Posting this one for Lil as she's having a nightmare with her computer and needs something to cheer her up.

As chapters go I'm not sure this classes as cheerful but I'll let you guys be the judge of that.

Chapter 16

The next day was overcast, cold and windy, almost like they were back into winter weather rather than entering spring. Molly wore her chunkiest jumper and jeans and even Sherlock added a scarf to his familiar suit and coat combination.

They set out to the woods straight after breakfast with Sherlock not wanting to waste any more time. The map that Karl had drawn for them proved to be very accurate and easy to follow and within half an hour of entering the woods they broke out of the shade of the trees and into the clearing which was just as the young man had described it apart from one traumatic addition; Karl's dead body.

Molly was used to death, familiar with the horrific and the gruesomeness but it never failed to sadden her. She hoped she would never become so immune to it that she no longer cared. She let out a soft 'oh no' even as Sherlock started to circle the body looking for clues.

There was no need to make any checks to see if he were still alive. Not only had his throat been slit, he had effectively been gutted; his insides exposed to the world, already buzzing with flies and insects. In addition his exposed chest had a crudely drawn inverted cross carved into it along with the numbers 666, which even Molly knew were the mark of the devil. But all she could see was the scared boy who had come to them for help yesterday. She had thought he would be safe, that they had done enough to protect him.

'God, Sherlock, why...why would they do this? And how did they even know? I thought he was in London.'

Sherlock shook his head, 'we must be being followed. I've sensed it a few times and tried to be vigilant but whoever it is is well practiced. Dammit! I should have seen this coming, I should have done more.'

He took his phone out and rang the police giving details of their location. As they waited for them to arrive Sherlock spent some time photographing the site whilst Molly gave the body an initial viewing.

Sherlock spoke as he roamed around the grassy enclosure 'there were obviously a lot of people involved in this killing. The way the grass has been flattened in a wide circle suggests at least ten to fifteen people, double the number to those present at our...' He tailed off not wanting to remind Molly of 'that night'. He continued, 'there is also multiple evidence of sexual activity.'

Molly looked over at him and grimaced, not even wanting to know what it was he had found to convince him of that. As for her own examination the only saving grace that she could see was that Karl had obviously had his throat cut first before any of the other mutilations had taken place. At least he hadn't suffered as much as he could have. It wasn't much of a positive though.

Twenty minutes later they heard the noise of people making their way through to the clearing. Much to Sherlock's chagrin the same police chief was in attendance as had been for the death of Reverend Tucker. He quickly determined that this was some kind of prank gone wrong and when Sherlock tried to intervene he threatened to have his officers arrest both him and Molly if they didn't leave the scene.

'One of my men will come to the pub to interview you both, but if you don't leave and leave now I will arrest you for obstructing the police in their line of duty. So which is it to be?'

Sherlock started to square up to him but Molly could see no good coming of it. Sherlock being arrested would just waste time, time they were fast running out of. She tugged on his arm forcing him to turn away from the officer. 'Leave it Sherlock; this isn't helping Lily, focus on the case. We can call Greg on our way back. Come on...please!'

In the end he turned back to the police officer and poked a finger at him, 'this' he waved his hand at the scene behind him, 'won't be going away. Questions will be asked and will continue to be asked until justice is served and the truth is known.' With that he turned and stalked away with Molly at his side.

They were quiet as they made their way through the woods but as they exited out into the now falling rain Sherlock roared in frustration and turned on his heel in a full circle as he clutched at his hair, 'God I hate this place. I hate the village, the people, even the damn weather, this cult is everywhere, inculcating and infecting everyone and everything.'

As Molly put her arm out to try to placate him he turned on her wild eyed clutching the top of her arms, 'ow, Sherlock you're hurting me.' He loosened his grip ever so slightly but his eyes never left hers even as the rain started to run down his face, damping down his curls. 'Molly, you need to leave and you need to leave now. It isn't safe, not for either of us. I can't...I couldn't bear it if anything were to happen to you.'

Molly put her hands up to his face wiping the rain away from his eyes, 'hey, I'm fine. I'm safe with you I know I am.'

He let her go so suddenly she stumbled a little before regaining her footing, 'no...no you're not. I just put you in danger, just like I put everyone in danger; Karl, John, Mrs Hudson...all of them...and look at how Moriarty dated you just to get to me...do you have any idea how badly that could have gone for you? Maybe I'm being stupid, maybe us being together is a ridiculous idea. It's just going to put an even bigger target on your back than the one that was already there just by being an acquaintance of mine.'

Molly started to feel panic rising in her throat, constricting her chest. He was saying all the things she had been scared he might say ever since they had gotten together.

'No, Sherlock. Don't say that, don't even think it. I don't care what kind of target it makes me I just...I need to be with you. I can't lose you not now...please.'

He turned to her looking calm for the first time since they'd left the woods. He walked over to her and Molly knew she was crying even as the tears mixed with the rain. He put a hand to her face, 'but don't you see Molly. I thought I couldn't love you but I do and that's why we can't be together. That's why I can't see anything happen to you. If keeping you safe means we shouldn't be together then so be it. I would rather have you alive and apart from me, than grasp for short-term happiness and see you dead...like Karl or worse. It's over Molly, it has to be.'

He kissed her forehead and then started to walk away from her ignoring the rain that was now falling heavily. Molly turned around and sobbed, hugging herself and feeling a physical ache opening up in her chest, not able to watch him walk away from her. But then she felt it, she felt the anger starting to rise overtaking the pain and before she knew it she was running after him.

Within a minute she had caught him up; she grabbed his arm and as she turned him to face her she slapped him hard across the face with her right hand. 'How fucking dare you! Who the hell gives you the right to make that decision? I am not some simpering teenager who doesn't understand how love works, or who needs a man to make the "hard decisions" to keep me safe.' She air quoted to coincide with the heavy sarcasm in her voice.

She poked his chest ignoring the shocked look on his face, 'you do not get to play the martyr; to be all sacrificing on my behalf. I love you, Sherlock. And if that means I'm at risk then man up and deal with it and put your energy into protecting me because I am not going anywhere. Do you understand me?'

When he didn't reply within a few moments she raised her voice, 'Well?'

He nodded his head before he tilted it to one side looking at her almost as if he were seeing her in a new light, then he stepped forward and kissed her.

All Molly could do was hold onto him as he unleashed probably one of the most desperate and passionate kisses she had ever had the fortune to receive. It was as if he were pouring all his pent up, repressed emotion into her and she was happy to receive it. She could feel his hands sliding against the wet skin of her face trying to keep his grip on her as she held onto his back not caring about the rain trickling down her hair and neck.

When they broke apart Molly had to catch her breath as he held her to him and she could hear him promising over and over that he'd keep her safe. His intensity was almost frightening. She found herself soothing him, 'hey, it's OK, it's OK, I know you will. We'll be fine.' Eventually she pulled away and took his hand, 'come on I think we need to get warm and dry off.'

Once they were back at the pub they silently made their way into the shower, stripping off their wet clothes as they went, leaving them on the floor to sort out and dry later.

As they stepped under the hot water, enjoying the feel of it as it reheated them, Sherlock restarted the kiss where they'd left off in the rain. It was as though they had both been hurt and needed comfort and intimacy to help them recover. Sherlock, because he had suddenly realised he loved Molly and was terrified by the enormity of it and Molly from the shock and fear of almost losing him, maybe not a physical loss but it would have torn her apart if she'd let him leave as he'd planned to.

It was only as he lifted her against the wall of the shower and started to move within her that her tears of relief started to leak out. 'God, don't ever leave me, please don't ever leave me.' He kissed her neck and shoulder as he coupled with her, relishing the feeling of the heat from both the shower and from being enveloped within her, 'I won't, I promise, I don't think I could even if I wanted too, not now.'

They came soon after holding onto each other and breathing heavily; kissing whatever skin was closest. As he stepped away from her he bent to kiss her lips once more and smiled, 'I love you Molly Hooper. I never thought that was something I would be capable of and I'll be honest it scares me more than jumping off Bart's roof did, but I do.'

She smiled back, 'I think you already know it but I love you too. I always have and I always will.'

Once they were dry and dressed Molly went to get two mugs of tea from downstairs whilst Sherlock got in touch with Greg. Molly had been right time was running out. The next day would be Walpurgis otherwise known as Beltane. Molly had done her research and knew it was the eve of the feast day of Saint Walpurga. She'd been an 8th Century abbess in Germany but the date was now firmly on the occult calendar as the anniversary of the founding of the Church of Satan.

Greg promised to try to come up the next day although he suspected it would be late as he was due in court to testify at the conviction of a murderer that he had for once caught, and proudly so, without Sherlock's assistance. He promised to bring John as well as he could only come up in an unofficial capacity as the case had not been referred to Scotland Yard at all and he still had no jurisdiction.

Given his desperation Sherlock spent most of the rest of the day in his mind palace which he found to be much aided by putting his head in Molly's lap and having her play with his hair as she read her book.

So, to those familiar with Twilight's New Moon you will have recognised the scene where Edward leaves Bella. I always hated it; hated how weak it made her and powerless so this was my kick back against that...me re-writing how it should have been (though I understand it would have made for a very short book).

So, was it a cheery chapter for Lil or just angsty? You tell me.