John's phone bleeped with a text

Are you around? Fancy a coffee? MH

John knew what Molly wanted to talk about

Yes, I'm around. Meet you in 30 mins? Usual Cafe? JW

Sounds great. Thank you. MH

It was nearly 10 days since he'd last seen Molly, the night before Sherlock had ended his relationship with her. Sherlock had been was out and about for the past 4 or 5 days, his body pretty much back to full strength. He was out at all hours, and back to his routine of rarely sleeping. John had watched him that very morning, thinking how amazing it was that a matter of only 6 or 7 weeks ago he had been fighting for his life following a near fatal shooting. And now here he was back dashing all over London.

Sherlock had been with Lestrade all the previous day, closing down cases which had remained unsolved while he was ill in hospital. The ease and speed with which Sherlock had solved many of those which had puzzled the yard was still a source of wonder and awe to both John and Lestrade.

Yes, Sherlock Holmes was back, and firing on all cylinders - except for one thing. His eyes were sad. His eyes were so very sad. A deep down pain, a longing, a missing someone. Sherlock Holmes was heart broken and busying himself to keep away from the pain.

John grabbed his coat and headed out to meet Molly. He wasn't exactly looking forward to seeing her. He liked Molly alot, and he had grown close to her over these past weeks of Sherlock's illness. But he knew she was hurting too. He was the man in the middle for two people who should be together but who weren't.

John spotted Molly in the corner of the cafe. She was looking pale and she'd lost a lot of weight. He knew she'd been working all hours since it happened. The same as Sherlock. Work to block out the pain. John ordered a coffee from the counter and sat down.

"How are you, Molly?"

"How do you think? Hurt, confused, upset, cross, angry, sad. Did I say hurt?"

"I don't know what to say, Molly."

"Did he say anything at all to you, John? Has he given you any idea at all why? I just don't understand it. We had the most amazing night together. The kind of night which doesn't happen between two people unless they really like each other. And then bang, the next morning it's all over, and he wants to split up."

John knew he couldn't tell Molly the truth. He knew he couldn't tell her that Sherlock loved her so much that he had to let her go. That his love for her was so strong that the only way he could keep her safe was to finish it."He hasn't spoken to me much. I don't really understand. I've not seen him much. He's been out working."

"Is he feeling better then?"

"He's much better. He's pretty much back to his old self. He's been working with Lestrade down at the yard for the past couple of days, and I think he's starting to pick up the case he was working on before everything happened."

"Good, I'm glad about that. It's been a long road..." Molly looked down at her drink "one I hoped I'd still be walking with him."

John put his hand onto Molly's shoulder. Oh how he hated knowing the truth. Knowing Sherlock would give anything for Molly still to be by his side.

"I think he just can't commit, John. It's like he's scared. I've looked into his eyes. I've kissed him. I've held him. I've almost made love to him. He does care, I know he does. Something has happened. I know it. I just don't know what to do. Do you have any ideas?"

John looked deeply into Molly's eyes "You know Sherlock. Always the element of surprise and the unexpected." He paused before continuing "Molly, I'm sure you do have a future. What that future looks like or is, I just don't know. I think you need to be patient with him."

"I've been patient for 5 years, John. And then I thought I had him, and now I've lost him again. I'm not sure how much longer I can be patient for."

"Molly, do you trust me?"

"Of course I do, John."

"Then believe me when I say, that you have to be patient. I really don't know much more than you, but please wait."

Molly nodded. "I will, John, I will."