The Dread of Tomorrow and Yesterday – Chapter 64
A/N: So, here's the first chapter of Human Nature and the aftermath of the end of the last chapter. I hope you all like it! Oh, and I hope you guys had a wonderful Christmas and a terrific New Years!
Replies to Reviews: Down at the bottom, guys.
Warnings: Sexual Content, Racism, Language etc.
Human Nature: Roman Holiday
John's eyes snapped open. He looked around to find himself lying in a bed, sporting a pair of blue striped pyjama bottoms. He blinked in confusion a few times, and he looked around at the wood panelling and framed paintings. He turned to the side, seeing Rhea's form plastered to the bed, the sheet coming up to her waist, leaving her back bare to his gaze as she lay face down, her face burrowed into the pillow. John smiled to himself and trailed his fingers down the soft skin of the line of her back, making sure to stroke over the raised, discoloured skin of the burn mark that adorned the back of her shoulder blade, pausing thoughtfully over the slick, healed skin. His beautiful wife. His beautiful, resilient wife. He leaned down and kissed her hair. She let out an adorable mewl and snuggled back into the pillow, clutching it as if it were a lifeline.
He sighed and, after a couple of seconds, he pushed himself to sit up and placed his feet on the floor. As he rubbed his eyes, he could hear a knock on the door. Before he could say anything to the person on the other side, there was the sound of a door opening.
"Come in." John called out.
Martha entered the room, blindly, wearing a Victorian maid's uniform and carrying a tray of breakfast. Once she saw John sitting on his bed, shirtless and ruffled, not to mention Rhea's clearly nude, sleeping form haphazardly covered by the thin sheet, her eyes widened and she turned around, blushing furiously as she realised exactly what must have happened between the two last night, despite the many times she had heard Rhea's complaints of how hard it was to pretend to be John's wife.
She was clearly having no trouble now.
"Pardon me, Mr Smith, you and Mrs Smith are not dressed yet." Martha said, quickly. "I can come back later-"
She turned to go as John stood, pulling and tying a dressing gown around himself.
"No, it's alright, it's alright. Put it down." John said, reassuringly. He leaned over the bed, his hand falling onto Rhea's bare shoulder, as he shook her, lightly. "Darling, there's breakfast."
Rhea groaned, wrapping her arms around the pillow. "What time is it?" Her eyes blinked open, blearily, and she squinted into the light of the room. Her voice was sleepy and tired and she twisted in the sheet.
"Seven." John said, softly, his fingers stroking through Rhea's tangled curls.
"In the evening?" Rhea raised an eyebrow, pressing the sheet against her bare breasts as she turned to look at John.
"No, in the morning." John chuckled.
Rhea looked at him, sceptically. "Then, what the hell is your problem?" She growled and turned her back on him, pulling the sheet over her entire body, snuggling back into the warm comforter.
Martha bit her lip to hide a smile, feeling herself warm by the familiarity of Rhea's personality. She walked over to a table in the side of the room and set the tray down, keeping her eyes lowered. John watched her, thoughtfully.
"I was, um…" John paused. "Sorry, sorry," He murmured, thoughtfully. "Sometimes I have these extraordinary dreams."
Martha crossed to the window and pulled the curtains wide open, ignoring the growl that Rhea let out.
"What about, sir?" Martha wondered.
"I dream I'm this..." John searched for the right term. "Adventurer. This... daredevil, a madman. 'The Doctor', I'm called. And Rhea's my intrepid floozy. And last night I dreamt that you were there, as my... companion."
"Hey, wait a minute, how am I a floozy?" Rhea asked, offended, the words cracking through her sleep-struck mind.
"I meant, in my dreams, darling." John chuckled, leaning down to kiss Rhea on her temple.
"Oh, yes," Rhea rolled her eyes. "Because I'm such a symbol of propriety on a good a day."
Martha crossed back to the tray on the table. John's eyes followed her across the woman. Rhea turned around in the sheets and sat up against the pillow, folding the sheet up against her breasts, so that all of her flesh would be covered from John's roving eyes and Martha's embarrassed ones.
"A teacher and a housemaid, sir? That's impossible." Martha shook her head, modestly.
Rhea snorted. "Are you kidding me, I'd rather travel with the universe with you than anyone else." She grumbled to herself.
"A man from another world, though..." John trailed off.
Martha shrugged. "Well, it can't be true because there's no such thing."
John moved to the fireplace in the lounge, walking out of the bedroom, and looked at the mantle, where a small, silver pocket watch sat. Rhea slipped out of the bedroom, wrapping the sheet around her thin body, and followed John out into the open, ignoring the fact that she was completely naked under the sheet.
"This thing…" John picked up the watch, staring at it, thoughtfully. "The watch…"
Rhea bit her lip, wondering whether he would open it and all of their problems would be solved, while Martha watched him, hopefully. But, after holding it for a while, he replaced it on the mantle without a second glance.
John shook his head. "Ah, it's funny how dreams slip away." He turned back to Martha and Rhea. "But I do remember one thing; it all took place in the future. In the year of Our Lord, two thousand and seven."
Martha smiled, sadly, masking her pain with what she referred to as her 'servant face'.
"I can prove that wrong for you, sir, here's the morning paper." She handed it to him. "It's Monday, November 10, 1913, and you're completely human, sir." She smiled at him.
Rhea hummed in agreement, moving over to John and wrapping her arm around his waist. She leaned up on her toes and kissed him, softly, on the mouth.
"Mm, that's you, honey; completely human." She purred.
John grinned down at her.
"I feel kind of naughty." Rhea grinned, leaning back against John.
John ghosted his fingertips across her shoulder, before trailing them down her warm back, the steam rising around them. Rhea turned around and smiled, wickedly, dipping her entire body into the warm, soapy water and coming up for air after a few moments, thoroughly shocking him with her playful move. She winked at him and he pulled Rhea back, her back flush against his chest, pressing his lips to the base of her slim throat, and he wrapped his hands around her, allowing his hands to rest just under her breasts.
He grinned, feeling her shudder under his touch and watched as goose bumps broke out on her skin, a telltale sign that he was affecting her no matter what she said to the contrary. She went to move forward and get out of the bathtub, but he pulled her back once more, the water sloshing around them and over the rim of the tub.
"Why should you?" John whispered against her shoulder as he pressed a line of kisses along her shoulder blade. "You are my wife. There is nothing improper about what we are doing."
Rhea laughed and her hand came around to curl around the back of his neck, enjoying his ministrations entirely too much to complain. She turned in his embrace, choosing to straddle him in the water and face him, biting her lip as the length of him came into contact with the sensitive, damp flesh between her thighs. She cupped his face in one of her hands and allowed her fingers to stroke through the wet, brown strands of his hair. She leaned down and kissed him on the mouth, feeling his arm come out of the water and wrap around her waist, keeping her against his chest. She whimpered as her breasts rubbed against his chest, the tingling on her sensitive buds making them tighten to painful points.
She swallowed hard as his hands came to rest high on her thighs. It was the easiest move for him to allow his fingers to brush her cunt, making her grit her teeth against voicing her pleasure. He stroked and tugged and rubbed until she was nothing more than a shaking and desperate mess in his arms, much to his pleasure. His legs widened, forcing hers to as well, and he revelled in the greater access to her skin, two fingers curling deep inside of her until she was thrashing in his embrace. She kissed down his neck and across his shoulder, biting down to muffle the sharp tingles of pleasure that flowed through her veins. One of his hands stroked at her hip, soothing her, as he brought her to new levels of pleasure with a pleased smile on his face.
One sharp pinch of her clit was all she needed, an action that she was not expecting from the straight-laced and proper John Smith, and her cunt was convulsing around his fingers, gushing uncontrollably, as white-hot pleasure shot through her body again and again.
Oh, fuck my life, how am I ever going to resist this man ever again if he can do those kinds of things with his fingers?
John continued to stroke her out of her pleasure as her hands gripped onto his shoulders for purchase, riding the crest of her orgasm as she finally she sank into his embrace with a final moan of satisfaction.
"Well, I'll say that was definitely wicked, wouldn't you?" John asked with a boyish grin plastered across his face.
Rhea rolled her eyes and smiled, sweetly, at him, her eyes glinting. "Oh, not just yet. There's still one more thing to do before it really becomes wicked, husband of mine." She purred in his ear.
Her hand trailed down his bare chest before it finally stopped low on his stomach. She never took her eyes off his as her hand curled around the length of his cock and stroked across the hot, hard flesh. Her thumb rubbed over the tip of him and she rejoiced in the harsh panting that slipped from his mouth. Her eyes bored into him and she watched as his jaw clenched under the pressure and his fingers gripped the curve of her hips even tighter than before, revelling in the effect she had on him. As she looked closely, it seemed as though every single muscle in John's body was clenched, tightly – ridges and valleys across his stomach and chest as he thrust against her hand.
Oh, honey, I am going to teach you so much.
Finally, he growled and ripped her hand away from him, baring her thighs wide for him, and thrust into her, forcefully, silencing her scream of shock and pure ecstasy with him mouth. Her hands gripped the rim of the bathtub so tightly that she almost feared that it would crack under the pressure. John held onto her tightly with an unforgiving grip and pulled her towards him with each grinding stroke that sent her into mind-numbing pleasure. Her back arched as he rocked against her again and again and his mouth covered one of her nipples, nipping at the sensitive flesh which drew a string a curses that would have made John blush had he had all of his faculties at the moment.
The water splashed around them, invigorated by their heavy movements, and tipped over the bathtub, gushing onto the floor. Rhea buried her face in his neck and her nails raked at his back so hard that she was sure she would draw blood. The only thing she could focus on, however, was the pleasure twisting low in her stomach, a telltale sign that she was about to come. And suddenly, she exploded into a blinding release, her toes curling in the water, her limbs seizing and her skin trembling as she came back to herself.
"Mine." John grunted into her shoulder, reaching his own tipping point as she was still swearing from hers.
They clung to each other, shuddering through the intensity of their lovemaking, before collapsing in an exhausted heap of sore limbs and chilled water. Their breathing steadied and Rhea swore she could hear the beats of their hearts, synchronised with each other.
"See, honey, now that was wicked." She laughed, breathily.
John hummed and nodded. His mouth slanted over hers as she continued to tremble with the force of her orgasm.
"Yes, it was. My wicked girl." He growled into her mouth.
John, wearing a well-cut suit, mortarboard and a teacher's gown, walked past a group of students before turning into the main door of the school.
"Morning, sir." A boy addressed him with a sharp nod.
"Morning, sir." Another boy said.
John nodded at both of his students.
A bell rang, calling the start of school. Further into the building, John passed more teachers and nodded to one who was heading for a flight of stairs.
John held a cane in one hand and a textbook in the other. Neat copperplate writing on the chalkboard read 'Battle of Waterloo, 18th June 1815', while John was reading aloud from the textbook while the class of young men looked on attentively.
"-impediment. The French were all but spent, with only two battalions of the old guard remaining. A final reserve force was charged with protecting Napoleon. By evening, the advance of the Allied troops had forced them to retreat."
Out in the school corridor, Martha and Jenny, another maid, were on their hands and knees, scrubbing the tiled floor, buckets of soapy water and sponges lying next to them. John walked past, making Martha smile at the appearance of the man who reminded her so much of her close friend. Her eyes followed him as he passed.
"Morning, sir." Martha said, happily.
John slowed down a little, as if recognised her voice, and looked over at Martha, briefly. "Yes, hi." He murmured, distractedly, before disappearing up the stairs.
Jenny shook her head. "Head in the clouds, that one. Don't know why you're so sweet on him." She said, slyly, and then carried on scrubbing.
"He and his wife are just kind to me, that's all. Not everyone's that considerate, what with me being-" Martha pointed to her face, gesturing at the colour of her skin.
Jenny smiled. "A Londoner?" She asked, innocently.
"Exactly" Martha nodded and then smiled. "Good old London town!"
The girls laughed and two boys who were walking past them joined them.
"Ah, now then, you two." One of them puffed up, authoritatively. Martha and Jenny stopped laughing and looked up. "You're not paid to have fun, are you? Put a little backbone into it."
Jenny nodded. "Yes, sir. Sorry, sir."
The other one looked at Martha. "You there, what's your name again?"
"Martha, sir. Martha Jones."
The boy smirked and glanced at his friend. "Tell me then, Jones. With hands like those, how can you tell when something's clean?"
The two boys laughed, cruelly.
"That's very funny, Sir." Martha deadpanned, resisting the urge to roll her eyes at the comment she had heard a thousand times over her stay here in Farringham.
"Oh, I don't think so at all." A low, feminine voice came from the nearby staircase.
The two boys, Martha and Jenny looked up to see Rhea coming down the staircase, her face blank but her green eyes furious beyond belief. Martha was sure that if the boys knew exactly who Rhea was and what she was capable of, they would be running for the hills right about now.
"Apologise." Rhea ordered, sharply, her hands on her hips as she narrowed her eyes at the young boys.
The two boys' laughter died in their throats and their jaws dropped with the force of the shock they were currently experiencing.
"Now, see here…" One of them started, blustering.
"Apologise." Rhea snarled, taking a threatening step closer to them, her fists clenched against her hips.
"Excuse me?" The other boy raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"I can't stand little boys who don't know how to treat their betters," Rhea hissed, her eyes flashing. "Now, apologise." She demanded.
The boys laughed again, this time in a mix of disbelief and amusement, disbelief that a woman was daring to question them, never mind the fact that she was married to one of their teachers.
One of the boys shot her a condescending look. "I don't think you understand how it works here, ma'am. Women-"
"-are not to be disrespected." Rhea finished, darkly. "Martha is my maid, and by insulting her, you have insulted me. So, you will apologise to my maid for the slight against her and the slight against me." She said, coldly.
They glared at her.
Rhea raised a dangerous eyebrow. "Would you rather I call my husband or the Headmaster?" She asked, sharply, not really wanting to call the latter after the hell he had put Martha through, but needing the fear of God to be put in these racist little bastards.
The boy who had insulted Martha, reluctantly, turned to face her. "I apologise." He said, grudgingly.
Martha gritted her teeth against the urge to grin. "Think nothing of it, sir." She said, innocently.
"Now," Rhea smiled, pleasantly, as if she hadn't almost threatened the boys with bodily harm moments before. "Why don't you boys get to class? I'm sure you're late."
The boys left and Rhea watched them go, shaking her head.
"I could kill them, you know. It'd be the easiest thing in the world." Rhea murmured, ruefully.
"Murder's illegal, ma'am, and I'm sure Mr Smith wouldn't appreciate it if his wife was behind bars." Martha said, slyly.
"Oh, very funny." Rhea said, dryly, knowing that Martha was subtly hinting at the night she had spent with John. What could she say, she was a sucker for the Doctor. She couldn't wait to experience him in his other bodies. She turned to Jenny. "Hello, Jenny. I'm sorry to bother you, but I needed Martha for something, do you mind?"
"Not at all, ma'am." Jenny said, quickly.
Rhea grimaced. "Please, call me, Rhea. Do I look any different to you two?" She raised an eyebrow. "Just because I wear dresses like this," She held up the lacy material of her dress with two fingers. "And I'm married to Mr Smith, doesn't make me superior to you. Not to mention, I'm American and Eurasian, I'm not much better than a servant to these people."
Jenny still looked uncomfortable.
Rhea sighed, knowing she wasn't going to be able to change the woman's mind. "Fine, you can call me ma'am." She looked down the hallway. "Now, I'd better go and make sure those boys don't get me in trouble with my husband."
And, she left.
"Just think though. In a few years time boys like that will be running the country." Jenny sighed, mournfully.
Martha bit her lip, thinking of what was about to happen in a few, short years.
"Nineteen thirteen. They might not." She said, quietly.
"Oh, good morning, Mr Smith." A female voice called out, coming closer to John, who was struggling with a stack of books in his hands.
John fumbled with the top book and it fell to the floor. He quickly stepped on it to stop it from falling away.
"There we go." John said, relieved.
"Let me help you." Nurse Redfern offered.
"No, no, I've got it, no..." John looked thoughtful as to how he was going to pick the book up with his arms full. "Um... ah... Just to... retrieve... ah... If you could take these-" He handed her the stack of books, then bent to pick up the book that had fallen to the floor.
"Good." Nurse Redfern said, warmly.
"No harm done." John shrugged and smiled back at her. "So, um, how was Jenkins?"
Nurse Redfern shook his head. "Oh, just a cold, nothing serious. I think he's missing his mother, more than anything."
"Aw, can't have that." John said, sympathetically.
"He received a letter this morning so he's a lot more chipper." Nurse Redfern looked down at the stack of books that she was still holding. "I appear to be holding your books."
John was still staring at Nurse Redfern and then he suddenly snapped back to life. "Yes. Um..." He looked up the corridor, thinking, and then he turned to the other direction. "This way."
Ever the gentleman, he let Nurse Redfern go ahead of him. In another corridor, he had finally managed to settle into a coherent conversation.
"I always say, Matron, give the boys a good head of steam, they'll soon wear themselves out." John said, happily.
"Truth be told, when it's just you and me, I'd much rather you call me Nurse Redfern. 'Matron' sounds rather...well, matronly." Nurse Redfern said, hopefully.
"Ah, Nurse Redfern it is then." John nodded.
"Though we've known each other all of three months, you could even say 'Joan'." Joan said, offhandedly.
John blinked in confusion. "Joan?"
"That's my name." She explained.
John rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly flustered by the attention. "Well, obviously."
"And, it's John, isn't it?" Joan said, slowly.
John nodded. "Yes, yes, it is."
A wooden noticeboard was plastered on one wall of the landing. Nurse Redfern spotted a particular notice and headed towards it.
"Have you seen this, John? The annual dance at the village hall tomorrow. It's nothing formal, but rather fun by all accounts." Joan looked up at him, hopefully.
"Do you think you'll go?"
John pursed his lips. "I hadn't thought about it." He said, honestly. "Suppose Rhea would like to go. I'll have to ask her." He mused.
He didn't see how Joan's face fell and recovered just as quickly. "It's been ages since I've been to a dance, only no-one's asked me." Joan laughed, nervously.
There was a short, tense silence.
John's eyes widened as he realised what Joan was getting at. He swallowed hard, not knowing how to approach this, knowing that if Rhea found out, someone would die, most likely either him or Joan.
"Well, I should imagine that you would be... um... I mean I never thought you'd be one for... I mean there's no reason why you shouldn't-" John stammered, feeling the flush rise up his neck and into his cheeks. "If you do, you may not... I probably won't, but even if I did, then I couldn't... um, I mean, I wouldn't want to-" He backed away from her.
"The stairs." Joan said, suddenly, her eyes widening.
"It-" John frowned. "What about the stairs?" He asked, confused.
"They're right behind you." Joan said, reaching out to grab him.
John turned to see the staircase looming behind him and he stumbled, falling backwards down the stairs and sending the books flying. He landed on the ground in a heap of bruises and fallen books, and he looked up to see Rhea's amused and concerned face. She knelt beside him, stroking a hand over his forehead, checking him over, momentarily, for any serious injuries.
"Well, that's definitely the best way that someone's fallen at my feet." Rhea muttered, looking up and seeing Nurse Redfern standing at the top of the staircase.
Now, if that isn't the shadiest thing I've seen.
Her eyes narrowed.
If she pushed him, I'll tear her head right off her shoulders.
Rhea politely told Joan that she would attend to John's injuries but Joan refused to leave, instead agreeing to watch and make sure that Rhea treated him, properly. Just as Rhea was about to apply the cotton ball, dipped in antiseptic she had filched from the TARDIS, against the cut on the back of John's head, he started wincing.
Rhea rolled her eyes. "I haven't even touched it yet." She pointed out, smirking.
John grinned up at her, laying a hand on her arm. "I was just practicing, my love." He teased.
Rhea shook her head, cracking a smile. "Seriously, my cousins used to be more brave and they were six."
"Well, it hurts!" John said, sulkily.
Martha burst in through the door, her face etched in concern. "Is he alright?" She asked, worriedly.
Nurse Redfern scowled at the new entrant into the room, staring at her with barely disguised disdain. "Excuse me, Martha. It's hardly good form to enter a master's study without knocking."
"No," Rhea stared at Nurse Redfern, sharply. "She's fine." She grinned at Martha. "Come on in."
Martha rolled her eyes at Nurse Redfern's comment. "Sorry, right, yeah." She remarked, annoyed. She ran back to the door and knocked on it, mockingly, before returning, making Rhea smile at her cheek. "But is he alright?" She asked Rhea. She looks at John. "They said you fell down the stairs, Sir."
"No, it was just a tumble, that's all." John mumbled, ignoring the sting of the antiseptic on the cut.
"Have you checked for concussion?" Martha asked Joan.
Joan raised an eyebrow. "I have. And I daresay I know a lot more about it than you." She said, pointedly.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that." Rhea growled, warningly. "Martha's been taking care of us since we were young." She said, lowly.
Martha nodded and looked down, remembering her place. "Sorry. I'll just..." She looked at Rhea and John and moved towards the desk. "Tidy your things."
"I was just telling Nurse Redfern-Matron," John quickly amended his sentence when he saw Rhea narrowing her eyes. "Um, about my dreams. They are quite remarkable tales."
Martha looked up in interest.
"I keep imagining that I'm someone else, and that I'm hiding-"
"Hiding?" Joan's brow furrowed. "In what way?"
"Um... er... almost every night..." John laughed, hesitantly. "This is going to sound silly-"
"Go on." Rhea urged, sweetly.
"I dream, quite often, that I have two hearts." John stared at Rhea, whose face betrayed nothing.
"Well, then, I can be the judge of that." Nurse Redfern exclaimed.
Reaching into a battered doctor's bag, she drew out a stethoscope with a smile. Rhea, who had been watching, grit her teeth against the jealousy that burned in her stomach as Nurse Redfern placed the stethoscope against John's chest. Nurse Redfern's stethoscope moved to the right side of his chest and she nodded, as if confirming what she already thought.
"I can confirm the diagnosis…" Nurse Redfern said, happily. "Just one heart, singular."
Martha seemed a little disappointed, but John laughed at his own silliness.
"I have written down some of these dreams in the form of fiction... um... not that it would be of any interest…" John rubbed the back of his neck.
"I'd be very interested." Nurse Redfern proclaimed.
John looked on in amazement and Nurse Redfern nodded. Rhea didn't say a word, but Martha knew by her eyes that she was beyond angry.
Note to self, Rhea's the jealous type. Martha thought, wryly.
But Rhea wasn't completely jealous. She was more worried than jealous of Nurse Redfern's attention in John. She had no idea what was actually written down in that journal of John's. She knew he had written down a few of their adventures, but she had no idea what else John had written down about her and she had no intention of Nurse Redfern finding out all of the secrets that the Doctor knew about her.
"Well, Rhea's the only one who's seen it before." John explained and handed her a black, leather-bound journal.
"'Journal of Impossible Things'" Nurse Redfern read the handwritten title on the first page.
She turned the pages, and peered at the pages, which were covered in both writing and ink pictures. The central console of the TARDIS is sketched on the first page, then the monitor screen section, a detailed sketch of a gas-mask victim from the Doctor's and Rhea's earlier encounter with the nanogenes.
"Just look at these creatures!" Nurse Redfern murmured in wonder.
She turned the page again to reveal a Dalek in all of its inked glory, leaving Rhea to wonder exactly what the creature was.
"Such imagination."
"Mm." John said. "It's become quite a hobby."
Nurse Redfern looked through the book to see more pages, more sketches and pages of writing. The face of the Moxx of Balhoon gave way to a sketch of two Autons, then to the face of one of the clockwork droids.
"It's wonderful. And quite an eye for the pretty girls." Nurse Redfern looked at John, slyly.
Rhea felt a pang of pain strike her in the heart when she saw John's haphazard sketch of Rose, feeling the loss of her young, blonde friend bloom in her mind, especially since it seemed like no time had passed since she had last seen Rose.
John shook her head, nervously looking at Rhea, afraid that she may take him sketching another woman the wrong way. "Oh, no, no, she's just an invention. This character, Rose, I call her, Rose." Martha and Rhea looked at John, thoughtfully. "Seems to disappear later on..." He trailed off.
Nurse Redfern turned another page and was met with page upon page and sketch upon sketch of Rhea. Dressed to the nines in a 19th century gown with long curly hair. Wearing all manners of rude clothing that seemed to shape her incredible figure. Pants and shorts and even tight skirts that showed her lithe legs and heels that seemed to go on forever. Her hair out and curly, much of her skin bare, like some Eastern nightmare. Even one where she clutched a gun in her slim hands, aiming it at some invisible enemy. The one that struck Nurse Redfern the most was the one that depicted her upright body surrounded by a glow brimming from her skin, looking like every definition of a goddess.
On another page, there was another sketch; this time of a quartet of Cybermen, and in the top corner on the next page, a small sketch of the TARDIS. There was a bigger, more detailed sketch further down the page.
"Ah, that's the box, the blue box, it's always there. Like Rhea." John gazed up at Rhea, adoringly. "Like a... like a magic carpet, this funny little box that transports me to far away places." He explained.
"Like a doorway?" Nurse Redfern asked, curiously.
"Mm." John nodded. The next page was a mess of writing, but the pictures stood up, brightly. "I sometimes think how magical life would be if things like this were true."
"If only." Rhea said, wistfully, laying a hand on John's shoulder.
"It's just a dream." John gave a short, quiet laugh.
On the next page, there was a familiar picture of John's pocket watch, inside and out, making Rhea swallow hard.
Doctor, even though I know this won't end well for me, I think I'd rather you come back now.
A school bell rang in the background, and Nurse Redfern was leaving John's and Rhea's quarters with the journal. Martha ran to follow her.
"Ma'am! That book-" She called out.
Nurse Redfern turned around and stopped. "Oh, I'll look after it, don't worry. He did say I could read it." She said, pointedly.
She went to leave, but Martha interrupted her.
"But, it's silly, that's all." Martha said, quickly. Nurse Redfern turned back. "Just stories."
"Who is he, Martha?" Nurse Redfern said, seriously. "Who are they?"
Martha reared back. "I'm sorry?" She asked, carefully.
"It's like he's left the kettle on. Like... he knows he has something to get back to, but he can't remember what." Nurse Redfern shook his head.
"That's just him." Martha laughed, nervously.
"And her…" Nurse Redfern stared off into space. "She seems to do whatever she wants. She acts like some… new-fangled woman, some pioneer suffragette. She doesn't seem to care about what people think about her and what image she gives out about her. And he still cares." She hissed out.
Martha tensed. "He loves her." She snapped, harshly, recognising her as a threat to the Doctor's relationship with Rhea. "I've known it ever since I met them. If there is one thing I know, he loves her beyond reason."
Nurse Redfern looked at her, slightly. "You arrived with them, didn't you? They found you employment here at the school, isn't that right?"
Martha nodded, stiffly. "I used to work for the family, I came along with Mrs Smith when they got married." She said, sticking to the story.
"Well, I'd be careful. If you don't mind my saying, you sometimes seem a little familiar with her. Best remember your position." Nurse Redfern said, warningly.
With a nod, she left.
Martha looked unimpressed. "Yes, ma'am." She said, mockingly, shaking her head.
Nurse Redfern headed down the stairs while Martha strode back to John's and Rhea's rooms.
Out in the night, Jenny was sitting on a bench outside the village pub. Martha came out, carrying two pints, wrapped up tightly in coat, hat and gloves.
"Ooh, it's freezing out here!" Martha shuddered. "Why can't we have a drink inside the pub?"
Jenny rolled her eyes. "Now, don't be ridiculous… you do get these notions! It's all very well those Suffragettes; but that's London, that's miles away."
Martha raised an eyebrow. "But don't you want to scream sometimes, having to bow and scrape and behave, don't you just wanna tell them?"
Jenny smiled. "I dunno. Things must be different in your country."
Martha shrugged. "Yeah, well they are. Thank God I'm not staying."
"You keep saying that." Jenny said, confused.
"Just you wait. One more month and I'm as free as the wind. I wish you could come with me, Jenny… you'd love it!"
Jenny frowned. "Where are you gonna go?"
"Anywhere." Martha looked to the stars. "Just look up there. Imagine you could go all the way out to the stars."
Jenny laughed. "You don't half say mad things!"
"That's where I'm going. Into the sky, all the way out." Martha said, wistfully.
Jenny laughed again, but Martha was fixed on the stars. Suddenly, a green light flared into and out of existence in the night sky. Martha looked surprised.
"Did you see that?" Martha asked, suddenly.
Jenny frowned. "See what?"
"Did you see it though?" She jumped to her feet. "Right up there, just for a second." She pointed to the sky where she had seen the green light.
"Martha, there's nothing there." Jenny said, slowly.
But Martha remained unconvinced.
Martha saw Nurse Redfern coming up to the pub, looking significantly distressed, and stood up.
"Matron, are you alright?" She asked, worriedly.
"Did you see that?" Nurse Redfern asked, breathlessly. "There was something in the woods... this light..."
John and Rhea emerged from the pub, the latter clutching a glass of brandy to her chest, as they approached the women.
"Anything wrong, ladies? Far too cold to be standing around in the dark, don't you-"
"There!" Nurse Redfern shouted, interrupting him, and pointed into the night sky.
The five watched as a green light flew over again, like a shooting star.
"There, look in the sky!" Nurse Redfern cried out.
"That's beautiful." Jenny murmured.
"There... orgom. Commonly known as a meteorite. It's just rocks falling to the ground, that's all." John explained.
"It came down in the woods." Nurse Redfern protested.
John shook his head. "No, no, no, they always look close, when actually they're miles off. Nothing left but a cinder." He turned to Rhea. "Now, I should escort you back to the school." He turned to Martha, Jenny and Nurse Redfern. "Ladies?"
Martha exchanged a worried look with Rhea. She stared up at the sky. "No, we're fine, thanks." She said, gratefully.
"Then we shall bid you goodnight." John tipped his hat in their direction and led Rhea up in the direction of the school.
Martha waited under they were out of earshot. "Jenny, where was that? On the horizon, where the light was headed."
"That's by Cooper's Field." Jenny murmured.
Martha started to run in the same direction.
"You can't just run off! It's dark, you'll break a leg!" Jenny called out.
She sighed, stood up and ran after Martha.
Martha was still running, heading through the woods. Jenny was right behind, slowly, and looking grateful as Martha stopped. They stood in the same clearing where the light ended up, but there was nothing to be seen.
"There y'are... Nothing there. I told you so." Jenny reassured, breathlessly.
"And that's Cooper's Field?" Martha asked, quickly.
"As far as the eye can see, and no falling star. Now come on, I'm frozen to the bone, let's go. As your Mr Smith says, 'Nothing to see'."
Jenny turned and strode away, but Martha gave one last look before following, resolving to talk to Rhea about it tomorrow.
The next day, Rhea was walking towards an old stone barn near the wood. Pushing open the door, she smiled as she entered. She didn't even need a key. Even in her off mode, all Rhea had to do was to place her hand on the double doors for the TARDIS to open for her. The console room was mostly in darkness as she stepped inside the TARDIS.
"Hi, gorgeous." Rhea crooned, stroking down one of her struts with her fingers. "I've missed you so much… you know, since yesterday." She said, dryly.
She slid off the lace gloves that she had donned this morning and headed for the console, a spring in her step, twirling around as her hells tapped against the grill. Sighing, she looked up at the time rotor, dormant.
"So, I gave in." She said, slowly. "I, well, he… we…" She trailed off. "We slept together. I'm still not sure if what I did was the right thing. In fact, I'm more than certain that it was the wrong thing." She shook her head. "I mean, do I look like the 'apple pie life' kind of girl? I can't give the Doctor or John what they want from me." She sighed. "But I slept with him. I suppose I just have to deal with that now."
"Look out!" The Doctor shouted, dragging Rhea down to the floor as a bolt of light flashed past, creating a fountain of sparks to erupt from the console.
Rhea walked around the console towards the monitor.
The Doctor growled in anger. "They're following us! They can follow us wherever we go. Right across the universe. They're never going to stop... Rhea, Martha, you trust me, don't you?"
"Of course we do-" Rhea started.
"'Cause it all depends on the two of you." The Doctor said, seriously, staring at Rhea and Martha.
Rhea reached the console.
The Doctor held up a small, silver pocket watch in front of them.
"Rhea, Martha, this watch is me."
Rhea stared at him for a second and snatched it off him. "I'm gonna need more information." She called out as he ran around the console.
"Those creatures are hunters, they can sniff out anyone- and me being a Time Lord; well, I'm unique. They can track me down across the whole of time and space." The Doctor explained.
Martha laughed. "And the good news is?"
"They can smell me, they haven't seen me. And their life's bound to be running out, so, we hide, wait for them to die."
"But they can track us down." Martha pointed out.
The Doctor stopped and looked at her and Rhea, seriously. "That's why I've got to do it. I have to stop being a Time Lord. I'm gonna become human."
Rhea looked up at the ceiling where a strange headset, resembling a pair of headphones, was hanging from the ceiling.
The Doctor lowered the headset into his reach. "Never thought I'd use this. All the times I've wondered…" He murmured, wistfully, glancing ever so quickly at Rhea out of the corner of his eye.
Oh, there were times when he had thought about joining her in her mortal coil, content to spend the rest of his days alongside her, growing old and living his life as a normal human.
"What does it do?" Rhea asked, carefully, wondering if he was about to do something incredibly stupid.
"Chameleon Arch. Rewrite my biology. Literally changes every single cell in my body. I've set it to human." The Doctor explained. He took the pocket watch back off Rhea and placed it into a slot in the headset. "Now, the TARDIS will take care of everything. Invent a life story for me, find me a setting and integrate me. Can't do the same for you... you'll just have to improvise. I should have just enough residual awareness to let you both in."
"But, wait, if you're going to rewrite every single cell in your body, won't that hurt like hell?" Rhea asked, fearfully.
"Oh, yeah." The Doctor nodded. "It hurts." He said, grimly. He looked at Rhea. "Look away, beautiful." He warned.
The Doctor slid the headset on and power passed through it, electrocuting the Doctor and making him scream in absolute agony as the power coursed through him, Rhea and Martha only able to watch in horror, Rhea's heart clenching painfully as each scream tore from the Doctor's throat.
Rhea activated a few controls on the console and the screen fizzed from its normal display to show the Doctor, addressing the camera.
"This working?" The Doctor tapped the camera. "Rhea, Martha, before I change here's a list of instructions for when I'm human. One, don't let me hurt anyone. We can't have that, but you know what humans are like. Two, don't worry about the TARDIS, I'll put it on emergency power so they can't detect it, just let it hide away. Four… no, wait a minute, three. No getting involved in big historical events. Four, Rhea, you… don't let me hurt you. Five, don't let me abandon either of you. And si-"
"Yeah, well, what do I do when you want to fuck me?" Rhea snapped and twisted the dial on the side of the monitor, skipping through most of the other instructions, having memorised them on her frequent trips to the TARDIS over the last three months.
"And there was a meteor last night, a shooting star… what the hell do you want me to do then?"
Her hand fell off the dial when she came to the last item on the Doctor's list.
"And twenty-three. If anything goes wrong, if they find us, Rhea, then you know what to do. Open the watch. Everything I am is kept safe in there. Now, I've put a perception filter on it, so the human me won't think anything of it. To him, it's just a watch. But, don't open it unless you have to. Because once it's open, then, the Family will be able to find me. It's all down to you, Rhea. Your choice."
The Doctor walked off the screen.
"Oh, and thank you. Both of you."
With a smile, the recording stopped and the screen returned to its usual display.
Rhea bit her lip and she allowed herself to confess what only the practically dead TARDIS and herself could hear.
"I wish you'd come back, matchstick man. I miss you like crazy." She whispered.
A young student, a boy named Timothy Latimer, stood outside an office door marked 'J. Smith'. He knocked, hesitantly, the door opened and John looked at him.
"You told me to come and collect that book, Sir." Timothy said.
John nodded, quickly, as if it had slipped his mind. "Good lad, yes... yes!" His eyes widened. "'The Definitive Account of Mafeking' by Aitchison-Price, where did I put it?" He walked over to his desk, Timothy following slowly behind. "And I wanted a little word, your marks aren't quite good enough." He said, sternly.
"I'm top ten in my class, sir." Timothy reminded him.
"Now, be honest, Timothy. You should be the very top. You're a clever boy, but you seem to be hiding it." John turned his attention to his desk. "Where is that book..." He murmured to himself.
With no luck finding the book on his desk, John walked into an annexed library off the main room of his office.
"And I know why. Keeping your head low avoids the mockery of your classmates. But no man should hide himself, don't you think?" John asked, wistfully.
Timothy frowned, having heard a voice come out of nowhere. "Yes, sir…" He muttered.
He looked around and the pocket watch on the mantelpiece seemed to draw his attention as he walked closer to it.
"You're clever, be proud of it. Use it." John told him, reassuringly.
Timothy could hear whispering voices coming from the watch.
"Time Lord... Timothy, hide yourself... I'm trapped, kept inside the cogs..."
Timothy pressed down on the release latch of the watch and it opened, releasing wisps of golden energy.
A/N: Hope you all liked the first chapter of Human Nature. We still have around three chapters until the aftermath of everything that happened between John and Rhea in 1913, but enjoy yourself as you get there. We had another sex scene in this chapter and I hope you liked the bath scene twist to this.
Rhea still feels uncertain as to what she'll do when the Doctor comes back. I wonder how he'll take it once he finds out that his human self slept with Rhea. And Martha's real protective of the Doctor's relationship with Rhea. She sure showed Joan, didn't she?
If it isn't obvious, I do have a huge problem with Nurse Redfern. I know that some people try and excuse the crap she pulled in 1913 as a product of her upbringing, but it's not like there weren't forward thinkers in 1913. Not to mention, the Doctor acted as if she was so important by visiting her descendant on his goodbye tour. I never understood why he visited her of all people when he already admitted that John wasn't him. Why couldn't he have visited someone like River or Jackson?
All I can see when I see Joan is just another racist person who should have been educated. But, this coupled with Joan's eager pursuit of John isn't really making Rhea warm up to her. So, yeah, Nurse Redfern will be in a bad light in these chapters.
Hope you all liked the chapter and don't forget to review!
Reviews:
ImsebastianstanButter: Well, that's the sixty-four-million-dollar question, isn't it? We'll just have to wait and see what happens. But, honestly, I hope he remembers too.
funwithstark: Thank you so much for answering my question! Frankly, that's what I was thinking too, and even I, as the writer, am getting confused with all of these chapters, so it might be easier to split it up into two stories. But I guess I might just wait until I get closer to the end of the first part and ask the question again.
Guest: Believe me, I do understand your anger. But the reason why I characterised the Doctor (John) that way was because I did want to expand upon the racism that Martha would experience at that time and how, honestly, with Rhea being coloured herself, there wasn't a lot they could do about it. Yeah, sure, Rhea could've packed Martha up and taken her away, but she needed to protect the Doctor and Martha understood that. That doesn't mean the issue's tabled or anything, and Rhea and Martha will be making the Doctor apologise for that kind of racist shit. And I do feel like Rhea did give John a piece of her mind in that chapter as well, so it's not like she let him get away with it or anything. But I think, in those unfair circumstances, she had to pick and choose her battles. As for the sex, I see those as two separate situations and I wouldn't mix the two. The sex was about Rhea's feelings for both John and the Doctor finally coming to this headlong clash. At that time, I think she was so overwhelmed by those feelings that she didn't really think beyond that at all. Once you see how she expands on her relationship with Damian, I think you'll see the way she looks at relationships and sex isn't as clear-cut as you may think. I am really sorry you were offended by the situation, but I do have to stand by what I wrote.
Amxliapond: Aww, thank you so much! I was very worried about the reaction to that chapter, but as you said, that kind of racism was unfortunately prevalent in that time period and I didn't want to beat around the bush with it. And I really did think it was realistic of what would have happened to Martha and Rhea, who is coloured on her own, as well. It's not that I'm not sorry that people are offended, nor am I ignoring how problematic it is, but in the circumstances of that chapter, that was all that could have been done. But thank you so much for your support. It's good to know others liked it!
Arawa: Thank you! And I'm so glad you enjoyed the last chapter. I know it was a bit of a controversial issue with everyone, but it's always good to hear support!
Guest: Honestly, that was just a misunderstanding and it was all sorted out!
LookAliveSunshine03: I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Yeah, I thought it would be interesting to push the envelope just a little bit and expand on just what Martha must have experienced in 1913 because just those boys and Nurse Redfern's snide comments were probably all they were allowed to show, and racism (especially early 19th century wise) can go pretty far. And yeah, it's good she has Rhea for support here. Don't worry, just a stern talking-to isn't all she's going to do about what Martha experience ;) As for Rhea and the Doctor, I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it goes with them.
lifethroughanotherseyes: I do really like your ideas. They're very interesting, particularly the TARDIS race in human form one. If I hadn't already come up with the reason why Rhea jumps through time the way she does, I would be tempted to ask you if I could use it, but it is incredibly interesting and I could see it being very realistic in this story! But thank you so much for your suggestions!
Doctorsgallifrey: Aww, that's so sweet. As a fellow binger, I totally understand, but I would have been happy with seriously just one-word reviews, cause they all make me smile! I'm so glad you enjoy Rhea and her internal struggle. As much as I like focusing on her relationship with the Doctor, I do like writing her as a character on her own just as much, as well as her relationships with other companions. And Rhea and River, and Rhea and Jack are definitely my favourites. And yeah, you can kind of see the tension between the Doctor and River for different reasons in this story. Usually it's because River's interested in the Doctor and the OC's jealous or River's like a little sister to the OC. But I thought it would explore a different situation, considering it is canon that River's bisexual and so is Rhea. So, we'll definitely see how that goes about, once I start covering season 5, 6 and 7 in more detail. I hope you had a great New Years too and thank you so much again for the review!