The Woman Who Counted (A Sherlolly Tale)

Chapter 16

Author's Note: This is a freshly edited chapter. Please let me know if there are any POV mistakes, as I converted it from first person to third. Thanks. xxx -OH

 Molly woke in the morning to Toby curled up on Tom's pillow, purring in his sleep. Tom's side of the bed was still made, so she could tell that he never made it home last night. Usually she would worry, but Tom had been talking about some sort of delays and issues at work. It was possible that he spent the night at the office. He'd had to do it before and Molly was sure he would do it again.

Molly sat up, yawning as she stretched her arms out. She was happy to finally have a day off. She loved her job, truly, but any time she could take a day away from cutting open corpses was incredibly relieving.

Toby yawned, stretching his legs. Molly smiled as the kitten wobbled over to her, curling up in her lap. She let out a giggle as she stroked his head.

"God, you're adorable!" she told him, picking him up as she got out of bed. He let out another yawn and mewed.

"You must be hungry." Molly held him in her arms as she walked to the bedroom door. "I can fix that."

She made her way down the hallway and to the kitchen, setting the kitten down at her feet once she got there. She searched the cupboards for a small bowl, settling on a little, light blue one and a pink one. One she filled with water, the other with some canned kitten food that she had found at a pet shop. Once she filled the bowls Molly did not hesitate to devour all of the food.

She laughed at the kitten's appetite and picked him up again. It hadn't been long and she'd already fallen in love with him.

Molly's phone, which had been charging on the counter, vibrated. She kissed Toby's soft head before setting him down and picking up her phone, unlocking it and reading the text from Tom.

Work schedule mix up, had to work all night. I'll be home in an hour. I'm absolutely exhausted.

Molly sighed and sent him a simple "Okay." Tom always had to work late, which she hoped would change by the time they got married.

A moment after she set her phone down, she recieved another text and she smiled as she read it.

Good morning, Miss Hooper.
–SH

She, of course, responded immediately.

Good morning, William.

–Mollyxx

A few moments later, he texted her back.

Are you going to call me that from now on?

–SH

No. Just thought I should irritate you this morning.
–Mollyxx

A few minutes without a response.

How is Toby?
–SH

He's doing great. He's lovely. Thank you for asking.
–Mollyxx

A minute.

Are you working today?
–SH

No. I've got the day off.
–Mollyxx

Okay.
–SH

He never texted back after that.

Molly set her phone back down, disappointed that he had more than likely just wanted some body parts as he so often did.

• • •

Several months later Sherlock and Molly had become much closer friends. Tom was working more and more (he was in the process of being transferred) and Sherlock had much less interesting cases to occupy his time, so the two often went out for coffee. Sherlock would talk about his dull cases and Molly would talk about any interesting autopsies she'd done. There were only two months left until John's wedding and Molly swore that helping the couple plan it was softening him.