Chapter 27

Molly hated leaving the hospital. But she desperately needed a shower and change of clothes. She washed up quickly, wrapped a towel around her self then went into the bedroom to find a change of clothes. She switched on the radio for company and looked about the room to figure what to wear. Some clothes were hanging in the closet, but they were mostly Sherlock's. It was still all so foreign to her, this place. They hadn't even had a night's sleep here yet.

It didn't feel like home yet.

Out of their bedroom window, Molly could see the garden. Her garden. She felt tears start to sting her eyes as she looked down at it. Such a touching gesture. Sherlock may not know much about grand gestures of love. But he knew how to show it is the most meaningful ways.

She would make this a home for her family. She had to. She remembered sitting in the hospital with Mycroft. It was a night she would never forget. If she didn't know better, she could have sworn he'd been drinking. It was while Sherlock continued his bedside vigil. Mycroft suggested tea in the cafeteria, and she went with him.

Mycroft sat across the table from her looking down at his phone. It was then that Molly noticed the picture showing. It was the one of Sherlock and Laura.

"Sentiment, Mycroft? " She said softly, trying to use a teasing tone.

Suddenly, Mycroft looked up as if he'd come out of a trance.

"You...you'll never leave him. Will you Molly? "

"What? No. Of course not. He's my husband. "

"Yes, but a legal document won't make you stay. "

"I'll stay because I love him. Always have. "

"He's always going to find some discomfort in that. "

"Because he's Sherlock. "

"Because he doesn't understand...love. "

"He loves Laura. And me. "

"Yes. But he still doesn't understand it. He thinks on a different level. The element of love to him is or was... illusion. Mental byproduct of simple chemistry. For instance, say he understand the need to urinate is a direct result of his bladder being full. Cause and effect. But love...that is entirely its own entity. One he hasn't much experience in. You make it even more inconceivable. "

"How so? "

"You love him. No matter how he treats you. You simply love. Cause and effect have no reason attached to them in this case. "

"I think I understand. Mycroft, why are you telling me this? "

Mycroft was silent for several long minutes before replying. He was trying to figure out how to put things.

" He has had few people in his life that he could truly count on. Ones who always stood by him, never once doubting him. Who took the good and the bad and stayed with him. You...and John. "

"And you. "

"If only that were true. " Mycroft sighed. " I wish it were true. "

Mycroft told Molly about Sherlock's childhood. The neglect he received from the people who were supposed to love him. The abuse... it broke Molly's heart. But explained why Sherlock is the man he is.

"Mycroft, you were a child. "

"I was old enough. I should have protected him. I should have stood by him. For God's sake I could have just HELD him. "

"None of that matters now. He's learning. Your father hasn't won. He knows what it is like to love and be loved even if he doesn't understand it. "

"And now he is going through this nightmare and I still... "

"Still what? "

Mycroft pressed his fingers to his nose, shaking his head.

"I'm still trying to figure out the puzzle. I can't even bring myself to comfort my own little brother when he is in such pain with more than just data. "

"You will do what you can. That will be enough. "

Molly snapped back to the present. She lay down on the bed, allowing herself to relax and air dry. It felt good to lie down. But Mycroft's question kept running through her mind.

"You'll never leave him. Will you Molly?"

Did Sherlock wonder the same thing? Is that why he was trying so hard. Did he think that when Laura grew up, her job was done and she'd be gone? Its that why he spoke of having children, when he was just adjusting to fatherhood? Her heart clenched at that. He had been left. So many times.

With a sigh, she stood back up and headed to the boxes beside the closet. There, she spied hanging from the closet, the sleeve of his best church. The deep plumb colored one she loved so much on him. She touched the sleeve gingerly before bringing it up to press against her face. He hadn't washed it, so it still had his scent on it. Removing the item carefully from its hanger, she held it up to her face and inhaled.

With the garment still in her hands, she landed heavily back onto the bed looking down at it. She missed Sherlock. Knowing what he was doing away from her was important and necessary did nothing to lessen its effect. She had been so occupied with trying to figure out what was going on with Laura she hadn't allowed herself time to let it...all of it sink in.

Then, on the radio, came a song so perfectly timed, she gave herself over to every emotion she'd been trying to keep at bay.

Molly hunched over the shirt, sobbing as if her heart were literally breaking in two. Although she'd told Sherlock she wouldn't contact him except for changes in Laura, Molly decided to break that. She got dressed and grabbed her mobile.

mmmmmmmmmmm

Sherlock closed his eyes as he lay down on the small bed in his room at the inn. He's promised John he would try to get some sleep. The new information Mycroft called with was faxed and being gone over by Dr. Stapleton. She would call him when she got the results. Greg had also texted him saying he was sending something to the lab overnight. He wasn't sure if it would help or not, but something in his gut instinct told him it should be checked out.

His phone played Molly's ringtone suddenly, springing his eyes back open. With trembling hands, he opened the text.

Sherlock, I know what I said, but I am breaking my rule just this once. I am sending you something that has nothing to do with this case, exactly. Just something I need you to hear. Its a song I heard when I went home to change and shower. - MHH

Sherlock answered immediately.

I hope not in that order- SH

No, of course not, silly. I was in our room and your shirt was there, and I had a little bit of a melt down. - MHH

Are you ok? - SH he typed a little nervous

I'm fine. Now. - MHH

My shirt did this to you? -SH

In a manner of speaking. It was combined with things Mycroft told me. About when you were little. Please don't be angry with him for telling me. He loves you, Sherlock. He really is looking out for you. Anyway, please listen to it, Sherlock. Mycroft texted me updates. Hopefully you will be home soon?- MHH

Yes - SH only slightly miffed at Mycroft's meddling. It was his business what to tell Molly. He didn't want her pity.

Good. I do miss you ever so much- MHH

I miss you too, Molly. Desperately. By the by, you really should change your sig. It looks does look silly though. Like sounds I have made you make ;) - SH

I see what about me you've missed. I sound silly? - MHH

One of many things I miss, love. I assure you. And no. But the look is different from the sound. - SH

If I condensed it to MH, one might confuse me with Mycroft. - MHH

I see. Figure something out. - SH

Will do. Now, I am going back to the hospital. I love you, Sherlock. You do know that, right? - MHH

I do. And I love you. Please never forget that. - SH

I won't. Hope to see you soon. Bye darling. - MHH

Sherlock didn't reply as the file Molly sent him arrived. He pressed the media file button down and put it on speaker phone to listen at ease, placing the phone on his chest.

A few slow simple lines of piano sounded. Like a old fashioned toy who's batteries were dying down. It was oddly saddening and comforting at the same time. Then came the lyrics.

mmmmmmmmmm

"Is this the moment where I look you in the eye?

Forgive my broken promise that you'll never see me cry

And everything,

it will surely change

Even if I tell you I won't go away today

Will you think that you're all alone

When no one's there to hold your hand?

When all you know seems so far away

And everything is temporary, rest your head

I'm permanent

I know he's living in hell every single day

And so I ask,

oh God is there some way for me to take his place?

And when they say it's all touch and go

I wish I could make it go away but still you say

Will you think that you're all alone

When no one's there to hold your hand?

When all you know seems so far away

And everything is temporary, rest your head

I'm permanent, I'm permanent"

mmmmmmmmmm

Sherlock clenched the phone hard against his chest. He felt hot tears trailing down from his eyes into his ears. Not only for the feeling Molly's thoughtful gift gave him. Sherlock knew she meant every word the man sang. But something else. He thought about all the changes in Laura from when he first got her. She was so cold, so shut off. Just like him. He knew then the song didn't just apply as from Molly to him, but to Laura from him. He wouldn't let her down. He picked up the phone and sent one more text.

Thank you, Molly. I am coming home. I can't do more from here. I need my girls. Keep that song on your phone. See you in a few hours. - SH

mmmmmmmmmm

Sherlock and John came to the hospital straight from the train. He met with Mycroft who was getting out of his limo as the cab pulled up.

"How do we take a train, and you come across an ocean, but you still beat us here? " John asked, laughing.

"Sent the text in flight of course. " Mycroft sighed

"Obviously." Sherlock said, eying his brother

"You've lost weight. " Sherlock said, opening the door to the hospital.

"Yes. I see now why you stay so thin. "

"He won't be after all this is over. " John interjected.

"How so? " Mycroft asked, eyebrow perched as they waited for the lift.

"Have you had Molly's cooking? "

"Not yet. Good is she? I assume when she returns to work, though, that she won't have too much time for baking. " Mycroft said.

"True. Maybe you guys can have like a weekly family dinner. "

That prospect made both Holmes boy shiver.

They all entered Laura's room with Sherlock in the lead. He was greeted by his wife throwing herself around his neck.

"I have missed you! " She said, nuzzling her nose against his neck. His arms wound around her as he hugged her tightly.

"Me too. "

Sherlock didn't say more because Mycroft's phone went off. After Mycroft listened for several minutes, his facial expression changed several times.

He snapped the phone shut and smiled at Sherlock.

" That was Dr Stapleton. The file Detective Inspector Lestrade found... it was key, as well as the doll. The compound used on Laura had a trigger. It seems that when Darcy was pregnant, she was fed a cocktail intravenously. Only a small part of it was heroine, my people believe. They also think that the heroine was there for only two reasons. To keep her rather disoriented, as well as to stave off withdrawal induced miscarriage. At any rate, things weren't just added to Laura in the compound. They were taken away. Genetic splicing as it were. "

He had Sherlock's attention.

"Moriarty wanted only what he needed of who you are. But too much of the compound would have left Laura... Anyway, we can only assume it was the scientist in Switzerland who came up with the compound. But it needed a trigger to turn on and off. That trigger is found in your full DNA, Sherlock. The doll, Greg thought had drool stains from Laura on it from if she slept with it. It wasn't drool. It was a compound with your DNA. Gabriel actually pulled that one off. The doctor is faxing the information on the retro now. Hopefully they will have an antidote very soon. "

Sherlock almost laughed with relief. He would have to remember to find a way to properly thank both Dr Stapleton and Lestrade.

"But how did Adler find out? " Molly asked.

John laughed. " Of course. "

"Of course, what? " Sherlock looked at him.

"We know Irene knew about you for a long while before you'd actually met. We also know she was holding something over Moriarty. She knew about the antidote. "

"How? Knew what the scientist liked? " Molly asked

"Probably. But think about it, Sherlock. The paramedic. She got your hair, skin...swab... "

Sherlock shook his head at John.

"The great illuminator. Told you I couldn't do without my blogger! " He said, patting John on his back.

It was several hours later before a tired looking lab tech walked into the room and over to Laura's bed.

"Right, little miss. Lets see if this works... "

He placed a needle into her IV, and smiled with hope at the people in the room.

Now, all they could do...was wait.

mmmmmmmmmm

Sherlock cuddled Molly against him tightly. She was sitting on his lap on the small sofa next to the bed, his arm about her waist, her back to him.

"You've been taking care of yourself, right Sherlock? " She said softly, feeling his bones through his shirt.

"I try. I don't have much of an appetite lately. "

"Ever. " she giggled.

"At least one of us is though. You've put on three ...no four pounds in my absence. "

"Three and a half. "

"mmm... four. " Sherlock shrugged. " Don't mind. Feels good on you. " He smiled.

She smiled back. She looked over at Mycroft who was sitting on the chair on the opposite side. He winked at her.

John was busying himself looking at Laura's charts.

"Do you still have that song on your phone? " Sherlock suddenly asked.

"Yes. You asked me to save it. Why? "

"I ...it made me think. It does suit us. How you deal with me. But... I ... " Sherlock couldn't finish. He nudged his wife off his lap and went to stand up. When he did, he noticed his legs were partly asleep.

"Make that five pounds. " He said, giving Molly a mock frown.

"Sherlock! " Molly squealed, holding herself self consciously.

"Still like it. " Sherlock said with a playful wiggling of his eyebrows.

He grabbed her phone from the bed side table and sat beside Laura on the bed. He traced his finger over her tiny face with a tender smile. He bent low to kiss her forehead before whispering in her ear.

"You won't understand this yet. But someday you will. " he said, his voice slightly breaking. He pressed the buttons to play the song.

After it played, everyone was silent for long moments.

Sherlock placed his daughters hands in his and spoke softly.

"Laura, daddy needs you to come out now. You can tell me all about what it's like in your mind palace. I know that's where you are. But we all miss you and need you to come back. "

Laura didn't move. Sherlock stood up.

"This isn't working. We have to try... " He was cut off abruptly.

By a strong and completely unexpected embrace of his older brother. Mycroft held tight to Sherlock, one hand gripping Sherlocks curled head, the other gripping the back of his shirt.

" I know you are hurting. You always have. I am...so sorry Sherlock. "

Sherlock didn't know what to make of this.

He eyed John from over Mycroft's shoulder.

"Find a priest. " He choked out.

"What? Why? " John asked

"That's who you go to for an exorcism, isn't it? "

Even Mycroft laughed. With a look towards Molly...who looked quite pleased, Sherlock gave in and wrapped his arms around his brother, hugging him back. This cause another laugh cry out of the older sibling.

"Daddy, you are hurting uncle Mycroft... " The heard the small voice croak out.

All heads spun in the direction of the bed.

Mycroft acted quick to catch his brother before he broke his knees on the floor.