A/N: Thanks much for reading and reviewing. Yes, I always say that, but it's always true.

Explanation time again: kestralspace correctly pointed out about British mobile numbers: their area codes and digits wouldn't allow for 867-5309. I lived in England for a time and am actually aware of that. But for people that aren't familiar with that, or wondered what was going on: yes, it shouldn't be possible to have a mobile that came up just as a 7 digit number. Of course, some people would've said it shouldn't be possible for someone to break into the Crown Jewels. grin The phone came from Moriarty. That's all the explanation I can give right now. But that's probably enough!

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As soon as he got home, he shoved the DVD into John's laptop.

He forced his brain to shut out external stimulus so he could focus on the movie.

It was a romantic tragedy filled with clichés and multiple moments that were guaranteed to make most women sob into a tissue. But the message was clear, or so he thought. Boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, girl dies from a horrible illness. The End.

What was Moriarty telling him?

Was Molly going to die from a disease? Had she been injected with some untraceable toxin? But why the love angle? He didn't love Molly. He wasn't going to fall in love with her. No offense to her. She was sharper and cleverer than he once had thought. She had a lot of good qualities. But he didn't do love.

So why the movie? Why the song? And why the attention to Molly?

When the phone rang he was ready. "Are you getting sentimental in your old age? Soppy films, 80's pop? Next thing I know you'll be crying during commercials."

"Lovely, wasn't it?" Moriarty asked cheerfully, as if Sherlock hadn't spoken. "Nothing beats a good old-fashioned love story, that's what I always say."

"No, you don't."

"Ok, so I don't. But I'll make an exception in this particular case."

"What are you playing at?" Sherlock whispered. "You know I don't do love. And killing Molly with some disease? If you want rid of me so much, why don't you just come and get me and kill me?"

There was a pause. "Would you do that? Would you give your life for Molly's?"

Sherlock swallowed hard but didn't hesitate. "Yes."

"How sweet. But no, you've got it all wrong, darling. I'm doing you a favor."

"A favor? How is that, exactly?" Sherlock asked incredulously.

"I've giving you the opportunity to experience love. You never have, have you. But now you can. You can open yourself up to it, Sherlock. Embrace it."

"Except that you're forcing me to act out some sadistic charade and you're going to kill Molly with some insane bioweapon."

Moriarty sighed. "Still don't get it. Oh, well. Let's move on to your next two assignments."

"Go on."

"One: you'll go back to the hospital to see Molly tonight. Take her some flowers this time. Act casual as to why you did it. When she presses, be all evasive and charming. You want to confuse her, get her wondering, all that sweet rubbish."

"Any particular flowers?" Sherlock asked.

"You pick. Leave some mystery to the visit. But end it like the last one: sit on the bed, hold her hand, kiss her cheek. Look upset: well, as much as you can manage. One more day and she'll be discharged, and that will be great fun. But for now, keep running a bit hot and cold."

"And the other assignment?"

"Two movies. Romeo & Juliet, whichever version you want to watch, and Dangerous Liaisons. Watch them both tonight."

Sherlock pressed his lips together. "What you've having me do is going to cause a great deal of suspicion. Not just with Molly, but with John."

"Yeah. Fun, isn't it? I told you. Make things up. Don't give straight answers. Claim you're doing research… God, do I need to hold your hand with everything? I thought you were cleverer than that."

"I just don't want to inadvertently set off any explosions," Sherlock said defensively.

"Don't worry. If you're about to accidentally step over a line, I'll give you one warning. One. And you already know what will happen if you do it deliberately, so no need to stir that up."

"No. No need."

"Good. You should get some candy to snack on while you watch the movies. Some Sno-Caps or a chocolate bar… chocolate's great, you know. Dark chocolate at least. All those mood-elevating and pleasure-inducing chemicals… it might help you..." Moriarty's voice trailed off into a whisper.

"Help me with what?" Sherlock asked apprehensively.

"Whoops! I almost said too much," Moriarty laughed. But Sherlock knew the entire speech had been deliberate. "Anyway, it's not an order, just a suggestion."

"I'll take it under advisement."

"Do that. Have fun tonight. Give Molly a big kiss for me. Oh, better not. You might get jealous. Bye!"

Sherlock snapped the phone shut and sighed.