Vastra was not in the habit of being tended, certainly not by anyone but her beloved companion. She felt uncomfortable under the Doctor's gentle ministrations and that only darkened her already dark thoughts. What if she were to loose Jenny? What if the Doctor and his magical Zero Room could not heal her?
Vastra had thought Jenny dead; it would truly require a miracle to resurrect her. If the Doctor were successful in doing so, she promised herself, then she would pledge her allegiance to the Time Lord without question. She almost said that aloud but hesitated to do so, not wishing to voice the possibility that Jenny might be lost to her once more.
"She'll be fine," the Doctor said in a gentle tone, "just give it time."
"You are telepathic, Doctor?"
"God, I hope not," Peri muttered from behind him.
The Doctor shifted in his crouch at Vastra's right arm and glanced over his shoulder before smiling up at Vastra, "I don't need to be in this case, Madame."
"You love her very much, don't you?" Peri said.
"I do. I trust that does not make you too uncomfortable, Miss Brown."
"Peri, please, and no, it doesn't make me uncomfortable at all. Why would it?"
"Jenny," Vastra's voice caught on the name, "has experienced some resistance to her choice of partner in the past, I understand."
"Ah, humans," the Doctor said, "they'll write all the poems and paeans to liberalism and love that you could hope for, then lynch each other for being different."
"We get better, trust me," Peri said, though she didn't sound entirely convinced.
"This will have to go," the Doctor said as he shuffled on the floor to settle at Vastra's left arm.
Vastra glanced down and was surprised to see the Vortex Manipulator or at least, what little of the thick leather band was discernible through the blood and shed scales.
Peri leaned over his shoulder, "What is it anyhow?"
"It's a Vortex Manipulator and I'm not a big fan of the things."
Vastra raised a brow, "Why so, Doctor?"
"They're rather dangerous, you know. Though, I suspect this one has faulty time circuits. Yes?"
"I have been unable to repair them, though the device does give me the ability to alter my appearance."
"Seriously?" Peri peered at the wrist band more closely, "That thing?"
The Doctor flipped the casing open and exposed the device beneath, "This thing. Now," he eased the band from Vastra's wrist and set to work on her left arm, "you'd better tell Peri and I what's going on here. I rather think we should sort it out, don't you?"
Vastra took a moment to order her still somewhat hazy thoughts and then said, "There have been a series of attacks, Doctor; brutal beyond description."
"Jack the Ripper?" Peri asked excitedly.
"Jack the...?" Vastra looked from one to the other.
"Ignore her," the Doctor said, casting a baleful glare at his companion, "and, please, do go on."
Vastra expounded on the attacks and the willingness of herself and Jenny to investigate.
"Why wouldn't they want a Great Detective's help?" Peri interrupted.
"I did not know. Though, I thought perhaps due to our gender and a certain squeamishness on the part of some human males."
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
"Not on the part of this Time Lord male, I assure you ladies," the Doctor said, adding, "You investigated anyway, of course?"
"Initially not, Doctor, for Jenny and I were employed on other cases. Jenny," it was becoming a little easier to say her name, Vastra realised and was pleased by that, "and I were beginning to fear that we would have to intercede when a particularly unfortunate occurrence forced our hand."
"Unfortunate?" Peri said.
"Jenny's cousin, Miss Lucinda Flint, was arrested for the murder of her spouse, one Professor Jeremiah Hoogstraten -"
"Great name," Peri muttered.
"- and it soon became clear that his death was one in that same series of events."
"How so?" the Doctor asked.
Vastra spoke of the strange painting, it's torn canvas and the inscription that spoke so vividly of the artist's state of mind.
"Jeez," Peri shivered, "that's not actually possible, is it?"
"Alas, it would appear so," Vastra hesitated, lost for a moment in the memory of her vicious attack on one of the evil little cherubs. An attack that had hardly troubled the creature at all, "the humans brought two of these creatures to the underground workings."
"But why?"
"To clear the Silurians, Peri" the Doctor's eyes never left Vastra's darkening face as she struggled with her rising ire. It took a while for her to calm herself sufficiently to speak again.
"I am afraid so. I had no idea that the humans were even aware of the presence of my people, Doctor, but at least some of them are."
"And they're not being very welcoming," Peri said.
The Doctor sighed, "They so rarely are. Difference, you see?"
"So they don't know about you?" Peri indicated the discarded Vortex Manipulator, "That's why you use that thing?"
"In truth, I generally employ the more reliable method of veil and gloves but, yes, the device does serve the same purpose."
They were silent for a long moment, Vastra fighting to keep her eyes open as a bone-deep weariness threatened to overwhelm her and the Doctor and Peri lost in their own thoughts.
"You really should rest, Madame," Peri said.
Vastra shook herself hard and made to refute the suggestion but the Doctor interrupted her.
"Peri's absolutely right, Madame Vastra, you really must sleep."
With that, he stood and reached out his hands towards Vastra's face. He placed them on either side of Vastra's head, ignoring her warning glare, and took a gentle hold. Closing his eyes, he remained utterly focused for a moment.
Peri watched, fascinated as Vastra's eyes closed despite herself. A moment later her head lolled, her body relaxing into a deep sleep. The Doctor eased her head back into the chair and released his grip. Vastra gave a long, involuntary sigh and slept on.
"Neat trick. Can you teach me?"
The time rotor rose and fell before settling into its resting position, the sound of their short journey fading away. At least Peri hoped that it had been a short journey. In theory, they were now in the home of Madame Vastra but with the Doctor in control, who knew? To reduce the suspense, Peri threw the door control, cast a doubtful look to the Doctor and stepped outside.
She looked around at the pleasantly old-fashioned parlour. It was the sort of thing you saw in British costume dramas on PBS.
"Homely, I like it," she said as the Doctor stepped out beside her.
"There you are, you see? Exactly where we wanted to be."
There was a hint of relief in his tone but Peri chose not to notice. She said, "Of course, it could be the wrong house and we're about to be shot as trespassers."
"Ever the optimist, Peri, ever the optimist."
The Doctor was about to peel off his coat and light the fire when the doorbell rang. It made them both jump and they shared a smile as they walked to the hallway and on to the front door.
The Doctor opened it to find a young man looking up at him. His expression shifted from relief to shock and on to anger. The Doctor ignored all of that but did notice the dark lines around his eyes and the heavy set of his shoulders.
"You really should get more rest, young man."
The young man in question had been about to speak but he stopped, taking some time to consider the advice before setting it aside and glaring up at them.
"And just who would you be, Sir?"
"I would be the Doctor and this would be my companion, Miss Brown."
Peri tolerated the knowing glance of the young man when the Doctor used the word 'companion' and worried instead about how the Doctor was going to explain their presence in what may - or may not - be Madame Vastra's house. Then the young man was eyeing her less-than-Victorian garb with a scandalised frown and she was worrying about not hitting him.
"Doctor?" he said, dragging his eyes away from Peri's short skirt, "Is Miss Flint taken ill?"
"I'm afraid so," the Doctor said, "Madame Vastra herself is somewhat worse for the wear."
"Worse for the wear, Sir?" Again the young man man eyed them suspiciously, "And you two are tending to them?"
"Yes, you could say that. And you are?"
"Detective Constable Fletch, Doctor...?"
"Yes, that's right. Come in Detective Constable and do tell us how poor Miss Lucinda Flint is managing during her incarceration."
Fletch hadn't entirely lost his concerned expression but he had relaxed a little at the Doctor's question. Peri stepped back to allow him to enter the hall and waited with a knowing grin as the Doctor hesitated over where they should speak. The Tardis might be rather more of a talking point than the young officer could cope with.
The Doctor settled on remaining in the hall and the three of them stood close to the door as he said, "You will understand if we don't venture into the parlour? Madame Vastra is resting, you understand."
"Of course Sir, though I really do need to speak with one of them."
"Important news?" Peri said.
"Yes, Miss."
She and the Doctor waited for more information but none was forthcoming. The Doctor rolled his eyes at Peri, though behind Fletch's back.
"I assure you that Miss Brown and I have the full confidence of Madame Vastra and Miss Flint."
Fletch hesitated and then said, "I'm afraid that Miss Flint - Miss Lucinda Flint - is being charged and she'll be moved to Brixton this morning. I thought I should inform Miss Flint immediately."
"And so you should, Detective Constable. I thank you for it personally. Now, then, Peri, I want you to stay here and wait for Madame Vastra to wake up. Tell her that I've gone to deal with this situation."
"Doctor?" Peri stared at him.
"Peri," he mimicked.
Peri glared at him, leaned in closer and hissed, "Are you sure about this?"
"Do excuse us for a moment," he said to Fletch before easing Peri to the far end of the hallway and leaning down to her, "It falls to us to deal with this matter, Peri, and I may be able to learn more from this young man."
Peri glanced back at Fletch, "He seems to like them."
"Yes, I rather think he does. I'll go with him, you stay here and for heaven's sake, keep Vastra from entering the Zero Room. You might want to put on some more appropriate clothing too," he added as he turned away from her.
With that he was striding back to Fletch, his round face beaming with bon ami as he manoeuvred the young man out of the door with an ease that startled both Fletch and Peri.
Peri stood in place, staring at the closing door and shaking her head in wonder. She made to return to the Tardis and Madame Vastra but was stopped when the doorbell rang once more.
"Jeez, does it ever stop?"
Hurrying down the hallway, she opened the door to find an even younger man at the bottom of the few steps, his gaze was locked on the Doctor and Fletch as they hurried off to find a cab. Peri took the few moments of his distraction to consider him. He was fifteen or so, dressed in a suit, with his hands wedged into his pockets and a truncated top-hat at a jaunty angle on his head.
He spoke as he turned to the door, "Blimey, who's the geezer in the -" and stopped mid-flow as he saw Peri in the doorway, "Who the bleedin' 'ell are you then? And what you wearin', gal?"
"Who are you? Oliver Twist?"
"Think of myself as more of an Artful Dodger," the lad said with a cocky grin.
"You can read?" Peri regretted her surprised squeak immediately, "Er, sorry."
He laughed, "Nah, don't be. My gal Mosa can read, got taught by one of the others at her old place, but I'd heard the tale already."
They stared at each other, grinning, though neither really knew why.
"So," Peri drew out the word, "who are you?"
"Reckon you should be telling me that, eh? Could be a tea leaf or anything."
Peri knew enough rhyming slang to be offended, "Hey, I'm no thief, thank you very much."
The lad touched the brim of his hat, "Beggin' your pardon, I'm sure. So, who are you then?"
"My name's Peri. Peri Brown. I'm looking after Madame Vastra and Miss Flint while," Peri hesitated, "while their Doctor has gone off with the Detective Constable."
The lad was bounding up the steps and pushing past her before Peri could stop him. He barrelled into the hallway and pirouetted as he decided which room to check first.
"I'm Archie. Have they been taken poorly like? Not hurt, are they? Come on, gal, spit it out. Are they alright or what?"
Peri blinked, catching up with herself as she closed the door and joined Archie at the entrance to the parlour. Before she could stop him, he was stepping inside and coming to a grinding halt in front of the Tardis. He stood before the large, blue box and stared up at it.
"Bleedin' 'ell, what's the Madame up to now?"
"Long story," Peri tried to deflect the conversation, "So, Archie, what's up?"
"Up? Oh, I came to see Miss Flint, tell her what I'd found out."
"And?"
"And it ain't good. Not one bit of it neither."
Peri indicated that Archie should sit down, settled herself into the other chair by the empty fire and urged him to speak. He was just about to do so when the door of the Tardis opened and he turned to stare, jaw agape, as Vastra stumbled out. She was obviously disoriented and certainly appeared to have been through a great deal.
Archie bounded out of his chair and was immediately helping to steady her as she stopped in front of the Tardis. Vastra blinked down at him, her eyes slowly finding their focus before she gave her head one last shake and returned to her imperious self. Though the effect was somewhat muted by her tattered attire and the expanse of bandages that the Doctor had administered.
"Bleedin' 'ell," Archie said, casting an accusing glare at Peri, "What have you done to her?"
"Saved my life, I believe, Master Archie," Vastra cuffed his ear in the manner that Jenny usually employed, "and Miss Flint's too, I trust."
Peri nodded, "I hope so. We can't check on her yet, though; you heard the Doctor."
Vastra merely grunted in response and noticed that Archie was considering her exposed torso with a mixture of horror and fascination. She cuffed his ear again, though felt that she did not do so with the flare of her companion. Archie was barely troubled by it at all.
"Master Archie, pray run to the kitchen and make tea for Miss Brown and I. For yourself also and take one of the buns, if any remain."
Archie did as bidden, though perhaps a little reluctantly, and Vastra excused herself to change.
"You may wish to don more appropriate attire, Miss Brown," Vastra said as she left the room.
"OK already, I get the hint," Peri said and returned to the Tardis.
They reconvened a little later; Vastra once more in her finery; Peri uncomfortable in corset and bustle, the floor-length gown catching under her primly-shod feet. Archie was unchanged but for the puffed out cheeks of someone enjoying rather too many sticky buns.
Vastra poured tea and felt a twinge of regret that Jenny was not present to perform the ritual herself. She set the thought aside and focused on Peri.
"The Doctor?"
"A young detective constable came, the Doctor went with him." Vastra cast her a questioning look and Peri continued, "Apparently Lucinda Flint is being charged and moved to a prison somewhere -"
"Which one?" Archie asked around a mouthful of bun.
"Brixton, he said."
Archie shook his head and tutted. Vastra understood his concern but set that aside too. This was no time to be mired in worry for one person, even Miss Lucinda Flint; there was a great deal more at stake and, Vastra hoped, solving that would free Lucy by consequence.
"And the Doctor's purpose?"
Peri grinned, "Oh, he'll cause enough trouble to keep her away from there for a while."
"I trust you are correct. Now," Vastra turned to Archie, "if you would, Master Archie?"
Archie swallowed down the last of his food and said, "I did as Miss Flint asked and nosed about a bit. Subtle like," he emphasised, "and heard a few things that are not good at all."
Peri and Vastra listened as he explained what he had learnt. Both women wore dark expressions when he had finished and Peri looked to Vastra in horror.
"Seriously?"
"I am afraid so," Vastra said as she rose form her seat. She cast a long - and longing - look towards the Tardis but forced herself to turn back and move for the door.
"Come then, we have work to do."