Past (2/14)
Title: Past
Author: Persiflage_1
Characters/Pairings: Eight/Martha, Jane Austen, OCs
Rating: PG
Spoilers: 1996 TV Movie
Summary: Martha Jones meets Jane Austen.
Word Count: 8538
Disclaimer: The BBC owns "Doctor Who" and the Doctor owns me…
Beta: padawanpooh
Author Notes: This is the second in my AU Season 3 series of stories featuring Martha Jones and the Eighth Doctor.
This story is for elen_ancalima who asked for "Martha/Eight on a ship/harbour in the eighteenth/nineteenth century" and dirgni19 who asked for "an Eight/Martha story wherein they meet Austen, or are plunged into any of her novels". I'm sorry you've both had to wait so long for the story: I hope it's worth the wait !
Please note there is no connection between the "villain" of this story and a certain Big Finish Audio - I just swiped the name!
~~~~~~
"Now Martha, where would you like to go?" The Doctor smiled at her as she thought about it. "We can go anywhere or anywhen you like, remember."
"Could we - " She stopped, hesitating.
He nodded encouragingly at her.
"I'd like to meet Jane Austen," she said in a rush.
"An excellent choice!" He grinned at her and she grinned back, then watched as he set the controls to Earth 'Humanian Era'. As he twisted the final few copper dials he looked back at Martha. "If you follow the corridor, taking the fourth turning on the left and then the second door on the right, you'll find the wardrobe area. The TARDIS should be able to provide you with some period-specific clothes."
She gave him a dazzling smile, clearly excited. "OK."
"I'll be along in a few minutes," he assured her as she headed for the doors on the far side of the room.
Following the Doctor's directions, Martha easily found the heavy oak door to the wardrobe area, which seemed to be filled with rack upon rack of clothing of all colours and styles, not all of which she recognised, though she did notice a sparkly cat suit, a pair of Andy Pandy style overalls, an inordinately long scarf, and a red velvet coat with a very frilly shirt inside it on the hanger. She walked further from the door as she looked for something vaguely familiar from the BBC costume dramas she'd watched as a teenager, and then she spotted it: an ivory coloured muslin dress with a high waist, a scalloped neck and short puffy sleeves.
She quickly slipped off her boots, jeans and t-shirt, and was just attempting to put the dress on when she was startled by someone singing:
Zagreus sits inside your head,
Zagreus lives among the dead,
Zagreus sees you in your bed,
And eats you when you're sleeping.
Zagreus at the end of days,
Zagreus lies all other ways,
Zagreus comes when time's a maze,
And all of history's weeping.
She paused, half in and half out of the dress, listening and wondering who it was: it sounded like a child's voice, but the song itself seemed very un-childlike. The Doctor had told her only a short while ago that he was on his own at present, perhaps it was the TARDIS equivalent of a radio: for all that the ship was lit by branches of candles and braziers, there was no doubt it was also equipped with advanced alien technology, therefore it would be foolish to panic about a mere song.
She finished getting the dress on and forgot all about the singing when she heard the Doctor calling out. "May I come in?"
"Yes." She turned towards the door and found him walking towards her, a smile on his face. "I could use a hand," she said, "I can't reach to fasten this dress."
He smiled back. "Strictly speaking you should have a maid," he confided, “but I would be happy to do the honours."
She turned her back on him, feeling suddenly shy. "Thank you."
He began to do up the tiny buttons. "I'm glad you were able to find something to fit you," he said. "I sometimes think this place is like a giant costume department for a television company."
Martha blinked at this voicing of her own recent musings and decided to change the subject. "Who does all of this belong to?"
"Some of it's mine, the rest belongs to former Companions, people who travelled with me once," he answered as he fastened the last button before gently clasping her shoulders and turning her around.
"You look lovely. This colour really suits you." He reached out to brush an errant lock of hair from her eye, and she tried not to shiver at his gentle touch. She could feel herself blushing at his compliment: she was too used to thinking of Tish as the pretty one in her family, and she so rarely had time to date that compliments weren't common.
The Doctor smiled at her again, then slipped two fingers into his waistcoat pocket and pulled out a small piece of translucent material that looked like plastic, but probably wasn't.
"What's that?" Martha asked.
"It's an invention of mine," he told her. "It's to hide your tattoo, if you don't mind?"
She shook her head, eyes bright with curiosity. "How does it work?"
"May I?" he asked, gesturing to her right arm. She nodded and he slipped her sleeve up her arm, so she reached across herself to hold it out of the way for him. "Thanks." He gave her a quick smile, before turning his attention back to her arm. "This might tingle a bit." He placed the patch in the centre of her tattoo and Martha watched in fascination as it seemed to ripple a moment before her tattoo disappeared.
"Wow!" she gasped.
"It's a perception filter," he said. "No one in Austen's day would expect to see a tattoo on a well bred young lady, so they simply won't see it."
"That's amazing. I’d love to know how you made it."
"I'd be delighted to explain," he answered, grinning at the thought: it had been a while since he'd had a scientifically-minded Companion. "For now, though, you need a few more things before we can go and meet the famous Jane Austen."
She looked down at herself. "I do?"
The Doctor nodded, then moved across to a tall chest of drawers and took out a pair of flat soled, ivory-coloured leather boots, some elbow length gloves, a small bag and a pair of stockings. He set everything down on a small round table, then moved the table towards Martha.
"Socks are an anachronism," he observed, "and won't really go with that dress." He flashed her a mischievous smile and she grinned back. "May I?" he asked, gesturing to her feet.
She nodded and watched as he knelt in front of her and lifted first one foot, then the other to remove her socks, which he tucked into her own boots. He then eased a stocking onto her left foot and began to roll it smoothly up her leg. Martha closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip, determined to maintain her self control despite the cool hands sliding up her leg. She realised she was clutching the edge of the table in a white-knuckle grip and carefully loosened her grasp. The Doctor put on the second stocking, then eased her feet into the boots, before standing up and brushing the knees of his trousers.
He picked up the gloves and she put them on, then accepted the bag.
"That's your reticule, the equivalent of a modern handbag" he told her and she nodded her understanding. "Right then, all you need now are a shawl and a bonnet."
"I'm beginning to wish I'd asked to go somewhere in the 20th century," she said, smiling to show she wasn't entirely serious. "Then I needn't have got dressed up to the nines."
"You look stunning," he assured her. "The men will be falling over their feet for an introduction, and the women will be seething with jealousy."
She raised an eyebrow quizzically. "Won't they look down on me for not being white?"
He shook his head. "I've thought of a way around that, if you're willing." He looked at her expectantly.
"What?"
"I shall introduce us as Doctor and Mrs Smith, lately come from the Colonies. Is that OK?" he asked, sounding anxious.
She took a deep breath, then nodded. "Yes, thank you."
"Good." He turned to the chest of drawers again and pulled out a shawl and a bonnet, and also a hat for himself. He helped her to put on both, then offered her his arm. "Ready?"
"Yes." She took his arm and they made their way back to the main room, and a moment later the TARDIS landed.
Stepping outside was like stepping into another world and Martha did her best not to gape, but she suspected that she was actually doing a good impression of someone who'd just arrived from the Colonies. The TARDIS was standing close to the entrance of a quiet side street; in front of them ran the main street of a bustling port city.
"Where are we?" she asked quietly, trying to take in the lack of cars and buses, streetlights and 21st century street paraphernalia. She was also caught by the sight of a number of sailing ships moored in the harbour.
"Southampton," answered the Doctor as he steered her out into the main street. "We'll go to a coaching inn and see if we can discover the whereabouts of Jane Austen and her family."
"OK." She allowed the Doctor to guide her as they moved onto the main street into the bustle of people. Martha was drinking in the sights: carriages of all kinds and people on horseback were passing to and fro. The pavement was filled with elegant young ladies attended by chaperones, smart young men and sedate older couples. She noticed a couple of grubby children here and there, beggars from the state of their clothes, and a chimney sweep passed by, his brushes and poles resting over one shoulder and three small children in tow, all of them so covered in soot that it was impossible to distinguish whether they were girls or boys.
"Here we are." The Doctor's quiet voice brought Martha's attention to their more immediate surroundings and she looked around to see they had arrived outside a coaching inn. They went down a short flagged passage and through an open door into a room that looked sufficiently similar to a 21st century pub, apart from the lack of electricity, for it to be recognisable. There was no one there, apart from a young woman behind the counter.
"I fancy this is a lull between coaches," the Doctor observed as he led her to a table.
The young woman approached and he requested two glasses of hot punch. "We're looking for Mrs George Austen and her family," he said. "Could you tell us where we might find them?"
"In Castle Square, Sir," answered the woman. "On the corner, against the old city wall."
"Thank you." He smiled warmly at her and Martha noticed a faint blush rise in her cheeks as she smiled back, then hurried away to fetch their drinks. She couldn't help wondering if he had that effect on all women, or if it was only the young ones.
The Doctor turned to Martha and noticed her wearing a thoughtful look as she watched the serving woman. "Are you OK?" he asked quietly.
She nodded. "I feel a bit like I've strayed onto the set of a costume drama." She looked around the room, noting the paintings of naval battles and sailing ships on the walls, and the anchor near the fireplace in which there was a blazing fire.
He smiled at her, eyes twinkling. "Do you like it?"
"Oh, yes, it's amazing. Thank you for bringing me." She took his left hand in her right and squeezed his fingers.
"You're welcome Martha." He returned the pressure of her fingers, then lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it.
She caught her breath, startled, but she had no chance to say anything as the serving woman returned with two glasses of punch. The Doctor thanked her and paid, then slid one of the glasses across the table to Martha before picking up his own glass.
"To adventures in Time and Space," he said quietly, lifting his glass towards her.
She smiled and clinked her glass against his. "To adventures in Time and Space."
"Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself?" he suggested, so as they drank their punch, she talked about her decision to become a doctor and her fascination with science, in particular biology and physiology.
"My sister Tish, she teases me about it a bit," she admitted. "Says I'm obsessed."
"I can think of worse things to be obsessed about," the Doctor said cheerfully. "I'll have to show you the TARDIS' workshops at some point."
Martha's eyes sparkled with excitement at the prospect. "That would be brilliant!"
"In the meanwhile, let us go and seek out Jane Austen," he suggested and she nodded, having temporarily forgotten where they were and why.
They walked back out of the inn and into the street, and the Doctor headed towards the city wall where they easily found Castle Square and the Austens' house. As the Doctor knocked on the door, Martha suddenly realised she was nervous and he seemed to sense this because he gave her a reassuring smile, then squeezed her arm.
The door opened and the Doctor greeted the servant with a smile, handing her a card he'd plucked from his waistcoat pocket a few moments before.
"Good day. I wondered if Mrs George Austen was at home? I recently had the honour of meeting her son Charles abroad."
The servant went away, taking the card, then returned quickly with an invitation to "step this way" as she led them into a drawing room that was lit by the late March sunshine.
Martha instantly found her eyes drawn to a tall, slender woman in her early thirties. Her hazel eyes were clear and bright, and a profusion of brown curls framed her face below the cap she wore. She looked neat and attractive, Martha thought, suddenly feeling shy and awkward as the Doctor greeted an older lady whom Martha guessed was Jane's mother, Mrs Austen.
"I must apologise for arriving unannounced Mrs Austen, but we've only just got in today and happened to discover that you were in town. We thought it polite to pay our respects to the family of Charles Austen."
"It's very good of you, Sir, to take the trouble to look us up," Mrs Austen answered. "Won't you take a seat and Tilly will fetch some refreshment.”
"Thank you, that's most generous of you." He guided Martha over to a sofa, stroking the small of her back comfortingly before they sat down.
"Where did you meet my brother?" asked Jane after they were settled.
"We've just come from Bermuda," answered the Doctor.
"Did you meet his fiancée?" asked Cassandra.
"I'm afraid I did not have that pleasure, but I understand she is very pretty, if a little young."
Martha listened silently as the Doctor and Mrs Austen began talking of the advantages and disadvantages of marrying young. She was keenly aware of both the Austen sisters' eyes on her and it made her feel uncomfortable: unlike Tish, she always hated being the centre of attention, especially from strangers.
"May one ask, Mrs Smith, if you plan on making a long stay in England?" Jane asked.
"I - I'm not quite sure," Martha answered. "It depends on my - husband." She hoped her hesitation over the last word wasn't too obvious to these two elegant young women. She knew what a scandal it would cause if anyone found out that she and the Doctor weren't married.
The Doctor seemed to sense her discomfort as he reached out and took her hand, squeezing her fingers comfortingly as he finished his conversation with Mrs Austen, before speaking to Jane.
"My wife and I are but newly married and on a wedding visit to England. We shall likely only be here for a few weeks, visiting family, before we set sail again."
Jane and Cassandra looked slightly friendlier at this information, but Martha was spared their questions about her entirely fictional wedding by the entrance of two servants bringing trays of refreshments.
She accepted coffee and cake from the Doctor who winked at her, a cheerful smile on his face, and she managed a smile back but she still felt uncomfortable. She was wishing she had thought before suggesting a visit to this era: she didn't like lying, even though she knew that they couldn't tell the truth without running the risk of being thought mad. She also realised that she and the Doctor should have established a proper cover story beforehand; clearly there was more to this time travel business than merely stepping into a magical blue box and being whisked away.
Martha felt herself on constant tenterhooks during the next forty five minutes: she longed to be able to tell Jane how much she loved Pride and Prejudice or how much Emma and Anne Eliot annoyed her in their different ways, but she couldn't remember which books had been published already, and besides, she was fairly certain that Jane had published her novels anonymously. Instead she answered Jane and Cassandra's questions that served to show how lacking she was in the female talents of this age since she didn't sew, paint, draw or sing. She sensed that the Austen sisters were wondering why the Doctor had married her and it irritated Martha that she couldn't tell them that she was a trainee doctor and didn't really have time for hobbies.
Finally the visit drew to a close and they were ushered out with a courteous if not entirely sincere invitation to look the Austens up again when they returned to Southampton.
As soon as they were away from the house, Martha let out a huge sigh of relief and the Doctor gave her a sympathetic look. "Remind me never to do that again," she begged him.
He slipped an arm around her. "Do you want to go home?" he asked.
She looked thoughtful for a moment. "No, let's have a look around now we're here," she said, her curiosity about seeing the city overcoming her discomfort. "Just don't ask me to make small talk with anyone, please."
"It's a deal." The Doctor offered her his hand and she laughed, then took it. "That's better," he said softly. "Come on, let's explore."
They spent the rest of the afternoon walking all over the city, including along a portion of the city wall which gave them a fine view. Then they went down to the quayside to look at the ships, which seemed far smaller than Martha anticipated. She noticed several mixed race couples around the docks and felt more relaxed now that she and the Doctor no longer looked so out of place.
"Shall we go and get something to eat before we head back to the TARDIS?" asked the Doctor as the light started to fade.
"I wouldn't mind," Martha agreed. "My feet are aching from all the walking in these thin boots."
"You should have said. I'll give you a foot massage later."
"That would be bliss," she said, looking pleased as the Doctor guided her towards an inn.
They were there early enough to secure a private parlour in which to eat, to Martha's secret relief.
"I can offer you Mulligatawny Soup with a dish of mutton and fresh vegetables," the landlady said as she led them into the brightly lit room.
"Thank you, that would be most acceptable," answered the Doctor.
"I'm afraid it won't be ready for a little while Sir as we have only just begun cooking the mutton."
"I believe we're in no immediate danger of fainting from hunger," he answered her with a twinkling smile. "However, a glass of hot punch whilst we wait would not go amiss."
"Of course Sir, I'll see to it directly." The landlady dropped a curtsey, then went out.
Martha removed her bonnet and shawl. She allowed the Doctor to guide her to a seat by the fire.
"I'll give you that foot massage after they've brought the punch," he said quietly, noting that she was looking a little weary.
"Thank you."
The door opened and a serving girl came in carrying a tray holding glasses, a jug of hot water and a jug of punch. She set the tray on the table and the Doctor thanked her, then poured a glass of punch for Martha. She accepted it gratefully, inhaling the scents of the lemon, nutmeg and wine that were its principle ingredients.
The Doctor moved one of the chairs from beside the table and set it opposite Martha's, then sat down and lifted her right foot up onto his knee. He eased off the boot, then proceeded to give her the best foot massage she'd ever received. He gently bent and flexed her foot as his clever fingers dextrously worked the aches out of the muscles. It was easily the most sensual experience she'd had for a very long time and she had to exercise great self-control not to respond. The Doctor swapped her right foot for her left after several minutes, watching Martha as she sat relaxing, her eyes half closed and a smile on her face.
"I trust you're not going to sleep on me?" he asked, amused, as he put her boots back on.
She opened her eyes and he saw that she was looking quite alert. "Not yet," she assured him, grinning.
"Good." He got up and moved his chair back to its original place. "I was - " He broke off as a loud crash came from outside their parlour. He glanced at Martha, who was already on her feet, and they headed to the door together just as someone screamed.
The Doctor threw open the door and they stopped on the threshold at the sight of a terrified serving girl who was being held from behind by a tall, thin man dressed all in black.
"Oh my God!" Martha whispered as the man looked up and the candlelight revealed red eyes and very sharp teeth. "A vampire?" she asked disbelievingly.
"Impossible," the Doctor answered shortly as he reached into his waistcoat pocket for his Sonic Screwdriver. He switched it on and scanned the figure ahead of them. "There's an odd energy reading around him, like he's been in the Vortex," he said softly.
The man hissed at them, then thrust the girl towards them before turning on his heel and moving rapidly down the passage in the direction of the inn's main room. Martha caught the girl as she staggered towards them, white-faced and clutching the side of her neck with one hand.
"Take care of her," the Time Lord said quickly before hurrying down the passage, following the sound of screaming and shouting.
Martha helped the girl into their parlour and got her into a chair. "May I look at your neck?" she asked. She got a nod in response and the girl moved her hand to reveal a deep puncture that looked suspiciously like a bite.
Scowling in concern, Martha grabbed a napkin from the table and dipped a corner of it into the water jug. "I'm going to clean this up for you," she told the girl. "What's your name?"
"Jenny ma'am," the girl answered shakily.
"Well Jenny, why don't you tell me what happened just now?"
"Mrs Cook, she's the landlady ma'am, she sent me to bring along the soup for your dinner. I was passing the door of the other parlour when I heard a noise. I turned around and that man was standing there with his red eyes. He leered at me, then grabbed me, and I dropped the tray and then - " Jenny paused, clearly terrified.
"Go on," Martha said quietly, patting the girl's arm as she finished cleaning the wound.
"He bit me, sank his teeth into my neck, which is when I screamed."
"I don't blame you," Martha said. "I think I would have screamed too." She picked up another napkin from the table and folded it over the wound on Jenny's neck. "Can you hold that there for me please Jenny?"
The girl reached up and Martha guided her hand to the right spot, then she crossed the room and gathered up her discarded shawl. She rapidly folded it into a long strip and used it as a makeshift bandage, tying it carefully around Jenny's neck to hold the napkin in place.
"You will need to get the apothecary to look at that as soon as possible," Martha told her, "but this will suffice for now." She poured out a half glass of punch and gave it to Jenny. "Drink this."
Jenny's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh but I can't ma'am, I - " she protested.
"You can and you must," Martha interrupted firmly. "It will help to steady your nerves after the shock. Come on." She helped Jenny from the chair near the door over to the chair by the fire where she had been sitting earlier. "Stay here. I'll come back as soon as I may, but there may be others who have been injured and need my help."
"Thank you ma'am."
Martha nodded, then gathered up more napkins and her reticule. "Don't be surprised if you feel sleepy once the shock wears off, that's perfectly normal." She gave the girl a quick smile then hurried out, wondering where the Doctor had got to and what exactly was going on. Once she was in the passage she could hear a jumble of noise from the main room, but no screaming. She hurried down the passage and found the landlady sitting near the door, shocked but apparently unharmed. There were overturned tables, broke glasses and spilt drinks scattered across the floor. She saw two young men, sailors judging by their clothes, who were both suffering from cuts caused by flying glass, but there was no sign of the Doctor.
"Your husband went out after that wild man," Mrs Cook told Martha as she finished scanning the room for a sight of the Doctor's curly hair and green jacket.
Martha turned to her. "Are you injured?" she asked. "I'm a - nurse." She just stopped herself from saying 'Doctor'.
"I'm middling well," the landlady answered, then gestured at the sailors. "I'm not so sure about these two lads though. They happened to be sitting in the wrong place when that wild man tore through here."
Martha nodded. "I left Jenny in the parlour. I've cleaned and bandaged her wound as best I could, but she needs to see the apothecary as soon as he can be fetched. She was a bit shaken up."
"I've sent the ostler for the apothecary already ma'am," Mrs Cook said as she got to her feet.
"Good." She turned to the sailors, trying to fight off her concern for the Doctor; wherever he was, she had to see to the injured first. "Come and sit near the fire and I'll clean up those cuts for you," she said, then turned back to Mrs Cook. "I need some gin, to clean their wounds."
The landlady picked up a bottle from one of the few tables still standing and passed it to Martha, who thanked her. "I'll go and see to Jenny," she said and Martha gave her a distracted nod as she soaked a corner of a napkin in gin.
She was glad to find the cuts were fairly shallow and there was no glass in any of them, which was a relief because she didn't fancy trying to get glass out of cuts by firelight and without any equipment: at the very least she would have needed some tweezers. She sighed, then told the sailors to report to the ship's surgeon once they were back on board. They nodded their thanks, then went back up the passage to the front door. Martha took a deep breath, then moved towards the door behind the bar, following the route which Mrs Cook had indicated the Doctor had taken in pursuing the vampire.
Outside she found the sky was full of blazing stars and a full moon, which was a relief since there were no electric streetlights, and the gaslights alone were not very comforting. As she stood waiting for her eyes to adjust to the change in light, she heard a low voice singing a vaguely familiar song:
Zagreus sits inside your head.
Zagreus lives among the dead.
Zagreus sees you in your bed
And eats you when you're sleeping.
Zagreus at the end of days.
Zagreus lies all other ways.
Zagreus comes when time's a maze
And all of history's weeping.
It took her a moment to recognise it as the song she'd heard in the TARDIS and she moved towards the sound, thinking it must be the Doctor singing it. She decided that she would have to encourage him to find a slightly less chilling song to sing, because this one was distinctly unnerving, especially in the dark with an apparent vampire on the loose. As Martha approached the singer she felt her foot knock against something in the dark, something soft and yielding, and she quickly bent down to discover what it was. Her questing fingers found cold skin and she just managed not to flinch back in surprise. She could just make out a figure lying slumped against the wall of a building and she found an arm to pull on until the figure was sitting up.
The moonlight caught the figure's face and with a gasp of surprise she recognised the Doctor. Martha knelt down beside him heedless of the state of the ground or her dress as she felt for a pulse in his neck; she found both hearts beating strongly and let out a small sigh of relief before she felt carefully over his head until she found a lump on the back. She guessed that he'd been knocked out to prevent him from interfering with whatever was happening and wondered if they'd done more than knock him out. She moved into the moonlight and dug through her reticule, remembering there was a bottle of smelling salts in it. She uncorked the bottle, coughing slightly at the strong scent of ammonia that it released, then quickly wafted the bottle under the Doctor's nose. He coughed too and she quickly corked the bottle, then held his arm as he opened his eyes and looked blearily up at her.
"Martha?"
"Hello Doctor." She smiled, relieved he recognised her.
"What happened?"
"I was hoping you could tell me," she said. "I found you unconscious here just a few moments ago and you've got a lump the size of a golf ball on the back of your head. I assume someone hit you."
He put a hand up to the back of his head and winced when his fingers touched the lump. She saw him frown. "I remember we were in the inn and there was a red-eyed man who attacked a serving girl," he said slowly. He closed his eyes, trying to remember, then opened them and looked at Martha. "I can't seem to remember what happened after that."
"Well that's not surprising, given you were hit over the head." She looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure whether you should move or not, but I assume that red-eyed man is still out there somewhere and that he was responsible for the lump on your head."
"I'm OK, apart from my sore head," he assured her, so Martha stood up, then helped him to his feet.
"I've just realised something," she said slowly. "If you were unconscious, that wasn't you singing the song I heard in the TARDIS."
"What song?" asked the Doctor, puzzled.
She shrugged. "I heard it when I was getting changed in the wardrobe area, it sounded like a child singing and I thought it was the TARDIS' equivalent of a radio. When I heard it again just now, when I came looking for you, I assumed it must be you singing it."
"What song?" asked the Doctor again.
"Something about Zagreus sitting in your head and eating you when you're sleeping. I thought it was a bit chilling to be honest. Are you OK?" she asked, suddenly noticing how much paler he was looking.
"Zagreus?" he whispered. She nodded. "How can anyone here and now know of Zagreus?"
"Who is Zagreus?" Martha asked curiously.
"He's a villain in a nursery rhyme that's sung on my home planet, Gallifrey. No one here should know anything about it."
"So whoever that red-eyed man was, he's from Gallifrey?" she asked, trying to sort it out in her head.
He frowned, one finger rubbing his top lip as he leaned back against the wall behind him. "It's a possibility," he conceded. "However, I think it unlikely." He looked at her. "I think it might be better if I take you back to the TARDIS whilst I deal with this."
"No way mister!" she exclaimed. "You've already been knocked out once. I'm coming with you." She stood looking at him with her arms folded across her chest and a determined expression on her face.
He gave her a smile, realising she had a good point. "Come on then."
"How are we going to find the red-eyed man?"
He dug into the pocket of his waistcoat and pulled out his Sonic Screwdriver. "I can use this to look for the same energy readings it recorded earlier."
"Lead on McDuff."
"Actually it's 'Lay on'," the Doctor said conversationally. "It's from Shakespeare's Macbeth."
"Well then, lead the way Doctor Smith." Martha wasn't sure whether to be amused or annoyed by his pedantry, then decided it wasn't important. She followed him along the street simultaneously wondering what they were dealing with and what she'd got herself into by going off with him in his magical blue box. Her musings were cut short by a brief scream of agony, and the Doctor immediately grabbed Martha's hand and ran towards the sound.
Sensible people run away from screams, don't they? she thought as they hurtled along a dark narrow street, but she knew she couldn't run away if someone was hurt or in trouble.
She realised the Doctor was slowing down and followed suit as he led her into a small moonlit courtyard. She swallowed down a sudden surge of fear as she saw the tall, thin man from the inn: he was holding a woman in front of him and his head was at her neck; if she hadn't known what he was, she'd have thought he was simply nuzzling the woman's neck.
The Doctor let go of Martha's hand and walked towards the two figures. "Let her go," he said commandingly.
The figure looked up and hissed at the Doctor. "Why should I obey you, Time Lord?" he asked.
Martha started with surprise at the revelation that the man knew the Doctor was a Time Lord.
"You know me?" asked the Doctor equally as surprised as Martha.
"You created me," he answered.
Martha, who had been inching around behind him towards the woman, stopped dead in her tracks and looked across at the Doctor, surprise and doubt clear on her face in the moonlight. He shook his head slightly at her, then turned his attention back to the man.
"Explain yourself," he commanded crisply.
"I inhabit the space between moments and you are a Time Lord. If you would know more, speak to Zagreus." He turned and shoved the woman at Martha, then ran across to the far corner of the courtyard, disappearing into the shadows there.
Martha grabbed the woman, who had fainted, and the Doctor shouted "Look after her," before rushing across the courtyard himself.
"This is getting to be a habit today," Martha muttered to herself as she gently lowered the woman to the cobbles then delved into her reticule for one of the napkins she'd stowed there earlier. "Note to self, try to carry First Aid supplies at all times."
She pressed the napkin to the wound in the woman's neck: it was deeper than Jenny's had been and Martha wondered how much blood the woman had lost. She looked up as the Doctor came back across the courtyard.
"He just disappeared," he said, clearly frustrated.
"What are we going to do about her?" Martha asked, gesturing to the woman.
"We need to get her some help, and then we must go back to the TARDIS as she is equipped with better scanning technology than my Sonic Screwdriver, so she'll be able to track him."
"What did he mean that you had created him?" she asked as the Doctor removed his cravat and gave it to her to use as a makeshift bandage to hold the napkin in place whilst they moved the woman. "And how can you ask Zagreus if he's just the villain in a nursery rhyme?"
"I don't know, Martha, I don't know." He sounded worried, she noticed as she finished tying off his cravat.
He bent down to help her to pick up the woman and she put a hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure it out," she said softly and the confidence in her voice filled him with a sudden giddy delight. She really was quite amazing, he decided as he put one of the woman's arms around his neck and lifted her as Martha lifted on the other side. They straightened up, then linked their free arms behind the woman's upper legs, making a chair out of their arms to carry her more easily.
"Where are we taking her?" asked Martha as they cautiously walked across the courtyard and back into the street.
"The nearest house," he answered. "The sooner we can get help for her, the sooner we can get back to the TARDIS and find that man, whoever he is." And the sooner we can get away, the happier I'll be, he thought.
They rounded the corner and saw a light burning in a nearby house so they headed straight towards it. They had almost reached the door when it opened, spilling light across them as they struggled forward.
"Oh!" said a light female voice.
They glanced up and saw a lady a few years older than Martha who was looking at them in surprise, she backed away, holding the door wide. "Come in, come in," she said urgently and they gladly stepped inside.
"Take her through to the morning room," the lady said. "I will send my man out for the apothecary."
"He might be down at the inn by the dock," Martha said. "There was trouble there a little while ago and a serving girl was injured."
"I'll tell John to look there first, then." The woman bustled away, calling for John, as the Doctor and Martha gently lowered their burden onto an elegant sofa.
"Are you OK?" the Doctor asked, his hand in the middle of Martha's back as she straightened up wearily.
She nodded. "I think the adrenaline's wearing off now, though," she said.
He rubbed her back gently, then turned her and pulled her into a hug. "You're doing a good job," he said softly, then kissed her cheek.
"Thanks."
"Do you want to stay here and wait for the apothecary whilst I go back to the TARDIS and see if I can locate our red-eyed friend?"
"No." Martha pulled away from him, looking stern. "No going off alone. What happens if he's waiting out there for you and decides to knock you out again?"
"You're a stubborn woman, Martha," he said and grinned. "I like it!" He pulled her back into his arms and she gave a soft laugh before wrapping her arms around him in return. They broke apart again as the door opened and they looked up to see the lady of the house coming in, followed by a matronly looking woman and a younger servant girl who was carrying a tray.
"John has gone to find the apothecary," she told them. "Mrs Taylor is a nurse and will look after the patient until he gets here." The two women moved to the sofa and Martha saw that the tray carried bandages, a bowl of hot water and various other First Aid items: she looked up at the lady of the house in surprise.
"I lived aboard ship with my late husband for several years," she said, answering Martha's unasked question. "It quite accustomed me to the sight of injuries and taught me to always be prepared."
"That's very fortunate ma'am," the Doctor said. "It's lucky for the lady that we found you."
Martha watched keenly as Mrs Taylor unfastened the Doctor's cravat, then removed the folded linen napkin to inspect the wound before beginning to clean it.
"If you would care to step through to the dining room whilst Mrs Taylor works, I can offer you some refreshment."
The Doctor looked at Martha questioningly and she gave him a slight nod, indicating that she was satisfied that Mrs Taylor was competent at what she was doing. "Thank you, we'd be delighted to accept your hospitality." He took Martha's arm and they followed the lady through to the dining room, taking the seats she indicated.
"I am Mrs Martin," she told them as they seated themselves.
"Doctor John Smith, and my wife Martha," the Doctor said.
"Do you know the poor unfortunate who lies in my morning room?" she asked as a servant came in carrying a tray of tea things.
"We don't. We heard her scream and found her in the grip of a man who had attacked her," the Doctor answered.
Mrs Martin gave a nod of understanding, then poured them both a cup of tea. Martha accepted hers gratefully, feeling chilled now that she was still. She suddenly remembered that they hadn't eaten yet and wondered if the TARDIS possessed a cupboard or even a kitchen that she could raid when they got back there.
She tried to focus on the conversation that the Doctor was having with Mrs Martin but she was starting to feel sleepy and couldn't concentrate. Suddenly she felt the Doctor's hand on her arm and she looked into his concerned face.
"I think it's time we were getting back, don't you?" he asked.
"What about the apothecary?" Martha asked.
"Mrs Martin will tell him what I've told her," he answered. He got up and helped her up from her chair, thanking Mrs Martin warmly for her help, then guided Martha outside.
"What about the red-eyed man?" Martha asked once they were heading back to the TARDIS.
"I can't find any trace of him any more, but there is stronger trace of Vortex energy - I believe he has disappeared back from wherever he came. But how or why he was here, I still don't know."
Martha opened her mouth to answer, but only managed a yawn which she attempted to hide.
"Are you OK?" he asked.
"Yes. It's just been a long day, you know: working, getting transported to the Moon, dodging Judoon, a family party that turned into a fight, and then travelling a couple of centuries into the past - it takes it out of a girl," she said with a half smile.
"Oh Martha, I'm sorry. You should have said something before," the Doctor exclaimed looking remorseful.
"I didn't feel this tired before," she answered.
"Come on then, let's get you back to the TARDIS." He slipped an arm around her and they walked back to the TARDIS in silence, Martha fighting yawns all the way.
"Here we are," the Doctor said softly, pulling out his key and letting them in. "I'll show you to a room and you can get some sleep."
"I wouldn't mind a bath too," Martha said, "if that's OK?"
"Of course." He took her hand and led her down the corridor from the main room stopping at the second door on the right, which he opened with a gesture for her to precede him inside.
She stepped in and stopped, staring at the sight of a luxurious four poster bed hung with deep red curtains that matched the colour of her leather jacket. In one corner there was a desk with bookshelves above it, a thick carpet underfoot and branches of candles everywhere.
"Wow!" She turned and hugged the Doctor. "I do like your ship," she told him.
He laughed, hugging her back. "She likes you too," he told her. "The bathroom's through there." He pointed to a discreet door in the corner. "And there should be some pyjamas on the bed. I'm going to move the TARDIS into the Vortex, so sleep as long as you need."
Martha still didn't know what he meant about the Vortex, but she understood that didn't have to manage on just a couple of hours sleep, and that was the most important thing at the moment as she felt like she'd been awake for at least 24 hours. The Doctor went out and as she undressed in her room, Martha couldn't help being charmed by the branches of candles everywhere in the TARDIS: somehow they seemed in keeping with both the Doctor's romantic personality and the Gothic splendour of his ship's interior. It still felt slightly weird to walk into what looked like a small blue Police call box and find vast rooms and apparently endless corridors inside, but Martha was sure she'd get used to it eventually.
She stepped into the bathroom, finding a greater profusion of candles and even some torches set high up on the walls to add more light. There was also a brazier in the corner to provide heat.
"Amazing!" she laughed as she lowered herself into her waiting bath.
Once he was back in the main room of the TARDIS, the Doctor used her equipment to scan again for the red-eyed man again, knowing it was more finely calibrated, but he could find no trace of him. As he stood by the console, rubbing a finger over his top lip in thought, he heard a faint voice singing. He whirled around quickly, looking everywhere for the singer, but found no one there. He checked the TARDIS' systems, looking for an intruder, but there was no one on board apart from himself and Martha.
He walked over to his chair and sat down, wondering if he should take Martha home in case she was in danger. After what had happened to Grace, he didn't want to risk another companion's life: he might not be so lucky a second time. He closed his eyes in thought and started when he saw a chessboard set out on a table. Opposite him was another chair similar to his own, occupied by a black-clad figure in a long cape whose features were in shadow.
"Doctor."
"Who are you? How did you get in the TARDIS?" demanded the Doctor angrily.
"You can call me Zagreus," answered the figure.
"That's not your real name, he doesn't exist," the Doctor retorted.
"Neither is 'The Doctor' your real name, yet you tell it to everyone you meet. As for how I got here, are you sure I am here?"
The Doctor frowned, realising that it was true that he hadn't found an intruder just now. "What do you want?"
"To have some fun."
The Doctor glared. "Fun?"
Zagreus nodded, then indicated the chess board. "Let us play as we talk."
The Time Lord folded his arms across his chest. "Why should I do anything you want?" he demanded.
"Because if you don't, I will destroy you, but I will destroy your human companion first." He gestured to the board again.
The Doctor unfolded his arms, then bent over the board and made his opening move.
"I'm not surprised you failed to stop or catch my creature," Zagreus said.
The Doctor looked up. "The red-eyed man was your doing?"
Zagreus nodded making another move. "I wanted to make a point, to show you that it will take very little to break your companion. She's like those two women, weak and easily broken. And like all humans she will be easily led by me."
"Nonsense," the Doctor answered vigorously as he countered Zagreus' move.
"Oh but they are, and you know it," Zagreus said, making yet another move. "You've just seen that proved beyond all doubt by Grace and Chang Lee. And you've manipulated enough humans yourself in the past. How can you doubt this one is any different?"
"Martha Jones is strong," the Time Lord answered, pushing aside his memories of the events Zagreus mentioned. He didn't want to remember seeing Grace and Chang Lee under the Master's influence, or lying dead in the Cloister Room. He made another move. He stared at the board, then made another move.
"She is nothing but a pawn," countered Zagreus, making yet another move. "Easily disposed of, easily replaced."
"On the contrary, Martha has a Warrior's spirit: she is at least a knight, and I believe she has the potential to be a Queen." The Doctor made another move, thinking swiftly.
"Your Queen?" asked Zagreus as he countered the Time Lord's move. "Is that what you want? A weak human consort? You're getting pathetic in your old age Doctor."
"And you're underestimating Martha," the Doctor responded confidently, making yet another move. "She has already proved herself brave, capable and strong."
Zagreus shook his head. "I will prove you wrong.”
"I forbid you to interfere with her," the Doctor said, his anger rising.
"You cannot stop me. Nor can you touch me." He made his next move, then looked up at the Time Lord. "I exist between the moments."
"Rubbish!" The Doctor stood up abruptly. "Show yourself properly."
Zagreus stood up too. "I will be back Time Lord, and I will prove your faith in the human wrong." He swirled his long black cape around himself, disappearing from sight as he did so.
"Oh very dramatic!" snorted the Time Lord. He opened his eyes and realised from the ache in his head that he had been seeing a telepathic vision. He stood up as he rubbed his head, then stretched before going to see if Martha was asleep yet. "Pawn indeed," he said with a scowl. He had no doubt in his own mind that she was quite capable of enduring a great deal, if it was really necessary.
Opening her door softly, he peered into her room and saw her curled up in the middle of the bed, fast asleep. He backed out again then went back to the main room, settling down with a book to wait for her to awake again.
A few minutes later he heard a voice singing again and put his book aside abruptly. "Zagreus!" he shouted, standing up. "I demand you show yourself this instant." There was a swirl of darkness just in front of him, then Zagreus stood in front of him.
"You will prove my point for me," he said and reaching out, he clasped the Time Lord's head in both his hands. The Doctor found himself unable to move or even blink as Zagreus held his head and his gaze, there was a brief flash of red light in front of the Doctor's face, then he found himself released and fell back into his chair as the figure vanished again.
The Time Lord rubbed his forehead, feeling an incipient headache and wondering what had caused it. There was no one there to notice the red glow in his eyes as he got up to go and make himself a cup of tea.
Author: Persiflage_1
Characters/Pairings: Eight/Martha, Jane Austen, OCs
Rating: PG
Spoilers: 1996 TV Movie
Summary: Martha Jones meets Jane Austen.
Word Count: 8538
Disclaimer: The BBC owns "Doctor Who" and the Doctor owns me…
Beta: padawanpooh
Author Notes: This is the second in my AU Season 3 series of stories featuring Martha Jones and the Eighth Doctor.
This story is for elen_ancalima who asked for "Martha/Eight on a ship/harbour in the eighteenth/nineteenth century" and dirgni19 who asked for "an Eight/Martha story wherein they meet Austen, or are plunged into any of her novels". I'm sorry you've both had to wait so long for the story: I hope it's worth the wait !
Please note there is no connection between the "villain" of this story and a certain Big Finish Audio - I just swiped the name!
~~~~~~
"Now Martha, where would you like to go?" The Doctor smiled at her as she thought about it. "We can go anywhere or anywhen you like, remember."
"Could we - " She stopped, hesitating.
He nodded encouragingly at her.
"I'd like to meet Jane Austen," she said in a rush.
"An excellent choice!" He grinned at her and she grinned back, then watched as he set the controls to Earth 'Humanian Era'. As he twisted the final few copper dials he looked back at Martha. "If you follow the corridor, taking the fourth turning on the left and then the second door on the right, you'll find the wardrobe area. The TARDIS should be able to provide you with some period-specific clothes."
She gave him a dazzling smile, clearly excited. "OK."
"I'll be along in a few minutes," he assured her as she headed for the doors on the far side of the room.
Following the Doctor's directions, Martha easily found the heavy oak door to the wardrobe area, which seemed to be filled with rack upon rack of clothing of all colours and styles, not all of which she recognised, though she did notice a sparkly cat suit, a pair of Andy Pandy style overalls, an inordinately long scarf, and a red velvet coat with a very frilly shirt inside it on the hanger. She walked further from the door as she looked for something vaguely familiar from the BBC costume dramas she'd watched as a teenager, and then she spotted it: an ivory coloured muslin dress with a high waist, a scalloped neck and short puffy sleeves.
She quickly slipped off her boots, jeans and t-shirt, and was just attempting to put the dress on when she was startled by someone singing:
Zagreus sits inside your head,
Zagreus lives among the dead,
Zagreus sees you in your bed,
And eats you when you're sleeping.
Zagreus at the end of days,
Zagreus lies all other ways,
Zagreus comes when time's a maze,
And all of history's weeping.
She paused, half in and half out of the dress, listening and wondering who it was: it sounded like a child's voice, but the song itself seemed very un-childlike. The Doctor had told her only a short while ago that he was on his own at present, perhaps it was the TARDIS equivalent of a radio: for all that the ship was lit by branches of candles and braziers, there was no doubt it was also equipped with advanced alien technology, therefore it would be foolish to panic about a mere song.
She finished getting the dress on and forgot all about the singing when she heard the Doctor calling out. "May I come in?"
"Yes." She turned towards the door and found him walking towards her, a smile on his face. "I could use a hand," she said, "I can't reach to fasten this dress."
He smiled back. "Strictly speaking you should have a maid," he confided, “but I would be happy to do the honours."
She turned her back on him, feeling suddenly shy. "Thank you."
He began to do up the tiny buttons. "I'm glad you were able to find something to fit you," he said. "I sometimes think this place is like a giant costume department for a television company."
Martha blinked at this voicing of her own recent musings and decided to change the subject. "Who does all of this belong to?"
"Some of it's mine, the rest belongs to former Companions, people who travelled with me once," he answered as he fastened the last button before gently clasping her shoulders and turning her around.
"You look lovely. This colour really suits you." He reached out to brush an errant lock of hair from her eye, and she tried not to shiver at his gentle touch. She could feel herself blushing at his compliment: she was too used to thinking of Tish as the pretty one in her family, and she so rarely had time to date that compliments weren't common.
The Doctor smiled at her again, then slipped two fingers into his waistcoat pocket and pulled out a small piece of translucent material that looked like plastic, but probably wasn't.
"What's that?" Martha asked.
"It's an invention of mine," he told her. "It's to hide your tattoo, if you don't mind?"
She shook her head, eyes bright with curiosity. "How does it work?"
"May I?" he asked, gesturing to her right arm. She nodded and he slipped her sleeve up her arm, so she reached across herself to hold it out of the way for him. "Thanks." He gave her a quick smile, before turning his attention back to her arm. "This might tingle a bit." He placed the patch in the centre of her tattoo and Martha watched in fascination as it seemed to ripple a moment before her tattoo disappeared.
"Wow!" she gasped.
"It's a perception filter," he said. "No one in Austen's day would expect to see a tattoo on a well bred young lady, so they simply won't see it."
"That's amazing. I’d love to know how you made it."
"I'd be delighted to explain," he answered, grinning at the thought: it had been a while since he'd had a scientifically-minded Companion. "For now, though, you need a few more things before we can go and meet the famous Jane Austen."
She looked down at herself. "I do?"
The Doctor nodded, then moved across to a tall chest of drawers and took out a pair of flat soled, ivory-coloured leather boots, some elbow length gloves, a small bag and a pair of stockings. He set everything down on a small round table, then moved the table towards Martha.
"Socks are an anachronism," he observed, "and won't really go with that dress." He flashed her a mischievous smile and she grinned back. "May I?" he asked, gesturing to her feet.
She nodded and watched as he knelt in front of her and lifted first one foot, then the other to remove her socks, which he tucked into her own boots. He then eased a stocking onto her left foot and began to roll it smoothly up her leg. Martha closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip, determined to maintain her self control despite the cool hands sliding up her leg. She realised she was clutching the edge of the table in a white-knuckle grip and carefully loosened her grasp. The Doctor put on the second stocking, then eased her feet into the boots, before standing up and brushing the knees of his trousers.
He picked up the gloves and she put them on, then accepted the bag.
"That's your reticule, the equivalent of a modern handbag" he told her and she nodded her understanding. "Right then, all you need now are a shawl and a bonnet."
"I'm beginning to wish I'd asked to go somewhere in the 20th century," she said, smiling to show she wasn't entirely serious. "Then I needn't have got dressed up to the nines."
"You look stunning," he assured her. "The men will be falling over their feet for an introduction, and the women will be seething with jealousy."
She raised an eyebrow quizzically. "Won't they look down on me for not being white?"
He shook his head. "I've thought of a way around that, if you're willing." He looked at her expectantly.
"What?"
"I shall introduce us as Doctor and Mrs Smith, lately come from the Colonies. Is that OK?" he asked, sounding anxious.
She took a deep breath, then nodded. "Yes, thank you."
"Good." He turned to the chest of drawers again and pulled out a shawl and a bonnet, and also a hat for himself. He helped her to put on both, then offered her his arm. "Ready?"
"Yes." She took his arm and they made their way back to the main room, and a moment later the TARDIS landed.
Stepping outside was like stepping into another world and Martha did her best not to gape, but she suspected that she was actually doing a good impression of someone who'd just arrived from the Colonies. The TARDIS was standing close to the entrance of a quiet side street; in front of them ran the main street of a bustling port city.
"Where are we?" she asked quietly, trying to take in the lack of cars and buses, streetlights and 21st century street paraphernalia. She was also caught by the sight of a number of sailing ships moored in the harbour.
"Southampton," answered the Doctor as he steered her out into the main street. "We'll go to a coaching inn and see if we can discover the whereabouts of Jane Austen and her family."
"OK." She allowed the Doctor to guide her as they moved onto the main street into the bustle of people. Martha was drinking in the sights: carriages of all kinds and people on horseback were passing to and fro. The pavement was filled with elegant young ladies attended by chaperones, smart young men and sedate older couples. She noticed a couple of grubby children here and there, beggars from the state of their clothes, and a chimney sweep passed by, his brushes and poles resting over one shoulder and three small children in tow, all of them so covered in soot that it was impossible to distinguish whether they were girls or boys.
"Here we are." The Doctor's quiet voice brought Martha's attention to their more immediate surroundings and she looked around to see they had arrived outside a coaching inn. They went down a short flagged passage and through an open door into a room that looked sufficiently similar to a 21st century pub, apart from the lack of electricity, for it to be recognisable. There was no one there, apart from a young woman behind the counter.
"I fancy this is a lull between coaches," the Doctor observed as he led her to a table.
The young woman approached and he requested two glasses of hot punch. "We're looking for Mrs George Austen and her family," he said. "Could you tell us where we might find them?"
"In Castle Square, Sir," answered the woman. "On the corner, against the old city wall."
"Thank you." He smiled warmly at her and Martha noticed a faint blush rise in her cheeks as she smiled back, then hurried away to fetch their drinks. She couldn't help wondering if he had that effect on all women, or if it was only the young ones.
The Doctor turned to Martha and noticed her wearing a thoughtful look as she watched the serving woman. "Are you OK?" he asked quietly.
She nodded. "I feel a bit like I've strayed onto the set of a costume drama." She looked around the room, noting the paintings of naval battles and sailing ships on the walls, and the anchor near the fireplace in which there was a blazing fire.
He smiled at her, eyes twinkling. "Do you like it?"
"Oh, yes, it's amazing. Thank you for bringing me." She took his left hand in her right and squeezed his fingers.
"You're welcome Martha." He returned the pressure of her fingers, then lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it.
She caught her breath, startled, but she had no chance to say anything as the serving woman returned with two glasses of punch. The Doctor thanked her and paid, then slid one of the glasses across the table to Martha before picking up his own glass.
"To adventures in Time and Space," he said quietly, lifting his glass towards her.
She smiled and clinked her glass against his. "To adventures in Time and Space."
"Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself?" he suggested, so as they drank their punch, she talked about her decision to become a doctor and her fascination with science, in particular biology and physiology.
"My sister Tish, she teases me about it a bit," she admitted. "Says I'm obsessed."
"I can think of worse things to be obsessed about," the Doctor said cheerfully. "I'll have to show you the TARDIS' workshops at some point."
Martha's eyes sparkled with excitement at the prospect. "That would be brilliant!"
"In the meanwhile, let us go and seek out Jane Austen," he suggested and she nodded, having temporarily forgotten where they were and why.
They walked back out of the inn and into the street, and the Doctor headed towards the city wall where they easily found Castle Square and the Austens' house. As the Doctor knocked on the door, Martha suddenly realised she was nervous and he seemed to sense this because he gave her a reassuring smile, then squeezed her arm.
The door opened and the Doctor greeted the servant with a smile, handing her a card he'd plucked from his waistcoat pocket a few moments before.
"Good day. I wondered if Mrs George Austen was at home? I recently had the honour of meeting her son Charles abroad."
The servant went away, taking the card, then returned quickly with an invitation to "step this way" as she led them into a drawing room that was lit by the late March sunshine.
Martha instantly found her eyes drawn to a tall, slender woman in her early thirties. Her hazel eyes were clear and bright, and a profusion of brown curls framed her face below the cap she wore. She looked neat and attractive, Martha thought, suddenly feeling shy and awkward as the Doctor greeted an older lady whom Martha guessed was Jane's mother, Mrs Austen.
"I must apologise for arriving unannounced Mrs Austen, but we've only just got in today and happened to discover that you were in town. We thought it polite to pay our respects to the family of Charles Austen."
"It's very good of you, Sir, to take the trouble to look us up," Mrs Austen answered. "Won't you take a seat and Tilly will fetch some refreshment.”
"Thank you, that's most generous of you." He guided Martha over to a sofa, stroking the small of her back comfortingly before they sat down.
"Where did you meet my brother?" asked Jane after they were settled.
"We've just come from Bermuda," answered the Doctor.
"Did you meet his fiancée?" asked Cassandra.
"I'm afraid I did not have that pleasure, but I understand she is very pretty, if a little young."
Martha listened silently as the Doctor and Mrs Austen began talking of the advantages and disadvantages of marrying young. She was keenly aware of both the Austen sisters' eyes on her and it made her feel uncomfortable: unlike Tish, she always hated being the centre of attention, especially from strangers.
"May one ask, Mrs Smith, if you plan on making a long stay in England?" Jane asked.
"I - I'm not quite sure," Martha answered. "It depends on my - husband." She hoped her hesitation over the last word wasn't too obvious to these two elegant young women. She knew what a scandal it would cause if anyone found out that she and the Doctor weren't married.
The Doctor seemed to sense her discomfort as he reached out and took her hand, squeezing her fingers comfortingly as he finished his conversation with Mrs Austen, before speaking to Jane.
"My wife and I are but newly married and on a wedding visit to England. We shall likely only be here for a few weeks, visiting family, before we set sail again."
Jane and Cassandra looked slightly friendlier at this information, but Martha was spared their questions about her entirely fictional wedding by the entrance of two servants bringing trays of refreshments.
She accepted coffee and cake from the Doctor who winked at her, a cheerful smile on his face, and she managed a smile back but she still felt uncomfortable. She was wishing she had thought before suggesting a visit to this era: she didn't like lying, even though she knew that they couldn't tell the truth without running the risk of being thought mad. She also realised that she and the Doctor should have established a proper cover story beforehand; clearly there was more to this time travel business than merely stepping into a magical blue box and being whisked away.
Martha felt herself on constant tenterhooks during the next forty five minutes: she longed to be able to tell Jane how much she loved Pride and Prejudice or how much Emma and Anne Eliot annoyed her in their different ways, but she couldn't remember which books had been published already, and besides, she was fairly certain that Jane had published her novels anonymously. Instead she answered Jane and Cassandra's questions that served to show how lacking she was in the female talents of this age since she didn't sew, paint, draw or sing. She sensed that the Austen sisters were wondering why the Doctor had married her and it irritated Martha that she couldn't tell them that she was a trainee doctor and didn't really have time for hobbies.
Finally the visit drew to a close and they were ushered out with a courteous if not entirely sincere invitation to look the Austens up again when they returned to Southampton.
As soon as they were away from the house, Martha let out a huge sigh of relief and the Doctor gave her a sympathetic look. "Remind me never to do that again," she begged him.
He slipped an arm around her. "Do you want to go home?" he asked.
She looked thoughtful for a moment. "No, let's have a look around now we're here," she said, her curiosity about seeing the city overcoming her discomfort. "Just don't ask me to make small talk with anyone, please."
"It's a deal." The Doctor offered her his hand and she laughed, then took it. "That's better," he said softly. "Come on, let's explore."
They spent the rest of the afternoon walking all over the city, including along a portion of the city wall which gave them a fine view. Then they went down to the quayside to look at the ships, which seemed far smaller than Martha anticipated. She noticed several mixed race couples around the docks and felt more relaxed now that she and the Doctor no longer looked so out of place.
"Shall we go and get something to eat before we head back to the TARDIS?" asked the Doctor as the light started to fade.
"I wouldn't mind," Martha agreed. "My feet are aching from all the walking in these thin boots."
"You should have said. I'll give you a foot massage later."
"That would be bliss," she said, looking pleased as the Doctor guided her towards an inn.
They were there early enough to secure a private parlour in which to eat, to Martha's secret relief.
"I can offer you Mulligatawny Soup with a dish of mutton and fresh vegetables," the landlady said as she led them into the brightly lit room.
"Thank you, that would be most acceptable," answered the Doctor.
"I'm afraid it won't be ready for a little while Sir as we have only just begun cooking the mutton."
"I believe we're in no immediate danger of fainting from hunger," he answered her with a twinkling smile. "However, a glass of hot punch whilst we wait would not go amiss."
"Of course Sir, I'll see to it directly." The landlady dropped a curtsey, then went out.
Martha removed her bonnet and shawl. She allowed the Doctor to guide her to a seat by the fire.
"I'll give you that foot massage after they've brought the punch," he said quietly, noting that she was looking a little weary.
"Thank you."
The door opened and a serving girl came in carrying a tray holding glasses, a jug of hot water and a jug of punch. She set the tray on the table and the Doctor thanked her, then poured a glass of punch for Martha. She accepted it gratefully, inhaling the scents of the lemon, nutmeg and wine that were its principle ingredients.
The Doctor moved one of the chairs from beside the table and set it opposite Martha's, then sat down and lifted her right foot up onto his knee. He eased off the boot, then proceeded to give her the best foot massage she'd ever received. He gently bent and flexed her foot as his clever fingers dextrously worked the aches out of the muscles. It was easily the most sensual experience she'd had for a very long time and she had to exercise great self-control not to respond. The Doctor swapped her right foot for her left after several minutes, watching Martha as she sat relaxing, her eyes half closed and a smile on her face.
"I trust you're not going to sleep on me?" he asked, amused, as he put her boots back on.
She opened her eyes and he saw that she was looking quite alert. "Not yet," she assured him, grinning.
"Good." He got up and moved his chair back to its original place. "I was - " He broke off as a loud crash came from outside their parlour. He glanced at Martha, who was already on her feet, and they headed to the door together just as someone screamed.
The Doctor threw open the door and they stopped on the threshold at the sight of a terrified serving girl who was being held from behind by a tall, thin man dressed all in black.
"Oh my God!" Martha whispered as the man looked up and the candlelight revealed red eyes and very sharp teeth. "A vampire?" she asked disbelievingly.
"Impossible," the Doctor answered shortly as he reached into his waistcoat pocket for his Sonic Screwdriver. He switched it on and scanned the figure ahead of them. "There's an odd energy reading around him, like he's been in the Vortex," he said softly.
The man hissed at them, then thrust the girl towards them before turning on his heel and moving rapidly down the passage in the direction of the inn's main room. Martha caught the girl as she staggered towards them, white-faced and clutching the side of her neck with one hand.
"Take care of her," the Time Lord said quickly before hurrying down the passage, following the sound of screaming and shouting.
Martha helped the girl into their parlour and got her into a chair. "May I look at your neck?" she asked. She got a nod in response and the girl moved her hand to reveal a deep puncture that looked suspiciously like a bite.
Scowling in concern, Martha grabbed a napkin from the table and dipped a corner of it into the water jug. "I'm going to clean this up for you," she told the girl. "What's your name?"
"Jenny ma'am," the girl answered shakily.
"Well Jenny, why don't you tell me what happened just now?"
"Mrs Cook, she's the landlady ma'am, she sent me to bring along the soup for your dinner. I was passing the door of the other parlour when I heard a noise. I turned around and that man was standing there with his red eyes. He leered at me, then grabbed me, and I dropped the tray and then - " Jenny paused, clearly terrified.
"Go on," Martha said quietly, patting the girl's arm as she finished cleaning the wound.
"He bit me, sank his teeth into my neck, which is when I screamed."
"I don't blame you," Martha said. "I think I would have screamed too." She picked up another napkin from the table and folded it over the wound on Jenny's neck. "Can you hold that there for me please Jenny?"
The girl reached up and Martha guided her hand to the right spot, then she crossed the room and gathered up her discarded shawl. She rapidly folded it into a long strip and used it as a makeshift bandage, tying it carefully around Jenny's neck to hold the napkin in place.
"You will need to get the apothecary to look at that as soon as possible," Martha told her, "but this will suffice for now." She poured out a half glass of punch and gave it to Jenny. "Drink this."
Jenny's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh but I can't ma'am, I - " she protested.
"You can and you must," Martha interrupted firmly. "It will help to steady your nerves after the shock. Come on." She helped Jenny from the chair near the door over to the chair by the fire where she had been sitting earlier. "Stay here. I'll come back as soon as I may, but there may be others who have been injured and need my help."
"Thank you ma'am."
Martha nodded, then gathered up more napkins and her reticule. "Don't be surprised if you feel sleepy once the shock wears off, that's perfectly normal." She gave the girl a quick smile then hurried out, wondering where the Doctor had got to and what exactly was going on. Once she was in the passage she could hear a jumble of noise from the main room, but no screaming. She hurried down the passage and found the landlady sitting near the door, shocked but apparently unharmed. There were overturned tables, broke glasses and spilt drinks scattered across the floor. She saw two young men, sailors judging by their clothes, who were both suffering from cuts caused by flying glass, but there was no sign of the Doctor.
"Your husband went out after that wild man," Mrs Cook told Martha as she finished scanning the room for a sight of the Doctor's curly hair and green jacket.
Martha turned to her. "Are you injured?" she asked. "I'm a - nurse." She just stopped herself from saying 'Doctor'.
"I'm middling well," the landlady answered, then gestured at the sailors. "I'm not so sure about these two lads though. They happened to be sitting in the wrong place when that wild man tore through here."
Martha nodded. "I left Jenny in the parlour. I've cleaned and bandaged her wound as best I could, but she needs to see the apothecary as soon as he can be fetched. She was a bit shaken up."
"I've sent the ostler for the apothecary already ma'am," Mrs Cook said as she got to her feet.
"Good." She turned to the sailors, trying to fight off her concern for the Doctor; wherever he was, she had to see to the injured first. "Come and sit near the fire and I'll clean up those cuts for you," she said, then turned back to Mrs Cook. "I need some gin, to clean their wounds."
The landlady picked up a bottle from one of the few tables still standing and passed it to Martha, who thanked her. "I'll go and see to Jenny," she said and Martha gave her a distracted nod as she soaked a corner of a napkin in gin.
She was glad to find the cuts were fairly shallow and there was no glass in any of them, which was a relief because she didn't fancy trying to get glass out of cuts by firelight and without any equipment: at the very least she would have needed some tweezers. She sighed, then told the sailors to report to the ship's surgeon once they were back on board. They nodded their thanks, then went back up the passage to the front door. Martha took a deep breath, then moved towards the door behind the bar, following the route which Mrs Cook had indicated the Doctor had taken in pursuing the vampire.
Outside she found the sky was full of blazing stars and a full moon, which was a relief since there were no electric streetlights, and the gaslights alone were not very comforting. As she stood waiting for her eyes to adjust to the change in light, she heard a low voice singing a vaguely familiar song:
Zagreus sits inside your head.
Zagreus lives among the dead.
Zagreus sees you in your bed
And eats you when you're sleeping.
Zagreus at the end of days.
Zagreus lies all other ways.
Zagreus comes when time's a maze
And all of history's weeping.
It took her a moment to recognise it as the song she'd heard in the TARDIS and she moved towards the sound, thinking it must be the Doctor singing it. She decided that she would have to encourage him to find a slightly less chilling song to sing, because this one was distinctly unnerving, especially in the dark with an apparent vampire on the loose. As Martha approached the singer she felt her foot knock against something in the dark, something soft and yielding, and she quickly bent down to discover what it was. Her questing fingers found cold skin and she just managed not to flinch back in surprise. She could just make out a figure lying slumped against the wall of a building and she found an arm to pull on until the figure was sitting up.
The moonlight caught the figure's face and with a gasp of surprise she recognised the Doctor. Martha knelt down beside him heedless of the state of the ground or her dress as she felt for a pulse in his neck; she found both hearts beating strongly and let out a small sigh of relief before she felt carefully over his head until she found a lump on the back. She guessed that he'd been knocked out to prevent him from interfering with whatever was happening and wondered if they'd done more than knock him out. She moved into the moonlight and dug through her reticule, remembering there was a bottle of smelling salts in it. She uncorked the bottle, coughing slightly at the strong scent of ammonia that it released, then quickly wafted the bottle under the Doctor's nose. He coughed too and she quickly corked the bottle, then held his arm as he opened his eyes and looked blearily up at her.
"Martha?"
"Hello Doctor." She smiled, relieved he recognised her.
"What happened?"
"I was hoping you could tell me," she said. "I found you unconscious here just a few moments ago and you've got a lump the size of a golf ball on the back of your head. I assume someone hit you."
He put a hand up to the back of his head and winced when his fingers touched the lump. She saw him frown. "I remember we were in the inn and there was a red-eyed man who attacked a serving girl," he said slowly. He closed his eyes, trying to remember, then opened them and looked at Martha. "I can't seem to remember what happened after that."
"Well that's not surprising, given you were hit over the head." She looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure whether you should move or not, but I assume that red-eyed man is still out there somewhere and that he was responsible for the lump on your head."
"I'm OK, apart from my sore head," he assured her, so Martha stood up, then helped him to his feet.
"I've just realised something," she said slowly. "If you were unconscious, that wasn't you singing the song I heard in the TARDIS."
"What song?" asked the Doctor, puzzled.
She shrugged. "I heard it when I was getting changed in the wardrobe area, it sounded like a child singing and I thought it was the TARDIS' equivalent of a radio. When I heard it again just now, when I came looking for you, I assumed it must be you singing it."
"What song?" asked the Doctor again.
"Something about Zagreus sitting in your head and eating you when you're sleeping. I thought it was a bit chilling to be honest. Are you OK?" she asked, suddenly noticing how much paler he was looking.
"Zagreus?" he whispered. She nodded. "How can anyone here and now know of Zagreus?"
"Who is Zagreus?" Martha asked curiously.
"He's a villain in a nursery rhyme that's sung on my home planet, Gallifrey. No one here should know anything about it."
"So whoever that red-eyed man was, he's from Gallifrey?" she asked, trying to sort it out in her head.
He frowned, one finger rubbing his top lip as he leaned back against the wall behind him. "It's a possibility," he conceded. "However, I think it unlikely." He looked at her. "I think it might be better if I take you back to the TARDIS whilst I deal with this."
"No way mister!" she exclaimed. "You've already been knocked out once. I'm coming with you." She stood looking at him with her arms folded across her chest and a determined expression on her face.
He gave her a smile, realising she had a good point. "Come on then."
"How are we going to find the red-eyed man?"
He dug into the pocket of his waistcoat and pulled out his Sonic Screwdriver. "I can use this to look for the same energy readings it recorded earlier."
"Lead on McDuff."
"Actually it's 'Lay on'," the Doctor said conversationally. "It's from Shakespeare's Macbeth."
"Well then, lead the way Doctor Smith." Martha wasn't sure whether to be amused or annoyed by his pedantry, then decided it wasn't important. She followed him along the street simultaneously wondering what they were dealing with and what she'd got herself into by going off with him in his magical blue box. Her musings were cut short by a brief scream of agony, and the Doctor immediately grabbed Martha's hand and ran towards the sound.
Sensible people run away from screams, don't they? she thought as they hurtled along a dark narrow street, but she knew she couldn't run away if someone was hurt or in trouble.
She realised the Doctor was slowing down and followed suit as he led her into a small moonlit courtyard. She swallowed down a sudden surge of fear as she saw the tall, thin man from the inn: he was holding a woman in front of him and his head was at her neck; if she hadn't known what he was, she'd have thought he was simply nuzzling the woman's neck.
The Doctor let go of Martha's hand and walked towards the two figures. "Let her go," he said commandingly.
The figure looked up and hissed at the Doctor. "Why should I obey you, Time Lord?" he asked.
Martha started with surprise at the revelation that the man knew the Doctor was a Time Lord.
"You know me?" asked the Doctor equally as surprised as Martha.
"You created me," he answered.
Martha, who had been inching around behind him towards the woman, stopped dead in her tracks and looked across at the Doctor, surprise and doubt clear on her face in the moonlight. He shook his head slightly at her, then turned his attention back to the man.
"Explain yourself," he commanded crisply.
"I inhabit the space between moments and you are a Time Lord. If you would know more, speak to Zagreus." He turned and shoved the woman at Martha, then ran across to the far corner of the courtyard, disappearing into the shadows there.
Martha grabbed the woman, who had fainted, and the Doctor shouted "Look after her," before rushing across the courtyard himself.
"This is getting to be a habit today," Martha muttered to herself as she gently lowered the woman to the cobbles then delved into her reticule for one of the napkins she'd stowed there earlier. "Note to self, try to carry First Aid supplies at all times."
She pressed the napkin to the wound in the woman's neck: it was deeper than Jenny's had been and Martha wondered how much blood the woman had lost. She looked up as the Doctor came back across the courtyard.
"He just disappeared," he said, clearly frustrated.
"What are we going to do about her?" Martha asked, gesturing to the woman.
"We need to get her some help, and then we must go back to the TARDIS as she is equipped with better scanning technology than my Sonic Screwdriver, so she'll be able to track him."
"What did he mean that you had created him?" she asked as the Doctor removed his cravat and gave it to her to use as a makeshift bandage to hold the napkin in place whilst they moved the woman. "And how can you ask Zagreus if he's just the villain in a nursery rhyme?"
"I don't know, Martha, I don't know." He sounded worried, she noticed as she finished tying off his cravat.
He bent down to help her to pick up the woman and she put a hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure it out," she said softly and the confidence in her voice filled him with a sudden giddy delight. She really was quite amazing, he decided as he put one of the woman's arms around his neck and lifted her as Martha lifted on the other side. They straightened up, then linked their free arms behind the woman's upper legs, making a chair out of their arms to carry her more easily.
"Where are we taking her?" asked Martha as they cautiously walked across the courtyard and back into the street.
"The nearest house," he answered. "The sooner we can get help for her, the sooner we can get back to the TARDIS and find that man, whoever he is." And the sooner we can get away, the happier I'll be, he thought.
They rounded the corner and saw a light burning in a nearby house so they headed straight towards it. They had almost reached the door when it opened, spilling light across them as they struggled forward.
"Oh!" said a light female voice.
They glanced up and saw a lady a few years older than Martha who was looking at them in surprise, she backed away, holding the door wide. "Come in, come in," she said urgently and they gladly stepped inside.
"Take her through to the morning room," the lady said. "I will send my man out for the apothecary."
"He might be down at the inn by the dock," Martha said. "There was trouble there a little while ago and a serving girl was injured."
"I'll tell John to look there first, then." The woman bustled away, calling for John, as the Doctor and Martha gently lowered their burden onto an elegant sofa.
"Are you OK?" the Doctor asked, his hand in the middle of Martha's back as she straightened up wearily.
She nodded. "I think the adrenaline's wearing off now, though," she said.
He rubbed her back gently, then turned her and pulled her into a hug. "You're doing a good job," he said softly, then kissed her cheek.
"Thanks."
"Do you want to stay here and wait for the apothecary whilst I go back to the TARDIS and see if I can locate our red-eyed friend?"
"No." Martha pulled away from him, looking stern. "No going off alone. What happens if he's waiting out there for you and decides to knock you out again?"
"You're a stubborn woman, Martha," he said and grinned. "I like it!" He pulled her back into his arms and she gave a soft laugh before wrapping her arms around him in return. They broke apart again as the door opened and they looked up to see the lady of the house coming in, followed by a matronly looking woman and a younger servant girl who was carrying a tray.
"John has gone to find the apothecary," she told them. "Mrs Taylor is a nurse and will look after the patient until he gets here." The two women moved to the sofa and Martha saw that the tray carried bandages, a bowl of hot water and various other First Aid items: she looked up at the lady of the house in surprise.
"I lived aboard ship with my late husband for several years," she said, answering Martha's unasked question. "It quite accustomed me to the sight of injuries and taught me to always be prepared."
"That's very fortunate ma'am," the Doctor said. "It's lucky for the lady that we found you."
Martha watched keenly as Mrs Taylor unfastened the Doctor's cravat, then removed the folded linen napkin to inspect the wound before beginning to clean it.
"If you would care to step through to the dining room whilst Mrs Taylor works, I can offer you some refreshment."
The Doctor looked at Martha questioningly and she gave him a slight nod, indicating that she was satisfied that Mrs Taylor was competent at what she was doing. "Thank you, we'd be delighted to accept your hospitality." He took Martha's arm and they followed the lady through to the dining room, taking the seats she indicated.
"I am Mrs Martin," she told them as they seated themselves.
"Doctor John Smith, and my wife Martha," the Doctor said.
"Do you know the poor unfortunate who lies in my morning room?" she asked as a servant came in carrying a tray of tea things.
"We don't. We heard her scream and found her in the grip of a man who had attacked her," the Doctor answered.
Mrs Martin gave a nod of understanding, then poured them both a cup of tea. Martha accepted hers gratefully, feeling chilled now that she was still. She suddenly remembered that they hadn't eaten yet and wondered if the TARDIS possessed a cupboard or even a kitchen that she could raid when they got back there.
She tried to focus on the conversation that the Doctor was having with Mrs Martin but she was starting to feel sleepy and couldn't concentrate. Suddenly she felt the Doctor's hand on her arm and she looked into his concerned face.
"I think it's time we were getting back, don't you?" he asked.
"What about the apothecary?" Martha asked.
"Mrs Martin will tell him what I've told her," he answered. He got up and helped her up from her chair, thanking Mrs Martin warmly for her help, then guided Martha outside.
"What about the red-eyed man?" Martha asked once they were heading back to the TARDIS.
"I can't find any trace of him any more, but there is stronger trace of Vortex energy - I believe he has disappeared back from wherever he came. But how or why he was here, I still don't know."
Martha opened her mouth to answer, but only managed a yawn which she attempted to hide.
"Are you OK?" he asked.
"Yes. It's just been a long day, you know: working, getting transported to the Moon, dodging Judoon, a family party that turned into a fight, and then travelling a couple of centuries into the past - it takes it out of a girl," she said with a half smile.
"Oh Martha, I'm sorry. You should have said something before," the Doctor exclaimed looking remorseful.
"I didn't feel this tired before," she answered.
"Come on then, let's get you back to the TARDIS." He slipped an arm around her and they walked back to the TARDIS in silence, Martha fighting yawns all the way.
"Here we are," the Doctor said softly, pulling out his key and letting them in. "I'll show you to a room and you can get some sleep."
"I wouldn't mind a bath too," Martha said, "if that's OK?"
"Of course." He took her hand and led her down the corridor from the main room stopping at the second door on the right, which he opened with a gesture for her to precede him inside.
She stepped in and stopped, staring at the sight of a luxurious four poster bed hung with deep red curtains that matched the colour of her leather jacket. In one corner there was a desk with bookshelves above it, a thick carpet underfoot and branches of candles everywhere.
"Wow!" She turned and hugged the Doctor. "I do like your ship," she told him.
He laughed, hugging her back. "She likes you too," he told her. "The bathroom's through there." He pointed to a discreet door in the corner. "And there should be some pyjamas on the bed. I'm going to move the TARDIS into the Vortex, so sleep as long as you need."
Martha still didn't know what he meant about the Vortex, but she understood that didn't have to manage on just a couple of hours sleep, and that was the most important thing at the moment as she felt like she'd been awake for at least 24 hours. The Doctor went out and as she undressed in her room, Martha couldn't help being charmed by the branches of candles everywhere in the TARDIS: somehow they seemed in keeping with both the Doctor's romantic personality and the Gothic splendour of his ship's interior. It still felt slightly weird to walk into what looked like a small blue Police call box and find vast rooms and apparently endless corridors inside, but Martha was sure she'd get used to it eventually.
She stepped into the bathroom, finding a greater profusion of candles and even some torches set high up on the walls to add more light. There was also a brazier in the corner to provide heat.
"Amazing!" she laughed as she lowered herself into her waiting bath.
Once he was back in the main room of the TARDIS, the Doctor used her equipment to scan again for the red-eyed man again, knowing it was more finely calibrated, but he could find no trace of him. As he stood by the console, rubbing a finger over his top lip in thought, he heard a faint voice singing. He whirled around quickly, looking everywhere for the singer, but found no one there. He checked the TARDIS' systems, looking for an intruder, but there was no one on board apart from himself and Martha.
He walked over to his chair and sat down, wondering if he should take Martha home in case she was in danger. After what had happened to Grace, he didn't want to risk another companion's life: he might not be so lucky a second time. He closed his eyes in thought and started when he saw a chessboard set out on a table. Opposite him was another chair similar to his own, occupied by a black-clad figure in a long cape whose features were in shadow.
"Doctor."
"Who are you? How did you get in the TARDIS?" demanded the Doctor angrily.
"You can call me Zagreus," answered the figure.
"That's not your real name, he doesn't exist," the Doctor retorted.
"Neither is 'The Doctor' your real name, yet you tell it to everyone you meet. As for how I got here, are you sure I am here?"
The Doctor frowned, realising that it was true that he hadn't found an intruder just now. "What do you want?"
"To have some fun."
The Doctor glared. "Fun?"
Zagreus nodded, then indicated the chess board. "Let us play as we talk."
The Time Lord folded his arms across his chest. "Why should I do anything you want?" he demanded.
"Because if you don't, I will destroy you, but I will destroy your human companion first." He gestured to the board again.
The Doctor unfolded his arms, then bent over the board and made his opening move.
"I'm not surprised you failed to stop or catch my creature," Zagreus said.
The Doctor looked up. "The red-eyed man was your doing?"
Zagreus nodded making another move. "I wanted to make a point, to show you that it will take very little to break your companion. She's like those two women, weak and easily broken. And like all humans she will be easily led by me."
"Nonsense," the Doctor answered vigorously as he countered Zagreus' move.
"Oh but they are, and you know it," Zagreus said, making yet another move. "You've just seen that proved beyond all doubt by Grace and Chang Lee. And you've manipulated enough humans yourself in the past. How can you doubt this one is any different?"
"Martha Jones is strong," the Time Lord answered, pushing aside his memories of the events Zagreus mentioned. He didn't want to remember seeing Grace and Chang Lee under the Master's influence, or lying dead in the Cloister Room. He made another move. He stared at the board, then made another move.
"She is nothing but a pawn," countered Zagreus, making yet another move. "Easily disposed of, easily replaced."
"On the contrary, Martha has a Warrior's spirit: she is at least a knight, and I believe she has the potential to be a Queen." The Doctor made another move, thinking swiftly.
"Your Queen?" asked Zagreus as he countered the Time Lord's move. "Is that what you want? A weak human consort? You're getting pathetic in your old age Doctor."
"And you're underestimating Martha," the Doctor responded confidently, making yet another move. "She has already proved herself brave, capable and strong."
Zagreus shook his head. "I will prove you wrong.”
"I forbid you to interfere with her," the Doctor said, his anger rising.
"You cannot stop me. Nor can you touch me." He made his next move, then looked up at the Time Lord. "I exist between the moments."
"Rubbish!" The Doctor stood up abruptly. "Show yourself properly."
Zagreus stood up too. "I will be back Time Lord, and I will prove your faith in the human wrong." He swirled his long black cape around himself, disappearing from sight as he did so.
"Oh very dramatic!" snorted the Time Lord. He opened his eyes and realised from the ache in his head that he had been seeing a telepathic vision. He stood up as he rubbed his head, then stretched before going to see if Martha was asleep yet. "Pawn indeed," he said with a scowl. He had no doubt in his own mind that she was quite capable of enduring a great deal, if it was really necessary.
Opening her door softly, he peered into her room and saw her curled up in the middle of the bed, fast asleep. He backed out again then went back to the main room, settling down with a book to wait for her to awake again.
A few minutes later he heard a voice singing again and put his book aside abruptly. "Zagreus!" he shouted, standing up. "I demand you show yourself this instant." There was a swirl of darkness just in front of him, then Zagreus stood in front of him.
"You will prove my point for me," he said and reaching out, he clasped the Time Lord's head in both his hands. The Doctor found himself unable to move or even blink as Zagreus held his head and his gaze, there was a brief flash of red light in front of the Doctor's face, then he found himself released and fell back into his chair as the figure vanished again.
The Time Lord rubbed his forehead, feeling an incipient headache and wondering what had caused it. There was no one there to notice the red glow in his eyes as he got up to go and make himself a cup of tea.