I'm hoping this story will come up to 19 chapters in all. Tell you why another time but I don't think it will be possible. Think it may be more. Anyhow thanks for the reviews and enjoy!
"Where is she?" A voice said behind Gabrielle, who was amazed that she heard this over the commotion of the corridors. People were restless as not only an aristocrat had been murdered by, potentially, one of their own, the King and Queen had been targets also.
The corridors were swarming with people at the moment, panic set in their eyes as they too could be the next targets. Some guards were trying to reassure people that it was all under control and extra security measures had been.
Amazing, Gabrielle thought, that even now there is a stable security body. A hand grabbed her arm. It was cold, and Gabrielle shivered. She turned around to see an enraged woman, whose eyes screamed madness.
"Where is she?" Jeanne D'Artois repeated, tightening her grip on Gabrielle's hand. Gabrielle struggled to detach herself from Jeanne, but Jeanne was not letting go. This was a woman on a mission, and she was not going to stop until she completed it.
"Who? Let go of me your hurting!" Gabrielle said and struggled even harder against Jeanne. Gabrielle looked into her eyes and saw a mad woman.
"You know who, you little slut. Your friend, Marie." Jeanne said and dug her nails into Gabrielle arms. Gabrielle winced as Jeanne's nails were extremely sharp.
What do you expect? She told herself. All the women do is file their nails all day and wave a fan once in a while.
"I do not know. I've barely seen her." Gabrielle said and gave a huge tug which did release her arm from the tight grasp of Jeanne, but lost her balance in the process and fell on the floor. A metallic object fell out of her pocket and landed on the floor with a thud, though neither Gabrielle or Jeanne had noticed.
"I lost sight of her in all this commotion." Jeanne said and started to scratch violently at her own arm, as if to punish herself.
She needs help, Gabrielle thought and instantly thought of the 20th century with their white padded walls and straight jackets.
Jeanne stopped what she was doing and looked up the corridor and gave a wicked smile. Gabrielle did not like this. She had found her target.
"Gabrielle, what is going on?" Marie asked and helped Gabrielle up off the floor. Charlie had just arrived behind her, with a sleepy look on his eyes. He was not wearing a top. Marie looked at Jeanne, who gave her a little smile.
Marie had no time to react as instantly a searing pain went down the side of her face. She could feel blood trickling down on her face and brought her hand up to cover it while Charlie held Jeanne back.
"Those nails are armed and dangerous." Gabrielle said next to her and showed Marie her arm, which too was bleeding from where Jeanne had dug her nails in.
"It was you, you murdering bitch. I'll have your head for this." Jeanne said, struggling to get out of Charlie's hold on her. Marie looked on in disbelief.
"You think I would murder the man I love? You're more shallow than I thought." Marie said and brought out a hanky from her dress to apply pressure on her newly inflicted wounds.
"You've made my entire life a misery. I will kill you for this!" Jeanne screamed from Charlie's hold and suddenly noticed the metallic object on the floor, which was now lighting up. She was looking at it in wonder which directed everyone else's attention at it.
Gabrielle looked down and almost fainted. She had put the mission in total jeopardy.
In the confusion, Jeanne managed to brake Charlie's hold and head for the object. She grabbed it before anyone could react, and now the tables had turned.
"What is this?" Jeanne asked, holding the object as if it was about to explode.
No-one answered. Charlie looked about and noticed no-one else was paying attention to whatever Jeanne was holding. They were all too caught up in the situation of the King and Queen.
"What is this?" Jeanne repeated, this time raising her voice. She was getting very angry this evening.
"It is nothing." Gabrielle said quickly and stepped forward to take the object away from Jeanne. Jeanne stepped back quickly. She may be mentally unstable, but she was not stupid.
"Liar. What is this?" Jeanne repeated. The object suddenly began to vibrate which Jeanne dropped from the shock. Gabrielle took her chance and grabbed the object before Jeanne could react.
"You are not from here are you?" Jeanne said, everything beginning to click in her fragile mind.
"It would explain many things. How you suddenly turned up out of the blue, and clearly not fitting in. Just wait until I tell the guards. Who knows what other treasures they might find in your rooms?" Jeanne said and gave a wicked little smile. She turned and headed off in the opposite direction to the trio.
"We have to stop her." Gabrielle said and made her way after Jeanne, only to be stopped by Charlie.
"Jack! What do you think you are doing? She could have us killed!" Gabrielle said, but Charlie held on.
"Who are you? You are not the Jack Harkness I heard about." Gabrielle said, ready to hear the truth. Marie dabbed the hanky on her face, which was now quite red from the blood. Charlie said nothing. For the first time, Gabrielle noticed the yellow band on his arm.
"What have you done?" Gabrielle asked in horror, realisation dawning on her. This was no Jack Harkness. This was no time agent. This was not even someone from her own time stream.
"I can explain." Charlie started but was cut off by Gabrielle.
"I'm sure you can. I'm sure you will both be able to explain this to the time agency." Gabrielle said, anger now flaring up within her.
"It's not what you think." Marie started but Gabrielle had had enough. She had her neck to save, and ran after Jeanne.
"I'm going after her. This is turning out to be quite a disaster." Marie said and ran after Gabrielle, leaving Charlie standing on his own in a corridor.
How will I explain this to the agency? Charlie thought. He is from the 21st century, and he and Marie have broken a dozen laws already. He has impersonated a fellow time agent for his own enjoyment, and he did not for one second think of the implications. He did not think of what Marie had done for him, or how he left his friends and his life behind.
He had made a decision.
He will get the Doctor and Rose.