Hey, I'm back again. I had to post another chapter before I set sail on my holiday…literally. So, in full openness and transparency I'll soon be off on my hols so this is the last chapter for about a week and a half. Hopefully, it will leave you prepared to wait for more xx
Chapter 12
Molly's mind seemed to separate from her body. She knew she was in trouble, that she was drowning, and yet her mind was flicking through hundreds of images at double-speed. Her first day at university, saying goodbye to her dad before he died, the day she met Sherlock, cutting up her first body, helping Sherlock fake his death, meeting Tom, Sherlock telling her Mary was dead, Sherlock dancing with her the night before, her first day at Barts, Sherlock kissing her, Sherlock holding her as she came, Sherlock, Sherlock, Sherlock...
Her world seemed to be getting dimmer and she knew she wasn't making the effort she ought to but her arms felt too heavy. There seemed to be a peace in not struggling and anyway she just wanted to focus on Sherlock. She wanted to remember just how blue his eyes could look, the way his mouth crooked up into a smile...
Suddenly she felt strong hands grabbing her arms painfully and pulling her back up and out of the water. As her head broke the surface the sunlight hurt her eyes and as she gasped for breath her lungs ached with the effort.
'Molly, stay with me. Kick your legs if you can.'
It was Sherlock and hearing his voice seemed to bring her back to reality; she reached for him trying to cling on.
His voice when he next spoke, was stern, almost desperate. 'Molly, stop it, let me hold you...just kick your legs for me.'
He held her firmly on her back with his arm around her chest and she tried to do as he said and just concentrate on keeping her head above water and kicking her legs. It seemed to take forever to get to a point where they could stand but as she tried to, her knees started to buckle and wouldn't take her weight. He scooped her legs up from under her and she found herself being carried through the now shin high water and then up onto the beach.
All Molly could do was cling on to him, trying to control her emotions and her body...both of which felt wildly out of control.
As he placed her down onto the blanket, he collapsed onto his knees beside her and she lifted her face to speak to him, to try to convey her gratitude but his expression rendered her mute. She wasn't sure she had ever seen him looking so angry. As their eyes met, he grabbed her upper arms tightly and she futilely attempted to pull away.
'What the hell were you thinking? I told you the currents were bad...were you even listening? You could have died, Molly. You could have died.'
His voice broke on the last word, and she just found herself leaning into him and wrapped her arms around him.
'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't listen...I just...I'm sorry.'
Instinctively, she started to kiss his neck, tasting the salt on his skin from the water, as her emotions started to overwhelm her. She could feel her tears coursing down her cheeks as she clung to him.
'I can't lose you Molly. I just can't...'
'You won't...I promise...you won't...'
Her lips had reached his jaw and her hands moved to the wet curls at the back of his head as she weaved her fingers through them and the next minute, she found they were kissing without even knowing how it had started.
His hands were on her back pulling her hard against him, wet skin slipping against wet skin, his mouth moving perfectly with her own and making her ache for him.
She wanted to feel more of him, so she moved backwards, pulling him down with her until she was lying on the blanket and feeling his weight pressing down onto her.
The kiss was unravelling her...she couldn't think straight, she couldn't feel or hear or think about anything but him. His lips moving against hers, his tongue sliding against her own until she was moaning into his mouth as her hands moved down his back until they reached the edge of his swimming trunks.
Her knees moved up by his waist and she could feel his hips starting to rock against her in a simulation of sex and she felt her desire and desperate need for him growing with every movement.
She started to feel dizzy from lack of oxygen and he must have felt the same because his lips left hers and he started to kiss his way down her throat. Her hands slid under the waistband of his shorts, and she pressed down on his backside wanting desperately to feel him inside her and not just the agonising torment of their current situation.
But as quickly as it started it stopped with Sherlock suddenly pushing away. 'I...we shouldn't...we can't do this. Molly, I...'
Molly felt her skin flaming in sudden mortification and she sat up pushing herself away from him.
'No, don't...don't say it...I...I just want to go...'
She turned away from him and held her hand up to shut him up as he tried to speak once more, and she just concentrated on getting herself dressed and shoving the remains of their picnic in the bag. As she did, she heard noises coming from their right and she looked along the beach to see a couple of families walking side by side, their children and dogs running on ahead.
She stood and watched Sherlock pick up the bags as he left her to fold up the blanket and then he silently followed her up the beach.
When they reached the car, he opened the boot and as Molly passed him the blanket he tried once more to speak to her.
'Molly, please, just let me explain...'
At this she looked away feeling the sting of tears again in her eyes and she shook her head.
'Not here, not now. I need a shower and a drink. Just...please...get us back to the hotel.'
The journey was awkwardly silent, and Molly was glad for it. She was already starting to think about whether she should just pack up her things and go rather than have to face Sherlock and listen to his protests about how it wasn't her it was him and how he was married to his work...wasn't that how he normally let people down.
But as they drove up to the hotel and Sherlock pulled around the back to the car park all thoughts of the beach were cast from her head. There were two police cars parked in the rear of the hotel and Sherlock immediately sat up a little straighter.
'They've found the body, they must have. At last! This is going to move things forward. Come on.'
Together they removed their things from the boot and Molly followed him into the hotel and round to reception. As they arrived Marie Havers called them over.
'Ah Mr Scott, Miss Hooper I'm glad you're back. Miss Hooper, the police would like to speak with you. Apparently, it was you that found Harlow...is that right? You never said anything?'
Molly nodded. 'Yes, but I didn't know who he was. I didn't want to worry you...it might not have been your missing dancer.'
The older woman nodded. She looked stressed and worried, and Molly wasn't surprised.
It was Sherlock who spoke next. 'Where are they? Are they in his room? I need to speak to them.'
Marie turned her attention to him looking a little surprised. 'Oh, I...yes, they are.'
Sherlock nodded. 'Let's go then.'
Molly held back though. 'Wait. I...I just need a shower and to get dressed. Tell them I'll be down in twenty minutes.'
She saw Sherlock narrow his eyes ever so slightly but then he gave a single nod of his head and handed her the bag he'd been carrying. 'Fine, I'll let them know.'
As he walked away, she seemed to let out a breath that she hadn't known she'd been holding, and she slowly made her way to the lifts suddenly feeling exhausted. It was only as her finger hovered over the lift buttons that she remembered she was now sharing a room with Sherlock and, given the presence of the police, leaving seemed to not be an option; at least not for now.
She shook her head in frustration and pushed the button to the top floor.
When she was finally standing under the cleansing water of the shower her head was filled with too many competing thoughts and emotions. She still felt shaky at the thought of how close she had come to drowning. She could still feel the panic low in her gut when she'd realised, she was out of her depth and in trouble. The rank taste of the salty water as it got into her throat and nose.
The feeling of desperate relief as she'd felt Sherlock's strong arms holding her close and towing her to shore followed by his anger and then the feel of his body on hers as they'd kissed.
She closed her eyes and let her hands slide over the skin on her stomach and over her lips as she remembered just how good it had felt. Was there really nothing between them? Should she dismiss it all just because he'd pulled back and got cold feet?
Added together with the kisses he'd protested were to keep their "cover" as well as the way he'd held her when they'd danced the night before...it was all just so very unlike him, but they'd all still happened. Maybe she needed to stay, to see where this might all lead...surely the chance was worth it?
She took a deep breath and nodded her head. She wasn't going to give up...not yet.
When she made her way downstairs and towards the office behind reception, she could hear Sherlock berating the police and she couldn't help but chuckle to herself. If he wasn't careful, he'd get himself thrown out of the hotel or arrested...he wasn't dealing with an understanding Lestrade after all.
She made herself known and a young woman, blond maybe late 20s identified herself as DI Ellie Robinson and took her off to a separate room. They probably spent a good hour going over Molly's statement about how she had found the body, what she'd noticed, why she'd gathered the different items that she had etc. By the time they let her go she felt somewhat dazed and very ready for a drink.
There was no sign of Sherlock and so she made her way to the bar and was very happy to see Anne in there. The two women smiled and waved to each other, and Molly happily made her way over to join the older woman.
'Hello, my dear, you look to be very much in need of a drink now take a seat and tell me what's been going on. I saw the police arriving earlier and rumour has it that poor Harlow has been found dead. Do you and your man know anything by any chance?'
Molly took a moment to order herself and Anne a drink from the waiter who had come over to serve her and then she turned back and narrowed her eyes suspiciously. 'What makes you say that?'
At that Anne smiled smugly. 'I told you I recognised him, and I was right.' She leant forward conspiratorially and lowered her voice; Molly leant in to hear.
'He's Sherlock Holmes, that London Detective who faked his own death a few years back. And now here he is, with you, just as a body is found. Doesn't take a genius to figure out that the two are connected.'
Molly chuckled and shook her head. 'It sounds like you've been a bit of an armchair detective yourself...anyway you're not wrong.'
Their drinks were brought over and after the two women clinked glasses and took their first sip, she gave Anne an overview of how the last few days had panned out.
'Anyway, his body washed up a mile or two down the coast, so it looks like the police are now taking more of an interest. I've given my statement but I've no idea where Sherlock has gone.'
Anne smiled widely. 'How very sad for Harlow but how very exciting for us. I've never been in the middle of a murder investigation before. You seem very calm though, I take it this isn't your first time...plus I remember you said you were a pathologist, so I suppose you weren't phased by finding a body.'
Molly took another sip of her drink and nodded. 'Well, as you've gathered, I've worked with Sherlock a lot but even though I'm used to working with bodies it was still a shock to find Harlow. I mean, you just don't expect it when you're on holiday, especially at the beach on a lovely summer's day. I still worry that I should have done more but Sherlock says I did more than most would do so...' she shrugged. 'Anyway, that's why he's here.'
'OK, so seeing as you aren't really ex-fiancés what is the status of your relationship?'
Molly shook her head and chuckled. 'If we're getting into that then we definitely need more drinks.'
So, I hope you like the scene at the beach, as well as the fact that Molly isn't giving up and now has herself a co-conspirator. Let me know what you're hoping for in the next chapter. Send me off on my hols with some love xxx