A/N: I edited this with a cat on my shoulder. It was a challenge.
Also, if you're remotely interested in more random Doctor adventures, Sarbrook and I wrote a story together a hundred years ago. And then we just now decided to add the bits we mostly got written. So that's going to be updated a couple times over the next few weeks, until it's promptly abandoned again. But it's going to be a standalone story, so the abandonment shouldn't be too rough. So you should check it out, and maybe write a review (to try and guilt Sarbrook into coming back and finishing her story? But I didn't say that. No one heard or saw me say that. NO ONE HEARD ME SUGGEST THAT.) The link is in my profile and it's called "The Hollow Man". If you have no interest in that whatsoever, carry on my friend! [/end shameless self plug]
-1926-
-Eddison Manor-
"Doctor," Calypso whispered in the dark. "What are we looking for?" The storm clouds rolled overhead and gave the night air a sharp chill. Whatever they hunted for here in the dark was hidden from her eyes by shifting shadows. The first spits of rain splashed against Calypso's neck, causing her to shiver. They stopped at the wire trellis, just beyond the warm glow of light from inside the manor. The Doctor's face was difficult to see in the shadows, but he looked well enough recovered from the poison, if a little disheveled with his wet hair.
"Looking for?" He searched her face, perplexed. "We're not looking for anything."
"Then…what are we doing out here?" She couldn't say she wasn't glad to be spending time with him, but with the rapidly growing list of victims, she had expected a heightened sense of urgency on the Doctor's part.
"Calypso, you've just told me you're pregnant. I have to assume it's because…well…" he drawled, looking uneasy as he ran a hand through his damp hair.
"Oh," she shook her head quickly as color rushed to her face. "No, I'm- I'm not. I just-" her tongue felt like lead in her mouth as she stumbled to explain herself, especially under the watchful gaze of the Doctor. "Miss Chandrakala mentioned a child…it just, stuck in my head. Thought it would be…shocking." She finished lamely.
"Oh," his voice went higher as he nodded. "So we've not-" he gestured between them. "At least, not-" he met her eyes, for the first time looking embarrassed. "No. No, no. Don't- don't answer that. Stupid question. Don't- just," he shook his head and opened his mouth once more before shutting it. "Don't."
"Right." She had to admit, she rather enjoyed seeing the Doctor flustered, but then she was also relieved. Relieved she didn't have to share the fact that they had, only he'd been a different man at the time. She wasn't sure how he'd react to such news, and she wasn't in a hurry to find out.
"Sorry," he shook his head with a sheepish grin. "Just got a bit- Didn't think I'd ever be- Well, guess I'm not, am I." He smirked, but it was laced with sadness.
"You've never had children?" For some reason the idea surprised Calypso, though she wasn't sure she'd given it much thought before.
"Oh, I was. Long long time ago."
Something in the way his voice caught broke her heart. The silence lingered between them. "On Gallifrey?" She asked softly. He nodded as he stared out into the storm, a brilliant flash of light in the distance highlighted the bleakness in his face. She didn't need him to elaborate. A great and terrible war, he had said to her. Many years before. She hadn't wanted to listen then, she'd been too angry, too broken. Too focused on her own sense of wrongdoing. It had never struck her until now that he'd not just lost his home. He'd lost everything that he'd ever once held dear. He lost his life, and he blamed himself. She could see how similar they were now, and it cut her that she'd never understood it before. "I'm sorry." She whispered.
"S'alright," he said hollowly, finally meeting her eyes. "It was a long time ago." But it was clear from the tightness in his jaw that it wasn't alright. It never would be. She took his hand and interlaced his fingers with her own, hoping to share at least some of the burden. He looked down, and while there was still pain in his eyes, he managed to smile. "It is good to see you again."
"I'm glad my foul mood hasn't soured your opinion yet," she said with a small smile.
"Never."
"Oi, you two. We've got a murder to be solving. And more importantly, dinner." Donna stood at the door, hands on her hips. "Not really the time for handholding, yeah?" She sounded annoyed, but she wore a smug grin as she waited for them.
"Right," the Doctor nodded. His melancholy vanished beneath a look of determination. "Shall we?" He bobbed his head toward Donna and they both headed back the way they had come.
"If you're looking for ideas, my middle name is 'Catherine'." Donna said under her breath as they passed. "Just saying."
"Donna," the Doctor said shortly. "No one is having a baby."
She snorted. "Well, maybe not yet."
He shook his head, but stifled any further comments. "Come on, we've got a murder to solve with Agatha Christie." His grin returned as they entered the dining room, mingling with the rest of the guests who had already arrived.
Greeves struck a crystal glass a few times to signal the meal was about to be served and they all took their seats. The soup was the first dish, and when the Doctor gave her a questioning glance, Calypso nodded. They ate in silence for a moment, only the storm billowing outside interrupting the soft clinking of silverware and the occasional slurp.
"A terrible day for all of us," the Doctor finally spoke, scrutinizing everyone as they ate. "The Professor struck down, Miss Chandrakala taken cruelly from us...and yet we still take dinner."
Lady Eddison put down her spoon, offended he had broken the somber mood. "We are British, Doctor. What else must we do?"
The Doctor gave a shrug. "Then someone tried to poison me. Any one of you had the chance to put cyanide in my drink. But it rather gave me an idea."
"And what would that be?" The reverend asked casually.
"Well…poison. Drink up!" The Doctor said, cheerfully slurping up more of the soup. Donna dropped her spoon and gave the Doctor a dark look. The remainder of the guests all looked at each other, worry etched on their faces. "I've laced the soup with pepper." He winked at Calypso.
"Ah, I thought it was jolly spicy." The colonel said approvingly, clearly enjoying the meal. The lights flickered above as the tree bashed against the window once more.
"But the active ingredient of pepper is piperine. Traditionally used as an insecticide." The Doctor leaned forward, meeting the eyes of everyone at the table. "So, anyone got the shivers?"
A flash of lightning followed by booming thunder caused everyone to jump. The wind picked up once again, thrashing the high branch against the window until it finally burst through. The lights flickered and then died completely. Lady Eddison screamed as the wind tore through the room, dousing the few candles that had been lit.
"Listen…listen," the Doctor shushed them all. "Listen!" The wind still howled through the open window, but above that, they could hear a waspy buzzing.
"No, it can't be…" Lady Eddison's voice was a dreadful moan.
"Show yourself, demon!" Agatha shouted in the darkness. Calypso leapt up from her seat, hearing the guests cry out as they struggled to escape the room.
"Nobody move! No, don't, stay where you are!" The Doctor struggled to keep everyone calm, waiting for the next flash of lightning to reveal the location of the creature, and hopefully, its identity. Calypso stood frozen, desperately trying to listen to where the buzzing was coming from. Another flash of light showed her it was directly across the room, headed in her direction. She gasped as she stumbled backwards, darkness swallowed them again and she could hear it knocking aside crystal and dishes as it swarmed over the table. She was hit sideways and collapsed to the floor as the wasps vibrating wings beat the air over her. It struck the wall with a thud and spun away to search for another victim.
"Well, that was closer than I would have liked," the Doctor said from above her. He pushed himself to his feet and pulled Calypso up behind him. "Out, out out!" He shouted to the room, dragging Calypso stumbling through the dark as they ran for the door. They emerged in a small room where Donna and Greeves stood plastered against the wall. Agatha too had escaped, though she strained to look through the door to see who the attacker could be.
"Well, we know the butler didn't do it." Donna said a little breathlessly.
The Doctor grabbed a sword from its display on the wall and turned back to the doors. "Then who did?" He asked, his frustration finally bubbling over as he burst back into the room. Calypso fumbled with a nearby candle, hoping to light the way, but she needn't have bothered, as the lights returned a few moments later. The room itself was a disaster, serving dishes and furniture scattered about, but nearly everyone was still inside.
"My jewelry! The Firestone! It's gone!" Lady Eddison shrieked as she clutched at her chest. The large purple and gold gem did seem to be missing, but Calypso didn't think that was immediately concerning.
"Roger…" one of the servants spoke softly, staring at the dining table. Calypso followed his gaze and her breath caught in her throat. Roger was lying face down on the table, a knife stuck deep in his back. Lady Eddison didn't comprehend the truth of it immediately, her mouth hung open as she stared. She staggered forward, a pained moan escaping her mouth as she tried to reach out.
"My son…" her voice was raspy but it rose to a scream. "My child!"
