Ok, sorry for not writing anything. Crazy stuff happening. Anyway, this is a super short, transitional sorta chapter.
Sherlock refused to move when he heard the knock on the door. He wondered why on earth it had taken John this long to come and get him in the first place. He wasn't going to leave, of course. He had to stay for Molly's sake.
He knew she still had to be angry with him for what had happened the previous night; a cup of ruined coffee wasn't going to fix that. But she of all people should have understood that his work came before anything else. His work had to come before any...explorations of his odd feelings towards Molly.
There was that word again.
He still had to stay.
But…On the other hand, he knew he wasn't working as efficiently as could be. Perhaps if he went away for a while to sort things out, it would be better for all those concerned.
But who would be capable enough to watch out for Molly?
"Sherlock, couldn't you please get that?" yelled Molly from the kitchen.
Sherlock grumbled under his breath, but complied with her request all the same.
"John," he begun as he swung the door open, "I don't need you to come and fetch me like I'm some ch-" he stopped mid-sentence. "Lestrade? What are you doing here?"
The inspector wiped his face with one hand and looked up at Sherlock, "I've come to see if you've figured anything out."
Sherlock sighed, "Nothing terribly important, no."
"Well then," he perked up, "Maybe if you need someone else to stay with Molly while you investigate outside the premises, I could help. I am available."
Sherlock grimaced, stepping outside, and slamming the door behind him. "Oh, I don't think so, Greg," Lestrade' eyes widened.
"Is there any reason you're so dreadfully against it? It must have been quite a shock, me offering," he leaned in closer, "You remembered my name and everything."
Sherlock regained his composure, and stated very matter-of-factly, "Given the way I observed you eyeing Miss Hooper in my flat a few years back, and on the subsequent occasions I have seen you together, I do not think it would be such a leap to assume that you have some feelings for her. Obviously that would interfere with any protection you plan to provide, or any research you attempt as well as you can." He looked down.
Lestrade blinked, "Me?" he poked a finger against his own chest, "I've been eyeing Molly?" Sherlock did not like where this conversation was headed.
"Yes. Why is that in question?" He shook his head, and attempted to look innocent. He knew he might as well have been describing himself.
He snickered, "I couldn't even get your attention last night, what with the way you kept staring at Molly with those big, googly eyes. I swear, Sher-"
"Excuse me?" he interrupted, "Googly eyes? What on earth are those?"
Lestrade tilted his head, "They're what you get every time Molly walks by you."
Sherlock pursed his lips and stood up rigidly, "You're mistaken."
He grinned back at him, "Sure I am. Look, I've been seeing that new woman in forensics. I don't have a thing for Molly. Promise," he paused, "Now will you let me stay here while you go out and make yourself useful?"
"No," he answered immediately.
"Why not?" He asked with clear irritation.
Sherlock inhaled sharply, "You didn't happen to see John on your way up here, did you? He was supposed to be here." John being late to come see Sherlock would not have normally been an issue. But John being late while a psychotic criminal hell-bent on burning Sherlock was out there somewhere...That was an issue.
"No I didn't. I suppose you'd let him stay with Molly, wouldn't you?"
Sherlock turned around and entered Molly's flat again, slamming the door in Lestrade's face.
"Hey!" Came a muffled shout from outside.
"Who was that?" asked Molly from a seat on her sofa.
"Nobody," Sherlock answered while he pulled his phone out from his pocket.
When Lestrade yelled again, Molly rose with a sigh to go and answer him.
Sherlock dialed John's number. His call went straight to voicemail.
"Damn," he turned again to face Lestrade and Molly, "Gavin, stay with Molly, I'm going out for a while."