You're getting lots of updates today because I apparently forgot to post this chapter and didn't realize I had 8k of Time Fixer so... ta-da? Hope you enjoy :)
The Doctor stood outside a room on the Tardis, hesitating on entering. Martha had been brought back to her home. Donna had gone to her room to rest. Jenny had agreed to stay on the planet they'd just left and do her own travels once she'd helped them with Benjamin's funeral. This left just the Doctor on his own to try and deal with what had happened when General Cobb fired that shot.
He was angry himself. General Cobb hadn't fired at Benjamin. He'd tried to fire at Fallon. He took a shot at someone because he was angry and wanted a war that no one else did. The problem was, the Doctor was also upset. Not with General Cobb but with Fallon. General Cobb was alive but permanently disfigured and crippled by the wounds she inflicted. He had no doubt that if he hadn't stepped in, General Cobb would've been dead, and that's what bothered him the most. That was why he was here now, knocking on the door to her room and waiting a moment before stepping in.
The Doctor only took one step in before stopping. The room had changed completely from the last time he'd been in there. Before it was a standard bedroom, 21st century, simple. Now, it was set up like a 1950s master bedroom. A vintage desk was off to the side with a tall wardrobe that was partially opened; a dress from the same era visible through the gap in the door. The bedcover was ruffled along the bottom and there was an antique rug on the wooden floor just at the foot of the bed. The Doctor spotted a second wardrobe that was closed but with a set of well-polished black dress shoes sitting at its base. They weren't Fallon's size and a hint of unease trickled through him at the sight.
It was like he stepped back in time into someone else's life. It made him feel as though he were intruding and his gaze shifted to Fallon; her back facing him as she sat on the bed holding a small picture frame. He couldn't leave now though. They needed to have a talk and begrudgingly, he moved into the room and approached her. His gaze softened when he sat beside her and saw the photo was of a young man in a military uniform, missing his hat and holding his mother close to his side. The boy was identical to Benjamin and the woman could only be the person sitting next to him in solemn silence, recognizable even with the poodle hairstyle and the sundress and pearls.
"I barely recognized you," he said quietly.
"I had to live quietly," Fallon murmured, voice still tinged with sorrow and regret. "I dressed to fit in usually… wearing trousers wasn't always an option and… and sometimes it was nice to be someone else for a while."
They both went quiet for a moment; the Doctor working up the courage to say what he needed but Fallon spoke up first.
"I'm not sorry for what I did."
The Doctor stiffened, closing his eyes in regret and disappointment as she ran her hand over the face of Benjamin in the picture frame.
"I… I only had a few actual relationships. The first was…" She paled, looking almost sick as her gaze seemed to drift off for a second before she shook her head. "It was the worst. I was stupid and… and so desperately lonely."
The Doctor barely held back the urge to comfort her, and only because she'd just refused to apologize for trying to take someone's life. Still, it was hard when he sympathized with her about the whole thing.
"After that, it was hard to think about it," Fallon murmured, hands gripping her pants tightly. "I-I tried again and again, hoping to have something better. T-To find someone to stop me from doing stupid things a-and he was the first I felt comfortable with enough to say what I was." She brought a hand to her face with a choked, bitter laugh. "He even ruined it by not believing me a-and it hurt but it hurt more to be taken away from the one place w-with memories of my kids. They were the only ones I had. The only—"
The Doctor's hearts ached when she cut herself off, taking a shuddering breath to try and calm herself to speak again.
"I-I never wanted to risk it," she breathed after a moment. "I never wanted to take the chance that they… that I might pass this damn curse on to someone else. They were the first time I took that risk and they were just so… so beautiful." She held her hands out in front of her as though she was cradling a baby. "Sophie was so small when she was born. So fragile a-and… and so sick. I knew she wouldn't make it long but that… that didn't make the time I spent with her any less important. It took longer to try again after that because I live so long… I've had so many things taken from me. I was afraid to see it happen again.
"He convinced me though, and we had Benjamin. Such a quiet boy who didn't cry. He'd skin his knees and just…" Fallon smiled fondly. "...just come back home and ask for plasters. Always wanted to do it himself and hear stories and read books. He was so smart but… there's always war. Always."
"I'm sorry," the Doctor murmured softly.
"He didn't even have to go but… but he wanted to. He was so worried for one of his friends a-and he felt it was right. He always wanted to feel as though he was doing something for the world… I just wish he chose something else. Anything else." Fallon sucked in a breath, letting it out shakily. "T-Then… he was just… back. I know they weren't the same but… for a moment, it was like the war never happened. I had my son back and then h-he… he was taken from me again and for what? Greed? Pride? I-I lost him again because someone just had to try and start a war and I couldn't—" She choked, turning to the Doctor with fresh tears in her eyes. "W-What was I supposed to do?"
"You shouldn't have tried to kill him," the Doctor said, quietly and calmly but still with hurt in his voice. "Taking another life wouldn't have helped. It wouldn't have brought him back."
"I know that!" She cried with a bitter smile. "I-I know that better than anyone. I've been through so much, seen so much, so why couldn't the universe just let me have that one thing? It trapped me here, gave me hope twice, a-and I'm supposed to just sit back a-a-and… watch?"
"You could have forgiven him," the Doctor tried but the words sounded sour even to him.
"Forgiven him?" She breathed with a hint of a scoff. "H-He was trying to kill me."
The Doctor closed his eyes, trying to help her remember what it meant to be kind; to be better than the worst of humanity. "He made a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes and at that moment he chose to do something terrible but we have to be better than that, Fallon." He turned to her and took her hand in his. "We have to be because otherwise what sort of people do we become? How are they supposed to learn when we don't show them how to be better people?"
"H-He was my son," she argued. "M-My only son. The one thing that meant anything to me."
"I know. I know, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry about what happened and that General Cobb made such a stupid decision for idiotic reasons, but this can't be the way you handle things."
"You don't understand," she murmured and he frowned slightly.
"I do understand. I had children too. They died too, Fallon."
"He died twice," she bit out, pulling away. "He died and then I found him again. I-I had hope only for some stupid, greedy bastard to take it away again."
"And I'm sorry," the Doctor pressed, desperate to get her to understand. "I hate what happened. If it had been Jenny, I might have gotten up to do the same but I wouldn't have fired. I wouldn't have shot, Fallon. You didn't even think—"
"How could I think!" She countered. "H-How could I think of anything at all when he was right there! Even after what I did, he didn't regret it!"
"How could he regret it after what you did!" The Doctor countered in frustration. "He's crippled! He's disfigured! You destroyed him!"
"And he destroyed me!"
The Doctor dragged a hand down his face, knowing this isn't what he wanted. He didn't want an argument with her. He wanted to get her to see that she could be better than this. She could've been better than this.
"Why?" She breathed, making him turn to her wearily. "W-Why are you trying to explain this to me? Why are you trying to do this when I already said—"
"Because you're a good person, Fallon!" He said, but she turned away with a shake of her head.
"I'm not. You don't know me. I-I'm—"
"You've lived a long life," he argued. "Any human makes mistakes and does something stupid but you've lived for so long… Even I've done things… terrible things. I've taken lives, hurt people. My whole planet is gone because of me, Fallon. I destroyed two whole races to try and end a war and all I did was postpone it. The Daleks were supposed to be dead and gone but they're not. Everything I did was for nothing, so yes. Yes, I understand your pain. I understand what it's like to lose something dear to you only to lose it again or find out that what you did to make something right only made it worse. And it's hard. It is so hard to get over that anger and be a good person, but you can. You just need to try."
"I-I can't. I can't," she said weakly as he grabbed her arms and looked her in the eyes.
"You might think you can't but I believe in you. I believe that you can be someone good if you just have the opportunity to try. But you have to try, Fallon. You have to. I don't want to see you destroyed like this because you didn't try and consider the better choice. Benjamin died to save you. He did that for you and he wouldn't want you to be like this because of his sacrifice."
"I-I could've been hit. He didn't have to… Because I'm immortal, I…"
"He didn't know that and even if he did, I know he would've done the same thing. Any son would want to keep their mom safe."
She was quiet as he released her, him hoping his words had gotten through. She then sagged slightly and leaned against him, surprising him.
"I'm just… so tired," she murmured and his hearts ached as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and rubbed her arm in comfort; turning his head to lean it against hers and whisper into her hair.
"I know. I know it's hard but we have to keep trying."
"I can't do it alone."
"You won't have to. Not anymore. We've got each other, don't we? We'll keep each other right."
"…I'm sorry," she muttered, making him smile a little and press a kiss to the top of her head as he gave her a little squeeze.
"I know."
And he did. He knew that at the end of the day she was sorry for trying to hurt General Cobb because she was a good person. He wouldn't have taken her with him otherwise, and while what happened was something he was very much against, he knew that if circumstances were different if she'd had more time to work on her faults and grow as a person—together with someone who understood and could help her along—then perhaps this wouldn't have turned out the way it did. That was why he had to give her a chance and thankfully, she took it.
He glanced down at her and smiled softly. She'd fallen asleep, worn out from everything, and the Doctor slowly shifted to lay her on the bed. The Tardis hummed and the Doctor shook his head as the room shifted, changing from that memory of her old home to that of the more modern bedroom once more.
"You're fond of her too, huh?" He mused, glancing up at the ceiling as the lights flickered in amusement and he covered Fallon up to rest.
He went to leave the room though and paused in the doorway, glancing back at the slumbering immortal with a soft expression. He didn't want to admit the feelings she stirred up in him, especially knowing she wasn't ready for something like that. So, he flicked the light off, tucking the feelings away for the moment. She needed a companion until she was ready and he was more than willing to be that for her.
He could wait.
I woke up slowly and stared off into space with a familiar feeling. It was dark and oppressive, smothering almost, and it was an emotion that always seemed to flicker back to the forefront of my mind after something like this. I had ways of dealing with it, but they weren't ones the Doctor would approve of nor would they be readily available here in the Tardis. I had no choice but to push myself on my feet and attempt some form of self-care in the hopes a shower would nudge me back into the land of the living.
I dragged myself into the restroom and started removing my clothes, glad that the Tardis has been quick to give me a change of clothes when I'd come back because I wouldn't have been able to look at them without seeing the specks of blood—There was a groan from the ship as I blinked at the mirror above the sink, now shattered. I stared at the cuts dripping blood from my fist and closed my eyes, taking a breath and letting it out before stripping off the rest of my things and stepping into the shower. Hot water rolled down my body and I went through my routine, wishing the water would wash away the lingering memory that was staying so persistent in my mind.
"Mum."
"He wouldn't want this…"
"You have to let me go, mum."
The water turned cold then and I shivered, dragging myself out of the memory at the Tardis's insistence and noticing the missing mirror and first aid kit on the sink. I dragged a hand through my wet hair and put on the clothes offered; dark jeans, a white button-up, and a maroon sweater. I then put what was needed on my injured hand and bandaged it before stepping out, passing through my room, and moving through the Tardis halls.
She was being rather insistent on leading me where she wanted and—given I had no other choice but to accept—I soon found myself in the kitchen. A few more mundane tasks and I had tea and something small to eat before she'd kicked me out again and sent me on my way. I hoped for a look around the ship, maybe a nice quiet afternoon in the library the Doctor had told me about but the Tardis wouldn't show me any doors. The empty hall went on until I eventually reached its end and frowned at the sight of the console room where the Doctor was toying with a few levers and switches on the console.
He must have spotted my reflection on the monitor since he stopped and turned with an easy smile. "You're awake! Feeling better?"
I wasn't, honestly, but that was how I mourned. Even after Abe… and my husband and all the others… "I'm… moving on," I finally answered awkwardly, moving down the steps. "Slowly, I suppose."
He hummed, not pushing things thankfully as he glanced back at the monitor. "Did you get something to eat?"
"The Tardis wouldn't let me go anywhere else," I replied easily, moving toward the console and running a hand over the switches and levers. "How do you even know what to push? Nothing's labeled and it looks more like you threw a bunch of random bits together. Is there an instruction manual or something?"
"Threw it in a supernova, actually," he replied with an awkward chuckle turning to me and willingly avoiding the topic of what had happened the previous day. "I disagreed with—What? What happened?"
I'd forgotten about my bandaged hand that he hastily took in his. His gentle touch and eyes full of concern made something in me twist uneasily and I lightly tugged my hand out of his, turning away awkwardly.
"It's nothing. I just… wasn't paying attention."
He frowned, not looking as though he believed me but he surprised me by letting it go and just reaching out to give my other hand a squeeze as he managed a small smile. "Okay. Just let me know if you need to talk or anything."
I hummed, pulling away again and rubbing the back of my neck. It was… awkward between us for some reason. Maybe it was because of what happened with General Cobb or maybe it was because of what I shared with him afterward but there was a shift in our relationship and I wasn't sure I liked it. I'm not sure I dislike it either but… I don't know. Maybe I'm overthinking things. It's been hard lately. I just need to not think about it and focus on what's happening now. Not what happened, not this mess with the Doctor, just… enjoy something.
There was a yawn and Donna entered the room, looking refreshed herself as she stretched and grinned at the Doctor.
"So, any plans for the next trip?"
The Doctor smiled back, nodding toward me, surprisingly. "I figured Fallon might have a go. I reckon I owe her a few trips."
I pointed to myself, confused and he smiled even brighter.
"Anywhere, anywhen. Past or future?"
I wasn't sure, really, but I knew that getting dropped into an alien planet with how out of it I was wouldn't exactly be a good idea. I wanted something I could prepare for, not step out into the unknown while I was still dealing with my own struggles. There is the chance of ending up in another war but… not all of human history is fighting. I need to remember that. I… I need to focus on that.
"Past," I finally said before hesitantly adding, "Somewhere quiet."
He offered a small smile and nodded as he turned back around to start flicking switches and pushing buttons, setting the Tardis off. "The past, somewhere quiet. Let's see where she takes us."
The ship rumbled around and soon settled as the Doctor gestured to the doors.
"After you."
I hesitated only briefly before stepping out and felt relieved to move out onto the front drive of a rather nice manor.
"Oh, smell that air. Grass and lemonade. And a little bit of mint. A hint of mint. Must be the nineteen twenties," the Doctor grinned, coming up behind me with Donna who raised a brow.
"You can tell what year it is just by smelling?"
"Oh, yeah."
"There's a car coming up the drive," I pointed out, familiar with the open-topped tourer. "Nice one too. 1926 Morris Cowley."
"Ooh, you know your stuff," the Doctor teased as we edged closer to see why everyone was bustling about.
"1920s?" I snorted, offering him a hint of a smile. "I know I said I like to keep a low profile but I might have made a bit of a name for myself here. I had to know my stuff."
"No," Donna breathed, looking intrigued. "Were you rich?"
"Just a bit," I replied a bit sheepishly. "Live as long as I do and you tend to find inflation is a godsend. Though the 21st century is a bit different. I'd make a lot more if I sold some of the things I keep around."
The Doctor perked up at that. "You still have things? I mean, you've kept them? I half expected you to throw everything out."
I shot him a skeptical look. "I might live forever, but I am still very much interested in art in any shape or form." I gave him a smug look. "I've got some cars tucked away myself. Haven't driven them in ages but I occasionally brought them to shows. Rolls-Royce Dawn Drophead 1949, Ford Model T 1908, Chevrolet El Camino SS 1970."
"Oh, we've got to drop by your home again," the Doctor groaned eagerly, making me smile fondly to myself.
This is exactly what I need. Just… time. We peeked around the side of the manor at the two men talking to the butler and footman, eavesdropping on the professor and reverend.
"You go on up. I need to check something in the library."
"Oh?"
"Alone."
"It's supposed to be a party. All this work will be the death of you," the reverend joked, slipping inside first as Donna grinned.
"Never mind planet Zog. A party in the nineteen twenties, that's more like it."
"The trouble is, we haven't been invited," the Doctor hummed before pulling out his psychic paper. "Oh, I forgot. Yes, we have."
"Oh, but we can't go in like this!" Donna complained as the Doctor eyed his suit with a pout.
"What's wrong with this?"
"Not you, ya dunce," she scoffed gesturing to herself. "Me! It's a party. I can't go in like this."
"Well, the Tardis should have something more fitting in the wardrobe. I suppose we could drop in after."
"Ooh, thank you!" She chirped, beaming away as we headed back to the ship and she rushed in.
The Doctor nudged me a little and I turned to him as he nodded for the doors. "Go on. I'm sure you'd like the selection she has too."
I sighed but headed in after Donna, knowing I might as well dress up for the occasion. The Tardis hummed pleasantly as I walked in and made my way down the hall, finding the room rather quickly and also finding Donna halfway inside a rack of clothes looking for what she wanted.
"Find anything?" I hummed, moving toward another section of clothing that suited me a bit more than the dresses she was going through.
"Hm, what do you think?" She asked, holding a few that she'd picked out. "Elegant summer evening dress or flapper?"
I turned, holding a pair of black slacks and eyeing a looser white dress shirt, giving her choices a glance and her current outfit a look. I tipped my head before humming and pointing out the sequined copper outfit in her right hand.
"Flapper."
She grinned and moved toward a small changing room only to pause as I bent over to look at the shoes available as well.
"Fallon?"
"Hm?" I glanced back at her and her eyes softened.
"Are you all right?"
I hadn't expected the question from her but knew that the Doctor hadn't been the only one to witness what happened. I half expected her to shy away from me after that… I straightened my posture but kept my head bowed, rubbing the back of my neck as I tried to find a way to answer her properly.
"I… I'm not but… I think I'll get there," I said honestly, offering her a half smile. "I'm trying, anyway."
She smiled a little back, nodding. "If you ever need anything, even if it's just someone to give the Doctor a right smack, I'm here too, you know."
"Thanks, Donna."
The Doctor knocked impatiently on the Tardis doors. "We'll be late for cocktails!"
The doors opened not a moment later and Donna grinned as she stepped out in her copper flapper dress and pearls.
"What do you think? Flapper or slapper?" She asked him and he cracked a smile himself.
"Flapper. You look lovely," he offered before glancing at the open door. "Where's Fallon?"
"Oh, impatient, aren't you? You should never rush a woman," Donna chirped as he shrugged before the Tardis door creaked and Fallon stepped out with a sigh.
"Sorry. The Tardis insisted on me doing my hair too, apparently."
The Doctor turned to her but the second he saw her, his mind seemed to short-circuit. She wasn't doing anything fancy really, not like Donna in her flapper dress. That being said, she definitely fit into the 1920s. Her hair had been curled slightly and shortened to just above the base of her ears and she was wearing a simple white dress shirt tucked into a pair of relaxed tailored trousers with shined black dress shoes. Yet, somehow, she took his breath away and Donna was the first to notice and elbowed him with a smile.
"F-Fallon! Right, yes. You look…" He swallowed thickly and cleared his throat, offering a smile. "You look lovely."
"He means beautiful," Donna cut in raising a brow at the Doctor's fumbling as Fallon tugged a strand of hair and awkwardly looked away.
"W-Well, we're going to be late for cocktails if we don't get going," Fallon muttered, trying to get them back on task and turn attention somewhere other than her pink cheeks.
It wasn't often she was complimented on her looks after—No. Don't think about that now.
"Right! Cocktails," the Doctor said brightly, drawing attention away from her as well as he offered an arm to them. "Shall we?"
Donna took the arm when Fallon walked past without really noticing the offer, letting Donna lean into the Doctor and hum.
"She's still uneasy about the other day."
"I know. Let's just try and move past it for now. Let her work on things herself until she needs us."
He smiled when Fallon paused on the drive just ahead of them with a suspicious look. She waited for them to catch up but thankfully asked about something else instead of what they were talking about.
"Did you happen to hear who's party this is?"
"Nope," he replied, pulling out the psychic paper when he saw the butler heading over. "I'm sure we'll find out in a moment though. Hello! We're here for the cocktails."
The butler nodded. "I would be glad to show you the back garden if you might show me your invites."
"Of course. Here you are."
He took the psychic paper and hummed before handing it back and gesturing to the side entrance. "Right this way, Doctor, Miss Noble, and Miss Adams."
The Doctor was confused by the name used for Fallon but mentioned it only once the butler had moved ahead of them, leaning toward Fallon curiously. "Adams?"
Fallon nodded. "Jean Adams. It's the name I used in the 20s after I changed it—not long after the war. My memory is a bit hazy but if I remember right the backstory was something along the lines of… widow of a Mathew Adams who died in WWI, also me. He owned a publishing company, rather well-known and incidentally, I took it over."
"So you just come up with new names and stories everywhere you went?" Donna asked, earning a shrug.
"Can't always keep the same name and staying in one place when you don't age is… well…"
"Must've been hard," the Doctor commented, not able to understand that struggle as much as some of her other experiences, but knowing that humans never handled the unexplainable well.
"It was but I got good at what I do. Have enough contacts, a decent makeup kit, and move to a place no one knows you and it gets easier."
"I meant that it must get lonely," he clarified softly, seeing her expression shift into something more somber before she shrugged, letting the topic drop as they moved into the back garden and the head maid clapped her hands to get the servants moving.
"Look sharp. We have guests."
"Good afternoon!" The Doctor greeted the other people who were there as the footman quickly headed over.
"Drinks, sir? Ma'am? Miss?"
"Sidecar, please," Donna hummed as Fallon thought about it for a second.
"Old Fashioned."
"And a lime and soda, thank you," the Doctor finished as the butler announced the host of the party.
"May I announce Lady Clemency Eddison."
The Doctor spotted Fallon's mild surprise but made no comment on it as the host approached and he grinned, pretending he knew her as he held out his arms in greeting.
"Lady Eddison."
She smiled, ever polite, and let him shake her hand. "Forgive me, but who exactly might you be, and what are you doing here?"
The Doctor went to answer but surprisingly, Fallon stepped forward and took her hand next, smiling politely.
"Apologies, they're with me. I hope that's okay, Lady Eddison."
The woman's eyes lit up and an easy smile slipped on her face. "Oh, of course! I didn't think you were coming, Miss Adams. I thought you were going out of town."
"Yes, well, plans change," Fallon offered easily. "And please, Jean is fine. This is the Doctor and Miss Donna Noble. Companions of mine."
Lady Eddison smiled with a nod of her head. "Lovely to meet you both."
"Good afternoon, my lady. Topping day, what? Spiffing. Top hole," Donna smiled, making the Doctor wince.
"No, no, no, no, no. No, don't do that. Don't," He muttered to Donna and then smiled at the host. "Jean was thrilled to receive your invitation, my lady. Apologies for not introducing ourselves earlier."
"Well, one must be sure with the Unicorn on the loose."
"A unicorn? Brilliant. Where?"
Fallon rolled her eyes. "Sorry, he's not quite caught up with the times. You speak of the thief, correct?"
Lady Eddison nodded, taking a drink as the group was offered their own. "The jewel thief. Nobody knows who he is. He's just struck again. Snatched Lady Babbington's pearls right from under her nose."
"Funny place to wear pearls," Donna joked into her glass as the butler announced the next two to enter the party.
"May I announce Colonel Hugh Curbishley, the Honorable Roger Curbishley."
"My husband and my son," Lady Eddison introduced, taking her husband's hand as he was pushed up in his wheelchair by his son.
"Forgive me for not rising. Never been the same ever since that flu epidemic back in eighteen."
"Of course," Fallon offered politely as Roger moved to greet her and Donna, smiling.
"My word, you are both super ladies."
"Oh, I like the cut of your jib. Chin, chin," Donna hummed, offering her own smile as Fallon managed a smaller one out of embarrassment.
The Doctor quickly cut in, his smile a bit tighter than he hoped as he offered his hand to the young man and moved between him and Fallon. "Hello. I'm the Doctor."
Roger took no mind, of course, as he greeted the Doctor in return and the footman came over, offering him a drink. The pointed looks between the two weren't missed but Donna turned the topic to something else.
"How come she's an Eddison, but her husband and son are Curbishleys?"
"Titles are passed through firstborns regardless of gender," Fallon explained. "Lady Eddison was the firstborn of her family and inherited the title so, logically, her firstborn son will become a Lord when she hands it down."
"May I announce Robina Redmond," the butler said next as a young woman walked in.
"She's the absolute hit of the social scene. A must," Lady Eddison smiled, going to greet her as the reverend was brought in.
"Ah, Reverend. How are you? I heard about the church last Thursday night. Those ruffians breaking in," Lady Eddison said in concern.
"You apprehended them, I hear," her husband hummed.
"As the Christian Fathers taught me, we must forgive them their trespasses. Quite literally."
Roger smirked at Davenport, the footman. "Some of these young boys deserve a descent thrashing."
"Couldn't agree more, sir."
Donna huffed beside Fallon as she cracked a small smirk into her glass. "Typical. All the decent men are on the other bus."
"Or Time Lords," the Doctor mused, glancing over at Fallon and smiling a little.
She was certainly more relaxed and he was glad that this trip had managed to help with that. Let's hope it stays that way, he thought with a small sigh as he sipped his drink and glanced over at Lady Eddison as she was questioned.
"Now, my lady. What about this special guest you promised us?"
"Here she is," the host said with a grin as another woman walked in. "A lady who needs no introduction."
The group applauded and the Doctor joined in out of courtesy, unsure who the woman was as she politely and nervously thanked Lady Eddison for the introduction.
"No, no, please, don't. Thank you, Lady Eddison. Honestly, there's no need." She approached the Doctor and Donna then, holding out a hand. "Agatha Christie."
"What about her?" Donna questioned, making her pause before Fallon came back over with a refilled drink and nearly dropped it.
"Agatha?"
Agatha smiled, looking relieved. "Jean! I had no idea you'd be here. How are you?"
Fallon grinned, stepping in and hugging the woman who returned the embrace happily. "How am I? My word, look at you! You look lovely. What are you at now? Five books? Six? Lord, I'm out of touch with my own company or I would know myself!"
"Six," she replied. "Though you're one to talk. How are those memoirs going? You've yet to publish them still?"
"Ah, well, I've gotten a bit distracted lately," Fallon admitted, drawing Agatha's eyes back to the Doctor and Donna who were both a bit confused still. "Apologies. These are my friends; the Doctor and Miss Donna Noble." She gave the two a glance and gestured to the woman at her side. "This is a dear friend of mine, Agatha Christie."
Donna's eyes widened. "No. You're kidding."
The Doctor though, was thrilled, taking her hand and shaking it eagerly. "Agatha Christie. I was just talking about you the other day. I said I bet she's brilliant. Oh, I love your stuff. What a mind. You fool me every time. Well, almost every time. Well, once or twice. Well, once. But it was a good once."
Fallon rolled her eyes leaning toward Agatha. "He's a bit eccentric."
Agatha cracked a smile. "Perfect for you then?" She teased, giving the Doctor a once over. "You are quite the couple."
Fallon flushed vibrantly shaking her head as the Doctor hesitantly did the same.
"Oh, no, no, no, no. We're not married."
"We're not together," Fallon agreed, making Agatha hum.
"Well, obviously not. No wedding ring."
"Oh. Oh, you don't miss a trick," the Doctor replied but glanced at Fallon as Agatha continued.
"I'd stay that way if I were you. The thrill is in the chase, never in the capture and Jean will surely make you put in the effort."
"Agatha," Fallon complained lightly making her sigh.
"Yes, I know, you insist you're married to your work but even you could do with someone to keep you right."
Lady Eddison slipped in then, eager to talk with her special guest and Fallon gave Agatha a nod to go, knowing she was busy.
"Mrs. Christie, I'm so glad you could come. I'm one of your greatest followers. I've read all six of your books. Um, is, um, Mr. Christie not joining us?"
Agatha bristled a little and Fallon frowned. "Is he needed? Can't a woman make her own way in the world?"
"Don't give my wife ideas," Mr. Curbishley chuckled, lightening up the tense mood as the Doctor slipped up beside Fallon and gave her a small nudge.
"Since when do you know Agatha Christie?"
"Happenstance," Fallon replied, giving him a small cheeky smirk. "That publishing company I mentioned Jean inherited? Might have been the same one she publishes her books through."
"Oh, you cheeky thing, you," the Doctor said with a smirk. "You should've told me!"
"Like I can keep track of the famous people I make friends with," Fallon scoffed as the Doctor held up a finger and moved past her to borrow the paper on Mr. Curbishley's lap. "What do you need a paper for?"
"The date," he hummed, giving the paper a glance before his smile faltered. "Oh."
"Oh?" Fallon questioned as Donna joined them. "That doesn't bode well."
"What's wrong with the date?" Donna asked, making the Doctor glance hesitantly at Fallon.
"It's the day Agatha Christie disappeared. You don't happen to know anything about that, do you, Fallon?"
Fallon shook her head with a soft, sad glance at Agatha. "No. Not me. I technically don't find out about it until after she turns up again. I was out of the country on other business, if I remember right. I come back and… a coworker at the publishing company told me. I went to visit her right away but… Damn, I forgot completely. How could I forget one of my good friends just not recognizing me anymore?"
The Doctor felt bad bringing it up but gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze as Donna spoke up.
"What do you mean she disappeared though? What happened?"
"She'd just discovered her husband was having an affair," the Doctor informed her, leading them to look over at her as she smiled and joked with the other members of the party.
"You'd never think to look at her, smiling away."
"Well, she's British and moneyed. That's what they do. They carry on," the Doctor said with a shrug, but Fallon shook her head.
"No, not her. She's putting up a strong face because she's upset and angry. She doesn't want people questioning it, so she's acting tough." Fallon sighed. "I told her he was no good. Just wish I was there for her when it happened. She kept it secret instead. Didn't want to worry me, I guess."
"It's just… her disappearance was strange," the Doctor continued. "No one knows exactly what happened. She just vanished. Her car will be found tomorrow morning by the a side of a lake. Ten days later, Agatha Christie turns up in a hotel in Harrogate. Said she'd lost her memory. She never spoke about the disappearance till the day she died."
"Not even to you, Fallon?"
Fallon shook her head. "Not a word. She forgot me too but was quick to rebuild that friendship since we were still contractually connected. She always said she appreciated me not mentioning the past. I didn't pity her or anything and she held onto that after what happened."
"And that's about to happen now, isn't it?" Donna breathed, getting a nod from the Doctor.
"Right here, right now."
Suddenly, the head maid came running out of the manor, calling out and waving her hands in a panic.
"Professor! The library! Murder! Murder!"
The group looked at one another and Fallon muttered a curse under her breath as she and the Doctor took off into the building.
"I'll never get a break with you, will I?"
"Yeah, sorry."
