Hi Everyone! Thanks again for the love. This one is a short one to wet the appetite. A longer chapter is in the works and should be out on Sunday.

Chapter 4 - Different

It was almost two weeks later and Molly hadn't heard from Sherlock. She wanted to give him space and time to process everything but how long is a girl to wait. She wasn't exactly surprised, he could be on a case and she knew that it could be all consuming for him…but still. Mike had been hassling her about making a decision on the two positions a to put him off she said she would visit Edinburgh tomorrow. She currently sat at her microscope thinking of excuses of going to Sherlock's flat. She did have a couple books for Rosie that she bought at Waterstones last month. She was going to wait till her birthday to give them to her but dropping them off now would be a good excuse to go to 221b.

After her shift, Molly rushed out doors of Barts and hoofed it to the taxi rank down the road. There was no time to take the tube, she had to get home, change into one of her new outfits and grab the books for Rosie.

"Hi Molly, all done for the day?"

She turned her head and saw Lestrad walking towards the doors she just vacated.

"Oh hi, Lestrad. Yeah, I am. Did you need something?" Molly said hurriedly. She glanced at her watch and slowly backed away from him hoping he would take the hint that she was in a rush.

"No, not today. Im here to see my mum, she had routine surgery and Im just going to visit."

"Oh ok, I hope she feels better…"

He cut her off and said, "Crazy about Sherlock though right?"

That stopped Molly in her tracks.

"What's crazy?" Molly asked curiously.

"He has a house guest and what a beauty. Never got to see her in person. I thought she was dead but I went over there to talk to Sherlock about a case and there she was sitting in his chair in nothing but Sherlock's robe. Apparently Sherlock helped her fake her death. They've keep in contact this whole time. I've never seen him smile so much. Sherlock should start charging people for faking their own deaths, he's obviously good at it." Lestrad laughed not noticing the pain on Molly's face.

Molly felt like she was going to be sick. She could hear a ringing in her ears and she started shaking her head.

"Who is it?" Molly demanded. Lestrad could tell she was upset.

"Irene Adler. Are you ok? I thought you were over Sherlock?"

Molly gave him a fake smile and nodded.

"Yes of course, just surprised is all…look I have to go, I have somewhere I have to be. I'll see you soon."

Molly didn't wait for him to respond, she turned and ran to the first available cab, got in and slammed the door.

"Where to love?"

With tears in her eyes she sniffled, "221b Baker Street please."

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As the cab pulled up Molly felt as if there a solid rock in her stomach. She could just tell the cabbie she changed her mind and go home. She would be none the wiser, but she knew ignorance wasn't bliss. She had to see for herself. She paid the cabbie and lightly knocked on the door. She waited but no one answered. She tried the knob and the door opened. She hesitantly entered and softly closed the door. She stood still, unable to move as she stared up the stairs. She was thinking about turning around and going back out when she heard a feminine voice come from upstairs..

"Sherlock, Darling, I'm having some of your scotch. Do you want some?"

Molly breathed in and out. Hurt and anger bubbled up in her causing her to propel herself forward up the stairs. The door to his flat was open and she slowly walked in. There sat the most beautiful woman she had ever seen…naked with a glass of scotch in her hands. She was flipping though a book and lazily glanced up and smiled like a cat who got the cream.

"Hello dear. Who are you?"

I'm Mo-olly Hooper." She stuttered. She cursed herself as she felt her face blush in humiliation and anger.

"What can we help you with?" Irene inquired.

We…the way she said it made Molly want to run to the loo and hurl her lunch up. She heard Sherlock before she saw him.

"Please put some clothes on woman, you'll get a cold." He came around the corner from the kitchen and looked at Irene not noticing Molly.

"We have a guest, don't be rude. Molly is it?"

Sherlocks head whipped towards Molly with a surprised look on his face.

"Molly what are you doing here?" Sherlock asked.

Molly looked at him in disbelief. Tears welled up in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. Not with Irene looking at her. She could see Irene looking from Sherlock to Molly and back again with a cunning smile on her face.

"Sherlock, you should introduce us properly. She's adorable." She stood up and balanced her arm on Sherlocks shoulder and ran her red painted fingernails through his hair.

"I came here because I was waiting on your decision," looking from Irene to Sherlock she continued, "but it looks like you already made up your mind.

She didn't give him time to say anything else, she turned and ran, flying down the stairs. She opened the front door and could hear footsteps coming up fast behind her. As she stepped out onto the pavement she heard Sherlock bellow…

"Wait Molly, please let me explain."

She turn around, with fire in her eyes and tears running down her cheeks.

"Explain?! Are you joking? Sherlock, she is naked… in your apartment, how are you going to explain that?"

"She's a case Molly. She's staying with me for her protection. If it's any consolation she's always naked even when not around me."

Molly jaw dropped. How could he be so clueless.

"Do you care about her?"

"What do you mean do I care about her? Not in the way you are thinking. I would be lying if I said she didn't intrigue me but she is more of a sexual being. I have made a commitment to help her, I can't go back on my word."

"You know what, for a man that thinks himself above emotions sex and love you are just like every other chauvinistic man aren't you? All this time you were so hesitant to think things over concerning us but you have no issues with helping all these exotic damsels in distress…first Janine and then Irene. Really from what I see it was me, I'm the odd one out" Molly bawled.

Sherlock tugged at his hair and shouted, "First of all, I was using Janine, second of all you don't know the whole story and third Molly, you are the different one, that's why it's not easy to make this decision. You are different."

"Oh great thanks, you really know how to make a girl feel special don't you." She wailed as she threw her hands in the air in frustration.

"This is why I don't do relationships, all this emotional blithering is a waste of time" Sherlock snapped..

Molly's face turned pale. She was exhausted. She had to get out of there. She look over Sherlock's shoulder and saw a cab pulling over right behind him. She saw John getting out, she wipe her eyes and coldly said…

"Well I'll make it easier for you, you don't have a decision to make anymore."

"Fine by me." Sherlock sneered.

They both stared at each other breathing heavily. She shuffled pass him quickly got in the cab while John asked what was going on. He looked confused but Molly didn't answer, she shut the door and told the cab her address. She turned and looked back and saw Sherlock arguing with John….and Irene looking out the window smiling.

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