Note: Sorry for the oh so late update. My life's a busy mess... To remind you were we left off: Sherlock has just left St. Bart's and Molly has lunch with David. Still Saturday.
I finally have to start recommending the marvellous Sherlolly stories floating around on here:
"Love stories and tournaments of lies" by Nocturnias (if you're actually not already reading it, start immediately!)
"The domestic analysis" by somethinginthewayful
"The sweet sound" by Petra Todd
On his way home, Sherlock played everything that had just happened back in his mind. This David, surprisingly, had not been very easy to read. He seemed secretive. But, in the end, Sherlock deduced enough to be sure he was still on his top game. Plus, nobody needed to know that he had to pick the man's pocket and search his wallet to find the photo of the small boy playing cricket in a sunny park. No wonder he seemed to hold back something. Even Sherlock knew that it was just normal to detain such personal information from a future partner you do not know too well. But, then again, he appeared to want Molly enough to refer to her as his woman. Thinking back to those words of David's made Sherlock surprisingly angry.
Sherlock was walking, no cab today. It seemed like this David wasn't a bad person. A bit dull, yes, but essentially… I just did not imagine Molly with that sort of man. Come to think of it, he never really imagined Molly ending up with anyone. That possibility simply didn't cross his mind. He was perfectly fine with her as a single person and, at least in the past, he thought she was content. She always smiled at him; there was no reason to think she was not satisfied with her life. Odd.
But I absolutely cannot stand him! Why? What is wrong with him? Or me? No, not me. As unfortunate as Sherlock found it, he instantly saw that Molly liked this man. She was very lively and her cheeks had turned an attractive rosy colour when he had walked in. This was the state he usually found Molly when he entered the lab. The detective had grown to like this expression on her. So, David would probably be around for him to figure out the dislike later on. For now, he could not focus his mind on him. He had a case to work on. Molly had forwarded all of the newsletters to him and also promised to get more information on the doctor from Leeds. Thus, for the rest of the day there was not a high chance of getting bored enough to think about Molly Hooper's private life.
From what Molly had told him, Dr Max Knight was a semi talented pathologist. He had never studied very hard whilst attending medical school with Molly and only barely got his degree. He quickly moved away from London because he had married his girlfriend. She was starting her own plastic surgery clinic up north supported by her rich father who was also a doctor. His father in law had also been the one getting Max the job in the teaching hospitals in Leeds.
_.:0:._
Molly and David were sat in the small lounge for employees of the hospital, both chewing on the sandwiches he had brought. She quickly decided that there was absolutely no need to talk about Sherlock, even though she could still feel his arms around her. David, on the other hand, didn't seem to share that opinion and, as Molly couldn't quite find another topic, he started, "so, this Sherlock guy, he's a bit weird. You're colleagues then?" His brows raised and Molly could see his mind working on the phrasing of the question.
Is he jealous?- Yup! Do I like that? Who am I kidding… of course I like that! Well, Sherlock has been rather…. cuddly. He obviously didn't like David and put on that little show for him. But Sherlock doesn't like any new people, so don't get trapped into thinking you're special again, Molly! ... Why is David looking like that? Oh, right, he asked me something…
"Well, not really colleagues. He doesn't work at the hospital and I don't work for the police," and neither as a high profile babysitter like John…, "he doesn't officially work for them, either… but sometimes we consult on the same cases and… erm… exchange information about victims and so on. Rather boring…" She coughed slightly uncomfortably and moved around on her chair. When this explanation did not satisfy David fully, she added, "but we don't see much of each other, mostly Sherlock is doing field work."
David appeared to relax a bit after that last sentence. He decided not to mention Sherlock's protective behaviour and his suspicions about him being Molly's ex boyfriend. He had his own secrets after all. And if she wanted to talk about it, she would - sooner or later. To be honest, he didn't care very much about her past as long as she was willing to keep seeing him. Smiling, he bit into his sandwich. His free hand grabbed hers on the table and she didn't back away. Good sign!
"So, what are we doing tonight? You decide!"
Out of the blue David was planning a second date. Hm, I cannot really remember since when it was just understood that I'd be free tonight… but as I am…why not?
_.:0:._
When Sherlock arrived in Baker Street, John was waiting for him. He was sat in an armchair, his computer in his lap.
"Ah, there you are, Sherlock! How was the trip to your favourite pathologist?" He made it sound innocent but Sherlock knew what he meant and shot his friend an angry look.
"Stop your adolescent teasing, please. You agreed to not speak about that, remember?" Without waiting for an answer, he proceeded to tell John the few things he had found out about Max Knight.
"… but I'll have another look in the emails again and search them more systematically. There wasn't more time with this Australian beach boy invading the lab. Do you have any news from Leeds?"
John bit his lip and didn't comment on Sherlock's remark about whom he could only assume was Molly's date and started, "I told the police about your theory of other missing bodies. They've not exactly been supporting but after Lestrade had called and told them about your accuracy they agreed to search other funeral homes. They have yet to call back and tell us how their search went. On this Dr Knight: I called the hospital where he works. He hasn't shown up at work today. Also, he doesn't answer his phone. I think there is definitely something odd about him. I've let Cooper know to look out for him."
Sherlock nodded and grabbed his violin. When he started playing a theme of Dvorák's new world symphony, John knew that there was nothing he could help his friend with now. Sherlock needed to think. Alone. So, the smaller man slowly stood up from the chair, closed his laptop and walked over to the fridge. Ignoring the (more or less) fresh foot in there, he grabbed a yogurt and went to his room. He would keep searching for information on Knight's whereabouts and wait for a phone call from Sergeant Cooper. He hated it when there was nothing else to do.
_.:0:._
7.30 p.m. Molly had decided she wanted to cook for David. So far, so good. Why exactly did this seem like a good idea this afternoon? She couldn't remember. She was leaning over her counter and trying to chop garlic and in the same time prevent the cooking water in the big pot from scalding the side of her arm. He would be there in half an hour and she was still in her leggings and wide jumper. Don't panic!
When she had just finished chopping and turned her attention to the slippery prawns waiting to be thrown into a pan with the garlic, her phone beeped.
When are you free for the coffee we agreed on? - SH
What? Are you kidding me? - Molly
Not my intention. So when? Please be sure to have some more information on Max Knight. And preferably on the relationship with his father in law. - SH
She wasn't sure how to react. It had been rather obvious that Sherlock had only asked her for a coffee to annoy David. Was he actually asking her out now? No, he wasn't. But, normally he wouldn't ask when it was convenient for her to give him some information he needed. Usually, he just turned up at the morgue or called her and asked a clear question (to which he expected a clear - and short - answer). What was it about all that jovial, normal behaviour? She guessed there was some underlying 'sherlocky' reason for this and didn't question his motives further.
I need some time to call old friends. Monday? - Molly
Fine. I'll be at your flat at 3 p.m. Have fun tonight and don't overcook the pasta. - SH
Molly just shook her head and turned back to the counter.
_.:0:._
Sherlock laid his phone on the kitchen table before turning his attention back to the violin. That's what friends do. They communicate over hot beverages. Weird. God, I'm turning into John. He didn't really know why he had sent the text to Molly. Now, he just hoped that David would somehow take notice of the meeting. Mental note: Find out where antipathy stems from. He stored the note in the mind palace for processing later on.
That's it. I'm not really satisfied, but well... There'll be happening more substantial things in the next chapters.
By the way, Molly is cooking a very delicious dish: pasta and king prawns in garlic with chili and ginger in a creamy sauce - drop me a line if you're interested in the recipe ;)