Summary:

Sherlock escorts Molly to a clinic to get an ultrasound scan and blood drawn for the paternity test. They both feel all sorts of ways while being torn between outcomes at the same time.

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Stepping out of the cab, Molly can't help her hands from trembling as Sherlock helps her out and places a hand on her lower back. Leading her into the clinic, he lets out a breath that he had been holding nearly the entire cab ride. They had barely said two words to each other, and the silence, while usually comfortable between then now, was filled with unease and tension.

Sherlock knows that this is more stressful for her than it would ever be for him, but he can't help but feel utterly anxious. If it is Tom's child, he knows he should probably be relieved, but all he feels is dread. Not only for Molly and the fact that her child would have a misogynistic father but for himself as well, however selfish. That would mean that in a way, Tom would be back in all of their lives. There is nothing he wouldn't do to keep that from happening, and yet he is utterly helpless in the matter.

Molly walks up to the counter as signs in while he hangs back, giving her space. He has never been in this situation, and he is out of his depth with how much space to give her. After the I love you confessions, however forced, their dynamic had changed. Mostly for the better as they had time to talk and gain a deeper understanding of each other than they had before, despite knowing pretty much everything about their respective pasts.

This bombshell had set them back, knowing that one night of mutual compassion could have led to a very real child between them. Where does that leave them? If it's his child, what is he going to do? Would she even want him in their child's life?

He groans softly to himself. He didn't want to get in deep with Molly out of fear for her safety, especially seeing how just being mere friends with John nearly got him killed every other week, and now if he has a child? They would always be a target. He can't let that happen.

His heartbeat thrums hard in his ears as his entire being is torn. Both results are terrible for her, both he and Tom are completely unfit to be fathers. Of course, unlike Tom, Sherlock would help in the most minimal way to keep them safe, but he knows that is never the kind of life that Molly wanted for herself or any of her prospective children. Now she is faced with this. They both are.

What does this say for their complicated friendship? Is it even friendship at this point?

Molly interrupts his thoughts by walking over and sitting next to him. She looks pale and uneasy.

"Look I-...I know there is really nothing I can say to make any of this better, I just need you to know that whatever happens, it will work itself out. I know you and you're a strong person, Molly. I know you can get through anything."

She looks over at him, tears brimming in her eyes. "Yeah...it's not like I have a choice. This is my child and I have to make all the right decisions for them. I refuse to mess it up again", she says weakly, sniffling.

Sherlock furrows his brow then a look of realization comes over his face. "Oh, Molly...that was completely different. I'm sure this baby will be completely healthy, and you'll get all the necessary vitamins, and hopefully something to help your nausea." He hesitantly places a hand in hers and squeezes it.

"Plus, miscarriages happen to even the healthiest of women, you can't blame yourself and know for certain. You were young and you were already so stressed, everything went wrong, and I am sorry that it hurts you still. If I have anything to say about it, you know I will protect you and your child no matter what. You're my...my...whatever the hell we are. But you mean a bloody lot to me, Molly Hooper. You must know that."

Tears fall down her face and she wipes them away with her free hand. "After everything, it's still nice to have a friend like you. We've been through enough shit for a lifetime but ultimately I know you, and you know me, and we can just...be."

Sherlock smiles softly and nods, ignoring the emotional pain in his heart when she called him a friend, also annoyed at himself knowing he has no right to feel that way. "We can. No matter what happens, just know that I'm in your corner, alright?"

Molly nods and blushes a bit. 'God, I love her blush', his mind shouts.

After a bit of comfortable silence, Molly's name is called. She stands up and glances at Sherlock, seemingly torn. "Um...did you-? I mean- you didn't have to- um...never mind. They can always call you for blood after..."

"Do you want me to come with you? It's up to you, Moll."

A raging blush reappears on her cheeks, and she nods a bit. "Just...be closer than the waiting room maybe, if that's okay with you."

"Of course."

He follows her and the nurse back to a room. They wait as an ultrasound tech sets up the machine. Molly lies down on the cot and nibbles her lip nervously.

Sherlock can't help but stare at her, her pregnancy glow shining through in this moment, making her look even more beautiful than usual to him. His eyes are immediately drawn to the bump when her shirt is hiked up for the scan. His heart feels as if it is twisting out of proportion within his chest and his hands get a bit clammy.

He subtly wipes his palms on his pants as he sits in a seat near the end of the cot. The nurse smiles at them as she squirts the jelly on her abdomen and begins the scan. After a few seconds a rapid, loud heartbeat is heard through the speakers and the black and white photo in the shape of a tiny baby appears on the screen, moving around a bit. All of Molly's strength seems to wither as she begins to sob heavily, trying to hold it back but being unsuccessful.

Sherlock's throat gets tight and his heart twists even more as he curiously peers at the screen, an overwhelming need to comfort Molly washing over him, but his body stays firmly planted in his seat, seemingly unable to move. He can hear the tech explaining what is what to her, but it's only background noise to his own pounding heart.

The nurse smiles, teary-eyed as well as she hands Molly tissues. She then leans over and hands Sherlock a tissue as well. That's when he realizes he has very real tears falling down his own face.

Fuck.

Quickly wiping his face, he gets up on his legs which feel like jelly, and makes his way to Molly's cot, sitting on the side. The nurse wipes her abdomen off and tells her she will print some pictures.

Molly sits up and throws herself into Sherlock's arms as he holds her tightly, needing it as much as she does.

"Congrats, you two", the tech grins as she leaves. Suddenly Molly pulls back and wipes her face, attempting to straighten herself out, and she falls quiet.

"It's alright Molly, she didn't offend me. Plus, we will know soon enough."

"Right. Sorry...I-...I'm sorry that you had to be dragged into this. I'm sorry this is even happening. I wish I just knew", whispers.

"I know, and as I've said before, the situation wasn't usual. We didn't exactly know what we were going to do that night", he swallows thickly. "I take responsibility for being irresponsible and I am sorry too."

Molly looks into his sharp blue eyes with her soft brown ones. "It takes two...we were both irresponsible." She sighs and looks down at her bump, rubbing it softly. "But what's done is done, and I can only move on from here. Regardless, I have me and I have my baby. That's all I need."

Sherlock nods, feeling like he was punched in the gut. She doesn't want him to be a part of this if he's the father, she just said as much. But why is he so upset when he didn't really plan to be for their safety anyway?

"You're right. But remember you have friends who care and that you can lean on." He internally cringes at his words but resigns himself, knowing it's still true.

"I know", she mumbles. "I do know that. But Sherlock-"

Her words are cut off when a phlebotomist comes in to take blood samples for the paternity test. They both go quiet and allow him to draw their blood. He tells them that they should have results within a day or two and that they will call Molly.

She nods, avoiding eye contact. Sherlock knows that she is worried about what the guy thinks or how he is judging her. When he leaves, Sherlock grabs her hand again and squeezes.

"Molly, he doesn't know the situation. It's alright. Now, what did you want to ask me before he came in?"

Molly sighs and looks up at him. "Nothing, I was just overwhelmed. It was nothing."

"You're sure?"

"I'm sure."

Her doctor comes in and they talk about prenatal vitamins and ways to help with the nausea. Once her appointment is over, Sherlock helps her off the cot and goes with her as she makes a follow-up appointment for a couple of months from now.

As escorts her on the cab ride home, he can't help but wonder how long she is going to keep this from their friends; possibly until she knows the paternity. Which is a whole other can of worms to discuss with a group of people.

'It'll be fine', he thinks to himself. 'I'll be there to help her through it no matter what they think.'