It was around 10.15am by the time they left John's surgery. They grabbed a cab back to Baker Street and headed up to the flat. Sherlock took his coat and scarf off and sat down in his favourite chair he closed his eyes and steepled his fingers under his chin. Molly smiled as she watched him. He had made it quite clear it was time for a mind palace visit. So she settled herself on the sofa, and pulled a book out of her bag. She didn't mind. It was a particularly good book which she had been enjoying and wanted to finish. She was happy to lose herself in it for a couple of hours before they had to head out.
She suddenly became conscious of a gentle voice "Molly. Molly. Wake up." She opened her eyes, and jumped. She was aware her book was half covering her face and Sherlock was leaning over her, gently touching her arm. "Molly."
"Yes Sherlock. Is there a problem."
"No. I just thought I'd join you. You look so comfortable and peaceful. Move over."
In her half awake state, Molly duly complied. She moved over and buried herself into the back of the sofa while Sherlock lay down on the edge. She was confused. He did not touch her. He did not put his arm around her. He just lay next to her and closed his eyes. Like it was totally normal for them both to do this. Molly watched him as he settled and was obviously asleep in no time. She was now fully awake and not ready to sleep again but was trapped by him. She didn't mind. She was enjoying watching him. She had never seen Sherlock sleep before, in fact she had often wondered if he ever slept at all, but he looked so peaceful. He was one of the most silent sleepers she had ever encountered. In fact he was so quiet, she had to check he was still breathing.
They remained there for quite some time until Molly heard footsteps. Mrs Hudson half walked in carrying a tray of sandwiches. She stopped in her tracks when she saw the both. "Sorry. I'll come back."
"No, please come in. I would get up and help you but I'm trapped" Molly whispered. "He's fast asleep and I've no way of getting myself out without waking him."
Mrs Hudson nodded and put the tray down "Can you get your arm out to eat your sandwich?" she uttered almost silently. Molly nodded and Mrs Hudson passed a plate over to her.
"Does he usually sleep in the day time?" Molly whispered
"Sometimes but not often. He usually sleeps in late. You've been getting him up early. Unless he's on a case, he doesn't usually rise until mid/ late morning so he's probably catching up. When he's on a case, he can go for days without sleep and then he crashes for literally 36 hours. Sometimes he sleeps for so long that I have to pop up and check he's still alive. He sleeps so quietly that sometimes I have to lean right over and literally press my ear to his mouth to hear him."
"Oh my, I did the same just now." Whispered Molly laughing and Mrs Hudson responded with a smile.
"I'll leave you to it. Bang the wall if you need anything. I'll hear you" and with that Mrs Hudson headed back out and down stairs.
Molly silently ate her sandwich, looking at the genius who lay next to her. He had fallen asleep on his left hand side, facing her, with his glasses on which were askew on his face. She smiled at him. She had never been in this close proximity to him for such a long period of time. They had worked together in the lab, but not so closely in each others space. She doubted whether many people had shared space this intimately with him ever before, but he seemed somehow content.
As she watched him, he moved a little, stretching his right arm that lay on top of him. His arm reached over and wrapped itself around Molly. He let out a small grunt before resuming his silent sleeping. Molly suddenly realised she was breathing more heavily than usual. Sherlock had his arm wrapped around her. She didn't know what to think. Was this just because he was sleeping and wasn't aware of what he was doing? Was he aware of what he was doing? Surely someone like Sherlock had control over his subconscious mind and so he was aware?
The remained there for quite some time, but Molly was unable to finish her sandwich as Sherlock's arm had her own arm trapped. She suddenly became aware of a pain in her right arm, the one she was lying on, and realised it was falling asleep. She had to move. She moved as gently as she could but she had so little space she had no choice but to disturb Sherlock, who let out a small murmur then gently opened one eye.
"I've got a dead arm" she said apologetically.
Sherlock nodded and allowed her space to move, but did not try and remove his arm from around her. Once Molly had got comfortable again she became conscious of him looking at her, smiling. Their eyes locked for quite some time before Molly became conscious Sherlock was getting closer. Molly shifted her weight to bring herself closer to him at almost the same movement that he did exactly the same thing. She felt him slip the arm he was lying on underneath her. She gently lifted her arm and lay it across him. Their bodies were touching, so close she could feel him, their lips millimetres apart.
"Comfy?" he asked her.
"Yes"
Sherlock closed his eyes again. Molly was finding it hard to breathe. Sherlock was so close. The man she had loved for so long was holding her so closely she could feel his manhood against her leg. She lay and watched his regulated breathing. So peaceful. So quiet. She rested her head against his, and closed her eyes.
Molly was shaken out of her contentment by a text from John giving her the details of Sherlock's appointment. She looked at her watch. It was 12.45. They had to leave in 15 minutes. She gently shook Sherlock to wake him
"C'mon sleepy head. Time to awaken."
Sherlock's eyes slowly opened and as he saw Molly next to him, he smiled. He pulled her closer in a real bear hug, and held her tightly. Molly didn't make any effort to pull away. She felt safe in his arms. She felt at home. As he gently released her, he gave her a very slight kiss on the cheek, then rolled himself over and off the sofa. He stood up onto his feet, and stretched as a tall man such as him would need to after being curled up on a sofa for so long. He held out his hand to Molly and helped her up.
Molly handed him the sandwich Mrs Hudson had brought up earlier as she ate the remainder of hers. They ate in silence, occasionally throwing a glance they hoped the other wouldn't see. Molly put her plate in the kitchen, then sat back down on the sofa to repack her bag. She saw her book on the floor and smiled to herself. She never did finish it. But they she reflected. What had just happened was much more exciting than any book so she didn't mind one little bit. She checked her watch. It was time to go.
Sherlock fetched his scarf and coat, and put it on. Molly rose from the sofa to get hers but not before Sherlock had grabbed it and was holding it out for her to put on. He then wrapped her scarf around her neck, tucked it in her coat and patted it down gently to make sure she was warm. She smiled at him and he smiled back.
They were suddenly brought back into reality by Mrs Hudson calling up the stairs "Sherlock, Molly, your taxi is here."
