Jenny awoke in unfamiliar surroundings, on a bed that was more comfortable than anything she remembered. A green woman sat in a chair beside the bed. "Where… where am I?" she groggily asked.
"My house on Paternoster Row," responded the Silurian.
The girl tried to sit up. The lizard assisted, placing pillows behind her back. "Don't strain yourself, dear. You are still healing."
"What 'appened?"
"You took a bullet for me, foolish girl," She stated with more fondness than criticism.
"Ah, yes." Jenny remembered, "Well, you had just rescued me." She put her hand over her chest. It was a little sore, but not as painful as she had expected. She recalled the attacks from the Tongs Gang and her initial meeting with the mysterious woman, "You were about to tell me your name".
"I am called Madame Vastra".
Jenny coughed.
"Let me get you some tea".
The lady went to the kitchen where she found the Doctor steeping a different type of tea. "You can't give her that Willow stuff," He told her. "The compound salicin is toxic to Time-Lords."
"Oh Goddess!" the reptile woman exclaimed with exasperation. She nearly poisoned the poor girl. She dumped the Willow tea on some ferns she kept by the window. "You really must give me more information on Gallifreyan physiology!"
"I have already taken the liberty of putting the appropriate books in your library".
"Thank you," she took the tray of tea. "She is conscious now, if you wish for a reunion".
"I think it best that I leave. I shall entrust her to your care".
"I've observed her long enough to know she is not likely to accept such care. She would feel as though she owes me. She values her independence. She is stubborn that way."
The doctor grinned. "She would be. She is too much like me. Perhaps you can teach her to be otherwise."
"Unlikely," replied the lizard.
"Unlikely," he agreed. With that the Doctor entered his TARDIS.
"Until next time then, my friend," Vastra whispered as she watched the blue box disappear then returned to her charge with non-toxic tea. She entered the room and saw Jenny pulling off the dressing of the wound. Except there was no wound.
"I've only been here a few hours, how have I healed already. No wound, no scar?" The girl asked with wonder.
"Ancient healing technologies of my people, the Silurians, and treatment from the best Doctor I know". These weren't lies, just not the whole truth either.
"Thank you," Jenny's appreciation showed in her big brown eyes. No one had demonstated such concern for her well being before. That this near stranger had was somewhat confounding. "Can I meet the doctor then? I really must thank him".
"Someday," responded the lizard woman, "I'm afraid he has already left for today. He made this tea for you".
Jenny took the tea, served in the one of the most beautiful tea cups she had seen.
"What do I owe you?" asked Jenny, "For the treatment, I mean." The cost must have been more than she earns in year.
"You took a bullet meant for me, Jenny. Your recovery is my responsibility. You don't own me anything".
"That is very generous of you, Ma'am".
~.~.~.~.~
It had been a few years since Jenny began living with Vastra. The Silurian detective had offered her a position as maid in her household, mostly as an acceptable way to keep the girl under her supervision while honoring Jenny's stubborn independence. Jenny was paid better and treated better by the lizard woman than ever before in her memory. It was such a relief to have regular meals, reliable shelter, and acceptance. Vastra ensured that the girl was well educated, encouraging her to read the books available in the household library. She also trained Jenny in martial arts and self-defense. She found however, that the girl was very much a natural. She thought perhaps the quick Jenny's quick learning was due to the girl's biology and former incarnation as a soldier. Now nearing sixteen years of age, Jenny was blossoming, and the Silurian found it difficult not to notice.
Jenny had been seen around London completing her duties; shopping for household supplies and assisting the detective. People observed the girl seemed happy and comfortable in her new career. Her former "family" had heard of this and resented the girl. They told themselves that the girl owed them for their former "hospitality". The more they heard of the adventures of the veiled detective, the more they begrudged her accomplice. They decided it was time to collect.
There was an aggressive knock on the door of 13 Paternoster Row. Jenny opened the door. She was about to greet the person, but let out a gasp when she recognized the couple before her.
"Jenny," her aunt addressed her with mild disgust, "It looks like you've done quite well for yourself".
"I…" Jenny tried to find a response, but she still held some fear of these people.
"Who is it Jenny?" the Silurian called.
"It's… my family" she replied, still in shock.
Vastra had thought this day might come. She knew the Flints had exploited Jenny when she was a girl, demanding every cent of her earnings and poorly feeding her in return. She suspected that if Jenny appeared to have any form of success the couple would seek their share. Of course she realized such an appearance could be upsetting to girl. Still, though, there was no need to be rude, at least until we know what they want, she thought. "Well, invite them in, won't you".
Jenny accepted the cue to be polite, for now. "Yes, of course, come in if you like," she told the couple, using more courtesy than she would have liked. The group went to the parlor to sit.
"We would like for you to come home, Jenny dear". Her aunt said, trying too hard to sound sweet.
"You may, of course, keep working here," added her uncle. "It isn't far."
"No," Jenny responded assertively, even though she felt nauseated. She wanted to forget that period in her life. The couple, especially her uncle, held such power over her when she was little. She was glad to be free of them, yet here they were.
"Excuse me?" her uncle raised his voice.
"I'm not returning with you".
"You ungrateful, conceited, bricky child!" Her aunt stated spitefully.
"You have no right to refuse! You are still a girl. I am your guardian. You are to return home immediately," the uncle demanded vehemently.
"You kicked me out! You left me to fend for myself on the streets! You don't want me. You never cared for me! What is this even about? Why now?" Jenny was getting visibly upset.
"Now now, Jenny, calm yourself child," her aunt said dismissively. "We only kicked you out so you would learn a lesson. Of course we care for you. We only want what is best for you. You needed to get over your… perversion."
"My perversion? My perversion! What about your 'usband's perversion? 'E likes to commit adultery by..." she hesitated, finding it difficult to say the words "...assaultin' children! 'Is own niece!" There. She said it. Her breathing became heavy and pulse raced as she glared at the couple. Determined to fight the tears she allowed the fury to show on her face instead.
"Lies!" the man yelled. He got up from his chair and moved closer to Jenny. "How dare you!" he screamed at her, using his size and grandiose gestures to intimidate the girl. He turned to his wife, trying to save face. "She is clearly a lunatic!" he ranted adamantly, "She belongs in an asylum".
Vastra stood as well, and put herself between her employee and the man. She had heard enough. She had not been aware that the man had actually followed through with any sexual abuse against Jenny when she was living with him. It explained why the girl was so fidgety in his presence. If she had known, she never would have encouraged Jenny to invite the couple into her home. The lizard could feel herself getting angry. She envisioned herself drawing swords and slicing the couple to pieces. She allowed herself to breath as the Doctor's words rang in her head, anger is the shortest distance to a mistake.
"Mr. and Mrs. Flint," the veiled woman interrupted as she addressed the couple, "I believe you have overstayed your welcome." She said with some spite while attempting to maintain her composure. "No one is taking Jenny away from here against her will. Despite your claim as kin, you have done nothing but exploit this child. She is now under my protection. She is not to be intimidated or attacked. Allow me to show you the door." She gestured and walked toward the exit. She opened the door, demanding them to leave. "You are to never harass Jenny again. If you return to Paternoster Row you will be charged with trespassing at the very least!" she warned.
The couple scowled at the veiled detective as they wordlessly left the lizard's home. Vastra returned to the parlor. She could see that Jenny was trying to hide her face. Jenny felt warmth from emotion and embarrassment come to her cheeks. She tried to prevent the tears. Vastra sat in a chair next to her. She wanted to be a comfort to the child, but didn't know how.
"I'm sorry, Madame," Jenny managed to get out, "for- for that unpleasantness".
"Jenny, my dear, you have nothing to apologize for," her employer told her softly. "His behavior, his actions today… what he did to you before… it was not your fault." It had been a terrible crime, but one that would likely go unpunished. A thought that did not sit well with the lizard. Her strong sense of justice, an inheritance of her genealogy, was often shaken in this society of the apes. To allow such cruel behavior against one she actually cared for was intolerable.
Jenny tried to settle her breathing. "Madame, is what 'e said true? Can 'e force me to go with 'im? Can 'e still claim guardianship, even though they tossed me out?"
Vastra wanted to be honest with the girl. She wished to tell her that the couple were not even really her kin. Yet, the truth was even more confounding, and as the Doctor warned potentially dangerous. The ownership of females was an appalling part of the ape's chauvinist society. In absence of the father, an uncle could claim guardianship until the girl was married.
"I will not allow that to happen, Jenny," the Silurian told the worried girl. She paused. Then, hoping to lighten the mood, "If you like, I could eat him!" she offered.
