Chapter 21
Rocking the redhead- This chapter is for you...since you asked so nicely for an update, lol. I decided to go ahead and update this one!
Much love to all my readers! You guys rock...um...again I have to ask, please don't hurl rocks or cats at me! HUGS!
Molly stared at the man. "Mycroft Holmes?" She asked softly.
"Yes Dr. Hooper. Myself and another man from MI5 have infiltrated Moriarty's ring." Jack said.
"How…why would he…I don't understand." Molly said
"Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby was at one time MI5, that is how he met Mycroft Holmes. Barnaby and Mycroft have been in communication since Simon Moriarty first broke into your cottage and left the message on the wall for Sherlock."
Molly gasped. "Simon Moriarty. I had forgotten that Simon was…"Molly's head jerked up and she regarded Jack suspiciously. "How do I know that you are who you say you are?"
"You don't Dr. Hooper. All I can offer you is my word that I am on your side and that I am here to help you."
Molly's head was spinning. So much had happened and she was having a hard time focusing on any one particular thing. Suddenly, she paled as she remembered what had happened when Sebastian and Jim had taken her and brought her here. What she had seen. It was almost too much to hope for, much less believe. Her heart began to throb painfully and tears filled her eyes.
"Dr. Hooper?" Jack asked noticing the change in her.
She swallowed hard. "Is…is my father still alive?" She asked him, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jack reached out and took her hand in his. "Brace yourself Dr. Hooper. What am I about to tell you is going to be quite a shock. Yes, your father is alive, along with your mother, sister, and nephew. They are here in this very house."
Molly's color drained completely from her face and her hand came to her head. "I feel…dizzy…I don't…"
Jack got up from the bed and returned with a glass of water. He pressed it to her lips. "Here, sip slowly."
After a few moments, Molly's color slowly started to return. She looked at Jack and shook her head. "How is it possible? There were bodies in my parents' home…the police and coroner's report…"
"All fabricated by a Detective Sergeant Bristol. He's been on Moriarty's payroll for some time as has Dr. Meeks who provided the first coroner's report."
Molly's expression became horrified. "Oh my God…then who were the people in the fire?"
"Again, Dr. Meeks. He provided Moriarty with a family that had been recently killed in a car accident."Jack said with a disgusted expression.
Molly's eyes widened. "Oh…Mrs. Cumberbatch…"
"She's here and she's safe. Moriarty hasn't harmed her or any of your family members."
"But why is he doing this?" Molly asked.
"He's obsessed with you Dr. Hooper. He has some sick twisted fantasy that he's planned out for a long time. Once he disposes of Sherlock Holmes, he plans on retiring from criminal life and beginning a new life…with you by his side. He took your family, Mrs. Cumberbatch, and your cat in the hopes of them providing you with comfort in your new life with him and to help you with your grief once he kills Sherlock."
"He's mad…insane…" Molly whispered.
"Yes Dr. Hooper he is and I cannot stress how dangerous he is." Jack looked at his wrist watch. "I have to leave you now before my absence draws too much attention. You must be patient and brave Dr. Hooper. Things will most likely get worse before it gets better. And remember, when you see me, you must feign fear, just as you would for any other of Moriarty's men."
"How will we escape?" Molly asked grabbing his hand before he could go.
"We are working on a plan Dr. Hooper. We will get you and your family out of here. I promise you that." Jack said pulling his hand from her grip. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and left the room.
Sherlock glared at Mycroft and Tom Barnaby. "Oh for heaven's sake Sherlock, I should think you would be pleased to know that Molly is not left friendless while in the hands of Moriarty." Mycroft said rolling his eyes.
"I want to know where she is now Mycroft!" Sherlock snapped.
"Why? So that you can go running off without a plan and proper reinforcements? I understand that sentiment is a new thing to you Sherlock and I am not going to say that I told you so…" Mycroft's brow rose. "Although I did tell you so, but this is the reality of the situation now. Molly and her family are being kept by a madman. He has hired guns all over Midsomer Worthy and in Causton. He has men strategically placed at the hospital, the police station, even at the local bakery for God's sake! You are being watched Sherlock. Every move you make is being reported back to Moriarty."
Sherlock frowned. "What are you trying to say to me Mycroft, you know how I dislike when you ramble on so. We are wasting time and…"
Barnaby cut him off. "What your brother is saying Sherlock is that this is one that you will have to sit out. This will be handled by myself and Mycroft from this point on. Moriarty will be expecting you to react and he will be waiting, ready, and prepared. This is a case that you will no longer be an active part of."
Sherlock jumped to his feet. "What in the fucking hell are you saying? That I am not allowed to help? You need me Mycroft! So do you Chief Inspector. You have nothing but fools working under you…"
"I can assure you that my officers are very capable. And no, you are not allowed to help Sherlock. Can't you see that your emotions are blinding you?" Tom asked exasperated. "This is why I called your brother. This is why he and I have been working behind your back. Sherlock, you are not able to divorce yourself from this. All you see is Molly. You can't see anything else Sherlock and that is what could get her and her family killed!"
"What if your wife had been taken?" Sherlock shouted "What would you do?
"I would hopefully step aside and let others who had no emotional involvement in finding Joyce actually find her. I would hope that I would not be a hindrance and if I was, I would hope that my superiors would see this and force me to step aside as your brother is forcing you to do now. Sherlock, this is the right thing to do. It's the right thing for Molly, her family, and Mrs. Cumberbatch."
Sherlock started to say something else when John walked in. Mycroft turned and smiled. "Ah John, how is Inspector Lestrade?"
"He's doing well considering. He has several cuts and bruises and a broken ankle, but no worse for wear." John said sitting down on the sofa to rest. He looked exhausted with dark circles under his eyes and his skin considerably paler than usual.
"Excellent news." Mycroft said. "And I have had Anthea make arrangements for Sara. She has already been moved to a safe house John, I'm sorry that we were not able to wait until you had returned."
John's expression showed immense relief. "No, that's okay. I just want her safe…away from all of this."
"Apparently we are going to be kept away from this…" Sherlock hissed, his hands waving dramatically in front of him.
John glanced at Mycroft before turning to Sherlock. "What?"
"We have been taken of the case by the great Chief Inspector Barnaby and my all knowing, all powerful brother!" Sherlock snapped.
"Sherlock please." John groaned.
Sherlock whirled around to look at him. "What John? Are you taking his side?"
John groaned loudly and stood up. "It's not about sides you bloody git! This has nothing to do with sides or this ridiculous childish little grudge you have against your brother!' John yelled, his voice getting louder as he spoke. "This is about Molly and Sara and Greg and anybody else who happens to cross bloody paths with Moriarty! My God Sherlock, look at everything that has happened! Sara was nearly killed and could have had only God knows what done to her! That poor girl was raped and murdered by this psychopath's younger brother. Lestrade is in a hospital room because of Moriarty and so is Gavin! This isn't about who is going to solve this fucking case Sherlock. It's about stopping a madman any way possible."
Sherlock started to speak, but John held up his hand. "No Sherlock, you shut the hell up and listen. You are in love. You love Molly. You've only recently come to terms with it and it scares the hell out of you. You were scared when she left London because you thought you'd lost her and now you're terrified you're going to lose her again to Moriarty. You feel helpless and vulnerable and you're scared shitless! And Sherlock Holmes has no idea what to do with vulnerable, helpless, and scared shitless. And instead of accepting these feelings which are completely normal by the way you bloody wanker, you're trying to control a situation that you have NO BLOODY CONTROL OVER! And you need help Sherlock. Yes, the great Sherlock Holmes needs help. He can't just rely on himself anymore. And I'm sorry Sherlock, but right now you can't be trusted to make the best decisions for Molly."
John sighed deeply. He grabbed Sherlock's arm and looked intently into his face. Softening his voice, he spoke again. "You just can't Sherlock. You can't see past your own fear for Molly and I'm sorry mate, but that could get her killed. So Sherlock, just this once, please, please, let it go and let someone help you, please."
Molly turned away from the window when the bedroom door opened. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She didn't have to turn around to know who it was. She could feel him and she couldn't stop the shiver than ran up and down her spine.
"Are you cold little Molly?" Jim asked coming to stand behind her.
She swallowed hard and steeled herself before turning to face him. "I'm fine."
He smiled at her, the funny little smile that made her blood run cold. "I hope you find your accommodations pleasing."
"I would be pleased if my family and Mrs. Cumberbatch were safe away from you." She stepped closer to him and even though she knew how stupid it was to provoke him, she couldn't stop herself. She absolutely loathed him. "And I would be even more pleased if I were in Sherlock's arms right now instead of standing next to you."
The smile fell instantly from his face and his hands shot out, grabbing her upper arms in a brutal grip. "Should I help erase the memory of him from your mind? Should I toss you onto the bed and fuck you senseless? Should I erase any memory of him against you?" He hissed. He shook her roughly, her head snapping back and forth. "Well little Molly? Should I make you forget him? Should I make you scream my name instead of his?"
Molly bit her lip to keep from crying out, his fingers digging into her skin was excruciating.
His maniacal smile returned. "You know, I still having forgiven you for your infidelity with that stupid sergeant. I could almost forgive Sherlock, he is after all a great mind, a great man like me, but that pathetic fool policeman. Really Molly what were you thinking?" Jim shoved her backward onto the bed.
She attempted to scramble away, but Jim pinned her underneath him when he covered her body with his own. "Perhaps I should fuck you right now. Fuck that fool Sergeant right out of you. God, I have missed you Molly. I've missed the softness of your skin…" He said, brushing his cheek against hers. "I've missed your smell Molly, strawberries and cream…oh how I've dreamed of what you'd taste like."
He crushed his lips to hers, forcing her lips apart for his tongue. She squealed into his mouth, squirming, bucking, and trying to remove him from her. He pressed her further into the mattress with his body, grinding his hips luridly against her. She pushed desperately on his chest. He snatched her wrists in his hands and pinned them to the mattress on either side of her head.
"Should I allow myself a taste now Molly? I think I deserve it after how long you have denied me." Jim said as he placed soft kisses along her jaw line.
"Please…Jim…please don't…" Molly pleaded.
"Is my little lamb frightened?" He asked in between suckling the skin of her neck. "There is no need for you to be frightened little Molly. This is inevitable. You are mine, you have always been mine."
Molly squeezed her eyes tight, tears streaming freely from her eyes. Jim continued kissing her, ignoring her tears and trembling. He nudged her legs apart with his knee to position his body in between her legs. He groaned as he pressed himself into her again.
"Please…don't…please…" Molly begged softly.
Jim smiled gently, releasing one wrist to trace the curve of her face with his finger. "Don't cry Molly. You'll see this is for the best. You'll see that I am the only man for you. That I've always been the only man for you." He kissed her tenderly. "You're just confused. Once Sherlock is out of the way, all will be as it should be. I'll always take care of you Molly. I'll provide for you and keep you safe. I'll keep everyone that you love safe always."
He nuzzled her neck, nibbling and suckling the skin. "Soon this dreadful business will all be over and we can go away together, all of us should you wish it. And you'll soon forget all about Sherlock Holmes."
Jim pushed himself onto his elbows and looked down at her. She slowly opened her eyes, more tears falling free.
"I have waited so long for this Molly and no one is going to deny me, not even you."
Show me love, even if you don't love me at this moment!