Chapter 3

Now Molly had managed to dodge the questioning glances she got at work, but when she got asked what had happened. She shrugged it off and stated with the big lie.

"Bar fight and you should see the other guy!" and when she got the "yeah right look", she then went with the smaller more believable lie. "not paying attention walked into a room divider." All the while smiling as if too say "you have met me right? That is so me!"

-blink-

Aw Mom it's nothing that stupid cat just scratched me. Instead of Mike raked his fingernails down my arm.

-blink-

Sorry mom.. .I fell at school and now my back hurts. Truth was she was Mike personal punching bag and he was oh so careful not to land punches where the bruises would show. He knew she would tell on him cause the repercussions would be horrific.

In her lab she noticed the remains of her pink iPod. It made her think of Sherlock's hand and his frightened eyes once he realized he had hit her. She understood it had been an accident . after a year and a half out there on his own dismantling Moriarty's network of criminals, she should have walked around to the front of him before getting his attention. His instincts had kicked in that was all. .It wasn't like he deliberately set out to hurt her.

The day proceeded to be a quiet one so Molly just caught up with the never ending paperwork . After her lunch, her boss Mike called and told her that he was switching up the rest of the shift and that Paul was going to finish up her shift. Knowing he must have a good reason for it and she thought she going to ask why but what came out was "how bad."

Mike filled her in on the details, 13 year old apparent suicide. Mike knew cases like that really got to Molly and tried to spare her when ever he could. But before he could continue Molly cut him off saying that the day was all ready half over and she would do it.

Mycroft was bit shocked when his Althea informed him that John was on the line. Answering he was about to ask what was wrong but John beat him to it.

"He asked for you to come, Mycroft." a pause "and Mycroft, he is crying."

"be there in 10."

"thanks"

Scared at what was going on at Baker st, He practically ran out the door barking orders for his car and the Doctor be put on stand by just in case.

The Autopsy of Brianna Deitz, age 13 , was one for the books . The small pudgy dark hair, dark clothes made Molly think , this could have been me. Her small frame bore classic signs of years of systematic abuse. Just a lost child that should not have ended up in a morgue. The slashes on her wrists mirrored the ones that Molly herself bore. Molly quietly documented all her findings, speaking quietly into her recorder documenting the girls suffering. After finishing the preliminary autopsy she sent tissues off for testing and placed the child into one of the cold crypts until they came back. The jarring noise of her phone startled her out of her thoughts. 1 new text was waiting to be read.

Are you OK? -jw

Molly sighed but responded.

He told you?- mh

yes- jw

I startled him and he reacted not like he planed to cold cock me. How is his hand?- mh

-Possible nerve damage will know in 6 weeks, more worried that he has asked to Mycroft than about his hand right now.- jw

-Oh dear.-mh

Mycroft Holmes , the ice man , was very concerned about his brother. Any one who saw him that morning would have thought he was just in a rush but to a few who knew him. They would know that something BIG was wrong . Mycroft was never rushed even when he was rushed. He was all ways in control but when it came to Sherlock – he worried. He knew what demons haunted his brother and he was worried- no scared – at the price they would demand to be exorcised.

When he got to Baker St , he expected to be met with the sounds of the violin after leaving the car but instead he was met by John. Standing in the rain looking lost. Johns eyes looked at Mycroft critically with keen understanding . Since John was deducing him he returned the favor.

"so you know." not so much a question as a statement of fact.

All John could do was nod his head.

"what happen john? Why has he asked for me?'

John moved closer to the door at speedy's as if he wanted no chances they would be over heard.

" He just said to get you, that he needed you. Whatever is going on he feels you can help him with it. To tell you the truth, I am scared more now than when Irene 'died' and Moriarty was running amok in London. He is in the sitting room but I am going to Bart's."

The last statement surprised Mycroft. If John was that concerned why was he going to the hospital he open his mouth to ask but John was ahead of him again.

"I am going to go see Molly and check on her. I know just how hard a punch Sherlock can throw."

"are you saying that Sherlock hit Molly Hooper?!" Now if anyone who worked with Mycroft had been there, they would all ready be scrambling to get out of his way but John, being used to a Holmes just stood his ground and explained hat had happened.

AS he explained Mycroft just nodded and his features softened after his initial fear dissipated. He then took a deep breath and prepared to face his greatest fear , his greatest failure and his secret pain. He had not been able to protect or save Sherlock. He lightly touched this coat pocket to make sure he had his lighter and fags. Tonight both of them could go off the wagon as far as he was concerned.

an- more to come .