THE ADVENTURES OF THE DOCTOR'S AMAZING HAND

Chapter Thirty

Rose yawned and sat up in bed. The moment she did, John jumped up on his fingers and walked over to her side.

"Good morning," she said, stroking his back. "Sleep well?"

John flipped onto his wrist and nodded. Rose picked him up and held him close.

"Ready to go meet Martha," she said, holding him out so he could sign to her.

Already did, sorta, she saw me on Malcasairo, he signed.

"But not alive," Rose said.

No, he signed.

"I have a feeling this is gonna be a bit awkward," Rose muttered.

She kissed his index finger and smiled when John laid his fingers against her lips in response. Sighing contentedly, she carried him into the bathroom so they could freshen up before meeting Ianto and Martha.

After she met Ianto downstairs, they walked over to Yvette's house. Ianto had shaved his beard off and Rose had to admit the man was cute. She could see why Jack was so attracted to him. John rode inside her jacket and kept still while they went inside the house. Martha was up and sitting at the table eating a light breakfast of eggs and toast and tea. Yvette smiled at them and offered them the same meal. Both of them accepted and sat down while Yvette went to fill their plates and cups.

"I'm planning to head out today, is that alright?" Martha asked.

Both of them nodded. Martha glanced around.

"Where's this bloke that's traveling with you?" she asked.

Rose and Ianto glanced at each other.

"Um, he'll be along soon," Rose said as John vibrated with silent laughter.

Yvette sat their plates and cups and cutlery in front of them and they thanked her while they ate. She sat with them for awhile, drinking tea and making small talk with them until she finally finished her cup and moved back into her living room. It was then that Rose decided to let Martha know about John.

"The reason why we've been so secretive is John isn't exactly a normal person," Rose said softly. "I'm gonna let you meet him but I need to warn you beforehand because I don't want you screaming and altering Yvette. We need to keep him a secret, only me and Ianto know about him down here and now you'll know as well."

Martha was puzzled but nodded, waiting for her to go on.

"Martha, you remember when you were on Malcasairo and you saw the severed hand in Jack's jar?"

Martha rolled her eyes.

"Couldn't forget it if I tried. I don't know why he'd bring along a severed hand, surely there are other ways to detect the Doctor without resorting to body parts," she said, picking up her mug of tea.

She took a sip.

"But the hand is with the Master now, yeah? That's how the Doctor was aged."

"Yes, but the hand is with us at the moment."

Martha was taken aback.

"Why? So the Master can't use it again?"

Rose glanced at Ianto.

"Yes, that and…he's alive."

Martha paused mid sip and slowly lowered the mug.

"I'm sorry?" she said.

Her eyes bulged out when Rose reached in and brought John out, setting him on the table in front of her.

"Bloody hell, you carry that thing in your jacket?"

She gasped when John jumped up onto his fingers. She jumped backwards to get away from him and knocked over her chair.

"Mademoiselle, Monsieur, is everything alright in there?" Yvette said as she sat in the living room.

"Everything's fine, Ma'am, I got up too quickly and accidentally knocked my chair over," Rose called out.

Martha stared at the hand in fear and disgust.

"His name's John," Rose said calmly.

"You named it?"

"He's a he and no, he named himself," Rose said.

Martha looked at Ianto who shrugged.

"She's telling the truth, Martha. He's alive and he can somehow see and hear and he communicates by sign language."

John flipped up onto his wrist.

Hello, Martha, he signed.

Rose glanced at her.

"Do you understand the sign language alphabet because that's how he communicates with us."

"Yeah, I do. I took it at university so I'd be able to understand hearing impaired patients. I know he just said hello but…how is this possible?"

She leaned over the table towards John.

"You can see me and hear me?"

Yes, he signed.

Martha held up three fingers.

"How many fingers am I holdin' up?"

Three, John signed.

Martha shook her head in disbelief.

"This can't be real; it has to be a trick."

"Oh it's not a trick, I can assure you of that," Ianto said.

Martha stared at him and then had a thought. She looked at Rose.

"Wait, you said last night that he sleeps with you."

"Yes, he does."

Martha looked at her like she needed to be sectioned and fast.

"Rose, this is a severed hand," she said, pointing to John.

"I know but he's become so much more to me. Honestly, Martha, John has a soul as incredible as it may seem. He's got his own personality and I don't even think of him as a severed hand anymore. He's become my friend and my protector."

"Protector? What can he do? He's just a hand," Martha said.

Rose smirked.

"He can bounce on his wrist and grab someone's balls or punch em. He can do everything a hand can do to a person," she said. "He can walk, bounce, feel, see, hear and he communicates by sign language. He's a person, Martha. He's like the Doctor but in some ways he's his own man."

Martha reached out and tentatively touched his index finger. Her eyes widened in wonder when he pushed back.

"How long have you been alive?" she asked him.

Since I fell off the Sycorax ship, he signed.

"Hold on, you mean you were alive when you were in the jar?"

Yes.

"Oh my God, why didn't you say something?

I did…to the Doctor. He was the only one I could trust at the time. I didn't know you and Jack…Jack acted creepy around me, he signed.

"So Jack doesn't know," Martha said to Rose.

"He does now. He showed himself on the Valiant," Rose said.

"Mademoiselles, Monsieur…"

"Quick John, hide," Rose hissed when they heard Yvette coming towards the kitchen.

She put John back inside her jacket and zipped it up. The three of them acted casual as Yvette came into the kitchen and smiled at them.

"Do you want anything more to eat?" she said sweetly.

The three of them shook their heads. Yvette started to clear up but Martha stopped her.

"That's okay, we can wash up," she said. "We need to get going anyway."

"So soon?" Yvette said, frowning. "Do you know what you're doing?"

The three of them nodded. Yvette shook her head.

"I would not risk my life to do what you are doing so I applaud your bravery," she said to them. "I only hope that you can keep yourselves alive long enough to stop the Master."

"So do we," Rose said. "But she's right, we'd love to stay but we have the whole wide world ahead of us and we need to tell others about the Doctor."

"But if you could tell your friends about him and have them tell others, we'd appreciate that," Martha said.

"Oui, Collette and I will do that. At least let me give you some food before you go."

They looked at each other and nodded.

"Let me prepare you something then," she said, going towards the refrigerator.

After Yvette cooked them several things and packed them up, she and Collette stood in front of the front door of Yvette's home while Ianto, Martha and Rose stood in front of them.

"We wish you luck," Collette said as Yvette nodded. "And we will tell everyone we see about the Doctor and his message."

"Thank you," Martha said. "And thank you for your hospitality."

"Yes, we appreciate it," Ianto added.

"It is nothing, Monsieur. In fact, I wish to give you an address of a friend who might be able to shelter you once you get there. She lives a few kilometers east, just outside of Paris. She will give you food and shelter if you need it."

They thanked her. Collette and Yvette stood and waved at them and watched as they put their rucksacks on their back and headed off towards the east.

Back                         Home                              Doctor Who Main Page                          Next