As usual, Molly was the first to wake the next morning and she lay in bed remembering the most incredible experience she had had the night before. It was perfect. Sherlock was perfect. She had finally had her dream come true and she had actually made love to the man she had loved from afar for years. She suspected that he was harbouring similar feelings and so she was looking forward to trying to talk to him about it all later that day.
She arose and went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea. She found a note on the kitchen table, along with a loaf of bread. It read "Good morning Sherlock and Molly. I hear you had a good night together last night." Molly looked up at that point and laughed to herself. Of course, Mrs Hudson occupied the flat below. She'd have heard everything. Molly made a mental note to not make eye contact with Mrs Hudson the next time she saw her! The note continued "I thought you might both need some breakfast. I'd noticed last night that there was no food in the flat so I hope a breakfast of toast and a cup of tea will do you. Milk is in the fridge. Love to you both, Mrs Hudson xx"
Molly filled the kettle with water and flicked it on. She grabbed two mugs and put them on the side, and headed into the bathroom to get ready for the day which lay ahead. She had a long shift in the morgue and there was much paperwork to sort out from the previous few days. The water of the shower refreshed her, as she still mused about the fact Mrs Hudson was totally aware of what had happened between the two of them last night. She made a note to ask Sherlock if they could go up to John's old room on the next floor up next time they both felt like being a little amorous! She knew Mrs Hudson was a woman of the world and would be the height of discretion about it, but even so, she kind of wanted to keep this just between her and Sherlock.
She eased herself out of the shower, drying off using Sherlock's towel and then wearing his dressing gown which was hanging on the back of the door. She headed back into the kitchen and made the two cups of tea. She carried them through to the bedroom. Sherlock was stirring but he was not opening his eyes. He had his head buried into the pillow and was rocking slightly. She could tell straight away something wasn't right.
"Sherlock, are you OK?"
He raised his head slightly, gave out a little wince and lay back down again. He opened his eyes a little "Just got a bit of a headache Molly, that's all."
"OK, you stay there and I'll call John."
"That won't be necessary, honestly. It's nothing a couple of pain killers won't sort out. Trust me."
"Somehow I don't though." said Molly kneeling next to him on the floor. "Let me take a look at you, Sherlock. You can't even lift your head off the pillow. I somehow don't think that's alright."
Sherlock didn't want to be bothered with being checked out, so he summoned all the strength he had and pulled his head off the pillow. It was utterly throbbing but he didn't want to admit it. He wanted to sleep and he wanted some space to sleep in. That meant convincing Molly that he was totally fine, and getting her to go to work. Then he could like in his bed in peace and quiet and get rid of the headache in his own time. He eased himself up a little further until he was in the sitting position, with his back on his headboard. His head was pounding and he felt physically sick but he didn't want to tell Molly. He just wanted her to leave for work.
She quietly got herself dressed and went into the kitchen and fetched him some pain killers. "Here you go, take these" she said handing him a glass of water to go with it. It was all that he could do to take the two tablets and one mouthful of water.
She sat with him as she ate some toast she had prepared and drank her tea. She tried to get him to drink his tea and he managed a couple of mouthfuls before begging Molly to be allowed to lie down and go back to sleep. She kissed him gently on the cheek and promised to pop by later to see him. He nodded and closed his eyes, thankful of the break from the light and from the noise. She quietly headed out of the flat and down the stars. She knocked on Mrs Hudson's door
"Good morning Mrs Hudson"
"Good morning, Molly. Had a nice evening did you?"
"Thank you for the milk and bread. Yes, a very nice evening thank you. Sorry to trouble you, I just need to tell you about Sherlock."
"Did you break him?"
Molly laughed at the irony of that statement for he was indeed feeling very rough this morning "Well, I'm not sure about breaking him but he's not feeling at his best today. I've left him back asleep in bed with a cracking headache. Would it be possible for you to pop up and check on him a couple of times?"
"Of course. I'm off out for a couple of hours this morning but I'm back in around noon so I can pop up and check on him then."
"Thank you Mrs Hudson. See you soon" and with that Molly turned and went. As she was exiting the building she text John.
Just left Sherlock's. He has a pounding headache. Says he'll be fine but is there any chance you could pop in and see him during the day? Mrs Hudson is going to pop up a few times too. MH x
Of course, I'll pop by when I've finished my shift early afternoon. Did you remind him he as an appointment with Dr Channing today? JW
No, I totally forgot. MH x
No problem, I'll text him now and remind him. JW
John text Sherlock straight away
Don't forget you have an appointment with Dr Channing at 11.30am this morning. JW
The text he received back was simple and to the point. It simply said
OK. SH
Molly, John and Mrs Hudson all got on with their days, busy with the events that overtook them. John's surgery was full. Several new bodies kept Molly extremely busy in the morgue and morning tea with her friends saw conversation flow easily and freely for Mrs Hudson. All this meant that none of them had a chance to give Sherlock a thought, or to contact him to see how he was.
It was a text which roused John out of his work and back into reality. It arrived at around 11.45am and simply read
John, Sherlock has not shown for his appointment. Dr Channing
John's mind went into a panic. Sherlock may be many things, but one thing he wasn't was forgetful. And it was not like him to miss an appointment like this. John's blood ran cold and he immediately knew something was amiss. He literally walked out of his clinic and dived into the first taxi he could hail, telling the driver to get to 221b Baker Street. He text Molly
Sherlock not shown for appointment. I'm on my way. Get to his flat now. JW
Oh my god, John is he OK? MH
I don't know. Just calling Mrs Hudson. JW
I'll be there as soon as I can. MH
John knew that Molly would hand over as quickly as she could and she would be there literally as quickly as a cab could get her there. His hand was shaking as he dialled Mrs Hudson's number. She answered quickly.
"Oh hello John. How are you? You're not going to believe what happened last night when..."
"Mrs Hudson I don't have time. Have you been up and checked on Sherlock recently?"
"Oh gosh no, I haven't. Molly asked me to check on him but I've only been in for about 10 minutes and I totally forgot."
"Mrs Hudson I need you to go up and check on him immediately. I have great cause for concern about him. He was supposed to go to his next ophthalmology appointment today at the hospital but he hasn't showed up. I text him myself to remind him this morning so he knows about it but he's not arrived. Molly said he wasn't feeling well this morning and, well, I'm worried. Molly and I are on the way and we'll be with you in 10 minutes or so, but I need you to go and check on him."
"Ok John, no problem. Do you want me to call you back?"
"No I need you to keep on the phone to me as you go up so you can talk me through how he is."
John could hear Mrs Hudson climbing the stairs up to Sherlock's flat and could hear her opening the front door. She walked down the corridor to Sherlock's room.
"It's fine John, he's fast asleep in bed. He's totally spark out. Don't worry about him John, he's just slept through that's all and he's missed his appointment. Nothing to worry about."
"Oh, that's a relief Mrs Hudson, I was really getting worried about him."
John suddenly became conscious that there was silence at the other end and John could hear Mrs Hudson breathing heavily almost as if she were having a panic attach.
"Mrs Hudson, are you OK?"
"John, I don't think he's sleeping. He's breathing really rapidly. He's almost white and he's really cold and clammy. He's sweating profusely. John, oh my god John, I don't think he's sleeping, I think he's unconscious."