Wolfsbane-poisonous garden and medicinal plant
The hotel was very busy as it was the week of the Palio di Provenzano and a month of festivals ending with the Palio dell Assunta lie ahead.
Every room was occupied, except for one suite, the best suite in the hotel.
The owner always kept those rooms reserved...in case he came back.
"Papa, we really should use that suite. We could charge a really good price."
"No, Selena. That is Captain Jack's, no-one but Captain Jack's"
"But he hasn't been back, it's been five years. He's probably forgotten about us."
"Captain Jack never forgets and nor should we. He saved your mother from that thing, no, the rooms stay empty."
"So, you're idea of a relaxing holiday is watching ten insane men ride bareback round a course I wouldn't even walk round at full tilt," the Doctor said as the taxi made its way through the crowded streets of Siena.
Jack smiled. "The Palio isn't just a..."
"I know what the Palio is, Captain," the Doctor cut across him, annoyance giving his voice a sharp edge.
Jack sighed; the Doctor had been tetchy ever since they had landed.
There had been no physical contact between them since that kiss back at the hospital and the Doctor had spent most of the three days before they left inside the TARDIS and any intrusion had been met by an icy glare and the TARDIS shutting her door before someone could clear it properly.
But to Jack's relief, the Doctor hadn't tried to leave, whether that was because he wanted to stay or the TARDIS wouldn't let him, he didn't know. But he was still here and when he'd emerged from her on the day they were due to fly with a suitcase Jack knew there might be a chance.
He hadn't spoken voluntarily, only answering when Jack had asked him a direct question, but he didn't press it so the few words they had just exchanged was a start.
He wanted this holiday to be the beginning of rebuilding the trust that the creature had almost if not destroyed.
But that kiss...that kiss, it had been hesitant and Jack could feel the Doctor trembling as he had kissed him and he hadn't pushed for more.
He thought of taking him to the Palio because it would not be too intimate and he knew how the Doctor could easily get caught in the excitement and that is what Jack wanted...he wanted the Doctor to be the Doctor.
His thoughts were interrupted by the taxi pulling up to the hotel.
He paid the driver and led the Doctor inside and looked round for the owner.
The owner was busy fussing over two men who were hanging a flag for the Contrade that his family were loyal too when heard a voice that he hadn't heard in a long time.
"Questo luogo è andato a rotoli."
He turned and saw a long overdue face. He hurried over and hugged the owner of the voice.
"Capitano Jack, è stato troppo lungo!"
"Signore troppo lungo," Jack replied and extricated himself from the man's hug.
A throat being cleared interrupted the greeting and the owner looked beyond Jack.
"E che è questo bel uomo?"
"Questo è il dottore."
"Suo marito?"
" Non suo marito," the Doctor said sharply.
"Ah bene, ma questo uno Lei dovrebbe tenere cricco," the owner said.
"Lo non sono proprietà."
The answer came, not from Jack but from the Doctor, who glared at Jack before wandering off to look at the flag the men were hanging.
"Pieno di fuoco che uno. Lui è un fiammifero per Lei, Capitano."
"Forse."
"Se è voluto dire essere esso sarà...l'amore è una padrona contraria. You are here for the Palio, this year our family will win. But enough of this, you both must be tired. Your suite is as always ready."
"Grazie," Jack said.
"The porter will take your bags," the owner said and handed Jack a set of keys. He leant in a whispered. "Do not let this one slip away Captain, this one I feel is special. There is a banquet tonight to bless the horse that runs in two days."
"You have a horse this year?"
"Yes, you must come and see him, but I talk too much. Rest and tonight we celebrate."
Jack turned away and retrieved the Doctor, who was helping the men put up the flag.
"Nice rooms," the Doctor said, looking round him. "This one's mine," he said and moved into the bedroom.
Jack tried to hide his disappointment that the Doctor wasn't inclined to share a room. He sighed as the door was shut...give it time he thought.
The Doctor leant against the door after he shut it...glad of the barrier between himself and Jack.
His head was pounding and he could feel himself losing the control he had over his panic. The further he got away from the TARDIS and the safety of his connection with her his panic at being with Jack had risen.
He lay on the bed and closed his eyes and tried to focus on the thread that connected him to his blue box.
He sighed as he felt her familiar presence in his mind, felt the wave of soothing whispers of echoed words and he fell into sleep.
He awoke a few hours later with a start and looked at the clock on the wall; there was something he and Jack were supposed to be doing...what was it?
Oh well, it would come to him he thought.
He undressed and stepped into the shower. He let the water sooth away the panic that had been rising and washed away the dirt and sweat of the day.
He remembered now...the owner of the hotel had said something about a banquet.
He closed his eyes and let the water run over his face and listened to the sound of the water in his ears.
His eyes shot open when he thought he heard a whisper. He shrugged his shoulders, a trick of the water.
He finished showering and dried himself off and walked back into the bedroom. He decided not to wear his suit; he was supposed to be on holiday.
He was trying, he really was and perhaps if he didn't wear his suit it might help. He looked at the clothes and his eyes alighted on a particular combination...he would wear that, Jack would like that.
If there had been a hell, then he had been in it. If he had not already been insane, it would have driven him to it.
But now he was free of it and he had left its smoking remains behind.
Now he was looking down at the planet below, that backward world full of stinking simians, and down amongst those animals was the one thing that had given him the impetus to escape.
He would find it and take it back.
He closed his eyes and smiled when he found what he was looking for and he breathed a name.
Author's Notes:
The Palio is a horse race that takes place twice a year in Siena, Italy and involves a bareback race between 'Contrade' or city wards of Siena.
Public races organized by the contrade were popular from the 14th century on; called palii alla lunga and were run across the whole city.
When the Grand Duke Of Tuscany outlawed bullfighting in 1590, the contrade took to organizing races in the Piazza del Campo. The first such races were on buffalo-back and called bufalate; asinate, races on donkey back later took their place, while horse racing continued elsewhere. The first modern Palio (called palio alla tonda to distinguish it from the earlier palii alla lunga) took place in 1656.
Translation from Italian to English
Questo luogo è andato a rotoli- This place has gone downhill
Capitano Jack, è stato troppo lungo- Captain Jack, it has been too long
Signore troppo lungo- too long sir
e che è questo bel uomo- and who is this handsome man
questo è il dottore- this is the doctor
Suo marito- your husband
non suo marito- not his husband
Ah bene, ma questo uno Lei dovrebbe tenere cricco-Ah well, but this one you should keep
Io non sono proprietà- I'm not property
Pieno di fuoco che uno. Lui è un fiammifero per Lei.- Full of fire that one. He is a match for you.
Forse- maybe
Se è voluto dire essere esso sarà...l'amore è una padrona contraria-If it is meant to be it will be...love is a contrary mistress