This is a slightly transitional chapter. But I promise LOTS of fun very soon. Again thank you all for your support. Guests: I LOVE you all. Thank you for reviewing. It means so much to me, really.
No warnings this time.
Thanks to Miz and Mrs. And I own nothing. Enjoy.
Sherlock helped Molly with her coat and handed her the over-sized bag she insisted on carrying. Then they were off. He wished, for a moment, that he had something warmer for her to wear other than his ratty pajamas. The fact was, she was right; her clothing from that night might just be necessary for evidence. As he raised his hand to stop a cab, he noticed she was already shivering. A cab pulled up and Sherlock ushered her in. He gave the cabbie Molly's address then requested he turn up the heat.
"Wouldn't need to if you'd dress the poor girl properly," the cabbie grumbled.
"Just do it and drive," Sherlock said and then turned his attention back to Molly. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just a little chilled, that's all."
Sherlock put his arm around her back and pulled her close to his side. For warmth, he thought, though he said nothing.
Twenty minutes later they were at Molly's flat, gathering her things. Molly set Sherlock on 'Toby duty' because he had a way with the feline, she said, and then she went to her room. This was only after he had given it a once over, of course. After coxing Toby into a carrier with a bit of cheese he found in the fridge (incidentally the reason the cat was so fond of him; he constantly gave him treats), Sherlock went to Molly's book shelf and gathered up a collection of reading materials. He was putting books in a Tesco bag when Molly called out to him. He went into her room to find her changed into a pair of jeans and one of her trademark jumpers.
"How long will I be staying? I mean, I don't know exactly how to pack." She was standing in front of her dresser.
"Ahh, well, gather enough clothing for at least a week. We can get more if need be."
Molly looked a bit confused for a moment but continued packing as he turned and went back to his book collecting. She came into the sitting room ten minutes later after going into her bathroom with a toiletry bag in her hand. "Okay, I think I have everything." She looked down at the Tesco bags at Sherlock's feet. "Oh, you got me some books, didn't think about that."
"And a few movies as well." He walked into her room and retrieved her packed suitcase.
Sherlock had called a cab this time, it was waiting when they got down stairs. He didn't miss the chance to stop by and flirt with Mrs. Ham in the hallway on their way out. She shoved a plate of biscuits into his hand and kissed his cheek as they left.
Finally back in the cab, Sherlock relaxed a bit knowing Molly was on her way to Baker Street where he could keep a close eye on her. Though he felt some disappointment at not having an excuse to put his arm around her on this leg of the trip. Odd that, he thought. All this touching is having some kind of effect on me.
Once home Molly's main focus was getting Toby adjusted to life at Baker Street. Though the cat seemed unaffected, to be honest. He walked over to Sherlock and rubbed against his legs, purring all the while.
"He's never that affectionate with me and he hates Meena. But you... he absolutely adores." She shrugged.
"The cats got good taste." Sherlock reached down and scratched the top of Toby's head.
Molly narrowed her eyes. "You slip him treats. I'm not stupid." She grabbed her bags. "Now, where do I take my things?"
Sherlock was still petting Toby. "My room Molly. If that's okay with you?"
"Sure," she answered and disappeared down the hall.
Sherlock immediately fired off a text to his brother asking for an update. He received no reply. Shocking! He had been texting with John all morning as to Molly's well-being, but now he needed his assistance with the actual case. He knew it would be difficult since Mary was due any time now, but this was important. He sent another text to his friend asking for him and Mary to come over. He could leave if Molly had a former assassin (albeit a pregnant one) in the flat with her. Receiving an affirmative from the doctor he made his way to his bedroom to update Molly on the plans.
He knocked and she told him to come right in. He found her sitting on the floor going through her things. "John and Mary are coming over. She'll stay with you while he and I check some things out," he informed her.
She looked up as she folded a tee shirt in her lap. "Okay, though I still think you're going a bit overboard. I'll play along... for now." She smiled and continued her work. "Can I take a shower?"
"Of course you can. You don't have to ask, Molly." He turned to go. "Towels are under the sink."
Again, he suddenly had all sorts of feelings cropping up at the thought of a naked, wet Molly Hooper lathering herself up in his bathroom. Which was absurd considering the amount of showers he had taken at her flat as well as the as all the times she'd showered when he was there. He shook it off and sat up his laptop. Just as he was logging on his mobile dinged.
We have him. When can you be here.-M
Really... M? Still playing James Bond aren't we Mycroft, Sherlock thought as he typed his reply.
John's on his way. Be there within the hour.-Holmes, Sherlock Holmes
You're a child.-M
Sherlock giggled as he went back to his research and awaited the arrival of his blogger.
Molly took a pain pill and decided to lay down after her shower. She didn't realise that simply traveling to her flat and taking a shower would wear her out so thoroughly. She woke up over two hours later, better rested and starving. Wandering out into the sitting room and found Mary Watson setting up lunch.
"Hey, sleepy head. Hungry?" the blonde asked.
"Oh bless you!" Molly replied as she dug into the sandwiches that had clearly been sent up from Speedy's. They ate for a while before Mary tried to make conversation.
"So, you're Sherlock's new case," Mary commented. "How's that feel?"
Molly took a drink of tea. "Odd, to say the least." She continued to eat.
"John says he's acting... strange," Mary said as she picked a piece of tomato out of her sandwich.
"Yeah, you could say that."
"How on earth can you tell when Sherlock Holmes is acting strange?" Mary said with a giggle.
Molly thought for a moment before answering. "He ah, held me last night."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"I know. He even asked first. It was incredibly awkward." Molly cleaned her hands and finished her tea. "He just feels guilty. He'll go back to his aloof self soon enough, I'm sure."
Mary shook her head and picked up a napkin. "This actually makes sense, now that I think about it. John said he found you two all cozied up in Sherlock's bed when he was leaving last night."
"We weren't... I mean... that's not..."
"Oh calm down! You're consenting adults for God's sake!" Mary said as she started cleaning off the coffee table.
"But..." Molly started, then she remembered the near kiss. Was it almost a kiss? she wondered.
Mary turned and looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Yes?"
Molly considered telling Mary, then thought better of it. Surely she was wrong and if so, Sherlock wouldn't want the Watsons gossiping about... whatever it was. She had given Mary enough ammo with the snuggling. "Nothing, never mind."
They cleaned up the mess and Mary poured another cup of tea. "Sorry, it's decaf."
"I don't mind. So, you're my detail today?" Molly asked.
"Evidently. Sherlock said Mycroft found your agent/attacker and the boys were going to speak with him." She leaned back and rubbed her hand over her belly.
Molly smiled as she watched. "How much longer?"
Mary sighed. "I have two weeks till my due date, so who knows." She rolled her eyes. "I already love her, but I really miss caffeine and alcohol. Not to mention the fact that my ankles are the size of my thighs."
They both laughed. Just then there was a tap on the flat door and Mrs. Hudson suddenly appeared. "I thought some of Sherlock's favorite biscuits might make for a nice treat," she said as she walked in.
That was the scene John and Sherlock found two hours later; the three ladies lounging around, laughing and nibbling on sweets.
"You're flat's been overrun mate," John said as they hung up their coats.
Sherlock growled.
"Oh come on, you asked for this," John teased.
"Out, Mrs. Hudson. Stop feeding up my pathologist!" Sherlock barked.
"Shame on you Sherlock Holmes. You keep nothing in this flat! She'll starve up here. Thank heavens for Mary or I might have found poor Molly passed out from hunger," Mrs. Hudson fussed.
"Molly is a doctor, Mrs. Hudson. I'm sure she would've figured out how to order up some take away. Now, thank you for the biscuits." He leaned down and kissed his landlady on the cheek. "But we have work to do."
Sherlock went to his bedroom and John sat down in his chair.
Molly was almost afraid to ask but she had to know what was going on. "Did he admit to attacking me?" she asked.
John looked at her, for some reason he seemed guilty for a moment. "Yeah. After Sherlock confronted him about his accounts, and ah well... throttled him a bit, he folded like a house of cards. I'll, ah... let him explain the rest."
"John, stop feeling guilty," Mary said. "It was a moment of doubt for God's sake."
Molly looked back and forth between the couple. "What?" Then it dawned on her. "You didn't believe me, John?"
He huffed then turned to face Molly. "No, it's just... Mycroft... he got into my head for a few minutes, that's all." He sighed. "I'm sorry Molly. He's rarely wrong and he was being all Mycrofty... I don't know what I was thinking."
Molly wasn't really sure how she felt about John's admission. Mycroft not believing her was one thing, but John? "I'm a bit confused, John. You examined my injuries. Why exactly did you think I was lying?"
The doctor swallowed. "I, ah... well..."
"All right," Sherlock said as he walked into the room now wearing a dressing gown instead of a suit jacket. "We got a little information out of Agent Cummings, but not nearly enough..." he trailed off as looked at the occupants of the room. "What's going on?"
Molly and John silently stared at the detective. Finally Mary spoke up. "Oh, for the love of... John was just explaining why he didn't believe Molly for a literal minute yesterday. It's fine. John, help me up! Have to pee!"
John got up and started across the room. "It's not fine. I'm so sorry Molly," he said to the pathologist. "I just..."
Molly stood up. "No, Mary's right. It's really okay. I see everyone's point. I suppose it's at least plausible that I'd do just about anything to get Sherlock to notice me, right?" She suddenly felt quite trapped; nowhere to storm off to. Finally she picked the lesser of two evils and opened the door to the flat and rushed down to Mrs. Hudson's.
Oh no! Molly's upset again. I promise it's the last time someone upsets Molly. Thanks for reading... let me have it. ~Lil~