The beauty in beasts
Since she was a child, Sally Donovan thought she was good at looking through appearances, a strange case might prove her wrong when Sherlock seems to be the only one able to help the victims: deformed and disabled peoples who get killed for being different.
On his side, John Watson will try to make his friend open up to him and reveal painful elements of his past.
O o O
So just to be said, there will be an OC in this fanfic, the original character will remain the focus, but if you can tell me your advice on that character, that would be nice, I'm not so used to making OC.
She warned him not be deceived by appearances, for beauty, is found within
This line from Beauty and the Beast was something Sally never forgot. When she was a child, her mother made her watch it and explained her how people should never be judge through their appearances, that real beasts could hid under pretty faces and beauties could be found under ugliness.
Life had proven how right the tale was. She remembered the pretty but bitchy popular kids of her school who were beautiful on the outside, but rotten inside. She had met some people unattractive physically who were real sweethearts, Anderson could be one of them when he wanted. He wasn't the most attractive man she ever met, but he was nice and could be caring too, the contrary of Sherlock Holmes.
The damn consultant was one of the best examples of a beast hiding under Beauty's mask, because even if she didn't like him, even Sally had to admit he was attractive. In fact, the first time she saw him she felt this attraction but it was soon destroyed by the detective's behaviour. It was a slightly painful reminder of the tale.
Sadly, Lestrade didn't seem to be that bothered by Sherlock's behaviour and would call him from time to time in spite of the fact Sally was sure they could perfectly handle their work. She hoped he wouldn't call for the case they were currently working on. This case was sure very strange. Some people physically deformed or disabled were killed and their body ravaged. The first time, it was a little girl with a harelip, the next time, a blind man; the next was a young man who had an atrophied leg. The killer would beat them then stab them several times in the face.
Last night, the killer had aggressed someone again, a blind woman but thankfully she had survived. She got beaten but the killer didn't have the time to stab her to death thanks to a neighbour who made him run away. She only received nasty gashes on the face. The neighbours, a nice forty years old man, hadn't been able to provide them much information; the killer was wearing a white mask so he hadn't seen his face.
The blind woman, Rachel Lane, was in hospital right now, Lestrade, Sally and Anderson were waiting for the doctor's permission to interview her. As a forensic, Anderson wasn't really needed here but he wanted to be around with Sally.
"Do you think she'll be able to tell us something?" Asked she to Lestrade
"I don't know, maybe he said something to her," supposed the DI.
The doctor exited the woman's room.
"You can go in, but remember she is still fragile."
"Don't worry we know how to handle that kind of situation."
The three of them entered the room and Sally was almost thankful the victim was blind because the look on Anderson's face wasn't exactly appropriate; it was both horrified and slightly disgusted. The woman wasn't ugly but her face was a myriad of colours and still swollen because of the beating she received but the worst of all was the gashes on her face. One especially started from under her eyes and ran down to her chin. Even if she was blind it was as if the woman had sensed their presence.
"Who is there?" Asked she in a tired and slightly gaunt voice
"Hum…DI Lestrade, Miss Lane we would like to ask you some questions but of course if you're too tired we'll come back later."
"It's okay, go on."
She sounded lifeless and annoyed; Sally knew it was certainly because of the shock and she could understand. She made a gesture toward Lestrade, asking him silently to let her begin, she was a woman too maybe it would comfort her.
"Can you tell us what you were doing before it happened?"
"I was walking home, I needed some eggs to cook so I went out to bought some. When I was walking back home, I felt…someone grabbing me and beating me…I tried to defend myself; I searched with my hands for his face, but I only felt something hard and smooth…"
"He was wearing a mask," quickly answered Anderson.
"I figured that out myself sir," replied she in a trembling voice. "He continued to beat me; he had a hand on my neck to stop me from screaming. He told me something he…"
Rachel stopped here. Her memories weren't clear enough, she couldn't recall his exact words but she felt it was important. She closed her eyes and breathed in, trying to concentrate…
"We understand if it's too hard, take your time," said Sally slowly in a very gentle voice.
The woman snorted slightly.
"I wish to rest," said she in a dead voice.
The three looked at each others; they didn't have much of a choice after all they couldn't bully a poor blind woman into giving them answers.
"Okay, when you'll be released, please come in Scotland Yard, or call us if you want us to visit you at home…"
"I'll see you in the Yard, Inspector," replied she.
Sensing she wanted to be alone, they left without another word. Lestrade sighed, he wasn't really used to deal with blind people, and he sensed it was the same for Sally and Anderson. He would deal with that later however, for now he needed to call Sherlock. When she saw him taking his phone out, Sally got a bad feeling.
"Don't tell me you're calling the Freak."
"We need him."
"No we don't!"
"She is right, we can handle that," continued Anderson.
"He will just scare her, did you see her? She doesn't need another psychopath…"
"That's enough. I am calling him, we need him whether you like it or not."
With that, Lestrade left the two. Sally sighed and felt Anderson's hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, don't worry it should be fine. True the freak did damage in the past but we always repair it."
"We shouldn't have to do that! And I don't know if we will really be able to repair it if he traumatizes her. She already went through enough."
"Yeah, that's for sure. Maybe he'll be creped out enough to leave but it seems…"
"Creped out by what?"
"Her. I mean, hum…She got beaten badly which is not really a pretty sight, plus blind people can be…"
Sally narrowed his eyes at what he was implying. Sensing the danger, he tried to amend his words.
"I don't mean they are creepy, it's just strange to be around them; they have something so weird with those inexpressive eyes…"
"Yeah, that's because they are blind!" Exclaimed Sally with a twinge of indignation
"I know, I know, I am just saying it can be weird…"
She shook her head and sighed. Anderson wasn't mean but he was paying way too much attention to appearances, something she always thought wrong. Well, no one was perfect.
"Let's drop the subject and go back."
"Alright," agreed a very relieved Anderson.
While Anderson and Donovan were going back to the yard, Lestrade was driving at 221b Baker Street, Sherlock wouldn't answer his phone and Lestrade hoped he would be home at least.
He wasn't deceived; Holmes was home, when Mrs Hudson made him enter, he found Sherlock in the middle of an experiment involving leeches. Lestrade didn't ask what it was about, he knew better.
"Hello, Inspector."
"Sherlock, I called you."
"I was busy."
"Didn't you think it could have been important?"
"I knew that if it was important you would come, otherwise you would have called again later. You came so I know it's important."
Lestrade rolled his eyes; he wondered how John could live with Sherlock like this and never thought about killing him. He sighed and opened his mouth to talk when Sherlock interrupted him.
"It's about the latest case, with those people deformed or disabled being killed."
"Yes, a woman was aggressed yesterday night but she survived, she is in hospital."
"I'll need to see her."
"I knew you would say that, but Holmes, I warn you I don't want you to damage her more than she already is."
Sherlock snorted, Lestrade was so sensitive, it was ridiculous from time to time.
"I won't, now if you excuse me, I need to finish this, once John is back from the groceries we'll join you."
Lestrade nodded and left, hoping that John's presence would keep the detective from doing anything bad.
Review, please!
