".. and this one over here, is the omentum." I pointed knowingly at the apron-like fatty membrane on the sliced open body on the table. I looked over to my students to see their reactions so far. Some cringed at the sight but most of them took notes.
'Very well' I thought to myself, considering it probably is the first time my students see a cut up body up close.
"Professor Hooper..." I looked at where the voice came from, and there I saw at the back of the room was a pale-looking Jamie. She looked very uneasy. She is holding on to a nearby desk for support. "May I go outside for a while?", she continued.
The rest of the class exchanged glances with each other. I ignored them. "Sure, Jamie." I answered with a worried smile. She rushed out of the room. The rest of the class burst into laughter.
"Now, now, children." I said mockingly. "That was not nice." I continued. They all went silent, probably surprised that I just addressed them like preschool children.
"So! On Monday we will be looking at the human brain, rereading your highschool Human Anatomy notes will be good. Go over your notes from today too as I will be giving an oral examination ." The class sighed disappointedly in response.
"That's all. See you next week."
As the whole class left the room, I went over to my desk at the corner of the room. Jamie came in to get her things.
She seems fine now.
"Sorry, Professor Hooper, I did not mean to rush out like that. I am not... mentally prepared." She said shyly.
"It's okay Jamie, you'll get through it. You just need time." I smiled at her. "We have an oral exam on Monday about what we discussed today, okay?" I continued.
"Oh, goodbye then Professor Hooper." She said, smiling awkwardly and left.
I sat on my chair and startedto sort my things. I see a lot of myself in Jamie. Her shy personality covers her powerful intellect. She's one of the best students in my class actually. Poor girl. I hope she gets used to the dead bodies I'll be bringing in for lecture.
I stood up and made my way to the body on the table as I have to return it to the school laboratory.
It's been almost two years since I last cut up a body for post mortem examination. I miss those days, but I never thought I would actually enjoy teaching.
So much for spending everyday surrounded by dead people.
"Ah! Professor Hooper, I'll take care of that." Michael Rutherford, the laboratory manager, said.
"Thank you Mr. Rutherford." I replied, as he went over to fix the body. "How was it this time?" He inquired.
"They did well, one of my students looked really flushed at the sight though." I answered.
"I admire your courage, Professor Hooper. I mean, you are the only woman in the Human Physiology department and I also heard you were the youngest and the only woman Pathologist back at St. Barts." He continued.
"Just trying to impose feminism in London." I replied, laughing a bit. "I should get going then, see you around Mr. Rutherford."
I went to the faculty room to pick up my coat and bag. I put on my coat and made my way out to the streets. It is Friday and it's barely 6 in the afternoon so I decided to walk all the way home. No harm in enjoying the fresh air. It's a long way home but I am in the mood for a long walk today.
My mind drifted to what I told Jamie earlier. 'You just need time.'
It has been almost 2 years since I left St. Barts and worked as a professor at King's College Medical School and it's three years since Sherlock left.
Time heals all wounds is what they say. I have found this to be true. Not that I don't love Sherlock anymore.
I love him still.
He is, after all, my first love. I just come into realization that I should focus on the apparent change in my life.
There has not been a day when I don't think about Sherlock. I want to know if he is okay.
I love him. Nothing could ever change that.
The most logical thing to do in this kind of situation is to focus my attention on my work and continue with my life.
My feelings for Sherlock still intact.
All of Sherlock's closest friends seemed to have coped with his 'death'.
I made it a habit to visit John and Mrs. Hudson every couple of months. I believe it be helpful to all of us. We would just sit and have tea. Talk about Sherlock and his antics. Occasionally, there'd be a moment when we'd all just keep quiet, a tear or two falling slowly.
Apparently, I was right, this 'therapy' we're having is really helpful.
We went on with our lives.
The last time I saw John was a week ago. We went out for tea.
"How have you been lately?" I asked John after taking a sip from the cup in my hand.
"I'm doing great." He replied.
"I've heard that you are seeing someone." I said with a grin.
"I suppose Mrs. Hudson told you. Mary is her name. A lovely woman, she is." John answered.
"I have heard you two are serious about each other, am I hearing church bells anytime soon?" I said jokingly.
He just blushed.
"How about you Molly, are you seeing anyone lately?" He asked.
"No, I quite enjoy teaching. Now I understand what Sherlock meant when he said he was married to his work." I answered with a smile. I looked out the window.
"You still love him, don't you?" He commented.
"You know I always have and always will." I said, still looking out the window.
There was a silence.
"Don't worry about me John. I have never regretted loving him." I said with a smile. He smiled too, satisfied with my answer.
We talked about my work, his Mary and Mrs. Hudson's new 'friend'. It was nice seeing him so elated.
After we're through, we made our way out.
"I'll see you soon then" I told John and he nodded in reply. "Say hello to Mary for me." And I hugged him for a moment.
"I am so happy for you." I told him as we parted. He smiled and I went to hail a cab.
I was so lost in my thoughts I did not notice I was already outside my flat. I fished for the keys in my bag. I opened the door and went in.
I placed my coat at the coat hanger and went to the sitting room where I found Toby sleeping on the sofa. I sat beside him and turned on the telly, switching through channels. I suddenly remembered that Love Actually is on Channel 4 at 8:30 pm tonight.
I looked at my watch , 8:20 pm.
I ran to the kitchen to get a box of tissues and I tossed it on the sofa. I am sure I will be crying a lot later.
I then rushed up the stairs to my bedroom to get comfy pillows to hug while watching. I can't hide the grin that I have on. I was too excited to watch Love Actually, as it is my favourite movie of all time.
I opened the door to my bedroom, not bothering to turn the light on, and made my way to my bed.
I was flailing my arms wildly in the bed, trying to feel where my pillows are.
My hands hit something.
And that something growled "Ouch!".
I gasped in shock. I was too scared. My heart stopped for a while. What if it was a burglar, or worse, a killer? PANIC MODE. Okay. Calm down Molly, calm down. You'll make it out alive. Now , think. think. What should you do?
I tried to feel my way to my dresser where a frame stood. It has pointed ends, that will do.
" You know Molly, If I was a burglar or a killer, you should be dead by now."
My jaw dropped. That voice. Could it be?
I switched on the lights. There he was, sitting up straight on the edge of my bed. Wearing his purple shirt, with bits of his majestic curls falling down on his forehead.
Oh god, how I love him in his purple shirt. I shook my head to focus on what just happened.
I just looked at him. Eyes wide in surprise. I am trying to recall if I immediately slept after I went home for this might just be a dream.
"Not working at St. Barts anymore then. You did not get fired, you resigned because of personal reasons, judging by how your lab gown is folded neatly in your closet. It also has been at least a year then, judging by the piles of lesson plan you have on your desk which are worth at least a year, must be a teacher. Your neat outfit says you just got home from work. Your overall get up suggests you are a professor. You are working at King's College Medical School and you walked all the way here from there. Your hair is a bit dishevelled and damp suggesting a drizzle and strong wind, clearly, you did not take a cab. It must have been at least two hours since you left work. Which part of London had experienced drizzle at least an hour ago? Covent Garden. King's College Medicine School is in Covent Garden, that must be the place then."
I was speechless.
"Judging by that silly smile you had on as you were looking for your pillows here and you did not even bother to turn on the lights, you must be excited and most likely in a hurry. Why would someone look for pillows and be excited at the same time? The telly is on. Must be a movie then and you are going to cuddle the pillow, I don't know what is the sense in doing that, but from your personality, I know it's something you'd be doing . You left the television schedule magazine open to a movie called Love Actually scheduled at 8:30 pm. That confirms it. It obviously is a movie about love. If you were seeing someone, why would you spend your Friday night watching some sloppy movie when you can go out with him? No boyfriend then. I see you have been taking my advice really well. You are better off not in a relationship. Good for you then."
I never thought I'd miss his deductions about me. I am so happy to know that he's fine.
I rushed to him and gave him a tackle hug.
I caught him off guard and I landed over him on my bed.
He was stiff.
I hugged him tighter.
Overwhelmed with emotions, I started to cry.
"Sherlock, why did you have to do this to us?" I cried, using my right hand to pound lightly on his chest.
"You left us, John... Mrs. Hudson.." I continued. I felt his body relax beneath my embrace.
I lifted my head off his chest and looked at him. "It's over now isn't it?" I asked, hopeful.
"Yes, Molly, it's over now."
I just looked at him, with a happy smile on my lips.
Then I remembered I was on top of him. I quickly stood up.
"Sorry." I muttered.
"Fancy a tea?" I asked him awkwardly. He nodded. I went out of the room and he followed.
I went to the kitchen to fix us both some tea. He sat on the sofa and turned his attention on the telly. "You are late for your movie." He said.
I sat on the space beside him and handed him his tea. I ignored his last comment. "Have you told John?",I inquired.
He was silent.
"When are you planning to tell him?" I continued.
"Tomorrow." He replied. I just smiled at him and looked at the telly.
The scene where Emma Thompson's character finds out that her husband is cheating on her is on. It was so emotional, I started to cry.
"I don't get the point in all of this. It's just nonsense." Sherlock commented.
I glared at him. Though I am surprised at how he took long before actually commenting at how the movie is wrong on every level.
I smiled inwardly.
I am glad that he's back.
As the credits show up, I turned the telly off.
I sighed in contentment.
I looked at him. He seemed to be in his mind palace.
It's almost 11pm.
"Umm, Sherlock, it's getting late, you can sleep here if you want." I told him, a bit shy about how forward I was.
He stood up. "Good. I am tired anyway" He answered and made his way upstairs. I followed him to my bedroom.
"You don't mind, do you?" he asked, as he was opening the buttons of his shirt.
"No, no, make yourself at home." I answered, trying to look away.
"I am gonna go get changed." I said and rushed to my bathroom.
I took a quick shower, and put on the most decent pyjamas I have and a tshirt.
I went out of the bathroom and I saw him on my bed with one of my father's shirts on.
I climbed awkwardly on the bed and lay down beside him.
"Molly, come with me tomorrow." He said.
"Sherlock, I'm not sure I should be there." I answered.
"Molly, you do know you count right?" I smiled at this.
"And besides, I need someone to hold John off if he decides to kill me."
"Hmm." I hummed in approval.
Sherlock believes that I count. I am so elated. My heart is overflowing with happiness right now.
The man I have always loved is beside me. I have never thought this will happen, even in my wildest dreams.
He sure made me miserable before, but I am glad that he's back for good. Oh god, how I missed his presence.
I wish this moment will last forever.
"Good night, Sherlock." I whispered. He just snored in return. I closed my eyes and fell in deep slumber.
A/N:
Sorry, I had a cut up my fingers so I am typing like John.
A bit of fluffiness on this one.
The next chapter is the confrontation between John and Sherlock.
Thank you to those who have reviewed, alerted and 'favorited'.
You keep me going.
-RG
