Disclaimer: I own nothing! I claim nothing! I'm just borrowing the characters for my own pleasure and the pleasure of whoever reads this!
Chapter Three
The Blind Detective
Molly smiled without humor. "Who do you think was willing to pay nine million pounds for a tiny hairpin?"
For the first time since sitting - or sprawling, to be more accurate - down, Sherlock sat up, back stiff. His eyes were narrowed as he stared at her. She almost wished he'd look away.
She did, looking down at her lap, doing her best to sit still.
"Not me, exactly. Jim wanted to give it to me. He thought it would suit me, and I... thought it would be funny."
"How could owning a smuggled trinket be 'funny?'" Sherlock asked stonily.
"I thought it would be funny to own something you were looking for. To wear it every day as you struggled to find the last clue. We knew you'd get involved eventually." She snapped, raising her gaze - more of a glare now - to meet his. "I wanted it because everyday you came in, you used me, and as soon as you got what you wanted you ignored me, and I thought it would be funny to wear it right under your nose, because I am a horrible, spiteful person!"
Just as suddenly as it had started, she stopped, deflating visibly. Her glare disappeared, replaced with a sad gleam. "Is that what you want to hear, Sherlock? Some proof that I'm a heartless, horrid woman? Some key phrase that will make it okay to hate me?" she asked quietly.
The brokenhearted tension in the room was back with a vengeance. Sherlock didn't respond to her questions. His eyes, however, widened slightly as he took in the fact that what she had said previously was entirely a farce. A believable one as well.
John had watched the exchange in silence, but he cleared his throat now.
The tension diffused slightly as both Sherlock and Molly looked towards him.
"Molly, why don't you... explain things more fully?"
She nodded slowly. "Sure John, I can do that."
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
"Margret, I have a surprise for you!" Jimmy said, looking all too pleased with himself.
It took her a second to realize that he was talking to her. When she only heard her name once a month, it was so hard to remember sometimes. Molly was just so ingrained into her mind now.
She smiled softly at her brother. "Oh? What did you get me?" She asked, trying to display some enthusiasm. It was another month, another meeting at another stupid restaurant that she'd never step foot in again.
Jimmy didn't seem to mind or notice her lack of a genuine smile. No doubt he was setting it to one of her moods, which had become more common recently, though they had cropped up occasionally before everything else began. "Well," he said, dragging out the 'e', "I don't have it yet, but it's coming in with the Black Lotus' next delivery."
She arched her brow, recognizing the name as one of her brother's more successful jobs, one that, according to him, would hit public - and Sherlock's - notice before long. "So," she began, leaning slightly over the table, curious now, "What is it?"
He grinned widely, definitely more than a little pleased with himself. "A jade hairpin fit for an empress, my dear Margret."
She blinked. With anyone else, she knew that it would have just been a turn of phrase. With Jim... she wasn't entirely sure he wouldn't nick an empress's hairpin for her. And if it came from the Black Lotus, it was a real artifact, and it was expensive.
"Jimmy, you shouldn't have! I couldn't possibly wear it, not if the authorities are looking for it."
Jim waved her words away. "Really, I wouldn't put you in that kind of danger. No one will be looking for it, I promise. Besides, it suits you perfectly, and it's only a trifle."
Again, she arched her brow. a trifle. "Jimmy..."
He stood, cutting off her words again as he rounded the table. "I've got to go, Margret. People to see, places to burn, the usual." He kissed the top of her head and left before she could really object further. The whole thing left a bit of a sour taste in her mouth, especially when she realized that before, she never would have let him cut her off like that, and leave her alone.
He didn't even stay to escort her this time. It left a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach as she stood and left alone.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
"What do you mean it's been stolen?" Molly asked into the phone. Jim had called her suddenly. It was quite unusual for him to call her outside of their normal arrangement.
"The pin's missing. One of the carriers has sticky fingers, and that damn woman in charge didn't keep good enough track of inventory." Jim was more than just a little angry. You can't just steal from a Moriarty and expect to get away with it. At least, that's what he taught her when she was little. Now, it seemed a bit silly. And worrying.
Molly sighed. "Maybe there was some type of mistake." She suggested.
Jim just snorted his opinion of her poorly brought forth idea. "Yes, it was a mistake, by an imbecilic greedy-fingered cretin. Someone's going to die for this one."
He seemed to be speaking to himself, but it still caused her to frown. "That's a bit -" extreme. Not that Jim heard her, over his own talking.
"I'll have a word with the underlings. Sit tight Margret, it's nothing for you to worry about anyway. I'll have the pin for you." He said it with such glee. Molly didn't have a chance to try to dissuade him before he hung up.
"But... I don't really want a hairpin..." she sighed. He didn't hear her words anyway. The dial tone was already beeping in her ear. It happened more and more often that he ignored her.
She hung up the phone.
No doubt, if the Black Lotus alone didn't get Sherlock's attention, then the inevitable bodies would.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
"It was about a week later, when the first man was brought into the morgue." Molly said in a soft voice. "I don't even remember his name anymore, but I recognized the symbol on his ankle from something Jimmy showed me one day. It made me realize -"
"You showed me their feet."
Molly frowned slightly at Sherlock's interruption. "What?"
"You showed me their feet, knowing that would allow me to solve the case. You could have said no. Why didn't you?" It was another of those demanding questions, once he wouldn't let her move on from until she answered it. She sighed.
"That's easy Sherlock... I let you see the feet because..."
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
"What are you thinking - pork or the pasta?"
Molly nearly jumped out of her skin, until she saw him. Her heart gave an all too real flutter. "Oh, it's you!" Her voice sounded high even to her. She knew he'd pick it out. She felt her cheeks flush.
He wasn't really looking at her though, still focused on the food for some reason. "I suppose it's never going to trouble Egon Ronay, is it?" A rhetorical question, but she had to drop her gaze for a moment before looking up. He was still talking. "I'd stick with the pasta. Wouldn't be doing roast pork. Not if you're slicing up cadavers."
The last word just rolled off his tongue. She had no clue why that word sounded so much more enticing when he said it. Probably something wrong with that thought.
"What are you having?" She asked, trying to not make a fool of herself.
"Don't eat when I'm working. Digesting slows me down."
Molly frowned slightly. Oh. "So you're working here tonight?" Of course he wouldn't be here just to say hi. Sherlock Holmes didn't do something so human. Silly man.
"I need to examine some bodies." Of course he did. Typical. It hurt her heart a bit. Oh well.
"Some?"
"Eddie Van Coon and Brian Lukis."
Molly looked down at the clipboard in her hands, pursing her lips slightly. "They're on my list." She said softly. And they were part of Jimmy's Black lotus things. She should tell him no, then.
"Could you wheel them out again for me?" Molly was certain he'd purposely made his voice deeper. He knew what it did to her. So wrong. He was such a manipulative arse.
Just say no, Molly. You can do it.
"Well... their paperwork's already gone through."
There was a slight pause. She heard the click of his tongue, and knew she was done for.
"You changed your hair."
"What?"
"The style—it's usually parted in the middle." Oh gosh. He actually stuttered over it. No, just ignore it Molly.
"Yes, well..."
"No it's good. It suits you better this way." He smiled as he said it.
Dammit Molly.
She couldn't stop the smile as she turned around.
Jim would understand. It was all about being up pretenses after all... right?
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
"... because Margret Moriarty was dying inside me. All of the hate, and confusion, and stubbornness and pride I had as a Moriarty was dying. And as she started to fade, all that was left was Molly Hooper, and she was irrevocably in love with you, despite everything. Despite all of your cruel words, and all the times you used and insulted her, she still loved you, and would always help you if you asked." Molly swallowed, closing her eyes as she continued. She didn't want to see the doubt, disbelief, and disgust in Sherlock's eyes.
"I can't tell you when She died. Only that she's been dead a very long time. Margret Moriarty is dead. Molly Hooper's still alive. She's me. That's all that's left now. And that's why."
Molly held in the tears, though she felt like she wanted to cry. She might not have her pride as a Moriarty anymore, but she still had her pride as Molly Hooper, and she would not cry in front of him again. Not about this. Not when he was looking at her like this, like she was something to be loathed, some confused viper waiting to strike.
She missed Margret sometimes. Maybe then she could hate him again.
BOOM Chapter 3! WHOO! XD
To the reviewers: Rose of Zakarisz, MorbidbyDefault, Rocking the Redhead, FanFicGirl10, Shayran16, AdaYuki, Monirosez, Jessiekat89, magentacr, CloudCuckooLandHasAQueen, Nana40, NiceNipps, TheRealLKC, dayflow, Anon, Renaissancebooklover108, Brytte Mystere, MissPond7, lavanyalabelle, Tabashi, FarGreenCountrySwiftSunrise, Thegreenconsultingdragonlord, iamidristhetardis, whenisayrun, RunYouCleverBoyAndRememberMe, Girl Of Chaos, I-DreamedTheDream, ash, and The Demigod Gryffindor ... Where did you all come from?! Thank you so much for all the lovely reviews, and all your kind words! It's been simply amazing so far, just.. thank you!
Also, guys, if you haven't seen it yet, Mollymatters on Tumblr made a gif set to go with this story. I died in a screech attack (And also, I got so many new comments after she made it) so here's a big shout out to her for the amazingness. I would link it, but sadly FF doesn't allow links, but you can find it easily on her account or mine - since I'm definitely reblogging it with this update.
Thanks to Cumberburch for being my seriously patient beta!
Until Next Time! :*
