"Sherlock." A voice pulls me away from my slumber.
"Hmm?" I force my eyes open. "Allan?"
"No... it's John."
Glancing at the man next to me I realize that it is John... and that Allan is still, and forever, gone.
"John." I take a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Yeah, we're here."
Nodding, I get out of the cab with John. I assume that he already paid the cabbie, because the cabbie is driving off.
"Let's get you checked out." John leads the way inside the hospital.
What are they going to do?
Maybe my hands aren't as bad as John thinks they are.
Maybe they're worse.
What if I lose my hands?
I couldn't play violin anymore...
I tighten my grip on the violin despite the increase in pain it gives me.
Oh, god... what if I can't use my hands anymore?
Rationally and logically, I know that I'm worried for nothing, but the irrational part of my brain seems to be winning out.
"You alright, Sherlock?" John touches my arm, making me jump from my thoughts.
"Sorry."
"Calm down, it's alright." He gives me a small smile.
"How long will this take?" Setting my expression as uncaring, I hide that I don't want to know how bad my hands are burned.
"I'm not sure."
"I don't have time for this." I turn to leave, but John grabs my by the elbow.
"No, we are getting your hands checked."
"No, we have cases to solve."
"Sherlock." He turns on his stern military voice. "We are getting your hands checked."
"How has work been, I assume you've been fired since you haven't been leaving as much lately."
"Shut up." he let's go of me, and marches on ahead.
Now's my chance.
Before anyone is the wiser, I make a quick escape.
I don't need to be examined.
I'm not going to stuck around here, I'm going to go to St. Bart's and chat with Molly.
Safer, easier, and I don't have to explain myself to her.
After a walk to St. Bart's, I make my way to a familiar location inside.
I walk into the lab and set my violin down next to the microscope.
I have missed this.
Looking around the room, I can't help but wonder how long it really has been since I was in here.
Should I be here?
Jake- John... John said I don't have rules, but it feels wrong being down here.
"Sherlock." I jump at the sound of a female voice behind me.
"Hello?" Turning around, I find myself relaxing when I see it's Molly. "Hello, Molly."
"Sherlock, what happened to you?"
"What do you mean?" I smile at her.
"You're face is kind bruised up a little... and you don't look very well- I mean, you've always looked well- I-."
"Everything is fine, Molly."
I've missed her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Can't I stop by and visit a friend?"
"Yes, but you don't."
"You've tried a new hairstyle, it looks nice on you." I compliment her.
"I'm not doing any favors today." She crosses her arms.
I wasn't aiming at that... maybe I should have made that clear?
"I'm just here, John is annoying me."
"I haven't seen you for months, and you just show up out of nowhere." She seems upset, why?
New engagement ring, dark circles under her eyes, clothes appear to be slept in.. what could be troubling her?
Could she be having relationship difficulties? Her finger is slightly red around the ring, as if she's been twisting is quite a bit.
Relationship issues.
"How are things with your new fiancé?"
"Stop ignoring my questions." She snaps, slamming her hand on the table next to her making the items on the table shake, and making me flinch violently.
"I'm sorry." Comes out of my mouth naturally.
"Sherlock, I'm sorry." The anger leaves her and she approaches me slowly, as if I'm a wounded animal.
Not her too.
"It's quite alright, Molly." Swallowing nervously, I watch her.
She isn't going to hurt me. Even if she did, it would be for a good reason.
"Why haven't you been by in so long?" We maintain eye contact as she continues approaching.
"I've been busy."
"Busy with what?"
"Things."
"What things?" She stands inches away from me.
"Just... things." I give in first, looking away from her.
"Did these things have to do with why you're hurt?" Her words make me look at her again.
"I'm not hurt, I'm fine." I shove my hands in my pockets, not wanting Molly to see them.
"Mycroft come by a month ago, he was looking for you." She sounds sad. "He said no one had seen you, not even John."
"What do you want me to say, Molly?" Seeing no way to make the questions stop, I attack her with words.
"The truth, Sherlock!" She matches her volume to mine.
"Who the hell knows what the truth is? Most of our memories are constructed from our opinions of a situation, or our thoughts and feelings at the time, no one has an accurate memory, hence no one knows the truth."
"The truth about what, Sherlock?" Her face shows hurt and determination.
"You're having a fight with your fiancé, this isn't your shift, you chose to work it to give you time away from him. You're phone has vibrated three times, and you haven't made a move for it."
"And you're still ignoring my questions."
We stand there, analyzing each other for several seconds before we hear a door open.
Both of us shift our attention to the door.
"Sherlock." It's John. "We are not going to do this today, we are going to get your hands looked at."
"What's wrong with his hands?" Molly looks surprised.
My hands are still in my pockets.
"Nothing."
"Let me see." She demands.
"They're fine."
"Sherlock, we're going back to the hospital, now." John is using his military doctor voice again.
"Show me your hands." Molly continues pestering me.
"Shut up, everyone shut up!" I shout, irritated that no one will leave me alone.
Bad, shouting is bad.
John changed the rules.
Shouting is bad.
Johns changed the rules.
Shouting is bad!
"What happened to him?" Moly turns to John.
"His ex boyfriend abused him, and noW HE'S BEING A COCK!" John yells at me.
Once again, his words hurt, yet satisfy me.
However, the hurt outweighs the satisfaction. I slip past John and leave the lab.
The rules changed did they?
Time to make him realize they should stay the same.