Chapter 2 - Fools Rush In

Wise men say

Only fools rush in

But I can't help falling in love with you

Molly and Sherlock sat on the sofa in silence. She with her legs crossed under her and him with his back straight up against the back of the sofa stiffly, his hands balled into fists and resting on his knees. Their mugs sat on the table forgotten and Molly watched as the steam billowed out of both mugs in a daze. She refused to talk first. He came over to talk so she wasn't going to say anything until he did. She looked at him at the corner of her eye and jumped as she saw him staring intently at her. Sherlock cleared his throat with a cough, leaned over and took a sip of his tea. He put the mug down, leaned back and with a determined look on his face said…

"Im sorry about the unfortunate incident yesterday. I would have never put you through that if I didn't have to. I know John came by earlier and explained everything to you but I want you to know I would never intentionally hurt you. I know and have known of your feelings towards me for quite a while, I know that I placed you in an awkward position and I will endeavour to never let that happen to you again."

Now was the time to be honest, this was her time to let everything out and not hold anything back. She didn't want to have any regrets anymore.

"Sherlock, you say you never would intentionally hurt me but you have in the past, on many occasions. Also, I don't have feelings for you, I love you." Molly implored. She was surprised at her self that she didn't stutter. She knew how important this conversation was and she knew she couldn't be shy…not now."

"I don't understand how an individual would want to love someone when they treat them so horribly. You say I hurt you but yet you love me. I find that that rather foolish."

"Sherlock, do you love me?" Molly asked bluntly. She looked down at his hand and in a bold move grabbed onto it like a life line.

Sherlock swallowed thickly several times as he looked down at their hands folded together, he looked lost. "I don't want to hurt you. You are the kindest and bravest woman I know. Your love is wasted on me. I have always said I'm married to my work, I don't have the capacity to give you what you want."

"You didn't answer the question. Forget about what you think I want. Forget about your work and forget about you feeling unworthy of my love. Do you love me?" Molly said calmly.

"Yes." He whispered and continued speak this time in frustration, "But Im not the cuddly, mushy type, this is nothing new to you or anyone else I know. Ive never been in a relationship because I believe that who I am prevents me from engaging in the conventional terms of a coupling."

Sherlock wrenched his hand away form hers, got up and started pacing the room. Molly could see that he was frustrated. She was too, even though he loved her she understood him, probably more than anyone…apart from John, and she didn't want to force him to go down a path that he didn't want to take.

"Look Molly, I don't want you to leave. I can say that with absolute certainty. If you stay, maybe I can think about trying to find a way to be in a relationship with you." Sherlock choked. He looked green around the gills. Molly teared up. Oh how she loved this man. It hurt to see him so distressed. She stood up, walked over to him and put her hands on his shoulders.

"No. I would never do that to you. You have to want to be with me. Im not going to make you. I just know in my heart and head that I couldn't stay here, see you day in and day out and not be with you. This isn't an ultimatum, I just can't do it anymore."

He cupped his hand to her cheek and lightly caressed her face with his thumb. She closed her eyes, leaned into his hand and a tear slipped down her cheek.

"You really are one of a kind Molly Hooper." He smiled sadly and brought her in close. They held on to each other, his chin resting on the top of her head. All her feelings bubbled up. All the longing and heartache. She wept…hard. She grasped his suit jacket and burrowed her head into his chest as he stroked her back. Molly didn't know how long they stayed in their embrace. When she finally stopped crying she looked at his jacket and cringed. She could the remnants of her snot induced crying spell on his lapel. She took a tissue from the box on her coffee table and handed it to him sheepishly.

"Let me think about this. I need time to process everything." Sherlock said as he swiped the tissue on his suit to clean it up.

"So this isn't a no?" Molly pointed between the two of them hopefully.

"It's not a no but it's not a yes either." He said truthfully.

"Ok, this doesn't have to be a conventional relationship. I have some ideas that could make this work..I won't share those with you until you have decided. Ive waited forever for you Sherlock Holmes and I can wait a little longer." They both smiled at each other shyly and it felt as is if the air had cleared…at least for now. They both stared at each other in silence but this time there wasn't a heaviness around them. Molly's stomach growled loudly and she blushed, she looked at clock on the wall and saw that it was 9pm. Sherlock also looked at has watch and stated he should go….John would worry and after the past couple days he didn't want to tempt fate and put his colleague in a bad mood.

"It's good John moved back in with you. I was worried about him after…well you know…after Mary."

Sherlock slipped on his coat and said, "I know. Although having a baby around the flat isn't really helping my creative energy to roam freely. Ive had to get Mrs. Hudson to keep the place tidy. Apparently keeping a head of a 45 year old Russian male in the fridge is not conducive for a baby to thrive. I really don't understand what the problem is, she's too small to open the refrigerator and its not like she is put in there to sit and ponder the day a way. Oh well. The burdens we must all bare.

They both walked to her door and he quickly turned around to face her, she almost fell back from the sudden motion.

"May I try something?" He asked suddenly as he grabbed both sides of her face.

"Su-ure." Molly stuttered as he hovered over her face, she held her breathe. He leaned in close and her eyes automatically fluttered shut. She felt his warm breathe on her face and then his lips ever so softly pressed against hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and her hand glided through his hair. She pulled him further down and deepened the kiss and could feel his firm body pressed up against her. She let out a small moan of satisfaction and felt the warmth of the moment run through her. They slowly pulled apart and she could feel herself blush. As he opened the door and stepped in to the hall he looked back at her and said…

"Goodnight Molly Hooper."

"Goodnight Sherlock Holmes."

He whistled a familiar tune as walked down the hall slowly with his hands in his pockets. She shut the door and slid down it. She was beaming ear to ear and felt as though her face would split in two. She started giggling as she realised he was whistling Elvis Presley's Cant Help Falling In Love.

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Molly awoke the next morning with a high…and a slight hangover. After ordering some food she decided to have a few celebratory glasses of wine. As she looked up at her ceiling she grinned, she remembered the kiss in all its glory. She looked over at her clock and saw that her notebook with the list was on her bedside table. She looked at closely and remembered she crossed some things off. She wouldn't be leaving anymore, she had hope after all. She look down to number six…a new job. She inwardly cringed she hadn't showed up yesterday and never called in. She had never done that before in her whole professional career. She knew she had to go in and face the music. She was sure would that Mike would want to speak with her.

She got dressed, ate breakfast and took a cab to work. When she walked into the lab sure enough there stood Mike. He was looking at a folder but looked up when he saw her walk in.

"Ah, Molly, there you are. Im so glad you're here. Thank you so much for helping Lestrad yesterday. I know you aren't used to field work but he said you were a big help to their ongoing investigation."

Molly looked at him like he had sprouted two heads right in front of her. She was very confused and she wondered if he was losing it.

"Sir, I don't know what-"

The door she had just came through opened behind her and she heard Lestrad come up behind her.

"Hey Molly, can I see you a minute, just something about the case yesterday. Just want to dot some i's and cross some t's." Looking past Molly and to Mike he continued, "Paperwork you know how it is Mike. Can I borrow her for just a sec, I'll have her back in no time."

"Of course, Of course Lestrad, anything for the police department. Molly when you're done just come find me. There is something I want to speak to you about. I'll be in my office."

"Yes sir." She said still highly confused.

Lestrad and Molly watched as Mike walked out of the room and until the door was shut before they said anything. At the same time they both said…

"What is going on?"

"Phew that was close."

"You go first. I didn't work with you yesterday. Why did you say that?" Molly said questioning him.

"Sherlock called me at the arse crack of dawn telling me I needed to come up with a convincing story as to why you didn't call off yesterday. He said to cover for you. He didn't tell me all the details but field work on a case was the most logical thing I could think of. I told Mike we got caught up and I had you busy that's why you didn't call. So why didn't you show up for work?"

Molly hesitated, after John's warning she didn't want to reveal the details of what really happened. If Sherlock didn't give him the details then it was definitely something Sherlock didn't want him to know. She had no clue how Sherlock knew she didn't call in. Although he seemed to know everything so she wasn't surprised.

"I had a small accident yesterday, then I was without a phone. Everything is ok now but it was Sherlocks fault so I told him he better cover for me. I didn't know he would involve you. Sorry about that." Molly shocked herself, she never lied that smoothly before in her life.

"I swear to god that man thinks he like the sun and we just all revolve around him. Next time tell to come up with his own cover story yeah? Im glad you're alright though. If you ever really want to do some field work let me know" Lestrad jokingly said as he waved then walked out the door. Molly sagged against the desk she was closest to and rubbed her temples. The high and lows of the last few days were sure to kill her.

Might as well go see Mike in his office. She wasn't too sure what he wanted to talk to her about seeing as though she wasn't in trouble. As she got to his door, she took a deep breath and knocked. She heard a muffled come in and she opened the door.

Mike wave her in and told her to sit after he hastily stuffed the rest of a scone in his mouth. She sat down and waited for him to get settled.

"As you know as of next month I will be retired. Unfortunately you were not picked to succeed me and for that I apologise. I really tried to persuade them to pick you as you have been a valuable asset…irreplaceable even."

Thank you sir, I would be lying to say I am not disappointed." Molly confessed.

"I know and I completely understand, which is why I called you in here. Now, this is something you don't have to say yes to but I think career wise it would be smart to do. Kings College Hospital in London and Hunterscombe Hospital in Edinburgh both need Heads for their Pathology departments. I put some feelers out, nothing really official but both are very interested in you.

Molly sat shell shocked. This was not what she expected…at all. Her mind raced as she thought of all the possibilities. She thought of Sherlock, there was no way she could go to Edinburgh. What if he decided to give the relationship a try…but what if he didn't she thought with dread.

"Can I think this over? I wasn't expecting this at all." She answered.

"Of course of course. They will need to know in about four weeks time as they have other candidates in mind..not as good you though which is why they are willing to wait for your decision."

"Thank you sir, your praise means a lot. I promise I will let you know as soon as possible." Molly stood up and reached to shake his hand.

"Might I suggest you take a couple days and visit each campus, it might help your decision. Let me know when you want to go and I'll sign off on it. It's the least I can do. Also, why don't you take the rest of the day off since you worked so hard in the field yesterday" He consoled as he let go over her hand.

"Thats a good idea. I'll look at my calendar, see what will work best then I will get back to you." She said as she back out of the room. She closed the door, closed her eyes and sagged against the door. She couldn't believe that just happened. I guess that takes care of number six on my list.

Molly made her way back home. She decided she would give herself a long bath and glass of wine. As she wondered if she should text Sherlock, she entered the building and walked to her door. There was a wooden box on her door mat. The wooden box had small holes on the side and there a huge red bow on the top with a crisp white envelope. As she got closer she cautiously picked up the envelope, flipped it on both sides…it was blank. She slowly opened it up and peered inside, there was a small white card and it said, "You can now officially cross off number three" Love, SH.

She leaned over and flipped the lid on the wooden box. She gasped, inside was an orange kitten with hazel eyes.

"Hello there. Oh my aren't you gorgeous." She cooed as she picked it up gently. She smiled, Sherlock claimed he didn't do romance but he sure seemed to know what he was doing.

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