We're nearly at the end now. Ideally this should have been posted just before New Year's Eve with the final chapter on NYE but you're getting it early as I can't post after the 28th.
Thank you to everyone who is following, favouriting and reviewing you really do give me the will to carry on writing.
Enjoy!
Chapter 9
The next three days passed in a blur. Sherlock persuaded Molly to do the autopsies for him citing the fact that, in his opinion, everyone else at Bart's was incompetent and when John refused to leave Mary and Elizabeth she was roped in as his 'assistant' as well.
They ended up staking out a lively club/pub together on the outskirts of Soho, along with Greg, as Sherlock had deduced they were looking for a man 6ft 4, blond and good looking who was seducing both men and women. He was targeting pubs in this area and when they left to have sex with him he was drugging and killing them instead.
There had been one more murder just over 24 hours ago and he was convinced another would take place tonight. He and Molly had arrived at the pub, dressed for a night out, so they could see whether anyone matched the description. Lestrade and Sgt. Donovan were similarly placed at another bar further down the same road and they had back up on stand by.
The pub was busy with pre New Year's Eve trade. It was very noisy with tipsy patrons competing with the music to be heard. In one corner was a small dance floor packed with people.
They made their way to the bar and Sherlock order a pint for himself and white wine for Molly. She saw him scan the crowd regularly looking for anyone that might fit his own description of the killer. Molly took the drink and tried to stifle a yawn. Living with Sherlock when he was mid case had proved to be more stressful and tiring than she had realised. It was no surprise John had always had bags under his eyes.
She didn't know how Sherlock coped physically. She hadn't seen him eat anything for at least 24 hours and whilst he'd slept it had only been in short one or two hour catnaps. She'd put her foot down after the first 24 hours insisting she be allowed to sleep if she was to be any good to him at all. He'd scowled but waved her away as she'd turned and dragged herself up to her bedroom. Even then he'd burst in about five hours later pacing around the room talking at a hundred miles an hour working his way through his deductions with her rubbing her eyes and checking her alarm to see what time it was.
She was about to ask Sherlock what, if anything, he could see when he bent and shouted in her ear, 'wait here, I'll be back in a minute.' Then he was off pushing through the crowds. She sighed wishing she were just a few inches taller so she could see a bit more of what was going on. As it was she was just getting jostled about, one person knocking her arm so she almost spilt her drink, 'hey!' She shouted but the only person who heard was herself.
She spied a free stool at one corner of the bar not far from where she was stood so quickly nabbed it so she could at least wait in comfort. She sipped her drink and searched the crowds looking for Sherlock.
A minute later a tall, dark haired guy approached her, 'it's a bit busy tonight. Do you come here often?' He rolled his eyes as he said that before continuing, 'sorry, that sounded like a really bad chat up line didn't it. I'm just waiting for my mate he said he'd be here by now but it's a bit busier than I thought it would be.'
Molly smiled politely and tried not to yawn for a second time, she really felt very tired. 'I know what you mean, I thought people would be saving their energy for tomorrow night. Maybe everyone's decided to party tonight instead and avoid the New Year's Eve door charges.'
She took another sip of her drink looking round once more for Sherlock. Her eyes felt blurry with all the flashing lights, she rubbed her left eye with her spare hand and then remembered she was wearing make up. She hoped she hadn't smudged it all.
By now her new companion had got himself a drink. 'I think you're right about the door charges, they're ridiculous nowadays. This place is charging £25 a ticket for tomorrow. Daylight robbery if you ask me. Are you going anywhere tomorrow? Sorry, that sounded like a pick up line again. Hey, are you alright?'
Molly had wobbled and almost fallen off her bar stool, 'I...err...I'm not sure.'
He took the wine glass from her placing it on the bar before taking her elbow helping her to stand, 'maybe you just need some fresh air, come on I'll help you out.'
As Molly stood she staggered slightly falling against him. She suddenly realised how tall he was. It seemed important somehow but she couldn't quite remember why...and shouldn't he have been blond. She seemed to remember somebody...who was it...oh yes, Sherlock, talking about somebody being blond.
'Excuse me, let us through please, she's just had too much to drink that's all, thank you.'
Molly realised she was nearly at the door to the bar. She tried to pull away but he had one arm round her waist, the other holding her arm. He was so much bigger than her and she felt so tired. She tried to call out for Sherlock, wasn't he here with her? But her voice didn't seem to be doing what her brain wanted.
As the cold, fresh air hit her it pulled her out of her stupor somewhat and she pushed against him trying to loosen his grip. Panic was starting to rise within her, she couldn't let him take her much further. She needed Sherlock, where was Sherlock?
It was at that moment that there was a roar from behind them as Sherlock barrelled out of the pub towards them. He lunged at the man holding Molly, swinging his fist towards his face, it caused the guy to let Molly go and hold his hands up to his face to try and defend himself.
Without the support Molly felt her legs go from under her and she fell onto the pavement. She watched as Sherlock hit the guy again and again until half a dozen of Lestrade's officers ran up to restrain both Sherlock and the killer.
She mused that she had never seen Sherlock looking so angry before. He always seemed so cool and collected, it wasn't like him to show that much emotion. Molly wondered what it was that had set him off. One of the female officers had knelt to assist Molly. As she wrapped a coat round Molly's shoulders Molly felt herself drifting away, finally giving in to her tiredness. As she did she could hear Sherlock calling to her. She wanted to stay awake, to look into his eyes but it was just too much effort.
MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH
Molly wasn't sure how long she had been asleep but she was surprised to wake up in a hospital bed. She felt groggy, as though she had a hangover but as far as she could recall she had only had one glass of wine.
Her memories of the night before...was it the night before...were hazy but she remembered feeling overwhelmingly tired and then panicky that something had been happening to her that shouldn't.
As she opened her eyes more fully she became aware of someone holding her hand. She looked down to see Sherlock sitting in a chair, head resting on the side of the bed, fast asleep.
She lifted the hand he wasn't holding so she could run her fingers through his curls, they felt so soft to the touch. He started to wake up, lifting his head to look at her with sleepy eyes. His face broke into a tired smile, 'you're awake!'
Molly smiled back, 'good deduction. What happened? Why am I here...and how long have I been here?'
He sat up more fully still holding onto her hand, 'I am so sorry Molly. I should never have left you alone in there. I thought I had seen the killer near the entrance but by the time I found him again and realised I was wrong you had gone. He must have slipped a sedative into your drink...if I hadn't found you...I don't know what I would have done.'
Molly suddenly realised that tears were falling down his face, she had never seen Sherlock cry before, didn't even know he could cry. 'Hey, it's OK. You did find me..Sherlock...you saved me, I needed you and you were there.'
'You wouldn't have even been there if it hadn't been for me. I should have protected you, kept you safe. You'd be far better off without me.'
Molly felt a sudden surge of anger, 'don't you dare Sherlock. Don't you even dare! If you think you can backtrack on our relationship out of fears for my safety you've got another thing coming. We're together now. I went into this relationship with my eyes open, I know what your life is like and I accept it. I wouldn't have you any other way and if you have a problem with that you'll just have to find a way to deal with it.'
Sherlock looked at her in shock for a moment before he grinned once more, 'I knew there was a reason I fell for you Molly Hooper,' and he leant over and kissed her. 'Now let's see about getting you discharged, we can't have you spending another New Year's Eve in a hospital now can we!'
Tomorrow we have the concluding part, so until then adieu!
