Chapter 7

The clockwork house

The doctor let Annabeth go and she placed her forehead against his, briefly, before she stood up and moved away to stand by Jack who was still angry for not knowing the truth. Annabeth placed a hand on his chest and he looked down at her, his grey eyes meeting her green ones. Jack relaxed when he saw something in her eyes which made him hug her to him... And it was a good job too, for suddenly the tardis started blaring the sound of a claxon alarm and began spinning out of control. Vastra hissed and reached for Jenny. Clara threw herself towards the doctor and Strax stood facing the door, gun raised.

"Strax! Put it away!" Annabeth screamed over the noise. The doctor held out his hand for her and she reached for him only to be thrown backwards against Jack as the tardis shuddered to a holt, landing with a loud thud. Annabeth blacked out.

When Annabeth came to, she was sprawled on her stomach in the middle of the console room, the tardis must have transported them back there when she landed. Not far off was the doctor, Clara a little further on, Jack was behind her, slumped in the railings and Strax, Vastra and Jenny were over near the doors- all out cold. The tardis hummed at Annabeth and she sat up, checking for broken bones.

"I'm good, old girl. Don't you worry. Do me a favour, wake up Jenny, Strax and Vastra." Once said, Annabeth crawled towards the doctor and placed her hands on either side of his face. "Doctor? Doctor wake up... Don't leave me now." She complained and then the doctor gasped and without a seconds hesitation wrapped Annabeth in his arms.

"Are ye well, lass?"

"Aye, I am." Annabeth het replied and helped the doctor to his feet, he then turned his attention to Clara who gasped and clung to him in panic. Vastra, Strax and Jenny were slowly sitting up and then Annabeth turned to Jack. "Here we go again. You're getting slow Jack." She said as she kissed him, deeply and defiantly only to be stunned when Jack kissed her back. So stunned in fact that she made a squeaking sound. Before things got too far she pushed him away and stood up, brushing herself down before moving closer to The Doctor. She looked back at Jack as he rose to his feet, a satisfied smirk on his face. Annabeth glared before taking the Doctors hand as he headed for the doors to the tardis. Clara followed with Vastra and Jenny, the. Came Strax, weapon drawn and Jack brought up the rear. He was pleased with himself- he'd rattled Annabeth a little and was eager to find out her secrets especially how he was involved with her.

Jack shut the doors of the tardis behind him and then moved to stand near Clara, protectively. They stood in the entrance hall of a house, everything was dark and lonely, save for the solitary light coming from Annabeth's torch which she'd clicked on as they'd left the safety of the tardis.

"I don't like this." Annabeth whispered as she moved closer to the doctor, his hand still in hers. The room was silent for a moment or two before the sound of a chiming grandfather clock echoed in the hall. Everyone began long around, moving closer to each other for safety. Vastra had drawn her sword and her hand was in Jenny's. There was movement a little way off and Annabeth shone her torch in the direction of the sound. She gasped and then called out.

"Henry, come here. Now." She said quickly and the figure revealed by her torchlight was shown to be a young boy, no older than ten, with sandy blond hair and a pale complexion. He was dressed in a long nightshirt and at hearing Annabeth's voice came dashing over to the group and wrapped his arms around Annabeth's waist.

"Mistress. Ye came. Oh mistress, I am frightened beyond comprehension." The boy was Scottish from his accent, originating from somewhere in the highlands. Annabeth hugged him to her.

"Aye, I'm here laddie. Henry, what be the date?" Annabeth asked.

"April 15th 1746, mistress. I'm sorry, the master has gone to Culloden field. He left yesterday." At his words, Annabeth visibly paled and hugged the boy tighter.

"May God protect him. I swear to ye, Henry, whatever happens I will see ye safe." Annabeth swore. Henry nodded before he caught sight of something and squeezed her tighter, causing Annabeth to look up and tap the doctor's arm. The doctor heard it too, the sound which had frightened The boy Henry. A loud ticking- the ticking of clockwork.

"May the Lord and Heavenly Father protect us." Henry whispered.

"That's not good... Where are we?" The doctor questioned as the ticking grew closer.

"Torchwood house, about 2 centuries after it was built. Doctor I don't like that sound. Any plans?" Annabeth questioned, Henry close against her side.

"Torchwood house! Brilliant. Werewolves, clockwork ones!" The doctor grumbled.

"Doctor, there isn't a werewolf yet, that's not around for another 20 years. It's clockwork something though. Plan?"

"No not yet... Oh, you beauty..." The doctor crooned as the figure of a robot appeared. A robot with a mask for a face, and a long wig dressed in a redcoat uniform.

"My god it's the English!" Henry cried, tears falling fast.

"That's not the English, laddie..." The doctor said and moved forward.

"Doctor!" Clara said in concern.

"Dad... Not now please... DAD!" Annabeth shouted as the doctor took off the wig and mask of the robot to reveal a clockwork brain... The robot lifted its hand and revealed a clockwork saw, like the sort used to do cranium operations. The doctor stepped back as the saw went for his throat. He reached out a hand for Annabeth and for Clara.

"Henry... Where's the best place to hide?" The doctor asked.

"The library, sir. To the left. " Henry explained. The doctor nodded.

" Run." Vastra and Jenny headed off followed by Strax and Jack, then Clara with the doctor, Annabeth and the boy Henry following. Jack and the doctor slammed the door shut behind them as the robot followed. Then Jack turned on Annabeth.

"Dad? The doctor is your dad and you didn't think to tell me!"

"Jack! He had to know first. He had to recognise who I was. I couldn't tell you anything until he knew. Now stop shouting at me. Ye've frightening Henry!" Annabeth growled. Jack was stunned. He'd never fought with her before, why should the realisation that her father was the doctor be any different? Jack fell silent and Henry sniffed hugging Annabeth once more.

"Oh mistress what are we tae do?" Henry complained.

"We stick together and we stay strong, the Doctor will come up with a plan and we'll go from there," Annabeth paused before she knelt to the boys level. "Henry did the master say anything afore he left?"

"Only thst he Ken ye would come and that ye would look after me until he returned." Annabeth Clamped her lips together and nodded.

"Damn ye James McCrimmon. Damn ye and all the McLaren's ye serve." Annabeth growled under her breath hoping no one heard her, but the doctor did.

"Jamie? He survives Culloden." He said simply.

How'd you know?" Annabeth turned to him stunned.

"He was my companion for a while. Brave lad, funny too."

"Then I don't want to tell you how his story ends..." Annabeth began but stopped when Henry whimpered. He'd heard something and she heard it too and turned quickly, torch light lighting the room behind her. "Mary, mother and bride... Is that what I think it is?"

In the torchlight the gang saw teardrop shaped globules hanging precariously from the ceiling of the library. They were the colours of gold and copper- almost the same colour as the workings in an antique clock... And they were ticking furiously.

"Aye lass, that's a nest- a nest of clockwork men and women. We need a plan!" The doctor complained, dragging Clara away from the 'eggs'.

"Old house, surely there are tunnels and passages- hidden ones I mean." Jack suggested as he took Annabeth's hand, Annabeth pushing Henry behind her as they walked backwards towards the hall door once more.

"Aye there is. There one in the wall there." Henry said pointing to a wall to the east of the room, behind a desk near the fireplace. "It's the one that leads to the kirk, mistress." Annabeth smiled and placed a kiss on the boy's forehead.

"Henry, ye're brilliant!" She smiled before dashing over to the fire place and climbing in. The fireplace was large enough that Jack could have stood straight upright without bashing his head. "Jack, help me shift this stone. Come on, look alive captain." She teased as Jack ran to help her. Once the stone had been moved aside, a cavernous tunnel was revealed and a cool wind blasted them in the face. She handed Jack her torch.

"You first. Just follow the tunnel to the end, it's a straight run. You'll probably have to crawl until it widens out. There's a big drop at one point so be careful." She kissed hs cheek and pushed him through, then instructed Clara and Jenny to follow, then Vastra and Strax. Henry was beginning to shiver and Annabeth pulled a tartan plaid from the desk chair and wrapped it around him.

"He isn't coming with us."the doctor said sternly. Annabeth turned to him and scowled.

Yes he is. One day you'll know who he is and you will know why I saved him, why I protect him. Go on Henry, you follow, I'm right behind you." Annabeth turned and helped Henry into the tunnel. The doctor glared, his thick eyebrows making him look angrier. Annabeth climbed in after Henry pausing to call the doctor as several 'eggs' hatched and the clockwork men came after them. She'd never seen the doctor move so fast as he leapt after her into the tunnel. Inside the tunnel Annabeth pushed a loose slab in front of the opening blocking out all light, only to strike a old torch alight from beside her head. They were headed for an escape- or so they hoped.