Natalie

Molly

Sherlock set Molly down on the table, and to my absolute fear, her head was bleeding. "Molly!" I called hoarsely, ignoring my own painful injuries. "John, help her!" I croaked out, looking up to John pleading. "Please. Please." I began to cry.

John got down onto one knee and gripped my shoulders, rather painfully, and looked into my eyes. "Natalie, we need you to be calm. I'm going to stabilize Molly until proper help arrives. Now, you call 991." He handed me his phone and rushed to her, giving Sherlock instructions. I called the authorities and waited. I climbed in the back of the ambulance, telling them I was Molly's younger sister.

I sat down in the waiting room just as John and Sherlock showed up. I bit my lip and fell into line beside Sherlock. We walked in to the room, tears lining my eyes. "They said she's-she's in a coma." I informed them, a few tears slipping out.

"Natalie, why don't you come and stay at Baker Street for a little bit? Just until Molly gets better." John asked me, glancing at her as he spoke.

"You shouldn't be spending so much time at the hospital."

"I'm not." I told him, instantly realizing it was useless.

"Yes, you have. On the left side of the bed there is an indention of you sitting there for the hour Molly has been in this room. You snuck down to the snack cupboard and got those." Sherlock paused to point behind him at the trash can, half-full of wrappers. I held up my hand.

"Not to mention I wouldn't even have enough time to leave and come back. And that why would I be in the waiting room if not because sitting in here with Vegetable Molly for the last fifty-five minutes was horribly depressing. Someone has also taken a drink of the cup of water on Molly's table, and it certainly wasn't her. Now that we've proved me a liar, I'll have to..." I sighed, knowing I couldn't lie to Sherlock. I couldn't go back to the streets, they'd all turn on me. Molly's comatose, so can't go there. I'd end up dead if I reject their deal. "Accept." I say, giving Sherlock a knowing look.

He nodded his head, "There's an extra room downstairs. Oh, and don't touch the microwave." He said, exiting the room as John led me out. I told Molly goodbye and left with them.

The next morning I woke up and trudged upstairs in the flannel nighties I had packed from Molly's. "Good Morning John. And Sherlock." I said sleepily, walking into the room and flopping onto the end of the couch where Sherlock was pouting, curled up. I curled up myself, intending to fall back asleep. John set a mug of hot tea in front of me. I perked my head up. "Mmmm." I said reaching out for the tea. "Thank you, John." I sipped the tea looking over to Sherlock. He seemed to be content, I saw no reason to bother him.

After finishing my tea, I went downstairs and got dressed in my little sweater (the one with Steve), the toboggan Mrs. Hudson gave me, and after putting on my coat, the scarf. I walked back upstairs to find Sherlock dressed and surrounded by laptops and John sitting in his chair, on his own computer and his breakfast on the table. "Umm, I'm gonna go see Molly. I've got the fare and everything, I just wanted to let you know. So, Umm, yea, bye." I said awkwardly, retreating from the room as John stood. Faster, Nat, Faster. But, too late.

"Natalie, I can take you over, it's no problem." He offered, still holding his mug.

"No, it's alright, John. I'm not sure how long I'll be, thank you though." I smiled in the doorway and disappeared before he could object. I made my way silently through the streets of London, reaching the hospital rather quickly. I sat with Molly until lunch, talking to her, brushing her hair, painting her nails, plenty of other things. I took her phone as I left, heading downstairs. I did Molly's job for her. One-Third of it to pay for her in the hospital, One-Third into a jar for when she woke up and another Third for myself. At 6:00 every evening I went home, back to Baker Street to Sherlock and John.

This was my routine for two years. Morning tea, Molly, work, home.