Home Is Where The Girl Is

Chapter 17-

Something Wicked This Way Comes – Part II

It was a few minutes later that the large wooden barn doors burst open with a great force. The door that was swinging wildly before nearly fell of its hinges. The ruckus sent what few farm animals were outside enjoying the rain scurrying for safety. The rain seemed to suddenly pelt the roof top even harder as Madame Vastra emerged. She stumbled forward unsure how she was on her feet at all.

As warm liquid oozed down the reptilian's face, she became utterly speechless. Her heart was beating faster than ever before. She struggled with each breathe she took. She felt as if her own corset was choking the life out of her. Stumbling to the side of the barn, she slumped against the closest wall; barely holding up her own weight. For a moment, she was confused where she was and what was going on. Then she finally wiped away the warm summer rain. The Silurian gasped as she stumbled forward, "Dear Goddess, where could she be?"

Realizing her new lover was not in the cottage or barn, Madame Vastra scanned the surrounding area. However the mid summer storm had washed away whatever foot prints would have been made recently. Believing she had thoroughly searched the house, the lizard woman began to think the worst. With out stretched hands, she lifted her face to the sky as if she were speaking directly to her higher power. "Goddess above, I will destroy anyone who hurts her!"

Circling in the mud, the Silurian's voice shrieked with pure rage. An emotion she had not felt since she had been awakened so long ago, to revenge her sister's deaths. Ripping the ancient warrior from her wrath was the tea kettle's high pitched whistle.

Rushing inside, Vastra rapidly searched the sitting and formal rooms, as she had already looked for the young maiden in the kitchen before heading out to the barn. With the kettle still screaming at a loud pitch, the reptilian saw a flashed that drew her gaze into the kitchen.

To her astonishment she saw her Jenny with the sharpest knife in the house within her grasp. From her back side, the maid was hunched over the table, gripping something in her left hand and had a death grip on the knife in her right.

"Jenny!" Vastra called out causing the maiden knees to nearly buckle. Coming to her aide, the panic stricken warrior quickly inspected the maid without her consent. Practically patting the young girl up and down with her soaked hands, the matriarch over shadowed the former match girl's pleas. "Are you ok?"

Taking the kettle off the heat, the bewildered maid shot back, "What's a matter wiv yew?"

"I thought something happened to you my dear. I'm not sure I could have handled that well." After pulling and tugging at the willing servant, the ancient warrior finalized her brief examination of the human. Without hesitation Vastra took the blade from Jenny and asked, "Are you alone?"

Again overpowering Jenny's concerns, "What's going on? Why are yew actin' like dis?"

Suddenly realizing that her dark haired beauty was actually cutting several pieces of raw rope, the prestigious Victorian's mind was instantly put at ease. 'Maybe I already taught her well enough to protect herself.'

Abruptly halting the ancient warrior's motions, Jenny placed her hands on both sides' of Vastra's face drawing her undivided attention towards her. "Tell me what 'as gotten yew all riled up? You're not actin' nawmal."

Feeling her pools melt along with her heart as she stared deeply into the chocolate saucers, the lizard woman released a deep breathe and explained, "By the Goddess above, I thought you were dead."

Although pleased with the attention, the thought slightly disturbed the chamber maid as she reiterated, "I'm fine."

The reptilian cupped the girl's face. Still shaking, she confessed, "I was so worried, I thought something happened to you. I heard in town there was a murderer on the prowl, who liked brunettes so I rushed back as fast as I could."

Perhaps out of nerves, Jenny flirtatiously grabbed at her employer's waist pulling her closer. "Evidentially 'e's not da only one who prefers us dark 'aired beauties."

The blue eyed woman immediately rolled her eyes at the human. "This is serious Jenny."

The former match girl was about to interject when Madame Vastra's next ramblings rocked her world. "I searched all over the cottage and then I saw the bard door. I thought for sure he killed you out there. I just don't know what I would have done if someone had killed the woman I loved. I know you would never let that barn door open. Not after the story you told me."

Sensing that her maid was no longer listening, the Victorian watched as Jenny's face went pale. Clinching the girl's shoulders, the Silurian questioned with great concern. "What is wrong?" In in instant she thought perhaps the story she heard in town was too much for the former match girl.

Stumbling backwards out of the warrior's grasp, the dark hair beauty held onto the table for support as she suddenly felt her pulse quicken. This time stammering on her own words, Jenny asked, "Can yew go back ter what one part?"

Immediately coming to her aid, the prestigious Victorian replied, "Where I searched the whole house looking for you?"

"No!" the girl paused hoping her mind had not played an evil trick on her. Finding the courage to look the matriarch in the eyes, Jenny questioned with a bit of disbelief in her voice yet softer then her previous answer. "The part where yew said yew loved me."

As if she had not heard the chamber maid at all, the lady of the house demanded, "Answer my question first, where were you?"

Godsmacked Jenny retorted, "Did yew not just say yew loved me?"

Still in her warrior fight or flight mode, Vastra snapped, "Where were you?" I looked everywhere. I must have called your name at least a dozen times." Still wiping the last of the heavy drops of rain from her face, the lizard woman gripped the girl's hand too tightly and insisted, "Where were you?!"

Using a technique Madame Vastra had taught her, the human pulled her wrist free of her employer's grip. Perplexed, the servant immediately put some distance between the two of them. "I saw da barn door break durin' da stawn so I wen' ter get some rope in da attic ter tie it shut." When she saw no reaction from her lover, she spat in the thickest cockney accent she could implement. "So da hay don't get ruined."

In a swift motion, Jenny moved over to the table and held up the rope she had been cutting. "Blimey! The rope was in da attic. That's probably why I didn't 'ear yew callin' me."

Watching several tears escape the human's eyes brought the Silurian back to the moment; the moment where Jenny was safe and that is all that matter to her. Regaining her normal composure, Vastra waddled over to her lover and flattened out her soaked dress. She tried to caress the maid's cheek with the back of her knuckles but when she did, Jenny pulled away.

Regret began to fill the prestigious Victorian. It was not a feeling she was accustomed to but the matriarch knew she had over reacted, 'perhaps a bit' she theorized. The newly humbled warrior watched as her closest friend ashamedly wiped away another tear from her rosy cheek. She went to reach for her again, but Jenny's clinched fist warned, don't touch me.

Allowing her new paramour the space she needed, the centuries old warrior explained, "Being attached to someone can be a sign of weakness." There was no reaction from the young maiden. "Loving you…" Choked the Silurian as the maiden's eyes finally meet her own. "…could become a weakness ready to be exposed and I simply can not allow that to happen." Jenny had already started to turn away when the lizard woman added, "Jenny, I am sorry but that is my way."

Slamming her fist on the table, releasing her own bit of rage, the dark hair beauty spat, "It is not my way!"

Dragging her finger across the other side of the table that separated them, the ancient warrior uttered barely above a whisper, "I know." Without thinking, Vastra pulled out one of the heavy wooden chairs and flopped down on it. "When I reached the barn…" The matriarch paused. Her voice quivered with unfiltered emotion. "I thought I had lost you …" Her gloved hand quickly covered her mouth.

Jenny instantly wondered if those were tears or the last of the rain streaming down the lizard's cheeks. Nearly heart broken herself, she pulled up the chair next to the woman and offered her support. Vastra immediately took the willing servant's hand into hers.

Sure she was seeing Vastra's blue eyes more watery then ever before, Jenny smiled and began to affectionately stroke her lover's hand.

Ensure that not a single tear drop fell, the lizard woman lifted her head to the ceiling and continued, "It wasn't until I exited the barn that I…I…" Her head lowered searching for the inner soul of her partner. "It wasn't until that moment that I accepted how much I truly cared about you, my dear."

There was 'that' word that had haunted every relationship the human ever had in her past relationships. 'Care.' Even as she repeated the phase in her head, an equal amount of frustration battled violently within. 'Care. I truly care abaaht yew my dear. What abaaht love? Why can't yew love me?' Angst the young girl.

Sensing that her meaning was not making itself known, the ancient warrior tenderly rose, bringing the human with her. Not allowing the maiden to speak, Vastra's lips pressed down on Jenny's. The kiss was soft and long. It was more intense of a kiss then the two ever shared before. Barely coming up for air, the two did not allow their lips to part from one another.

Deeply entranced with each other, the reptilian pressed into her lover once more. This time her lips danced on the edges of the human's as she whispered a simply phase. "I love you."

Absentmindedly, believing her mind to be playing tricks on her again, the servant girl asked, "Excuse me?"

Not releasing her sensual hold of the maid's face, the prestigious Victorian placed another soft and endearing kiss on her lips. As she parted, she beamed. "I love you Miss Jenny Flint."

Unable to believe her own ears, her companion muttered, "But yew said I was a weakness to be exploit…"

Another smoldering kiss upon her rose pedal lips that made Jenny weak in the knees interrupted her statement.

Glossy eyed, Vastra stared into the soul of her lover. Padding her thumb across her cheek, she said, "You think I do this sort of thing with just anybody?"

"I don't know – it felt too good to be true."

"I don't deserve you, my dear."

"Yes yew do" smiled the former match girl.

The two embraced for some time before an unexpected statement came from the fearless investigator.

"Would it be extremely inappropriate at this time to demonstrate exactly how I feel about a particular brunette that I know?"

Playfully pushing the ancient warrior Jenny shot back, "Madame Vastra!" Feeling the reptilian's arms wrap seductively around her, the maiden then suggested, "No, not at all." Pressing her lips against the woman's green crest, the match girl purred, "I fnk .i' would be quite educashunal."