Disclaimer: Doctor Who belongs to the BBC. I do not own any of it, nor do I get paid for it.
A/N Thanks for the lovely response on the last chapter. Here is Part 4 of adventure #12 The Venetian Tragedy.
There's still an interlude dealing with the consequences of this adventure. Also, an old enemy shows their face in this chapter.
This story is now up to date on AO3. Link on profile.
Happy Reading!
The Venetian Tragedy: Lithium
Jarrett was troubled ever since he had seen what had happened in the garden. He had said goodbye to Rina and was about to return home when he had seen the Provost and the Duchess again. Except this time, they had been kissing instead.
He'd clapped a hand to his mouth to stop his gasp, when the Provost got up suddenly and left. The Duchess had stayed for a while before running back into the palace. Jarrett had been in a daze as he returned home and waited for the rain to come down.
He knew he should have been appalled at what he had witnessed. He had tremendous respect for the Provost, and he doubted the man would make advances on a married woman. Yet, for some bizarre reason, he didn't think that there had been anything wrong with those two kissing, almost like he had seen it before.
It had him puzzled, and he did not dare say anything to Rina or Nolan or anyone else. The next day, he went about his day as usual, and went to see Rina around midday.
She greeted him with a kiss, and he smiled despite his mood. "So, what are we doing today?" she asked excitedly.
He thought of the trip to the museum he had planned, but changed his mind quickly. "How about we stay in today?" he asked.
She grinned at him and looped her arm through his. "Come on then, lead the way," she said.
Jarrett and Rina left the palace and walked back to his modest house. While Rina looked around it in excitement, Jarrett set about making lunch for the two of them.
"So," he began casually. "How long can you stay today?"
Rina grinned at him. "As long as you want. The Duchess gave me the day off," she said.
Jarrett raised his eyebrows. "She did?" he asked, trying to sound uninterested.
Rina nodded as she plopped down on the sofa. "The Duke left Venice yesterday and she stayed shut in her chambers all day. Then, this morning, she tells me to take the rest of the day off and asked the rest of the staff not to bother her. Not even for meals, she said."
Jarrett thought that was rather bizarre, but put the matter out of his mind for the time being. "So, we can stay in all day?" he asked with a charming smile.
Rina blushed but returned his smile boldly. "If you want."
Jarrett winked at her. "Oh, I do," he said as he swept her up in his arms.
"What are you doing?" the Duchess asked with laughter in her voice as he traced his finger down her back.
"Connecting the constellations," the Provost said unashamedly, as goosebumps rose on her rosy skin.
She turned around to lay on her back instead and looked up at him with shining eyes. "Are you sure we are alone for today?" she asked.
He nuzzled her neck and nodded. "Completely," he said. "And what's so funny, my lady?" he asked, when she giggled.
"Just us," she said, tilting her head back to allow him access to more skin of her neck.
"What about us?" he asked, between kisses to her pulse point.
"This feels right, you know," she said, gasping when he sucked at the spot. "You and me. Like this."
"Hmm, I agree," he said, raising his head to look at the small mark he had made. He thought about what she was saying and knew that there were so many reasons why this would hurt one day when she was no longer with him, whether by their choice or not. But right now, in this moment, just lying in her arms and kissing her like they had eons ahead of them, was the best feeling in the universe. He glanced down at her sparkling eyes that held so much love in them for him, and was unable to resist pressing his lips to hers in a passionate kiss.
They broke apart from the kiss with a loud gasp, slightly unnerved by the sense of déjà vu that had fallen over them. It took the Duchess a moment to place where she'd read that conversation before. She grinned. "I didn't know you were a fan," she said.
The Provost looked a little confused. "A fan? Of what?" he asked.
"The book, about the Doctor and Rose," she said. "That conversation we had was almost word for word," she added, running her hand through his hair as he kissed his way down her body.
He shook his head, tickling her stomach with his hair. "I have never read this book about the Doctor and Rose that you are talking about," he insisted. "But the names, they do sound familiar. Someone must have mentioned it to me."
"Yeah, maybe," she said, but then the Provost urged her to wrap her legs around his head and all conversation ceased after that.
"I made tea!" Rina announced as she walked back into the bedroom, holding a tray.
"Oh, you are a mind reader," said Jarrett as he jumped out of bed in only his breeches since Rina was wearing his loose white shirt as a dress.
"Nope, I just know you that well," she said with a grin.
"I am so glad you do," he said as he took the tray from her hands and set it aside before pulling her in for a kiss. They were rudely interrupted by the door to his house slamming open. Five palace guards walked in quickly, followed by the Duke himself who looked enraged.
"Where is she?" he demanded.
Jarrett and Rina looked confused, and Rina tried to hide behind Jarrett, aware of her barely dressed status. "Highness, is there something wrong?" asked Jarrett.
The Duke walked up to him and for a moment Jarrett thought he would strike him, but he grabbed Rina's arm instead and dragged her to the front. "Where is she? Where is Jessamine?" he demanded.
Rina cried out in pain. "She is at the palace, Highness. I swear," she sobbed.
"Highness, please, you are hurting her," said Jarrett as he moved to help but was held back by a guard.
The Duke tightened his grip on her arm. "You are supposed to look after her. That's what I pay you for, isn't it? So, how is it that she is gone under your watch?"
Rina looked surprised. "I do not know, Highness. She asked to be left alone. I only obeyed her wishes," she said. "Please, I didn't do anything wrong."
The Duke released her arm and she clutched it in pain, trying not to cry. "Kill her," he told his guards.
"NO!" shouted Jarrett as he tried to struggle but two guards held him back as a third one grabbed Rina and slit her throat from ear to ear. "RINA!"
Her limp body fell to the floor, blood gushing out from the gaping wound at her throat. Jarrett felt himself go numb as he fell to the ground on his knees, trying to stop the bleeding but he knew she was already dead. Bile rose in his throat but before he could even bring himself to vomit, he was grabbed by the guards who held him up in front of the Duke.
"Don't worry," said the Duke with a twisted smile. "I won't kill you, Fitz Kreiner. You are going to be useful yet."
"If I had known you were this mad…" said the Duchess, shaking her head in amusement as the Provost rowed the gondola down the canal.
"Then what?" he asked as he expertly rowed them through a quieter part of Venice towards their destination.
The Duchess laughed. "Then I might have kissed you sooner," she said.
He looked at her fondly, wishing her beautiful smile wasn't hidden by her veil. But it wouldn't do for her to be recognised by anyone.
"So, where are we going exactly?" she asked.
"There's a villa just around the corner with a rather lovely rooftop garden. I thought we could share a quiet meal," he said.
"Sounds lovely," she said as he docked the gondola and stepped out before offering his hand to her.
The Duchess climbed out, and watched as he opened the door with a key hanging off the lotus pendant he wore around his neck, signifying his position as the Provost. The door opened easily but when they stepped inside, the Provost let out a shout as he was grabbed by guards.
The Duchess realised what was happening, when she saw her husband standing inside the wide living room of the villa with the guards by his side. "Oh god…" she whispered.
The Duke laughed harshly. "Oh god? That's what you say after everything? Oh God?" he shouted angrily as he grabbed her arms and shook her.
She cried out, more in surprise than pain, and the Provost shouted angrily but was stopped by the guards holding him back. The Duke glared at her. "I gave you everything. I loved you, and you betrayed me!"
"Let go of me!" she said, struggling in his grip.
"Oh, am I hurting you? Really?" he demanded sarcastically. "Is that what's happening, Jessamine?" he said her name like a curse word as he shook her again.
She shoved his chest angrily, surprised by even her own strength when his grip on her faltered. She opened her mouth to say something, anything really, when the Duke laughed harshly. "He was right. I should never have left you two close," he said, glaring at the Provost who was struggling against the guards.
"What are you talking about?" asked the Duchess, rubbing her arms to soothe the ache that his painful grip had brought on.
Instead of answering, the Duke looked to one of the guards. "Bring him forth," he said.
The Duchess watched in surprise as a man was brought into the room, whom she recognised as the florist she had thought was familiar. Upon seeing them, his eyes went wide. "Doctor! Rose!" he said.
"Jarrett! What are you on about?" demanded the Provost.
He shook his head. "I am not Jarrett. Look, you have to remember. I am Fitz Kreiner, and you are the Doctor, and she is Rose Tyler," he said and then glared at the Duke who looked rather amused. "He has done something to us. Brainwashed or something."
"That will be enough out of you," said the Duke as a guard held his dagger to Fitz's throat. "What do you think then, my darling?" he asked the Duchess mockingly.
At her look of disbelief, he nodded at a guard who pushed aside the curtain at the door leading to the next room. There, standing in the doorway, was a blue police box. The same one that the Duchess had read stories about.
She shook her head. "It can't be," she gasped. "The Doctor and Rose are just a story. They're not real," she said and then glanced at the Provost who was looking between her and the box in disbelief.
"Wrong again," said the Duke as he drew a shining blue crystal from his pockets and held it up to her.
Immediately, the Duchess felt as if someone had seized her brain and was driving rusty nails into it with a hammer. She fell to her knees and cried out in pain, vaguely aware that someone was lifting her back to her feet.
As the screams in her brain died down, she realised that it had been Fitz who had helped her up and was currently keeping her upright. Fitz, whom they had met in 1963 while battling Cassandra. Frantically, she looked for the Doctor and found him hunched over as he clutched his head. She tried to move towards him but the Duke grabbed her arm and held her in place.
"Not so fast, Rose Tyler," he said as the guard held Fitz hostage again.
Rose could still feel her head spinning, but she refused to look away from the Doctor as he got up slowly and was immediately seized by the guards.
"Nifty thing that Metebelis Three crystal," said the Doctor, sounding like he had run a marathon. "How did you get it?" he directed the question at the Duke.
"You have some interesting enemies, Doctor," said the Duke.
His words invoked a memory in Rose's mind. "I hope I don't get carted off as her," she said.
As they entered the building, everyone went silent. Rose met the Doctor's gaze but before they could move, someone had sounded the alarm.
"The Duchess has been found!"
She blinked in surprise and looked at the Duke who was smirking at her. "I thought my eyes were deceiving me when I saw you. You looked just like her, and I thought, why not. Some basic memory suggestions and minor telepathic alterations with the Metebelis crystal, and no one would be able to tell," he said.
"You brainwashed me," said Rose, feeling sick to her stomach. "You brainwashed me into thinking I was someone else. Someone who loved you."
"And why not?" demanded the Duke angrily, tightening his grip on her. "She died too young, and my advisors told me that it wouldn't do for my reputation to have lost a wife so young."
"So you told the people she had disappeared instead?" she asked, feeling disgusted.
"Yes, why not?" he said. "And then when you came along, I only had to add in a few suggestions in that pretty head of yours, and everything would have been fine."
Rose flinched sharply, feeling revolted by the idea that he had messed with her head. She looked at the Doctor, who seemed to be simmering with anger.
"But why keep Fitz and I around?" demanded the Doctor, with forced calm in his voice.
"I was being kind," snapped the Duke. "I could have killed you, and I regret that I didn't. But that shall be fixed soon enough. After you're both dead, I can revert the process on her and Jessamine will be back again."
"Fat chance of that happening," shouted Fitz who had been suspiciously quiet the entire time. "After everything you did, do you think we'll just let you get away with it? You killed Rina, you maniac!"
The Duke rolled his eyes. "Kill them," he ordered his guards.
"No!" shouted Rose as the guards seized the Doctor and Fitz. "Please, let them go. I'll stay."
The Duke held up a hand and the guards stopped in their tracks. "Say that again," he said, looking at Rose.
Rose took a deep breath. "Let the Doctor and Fitz go. They'll take the TARDIS and leave. I'll remain here," she said.
"Rose! What the hell are you on about?" demanded Fitz, looking at her like she had lost her mind. Next to him, he could feel the tension radiating off the Doctor.
She turned around and smiled at him. "It's the best way, Fitz," she said. "You and the Doctor should go. I'll stay right here by the Duke's side."
He looked at the Doctor, who was looking angrier than Fitz had ever seen. Rose noticed it too, and she smiled reassuringly at him. "It's alright, Doctor," she said. "Please, take Fitz and the TARDIS and leave. I'll be right here."
In quick strides, he was standing in front of her and cupping her face with both hands. The guards made to move forward but the Duke had them halt. The Doctor rested his forehead on Rose's and closed his eyes. "Are you sure?" he asked.
"It's the only way," she said, tearing up a little. "Please go."
The Doctor's grip on her tightened and for a moment, it looked like he wouldn't let her go. But then he removed his hands from her and turned around to walk back into the TARDIS. Rose blinked back her tears and smiled at Fitz. "Take care of him, Fitz," she said.
Fitz stared at her in shock, hardly believing that this was happening. He opened his mouth, not knowing what it was that he could say when he heard the Doctor's angry shout calling for him.
"Go," said Rose, her smile vanishing. "Go now, Fitz. I'll be at the Duke's side."
Fitz looked between her and the TARDIS in despair but he turned around and walked into the TARDIS as well. The doors shut behind him, and with her usual, wheezing, groaning sounds, the TARDIS vanished.
"We can't just leave her there with that maniac," said Fitz as soon as he walked into the TARDIS.
The Doctor ignored him, focusing on the controls on the console.
"Doctor? Are you even listening? We are not leaving Rose behind…"
"Fitz!" thundered the Doctor, looking at him sharply. "I am rather focused on doing some very precise navigation, and I need you to SHUT UP!"
Fitz blinked in surprise before it clicked. Rose had kept repeating the same thing, as she was telling them to leave. She said she would be right there, at the Duke's side. Oh, that clever girl!
Before he knew it, the TARDIS started materialising again, and he saw the Duke and Rose in the console room, getting more solid by the second. When the TARDIS landed fully, the Duke let out a shout of surprise.
Rose turned around and landed a square punch on his jaw, sending him sprawling to the floor like a sack of spuds. "That's for messin' with my 'ead, you bastard!" she shouted.
Fitz felt his jaw hit the floor, but before he could congratulate Rose for that excellent punch, he saw the Doctor sweep her up and kiss her like she had been gone for years instead of minutes. Fitz raised his eyebrows in surprise. Those two rarely ever kissed in his presence, to the point that he doubted that the Doctor and Rose had ever actually had sex, but he didn't have doubts anymore with the way that the Doctor was kissing her.
He felt a pang in his heart as he thought of Rina, and he looked away from them, unable to bear the sight. The Duke started to come around, and Fitz cleared his throat which had the Doctor and Rose pulling away at last.
"Ah, right then," said the Doctor as he set Rose down and bent over the Duke to snatch the Metebelis crystal from him. "Give me a hand, Fitz. I think it's time the Duke left, don't you?"
Fitz was only too happy to help as he and the Doctor picked up the dazed Duke and unceremoniously tossed him out of the TARDIS, right into the arms of his bemused guards. The doors were shut before the guards even realised what happened.
"There, that's taken care of that then," said Fitz, dusting off his hands dramatically.
"Not quite," said Rose and they turned around to see a man dressed as a Mandarin standing near the console.
The Doctor scowled. "Should have known," he muttered. "Don't you have anything better to do?" he asked crossly.
The Crystal Guardian shrugged. "I was bored," he said. "The Guardians have been asked to leave you both alone, but I cannot resist some mischief once in a while."
"They're leaving us alone?" asked Rose sceptically. "Last we met, you lot were trying your hardest to get me killed."
"New consequences, new decisions," said the Crystal Guardian. "Plus, that incomplete bond of yours was just begging to be trifled with."
"Well, you've had your amusement then," snapped the Doctor. "Now, leave."
"With pleasure," said the Crystal Guardian with a bow towards Rose and then the Doctor and Fitz. His eyes lingered on Fitz for a moment, but he said nothing as he vanished slowly and left a deathly silence behind.
"Who the bloody hell was that?" asked Fitz finally.
Rose looked at the Doctor. "You explain," she said. "I need a bath. Meet me in the library for tea?"
His eyes softened and he nodded. "Alright," he said and then turned to Fitz. "Let me start from the beginning..."
A/N End of Part 4. What did you think?
The next chapter will be the interlude as things are discussed between the Doctor and Fitz, and the Doctor and Rose. Plus, the long-awaited explanation about the bond.
It will be up soon. See you then!
