If Sarah Jane could describe how she felt, it was pleasantly overwhelmed. When The Doctor mentioned The Paternoster Gang, he never told her two thirds of them were not humans. She didn't have an issue with that; she had traveled to more alien worlds than she could count, and seen more interstellar species than she could remember. Tolerance was something The Doctor taught.
But she had still been surprised, especially by Strax. She had run into Sontarans more than once, and had found them to be violent, brutish, and warlike. As a race, they were genetically engineered for conquest, so it made her wonder how one had not only found it's way to Victorian England, but as a butler. She could still see his violent impulses, but he was exercising self control... something she thought no Sontaran could do.
Jenny was the only one that could be construed as normal here, but Sarah Jane knew better. She herself was full proof that none of The Doctor's friends were normal, and considering Jenny was living with a Sontaran, and, evidently married to a Silurian, she was anything but.
As she looked at Vastra, in her regal elegance, she couldn't help but feel at ease. She knew Silurians were the inhabitants of Earth long before humans, and had met many, sometimes as friend, sometimes foe. She felt her intensity, and saw the intelligence behind her reptilian eyes, but it was all overpowered by an air of kindness. She felt more at ease than anything else. She had been at Paternoster Row for less than twenty minutes, and she already felt at home.
"It is curious that the pair of you arrived now," Vastra mused, "another friend of yours is currently staying here."
"David?" Sarah Jane asked. This was apparently where The Doctor had taken the Puritan. She could imagine how he reacted. He had practically paniced when they had seen a spacecraft together, let alone seeing a potato soldier, and a talking reptile.
"No, though we have stayed very close. I've sent our other guest on an errand. He's been doing some work for me. I think you will be pleased to see him," Vastra replied. Sarah Jane wondered who else it could be? Was it someone she knew, or someone she still needed to meet?
"Who is it?" The Doctor asked.
"You'll see, I believe I just heard him come through the front door," she answered.
"Hey! What's cookin' Straxy?" She heard a boisterous male's voice echo through the house. She thought she recognized it, but couldn't place who it belonged to.
"Nothing! Ms. Flint refused to allow me to melt the floor," the Sontaran replied gruffly.
"That's a shame Strax," he continued, stomping footsteps coming toward the door. As the door creaked open, Sarah Jane was shocked by who she saw. She did indeed know the tall, handsome man before them. He was the leader of Torchwood, and a time traveller, like them. She noted the Vortex Manipulator sticking out from the sleeve of his coat, and he flashed that same cocky grin he had so long ago, when they all fought the Daleks together. Jack Harkness stood bold as brass in the door way.
He nodded to Vastra, his eyes falling first on The Doctor, his expression changing to a bemused smile, then to Sarah, whom he shot a wink.
"Jack?!" The Time Lord exclaimed. She noted the supprised look on The Doctor's face, his eyes wide.
"Glad to see you have returned Capitan Harkness. Some old friends have dropped in to see us," Vastra greeted with a sweet smile.
"My God, Doctor, is that you?" He seemed to ask rhetorically, "I almost didn't recognize you... you got old." he smirked. The last regeneration Jack had seen, as far as Sarah knew, was the young professor with glasses and and perpetually stuck-up hair.
"We all get old Jack, some of us just show it more than others."
"Wow... and Scottish now, that's new!" he now turned to Sarah. "My goodness Sarah Jane! I almost didn't recognize you. You look even younger than you did when I saw you last." He took her hand, kissing the back of it, ever the flirt.
"Oh, stop it Jack," she laughed. He was so shamless.
"Yes Jack, stop it," The Doctor reiterated seriously, his glare icy. Was he actually jealous? Or, was it just that old annoyance with Jack's constant flirting.
"It's good to see you again, Doc. Been awhile," Jack said with a nod. He seemed... oddly uncomfortable, though she couldn't imagine why. It wasn't The Doctor's newest form; he had seen two different ones already. It was something else...
"Jack came by a few weeks ago, he's been working for me ever since," Vastra put in.
"Why are you here?" Sarah Jane asked, "the work at Torchwood can't have dried up." She figured that was what The Doctor was wondering too, not to mention she had the same concern. Jack Harkness never just... showed up. He was more like The Doctor in that respect, danger had a habit of finding him.
"I was actually looking for him," he nodded to The Doctor. That made this even more interesting, but she noted he was avoiding the questions. She couldn't help but wonder why...
"Why?" The Doctor's eyes narrowed, "and don't tell me it was just to say 'hello,' you know I hate it when you do that."
"Oh, you know... just to catch up... see what you're up to these days," his charming smile wasn't fooling her. He was hiding his intentions. It was very unlike him. He was lying through those perfect teeth. Now Vastra butted in, her voice more tense than it had been only minutes ago.
"Jack, I really think you should tell..." the Silurian started, but was cut off.
"Madame Vastra!" Strax shouted through the house, "Madam Vastra." He burst through the door, a letter held in his stumpy hand. "I just received this letter! The shop; it has been attacked!" Sarah almost sprung to action out of habit, standing from her chair. She noted The Doctor was up as well, sonic screwdriver in hand already. She had no idea what "the shop" was, but any if the company was any indication, this was not a simple robbery.
"My God, the shop? Or the shop?" She asked, giving him a stern glace with the second inflection. For once, Strax seemed to pick up on the pretense.
"The shop," he replied.
"Is David alright? Did the letter say?" She asked quickly. David was involved in this, now, she really wanted to know what this was about.
"The letter came by courier, from him, so I can only assume he died of his injuries after writing it," Strax replied sternly, drawing an eye roll from everyone.
"I'll go check it out, see what happened," Jack announced hurriedly.
"I'll go too," said The Doctor, eyeing Jack. He was probably going to pump him for information on the way, like he did with everyone.
"I'll come, I need to see if David is alright," Sarah agreed. She cared for David; he had lost so much for such a kind man. She hoped he hadn't been hurt.
"You should stay here, Sarah. It will be safer," The Doctor chided.
"Don't you start, I'm not..." she argued.
"Actually..." Vastra said loudly, silencing them both, "I would prefer if you stay too Ms. Smith. The Doctor tells me you are quite capable, and should some force come here, I would feel much safer with you around." Sarah eyed her suspiciously. What was she playing at? Vastra was a Silurian, one of the most fearless, ferocious, combat-able spicies in the universe. They didn't need protection from any one or by anyone.
"I shall retrieve my rifle!" Strax yelled happily, pointing one finger in the air. "All attackers will die for the glory of the Sontaran Empire!"
"No Strax! You are staying right here!" Vastra said firmly, "I need you here, in case of attack." That seemed to pacify the dwarf warmonger, his shoulders visibly slumping.
"Yes ma'am, I will prepare the landmines instead," he sighed.
"No," Vasta shook her head, concealing a smile, "not yet. Wait a bit." Strax nodded with a light bow, before walking out.
"Come on Jack, let's get going," The Doctor said, jaw set. He was obviously irritated.
"Be careful, Doctor," Sarah wished. She knew his answer already.
"Never," he returned with a wry grin. He walked out, but Jack, on the other hand, lingered for a moment.
"I ran into one of you-know-who's bots. He knows I'm onto him," Jack murmered, glanceing to Sarah for a moment, then back again. Vastra only nodded, and Jack hurried out.
Sarah Jane wondered what that was about, and now, intended to find out. There were too many things being hidden here, and she was going to find out about some of them, one way or another. Vastra spoke then, as though reading her mind.
"Please, sit, Sarah Jane. We have far too much to discuss, with far too little time."
The Doctor followed Jack through the streets, winding their way to their destination. He was familiar with the shop they were referring to, as he had helped Vastra set it up. Outlandish Oddities by name, it was, to the public, a curiosity shop, specializing in strange statues, decorations, and other abnormalities most people didn't want.
What most people didn't know, was that the shop itself was a front. Vastra had collected many strange, and dangerous things over uer long life; things alien, or from the future. Things too dangerous for normal people to get their hands on. Some she had found, others, The Doctor had intrusted her to keep safe.
She had needed someone to watch them; someone trustworthy, intelligent, loyal, and able to keep a secret even under duress. That was where David came in. He had been thrust full force into an alien conspiracy in his own time, and although inexperienced, he had proven his metal. It had taken some time to convince him; he had been a jittery mess after first seeing Strax, then Vastra, but he eventually came around to the idea.
People like him, first touched by aliens, then yanked from his own timeline, no longer had the luxury of an ordinary life. There was no going back after that. David... understood that. Vastra had held onto the deed to that derelict property for a long time, finially turning it into the store house once she met David. As far as he knew, he had done a decent job watching over these items thus far, until now.
The Doctor hoped David was okay. The man had already seen his fair share of horror, and tragedy; the death of his wife, witch trials, butchered bodies of his neighbors, a killer robot, and a murderous priest. He did not need to see more, nor did he need to loose his life.
Although he knew how cold it sounded, he was, to some degree, more worried about the things in the shop's basement than anything. Some of those things were dangerous; guns belonging to Daleks and Cybermen, stasis cubes, dark matter generators, the shattered peices of the Silversmith Mirror, and even a single piece of the final De-mat gun in the universe. Any, and all of those things could be devastating in this time period, or any for that matter. His insides squirmed with the thought of anyone getting their hands on any of those items. He hoped it was innocuous; just a burglar who had no idea what he had found, and was just looking for a quick score. He hoped it wasn't someone with any sort of knowledge, or worse, had targeted it.
As he walked, his eyes bored into Jack's back. He knew he was lying. He was here for another reason, not to "catch up." How stupid did he think he was? He was avoiding questions, and was being blatant about it. It was an annoyance at best, infuriating at worst. What was he hiding? The Doctor jogged a bit, catching up to Torchwood's head. He was going to get the answers out of him, one way or another.
"So, why are you really here, Jack," The Doctor asked seriously. He heard Jack snort.
"What, you're not happy to see me?" Avoiding the question through humor. Typical. Fine, guilt it is.
"When you lie to my face? No," he replied, "I thought we had known each other too long for that."
"First of all, I knew the old you, not this one. Secondarily, it's not entirely untrue... look, we're catching up right now." The Doctor narrowed his eyes, and pursed his lips as they turned down another alley. He thought he was being clever, like a child thought they were clever when they threw their fork when they didn't want to eat.
"Old me, new me, what does it matter?" He knew it didn't to Jack, he was stalling. "Tell me why you're actually here."
"I'm... investigating something." he finially sighed.
"For who? Torchwood?"
"Unit," he returned. The Doctor was taken aback.
"Since when do you do Unit's wetwork?" Jack, and Unit had a mutual respect; but it was far from a friendship, or partnership. They more stayed out of one another's way.
"Since they asked," he shrugged. Still vague. He supposed he thought that would pacify him. Maybe a few of his younger selves, who didn't want to pry. Not this one.
"What exactly are you investigating Jack? And why don't you want to tell me?" This was like pulling teeth; he had been a dentist for awhile, he would know.
"That's classified, and... it's complicated." he breathed. Was he serious? Did he really think that was going to work?
"Anyway, we're here, we can talk about this later." Fine, he wanted to blow him off? He fully intended to talk about this again, and get the information by any means necessary. Including fates worse than death, such as forcing him to eat a pear. Just the thought made him want to shiver.
The corner side store was just as he remembered, dank. Flanked by a dark alley on one side, and a smog producing factory on the other, the location was just out of the way enough to attract a small list of clients. The outside was unwelcoming; only a single window peered inside, coated with a layer of dust. The sign outside, revealing the name of the store as, "Outlandish Oddities," was covered in peeling paint, and had been battered by wind, and weather. They made sure this store looked like a place no one wanted to go into. They wanted it mostly abandoned.
They walked up the steps, and through door, and the tinkling of a bell heralded their arrival. The interior was very cluttered with a variety of wares from around the world. Small statues imported from Asia sat in one section, while another held vases, and pots sculpted in India, and Turkey. Nearby were stacks of carpets woven in the middle east, and hung on the wall were tapestries from South America. Strange paints from Africa were present, and all manner of masks lined the walls nearing the ceiling, some ceramic, others cloth. The Doctor did his best to ignore the shelf of shrunken heads on the eastern wall.
The main counter, where business was done, was destroyed. The glass, and clay wears, smashed all over the floor. The statues were in the same condition, and a glass bowl full of false eyes, hand been upended, spilling across the wooden floor like marbles.
Behind the counter, past all the ransacked mess, was a trap door in the floor, with a steep staircase leading down. The door was forcibly torn off, and The Doctor could see wide clawmarks in it. It would have taken some extraordinary strength to tear it off. Not only that, it blended in perfectly with the floor. Someone would have to know it was there, or be very lucky. The Doctor didn't believe in that kind of luck.
As they walked in, The Doctor's old friend, David walked out. David looked similar to the way The Doctor remembered him; deep set, darkly circled eyes, a mouth lined by wrinkles from stress, and short, sandy hair. Now though, he had grown a short goatee that was neatly trimmed, and was no longer garbed as a Puritan. He looked completely normal for this time period, dressed in a neat jacket, and pants. He had updated with the times,a good sign.
The Doctor could see the residual fear in his eyes, and his hands shook a bit, even yet. He didn't appear to be injured, but for a black eye. Considering the damage done to the door, The Doctor counted him lucky.
"Mr. Harkness! I'm glad you're here!" he shouted hurriedly, "I tried to stop them but..." he then took notice of the Time Lord. "Doctor! Thank goodness!"
"What happend David? Who robbed you?" Jack asked, getting the terrified man back on topic.
"I... they weren't normal men... I have no idea how do describe them," he stuttered. "One looked almost normal but his head... it was wrong for his body, but... but... his hand looked like Vastra's. The other, I just. I don't..."
"What do you mean 'his head was wrong for his body?" The Doctor questioned, eyes squinting. That was an odd way of putting that... what could he possibly mean?
"I..." he took a deep breath, "what I mean to say is...none of their body parts matched."
"I don't understand..." Jack said confused.
"They were like Frankenstein, Mr. Harkness." With that statement, Jack looked at The Doctor, and The Doctor looked at him. It was almost like a silent question between the pair, of whether or not they had seen anything like this before. Only The Doctor nodded. He had... a long, long time ago. But the mastermind of that was dead. This couldn't be related to that... it was impossible.
"What did they take?" The Scottsman asked. That was the most important part.
"A fragment of something Lady Vastra called The Epoch Lens."
The Doctor's blood turned to ice. No... not that. Anything but that. That was bad. Beyond bad. Thay had to figure out who stole that, right away, and why. The fate of everything, and everyone, could depend on it.
Sarah Jane sat in complete silence as Madam Vastra seemed to look her over. She couldn't help but feel nervous; her gaze had seemed to turn from kind, and motherly, to intense, and shrewd, in no time. She couldn't help but wonder what went on behind that calculating stare.
"What did you think of him... this time... when he came to you?" She finially asked, cocking her head.
"What do you mean? I don't understand..." Sarah had seen so many of The Doctor's regenerations. Every one, no matter how diffrent, one from another, was still The Doctor.
"What he looks like, acts like," She smiled.
"His eyes..." she trailed, "they look older than when I met him last... wiser. As for him, well, he's The Doctor." She wasn't sure what she was getting at here.
"It doesn't bother you?" She asked, "that he's old?" Sarah Jane was shocked. What did that have to do with anything? He was old, ancient, whether he looked it, or not. If fact, it wasn't as if she was a spring chicken; she was a child by The Doctor's standards, but on Earth she was middle-aged. Shock turned to anger. What did she take her for? She didn't care how The Doctor came to her, as long as he did. It didn't matter how he looked, or sounded.
"What kind of question is that?" Sarah spat, sitting up straight, "does it matter to you that he's old? Because let me tell you, he may be old, and grey, and Scottish, and much, much, more difficult this time around, but he is still The Doctor. And if you can't see that then maybe you should just..." she was cut off by the Silurian clapping slowly, with a nod.
"Correct answer, Ms. Smith," she complimented. Sarah suddenly felt foolish, he face turning a bright shade of pink. She should have known Vastra was testing her. The Silurian was probably just as old as he was.
"Sorry, I," but Vastra waved her off.
"Don't be. That was what I wanted to hear. I needed to be sure. He doesn't need a... fair weather friend, not right now."
"I have never been that," Sarah smiled, "even when he dropped me in Aberdeen." She was so angry back then, so bitter. Yet, if that TARDIS landed in front of her, even ten minutes later, and he needed her, she would be there.
"May I ask... how many versions of him have you seen?" Vastra's curiosity seemed genuine, but she had a feeling there was a motivation behind it.
It actually took her a moment to count them. She first travelled with his third face, and he regenerated into the fourth while in her company. She later met his first, and second version, as well as his fifth, eighth. More recently she had met the pair preceding the one she was currently traveling with.
"Ten... I think. It's actually a bit hard to keep straight." She felt uncomfortable saying that. It felt awkward, like forgetting someone's birthday.
Vastra leaned forward, taking Sarah Janes hands in hers. The scales were surprisingly soft, not like razors as she had expected.
"You have been blessed. I hope you know that. You know him better than anyone, probably even better than himself." Her smile looked almost sad, though she couldn't see why. "You should hear how he talks about you. You are more to him than a companion, or an assistant. You are his best friend. I can understand why he chose you for that." There was something else going on here. She could feel it.
"Vastra... what's going on?" Sarah finally asked. Her tone became more serious.
"Jack has told me a great deal over the last few weeks... things I dare not share, lest I disturb events that are still in motion," she began.
"Is this part of his "bot statment?" Sarah Jane cut in.
Vastra nodded, then continued what she was saying. "He needs you. The Doctor will need you more than he ever has. You need to keep him safe. You need to protect him, even if he doesn't want you to." Sarah Jane wondered what she meant by events in motion, but she knew one thing for sure, which she vocalized.
"I will always protect The Doctor," she nodded.
"The things that will come to pass... they can still be re-written. Jack believes he himself is the key but... I believe it will be you." She spoke with quiet intensity. Sarah could feel that Vastra cared for The Doctor, and his well being, not just that he was a hero.
"I... why?" Was the only response Sarah had. This was all so vague, but she could tell that it was serious. She wished she knew more, but understood why she was being careful. Time was delicate, and if one was not carful, they would set into motion events they were attempting to avoid. She was obviously trying to bypass that pratfall.
This made Sarah Jane worry even more. Her mind raced with possibility. Could someone end up hurt? What if it was a death? The Doctor's regeneration? Or was it something that would happen to her, or Jack? There were too many questions, questions she could not ask.
"Jack is here because it is a job. You are here out of love." Vastra said warmly. "It makes all the difference." Sarah Jane had never considered it that way, but the wise Silurian had a point. Wanting to, and needing to, were two very different things. He had been her best friend for more than half of her life; to her it was both.
As Vastra took her hands away, she looked down at Sarah Jane's-more specifically the ornate, black, celtic knot ring on her right hand.
"Where did you get that?" she asked calmly.
"It was given to me by another Time Lord... The Doctor called her The Corsair. She is dead, evidently." The Time Lord had helped her, and by extension, The Doctor, stop an alien who was devouring townsfolk in a small American town. The Corsair had been masquerading as a witch, and had disappeared when Sarah had returned. According to The Doctor, she had lost her life already. He had hoped to warn her away from it but they had been too late.
"Interesting..." Vastra seemed to mull it over a bit, "he hasn't mentioned it, has he?"
"No," Sarah shook her head, "It's almost like..."
"He can't see it," Vastra finished, "interesting."
"Do you know what it is?" She asked.
"Yes, and it you are half as intelligent as The Doctor tells me you are, then so do you." That was the answer she was afraid of. Now she knew exactly what it was.. "And in the same vain, you wont tell him."
Sarah Jane wondered what else was at stake here. What did Jack, Vastra, and even The Corsair back then, know? It made her squirm inside. She had the feeling it was something terrible, and she hoped when it happend she was up to the task. For both her, and The Doctor's sake.
