Story No. 5

Forward Note: Thanks to all those who reviewed last update! I apologize for being so late: this past week was really busy. These next coming weeks won't be much better, I'm afraid. I'll update when I can. Thank you for your patience! This chapter is based off a prompt from user Khione'sKid.306. It takes place during that brief and hated period where Janine and Sherlock dated. *makes disgusted face*

Please read and review!

Molly Hooper stood examining a corpse one afternoon at St. Bart's. The day was proceeding as usual, except with the added bonus of living company offered by Sherlock Holmes. He wasn't much, and he had barely spoken to her all day, but sometimes it was nice to know there was someone else alive. Also, it made her feel strangely warm inside to know that Sherlock was near to her. She glanced over to see his curly brown head bent over a microscope. Noticing movement, his eyes flicked over at her, and she quickly looked away. Sherlock smiled slightly to himself and looked back down at his microscope. He appreciated her company just as much as she appreciated his, though he'd never tell her so. They went about their business in silence, each silently savoring the other's presence, when a sharp knocking on the door rudely interrupted the peace.

"Sherlock? Sherl, babe, you there?" Sherlock's head snapped up. His eyes widened with panic. He dropped onto the floor and hid behind the counter, his neck craning around to look at the door. "Sherlock?" the voice called, followed by more knocking. Sherlock's head jerked back behind the counter and he looked over desperately at Molly, who watched confusedly.

"I'm not here!" Sherlock hissed up at her. Molly looked at him in disbelief. "Is anyone there? Hello? Sherl?" the voice called again. "I'm not here!" he repeated. Molly sighed and walked over to the door. An oddly familiar woman stood behind it, peering through the small glass window. Molly opened it and observed the pretty black-haired woman who stood trying to look past her into the room.

"Hello. Molly Hooper." Molly said, extending her hand. "Sherlock is, um, very preoccupied at the moment and uh, can't talk now. What do you need?" she asked politely. The woman shook her outstretched hand.

"Janine Hawkins. I was just going to ask Sherl something, if you don't mind. May I come in?" she asked. Molly nodded.

"Of course. I was just working on a body, but if that doesn't -" she began. Why is this woman here?

"Oh. On second thought, I'll just stay out here." Janine interrupted. "I'm not good around, um, dead people. Would you mind asking him something for me?"

"Sure, but if you're one of his clients, I think it would be best if you came by later, at his flat." Molly stated, still confused about this woman's desire to speak to Sherlock. She was also growing irritated with her. You're disrupting my Sherlock time and my work, Molly became even more confused when Janine began to laugh.

"Oh, no, I'm not a client! I'm his girlfriend!" Janine laughed. Molly's jaw dropped. Nothing could have prepared her for this. She couldn't find words. Red-hot fury and rage surged through her veins, and she looked down at the floor, trying to regain her composure. What?! Sherlock has a girlfriend?! Sherlock has a friend?! NO! she thought in anguish. She looked back up at Janine and curtly excused herself. She marched over to Sherlock's hiding spot and dropped down next to him angrily.

"You have a GIRLFRIEND?!" Molly hissed at Sherlock. He looked up at her crouched form blankly.

"Yes. What does said girlfriend want?" he replied unfazed. Molly stared at him. "Why didn't you tell me!" she whispered furiously.

"I didn't think it was necessary! Now go get rid of her! I don't have the patience to deal with her now!" Sherlock replied, irritation creeping into his voice, which was ludicrous to Molly because of all people to be irritated right now, it would be her. She groaned and stood up, walking back over to Janine.

"Is this a bad time? Should I come back? You're probably really busy with your dead people. How do you do that? You have to be a special kind of person to be able to handle being around corpses all day." Janine said. Molly looked at her, dying to scream at her to leave and never come back. Not only was she jealous of Janine, but now she was annoying her as well. The combination resulted in an unpleasant twisting feeling in her chest. She breathed in deeply.

"Why are you here?" Molly asked, her dislike evident in her tone. Janine looked at Molly, her turn to be confused now.

"I was just going to ask Sherl what I need to wear tonight. For our date." Janine said, emphasizing the last word. She glanced sideways to see Molly's reaction. She clearly had realized Molly was jealous, and was enjoying rubbing salt in her wound. Molly knew exactly what she was doing, and met her with an icy stare, crossing her arms. Both women felt extremely threatened by the other. "He wasn't answering his phone, and John said he'd probably be here, so, here I am. " she went on, a twinge of annoyance appearing on her face. "Why are you here, with Sherlock? Shouldn't you go somewhere else while he's working? Poor thing, probably can't get anything done with you here bothering him," she said with an air of superiority. Molly glared at her. Bothering? Oh, I'm not the one bothering people, she thought angrily. This woman was making it very difficult to like her.

"I work here, on this floor. I'm the pathologist. What do you do for a living? Escorts?" Molly said, smirking. Janine gasped, fury overtaking her features. On that scathing note, Molly whirled around and walked back to Sherlock, trying to walk straight and tall. She crouched down next to Sherlock's amazed face.

"Good Lord, you ripped her to pieces! That was brilliant! Loved the escort bit. Genius!" Sherlock whispered, taking her by the shoulders and shaking her, an enormous grin spread across his face. Molly brushed him off, still angry and annoyed.

"Yeah. Whatever. What does she need to wear tonight to your bloody 'date'?" Molly replied shortly. Sherlock looked at her, slightly bewildered.

"A dress. Something nice, but not black tie." Sherlock said, still somewhat confused. Oh, he'll figure it out soon enough. He always does. Molly nodded brusquely and spun around, going back to Janine. She approached the still fuming woman, and half-smiled over her handiwork. She never knew she could be so devious.

"He says dressy casual. See you later. Or not." Molly said bluntly, then shut the door in Janine's face. Janine stood behind the closed door, gaping at Molly's retreating form through the small window. She whirled on her heel and stormed out, slamming doors as she went. Molly laughed as she listened to the sound of Janine's fury. She felt like a different person, with the envy and anger and hurt coursing through her being. Sherlock rose slowly from behind the counter.

"Well done, I thought she'd be here for a lot longer." Sherlock said, straightening his shirt out. Molly glared at him.

"Why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend? And why would you pick her?" Molly asked, the hurt she felt creeping into her voice. Sherlock groaned.

"It was unnecessary. And unimportant. I didn't see any reason I needed to. And I happen to find, erm, special qualities in Janine that, well, no one else has." Sherlock said awkwardly. Molly ducked her head, now visibly hurt.

"I see." Molly said, close to tears. She turned and walked back to the corpse she had been examining, her eyes filled to the brim with tears. She stood infront of the body and shook slightly with silent sobs. His words had slashed across her with a ferocity she never thought possible. Why aren't I good enough for him? Molly thought, blinking back tears. She tried to focus on her work, but it was impossible through her blurred vision. Suddenly, she felt two strong arms wrap around her waist. Sherlock's forehead pressed against the side of her head.

"I need you, Molly Hooper. More than you'll ever know," he whispered. He wanted to say so much more: to come clean and tell her his whole scheme to get to Magnussen, so as not to hurt her. He wished he could say everything he felt and concealed, but words such as these never came easily to him.

They both stayed perfectly still for a moment, Molly breathing shallowly. She couldn't fathom what was transpiring. Her mind was a whirlwind of lingering jealousy, anger, happiness, shock, bliss, and joy. Slowly, Sherlock released her from his embrace, his lips gently brushing her temple, and walked back over to his microscope. An eternity of silence passed as Molly Hooper stood unmoving in front of her work. Her entire being hummed with ecstasy, yet it was met head-on with all the other feelings she had, feelings of hurt and envy. There were so many questions she wanted to ask, but she couldn't formulate any through the tornado of emotions ravaging through her brain. She turned to Sherlock, who was once again hunched over his microscope. She rubbed her eyes and sniffed away her runny nose. Desperate to say something, Molly said the first thing that came to her mind.

"One question: Sherl? Really?"

Sherlock smiled.

So, whaddya think? I really wanted to show a different side to Molly that jealousy evoked in her. Did I do it well? Also, I didn't proofread this one as much as I normally did the others, so if you see anything, I apologize! Please review, please please please please PLEASE! I will love you forever and like you for always if you review!

See you later!