A/N: we finally get to the meeting with Jack. I hope it doesn't disappoint you.
A/N2: just a little reminder to let you know that I started this story well before Christmas, hence the mention of Christmas decorations. *coughs* Surely waiting four months is okay between friends?

Part 21

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It didn't take too long to drive the relatively short distance to Martha's home. It was an impressive five bedroomed detached property set in its own grounds; but then doctors do tend to earn a decent wage to pay for such a place in that area of the country. Pretty lights festooned the tree outside the house, and the whole effect was of an idealised Dickensian illustration.

"Wow! Look at that. Anyone would think it's Christmas," Donna joked to hide her nervousness.

John dutifully laughed. "Martha always did have excellent taste in everything. I bet the inside of the house looks even more festive."

They both grinned at each other as John drew up the Land Rover, parked in a space outside and then peered at his phone. A frown appeared on his face.

"What's the matter?" Donna immediately asked.

"I've just had a text message from our Ricky," he pensively replied. "I wonder what he wants."

"You to go and rescue him if he has any sense," she joked. "His dad was on the war path again by the looks of things."

"Is he often like that?" John wondered, since Donna had spent quite some time with them at work.

"And the rest!" Donna remarked. ""He is always on at Roderick for one thing or another. There's just no pleasing him. Whatever Roddy achieves his dad says there's always a better, more successful way he could have done it." She then blushed in remembrance. "Yes, I did want to help him when I saw how upset that makes him. I even saw him cry once… God that was upsetting! Stupid me thought I was helping when all I did was feed his ambition."

"That's all in the past now," John said to soothe her, leaning over to grasp her hand, adding in a brief kiss on her lips.

"Yeah, we have a posh do to attend, by the looks of things," she observed, pointing towards the house. "Will it matter that we're only in jeans?"

"I doubt it," he considered. "And it's a bit late to worry now that we are here."

Nevertheless, they didn't feel it was too late to have a quick snog before going into the house. It worked the same as Dutch courage.

It didn't take long for Roderick to make his way to the farmhouse kitchen and observe three of his closest relatives sitting at the table finishing off their tea. At any other time it would have been heartening; but he was full of anger and sadness at the perceived treachery he had overheard, and new-found regard for the unsung hero in their midst.

"Hello, pet," Verity greeted Roderick when he appeared without his shoes, wearing jeans and a t shirt and carrying an armful of his stuff. She was doing her best to hide her shock at seeing him in anything other than his trademark clothing. But that wasn't the only surprise with his appearance; he'd rearranged his hair from its usual style into something that was closer to how John normally wore his. "You look ready to give the farm a thorough inspection," she commented as pleasantly as she could.

He crossed the kitchen to stand close by her side. "It's different, I must admit," he remarked and warily glanced at Donald. Placing his neat bundle of clothes carefully on the worktop nearby, he cleared his throat before announcing, "I heard your conversation."

"Oh!" Verity gasped, and instantly reached out to touch his arm. "What exactly did you hear, pet?"

Anger flashed across his features but his demeanour stayed calm. "All the important bits, Aunt Verity."

"Ah, Roderick my boy; there's no need to be hasty," Donald hurriedly consoled him. "It was unfortunate that you heard all that, but it needn't change anything."

"That's true," Sydney put in.

"Oh really?!" Roderick sneered at his 'father' whilst not wanting to alienate his biological father. "I've only just found out that the man I've been calling Dad all these years isn't related to me at all! No need to get upset. What am I thinking? You've only been lying to me all my life. No, everything is fine thanks!" he practically hissed at Donald.

"Ricky, sit down, please," Sydney quietly but firmly requested as Donald flailed in his seat.

Pouting at him, Roderick pulled out a chair and sat himself on the other side of his aunt to Donald. "Yes, let's be civilised about this," he fumed. Fortunately he visibly calmed as Verity reached over and took his hand in loving support.

Two consoling smiles were shot in his direction, from the very people he wanted them from.

Verity gently reminded him, "You still have your family, Ricky."

"Yes, well," he blustered; and felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Feeling rebellious, he drew it out and viewed the two incoming messages.

The first was from John: "Why not come to Martha's with us too? The address is 3 Oak Tree Road. Otherwise I'll see you later. John"

The second was from Daisy: "Where are you? When will you be back? Missing you. Daisy "

He sighed as he read it. "Daisy is getting a little bit fractious," he explained as he pocketed his phone.

"I really don't know why you keep her. There are far better women out there that would suit your purposes," Donald scorned him.

That was it! Roderick saw red, and he hauled himself up out of his chair to respond. Barely managing to hold in his blind fury, he nodded towards his aunt and uncle/father. "I hope you will excuse me but I won't be walking around the farm this afternoon after all. We have to leave, Dad. Now!"

"But Roderick, my boy," Donald spluttered as Roderick strode away towards the main door.

"Either you come with me now or not at all. It's up to you," Roderick threw at him as he pulled on his shoes. "Aunt Verity, Uncle Sydney, I'll be in touch very soon. I'm sorry about this but I have to go."

"That's okay, Ricky," Verity softly answered, her heart aching for him and her arms desperate to hold him tight. "Any time you want to, we'll be here."

With one last look towards Sydney, who now stood regarding him with deep fondness, Roderick swept out of the farmhouse and barked an order at William to return them to the hotel.

"This really needn't change our relationship," Donald insisted as they rode towards their temporary home. "It's a pure technicality."

"Oh, I assure you, Dad, that it is far more than that," Roderick stated without any warmth. "There's the problem of truth, honesty, trust and deception. Plus, there is the little matter of you continually denying me access to John as I grew up."

"He was no good for you!" Donald blazed. "All that talk of fantasy, impossible dreams and tolerance." He even shuddered at the thought.

Roderick eyed him with distain. "Yes, how dare I condescend to dream. No wonder you wiped every speck of Mum from our home. Is that the true reason why you sent me away to school? Did I look too much like her for you to cope?"

"Don't be daft, boy! I sent you to have a decent education because you obviously had a brain and could achieve great things," Donald protested. "Not to have to end up in some back water or on the family farm."

"And yet that's exactly where you have encouraged me to go. How ironic," Roderick commented as the car pulled into the hotel car park. "William, just drop Dad off here. We won't be stopping."

"What do you mean? Where are you going?" Donald grumbled at him.

"I shall see you later," Roderick merely answered enigmatically. "I have a spot of socialising to do. Goodbye."

Donald stood stunned to see his son drive off without him, wondering what revenge, if any, Roderick was plotting. Part of him felt proud in that moment. The boy might be reaching his full potential after all.

In the car, Roderick never even bothered to look back. Instead he dialled a now memorised number. "Hello Aunt Verity. Have you got time to talk? I have a few questions I need answering."

The front door was opened by someone wearing a loud Christmas jumper and carrying a glass of amber liquid. "Can I help you?"

"Is this Martha's? We were invited by Jack," John queried.

"Oh yes! Come on in and help yourself to drinks. Food is in the kitchen," the stranger welcomed them in to the open plan lounge.

There were quite a few casually dressed people chatting, drinking, and generally enjoying themselves as soft festive music played in the background. Their eye was caught by a woman dressed exquisitely in red clearly visible from across the room.

"Ah, there's Martha," John stated as he indicated his head towards the woman.

"That's Martha?" Donna gasped in awe. "But you said…" She stood shaking her head.

"What? What's the matter?" John queried. "I told you all about her."

"You never said how beautiful she is!" Donna continued gawping at Martha.

John considered his friend. "She's not bad looking, I suppose," he allowed.

"Not bad looking?!" Donna repeated in disbelief. "I can't believe you didn't point out the fact she's stunning, like some beauty queen. You'd have to be blind and stupid not to fancy her."

"Then I'm blind and stupid," he confessed without regret, "because I never did."

It was no good; Donna couldn't believe him saying that in the slightest. It must some sort of denial on his part because there was no way on God's green earth that a living breathing male wouldn't want the vision in front of them. Good grief, even Roderick had mentioned her within minutes of talking to John.

Martha turned from the person she was talking to and spotted them making their way over to her at that point. With a delighted squeal, she ran towards them. "John! It's so good to see you again!" she cried as she threw her arms around his shoulders to pull him into a hug.

Donna found herself standing there like a spare part as they hugged like crazy. No, she refused to be intimidated by this show of affection.

"Jack's around here somewhere," Martha commented as she stepped away from John and glanced around the room.

"You came!" boomed across the room, and then a handsome bloke rapidly raced towards them and engulfed John a massive hug.

She tried not to, but Donna shifted uncomfortably. Of course John's friends would be pleased to see him, she told herself, as she attempted to plaster on a welcoming smile should they look in her direction. "Don't mind me, I'm just carrying his school books, apparently," she joked to no one in particular.

After some moments she was eventually noticed. Martha wondered, "Who is this with you, John?"

"I have someone you both must meet," John announced as he broke from the hug and finally turned his attention towards her. "This is Donna. I told you about her on Monday, Jack."

"Hello!" chimed Martha in welcome.

Jack did a double take. "This is Donna! You're not what I was expecting. Well hello," Jack purred as he stretched out a hand towards the tall red head standing next to his friend. "We meet at last."

"Oh yeah! And what exactly were you expecting?" Donna retorted, the threat in her voice all too evident. "Perhaps it was this..."

And with that she slapped him good and hard.

BAM!

"What was that for?" he demanded as he nursed his throbbing cheek and a future bruise.

A stunned John and Martha stood motionless, both eager to see where this was going for different reasons.

"Why don't you ask my agency, as apparently there has been a mix up?" She glared menacingly at him, feeling no remorse. "Accuse me of being a tart again and I'll remind your face why I did it."

"Oh that," he murmured in realisation.

"Yes, that!" She continued to fume.

Jack complained to John, "You told her."

What did he expect? "Of course I did, since you lead me to believe all sorts of things." John didn't want Jack to know that he'd put his foot right in it with Donna; nor did he want to divulge how they'd made up afterwards.

"Now now, Doc. That was an honest mistake," Jack tried to explain. "I said I had merely considered it; I thought I had forgotten to cancel the woman from the agency but when I got back here on Monday, Martha reminded me that I had."

Martha's face looked like thunder. "Jack! I thought we agreed it was a stupid idea and that John wouldn't find it funny."

"No I didn't," John grumbled in agreement. "Not in the least. Some friend you turned out to be. You owe me and Donna an apology."

"Sorry. Sorry Donna." Jack did his very best to look as apologetic as he could. "Let me start to make it up to you by getting you both a drink. I have some champagne on ice too somewhere, but that's for later." Having taken their drink requests, he hastily left them to it for the time being.