AN:

I don't have much to say except that your reviews mean the world to me and that I do not own BBC Sherlock.

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Steffy2106

Chapter 10:

"Did you think they were going to invite you to join them?" asked John as they exited the Freemasons Hall in 60 Great Queen St.

Sherlock glared at him whilst hailing a cab.

"You did, didn't you?" John chuckled.

"Why does it seem so inconceivable to you, John? I'm a genius, I have an international reputation and seeing as my brother is a member I would think that I would be a great addition to the Freemasons."

"You have also an international reputation of being a pain in the arse who unravels well kept secrets and loves to put his nose in other people business. No, Sherlock, you wouldn't be a great addition to a secret organization."

Sherlock snorted as they settled in the taxi.

"I know it's all new to you, Sherlock but some people can actually say no to you if they want."

"I don't like it. But it's okay."

"You're giving up?" John asked, sounding somewhat hopeful.

Sherlock looked at him as though he had lost his mind. "Really John, when did I ever give up?"

John sighed. "I know, it was wishful thinking."

"Well don't waste your wishes on absurdities. Look what I managed to get," he said with a proud smile, extending a white envelope to John.

John took out the card, read it and looked back at Sherlock with incredulity. "Really, Sherlock? You at a ball? And you will go as…" He looked back down as the card." Mr. Kunze and guest?" John shook his head. "Sure. What could possibly go wrong?"

"You are not reading well, Dr. Watson," said Sherlock with a very heavy German accent. "It's a masquerade, the hall will be full of people, which means it's the best time for me to snoop around… We will go incognito."

"We?" John shook his head. "I don't think so. First because, incognito or not, two men together will really attract attention and as I told you over and over again, Mary and I are leaving for the weekend. The wedding is in a week and we need to go see my great aunt Josephine because she's too old to come to the church."

"Ah yes…" Sherlock sighed dramatically, taking his phone out of his pocket. "At what time is your train?"

"5pm." John looked at his watch. "Which means I should go home now."

Sherlock leaned toward the taxi driver and changed the destination from 221b Baker Street to John's address before starting to text

"Thank you… I have to admit I'm quite surprised you gave in so easily."

Sherlock's phone beeped, he growled and texted back. "What is there to say, John? Can I change your plans? I guess I could but it wouldn't be good for your relationship, and I promised you and Mary that I would not make things more difficult than they're ought to be, so-" Sherlock's phone beeped again. "Excuse me," he said to John before dialling a number. "Hello? Yes, I know you're not my secretary but there is no other way for me to find out. Don't be so difficult, Mycroft." Sherlock rolled his eyes before looking at John." Of course I know that you know. You know everything! And I'm sure she's a level 6 just like John and I."

She? John mouthed to Sherlock.

Sherlock shrugged before pursing his lips in clear irritation. "Fine! You win. I'll take the parents to Les Miserables matinee when they come next week… now tell me where can I find Molly tonight."

John shook his head, he had feared that.

"Thank you my dear brother, it wasn't so hard was it? Why? It has nothing to do with you. Bye now." Sherlock hung up.

"Sherlock…" John started, voice full of reprobation.

"What John? My brother tricked me into taking my parents to Les Miz. Believe me this information cost me dearly."

"This has nothing to do with your brother. Leave Molly alone, Sherlock, I'm sure you noticed her relationship with Tom was strained since you're back and I don't think it will survive much more."

Sherlock snorted. "I don't know much about relationships, John but if hers can't survive me it's pretty weak if you want my opinion. Perhaps it's better for it to end."

"You're a pretty big obstacle to work around, Sherlock, especially with the way Moll feels about you."

"Felt," Sherlock corrected as the taxi stopped in front of John's apartment.

"Please don't tell me you believe that."

Sherlock shook his head. Of course he didn't believe that, but he was burying his head in the sand just like Molly seemed to be doing.

John exited the taxi and leaned down through the open door. "I promised Mary to let you figure it out by yourself but I can't do it anymore. You need to realize what Molly means to you." He raised his hand before allowing Sherlock to answer. "I don't want to hear it Sherlock, whatever you have to say...It's for you to know the truth because if you continue like that you'll not only destroy her relationship with Tom, you'll destroy her and yourself in the process. I don't know how you're going to figure it out Sherlock, I don't even know what you're going to figure out – even if I have a small idea- but you have to do it and you have to do it quickly."

Mary called him from the second floor window.

John sighed. "I'll see you on Monday, Sherlock. And remember to think before destroying what Molly has constructed with Tom. You can accept the truth now or accept it later, but you can't run from it forever." John added, closing the door.

Sherlock watched John walk back to his house, completely numbed by his statement. Sherlock wanted to tell John that he was being ridiculous and yet a part of him refused to deny anything. John was an amateur at deducing but still, Sherlock had realized when Molly was hurt or when he took her home that she had meant a bit more for him that he was acknowledging. He trusted her, sure, he even cared for her, but he also had to admit that she was instigating some feelings that were foreign to him, a certain fondness he was not sure what to make of.

"So? Where are we going now, sir?"

"What?" Sherlock looked at the driver as he came back from a thousand miles away.

"Where to now, sir?"

Sherlock got a 50 out of his wallet and gave it to driver. "Nowhere, I'll walk." Sherlock exited the cab and started to walk back to Baker Street. John had told him to figure it out but how could he do it when he didn't even know what it meant himself? 'Sentiment, Sentiment is a chemical defeat found on the losing side' and Sherlock believed that so strongly for so long but now, now he was not sure anymore.

Sherlock looked up and smiled looking at the window of the shop he was standing in front of. He shook his head. Sentiment could wait. His work was all that mattered, this illuminati case would be one of his greatest achievements.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Sherlock was standing in the shadow of an alley, looking at the restaurant where Molly, her fiancé and another couple were sitting for dinner.

He took a step towards the restaurant and stopped, hesitating. No matter what everybody thought of him he was not always doing things he wanted without thinking about consequences, he was thinking sometimes - especially when his decisions were going to affect the people he cared about. Molly fell into that category. Sherlock adjusted his bowtie, concentrating on Molly Hooper. He wanted to be sure that he was doing what was right before he was about to interrupted her dinner and he knew she was going to follow him. Sentiments were a weakness, a liability, and Molly proved it to him time and time again even if it was to his advantage it was always to her detriment.

Molly smiled at Tom, but it was a tight smile. Sherlock frowned. Everything about her was tense tonight, like she didn't want to be there… She was uncomfortable, clearly she didn't like these people very much and obviously her fiancé didn't care. Sherlock crossed the street to the restaurant, keeping his eyes on Molly. He didn't miss the slight anger that was on her face when he entered - she probably knew about Cambridge right now and was angry about having to make the decision.

"Could we get a bottle of Bordeaux red please?" asked the man across from Molly as Sherlock approached the table.

"I'm afraid I cannot help you, sir and as I believe that you are quite a neophyte when it comes to wine, you might want to leave the choice to someone slightly more knowledgeable which, in your case, shouldn't be too hard to find."

Molly looked up when she heard Sherlock's deep, velvety voice and her jaw went slack at the sight. She had always found Sherlock extremely attractive, especially once she had discovered how brilliant the man was. Some people found his face quite peculiar, but she found him positively dashing - especially with his eyes that forever changed colour. She could spend hours gazing into their depths. But right now she had no words to describe Sherlock. He was wearing a tuxedo and it looked extremely expensive. His unruly dark curls were sleek back and his hair was parted at the side, like a man in the late nineteen forties. The Sherlock standing in front of her was the most beautiful man she had ever seen, so beautiful it made her heart ache.

Sherlock probably read her mind because he met her eyes with a playful half smile on his face. "Close your mouth Molly Hooper, you'll have the leisure to ogle later."

Molly blushed violently before throwing a quick, worried glance at Tom. He looked beyond furious. Molly silently thanked god that they were in a public place with Tom's friends, as it was probably the only thing that stopping Tom from making a scene.

"Sherlock, what are you doing here?" Molly asked, finally finding her voice again.

"I need you to come with me." He replied, extending his hand towards Molly to help her up.

Molly looked at his hand and shook her head. "Sherlock, I'm having dinner with friends, you can't just barge in and-"

"But it's important, Molly, it's about the case, the case," he pressed.

"You've got to be kidding me." Tom spat, glaring at Sherlock. "You're kidding, right?" He added, but Sherlock completely ignored him.

"Why do you even bother trying to be nice to these people, Molly?" Sherlock stated, pointing to the couple. "She clearly doesn't like you, she still has feelings for this fiancé of yours even if she picked the much richer and duller guy beside her. She is venal and yet she thinks you're not good enough for him, there is disdain for you written all over her face. As for him," Sherlock continued, pointing to the man, "He is painfully oblivious if he thinks a girl like her will pick him for something else other than his bank account."

"Sherlock, stop it, please." Molly growled, kicking him. She sighed; it took less than 3 minutes for Sherlock to anger everybody at the table, probably one of his personal records. "Sherlock I can't –"

"Molly please, you know I wouldn't be here if it wasn't important. This case…This case..."

She hated herself for giving in but she knew his obsession could lead to a dangerous path and she knew that his drug addiction was only so far.

She sighed, turning to Tom; he looked actually surprised as he read her face. His lips were pursed in a 'you've got to be kidding me'. "Tom I have to go." She whispered. "I'm sorry but this case; it's linked to the person who hurt me."

Tom was actually speechless and she knew he was beyond angry with her. She had promised him he was more important than Sherlock in her life and yet here she was, choosing him again. This decision was much bigger than that, but Tom didn't understand that and she couldn't blame him. She had changed since Sherlock was back and she hadn't let Tom in it at all. If she was honest with herself, she knew that this decision could cost her the engagement and yet she stood nonetheless. "I'm sorry. I'll see you tonight." She smiled apologetically to the table, then grabbed her bag and coat before exiting the restaurant behind Sherlock.

"I hope this is worth it, Sherlock" she said breathlessly as she trailed behind him through the streets of London. "This decision might have cost me my fiancé."

Sherlock quickly glanced behind him before concentrating on his way again. "You don't seem that heartbroken about it; maybe it should make you think about your decision to stick with this man." Sherlock sighed, "but yes, it is worth it, this case was much bigger than we thought at first Molly. So much bigger."

Molly couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. "Where are you taking me?"

"To a Ball at the freemason hall."

Molly stopped dead in the street. "A Ball?"

Sherlock swirled around. "Yes, now move, Molly, we can't be late."

She shook her head. "Look how I'm dressed" she said, pointing to her trousers and multi-coloured shirt. "I can't go like this."

Sherlock smiled, extending his hand toward her. "Don't worry, Molly Hooper, I have it all figured out."

Molly grabbed his hand and shivered when her fingers connected with his. He squeezed her hand, pulling her behind him.

"Should I be scared?" she asked playfully.

"Terrified." He replied with a low chuckle.