Hi all! Thanks to all of those who reviewed the last chapter and to my new followers! And thanks to all of you for even reading my stuff, I do appreciate it! So this chapter has a bit of humor and no warnings, shockingly enough :)

I am also developing Henry a bit more in this, but never fear, there is Sherolly in this one!

Enjoy!

PS: Not beta'd excuse the mistakes!

"Henry…" Janine said softly. "What has happened?"

He held her against him for a few more moments as he tried to collect himself. Slowly he pulled back from her, his hands sliding down her arms to hold onto her wrists and he looked up at her. "I went to one of Sir Charles's clubs…it was so horrible…more horrible than I can possibly put into words," he said. "And I hurt someone…a girl…I didn't have a choice…if I hadn't of, all that we have worked for would have been lost."

"Henry, I don't understand," Janine said softly. "I thought you were Sir Charles' friend."

Henry stood quickly and pulled her into his arms. "I know…I'm sorry…" he said miserably. "I know that you think I am his friend and how could you not with how I have treated you."

"Henry, please…tell me what's going on," she said quietly as she held herself stiffly in his arms.

Henry turned her and pressed her back to sit on the bed. He looked down at her with desperation in his eyes. "It's all false…Sherlock and I…and James, we simply loathe Charles. We're all in this together trying to trap Sir Charles. Mycroft is involved and several other men," he explained. "And your grandfather, he is in on this as well. You're not poor Janine, Nathaniel did not lose his money. It was all a ruse in order to trick Sir Charles."

"But…"she started to speak and paused as her expression became horrified. "But why? Why would grandfather allow Molly and I…Sherlock is a horrible man and you…you've said so many awful things."

"Listen to me Janine," he pleaded, kneeling down in front of her and taking her hands in his. "Sherlock is not what you think he is and neither am I. Please try to understand, we are doing this to stop Sir Charles. You have no idea of the wicked things he had done. He has bankrupted innocent men, black mailed and destroyed families, and he has kidnapped, raped, and murdered countless number of women. We have to stop him Janine."

"But why do you and Sherlock act as you do?"

"Because we needed to be allowed into his inner circle," he explained. "By allowing Charles to think that we were just like him, we are invited to see all of his crimes. We are collecting names and evidence that Chief Inspector Lestrade can use to build a case against him."

"And you treat me as you do to make him believe that you are just like him?" she asked softly.

"Yes… but I have tried to protect you from him," he said. "That is why you have never been allowed in the room with him when he has been in our home…Molly has not been so lucky."

"You mean you never meant all those things that you threatened me with?"

"No! God in heaven, no," he said pulling her into his arms. "But I had to make you think me capable of it. It is imperative that Charles believes that you fear me. He must believe that I mistreat you."

"You said you hurt a girl," she said in a trembling voice. "How did you hurt her?"

He let go of her and stood up, holding his face away from her from to try and hide the shame and guilt that he felt. "I humiliated her and struck her with a crop…several times…" he said barely above a whisper. "I…I had to do it to make Charles believe and I was also afraid…"

"Afraid of what?" she asked as she stood.

"Afraid of what he would do to her if I did nothing," he said.

"Oh Henry," she said, touching his arm gingerly. "I…I am so sorry for her and for you and Sherlock…I'm sorry for me and Molly…I'm sorry for this whole horrible affair."

Henry turned his head and looked at her, his eyes shining with tears, but also with an expression of hope. "Then you believe me?" he asked. "You believe that I never wanted to hurt you?"

She nodded. "Yes I believe you," she said. "You've never laid a hand on me, even though you could have. And even when you threatened me, although I was frightened…it just seemed to go against your nature…I always felt so confused around you."

"So you understand now…that no matter what I say to you in front of Sir Charles, I would never, ever harm you," he said. "Not ever Janine, I swear."

"Yes Henry," she replied. "I understand now…and I want to help. What can I do to help you?"

Miranda struggled against the man who held her. She could see nothing through the dark cloth bag that had been placed over her head when he had first grabbed her as she was leaving Charles's club to begin her journey home. She wondered if Sir Charles was having her murdered for her clumsiness at the club.

The man had said nothing to her, only grabbing her from behind, placing the bag over her head and then his hand over her mouth as she was dragged into a nearby car. She struggled against him when he had bound her hands and she struggled futilely against him now as he dragged her from the car when it had stopped moving again. She shrieked through the bag and his hand, struggling to breathe through both.

She heard a door open and she felt the warmth hit her skin as she was carried inside. She was sat on her feet and kept from stumbling by the strong grip on her arms. The bag was lifted from her head and she blinked several times to try and focus her vision as the light hurt her eyes. When she was able to focus, her eyes had a clear view of her abductors' face. She gasped in shock. "You…"

Sherlock removed his cape without a word to her as Leonard entered the hallway. "This is most irregular sir," Leonard said in his monotone voice.

"Indeed it is," Sherlock agreed. "But I had to move quickly. Please take our guest into the kitchen and give her something to eat. Send Mrs. Hudson to me at once. I will be in the library."

"Yes sir," Leonard said. "If you will come this way, miss."

Miranda stared wide eyed at Sherlock. "What are you going to do to me?" she asked in a trembling voice.

"Protect you from more harm by that fiend, Sir Charles," Sherlock answered. "Now go with Leonard. You have nothing to fear here."

Leonard took her arm gently, but firmly and began pulling her away. "Come along miss, you're alright now," he said soothingly. "No one is going to hurt you."

As Leonard turned the corner with the girl, Molly came down the stairwell. "Sherlock, who is that young girl?"

Sherlock turned and looked at Molly. The moment he beheld her all of the evenings anxiety, pain, and anger seemed to seep from him. He moved quickly to her and grabbed her, pulling her into his arms. He held her tightly, closing his eyes, letting her beauty and gentleness wash away all of the vile things that he had seen that night.

"Sherlock what's happened?" she asked shakily.

"It was horrible, Molly," he said against her hair, inhaling the fresh citrus scent. "I thought I was prepared for what I would see…but I wasn't…oh God I never want to see anything like that again, but I must…I must…we're so close now…so very close to bringing him down." He pulled back and stepped away from her. "You are so beautiful Molly, so kind and gentle. If I didn't have you to come home to…I'm not sure that I could go through with this."

"Sherlock, please," she said taking his hands. "Tell me what happened?"

"No…I won't sully you by telling you about that wretched place," he said taking her hand and pulling her towards the library with him.

"Sherlock you can't keep this inside of you," she said. "It's obviously eating away at you. Talk to me, I'm your friend…and your wife."

He pulled them inside the library and shut the door. He turned to look at her. "I can't," he said. "And I won't. I won't bring this vileness into my home. I won't involve you in this. It's bad enough that I have had to involve you as much as I have and I'm so sorry, so very sorry for what it has cost you."

"But Sherlock," she said coming to him quickly and cupping his cheek. "What is it costing you to do this? Please, if you won't let me help then let me be your outlet…talk to me."

Sherlock placed his hand over hers. "It is not easy for me…sharing my feelings," he said softly. "I've never been much good at it, which is why I have so few close relationships."

Molly laughed softly, looking at him with gently. "Then we can ease you into it," she said.

He laughed out loud at this and Molly decided she liked his laugh very much. She also liked the crinkles around his eyes when he smiled and she noticed how much he reminded her of a little boy when he laughed as the unruly mop of curls on his head would bounce freely.

It became a bit awkward between them when Sherlock finished laughing. Molly moved her hand away from his face and they stared at one another, a slow flush creeping up both their necks. Sherlock took a step towards Molly, his hand coming up to stroke the side of her neck with his fingertips. When she did not move away, he took another step and placed his other hand on her cheek, tilting her head upward. Slowly his head began to descend.

Molly gasped as her lips parted, but she did not pull away. His lips brushed against hers as if to test the waters. When she did not push him away, he placed his lips against hers and pressed more firmly, enjoying the plump softness he felt. His other hand moved from her neck to her other cheek, tilting her head further back. Molly had just placed her hands over his and leaned into his lips when the door was swung open. Molly and Sherlock jumped away from each other as if they had been burned and in walked an oblivious Mrs. Hudson with a tray that carried a tea pot and tea cup.

"Sherlock, dear," she began. "I know that you did not ask for tea, but I brought it anyways. I also have a whiskey for you as I am sure that your nerves are a bit frayed after having dealing with that loathsome man." Mrs. Hudson looked up from the tray she was carrying and noticed Molly. "Oh hello dear," she said. "By the looks of those rosy flushed cheeks, it seems as if you could use a good stiff drink as well."

"Mrs. Hudson…" Sherlock began.

"Oh be quiet dear," Mrs. Hudson said. "I remember how it was to be young and in love. Pay no attention to me. I'll just sit this tea down and you can go back to kissing your lovely wife…." She let her words trail.

"Mrs. Hudson," Sherlock replied with impatience. "I did not call you in here for tea, I…"

"Well I know that dear," Mrs. Hudson said humming cheerfully as she poured the tea into a cup. "Whiskey?" She asked Sherlock.

"Yes I think I'll need it now," he said trying not to lose his patience. "As I was saying, there is a girl…"

"Yes, yes, the girl in my kitchen," Mrs. Hudson said. "I have already seen the poor girl, rather shaken up she is. Did you really have to put a bag over her head and drag her around like a sack of potatoes? Really Sherlock, so ungentlemanly." She turned to Molly. "You'll have to work on that with him, dear. Never allow him to toss you about as if you were a sack of potatoes."

Molly bit her lip to keep from laughing at Sherlock's growing impatience. "Yes, Mrs. Hudson," she said.

Mrs. Hudson handed the tea cup to Sherlock and turned back to Molly. "You must teach him early on in the marriage how you wish him to behave. And Sherlock is a difficult one…oh my goodness, the tantrums he used to throw as a child."

Molly noticed the fondness on Mrs. Hudson's face as she remembered Sherlock as a little boy while Sherlock wore a scowl on his face.

"If you don't mind, Mrs. Hudson, it is the girl that I wish to speak to you about," he snapped. "She has had a…difficult night…she was hurt…" he said before stopping, as if he was unable to continue. His face became pained and Molly could see the shimmer of a tear in his eye under the light.

Mrs. Hudson patted his hand. "It's alright dear, take your time," she said gently. "How was she hurt and what can I do to help her?"

Sherlock swallowed hard and took several deep, centering breaths before he regaled to Mrs. Hudson and his wife what had happened that night. Molly listened in horror, while Mrs. Hudson did not seem surprised at all to hear what Sherlock saw.

"I told Mycroft this would be difficult for you, Sherlock and especially Sir Henry…" Mrs. Hudson said. "Oh that poor child, that poor, dear girl. Think no more of it tonight, Sherlock. Go and get some rest and I will take care of her. I have an old recipe for a balm…it will sooth her and help her to heal."

"Thank you Mrs. Hudson," Sherlock said, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

Mrs. Hudson patted his hand again and turned, walking out of the library. Sherlock watched her go and sighed. "She is an incredible woman, Molly," he said. "She has been with my family for years. She was instrumental in keeping me sane when I lost my mother."

"She's wonderful, "Molly said. After a few moments of silence, Molly turned to him with tears in her eyes. "Oh Sherlock, do you really think you can stop this man?"

Sherlock put his tea cup down and wrapped his arms around her. "Of course I can stop him, Molly," he kissed her forehead. "Never doubt that, after all, I am Sherlock Holmes."

Molly giggled through her tears. "And you're such a modest man."

"I'm really not," he said.

She laughed again and laid her head against his shoulder. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, relaxing into his hold. She closed her eyes and for the first time admitted to herself that she felt nowhere safer than in her husband's arms.

So this chapter was a bit lighter...I wanted to give the heaviness a break since this story is so dark. I hope you all enjoyed it! Thank you so much for reading! Leave a review please :)