Molly Hooper's eyes were having a difficult time opening. Her head felt absolutely dreadful. Alright, Miss Molly. Open your eyes. And she did.

She was on a sofa, her feet slightly elevated. She recognized the place...ah, yes. Sherlock's place. Dinner. Wine. Drunken silliness. She quickly looked under the blanket to ascertain the state of her clothing. Still on. She began to move when she heard a noise & felt a tug at her feet. At the other end of the sofa, holding her feet, sat Sherlock, fast asleep.

"Sherlock?"

"Hmm."

"Wake up, Sherlock...I need my feet. Need to...ah...use the loo."

His eyes began to open. "Molly?"

"Hello," and she smiled.

Her returned her smile. "What are we doing here?" His mind wanted to race, but it was though he had no fuel. It was stuttering, attempting to start. "Coffee," he declared. "No tea," and he stood. He entered the kitchen & saw the mess. "Damn," he said. He scratched his head, took off his jacket, & put a pot of coffee on before setting to work.

Molly emerged from the bathroom. "Got any aspirin?" And she filled two glasses of water.

"Yeah...just above your head."

'Next to the Petri dishes?"

"That's it." He smiled at her candor, not caring that his kitchen was a laboratory.

"Here," she handed him two aspirin as he stacked the dishes.

"Coffee will be ready in a minute if you'd like a wash."

Molly looked at him quizzically. "You mean, have a bath?"

"Yes of course. I'm having one. You can go first if you like."

"Oh," Molly thought it was odd, but also thought it was a lovely idea. It'd be nice to have a bath after sleeping on the sofa, & off she went.

She emerged a short while later. Sherlock handed her a cup, & the kitchen was clean. "It looks...really great. You got it done so fast."

"Hmmm. Yes. When I set my mind to it. And after a considerable amount of caffeine..." He began to make his way to the bathroom. "Make yourself at home. I'll be out in a minute."

Molly smiled & poured herself some more coffee. How different he was. How different, indeed, was she. Tom was a psychopath, & she didn't care. Sherlock would never love her, & she minded but little. She loved him, he was her friend, & that would have to be good enough. It nearly was. They were closer than ever. She sighed & sipped her coffee.

Out of nowhere, Mycroft came in the kitchen. He seemed a bit surprised to see her. "Molly! Still here?"

"Hi Mycroft. Yeah, got a bit tipsy & ah...passed out on the sofa. Sherlock's having a bath."

Mycroft looked at her with a critical eye. "Is he?" And he looked at the bathroom door. "Tell me, how was your dinner last evening?"

"Oh, it was lovely, really."

"Did you...enjoy dessert?"

"Yes..." She felt as though she was missing something.

"Excellent. And Sherlock, was he a pleasant companion?"

"He was fine."

"Just fine?"

"Mycroft, what are you getting at?"

"He's not getting at anything, Molly. He's leaving." Sherlock was standing in the doorway, fully dressed, his hair still wet.

"Brother, good morning. Do tell me...what were my efforts for if you stand there in the same exact position you were in 24 hours ago? Though, perhaps a touch more wet."

"You're leaving, Mycroft."

"No. I'm not. Tell her. You obviously haven't yet. Tell her & be done."

"Tell me what?" Molly was excessively confused.

Sherlock glared menacingly at his brother. "Nothing. Good morning, Mycroft."

"Hang on. Is this about Tom? I told you...I haven't seen him, he hasn't been in touch..."

"It's not about Tom, Molly. It's about my brother," Mycroft turned toward Sherlock. "Tell her, or I will."

"So help me god, Mycroft..."

"It's for your own good," he then turned to Molly. "Molly, it appears that my brother..."

"Needs more lab access," Sherlock interrupted.

Mycroft, having been rudely cut off, looked at Sherlock.

Molly looked at him sadly. "So...that's what all this was for, then? Lab access? You still angling for a key?"

"It would be nice," he said with a smirk.

Molly's eyes welled in anger. "Access. I give you all the access you need, & then some. You don't need to play with my emotions, my mind, to get more access," her voice was rising. "You already had it - always, because you had me. I can't believe that I sat here, thinking..." She blushed & shook in anger.

Sherlock was desperate, "Molly...please, calm down."

"I won't! You've done it again, Sherlock.. You've succeeded in making me feel like a complete idiot, even though I've sworn that I'd never, never let you do that again. And I am an idiot! But don't worry, I won't make that mistake again," and she quitted the flat.

Sherlock's face was red. "Wonderful! Lovely. You've just completely fucked up my chance. Now what am I supposed to do?"

Mycroft shuffled his feet. "Don't worry. I'll set it right."

"How? How will you do that?"

"Sherlock, tomorrow at this time, you & Molly will be sharing breakfast under much better circumstances. Mark my words."