The Crimson Horror: Mr. Sweet
Jenny, Vastra, and Ayla crept along the factory floor, keeping an eye out for the pilgrims as they worked about.
"Look!" Ayla whispered, pointing from where they were hiding at the large red flask.
Vastra and Jenny exchanged a look and a nod before they slowly made their way out of their hiding spot, Jenny keeping hold of Ayla's hand to keep her behind them.
~8~
There was a small whir of the sonic as Mrs. Gillyflower turned around, seeing the door to her office open and the Doctor, Angel, and Clara step through. She didn't seem at all alarmed or upset by the intrusion though, chuckling merrily when she spotted them, "You do seem to keep turning up like a bad penny, young man," she walked over to them.
"Force of habit," the Doctor gave her a wry smirk.
"Can I offer you something? Tea? Seed cake?" she gasped happily and clapped her hands, "A glass of Amontillado?"
"No, thanks," the Doctor waved her off, Angel grimacing, not very fond of any sort of drink, "We've had a skinful already, as you might say."
"Ha!" she laughed heartily at that, "Very funny."
"I'm the Doctor, this is my Mate Angel," he added, taking Angel's hand as he stepped past the woman, "You're nuts, and we're going to stop you."
"I'm afraid Mr. Sweet and I cannot allow that," Gillyflower sighed.
"That is rather rude," Angel murmured, "How you and Mr. Sweet are preserving your pilgrims with diluted prehistoric leech venom."
"So when do we get to meet him, this silent partner of yours?" Clara asked as she wandered around the room, a small smile on her face. Being there with them, as bad as it was to say as it meant she wasn't with Ayla, made her feel included, like…a part of the family. Oh she loved that little girl very much, but to be there with the 'adults' and to be included in their stopping of the situation, it made her feel like she was a Time Lord in a way, like she was really the Doctor's sister and being involved in what he was doing, "Why's he so shy?"
"Mr. Sweet is always with us," Gillyflower hummed, lightly patting her chest.
The Doctor's glance dipped to her hand for a moment, nodding to himself, "You seem to have a very close relationship, you and your pal."
"Oh, yes, Doctor. Exceedingly close. Symbiotic, you might say."
Angel grimaced as Gillyflower unfastened the top part of her gown and pulled it to the side to reveal a rather large, rather hideous looking red leech that was attached to it. It turned its head to look at them, making her turn a bit green to see the round mouth lined with sharp, pointy teeth, before it turned back to Gillyflower and began to attach itself to her again.
'And that…is why I DON'T want a pet for Ayla,' she remarked to the Doctor.
He smiled at her a bit, knowing it was FAR more than just that but that she was also concerned for their daughter, for her safety in the sort of pet they might one day get (for he was determined to get Ayla something despite Angel's hesitance). Oh he would never go behind Angel's back and get a pet, but…he was hopeful and optimistic that he might be able to convince her one day that a pet would be ok.
"Eww," Angel murmured.
~8~
Vastra looked back at Jenny and Ayla, pressing a finger to her lips before she followed two men up the stairs as they carried the flask between them.
~8~
Clara came around to the Time Lords's side, not quite sure what they were gaping at but grimaced herself when she saw the leech. Mrs. Gillyflower just sat down with a happy hum and began to take pinches of sugar off the tray where her tea sat, sprinkling it onto her chest and feeding it.
"Well that explains it," Angel murmured.
"Explains what?" Clara asked, unable to take her eyes off the hideous sight.
"The smell of burnt sweets," she remarked.
Clara DID look at her for that, recalling what Ayla herself had said of the woman. It made sense though, if the leech secreted poison and it mixed with the sugar…it probably would smell quite a bit like melting sweets.
"What is it?" Clara breathed, looking back at it.
"A survivor!" Gillyflower cried, "He has grown fat on the filth humanity has pumped into the rivers. That's where I found him."
"Very enterprising," the Doctor murmured, grimacing himself at the thought of it.
Angel had been right, the leech had gotten ample help from Gillyflower in surviving all that time. The leech, itself, wasn't strong enough to do all this and he very much doubted the leech would have thought to preserve the humans in such away. The vision Angel had seen of Ada proved it more, it was ALL Gillyflower's idea. She had taken what the leech produced and come up with this plan herself. The leech was just along for the ride really, he doubted it was aware of anything other than the fact that Gillyflower provided him food.
Oh humans, they were truly like Donna had once called them, either the greatest explorers or a plague, the best and worst potential lied within them…and Gillyflower was nothing close to the best.
"His needs are simple," Gillyflower spoke, "And in return, he gives me his nectar."
"Mrs. Gillyflower," Angel shook her head at her, standing there as the Doctor moved his arms around her, "Do you have any idea at all what you're doing?"
"In the wrong hands, that venom could wipe out all life on this planet!" the Doctor agreed.
Mrs. Gillyflower just grinned, holding up her hands at them, "Do you know what these are?" she laughed, "The wrong hands!"
Clara shook her head at the woman as she stood and headed for the controls in the wall, "She's completely mad."
The Time Lords had to nod at that.
~8~
Outside the factory, Thomas Thomas looked up, spotting the lights of the main chimney lighting up. He reached out and tapped Strax on the shoulder, pointing. Strax looked up and grinned, before dashing off, his gun held firmly in his hand.
~8~
Angel glanced out the window, spotting the lights throughout the factory turning on, lighting the way to the main chimney and gently reached out to touch the Doctor's arm, directing his gaze out at the chimney.
"Planning a little fireworks party, are we?" the Doctor glanced at Gillyflower.
"You've forced me to advance the Great Work somewhat," the woman sighed, "But my colossal scheme remains as it was. My rocket will explode high in the atmosphere, raining down Mr. Sweet's beneficence onto all humanity."
"And wiping us all out!" Clara cried, "You can't!" she moved to start for the woman, but Angel reached out a hand to stop her, tugging her back.
"My new Adam and Eves will sleep for but a few months before stepping out into a golden dawn," the woman grinned, clasping her hands, imagining it as she turned to face them, "Is it not beautiful?"
"It's horrifying," Angel shook her head, making the woman frown.
The Doctor nodded, eyeing the woman closely, before moving to sit on the sofa, pulling Angle to sit with him, the woman moving to rest on the arm of it as he took her hand, "Tell us about Ada, Mrs. Gillyflower."
"What?" the woman scoffed at the sudden turn in topic.
"Your daughter, Ada," Angel blinked, not sure if the woman was asking because of the topic change or because she honestly didn't even think of the girl as her daughter any longer. As terrible as it was to say…she got the feeling that it was the second option. She swallowed hard and squeezed the Doctor's hand at the thought, "Do you remember her? That sweet little girl that you blinded?"
Clara stiffened at that, looking at the woman in horror.
"How can you speak of such trivia when my hour is at hand?" Gillyflower spat, "The child is of no consequence."
"She's your daughter!" Angel stood, striding towards the woman as the Doctor rose and tugged her back, "She is of EVERY consequence. She should be your ONLY consequence."
"Is that why you experimented on her?" the Doctor asked the woman, a hard look in his eyes as he tried to soothe Angel, running his hand along her side, despite his own anger at the woman.
"Experimented?" Clara breathed, shaking her head at the woman, disgusted.
"The signs are all there," the Doctor swallowed, "The pattern of scarring…" he let out a breath, his mind drifting to Ayla, to the dreams he'd had of her if the Silence had kept her, of all the experiments they had done to her both in his dreams and in real life. He KNEW they had tried to test Angel's DNA, that they would have experimented if they could with Time Lord DNA, "You used her as a guinea pig, didn't you?"
"Don't deny it," Angel shook her head, "I SAW it," she told the woman, "I saw what you did to her. She was just a child! She was just a little girl, she was crying and in pain and you just…stood there. She's your daughter!"
She couldn't understand it, being a mother…she just…she felt so ill just thinking about what the woman had done to Ada. To imagine anyone, any mother, doing that to their child, to their own baby…it was horrifying. It made her so angry to think of how little the woman cared for Ada. That girl, that young woman, was remarkable, she was so strong and loyal and faithful and she kept hold of such hope…any mother in the world would be lucky to have a daughter like her. To see Gillyflower just…throwing that away…it sickened her.
"God!" Clara gaped at the woman, completely at a loss to imagine it. Her mother had always protected her, as a mother should, made her feel better and safe and this…monster had experimented on her child!
"Sometimes, sacrifices must be made," Gillyflower stuck her nose in the air.
"Sacrifices?" the Doctor's expression hardened even more at that.
"It was necessary!" the woman glared at their looks of disgust, "I had to find out how much of the venom would produce an anti-toxin. To immunize myself! Don't you see? It was necessary!"
"No," Angel shook her head, "It wasn't."
"Was it Ada?" the Doctor called over his shoulder.
"Mama?" Ada stood in the doorway, staring unseeingly into the room in the direction of her mother, "Is it...is it true?"
"Ada…" Gillyflower began.
"It is," Ada breathed, now realizing what the Time Lords had been trying to tell her without having to SAY it, "It's true. True."
"Ada…" Angel tried to speak, seeing tears forming in the woman's milky eyes, her hearts breaking to see it.
"Ada, listen to me," Gillyflower cut in, taking a few steps towards her daughter.
"You hag!" Ada spat, stumbling towards her mother, angrily slapping her cane on the floor to reach her, the Doctor tugging Angel out of the way, seeing the woman on a rampage, "You perfidious hag! You virago! You harpy! All these years, I have helped you, served you. Looked out for you. Does it count for nothing? Nothing at all?!" she lifted her cane and began to strike her mother with it.
"Ada!" Angel pulled away from the Doctor and ran over to the girl, unable to stand seeing her so upset, crying and so angry. She gently reached out, putting a hand on Ada's shoulder, "Ada, shh…" she whispered, reaching out another hand to place on Ada's arm holding the cane, gently lowering it as she turned the girl to her. She pulled Ada into her arms, holding her tight, "It's alright," she soothed, just…hugging the girl to her, knowing THAT was what she needed most now, she just…needed a mother to hold her.
The Doctor smiled as he stood there, watching Angel comfort the woman, Gillyflower collapsed back against the wall as Ada sobbed in Angel's arms.
Angel pulled away only slightly, putting her hands on Ada's cheeks, wiping away her tears, "It's alright," she told the girl, "She will NEVER hurt you again," she promised, "I swear it."
Ada sniffled, a small smile appearing on her face despite the pain the truth had called her, to hear someone…to hear someone caring about her…it was something she hadn't heard in…SO long.
Angel smiled, "My love," she glanced at the Doctor, "Could you stop the launch please?"
"Right!" his eyes widened as he realized he'd completely forgotten about it, "Yes, the sonic…" he pulled it out…only to see that Clara had grabbed a chair instead, "Hang on, I've got the sonic screwdriver!"
"Yeah?" Clara smiled, winking at him, "I've got a chair!" before she lunged at the controls, shoving the chair into it, causing them to spark and short circuit, sparks flying.
"No!" Gillyflower cried.
"…is it over?" Ada whispered in a small voice.
Angel smiled, moving her arm around Ada's shoulders, "Yes," she nodded, "It is."
"I'm afraid your rocket isn't going anywhere, Mrs. G," the Doctor grinned, flipping the sonic in his hand before he slipped it away.
~8~
Strax grinned up at the chimney, looking around before spotting a way up.
~8~
Angel reached out and ran a gentle hand along Ada's hair, just touched when she saw the girl smile and close her eyes at the sensation, she could imagine the woman didn't get many motherly touches like that. She looked over at the Doctor and Clara who were smiling as they watched her, the Doctor with pride in his eyes.
'Never EVER tell me that you're useless again,' he told her with love in his voice, recalling all the times she'd worried that she wasn't strong enough or good enough or useful enough for him, 'That right there…amazing.'
She smiled at that, looking down modestly, blushing…when Gillyflower groaned, pushing herself up, "Please, come to me, Ada," the woman begged, "My child…"
Angel shook her head as she looked back at the woman, "No," she turned, gently nudging Ada towards the Doctor and Clara as she faced the woman alone, "She is NOT your child anymore. You lost the right to call her that the second you hurt her."
"Well then," Gillyflower glared at her, "I'll have to make do with what I have…" before she reached out and grabbed Angel, pulling her against her and holding a gun to her head.
"Angel!" the Doctor lunged forward, but Mrs. Gillyflower cocked the gun, "Let her go!" he nearly snarled as Clara was held back by Ada, knowing what her mother was like.
'Have faith my love,' he heard Angel reassure him in his mind. He looked at her, seeing that she seemed perfectly calm despite the gun to her head, 'Please,' she whispered, 'Trust me. I couldn't let her hurt Ada even more.'
He swallowed hard, realizing that she'd SEEN this, she'd seen Gillyflower take Ada, seen her do this to her daughter, and…she hadn't been able to stand it truly coming true.
'Neither of us do well when children cry,' she reminded him.
He let out a breath, Ada was a young woman, but…she was still Gillyflower's daughter and he knew, in relation to Ayla, that no matter what, no matter how old she grew to be, she would ALWAYS be his daughter, his child, his little girl.
"And now," Gillyflower smirked, seeing the Doctor stop, knowing (or thinking) she had the upper hand, "If you'll please forgive us, we must be going!"
And with that, she pushed her way with Angel through a door in the back, slamming it shut and locking it before any of them could run to it. Clara ran for the door, trying to get through, but Ada pulled her back, "No, Miss Clara you mustn't," she called, reminding Clara very much of Ayla at first, "If we follow straight after, Mama will surely shook her without hesitation!"
"She wouldn't!" Clara stared at Ada in horror.
"She would," the Doctor muttered darkly under his breath.
He knew that Angel would be able to protect herself, that the Vortex would protect her…but he also knew that she wouldn't attack Gillyflower either, that she wouldn't harm the woman despite what she'd done. She didn't like using the Vortex to hurt others, especially not now that it seemed to be overpowering her at times. She didn't want to risk using it in that way (not that she ever would use it like that) and have it take her over. It DID seem to consume her and utilize her to use more destructive energy than it used to.
He turned, looking for something, anything that he could use to get them out…and spotted a chair. He ran over and grabbed it, not bothering to utter another word before he ran at the window on the side of the room and threw it out, shattering it.
~8~
Angel remained as calm as she could…which quite surprised her just how calm she felt…as she was dragged through the factory floor by Gillyflower, the woman on a mission, but…they had their own mission too that the woman was none the wiser about.
"Has the venom been loaded?" Gillyflower demanded of a pilgrim.
"Yes, ma'am," was all she got in reply.
She grinned, "Then heaven awaits ya'!" she shouted, rushing off with Angel as the pilgrims went to their homes to await the next step in the plan.
~8~
The Doctor ran as fast as he could down the pavement of the courtyard, Clara leading Ada along by the hand after him.
~8~
Gillyflower looked up the stairs to the rocket, grinning when she saw it was ready for launch, before dragging Angel up them.
~8~
The Doctor shoved his way past the door and into the factory, looking up at the rocket before racing to it with the girls after him, rushing up the stairs, spotting Angel and Gillyflower on a landing above them on a landing, before a control box, "Let her go!" the Doctor shouted, aiming the sonic at the woman threateningly, "Let my Mate go!"
Gillyflower just hummed to herself, smiling away, not even perturbed, "Secondary firing mechanism, Doctor! Mr. Sweet and I are too smart for you, after all."
"Just let her go!" Clara moved to the Doctor's side, "What use do you have for her now that you've got away?"
Gillyflower seemed to consider that before she shrugged and shoved Angel forward, clearly attempting to push her down the stairs…only for her to disappear in a flash of gold, startling the woman, as she reappeared in the Doctor's arms, smiling at him.
"What…" Gillyflower stared at them in shock, clearly she hadn't expected them to be as alien as Mr. Sweet was as well.
Angel just smiled at the Doctor and gave him a peck as he set her down, only to pull her back in for another (though far TOO brief in his opinion) kiss, before he turned to glare at Gillyflower, nudging Angel just a bit behind him.
"Weren't expecting THAT were you?" the Doctor smirked at her.
"It matters not to me," Gillyflower shrugged it off, turning to the control box as she started singing, "I'll labor night and day to be a pilgrim!" and pulled a lever, the engines of the rocket powering up as it was sent off into the air, Gillyflower cackling madly the entire time as she watched it rise up and up and up, "Now, Mr. Sweet, now the whole world will taste your lethal kiss!"
"Will it?" Angel smiled, "I rather think not."
"What?" Gillyflower glared at her.
The Doctor just grinned, "Never, ever try to fool a psychic Mrs. G," the Doctor winked and nodded to the side and up.
Gillyflower turned to see Jenny and Vastra appear on the upper landing, the flask of venom between them, Ayla crouched down and waving at her through the beams of the railing, "Very well, then," she sneered, "If I can't take the world with me, you will have to do!" she turned the gun on Vastra and Jenny, "Die, you freaks! Die! Die!"
But a golden wall appeared before she could fire any bullets, blocking them.
"Don't you DARE threaten MY daughter," Angel said, her voice hard as Gillyflower looked over to see her eyes glowing golden as she held out a hand, keeping the wall up, "I can assure you, Mrs. Gillyflower, I am NOTHING like you and I will keep MY daughter safe no matter the cost."
"Put down your weapon, human female!" another voice shouted from above.
They all looked up to see Strax peeking over the top of the chimney with his gun aimed at Gillyflower. The woman glared and fired up at him…but he retaliated, striking near her feet as she fell over the side of the stairs, plummeting down to the floors below…
When the same golden wall appeared halfway down, catching her as she gasped and panted, clearly not having expected to be saved. Everyone looked at Angel, slightly shocked that the woman would save Gillyflower but she just shook her head and started to make her way down the steps, the golden wall gently lowering with her to the floor, Gillyflower lying there, stunned and dazed and shocked by the fall.
"It is a horrible way to die," was all Angel murmured when the Doctor joined her on the ground, winding an arm around her.
He smiled softly, knowing that she hated death, and a fall like that…it reminded her too much of Clara Oswin Oswald and how she had died. He leaned over and kissed her temple, holding out an arm as Ayla jogged down a set of steps on the other side, rushing over to their arms to hug them.
Ada reached the ground as well, using her cane to make her way over to her mother, "Does he live?" she asked them, "Mr. Sweet?"
Clara glanced down at the leech still stuck to the dazed Gillyflower "Yeah."
Ada nodded and swallowed hard, before leaning over, blindly reaching out, grimacing when she came in contact with the leech…grabbing it tightly as she yanked it off her mother, ignoring the cry of pain Gillyflower gave as its teeth were ripped away.
"Ada?" Gillyflower called, startled as she looked over to see her daughter standing with Mr. Sweet in her hand, "Ada what are you doing?!"
Ada just dropped the leech to the ground, shaking her head as she felt herself get angry and upset once more…before bashing her cane against the ground, striking Mr. Sweet over and over and over…not flinching at the squishing noises that reached her as she destroyed the leech that had destroyed her own life.
"Ada no!" her mother shouted.
She shook her head, knowing at that moment that her mother was lost to her, even without Mr. Sweet…she would NEVER be her mother again and she would NEVER forgive her. She took a breath and glanced back at the Doctor, not even needing to see to know that he and Angel had covered Ayla's eyes so she wouldn't see the violent act, because they were parents and THAT was what parents did, protect you.
"Could one of you see to it that…" she swallowed, "That my mother is turned over to the proper authorities…if one should exist for such matters as this."
Vastra nodded, stepping over to Ada's side and putting a hand on her shoulder, "Leave it to me, my dear," she told the girl, before glancing at Strax as he entered, nodding at the woman on the floor, still reaching out for the remains of Mr. Sweet.
The Sontaran grinned and strode over to the woman, all too happy to arrest her.
~8~
The Doctor and Angel walked with Ayla between them, holding her hands as they bounced her up and down between them, Clara shaking her head as she followed them towards the TARDIS, Jenny, Vastra, Strax, and Ada standing behind them to say goodbye, Jenny and Vastra with the poison between them.
"Right, London," the Doctor smiled as they let Ayla down, crouching down to tickle her stomach, "We were heading for London, weren't we?"
"Was there any particular reason?" Clara asked.
"No," the Doctor stood up quickly, making Clara eye him oddly, "No."
"We thought it would just be a nice place to visit," Ayla told her.
"Yeah," Clara laughed.
"I think this was an excellent trip though," Angel remarked, "Though we've probably had enough 'Victorian values' for now," she winked at the Doctor for that.
He grinned, winding an arm around her, "Well then, who am I to argue?" he tapped her nose, "You're the boss."
"Yes I am," she beamed at him, kissing him quickly.
Clara looked at them a moment, "Doctor…" she began, as he looked at her, "You…you called me your sister before. Was…was there any reason?" she knew that Angel had called some of her other siblings her 'sister' because they reminded her of her actual sister, like Rose, but…the Doctor was always so quiet about that part of his life, she really had no idea if he had a sister or a brother or anything like that.
His smile turned a bit sad at that, "Because…you remind me of her."
Clara nodded, her gaze softening, "One day…will you tell me about her?" she didn't mean right now, of course not, she had seen him slipping up a bit in the past, like he was about to call her his sister, and the comments Angel made made her feel like he'd felt that way for a while. But if it took him THAT long to admit it out loud, she got the feeling it would take him a while still before he was able to talk about the woman she reminded him of.
He nodded as well, "One day, yeah," he agreed, making no promise for right then either.
"Thanks," she smiled before disappearing into the TARDIS.
He smiled to himself, nodding again, before he spun around, scooping Ayla into his arms, "Now, Ada," he led the girls over to her, "We'd love to stay and clear up the mess, but..."
"I know, dear monster," Ada gave a happy sigh, "You have things to do."
"And what about you Miss Ada?" Ayla asked, blinking at her, "Will you be ok?"
Ada smiled at the girl's concern, she could hear it even now, the warmth and care that the girl's mother possessed, "Oh, there are many things a bright young lady can do to occupy her time. It's time I stepped out of the darkness and into the light."
Angel looked at her softly, "Ada…I think I may be able to help you with that," she remarked.
The Doctor beamed at that, "Oh that is brilliant!" he cheered, knowing what Angel meant.
"Mummy…are you going to…" Ayla looked at her with wide eyes.
"I'll try," Angel nodded, reaching out to take Ayla's hand, "Do you want to help me sweetheart?" and Ayla nodded eagerly, squirming till the Doctor set her down.
"Try what?" Ada blinked, shaking her head at them, not understanding.
"It's a surprise!" Ayla cheered, taking Ada's hands.
"Would you mind crouching down Ada?" Angel asked her, "Only for a moment, I promise."
Ada seemed a bit confused at that but nodded, crouching down. The Doctor watched as Angel took Ayla's hands and, after asking Ada to close her eyes, placed their daughter's hands over Ada's eyes before pressing her own over Ayla's hands. He grinned, seeing a faint golden glow start to drift off of Angel's hands, through Ayla's and into Ada's face.
He turned, moving over to Vastra, Strax, and Jenny, saying goodbye to them while Angel worked away so not to distract her, "Thank you," he told them, earnest, "Thank you so much you three, as much as ever," he winked and pointed at them, starting to step back, "Have some Pontefract cakes on me. I love Pontefract cakes! See you around, eh? I shouldn't wonder," he turned to head back to the girls when Jenny called out.
"Doctor," she spoke as he turned around, "That girl…it's…it's Clara but…it's not her," she frowned, "You haven't explained how that's possible."
He smiled at that, "No. I haven't," he sighed, "Because I honestly don't know," he told them, "She's just…there," was all he could offer as he shrugged, "I've learned to accept the miracles the Universe sees fit to gift me with," he added, nodding at his girls before he headed over to them.
Angel looked over at him as she smiled, pulling hers and Ayla's hands away from Ada, "Open your eyes!" Ayla cheered, fidgeting in excitement.
Ada frowned, not sure what difference that would make in the darkness she lived in, but she blinked, opening her eyes, before gasping and falling back on her bum as she SAW them! Her eyes widened as they darted around, taking in everything, "Oh my Lord…" she breathed, shaking her head, "But…how?!" she looked at them in confusion.
Ayla just giggled and moved to hug her, "Mummy really IS an angel," she whispered in the woman's ear, before pulling away to kiss her cheek, all the scars had even healed from her face, "Daddy says so all the time."
And with that she turned and skipped off to the TARDIS as Ada looked up at the two Time Lords before her, "Thank you…" she whispered to Angel, tears in her eyes.
Angel shook her head, "Thank YOU Ada," she told the girl, before the Doctor took her hand, kissing the back of it as they too headed for the TARDIS, Ada laughing as she watched them go, as she was ABLE to watch them go.
Strax rolled his eyes at the weepy human emotions, seeing even Vastra was teary eyed at the moment, "Another one for the vault?" he asked, picking up the flask.
But before Vastra could answer, Mr. Thursday spotted them on his way from their home and walked over, "Ah! There you are. I called to see whether there had been any progress…" he trailed off as the TARDIS disappeared in front of him…his eyes rolling back into his head as he collapsed backwards.
"Oh dear!" Ada gasped, rushing over to see if he was alright, "Hello?" she called, pulling out a small fan to wave before the man's face, "Sir?"
"Mr. Thursday," Jenny told her, sharing a sly smile with Vastra as the two backed up and headed off, Strax with them.
"Oh, Mr. Thursday?" Ada lightly tapped his cheeks, slowly rousing him, "Are you alright sir?"
Thursday blinked slowly, coming around, before he looked up at her, his eye widening as he felt the breath leave him at the lovely creature hovering over him, "Oh…hello."
She smiled a bit at that, at being able to SEE him actually starting to…blush, "Hello."
~8~
Clara smiled as she stepped into the Maitland home, dressed back in her usual, modern clothes, checking herself in the mirror to make sure her hair was straight again, "Lovely," she winked at herself, before she continued into the house, looking around for the children a moment before shrugging.
She stepped into the kitchen, shaking her head when she saw one of Artie's transformer toys sitting on the counter, "Hello there," she laughed, before making her voice go low, imitating the toy, "I'm the Doctor's sister!" she smiled at that.
That really WOULD take some getting used to, to think of herself like that, it was so foreign to her, having been an only child.
She glanced over when she noticed the laptop, Angie's laptop, sitting open on the kitchen table. She frowned, spotting something on the monitor and walked over, plopping down before it…only to see herself…and the Time Family on the Soviet sub, and another of them all in the Caliburn house…
Oh she was starting to think she was spending too much time with Angel now, there was a pit in her stomach.
"It's you, isn't it?" Angie spoke from behind her, making her stiffen as she and Artie entered the room, "It's from the '70s, but it's definitely you."
"Of course it's not," she said tensely.
"And that's you too, from 1983," Artie pointed at the photos, "I found it at school."
"No, it's just someone who looks like me."
"And that's someone that looks like your boyfriend?" Angie pointed at the Doctor.
"He's not my boyfriend," Clara grimaced, "He's like my brother."
"Is he an alien?" Artie asked, "Are YOU an alien?"
"Why would they be aliens?" Angie shook her head at her brother.
"The chin," Artie shrugged.
"And the time travel?" Angie clicked another image and Clara Oswin Oswald, the Victorian Governess appeared.
Clara frowned, leaning in to squint at it, "That's not right…"
"You were in Victorian London."
"No, I was in Victorian Yorkshire," she stated, before stiffening, her eyes widening before falling closed as she realized what she'd said.
Angie frowned, "How come you didn't tell us?"
But Artie smirked, "Time travel, that's so cool!"
"Can we have a go?"
"Can you have a what?!" Clara spun around in her chair to stare at them.
"We want a shot at the time machine!" Artie grinned, looking at her pleadingly.
"No, no, no! Listen..."
Angie just crossed her arms, "Ok, or we'll have to tell dad that our nanny's a time traveler!"
Clara looked back at the photos before pressing her face into her hands and shaking her head, Angie and Artie grinning behind her as they realized they'd won.
~8~
"Oh it was just wonderful Sissy."
The Doctor smiled as he leaned in the door frame that led to the halls, watching Angel as she moved around the console, fixing bits here and there as she went, speaking to the old box. She was just as talkative as Ayla was when she had something to share with 'Idris' about an adventure or two. He had been looking for her through the TARDIS, though now that he thought about it he really SHOULD start with the console room as Angel was there more often than not. But he'd been trying to sleep, having been poisoned and trying to find Angel for most of the time had worn him down but…at the same time…he hadn't wanted to sleep.
No, it wasn't that he hadn't wanted to, it was that he couldn't seem to fall asleep. He knew what it was though, a combination of things that all had to do with Angel. He hadn't been able to fall asleep without her in his arms, a remnant of when he'd slept so long without her beside him, he just couldn't do it anymore, not since they'd started sharing a room again after Berlin. And…he liked having her there when he woke up, more often than not the nightmares that hit him needed instant reassurance that she was still alive and having her there was what he needed most. And then there was…well…he wasn't quite embarrassed to say but…waking up so frantic and having her there to comfort him and soothe him…it meant a lot to him. It…really did comfort him more than he could say.
He didn't enjoy the nightmares, but…they were a necessary punishment.
"You should have seen the look on Clara's face when the Doctor called her his sister," Angel was smiling, "I've been waiting for that day for ages!" she laughed, "Yes, longer than YOU were," the TARDIS hummed, "Well YOU knew it was coming and when, I was left to hope!" she argued with the box.
"I'm rather glad the Doctor claimed Clara for the family," she added, "After meeting 'Idris,'" she patted the console, "Well, you're a very tough act to follow girl. And I think it was high time the Doctor found a bond with someone like I did Rose in a companion. It's…a special sort of love that siblings share."
He let out a small chuckle when he heard the box give, what he would call, a huff.
"Oh don't worry Sissy," Angel reached out and patted the rotor, "He still loves you very much."
He shook his head at the box and made his way in, wrapping his arms around Angel's waist, startling her which he was quite proud of as it wasn't often he was able to sneak up on her, "Not as much as I love you," he murmured in her ear, kissing her cheek.
"Don't let Sissy hear you say that," she whispered, before the box hummed loudly and she laughed, "Too late."
"Oh she knows," the Doctor waved it off, "She knows YOU are the most important thing in my world now, you and Ayla," he nodded, "And I think that's what she'd rather have, eh Sexy?"
Angel laughed as the box hummed in agreement.
"She's VERY happy you love me that much," Angel interpreted, "And she's very glad that Clara's your sister now too," she added, "She's…happy for you Theta," she murmured, "She' so happy that you were able to call Clara your sister. Finally," she nudged him.
"Yes, yes," he laughed, "I got there eventually, with quite a few nudges," he poked her back.
Angel turned in his arms, draping her own around his neck, "I really am so happy for you though my love," she smiled at him, leaning in so her nose brushed against his own, "Rose…helped me heal, so much, from the War and…and losing my sister. Clara, she can help you as well."
He nodded, "I know," he smiled, "She…she already has," he admitted, "I…I always tried not to think of her, of any of my siblings, of my family. But…" he nodded again, "Seeing her in Clara…I can remember the good times now, and…it doesn't hurt so much to see her memory live on in someone else."
Angel leaned in and kissed him slowly, that was exactly how she'd felt about Rose. She'd spent 50 years trying NOT to think about her sister but, being around Rose, it had allowed her to think of the better times, and…to keep her sister's memory alive instead of bury it and forget it, not that that was possible.
She pulled away, looking into his eyes as she reached up to touch his cheek, "You deserve it," she whispered, "You deserve to be happy Theta."
"I am," he responded just as quietly, "I really…truly am," he smiled, bopping his nose to hers, "Because of YOU Nella," he told her, "I…wouldn't be where I am today without you. I wouldn't have a home or a daughter or a Mate, I wouldn't have the family that I do or…or accepted the sister I have…if I'd never known you," he touched her face as well, "You make everything brighter."
"Well YOU make everything better," she countered softly, "You're such a doctor," she joked.
"And you…truly ARE an angel," he whispered, "My Angel."
"My Doctor."
He laughed, leaning in and kissing her soundly, just…so…content, with everything, with his place in the Universe, with his life, with anything that could possibly follow. He could face anything, anything at all, as long as he had Angel with him.
A/N: Awww :) Bit of fluff :) I hope you liked the small change to Ada not being taken, I really wanted Angel's maternal side to come out and show Ada a mother's love :') And...she can see! For some reason, I have it stuck in my head that Ada and Thursday would be lovely together lol :)
And...I'm very excited, tomorrow we get Evy's 50th special ^-^ Lol, we might even reach another sneak peek for this story at the same time :)
The next chapter of TAOSAT will be up in a few hours, probably about 7-8 from posting this ;)
Some notes on reviews...
Lol, that's awesome! I wish you the best of luck on your Doctor's sister story :)
Oh I could see Torchwood pulling the overprotective Uncles bit as Ayla prepares for her first date with all the girls helping her and the men intimidating her poor date lol :)
The Doctor definitely touched on that, how completely insane Gillyflower was, the leech was just a parasite, unable to come up with such a plot on its own, it was ALL her. Which really is creepy :(
I'm glad you like the 'Clara's his sister' twist ;)
