Sherlock

Characters: John, Sherlock and Molly.

Time Frame after season 2 episode 3.

Disclaimer: They aren't mine. I just love them.

Thought it was about time John got a part.

Thanks for your kind reviews. All reviews both positive and negative are gratefully received and truly appreciated. Sorry for the delay in updating - I'm currently off sick with the flu – and even breathing is tiring, let along typing & thinking!

S S S S S S S

There was always a queue at St Agnes' soup kitchen first thing in the morning. It was one of the few places that provided a free basic hot meal and drink for the homeless. Sherlock shuffled along in the queue. It was more a requirement to conform and fit in, rather than desire for food that made him accompany Ted this morning.

He took his mug of tea, and a plate of food, and sat down next to Ted. Sherlock sipped his tea and inspected the toast, scrambled eggs and sausage that occupied his place. "Here Ted, you have this, I'm really not hungry."

Ted shrugged and took the plate "Ta muchly, Ben."

Another man joined them at the table, "How's it going Ted?"

"Can't complain, Joe, can't complain."

Joe mopped his place with a piece of toast. "So, have you come across the nutty woman yet?"

Sherlock said nothing, watching the rest of crowds that came in. Ted shook his head. "What nutty woman?"

"It's odd. I've heard over 20 people this morning talking about it." said Joe with his mouth full. "There's some nutter who has been giving £2 coins to loads of homeless people, all along the embankment."

"Really?" said Ted. "Sounds more charitable than nutty."

"Yeah, but here's the thing." said Joe, enjoying the attention. "All the coins are wrapped in a note." He took a slurp of tea.

Sherlock pricked up his ears, "What kind of note?" he asked casually.

"A handwritten one. The woman says, pass on the message to your friends, gives them two quid and leaves. Given how many people are talking about it, I think she must have given out well over 50 of them."

"What'sa message then?" said Ted.

Joe fumbled in his coat pocket. "I got one here." He pulled it out, and held it up. "'I believe'. But Dave got one that says 'Moriarty was real'."

"Can I see it?" said Sherlock.

"Young Jacko says it's his guardian angel doing it." said Joe laughing and passing the note over. "He says the Angel gave him a fiver."

Joe passed the note over, and Sherlock read it for himself. "Jacko?" he asked.

Joe nodded. "Yep, Young Jacko beds down in the doorways near the nurses entrance to Barts. They're usually good for a bit of spare change, but apparently this 'Angel' didn't look like a nurse."

Sherlock stood up. "Ted, I'll see you around. I got places I need to be." He passed the remainder of his cup of tea to Joe. "See you Joe."

"You be careful Ben." said Ted. "Take it easy."

"You too."

As he left the soup kitchen, Sherlock paused to look back the crowd of homeless people still queuing for food. He saw one of the volunteers taking out a bag of rubbish and approached him.

"See that chap over there," said Sherlock pointing out Ted. Sherlock handed him £10. "He's sick. He needs medical attention. Can you make sure he sees a doctor?"

"OK." he looked at Sherlock. "Who are you?"

"No one important." said Sherlock, and left the kitchens, throwing his small rucksack over his shoulder.

S S S S S S S S

Molly was really pleased with herself as she sat in her lab. She had risen extra early this morning, written out 60 notes for Sherlock, and then begged every newsagent within a ½ mile radius of her flat for change of £10 a note in £2 coins. It had taken her over an hour to pass out all the notes and coins to the various begging homeless people she had found. Now all she could do was wait, and hope.

She started to hum to herself as she walked towards the morgue. She was really hopeful that she could make it up to Sherlock; that he would hear about her message and come home.

Molly was still humming tunelessly as she entered the morgue, but stopped as she saw John waiting there. He looked dreadful. His eyes seemed to be both sunken and red. His clothes whilst clean, were crumpled, and he'd manage to button his shirt up incorrectly. Molly had never seen John look quite so uncoordinated. He was also using his cane again.

"You sound happy," he said.

Molly could hear the accusation in his tone.

"John. I …" she panicked. What could she say? "I've been meaning to call you."

"Really?" John's voice was hollow and empty.

Molly approached him. "I miss him too."

John looked into her eyes, and noted the sincerity. "I know. It's just ..." He wiped his eyes.

Molly tugged his sleeve and pulled in over to a chair. "Sit there. I'll get you some tea."

A small twitch of his facial muscles sufficed for a smile. "That sounds nice."

He sat in silence until she returned carrying two mugs of tea and a couple of packs of biscuits.

"You haven't been eating have you?" she said softly.

Silence.

Molly tried again. "Have you 'talked' to anyone." she asked tactfully.

"I tried." John's voice broke. He coughed, "I saw my shrink. She just doesn't understand. She didn't know him. She doesn't get it. She believed the newspapers."

Molly reached out to hold his hand. "It's OK."

John collapsed sobbing quietly into her shoulder. "I don't know why I'm like this."

She rubbed his back soothingly. "He was your friend John. It's OK to feel bad." They stayed sitting like that for while. Molly just holding him.

Finally John sniffed and sat back awkwardly. "Thanks."

"Do you want to talk to me? I mean... I knew him too."

He sighed heavily. "I've seen death, Molly. I've had men die on my operating table. I've seen men shot in front of me, one moment joking about going home to their wife, the next their brains showering my face as a sniper killed them. I was soldier, and I've even killed, " he stared into her eyes waiting to see is she reacted. "But Sherlock was different. He was the most alive person I've ever met. I just keep replaying everything over and over in my head. Everything he said. How he was a fake, and the fall..." he choked.

Molly hugged him again. "I can't make it better John. But I don't think he was a fake. We both saw him in action. Deducing everything from a glance."

"I know he was a complete arse to you. But you are the only person I have ever seen him apologise to and actually mean it."

Molly dropped her head and hugged him harder. "He wouldn't want you to be like this. I'm sure he wouldn't."

John drew back slightly, and looked at her again. "I never understood why he was so awful to you. And yet you were always there for him. He should have noticed you Molly."

Molly blushed, "I think I was just a convenient source of bodies for him." Molly decided to change the subject. "How is Mrs Hudson?"

"She's coping better than I am." said John.

Molly picked up her tea. "I thought her and Sherlock were close."

"Oh they were. She's just going through the motions of keeping busy. She's talking about redecorating her flat. She even hired a local builder. But he's disappeared leaving her in a right old mess. Stripped all the paper off in the hallway. I was thinking I give her hand to sort it out myself if he doesn't come back soon."

"Poor thing. It must be really difficult being in chaos at a time like this."

"Yeah. She's tried calling him, but his mobile seems to be turned off. There's never any reply. Fortunately he hadn't actually taken any money from her. Said to pay him at the end of the job." he shrugged.

"Odd."

"Mrs Hudson asked me to speak to Lestrade about it, but I think that was more to get me out the house. I can't quite see Lestrade being interested in a small time Bob the Builder that hasn't conned an old lady out of money."

Molly giggled, "Bob the Builder?" she asked.

"Yeah," said John. "His first name was Bob. Bob Wagstaff, so his nickname was Bob the Builder."

Molly dropped her mug.

"Jesus Molly. Are you OK. You've gone as white as a sheet." He bent over to retrieve her mug.

"Did you ever meet this Bob?" she asked shakily. "John, it's really important. Did you see him?"

"Just briefly. I saw him in the hallway with Mrs Hudson, when Sherlock faked the call about her being shot. Why Molly, what's up."

"You need to see this." Molly led him over to the refrigerator, and opened the drawer containing Wagstaff's body and pulled back the sheet.

"Bloody hell Molly." exclaimed John looking down at the body. "That's him. That's Bob. I recognise all the tattoo's. What the hell happened?"

Molly closed the drawer. "He was found dead at a warehouse. Lestrade is looking into the death."

John shook his head. "This is unbelievable."

"I think you should go and see Lestrade," she said firmly.

John nodded. "I think you're right."

"But first, you're going to use the showers down the hall. It'll make you feel better. And you should dress yourself properly too."

John looked down at his shirt. "Point taken." He leant over and kissed her cheek. "Thank you Molly Hooper. For being there for me." he went to the door. "I'll pop back before I go."

John suddenly felt he had a lot more purpose than he'd had before. He began to hum slightly as he headed to the showers.

S S S S S S S S

Molly was kneeling down cleaning up the split tea when a pair of Doc Marten's boots entered her field of vision. She looked up startled.

Sherlock stood there a little unsure of the welcome he would receive. "Hello Molly," he said calmly. "I got your message."

Molly scrambled to her feet and flung herself at him, throwing her arms around his huge frame. "Oh Sherlock! I am so sorry."

Sherlock was overwhelmed at her reaction. "Can I take it, you've forgiven me?"

"I didn't mean it, any of it." she rambled. "I was scared. Of course I trust you. I'm sorry you thought I didn't. Please don't go away again."

Awkwardly he hugged her back. "I didn't mean to frighten you. I apologise."

"You just can't say 'sorry' can you," she joked. Molly suddenly pushed him away. "You've got to hide. Quickly, go to the observation room. John's here."

Sherlock raised an eyebrow, but allowed himself to be pushed towards the observation room at the back of the morgue. "Define here?"

"In the shower, down the hall." she hissed. "He'll be back soon."

"What's he doing here?"

"He came to see me," she whispered. "He's really not doing very well."

Sherlock stopped moving. "What?"

Molly glanced at the door. "We'll talk later. You have to hide."

Reluctantly Sherlock entered the observation room, and sat on the floor, hiding out of sight of the main lab.

Molly had just re-entered the lab, when John returned. He looked a lot fresher.

He stopped in the middle of the lab and did a twirl for her. "Better?"

Molly nodded approvingly. "Much better. Er, how do you feel now?"

John ran a hand through his still damp hair. "I don't think I'll be running any marathons for while," he smiled. "But I think I can face Lestrade and Donovan."

Molly was desperate for John to go. "Take care John. Please call me and let me know what they say."

John hugged her goodbye and waved cheerily from the door.

As soon as the door closed, Molly ran and locked it. She turned to see Sherlock coming into the Lab.

"Why is John going to Lestrade?" he asked.

Molly realised that Sherlock had no idea about Wagstaff. "You sent Lestrade to the warehouse didn't you?" she said walking towards the refrigerator .

"Warehouse?" he queried innocently.

Molly opened the drawers again and drew back the sheets covering the bodies. "Don't play dumb Sherlock, it really doesn't suit you. Wagstaff and Giggs."

"Ah you mean Templeton."

"Yes." she sighed. "You did arrange that didn't you?"

He nodded watching her reaction. "Has that upset you?"

Molly shook her head. "No."

"Good. They were Moriarty's men. I wouldn't necessarily be able to prove it in a court of law, but the circumstantial evidence was there."

"I can prove it. I found a branding."

"What branding?" Sherlock tipped his head on one side and watched as she pointed out the unusual cross shaped branding.

"Lestrade said they'd had over 14 bodies with similar branding."

Sherlock studied it closely. "Interesting." He turned to her suddenly. "14? Did you think they were all me?"

"It crossed my mind for second," she confessed, "but the time line was wrong."

"So not worried I am a mass murderer then."

"Not at all." said Molly firmly. "You might be many things, but I would never have thought you were a murderer."

"There's something else, I can tell."

"I think this man Wagstaff was the assassin assigned to Mrs Hudson."

Sherlock looked her surprised. "How do you know that?"

"John recognised him. John said that he was the builder Mrs Hudson hired. I think you managed to get two birds with one stone. You not only found Templeton who was planning to take out Lestrade, but also Wagstaff who would have killed Mrs Hudson. And got them to kill each other."

Sherlock looked down at Wagstaff again. "I didn't realise." He hugged her again impulsively, "you've done it again Molly. You saved Lestrade, and now you've saved Mrs Hudson."

Molly leaned into the hug. "You did it, I just tidied up."

Sherlock started pacing around the lab. "The thing about these type of people is they tend to work in isolation. Each with their own job. They don't pass information between each other. There won't be anyone waiting to step into their shoes."

"So no one to take over the kill order?"

"No. That just leaves one. The gunman that was assigned to kill John."

"I don't know how you're going to find him. We don't have anything to go on."

"I wouldn't say that." said Sherlock. "We know he was watching John, and we know where John was. Therefore the killer would be within that vicinity."

"But John was at Bart's with you."

"Yes. Which probably means the killer was here too."

S S S S S S S S S

Thanks to everyone for their encouragement to continue this. I really appreciate all your comments. I apologise in advance for any typo's – brain is a bit cotton woolly at the moment.

#believeinsherlock