A/N: Hi guys this is my first time attempting a Sherlolly fanfiction that is not a one-shot.

It might start off slow but I promise the plot will pick up soon enough!

Hope you all enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own BBC Sherlock. And maybe it's for the best that I don't.

HIDDEN TRUTHS

It was close to 6pm and Molly Hooper could barely concentrate on her work at hand. She kept glancing at the lab clock every few minutes. Beside her, Sherlock was engrossed with his microscope, barely noticing the fact that she was nervous.

It wasn't very often that Molly couldn't concentrate on her work. In fact, she was a dedicated pathologist. However, the prospect of her date later with a certain Richard Matthews was making her somewhat jumpy.

It was the first time that Molly was going on a date since forever. She had met the investigative journalist at a café near Bart's and both of them had just hit it off.

What startled her was how very different he was from Sherlock (he wore glasses and was dressed casually), and she was shocked that she managed to feel attracted to someone who was so different from the tall, dark man beside her.

The man that she still secretly loved very much.

But Molly was wise enough to know that he would never reciprocate her romantic feelings towards him. They had grown close after the events of the fall, but that was just what they were. Friends, and nothing more.

"Stop being so jumpy Molly. You're distracting me," Sherlock looked at her with an annoyed expression on his face after she dropped another Petri dish.

"Sorry! It's just that I'm very nervous about my date tonight," she blurted, not quite believing that she was actually talking about her love life with Sherlock Holmes.

"Ugh, dull." Sherlock rolled his eyes. But he noticed her anxiety and softened his expression. "You'll be fine. I don't see why you're so nervous."

He was right. Why was she so nervous? Maybe it was the fact that she rarely had boyfriends (she was embarrassed to admit that she only had 2 her whole life and none lasted long).

6pm soon arrived and Molly left the lab, waving a good bye to Sherlock who barely raised his head from his beloved microscope.

As she left Bart's, Molly decided that it was going to be a great night and was determined not to let her nerves ruin her evening.

It turned out that she didn't need to be nervous at all.

Richard was the perfect date – intelligent, sweet and funny. He could carry a conversation easily and there were barely any awkward silences between them (Molly hated those the most). They chatted happily about their hobbies and work life.

She had just begun telling him about Sherlock when she noticed the tight expression on his face. "Is something wrong?" she asked worriedly.

"No, I was just wondering if you see this Sherlock Holmes guy very often."

"Well it depends. Sometimes he's at the lab every day and sometimes he rarely comes over."

"But you like him?" Richard pressed on.

"He's my friend. Of course I like him," she frowned. Molly was starting to wonder what this was all about.

"You shouldn't let him in the lab if he isn't working at the hospital you know."

"Oh it's fine! He works with Scotland Yard and my boss grants him access." Molly smiled. "Well, except when he comes in for his own personal experiments."

Molly suddenly giggled. She remembered a ridiculous experiment which ended with some extremely burnt eyes, a proud Sherlock and an exasperated John Watson.

Richard narrowed his eyes. "I don't like the sound of this Sherlock bloke. Seems like he's using you Molly."

"No he's not," she said firmly, slightly annoyed that he would judge Sherlock before meeting him. "I let him into the lab because I want to." She was starting to get defensive, something that always happened whenever someone criticised Sherlock. She knew that he was a much better friend to her after the fall and she trusted him.

A sulky expression settled on Richard's face before he forced himself to smile. "No matter, it was just a thought. Shall we go over to my flat for some coffee?"

Molly agreed immediately. The atmosphere between them had turned icy and she wanted to salvage the date. After all, Richard did seem like a really nice man and she didn't want their evening to be ruined just because of one conversation involving a certain consulting detective.

Molly sat on Richard's sofa as he prepared the coffee in his kitchen. She took a look around, studying his house.

It was small but well furnished. He had many books and newspapers lying around. His flat was also carpeted with what seemed like a very expensive carpet. He had many exotic looking figures and statues propped up around his living room too, souvenirs from his many travels.

"Here you go," Richard handed her the coffee with a smile. He sat down beside her, studying her as she took small sips from her cup.

"I really enjoyed our date, Molly," he told her with a sweet smile. Molly agreed happily. She did have fun, something that rarely happened in her life.

She was just about to take another sip of coffee when his lips crashed against her, causing her to gasp and spill the hot beverage all over her blouse.

His hands moved roughly against her thighs and her mind went blank with shock. "No, it's too fast!" Her brain screamed at her. She woke up from her stupor and pushed Richard away, leaning against the sofa with her pulse pounding in her ears.

"What are you doing?" he hissed at her.

Molly could hardly believe her ears. What was she doing? That was what she was supposed to be asking him! "It's too fast Richard!" she sputtered, suddenly aware that the hot beverage had actually burnt her skin slightly.

"Why? Don't you like me kissing you? We are on a date, aren't we?" he narrowed his eyes dangerously at her and she saw the tight expression return to his face again.

He actually looked very frightening.

"I er… it's just that I'm not used to being so… intimate so quickly." Her mind worked furiously, trying to find a way out of this situation.

"Really? Because from what you told me about Sherlock – " he spat his name out vehemently, "you two seem pretty intimate."

"But we're just friends!" Molly was struggling not to cry, she was so afraid. She didn't know what had possessed Richard.

"Just friends?!" he roared, his eyes glazing over. "You let him in your lab against the rules and you're just friends?! You're my girlfriend and you talk to me about another man?!"

Molly cowered against the sofa, praying for an escape. "But I'm not your…it's only a – "

She didn't get to finish her sentence.

She was yanked off the sofa and she felt a strong blow to her cheek. Before she could crumble to the floor however, she felt another blow to her right arm and she cried out in agony. The pain was spreading up her arm and tears were dripping off her chin freely. Richard let go of her and she fell onto the floor immediately, clutching her arm to ease the sharp ache.

The flat was completely silent, save for their heavy breathing. Something snapped in Richard and he seemed to realise what he had just done.

"Molly oh my god. I'm so sorry!" he attempted to help her up but Molly flinched from his touch. She was terrified of him; she needed to get out of there fast.

Molly got up as quick as she could, her palm against her searing cheek. She grabbed her bag and stumbled out of the flat, whimpering slightly at the pain. Richard seemed to be too much in a daze to stop her.

"Molly! Molly please! I don't know what came over me!" She heard him shout as she entered the lift, frantically pressing the "door close" button. She could hear his footsteps and she panicked. Luckily for her, the lift doors shut before she could see his face again.

She ran (if you could call it that) out of the block of flats as fast as she could. Thankfully for her, there was a taxi nearby and she floundered into it. Once she was in the vehicle and knew that she was safe, she started to cry.

The driver gave her a worried look in the review mirror, but she assured him that she was fine. She clutched her handbag tightly as she recalled the beating, wincing slightly when she remembered his hands on her thighs.

She settled in the taxi seat and wiped away her tears, knowing that it was going to be one long night.

Poor Molly! I feel so bad for letting her get beat up.

Will a certain consulting detective help her? Or not?

Pls review, reviews make my day. =)