Back from work, which ended up longer than expected and my head feels as though it's full of cotton wool. thankfully this chapter was already edited and ready to go but apologies for any errors I normally give them another read through before posting but I haven't got it in me today.

In other news, the pics coming out of setlock are making me :O

Chapter 10

It was no good though, as they sat in the cab on their way to Barts John couldn't resist asking Sherlock more questions.

'So, how long has it been going on?'

'What?'

'You and Molly. How long?'

'Not long, couple of days.' His phoned pinged. He retrieved it from his pocket and read the text. 'Brilliant. Wiggins has a witness. I'll get him to bring her to the hospital and we can talk to her there.'

'How did it come about?'

'Well I would have thought that was obvious John. I asked him to find someone who was there last night. We need more information.'

'No, you and Molly. I mean you've never shown any interest before.'

'Oh for God's sake are you still on about that?'

'Yes, surprisingly enough I am. Finding out that my "married to his job" best friend has finally hooked up with another close friend is still playing on my mind somewhat. Especially when I know that there is a huge capacity here for Molly to be hurt. So?'

Sherlock huffed and was silent for a moment. 'Just because I haven't shown interest doesn't mean it wasn't there. We don't all have to go around wearing our hearts on our sleeve. And strangely enough being sent on a suicide mission does focus the mind towards the things we regret.'

'And you regretted not being with Molly?'

'Obviously. Now can we get back to the case?'

'Yeah almost. Just one more thing. Have you told her?'

'Told her what?'

'Have you told her what you've told me and more importantly have you told her you almost OD'd at New Year because I can't see her being that impressed. Can you?'

'Not yet...but I will, when this case is finished though. Now can we please concentrate?'

Ten minutes later they were sitting in Molly's office waiting for Wiggins and his witness. He'd warned them that the girl was young and terrified but John was shocked by just how young she did look when she arrived. She couldn't have been much over fifteen and he found himself wanting to ask her just how she'd got herself into such a vulnerable situation.

Sherlock cut straight to the chase though. As soon as she'd sat herself down he started with the questions. 'Tell me the events leading up to the murders last night.'

She looked nervously at Bill who nodded his head. 'Go ahead, it's alright, he's safe.'

Her voice was quiet but she was surprisingly well spoken. 'It was the early hours of the morning. Most people were asleep but there were a few of us who'd either just arrived or who just wanted somewhere warm to sit rather than sleep. The tv was on in the corner but most of us weren't watching it. I was reading my book, not really paying much attention. The news came on and one of the guys pointed you out. Said you were...erm...' She blushed.

Sherlock smirked. 'It's alright just spit it out.'

'Well, said you were the crazy hat detective who was like the homeless person's cash point. They showed the video clip of that other guy, you know the one who goes "miss me, miss me." Anyway soon after that was when all hell broke loose. Bob stood up and went into the kitchen. Well, no one paid any attention to that; we're allowed to make ourselves drinks and stuff. Next minute though he comes out with this butcher's cleaver. He must have broken into the drawer, coz the knives are locked away normally.'

'Before anyone can react he swung at this old bloke.' She broke off for a moment with a sob and closed her eyes. John passed her a tissue. 'Thanks, he nearly took his head clean off, I ain't never seen anything like it. It was like something out of a horror movie. One of the women screamed and he just turned and hit her in the chest. I've never seen so much blood. He hit her again. I was just frozen in place, I couldn't move...nothing.'

'Two of the staff must have heard the commotion and came in and tried to rush him but he lopped off one guys arm, below the elbow...' She blew her nose and sniffed before continuing. 'That was when I realised I had to get out of there. Luckily I was near the door, everyone was screaming and yelling. My mate Hannah just grabbed my arm and pulled me along with her and we just ran. Even when we got out onto the street we just kept going. She said there was no point hanging around, she was worried the police would come.'

'See,' she looked up at John and Sherlock nervously as though wondering if she could trust them. 'Well, I'm fifteen. I left home coz my step-dad...well, let's just say he was an evil bastard and I'm not going home not for anything. And I'm not going in no children's home either. Bill said you just wanted the info and you wouldn't turn me in.'

Sherlock nodded. 'Tell me more about Bob, did he say anything...anything at all?'

'No, nothing. It was eerie how quiet he was. His eyes looked...I dunno spaced or something. Maybe he took something when he went to the kitchen...it's not allowed though. There's a really strict no drugs policy in the shelter, everyone knows that. If you're caught with drugs you're out and banned for three months.'

Sherlock carried on quizzing her for another ten minutes but there was nothing else of use. He handed both her and Bill some money and showed them out into the lab. Molly was out there waiting and as they came out she led them both to the staff room where she had some hot soup and sandwiches waiting for them. John was unsurprised by her generosity and thoughtfulness and wondered once again about her feelings for Sherlock. He was her complete opposite, cold, focused and unfeeling. Though maybe he was wrong on that front as he saw Sherlock visibly soften as Molly came back in the room.

He watched as his friend went over and bent his head to kiss the small pathologist on the lips. Molly blushed and looked in his direction and he could just make out her saying 'what about John?' His friend responded with a wave of his hand. 'Don't worry, he knows about us.'

John almost had to shake his head in disbelief, it was strange seeing Sherlock look so intimate with someone; the last time had been with Janine and John just hoped he was genuine in his feelings for Molly. She didn't deserve to be messed around. It worried him that Sherlock wasn't being fully honest with her but likewise he didn't want to do anything to interfere in this fledgling relationship which had the capacity to be so good for his friend.

The next hour was spent finishing off some of Sherlock's tests from the night before whilst Molly was busy downstairs with the autopsies. Sherlock was just thinking about going over to Scotland Yard to discuss progress with Lestrade when John's phone rang.

John immediately paled. 'It's Mary,' he said to Sherlock as he answered it, 'she's due any day now.'

'Hey Love...when...how far apart? OK we have some time then...yes I know, I'm sorry...I'll be home in fifteen minutes. Just remember to breathe...yes I know that you know that...I know it's my fault...OK...see you soon.'

He turned to Sherlock who had risen from his stool. 'It's fine John I got the gist. You need to go. Just...well, good luck...text me if you need anything.'

He held his hand out to John who shook it, he was still pale and looked more worried than he needed to be. 'Thanks Sherlock...right, well...here I go then.'

He turned on his heel and marched out of the lab as if going into battle. Sherlock sighed and sat back down for a moment to think. It looked like he would be without John, for the next few days at least. He found himself feeling an element of jealousy which surprised him. He'd never really thought about the option of having children...it had never appealed but maybe it was another thing he should give some thought to.

He closed his eyes and drifted down into his mind palace seeing all that morning's work circling around in his head. He had two cases now, but were they connected? He felt instinctively that they were but instinct was not enough he needed cold, hard facts. What did he know?

Young girl, in care, no known motive or history of violence. Appeared drugged but no evidence of toxins, signs of prior abuse.

Male, middle aged, no known occupation, verbal report of drug use, no known motivation. Appeared drugged, no toxin report known yet, no criminal history known, signs of abuse could be self-inflicted.

And Mary, Mary was in the mix somehow but he didn't know how. There was something there...some link...some tie with Moriarty. Damn that man, would he never be rid of him!

He brought his mind back to the present; he needed to know more about the man; that was his priority. He opened his eyes surprised to see Molly sitting next to him working on some files. She glanced round as he shifted in his seat.

'Hey. You're back with us. I didn't like to disturb you, you seemed to be deep in thought.'

'Yes, ' he glanced at his watch, it was just after lunch. He last ate when he had had chips with Molly the night before so no need for food yet. He needed to contact Bill Wiggins again. He was his best hope for a lead on the murderer's whereabouts and if he had had no joy he could move onto Scotland Yard. They may have identified him through CCTV in the surrounding streets.

He pulled out his phone, searching though his contact list. Billy was one of the few of his network that he paid for a phone for. As he did that Molly spoke.

'Where's John then? He was here with you earlier.'

'Hmm...oh Mary's in labour so he left.'

'Oh my God. She's in labour! Why didn't you say? How was he? How was Mary? Did he say how long he thought it would be?'

'I didn't think it was relevant to anything. He seemed fine, a little pale, nervous. No doubt to be expected. He didn't say how Mary was but given his demeanour on the phone I would say she was angry with him. As for how long even I'm not that good at deductions. Billy...have you found anything further for me?'

He stood up and walked away from Molly as he spoke. She looked at his retreating back, listening as he fired question after question at the homeless lad who had been in earlier with that young girl. Molly had hated having to let her go but knew she would have run had she tried to stop her.

She let her mind drift back to Sherlock as he spoke and she smiled to herself. She was still finding it hard to believe they were in a relationship even now. She wondered if she would ever get used to it and if she would even be given the opportunity too. Even now she had doubts about how long this would last and whether he would suddenly revert back to his previous antipathy towards her.

She let her eyes trail covetously over his back remembering the feel of his skin under her hands as she had pulled his shirt from his trousers the night before. She even let her glance fall to his backside which looked so good in his tailored trousers. She so rarely let herself openly admire him. He was so observant and it would have been humiliating to have been caught out...but not anymore.

He turned back and caught her stare. She felt herself colour immediately but she held his gaze and bit her lip as she smiled at him. The look he bestowed on her had her hoping for more time with him later. She wouldn't just pull his shirt from his trousers next time, she'd remove it completely.

If it were me I'd have stripped him the first time around :). How about you?