Molly was taken up for the next couple of days with Sherlock's errands. It was surprising how much time talking to Sherlock's homeless network actually took. And when she visited the flat to collect some bits and his violin, Mrs Hudson had insisted she stayed for a cup of tea and a chat.

The inevitable question had come out from Mrs Hudson

"When I came to visit, you and Sherlock seemed very close. Are you together now?" Mrs Hudson had enquired.

Molly didn't really know how to answer. She didn't know herself. What she did know was that her and Sherlock had enjoyed a kiss, and that neither of them had pulled away from it. But were they in a relationship as a result of a single kiss? She highly doubted it. After all, they had kissed in her office right after he jumped off the roof 2 years ago, and he'd given her several pecks on the cheek. However, none of them was as long or meaningful as the one that had happened in the hospital 2 days ago.

"I very much doubt it" Molly had replied "You know Sherlock. I don't really see him as the relationship type, do you?"

Mrs Hudson smiled. "You know, I don't know now. I think he's changed. You don't go through a near death experience like that - twice - and come out of it the same person. I'm sure he'd like to try and kid himself that he is, but he can't be. You visit places in your mind you can never imagine when you're critically ill, and it does make you evaluate things.

"He says he's a sociopath. I just don't believe him you know. I think he likes to think of himself as a sociopath - but sociopaths don't have ANY friends at all. And Sherlock has John and you for starters. Mycroft I'd say is more of a sociopath than Sherlock. I think perhaps it's a little brother trying to be like a big brother? In reality I'd say Sherlock is just highly in control of his emotions and chooses to bury them. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a big change in him from now on."

Molly smiled at Mrs Hudson and thought. She couldn't help feel that Mrs Hudson had a point

"He says he looks forwards to my visits" Molly responded "He lets me hold his hand. He never used to let me hold his hand. And when he was really sick, every time I went near, his pulse picked up a bit. John says Sherlock always says an elevated pulse is a sign of attraction to someone. And I saw it with my own eyes, Mrs Hudson."

Molly stopped herself from saying any more. She just looked into Mrs Hudson's eyes. And the smile she was greeted with from Mrs Hudson spoke volumes.

"We all saw it before you did, Molly" she said. "You just need to give him time. If this indeed how he feels he's not going to freely admit it. He is Sherlock after all. It's going to take time and patience. It all depends on how much you want it, Molly."

"Really badly. I want it really badly. I love him so much it actually hurts. I'd always known it deep down, but it was when we nearly lost him - twice - that I realised. I mean, I know people thought he was dead for 2 years but I knew the truth. I knew he was alive and out there working. So I didn't worry about him as I knew he'd come back when he was good and ready. This time it was different. He was on life support and critically ill and we really nearly did lose him. That's when I realised."

"Then you must help him to realise too" Mrs Hudson said, smiling at Molly as if she were her own.

It was with an excited heart that Molly climbed the stairs up to Sherlock's hospital room. When she arrived, she saw John with Sherlock. She was going to enter when she overheard what John was saying

"Mary and I aren't talking, Sherlock. I just can't pull myself to even sleep in the same bed as her at the moment. I can't believe she lied to me. I can't believe she shot you. How could she do this to us? Please help me. Please help us to get back on track."

Molly stopped dead in her tracks. Her heart pounding in her body. Mary shot Sherlock? Why? John and Mary weren't speaking? What? She lay back on the wall, feeling suddenly very faint and sick. She couldn't move. She was in a blind panic. Mary had shot Sherlock? What on earth was going on? Why was he protecting her when she'd made him so very ill and almost killed him?

She started to cry, the tears rolling down her face and the sobs taking over her whole body. The man she loved, shot by the wife of his best friend. Oh my god, things were a total mess.

Molly became aware of a sound next to her. She looked up. It was John. He'd obviously overheard her crying. He put his arm around her and walked her into the room. He put her in a chair next to Sherlock. Molly grabbed Sherlock's hand and sobbed in to it.

"What on earth is going on" she asked once she'd composed herself

"What did you hear" Sherlock asked?

"That Mary shot you, and that John and Mary aren't speaking. Is this true?"

John bowed his head. "I'm afraid so, Molly, but there is so much more to this than we can even begin to explain to you"

"I am not cross with Mary" Sherlock stated "If I had been in the situation she found herself in, I would have responded in exactly the same manner. She is not a bad person, Molly"

"But John said she lied to him" Molly shouted back, so angry that Sherlock could even consider forgiving someone who had injured him so very badly.

"Yes, she did. And for good reason and John knows the whole story. Let me start at the beginning and fill you in. But you must promised both John and I that once we have told you the whole situation, you will not breathe a word to anyone. I know I can totally trust you, Molly Hooper. You proved that to me 2 years ago, but this is so much more than that. This is the life of Mary and her unborn child. I am doing this for John."

Molly nodded and sat and listened while Sherlock and John recounted the whole story to her. She shook with shock at some points and cried with John at others. She couldn't quite comprehend what she was hearing.

"So now you know it all" said Sherlock when he had finished speaking. "You know why I must revisit this case as soon as I am physically capable. John tells me it will take me at least another month to regain my full physical strength but in the mean time, I have permission from my personal physician to resume mind work on this." He smiled at John.

Molly took a deep breath. She didn't know what to say, but now she knew the whole story it all began to make sense. She walked over to John and hugged him. Not a loving hug but the kind of hug you give a friend to show them they have your full and total support. That as a friend you will be there for them, and you will do all within your power to help them put things right.

"I'll be there for Mary too" said Molly, holding strong a voice that just wanted to crack and break.

John nodded through his tears. In some ways it was actually good to have it out in the open. For someone else to know too. Someone he knew he could trust and who he knew would help Sherlock to keep his thoughts on track.

"I have to go" said John, standing up suddenly. "Just need some fresh air." He walked to the door. He spoke as he turned to walk through "And I need my wife back"

Sherlock simply nodded to him as he left.

Molly stood in the centre of the room and stared at Sherlock. Had she really heard it all correctly? Was she going to wake up from some mad nightmare, in her own bed at home? Mary? An Agent? An Assassin? Someone on the run who had covered her tracks?

Sherlock held his hand out to her and patted the bed next to him. She duly obliged and snuggled in close to him, holding him as if her life depended upon it. She sobbed into his shoulder and he tightened his grip on her.

"Yes, it is true and no you're not going to wake up from a nightmare. It is indeed a nightmare of which we are both in the centre" Sherlock gently whispered to her, as if he could exactly read her thoughts. He held her closer.

"We will sort it, Molly. I promise. Mary and John will be fine. I just need time to sort it for them both" he went on. "That's why I need Wiggy and the homeless network. They can be doing the leg work that I just cannot at present"

"It's fine, I've sorted it" Said Molly. "Wiggy is going to come to see you late tonight. He said he'd been expecting you to contact him. I think he's been doing some research for you in the mean time"

"Good, I did set him some tasks. Good to know he's not been wasting his time"

Molly sat up and looked at Sherlock. She wanted to take him in. This man, a man who had been so severely hurt by a bullet, yet he could not be angry. He wanted to put things right and to make it all better. Mrs Hudson was right. He was a different man. He had come out of this changed, and so much for the better so it seemed.

"Enough about this though. Tell me what you're thinking" he enquired

"I had tea with Mrs Hudson earlier today" Molly responded, glad of the opportunity to change the subject. "She's been so worried about you. We're so relieved that you're so much better. I bet they'll let you home soon."

"In a day or so, apparently" He confirmed "I'll be so glad to get home. Hospitals and I just don't get on. Well, being a patient at any road. I don't mind the labs but it's not so interesting up here, I can tell you."

"That's brilliant news" said Molly hugging him tightly. "I'll make the arrangements at the flat for you".

Sherlock smiled.

"What are you smiling at" Molly asked?

"You're going to stick around then. I had been a little worried you'd might want a break from visiting once I was home."

"Of course I'll stick around" Molly said. She looked deeply into his eyes. Eyes that seemed so much softer and open than ever before. "I do need to ask you something though."

"Ask away"

"A couple of nights ago. That kiss. What did it mean? It keeps on going around and around in my head. It was so tender. I enjoyed it. I... I just need to understand."

Sherlock gently touched her lips with his finger. He pulled her close and their lips met. A kiss that was so loving, so deep, so erotic. His hands held Molly's face tight and she returned the feeling by cradling his head. Time did not seem to matter. They just had each other.