"Good job out there Miss Holmes." Sherlock told his daughter as he stepped through the glass door. She didn't turn in the chair she was sat in, but the smile on her face was obvious in her voice.
"Thank you Mr Holmes." Sherlock stood in front of his daughter, crouched down so he was shorter than the young Holmes on the chair, and the pair of identical blue eyes stared into each other. Sherlock shook his head as he saw minuscule injuries on his daughter, his Ebony, that John and Lestrade couldn't see without know her a least a little truly. Credit where it was due though, she had covered them up with her theatrical make up quite well.
"Well then." Lestrade said as he sat down behind his desk. John took a chair and Sherlock got up and stood behind Ebony.
"The school's been closed and we have full permission to search the whole place. Ebony will need to come with us. She knows her way around that place well. That is… if we have permission from Sherlock to take her?" He said looking up at Sherlock. The consulting detective stared down at his daughter who had her eyes tight shut.
"Dad…" She started. John looked over to her to see pain briefly flash across her face, followed by disappointment. John didn't understand and it looked like Sherlock didn't either.
"Yes Lestrade I give permission for Ebony to go to the school. Do you have Iva Andrew's timetable for that day?" Sherlock asked with his hand held out. Lestrade shook his head.
"The girl's mother has it." He told them. Ebony pulled out her phone and asked for the number that Greg then reluctantly gave her.
"Hello? Mrs Andrews. My name is Ebony Holmes… yes the girl from school… Thank you Mrs Andrews actually we would be very appreciative if you could find us Iva's tome table from yesterday?… Thank you very much. I will come over to collect it if that's OK?… yep. Thank you again. Good b-… Everything is fine, I don't- yes… yes.. OK. I will tell them at some point in the case. Good bye Mrs Andrews. God bless you too." Ebony flicked her phone down with a smile.
"6 Brandon Road. We can get a cab-" She started.
"We'll take you in the police car. We can go there then the school." Lestrade told her. Ebony and John stood up and left the room. Sherlock grabbed Ebony's good arm and twisted her round.
"Be there in a minute. I need to discuss something with my daughter." The young father sounded almost human.
"We'll wait for you in the car." John told him. When both the doctor and the detective inspector where gone, Sherlock turned to Ebony.
"What?" She asked him. He leaned out of the door.
"Donavan…make up wipes please?" He asked. Sally came in a second later with a pack of them.
"Take off the make up Ebbs." Sherlock demanded. Ebony shook her head, a glint of shame evident in her eyes.
"What's wrong with her? Why are you making her take her make up off?" Donavan asked.
"No." Ebony said firmly.
"Yes." Sherlock said just as firm, he handed her a wipe and, much to his surprise, Donavan took it.
"Come here." She said to Ebony as she lead the child to a chair. Ebony was extremely confused as to why Sally was being nice to her… it was completely out of character for the sergeant. Gently, Donavan wiped away the stage make up to reveal a black eye, a bruise that lead from Ebony's jaw to her shoulder, and a nasty looking cut on her cheek. Donavan looked at the girl in shock.
"Who-" But she was cut off.
"Ebony?" Sherlock asked softly, but Ebony didn't reply. Tears were racing down her red-with-shame face. Sherlock went over to the battered girl and put his arms around her. Donavan suddenly felt like slapping Anderson. This guy couldn't commit murder if he tried, not now he had her. His Ebony. They were both still freaks, Sally's opinion on that would probably never change, but Ebony had unintentionally turned him into what she was… almost human. There was an angry gleam in Sherlock's eye as he held her tighter. Ebony pulled away and tried to re-apply her make up.
"No Ebony. John and Lestrade can see what these sick adults have d-"
"But it wasn't adults though." Miss Holmes cut in. Sherlock looked at her and his eyes widened.
"You can tell your Uncle Mycroft yourself. I will tell John and Lestrade. No buts." Sherlock told his daughter firmly. And with that, the Older Holmes dragged the youngest Holmes to the car.
"Jesus Ebony, what happened?" John demanded as Ebony slid into the back seat silently. Sherlock climbed into the front seat just as silent. Lestrade, confused by the unusually silent pair, started the car.
"Nothing John." But John had already started taking in her injuries. Ebony looked down in sham, her curly blonde hair veiled her face. John was shaking with anger at the fact that somebody that would dare hurt this innocent, beautiful young girl. Then he remembered the texts she had gotten and could work at who had done it. Ebony could hear her Dad and Lestrade talking in the front.
"Have you thought about sending her to a different school?" Greg asked the detective.
"I was considering home schooling her." Sherlock replied.
"Please do!" Ebony jumped in quickly.
"It's a possibility." He turned back to Lestrade. "Is it possible to get the police involved?"
"Well, obviously she's been assaulted so it would be advisable." Greg replied.
"Again it's an option." Sherlock continued coldly, looking out of the window.
"An option? Sherlock your daughter got beaten up and you're saying involving the police is an option?" John was annoyed. Ebony put a calming hand on his shoulder.
"Leave it John. I'm fine. It's fine. Let's just finish the case…OK?" Ebony didn't expect an answer and the ex army doctor knew that, so he just glared at her and sat back in his seat.
