Title: Obsessions
Author: Van Donovan
Characters: The Second Doctor, Jamie McCrimmon, Victoria Waterfield
Pairing: Two/Jamie
Rating: NC-17 overall, this chapter PG.
Word Count this chapter: 4,153
Notes: Set during the changing period in "Fury From the Deep." Slash warning for Doctor/Jamie.
Summary: Obsessions are hard to ignore.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. I made no money, but if you want to hire me, I'm cheap. Betaing provided by the wonderful Starkiller, some story concepts/elements thanks to Maccine. I apologize for the clichéness, it ran away with me. Hope you'll like it anyway.
--

The Doctor awoke some hours later, aware only vaguely that it was morning. The velvet curtains were still drawn, so no beam of light had woken him, though sunshine still dimly suffused through them, illuminated the room. He stretched luxuriously, delighting in the feeling of warm silk all around him. His arm encountered Jamie, who still slumbered peacefully beside him.

The sight of the boy made the Doctor stir, and he quickly bent down, unable to help himself, and kissed Jamie until he awoke. At first Jamie return the kiss, slow and gentle as he came to.

It was only when Jamie’s eyes snapped open and the boy jerked back from him in surprise that the Doctor realized that this was not at all what he should be doing, or whom he should be doing it with. “Doctor?” Jamie gaped, mouth open, lips swollen.

“Oh my,” the Doctor said, shaking his head clear. “Oh dear me, Jamie.”

Jamie was touching his mouth, a somewhat mortified and confused expression on his face. “What’s going on?”

“Oh crumbs,” the Doctor fretted and began wringing his hands again. The desire to have Jamie again was still there, but it wasn’t as strong as it had been last night. He forced the want down as best he could, which was rather hard considering the boy in bed beside him wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothes, and he could still taste him on his lips.

“Doctor?”

The Doctor focused. He had a scared and violated friend to deal with now. “It’s this blasted castle, Jamie! It’s made us obsessed with things!” He didn’t want to leave the warmth of the bed or Jamie, but he forced himself away anyway, pulling his robe tightly around him, retying the sash. The loss of contact with Jamie was like ice had been poured over him. He staggered at the loss of the blissful sensation just being near Jamie had given, somewhat weakened without it. “Oh, you’ll never forgive me,” he wailed, fighting the urge to crawl back into bed with him down. “I’ll never forgive me!”

Jamie wasn’t watching him. He was running his hand over the sheets contemplatively. “Don’t feel quite right in the head, Doctor,” he admitted, squinting. He lifted the sheets and peered down at himself. “And I seem t’ have lost me clothing.”

“Oh, Jamie,” the Doctor cried, dancing from foot to foot on the cold stone floor. “Jamie, what have I done?”

Comprehension, or perhaps memory, seemed to finally dawn on Jamie. He lifted his eyes off the sheets, focusing them on the fretting man before him. “Doctor? Last night, what did you . . . ? Did we . . . ?”

“I did! I took advantage of you!” He stopped dancing from foot to foot, submitting to the cold stones, looking sorrowfully at Jamie.

Jamie thought about this for a while, remembering the night before as best he could. He blushed somewhat, and, picking up on the Doctor’s distress and fear, quickly swung his legs over the side of the bed and presented his back to the man. “Where’s Victoria?” he asked in the most commanding voice he could muster.

“She’s safe,” the Doctor said in a softer voice. “I swear, Jamie, it was only you, and only because of something that the Prince Regent said. If I had had any idea that—”

“Doctor,” Jamie snapped, “just shut up for a moment, will y’?”

He did.
--

The Doctor dressed rapidly; his clothes had been laundered during the night and were neatly folded on the dresser. The thought that one of the maids had come in and potentially seen he and Jamie together in the bed made his cheeks burn in a way he hadn’t experienced since he was a boy.

He departed the room without another word, eager to let Jamie be alone, and to evaluate the problem as a whole by himself. He shut the door behind him, but then leaned heavily against it. There was no excuse for last night. There was no way to take it back or make it up to Jamie. He had most likely quite effectively destroyed his friendship with the boy. The thought made his chest ache, and in his current obsession-deprived state, he found it was a struggle to remain on his feet.

“Sir?” The Doctor looked up to find Milyan standing before him. “I got that list as you wanted me to write up.” He unfolded a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over.

“Oh. Oh, yes, thank you.” Accepting it, the Doctor skimmed over all the meaningless names. He vainly tried to sort his mind and remember what he’d been thinking last night when he’d asked the man to compile the list for him in the first place.

“You all right, sir?”

The Doctor sighed heavily, shaking his head. “No, I don’t think I am.” Pushing away from the door was like admitting defeat, but as much as he wanted, he didn’t have time to contemplate Jamie right now. He desperately wanted to return to the boy—wanted to go back inside and perhaps even grovel—but he couldn’t. He had to deal with what was going on in the palace first. He could talk with Jamie once it was all over and he had this sorted out; when the very thought of the boy, of being with him, didn’t make his heart rates increase.

“Something I can help with?”

Sighing again, the Doctor shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not. Listen, Milyan, I had better check on my young friend Victoria. Do you happen to know which room she’s in?” Victoria could help ground him, he knew. Fretting over her would help and focus him.

“Just a door down, sir,” Milyan said, stepping aside so he could gesture. “Shall I have breakfast sent up for you, or will you be joining the Prince down below?”

“I suppose we’ll be joining him. At least my companions will be, I hope. I think I need to speak with Tianna again.”

“Very good, sir. I’ll go inform the cook then.”

“Yes, thank you.”

No sooner than Milyan had gone did the door to the Doctor’s room open, revealing Jamie, now properly attired.

With his escort now gone, the Doctor realized this made it seem like he’d just been loitering around in the hall outside the room, waiting for him. He straightened, purposefully avoiding Jamie’s eyes, and squashed down the desire to reach out and touch him. “I was just going to find Victoria,” he very brusquely said.

“Aye, the thought was on my mind too,” Jamie answered. He shut the door behind him, shuffling a little. “Don’t much like the way this thing’s affectin’ me. Was more effort getting’ out of that bed than near anything I’ve ever experienced.”

“You’re addicted to the silk,” the Doctor explained.

“Aye,” Jamie agreed. “Know that much, Doctor.”

The Doctor patted himself down awkwardly, needing to do something with his hands. “Well, Victoria is this way. I’d like you to keep an eye on her today,” he perfunctorily said. “Last night I found her in the lake in the middle of the night, gathering lily flowers off the water.”

“Flowers?”

“Seems that’s what she’s obsessed with.” He sighed deeply before rapping on her door. “Victoria, dear? It’s the Doctor.”

Victoria, when she answered, seemed rather improved from her ordeal the previous night. She had clearly been up some time and was now dressed and all smiles. “Doctor! Jamie!” she exclaimed, drawing them in. “You must see the arrangement Maggie brought up for me this morning.”

Victoria spun around, directing their attention to a vase stuffed with bright orange calla lilies. “They’re very lovely,” the Doctor placidly said. “I’m most glad they please you.”

“They’re unlike anything I’ve ever seen before,” Victoria dreamily sighed. She reached out to stroke one of the petals.

“Yes, they are,” the Doctor agreed. “Victoria, I must apologize again for last night. I really am very sorry for pulling at you like that.”

“Never you mind, Doctor. I was being silly—I should have gone out with an escort and a lantern. I didn’t realize how silly I was being until I found myself shivering in the tub with some maid I don’t know washing my hair.” She laughed embarrassedly. “I’m glad you found me before I did something dreadful.”

“Now how’s about some breakfast?” Jamie interrupted. “I’m half starved.”

“Oh, yes, let’s!”

“All right, all right, you two. Now promise me this,” the Doctor said, imploring his companions in earnest. “I want you to stay together. We’re all affected with this obsession sickness and I don’t want it getting the best of any of us again. Victoria, I recommend you keep some flowers by you at all times so you’re never lacking. Jamie, you might want to get a bit of silk fabric.”

“Aye, Doctor. I’m one step ahead of you.” He gave a light tug to the silk ascot about his throat. After a moment, he lifted his chin and asked, “What about y’, then?”

“I’m going to talk to the King’s physician. I believe she’ll be able to shed some light on the current situation.”

Jamie nodded slowly. “Well, then I should come with y’.”

“No, no. Jamie, I can’t think clearly when you’re around. You and Victoria have breakfast together, please. Then take her out to pick flowers, won’t you? We can meet up again for lunch, if you’d like.”

Jamie was scowling but the Doctor ignored him and quickly backed out of Victoria’s room. “Stay safe, you two. And for pity’s sake, stay together!” He hurried off down the corridor.

Victoria glanced to Jamie once the Doctor had gone. “What’s all this about obsessions?”

Jamie shrugged, putting his hands on his belt. “Oh, I don’t know. Something in the air affectin’ our thoughts, y’ know how it is. Everywhere we go it’s one thing or another.” He glared down the hall in the direction the Doctor had gone for several long seconds before shaking his head. At last, he offered Victoria his arm. “Come on then, let’s go get somethin’ t’ eat.”
--

The Doctor retraced his steps to the library. He was fairly certain he shouldn’t be there without an escort but that was rather the point. When he arrived he found the doors closed, but not locked. He glanced down the hall carefully before letting himself in.

Inside, the atmosphere was peaceful. He stepped lightly so his arrival wouldn’t ring out on the flagstones as he approached the place he’d last seen the King.

Peeking around the last aisle gave him a view of the King. As far as he could tell, Tianna wasn’t present. Straightening himself out, he stepped from behind the aisle and walked over to the couches. He’d intended to sit beside the man, but the books piled beside him made that impossible to accomplish. Instead he folded his hands before him and smiled. “Your Majesty,” he prefaced, “I’ve some very important questions to ask you.”

After several more attempts did nothing to rouse the man’s attention from his book, the Doctor took a deep breath and pulled the tome away from him. He expected a shrill cry, perhaps screaming in the way Victoria had the previous night, but the King just vacantly blinked up at him. The wiry white brows knit together in thought, but after several seconds the King simply reached for another book.

“Not yet,” the Doctor said, pulling the King’s hand away. He tugged, managing to get the man to his feet. “Listen to me. Your Majesty, can you hear me?”

“I can hear you, what the blazes do you want?” the King snapped. He tugged his arms away from the Doctor and sat himself back down. “I’m busy.”

“It is imperative that I speak with you!” the Doctor pouted. “Listen to me!”

“Make an appointment with my councilor!”

“You haven’t got one!” the Doctor shouted. “Don’t you even know where you are, man?”

The King merely licked his finger and turned the page of his new book. It was obvious the Doctor had already lost him.

“Oh gingersnaps!” the Doctor pouted.

“I could have you arrested for attempted sabotage,” Tianna said, her velvet voice filling the room as she seemed to materialize out of the shadows. “No one is to see the King without a royal escort, let alone a stranger.”

“I don’t believe he understands the gravity of the situation,” the Doctor protested.

“Nor do you, I think,” Tianna replied. “It is past time for you to leave, Doctor.”

“What are you doing to him you vile woman? It can’t be magic, can it? It must be some mind-altering drug. I’m right, aren’t I?” He shook a finger at her. “I won’t let you get away with this.”

“There is a sickness here, Doctor,” she agreed, “but I assure you that I am not the source of it.”

“Of course you are, locking him away up here like this! It’s no secret the previous physician took ill and left, leaving room for you to take over. I’m sure I’ll find that wasn’t just coincidence.”

Tianna snarled, her lips curling back to reveal her unnaturally bright teeth. “Your imagination is run away with you, Doctor. I wonder if you’re not obsessed with conspiracy theories.”

“Hardly! I should think you’re obsessed with power! Is that what this is all about?” He shook with anger—the idea that this woman had almost got Victoria drowned and potentially fractured his friendship with Jamie for her own political gain infuriated him. “I will see that you’re stopped!”

“You are a small and foolish man, Doctor,” she snapped. “Guards!”

“Well now! You didn’t have to bring height into it!” the Doctor protested.

Before Tianna could speak further or the Doctor could protest more, two guards hurried into the room. All the physician had to do was merely point a long finger at the Doctor and the guards were upon him, restraining him by his arms.

“Mistress?” one guard asked.

“Please escort our guest to the breakfast hall—I do believe he’s gotten lost.”

“Right away.”

Before they hauled him off, Tianna stepped dangerously close to him, bending to speak to him. “Before you rush in again, Doctor, I recommend you have a clue of what you’re dealing with. Otherwise, you’ll find you’re so far out of your league that we’re not even on the same page anymore.”

“The mixed metaphors do not become you,” he scoffed as he was dragged from the room.

The guards lugged him down the stairs and shoved him through the doors of a smaller dining hall. It was set up for breakfast; the Prince, Jamie and Victoria were already seated, eating. Furious at his failure with the King and humiliated somewhat by his extraction and being unceremoniously deposited in front of his friends, the Doctor dusted himself off embarrassedly and straightened his sad, frumpy clothes.

“Problems with Tianna, Doctor?” the Prince serenely asked.

The Doctor looked sharply at him. He tilted his head curiously, dusting his arms off extravagantly. “No, not at all. What makes you say that?”

“Just an idle guess,” the Prince replied. “Won’t you join us?” He gestured to an empty but set seat.

The Doctor glanced to his companions. Victoria had her basket, full of fresh flowers, by her feet; Jamie’s ascot was in his lap and he was worrying two ends of the fabric together between his index finger and thumb. They both seemed content and unharmed and he quickly averted his eyes off Jamie’s hands, fixing them on Reginald. “I suppose a quick bite wouldn’t hurt.”

He sat and buttered a roll without meeting the eyes of either of his companions. He ate quickly, planning to excuse himself as soon as possible to figure out a better way to get around Tianna. He had not expected to be engaged in conversation and was thus a little slow when the Prince asked, “I trust you slept well last night, Doctor?” His grin was wide and knowing.

The Doctor could feel Jamie’s eyes on him but he refused to meet them, especially not with Victoria sitting right beside the boy. “It was lovely, thank you,” he replied in a clipped tone, lifting his napkin to wipe his mouth. He didn’t look at Jamie, but he could tell the boy had somewhat relaxed across the table.

“Might I inquire as to how long we are to be honored to have you as our guests?” the Prince questioned.

“Oh, not too much longer, I’m afraid. We certainly don’t want to overstay our welcome,” the Doctor answered. He took a drink of water and set aside his barely eaten roll before pushing to his feet. “Well, that was filling. I think I’ll just have a little stroll with my friends. Jamie, Victoria, shall we?”

“But I’ve not yet finished!” Jamie protested, gesturing to his plate of food.

“I’ll come with you, Doctor,” Victoria said, moving to stand.

“No, no, we can’t leave Jamie alone.”

“And just why not?” Jamie demanded.

The Doctor wrung his hands. “I don’t want either of you left alone.” He sat back down with a grunt. “Hurry up then. I want to speak to both of you when we’re done, in private.”

“Oh, I assure you I don’t mind,” the Prince said.

The Doctor eyed him cautiously. He rubbed his hands together after a moment and shrugged. “It concerns your father’s physician, Tianna. You might not want to hear what I have to say.”

The Prince’s eyes narrowed. “I have some of my own suspicions about Mistress Tianna, Doctor. I might be very interested indeed with what you have to say about her.”

Placing his hands on the table, the Doctor explained. “Since our arrival in your castle, my friends and I have been . . . afflicted with a sort of sickness.”

“I’ll say,” Jamie muttered.

“Hush, Jamie,” the Doctor chided. He directed his attention back on the Prince. “As I was saying, we’ve become a little sick. I’ve noticed similar bouts of illness amongst some of your servants, and your father seems afflicted as well.”

“Yes, I had noticed. Tianna was brought in when the obsession . . . overtook our previous royal physician, but it wasn’t long before we began to suspect that she might be the cause of the sickness herself.”

“Precisely. It’s easy to see she’s got a good hold on your father, and that you yourself are slightly touched by the illness.”

The Prince shifted uncomfortably. “It does not interfere with my duties,” he insisted.

“No, but your incessant joking wearies your already taxed servants. Is anyone trying to stop this woman? It’s clear she wants control of the throne. You’re her last real obstacle.”

The Prince set his utensils down. “What can we do? We have no proof and even if we did, we have no way of knowing how to stop her, or reversing the illness!”

“Well, you leave that to me. I’ve been preparing my own investigations, of a sort.” He withdrew the list of names Milyan had drawn up for him. “This would work better with your permission, of course. I’d like to interview the people on this list. If I can cross reference all their experiences, I might be able to narrow it down to a source.”

The Doctor handed the list to the Prince, who studied it for several seconds in silence. “Yes, of course,” he finally replied, “but many of these people no longer reside in the castle. They’ve been moved to special facilities in the city.”

“Yes, I realize that,” the Doctor said. “Which is why traveling with a royal escort might really speed things up for me.”

“A proper investigation,” Jamie conspiratorially said to Victoria. “Now that’s a bit more like it.”

“You and Victoria will of course be staying here,” the Doctor said glancing over but not looking at Jamie.

“What!” Jamie protested.

“I’ve got things for both of you to do while you’re here. There simply isn’t enough time to interview everyone on that list, so you two will have to help me.”

“Oh, but Doctor!” Jamie cried.

“Please don’t argue with me, Jamie. I’m under a lot of stress right now and I need you both to be as cooperative as possible.”

“We’ll help however we can, Doctor,” Victoria helpfully said.

Reginald handed the slip of paper back. “I think I could find a guard to escort you through the city, although I fear your plight might be futile.”

“I’m aware that many of the people on that list are too far gone to be of much use to me, but I simply must try to obtain all the facts.”

“Very well. Go to the stables in one hour—I will see to it that you are provided with a horse and escort.”

“Thank you very much,” the Doctor said. He turned back to his companions, eyes focused on Jamie’s plate. “Are you quite finished now? I’d like to explain your task to you a little more implicitly.”

Jamie crammed food into his mouth. “Oh, aye. We walk around, talk to the lads and lasses on the paper, write down what they say and report it all back to y’.”

“Not quite just that.”

Jamie lifted his eyes from his plate to fix them on the Doctor, but the Doctor immediately looked at Victoria.

“Well, I’m done,” Jamie said, throwing his napkin onto his plate. He stood up and busied himself with retying his ascot about his neck.

“I am too,” Victoria agreed, picking up her basket and rising as well.

The Doctor and the Prince followed suit. “Very well then, Doctor. I hope your research yields positive results. I will attend to matters now.”

“As do I,” he sadly said. “Thank you.”

Jamie and Victoria came around the table. “So what’s the real plan, Doctor?” Jamie asked.

The Doctor focused on Victoria. “I’ve a very bad feeling about all of this. I don’t want you two leaving the castle grounds under any circumstances.”

“Oh, Doctor, c’mon now,” Jamie began.

“No, no, listen to me,” the Doctor said, waving his hand for silence. “It’s very important you two do this for me. It’s more than just interviewing people.”

Victoria looked between the two men and shook her head. “Are you two fighting?”

“No,” Jamie snapped. “The Doctor’s just under a lot of stress, like he said.” He crossed his arms, challenging the Doctor to disagree.

“Jamie’s right, Victoria. Please don’t worry about it.” He handed her the list of names. “Let’s write up a copy of this for you two. Additionally, I need you to get into the kitchens. I’ve a suspicion that this sickness might be related to the food.”

“That we just ate?” Victoria said, alarmed.

“Yes, well, maybe. It’s an idea. The nice man who made me that list said his wife used to be the head cook but fell ill with this sickness and was replaced. The King’s physician was replaced too. I’ve a feeling when we finish our interviews we’ll find most of the senior staff replaced. That there’s tampering with the food is just an idea, but one worth looking into.”

“What should we search for?” Victoria asked.

“Anything unusual. I trust you know what to expect in a kitchen?”

“Of course.” She smiled brightly.

“And you’re jus’ going out there by yourself,” Jamie flatly said.

“No, Jamie. I’ll have the escort the Prince is getting for me. I’ll be back tonight, don’t worry,” he reassured.

“Sure, and what if something happens to y’?”

“It won’t. But listen—if you do run into any trouble and you don’t feel safe in the castle and can’t find me, you are to head back to the TARDIS.”

“The TARDIS!” Jamie cried. “That’s a three hour walk from here!”

“Yes, I know, Jamie,” the Doctor said, folding his hands. “But it’s the safest place on this planet, and I can meet you there if we run into problems.”

Jamie snorted but Victoria put a hand on him to calm him. “We’ll do as you’ve asked, Doctor. But do you really think you can help them?” she asked.

“I do hope so. I’d hate to have put you both through this for nothing.” He took his handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his face down before stuffing it away again. “Well, then let’s get these names copied so I can get going. We’ve all got a long day ahead of us.”

“Yes, Doctor,” Victoria agreed.

“And remember, you two: stay together. I don’t want either of you wandering off. There is strength in numbers.”

“Aye, we know, Doctor.”

The Doctor looked around shadily before leaning closer to them. “And watch out for Reginald, too. I don’t quite trust him, either.”
--

.. to part four