Please don't murder me but it's finally back :D

Molly was happy Sherlock had found a distraction from all of his experiments he left in the fridge, and in bathroom. Also the cupboards. He had actually disposed of half of them.
Molly wasn't sure if that was completely a good thing, because it wasn't who he was. He wasn't being his arrogant self anymore. But she never even thought of asking him about it.

She came back from her afternoon shift around nine. She had booked the next week off, knowing she would have to be dealing with lawyers, child services and other people. She was worried and nervous but she knew she was a suitable guardian. And Sherlock was proving to be a suitable one too.
Molly stepped in the door and could smell fresh bread. Was Sherlock... baking? She hung up her jacket and bag, walking cautiously to the kitchen. "Sherlock?" she called out.

She found him leaning over the sink in the kitchen, looking dazed. "Sherlock?" she asked worriedly. He didn't even acknowledge her presence. She would have just walked on by, but he looked so pale. She reached up at touched his cheek, turning his face towards her. He had a cut and a bruise forming on his right cheekbone and his bottom lip was swollen. He looked as if he was going to have a black eye also. "Oh my god." Molly mumbled. "What happened?" she asked urgently. "I know who killed Emily Morrison."

"Can you let me see?" Molly asked, holding a warm cloth.
Sherlock shook his head "Not important." he hissed.
Molly sighed "We need to clean it."
Sherlock shook his head. "I am fine Molly. I can take care of myself."
Molly huffed "Apparently not." Sherlock glared at her, obviously irritated by the comment.
"Please?" she pleaded one last time. Sherlock rolled his eyes.
"Fine." Molly smiled.
"Thank you. Could you sit down, you're rather tall..." she explained.
Sherlock sat on the carpeted floor. Molly rolled her eyes, he was being an arse.
"So childish." she mumbled. Sherlock looked up at her, reminding her why she was there so she knelt in front of him.

Molly held his chin as she wiped the blood off of his face.
"Would you like to tell me what happened?" she asked softly. Sherlock looked away, almost wanting to say no, knowing she wouldn't like that answer.
"Moriarty was here." Molly froze, letting go of him. She went silent, trying to think of what to say. When she finally opened her mouth, all of her thoughts came out at once.
"Did-what-he-? Did he- Mia? Why didn't you call?!" she panicked. If Jim had touched Mia, she swore to God. But then it clicked. "He killed them." she whispered, looking away. She pulled back, biting her lip nervously.
"Molly. It's okay. We're safe. I made sure of it." he assured her. She looked up suddenly.
"Did you kill him?" There was almost a pleading in her voice under the anger. Sherlock flinched.
"No. Why would I?" Molly stared at him in disbelief.
"Because he's dangerous! You of all people should know that Sherlock! He killed you, and Mia's parents!"

Sherlock sighed frustrated and not quite understanding why she was upset.
"I didn't get the chance too, Molly. I was too busy trying to protect the child, which is more important than anything to you and then I ended up on the floor." he motioned to his cheek, making his famous "obviously" look.
Molly looked to the ground, knowing she had no to be angry at him. He had protected Mia from the most dangerous man in the world while managing not to get killed himself.

"I'm sorry. I-" she pressed her lips tight together, to stop them from trembling. "He didn't touch her did he?" she asked quietly. Sherlock shook his head.
"She's fine. He didn't get within five feet of her." Molly gave him a tiny smile. Sherlock smiled back, sitting back down.
"Now. Could you please continue to clean my face?" Molly chuckled
"I thought you could take care of it yourself." As she leaned forward again, he brushed a strand of hair out of her face.
"Yes. But you do it better." Molly stopped, staring at him for a long while, not sure how to respond to that. She blushed and nodded, finishing tending to his wounds.

"What happened, exactly?" Molly asked, getting ice from the fridge for him.
"I went out to get some things and when I came back, he was sitting in your chair." he hissed it out as if it was the most unforgivable thing in the world.
"We spoke about the fall, Mia and her parents, you." Molly nodded as she held the ice pack to his face.
"He said if I stayed in the shadows, if I never spoke to John or anyone again, he wouldn't hurt my friends." he explained. Molly looked at him apologetically.
"How did you get hurt?" she asked, as he took the ice pack in his own hand.
"I punched him. His henchman attacked me back." he stated, with a tone of pride in his voice.
Molly raised an eyebrow. "And why would you do that?"
"He said something about you." he mumbled.
Molly gaped at him. He had truly defended her?

Sherlock realized she would be wanting another explanation and spoke before she could.
"He said you were unimportant, that you didn't count and that you were useless." he said quickly.
Molly took a moment to take it in. He had really defended her.
"You honestly didn't have to hit him over that. Half of it is true." she laughed, as she continued cleaning his damaged face.

Sherlock shook his head. "I would have been fine. I had to make sure you were safe because you're all I have and you're the only one who can protect me. You are the only person in the world that matters to me right now." Molly was quiet and focused on his face. "Are you even listening?" He grabbed her wrists. He felt angry. He didn't have her attention and he was expressing emotion to her. He was trying to prove she wasn't what she said she was. She whimpered at him as he grabbed her wrists, not out of pain but of fear.

"I am. I'm just surprised." she whispered.

"You shouldn't be. By now you should know you count, that you protect me. With all that you have done, even though I do not always express how grateful I am." He hissed. "You are all I have in this world Molly Hooper. It is hard for me to admit that and you of all people know that. I can't have you thinking things like that about yourself. Because if you are broken, then I am not protected. You are my shield Molly Hooper. And I am yours."

Molly had tears welling up her eyes. Sherlock froze and wondered if he was gripping her wrists too tight. He let go and they began to shake. He realized he had raised his voice louder than he had intended to and might have frightened her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell." he said in a lower octave. Molly shook her head.
"No. Its alright." she looked at his hands. His knuckles were raw. She clicked her tongue and took one of his her hands. They were still shaking and he felt something in the pit of his stomach. Much like at Christmas
"Molly..." he whispered sadly.

She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand.
"My hands are fine. You're shaking like a leaf. I frightened you." She shook her head again.
"I have to fix them." she couldn't see through her tears but was being stubborn. She dabbed the cuts with the cold cloth. They actually weren't as bad as she first perceived. But she needed a distraction. He was right. He had frightened her by yelling. But she was crying because of what he had said. He had done what no one else in the world had done. He had made her feel important. And he was the man who used to be the reason for her self-doubt.

"Did you... did you mean all that?" she whispered. Sherlock nodded.
"Of course I did. Why would I tell you something I did not mean?" he asked curiously. Molly shrugged. "Just making sure." She let go of his hand, being done cleaning it.

"Thank you Molly." he leaned forward and she was still. He kissed her gently on the cheek, ignoring the pain in his bottom lip. "You are also my savior." he whispered in her ear. He pulled back to find her blushing, and looking him in the eyes. He stood up and held out his hand, offering to help her up. Molly took his hand and pushed herself off of the floor. He led her to the kitchen and proceeded to make dinner.