"John I am so sorry." She says choking on her words. He just holds her tighter and she sobs.
"It is ok... I am..." his voice catches and she feels him swallow. He stands back and holds her at arms length. "You look beautiful." He says and Molly sniffs and scowls at him.
"Hardly." She says wiping her nose and causing him to let out a bark like laugh.
"Come on let's get this over with." He says and Molly nods and takes his offered arm as the rain starts to come down. They both look up and John sighs.
Molly stood in the cold rainy cemetery looking down at her feet wondering how in the world she got there; she toed the loose soil at the edge of the grave yard while John spoke in a quivering voice.
"I never thought I'd live to see the day," John says taking a deep shake breath "I always thought Sherlock would out live us all he is a suborn git after all." Molly lifts her head from the ground and looks at John who has his eyes tightly closed while he holds his hands tightly together. He looks awful. She thinks to herself as his eyes open and land on hers. They exchange a profound and meaningful look that says I'm sorry. It'll be ok. I am here if you need me. Molly takes this chance to look him over. He truly does look awful, his clothes are clean and perfectly smart but beneath them Molly can see that he is much thinner and his face is gaunt and pale and he doesn't look like he has had a decent meal in weeks. It is his eyes though that really upset Molly. They are lifeless, like the corpses she works on every day. It looks like all his life essence has been sucked out of him. He is heartbroken, heartbroken for the loss of his flat mate and best friend Sherlock Holmes.
John gives Molly a curt nod understanding what she is trying to say with her look and she looks back down at the ground unable to bare the lost look on his face. She stares into the hole where the sleek black coffin lies as John goes on.
"Sherlock was my very best friend. He was brilliant and I do not care what people think of him. I know he is no fraud and nothing anyone says will ever change my opinion of him. I am going to miss him..."
Molly blocks out Johns sad words and tries to focus on her breathing and not breaking down completely. Her nerves are completely shot, what with the funeral and he lies but also the thought that today would be a perfect opportunity for Moriarty to make a statement. It would be the perfect opportunity for him to show he was alive and kicking while his nemesis, the great Sherlock Holmes was dead and buried.
Molly half expected to see 'Jim form IT' standing in the crowd with a big evil smile on his face. She kept scanning the crowd and couldn't see him. She was not really that surprised after all the amount of security in the cemetery was that of a royal visit. She could see men and women on black suits dotted all over the cemetery so the likely hood of anyone they didn't want there getting close was highly unlikely.
Molly turns back to John and Mrs Hudson has taken his hand and he is looking down into the grave. Molly notices people are walking away and she shakes herself out of her daze, missing most of what John had said. She spots Mycroft Holmes sliding into the closest black car and as soon as the door is closed the car rushes off. There are a few people around John and Molly turns to leave when she hears her name being called. She spins around and John is marching over to her.
"Molly are you ok?" He asks and she frowns and nods.
"I'm fine John. Well apart form..." She looks towards Sherlock's grave, "... you know?"
"Yeah, I know." He says rubbing his exhausted eyes. "Look I know we were not like best of friends but what I said yesterday on the phone still stands. I am here if you need me." He says and Molly nods.
"Yes thank you." She says her guilt crushing her. "You too you know, anything you need." She says the words and it makes her feel uneasy as she says them at the memory of who else she had said them to.
"Right well... good." He says and he gives her a very soldiery nod and surprises her by giving her a swift kiss on the cheek. "See you soon Molly, take care of yourself." He says and Molly nods as he straightened his coat and walks off to a waiting Mrs Hudson, who gives Molly a little wave as she dabs her eyes. Molly awkwardly returns her wave and watches as they walk off together. Molly walks off in the opposite direction declining the car ride back down to the entrance. She needs a walk to clear her head and as she is walking down the hill she hears the gravel behind her crunching and she turns around. Lestrade is walking quickly towards her and he smiles when she stops to let him catch up.
"Hey Molly, how are you holding out?" He asks and she looks up at him and gives him a little smile.
"Horribly." She says and he nudges her with his elbow and she smiles a little. She has always like Greg he had always been kind to her and always valued her opinion when it came to a difficult case.
"I know how you feel." He says and she nods. She also knew that despite Sherlock constantly belittling him and basically driving him insane, Greg liked him and thought of Sherlock as a friend. "It has been a nightmare at the office since Sherlock died. Donovan and Anderson have been walking around with stupid smug smiles on their faces. They are still convinced Sherlock is a fraud."
"That's horrible!" Molly says angrily and Lestrade nods. "You don't think he is do you?" Molly asks and Lestrade shakes his head.
"No, I don't. I will be honest I did think for a bit but when James Moriarty turned up dead on the roof having shot himself I couldn't believe it any more. Sherlock is no killer." He says and Molly nods and then she freeze and stumbles to stop.
"Wait what?" She says her voice shaking slightly. Lestrade stops and looks at her frowning.
"What is it?"
"Did you say Jim I mean Moriarty is dead?" She says her blood beginning to boil.
"Yes." He says his frown deepening. "Did you not know?" Molly stares at him and he runs his hand through his wet hair. "Molly I'm sorry I though you knew."
"Well I did not!" She says through her teeth. She was so angry she had been walking around feeling like she was going to get snatched off the street for the last few days. She was living in constant fear of Jim finding her and therefore finding Sherlock and killing him. How could Sherlock not tell her this simple but very important fact? She closes her eyes as angry tears began to burn her eyes. Lestrade stares at her with concern and puts his hand on her shoulder.
"Molly?" He says quietly and her eyes snap open and they are full of unshed tears.
"I never knew Greg. I have been terrified that he was going to come back." She says feeling herself shake.
"I'm sorry Molly. I thought you were told." He says and she nods.
"I should have been." She says in a low dangerous voice and she walks on again. Lestrade follows closely behind her.
"How are you getting home?" He asks from behind her and she slows again and he walks beside her. He can see she is furious and that she desperately wants to know what happened, she is chewing on her lip, which she does when she wants to ask questions, but doesn't feel like it is her place.
"I was just going to get a cab." She says and she feels her phone buzz in her bag. She reaches into her bag and pulls it out. It is Sherlock.
HOW WAS THE FUNERAL? SH
She angrily stuffs her phone in her bag and Lestrade gives her a little smile.
"Bad news?" He asks and Molly shrugs.
"Just my mother."
"I know the feeling. So do you want a ride home?" He asks and Molly nods.
"That would be nice thank you." She says and he smiles and leads the way to the car park. They stop at a little red car and he opens the door for her and she smiles at him as she sits down and he closes her door for her. He walks around and climbs in next to her and groans as he pulls off his soaked coat. "Nice car." Molly says and Lestrade rolls his eyes.
"It's the wife's." He says and Molly smiles and nods.
"How are things between you two?" Molly asks as he starts the car.
"Oh we are getting a divorce." "He says nonchalantly backing out of his spot. Molly cringes and looks out of the window.
"I'm sorry." Molly says and Lestrade shrugs.
"Bit of a shit time all around." He says and Molly nods and he pats her leg. "It'll get better soon." He says and he lifts his hand off her and back onto the steering wheel.
"I hope so." Molly says and Lestrade smiles."
"Me too, after all of this I am in desperate need of a long holiday." He says and Molly nods and looks back out of the window.
"Greg?" Molly says as they sit in the typical London traffic.
"Yeah?" He says turning to her.
"What happened? I mean with Moriarty." She says not wanting to have to listen to another incorrect version of what happened to Sherlock.
"Well we are not sure but he was on the rooftop that Sherlock... on top of Bart's." He says and Molly nods. "He was just laying there with a gun in his head and a hole in his head."
"So he killed himself?" She asks and Lestrade nods.
"He had gunpowder on his hand and it was all the right angle so it seems that way. Sherlock didn't have any traces on him so he was cleared." He says and Molly frowns. Of course that was going to show in her report. If the lab ran any trace on the fake Sherlock they were not going to find anything on him, he was homeless and was hardly going to be playing around with guns. Of course the real Sherlock could have very well shout Moriarty for all she knew. Molly added this to her fire and she let it simmer and as soon as she was home she was going to let it boil over.
"Right, so what happened to him?" She asks and Lestrade chuckles.
"He was stolen." He says and Molly gasps.
"Stolen!"
"Yeah, Johnston, you know that old geezer who covers you?" Molly nods, "Well he got locked in a freezer and Morriatry was taken by some of his thugs."
"Oh my god was Johnston ok?"
"Yeah He had a cold and a sore head but he is fine. We cannot find anyone who would have done this. It would be a perfect case for Sherlock." Lestrade says not trying to hide the irony in his statement.
"I am sure he would love this one." Molly says with a little smile and Lestrade nods.
"I could certainly use his expertise right about now." He says and the traffic starts to move and they both fall silent.
They finally make it through town and turn into Molly's street and Molly groans at the sight of the reporters.
"What the hell at they all doing here?" Lestrade asks at they pull up outside Molly's building.
"I had forgotten about them!" She sighs unbuckling her seatbelt. Lestrade frowns but opens his door and she hears him telling them to back off or he will have them arrested. "This day just keeps getting better and better!" Molly mumbles as she readies herself to get out of the car. Lestrade opens her door and helps her out of the car. The reporters all start yelling but she cannot her anything through the haze and Lestrade's shout.
"Get out of the way, move it!" he says pulling her behind him. Cameras are flashed in her face and she is shoved around. Someone pushes her hard and she falls to the ground hard. She lands on her side bashing her elbow hard off the concrete. Lestrade helps her to her feet and helps her into her building as she holds her throbbing elbow.
"Are you ok?" He asks as they are in the quiet hallway.
"I am fine."
"You are bleeding."
"I am ok, it's just a little cut." She says pulling out her keys.
"Are you going to be ok?" He asks and she nods as she feels her phone buzz.
"I'll be fine, I am a doctor." She says giving him a little smile and he nods.
"What was all that about?" He asks and Molly blushes as she finally finds her keys and pull then out.
"They thought I was dating Sherlock." She says as her phone buzzes again and she looks for that now not missing Lestrade's shocked face.
"You weren't were you?" He asks and Molly pulls her phone out and looks at him frowning.
"No! God no you know what he was like... he never let anyone in." Molly says and Lestrade nods. She looks at her phone and sees two messages and she opens them.
GET RID OF HIM. SH
DO NOT LET HIM IN HERE! SH
She looks up at Lestrade who is hovering and Molly feels bad knowing he probably just wants to come in for a bit to make sure she is ok so it is with a heavy heart she smiles at him.
"Well thank you Greg." She says and he looks at her. "I had better get this cleaned up, thank you for the lift." She shay and he runs his hand through his hair and ne nods.
"My pleasure, um, will you be back at work next week?" He asks and Molly shrugs.
"I am not sure yet but it probably will yes." She says and he nods, another buzz and Molly glances at the screen.
THIS IS PAINFUL TO LISTEN TO. SH
"Ok well take care and I will see you..."
"When ever." Molly says and Lestrade nods.
"Yeah whenever."
"Bye Greg." She says and he turns to leave but stops at the bottom step.
"Get some ice on that elbow." He says with a smile and Molly chuckles.
"Yeah I will." She says and she waits outside the door until she hears the door close. She turns the key in the lock and opens the door pushing it with her shoulder.
"You are hurt." Sherlock's says as soon as the door is closed and she nods and allows herself to be led into the living room. Sherlock removes her coat for her and she feels the sting of the air on her arm. She feels around the wound sighs when she feels it is wet and sticky. She looks at her fingers and they are covered in blood.
"Brilliant!" She sighs and Sherlock looks at her arm.
"Where is your first aid kit?" He asks.
"Under the bathroom sink." She says and he vanishes. She holds he elbow and looks down at her legs and notices her ripped tights and her grazed knee. She tries to remember the last time she grazed her knee and laughs to herself when she remembers she must have been about seven. Sherlock re-enters with a little basin and the first aid kit while Molly is still chuckling and he frowns at her.
"Are you ok?" He asks approaching her slowly and cautiously. She snorts and his eyebrows shoot up and she continues to chuckle.
"I'm fine," she gasps and he sits down next to her on the sofa. "Just had a bit of a rough day." She says and he nods.
"Rough day all round then?" He says and she arches an eyebrow.
"Have you been busy?" She asks in a doubtful voice as she looks around the messy flat. He had certainly made his mark on the flat in the two days he had been there with random notes and bits of paper all over the place and his clothes on various surfaces. He looks around with her and clears his throat.
"I was buried today." He says and she scoffs.
"What ever you say." She says and she reaches for the first aid kit but he moves it out of her reach and she stares at him. She is painfully aware of how close she has moved to him and she cannot breathe at ho close thy have become.
"Let me." Sherlock says and Molly nods her voice having stopped working. She sits back and he moves closer so he can have better access to her arm.
"I-I I am more than able to patch myself up." She says and he shakes his head and takes her arm in his hands.
"I insist." He says pulling the cloth out of the basin and she watches as he works, something she has always loved doing. She can smell the faint smell of antiseptic in the water and she watches and he cleans around the cut meticulously and she jumps when she feels his cold breath blow on her raw skin. She watches as the goose bumps raise o her arm and he sits up and his fingers trace them lightly and Molly sits there frozen as she watches his face as he look at her skin. His eyes dart into hers startling her and making her breath catch.
"Sherlock..." She breathes and he frowns before he leans forward and brings his lips to hers. She freezes with her eyes wide and then snaps herself out of it and shoves him away and onto the floor. She jumps up and he stares at her from the floor. "What... what are you doing?" Molly says angrily.
"I thought that's what you wanted?" He says standing up holding his ribs. Molly stares at him in disbelief and shakes her head.
"No Sherlock I... I didn't... I don't..."
"You said..." Sherlock frowns and he stares at her, "Your pupils, your pulse..."
"Sherlock!" Molly snaps and he starts, "This is not ok, you can't just do this, I don't want you that way." She says and he frowns.
"How do you want me?" He asks and Molly turns away from him.
"I don't, not unless you wanted me as well but even then I don't know if I do any more." She says turning back to him and she is surprised to see he looks upset. "You have lied to me, manipulated me and made me think I was in jepordy when I am not."
"What are you..."
"I know Sherlock, I know Jim is dead. I have been scared worrying that he was going to come and finish me off but you knew he was gone and you could have, you should have told me!"
"It was for your own good Molly."
"How is that for my gown good?" She asks angrily and Sherlock sighs.
"I didn't want you getting hurt. Morriatry may be dead but he had a lot of people working for him, you can never be to careful."
"Did you kill him?" Molly asks and Sherlock frowns.
"You think I killed him?" He asks and Molly shrugs.
"So what if I did? He was not your Jim Molly stop being so stupid. He was a killer but no I did not kill him although I would have without a second thought." Molly blinks up at him and feels like he has slapped her.
"I am not stupid." She says and he frowns. "I know what he did and who he was and he was not my Jim. I just thought I would have deserved a bit more credit from you Sherlock, after everything I have done for you, risked for you but yeah maybe I am stupid for falling for it again. You have always used the fact I love you to your advantage to manipulate me and make me do things for you but not any more. I'm done. You can stay here as long as you like but from now on Sherlock you are on your own." She says and she turns away from him and storms into her room slamming the door behind her. As soon as the door clicks closed she starts to cry.
Molly wakes in the morning from the pain in her elbow. She has managed to roll onto it during the night and it was throbbing. She groans as she rolls onto her back and off of the arm. As she lies there the sun shines through her curtains and straight into her raw eyes. She lies there and recalls the previous night in horrifically embarrassing detail. She couldn't believe the things Sherlock had said to her and the horrible things she said to him but most of all she couldn't believe that he had kissed her. She had definitely not seen that one coming. She runs a finger over her lips and closes her eyes to try and remember the pressure or the feel of his lips but she cannot remember any of it. She must have been so shocked she had gone numb. She did feel slightly disappointed that the time where Sherlock kissed her, after years of dreaming of it, she couldn't remember even a tiny detail.
Molly had never even known Sherlock was interested in women. She was almost certain that he was asexual she had even questioned his and Johns relationship at one point. Another, more horrible reason is that he only did it to try and make her feel better. She laughed at the ridiculousness of it all and how horribly his plan had backfired. She sits up and throws her covers off of herself and has a good stretch. She feels her joints crack a little and she winces when her arm protests.
Walking into the living room she freezes and frowns when she notices the room is clean and tidy. She walks around and notices it has even been dusted. She frowns again when she notices something crucial is missing.
"Sherlock." She darts into the kitchen to see if he is in there but it is empty and also spotlessly clean. "Sherlock?" She calls out and when there is no reply she walks back into the living room and she sees a little note taped to her laptop screen. She sits down in front of the laptop and peels the note of carefully.
Dear Molly,
I will be forever grateful for everything you have done for me. I am going to be away for some time, I am sorry for imposing on your home and making you feel uncomfortable. That was never my intention.
I apologize if I have embarrassed you or hurt you in any way and I hope you can forgive me for that. You are a true friend.
Yours,
Sherlock Holmes.
Molly stared down at the note with wide eyes. She couldn't quite believe he had actually left and that he had apologized. It was rare for him to apologize but not rare for him to just up and disappear, that was very Sherlock. She couldn't quiet believe he has left considering his current predicament. When Molly had said he is on his own she did not mean he had to leave and now, the fact that he had she felt bad. Then it hits her that he probably left because he was just as embarrassed about the previous night as she was. She knew he was no good a feelings and emotion so all of this was probably overload for him. Molly sighs and flops back on the couch.
"Time to move on Molly." She says allowed and she pulls herself up and scrunches the letter up and tosses it in a waste bin as she passes and heads for a shower.
The underground was as busy as ever and as Molly exited the station she was grateful for the fresh air. She walked slowly towards the hospital and as she rounds the corner she pauses.
"Come on Molly, move on and sort yourself out." She straightens herself up and walks purposefully towards the entrance actively avoiding the spot where Sherlock "fell". Keeping her eyes fixed straight ahead she pushes open the hospital doors and marches through the halls keeping her eyes fixed on her destination and ignoring the hushed whispers as she passes.
When she gets into the morgue she shuts the door and sighs. She opens her office door and switches off her computer. It takes a moment for it to lad up so she heads out and makes a coffee. She notices her in tray and sighs at the pile of files, bodies for her to examine no doubt. Johnston was never the fastest worker. Clutching her steaming coffee she makes her way back into the office and she sits at the desk. She opens her emails and her eyes widen when she sees she has at least thirty internal emails and another ten or so form the press asking for her story. She deletes all of them not even giving then a second glance and she pushes up from her seat. She walks back into the lab and the doors swing open and Michael looks at her in surprise.
"You're back." He says sounding shocked. Molly frowns at him.
"Yes I am back, what have you got for me?" She says and Michael hands the body over.
Molly Immerses herself in her work over the next couple of weeks taking twice as many shifts as normal and keeping to herself. She had barely spoken to another soul for all that time except when at work or on the odd occasion John texted to make sure she was ok. Lestrade had visited her in work a few times but she was always to busy or pretending to be when he was there, she wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone really. She had completely changed her life as best she could she had joined a gym and was there as often as she could make it. Her life now consisted of work, sleep, eat and gym.
She had hardly thought about Sherlock since trying to get hold of him a few days after he left to make sure he was ok. She even tried to call him but the number had been disconnected. After that she left him alone and had even signed up for Internet dating to get him fully out of her head. In fact she was going on a date that very evening.
So as she sat in the little bar waiting on her date she nervously checks her make-up for the tenth time since she had arrived. She peers down at her phone checking her date Simon's photo again so she can recognize him in the busy Friday night crowd. Her eyes keep darting to the door every time it opens and every time it is not Simon her face falls. She looks around at the clock nervously and chews her lip he is an hour late. She looks around the bar and she orders another drink when a man comes over to her table and sits down.
"Alright darlin, wanna join me for a drink?" He asks and Molly smiles and shakes her head.
"Thank you but no I am waiting for someone." She says nervously and he chuckles.
"What ever love, your loss." He says standing up scraping the chair loudly. He walks back to his friends who laugh loudly at him. Molly looks away from him as he flushes red and she focuses on her wine.
A few more wines later Molly checks her phone and sighs when there are no messages. She stands up and steadies herself, as the wine has gone to her head, and she makes her way to the door. She catches the eye of the man from earlier and he scowls at her. She looks away quickly and rushes out of the door and into the street where the chilled air makes her fuzzy head fuzzier. She decides on going on a walk to help clear her head.
Maybe Internet dating is not for me. Molly thinks as she pulls out her phone to check if Simon had texted or called but there was nothing. She quickly signs on to her online dating account to find Simon and give her a piece of her mind but she cannot find his account anywhere. She shoves her phone in her bag and feels tears stinging her eyes.
"Did you get stood up darlin?" Comes a voice from behind her making her jump.
"Oh, you scared me!" Molly says as the man from the bar walks over followed by his friends.
"Where is your date?" He goes on ignoring her. She looks at the group then to the floor. Stay calm.
"He couldn't make it." She says and the mans friends laugh.
"Think you were lied to Dave." One of them says while the other chuckle.
"Look's that way mate." Dave says looking cross. "How about that drink? The night is still young." He asks and Molly shakes her head and backs away trying to smile.
"Thank you again but I really need to g-go." She says as calmly as she can and he frowns.
"Come on just one drink." He says and Molly bumps into someone and gasps as their hands take hold her.
I think the lady said no." Comes a familiar and very welcome voice. Molly spins around and she smiles widely at John who is looking at her with a concerned look.
"John!" She squeaks and he nods and gives her a little reassuring smile. "Leave." He says stepping in front of Molly who stares at the men who are looking at john with a look of humor and surprise.
"Who are you?" Dave asks and John scoffs.
"That is none of your concern. Now I suggest you turn around and get out of here."
"Or what little man?" Dave says who looks at his friends who all chuckle. John laughs with them and in the blink of an eye Dave is on the floor groaning and John is shaking his hand. Molly gasps in shock and Dave's friends all stare at him in surprise.
"Take him and leave." John says and he turns back to Molly who is watching as Mike is being pulled away. She turns to John and stares at him with wide eyes.
"John." She says in a whisper.
"Sorry Molly, are you ok?" He asks and she nods.
"Are you ok?" She asks looking down at his trembling hands. He lifts up his hands and stares at them and nods.
"I am fine." He says stuffing his hands in his coat pockets.
"Are you sure?" She asks and he nods, "Ok well, thank you... for that." She says and he nods curtly.
"You're welcome." He says pausing and looking her over, "Were you on a date?" Molly nods and blushes.
"I was supposed to be," She says and John frowns, "I got stood up." She says with a little smile and a shrug.
"Oh, sorry." John says and Molly chuckles.
"Don't be it was hardly your fault." She says and John smiles.
"No well, I am still sorry. It is never pleasant."
"It definitely is not." She says and John nods. Molly sticks out her arm for a cab and John chews on his lip.
"Well since you know, you are out and all, and you look so lovely. Would you like to come have a drink with me?" He asks as a cab begins to pull towards them.
"You?" Molly asks in surprise and john snorts.
"Is the thought really that horrific?" He says and Molly bushes furiously.
"Oh no, no John I didn't mean... I mean really?" She splutters and he smiles.
"Well yes, we are friends and we are both alone this evening, why not?" He asks, "I assume you were going to just go home?" He asks quirking an eyebrow to the waiting cab.
"Yes, yes I was," she says and she smiles, "I would love to go have a drink with you John." She says with a smile and he nods happily.
"Excellent!" He says sounding genuinely pleased and opening the cab door for her.
Molly is laughing hard as john explains about a patient of his who was admitted to the Accident and Emergency he had been working at with a light bulb stuck in his mouth.
"... Apparently the guy had been in with his friend earlier in the day with his friend who had done the exact same thing as he did. The curiosity got the best of him and he was sure that he could do it and well... he ended up on my table." John says with a chuckle. Molly wipes her eyes and tries to calm her breathing.
"I cannot believe some people!" She say breathlessly making John laugh. He hands her a napkin and she wipes her eyes. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, but you are right I really do worry about humanity sometimes." He says smiling at Molly as she grins and wipes her eyes.
"Oh thank you John, I needed that." She says and John nods.
"Me too. Nice to hear laughing." He says and Molly smiles and bites her lip.
"How are you enjoying work?" Molly asks after a short spell of tense quite, John shrugs and sips on his rum and coke.
"It is ok, it gets tough though sometimes. I am used to dealing with adults and when kids come in really sick it is hard. It keeps me busy though so that is good." He says giving her a sad smile. Molly nods but feels her body tensing at the knowledge of where the conversation is steering. They had been skirting around the subject of Sherlock for a good few hours having talked about Lestrade and his divorce being finalized and Mrs Hudson going on a cruise with her sister just to get away.
Molly bit her lip as John opened his mouth to speak and he just knew from the sad look on his face where he was about to go.
"So, so how have you been, you know since..." He sighs unable to finish his sentence.
"It has been hard. I am just taking it day by day." She says feeling a part of her heart chip away at her having to continue this lie. She wants nothing more than to tell John that Sherlock is alive. John nods at her and sips at his drink.
"Greg told me about what the papers have been saying about the tow of you." John says and Molls eye widen.
"You didn't see it?" She asks feeling genuinely shocked. "It was all over the papers fro a good week. It was so embarrassing. It made me out do be some desperate girl who followed him around everywhere." Molly says with a sigh.
"No I didn't read it, I um... well I didn't go out much after." He says his face going a little red. "Mrs Hudson had to scream at me and told me to get off my arse." He says with a little smile. Molly is well aware for how fond John and Sherlock are of Mrs Hudson and how she cares for them as well.
"She is great." Molly says and John smiles.
"She is. She is the one who got me the job. Her doctor was complaining about the lack of staff and she says she knew just the person to help out." He chuckles and Molly smiles.
"I am glad you are keeping busy."
"Yeah, I am just muddling through." He says and Molly pats his hand. He smiles and holds her hand. She smiles at him and gives his hand a squeeze he leans towards her to kiss her and she leans back with wide eyes and jumps up. John stares up at her looking mortified.
"John I..."
"No Molly, god I am sorry. I never thought..."
"It's ok I just... I... I should go." She says picking up her coat. John stands up and runs his hands through his hair.
"Let me walk you to the cab." He says and Molly nods and pulls on her coat. John leads the way out of the bar and holds the door open for her. Molly waits out in the street and signals for a cab. One slides up straight away and opens the door really wanting to get away from there as quick as possible. She turns to John who smiles at her nervously.
"I am sorry Molly, my head is all over the place." He says and he nods and gives him a smile.
"It is really ok. It was lovely seeing you tonight." She says and she climbs into the cab.
"Good night Molly." He says and she closes the door. She waves and he waves back stiffly before jamming his hands back in his pockets. As she rounds the corner she sees him walking away and she sighs. She closes her eyes and before she can even try to fathom what the hell just happened her phone buzzes. She rummages in her bag expecting it to be a sorry text from John or a message from Simon but when she doesn't recognize the number she gasps and quickly opens up the message. She frowns down at he phone when she reads the message.
I HOPE YOU AND JOHN HAD A PLESENT EVENING. SH
She looks around the busy streets and scans the crowds around her looking for a sign of Sherlock anywhere.
Where are you? M
CLOSE. SH
Are you ok? M
She waited patiently for an answer hoping he would reply quickly and when the cab pulled up outside her house he still hadn't. She quickly paid the cabbie and ran up the stairs into her building. She rushed to her door and threw it open before quickly closing it.
"Sherlock?" She says in a carrying whisper but she is not answered. She walks through the flat checking in each room to see if he was actually there but when she walks into the living and he is not there she slouches down on the couch and sighs. Her phone buzzes in her hand.
DID YOU KISS HIM? SH
Molly frowns at her phone and it buzzes again.
IGNORE THAT LAST MESSAGE IT IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS. SH
We didn't kiss and you are right it is none of your business. M
Molly stews while she wait for his reply, she is how amazed how angry Sherlock can make her by just texting her. She cannot believe his gall, what is it to him who she kisses, even if it were John. She can kiss whom ever she damn well pleases. Her phone vibrates on her knee.
JOHN IS A SERIAL DATER. SH
Molly scoffs and types a quick angry reply.
Look Sherlock, whom I choose to kiss is none of your concern. I am sure you have other things to be thinking about other than my love life. I did not kiss him, he is a friend and I don't feel for him like that. Also where are you? Are you safe? M
She waited patiently for his reply fully expecting a large and lecturing reply about her terrible taste in men and she was slightly miffed when she opened the next message.
I AM SAFE. SH
She was hoping for an argument, she felt frustrated and wanted to have a rant but those two words seemed to calm her. She was pleased, happy that he was ok.
Please come home. M x
The message had left her phone before she even realized she had written it. She chewed on her lip awaiting an answer and the minutes ticked by before she got a reply.
I CANNOT YET. SH
What are you doing? M
I AM ONTO SOMETHING BIG. NO NEED TO WORRY. SH
Please be careful. M
I WILL. SH
YOU TOO. SH
X. SH
Molly stares down at her phone screen and smiled at the little kiss he sent her and she put her phone down and kicked off her shoes and sighed feeling better than she had in weeks. The worry she had been feeling about Sherlock being hurt finally off her back.
Thank you everyone for your kind words and for following and favouring this story. I have loved writing it and I am sad to say that it is finished. I have the next few chapters done and I will get them up for you over the next couple of days. I really hope you enjoy.