Molly sat in the sitting area of Sherlock's flat. He had given her some of his spare clothing while her wet clothes were being dried by Mrs. Hudson. The spare clothes were baggy and loose on Molly's small frame, making it look like she was in her pyjamas. In her hands was a hot cup of tea, brewed to keep her warm and to stop her shivering. Sherlock sat down in front of her. Unlike the many times he'd had people sit before him, she wasn't his client; instead she was just a friend who needed a shoulder to cry on. "Now, tell me what happened." he prompted her. "Please." he then added, his voice almost in a soothing tone.
She let out a heavy sigh, as though a heavy burden was on her shoulders. "Well, I was going to meet Tom for coffee - you remember Tom, my ex-fiancé?" she began.
"Yes, of course." Sherlock nodded. He remembered the very moment he met Tom. The man had dressed similar to Sherlock and looked almost like him; the only thing that could tell the two apart was Tom's lack of logic. Sherlock had held his tongue about Molly's choice for a potential husband, but even he knew she could've done better.
"He said he wanted to talk to me about something important, and asked me to meet him for coffee at where we had our first date." she continued, before suddenly looking a bit embarrassed. "I'm ashamed to admit this, but I thought that he wanted to see me because he wanted to give us another go." she confessed, rubbing behind her neck. "But anyway, I got there and saw him talking to another girl. I thought that she was probably a cousin or an old friend of his, so I didn't notice anything suspicious. So, I waved to him, but he didn't notice me." Molly explained. "A-And then, I saw something else..." she paused. She bit her bottom lip as more tears started to form in her eyes.
"What is it? What did you see?" Sherlock asked, even though he knew the answer already from the tearful look on Molly's face.
She took a gulp of tea to steady her nerves for a moment. "Tom and that girl; t-they were kissing." she croaked. Sherlock looked somewhat saddened when she gave her answer, despite knowing what she would say. "I didn't know what to think, so I went in there and shouted at him, saying that if meeting his new bird was that important, he should've told me from the beginning. A-And then I stormed out. Tom was trying to say something but I was too upset to listen. I don't know if he followed me, but I just started running. I couldn't stop crying. It's like he'd thrown everything about our relationship right back in my face." she continued. She looked up at the ceiling, trying to regain her composure. "I'm sorry you have to see me like this, I know relationships aren't your cup of tea. Sherlock, do you think I was stupid to see him?" she asked, turning to face him.
Sherlock listened to her story, making observations about Molly's behaviour. It was clear that Tom's actions had caused her considerable pain. "You had a lucky escape when your engagement ended. Tom's actions were unforgivable and he should've considered your feelings when he asked to meet you." he began, his hands under his chin. "Listen to me, Molly Hooper; you should never for one second think that you are stupid. You will find the right man who will treat you as the unique person that you are." he continued.
Molly felt her cheeks blush with a faint red. Sherlock Holmes is saying something...nice to me? she thought. "Thank you, Sherlock. I feel a little better now." she smiled. Sherlock immediately noticed the change in her. The heaviness on her shoulders now seemed to be lifted.
"Here we are, sweetheart. Your clothes are now completely bone dry." Mrs. Hudson smiled, bringing Molly's now dry clothes. They'd been ironed and cleaned, now smelling completely fresh instead of the dampness of the rain.
"Thank you, Mrs. Hudson." Molly beamed, taking the folded clothes from her. "Um, can I-?" she began, looking at Sherlock rather shyly.
Sherlock nodded to give her the go-ahead. She didn't need to finish her sentence. The only room with enough privacy in the flat was the bathroom. "Take as much time as you need." he replied.
Molly gave him a grateful smile and went to get changed. As soon as the bathroom door was shut, Mrs. Hudson looked towards Sherlock. "I'm surprised you haven't asked her out. The girl is very fond of you, Sherlock." she beamed.
"Sentimentality is a weakness that affects people's emotions. It weakens resolve and renders a person more susceptible to their deeper thoughts." Sherlock replied coolly. "And it's a weakness I do not need." he added, looking towards his landlady.
"Mark my words, Sherlock Holmes; you'll end up regretting you said that. She'll mean more to you than you thought she did." Mrs. Hudson chuckled as she left the flat, heading to her own downstairs. Sherlock shook his head to himself dismissing her words as just that; words.
As soon as she'd left, Molly came out of the bathroom, now dressed in her own clothes. "I should get going. Toby will need some feeding, and he tends to get a bit grumpy if I don't feed him on time." she smiled. "I put your spare clothes away for washing. You don't mind, do you?" she asked, hoping she hadn't insulted him in some way.
"No, it's fine." he replied, grabbing his coat and scarf. "Shall we be off then?" he asked.
"Off? Where're we going?" Molly asked, looking confused.
"I'm escorting you home of course." Sherlock replied. "Is that going to be a problem?" he asked.
Molly felt her face go a little more red than earlier. "N-No, of course not..." she stammered, a little shocked that Sherlock was volunteering to take her home. What did Mrs Hudson put in his tea? she thought.
"Good, then I suggest we go now. Don't want to make Toby upset now, do we?" he smiled before heading downstairs.
Molly nodded, somewhat speechless. A compliment and a walk home on the same day? I must be dreaming... she thought to herself as she headed after him.
Sherlock opened the door and slightly grimaced at the sight of the weather. "It's still raining. We'll have to make sure we get there without you getting wet again." he pondered. He then slightly removed his coat before offering it to Molly. Registering the puzzled look on her face, he sighed. "It's to cover you from the rain." he explained, making it as simple as he could.
"Oh, of course. I should've realised." Molly smiled, laughing a little nervously. She felt a bit mad at herself for not realising it in the first place, and for making herself look a bit of an idiot in front of the man she cared about more than anything. As they stepped outside, Sherlock covered Molly with his coat. Molly felt her face go red once again. It was true that he could be a gentleman when he wanted to be, but it was a side that Molly had never had the chance to see herself. She looked up at him as they started to make their way to her home, her heart beating faster. It was true that Sherlock Holmes was a good looking man, but to Molly, the rain seemed to compliment his looks.
Eventually, they arrived at Molly's home. Sherlock kept a close guard on her, using his body as a shield to keep her from the rain. As she unlocked her front door, Sherlock watched over her. There was an awkward silence between the two until Sherlock broke the ice with two words: "Thank you."
Molly stopped in her tracks and turned to him with a look of confusion. "For what?" she asked.
"For everything you've done for me." he replied softly. He then lent in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Molly felt what seemed to feel like a shot of electricity shooting through her body. He'd kissed her on the cheek before, but this time it felt...different. "Goodnight, Molly Hooper." Sherlock smiled.
"Goodnight, Sherlock Holmes." she replied, restraining herself from throwing herself onto him again. His job complete, Sherlock started to walk back home. Molly watched him go before heading inside. As soon as she was in the warmth of her home, Molly leant back against the door, her head swimming with emotions about the time she'd spent with Sherlock. Was all of that a dream, or did it all really happen? she thought. Her thoughts were interrupted by her cat Toby rubbing against her leg with his head. "I know; it's feeding time. Come on, buddy." she smiled, heading into the kitchen to get his food.
At the same time, Sherlock was walking back to Baker Street. Hidden in the shadows, a figure watched his moves very closely. He held a button on his headset to contact someone. "General, I have confirmation. Sherlock Holmes is in London. Shall I commence the attack?" he asked in Mandarin Chinese.
"No. It is not the right time." a woman's voice replied. "We wait for the New Year exhibit. Continue your observations." she ordered.
"As you wish." he replied.
The woman sat back in her chair and gazed at a photograph on her desk. It featured a middle aged woman; the previous leader of the Black Lotus Tong, General Shan. "Do not worry. Your death will be avenged soon." she vowed, her fingers trailing on the picture frame.