"I am going out!" She says and Sherlock comes out to meet her the fire alarm still blaring overhead.
"Out?" He questions.
"Yes Sherlock out, I need to get some air." Molly says and she turns and walks down the hallway.
"Where are you going?" He asks following after her.
"I don't know."
"When will you be back?" He asks as she starts to unlock the locks.
"I don't know Sherlock!" She says angrily opening the door.
"Molly," Sherlock says from inside the house his tone soft making her spin around. "Please don't be long." He says and molly just blinks at him the worry in his face clear and making her anger ebb away almost instantly.
"Ok." She says her voice almost a whisper.
"And be safe."
"I will be." She says nodding and he gives her a quick nod and closes the door. She hears the locks click as she walks down the stairs he mind racing. When Molly imagined Sherlock Holmes in her flat she never imagined that he would ever drive her out. She always imagined that she would want to do nothing less than leave a confined space with Sherlock. She laughs at her own stupidity. She had been victim of one of Sherlock's more uncaring and inappropriate moments at Christmas and she always heard John complaining about their living situation. She was not quite sure what made her think living with her would change him.
She steps out on to the street and she feels her phone buzz in her pocket and she digs it out and frowns at the number on the screen, not recognising it, and opens up the message.
I HAVE PUT A LIST OF THINGS I WILL NEED IN YOUR BAG. MONEY ENCLOSED. SH
Molly frowns at the initials and looks up at her window expecting to see him standing there but dead men shouldn't be standing in windows. She feels in her bag for a note and her fingers land on it she pulls it out and notices her note pad paper from her desk in her living room and she opens it up and gasps as she finds a large wad of fifties. She stuffs it back in her bag and taps furiously on her phone.
Really a wad of fifty pound notes! Where did you even get a phone? M
She continues walking along the street looking at everyone who passes her expecting to see 'Jim form IT' everywhere she goes. The phone buzzes in her hand.
TOP UP PHONES ARE READILLY AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED OF THEM. SH
You could have just asked me to get you these things instead of surprising me with it! M
AND RISK HAVING MY HEAD BITTEN OFF? SH
Molly cannot help but laugh out loud at this text, she was well aware she was a bit of a monster this morning. She puts her phone away as she descends into the subway.
When she steps out of the subway in Oxford circus her phone buzzes twice.
OUT OF TEA. SH
COULD YOU GET TEA WHILE YOU ARE OUT I WOULD BUT I AM UNABLE TO LEAVE. SH
Molly rolls her eyes and types her response as she heads down the street towards the shops.
Yes I will get tea. M
She types and there is an almost immediate response.
GOOD. GET YOURSELF SOMETHING FOR MY FUNERAL. YOU HAVE NOTHING SUITABLE IN YOUR WARDROBE. SH
Molly nearly drops her phone in the street in shock.
Get out of my room! That is not ok! M
UNDERSTOOD. SH
Molly stuffs her phone away and quickens her pace wanting to get this over with before he starts going through all her drawers. The though nearly makes her turn around right then but she makes her self move on. What she has in one of her drawers is for her eyes only. She had been single for a while and a woman has got needs. She chews on her lip as she enters Debenhams and she wanders around unsure where to start.
After a few minutes of aimless wandering someone taps her on the shoulder she turns arounds and a smiling sales assistant offers to help her.
"Yes that would be great thank you." Molly says and the sales assistants eyes light up. She claps her hands together and smiles wider.
"What are you here for today?" She asks and Molly looks around the menswear department where she ended up.
"Well um my-my boyfriend is needing some new clothes he um, his house caught fire." She says and the sales assistant clutches her chest.
"Oh that is just horrible. I hope he is ok." She says and Molly nods.
"He is fine just a little upset." She says lying through her teeth. She worried about how easy she was finding it and decided it would be something she would worry about later for now she just wanted to get home.
"Well I am glad he is safe." She says and Molly smiled the best she could.
"Thank you."
"So what are you looking for today?" She says getting right down to business. Molly pulled out the list and opened it up.
Trousers (no jeans). Black. Four pairs.
Shirts. Dark. Four.
Briefs. Black. Seven pairs.
Socks. Black. Seven pairs.
Shoes. Black. Size eleven.
Boots. Black. Size eleven.
Molly hands the list to the sales assistant who glances down at it and smiles.
"He is very particular your boyfriend." She says still smiling and Molly returns her smile with a sheepish one of her own.
"You have no idea."
Molly is shown around the store and the assistant even helps her pick out a little black dress for the funeral. She carries all of Molly's clothes despite molly insisting she carry some. They are perusing the male underwear and molly looks over them and the more she looks the more she feels her face redden at the imagery of Sherlock in a pair of them.
"What kind of underwear does your boyfriend wear?" The assistant asks snapping Molly out of her daydream.
"I-um…"
"Does he prefer the loose boxer or a tighter brief?"
"Briefs." Molly says, her face feeling very hot all of a sudden.
"Well there ones here are our best sellers and we have some in his size will they do?" The assistant says and Molly just nods. "Is that everything on your list?"
"Yes I think so." Molly says and she follows the sales assistant to the check out. She nervously digs into her bag for the money and waits for the cashier to ring up the items. As she waits her phone buzzes.
GET A CAB HOME. SH
And again.
PLEASE. SH
"That will be Seven hundred and twenty-five pounds please." The cashier says and molly drops her phone in shock.
"Sorry?" She says snatching it back up and stuffing it in her bag.
"Seven hundred and twenty-five pounds please." The cashier repeats and she nods and digs out the money and counts out the fifties and hands them over. The cashier smiles as he takes the money but takes his time checking every note care fully. "We need to check, a lot of frauds going around you see." He explains as molly watches him with wide eyes.
"Sure." She says and she grabs her phone.
You have very expensive taste. M
She hits send and watches as the cashier bags all of the items clearly happy with the quality of her money. Her phone buzzes and she opens her message.
ONLY THE BEST. DID YOU GET YOURSELF SOMETHING? SH.
Yes I did. Thank you. M
I COULDN'T HAVE YOU TURN UP TO MY FUNERAL IN ONE OF YOUR HORRIBLE CARDIGANS. SH
Molly scoffs and furiously types back.
My dress sense is none of your concern. I like my cardigans. M
THEY ARE GRANDMOTHER CLOTHES. YOU HIDE UNDERNEATH THEM. SH
I DO NOT! They are comfortable. M
YES FOR OLD LADIES. SH
Molly smiles and the cashier clears his throat.
"Your bags miss." He says and she stuffs her phone away and smiles.
"Thank you." She says and she walks off and she feels her phone buzz again. Sighing she shifts all the bags to one hand and pulls out her phone.
CAB WAITING OUTSIDE FOR YOU. SH
She is about to put her phone away when it buzzes again she sighs and reads it.
TEA. SH
She rolls her eyes but is glad he sent the reminder because she definitely forgot. She sees a cab waiting outside the store and she climbs in.
"Corner of Goldinton Street please." She says and the cabbie nods.
Molly kicks at the door as she struggles to find the keys in her bag. The door opens quickly and she is grabbed inside as the door is closed behind her and Sherlock locks the door quickly.
"You took your time." He says peering out of the spy hole.
"Hello to you too." Molly replies acidly as she walks into the living room and depositing the bags. She frowns at the closes curtains and turns around to find Sherlock staring at her. "Everything ok?" Molly asks and Sherlock frowns.
"Is everything ok with you?" He asks and Molly frowns.
"Me?"
"Yes Molly you. Are you ok?"
"I am just peachy thanks." She says and his frown deepens.
"You are being sarcastic." He says and Molly laughs.
"Yes Sherlock I am being sarcastic." She says and he shakes his head.
"How are you really?" He asks and Molly walks into the kitchen.
"I am making tea do you want one?" She asks avoiding his question.
"Yes I do but will you answer my question." He says and she turns to him and crossed her arms and he frowns at her like she is a mystery to him.
"Will you answer on of mine first?" She asks and he nods. "Ok, why did you not tell me you were having a burial and so soon?"
"That's two questions." He says and she raises her eyebrows and he sighs.
"I wanted everyones' suffering to be lessened. The longer I was around and unburied the longer people suffer. I wanted to give then closure." He says and Molly nods.
"Why did you not tell me? I knew everything else."
"That is three Molly."
"Just answer the question." She says and he stares at her for a moment and when she does not back down he answers.
"I have told you everything you have needed to know to get you this far if I tell you everything your reactions will not be genuine and to keep you safe you need to know as little as possible. I knew John would insist on calling you to tell you about the plans and I needed your shock to be genuine or he would have known something was wrong. He is smart." Sherlock says and Molly chews on her lip. "If you need to know Molly I will tell you but when I keep things from you it is for your safety." Molly considers this for a moment and then nods.
"Ok." She says and she turns around and starts to make the tea.
"Now will you answer my question?" He asks and she sighs.
"I am ok Sherlock, as well as I can be after breaking about twenty laws, lying to my friends and harbouring a wanted dead man. Oh and hiding the best I can from a mad man. But apart form that I am fine." She says and he puts his hand on her shoulder and turns her around.
"You are different." He says his voice sounding intrigued.
"I am the same just more scared." She says and he frowns and shakes his head.
"No something is different. You are not stuttering around me and you seem more…"
"Normal?" She offers and he frowns. "Sherlock this is the real me. I am not always a stuttering wreck. It is only you that does that to me." She says and he frowns.
"But I am here now." He says and Molly shrugs.
"I know." She says and she sighs. "Maybe when you save a man from death you lose all of your self-consciousness. She says and she hands him his tea. She walks past him and heads into the living room and sits down in her chair. Sherlock follows her in and sits down on the sofa.
"The phone has been ringing all day. Your mother left a message." He says pulling her laptop towards him on the table. Molly reaches over and hits the play button.
"Molly its mummy," The voice of her mother says making Molly cringe, "I heard about that dreadful detective killing himself." Molly looks at Sherlock with a look of embarrassment and he just shrugs. "I know you held a little flame for him…" Molly looks away quickly but not before she saw Sherlock grinning, "… just remember what he said to you at Christmas dear he was obviously a swine. I hope you are not to upset. Call me dear." The phone beeps and Molly clutches her cup and stares at the light brown liquid embarrassment creeping over her. She can feel Sherlock's stare and she looks over at him.
"I am sorry about her she is…"
"Right, I was horrible to you at Christmas and I am truly sorry you did not deserve it." He says and she chews her lip. Sherlock starts to look through the bags and starts to pull out the clothes. "This is a good selection Molly." He says with a small smile.
"I had help. As you can tell from my wardrobe I don't go shopping much." She says casting a look at him and he has the good grace to look embarrassed.
"Yes well," he pulls out the black dress and holds it up, "This will certainly liven up that dreary wardrobe." He says and Molly snatches it from him.
"I didn't think the deceased was supposed to see the dress before the funeral." Molly says and Sherlock chuckles.
"I think you will find that is weddings Molly." Molly sits down and she feels a blush creep on her cheeks and he smiles.
"Yes well anyway…"
"Are you going to call your mother back?" He asks as he folds the clothes neatly.
"Um, no, I am not really in the mood for taking today. Are the clothes ok?" She asks and he nods.
"They are perfect thank you." He says and she sips on her tea. They sit in silence for a while before curiosity gets the better of her and she cannot hold back any more.
"Sherlock?"
"Hmm?" He says lifting his eyes from the computer screen.
"Are you going to tell me what you plan to do next?" She asks and he puts his tea down and laces his fingers together and smiles.
"All in good time Molly, all in good time." He says and Molly frowns.
After another restless night Molly climbs out of bed and stretches before she makes her way into the living room. Sherlock is sitting at the laptop in almost the same place as she left him the following evening.
"Have you slept yet?" She asks as she makes her way into the kitchen switching on the kettle and outing two slices of toast in the toaster. She makes note of the mess in the kitchen from their dinner and from Sherlock's failed attempt of making breakfast the previous day. Too tired to care for the time being she just ignores it and makes grabs a few cups.
"I have not slept." Sherlock says from the living room and she nods to herself. "I only sleep when necessary." He adds as she pours water into the cups.
"What are you doing anyway?" She asks as the toaster pops and he is quiet. "Sherlock?" She frowns when there is no answer. She peers through the door and she sees him standing at the window looking out. His face stony, Molly walks over to the window and she peeks out and drops the curtain when she sees a crowd of people outside her door.
"Reporters." Sherlock says and Molly frowns.
"Why- why are they here?" She asks and Sherlock indicates to the laptop and she rushes to see what is going on. Her eyes widen when she sees a grainy picture of herself walking out of Bart's and a headline reading.
Sherlock's pathologist secret crush on fallen detective.
Molly cannot believe her eyes and she looks up at Sherlock who is still looking outside. She looks back at the screen.
Doctor Molly Hooper, the pathologist in charge of the autopsy of fallen sleuth Sherlock Holmes, allegedly held a flame for him. Miss Hooper, 31, is one of the lead pathologists at St Bart's Hospital in London and according to our sources had been hiding a big crush on the shamed detective. We have been told that she was constantly helping him and allowing him access to her lab and we wonder if that was all she gave him access to. We have uncovered that despite her affections for Holmes she had to carry out the autopsy on the detective after he committed suicide, jumping from Bart's roof.
For more on the Sherlock story visit our website.
Molly slams the laptop shut and stares at it. She is horrified and starts to run though her head who could have done this.
"Your mother." Sherlock says and Molly frowns up at Sherlock.
"Are you sure?" She asks and he nods.
"All the clues are there. She said in her message you held a flame for me and there it is there and I guess you told her about me?" He says and she nods embarrassed down to her very core.
"I am so sorry." Molly says and Sherlock frowns.
"You cannot control your mother." He says and Molly scowls. "I shall get the teas." Sherlock goes into the kitchen and he hears him buttering the toast and she comes in holding a plate and two teas.
"Thank you." She says and he just nods.
"What is the plan for today then?" Molly asks as Sherlock sits down.
"I have arranged for a taxi to collect you at one. You will have to be careful when going out now, you may be mobbed." He says and Molly rolls her eyes.
"Fantastic! Just what I need some scummy repeaters trying to get info on a nonexistent affair." She says and Sherlock chuckles.
"You could make something up and make money." Sherlock suggests with a little smile. "I am dead so I cannot deny it."
"I wouldn't do that!" Molly says shocked that he even brought it up. "You are my friend I wouldn't..."
"Molly, it was a joke!" Sherlock says and she frowns.
"You don't joke much do you?" She asks and he stares at her for a moment and then shakes his head.
"Not really." He says and she smiles.
"I didn't think so; you need to work on your delivery." She says and he nods.
"Noted." He says with a little smile and she bites into her toast.
Molly stares at herself in the mirror and smoothes the dress down and swallows away the dread coursing through her. She did not want to do this. She didn't not want to go to the funeral and pretend that she thinks Sherlock is dead when he will be sitting in her flat very much alive. She was also dreading having to wade through the reports that were still clustered outside her flat. Taking a deep breath she leaves her room and walks into the living room and Sherlock looks up at her and his eyes widen.
"Well Molly, don't you look..." He stops himself and Molly feels herself blush.
"Thank you." She says and he nods and looks away and Molly smiles when she sees a little blush creep on his cheeks. He clears his throat and focuses on the computer with a frown on his face.
"I have taken the liberty of ordering you a cab." Sherlock says and Molly smiles.
"I know Sherlock you said earlier." She says and he frowns again.
"Right, well good." He says and Molly looks up at the clock. She hears Sherlock's phone buzzing and she frowns at it as he picks it up and stands up."Your cab is here." He says and molly picks up her bag.
"I really don't want to do this." She says as nervous butterflies assault her stomach. Sherlock puts his hands on her shoulders and gives her a little smile.
"I know and I am sorry but it would look odd if you did not show. Especially after the article this morning." He says and Molly bites her lip. "This is going to be unpleasant for every one. Myself included. I wish this was not absolutely necessary but Molly it is. This needs to work for everyone. Can I trust you to do this?" He asks his grip tightening.
"Of course Sherlock." Molly says and he nods.
"You are one in a million Molly Hooper." He says and he leans forward and kisses her cheek. She blinks rapidly as he straightens up and escorts her down the hallway. He holds out her coat for her and she wordlessly slides her arms in it. He buttons it for her as she stares at him in shock. He is being very, caring and it is making her nervous. Damn him, maybe he does still have a spell over me. She thinks as she straightens her coat like a fussy mother.
"Now head up and try and ignore the reporters." He says and she nods mutely. He reaches around her and opens the door checking it is clear. "Off you go." He says steering her out the door. She turns to say something but he has already closed the doors and she stares at the closed door. She takes moment to gather her wits and lets out a long deep breath. She makes her way down the stairs and she sees the crowd of bored looking reporters huddled at the foot of her stairs and as she opens the door she is temporarily blinded by the fast of cameras.
"Miss Hooper, is it true you and Sherlock were an item?"
"Did you date for long?"
"How are you feeling now he is gone?"
"Was he really as clever as they say?"
"How do you feel being played by a mad man?" This question brings her up short and she freezes as she tries to shove her way to the cab. She spins around to the offending voice and a short balding man is smiling at her obviously pleased with the fact he got a response.
"Sherlock was not a mad man, how dare you! Sherlock was a hero you would be horrified if you knew what he saved you people from!" Molly says angrily and she pushes her way through the rest of then and climbs into the cab her blood boiling. She slams the door and the cabbie drives off.
"What's all that about?" He asks as Molly pulls out her phone.
"Just people desperately trying to make a name for themselves." She says and she sees the cabbie look at her in the rear view mirror.
"Yeah they are vultures that lot." He says and Molly nods in agreement as her phone buzzes in her bag. She pulls it out and smiles when she sees Sherlock's number on the screen.
ARE YOU OK? SH
I am fine. They just got to me. Sorry. M
DON'T APOLOGISE. SH
YOU WERE VERY KIND, EVEN AFTER EVERYTHING I AM PUTTING YOU THROUGH. SH
It's fine... I meant it though. M
I KNOW YOU DID. I APPRECIATE IT. SH
Molly smiles to herself as she puts her phone away and watches the cars drive past as they near the cemetery. She looks up at the sigh as they drive in and notice at news vans parked all round the entrance being refused access to the cemetery but a flock of huge body guards some with guns. Mycroft's doing. Molly thinks as the cab comes to a stop at the entrance after being stopped by a man in a neat black suit. He comes around and opens the door for Molly.
"Miss Hooper?" He asks looking into the cab. Molly nods nervous all of a sudden and he holds out his hand for her. "Come with me please there is a car awaiting you." Molly takes his offered hand and allows him to help her out.
"What's going on?" Molly asks as she is walked the short distance to a line of black sleek cars.
"Mr Holmes is only allowing certain people inside the cemetery miss. He does not want his brother funeral to be a media circus as you could imagine." He says and Molly nods. He opens the door for her and steps aside to let her in.
"Thank you." Molly says still completely shocked at her treatment as she slides into the plush leather seat.
"The procession will begin in fifteen minutes Miss." The security officer says and Molly nods. He closes the door and Molly stares around the expensive interior of the car. She imagines that this car probably costs more than her flat, including its contents. She pulls out her phone and takes a picture and messages Sherlock.
Sitting in a million pound car on the way to your funeral! Is this not a little over the top? M
She sits patiently for a reply and hurriedly looks down when the phone buzzes.
ONLY THE BEST FOR THE HOLMES'. I AM A LITTLE SURPRISED HE BROUGHT OUT THE BIG CARS. I SUPPOSE THERE IS AN OBCEEN AMOUNT OF SECURITY? SH
Yes. It feels strange talking to you when I am on the way to your funeral. I feel bad. M
I KNOW YOU DO. JUST REMEMBER WHY YOU DID IT. I NEEDED YOU AND YOU SAVED PEOPLES LIVES MOLLY. SH
Molly stashes away her phone quickly as the car door is opened and the driver sits down.
"Are you ready to go Miss Hooper?" He asks.
"Yes." Molly squeaks her voice breaking at the perfect moment He gives her small sympathetic smile and turns around starting the car.
"There is some water in the fridge there if you need a drink." He says and molly leans forward and little as the little wall sides open revealing a small compartment. She takes a bottle and is amazed to find that it is chilled. The car starts to move and she sits back and watches as they pass rows upon rows of gravestones. Despite the fact it is a graveyard Molly cannot help and think how beautiful it is, it is full of grand and impressive memorials and tomb stones that have obviously been there for hundreds of years and have now become home to plants that creep up and around them, making them almost unrecognisable but chillingly beautiful.
Being someone who deals with death on a daily basis Molly has never really been scared of it except when her father died. She knows that no matter how hard she tried nothing could be done for him and that killed her. This place however was scary to her it was eerie and she can't help the chills that run through her body. Being of a scientific mind she didn't believe in ghosts or the supernatural but being here under the pretence she was under she felt uneasy like she was disrespecting the generations of dead that lay beneath her.
She was brought out of her morbid thoughts when she saw a small gathering of people all in black and huddling around a freshly dug grave mid way up the hill. The car came to a stop and the driver got out and opened her door.
"This is as far as I can go Miss." He says and she nods and climbs out of the back. Molly straightens up her coat and smiles at the driver who gives her a small nod. "I am sorry for your loss." He says and she gives him a small nod of thanks the weight of her guilt crushing her. She walks towards the small group of people and notices John, Mrs Hudson and Lestrade standing there. Lestrade notices her waking towards them and he nudges John who turns around and spots her. He excuses himself and Molly swallows hard as he walks towards her her eyes stinging with guilty tears at the look of pure grief on his face.
As ever I am truly grateful for you all reading. I hope you still enjoy and I apologise for the wait. x