Previously: Martin started out the story contemplating the dawn of a new day and how much he missed Louisa in the wake of the hostage situation, only to be interrupted by an aggressive seagull. Now, with all the tumultuous recent events over, he finally got to have the birthday dinner with Louisa, only for them to interrupted by a medical emergency.

Chapter 56: The Brightest Star in His Sky

Sunday Evening

Newly returned from having stitched up Chippy Miller's hand and determining there was no serious damage, Martin tentatively stepped out onto the stone terrace, a fresh cup of herbal tea in hand. He took a leisurely sip and surveyed the rapidly fading evening, but he couldn't quite relax.

Then came a yip, and the shaggy grey dog slunk up the steps to greet him. The dog sat and looked up at him apologetically, as if commiserating over their shared plight. Martin scowled.

Out of nowhere, a dark shadow swooped down and came at them with a scream and outstretched claws. Martin jumped back and before his astonished eyes the dog leapt and lunged for the shadow, and came down to earth with its jaws clamped tight. There was a sickening crunch. The dog sat there with the mangled bird in its mouth, looking every bit as astonished as Martin felt.

Martin just stood there, then turned and went into the house to fetch gloves, some newspaper, and a scrap of mackerel wrapped in a bit of paper napkin. He donned the gloves and placed the newspaper on the ground. The dog placed the bird on it, as if knowing just what was expected of it. Martin wrapped the bloody, feathered mess and put it in the trash bin, atop the bin bag already in there, stripped the gloves off, dropped them in as well, and replaced the lid. He pushed on the lid once to ensure it was on good and tight.

Then, with one last look around to ensure no one was watching, he took the mackerel out of his pocket and unwrapped it. Holding it at the edge with just two fingers to avoid contact, he offered it to the dog, which took it with gentle dignity and swallowed it in one gulp. "Erm… good dog," Martin said.

The dog sat again, as if ready to companionably enjoy the warm evening with him. Martin pulled himself up to his full height, hands clasped behind his back, with his own gentle dignity.

Out over the ocean the sun was slipping beneath the horizon in a final blaze of glory. The evening star, which he knew was bright Venus, was slowly following it down.

The fishermen were securing their boats in the harbour for the night and the lights were flicking on one by one in the village below his vantage point. One window at a certain cottage across the harbour, to which his eye was drawn like the brightest star in his sky, lit up. He knew that Louisa, his perfect Venus, was gazing back up at him.

It had been chilly for September, but the wind had changed lately and it felt like summer again. The sea breeze was gentle, the leaves were still green, and the songbirds were out in force. In particular, the nightingale that used to sing in his garden regularly seemed to have returned.

No ringing phones, no rumbling traffic, no gossipy malingerers, and at last no monstrous gull. This, he thought, was his favourite part of the day. The world was settling into comfortable night, resting before the promise of a new dawn tomorrow.

The End.

So that's my story. I tried for something a little different to the usual DM fanfic… I hope at least a few readers enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I've already got another one in mind that takes place post-Series 8 but it will likely take me months to work on it – so watch this space!