COD (Cause of Death): Unknown

Note: I'm still breathing and writing clearly. Busy times in my life with more hours at work, and a tired writer and just a lot of things. Mentally getting better after a lot of things circling around in my head. I'm doing as best as I can at the moment but you guys don't wanna hear about that. So here's another one of the final chapters of COD. It may be a bit surprising, do enjoy darlings. :)

Twenty One.

Two weeks and counting it had been since Molly's resurfacing back on the face of the earth. She had been enjoying quiet time with her Nana. They had talked the morning after Molly came back to her home and things had twisted into more of a cheerful atmosphere. They baked, and cooked to take to the small orphanage that was in town and what was left over was given to the homeless. Molly smiled more during these times Nana Hooper observed.

She had an inkingly that one of the things she couldn't share was about them. She wasn't sure why but everything seemed to tie back to that man who had more or less become an important part of her granddaughter's life. Sherlock Holmes.

She hadn't seen him since the one and only time he made an appearance to the small home of hers. For some reason she had a feeling that this would soon change. She hadn't figured out yet if that was a good thing or not. Molly hadn't mentioned much about the detective apart from the fact that he knew she was alive and had known before most people had been clued in and that she had had tea with him before she came back home to her. There was this glimmer in Molly's eye that shone more brightly as she was thinking about something that made her happy. There were few things that she knew of that did that.

There were really only two. Being around Sherlock Holmes even when he was being a complete ass to her. This she would never understand but it was what love looked like she knew. Her own husband had been an ass more times than she liked. It had to be a bit of a pattern to follow her granddaughter too. Then there was her unorthodox happiness when she was autopsying the dead. Nana thought this was such a weird thing at first notion at it until she had seen it with her own eyes one trip to London for Christmas with Molly. She had sneaked in with a little help with that nice man Mike Stamford and stood a little away from the slab where her daughter was working.

Molly had an odd air of nurturing when she was working on the body that looked to be a girl of only fifteen. It wasn't hard to tell despite the fact that it was her job that Molly also cared in a way most didn't about the dead. It had brought tears to the old woman's eyes.

The latter couldn't have been the case because Molly had been nowhere near a morgue - Bart's being her favorite when accessible. The former had to be it. There was the way Molly described in some many words her second reunion with the man that made Nana feel that it was all good things that had roamed through the younger Hooper's head. They had no need to argue yet. If Sherlock Holmes was still anything as she remembered from his visit then there was still that underlining of caring that he tried to pretend wasn't there for Molly.

Maybe it was different now.

...

Molly was humming a tune as she shut the door to the van with her hip as she carried two large bags of groceries to the cottage. They were going to make a little stew for tonight and watch an old Cary Grant movie that they both loved. She managed to juggle the bags as she unlocked the door. That had been a little precaution that had been set the first few days of living here again. Every door had to be secure when one or both of them were inside. Despite what it appeared nothing was safe entirely.

Molly sighed as she pushed the door open having opened it successfully. She smiled as she walked into the warm house and began making her way to the kitchen only to stop when she smelt something a little off. Someone else was here.

She rushed forward towards the living room that was straight ahead and stopped first at the sight of tea. "Nana, we have a guest?" Molly was almost afraid to turn and see who was sitting in the opposite chair.

"Well they're more here for you but I felt like I could entertain until she came back. Oh. Let me have those and you sit. You have something important to talk about imagine. I'll take care of those." Nana giggled as she stood and made her way over to Molly and took the two bags. "I'll get started on cooking too while you're talking no need to be in your hair. Sit, Molly."

Molly didn't turn as she stiffly made her way to her grandfather's old chair and sat down. She waited until she could hear the sound of the cabinets being thrown open and pots being pulled out before she moved her gaze from the floor over to her guest. She couldn't seem to relax as she looked up from the ground up to the woman's smirking face.

"Like what you see, Doctor?"

Irene Adler was sitting across from her and flirting with her. Molly straightened up immediately with a glare settled in her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought it was time we had a little talk Molly, about a few things. I believe the last time was in the luscious land of greenery...I forgot what it was called. It was unearthly, don't you think?"

"Yes. You and your friends were up to no good. I suspect this isn't a social visit. I don't nor have I ever called you a friend. So again, why are you here?"

"You're so angry. I suppose he's never seen this side of you. Sherlock that is. You do know about our little history, don't you?"

Molly averted her eyes off the dominatrix as she spoke. "Unfortunately. I know a bit more than he does on all aspects of you and your dangerous games. My friends are a bit more experienced than you."

Irene laughed as she slowly got to her feet and sauntered over to Molly. She looked down at the small pathologist and bit her lip as if she was thinking before she placed her hands over Molly's on the arms of the chair and she leaned over. Molly's eyes snapped back to the woman and she clenched her teeth together. "No one is as experienced as me in this, sweetheart. I have an entire army waiting on the order to destroy you. You are in the way again and I can get rid of you easily, make no mistake about that. You only have two people waiting to help and he isn't all that reliable when it comes to time. Ironic really when you think of it, he is a time lord after all. The other his wife who appears and disappears on a whim."

She was wrong, Molly smiled as she used her legs and kicked Irene back and she stood on her feet. "That's where you are wrong Miss Adler. I have many friends that I have met through The Doctor and by merely whispering my detective's name. You need better intel, sweetie."

Irene looked irritated as she side swept Molly and leaned over her again on the ground. "My intel is fine. You just have secrets. Some that you keep hidden but I can find them as fast as you blink. Just give me half an hour with you alone that's all I require, dear."

Molly knew that she was really on a time limit here considering they had kept this little affair quiet so far. Her Nana would worry soon. "What will do, seduce me? Tempting but I don't really like you that way."

"No one said you had to be willing." Irene whispered as she placed her hand against Molly's cheek. Her nails which were more like claws flickered the tiniest bit and Molly could feel the sting from that brief small attack but she wasn't having this. This was her home.

She pushed her hand away and pulled at the shiny clip that she had seen upon first glance at her. Irene growled as she skidded back and was beginning to charge at her when Molly tilted her head to the side as if she was seeing something before she kicked Irene against the glass door that led to the backyard. It didn't break. Molly wasn't trying to do that.

"Leave now while I still have my patience." Molly seethed as she licked her lip. There had been a moment during that tussle on the ground when Irene had hit her in the mouth. She had drawn a little blood.

Irene didn't look the slightest bit rattled or upset instead she looked more eager. "Tell your sweet Nana that I enjoyed her tea. I can't wait until we can continue this. I think I like this version of you Miss Hooper. Such a delicious challenge. See you soon."

Once Irene had ducked out into the dark damp grass and had rushed off Molly began to feel the adrenaline pick back up in her veins. She needed to move.

Nana had rushed back into the sitting room at that time and Molly looked up while wiping her lip. "Molly what happened?"

"Irene Adler has never been someone I trusted. I should have warned you about her. We have to get moving. I need you to call Pawpa and see if you can stay over until this is done. This game isn't done yet. Then I need you to make one more call. It's important but I need to pack up now. I can't stay here. It's not safe anymore, Nana and I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize Molly. I've always know it wasn't over. Your mind has never settled. Is Sherlock the one you want me to call?"

Molly nodded and began walking to her room. She grabbed her duffle bag from under her bed and grabbed her cell phone and sent a text. "His number is on the fridge tucked behind the coupons. Just tell him that I had to move because there was a problem with our safety. Tell him where you'll be. He'll come find you first and probably will ask where I will be but tell him you don't know."

"Will I be lying to him about that?"

Molly stopped putting her clothes and looked up at her Nana. God, she was going to miss her. "No, I can't tell you. None of us are safe anymore. I'll contact you when I can."

"You'll come back when it's safe?" This was a plead Molly knew and she didn't hesitate in her answer as she wrapped her arms around the round woman. "I will try."

That broke her heart more than anything else. "Call him please." Molly couldn't do it herself she knew. She was stronger now but she would completely break down if she talked to him right now. She was unstable right now.

"Be careful, Molly." Molly smiled at her before throwing her bag over her shoulder and hearing the beep of her phone.

She nodded as she made her way outside to the front as the SUV made a full stop in front of the cottage. "I love you." Told her Nana before she opened the passenger door and got in.

Send to: Jack Harkness, Tardis

Message: ALERT: IRENE

From: Jack Harkness

Message: Get outside, now.

Molly took off her hood off and looked over to the man who had seemed to save her ass more times than she could count now. "Hello, Jack."

He sped off as began talking. "What kind of mess are we dealing with now, Molly?"

Molly just smiled.

...

Sherlock was staring at a wall a few hours later when his phone began ringing from inside his coat's pocket. He had become accustomed to answering it now even when he was on a case. It could be important. He didn't look at the caller as he said hello.

"Sherlock Holmes, Molly told me to call you before she ran off. Her safety has been compromised, I'm with my dad at the moment but young man I swear if something else takes my granddaughter away from me again it will be your head."

"I understand, Miss Hooper. Where are you now?" He turned away from the board and ignored Lestrade and John Watson's questioning glances as he reached for his coat. "I will see you soon. Have some tea. I'm sure she's fine."

He hung up the phone and was about to walk out the door before remembering that he was currently on a case. Make that two now that Molly was in the wind again.

"Lestrade go arrest the boyfriend, he was in on it the whole time. Interrogate him and I'm sure he'll be more willing to come clean. I must be off now. Another important matter to handle."

"What happened to Molly, Sherlock?" John asked.

"Nothing as of yet. Or really as far as I know. There was a disturbance at the Hooper's cottage so I suppose there might have been an unwelcomed visitor. That could be anyone but I will go find out now. I'm heading to Edinburgh for a little while."

"Do you need me to come with me?"

"No. Molly wants me to track her on my own. It most likely pertains to me. I will let you know if I require your assistance if needed be." He rushed out without another word and hailed a cab quickly.

It wasn't too much later that he got a text that had him still for quite some time.

I love you.

Um...well so I am back and in top form I think with this new addition to this story. I know it doesn't get as much as attention as ASIC but you better believe I'm still working on it.

I never really saw the appeal of Molly/Irene until I decided to bring Irene into this story and in this way. It was such good fun to write and I want to do more of it. I don't ship it but the appeal became overwhelming in this context. I do hope you liked it. Your words of encouragement has kept me going during this times of sadness with me. So thank you so much. I hope to hear more from you guys.

Until next time.

much love,

day