Chapter 4

A bright yellow roadster zipped across the country roads at breakneck speeds. Its occupants sat serenely within, letting the wind whip at their respective hair. Villages, farms, and green, rolling pastures swept past. The Brigadier and his men had diplomatically opted out of riding in Bessie, preferring their military jeeps. This left the Doctor and Jo alone to enjoy the country air.

"I still can't understand why the Brigadier is going to so much trouble over a silly ghost story," the Doctor said as he turned a sharp corner.

Jo twisted her neck to look at the Doctor. "I'm not sure it's the ghost he's worried about. I heard him mention something about the Duke of Essex donating quite a lot of money to UNIT."

"Ah. And the Brigadier wants to make sure the man knows his money is well spent?" The Doctor changed gears and the car strained and accelerated even further. "Still, I don't think bringing all these soldiers along is really necessary."

"Well, the Duke did say he was savagely attacked by…whatever it is."

The Doctor hummed pensively. His eyes flicked to the small cardboard box that rested in the back seat. Jo caught his wandering gaze.

"I know you don't like it, but if we're going to stay there for while then you're going to need it."

"Yes. Yes, I know."

They sat in silence for a little while. Jo, however, wasn't one to tolerate silences, let alone awkward ones.

"Doctor…if I may ask…"

"Yes, Jo?" Another shift of gears. The engine roared.

Jo twisted her blouse between her fingers. "Well…How did you become a vampire?"

The Doctor tore his eyes away from the road for a second. "That's a very personal question."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. You probably don't want to talk about that sort of thing…"

The Doctor returned his eyes to the road, but a small smile graced his features. "No, it's alright, my dear. There's not really much to tell, anyway."

"So, what did happen?"

The engine finally settled into a low hum. The Doctor gripped the steering wheel and stared straight ahead. "I was on vacation in eastern Europe. It's…it's all my own fault really. I was taking an evening stroll through one of the villages when someone—something attacked me from behind. Next thing I knew I was on the ground with its teeth in my neck."

"That's horrible!" Jo cried, her face contorted in imagined pain.

"Yes. I thought I was going to die. Suddenly I heard this very loud noise (I think it was an automobile accident) and it was gone. I'm not sure how long I lay there."

Jo licked her lips but was unable to come up with the proper words of sympathy. She gave up. "And…and then what happened?"

"And then? I recovered. I came back to England. It was three or four months before I noticed any…changes."

Jo didn't prod any further as to what those changes were. She got the feeling that she didn't want to know.

"Eventually I was forced to resign from Cambridge. UNIT got word of…of what was happening and here I am."

Jo bit her lip. She stayed quiet and returned to staring out the window.

After a few miles she whispered very softly to herself, "I'm sorry, Doctor."

The sun dipped in the sky. The orange light faded to purple and then to black. Jo's head lolled as she began to doze off.

The Doctor continued to drive in silence.

"I'm sorry too," he whispered to the night.

Eryaforsthye – Thank you so much for your kind reviews! I'm not planning for the Master to appear in this story, but if this ever does become a series you can be sure that he'll pop up somewhere. ;)