Title: Let's Stick to Ice Chapter two
Author: Ambur
Rating: M
Beta: Sara60691 and Brandi
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's notes: I love Tom Barnaby, so yes, I'm using Midsomer County. Thank so much to everyone who is already following and reviewing, it means a lot to me! And as usual, reviews welcome for this chapter also. Forgive my Bristish guys, I'm American.
Molly had been walking the streets of Midsomer Worthy for nearly an hour. She needed to find a job. Toby had to eat after all and she needed to eat in order to stay alive to feed Toby.
Molly turned the corner and began to make her way down another of the small village streets when she passed a tea shop. What caught her attention was not a desire for tea, but a sign in the window that said "Help needed, Inquire within."
Molly stared at the sign. She had only had one other job in her life besides Pathologist and that was when she was 16 years old and she worked at a nursery. She didn't suppose it would be too difficult to work in a tea shop. But still, it might seem odd that a Doctor of Pathology wanted to work in a tea shop.
Molly nearly walked away, afraid of questions arising, when she looked back inside and saw a small elderly woman with the largest glasses that Molly had ever seen on her tiny little face, behind the counter. The woman had such a gentle face, Molly felt comforted just by looking at her. Molly found her reserve and steeled herself, took a deep breath, and walked into the shop. After all, this was for Toby.
Molly approached the counter and waited until the elderly lady looked up. "Oh! I am so sorry, dear. I didn't hear you pop in. I hope you haven't been standing there long. How can I help you?"
Molly smiled. "No ma'am. I'm actually here to inquire about the sign posted in the window."
The old woman blinked at Molly, tilting her head questioningly before acknowledgement dawned in her eyes. "Oh bless me!" She laughed. "You mean the help wanted sign? Yes, yes of course you do. It's the only sign in my window. Really, Meryl, one would think you're already suffering from dementia." The lady laughed again and looked expectantly at Molly.
Molly cleared her throat. "Um..well… I was wondering if you still needed to fill the position?"
"Oh, yes, yes, where is my mind today. Yes, of course I am. Looking for a job, dear?"
"Yes I am. I'm afraid I don't have much experience in shop keeping but…"
"Oh it's not so difficult. Smile and greet customers when they come in. Ask if they need any help and all that rot. You're engaged!" The lady said busying herself once again behind the counter.
Molly blinked in surprise. "I-I'm sorry…did you…"
"Oh silly me! I haven't introduced myself which I suppose would be helpful if we are to work together. My name is Meryl Cumberbatch."
"Oh, yes, my name is Molly Hoop…Hudson."
The little lady stared at Molly, her eyes appraising shrewdly behind her thick glasses. "Running away are you dear? What's the young man's name?"
Molly looked away, her eyes suddenly stinging with tears. She felt the old lady pat her hand. "Running away from more than your young man, are you? That's alright. Molly Hudson it is. Now, I suppose I had better show you what you will be doing."
Molly paused, not following after the woman. "Is there anything wrong dear?" Meryl asked.
"No, it's just…don't you want to know anything about me…about my work history."
Meryl smiled warmly at Molly, taking her hands in hers. "Molly dear, I have lived on this earth for 87 years and have met all sorts of people. I am an excellent judge of character and I can see when someone needs help or is simply trying to disappear for a while. I am sure that you will be very suited to this job. I can see that you are a kind and compassionate young woman. I can also see from the pain and anguish in your eyes that you have suffered a recent tragedy. Now, I need someone to help me with the shop and you need a job, right?"
Molly nodded, trying unsuccessfully to stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks.
Sherlock was impossible when he was annoyed. John's head was pounding as Sherlock relentlessly ran his bow across his poor violin, the strings screeching like a dying cat.
"How could they have lost her, John? Really, Mycroft should have the whole bloody lot of them deported to Australia."
John cleared his throat. "Yes well, the British government doesn't really do that any longer Sherlock."
Sherlock scowled at John. "She couldn't have gone far. I'll have to deduce what alias she is using and then…"
"What makes you think she is using an alias?"
Sherlock snorted. "Oh John, how dense you are. Because it would provide her with a false sense of security. And if she is silly enough to believe that she can honestly run away from me, I'm sure she is silly enough to think some sort of alias would make it harder for me to track her down."
"Sherlock, I really think you should let this go. The murder of her parents, sister, and nephew in such a brutal way…I think she probably just needs a little time."
"You still believe she is on holiday? How have you managed to survive this long with that brain of yours? What sort of person goes away on holiday and only takes their pet cat, hmm? She took none of her clothing or any of her belongings. She simply vanished, which is what she wanted to do, John. She's not on holiday; she has no intention of coming back. This is unfortunate for her, because I find that unacceptable."
John rolled his eyes. "Well maybe she has started a new life and didn't bother to tell you to buggar off because she knew you would stick your nose into her business, which she obviously does not want."
"Whether or not she wants a new life is of little consequence. Her safety is what matters to me and she is in danger."
"And how did you come to this conclusion?"
Sherlock groaned. "Really John, if you…"
"If you insult my intellect one more time Sherlock, I'm going to smother you with a pillow."
Sherlock's mouth clamped shut and he regarded John with a raised eyebrow.
"Now, tell me why you think Molly is in danger, without your usual commentary."
"Because of the brutality of the crime, John. It was impassioned, full of rage and anger, it was personal."
"Do you have any idea who it was?"
"No, but Molly does. She's being noble, John. She knows exactly who this is and she ran away to spare us. Well, to spare you, Mrs. Hudson, Mike, and Lestrade. She's under the impression that I care nothing for her, which is absolutely absurd."
"Is that right?" John asked sarcastically. "You fancy her now, do you?"
Sherlock rolled his eyes. "I do not fancy her, John." He said with disdain in his voice.
"I know th…"
"I'm in love with her." Sherlock said looking at John as if that should be as plan as the nose on his face.
John's eyes bulged comically and he sputtered, nearly toppling out of his chair. "You…you what? Sherlock, this is no time for jokes."
"When have you ever known me to partake in comedy, John? I can see why Molly never saw it, but you? I am disappointed. You have been with me long enough to know my methods."
"Know your methods? Sherlock, did it ever occur to you to have a normal conversation with someone, where your friends wouldn't need to use your methods to deduce whatever it is you're trying to say?"
"Dull…" Sherlock sighed, stood, and handed John his violin. "Now, as I was saying, one of the reasons she ran was to spare us her death with he comes for her. That and because for some reason, she doesn't want to face me."
"I can't imagine why…"John said under his breath.
"Did I forget to mention that I do not desire your commentary any more than you desire mine?" Sherlock snapped.
"If she is in danger Sherlock, we have to find her quickly."
"No, we have time. He wants to torment her before he finally puts her out of her misery." Sherlock turned suddenly and looked at John. "You realize you are going to have to forgo being a gentleman when we find her."
"What? Why?" John asked
"Because she is desperate and doesn't want to be found. She will run from us literally when she sees us coming. So you can't be afraid to grab her and toss her over your shoulder if need be."
"Sherlock, don't be ridiculous. I'm not going to man handle Molly. I'm sure that we can just talk reasonably to her and…"
Sherlock's expression became grave. "She is beyond reason, John. She is frightened, desperate, alone, and in utter despair. She will not want to come with us. She will fight us and we will have to force her to come."
"Look Sherlock, this is beginning to sound like kidnapping. Maybe we should consult Lestrade…"
"Consult Lestrade?" Sherlock snorted. "To what end? For him to make the same arguments that you are currently making. That she is a grown woman and able to make her own decisions? She is too emotionally unstable to do so. And as her physician, you shall inform the courts of her instability should it come to that."
John shook his head. "Sherlock, I am not her physician! I am her friend and I'm not going to tell the magistrate that she's nutters just so you can have the final say over what she can and can't do."
"Do you want to save her or not?" Sherlock sniffed.
John frowned "Of course I do, you know that."
"Then you need to understand that Molly does not want to be saved. She wants to be left alone to drown in her sorrow. She wants to become empty. She believes if she can only stop feeling, if she could stop the sorrow, then she will no longer care if she lives or dies."