivalry between the two of them, but she knew that the discomfort stemmed deeper than what either let on. She decided not to mention it.
"Good. So…what's the next step?"
Sherlock's quick eyes shot up to meet hers. "What do you mean?"
"What are we going to do now?"
"What do you mean 'we'?"
Molly sighed. She knew Sherlock was going to do this. For goodness sake, she had told John only a few minutes ago. But she wasn't going to let him get away with it, not this time.
"I'm helping you."
"No, you're not."
"Sherlock - "
"No." His voice held an air of finality that would have made the old Molly cringe and look away. Instead, she reached forward with her good hand and beckoned him closer. He didn't move immediately, but he finally reached out a tentative hand and touched hers. She wasted no time in pulling him closer.
"Sherlock. You're not pushing me away. Not this time. You need me."
"What could I need you for?" He whispered, the conversation they had in the lab all that time ago flashing in Molly's mind.
She smiled. "I don't know…anything really."
Sherlock gazed at her, possibly trying to read her emotions that were most likely displayed across her face. She would be lying if she said his gaze didn't make her weak at the knees anymore, or that her heart began to race. Her time with Tom had made ignoring Sherlock Holmes a bit easier, but now with Tom gone her infatuation with the man in front of her flared again.
That's what she called it. An infatuation - not love. Because who could love a man who would rather talk to a skull than a human being? Who could love a man who would insult anyone he met? Who could love a man who would fake his own death for two years just to do a job? She was just excited by him, that's all.
But then Sherlock smiled that damn half smile of his and she questioned the fine line between infatuation and love.
"Fine," he spoke, causing Molly to drop his hand in surprise. "You can help. But we do this my way, understand?"
"To a point." She muttered. He raised an eyebrow at her and she only spoke when she realized he wasn't going to say anymore. "I'll do it your way to a point. But if you put yourself in unnecessary danger…expect some retaliation."
He didn't answer. Instead, he rubbed his head like he had a headache, which he probably did.
"Why would you care?" He finally asked. "Why would you care if I put myself into danger?"
Without thinking, she spoke. "Because I care about you."
He froze, but he didn't look at her. They sat there in utter silence for what felt like an eternity, until he abruptly stood and walked to the door. Molly expected him to walk right through, but he seemed to have a second thought and turned toward her, head bowed.
"You'll stay here under John's supervision until you've healed enough. Then we'll speak about what to do next."
And he left. Molly sat there, a bit shocked by his abrupt exit. Sure, he had abrupt exits before, but he had never done so with a second thought.
Sighing, Molly leaned back against the pillows with a new fatigue.
"He's going to be the death of me." She whispered to the darkness. Closing her eyes slowly, she allowed herself to be taken to the realm of sleep.
But instead of a fitful sleep - she dreamed.
Well? How's it going? Haven't seen you guys in a while. I've been working another story of mine called 100 Things About Annie in the Covert Affairs section. If you know the show - it'd mean so much if you'd check it out! :) Anyway, I hope you liked this installment! As always, please read, review, and enjoy!