Hello all! This chapter is quite special to me as the dialogue in it is what prompted me to write a sherlolly fanfiction. I had this idea of Sherlock facing Molly's boyfriend, finding that someone quite at his level of thought and finally deducing more than he would care for (I really wanted for Sherlock to have one of his deductions bit him in the ass, if you'll excuse my French). So, I really hope that you'll enjoy this chapter as much as I had fun writing it.

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Sherlock entered the lab intent on finding his pathologist and directing her to the new cadaver that was making his way to the morgue. However, no sign of the doctor. Instead, the… lover… was seated in a stool next to Molly's workbench. When wasn't he ever these days? Impatiently wondered the detective. The G.P. was on the phone, presumably with his team back in Boston as he was discussing differentials of a patient:

"It's never lupus! Now, stop being lazy and go have a lobotomy. And by 'have a lobotomy', I mean go drill a hole in the woman's head for Christ's sake!" he ordered.

Case ended his call and turned to a pacing Sherlock who was visibly looking for the young woman who called the morgue her domain, his blogger in toe as ever. Taking his mind of the medical puzzle happening back in his hospital, he smiled as he started needling the dark haired man in front of him:

"Looking for Molly? She just went to get a cup of coffee – lack of sleep, you know - but she'll soon be back, I'm sure. " he cheerily said, knowing that it would indeed annoy the detective.

Sherlock who'd been hell-bent on ignoring the irritating blonde found himself forced to acknowledge him:

"Dr, I see you're quite chipper today? A new patient dying from an innocuous disease? Wouldn't that require you to be, I don't know, not here." he sneered.

John scrunched his eyes shut at his own bloody stupidity. He blamed his lack of sleep in not anticipating what might occur if Sherlock was to be meet Dr Case. His best friend was in a terrible mood because of the lack of leads in his case and the new unfurling feelings he had for the pathologist was definitely not helping. Taking a quick, professional look at the scene just in front of him, the doctor and the detective facing off, he had to suppress the sudden impulse to take a step back as if assisting to something akin to a car crash waiting to happen. Clearly, the tension between the diagnostician and the detective had built since their first meeting and yet, the former soldier was bewildered that it would go with a bang at this moment of all times. That Sherlock would divert some of his attention away from the case was quite unprecedented. Oh he'd say snarky remarks for sure, but to purposely get into a fight, even less start one… That, he avoided.

"They're always dying from a cold. And I avoid meeting them as much as possible, they always try to lie and I don't have time for their smudging the diagnostic." sarcastically replied the doctor. "As for my presence in the morgue, I hope the reason for it is quite obvious. Actually, I would definitely recommend it." theatrically put Dr Case.

John looked lost as he wondered what Case was inferring. The only thing that would made sense would be something about Molly. But certainly, the doctor hadn't picked up on Sherlock's new attitude regarding the pathologist. The blogger certainly hope he hadn't. Yet, as he was musing about whatever this new and not so nice version of the easy-going American was implying, the G.P. enlightened him.

"Yes, Sherlock, I do mean sex. It's also the answer to my chipper state of mind, come to think of it. Which is why I do recommend it." said Case as a ugly grin formed on his face at the cold look appearing on Sherlock's face. "You should try it for once Sherlock!" he added at last.

The stillness of Sherlock took a somewhat predatory edge and John wondered whether he had to prepare launching himself between the two men if Sherlock decided to hit the diagnostician. Or maybe join him? The doctor was quite a bastard to kiss and tell in such a way. Molly wasn't a bone to fight over, for Christ' sake. However, the only response to the metaphorical thrown of the gauntlet that Sherlock demonstrated, was narrowing his eyes on the man in face of him.

"Oh. I surprised you? Or is it sex that has you so flabbergasted? Don't worry, I'm not suggesting what you think. Well, except if that's your kink. I mean the morgue thing, not my pathologist. Well, anyway, whatever gets you off…" attacked the GP, the malevolent smile spreading on his face at the shocked faces of the two Brits, well more like one Brit at this moment but he was sure he'll get to the other soon.

Sherlock froze even further at the last reference. Molly was his pathologist, no one else's. He considered quickly assaulting the man but a quick look told him that his opponent was betting on it. No, the only way to win this was to be clever. And being clever meant he didn't react to what the man said. So, he schooled his features, completely dismissing the anger he felt and decided to nip any discussion about sex in the bud:

"Not everyone is obsessed with the subject. Not in England, at least. Must be some cultural defect of your puritan upbringing that you seem to think that everything is revolving around it." Stated Sherlock, voice utterly devoid of interest, channelling his best imitation of Mycroft.

"Oh really? Not what your previous girlfriend - The name is Janine, right? – led us to believe. So, you really have a hat fetish? So nice, that your British tabloids are so fond of those dirty stories and have the good sense of sharing it…" countered Nick.

"Your curiosity about my proclivities should be satisfied, then." Clipped Sherlock.

"What I find weird is that such a lively woman would go on and on waxing about your sexual prowess. After all, hell has no fury like a woman scorned. She should have gone straight for the prized jewels and if not literally, at least metaphorically. No, it doesn't make sense, does it? Unless… You didn't actually have sex with her! And since the tabloids also rumoured some quite not founded relationship between you and your army doctor… No one before in your life, I gather. A virgin, then. Don't worry Holmes, even if you're totally new at it, the basics are quite instinctual. No need to overthink it."

John made a sound from behind Sherlock – from the rumours surrounding their friendship or the gastly attacks on his friend's sexuality, Sherlock wasn't sure - but the detective immediately subtly gestured him to step back. This was between him and Case. If there as one thing he hated, it was that someone would try and deduce him. It reminded him of Mycroft and he really couldn't abide it. He focused his laser eyes on the enemy and deleted the presence of his blogger from his mind. He then angled his head on the right, steepled his fingers and started deducing:

"So that's your diagnostic?" he scoffed. "Want to hear mine? While admittedly one of the most brilliant M.D. in your generation you don't hold any higher position than the head of your –very small, three, no, four people – team when more mediocre peers are at the head of large services. A team, whose turnover rate is over the ceiling because you constantly abuse them verbally. You're also struggling with a past of addiction, another reason for your behaviour and the lack of prestigious position. That and your cases are your distraction from popping little white pills into your mouth. Which you haven't done since a medical error led to the death of a patient. Some would think that the guilt triggered your sobriety, but we both know that's not the case, don't we? Your ego couldn't stand the idea that your intelligence would be somewhat muddled. In a nutshell, you're an egomaniac whose manipulative tendencies border on sociopathic. Ironically though, while you can't stand the mediocrity of the other meds, you really can't function without them as the mental crutch that you so vehemently refuse in physical form" pointed Sherlock as he nodded to the left leg that the diagnostician subtly clutched. "Now, am I close?" finished the detective.

The doctor's smile dropped for a second as the deduction hit a nerve. However, if the deduction had been swift and lethal, it wasn't only to the diagnostician. As John started looking between Case and Sherlock with a bewildered look on his face, he wondered if he was the only one that realised if not for the field of expertise, Sherlock could have been deducing his own psyche. His friend seemed to have come to the same conclusion as he roared his head slightly back. The gesture, however subtle, was noticed by Case. He regained ground and launched:

"I'd say that you're the one to talk but I see that it finally dawned on you. But please, tell me that you didn't think you were the first?"

"The first what?" sneered Sherlock, mind still reeling from his own deduction.

"Well, Molly's first sociopath. It's the object of all this delightful little drama, isn't it?" interrogated Nick.

It was what Sherlock had avoided from the start, dragging the pathologist in the intellectual joust he was having with the doctor. But it seemed that had been the point of his opponent all the time. Why? Did he feel threatened by him? Sherlock looked at the man and forced his mind to go to an area that wasn't his forte: sentiment. Normally, it was John that was the expert but this was his pathologist they were talking about. The M.D. resented him. That was a fact. Even if he somewhat reigned in his aggression in front of Molly, the almost friendly mask slid every time she left the room. A clear sign of… Jealousy? But the most curious was that he would behave in the petite woman's presence. After all, he was an obnoxious prick with his team and colleagues. But not to her. The answer finally dawned on Sherlock. The man had feelings for her. More so, he knew she didn't share those feelings or he wouldn't feel so threatened. A little burst of warmth exploded in his chest and he put it down to the knowledge that he had the upper hand. A quick and dangerous smile formed on the detective lips as he took a step closer to the G.P. The man braced himself but apart from a defiant look didn't move. If Sherlock wasn't so angry, he would have been impressed.

"Yet, the first is always so disappointing, isn't that what they say, doctor?" he growled.

John, still locked in place by the weirdest scene he'd seen since Sherlock's and Janine's moment at Baker Street, frowned. Was that a sexual innuendo? Sherlock didn't do sexual innuendos. Well, normally he didn't verbally battle for a woman as a peacock in front of a challenger either. But still, even in the presence of the Woman, Sherlock hadn't gone in that direction. He had to really have it bad for Molly, though.

In the other side of the lab, the M.D.'s face was stony with fury. But Sherlock didn't relent and took another step until he was invading the man's personal space.

"And most importantly, you won't be the last. I'm sure we both know that." Finished Sherlock with the low predatory voice that he reserved for the people he despised the most.

"Last what?" interrupted a cheerful yet puzzled voice from the door of the lab.

The three men whirled around to see that Molly had indeed returned from the cafeteria with a coffee in hand. Only one coffee noted Sherlock, secretly pleased that she didn't take one for the lover.

"Cadaver" he chimed in, breaking the tension in the room and surprising everyone.

"W-what?" stuttered Molly, her eyes widening to saucers.

"We have a new cadaver. From our serial killer. We came to fetch you to the morgue." Replied quickly Sherlock, not letting anything on about what happened during her coffee break.

He quickly strode to the pathologist and with a demonstrative and deliberate hand in the small of her back, he turned and directed Molly towards the exit. John followed but quickly glanced at the M.D. back on his stool. The man wasn't smiling anymore, the pleasant mask totally off now.

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OK, so here we see the bad side of Nick and I hope that we see the gentleman side of Sherlock. It was very nice to have the two attitudes reversed compared to chapter 7 where Nick was much more attentive and Sherlock self-centered. But Sherlock remains a dark knight rather than a shiny one (the "cadaver" remark wasn't that innocuous).