Captain John Watson of the 6th Northumberland fusiliers was for all intents and purposes shell-shocked. His friend Mr Sherlock Holmes had just admitted being in love with the mild and strong hearted Doctor Molly Hooper. Fate however was not a kind mistress, just as Sherlock had come to disclose his feelings and exclaim his love, Molly had moved for reasons unknown, the good Doctor could see the panic set in his friend eyes and the strain of having no clue or hope of finding the woman he loved. Now all John Watson wanted was to aid his best friend. He wondered quite a while on the drive back to Baker Street, what made Molly leave. Surely nothing at work could have stressed her so; there was no way she would give up on the work she loved. That left one solution Sherlock, due to strange hours and morbid humour Molly had very few friends. What had his friend done for god sake to make her leave?
"Sherlock, what could have made Molly leave?" John asked trying to make his voice relaxed, not the nervous fool he felt.
"Me! It has to be. I know you have worked that much out." Pain laced his voice as if tiny dagger were piercing his throat.
"I neglected the most precious person in my life, negating all I ever assured her."
"What do you mean?" John's curiosity won out.
"On the day before my fall we came to the lab with the missing child's case remember. I was at the microscope talking with Molly. That was where I saw clearly how much my fake indifference had and continues to hurt and harm her. She told me in that moment that she of all people didn't count. That night I went to her for help, I told her she counted, that she had always counted and I always trusted her. What she hadn't realised from that moment to now, was that I had fallen for her. Now after my ignoring her and my feelings I have lost the only woman I could ever consider being mine." This speech was delivered at hyper speed by a man trying to rid himself of his own loathing. John was dumbstruck, the power and extent of Sherlock's pain was so raw. That it consumed the man's voice like a black hole. Instead of the strong sure self it was strained and low.
John's mind was a wash. They had to find Molly.