Chapter 7

Right, I've managed to find myself a small window of opportunity in amongst the packing to upload this.

Apologies if there are any typo's as I haven't had as much time to check as normal. Any bad ones let me know and I'll sort them out on my return.

Rocking the Redhead – I hadn't thought of the whole bolthole angle. Doesn't fit into this story but I love the idea. Could I use it as a prompt for another separate story?

Anyhow, enough from me – on with the story.

It was less than a week later when Molly's friend Meena ran into the morgue. She was out of breath from the run, her hand on her chest as she gestured at Molly.

'That guy, the one you fancy, he's just been brought in, gunshot wound.'

'Sherlock, you mean Sherlock?' Asked Molly desperately hoping Meena had got it wrong.

'Yes that's the one. He came in about ten minutes ago, to A&E. His friend was with him, the short one.'

Oh God thought Molly please let him be OK

She made her way up to A&E looking out for John as she went. She finally found him near the desk arguing with the receptionist about the need to fill out some forms.

'John, John what happened, how is he?'

As soon as John saw Molly he came over embracing her, 'oh God Molly, it's not good. We almost lost him in the ambulance. He's been rushed straight to surgery. I'm just filling in these bloody pointless forms, but no one's telling me anything.' He shot an angry look at the receptionist who just ignored him, used to patient's relatives taking out their fears and anger on her.

'Come on John, let me help you. I'll see if I can find out what's happening from one of the doctors.'

MHMHMHMHMHMHMH

They eventually ended up in a private family's waiting room. John had rung Mary and she was on her way over. He'd also spoken to Mrs Hudson who was waiting at home for more news, Mrs Turner from next door was going to come round and keep her company.

Molly cleared her throat not really wanting to ask the next question but trying to think about what Sherlock would want, 'what about Janine? Do you need to get in touch with her?'

John looked up surprised, 'you..errr..you know about Janine?'

'Yes, I called round a couple of weeks ago and met her then...it seemed quite serious between them. I'm sure she'd want to know.'

John looked uncomfortable, 'listen Molly, you know what Sherlock is like, yeah! He can be a complete arse sometimes. Well, truth is the relationship with Janine was all fake. None of it was true, it was all for a case. He even planned a fake engagement and proposed this evening but it was all just to get into an office. I know he's cold but I never thought he'd go this far. Not even sure whether Janine realises, she was in the office when Sherlock got shot, she'd been knocked out, some kind of sedative. As far as I know she was brought here separately.'

Molly couldn't believe what she was hearing. It had all been a lie. He had got into a relationship and lied for weeks just to break into an office. She certainly shared John's shock at the lengths he would go to. But what did that mean for her and Sherlock. At this moment she just wanted him to survive so she could slap him all over again.

It was a few hours later when the doctor came in to give them the good news that Sherlock had survived the surgery. 'He's a fighter that one, almost pronounced him dead on the operating table but he should make a full recovery in time.'

John and Molly both wept with relief. Molly offered to sit with Sherlock for the next few hours whilst John went home, cleaned up and got a bit of sleep. He thanked her profusely before taking Mary's hand and exiting the room.

Molly made her way down the corridor. It was the middle of the night, not normal visiting hours but her staff badge gave her some privileges.

Sherlock's room was quiet apart from the regular beeping of his heart monitor. He looked so pale in the semi darkness. Molly sat at the side of his bed and took his hand in hers. It felt cold to the touch. Molly brought it up to her face kissing the back before placing it against her face.

'Oh Sherlock, you amazing, mad, stupid idiot, what have you done,' she murmured into the dark. She knew she should be angrier but he looked so pale and vulnerable hooked up to the machines keeping him alive that all she felt was gratitude that he was still here.

When John arrived a few hours later Molly was asleep with her head on the edge of the bed, Sherlock's hand still entwined in her own.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMH

Molly kept in touch with John over the next few days keeping tabs on Sherlock's recovery. She realised soon enough that Janine had learnt the truth when she saw the headlines on some of the tabloid press. At first she was shocked and hurt by the stories but John let slip that none of them were true and that Sherlock had assured him, for what it was worth, that he hadn't gone that far in pursuit of a case. It wasn't much of a line to draw though considering the emotional distress he must have caused.

Molly knew she'd have to call in and see him at some point but she wasn't quite sure what she would say or what she even wanted from him. He'd made it perfectly clear that he wasn't boyfriend material but she wanted, no needed, some level of commitment from him. She couldn't go on as they were.

In the end she waited until he had been officially discharged from hospital as opposed to the unofficial romp that he'd taken two weeks earlier. He'd been resettled at Baker St and John appeared to have moved back in to look after him. Molly was surprised by this turn of events and wondered if Mary were happy with the arrangement.

In the end she texted John to find out when would be a good time to come round and found herself offering to look after Sherlock whilst John covered a shift at work, he was down on his hours due to the shooting and needed to show his face.

She turned up shortly after John had left bringing some food and reading material with her. She thought he might appreciate reading some of her old Pathologist Monthly magazines.

He was dozing in the settee when she arrived so she quietly made her way through to the kitchen, putting some of the food in the, thankfully headless, fridge and putting the kettle on to make them both a drink.

'Tea for me please John,' called Sherlock.

'Wrong deduction Sherlock, you must be slipping in your old age,' she called back playfully.

'Molly!'

God, how could his voice, just saying her name cause such delicious shivers to run down her spine.

She brought the tea things through to the front room and sat down on the edge of the settee by his legs.

'Hey,' she said shyly, 'how are you feeling?'

'Like I've been shot. You?' He countered with a smirk.

'Honestly Sherlock, relieved that your alive but furious at what you did to Janine.'

He rolled his eyes, 'God, don't you start, I've already heard enough from John. It was for a case, it meant nothing.'

'It didn't mean nothing to me Sherlock.'

They were quiet for a few minutes, Molly moved to pour the tea but Sherlock caught hold of her hand. He threaded his fingers through hers pulling her round to face him.

'I am truly sorry for any hurt that I caused you Molly. I get carried away when I'm on a case. I didn't think it would impact you but I see now that I was wrong.'

'And is that case finished?' Molly asked chewing her bottom lip.

'No, not yet but I anticipate it soon will be. At least once I'm back on my feet. Which brings me back to how bored I'm feeling?' Sherlock looked slyly at Molly. He circled his thumb across the back of. Molly's hand.

'What...no...Sherlock! For one thing, I'm still mad at you, for another you're ill and last but not least we aren't even in a relationship.'

'Ugh relationships, over rated. Can't we just be us Molly, no expectations?'

'No Sherlock we can't. I wish we could but I need more than that. I don't need hearts and flowers but I do need to know that you care and that you're there for me, and I don't just mean sexually.'

Sherlock slumped back into the cushions, grimacing at the pain in his chest. He suspected it wasn't just connected to the bullet wound but he wasn't quite ready to admit it yet.

Molly continued, 'take some time Sherlock, finish the case, think about the future. I'll still be here when you're done.'

Sherlock didn't reply just steepled his hands under his chin, eyes closed.

Molly sighed, 'maybe I should just go?'

'No...I...I've missed you. Stay...please.'

She looked down into Sherlock's eyes which were now open. He looked almost shy.

'Oh, OK then.'

When John came back from work he found Sherlock and Molly both lying asleep on the couch, Sherlock's arm around Molly's shoulders her face tucked into his neck.

John started at the sight but then smiled happily to himself maybe there's hope for the pain-in-the-arse, irritating git yet he thought.

Sorry you really will have to wait a week now for the next update. We're getting close to the end of our story though.

Please let me know what you thought, I love to read your reviews and comments.