Chapter four – Bruises

It was three weeks before another incident came to light. Clarissa was late which sparked worry instantly in John's mind. As soon as tutor ended he went to find Sherlock. He was sat comfortably in their office across the leather sofa.

"She's not here" was all he said as he closed the door to the office and looked over at his friend.

Sherlock turned his head in acknowledgement "I thought we were not getting involved" he replied spitefully.

"I know what I said" John snapped, perching himself on his desk to try and calm himself. "But she hasn't had a day off yet and if the last three weeks are anything to go by things at home have been going ok. There was bound to be a break eventually, she could be seriously hurt."

"I know" Sherlock admitted harshly. He knew it would happen sooner or later, he'd noticed how bruise free she'd been recently. It was only a matter of time before her father lost his temper again and hurt her badly. "You were right though, we cannot interfere unless she comes to us or she comes into school."

John nodded, it was now a waiting game. If she didn't come in to school or come to them by the end of the day they would have to take action, if not for her then for their sanity. Sherlock was wound up enough by her, the fact she was being abused did not help this fact.

Clarissa was walking slowly to school. And by slowly it was a snail's pace, there was no way she would make it in otherwise. Her side hurt mostly, the pain shooting when she moved too much or too fast. It was also when she breathed in too far, the pain would seize her body and she'd lose control. The severe bruising across her right side on the ribs suggested a cracked rib at least. The trouble she was having breathing would back this up.

She had thrown on a black baggy top and a pair of grey leggings. Smart clothing had gone out the window today, all she cared about was making it to school and being comfortable. The painkillers she had taken at breakfast seemed to have no effect or if they did were already wearing off.

The school halls were empty by the time she reached them, they were about half way through period one. Clarissa felt a hand close on her arm, the touch gentle but firm at the same time. She looked up to see Mr Holmes to her side with a worried expression, he steered her towards his office. He took note of her slow careful movements and pulled her ever so gently, not with much force behind it but with enough direction to take her towards the open door of his office. She stepped inside and allowed him to lead her to the sofa. John looked up from his work, raising an eyebrow at the two of them. He let go of her arm and watched her sit down, wincing as she did so.

"Why are you late?" Sherlock demanded to know, he went back to the door and shut it firmly before retaking his position in front of her, looking down with his grey eyes, hands on hips. John moved around his desk to stand next to Sherlock and stood in a more relaxed position with his arms over his chest loosely.

"I – I – "she stammered, unable to think of a good excuse. She straightened up, automatically regretting it when pain shot up her side, she wined.

"You are in pain" Sherlock observed.

"I think I may have a cracked rib" she offered with a small smile. "I have bruising all down my right side, I couldn't get here on time because I was unconscious, I woke up and made my way here but any pain relief I have taken hasn't helped."

"How?" Sherlock asked, his brows creasing slightly. He feared he already knew the answer to the question but needed the confirmation from her.

Clarissa clenched her eyes shut tightly to fight back the tears forming. She opened them again so to look into his grey eyes once more, a single tear escaping her eyes and rolling gracefully down her cheek in a shimmering line. "Please don't ask" she begged.

Sherlock nodded and turned to John. "Would you go find the nurse, she can check Clarissa over before deciding whether or not she needs to go to the hospital."

"No" she argued, jumping to her feet. She regretted it as soon as she did it, the pain in her side stretching uncontrollably. She cried out and readied herself to fall down, unable to even hold herself on her own legs. Sherlock was at her side like magic, she hadn't even seen him move. His long arms surrounded her, keeping her steadily on her feet. He placed her back on the sofa so that he back was now on the armrest and she was half sitting, half laying. "No nurse, no hospitals. Surely you could check me over." She demanded innocently.

"Firstly, I am not a doctor. Yes I have a vast amount of knowledge of the human anatomy but again not a doctor. John it a doctor but this brings me to my second point, we are your teachers. The very notion that we check your injuries over is considered morally wrong, if not illegal." Sherlock answered quickly, his words overlapping at points as he struggled to control his breathing.

Clarissa gave a long and pain riddled sigh. "Then I will walk out of this office, without seeing the nurse, without going to the hospital, in fact I will walk out of the school and go straight back home. Who knows perhaps going home is the best option for me." She challenged, raising an eyebrow at the two teachers.

"Fine" Sherlock snapped. He turned to John "will you please aid me evaluating Miss Johnson's wounds"

John nodded "Yes" he added for extra measure.

They both stood slightly hesitant, not wanting to be the first one to move first or to touch a student first. Clarissa gave an annoyed sigh and snapped "I give you both permission to touch me".

John nodded but waited for Sherlock to move first. They both took their placed next to the sofa, Sherlock crouching so he was level with her, right next to her face. John stood next to Sherlock so he would be able to get a good look at the wound. "You're going to have to remove you top" John said, his cheeks lighting up scarlet.

"Sure" she said with a small laugh. "Help me?"

Sherlock nodded and reached for the hem of her shirt hesitantly before pulling it over her head lightly. Clarissa leaned forward to give him enough leverage to pull the shirt up and over her head. Sherlock let the top fall to the floor, his eyes glued to her now exposed body. She was sat now in a pair of leggings and a simple flower patterned bra. The bruising was dark, spread across the entire right side of her body. The bruises were a dark purple with raw red patches across a few ribs. The discolouration started just at her bra strap and stopped at her hip. Covering almost the entire of the right side of her body, the shaping looked like she had been kicked repeatedly while protecting the other parts of her body.

Sherlock glanced at John who looked horrified by what he was seeing. Sherlock gave a small nod and placed a hand on her face, gently grazing her cheekbones with his knuckle while his other hand went to rest on his shoulder. John's hand went to her side, gently going over each bruise, applying small amounts of pressure on her ribs. She winced at the contact but found herself distracted from the pain by Sherlock's grey eyes and the way his hand was caressing her face.

"You're lucky it's only severe bruising, your ribs are fine." John said pulling back from her and fetching a bottle of water and some painkillers for her to take.

"Thanks, I have a lesson now" she said, taking the water and painkillers from him and taking them.

"No you don't" Sherlock said sternly, picking her top up from the floor and placing it on her chest. "You will rest here for the rest of the day and then I will drive you home. If you insist on not going to the hospital then allow me to watch over you, John will clear it with your teachers." John gave a nod before disappearing through the door.

Clarissa pulled her top on with great difficulty and pain before settling herself back on the sofa. She closed her eyes and lent her head back slightly, sleep seemed like the most important thing.