Paternoster Row Continued

Chapter 1 – Here we go again

A/N - You'll need to read the first story I wrote to understand the references that will come later on this one. Please take time to review. What did you like? What didn't you like?

"JENNY!" Vastra lunged forward, practically throwing herself in front of the bandit. Her tongue lashed out at his neck, and the bandit dropped to the ground.

"What the bloody 'ell did you do that for? I 'ad him," Jenny said between breaths. They had run the entire length of the town chasing this bandit. He was faster than he looked, not to mention that it was certainly harder running in pitch black; that was another one of Vastra's dresses ruined…

"Dear, if you would have had him like you said you did, I wouldn't have had to intervene."

"You didn't give me a chance to get him; you might as well came by yourself!"

Why were they having this argument? Usually, considering the circumstances, they both would have been relieved to stop another bandit in his tracks. Jenny had the urge to question every decision Vastra made recently. She didn't know why, it just had to be done.

Vastra simply stood there. She thought taking Jenny on these cases would bring them closer together, reunite them after everything that had happened; how wrong she was. At least Jenny was talking. Usually she'd lock herself in her room all day or go out on a long walk, anything to avoid confronting her. This time Jenny seemed to be doing the opposite. Damn humans and their emotions, she thought to herself.

Vastra turned away from Jenny to look at the body of the bandit. She pulled out a piece of fabric with a symbol carefully hand stitched onto it.

"It's definitely another one," Vastra said, handing the fabric over to Jenny to examine. Jenny looked at it and nodded.

"How many more of them are there? As soon as we kill one, another one just comes along."

"I'm not sure," Vastra said, sticking her tongue out and allowing herself to taste the air. "But there's definitely more, I can smell them".

Jenny looked off into the distance, wondering how many more of them they would have to track down and kill before they could be in peace. Somehow, she didn't think that would be anytime soon. Jenny sighed and scavenged through the bandit's pockets to see if there would be anything of use to them. A few coins and a pocket knife were the only things that Jenny could see fit taking.

She stood back up and grasped the pocket knife with her fist and spun it up in the air, catching it carefully back in her hands. "Let them come then. We'll be ready".

Vastra watched Jenny carefully whilst dragging the body into the shadows. The police would deal with it later.

She had somewhat changed. She wasn't sure if she liked the new Jenny, who had acquired a new kind of fire. A fire that burned deep within her, raging through every pure bone in her body. Then again, it could just be down to all the training they had both done recently; her sword work and intimidation skills had certainly improved. She should know; Jenny had tested her patience with it on more than one occasion lately.

"Let's head back; it'll be light soon, and I doubt the townspeople seeing a – what did they say again?"

"Green, scaled, venomous, malicious lizard?" Jenny said, using her fingers to count the numerous names.

Yes…" Vastra said, hissing. "Venomous indeed."

Jenny simply smiled. Not her normal smile though; it was almost seductive, luring Vastra in.

"What's that look for?" Vastra asked inquisitively.

"Well, I can think of a few bonuses of living with a green, scaled, venomous, malicious lizard."

Vastra smiled and let out a soft hiss. "Can you really?"

Jenny winked. "Come on, let's head back".

"Indeed."

They really should be investigating this case further, but, there would always be more bandits, so Vastra was sure that one day wouldn't make a difference. The bandits would be there tomorrow, somewhere, and she'd find them. They both would.