The Woman Who Counted (A Sherlolly Tale)

Chapter 46

Molly was immediately attacked by her niece once she reached the bottom of the stairs, catching her off guard, almost causing her to fall back onto Sherlock.

"Whoa," she said, a hand resting against the child's back. "What're you doing, Cal?" Suddenly, Callie was pulled off of Molly's legs and she screamed.

"Got you!" said Emma.

Elizabeth stuck her head into the room. "Inside voice, Callie!" The girl giggled.

She was giggling and Molly took Sherlock's hand. She looked up at him. He looked completely exhausted. "Have I welcomed you to the Hooper household yet?" He raised his brows at her and she smiled, pressing her lips to his for a peck.

"Hey," Emma said, "no P.D.A. in front of the child!" Callie giggled and Molly blushed.

"Sorry."

Daniel walked into the hall and gave the two a smile. "Well there you are!"

"Looking for us?"

"Sort of. Got a minute, Sherlock?"

.     .     .

Mrs Hooper watched Sherlock as if she were waiting for him to slip up, make a mistake and give her a reason to forbid her grown daughter from dating him. Daniel, however, looked at him with pitied suspicion. That's why Sherlock nearly began to sweat when he asked him to take a walk with him.

"I miss Essex," he said, starting conversation after a couple of silent minutes of walking, "It's a lovely place, really. Better than people let on anyways."

"I personally prefer London," Sherlock admitted, "Much too slow here."

He smiled, "Of course. Can't say there are many murders here, not as many as in London..."

He stayed silent.

"Of course, I'm sure you have other ways of coping without murder."

Sherlock stopped walking. "Sorry?"

Daniel turned around, walking back to his acquaintance. "I'm not a complete idiot. I know the signs by heart."

"The signs?"

"Of addiction, Mr Holmes."

With just those last two words, Sherlock had been transformed from Daniel's sister's boyfriend to a patient. He shook his head. "You're mistaken."

"No, Mr Holmes, I don't believe I am." He took Sherlock's arm, sliding up his sleeves and looked down to find a freshly scabbed over puncture wound. He sighed as Sherlock yanked his arm away. "You'll have to tell Molly, of course."

"I can't." Sherlock knew there would be disaster if he told her. She'd probably leave him, and he couldn't let that happen.

"You have to." He nodded. "Because if you don't, I assure you, I will." He began walking back towards the house but Sherlock spun around.

"No, please!" Daniel paused, turning to face Sherlock, who now stood right in front of him. "What can I do?"

"I can help you, Mr Holmes," Daniel said. "I work in rehab. I treat people like you all the time. I'll work with you privately. No one has to know, not my family or yours or your friends. Just Molly. Tell her."

She's be hurt that he hadn't come to her for help in the first place. She'd leave him, or she and John would put him under house arrest. John would be the angriest.

Oh course he had to tell John.

Sherlock slid his phone out of his pocket, unlocking it and finding John's name in his phonebook (which didn't take long, seeing as he only had five numbers). "Could I have a moment of privacy?" he asked, turning away from Daniel. "Please?"