I'm so glad you all enjoyed the last chapter, our boy is getting affected and something has got to give.

Also, thank you for all your reviews, they really help to motivate me. I've been writing for less than a year and your positive comments and feedback really help. So thank you.

Chapter 3

Molly hated being the new girl. It had all seemed exciting when she'd set off that morning with her head filled with thoughts of a fresh start but now she was here, reality was setting in and she wasn't so sure.

The staff were mostly all very polite and welcoming but they all knew each other and she didn't understand any of the in jokes, couldn't really join in with anecdotes from the weekend. She hated having to keep asking where things were kept, where she should put her bag and coat, what bay she should work from, where the paperwork was kept. She knew it would get better but right now she was missing her own much quieter morgue.

She wondered if Sherlock had even noticed she had gone and if he had whether he even cared. Who was she kidding the only think that would bother him about her absence would be concern over his ongoing access to lab equipment and body parts. She blushed, again, just thinking about that email. Unsurprisingly he hadn't responded, he had probably just grumbled about sentiment and deleted it.

If nothing else, thinking about him just reinforced why she were here suffering through first day blues. She wanted separation, she needed it.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Sherlock still hadn't quite decided what he wanted to do. He was coming round to the painful idea that maybe he needed to do something he just wasn't quite sure exactly what.

He had been honest with John, he wasn't going to rush in with hearts and flowers, that just wasn't ever going to be his style, but maybe they could do like Molly had suggested and go for coffee, take it slow. At least his head was saying take it slow...his body seemed to have other ideas. It was as though a crack had appeared in his careful cultivated walls and all his lusts and passions were leaking through. It had been two days since that humiliating moment in Baker St. where he'd found himself wanking off like a school boy but things had been getting progressively worse.

Both mornings since he'd woken up hard and knew he'd been dreaming of Molly, fleeting memories haunting him throughout the day. Where had this all even come from? That bloody song and conversation with John was to blame. Trouble was it seemed once out of the box these 'feelings' didn't want to go back in again, believe me he'd tried, he'd spent hours in his mind palace trying to delete them, and when that failed trying to store them far away, but all to no avail.

So here he was, standing outside the morgue at Bart's contemplating the best way to ask Molly out whilst hoping she would be kinder to him than he'd ever been to her.

He pushed the door open expecting to see her turn to look at him, hoping to see her bright, welcoming smile. Instead he saw Mike Stamford standing where Molly should be standing and he appeared to be half way through an autopsy.

'Morning Sherlock, here for anything in particular or just catching up with your tests?'

'Mike, no, no, nothing particular. Molly not in today?' He hoped he had said that in a nonchalant way, he didn't want to arouse any suspicions.

'Ah, yes well, I know you're not going to be happy Sherlock but Molly has left us...at least for the time being.'

'Left, what do you mean left? She can't leave. I need her here, you know she's the only one I can work with.'

'Now, come on you know that's not true, you worked with me for two years before Molly even started. She's following an opportunity in another hospital; it's a good career move for her. Don't you go messing it up.'

Sherlock sighed, spinning around pushing his hand over his face. He needed to see her...now. He'd finally built himself up to this and wanted to get it out if his system, not have to wait. He took a deep breath trying to calm himself.

'Which hospital?'

'Oh no, I'm not doing that Sherlock. You think I don't know you'll march down there and drag her out or humiliate her in some way. Just leave her be, it's not fair. You must know you're partly to blame for her going...if not fully to blame.'

Sherlock spun round hitting the doors so hard on the way out that they crashed noisily into the wall.

Mike sighed to himself turning back to the open body before him, 'well, that went better than I expected,' he said to no one in particular.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Sherlock walked aimlessly through the streets pondering what he should do next. He knew he could easily find out where Molly was working now; there weren't that many pathology units in London, particularly not ones that could offer Molly better work prospects. In fact he already had it narrowed down to three in his head. He could go to each one in turn until he found her. Mike's words echoed in his head though 'you're to blame for her going...' No, he needed to do this right and even he recognised that barging into her new place of work wouldn't be good.

He made his way back to Baker St. thinking as he went. In the end he texted John asking him to come over. He didn't like to think it but maybe he needed some expert advice.

When John arrived Sherlock was in his normal spot at the window playing his violin. The melody was haunting and familiar.

'Hang on, isn't that the song that Molly sent you the other day? I take it you were more affected than you let on. About time you admitted it. So what's up?'

'Firstly, I was not affected and secondly it is not 'about time I admitted it'.' This time it was Sherlock making air quotes as he scowled at John. 'Although I do, in fact, need help regarding Molly. She's left Bart's and I need to get her back.'

'Oh no,' said John holding his hands up, 'if she's finally come to her senses and put some space between the two of you I am not helping you to draw her back in just so you can use her some more. That poor girl has been through enough.'

Sherlock shifted nervously, 'and what if I didn't want to use her? What if I did genuinely have...feelings...what then?' He kept his gaze anywhere but at John but he could hear the incredulity in John's voice.

'You...feelings...haven't you just been telling me you don't have any, that you aren't affected. You had better not being playing some trick just to get her back to Bart's because that would be beyond cruel.'

'No John, I'm not playing a trick. I...I believe I would like something more from my relationship with Molly. I went to tell her and found out she'd left Bart's to work in another hospital. I've already found out which but am not sure whether approaching her at work is the right thing to do, hence texting you. So, what should I do?'

'Wow,' John sat down heavily in his seat, 'so you mean you really do like her. You know you need to be sure, you can't mess her about.'

Sherlock scowled but sat down opposite John steepling his hands and landing his gaze on his best friend. 'I'm sure. So what now?'

John rubbed his hands over his face, 'well, let's keep it simple, you need to just tell her. Not at work though, that wouldn't be good. Just sit her down over coffee and be honest. That's all you can do.'

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

It had been a long day and Molly was so looking forward to a leisurely soak in the bath. At least she'd survived day one, just six more months to go.

She kicked off her shoes as soon as she got home and put some food down for Toby to shut him up and stop him winding dangerously around her ankles. Her hand hovered over the wine bottle but she shook her head new start remember and switched on the kettle instead.

She pulled her hair out of its ponytail rubbing at her scalp as she did, walking into the front room to check the news whilst the kettle was boiling. Before she could pu the TV on though there was a knock at the door. She sighed wondering who it could possibly be.

She made her way down the short corridor and opened the door to be confronted by Sherlock Holmes bearing two take away coffee cups. He smiled and held one out to her, 'coffee Molly!'

I'll aim to post chapter four on Sunday so keep your eyes peeled for it, or better still follow so you get an alert. As ever let me know what you think.