Chapter 6

On the second day of the intervention(as John called it) Molly sent John a text.

-Hey how is Sherlock doing? Can I stop by after work?- mh

John looked up to Sherlock to ask but he heard a belly laugh(WHAT!) from Mycroft.

"Goth really! HAHAHAHAH!"

"SOD OFF MYCROFT" A Slight smile touched the corner of Sherlock's mouth.

"Hey Sherlock, Molly has been worried. She wants to stop by is that OK?"

Sherlock stilled, his eyes going wide and his hands which was steady a moment ago started to shake. He looked at John his answer clearly on his face. Since her face was still swollen and discolored, Molly decided to take some of her hard won time off. After telling Mike for the 1000th time it was an accident. (since it was!) He agreed to her taking the week off.

Walking back to her flat, Molly thought about Sherlock's problem of not being able to play. With a smile she knew that she could sorta help with that. Since he felt it was partially her fault. Once she got home she petted Toby absent mindlessly and set down in her music corner. Placed her recorder down, grabbed her clarinet and soon music filled her small flat. Once she hit record, she lost herself in the music. Everything she had inside her she poured into the music. Here Molly was elegant, she was poised, here she was free. Here time had no meaning, pain had had no foothold here. For five hours she played for herself and for Sherlock. Afterword she felt so much better. After her dinner she called her music store and ordered more music. Wore out she showered and climbed into her bed and for once the monsters of the past left her alone.

The next morning she woke up feeling even better, stronger. After a quick breakfast and some crap telly, she sat down with pen and paper. When she was finally happy with the gift and the note she shot off a note to John.

-hey you home?- mh

-yeah what's up? You OK?-jw

- I am fine John, the bruise is starting to fade.-mh

-then why are you not at work?-mh

-took time off. Will you meet me for cofee-mh

John looked over to Mycroft sitting over on the couch looking over some files, "hey molly wants to meet up for coffee. Will you two be OK if I step out for a moment?"

Before Mycroft could answer.

"MYCROFT!"

At Sherlock's bellow both men headed to see what was wrong. Lounging in his bed Sherlock looked all most back to well Sherlock. Unconcerned about disrupting what ever they had been doing. He barreled on.

"Mycroft can you get me two iPod, one black and one um pink?"

At the choking sound john clapped Mycroft on the back . Then realized that the elder Holmes was laughing hard. Between chortles Mycroft affirmed that he could arrange that. Smiling at the amusing government official, John turned back to Sherlock.

"Hey Sherlock, Molly called I am going to meet her for coffee is it OK for her come up?"

John didn't expect get an answer and wasn't disappointed.

"well OK then but Molly did tell me to let you know that she was sorry for flinching and she knows that you didn't do it deliberately." With the message delivered he turned away missing the quiet "thank you." from Sherlock.

Molly did look so much better, John thought. The bruise was still huge and was shading into the yellows and greens of healing. A few more days and it would be gone. When she looked up a genuine smile lit up her face and John felt himself returning that smile you couldn't help it.

After a strong of coffee later, Molly pulled the small box out of her purse and handed it to John.

"Could you take this to Sherlock?"

John very curious about it's contents asked. "what is it dark chocolate?"

"NO its just uh uh something Sherlock might like. A get well present I suppose."

That statement maid them both grin like loons. Putting the box in his coat pocket he kept noticing Molly looking at her watch.

"I will do that Molls. So where you headed off to now?

With a look that was all most sneaky she leaned in and whispered. " off to a day spa to be pampered. The whole works massage, hair styling, Mani/ pedi then I am going shopping!"

John couldn't help but think good for you Molly you so deserve it! Innocently he asked the next typical question and it seemed to some what deflate the upbeat pathologist. "so who is going with you on your girl's day out?"

Molly hesitated for just a second before answering. " Oh just myself. Don't have many girlfriends . Not many friends at all except you guys and maybe Sherlock. I am a little too odd for most people – working with the dead and all. It can be off putting for the mundanes.

She sounded so matter of fact about it, so accepting of her fate, that her only friends were guys that John decided he needed to do something nice for this quiet woman.

"I' ll tell you what Molly Hooper. After you finish your spa stuff ring me up and I'll go shopping with you." at her look of surprise he laughed.

" Consider it your get well present. Friends hang out together. Heck if we are truly lucky we may even find another hideous jumper to annoy Sherlock with."

Feeling playful and lighthearted she agreed. With a bounce in her step she headed off towards her day.