Disclaimer: Not mine
Rating: I'll keep it an M, because it's going to be.
Author's notes: There is quite a bit of back and forth bickering with different people in this chapter. I felt I needed to make some parts a little lighter because some of this is going to be pretty dark and emotional. This one isn't beta'd. I felt bad disturbing my beta's holiday, so I winged this one. Excuse any mistakes.
Chapter 4
Molly was exhausted when her shift ended. She had helped Meryl to do the inventory and for a small English tea shop, Meryl had quite a stock.
The sun was just barely visible over the horizon bathing the country side in a soft golden light. Molly smiled to herself, breathing in the sweet country air. Midsomer Worthy was doing her very good she mused to herself as she made her way home, smiling and waving to the country folk she passed along the way.
By the time she reached her cozy little cottage, the sun had set and Molly enjoyed the luminous shimmer that the moonlight cast upon the landscape. She pushed open the small wooded gate that led to the small garden path to her front door.
Molly cursed softly when she nearly dropped the bag of baked goodies that Meryl had sent her home with as she rummaged through her bag finally finding the keys to her front door. Molly turned the lock and entered her cottage, dropping her bag on the floor and shrugging out of her coat, dropping it on the floor also.
It was at that moment that she felt it. The small fine hairs on her arms and the nape of her neck stood on end. Molly stared into the darkness of the hallway. She could have sworn that she had left a light on for Toby. There seemed to be heaviness in the air and a cold, suffocating chill.
"Toby…" Molly called softly, moving carefully in the dark.
The silence was deafening. "Toby…come here boy." Molly said struggling to keep her voice calm.
Molly moved through her home, not even a light from the moon seeping through the curtains. She knew she had not pulled the curtains, but they were closed. She felt her way into her bedroom, shrieking loudly when she felt something against her leg. It took her a second to realize that it was only Toby brushing against her leg. She could hear him purring and she reached down and jerked him into her arms. He grunted as she squeezed him to her, tears of relief slipping down her cheeks.
Molly felt along the wall and found the switch, flipping the light on. Molly's eyes widened in horror. Her muscles became jelly as she dropped Toby to the floor and sank to her knees. Her body began to shake violently. She opened her mouth to scream yet no sound came out. She realized she was struggling to breath air into her lungs. After a few moments Molly became aware that someone was screaming, blood curdling screams. Then there was nothing but darkness.
Molly struggled to focus her eyes as she slowly came too. She screamed and began to struggle against what was restraining her.
"It's alright, your safe now…it's okay…" A male voice said to her as his grip tightened to stop her from flailing.
"Ms. Hudson…please…I'm with the police. I am Detective Sgt. Troy…you're safe now."
Molly stopped struggling and blinked her eyes into focus, seeing a handsome young man with light brown hair and very gentle blue eyes. She noticed immediately the difference between Sherlock's blue and Sgt. Troy's blue.
Troy helped her to sit up and then to stand. He led her to her couch and she began to notice all of the people in her cottage.
"What's happening? Who are you people?" Molly asked still confused from being unconscious.
"I'm Sgt. Gavin Troy from Causton CID." He repeated. " Your neighbor heard you screaming and called us."
Molly looked up to see a kindly looking older man with dark brown hair and blue eyes approaching the man who called himself Sgt. Troy.
"Ms. Hudson, I am Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby. Are you feeling alright?"
Molly nodded. "Yes, I'm feeling better. But…what's happening?" Her eyes widened and she began to try to stand, but Troy pushed her back gently against the sofa.
"Where' Toby?" She asked suddenly in a panicked voice. "Toby!" She yelled, trying again to stand.
"Ms. Hudson, you really need to try and be still." Troy said grasping her wrists and forcing her to stay in place.
Molly ignored him and continued to struggle. "TOBY! TOBY!"
"Who is Toby?" Barnaby asked.
"Toby!" Molly's voice was beyond frantic when the cat in question hopped onto the arm of the couch and meowed.
Tears began streaming down Molly's face. Troy allowed her to tear herself from his grip and she grabbed Toby to her, burying her face in his soft fur, much to Toby's dismay. He attempted to wiggle free, but gave up when he realized that she was not going to relent. He relaxed into her hold and purred in attempt to calm her as she cried.
Troy glanced at Barnaby. "Ms. Hudson, I realize that this is probably not the best time, but we need to ask you some questions…"
"No, please just go away. All of you just go." She managed to say through her tears.
Barnaby reared back slightly in surprise. "I'm afraid that's not possible. Ms. Hudson, someone has broken into your home and left you a very dangerous message. Do you have any idea who might…"
"Stop it, please! I…I'm fine…please just go away."
"Alright miss. We can speak to you later after you've had some time to recover. Do you have any place you can stay for the night?" Barnaby asked.
"No...I'm fine here. I don't really know anyone in the village…I just moved her from Lon…" Molly's voice trailed off as if she realized she was saying too much.
"You're from London?" Troy probed gently. "Do you have anyone we can call for you?"
"No!" Molly said too forceful.
"Would you like me to call Meryl for you?" Barnaby asked
"No please…I'm fine just go."
Barnaby sighed exasperated. He moved passed Troy and knelt down in front of Molly. "You cannot stay here." He said gently. "There is a message written in blood on your bedroom wall. You are clearly in some sort of danger and I cannot in good conscious allow you to stay here. Now, you will allow my Sergeant to call someone for you or we can have someone drive you to a hotel for the night. But you are not staying here."
Molly was forced to relent and allowed Sgt. Troy to take her and Toby to Mrs. Cumberbatch. When Tom Barnaby got home, he poured himself drink and sat down on the couch. He sighed deeply. He didn't know what to make of Molly Hudson. Clearly she was frightened and desperate, but she seemed determined to not accept any help. She certainly needed his help and protection, but she refused to give any information on who might be doing this to her.
Mrs. Cumberbatch had told him that she had suffered a significant trauma recently and that she was running away from her old life. Meryl knew that Molly had lived in London and though she didn't speak of what she had done there, she could tell Molly was very educated.
Well, this strange young woman might be determined to go at this alone, but Barnaby was just as determined that she should not.
He decided then to put in a call to an old friend. Pulling his mobile from his jacket pocket, DCI Barnaby dialed a number he hadn't used in a very long time. After a few moments, a voice on the line answered.
"Mycroft…its Tom Barnaby. I was hoping that you would be able to help me."
"Ah Tom, I expected you to ring sooner."
The cup smashed when it hit the floor. "Damnit!" Molly cursed loudly, wiping hot angry tears from her eyes. This was the third cup she had broken since coming into work.
"It's alright dear." Meryl tried to sooth, but Molly was having none of it.
"No it's not alright! God! I'm so bloody stupid!"
Meryl embraced Molly as she cried when the bell jingled as someone entered the shop. It was Troy and Barnaby.
Molly wiped her eyes and stepped away from Meryl.
"Tom, I don' think Molly is up to talking to you today."
"This won't take long." Barnaby assured Meryl before turning his attention to Molly. " Ms. Hudson, would you mind if we asked you a few more questions?"
Molly's shoulders drooped in defeat. It was obvious this man was not going to leave her alone. She nodded and followed both men to the back of the shop to speak in private.
Molly sat down on one of the many crates in the back room.
"I think first and foremost, we need to establish who you are." Barnaby said to her.
Molly blinked in surprise before her face took on a look of panic. "My name is Molly Hudson."
"Yes, your name is Molly, but Hudson is not your last name. Please tell me Dr. Hooper why you insist on this farce?" Barnaby pressed.
"Dr. Hooper?" Troy said incredulously.
"Yes Troy, this is not the Middle Ages, women can become doctors should they chose to be." Barnaby said exasperated. "Now, Dr. Hooper, please explain so that we may better help you."
"No!" Molly cried out, jumping to her feet. "No! Please! My name is Molly Hooper, alright. I just…I don't want to be bothered…" Molly paled when she realized where Barnaby must have learned her name. She stared at Troy and Barnaby. "Oh God…how did you know my last name?"
"Since you were so unwilling to answer my questions Dr. Hooper, I called an old friend on a hunch."
"You called Mycroft…oh God you called Mycroft Holmes and he'll tell him where I am!" Molly said looking back and forth between the two men. "I'm sorry…I have to leave…I can't stay here…"
Barnaby stepped in front of her when she tried to leave. "Dr. Hooper please. I am afraid we cannot allow you to leave. You are in danger. I assure you that you will not have to speak to anyone you do not wish to."
"No you don't understand Sherlock…"
"Yes I know Sherlock quite well, although I haven't seen him since he was a boy."
"Please, I can't face him, not yet. I just…I don't want to talk to him." Molly pleaded.
"And you don't have too Dr. Hooper." Barnaby said gently.
"You won't be able to keep him away." Molly said becoming panicked to the point of unreason.
"Dr. Hooper, I assure you that you will not have to talk to Sherlock if you do not wish to." Barnaby said. "Now, tell us when and why this man began stalking you."
Molly stared at Barnaby with an expression of shock. "How did you know…" But the words stopped when she remembered who he had spoken to on the phone.
If Mycroft knew than Sherlock certainly did.
Molly's eyes filled with tears. Sherlock had probably known for some time. She wondered if he knew about her parents and sister. And yet he had let her go without a word. At this moment, she had never been more convinced of anything in her life that she had made the right decision.
Sherlock Holmes had never given a damn about her or what happened to her. She wiped the tears from her eyes ignoring the immense pain that was threatening to smother her. Tom Barnaby had put this all into perspective for her and all it had taken was one simple phone call to Mycroft Holmes.
All of her fears about having to face Sherlock had been for nothing. She didn't count. She was certain he would make no effort to contact her. If he didn't care before, he sure as hell wouldn't care now. She allowed herself to relax with the two kindly detectives in front of her and slowly began to tell them what had happened all those many months ago.
"Just ignore him and maybe he'll go away." Sherlock said.
Mycroft rolled his eyes. "I have news of your little pathologist Sherlock. I thought you would be interested, but if I am wasting my time…" Mycroft's voice trailed as Sherlock glared at him.
Sherlock got into the car, followed by John.
"Just drive us around the bend a time or two, Marcus." Mycroft said turning his attention to his younger brother. "I am sure you already know that she is residing in Midsomer Worthy?"
"Of course I know where she is, Mycroft. If you have nothing more of significance than that…"
"Oh do shut up Sherlock." Mycroft huffed. "I received a phone call from an old friend of mine. His name is Tom Barnaby. He's currently attempting to investigate an incident that happened with Ms. Hooper or Hudson, whatever the devil she's calling herself…"
Sherlock groaned "Do stop rambling Mycroft and come to the point."
The elder brother glared daggers at the younger, both men refusing to be the first to blink or turn away.
"Oh for heaven's sake!" John snapped. "Are you both forgetting there is a young woman who is in desperate need of our help?"
"Yes well, Ms. Hooper is being rather difficult. She is refusing to answer any of Barnaby's questions. The incident in question is so disturbing that Barnaby is to the point of putting her forcefully into protective custody. I thought perhaps you could talk some sense into the girl, Sherlock. It would make Barnaby's job a great deal easier."
Sherlock's gaze narrowed. "If anyone is going to put Molly into protective custody, it is going to be me, not some country Constable!"
"He's a Detective Chief Inspector, a very brilliant detective, and a dear friend. You will show him the respect he deserves or I shall be forced to call mummy."
Sherlock opened his mouth to speak, but closed it when John shook his head. Mycroft glared a few moments longer at Sherlock before continuing. "Besides, Ms. Hooper is a resident of Midsomer Worthy now. She is no longer your problem Sherlock, she is Barnaby's and you will help him only in a consulting fashion, do you understand."
"You're not the boss of me." Sherlock snapped.
"Perhaps if you had treated her better little brother, she wouldn't have been so obviously desperate to escape you. Which brings me to my next point. You will respect Ms. Hooper's decision to reside in Midsomer Worthy. You will not bully her into coming back to London before she is ready."
"I will do whatever I see fit Mycroft! And I do not bully! I simply point out the obvious and people naturally bend to my superior decision making skills."
Mycroft rolled his eyes, "On second thought, Sherlock you should stay here. John, you go and talk some sense into Ms. Hooper."
"Don't be ridiculous Mycroft. John never talks anything but nonsense."
John snorted. "Listen here you…"
"Don't be like that John. You know I mean that affectionately." Sherlock said waving a dismissive hand before turning back to Mycroft. "Now you listen here Mycroft…..
"Sherlock, Molly is not yours. You can't just…"
"She is mine!" Sherlock all but shouted.
John and Mycroft glanced at one another. Sherlock could feel the flush creeping up his neck from his unintentional emotional outburst.
Mycroft cleared his throat, never acknowledging what Sherlock said while John grinned widely at Sherlock. Sherlock returned John's grin with a scowl.
"Ah, here's where you both get out. And remember what I said Sherlock, you are there only to encourage Ms. Hooper to allow the local police to help her. If Barnaby wishes for your assistance, it will only be as a consultant and you will respect his boundaries."
"Or what, pray tell?" Sherlock snapped.
"I have mummy on speed dial, you know."
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