You and Me

by Schimelos

Madame Vastra and Jenny have known each other for six years. While working on a case that takes them to Japan, the pair reminisce of how they met, their early days together, and their first case. They can both see where this is going, but neither appear to be brave enough to take the leap. Just a story of how these two got together. Disclaimer: I own none of these characters

12. Pain

Chapter 12

April 1886 – Streets of Toyama, Japan

Jenny's POV

Madame was a lot heavier than she seemed. I struggled, haulin' her body up so her front would rest against my back. I grabbed her arms and wrapped them around my neck. I took a deep breath, havin' to bend forward because of her weight.

"Gonna have t' cut back on eatin' the criminals," I grumbled to her as I tried to walk down the street. My legs grew weaker with each step makin' 'em both feel heavy as lead. And there was a dull pain in my head, forcin' me to close my eyes on more than one occasion. I paused for a moment, leaned my side against something. I looked up to find it were a building. I struggled to keep my breath even and listened for anyone near by. Thankfully. I heard no one.

How'd I ever manage to escape that? I wondered, vaguely.

I bit back the urge to vomit when I thought back to my narrow escape. Madame had fallen to face forward into the dirt. Knowin' instantly that she were unconscious, I drove my sword into my attacker's arm, pinnin' him to the tree.

Must escape! I had thought to myself as the man's screams filled the night air.

One of Madame's attackers moved to the side as I came by and went to help his comrade. Or, I suppose to shut him up before he attracted attention. The other ninja bent forward to avoid my fist as it flew into the air. He had gone down to his knees, only to push forward and wind himself around my body.

Damn it! I screamed in my mind.

Vaguely, I was aware of the other two by the tree. The one was quiet now. Hopefully, they had no more friends that would come by. The ninja pressed me closer to his body and I felt somethin' against my back. My mind wouldn't give me time to consider what it could be or not be. All my mind kept sayin' was 'Escape! Hurry!'

This was goin' to smart in the morning I thought as I considered my next move. But, I had already decided. Moving forward, I could feel the ninja's slender arms around my middle and he tightened his grip. More slender than I'd imagine for a man, I noted. Although, it weren't as if I had a man's arms around me often. Or at all to really make a comparison.

Focus!

I bent forward a little further. I exhaled, feelin' the drummin' of my heart in my chest. Just as his arms began to squeeze the air form my lungs, I flung myself backwards.

The back of my head collided with his and I were sure I had broken his nose. Good. He released me in an instance, yelpin' in pain. I pushed away from him and reached for Madame.

Openin' my eyes, I fought back the image of Madame on the ground, bloody and bruised. It was an odd thing to see... someone you had once thought to be invincible be reduced to such a state. I had always known Madame to be like any other bein'. But to see it and to watch her become overpowered...

I gave another sigh before continuin' on my way. The dull ache at the back of my head beginnin' to grow stronger. It took me another while to reach the inn at which point, I had become weak and breathin' heavily. Opening the door, I walked in and fell into the hallway. I pushed Madame off me and rolled away from her to lay on my back. It was wonderful to feel my muscles release from the strain.

"Miss Flint!" Ito's voice sounded from behind me. "What has happened?"

I tiled my head up to see Ito, upside down in my view, lookin' at me. I could feel the bump begin to form and I yelped in pain. "Madame needs 'elp!" I told him. "She's been struck!"

Ito ran to my side, checkin' on Madame. He looked at me, uncertainly. "I'm not much of a medicine man, I'm afraid."

I lifted myself up, feelin' the ache beginnin' already. "I can tend to her, but I need 'elp. She's got some odd metal disks in her arm."

Ito moved Madame's arm as gently as he could. "Ninja stars," he commented, but then picked at somethin' up that had been attached. "What's this?"

I watched as he yanked the paper from where it had been stuck to Madame's arm. My heart took a leap. "It's like the one at Watanabe's, ain't it?"

He unfolded it, lookin' up at me gravely. "It's like it," he told me. "But, I'm not certain that the message is the same."

I felt my blood run cold. "Those toffers are goin' t' be after us then." Then, I shook my head, which was another mistake and I winced. "Enough of this. We need to get her t' our room. I must tend t' 'er."

It took the rest of the night to mend Madame's wounds and clean her. I fell asleep the next morning with my head throbbin' in pain. There had been no change with her the following night nor the day after. As the hours ticked by, I became more restless. I paced my room until my head began hurtin' again and then sat beside Madame. I denied supper with the Tanakas twice, instead takin' my food next to my mistress. I hadn't said a word to our hosts. Madame wouldn't have wanted me to. She would have wanted us to carry on as if we knew nothin'. I left Ito to explain to them how we had come under attack while scoutin'.

I sat beside Madame and began to clean her face with a wet clothe. Her scales were scratched and bruised. Her arm, I mended as best I could, was wrapped in bandages. I silently thanked her for the many lessons in Silurian medicine. The lessons proved most valuable.

"You been distracted," I told her with a shake of my head. With that, I carried the bowl of water to the doorway and poured the contents out onto the grass. I paused, lettin' myself consider our current situation, as I watched the sunset begin in the horizon. For the moment, we will wait, I decided. Madame would have us wait it out and I would have to start considerin' our situation as she would. I gave a heavy sigh.

The knock at the door made me jump slightly. Ito entered, hesitantly waitin' for my approving nod. I returned to Madame's side and knelt. Ito and I hadn't spoken much since I returned with Madame draggin' behind me. Of course, part of that had been because of my awful temper. By the time I had reached the inn, I could barely feel my legs and my worry for Madame had grown. Regardless, I had to hand it to him, he was a great help when I patched Madame up.

"How are you feeling?" he asked and for a moment I wanted to say somethin' cheeky in response. Of course, he had meant my head. He set a tray down on the floor beside Madame. A cup of tea was on top of it.

"Better, thank you," I replied.

"I have brought you some tea," he told me and handed me the cup. "It should help with the aches."

I took a sip before lettin' the cup rest in my lap. "Thank you, Ito-san."

"How is she?" Ito asked and he knelt in front of me on the other side of Madame.

"Much the same," I said and was shocked by how broken I sounded.

"She will be okay," he assured me and I could only nod.

"It's funny," I began, feelin' a slight tremor go through me. I set the cup down on the floor beside me. My eyes stung with the sudden urge to cry once more, so I closed 'em for a moment. "You never think of life without a person until you think you'll never see 'em again. I can't remember a time that Madame hadn't been in my life. And, that life before ain't somethin' I'm too fond of remembering'..."

He studied me for a long moment, seemingly unsure of what to say. Then, hesitantly, he told me, "She has a strong spirit, but she was badly wounded. You have to believe she will be fine given a little time."

I nodded several times, feelin' a tightness at my throat. A funny thing happens in moments when you wait for somethin' to happen. Your thoughts run amok and you begin to think of every single event that led you to that moment. I barely slept while these thoughts swirled about in my head. And, when I did finally sleep, it were only for a few hours in which I dreamt of nothin'.

Seven years ago, I had been livin' on the streets of London with mere pennies in my pockets. So unsure of where I were goin' and with no one to worry for me and I them. She found me, I thought to myself as I gazed upon her face. The scales just under her eyes were darker and she seemed so frail. She gave me the hope I so desperately sought even when I hadn't known I had been seekin' it to begin with. She showed me kindness, even while the rest of my kind passed me up on the street without so much as a glance. I hadn't wanted to let it go.

She asked me constantly over the years, "Why did you follow me, Jenny? Truly?"

"I told you," I would say back. "Thought you could 'elp me learn to defend meself. That's all."

But were it? I couldn't say for certain now. I think a part of me always knew, just as a small part of her had always wished it. It weren't solely the lessons I sought nor the warmth of her home. It was her. I had been drawn to her since the very first time I had seen those blue eyes and those green scales. It just took me so very long to realize it.

I had been sweet on a girl once some years back. Her name had been Annie and she worked at a baker's shop. She smelled constantly of bread and sugar. The last time we had spoken, she had been boardin' a train, headin' to port. She had decided to travel to the Americas and I had almost followed.

"It would never work with yew and another," she had told me when we were sayin' our goodbyes.

"What rubbish!" I said with a tut. "We could 'ave made a go of it. I could still go with you."

She smiled lightly and took my hand. Gently, she rubbed my knuckles with her thumb. "T'aint me yew want, dear," she whispered, lettin' her eyes trail up to look at me. She tilted her head slightly. "I think a par' of yew knows. Yew just can't admit it."

"Admit what?" I was taken a back by this.

She placed her lips to my hand and kissed it. Then, pulled me into a tight hug and she placed her lips to my ear. "No one'll never be more important van 'er."

I pulled back slightly to look at her, but we kept our arms around each other. "Madame?" I asked, shocked. "Nonsense! Madame is just... Madame. I ain't -"

I was silenced by the touch of her forefinger to my lips. "Yew so blind," she said with a laugh. "Yet, I can see righ' through yew." She pulled back her finger and then kissed my cheek gently.

She hadn't explained and left with a wave of her hand.

It hadn't taken me long after that to realize what she had meant. Even as I was leavin' the train station to meet Madame at Scotland Yard, I had an inklin'. And, just as I was doin' at the moment while Madame laid unconscious and hurt, I had begun to relive my life. Everythin' that had happened, mostly the important bits, began to flash in my mind as I walked those streets.

But even as I had looked back on it all durin' the next few weeks, I still couldn't pin point the exactly moment that it had happened. The very moment that I had seemed to have tripped off some ledge and fallen so hard.

I convinced myself that it were all silly nonsense. Annie had gotten wrong, I decided. It were just a crush, somethin' akin to a schoolyard infatuation. But, of course, the feelin's remained there underneath the little wall I put about myself. And, even though I tried to convince myself otherwise, I knew the reason I hadn't sought out another girl after Annie was because, Annie had it right. No other could compare to her. And, she was what I wanted.

With that, I could feel tears beginnin' to start and a few began to run down my cheeks. Ito, unsure of what to do or say, decided to leave me to myself for a while with a promise to return with some food. The tears came faster even as he shut the door.

Leanin' forward, I placed a hand on Madame's cheek, lettin' my thumb caress the scales. So, there it were, plain as day, my feelin's came bubblin' to the surface and the walls came down. But even as I couldn't name the moment in which these feelin's first appeared, I could say for certain when I knew I never wanted to leave her side. A moment, I had realized, had been very much like this. She hadn't been injured of course, but she were in pain. A diff'runt sort of pain that manifests in the heart. It had been a moment in which I realized how much she might have needed me as I needed her. I just hadn't known it at the time.

1880 – Vastra's Flat, middle of the night

Jenny's POV

I turned the pin slowly, quietly and entered the dark flat. As I had suspected, Miss Vastra was dead asleep. I walked in, closin' the door with a soft click. I had left her in the alleyway two nights ago and hadn't returned since. I were too upset with her with the museum incident. My eyes caught sight of the table.

"Blimey," I breathed. Pieces of metal were scattered about. She must have been tinkering' about with those contraptions she nicked, I realized. With a shake of my head, I walked over to the fireplace to add another log and let my hands warm up before sitting' on my little pile of blankets. She kept them where they were even though I hadn't returned the last two nights.

Why am I back? I asked myself and let my head rest in my hand.

Because you nearly froze your arse off last night, my mind shot back. The nights were getting colder now that winter were almost here.

That weren't enough reason. The lessons perhaps? I got some techniques down, but there were a long way more to go to be sure.

I laid back on the pile, lookin' up at the ceiling'. The light of the fireplace moved across the surface, almost as if it were dancing' in a way. Once in a while, I could hear pops from the wood burin'. It were a peaceful sound and it were warm.

I must have dozed off at some point for a sudden noise had me bolting' upright and lookin' about. The sound were a cross between a groan and a hiss. Like a snake. Or like... I turned to see Miss Vastra. Leaning in, I realized the hissin' were comin' from her. Some were low and long sounds while others were fast.

Her face strained with her brows drawn inward. Her jaw looked clenched as if she were grittin' her teeth together. I opened my mouth, but shut it. She's in pain, I realized with a start. By the way she were hissin', I almost had the sense that she were callin' out to someone.

Nightmares, I realized.

For months after my parents passed, I was haunted by 'em. I'd wake in the dead of the night, callin' out to my mum, forgettin' for just a moment that she had died. Then I would remember that I weren't in my little room I had shared with my siblings. They were gone. All of 'em. Gone.

I leaned back away from her as if givin' more space between us would help ease the sudden pain I felt. It didn't. And, for a second, I was back in that little home with my aunt and uncle, watchin' the life from my mum and father fade away. Til they both had fallen asleep to never wake again.

I wonder if it were like that with her. Did she sometimes wake up, thinkin' she were still with her family? That she was still in the past or wherever she were from? Somethin' that started with an 'S', I think.

For a long time, I felt out of place in my uncle's home. Like I didn't belong or that I was in a diff'runt world. I gazed over at her, watchin' as her face tightened again and another hiss escaped. If it were like that for me... how did it feel for her? Much the same, I reckoned.

I went forward, without much thinkin' behind it, and leaned against the bed. I let my chin rest on her mattress and I watched her. She still looked like she was in pain, mumbling' half in English and half not. I reached out, hesitatin' for a moment and finally restin' my palm against her cheek.

It was a strange feelin'. Her scales weren't what I had thought they'd be. Like her hand, they were smooth with the pattern givin' it an odd texture. There was a dryness to it. Almost like leather, I thought. But it weren't unpleasant, because even though it were cold on the surface, there was a small layer of warmth just below that I could feel. I stayed like that for a long moment, strokin' my thumb against her cheek. It became soothin' to her, I think. The hissin' slowed until finally it stopped and her face softened. Then, she was silent and calm.

I didn't really need to wonder what it were like for her. Bein' alone in the heart of London, surrounded by strangers, without family... I knew exactly what that felt like.

The next day, we went to that house on Paternoster. I think Madame had taken a shine to it. We were silent all mornin' and barely spoke durin' our breakfast. She hadn't mentioned the night before. At some point, I had slumped back down to my makeshift bed and Madame had remained silent.

"You hadn't returned for two nights," Madame observed as I stretched my arms. She were watchin' me from a chair she had found somewhere about the place. The files from the case were still scattered about on the floor before her. She were leaning' back, foldin' her arms over her chest. I don't think she had meant it, but she sounded a little wounded.

I gave a nod, but didn't say anythin'. What could I say? She knew she had crossed some line. Trouble was, she hadn't the faintest idea what that line was. Did I really want to get tangled in somethin' with her?

I bit my lip, glancin' at her before beginnin' my set. She was thoughtful, lookin' down at the mess she had made. She looked... lonely. I sighed and dropped my arms to my side.

"Madame," I called out to her and she looked at me. "We can't do somethin' like that ever again."

She tilted her head. "You mean, what happened at the museum?"

I nodded. "I don't fancy spendin' the rest of my life in a gaol. It ain't a place for..." I sighed, not wantin' to admit it, but it were true. "It ain't a place for a girl."

"I believe we covered the topic of female restrictions in your society."

"No," I almost snapped and then shook my head. In a softer tone I begin again. "No, Ma'am. This ain't the same. I 'eard stories about it. From all over. Ain't much better for men mind. But, if I had to make a choice between the gaol and the streets... I'd go back to the streets."

She didn't reply and I weren't sure if it were because she were too proud to apologize or if she just didn't care. Who could tell with her?

"I truly am grateful for your help," I continue again when it was obvious she had nothin' to say. "When you've finished showin' me everythin' I'd need t' know to 'elp defend meself, then I'll be on my way. I give you my word."

I felt the emotion almost choke me up. What the hell? Was I actually sad at this? I shook my head, turnin' back to the bag of sand.

"Where will you go?" she asked in a low voice. Her tone was neutral, or she was tryin' to be. It could have been my imagination, but did she sound worried?

It took me off guard that she asked. I hadn't really thought of where to go. "Perhaps travel out of London."

She remained thoughtful, but made no attempt at an apology. I continued with my sets, which took less than two hours today. I taken less breaks and Madame were right, my hands were getting used it. When I finished, I went into the next room to change. I gazed around as I buttoned my dress up.

It must have been a real pretty place, I decided. The room I found myself in was most likely the drawin' room. It was dusty and in need of a new lick of paint. It seemed to be one of the only rooms unmarked from the fire. I gave a sigh, somewhat sadden by the state of the place. Seemed like a waste, I thought.

We hadn't much more to say to each other that night either. The silence was almost annoyin' durin' dinner. I hadn't the faintest idea what to say to her. Nor did she have a clue of what to say to me, I supposed. We sat in the flat for the remainder of the night. Madame stayed at the table, tinkerin' about with her strange gadgets. She had completely dismantled the thing with pieces in a strange order on the table.

"Do not disturb this," she warned me as she began to fiddle with a strange spring and metal plate.

"Aye Ma'am," I answered, not lookin' up from the book I had decided to flip through. I sat closer to the fire, enjoyin' the warmth after two nights out in the cold. Madame had gone and gotten a book on bugs. Out of curiosity, I decided to take a look. I weren't well read, but there were pictures and I could make out some descriptions. Never knew there were so many. Thought only worms, ants, flies and spiders were bugs. But, apparently, there all kinds. Not just all kinds of bugs, but a variety of ants and spiders. There were groups within groups.

"So, that's where they go," I mused, lookin' at the section about ants. Madame looked up from her work and I caught her questioning' stare. "Ants. I remember killin' 'em at home when I were younger. Then more always appeared. I could never figure out 'ow. Thought perhaps they rose from the dead." I laughed at that last bit but then I saw Madame's pointed stare. "Aye, I know they don't. I were a child."

"You are still a child," she told me, barely lookin' up from her task.

"To you I may be," I retorted, sourly. "But to my kind, I ain't anymore. I can care for meself now."

She placed the disk down to look at me. "And, to Apes that means you are an adult now?"

"Well, not exactly," I answered carefully. "Ain't truly an adult either."

"Then what are you?" The question was a sincere one, so I couldn't fault her for that. She returned back to the disk, usin' the screw driver to attach the spring to it.

"Just young," I answered, uncertainly and then defensively I added, "And, we ain't apes. Humans. You ought to start rememberin' that or else my kind may stick you in the mad house."

"Perhaps I shall once you start remembering the name of my species," she answered back, casually. "And, I would gather that a mad house would not be their first choice once they gaze upon my scales."

I bit my lip and looked back at the hearth. I had no response to that one, because she were right. I looked back down at the book.

"So, where is it that they go that you hadn't known?" she asked as she continued workin'.

"Underground," I said, lookin' at the picture of an ant diggin' to return to his home.

"Yes, they create their homes in the earth," she explained as she examined another piece of metal. "Huge colonies where thousands of them live and work. Truly fascinating creatures."

"Never knew that they had an entire ant city just below our feet."

Madame paused for a moment, lettin' her arms drop. I watched as realization ran over her face. For a moment, I thought she may somethin' cheek to me. Instead, she shot up to her feet, smacking' her fist against her other hand. "Of course!"

"What?" I asked, standin' up.

She gazed over at me. "That's how it moves about the city and how no one has seen it all these years!"

"What? The bug?"

She gave a nod. "It must travel below ground. That's why it was in the crawlspace of the shoe shop one moment and the next gone. It must have burrowed in there. Why hadn't I thought of it before?"

"That would make sense," I agreed. "You don't suppose that's how the girls were found near the Thames, do you?"

She nodded, enthusiastically. "Exactly so," she answered. "The creature must have created a course connecting the two locations."

I watched as her smile grew brighter. It had been the first time I had seen her truly smile since I had met her. One that hadn't been of amusement of somethin' I done or said that she thought ignorant.

No, this were a truly happy, teeth barin' smile that brought a new light to her eyes. She sat down at the table to work on her new weapon. That smile never leavin' her lips.

If I hadn't known any better, I'd say she were enjoyin' this case more than she had let on. Not that I would point that out to her.

The next day we woke early to grab a quick breakfast before headin' to Scotland Yard. We were silent the entire way as we were both pretty cross with one another. I, of course, still upset over the museum incident and her, well... probably for any reason.

As we walked, I toyed with the idea of leavin' London. I had told Madame that, but I had never considered that before. Where could I truly go? I knew no one outside this city. At least here, I had made a few friends on the street. Not that it did me any good on the nights when it were nearly freezin' out. I glanced at Madame, who had her face hidden behind that veil.

I could join the circus like she did, I thought. Doin' what though? Cleanin' elephant droppin's? "Yuck."

"Did you say something?" Miss Vastra asked, turin' to look at me.

I shook my head. "Just thinkin' of that nasty bug. To think, it could be below my feet right now."

No, London is all I ever known, I thought to myself. London is where I'll stay.

"Madame Vastra," the inspector greeted us when we walked in. His gaze barely came my way. "I see you brought your little friend again."

"Hello, Inspector Stanbury," I greeted him, impressed that he remembered me.

Another man came by and looked me over with amusement. He seemed familiar, but I couldn't think of where I'd seen him. "I remember you," he stated as he pointed at me with his finger. "You tried to sell me those matches. Thought you were harrasin' Madame here."

Oh, yes that man, I thought to myself. I raised a brow at him and made to reply only to be stopped by Madame's quick response. "Inspector Gladstone, I would like you to meet my maid, Miss Jenny Flint."

Maid? I thought with a cringe. She goin' on about that bit we sold to Mr Butler then. Just as well, I decided, no one will wonder why the pair of us are always together. While not dressed in anything grand, Madame did still seem more refined than my sort. No one would question why one dressed as I would be hangin' around her. What else could we tell 'em? That I'm just a pushy match girl that followed her home and begged for fightin' lessons?

I watched as Gladstone sized me up, seemingly unsure if he should believe her or not. I gave both him and Stanbury a courtesy. Gonna have to work on that, I thought to myself as it had been clumsy and awkward. They seemed to accept the response, but only gave a nod at me.

We followed Inspector Stanbury into his small office. Madame sat at the chair offered, but I remained standing by her side. The inspector took his seat behind his desk, leaned forward, and asked Madame, "So, what news?"

I listened as Madame began to explain everything from the shoe shop, Mr Butler, the bug, and her theories. Once she had finished, even I had to admit, she sounded mad. And, I had been there and seen it. Seen the skin on the river bank, heard that bug in the crawlspace, and seen Mr Butler's face when I mentioned the missing girls.

"A bug, you say?" the inspector asked, incredulously to which Madame nodded. "And, you believe Jim Butler workin' with it?"

Madame gave a sigh. "In that regard, I am not entirely certain," she answered. "However, both myself and Miss Flint believe he knows something more than he should about the girl's disappearances."

The inspector grew somber then and his gaze dropped to the desk. I realized there had been somethin' he hadn't told us. "What is it, Inspector?" I found myself askin'.

He let out a heavy sigh. "There is another girl missin'. Reported sometime last night."

I glanced at Madame, unable to hide the horror in my face. Her expression was hidden behind that black veil, but I could still see her blue eyes widen at the news. I turned back to the inspector. "Went missin' by the shoe shop then?" I couldn't help but ask.

His dark grey eyes darted to Madame for a moment before givin' a curt nod. "It's perhaps too late," he commented. "She was a barmaid. About to turn eighteen."

"We may still have time," Madame announced and both the inspector and I look at her. "From what it appears from the autopsy. The girls were kept alive for at least three days."

I had it on my mind to ask her how she knew such a thing, however there was a pressin' matter. I turned back to the inspector. "How long has she been missin' then?"

"When it was reported, she was gone twelve hours, so at least a day by now."

Madame stood. "We must act with haste," she told him.

"You are confident then?" the inspector asked.

"Our mutual friend was right to inquire for my assistance in this," she told him. "I have encountered this creature before... a very long time ago."

He watched her carefully before turnin' to me. "And, I suppose you are to assist her?"

I blinked several times, surprised by the question. "I will do what I can."

The inspector gazed back at Madame for a long moment before offering' a smile. "The Doctor would be pleased," he told her. "And, I am very grateful for your help."

"I hope to have a resolution as soon as possible." I stood as Madame made way to leave. "Come along, Jenny. There is much to do."

"Call for us when the time comes," he told her and for a second his gaze flickered back to me. So perhaps he were tellin' the pair of us. "I would rather not have any of this leaked to the papers. The less the public knows, the better."

"Certainly," Madame answered while I gave a nod of agreement. With that, she opened the door and left.

"Good day to you, Inspector," I said before followin' her.

Once we were out on the street, I waited until we were a few blocks away before turnin' to her to ask, "So, I'm your maid now?"

"Do you disapprove?"

I gave a shrug. "Wouldn't say that. Just surprised is all," I told her. "Do you really think you can solve this so quickly?"

"I should think so," she began. "If my theory holds merit, then there should be a tunnel leading into the shoe shop. The other end, I am assuming, can be found somewhere along the docks. Quite possibly close to where we found the molted skin."

I shivered at the memory. "Would it be easier to enter through the shop then? Could take a while to find it at the Thames, I should think."

"Yes, but there is limited oxygen underground," she explained and I watched as the veil shifted slightly. "I could withstand a short amount of time without, but who is to say I don't end up lost down there. There would be several tunnels and not a straight path."

"So, how are we to stop this thing?"

"My revolver should be fixed by this evening," she explained. "And, we are not going to stop him. I am. I will go out tomorrow evening to the Thames and I will look for the entrance on my own."

"And, why can't I come?" I asked, feelin' a tad hurt by her dismissal.

"Much too dangerous," she answered. "I appreciate your guidance and thank you for helping me retrieve the necessary items from the museum. However, from this point on, I shall continue on my own."

"That's nonsense," I retorted. "You need my help. Said yourself how dangerous this beast is. I could -"

"Could nothing," she hissed at me and with that, she moved forward, blocking' my path on the road. Her tall form loomed over me and suddenly I felt as small as a babe. "You are far too reckless and you do not have the experience that I have."

I bit my lower lip and tilted my head at her. "Careful, Ma'am," I replied, cooly. "For a second there, I'd have to say, you were worried for my welling'."

Through the veil I could see her eyes widen slightly. Then she narrowed them as she considered me. "I shall not be held responsible for your life. I saved it one too many times."

My eyes narrowed at her. "Hadn't known you were keeping' a tally," I retorted as I clenched my fist. I had the urge to hit her, but that wouldn't be smart. Lookin' away, I crossed my arms over my chest.

"It is not safe, Jenny."

"Don't worry," I began, pushing away from her to continue down the road. "No one would miss me if I were gone."

Author's Note:

Should mention that inspiration for this bug story came from an anime called Dragon Ball Z. The villian in the show was a bug like creature that stabbed people with it's tail and drained the people. They turned into raisens until they disappeared altogether. Gross!

Inspiration for the Japan story... wine. Lots of wine. Alas not fish and rice, though. Not a big fan of that.

Oh, so I decided that there will be a second story after this. I already have a few scenes written that will be included. I have been dropping hints all through the last few chapters of certain things that might be covered in this new story. I just enjoy writing these two too much. And, I just finished watching Ripper Street and all this inspiration is flying around the room right now looking for somewhere to land.

Not much else to say this time around. Hope everyone is enjoying the story. Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews! :)