Anote: I have been swamped by work this week but next week things should be light so that means more stories! Yay! I will see if I can finish this bit off on Sunday.

In this chapter, I would advise that you not eat while reading as it takes place in the middle of an autopsy.

Chapter 6- Remaining silent

….continued

'I've had better,' Sherlock remarked dryly, looking a bit irritated when she snapped a disposable cap over his wavy locks to prevent contamination of evidence, 'Why are you so happy?'

John shook his head in exasperation. If he had been in there, he would have gently stepped on Sherlock's foot or given him a warning jab in the ribs.

Molly though, was now skilled in how to manoeuvre her beloved but difficult visitor, 'No particular reason other than the fact that there's work to be done. Do you want to talk about your night?'

Sherlock shook his head and immediately the young technician activated her bone saw, knowing better than to ask again.

As she weighed out the first set of organs, he cleared his throat, 'You get along well with Dr. Watson, yes?'

'Oh yes, he's such a pleasant bloke,' she replied, 'did you quarrel?'

'No…yes…I am not absolutely certain,' Sherlock informed her in a feeble voice, with the pleading confused look of a man who was out of his depth.

Molly felt her heart melt at this unexpected display of vulnerability.

'Tell me the last words he said,' she suggested kindly, thinking this might be easier than asking him to explain.

'Christ, sometimes I wish I had never met you,' he relayed in a flat, hollow voice, the words and facial expression crystallised in his perfect memory for eternity.

Molly gulped, realising this was worse than she had bargained for.

'And the sentence before that?'

'You are such an ass!'

'And before that?' she pressed tentatively.

'You never deny it. Why do you never back me up? You just stand there like a bleeding idiot and let everyone think we are couple. Why are you staring at me like that? It is a perfectly reasonable question?! Just forget it! You are such an ass! Christ sometimes, I wish I had never met you,' Sherlock fired off his friend's entire conversation in short, staccato bursts like a machine gun and like a gun, the words had obviously found their mark.

Good God.

John soundlessly crumpled into a chair and turned his head; anything to block out the sight of his best friend's face contorted in confused pain like that of a small child, who had been slapped repeatedly for reasons unknown.

In the meantime Molly had calmly restarted her autopsy. This was the correct approach to take as an overly emotional response would have driven Sherlock back into a shell and mentally John applauded her cunning.

'Can you tell me the answer?' she asked gently, easing her way carefully around Sherlock's dark expression. 'Why is it that you never say anything?'

'Because our sexuality is no one's sodding business but our own, that's why!' he snapped, uncharacteristically resorting to obscene language as his temper began to fray at the edges.

The young woman made a note of the stomach contents in the body under examination.

'Well I know that, and you know that,' she said soothingly, 'maybe John just needs a gentle reminder.'

'If he would stop reacting every time someone commented on our relationship,' Sherlock snorted angrily as he scrubbed vigorously at his bloodshot eyes with the heel of his hand, 'they would stop commenting!'

'Do you want to open the cranial cavity?'

'Oh yes please,' Sherlock replied excitedly, bouncing to his feet and diving happily towards the box of gloves.

Carefully she supervised the work, but it was not necessary as the man meticulously followed the line she had drawn.

'Excellent,' she complimented him, 'now…what's the other reason you remain silent every time someone asks if you are together; the reason that you don't want anyone else to know.'

Sherlock stopped breathing and his eyes cut sharply to the left where she was standing.

Molly suddenly turned as white as her lab coat, 'oh god…you like him. Do you ...do you want to ask him out? Because that would be good…that would be very …he's a good man…very kind …and so good looking…and he understand you'.

Hurriedly Sherlock peeled off his glove and rested a warm hand on her shoulder to cut her off her quivering rambling. 'I do care for him but it's not like that between us.'

In the darkness, Lestrade was slumped against the wall staggered by the whole exchange. 'Blimey.'

'I told you he wasn't so bad,' John smiled smugly, pleased that his friend had decided to clearly explain their relationship to Molly as she, more than anyone else in the world, would be deeply distressed to have such a rival for his affections. 'You only see him when he is wound up like a spring in the middle of a case.'

'I am not sure if I care for the way you read my secrets Molly Hooper,' Sherlock said with a piercing look when she had finally calmed down.

The technician blushed furiously under his intense scrutiny before he walked away. At the biohazard bin in the corner, he began divesting himself of his apron and hair cap.

'But you are correct,' he confirmed as he washed his hands in a nearby sink, 'I don't say anything because I don't mind that people think we are together. It plays to my vanity I suppose. Truly Molly, when someone assumes we are a couple, I am speechless. Human beings rarely surprise me but I am quite astounded that so many people in London think that I am capable of holding the heart of a man of Watson's quality. Me, the freak!'

The final truth wiped the smile off John's face.

'Good bye Molly!' Sherlock sang out, as he walked out without so much as a backward glance for his faithful confidant.

TBC…