You're in Sherlock (Sherlock × Reader)

The Empty Hearse: Chapter 6

"Couldn't he have just jumped off?" Molly questioned, looking at the screen. No, you thought listening to the conversation as you thought.

"There's a safety mechanism that prevents the doors from opening in transit. But there's something else. The driver of that train hasn't been to work since. According to his flatmate, he's on holiday. Came into some money." You looked to Sherlock at that information with a cocked eyebrow.

"Bought off?" You asked, before you then looked to Molly. Molly was looking blankly at Sherlock, but shook her head when she noticed you staring.

"Hmm?" She hummed. You turned to Sherlock, before he nodded at you, turning back to Howard.

"So if the driver of the train was in on it, then the passenger did get off." Sherlock spoke. That was the only thing that made logical sense, people didn't just disappear into thin air.

"There's nowhere he could go. It's a straight run on the District Line between the two stations. There's no side tunnels, no maintenance tunnels – nothing on any map. Nothing. The train never stops, and the man vanishes. Good, innit?!" Howard smiled, looking from you to Sherlock. You were curious to know more about the transit from the stations, you didn't know much about the routes the trains took, but if Howard said there wasn't a diversion from the main path, perhaps there was another way the man disappeared.

"I know that face." Sherlock spoke, closing his eyes in thought. You looked at the man again, whose face was now paused as he looked up at the camera. You immediately recognized him as well, it was one of Sherlock's markers. Interesting...

***

Later, you were still at the man's flat complex and Sherlock had long disappeared into his mind palace. He was standing on the steps up to the flats, his eyes closed tight in concentration. You could see his eyes flickering behind his eyelids as he tried to navigate whatever information he was after. You were leaning at the bottom of the steps against the wall with Molly and she looked as if she really wanted to say something, but was holding herself back.

"What is it?" You asked, crossing your arms as you leaned against the wall. She looked up at you, surprised and a bit flustered you'd noticed something was up. After she didn't speak you scanned her briefly. "C'mon, you've been fidgeting all day. Something is on your mind."

"I just thought... well you're one of the most observant people I know and I... I just thought you'd notice." She paused, grimacing at her own words. "I'm sorry, that was rude." She gazed down and you furrowed your eyebrows at her. Normally you didn't walk around noting every single tiny detail that made a person look different. If you did that all the time, it would be exhausting. Besides, if you wanted to do that it was all stored in your head for later use anyway. You looked at her quizzically, not necessarily knowing right off that bat what she wanted you to realize. You gave her a quick scan before you mentally face palmed.

"I'm a bloody idiot Molly, I'm so sorry. Congratulations!" You felt like a complete dimbo. Of course you should have noticed Molly was wearing an engagement ring, while you were away she'd met someone. That was awesome for her!

"No, it's okay. I shouldn't have said anything, I'm sorry." She gave you a sad smile and you shook your head at her feeling even more idiotic. This was something you should've taken from her lessons, people liked when others noticed things about them. Especially their friends. That fact you hadn't noticed her ring was embarrassing and Molly probably felt like you didn't care too much about her.

"No, I was stupid. I was so caught up in all these cases I was too dumb to even notice that Molly Hooper, one of the nicest people I've ever met, got engaged." You gave her a smile to let her know you were being serious. Molly had done so much for you and for Sherlock, the least you could do was show her at least a little appreciation. She deserved more. "I hope you're happy, Molly. You deserve it." She looked up at you with her classic and sweet Molly smile.