"Welcome to your life.

There's no turning back.

Even while we sleep, we will find you

Acting on your best behavior."

Jim spent the rest of the day moving into Molly's house and barking orders to his men. He had the shattered windows replaced, new locks put on the door, and a 24-hour rotating guard system put in place all over the house. There were eyes on Molly at all times, usually Sebastian's. All of the kitchen knives and potential weapons were promptly removed.

"Can't be to careful," Jim had said, tapping his shoe impatiently. "We both know that you have a history!" His eyes gleamed with wicked excitement. He finally had her. After five years, he had her within his grasp again. Molly felt suffocated.

Poppy maintained her distrust of Jim and Sebastian. She said nothing when they were around and refused to leave Molly's side. Even when Jim begged her, she only gave him venomous glares and buried her face in Molly's leg.

As happy as this made Molly, she could not ignore the flashes of pain she saw behind his eyes each time Poppy scorned him. Had Poppy done the same to her, she would never recover. He deserves it, she thought. None of this would have happened without him.

But Jim rarely left them alone, so Poppy isolated herself in her own mind. It hurt Molly to watch her detach herself, and it hurt even more when Jim became concerned. He regarded her as a puzzle to be solved. Just like Sherlock, Molly thought, amused. But the longer she went without speaking, the more frustrated he became.

"Molly, make her say something," he ordered. Poppy stared vacantly ahead of her from the kitchen floor, arms wrapped around her knees.

"I can't make her do anything, Jim," She said. "She won't if she's scared. Her home was just invaded. She's lucky her nose wasn't broken too."

Jim's jaw tightened. "Who broke your nose?" He looked at the bruises forming on her face. "WHO?" He shouted. Poppy flinched.

"I don't know, the one who had his gun on my neck when you got here," Molly said, frustrated. "I've realigned it, it'll be fine-"

"Sebastian!" Jim shouted over her. Sebastian appeared, his gun slung over his shoulder. "Duncan is fired. Get rid of him." Sebastian nodded and vanished around the corner, shouting to someone outside. Jim rubbed his forehead and sighed.

From outside, a gunshot rang out and echoed over the hills. Molly's head felt heavy.

"You haven't changed at all."

Molly put Poppy to bed, Sebastian watching from the doorway.

Poppy smiled meekly. "I love you."

"I love you too," Molly whispered back. She kissed her cheek, and turned, concealing her pained flinch. She switched off the light and allowed Sebastian to lead her to her bedroom.

Jim was waiting for her. He was seated on the bed, his suit jacket discarded on the floor. He loosened his tie and grinned at her.

"You can't be serious." Molly halted in the doorway. He threw his tie on the floor and began unbuttoning his shirt.

"Would you rather sleep with Sebastian?" A chill ran up Molly's spine. She shook her head. "Didn't think so," Jim smirked. Sebastian pushed her roughly and shut the door behind her. Really trapped.

"Just the two of us," Jim chimed. He pulled off his shirt, exposing the lean muscles of his arms and chest. Molly swallowed dryly. Her heart pounded so loudly she could barely hear herself breathing. Finally, she steeled herself and undressed.

"About time," Jim muttered. Molly ignored him and slipped under the covers, her back to him. She shut her eyes and tried to drown him out, but all she could hear was his breathing. She felt every move he made, each time he shifted his weight, making the mattress dip and bounce. Finally, he turned off the light and joined her. She could feel his eyes boring into the back of her neck, and willed her heart to beat slower. He rolled onto his side, inches away from her back. His hand glided over her bare waist.

"Be very careful," he whispered, his breath hot on her neck. "Or I will take Poppy away from you, and you'll never see her again. Got it?" Molly nodded. "Good," he said. He pulled her tightly against him, his smooth chest pressing against the bare skin of her back. "Just like old times."

When Jim's breaths became slow and even, Molly pushed his arm off her, placing it delicately on the sheets, and inched off the bed. His face was buried in the pillow, frowning slightly in his sleep. She stole one more glance at him before tiptoeing to Poppy's room.

Poppy moaned as Molly lifted her from the tangle of blankets.

"Quiet, sweetheart," Molly whispered. She held Poppy against her chest, her tiny legs dangling at her sides. The house was silent, the shadows still in the moonlight. Nothing stirred as she drifted to the door, turning each of the locks until they clicked open.

"Going somewhere?"

Molly's hand froze on the last lock. Her courage wavered. She strained to keep her voice steady. "Just a midnight walk."

"I see."

Molly let her hand fall back to her side and turned to face Sebastian's voice. He stood in the doorframe of the kitchen, watching her with a frighteningly amused expression. "Back to bed then." Molly opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her cheeks burned with shame. So this is defeat.

Sebastian didn't follow her back to Poppy's room. He knew just as well as she did that she wouldn't try again. Five years ago she would have, but back then she didn't have anything to lose.

She knew Jim would be waiting for her before she opened the door. He sat on the foot of the bed, face in shadows, hands covering his face.

"This better not happen again, Molly."

"It won't."

"Good," he said. He jerked his head at the bed. "Now." She obeyed without protest. What else could she do? He had her right where he wanted her. The best she could do was give him what he wanted, and maybe Poppy would be safe.

I might not be so lucky.

He wrapped his arm around her neck this time. Her pulse beat wildly against it, and she could feel him smiling into her hair. She stared at the wall, counting her breaths until she fell into a fitful sleep.