A/N: If you think these quick updates are a desperate bid to buy back your love. You're absolutely right. That's totally what this is. I'M SORRY FOR BEING SUCH A FLAKE FOR SO LONG. Also mild veerage from canon, but I couldn't do away with a lot of the scene because it is my favorite scene. So apologies to those who are a bit bored by scripts from the show!
-1926-
-Eddison Manor-
The scream came from outside, followed by a sizeable thud. The Doctor met Calypso's eyes briefly, and then they were running down the stairs in a group. They burst out onto the drive and found the source quickly. Miss Chandrakala was crushed beneath a stone gargoyle, desperately struggling against the weight as she gasped for air. Calypso knelt next to the woman as the Doctor pushed the stone aside, but her breathing was frightfully ragged.
Miss Chandrakala grasped Calypso's hand, "The poor…little…child." She whispered, her voice choked with moisture. Then her eyes faded, and she slumped back to the ground.
"Is she…" she searched the Doctor's eyes, but his grave face told her Miss Chandrakala was dead.
"Doctor, look!" Donna shouted, pointing toward the roof. Calypso heard the buzzing before she saw the creature, lurking just above the crumbled architecture where the gargoyle had fallen.
"Come on!" The Doctor shouted as he sprinted for the manor again. Donna hesitated, seeing Calypso still crouched with Miss Chandrakala.
"I'll make sure she's taken care of. Keep him out of trouble." She nodded, Donna smirked and took off after Agatha and the Doctor. Calypso turned to find Greeves approaching, a grim look on his face. "I'm sorry, I think she's-" she felt cruel to be the one to break the news when they were so unfamiliar to each other.
"The Doctor has informed me if the incident." He gave a sharp nod and produced a white linen sheet. "I've arranged for a gurney to be brought. We'll put her down in the cellar as well." He grew quiet as he placed the fabric over the woman's still form as gently as if she might yet be disturbed.
"I'm sorry," Calypso repeated, helping lay the sheet flat as the wind tried to ruffle it. "The Doctor will find who's responsible."
Greeves slowly tucked the sheet beneath Miss Chandrakala, his stern face unreadable. "She's been a member of the household since my father worked here." He said quietly. "I'm not sure we'll recover from this-" He looked up as he finished, suddenly remembering that Calypso was a mere stranger. "Lady Eddison, I'm not sure Lady Eddison will recover."
Calypso nodded as two of the servants came up with a plank of wood between them. "Please, let me know if there's anything I can do." She offered. Greeves gave a curt nod and then directed the men to carefully gather up Miss Chandrakala and escorted them back into the manor. The Doctor had returned by then, looking disappointed.
"We lost him." He said sharply as he watched the men carry Miss Chandrakala away. "If I could just figure out what it wants." He kicked the stony drive in frustration, scattering gravel as he did so.
"Do giant wasps generally have a motive?" She didn't mean to make light, but she had a hard time understanding what the Doctor could have meant.
"It's a vespiform. It's not actually from our planet."
"So it's like…like us?" She asked, suddenly intrigued by the creature despite its horrid behavior.
"Well," the Doctor shrugged. "If you mean alien to this planet, yes. But it's from a completely different galaxy as well. And it's a shape shifter. Which is why it can buzz around murdering people and then suddenly transform itself back into its human form." He shook his head. "Tell you what, I've had a thought. Pop into the kitchen while they're preparing supper. See if you can't sneak some pepper into the dish. Might help sort out our vespiform problem."
"Okay," it seemed an odd request, but Calypso trusted that the Doctor knew what he was doing.
"I'll have a chat with Agatha. Keep an eye out," he said with a nod and turned back to the manor. "Oh," he turned suddenly, pointing his finger at her accusingly. "And stay out of trouble."
"You first." She snorted.
"Atta girl." He grinned and winked at her, heading back inside.
Calypso followed the path Greeves had taken, anticipating it to be the quickest into the kitchens. She expected there would be some protest to her being there at all, but between the bustling activity, and the red rimmed eyes of many of the workers, she went largely unnoticed. The reverend had stopped by, saying a few words of comfort to those who needed it, and then disappeared into the cellar to say a prayer over Miss Chandrakala.
Calypso took advantage of her newfound invisibility and scooped up a pepper shaker from one of the shelves, but found it more of a challenge to actually get it into the food. She eyed a large pot of soup over the stove where she might dispose of the pepper, but Mrs. Hart had yet to leave the kitchen. She lingered in the bustle, pretending to inspect the food, all the while the pepper shaker clutched tight in her fist.
Greeves appeared, preparing a set of drinks in a mechanical way until he found they'd run out of mint sprigs. He interrupted Mrs. Hart to inquire if they had any more, and she led him away to the pantry. Seeing her opportunity, Calypso jumped forward, dumping the pepper into the creamy soup. The Doctor hadn't mentioned how much pepper would be needed, so she erred on the side of caution and emptied the entire shaker.
The reverend appeared from the cellar, causing her to start. He smiled politely and Calypso turned to pick up the spoon, as though she were merely helping out. He finally disappeared and she let out a sigh of relief, the stirring had disguised the pepper well enough that she doubted anyone would be suspicious.
"What are you up to?" Mrs. Hart's voice made her jump as she turned, guilt written across her face.
"Oh, sorry, I just…" Calypso struggled to come up with a convincing lie under the stern gaze of Mrs. Hart. "I was just…curious to see what kind of soup you were serving."
"Cream of barley." The woman's eyes narrowed further with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Oh, that's-that's a relief. Mrs. Christie has a weak constitution, so she struggles with some foods."
"And you were concerned about the soup?" It occurred to Calypso that the best way to put Mrs. Hart at ease was probably not in questioning her culinary expertise. Unfortunately, that realization came a bit late.
"No, of course not." She corrected quickly. "It's just, I know Lady Eddison had spent so much time in India. I've heard the food can be quite spicy. I didn't mean to cause any offense."
Mrs. Hart sniffed, satisfied, if not pleased with the answer. "Well if Mrs. Christie has any other needs or concerns, I'll be happy to arrange something new." The words were curt, and a clear dismissal.
"Well, thank you. She will pleased to hear that. It all smells quite lovely," Calypso said with a nervous smile as she made her way to the door.
"Ginger beer!" The Doctor burst into the kitchen. Sweat was beading across his forehead and he staggered into the counter, gasping for air.
"Doctor?" Calypso helped him stand straight again, whatever had happened in her absence, he was clearly unwell.
"I beg your pardon?" Mrs. Hart was displeased that she had another unwelcome intruder in the kitchens.
"I need ginger beer!" The Doctor pushed off the counter and examined the shelves on his own when no one moved. His arms clumsily searched, sending bottles and packages smashing onto the tile floor. Donna and Agatha both appeared behind the Doctor, looking equally concerned. The Doctor found what he was looking for and guzzled half the bottle in one breath. He dumped some of the remainder over his head.
"Donna, what's happened?" Calypso clutched at her arm, the Doctor clearly wasn't capable of answering as his eyes darted around the kitchen and another gasping attack had him clutching his chest.
"Well, there was-" Donna stammered, hesitant to explain. "The Doctor's been given cyanide."
"I don't understand-" Calypso shook her head, refusing to believe the words she had heard.
"I'm an expert in poisons, Doctor. There's no cure, it's fatal!" Agatha explained to him miserably as he gargled another swig of the beer, spraying it across the floor as though he might rinse out the poison.
"But he can't-" Calypso's voice broke as she realized very suddenly, that he could. She had met his new face, she knew he could die. This could be his end, and she found she wasn't prepared for it at all.
"Not for me," the Doctor said, though his voice was ragged. "I can stimulate the inhibited enzymes into reversal...protein-" he clenched his teeth and let out an agonized groan as he began to slide to the floor. Calypso rushed forward and steadied him, keeping him upright. She continued to cling to him, afraid to let him go. "I need protein!" He said as his breaths came in short pained gasps. Her stomach twisted uncomfortably as he trembled beneath her grip. He wasn't afraid, she could tell that even in his delirium, but he was weak and fading, and that scared her desperately.
"How bout walnuts?" Donna asked as she rushed over with a jar.
"Brilliant," he nodded, he tore off the lid and stuffed handfuls of them into his mouth. "Lt!" He nodded to Donna, chewing quickly. "Eed alt!"
"I can't understand you!" Donna shook her head, a mix of exasperation and panic twisting her features. "How many words?" The Doctor held up one finger, still struggling to swallow the dry nuts. "One! One word!" She was relieved to have understood that much. The Doctor shook his hand, unable to articulate what he needed with words. "Ah. Shake, milk shake, milk? No, not milk? Hm, shake shake...cocktail shaker!" The Doctor shook his head, growing increasingly frustrated. "What do you want, a Harvey Wallbanger?!"
The Doctor swallowed and stared at Donna in disbelief. "Harvey Wallbanger?!"
"Well I don't know!"
"How is Harvey Wallbanger one word?! Salt, I was miming salt! I need something salty!"
Donna rolled her eyes and turned back to the counter. She held out a brown bag and offered it to the Doctor. "Here, what about this?"
"What is it?" His legs started to give way and Calypso struggled to keep him standing.
"Salt!"
"That's too salty!" The Doctor said, shaking his head.
"Oh, that's too salty." Donna muttered as she returned to help Agatha search.
"Here Doctor," Agatha held out another jar, anchovies floating in oil and the Doctor nodded quickly. He held Calypso's shoulder with one hand and tilted his head back, pouring the contents into his mouth. He struggled to speak again, and so began to pantomime.
"What is it? What else? It's a song? Mammy?" Donna struggled, mimicking the way the Doctor was flicking his hands. "Um, I don't know. Captown Races?"
"Camptown races?" The Doctor shouted when he had swallowed the fish. Calypso wished he was a little more concerned with getting what he needed, than chiding Donna, but there wasn't time to argue.
"Alright then, Towering Inferno!" Donna rolled her eyes.
"It's a shock! Look! Shock!" He repeated the gesture. "I need a shock!"
"Right then." Donna said, a look of determination settling on her features. "Big shock, coming up!" She grabbed the sides of his face and looked ready to head butt him.
"I-I'm pregnant!" Calypso shouted, hoping that would serve just as well as blunt trauma. The Doctor turned toward her, his eyes wide but Donna's hands still squishing his face comically. Then his body tensed and he stumbled backward, throwing his head back and coughing up a gray cloud of ash that dissipated overhead. He groaned and took in a deep breath, steadying himself as he looked up.
"Ah!" He shook his head, wiping the mess from his mouth. "That's a relief."
Both Calypso and Donna gave him a dirty look.
"I mean, the, the detox." He clarified.
"Doctor, you are impossible!" Agatha stared at him, open mouthed.
"Oh yes," he said with a grin and clicked his tongue.
"Callie, are you telling me-"
"Donna!" He interrupted quickly. "I need you to gather everyone for dinner. Make sure they're all there. Agatha, put on your thinking cap. If my plan falls through, we're going to need to crack this the old fashion way. Calypso, with me." He nodded for the door. Donna raised her eyebrow, but shrugged, following Agatha out of the room and saving her questions for a later date. "Come on," the Doctor grabbed Calypso's hand, his eyes locked on hers for a moment before he led her out to the lawn.
