Several weeks passed and things were all going to plan. John had got himself cleaned up, even getting his job at the clinic back, and him and Molly were continuing their pretense of dating, giving John plenty of opportunities to visit Sherlock. There was no real spark between him and Molly however, and Sherlock personally thought they acted much more like brother and sister than a couple. It was the best he could do to convince them they should at least kiss goodbye at night, or they'd be fooling nobody.

Sherlock pushed Molly's cat Toby off of his keyboard for the second time that day. Molly and John were at work, leaving him to do his research with only the cat for company. So as soon as Sherlock heard a sound from the front of the flat, he knew something was wrong. The cat often made noises around the flat with his comings and goings, but Toby was still seeking attention by curling around Sherlock's ankles. Molly would have text if she was coming home early, so that left only one option.

An intruder.

Either daylight robbery or someone looking for him. If it was daylight robbery they would be in and out in a few minutes with the most expensive thing they could find. If not, Sherlock didn't have a few minutes to waste finding out. Sherlock moved quickly and quietly, closing his laptop lid and stashing it under the mattress. He grabbed his clothes out of the wardrobe and hid those under the mattress also, leaving no visible evidence of his stay. He picked up the cat and put him on the bed, stroking him so he would curl up and get comfortable, as if he'd been there for hours. Now all Sherlock needed to hide was himself.

Under the bed and in the wardrobe were too obvious, the first place they would look. There was a ledge outside the window big enough for him to edge along, but the outside of the flat was likely being watched. That left only one place. Sherlock went and stood behind the door, grateful that it opened inwards and would conceal him. He listened carefully, hearing the intruder opening the door to Molly's bedroom and going inside. He was in there about a minute before coming back into the hallway. Enough time to search a small room for life, not for valuables.

The steps came closer, straight into the room Sherlock was in. Clearly he was an amateur, failing to check round corners as he came in. Sherlock got a good look at the back of his head as he approached the wardrobe. Crop cut, ear piercing, mid-twenties, right handed, trypanophobic. He didn't have time for a more in depth analysis of the man before him, it was now or never. Sherlock silently pulled away from the wall and slipped round the door. He opened the door to Molly's bedroom the same moment the man opened the wardrobe to cover the sound and slipped in. He could hide here until the man was gone since it had already been searched. Making himself comfortable on Molly's bed, Sherlock pulled a fresh nicotine patch out of his pocket, stuck it on his arm, steepled his fingers against his chin and settled down for a good long think about what was going on.

Sherlock was snapped out of his thoughts hours later by Toby jumping on his lap and meowing loudly. He had been so wrapped up in his thoughts Sherlock hadn't even realised it was getting dark. He got up, following the insistent cat out into the living room. It was well past the time when Molly would usually be home, but there was no sign of her, her workbag wasn't on the hook where she usually left it and Toby clearly hadn't been fed, something she always did as soon as she got in. Even if she was going out somewhere she would have stopped in to dump her bag and feed the cat, Molly was always very particular in her habits.

Sherlock went to the cupboard and got the food out for Toby, whipping his phone out to text John at the same time.

Were you seeing Molly after work today? – SH

No. Why?

Did she mention going out anywhere tonight? – SH

No, she specifically mentioned staying in tonight. Why, what's going on?

I think she's been taken. – SH

AN: Please don't hate me for doing this to Molly. Btw Hi to my new readers/followers, and thanks to those who have been reading a while for your continual support and comments :)