"Anderson you really do bring down my IQ. Leave." Sherlock spat and sneered as Anderson passed him.

It really wasn't new, or surprising that Sherlock was mean to Anderson, however it was the first time that Anderson decided to get payback.

He insulted him, insulted John, and Lestrade. But he didn't see any change in Sherlock demeanor. He didn't think about it until he walked in to drop off some body parts to the lab and saw Molly and Sherlock in blissful silence. Molly was reading and smiling and Sherlock was looking through the microscope.

"Molly." Anderson called her name and she looked right up and smiled a little less. "What are you reading?" He asked as she came over to sign for the evidence.

"A journal about a brain tumor that kind of burst on a pathologist in the States and he passed out from the smell alone, turns out it's a new kind of cancer-"

She went on and giggled here and there and before Anderson could hear it all, he gave her the evidence and backed away.

"I've heard enough Molly, that's all disgusting and I find it wrong on many levels that you're happy about the misforture and the fact that you're smiling about a new type of cancer. What kind of sick freak enjoys reading such-"

"Get out." Sherlock shouted and before Anderson could enjoy the reaction Sherlock stood, the stool he had been sitting on hit the floor and he got closer and in his face. "Get out."

"Or what?" Anderson smirked and he saw Molly wiping her cheek and before he could full on smile, Sherlock grabbed him, pushing him and walking back to the door. "Let go of me." He shouted as he moved back and tripped over his own feet. Based sorely on reaction to make Sherlock stop, he slammed his palm into his chin.

Molly wiped her other eye and sniffles and when she cleared her eye sight of the next two tears, she saw Sherlock move his fist back and launch it right into Anderson's face.

"Sherlock. Stop, don't." She moved closer, taking his hand in hers when he pushed him back and brought his fist back to hit him again. "Come on."

She pulled on him, watched Anderson turn and scurry away, no more threats or small insults. She saw his lip had some blood and she grabbed at his chin until he looked down at her and she saw that his lip had been bleeding but she never saw Anderson throw a punch.

"You didn't have to." Molly told him as she loved to grab his hand to check that as well. It was red but no broken skin and no swelling, yet.

"He was hurting your feelings." Sherlock told her and she shrugged. "He isn't allowed to do that."

"He isn't the only one-"

"Who else? Who and why would they make fun of you and hurt your feelings?" He demanded the list and when she kept asking him to forget about it and to not worry, he told her it wasn't and she shouldn't think that it was.

"I'm fine ignoring it Sherlock. Most of it is gossip and behind my back."

"Who-"

"Mary tells me what she hears but other comes from new doctors or orderlys and people who just want to know if certain things are true." Molly told her hand moved right to her neck to see if it was as hot as her face.

"What did they say?" He demanded and she paused and thought about it. "I can ask Mary. You know she will tell me."

"Then get your gossip from her! I don't talk about it and I don't want to." Molly turned, collecting her readings, the evidence, and she left him standing there to have a serious phone call.

She went about the rest of her day, alone, and when she was cleaning up to end her shift she saw she had a text from Mary asking her to come over tonight for dinner and that they needed to have a talk.

Molly grabbed her bag, her coat, and walked out of the hospital to hail a cab for her journey across town for a dinner she already might send her into tears.

"Hello!" She called out when she opened the door a bit more since it was left open a bit.

"I'm here love!" She heard Mary call out and she moved into the sitting area and saw her rocking Rosie.

"Hi little princess." Molly rubbed over her chubby little hand but got no reaction since she was almost asleep. "What's going on?" She heard Sherlock and John and just wanted to get down to it.

"Sherlock has thoroughly interrogated me and John into telling him every bad thing we've ever heard about you." Mary told her and stood to go over and put Rosie down in her cot so she could get used to the noise.

"And What is that going to do? Give him a hit list?" Molly asked and shook her hair out and sighed.

"Yes." Mary gave her a huge grin and she patted her knee. "He's writing reports about them and sending them in with Johns help." Mary told her and Molly stood up quickly and went to find them and stop them.

"Stop, shut it off." Molly moved to hit the power buttons on the laptops and Sherlock grabbed at her as he turned it back on.

"It needs to be down."

"Why? So people will start saying I need you to defend me and get them in trouble." She reached around, trying not to read the emails that they were typing with direct quotes talking about how weird and desperate for Sherlocks attention she was.

His hands rubbed her back and she turned it off and melted into his chest as he told her to calm down and he was handling it because it wasn't ok.

"John." Mary called her husband and left Sherlock and Molly in the kitchen to talk.

"You have to stop Sherlock. They're just mean people, I don't see them or talk to them at all mostly." She tried to tell him and he just shushed her and let her pull away.

"I don't care if you don't talk to them. I care that they talk about you and they make you cry when it's brought up." He wipes one side of her face and she sniffled and looked down.

"Why didn't you tell me people said things like this?" He asked her and she sighed.

"Because it's embarrassing. If people said half these things about you -"

"We're not talking about me. I don't care what people think about me. I want to stop them from talking about you. Molly you're a little fragile." He told her and she looked up and him and shrugged.

"That doesn't mean you have to report-"

"They can't get away with making you cry!"

"Why do you care Sherlock! You've been around me for years while this went on and haven't done anything until now. What did Anderson really say that upset you?"

"He was the only person I heard say this to you. If I had know I would have put a stop to this bullshit years ago."

"But why? I'm not that affected-"

"Because they can't do that to you Molly!"

"I don't care!"

"I bloody care. No one talks about you like this. Calling you names and saying you're desperate! You're my pathologist Molly and no one gets to berate you and make you cry and make you sad."

"Sherlock-"

"No more arguing. I'm reporting it all and they'll be fired or know better."

"Thank you." She whispered and looked up and him, giving him a shy smile before leaning up as she pulled him down. She went to give him a kiss on the cheek but he moved his face and landed her lips, not letting her pull away until he was done tasting her. "What-"

"That was the other reason." He whispered before leaning down and taking her lips with his again.

Molly wondered if she could thank Anderson some other day for starting all of this.