Chapter 4
Molly and Meena were soon touring London, Meena borrowed one of the less granny-ish tops and the pair were rifling through Primark and Debenhams and other shops in order to replace Molly's wardrobe. They'd argued over a red dress that Meena ended up buying her as a present and now they were arguing over lingerie.
"There's nothing to them!" Molly held up the scrap of purple lace, inspecting it with a critical eye.
"That's the point." Meena sighed, Molly had already refused Victoria's Secret amongst other boutique stores so they were in Marks and Spencers looking at their selection of underwear. "Come on Mols, these are nice but nowhere near as scandalous as half the pieces I own. You don't have to get the Brazilian knickers, just buy the boy shorts." Meena held up the purple bra and shorts and saw Molly waver.
"Fine."
"Then we'll upgrade you to the Brazilians." Meena winked and the pair left with sets in shades of bright green, pink and purple. When they got back to her flat, Sherlock and John were waiting. Sherlock was on the phone to what sounded like Lestrade while John was sat on the sofa watching her TV.
"What are you doing here?" Molly said abruptly and Sherlock spun.
"Never mind, I'll call you back." The tall detective took in Meena, the numerous shopping bags and probably the coffee stain on Molly's skirt from where she was laughing too hard at one of Meena's revelations. "Where have you been?"
"Jesus, what are you her mum?" Meena had no strong liking for the detective, she thought he was an arse and horrible to Molly when all she'd done was everything to help him. She had been furious when he'd come back from the dead, making Molly an accomplice to his faked suicide. She'd told him in no uncertain terms that he'd put her best friend in danger and that while he may not ranked her life very high in his list of priorities, Molly Hooper was high on hers.
"John was worried about you." Sherlock ignored Meena, the forthright woman was a minor nuisance in his life.
"Not true." John piped up from the sofa, jumping up as the two women walked further in.
"All your clothes are bagged up and everywhere is a mess, what is going on?" Sherlock looked at Molly and she could feel herself weakening under his penetrating gaze. Luckily for Other Molly, Meena came to the rescue.
"Molly's sorting her life out, weeding out people she doesn't need." Her tone was biting, her point made and Sherlock was forced to look at the acerbic woman. It was on the tip of his tongue to point out that she was still involved with Molly but some warning part of his brain registered it would not be best to rile up Meena Kahn; she had a vicious bite. "Lunch Mols?" The dark haired woman inspected the fridge and cupboards, finding a pepper, a mushroom that could be saved through frying and a small amount of rice.
"Thanks Meena." Molly put her purchases on the kitchen table, Sherlock on her heels while John loitered looking uncomfortable. "How's Mary?" She turned to the long suffering doctor with a sympathetic smile.
"She's a little irritated, pregnancy doesn't always suit her." John shrugged, stepping into the kitchen. Meena had no problem with him and smiled as he stood closer. Sherlock was surreptitiously nosing through Molly's bags but Meena would stay quiet until he reached the Marks and Spencers bag. "Your room looks good Molly." John said conversationally and Sherlock's head whipped up.
"You went through my room?" She arched one brow as Meena retrieved the frying pan from the depths of Molly's unused kitchen.
"Sherlock was sure you had been kidnapped or drugged as … how did you term it?" John turned to his icy companion.
"Term what?" Sherlock grit his teeth at the sudden attention.
"That's it, your behaviour pattern has changed suddenly and without a reason." John was smirking slightly and Meena had to turn away to quell a giggle.
"Oh well, thank you. It took me three days to paint but I'm quite proud of it." Molly glossed over Sherlock's deductions.
"You painted it alone?" John was beginning a mundane conversation and Sherlock was frustrated by it.
"Of course she painted it by herself, why else would it take such a long time as three days? The edges are also slightly wonky on one side of the room from her using her left hand while she is right handed and there's evidence of long brush work near the ceiling and she's balanced on her dining room chair, this is also thanks to the paint splatters on the back of the chair. As a naturally clumsy person I am surprised there is not more paint on the chair, and that she was stupid enough to use the chair knowing how inept she can be." Sherlock ground out. He was met with stunned silence.
"Well I think Molly's done an amazing job." Meena's tone was cold again, glaring at the obnoxious man.
"We'll come and visit Mary soon." Molly smiled, shaking off the words left by Sherlock, she was used to the scorn. "She must be in need of a bit of comfort and company."
"Sure when I get the time off I will." Meena smiled at the doctor who was thankful for Molly's usual calm when Sherlock was a bastard. The smell of frying peppers soon indicated to John that it was time to leave and all but chasing after a sweeping Sherlock the two men left.
"Not a word." Molly came back into the kitchen after closing the door behind John.
"He's a string of bad words." Meena didn't turn round but the topic of Sherlock was dropped as they tucked into the rice dish.