Chapter 11
It was Christmas morning and Rosie had woken John up relatively early in the excitement of opening all the presents she hadn't been able to unwrap the night before. They had found "Uncle Sherl!" standing in front of the living room's wall he usually used as notice board to pin up photos, maps, reports…anything he needed to study and solve a case.
Sherlock had grunted "Good morning" to his friend, on the contrary had held Rosie in a tender embrace following her briefly with his eyes as the little girl sat down next to the Christmas tree and tore the paper of the remaining gifts with her little hands.
John noticed that under his camel dressing gown, Sherlock was not wearing the same clothes as the night before, so John easily deduced he had showered and changed just as easily deduced he hadn't slept all night.
He had hoped that by getting Sherlock and Molly to work side by side, alone, the two of them would be able to talk and finally open their hearts to each other. John had a strange feeling that not only had they not cleared up anything but that something had happened that made Sherlock thoughtful.
He hadn't answered any of John's questions except with short monosyllables, "Nope" or "Yup", annoyingly popping the p. John had given up at that point and concentrated with him in solving the girl's case.
Precisely around five pm, however, they had come to a standstill and suddenly Sherlock had jumped up from his chair, starting to take off his dressing gown "That's enough! I'm going to look for her" he muttered. As soon as he saw Mycroft's silhouette occupying the door's frame, Sherlock stood motionless in the centre of the room "Oh! Look who's there!" he exclaimed ironically.
His older brother took a few steps inside and handed him a green folder with several sheets of paper inside, "I suppose you were waiting for this" replied Mycroft politely ignoring the rudeness of his younger brother, "Well, well. You've been demoted, I see" Sherlock said reaching out to take what Mycroft was offering him, "From politically important person to simple delivery boy" he quirked him a smile, "Incredible how Molly always makes us do what she wants!".
Mycroft sighed rolling his eyes and stated "Speak for yourself, brother mine. I volunteered for her to return where she is now more needed". John jerked up his head from his laptop to look at his friend "What is he talking about, Sherlock? Where is Molly?", he flamboyantly dropped Molly's report on the desk next to John, "Good question my friend! You should also ask my brother how he could allow her to get involved with the most dangerous of women!" Sherlock said turning to Mycroft an indignant look.
Mycroft smiled mockingly "Finally, you came up with it!", at those words Sherlock gave his brother an even more indignant look "I'm still Sherlock Holmes!", his older brother grinned "And I'm still the smart one! Anyway" said Mycroft sighing dramatically, "For the record, it was Molly who involved me and not the other way around!".
Sherlock glowered at him, "And you would be surprised to see how close they've become. I dare say that there is some affection between them", "Affection?" Sherlock asked continuing to ignore John who had tried to interrupt the two brothers for clarification since they seemed to speak a language of their own.
"Don't worry, brother mine. Molly is still in love with you", Mycroft lowered his eyes and whispered as if to tell him something in confidence "I am convinced however, that Miss Adler has a big crush on our dear Miss Hooper!".
"Adler? Irene Adler?" John jumped out of his chair, opening his eyes wide and stepping between the two Holmes, "What does The Woman have to do with Molly?". Sherlock turned on his heels, swirling his dressing gown and slumped in his chair, stretching his arms on the armrest "Precisely, Mycroft. What does Molly have to do with The Woman? Why don't you explain it to us!".
"Fine" he said consulting his pocket watch and staring at Sherlock pointedly, he recounted in outline how Molly had contacted him and told him she ran into Irene Adler who had been living in US since Sherlock had chivalrously rescued her in Karachi, and had married a woman.
As his two listeners didn't bat an eyelid, Mycroft resumed speaking, telling that Miss Adler had had a baby boy, whose features being quite similar to those of her and Sherlock, had initially led both him and Molly to think that the kid's father was precisely Sherlock.
He turned to look at his brother and his friend in a huff "No way! It's impossible because nothing ever happened between me and Irene", John threw him a look as if he didn't believe him. Sherlock rolled his eyes annoyed, "We kissed, okay?" he bursted out, "Well, she kissed me" he pointed out exasperated while John and Mycroft exchanged a sly smile. "What are you, fifteen?" Sherlock asked looking at them astonished, "Can we go on?".
Mycroft planted the tip of his umbrella on the floor and leaned casually on it, "Don't get upset!" he recommended to Sherlock, trying to hide the fun he felt in teasing him, "Now we know that the kid's father is her wife's brother", then pulled himself together and continued the story.
He said that although Miss Adler had been very careful in recent years, someone from her past had shown up three months earlier. In an attempt to retrieve intel in Miss Adler's possession but which he believed to be his, this guy and his men had broken into the house of the two ladies and Mrs Delaney had been killed.
"And this is when Molly comes in" John chipped in crossing his arms over his chest, "Exactly" Mycroft said, and ended by telling in detail everything that had happened afterwards. From the missed departure for London due to the sudden leukaemia diagnosed in the kid, to Molly's decision to stay with him and provide him with care, up to what had happened at four am that morning.
It was still not clear how, but the aforementioned criminal had discovered where Irene was hiding and had managed to evade the trained watchmen and get inside the safe house. The little boy woke up hearing noises of fighting, as Irene was holding her own to the bad guy, and in the struggle following the intruder's attempt to escape, a gunshot was fired and a glancing blow wounded the kid's left arm. "You can image the rest" concluded Mycroft.
"I want to see Molly. Now" Sherlock said with an intense look and a tone that admitted no reply, "I'll take you" Mycroft agreed, "She is at the safe house with Miss Adler" his brother warned him as Sherlock took his Belstaff hanging behind the door. Sherlock shrugged making him clearly understand that he didn't care.
"You coming?" he asked John as he tied his blue scarf around his neck. His friend shook his head "I'm taking Rosie home. Later my sister comes by, and besides I think it's time for you and Molly to have a long talk. So I clear out", Sherlock nodded sympathetically and followed Mycroft down the stairs.
The government car took almost forty minutes to arrive in front of an exceptional detached house which occupied a corner plot in Richmond upon Thames. It was surrounded by railings and medium height shrubs and to the front there was a spacious carriage driveway providing parking for two cars.
"A luxury safe house!" Sherlock commented as he got out of the car, Mycroft rolled down the window "You know Miss Adler's standard", he smirked at him as he stopped in front of the main gate "You'll excuse me if I don't walk you in but I have a date with Alicia and I don't want to be late", so Mycroft picked up his phone and with his usual calm ordered the agent inside to let Sherlock Holmes in.
In the blink of an eye, Sherlock found himself from the gate to the front door which had already been thrown open, "Oh my! Sherlock Holmes in flesh and blood!" a voice he hadn't heard for five years greeted him, "Miss Adler" said Sherlock in his normal voice stopping dead in front of her.
She was barefoot and her toenails perfectly black painted as well as her fingernails. Unexpectedly she wore a pair of very tight black jeans and an orange blouse with pagoda sleeves. Her long black hair loosened over her shoulders and to highlight her eyes and sharp cheekbones, she had pulled back two strand of hair.
Irene burst into a silvery laughter, "Miss Adler? Come on, Sherlock, loosen up! After all, you've seen me in my birthday suit!" his cheeks turned slightly red as he shifted his feet nervously, "Come in! I guess you're here for Molly" she invited him stepping aside to let him pass.
Sherlock crossed the threshold stopping halfway down the hall, waiting for her to close the door and join him. Nothing. He smiled to himself happy, no better yet, proud to be able to say he felt nothing for her.
He had been attracted to her, physically yes, mentally yes. But then she was the woman who had beat him at his own game. He had been fascinated by her, in fact a naked Irene had often appeared in his mind palace. Naked, only because that was the way she had presented herself to him. Because that's what she did, she took off her clothes to make an impression.
But now he was totally immune to her charms and this awareness instantly calmed his irritability, "Come, I'll show you the way. She's in the garden with Sean, my son" Irene said as soon as she was beside him. She preceded him down the long corridor, turning from time to time to look at him to see if what she was saying had any effect on him.
"To be honest I've always wondered what a genius like you found in a girl as plain as Molly Hooper. Not to mention her horrible taste in clothing and colour matching! Why, I say, hide a body like hers under that pile of junk?" Sherlock looked at Irene curiously but without bothering to argue.
"I confess I was jealous of her. Moriarty had warned me that my seductive arts would not work with you because your heart was already…caught, even though you weren't acknowledging it. For a while however I had the illusion of having you in the palm of my hand", Irene stopped unexpectedly that he almost bumped into her "You didn't want to have dinner with me, remember? You said you weren't hungry", she seductively ran her tongue over her lips "Now I know why. You were already hungry for her…".
Irene let out a fake dramatic sight and winked "And for this reason I have forgiven you". She started walking again and once in the centre of the living room, she turned towards him, "Now that I've met her, I understand what you saw in her" she broke off, turning her head towards the huge English-style window that opened onto the garden.
"Molly is smart and doesn't need to dress up, or undress for that matter, to stand out. And, unlike you and me, she has an emotional intelligence that allows her to see the good in people even where there is none, and to be empathetic with them. She has the gift of making others feel special", she looked at Sherlock again.
"Molly has been my lifeline these months. You know that I make my way in the world. I misbehaved. But since Sean was born things have changed and finding myself without my wife had been devastating", she glued her eyes to his "I didn't know friendship, I had no idea what it meant to have a friend. Now, thanks to Molly, I know. She's my dearest and best friend, Sherlock".
Irene took a firm step towards him "I know you love her. I saw that video. I heard you confess it to her. You were sincere but…", she pointed her index finger on his chest and poking it, she said to him in a threatening tone "Mind you…if you hurt her, lie to her, cheat on her…you will have to deal with me. Is that clear, Sherlock Holmes?".
