A Breath Away
.
Previously in Chapter Four:
"It's all right, Doctor," Rose said sincerely.
"No, no it's not. I'm supposed to be looking out for you, and here I am, not even able to remember how we got here, much less where I left our ride."
"Really, it is. You saved us from gettin' sacrificed. Besides, I remember where the TARDIS is." She grinned as his features reflected his understanding of her words.
"Oh Rose! You are brilliant!" he nearly yelled in her face, just before smothering her in a very tight hug.
.
Chapter Four
Evening Draws To A Close
.
"Doctor?"
"Yes, Rose?" he asked, still holding her.
"You're hurtin' me."
"Oh!," he replied, releasing his hold and leaning back just enough to look closely at her. "Where's it hurt?"
Rose sighed. "A little all over. But it's all right." At his concerned look, she spoke again. "Really," she emphasized.
"Pardon," Estelle interrupted once more, bringing in a tray with tea and finger sandwiches. "Oh! Madam is awake! Are you all right? Is there anything you require?" The house servant was in front of them instantly, placing the tray on the end table beside where Rose sat.
"I'm fine. I don't need a thing, thanks. What's your name?"
"I'm Estelle."
"Pleased to meet you. But if you keep callin' me 'madam' I won't know who you're talkin' to. Just call me Rose, all right?"
Estelle smiled, her expression one of wonder. "Oh, thank you madam, I mean, Miss Rose. It's a privilege to meet such a kind lady."
Rose blushed slightly; her politeness was only due to her understanding of what it felt like to be an 'underclass', wanting no one to feel like that around her.
Estelle filled two cups of tea, then turned toward the Doctor. "Can I get anything else for you, sir?"
"What? Oh, no, thank you," the Time Lord answered quickly, obviously in deep in thought for a moment. "But tell me, Estelle, Lord Lupus said that there have been some disappearances here in town. What do you know of them?"
"Begging your pardon, but how can you not know of them?"
"We're not from around here. In fact, we're from very far away. You see, we came here for a little visit and well, you know the rest, don't you?" He eyed her a bit critically, looking for any sort of reaction to his almost accusing tone.
"Sir?" she asked, not knowing what he was asking, exactly. Her eyes darted between Rose and the Doctor nervously.
The Doctor changed tactics; it seemed obvious this woman had no understanding of the situation and he was scaring her with his tone. "My memories are lost for the moment. I don't even remember entering this province, much less our being captured. That's why I was wondering about the other disappearances. Have any of those lost souls returned?"
"Only one," she answered, looking out the window into the darkness of night. "The Widow Johnston. But she's not been right since her escape. Not very friendly, if you know what I mean. Doesn't want any visitors and never wanted to talk to anyone about what happened to her. Actually, she wasn't too friendly before she was taken either, from what I've heard around town."
"Keeps to herself, I take it? Well, perhaps being a widow and all she doesn't feel very sociable. And after narrowly escaping her own death, I'm sure she would feel even more inclined to keep to herself, not knowing who it was that tried to harm her." the Doctor acknowledged. "When was she taken?"
"About three weeks ago, sir. She was the last, and with her being able to escape, we thought perhaps it was over. Until you showed up, that is."
"Ah, yes." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry about that," he offered sincerely. "But perhaps Rose and I can figure this out, and stop it from ever occurring again."
"Are you from the government, sir?" she asked, eyes slightly larger with apparent hope.
"Estelle, if I were, would that be good?"
"Oh yes, yes it would," she smiled. "We've been sending messages out all over, hoping for someone to come help our town and save our people."
The Doctor looked over at Rose and winked. Reaching in his pocket, he pulled out his psychic paper. Showing it to Estelle, he grinned widely, rocking back and forth on his heels. "I think I've just remembered why I'm here."
"Brilliant," Rose acknowledged.
OoO
An hour later found the Doctor and Rose sitting at a table with Lord Lupus and his other guests, rallying around the fact that nothing was found out of order within the cellar. It seemed that the menace that had abducted them had fled, taking with him all evidence of his existence down there. It was a rather large undertaking, in the Time Lord's opinion. Obviously there was more than one person involved, though he'd seen no others. But he remembered their captor had said he'd 'ruined our gathering', so yes, more than one, then.
"Doctor?" The voice of Lord Lupus interrupted his limited memories.
"Hmm, yes? I was rather lost in thought - sorry - you were saying?"
"I was just asking if you normally travel with your wife when you're working."
The Doctor glanced over at Rose, who was looking at him with slightly raised eyebrows.
"Mostly, yes. Helps me keep an eye on her that way," he chuckled, then winked at his companion. The group of men erupted in laughter while Rose blushed slightly.
Then dinner was being served, and silence befell the table. It seemed that everyone had worked up quite an appetite.
OoO
As the owner and his previous guests retired to the study to smoke cigars and drink brandy, the Doctor excused himself and Rose, asking permission to examine the basement. Once granted, they made their way hastily down the stairs. The Doctor immediately ventured into the room they'd been held in, only to peer back into the hallway, sensing Rose's discomfort. She stood quite still, reminding him of a statue.
"Rose?"
"I, I remember this place," she spoke quietly.
"Well, that makes one of us." The Doctor walked up beside her, looking at her for a moment before taking her hand. "I only remember waking up here. You must remember our being brought in. You all right?"
"Yeah."
"What do you remember?"
She looked around a moment before meeting his eyes. "I remember thinkin' you were dead."
"Well, fortunately that wasn't the case. What else?" he asked gently.
"This really big guy was carryin' you. Come to think of it, someone was carryin' me, too. But I remember watchin' them bringin' you out of a lift, and -"
"We were in the lift? Excellent, Rose! We'll start looking there."
He grabbed her hand and pulled her forward, then stopped suddenly. "Rose?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you remember which way to find it?"
OoO
The Time Lord and his companion rode the lift up, entering the kitchen area after checking out all there was to see in the large basement. As the men had stated, no trace of their previous captivity could be found. The rooms, the hallway; all of it was clean and pristine, perhaps overly so.
They walked out of the kitchen and were met by Estelle, startling her with their sudden appearance.
"Sorry," the Doctor offered. "Didn't mean to frighten you, though I imagine with these happenings everyone's a bit on edge."
"It's all right," she spoke softly, looking from the Time Lord to Rose. "I was coming to get you anyway. Lord Lupus said you'd be staying the night, so I've prepared a room for you. Also since we found no luggage, some clothing has been laid out for your slumber and for tomorrow's journey," she added, leading them up the stairway to the second level.
"Tomorrow's journey?" Rose inquired.
"Yes, Miss Rose. I presumed that you and the Doctor would be walking about in town come morning. Since your husband is conducting an investigation, I thought you might want to go out as well. See the shops, purchase some clothing, perhaps?"
The Doctor chuckled at this as they entered their room, noting the glare Rose gave him but ignoring it. "Splendid idea, Estelle. Rose does love to shop."
"Thank you, sir." With those words, the servant closed the door behind her while Rose looked at the opulence within their given quarters.
"Wow. Bit posh, yeah?" she spoke with awe, walking to the four poster bed in the center of the room. Indeed, there were tables adorned with porcelain decor, as well as a huge brick and stone fireplace, well stoked with wood and blazing nicely. She moved toward the heat source, staring into the dancing flames.
"Hope they've got hot water. I could use a nice, steamy bath about now," Rose said, still staring at the fire. She jumped slightly when the Doctor began speaking, not realizing he'd moved to stand behind her.
"I'm sure they do."
She sighed, then went to one of the plush chairs facing the fireplace, sitting down abruptly.
"Rose?"
"Just tired. It's been a long day."
"That it has." The Time Lord walked over to the bed, grabbing some of the clothing set out. He then moved back, holding a night gown out to Rose. "I think this is for you to wear," he teased. "I also think a hot, relaxing bath and then sleep are just what the Doctor ordered," he said softly.
She stood slowly, taking the garment from him. "Thanks."
OoO