It's the weekend! Yay! I have plans to chill out and write, maybe with the odd glass of wsine thrown in for good measure. I hope you all have a great weekend too.

Chapter 11

It rather amused Sherlock to see Molly openly checking him out for once. There had been many a time in the past he'd caught her secretly eying him up but she'd never been so open about it. He found he rather liked it. As he finished his call to Billy he held her gaze watching the blush spread over her cheeks but when she bit her lip he found himself wanting to do so much more to her.

He made his way over and she turned on her stool to face him so she was leaning back on the table. He slotted himself between her slim legs and brought his hand up to cup her face using his thumb to pull her lip from between her teeth. 'If anyone's going to bite your lip Molly Hooper it should be me.'

He bent his head until his face was just under an inch from hers. He felt her lean up to him her mouth open and ready to be kissed. He was tempted, so tempted but he didn't let her kiss him. 'Not yet Molly, not yet.' He could feel her breath on his face, the smell of her arousal faint but recognisable causing his own body to react in response. Her eyes were fully dilated and he knew if he glanced down her nipples would be erect and pressing against the material of her top.

If he kissed her now he would be lost and he needed to stay focused and concentrate on the case. There would be time for them later.

He pulled back, standing upright, breathing hard from the effort of not kissing her, not touching her further. 'Come to mine after work? I should be back around seven.'

She just nodded mutely and he turned, gathering up his coat and files before leaving the room without a backwards glance, he didn't trust himself to leave if he did.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

Molly sat for a moment letting her heart rate reduce back to its normal pace. How could she be feeling so aroused when he hadn't actual done more than touch her face? No man, no previous boyfriend had ever turned her on the way Sherlock could. She hoped this wasn't a game to him, or a passing fancy as he had the capacity to ruin her for other men. How could she go back to what she had had before when she had experienced this?

As she turned back to her work she suddenly remembered what Sherlock had told her about John and Mary and she sent off a quick text to John to let him know that she was thinking of them both and to let her know if there was anything she could do to help. Not for the first time she wondered if she would ever have a child of her own but it was the first time she contemplated whether Sherlock would ever want them and not only that want them with her. Then she worried that hope could be a dangerous thing.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Sherlock had been impressed with Billy's level of commitment. The lad was bright, almost to a Holmes level although he lacked finesse. He had already spoken to some of the killer's known associates and he had a good idea where they might find him. Sherlock had texted the details to Lestrade and was on his way to meet them.

As he sat in the cab he contemplated how things were progressing with Molly. He was amazed how easy it all felt. He had always thought that caring for someone and being in a relationship would be detrimental to his work but Molly was different, she was already part of his life and his work so taking things further with her didn't seem to be anything other than a positive move. He wondered if he was ready to take things further with her. Physically he knew he was, he was a man after all, he had always wanted physical pleasures just like anyone else. It was on an emotional level that he had been concerned about but maybe that was diminishing.

When the cab arrived at the disused warehouse on the edge of the Thames the arrest was already underway. He paid the cabbie and climbed out to find Billy watching the police bring out a man who matched the description he'd given Sherlock earlier that day.

'Hey Shezza...' He rolled his eyes at Sherlock disapproving glare, 'alright, alright Mr 'Olmes. Police got 'ere about ten minutes ago. Your mate's just done the arrest. Bob hasn't tried to run or anything, he's just denyin' all knowledge of it.' He frowned and turned to Sherlock looking a little nervous, 'are they gonna need me to make a statement?'

Sherlock assessed him, knowing his past problems with the police and his desire to keep a low profile. 'No, there should be enough other evidence. I haven't mentioned you by name.' He hesitated a moment as he took some cash out of his wallet. 'You did well today. I'll be in touch if I need anything further.'

Billy took the cash and within seconds had disappeared into one of the alleyways at the side of the docks.

Sherlock held back from approaching Lestrade until the homeless man had been put into one of the police cars.

'Gavin, what have you got for me?'

'Bloody hell Sherlock, once...just once you could get my name right.'

Sherlock just look at him in confusion.

Lestrade rolled his eyes but carried on. 'He was here just like you said he would be. He says he knows nothing about the event and that he had a blackout earlier but we'll know more when we've interviewed him. We'll need forensics to examine his clothes as well. He's covered in blood but appears to be uninjured himself. We shouldn't need you for the interviews but you're welcome to sit in if you want.'

Sherlock thought for a moment. 'I'll watch the first half through the glass but I want him fully restrained before I come in and ask him anything.'

Now it was Lestrade's turn to look surprised. 'What? Are you thinking this might be like that girl? I hadn't considered there being any connection...I mean, what links could they possibly have?'

Sherlock huffed and narrowed his eyes. 'I'm not sure...not yet but there is a connection. We just have to find it.'

Three hours later and Sherlock was bored. He'd been sat behind the two way mirror for the last hour getting increasingly frustrated as Lestrade asked every irrelevant question that popped into his tiny mind. No wonder the police force rarely caught and convicted anyone when they couldn't even ask a single pertinent question. Had Lestrade seen nothing at the crime site? He knocked on the glass and saw the three occupants of the room turn to look at him before Lestrade halted the interview and came to get him.

'Bloody hell Sherlock. You know you're not supposed to do that. I'm out on a limb letting you come and sit in as it is.'

'Double-check his cuffs and then I'll join you.'

He watched at the door as Lestrade checked the handcuffs behind the man's back and that they were still attached to the chair that he sat in. Then he nodded to Sherlock who made his way into the room.

He sat down watching the man closely. He could see the obvious signs of his drug addiction, his life in the streets but there was something else. Billy was right, his clothes didn't match the image. He had support, maybe a family member who he could turn to when he was desperate who would clothe and feed him. He didn't look particularly scared, more confused but didn't seem overly affected by Sherlock coming into the room.

Lestrade introduced him for the tape and then turned waiting for Sherlock's first question.

'What made you...'

The change was immediate. Just like the girl had a day before his eyes took on that glazed, unfocused look. He turned to Sherlock and in a low guttural voice said. 'He will skin you.' Then he brought his head down fast onto the desk. His nose exploded in a sickening crunch of bone and the man screamed but continued to pound his skull onto the table as though he were trying to smash his own brains out.

This time they were more prepared and Sherlock and Lestrade immediately moved to restrain him, amazed by how strong he was for such a slight build. He thrashed about trying desperately to pull free of them and eventually a doctor had to be called to administer a sedative before they could even begin to worry about assessing his injuries.

An hour later Lestrade found Sherlock in HIS office leaning back in HIS chair with his feet up on HIS desk. He leant on the door jam. 'It's no good we're going to have to section him and have him taken to a secure facility.'

Sherlock was more shaken than he was letting on. He was starting to get a horrified feeling that he knew what was going on and he didn't want to believe it. 'Can we take a blood sample from him? I need to check him for any drugs or toxins. I want to do comparisons against the girl from yesterday.'

Lestrade passed some instructions on and confirmed that a sample would be sent over to Barts for Sherlock to work on. Sherlock collected his coat and walked out of the building feeling the need for a cigarette for the first time since his exile was repealed. As he walked to a nearby newsagents to purchase them he thought through his options.

He decided to return to Baker St. He needed to do some research and confirm his suspicions. The blood tests could wait until the following day, he was fairly sure he knew what the outcome would be. Yes, there would be signs of heroin or cocaine in his system but as a drug addict that was to be expected but he doubted there would be anything more unusual than that.

He lit his first cigarette and enjoyed the buzz of nicotine in his brain. If he was right in his deduction they had a massive problem and he would need to liaise with his brother whom he suspected already knew all about what was going on.

His phone vibrated in his pocket and he pulled it out. It was a text from John.

Mary gave birth to our daughter twenty minutes ago, weighing 7lbs 6oz. Both doing well. We should be back home tomorrow but maybe leave it a couple of days before visiting. Be in touch soon. John

He couldn't help but smile at the good news sending back an obligatory congratulation text. He was pleased for his best friend, happy that everything had gone smoothly and that the baby and Mary were both well.

As he thought that his face fell, his brain working through all the information he had gathered about Mary and it all fell into place. He had wondered if she were connected in some way and now he had no doubts, no doubts at all. Instead he was more worried than he had ever been before.

He's deduced it...but have you? All will be revealed...in every sense of the word, soon, very soon!