Episode 3, Season 6
Picks up a few months after the end of episode 2.
Four months had passed since Sherlock found himself in a near-death situation. 2-3 months of which he was in physical therapy surrounded by therapists, good friends and random well wishers. John (occasionally accompanied by his little daughter), Mrs. Hudson, Molly, and even Mycroft took turns aiding Sherlock back to health.
The first month was extensive physical therapy and mandatory leave from any sort of mental or physical activity relating to his work. The second month saw Sherlock taking on minor cases via social media as he underwent general therapy. Third month came around and it became very difficult to get him to stay in one place - he became increasingly restless. And so he would shadow Inspector Lestrade on various minor cases, which Lestrade initially found annoying but quickly grew to liking due to cases being solved in half the time.
Though recovering from a near-death experience, life seemed lighter the past couple of weeks. Sherlock took time to enjoy things such as tea Mrs. Hudson would prepare, Rosie singing the ABCs, or Molly reading to him whenever she had the time.
But the present would prove to be the opposite. Since Sherlock's time in recovery, Eurus' behavior at Sherrinford had become erratic. She still wouldn't speak to anyone, but had started to refuse her medication alarming the staff at Sherrinford. The new governor had sent word to Mycroft of Eurus' bad turn, which makes the older Holmes quite nervous to approach Sherlock. While he didn't want to bother his younger sibling with the news, he knew only Sherlock would be able to handle Eurus.
A couple of hours after announcing ahead of his visit, Mycroft turns up at 221B Baker Street.
Mycroft is by the doorway to the flat as he sees John and Sherlock, seated in their respective chairs drinking tea. Mrs. Hudson is in the flat as well preparing an extra tray of tea and biscuits for their guest. She sets it down on the end table.
"If you need anything else, please holler," she says animatedly as she walks out the door. She even takes a moment to wink at Mycroft on her way out.
"Interesting choice of words," says Mycroft as he walks further into the flat.
John smiles at Mrs. Hudson's somewhat questionable behavior. He even wonders if she sometimes enjoyed a bit of weed now and then.
"Take a seat, Mycroft," says his younger brother, gesturing at the lone chair between the detective and doctor and directly in front of the fireplace.
Mycroft isn't fond if that chair, but he sets his umbrella on the side and takes a seat anyway.
"What's up?" asks John.
"Well," he says as he picks up the cup of tea. "Let me first take a sip of this."
Sherlock and John smile at each other as they both realize in unison Mycroft's more comfortable behavior in their presence.
"We have somewhat of a problem, Sherlock," says the older sibling.
John asks, "Should I leave?"
"No, you will want to hear this too."
Sherlock looks at his brother prompting him to continue.
"The new governor of Sherrinford rang last night to inform me that our dear sister is refusing her meds."
Sherlock quickly puts away his cup and sits up, "Why?"
"We don't know. She still isn't speaking to anyone. Knowing what she is capable of, the staff are quite nervous."
Sherlock looks concerned. "I should've gone to her sooner." He gets up. "I shouldn't have neglected her."
"You were recovering from two bullet wounds," John reminds him.
"No need to blame yourself. Nothing significant has happened... yet. Just throwing of a metallic tray across the room which happened to be holding her daily medication."
"I must go to her," says Sherlock as he rushes to his desk to get his phone.
"I've already made arrangements for us to leave first thing in the morning," Mycroft says and looks at John. "You too, Dr. Watson."
"Alright," says John as he gets up from his chair. "I should go be with my daughter and inform the nanny I'll be away for a bit."
Sherlock keenly looks over at John as he walks out the door. He waits until John can no longer hear them. "Does John really have to be there?"
Mycroft gets up as well and turns to face his brother. "Since he's a physician I thought we could use his expertise." He picks up his umbrella and continues as he walks to the doorway, "I mean, if you'd rather not have Dr. Watson with us..."
"I'm only thinking about little Rosamund. If Eurus is acting up again..."
Mycroft suddenly understands. "Ah. Well... I will leave that up to the two of you."
Sherlock nods. Mycroft leaves the flat.
Scene fades on Sherlock's concerned face.
Early the next morning...
While still dark outside, Sherlock is seen by the open doorway to John's place. Molly with a bag around her shoulder stands a few steps behind the detective.
"Are you sure, Sherlock?" asks John.
"I am."
"What if something happens?"
"Precisely why I think you should stay with Rosamund. I would even recommend a little road trip with her in case Eurus is up to her old ways."
John nods but gestures at Molly (while she turns away briefly to look at Mycroft's fancy car behind them). "What if it isn't safe for Molly either?"
"I've explained to her the risk, but she insists she goes to Sherrinford instead of you," Sherlock says softly.
"I don't know, Sherlock." John shakes his head. "What if something..."
"Molly and I," he thinks and adds, "and Mycroft don't have children to worry about. If anything were to happen to you, leaving Rosamund orphaned, it's something I can't even..."
Without his knowledge, Molly had walked a few steps closer to the men by the doorway, "There's no question who should stay with Rosie, John."
John nods. "Alright," he takes a deep breath. "If anything, anything were to happen, you give me a call, yeah? I'll have my phone with me at all times."
Sherlock nods with a smile and walks to the car with Molly as John watches from the doorway.
A few hours later...
Molly is awestruck as she walks through the entrance of Sherrinford.
"Oh wow," she says as she looks all around her and slows down behind Sherlock and Mycroft.
The older gentleman rolls his eyes a bit at her reaction but the younger of the two men turns to find her amazement charming.
Molly notices Mycroft's impatience. "Sorry! Sorry..."
The gentlemen decide that it is best if Sherlock visits Eurus first - especially since he seemed to be her favorite of the two brothers.
Mycroft and Molly watch from the observation room as Sherlock enters Eurus' space.
Though she isn't facing the entrance, Eurus senses her favorite sibling's presence, which makes her turn around.
"Eurus," says her brother. "I'm sorry I haven't been to visit."
Through the high-definition screens in the observation room, Molly notices sadness on Eurus' face.
Eurus suddenly looks at Sherlock's lower chest area, precisely where the bullets had gone through.
Sherlock is amazed. He didn't intend to tell his sister he was near death a few months ago - the reason he hadn't been to visit, but seeing as she may have already deduced, he decides to explain.
"I was on a case that nearly got me killed."
Mycroft watches for any sign of rebellion on his sister's part.
"She is sad," says Molly.
"Pardon?" says Mycroft as he looks down to his right.
"She is sad because if what Sherlock just revealed."
Mycroft looks back at the screen and sees it too.
Back in Eurus' space, Sherlock tries to engage his sister in conversation.
"How are you, Eurus?" he asks.
She doesn't reply. Of course not... she hasn't spoken since Sherlock rescued her many months ago.
Eurus suddenly looks to her side at her Stradivarius.
Sherlock follows her gaze. "Oh," he sighs. "I can't play. Not for a couple more months. The incident..," he pauses, "but you can..."
Eurus doesn't let him continue. Instead she turns around and goes back to her chair.
Sherlock doesn't give up. "I was told you aren't taking your medication."
Eurus doesn't respond leaving Sherlock (and Mycroft in the observation room) frustrated.
A couple of hours later...
Sherlock, Mycroft, Molly, and John (via video calling) are in a conference room being briefed by the new Governor, Dr. Firth.
"She barely eats... when she does, it's instantly vomited out."
"Is it psychological?" asks John. "An eating disorder?"
The governor shakes his head, "So far, all our medical staff are terrified of being in there with her."
"What made her change?" asks Sherlock. "She was quite mellow the last time I saw her."
"We don't know. If there is a health reason, she won't let us take a look at her anyway," says the governor.
"Let... let me try," says a cautiously confident Molly. "After all," she chuckles, "that's why I'm here, isn't it?" she looks directly at Sherlock.
Mycroft's expression suggests he is considering it, while Sherlock's expression is somewhat pensive.
John decides to chime in and engage with Molly while both Holmes brothers stay silent.
"Are you sure, Molly? I mean, you haven't interacted with her in person but the two of you do have a history."
Molly quickly replies as she gets up, "She seems sad."
Sherlock instantly looks up at Molly.
"I was watching her on the screen with Mycroft," she becomes aware that all, including Dr. Firth are watching her keenly. "She doesn't seem dangerous."
Sherlock tries to explain, "Molly, she is very good at hiding..."
She cuts him off, "She seems sad, Sherlock." Molly pauses for a moment. "You know I am right..." she continues to look at the detective. "You see it too."
Mycroft wonders what she means as he looks at Molly standing at one side of the table and Sherlock on the other end.
Sherlock wonders if somehow Molly had mastered the ways of the Holmes's by simply observing him all these years.
Mycroft can't handle the silence and so he gets up from his chair. "Right. Well, I think we should decide now if Ms. Hooper is to approach Eurus alone and try to administer her medication and somehow convince her to undergo some medical exams."
Silence.
Sherlock gets up and walks over to Molly; so close as to tower her with his presence. "Are you sure, Molly?"
He seems a lot taller to her than he really is when he does that - invade her personal space. She nods, "I am."
Moments later...
Molly enters Eurus' space with a tray of medicine and some small medical equipment. Sherlock is a few steps behind her. As before, Eurus' back is turned to the entrance. The clear barrier opens to let Molly in. But Sherlock chooses to stay behind and watch keenly as Molly tries to engage with his sister.
Mycroft and Dr. Firth watch from the observation room.
Molly Hooper swallows a bit of her saliva in preparation to speak to Sherlock's troubled sister. "Hello Eurus? I'm Molly Hooper," she announces herself.
A sudden movement of Eurus' eyes makes it clear that she knows exactly who is in her presence but she doesn't make eye contact with Molly.
Molly is a bit nervous at first, but she looks back at the detective hoping to find some sort of strength within her.
Sherlock's gaze is inspiring enough for her to set down the medical equipment and tray of medication next to Eurus.
"Your brother," she pauses. "Sherlock thought I might be able to help," she starts softly.
Silence.
"I've been told you haven't been eating much."
Silence as Sherlock, Mycroft and Dr. Firth look on.
Dr. Firth looks keenly at the screen, "This is already more progress than we've had. She wouldn't let my staff get near her."
"Eurus?" Molly starts again as she takes out a stethoscope. "May I examine you?"
For the first time, Eurus turns to Molly and just looks directly at her eyes, which makes Ms. Hooper uncomfortable at first.
Sherlock stays ready to enter the confinement if needed.
Though uncomfortable at first, Molly's nerves start to relax and see something deeper within Eurus. "Why are you sad?" she asks very softly.
"What did she say?" Mycroft asks from the governor - to which he shakes his head.
Molly steps closer to Eurus. "What is it, Eurus? Is it your brothers?"
Eurus sees something in Molly that prevents her from acting out.
"What can I do?"
Silence.
Molly's words are so soft that only Eurus is able to hear them... which makes the spectators nervous - including Sherlock.
"How can I help you?"
Eurus turns and squints her eyes to look behind her and see Sherlock but turns back around and gestures at Molly to come closer.
Sherlock is ready to open the enclosure to run to Molly's aide, but waits for more.
Molly leans in closer and Ms. Holmes whispers into Molly's ear. "I want to die."
A chill runs down Molly's spine at Eurus' confession but she sees Sherlock trying to come in to which she shakes her head, stopping him from opening the enclosure. "No," she says to Eurus. "Why would you say that?" She continues softly, "Your brother would be heartbroken if he heard that."
Mycroft and the governor are surprised.
"Did she just speak to Ms. Hooper?" asks Dr. Firth.
About thirty seconds pass as Eurus and Molly look at each other.
Molly looks at the Stradivarius in the corner of the room and smiles. "You play too, huh?"
Eurus just looks down at her left hand and starts rubbing it.
"What is it? Why are you rubbing your hand?" Molly decides to touch Eurus' left hand as she looks at the woman's expression.
Molly can't help but feel something more is at play here and so she looks around the patient to see Sherlock.
An hour or so later...
Ms. Hooper is in the conference room alone researching something on a laptop computer when Sherlock enters the room.
"She is sound asleep now," he says as he leans on the wall. He realizes the woman sitting across the table is to be thanked for the progress made that day. "Thank you, Molly. You did the impossible it seems."
Molly is distracted by what she is reading that she half listens to Sherlock. "Oh, it was nothing..."
Curiously, Sherlock moves closer. "What did she whisper to you?"
This makes Ms. Hooper look up. "What?"
"My sister hasn't spoken to a soul in months but she whispered something to you in there."
"Oh," she isn't comfortable saying it out loud. "Umm..."
For her luck, Mycroft and Dr. Firth enter the room as well.
"Well done, Ms. Hooper." says a smiling governor. "You accomplished something with Ms. Holmes we haven't been able to."
Molly goes back to the computer as the men start to chat amongst themselves.
"What's next?" asks Mycroft.
"It all depends on how she performs after her sleep," says the governor.
"Umm..." says Molly. "Excuse me..."
The men look over at the petite woman.
"I...I think... I may know what's going on with her."
Sherlock is intrigued.
"Sherlock, can you please call John? While I'm sure Dr. Firth is more than capable of confirming my suspicion, I would like John to be present," says Ms. Hooper with more confidence.
Sherlock adheres to her request and calls John.
"Hello," says the doctor.
"John, I'm going to put you on speakerphone," says the detective as he sets the phone in the middle of the table.
"Dr. Firth," starts Molly, "you mentioned Eurus hasn't been eating well. That she has been vomiting whatever she does eat?"
"That's right," nods the governor.
"What about her vision?"
"We haven't tested her vision in a few months, but the last time we did, she had better than 20/20 with no visual aide."
Molly sighs. "When I was examining her in there, I noticed her squinting her eyes to look at Sherlock, who was only about four and a half meters away."
Sherlock is impressed that Molly noticed that.
"And... I noticed she was rubbing her left hand and forearm. I believe it's a tingling sensation... which could mean there's some numbness..."
"Oh no..." says John through the phone to which Mycroft reacts by looking at the phone.
Dr. Firth catches on as well. "Oh god."
"What is it?" demands Mycroft, as Sherlock stays silent.
Molly empathetically looks at Sherlock and then at Mycroft. "I believe your sister has developed a brain tumor."
"Rapidly, it seems," adds Dr. Firth.
Mycroft is speechless.
"Explains the blurred vision, trouble eating, and the numbness," adds John.
"And..." Molly struggles to say as she looks at Sherlock. "Explains what she whispered to me..."
"What did she say?" asks an impatient Mycroft.
"She said... she said she wanted to die."
Silence.
"We may need to examine her more, possibly an MRI." Dr. Firth says and takes out his phone to make some notes, then looks at Molly. "Ms. Hooper, seeing as you seem to have gained Ms. Holmes' favor, may we ask for your continued assistance."
Sherlock stays quiet but looks at Molly.
"Of course, whatever you need."
Dr. Firth, Mycroft, and Molly exit the room, leaving Sherlock alone with the company of only John through the phone.
"Sherlock?" says John. "Are you there?"
The detective picks up his phone, turns off the speaker and holds it to his ear. "Yes, John."
It is clear that Sherlock is grieving in his own way.
"Are you okay?"
"I don't believe so," he replies staring at the wall across from the table.
"I'm sorry, Sherlock. I'm very sorry."
"Is there a chance?" he pauses.
"The symptoms Molly says she has exhibited usually occur later," says the doctor. "An MRI can give us more information. So we shouldn't arrive at the gloomiest conclusion."
"But you forget, John... my sister is a genius and can self-diagnose, which means..."
"She knows it's too late and wants to die," adds John as he sighs.
The next day...
Eurus is in her room again. Having agreed to more examination, thanks to Molly, she spends the day prepping with the help of Ms. Hooper.
Having found Eurus as no threat to Molly, Sherlock decides to observe their interaction from the observation room.
"Look straight ahead and try to keep your eyes open as wide as you can," says Molly as she examines Eurus' eyes.
The youngest of the Holmes's watches the petite woman in front of her as she makes some notes on her clipboard.
"My brother loves you," Eurus says very softly.
Molly looks up instantly as it was only the second time she had said something to her.
"Did she say something to Molly?" asks Sherlock.
"What?" asks Mycroft.
"I saw her mouth move."
Molly shakes her head. "Please don't play anymore games with me."
"Oh," says Eurus as she realizes what Molly means. "I don't mean from what he said to you on the phone ages ago. I mean... now. He loves you."
Molly didn't think Eurus would be capable of playing with her mind now. Especially since she had told herself she had moved on from her feelings for Sherlock. But Eurus' words are making her uncomfortable. "Wha... what do you mean?" she asks as she goes back to her clipboard, pretending that it doesn't affect her.
Sherlock looks closely at the screen as Eurus starts to speak again.
"My brother has gone and fallen in love with you," Eurus says with a smirk. "You didn't think it was possible, did you?"
Sherlock is able to make out what his sister had just revealed and is now frozen in place.
Molly is finding this exchange more uncomfortable. "I'm sorry to say this Eurus, but I rather liked you more when you didn't speak."
Eurus chuckles through her pain.
"Stop it, please."
"Why does it bother you? That my brother now has feelings for you?" she eggs her on.
"Because it's a lie. Just like you said there were explosives in my house."
"What could I possibly gain from lying to you now?" asks Eurus. "I'm going to die."
"I don't know... possibly a sick game before you go," says a slightly distraught Molly.
Eurus says seriously, "My brother loves you. It's the truest thing you'll hear while you're in Sherrinford. Well," she smirks. "Apart from the fact that I'm dying."
Molly can't help but like the woman sitting in front of her despite her wanting to dislike her. She has, after-all, manipulated people... killed people.
A few minutes later...
Molly is seen in what looks like a snack room, taking a much-needed break.
Since Eurus' revelation of Sherlock's feelings for Molly, she had avoided any interaction with him. It was easy as she was busy with his sister's care.
Sherlock walks into the room looking for Mycroft but finds Molly instead.
"Molly," he says as he sees her finishing what looks like tea in a paper cup.
"Oh," she says as she abruptly gets up.
"Sorry, I was looking for Mycroft," he explains.
"I haven't seen him, sorry."
Sherlock notices her trying to avoid any eye contact. He thinks to leave the room, but turns back around. "I'm sorry."
"For?" asks the woman.
"For what Eurus said to you about me," he explains.
"No need to be sorry. I'm sure she was just trying to mess with me," she says half wishing it were true.
"Quite right."
Sherlock isn't sure what he should do in this situation. He turns to leave but something stops him. He isn't sure what, but something tells him to be open with his friend. Maybe it's his sister's fate or the fact that he too was in a similar fate not long ago, but was yet again given another chance.
"Molly," he says in a deep yet soft voice. "What my sister said..."
Molly looks up at him with an expression that can only be described as wishing he wouldn't continue.
"It's true." He isn't sure how she would react or if he even want or need a reaction from her.
Molly can't believe what she had just heard... from Sherlock himself. And so she laughs beside herself. "Is this a cruel joke?" she asks.
While he didn't know what to expect, he definitely didn't expect this reaction from her.
"What is it with you Holmes's? Why do you play games with those who aren't you?"
"Molly," he shakes his head. "You misunderstand me."
She is clearly distressed.
"Over the course of our friendship, especially in the last year or so, I have realized my feelings for you. Now, Eurus may have had a hand in my eventual epiphany, but what I'm saying to you now is no joke."
Silence as Molly processes his words. Her expression softens.
"I know you've moved on, Molly Hooper. And I don't expect anything from my admission to you, except the freedom of it. It had been caged for too long."
Molly takes a few steps closer to Sherlock and says softly, "I'm not ready for this, Sherlock."
Silence.
"I have to get back to Eurus," are the last words Sherlock hears from Molly during their time at Sherrinford.
While he has set his feelings free, the detective wonders if he had done so at the cost of Molly's friendship.
Scene fades.
Eurus' health deteriorates which prompts her family to move her into a real hospital.
A month later...
Scenes of a funeral fade in and out. Sherlock, Mycroft, and their crying parents are by the grave while John, little Rosie, Mrs. Hudson, and Lestrade look on. Molly, too, is present but further away from those she is close to.
Another month passes before Sherlock is able to talk to John about his grief.
Mycroft had taken his sister's passing harder than the rest and so he mostly keeps to himself not wanting others to see his varied emotions.
Another two months pass, making it easier for Sherlock to look forward to carrying on with his own life. And so he starts taking on minor cases again.
With the help of family, Mycroft starts to forgive himself for his role in Eurus' isolated life.
John's life becomes busier by the day with his daughter. A busy life he has come to enjoy. He still manages to fit in a case or two with his good detective friend.
Four months after Eurus' passing...
John is adamant to put up pictures of family around the flat. He places one of Mary on top of the mantel next to the skull, which makes him question his placement decision and so he moves the picture to the other end of the mantel.
"What are you doing, John?" asks Sherlock briefly looking over his phone.
"Rosie spends as much time here as she does at home, so I want to make sure she has enough images of her mother around."
"That makes a lot of sense," agrees Mrs. Hudson who had been by the table arranging some flowers in a small vase.
"John," begins Sherlock as he also types into his phone. "I think it's time you started seeing people."
Mrs. Hudson nods. "I agree with that, too!"
John is amused and so he stops what he's doing and turns to Sherlock. "Seeing people? An in dating?"
"It's time, John."
"No. That's out of the question."
"Oh come on, dear! Don't be like him," gestures Mrs. Hudson to which Sherlock subtly rolls his eyes.
"Nope. No! Besides, I want to spend more time with Rosie. Dating requires time and a lot of effort, which I really don't have time for. Seeing as I nearly missed her first full sentence yesterday if not for Molly catching the moment on her phone." John realizes that the mention of Molly may have caught Sherlock's attention. He tries to quickly move on from the topic but Sherlock cuts him off.
"It's okay, John."
Mrs. Hudson wears a confused expression on her face.
"How is Molly Hooper?" asks the detective.
Before John can reply, Mrs. H asks, "Oh no, are you two fighting again?"
"Nope, not at all, Mrs. Hudson. Please go back to your flowers."
The older woman shakes her head at Sherlock and leaves the room with her flowers.
"She is doing well, I think." John finally replies.
"Good," nods Sherlock.
A month later...
John and Rosie (on his lap) are in the flat reading a book when Sherlock walks out of his room and straight to his violin.
"Sherlock," begins John as he gestures at the phone on the table, "your phone rang."
The detective takes his time to look at it, he sees something on the screen which makes him instantly press it and listen to what seems like a voicemail.
John does a double take as he sees Sherlock quickly grab his coat and rushes out the door, but turns back when he remembers to say goodbye to the people in his flat. "I'll be back in a few!"
"Is everything al..." John doesn't get to finish his question. "Okay, then." He turns back to his daughter.
A few minutes later...
Hearing the knock, the occupant opens the door to reveal Sherlock.
With a subtle smile, he says, "I was beginning to think you'd never call."
In front of him, by the open door, stands Molly.
"Ms. Hooper..."
"Yes, Sherlock..?"
"Would you like to go for a walk with me? Maybe for a coffee or tea?"
Molly smiles, nods and grabs her coat from behind the door.
Sherlock with his hands held behind him and Molly's hands tucked in her coat pockets are seen walking next to each other down her street.
Another month or so later...
The two Baker Street boys get back to a routine of solving crime after crime. Whether it's helping Lestrade with his latest unsolvable case or helping Mycroft with more sinister, global crimes, the two men were starting to truly enjoy their lives again… or possibly for the very first time.
Scenes of their daily lives fade in and out...
During the day, after Rosie is dropped off at her pre-school, John arrives at the 221B Baker Street flat to work on the latest case.
At night, John would read to his daughter just before her bedtime.
Occasionally, after enough time had passed, he would go out on a date. John finds it easier now to interact with other potential partners.
The two men would also make time for small celebrations. Whether it's Rosie's Birthday at the flat: Mrs. Hudson, Lestrade, Molly, Sherlock, and even Mycroft cheer as John helps Rosie blow out her birthday candles. Or simply thanking Mrs. Hudson for her patience: Sherlock gives her a quick peck on the cheek before the two men dash off to another crime scene.
Sherlock starts to enjoy playing the violin again, mostly now to the pleasure of his lone audience member... Molly Hooper, who is comfortably seated in Sherlock's chair, cupping a mug of hot tea with her hands as she listens to his latest creation. The couple could only be described as two improved characters making a charmingly dysfunctional relationship somehow work.
The detective and doctor duo would also invite the engagement of others in solving some of their cases: As he sips his tea, Mycroft watches keenly from the fireplace as Lestrade plays dead on the floor while Sherlock and John hover over him to find clues. A seated Mrs. Hudson watches keenly as well while Rosie with a toy magnifying glass jumps off of Molly's lap to hand it to her favorite uncle.
Sherlock's infamous theme begins to play as the scene fades on our favorite characters enjoying each other's company at 221B Baker Street.
The End.
That's all folks! This is the end for my version of Scattered Scenes in the imaginary seasons five and six. It has been fun coming up with scenes in my head and putting them down on paper (so to speak). Thank you so so much for reading. :)