Author Note: Thanks to everyone who is following and have posted reviews. If you haven't already, please R&R but please be gentle.

To be honest, I am not 100% sure about all of this chapter but these characters got away from me and are doing things they aren't supposed to. As corny as it sounds...

Hope you enjoy... and definitely keep an eye out for the next chapter... it's a doozy.

Disclaimer: Please know that I don't own these characters. The world of Sherlock Holmes belongs to Moffat, Gatiss, BBC and, of course, Sir A. C. Doyle.

As John's cab pulled up to the crime scene, he watched Sherlock and Lestrade duck under the tape and huddle together - obviously discussing the case. John gave some money to the cabbie and darted from the car. Just then he got a text.

Made it safe. See you soon. MH x

John smiled to himself at the 'x' in Molly's message as he strode up to the other two men.

'John. There you are.' Sherlock said. His gaze sweeping over John's face. John felt the detective's eyes focus a little too hard on him and felt a blush creep up his neck. 'You have missed all the fun. I was just explaining to Lestrade what happened, how Mick 'escaped' NSY and how he ended up there in the Thames.'

'But...I just got here... you couldn't have waited?'

'Sorry, John, but you took too long. Anderson was pitching a fit about the scene being contaminated and wanting to get the body back to the Morgue. So I had to work quickly.' Sherlock said as he patted John on the shoulder a couple of times 'You understand. Now Lestrade... we'll be going.'

'But Sherlock, I have a few more questions...'

'Things I am sure you will be able to deduce on your own, Lestrade, if you only open your eyes.'

The D.I. rolled his eyes but was then pulled away by Donovan regarding something they found by the water.

'But I just got here, Sherlock. Per your request...your phone call.' John sputtered holding his hands out to the scene in front of them.

'I know and now we are leaving.' Sherlock said spinning the doctor around, 'Quickly, John. We have more pressing matters than some dead body.'

He looked up at Sherlock questioningly.

'Take a look at this' Sherlock whispered as he pressed a piece of paper into the doctor's hands before reaching out to flag a cab.

'What is this? Is this evidence? Sherlock? We've talked about removing evidence from the scene.'

'It was addressed to Molly. We are merely delivering it.' he said as a cab pulled over and he ducked into it followed closely by John.

In the cab, John unfolded the piece of paper. It appeared to be a listing of sorts for four online auctions. Each were for what appeared to be for a clipping from Molly's elusive Surprise rose bush. Across the page in black sharpie was scrawled the note 'M - YOU OWE ME. JM'

'Someone's not happy' John mused as he looked up to his companion, who raised his eyebrows and nodded. He took the paper and folded it into his pocket.

'I found it in the deceased's shoe while Lestrade wasn't looking and pocketed it. I am not sure why Moriarty would leave us a clue but I believe the game is afoot.'

John sighed - not just from the exhaustion of the day but because of Moriarty's need to make everything into a game and his partner's incessant use of the phrase 'the game is afoot' and how this time it was a truly bad pun on top of everything else. He shook his head and turned to the window leaning his head against the cool glass and waited for home and finally ... hopefully some sleep.

ooOOooOOoo

John stifled a yawn as he wandered into the flat. He looked at his watch and could hardly believe it was already 5 AM.

'Go to bed, John.' Sherlock said as he took of his coat and scarf and hooked them next to Molly's.

'I can't. Molly's up there. No need to scare her half to death after the day she had yesterday... I'll just kip out on the couch.'

'No, John. Go ahead and use mine. I have a case to solve... I won't be using it anytime soon and you look like you are going to fall over. The couch won't give you enough space to sleep comfortably and I do not need to deal with a moody doctor in the morning on top of everything else.'

'I can't, Sherlock. I can't go in there. I'm too scared.' John said with a tremble pointing to Sherlock's bedroom door.

'What are you talking about?' Sherlock said as his head whipped up from the computer he had just turned on...John's computer.

'God only knows what's growing in there. I've seen what you keep in the fridge. I'm scared to see what you keep in your room.' John said with as straight of a face as possible - but with mirth dazzling from his eyes.

'Go!' Sherlock said forcefully pointing to his door. 'I need to think and don't need your snoring distracting me.'

John chuckled as he turned and walked to his new room 'Fine. But wake me when she gets up though, okay?'

'Of course, John. Of course.'

ooOOooOOoo

Later that morning, John woke to the sound of giggling. A puzzled look crept to his face as he swung his feet out of Sherlock's surprisingly comfortable bed. He stood and stretched, bones cracking into place as he did. He opened the door and walked into the other room scratching his side and wondering what could possibly be so funny. He tried to pat down his bed head as he peeked around the corner into the living room and found Sherlock and Molly on the sofa bent over his computer.

'Morning.' he mumbled 'Sherlock - you were supposed to wake me up.'

'Someone wouldn't let me.' he said hooking his thumb towards the woman next to him 'I may be 'bullheaded' as I believe someone recently called me but if a doctor tells me something I listen.'

Molly giggled but John just rolled his eyes

'Tea?' he asked as he turned and trudged into the kitchen wondering how on earth these two could be in such a good mood.

'Not now, we're working on something. John - you look like hell. Perhaps you should go back to bed and get a little more sleep.'

'No... no... I'm up.' he waved his hand in dismissal even though he knew no one could see him. He popped on the kettle and reached up to get the tea and a mug from the cabinet.

He heard someone approach him from behind timidly and knew it was Molly. He wasn't sure how she would feel today after what happened last night and was a little worried that if he turned around she would tarnish what for him had been amazing.

'Hey' she said in a small voice.

'Hey' he said clearing his throat as he turned around to see her standing there biting her bottom lip, worrying her fingers together obviously as unsure about last night's events as he suspected.

She immediately went on the defensive, 'Listen, John. About last night and that kiss... well kisses... I don't want you think that I ... well I am just not sure... It's just that...'

'Whoa there.' John said as he held up his hand to stop her and reached it out and placed it on her shoulder, 'Molly, we are both adults here. Last night was just... well it was fantastic but ... obviously you are still working through all of this and I know you need space to find ... well to figure out what you want. There's nothing wrong with that.'

'Right... it's just that... well...' Molly stammered.

'It's all okay. I am here and I think you know what I am offering. But of all things, I just don't want you to think that last night was some... some mistake or something. It wasn't. It was wonderful. You have to know that I want to pursue this' he gestured between the two of them 'but at your pace, Love. Not mine. Now, come on. Sit down, have some tea with me and tell me what could possibly be so funny that you even had Sherlock laughing about it.'

Molly looked up at John - stunned that he could just lay it all out like that. She did need time but this man... She nodded to him and turned to sit down in a chair. 'Well... Sherlock was just telling me about the time you and he...'

Just then Sherlock strode into the room. 'John - aren't you done making your tea yet? We have a case to solve. If you two would stop yammering on about what ever it was that happened last night, we might be able to figure out this clue.'

Molly and John looked at each other surprised that Sherlock hadn't figured out what happened last night or at least wasn't letting on that he had. John turned back to the cupboard pulling down three mugs instead of just one to make them all a cup of tea and Sherlock grabbed the open chair next to Molly at the table.

'John, as you know, the clue was of an online auction for the clippings that Joe stole from Molly's greenhouse. From what I saw of Mick last night and the fact that this clue was left for us, we can tell that Moriarty was oblivious to Molly's ... attack until Mick was arrested for it. He is apparently not very pleased and I believe that Joe is on the lam and Moriarty is pointing us to him.'

'See...' Molly chimed in, 'This is what I was showing Sherlock... you can see here the date the auctions went up and it was the night of Mick's arrest... and I know Jim wouldn't sell these clippings. He wanted them too badly for that and from what Sherlock told me, he really doesn't need the money.'

'That means that Joe is selling them to make a quick buck and to stay in hiding from Moriarty.'

'So how do we use all of this to catch Joe?' John asked as he placed a cup in front of each of them.

'Sherlock won one of the auctions and is meeting with him tomorrow morning.' Molly said eyeing the detective, who looked pleased as punch with himself.

'What?!' John asked searching Sherlock's face for an explanation.

'Seemed the easiest approach.' Sherlock shrugged 'Mycroft won't even notice the funds are missing for a couple of weeks.' He smirked at his ability to irk his brother.

'But where? When? I mean... what's the plan here? Please tell me you have a plan.'

'John...really' Sherlock scuffed 'It's no big deal. I'm to meet him tomorrow morning at 5 AM at a cafe in the New Convent Flower Market. There he will be arrested and we can move on to bigger fish.'

John stared at his best friend. He suddenly felt even more exhausted than he ever had before. He shook his head, rolled his eyes and chuckled. 'Amazing. You, Sherlock, are amazing. I can't believe what you can get done in the wee hours of the morning while I am ... well while everyone is asleep.'

He brought his hands up and rubbed his eyes and then brought them to the small of his back and pressed on it to arch his back until it cracked agin. He eyed his two companions skeptically, shook his head again and stifled a yawn. 'Jesus. You know what - I really am exhausted. It seems to me you two have this all figured out so I am going to head up those stairs and sleep for at least another...' he glanced at his watch and did a quick calculation 'another five hours in MY bed. Then us three are going out for an early dinner - yes, Sherlock, all three of us and we're figuring out the rest of the plan for tomorrow. and with that ... Good night.'

Molly and Sherlock just stared as he nodded to them, strode across the kitchen and out of sight up the stairs that lead to his room.

'Not much of a morning person, is he?' Molly queried with her eyebrows raised.

'Nope.' Sherlock said as he shook his head and headed into the other room. 'He really is not.'