Thank you all for taking the time to read, review and follow or favourite this story. It makes all the difference to the writer. So, let's see how Sherlock is coping with being fobbed off by Molly. Hands up if you think the answer is 'not well' :).

Chapter 3

The next day was a nightmare for John. Sherlock was unbelievably grouchy and irritable. When he'd arrived at nine thirty in the morning he found an undressed, unwashed Sherlock hibernating on the couch and he hadn't managed to get a coherent sentence from him for at least an hour, just grunts and sighs.

When Mrs Hudson had arrived with a tray of tea and biscuits Sherlock had roared at her to get out. Give her her due though she had raised herself up to her full height and given Sherlock what for. By the end he was on his feet apologising and giving her a kiss on the cheek as he said sorry.

All he'd said to John as he made his way to the bathroom for a shower was, 'find me a case, John, and make sure it's a good one.'

John had just flicked the bird at his back and continued going through the emails and news reports. He did however send a quick text to Molly to see if she could shed any light on GrumpLock's mood. John was still somewhat baffled at Sherlock's offering to teach Molly to dance, as well as accompanying her to the Bart's event, so much so he had been and bought tickets for himself and Mary to attend just so he could watch it all first hand.

He'd quizzed Sherlock as they'd left Bart's that first day.

'So you and Molly going on a date then?'

'It's not a date.'

'Sounds like a date.'

'It's not a date.'

'If it looks like a date, sounds like a date, smells like a date...'

'For God's sake John, it's not a date. I'm just helping out a friend, that's all.'

'So Molly's a friend then?'

'Yes.'

'And that's all she is?'

'Yes.'

'OK well just don't say I didn't warn you.'

With this Sherlock had stopped walking so suddenly that John had barrelled into his back. 'Warn me about what John?' He scowled at him.

'You, Molly, spending time together dancing. One thing can lead to another and before you know it the dance becomes a date. Not that that would be a bad thing, God knows you could benefit from getting laid. Just...just don't hurt Molly. OK?'

Sherlock tilted his head whilst scrutinising John. He hesitantly said, 'OK, I hope I would never do anything to hurt Molly...not now.' With that he spun and walked away leaving a slightly bemused John in his wake, unsure as to what exactly that last comment meant.

A beep from his phone brought John back to the current situation. He picked it up and read the text message from Molly.

Sherlock was fine last night. Don't know what might be wrong with him. Mx

John wondered whether he felt brave enough to ask Sherlock about Molly. He was still convinced that she was at the bottom of Sherlock's foul mood.

At that moment Sherlock banged out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. By the time he emerged John had picked up a case in Hampshire near the village of Thor which might occupy them both. He had phoned through to Lestrade who was more than happy to get in touch with the local police force to offer Sherlock's help.

He described the case to Sherlock who huffed and grumbled but an hour later they were on a train heading out of London.

When they arrived the case was fairly straight-forward, at least it was for Sherlock. It had taken him less than five hours to assess the case, talk to some of the witnesses and suspects and identify the killer.

His mood seemed to have lifted during the case but as they travelled back towards London John could see the black cloud descending once more.

He sat opposite him in the train carriage nursing an over-priced coffee. 'Sherlock, what is it? What's bothering you? You never know maybe I can help.'

Sherlock's eyes flicked to John from their current gaze out of the window. 'What makes you think anything's bothering me?'

John waved his hand at him, 'this, you, you've been in a right mood today. Worse than usual. Has something happened between you and Molly?'

Sherlock definitely answered too fast, 'no! I mean what makes you think that.'

'Well, it's not like you've been doing much else the past couple of days, you weren't dealing with a case, you haven't got any experiments on the go at the moment so what else could it be?'

Sherlock was silent for so long, staring once again out of the window, that John thought he wasn't going to answer.

Suddenly he turned back, clearing his throat, 'I'm just disappointed in Molly, that's all. I suggested that we have another dance practice this evening but she blew it off to go on a date...and if she can get a date for this evening why didn't she ask him to the Bart's ball instead of wasting my time?'

John stared at Sherlock for a beat and then burst out laughing, 'she's not on a date you berk, she's on a girl's night out, Mary's gone as well. It's been planned for weeks.'

Sherlock looked confused for a second remembering back to the night before, of course! Molly had never actually said anything about a guy, he always got something wrong. He scrambled to dissemble in front of John but wasn't quite quick enough.

'Oh my God you're jealous!' John sat looking at Sherlock with a kind of awed look on his face.

'I am not jealous John, don't be ridiculous.'

John got his phone out, 'you know we could always join them. We'll be back in London by ten and Mary is just a phone call away.'

Sherlock just huffed and looked back out of the window.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Sherlock still wasn't quite sure what he was doing, or how John had persuaded him to do this, as he and John paid into the nightclub.

The music was too loud and there were far too many people, it really wasn't his kind of thing. He scanned the room taking advantage of his height and quickly spotted Molly stood at the top of some wide steps up to a seating area. She was talking to some idiot who was leaning into her, touching her arm. He felt a sudden surge of anger.

John shouted something too him and wandered off but Sherlock ignored him, continuing to stare at Molly. He had to admit she looked quite attractive tonight, she was wearing a purple chiffon dress that was fitted on the top with straps that left her arms bare, the skirt fell in layers to her knees. Her hair was down and she looked happy and relaxed if not a bit tipsy.

The guy took Molly's empty glass and turned towards the bar. Sherlock took off after him making his way through the crowds. As he reached him he scanned him from top to bottom using every ounce of his deductive reasoning and was quickly rewarded. He took him by the shoulder, 'I suggest you go home to your wife and your...three children and leave my friend alone!'

The guy's face went red in shock and anger. 'Who the hell are you and why should I fucking well do anything you want me to?' Sherlock could see his fist clenching at his side.

'I don't think your boss over at Sand Sanderson bank would appreciate hearing that you got into a brawl at the weekend.'

The guys jaw dropped, 'fuck you, your friend was a frigid bitch anyway!'

Sherlock watched him leave before ordering a couple of drinks at the bar. However, as he took them over to Molly he realised that buying her a glass of wine was perhaps unnecessary. Closer examination showed her to be beyond tipsy and well on her way to flat out drunk. He made his way up three steps until he was head height with her. 'Molly.'

Molly's gaze made its way to his face, 'hey,' she said with a grin. Her hand splayed onto his chest just above his heart, 'now you are gorgeous! You look just like my friend Shhrlock, he's gorgeous too.'

She took the glass of wine from his hand and took a sip. 'Oooh talking of, don't look now but my friend Mary is dancing with some fella, her husband won't be too happy.' She gestured towards the dance floor slopping some of the wine out of her glass as she did, 'oops' she giggled to herself.

Sherlock turned his head and spied John and Mary dancing together. He rolled his eyes.

'Yes, I think maybe we should get you home Molly.' He gently removed the glass from her hand and placed it with his own on the table just behind her.

'Oh you're a forward one aren't you. I'll tell you a secret.' She moved her head so she could whisper in his ear, 'I like that in a guy.'

Before Sherlock could say anything in response Molly kissed him. He was too stunned to react at first but then Molly's hands wound themselves into his hair and she pulled on his curls to tilt his head to the side allowing her to deepen the kiss.

His head was telling him to pull back and stop this even as his body betrayed him, his hands gripping her hips to hold her steady against him. It felt as though every inch of Molly was pressed against him, he could feel her breasts crushed against his chest.

He groaned into her mouth, tasting the wine on her tongue as it plunged into his mouth. It felt amazing.

Mary nudged John and pointed over to where Sherlock and Molly were openly making out. John's mouth fell open before he grinned back at his wife, 'about bloody time!'

Molly's hands slid under Sherlock's jacket and he felt her pulling on his shirt until it came out from his trousers. Her warm hands on his skin brought him back to himself with a jolt. He pulled back from the kiss leaving Molly looking confused, 'I...err...I'm sorry Molly.'

With that he turned and ran. He didn't worry about Molly getting home, he knew John would take care of her, he just needed to get out of there, to clear his head. It felt as though he were drowning in the heat, the noise and the touch of Molly Hooper.

Oh poor Sherlock getting his freak on and running. I have to admit I loved writing this chapter and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. Let me know.