Hey, hope you guys are all good. Thanks you for all the feedback. Shall we see how the kiss goes?

Chapter 8

For just a few moments Sherlock's mind seemed to still. Every part of him was focused on Molly and how she was making him feel. Her hands were weaving themselves into his hair and as she tugged on the strands he let out a groan and tilted her head so he could deepen the kiss. He had been dreaming of this moment but nothing had really prepared him for the reality. He'd fooled himself into thinking that any physical relationship between them would be limited but he'd been a fool. He wanted her...in every possible way.

The kiss only ended when they both heard John entering the house and calling out for both Sherlock and Sarah. He sounded so panicked that they immediately separated, looking at each other in shock and confusion for a second before Sherlock started to get to his feet, holding his hand out to Molly.

'Can you walk? Do you need my help?'

'I...I'm fine.'

He knew she wasn't and there was no way he was going to leave her there but helping her to her feet and making their way out of the room seemed to take an eternity and he was tempted to just scoop her up and carry her but he sensed she wouldn't be overly happy with that idea. Instead he half supported her as she staggered along beside him. She was obviously still suffering some side effects of the drugs used on her as well as having been cramped up in a small, cold space.

'SHERLOCK!'

John's voice sounded both angry and upset and Sherlock shouted back in response.

'Alright, dammit, I'm coming.'

A couple of seconds later John appeared at the end of the corridor still wearing his green Parker coat and when he saw Molly some of the stress went out of his face and he came forward to help.

'You found her. Where was she?'

'In a priest hole in the disused dining room. I need to text the others.' He let John take Molly's weight, missing feeling her against his side the moment she was gone. He withdrew his phone and texted Lestrade and Mrs Hudson and as he did he saw some twitter notifications on the banner of his phone and he frowned.

Reports in of death of Hat Detective's friend DCI Lestrade

#RIPLestrade

Can't believe it says colleague Donovan #RIPLestrade

At that he changed tack and rang Lestrade's number.

'Hey Sherlock, have you found her?'

'Yes, she's safe. Get back here as soon as you can.'

He felt no small relief at hearing Greg's voice but as that subsided it was replaced with a rising anger at what was happening. He was being played and he didn't like it...not one bit!

Mrs Hudson, having heard the commotion, met them in the kitchen and started to fuss over Molly. She was soon wrapped up in a fleece and sat in front of the Aga which was lit and warm. The older woman was busy making them all coffee when John turned on Sherlock.

'Please, please tell me it wasn't you, you fucking arse!'

At that the three other occupants looked at John in surprise.

'Whatever happened to you John I can assure you it wasn't me; I was too busy looking for Molly. Why don't you stop wasting my time and just tell me what happened, though to be honest it's fairly obvious.'

John looked like he wanted to punch his best friend and he took in a deep breath as he tried to calm himself. 'If you're so fucking sure why don't you tell me.'

Sherlock shrugged. 'Given the fact that we each expressed our fears in the pub the other night and that they are, in part, starting to come true I'd say you were chased in the woods by a big dog...at least you thought you were. Once again I suspect you were easily fooled.'

'You...' John lunged forward with his fist formed and would seemingly have tried to punch Sherlock if at that moment he hadn't been interrupted by Sarah coming into the room.

She was rubbing her wet hair with a towel and when she saw John she smiled. 'Oh good, you're back. What happened? Did you find Molly?'

John fell back and turned to face his girlfriend but he still didn't look calm.

'I didn't, Sherlock did. But what the hell happened to you? I was worried half to death when I couldn't find you.'

'I stopped to tie my shoe lace and when I looked up you're gone. I couldn't get any signal to call you and I figured it would be safer if I came back here. Anyway, it was cold and dark so I decided to have a shower to warm up.'

John looked like he was about to start an argument with her when they were interrupted by Greg returning. As he came in through the front door he called out.

'Fucking hell, have you guys seen the news?'

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Ten minutes later and they were all sat around the kitchen table nursing their coffees whilst Sherlock explained what's was going on.

'As I said the fears we all confessed to in the pub are being acted out. Molly said she was claustrophobic and she's put into a priest hole. John was scared of being chased by a big dog so the person doing this played dog sounds in the woods when he realised John was searching there. Greg is scared of dying and suddenly reports of his death are announced in the news.'

'And do you know who is doing this?' Greg asked.

Sherlock nodded, his face tight. The anger that he'd felt earlier hadn't dissipated. They'd put his Molly in danger, frightened her, and he had a hankering to just punch them...just as John had wanted to do to him earlier.

'I do. In fact, I think it's about time I confronted them.'

He stood and started to make his way out of the kitchen. Lestrade and John stood at the same time.

'Listen, have you got any solid evidence yet?'

'No, but maybe I can persuade him to confess.'

There was something very cold about the way that Sherlock said that and Lestrade held his hands up. 'You know I can't be part of anything physical and I'd suggest you find a different way.'

'Boring. John?'

John let out a wry snort of laughter. 'Just try and stop me.'

The two men left the room and the others heard them leave the house a moment later.

Greg fell back into his seat and shook his head. 'Brilliant, just fucking brilliant.'

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

Molly had listened to everything that had been said in something of a haze. Once the adrenaline rush of being trapped and getting out had worn off she had just felt exhausted and cold. It had been nice having Mrs Hudson take charge, wrapping her up in front of the fire in the Aga, pressing a hot chocolate into her hands.

After Sherlock and John had left she had sat and listened whilst Greg phoned his family and work to assure them of his continued existence. He'd finally sat back down and washed a hand over his face.

'I have to admit guys that I was pretty spooked when I first read those reports. They said I'd had a tragic, but suspicious, accident here at the house and I almost had to pinch myself to prove I was still alive and wasn't a ghost in denial. This git, whoever he or she is, certainly knows how to press our buttons. Not sure if I want Sherlock and John to catch up with them or not. Having them punched would be satisfying but the paperwork will be a nightmare.'

He took a deep breath and then turned to Molly. 'You're quiet Molls, are you OK?'

She turned to him and gave him what she knew was a wan smile and she shrugged. 'Not really. I can't say that it was fun waking up in what felt like a glorified coffin. It was all my worst nightmares rolled into one and it was all I could do not to fall apart. I'm just...god I'm just so glad that Sherlock found me. I just wish...'

She stopped herself and bit her lip as she remembered back to kissing Sherlock. She still couldn't quite believe she'd done that but she had just been so relieved and so glad to be out of there that she had just acted on instinct.

'Just wish what Molly?'

Mrs Hudson brought her back to the present with her question and she knew she must be blushing just at the thought of what she had done.

She sank her head down onto her arms, resting on the table. 'Oh God, it's just too embarrassing.'

Greg gave a slight laugh and she felt Mrs Hudson rubbing her back. 'Come on dear, it probably isn't that bad...what happened?'

Molly lifted her head back up and covered her face with her hands for a moment as she leant on her elbows.

'Just don't laugh...I...I kissed Sherlock. It was all just such a rush...I was so relieved to be out and he was just there and holding me and...God, what must he think?'

She looked around and saw Mrs Hudson and Sarah looking quite shocked, but Greg looked confused.

'What? Why are you looking like that?'

He tilted his head and frowned at her. 'Well...why is kissing him such a big deal? I mean you are dating...or have you just not got to that bit yet? I can imagine him being quite slow in that department.'

Now it was Molly's turn to feel and look confused. 'Dating? What do you mean that we're dating?'

'Well, Sherlock told me last night...in the bar. Has he not asked you out?'

Molly racked her brains until she remembered the previous day when he'd talked about them going dancing.

'Oh...well yes he did, kind of. I must admit I didn't think he'd be thinking of it as a date. Are you sure that's what he meant? I mean...come on, according to John this is Sherlock "I'm married to my work" Holmes.'

Greg shrugged and stood up, picking up his empty cup. 'I'm pretty sure. I asked him outright and he said he'd asked you out and in his view the two of you were officially dating. All I can say, Molly, is good luck 'coz you'll probably need it. Now, shall we crack on with this evening meal?'

He looked towards Sarah whilst he said the latter and she must have agreed because Molly was aware of them starting to move around the kitchen pulling ingredients out of cupboards and the fridge. She knew she ought to offer to help but her mind was too busy picking over everything that Greg had said. Could Sherlock actually have meant it as a date when he talked about them going dancing? Could he really not have minded when she kissed him earlier?

She thought back to just how good that kiss had been and she had to acknowledge that he had had plenty of opportunity to end it but he hadn't. If she remembered rightly he had not only actively participated but now she came to think of it she recalled how he had reacted when she had pulled lightly on his curls.

She smiled happily to herself and was only distracted when Mrs Hudson bumped her with her elbow. 'Look at you. You look like the cat that's got the cream.'

She smiled up at the older woman. 'You know; I feel like it as well. Do you think that Greg is right? Could Sherlock have feelings for me or am I fooling myself?'

Mrs Hudson shrugged. 'There's more going on in that boy's head and heart than most people give him credit for. I used to think it was John he had feelings for but he's been talking about you more and more and you have to admit he visits Barts more times than he needs to.'

Molly thought back over the last few months and had to agree that Mrs Hudson was right; he had visited Barts nearly every day that she'd been in. He'd often just watch her carrying out an autopsy asking questions as she did, or he'd be at his microscope whilst she was doing paperwork.

All of a sudden Molly couldn't wait to see him again.

So, Sherlock's secret (?) is out…we knew it wouldn't be that long before Molly found out what he's said to Greg. What do you think she should do now?