Rewritten March 2024

857: Another Girl Another Planet IX

Jenny

She threw her arms around Clara as soon as the TARDIS disappeared behind her, walking up to the lonely cottage on the moors where the grass had been trampled. It was gone sunset, and Jenny pulled Clara into her arms before they even had a chance to greet each other, hugging her tightly. When she let Clara go, Jenny kissed her instead.

"Hello," said Jenny, keeping her arms around her. Clara stared at her. "What?"

"You can be very dashing sometimes." Jenny smiled and kissed her again, deeply, until Clara put a stop to things. "Did you want to come in, or would you rather have your way with me in the farmer's field over there?"

"I don't know. Will the farmer mind?"

"Come on," said Clara, taking her hand. "It looks like rain, anyway. Are you aware that you smell appalling?"

"I had a suspicion."

"Where have you been? Why are you dressed like a character from Dune?"

"What's Dune?"

"Just books, never mind. It's the rags, that's all."

"They're just old, and I've been sweating. We went to a desert planet. Korix. An old stomping ground of mine. But I got you a present – called in a favour." Once they were in the cottage, Jenny produced the galaxy crystal Jarru had given her, the miniature stars swirling around within. It glowed softly, looking even more vivid in the candlelight.

"That's beautiful," said Clara, holding it nearer to her face. She sighed. "My eyesight isn't what it used to be."

"I'll show you a trick," said Jenny, taking the crystal from her again slowly. She shook it in her hands and the dusky pink nebula transformed into one of vivid gold, in a completely different pattern. "It makes new ones infinitely."

"Thank you," said Clara. "I'll have to put it on the mantlepiece, now that I've arranged things. Do you see? I have a fireplace."

"I did see, I saw last night," said Jenny, wrapping her arms around Clara again. "How long have you been awake for? I thought I'd get back sooner."

"Since about three," said Clara. "Couldn't you have come back whenever you liked? In your time machine? It's a little odd for me to be here in this house while somebody else goes cavorting in the TARDIS."

"I had errands to run," said Jenny.

"So you said in the note you left me this morning. 'Errands – J.' Very eloquent, one entire word," said Clara. "What's on your back?"

"It's, er, it's a very large gun," Jenny admitted. Clara frowned.

"And you've brought it here?"

"I thought it might be useful. What if somebody tries to slay you? I can protect you now," said Jenny, taking Emmett from her back to show it to Clara properly. "Steam-powered. Shoots metal spikes."

"Why on Earth would you want to shoot metal spikes at people?" asked Clara.

"All kinds of reasons."

"Mm, okay… I'd rather not have guns of yours in the house. I don't like them."

"They're perfectly safe if you know how to use them, which I do," said Jenny.

"You're too American," said Clara. Jenny rolled her eyes. "What were you doing in your desert with your very large gun, then?"

"We were trying to stop an artificially created black hole from imploding and destroying a fake planet inhabited by hibernating insect people," said Jenny.

"Wow," said Clara.

"Yeah."

"Sounds hectic. Would you like some tea?"

"Yes, I would, thank you." Jenny left the gun propped up against the wall and, while Clara busied herself at the kettle, studied the room.

Everything was unpacked, all the bits and pieces. Clara had hung photos back up, the few family pictures she had of her parents and grandparents. It wasn't many. She'd tossed a throw over the modest sofa and cleared out the fireplace.

"I'll get you some firewood," said Jenny.

"I can buy it from the supermarket," said Clara.

"Are you sure? I meant to get some wood anyway. I was going to make… something."

"Something?"

"I hadn't thought of what yet. A bat box, maybe. You could put it on that tree behind the house, gather a roost. Might make you feel at home."

"Bats?"

"Vampires like bats, don't they?" said Jenny.

"Vampires…" Clara said with a sigh. "How am I going to call myself that? It's…"

"It's only been a few days," said Jenny, walking up behind her while they waited for the kettle to boil. "Did you look at that job application they left?"

"I've filled it in," said Clara, pointing it out to Jenny on the table. "I suppose I should take it into the village and have a look around. Then again, if Adam Mitchell only wants a pound a month, do I even need a job? And how will it work when I don't get out of bed until the afternoon?"

"I don't know," Jenny admitted. "Best ask, I suppose. But you'll get bored without something to do."

"Maybe you can teach me how to build things."

"Carpentry? If you like," said Jenny. "It's all about choosing the right wood; you see, the grain-"

"I take it back; this is boring me already." Jenny smiled.

"How are you doing? Really?"

"I don't know. I think I'm managing, but then I go to use my phone, and I have no reflection. And these cravings for blood are… they make cigarettes look like nothing. It just comes over me." She took a deep breath. Jenny put an arm around her. "It's like someone's died, really. And you're trying to go about your life, but they're gone. They'll always be gone. That's me. My humanity." Jenny kissed her cheek. Clara breathed out and leant her head on Jenny's, enjoying the closeness.

"A job will be good," said Jenny. "It helps you feel connected. There might be a whole community here to be a part of."

"Is that what you do?"

"I'm not my father. I usually stay in one place for a lot longer," said Jenny. "Yes, I do join communities, and try to be part of something."

"That's why you joined the army? To get rid of this feeling?"

"I suppose. I wouldn't recommend that you join the army, though," said Jenny. "It didn't help, in the end. Go sit down, I'll do this for us." Clara curled up on the sofa and Jenny finished the teas, bringing them over. "Ah-ha," said Jenny when she approached.

"What?"

"You haven't got a coffee table."

"No, it was the landlord's."

"I'll build one for you."

"You don't need to do that."

"Let me," said Jenny, handing her the mug and sitting down at her side. "Please. I like doing things for you – I like doing things for anybody who needs my help, actually. It's just that nobody on the TARDIS ever asks."

"Because you hide yourself from them all," said Clara.

"Maybe. You haven't gone into the village at all, then?"

"No, I… I don't want to go without you. What if I'm dangerous?"

"You're not dangerous. But shall we go later?"

"In the middle of the night?"

"I'm sure we'll be quiet. I need a few things from the supermarket, I'm getting food for Rose on behalf of the Doctor on behalf of Martha. Milk and bread."

"Why can't Rose get her own milk and bread? Can't she teleport across all of time and space?"

"Didn't I just tell you?"

"What?"

"I like doing things for people." Clara softened. "And Rose is still shaken after watching you… After what happened."

"Have you forgiven her?"

"Whatever the Doctor was up to, whatever she was really manipulating, it's ended with you and me here, together."

"Yeah, me a kept woman in this strange house," said Clara, for the second time. Jenny really did think she would feel better if she found something to do in the village, though. If she started building, or rebuilding, some kind of life.

"What were you saying about your eyes?"

"Bad vision," said Clara. "I think it's all the light."

"Didn't you try the glasses? There?" Jenny pointed out a modest glasses case, sitting on the kitchen table.

"That? I thought that was something of yours that you'd left."

"No, no," Jenny got up and fetched it. "I've left a lot here, but I didn't leave this." She took out a pair of glasses and handed them to Clara, black wayfarers with clear lenses.

"They're for the sun, the Doctor was very insistent about Oswin making them," said Jenny. Tentatively, Clara put them on. They did make her brighten up a little, even if her eyes were still black.

"That does help, actually. Everything's much dimmer."

"And the umbrella, by the door," Jenny pointed that out, too, right where she'd left it yesterday. "For when it's sunny."

"I'll look like a nutter going around with a black umbrella on a sunny day."

"It's hardly any different to a parasol," said Jenny. Clara shook her head.

"I'll look silly."

"You might look sillier if you're on fire," said Jenny.

"Hm. Possibly."

"I think it's sexy, you know," said Jenny.

"What?" asked Clara, squinting at her through the lenses while she got used to them.

"That you're a vampire. I didn't want to say, because I didn't want you to think that's why I'm so interested in you. But it is sexy. I like the fangs and the eyes."

"Doesn't it frighten you? Everybody else talked about how those vampires made you all feel like… like you had to run a mile, like you all knew there was something wrong with them. That they were dangerous."

"I think it's a human thing," said Jenny. "You only want human blood, don't you? They're your prey. It's no wonder they have a reaction." Clara didn't say anything. "Tell me something."

"What?"

"What do I smell like?"

"Appalling, I already told you."

"No, in general. Do I smell like food?"

"You smell the way you always have, only more intense now. But you don't smell like food, no; not like they do. You're just… Jenny. You smell like sweat and leather – in a nice way. What about me?"

"Plums," said Jenny, growing quiet. "Fermented plums. Like a wine. The Doctor said that's vampire saliva."

"Very intoxicating."

"Mm. I'm full of sand, though," said Jenny. "Maybe I'll go make myself smell of something else, how does that sound? And then we can go for a walk so that I can find somewhere open late to buy bread."

"I wouldn't think you'll have much luck, but alright," Clara acquiesced. "I'm not washing those rags in with the rest of my laundry, though. Take it all back to the TARDIS with you."

Jenny laughed. "Okay. If I go back to the TARDIS." Jenny stood and approached the tiny bathroom, then paused. "Do you think there's a bakery in the village? I might see if they have any cakes tomorrow."

"Cakes? What are you celebrating?"

"Your birthday. I know I'm still late, but… I suppose I could always bake one."

"You don't need to bake me a birthday cake."

"Someone does. Twenty-nine, that's big, right?"

"I'll never really be twenty-nine now," said Clara.

"I'm getting you a cake. No more arguing." Clara was about to argue with Jenny but had grown familiar with her stubbornness.

"Fine, then. I like sponge cake, if you're insisting."

"I am insisting." Clara gave her a look. "I'm not trying to patronise you."

"I can buy my own cake from a shop," said Clara.

Jenny was still standing on her way to the bathroom.

"Let me do things to look after you. You look after me plenty in return. I was just in a terrible relationship for three months where neither of us ever did anything to support the other, and I won't let you and me be like that," said Jenny.

"I already said I'll take the cake," said Clara. "And I will. I'm easy enough to persuade when there's cake on the line." Jenny grinned at her, excited. "Go have your shower and we'll have a walk and explore things. It might do me good."

"It will do you good."

"We'll see." Jenny still didn't move. Clara was about to ask if something was the matter when Jenny spoke one last time.

"I love you." She knew that Clara would have blushed if she could.

"Even though you stink, I love you, too."