The Dread of Tomorrow and Yesterday – Chapter 34
Disclaimer: BBC owns Doctor Who, at least I think they do, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, I own Rhea and any other original character in the story.
A/N: And we're back to the Tenth Doctor again. Any of you who have been waiting for Rhea to tell Rose off, this is where you'll find it. Anyone else get really pissed off at Rose in this episode? She was acting quite bratty with the whole "not amused" joke. Well, you can bet Rhea will definitely "not be amused" by Rose's antics. This will also be an important chapter in digging deeper into the way Rhea thinks and what she believes in. We will definitely see a lot of anti-Imperialist/Revoluntionist!Rhea. Anyone who is British or Indian, I apologise if I offend you in this chapter and the next one. This is how Rhea and a quite a few (not all) Indians feel about certain parts of the British occupation of India. The Koh-I-Noor is a sore point for a lot of people and this will be reflected in Rhea. But there are reasons for it, I promise.
Notes on Reviews:
lostiesgirl: If you mean Rhea and the Doctor as a couple, sorry, there is awhile left for that. I know what episode I plan to have it happen in, but not where it falls in the order of episodes I'm doing. I feel like sometimes the OC falls in love with the Doctor a bit too quickly, so I'm making this quite slow. But it should be coming up soon. Hopefully. Thank you for your opinion about the Metacrisis Doctor, I'll definitely note in down. It doesn't really matter, cause Journey's End is a long way away.
Kate Elizabeth Black: Yeah, she is quite bossy. Actually it is good to know that everyone doesn't like Rhea, that way I know I'm not writing her as perfect, because she's not. She does flirt a lot with people, but she hasn't done anything like what she did with Jack with anyone else, I don't think. Don't worry, her little indiscretion with Jack will come back to bite her back, I promise.
Guest: I think she's a little bit annoyed how relaxed she feels with the Doctor. And yes, it is becoming very hard for her to keep distancing herself from him. It's like she can only distance herself for a little while before she goes back to him. I don't think any of the Doctors would actually talk to her about it, nor the companions, because there's a lot they don't know about her. Like Donna didn't even know she was married. Rory and her will have a heart-to-heart in the future, but not now, because she doesn't really know any companion really well to have that sort of conversation with them. The urge to smack Rhea never leaves, I'm feeling it right now. This episode's a bit lightweight, but the next one's going to be hell for the two of them.
Hanane: I'm so glad you like the story. I was thinking about doing the interlude with Nine or Ten, but I feel they've gotten quite a bit of Rhea romance so far. Eleven doesn't seem to get much sugar, except for some flirting and a few kisses. Plus Eleven has the most spoilers with Rhea and when he keeps meeting these early Rheas, I think he'd like to have a Rhea who knows more. Yeah, Rhea didn't get the reference in The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky, but she got it in these episodes!
grapejuice101: Jealous Doctor is so great to write, plus I think Nine's perfect for that role. Hope you like my choice of episode!
Kristina'sMyName: I'm glad you liked the chapter and it's good you like the idea of a future Rhea.
Princess-Amon-Rae: I hope when I explain why Rhea's like this, you'll understand why she pushes the Doctor away. Even after getting into a relationship with him, she'll push him away, it's the way she does things. You should see how much she's broken my heart over the course of this story. I'm so glad you liked this chapter and I'm a huge fan of jealous Doctor as well, maybe we'll see him again sometime.
BrizeldaLeon: I'm so glad you like the story! Don't worry, I have some great plans in store for the Metacrisis Doctor ;)
fragilesouls: Thank you so much for an opinion. I will definitely do an interlude with a future Rhea.
Warnings: Swearing, sexual innuendo.
Tooth and Claw: The Wolfman
Rhea rubbed her damp hair furiously with her towel as she walked into the console room. Jack stared at her as she followed the Doctor around the console, the ease of her movements as she flitted around him, moving underneath his arms if there wasn't enough space. Sometimes her fingers reached up and touched his jaw or her hand would curl around his bicep, as she gave him a beaming grin, showing her bright white teeth, contrasted with the red of her lipstick. He noticed the way the Doctor's face seemed to soften around her, his hand on the small of her back as they talked about something or another. Sometimes, his fingers would reach up and twirl or play with her hair, his icy blue eyes utterly focused on her. For someone who was adamant about not having a boyfriend, she didn't let more than a few inches of space between them.
Jack wasn't an idiot, he knew he was half in love with the three strangers, not to mention the lovely TARDIS, despite only being with them for a few days. The Doctor was all gruff and hard, Rhea slipped between seduction and snark and Rose embodied strong and sweet. But, God knows they had the ability to swap those traits, Jack swore he had seen the TARDIS walls shake during one of Rhea and the Doctor's arguments, a tiny, human girl fighting against a Time Lord, but he bet the sentient ship took Rhea's side in arguments. But, Rhea was definitely capable of sweetness around the Doctor. He had never thought that a girl who carried a blaster the way she did could cook the way she did. And the way she looked after the Doctor. She made sure that a decent-sized helping of everything she had made was on his plate before she gave it to him, then, she made sure he had eaten at least ninety percent of it before she let him wash the dish and put it back in the cupboard.
Jack was broken out of his thoughts when he heard a cry of pain, snapping into action. He looked around the console to see Rhea gripping the console with one hand and her head with the other. Jack watched in horror as Rhea turned into the Doctor's embrace, whose arms wrapped around Rhea, tightly and protectively, as she shook in his hold from the pain, her eyes tightly shut. What really induced the horror was the fact that the Doctor seemed unconcerned by Rhea's agony, not to mention the fierce white light radiating from her body.
"What's happening to her?" Jack asked, his voice tight from worry and desperation, taking a step closer, but a little nervous that the Doctor would growl at him if he got too close.
"Nothing." The Doctor said, bluntly, and cupped the back of Rhea's head, pressing her into his chest, as the white light brightened. When the light burnt even his eyes, he shut them, furiously, waiting for his vision to clear before he opened them again.
When Rhea opened her eyes, she stood on wobbly legs in the TARDIS. The lights in the console room seemed to light up as her eyesight adjusted. She patted the console, lovingly. Thank you, gorgeous. She heard footsteps on the grill and spun on her feet to see the Doctor bounding over to her.
"Hello!" The Doctor said, happily, before lifting her up into a hug. He placed her back onto the floor and looked her over, intensely. "You were just with my previous self, weren't you?"
"You'd know." Rhea muttered before scrutinising him. "Is this very early for you? At least, this you?"
"I'm still travelling with Rose, if that's what you mean." The Doctor said, looking up at her from the console. "She's changing her clothes, I told her to go change into something seventies-ish." He observed her clothes. "You should go and change as well."
Rhea raised an eyebrow. "Well, then." She muttered, slightly offended, and stalked off. She entered the room and headed straight for the closet, flicking through the racks of clothes until she found something moderately appropriate. She clucked her tongue at every coat hanger until she pulled an outfit out with a cry of triumph. She slipped into a pale green sleeveless top and pink and white patterned palazzo pants, twirling around in front of the mirror in her room. She pouted at her reflection and reapplied her makeup quite quickly. She pinned up a few locks of hair, leaving a great deal of her running down her back. She kissed her fingers and touched the walls of the TARDIS, grinning when she felt the pleased hum beneath her fingers. Thanks for the clothes, gorgeous. Let's go see what matchstick man has in store for us.
She walked quickly, rushing up the steps and joining the Doctor at the console. He looked her over, appreciatively, stopping quite obviously at her chest.
"The top's a bit low, don't you think?" The Doctor asked, his voice slightly gruff.
She slid closer to him, their hips practically touched, as she placed with his tie. "Are you looking?" She asked, playfully, her tongue sticking out of her teeth. She pushed her chest out and smirked, inwardly, when she saw the Doctor's gaze turned to the tops of her breasts.
"Don't tempt me." The Doctor growled, his hand sliding over her hip.
"Yeah, well, maybe I want to." She purred, leaning up so that his face was only a millimetre away. The Doctor's hand slid up, stroking her ribs with his thumb.
Just then, Rose stumbled inside the TARDIS, carrying a massive backpack with her. While the Doctor was holding a CD in the air, Rose slammed the bag down onto the floor and finished zipping it up, shoving it out of the way once she was done. She stood and smoothed down the denim of her rather short dungaree skirt.
"What do you think of this? Will it do?" Rose asked, slightly self-conscious. She wasn't very used to wearing such short skirts.
Rhea slid over to her and wrapped her arms around her, kissing her quickly on the cheek. "I think you look gorgeous. Very sexy." She grinned and winked at the blonde, who grinned back, nudging Rhea's hip with her own.
"In the late 1970s? You'd be better off in a bin bag." The Doctor said, dismissively. "Hold on, listen to this." He pushed the CD into the player and Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick started playing over the speakers.
"Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Number One in 1979." The Doctor commented, while wandering around the controls.
Rhea and Rose laughed aloud. "Oh, dear God, you're a punk." Rhea muttered, half-exasperated. "Sweetie, funk rock is not real rock."
"It's good to be a lunatic-" The Doctor sang along, appearing out of nowhere next to Rhea and taking one of her hands and spinning her around before dipping her. He pulled her back up and kissed her on the forehead.
"Oh, god, you're insane." Rhea laughed, pressing her face into his shoulder. "Madman with a box, aren't you?" The Doctor simply kissed her again on the forehead, seemingly in agreement.
Rose nodded. "That's what you are. A big old Punk with a bit of Rockabillly thrown in."
Rhea snorted and elbowed Rose. "We might even have to cut out the Rockabilly." And the two collapsed into more laughter, holding onto each other for dear life.
"Okay, okay." The Doctor gave Rhea and Rose a stern look, who quietened down, schooling their faces into serious masks. The Doctor turned his attention back to the controls, his back to them, and Rhea and Rose exchanged twin looks of fond exasperation, biting their lips to stop the laughter from rising again. "Would you like to see him?" The Doctor spun around and fixed them with a smug look.
Rose's mouth dropped. "How'd you mean? In concert?"
"No, in the mall." Rhea said, sarcastically, making Rose elbow her in the side.
"What else is a TARDIS for?" The Doctor pulled Rhea into his arms and twirled her around the console, making her laugh again. "I can take you to the Battle of Trafalgar... the first anti-gravity Olympics... Caesar crossing the Rubicon... or... Ian Dury at the Top Rank, Sheffield, England, Earth, 21st November, 1979. What do you think?"
"Ooh, first anti-gravity Olympics!" Rhea said, excitedly.
Rose and the Doctor looked at each other. "Sheffield it is!" They said, simultaneously.
Rhea pouted. "We never get to go where I want to go." She whined.
The Doctor chuckled and reached out for her, kissing her on the cheek. "Next time, I promise."
Rhea rolled her eyes and looked at Rose, who was looking at them, amused. "He always says that."
"Hold on tight." The Doctor said. He pulled a lever and all three lurched forward as the TARDIS shuddered and spun through the vortex. The Doctor whacked the console with a hammer to the beat of the music and Rhea reached over, wrenching the mallet out of his hands and shoving it to the side of the TARIS.
"Stop hitting her!" Rhea shouted and miraculously, the TARDIS stopped. They all fell to the floor, the Doctor and Rose lying on their backs and Rhea lying on top of the Doctor, thrown by the inertia, laughing their heads off.
"1979. Hell of a year!" The Doctor said, standing up and pulling Rhea and Rose to their feet, and the three bounded towards the doors.
The Doctor pulled his coat on. "China invades Vietnam... The Muppet Movie! Love that film." The Doctor gave a massive grin when Rhea made a face. "Margaret Thatcher... urgh..." He grimaced, making Rhea and Rose laugh. "Skylab falls to Earth... with a little help from me..." He looked at them, a little smug. "Nearly took off my thumb." The Doctor pushed the door open from behind him and stepped out, Rhea and Rose facing the door and behind him. "I like my thumb. I need my thumb. I'm very attached to..." He turned around and faltered when he saw that they were surrounded by soldiers on horseback from all sides, gun raised and aimed. His hands slid up and Rhea and Rose followed suit. "… my thumb." He finished, lamely.
The guns clicked ominously.
The Doctor's eyes widened and he turned to Rhea with a sheepish look. "1879. Same difference."
But Rhea definitely did not look impressed. "You die after this." She muttered.
"You will explain your presence. And the nakedness of these girls." One of the soldiers ordered in a Scottish accent, motioning to Rose and Rhea.
"Hey, who are you calling girl, you-" Rhea started to argue, glaring at the man on the horse, when the Doctor covered her mouth with his hand, ignoring the furious look she sent him.
Rose looked down at herself and, self-consciously, tugged her skirt down.
"Are we in Scotland?" The Doctor asked in a suddenly perfect Scottish accent, making Rhea look at him with surprise.
I always did get turned on by a good accent, especially a Scottish or an Irish one. Rhea thought, appreciatively, imagining the Doctor speaking in that very accent in a completely different setting, preferably the two of them alone. If he could moan words in that accent into her skin, she could probably die a very happy woman.
The soldier raised an eyebrow. "How can you be ignorant of that?"
"Oh, I'm, I'm dazed and confused." The Doctor stumbled to find a good enough excuse. "We've been chasing this... this wee naked child over hill and over dale. Isn't that right, ya... timorous beastie?" The Doctor chanced a looked at Rose, who was apparently the 'timorous beastie' in the tale.
Rhea narrowed her eyes at the Doctor and turned to Rose, wondering what she would say.
"Ooch, aye! I've been oot and aboot." Rose tried to pull off a proper Scottish accent, bit failed admirably and hilariously.
"No, don't do that." Rhea warned, trying her hardest not to laugh.
"Hoots mon!"
The Doctor shook his head. "No, really don't. Really."
"Will you identify yourself, sir?" The soldier ordered.
"I'm Doctor James McCrimmon. From the... Township of Balamory. Eh... I have my credentials, if I may..." The Doctor gestured towards his pocket and the soldier nodded. The three lowered their hands and the Doctor fumbled in his bigger-on-the-inside pocket and pulled out the psychic paper. He flipped it open and showed it to them. "As you can see, a Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh. I trained under Doctor Bell himself."
A low, feminine voice called out from inside the carriage that the soldiers were guarding. "Let them approach."
"I don't think that's wise, ma'am." The soldier said, eyeing the three with suspicion.
"Let them approach." The voice called out again.
The Doctor gestured towards the carriage and the soldier had no choice but to let them approach.
"You will approach the carriage. And show all due deference." The soldier ordered.
The Doctor gave him a one-fingered salute and he, Rhea, and Rose approached the carriage. One of the footmen opened the door to reveal a middle-aged woman dressed very richly.
"Rhea, Rose, might I introduce her Majesty Queen Victoria. Empress of India and Defender of the Faith." The Doctor levelled a warning look at Rhea to not say anything that would get them executed.
Rhea bit her lip and restrained herself from delivering a scathing comment the minute she heard the words 'Empress of India'. You have got to be kidding me. She plastered a fake smile on her face and curtseyed low. "Sunehri McCrimmon, ma'am." Rhea smirked, registering the shocked look that the Doctor gave her. Two people can play at this game, honey.
Rose curtseyed as well. "Rose Tyler, Ma'am. And our apologies... for being so naked." Rose laughed, nervously, and touched her hand to Rhea's bare arm.
"I've had five daughters. It's nothing to me. But you, Doctor..." Queen Victoria looked at the Doctor. "Show me these credentials."
The Doctor obligingly handed over the psychic paper to her, wondering what it would tell her, and Queen Victoria studied it for a moment.
"Why didn't you say so immediately?" Queen Victoria asked, frowning at the psychic paper. "It states clearly here that you have been appointed by the Lord Provost as my Protector."
The Doctor's eyes widened. "Does it? Yes, it does! Good! Good!" The Doctor said, slightly more strongly. "Um... then let me ask," He hesitated, slightly. "Why is Your Majesty travelling by road when there's a train all the way to Aberdeen?"
"A tree on the line." Queen Victoria replied.
"An accident?" Rhea asked, frowning.
"I am the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Everything around me tends to be planned." The queen said, her voice not betraying any emotion.
"An assassination attempt?" The Doctor clarified.
"What, seriously?" Rose looked at the queen, Rhea and the Doctor, in turn, before addressing the queen. "There's people out to kill ya?"
"I'm quite used to staring down the barrel of a gun."
"Sir Robert MacLeish lives but ten miles hence. We'll send word ahead, he'll shelter us for tonight, then, we can reach Balmoral tomorrow." The soldier, who had apprehended them before, explained.
"This Doctor, his wife and his... timorous beastie will come with us." The queen ordered.
"Yes, Ma'am." The soldier nodded, displeased. "We'd better get moving, it's almost nightfall."
"Indeed. And there are stories of wolves in these parts. Fanciful tales intended to scare the children. But good for the blood, I think. Drive on!" The queen ordered.
Rose grinned at the Doctor and Rhea and they went on their way. Rhea, Rose and the Doctor walked behind the carriage.
"It's funny though, 'cause you say 'assassination' and you just think of Kennedy and stuff. Not her." Rose remarked.
"1879, she's had... ooh... six attempts on her life?" The Doctor frowned. "And I'll tell you something else: we just met Queen Victoria!" The Doctor said to Rhea and Rose, excitedly.
"I know." Rose exclaimed, matching his tone.
Rhea rolled her eyes. "I don't see what the big deal is." She grumbled.
The Doctor looked at Rose. "Don't mind her, she has a thing against the British Empire." He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his side. "She's a revolutionary, our Rhea." He pressed a hard, smacking kiss against the side of her head.
Rhea glared at him. "I will bite your nose right off." She said, threateningly, making the Doctor chuckle.
"She was just sitting there!" Rose crowed.
"Like a stamp." The Doctor agreed.
"I want her to say," Rose adopted an affected upper-class accent. "'We are not amused'. I bet you both five quid I can make her say it."
"Well, if I gambled on that, it'd be an abuse of my privileges of traveller in time." The Doctor deadpanned.
Rose paused. "…Ten quid?"
"Done." The Doctor said, immediately, making Rhea crack a smile. "Is that a smile?" He teased, poking her cheek with one finger, making her bat his hands away with a glare.
"No, I'm just surprised at myself. I never thought I'd travel with two children." Rhea said, letting out a long-suffering sigh.
The carriage pulled into a large manor house.
One of the footmen opened the door of the carriage and helped Queen Victoria out and down. Two men emerged from the doorway to the manor and approached her.
"Your Majesty." One of the men said and bowed.
"Sir Robert. My apologies for the emergency. And how is Lady Isobel?" Queen Victoria asked with a small smile.
"She's…" Sir Robert hesitated. "Indisposed, I'm afraid, she's gone to Edinburgh for the season. And she's taken the cook with her, the kitchens are barely stocked, I wouldn't blame Your Majesty if you wanted to ride on."
Rhea raised an eyebrow and the Doctor cocked his head, watching Sir Robert, both recognising that he would rather the Queen rode on.
"Oh, not at all!" Queen Victoria said, cheerfully. "I've had quite enough carriage exercise. And this is... charming. If rustic." She said, looking around. "It's my first visit to this house. My late husband spoke of it often. The Torchwood Estate. Now, shall we go inside?"
Rhea paled. Torchwood Estate, fuck, that's gotta be a coincidence. She chanced a look at Rose.
"They're like UNIT, only more racist."
"They were behind the Battle of Canary Wharf."
"Cybermen invasion."
"Skies over London full of Daleks."
Rhea swallowed hard, thinking about the first time she had met the Doctor after he lost Rose. The way he had told her about Torchwood sounded as if they were the reason behind them losing Rose. Her eyes hardened, as a violent protectiveness enveloped her and she reached behind her to grip Rose's hand in her own, dodging the girl's inquisitive look. She'd be damned if she let anyone take the girl, who had been with her through the burning of their home planet, face stealing aliens in television sets and gas-mask zombies during the London Blitz, away from her and the Doctor.
Sir Robert was evidently reluctant, but the queen didn't seem to notice.
"And please excuse the naked girls." Queen Victoria added, giving Rose and Rhea a quick look.
"Sorry." Rhea and Rose said, simultaneously.
"She's a feral child." The Doctor added. "I bought her for sixpence in old London Town. It was her or the Elephant Man, but the wife wouldn't have the Elephant Man-" The Doctor coughed to hide his pained gasp from Rhea's sharp elbow to his stomach.
"Thinks he's funny but I'm so not amused." Rose looked pointedly at Queen Victoria. "What do you think, Ma'am?" She asked, slyly.
"It hardly matters." Queen Victoria waved off. "Shall we proceed?" She said to Sir Robert.
Sir Robert nodded and they began to make their way into the house.
"So close." Rose muttered to Rhea and the Doctor, making the former roll her eyes in exasperation.
"Makerson and Ramsey, you will escort the Property. Hurry up." Captain Roberts, the soldier who had apprehended them, ordered.
"Yes, sir." The soldiers intoned. One of them took a small wooden box from the carriage and carried it carefully to the house.
"What's in there, then?" The Doctor asked, interested.
"Property of the Crown. You will dismiss any further thoughts, sir." The Doctor pulled a face at Rhea and Rose. "The rest of you go to the rear of the house. Assume your designated positions."
"You heard the orders. Positions, sir."
The Doctor nodded towards the house and he, Rhea and Rose followed the others.
Sir Robert, Queen Victoria, Rhea, Rose, the Doctor, and three members of the household staff entered the observatory of the manor house. There was an enormous telescope sitting in the middle of the room and facing out of the window.
"This, I take it, is the famous Endeavour." Queen Victoria said to Sir Robert.
"All my father's work. Built by hand in his final years. Became something of an obsession, he spent his money on this rather than caring for the house or himself." Sir Robert explained.
The Doctor smiled. "I wish I'd met him, I like him. That thing's beautiful, can I, um...?" He gestured to the telescope, intending to explore it further.
"Help yourself." Sir Robert said, magnanimously.
The Doctor, Rhea and Rose moved forward to examine the telescope and the wheel next to it.
"What did he model it on?" The Doctor asked Sir Robert.
"I know nothing about it." Sir Robert shook his head. "To be honest, most of us thought him a little... shall we say, eccentric."
Rhea smirked at the Doctor. "Now I know why you like him." She purred in his ear, patting him on the shoulder, and the Doctor gave a dopey little laugh.
"I wish now I'd spent more time with him. And listened to his stories." Sir Robert said, before glanced at the Queen.
The Doctor peered through the telescope. "It's a bit rubbish." Rhea grinned and turned to face him, a fond look of exasperation on her face. "How many prisms has it got? Way too many. The magnification's gone right over the top, that's stupid kind of a—" The Doctor paused and turned to Rhea. "Am I being rude again?" He asked her quietly.
She leaned forward, placing a hand on his cheek. "Yes." She whispered.
The Doctor turned quickly to face the rest of them. "But it's pretty! It's very... pretty."
Rose patted him, fondly and condescendingly, on the arm.
"And the imagination of it should be applauded."
"Mm! Thought you might disapprove, Your Majesty. Stargazing. Isn't that a bit fanciful?" Rose told Queen Victoria.
Queen Victoria simply stared at her.
"You could easily... not be amused, or something...?" Queen Victoria's face remained blank of any expression. "No?"
"Oh, please stop with the 'not amused' joke. Not funny and you're going to get us executed." Rhea told Rose, sternly.
Queen Victoria turned back to Sir Robert. "This device surveys the infinite work of God."
The Doctor shook his head at Rose with a vague and knowing smile on his face.
"What could be finer? Sir Robert's father was an example to us all. A polymath. Steeped in astronomy and sciences, yet equally well versed in folklore and fairytales."
"Stars and magic. I like him more and more." The Doctor murmured, wandering around the telescope to examine it some more.
"Oh, my late husband enjoyed his company." Queen Victoria turned to Rhea. "Prince Albert himself was acquainted with many rural superstitions, coming as he did from Saxe Coburg."
"That's Bavaria." The Doctor whispered to Rhea and Rose.
"When Albert was told about your local wolf, he was transported." Queen Victoria said, turning back to Sir Robert.
The Doctor stepped closer to the two. "So, what's this wolf, then?"
Sir Robert shook his head. "It's just a story."
"Then tell it."
Sir Robert glanced around at one of the men behind him, uncomfortably.
"It's said that-" Sir Robert began, haltingly.
"Excuse me, sir." The man, that Sir Robert had been looking at, Father Angelo, interrupted him. "Perhaps her Majesty's party could repair to their rooms. It's almost dark."
"Of course. Yes, of course." Sir Robert said, hurriedly.
"And then supper. And...could we find some clothes for Mrs McCrimmon and Miss Tyler? I'm tired of nakedness."
"It's not amusing, is it?" Rose said, pointedly, wincing at the elbow she received from Rhea in her stomach.
Queen Victoria glanced around at her and decided to ignore this comment, turning back to Sir Robert. The Doctor muttered something to Rose who poked him in the chest, playfully.
"Sir Robert, your wife must've left some clothes. See to it. We shall dine at seven. And talk some more of this wolf. After all... there is a full moon tonight."
"So there is, Ma'am." Sir Robert bowed, and the Queen left the room, followed by the others.
The Doctor leaned down and aimed to kiss Rhea on the cheek, but at that precise moment, Rhea's head shifted and his lips grazed the side of her mouth instead. When he pulled back, Rhea could see the slight blush that had covered his cheeks and Rhea bit her lip as she smiled.
"Goodbye, wife." The Doctor said, quietly, just so only she could hear him.
"See you later, husband." She said, playfully, touching his arm briefly after following Rose out the door.
Rose and Rhea went over to one of the wardrobe and opened the door. Rose found a brown dress which she held up to herself and looked at Rhea. Rhea raised an eyebrow and Rose nodded, immediately putting it back in the closet. Rhea pulled out a frilly blouse and held it against her body. The two laughed and she put it back in the wardrobe. Rose held a pretty blue dress up to herself and twirled around.
"Nice." Rhea said, approvingly. She crossed the room and opened another wardrobe door. She grit her teeth against the scream that rose in her throat when she saw a young maid, Flora, crouched inside, breathing heavily with fear.
The three females were sitting on the bed.
"They came through the house. The incitements, they took the Steward and the Master. And my Lady." Flora whispered, terrified.
Rose reached out and squeezed her hand, comfortingly.
Rhea sighed. "Listen, I've got a friend, he's called the Doctor, he'll know what to do. You've gotta come with me." She urged.
Flora shook her head. "Oh, but I can't, Miss."
"What's your name?" Rose asked.
"Flora." She answered.
"Flora, we'll be safe." Rhea said, comfortingly. "There's more people arrived downstairs, soldiers, and they can help us. I promise. Come on. Okay? Come on."
Rhea peered, cautiously, out of the door and seeing that the coast was clear, took Rose's hand, who was holding onto Flora, and led her down the corridor. When they came around the corner, they stopped when they saw a pile of unconscious guards.
"Oh, Miss. I did warn you!" Flora moaned.
Rhea knelt down beside one of the bodies and felt for a pulse. "He's not dead." Rhea proclaimed, looking at Rose. "He's just unconscious."
Suddenly, Flora was grabbed from behind by Father Angelo and his half stifled her scream. She was dragged away, and before Rose could react and warn Rhea, she was also grabbed and dragged away. Arms wrapped around her waist and tried to drag Rhea away as well, but didn't count on her fighting. She slammed an elbow into his stomach and her foot kicked back, kneeing him in the groin, loosening his grip. She spun around and slammed her foot into his stomach, sending him careening into the wall. The sudden onslaught, however, made her unaware to the hard object currently heading towards the back of her head. She swore when she felt the impact and all she knew was black.
Father Angelo walked into the dining room and addressed the Doctor. "Your wife and companion beg an apology, Doctor. Their clothing has somewhat delayed them."
"Oh, that's all right. Save her a wee bit of ham." The Doctor said, cheerfully.
"The feral child could probably eat it raw." Queen Victoria said, rather snidely.
The Doctor hid his glare by narrowing his eyes at the plate, but he didn't say anything in the contrary. To be honest, he was glad Rhea wasn't here. She was itching for a reason to wrap her hands around the queen's throat and he couldn't risk them being on death row…again. All Rhea needed was a catalyst. She had been aching to tell the queen what she thought of her ever since the carriage door had first opened.
Captain Reynolds started laughing, a bit too strongly. "Very wise, Ma'am! Very witty!"
Queen Victoria stared at him, appraisingly. "Slightly witty, perhaps." She corrected. "I know you rarely get the chance to dine with me, Captain, but don't get too excited... I shall contain my wit in case I do you further injury." She said, dryly.
Captain Reynolds went meek after the admonishment. "Yes, Ma'am. Sorry, Ma'am."
"Besides, we're all waiting on Sir Robert! Come, Sir! You promised us a tale of nightmares." The Doctor exclaimed, looking at the man in question.
"Indeed." Queen Victoria nodded. "Since my husband's death, I find myself with more of a taste for supernatural fiction."
The Doctor levelled a look at her. "You must miss him." He said, softly.
Queen Victoria looked lost in her memories. "Very much." She murmured. Then, she blinked and was attentive again. "Oh, completely. And that's the charm of a ghost story, isn't it? Not the scares and chills, that's just for children, but the... hope of some contact with the great beyond."
The Doctor looked at her intensely.
"We all want some message from that place... it's the Creator's greatest mystery that we are allowed no such consolation. The dead stay silent. And we must wait." Queen Victoria said, earnestly. Then, she shrugged herself out of this line of thought, but the Doctor remained solemn, thinking of something else entirely.
"Come! Begin your tale, Sir Robert. There's a chill in the air. The wind is howling through the eaves. Tell us of monsters!"
When Rhea woke up, she was sitting in a cellar with Rose and a group of people. She pushed herself to a sitting position and looked around, stilling when she saw a man sitting in a cage.
"Don't make a sound. They said if we scream or shout, then he will slaughter us." A lady whispered to Rhea and Rose, furiously.
"But…" Rose hesitated. "He's in a cage. He's a prisoner. He's the same as us."
"He's nothing like us." Lady Isobel insisted, her voice full of fear. "That creature is not mortal."
The man in the cage raised his head, slowly, and opened his eyes, revealing completely black sockets, missing even the whites. Lady Isobel and her staff whimpered, and Rose stared, scared, clutching onto Rhea's arm for dear life. Rhea simply stared back, her face devoid of any emotion, her mouth set into a hard line, but her face gaunt and pale, realising that she was quite out of her depth here.
"The story goes back three hundred years. Every full moon, the howling rings through the valley. The next morning, livestock is found ripped apart and... devoured." Sir Robert began, sitting back in his chair, his eyes shifty.
Captain Reynolds raised an eyebrow. "Tales like this just disguise the work of thieves. Steal a sheep and blame a wolf, simple as that." He said, dismissively.
The Doctor smirked when he saw the look of mild irritation on Queen Victoria's face.
Sir Robert continued. "But sometimes a child goes missing. Once in a generation. A boy will vanish from his homestead."
Rhea stood, ready to approach the prisoner.
"Don't, child." Isobel urged.
Rhea rolled her eyes and edged, slowly, towards the prisoner, chains rattling slightly. Inwardly, she was quite annoyed by this. When she found the man who had grabbed them, she wouldn't hesitate in causing him harm, a great deal of harm. When she reached as close as she could as the chains allowed her, she knelt in front of the cage.
"Who are you?" Rhea asked, slowly.
"Don't enrage him." One of Lady's Isobel's staff said, nervously.
Rhea ignored him. "Where are you from?" She asked, gently. "You're not from Earth. What planet are you from?"
"Oh… intelligence…" The man murmured, haltingly.
"Where were you born?" Rhea asked again.
"This body... ten miles away... a weakling, heartsick boy. Stolen away at night by the brethren from my cultivation. I carved out his soul and sat in his heart." The man rumbled, threateningly.
The Doctor leaned forward in his seat. "Are there descriptions of the creature?" He asked, eagerly.
"Oh yes, Doctor." Sir Robert nodded. "Drawings and woodcarvings. And it's not merely a wolf. It's more than that. This is a man who becomes an animal."
The Doctor shuffled in his chair, even more intrigued. "A werewolf?"
Rhea pursed her lips, her mind working a mile a minute. "Okay…" She said, slowly. "The body's human… but what about you? I assume I'm speaking to thing inside." Rhea spat out.
"So far from home."
Rose inched closer, encouraged by Rhea's lack of self-preservation. "If you wanna get back home, we can help." She said, gently.
"Why would I leave this place? A world of industry, of workforce and warfare. I could turn it to such purpose."
Rhea frowned. "How would you do that?"
"I would migrate to the Holy Monarch."
Rhea raised an eyebrow. "You mean Queen Victoria."
"With one bite, I would pass into her blood. And then it begins. The Empire of the Wolf! So many questions..." Suddenly, he lunged forward, hitting the bars, making the prisoners and Rose jump and gasp.
Rhea simply pushed herself back, calmly.
The man turned his haunting gaze to Rose. "Look! Inside your eyes! You've seen it too!" He hissed.
"Seen what?" Rose asked, bemused.
"The Wolf! There is something of the Wolf about you!" The man hissed and Rhea turned around to see Rose pale, breathing heavily.
"Don't talk to her." Rhea said to the man, sharply, a familiar protectiveness rising in her. Rose will not die here today. That's something I won't accept.
"I don't know what you mean." Rose whispered, but it was clear from her tone that she knew exactly what he was talking about.
"You burnt like the sun, but all I require is the moon."
"My father didn't treat it as a story. He said it was fact. He even claimed to have communed with the beast, to have learned its purpose." Sir Robert said.
Father Angelo's attention was caught by something outside the window.
"I should've listened." Sir Robert said, regret lacing his tone. He glanced around at Father Angelo. "His work was hindered, he made enemies. There's a Monastery in the Glen of Saint Catherine. The Brethren opposed my father's investigations." He spoke, quickly.
"Perhaps they thought his work ungodly." Queen Victoria surmised.
Sir Robert nodded. "That's what I thought. But now I wonder... what if they had a different reason for wanting the story kept quiet?"
The Doctor's attention was drawn to Father Angelo, who was standing at the window and was chanting words in Latin. The same phrase, over and over again, "lupus deus est".
"What if they turned from God and worshipped the wolf?" Sir Robert asked.
The Doctor's eyes widened as he realised what Sir Robert was hinting at. "And what if they were with us right now?"
The doors of the cellar were thrown open and moonlight flooded in, bathing the man in the cage. He pressed his face against the bars with a blissful smile.
"Moonlight." He breathed.
The prisoners shifted around, uncomfortably, not knowing what to make of this. The man in the cage shed his cloak and a wind blew through the cellar. The Host grabbed the bars of the cage.
Rhea swore and stood up, eyeing the chain that trapped them in the cellar. I'm not dying here. I'm not. She turned to the other prisoners. "All of you! Stop looking at it! Listen to me. Grab hold of the chain and pull!" She ordered, gripping the chain tightly with one hand.
Rose stood up and went behind Rhea, taking a hold of the chain as well.
"Come on! With us! Pull!" Rose said, urgently.
They could hear growling sounds coming from the cage.
A freaking werewolf? You have got to be kidding me. Rhea turned back to the other prisoners, Lady Isobel staring at the changing man in the cage with horror. "I said pull! Stop whinging and listen to me! All of you! And that means you, your Ladyship!" Rhea ordered, sharply. "Now come on, pull!"
They all stood, shakily, and formed a line behind Rose, each taking a hold of the chains and yanking it with whatever force they had, trying to free it from the wall so that they could get free.
Father Angelo was standing by the window, chanting, while the room erupted into chaos.
"What is the meaning of this?" Queen Victoria spluttered.
Captain Reynolds pulled a gun out and pointed it at Sir Robert. "Explain yourself, Sir Robert!" He ordered.
Queen Victoria looked around, bemused. "What's happening-"
Sir Robert shook his head. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, they've got my wife."
The Doctor paled and immediately realised the absence of two young women that should have been by his side at the moment. Rhea. Rose. "Rhea! Where's Rhea? Where is she!?" The Doctor shouted, and, in his terror, dropped his Scottish accent. If anything's happen to her… No, she's fine. She has to be fine. A wave of horror swept over him as Father Angelo ignored him and carried on chanting.
"Sir Robert, come on." The Doctor shouted and the two ran from the room.
The man in the cage slowly started to transform into a wolf. He screamed in pain as his skin bulged, horribly. His screams started to turn into growls as he began to look more and more like a wolf.
"… Three…pull!" Rhea shouted.
"It's not working." Rose cried out.
"Rose, I'm not dying here, and neither are you." Rhea growled through gritted teeth, wondering where the Doctor was and why he hadn't come after them yet. Hasn't he realised that we're missing? She cursed when she looked over at the cage, seeing that the wolf's transformation was complete. It growled and flexed its claws as the prisoners screamed.
"One, two, three, pull!" Rhea shouted again, and, with all the strength she could, she yanked on the chain.
And finally, the chain came free.
Suddenly, the door to the cellar was kicked down and the Doctor ran in.
"Where the hell have you been?" Rhea shouted at him.
The Doctor gave her a sheepish look and turned, staring at the werewolf with wide-eyed awe, as it grabbed a hold of the bars of the cage.
"Oh, that's beautiful!" He breathed.
"Get out!" Sir Robert ordered his wife.
The wolf began to bend and break the bars, throwing the cage off. The household staff were all clamouring to get out of the room, throwing themselves over each other. The Doctor suddenly remembered the urgency of the situation and turned back to them.
"Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out!" The Doctor shouted, ushering everyone out the door.
Rhea grabbed onto the Doctor's arm, pulling him along with her. "Come on!" She said, urgently.
The werewolf stood tall, free of the cage. He threw the top of it across the room, narrowly missing the Doctor who finally stopped staring and made a run for it. Rhea and the Doctor slammed the door behind them and he locked it with his sonic screwdriver, panting with relief as they took a few steps back from the door.
A/N: Well, there was the first part of Tooth and Claw! I hope you liked the burgeoning sexual tension between Rhea and the Doctor in the beginning and Jack's view of the relationship between the Doctor and Rhea. They are really getting closer, which, I hope, is a good sign for the future. Rhea still hasn't had the chance to blow up at Queen Victoria yet, but we'll have to see in the next chapter. After all, that's when the Koh-I-Noor gets mentioned. The diamond is a really sore spot for Rhea. She has shown her annoyance for Rose's stupid joke. We'll have to see what Rhea says in the next chapter when Rose brings it up again. And Rhea introduced herself as the Doctor's wife. Willingly. To be honest, I think she was just trying to screw with his head. She didn't mean anything by it.
I do have to admit that Tooth and Claw isn't my favourite episode of the series. In my opinion, the Doctor and Rose seemed just a bit too smug throughout the episode. The Doctor, I can understand, but Rose just seemed incredibly arrogant for someone who didn't really know what they were doing. A part of me wishes that I was doing the chapters in order, then it would be School Reunion and The Girl in the Fireplace next, and those chapters are going to be hell for the Doctor and Rhea. Unfortunately, I don't get to do the chapters in order. I can give you an idea of what the next episode is that I'm doing. It's an episode in Season 3, so we get to see Martha again!
Oh, and everyone has until Chapter 36 to submit anymore pairing names for the Doctor and Rhea. I should put up a poll around that same time.
And I'm sorry everyone, I know I have been updating fairly quickly these last two weeks, but I'll probably have to get back to my once a week routine now that uni starts. I'll try my hardest to update around Thursday or Friday, but be prepared if I take a little longer. Now that I'm writing Dream Weaver too, I'm trying to write 2 chapters in a week.
Anyway, Read and Review! Please review, they make me feel so much better!