A/N: The Sherlock Holmes series belongs to ACD. Sherlock series belongs to Moffat and Gatiss. All original characters and story belong to me with the exception of Zoey McCarron who belongs to R. K. Sprague (used with permission).

"Everyone, we have a new student transferring into our class. Plese, tell us a bit about yourself, now that everyone else is here?" the art professor beckoned. The new girl stood up. She had blonde hair, quite a bit lighter than Sydney's own and not as much reddish tone to it, fair skin and blue eyes covered by a pair of glasses. She was also fairly short compared to Sydney.

"My name is Zoey McCarron. I'm from America," she explained. The class' eyes widened at this fact, impressed with her. However, it seemed Zoey interpreted that as shock, so she immediately sat back down, embarrassed. For the rest of the life drawing class, everyone was silent.

"All right?" Sydney greeted Zoey after class.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just embarrassed," Zoey replied. Sydney giggled a bit.

"While that's good to know, we often use 'all right' as a form of greeting here. Kind of like how Americans use 'what's up,' I think," Sydney explained. Zoey looked down.

"Sorry." Sydney shook her head.

"No, no, it's fine. Completely understandable. No need to apoligise." Zoey looked back up and smiled slightly. "My name's Sydney. Sydney Pageant. Syd, for short, if you like." Sydney offered her hand.

"Nice to meet you, Syd. I'm Zoey. You can call me 'Zo' if you want. Most my friends back home did." The two new friends shook hands. They started walking out of the art building together.

"So, what class do you have next?" Zoey asked of her new friend. Syd grimaced, realizing what was coming up.

"Theatre," she grumbled. Zoey looked a bit confused.

"What's with the face? I thought those classes were fun. Is the professor a weirdo, or your classmates stupid, or what?" Zoey asked. Sydney chuckled a little.

"No, no, nothing to do with them. It's just... we might have a guest in our class today." Syd explained.

"A guest? Like another theatre professor?" Sydney shook her head.

"I wish. No, he's an outsider. Ever hear of Sherlock Holmes?" Zoey raised an eyebrow.

"No. I haven't. Who is he?" Sydney stopped dead in her tracks. She looked somewhat shocked and stared Zoey right in the eye.

"You mean to tell me you have no idea who Sherlock Holmes is. Really?" Zoey nodded her head, confirming Sydney's question. "Wow. Well, then again, I have no idea how well known the guy is outside of the UK. Well, he's a detective who sometimes works with the police."

"A P.I.?"

"No, something else. Consulting Detective. He explains it a bit on his website, 'The Science of Deduction.'"

"Cool! I'll have to check it out. But, what's a 'consulting detective' doing visiting your class?"

"Were you here yesterday?"

"Only in the morning. I'm job hunting in the afternoon. Why?"

"I don't mean to scare you or anything, and this is doesn't normally happen, in fact it's the first time this has happened in recent history, I mean this is a nice school, and-" Sydney rambled. Zoey stopped her.

"Okay, I get it. What happened that's so bad that you're being visited by a guy that works with the police?" Zoey started to look annoyed that Sydney didn't answer right away. Sydney sighed.

"There was a murder. I was a witness to the aftermath," she explained quietly. Zoey's eyes went wide.

"Yikes," was all she said.

"Yeah. I guess I'm not as shaken as I was before since I know it's going to be taken care of, and that I can actually help somehow or another. Anyway, I'd better get going. Meet back here for lunch?" Sydney offered. Zoey smiled.

"Yeah, sure! And, I'm guessing you want me to keep quiet about this?" Sydney nodded. "Okay, sure thing. Catch you after class, then! See ya, Syd!"

"Bye, Zo!"

Huh. He's not here yet. Good. Maybe we can get in some dress rehearsal without him seeing. I just hope everyone else remembers their lines this time. Especially the guy playing John, Sydney thought to herself as she entered the auditorium.

"Okay, looks like everyone's here," Prof. Baker said to his class. "I just want to start off by saying how proud I am of you. When you told me you wanted to do a play based on a blog entry, I was a little... shocked, to say the least. When I actually got around to reading it, I understood why you did. So, I let you try. I let you create a script based on what little information you had, do the costuming and casting all on your own. You've proved to me that you can create theatre as well as act it. Well done."

The other students beamed at this congratulation.

"Now, then, let's get our last rehearsal of 'A Study in Pink' started!"

"A Study in what?" a baritone voice called from the doorway. The class stopped dead, staring in awe at the visitor. Sydney was horrified.

Oh, no. Not now! And we were just about to get in costume...

"Oh, hello. The class wanted to do a play based on the blog of Dr. Watson for their own amusement. Since I didn't have anything else for them to do, and since this is a rather advanced class, I decided to let them. I'm Kevin Baker, the theatre professor," Prof. Baker said, offering to shake the visitor's hand.

"I know who you are, Professor. While I'm not really one for shaking hands, I do offer my salutations. My name is Sherlock Holmes, the one who's story you're telling."

The students stood agape. The professor froze in astonishment. Sydney rolled her eyes.

Does he really have to be so dramatic?

"Well, it's very nice to finally meet you, Mr. Holmes! My students have noting but praise for you and your friend, Dr. Watson," Professor Baker said. Sherlock nodded his thanks. "We were actually about to start up a dress rehearsal of our play. Would you like to see?"

"It would be interesting," Sherlock mused. "Unfortunately, I haven't the time. I'm on a case, you see. One that involves you, oddly enough, professor." Professor Baker stared at Sherlock quizzically.

"Me? Why me?"

"Why indeed? Tell me, is there anyone on staff who might have anything against you?" Professor Baker shook his head.

"Not that I know of, why?" Sherlock looked rather intently at him, showing his seriousness.

"Someone stole your blood sample from the forensics laboratory and used it as a cover to the method of a young man's murder," Sherlock explained. The students' faces grew horrified. Sydney grimaced.

Is this really the time for that? Honestly.

"I... I don't understand. Why would anyone do that? I mean, sure I have an uncommon blood type, but..." Sherlock interrupted him.

"Uncommon? What is your blood type?"

"O, sir. O negative."

Sherlock smiled. His eyes started to glint.

"Is that so?" The professor nodded. "Hum. This just made things more interesting... Miss Pageant?" Sherlock asked. Sydney looked up at him with a most unamused look. The students all turned to her, wondering how Sherlock knew her name.

"If you want me tagging along, I will, but first I'd like to make sure my costurme for the play works. Won't take but a minute." Sherlock looked to her incredulously.

"Is this your way of trying to stall me?" Sherlock asked.

"Look, we've been looking forward to this dress rehearsal for weeks now, and my costume was just finished today. I want to make sure it works before I leave for who knows how long." Sherlock sighed then nodded.

"Very well. Please do not take too long. We have a liar to capture." With that, Sydney disappeared backstage to prepare. Professor Baker then turned to Sherlock.

"You do realise that she's playing you, right?"

Let's see... The shirt is wide enough to hide my gender, not that it's that difficult anyway. The trousers are cut properly, as is the coat. Everything fits. Sydney examined her outfit in the lighted mirror backstage. She spun around once to test the coat. It swirled just as his did. She smirked. Then suddenly stopped, realising just how similar her smirk looked to his. Guess I'm better at imitation than I thought. She then glanced at the makeup on the counter. Eh, may as well try it. I've already got the costume on, faster than I anticipated, as well.

She first put her hair into a net so it wouldn't get caked with makeup. She then took up the foundation. It was a pale near-ivory color that was remarkably similar to Sherlock's skin, she noticed, now that she's seen him up close. Not ghastly pale, but still paler than most people. She smeared the foundation all over her face, ears, and neck. She then reached for the blush.

It was again an ivory tone, but a bit more ashen. This was used to accentuate her cheekbones as his were. Once she was finished, she took some pink lipgloss and applied it to her lips. They are a pretty vibrant pink, she mused to herself. Her makeup complete, she turned to a dark curly wig that hung on the corner of the mirror. She put the wig on over her own head. It fit perfectly. After a few minor adjustments to it, she put some of the foundation on her hands and arms up to mid forearm to further the effect. When she looked back into the mirror, she was a little taken aback. She'd done it.

She'd become Sherlock Holmes.

She then decided to do a quick rundown of some of her lines, attempting to imitate him as best as she could.

"My name is Sherlock Holmes, and the address is 221b Baker Street," she said in her best low-pitched voice, oddly similar to Sherlock's own. Though it wasn't a perfect imitation, it was rather close for someone her gender.

"Good to know, Mr. Holmes," a voice from behind Sydney remarked. Sydney whipped around, trying to see who it was, vaguely recognising the voice.

Then, it all faded to black.