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Chaper 6 To Not Count

The next day Molly left for work, security detail in tow. She and Sherlock found themselves quite busy going over the plethora of forensics that came in from the warehouse where the hack originated. He had joined her about an hour after she got to work and they fell into a comfortable working routine. They were both well aware of the fact that the possibility of a threat from Moriarty or one his underlings was far more important than their personal issues.

Unfortunately there was virtually nothing of worth found at the warehouse, no DNA, no fingerprints, no trace evidence what so ever. That meant one thing... not an armature. That, in and of it's self was a clue. Of course the biggest clue so far was the timing. At the moment that Sherlock was about to be sent to his death, along comes the one and only thing that could save him... need. England's need for his brilliance.

Now more waiting... It had only been twenty-four hours and Sherlock was already starting to get frustrated. This was unfortunate because seemingly the longer it took to solve this case the longer he had a chance to prove his importance to the Crown.

"Nothing more to be done here Molly, there are a few results we'll have to wait for until tomorrow but I can assure you, they will be much of the same. You ready to leave?" He asked as he donned his coat and scarf.

Molly paused, now that the work was done she wasn't really looking forward to spending alone time with the detective. "Um Mycroft will send a car for me, I'll see you at Baker Street." She said looking down at the report she was filling out.

"Molly this is ridiculous. I'm going home now and your shift is over, you don't need a ride if you're with me. Come on let's go."

Molly sighed but could come up with no reasonable argument, "Fine, let me get my stuff."

The ride home was uncomfortable to say the least. They had been discussing the case all day and now had nothing left to talk about except the one thing that Molly had already said she didn't want to discus. When they got to the flat Molly once again retreated to her room and Sherlock to his Mind Palace.

Molly sat for a few minutes trying to decided what to do. Did she go downstairs and have the conversation he had wanted to have yesterday? Frankly she was exhausted both physically and mentally. Finally she thought of Mary and picked up her phone.

If you aren't busy can you call me?-Molly

Three minutes later her phone rang.

"Hey what's up?"

"Thanks for calling Mary."

"It's no problem, I told you I didn't mind, so what's he done?"

"Well, nothing we worked all day on the case, didn't find anything by the way. It's just I'm frankly too upset to talk to him, he came to my room last night and I basically told him to piss off."

Mary chuckled, "Good for you, but Molly I explained... he had good reasons for everything he did. He was trying to protect you."

"Or was he trying to protect himself?"

There was a hesitation on the phone line, Molly could tell Mary was thinking.

"Molly... things aren't always what they seem."

"What?" Molly asked, great... now Mary was getting philosophical.

"Well what I mean is that Sherlock puts up a good front, but why do you think that is?"

"Three years ago I would have said he was a wounded angel, now I'd say he's a selfish bastard."

Mary laughed, "It's quite possible that he's both. Look, I assume you called for advice?"

"Yes, I think I did anyway."

"Okay, go talk to him. Explain how you feel and try to be patient. I know you have it in you, John's told me the stories. I realize things are different now... you're different. But maybe that's a good thing. Don't be the Molly that let Sherlock get away with anything and everything but still be the Molly Hooper that believes in Sherlock Holmes, because you do don't you Molly?"

By then end of Mary's speech Molly was almost in tears, "Okay, thanks Mary. We'll talk soon."

Sherlock had gone over all the information they had gathered from Mycroft's team on the way home, which frankly wasn't much. He was glad for the silence of the cab ride, because he needed to talk to Molly at home and it gave him time to sort out the forensics in his Mind Palace. Now he could dedicate some time to sorting out Molly.

Of course he knew he had hurt her, he had been hurting her for years, he was quite practiced at it. However, he had made a decision while he was away taking down Moriarty's network, he was going to be kind to Molly Hooper. She had risked everything for him and had done so without hesitation. Then his already complicated life got even more complicated when he decided to but heads with Charles Magnussen.

What he wanted to do was explain that he did what he felt was necessary and she would have to trust him and leave it at that. The Molly Hooper he left after jumping off the roof of St. Barts would have smiled happily and accepted his explanation as well as a kiss on the cheek. However he was no longer dealing with that particular version of his pathologist.

Things were complicated now. They were complicated for other reasons too, but he had become so accustomed to pushing those reasons aside he did it without notice.

When Sherlock came out of his thoughts Molly was sitting across from him with a cup of tea, there was also one sitting next to him. She motioned to with her head so he would see it.

"Thank you Molly." He said picking it up.

"I was making some for myself, so..." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Molly, I want to say..." He started.

"Before you try to give me some kind of placated excuse or your version events, I should tell you that I know some of what has been going on since you came home. I also know that where you were going yesterday," She looked down into her mug, "and that you weren't to come back."

Sherlock just nodded.

Gathering her strength she looked back up and straightened her shoulders, "And no, I'm not telling you who told me, you like keeping secrets... so do I, but then again you're Sherlock Holmes I'm sure it won't be a secret for long. I know that you were trying to protect the Watsons, I know the drugs and Janine were for the case... both of those things are disgusting Sherlock. I already made myself clear about the drugs but I can't believe but what you did to that girl. Although I shouldn't be surprised. I do know how it feels... to be lied to, manipulated, to be told I count to get what you need. Have you ever been honest with me? Don't answer that okay." She shuddered then took a deep breath.

"I don't need you to believe in me Sherlock. I don't... because I've always believed in you and that's always been enough and even though I'm different now, as it turns out I still do. Even after everything I still believe in you, I guess I always will. So you don't owe me an apology or an explanation, just know that what ever you need me... you still have me, it's just a slightly different version of me."

Sherlock sat in stunned silence, she doesn't think she counts because of Janine? Damnit. I'll never undo the damage I've inflected on this woman.

"For what it's worth, I am sorry I disappointed you Molly Hooper. But you seemed to have made your mind up about me so I won't go on some long tangent to try to change it. I will tell you that you are wrong about at least one thing," he stood up took a step closer to her, "I'll leave it up to you as to what it is you're wrong about, good night." Then he went to his room.

That one was a bit of a downer... sorry. There are better days to come, just stay with me.

Thanks for reading!