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Chapter 1 Impressed Indeed

Mycorft Holmes was a practical man and he was well aware of his little brother's many short comings. He had attempted for years to guide Sherlock in the right direction but it seemed no matter what Mycroft did his kid brother managed to get himself in the worst situations.

Things did improve somewhat with the addition of Dr. John Watson, he seemed to be some sort of buffer to Sherlock's more abrasive side, not to mention he was a hell of a shot. Greg Lestrade could not be overlooked, without the DI enlisting Sherlock's help with cases it's more than likely he would have turned back to sticking needles in his arms and may be long dead by now. He also couldn't forget Martha Hudson, Sherlock's surrogate mother, looking over his day to day needs and fussing at him while their own mother enjoyed her much needed retirement form raising the extremely high maintenance genius.

All of these individuals were obviously important to his brother and he was forever grateful for them. However there was one person who was repeatedly overlooked and unappreciated by himself and far more often by Sherlock. Whereas Mycroft did not intentionally overlook Molly Hooper, his brother treated her with indifference and even on some occasions outright disrespect. Microft knew better than to take Sherlock's actions at face value, he had witnessed the hair pulling and game playing of Sherlock's youth and could see for himself how this behavior was just some grown up version of that. He had the distinct impression that Sherlock was indeed in love with the shy young doctor.

Mycroft himself had spent most of his life with the opinion that sentiment and the pursuit of romantic love was completely illogical. However, having spent two years awaiting the return of Sherlock and then nearly having to send him to his death, Mycroft's view's had started to broaden in this particular area and they had broadened because of one Miss Molly Hooper.

Things had started to change for Mycroft when he realized what Molly was willing to do for Sherlock the night of the Fall. She had risked her livelihood, her freedom and even her life itself to make sure Sherlock and his friends were safe, all because of sentiment. At first Microft saw this as completely foolish, why on earth would she go through years and years of university and medical training only to possible throw it away for someone who seemingly didn't really care for her at all? He assumed Molly Hooper to be pathetic, love sick and weak.

He couldn't have been more wrong.

Sherlock had been gone for four months when Mycroft received the first text message from Dr. Hooper inquiring as to his brother's well-being. He had sent her his number for emergencies only, since she had help Sherlock Mycroft feared that if any one within the network got wind of her involvement things could get very uncomfortable for her and he of course wished her no harm. Besides he had promised Sherlock that he'd watch over his favorite 'lab assistant.' What impressed him right off was the wording of said text.

Curious if all is well on the home front-DR H

Well she certainly knows how to ask a question without asking the question, doesn't she?

As well as to be expected-MH

After that initial text he decided he should give her more frequent updates since she was clearly concerned. He sent her a phone through her security to be used strictly for their communication. Evidently she was unaware of the security measures surrounding her so there was some confusion there, but once she understood that this was all deemed necessary by the British government, she agreed.

Molly and Mycroft spoke frequently through text messages then finally, much to his surprise she asked if they could meet in person, in fact she asked if he would like to come to her flat for tea. Mycroft carefully considered the invitation, he in no way wanted to endanger Miss Hooper but, if he was honest with himself he was very curious about the woman he had been corresponding with for so many months. So he arranged the meeting.

"Dr. Hooper, so nice to finally meet you." Mycroft said extending a hand at Molly's front door.

Molly welcomed him into her very modest flat.

"Please call me Molly, Mr. Holmes." (He didn't offer her the same courtesy.) "and please take a seat."

They settled down in her sitting room and she asked how he took his tea, that's when he noticed a tray full of what can only be described as homemade temptations straight from his childhood. His mouth immediately watered.

"Can I offer you a pastry? I made them myself."

"I do hope you didn't go to too much trouble Miss, um, Molly." (It was hard to focus while deciding on which treat to partake.)

"Not at all, I quite enjoy baking. Helps me relax."

"Are those fairy cakes?"

"Yes, they sure are." She said smiling brightly.

"Perhaps just one wouldn't hurt." He said as he picked it up.

Heaven.

Molly watched with what seemed like intense curiosity as the British government sat in her sitting room (on a second had sofa) and devoured the pastry (her grand's recipe, she bragged.) She then explained that she was very grateful for the updates on Sherlock's health and wanted to thank Mycroft in some small way.

When he finished the cake she managed (with little effort) to force another on him and make some only slightly uncomfortable small talk.

After that initial meeting Mycroft upped Molly's security level to the highest possible, any woman who not only had the patience for his brother but could also make those delightful little cakes deserved the best protection the Crown could offer.

The texts continued as did the occasional afternoon tea, complete with Molly's Gran's recipes. He'd be loathe to admit it to a living soul but Mycroft Holmes often looked forward to the visits. He missed his baby brother, and getting to spend time with Dr. Hooper (and eat such lovely sweets) seemed to fill in a gap he didn't realize needed filled.

Once Sherlock returned from the dead, so to speak, there was no longer a need for communication between Mr. Holmes and Dr. Hooper. However that didn't mean he never thought about her, just not as often, he of course had a baby brother back in England who was once again causing trouble. Mycroft found himself worrying about a multitude of things, how was Sherlock going to adjust to a newly married John Watson, would he suffer any long-term effects from his mission, and was he truly once again ready to take on his cases after such a lengthy absence? As he would ponder these things there was one question, an unsettling one, needling at the back of his mind... how would Sherlock deal with an unavailable Molly Hooper?

When he had heard that the good doctor had found herself a beau, Mycroft had immediately ran a full background check on the young man and found him completely unremarkable... in every possible way. Hardly deserving of the woman he had come to think so highly of, but it was hardly his place to voice such an opinion. This Thomas wasn't a threat in any way, no criminal history not even so much as a parking violation, he had no reason to intervene, as much as he wanted to. So Mycroft Holmes did nothing but watch and wait until his brother returned, surly Sherlock would do something to rid Dr. Hooper of the dimwitted plebeian. Alas, shortly after his return Sherlock found himself mixed up with that nasty business surrounding the Watson's marriage and (as much as he told him to stay away) Charles Magnussen. When Sherlock was to be sent off on his six month exile Mycroft, knowing that his brother wouldn't have the intestinal fortitude to do it, went once again to visit Dr. Molly Hooper.

"Mr. Holmes, it's so nice to see you. It's been too long please come in." She said and though she smiled Mycroft could see deep sadness, knowing that his brother's behavior since his return had hurt her terribly.

"Hello Molly, how have you been?" He asked, even though he knew and even though he knew that she would lie.

"I'm well, thank you for asking, and yourself?"

"I've had better days Molly." Truly regretting what he was about to say to her.

"What has happened now? Will I need bourbon?"

"Perhaps, Molly what I'm about to tell you will fall in the purview of secrecy of which you have already been intrusted. It's for your ears only, do you understand?"

"Of course Mr. Holmes. I would never betray your trust."

"Indeed, I of course already knew that, however it needed to be said." Mycroft took a deep breath. "Molly, Sherlock has committed murder and has been sentenced to exile."

He gave her a moment to let the first bit of information to sink in before finishing, he knew she'd have questions and he fully intended to answer them as best he could. He also intended to tell her the truth so the poor girl didn't sit around and await the return of a man that was, this time, never coming back. It would be painful, but it was a small bit of kindness for someone who had been of great assistance to himself and his family.

Tears immediately started to form in Molly's eyes, "H-he killed someone, did...did they deserve it?"

Of course, she could never think the worst of the man she loved, even though she had found a nice boring man and tried to settle down with him, in the end her love for Sherlock had been too strong and she had thought it best to break off the engagement (thank heavens.)

"You could say he did, he wasn't a nice man Molly, but he was unarmed and Sherlock did it in front of myself and fifteen agents. That's murder, no matter how you phrase it. I arranged a mission that will take him out of England, it should end within six months."

Molly exhaled a huge sigh, but when she saw the look on Mycroft's face she knew her relief was premature.

"What will happen within six months Mr. Holmes?" She asked, her voice stronger, almost angry.

"My brother will not survive this mission Molly, I'm so sorry to be the one to tell you this. It should have been Sherlock."

Molly stood up and crossed the room with one hand on her stomach and one over her mouth. The sob that came out of the small woman's mouth was enough to finish the job of breaking Mycroft's heart.

"NO!" She screamed, "After everything we did? After..." Her sentence died in another gut-wrenching sob. "Two years of lying, and worrying..."

Mycroft went to her because he knew the signs of a panic attack when he saw them.

"Molly, you have to control yourself, you're going to hyperventilate. Please, calm down." He said as he encircled an arm around her and led her to her small kitchen, sat her down and got her a glass of water.

She took a drink after her breath returned to a more normal pattern.

"C-can't you stop this?" She asked with panic stricken eyes.

"I'm sorry Molly this was, sadly, the best of all options. I know that's no consolation but he excepted it willingly."

She took another drink.

"Why? Why did he do it? Why would he kill someone in cold blood in front of an audience?"

"That part... is not my story to tell."

Molly looked up fury set in her eyes now, "Well he's certainly not going to tell me now, is he?"

"It's actually not his story either. It's rather hard to explain."

"You're not making any sense Mr. Holmes." Molly said followed by a rather undignified hick-up. "Oh God, this always happens." Then she drank the entire glass of water he had provided. "Wh-when is he leaving?" She finally managed.

"Tomorrow, and that's as much as I can tell you Molly, I am truly sorry. Please understand that this..." Mycroft paused when he realized he was coming dangerously close to expressing emotion in front of the young woman.

"Oh my God, Mycroft, I'm so sorry. How could I have been so selfish, this must be killing you and here I've been... Oh, I'm so sorry." She said and then she did the most remarkable thing, right there in her kitchen, in her tiny flat Molly Hooper hugged the British government.

It was alarming to say the least, he had prepared himself for having to possibly console the young woman, after all the love of her life was about to be taken away from her, but Mycroft had not considered the fact that she might try to offer him any kind of comfort. It's not as if he didn't hug people, he hugged his parents frequently and the odd aunt and uncle, he even had to embrace visiting dignitaries (if it was a their country's tradition,) but in this moment, in this embrace Mycroft found himself completely out of his depth. The worst part was that it did offer him some comfort, he was losing his baby brother, and it was hurting him deeply although he had no intention of showing it, but here was Molly Hooper broken-hearted as she was and she managed to find it within herself to comfort to him. Since she had already been sworn to secrecy he decided to give himself this one moment and to feel something he hadn't since he was a small boy... warmth.

After a minute of the embrace Mycroft cleared his throat and pulled back. "Thank you Molly, that was kind of you, but I trust that..."

"No one will ever know, I understand. And thank you Mr. Holmes, I needed the hug too." She said wiping her face.

"Yes, well is there anything you would like me to tell Sherlock, for you."

Molly looked down and back up quickly, "Please tell him, I'm sorry."

Such a strange little creature... "What on earth could you possibly have to be sorry for Molly?"

"Oh, well the last time I saw him, I um... slapped him... three times. It was the day he was shot, well before he was shot obviously."

"Ah, yes you ran the blood test... Three times you say? Good show!"

"And then I didn't come and see him in the hospital, I was so angry what with the drugs and getting shot and leaving the hospital, and getting engaged. I couldn't look at him. It was selfish and childish, and now I'll never see him again." Molly took a deep shuttering breath before continuing, "Please tell him I'm so very sorry and that I lo... no just tell him that I'm sorry. Thank you." Then she walked into the sitting room and sat down on her sofa.

Mycroft followed and collected his umbrella and turned back around, "Certainly Molly," then crouched down eye level with her and said, "For what it's worth, I think my brother's been a blind fool, and I am deeply sorry he never had the courage to follow his heart where you were concerned. I would have more than proud to call you sister."

Less then twenty-four hours later when England's airwaves were taken over by the image of James Moriarty, one of Mycroft's first thoughts were for Molly Hooper's safety his second was that this wasn't only going to be a second chance for Sherlock but for a certain pastry making, hug giving, pathologist as well.

Thanks for reading, please let me know what you think.