There was a loud bang that startled Sage awake. She groggily sat up, leaning over the side to grope around for her glasses.
Shoving her glasses on, she swung her legs over the side of her bed. She walked out of her room, yawning the way out.
When she reached her living room, Sage was greeted with the sight of the Doctor pacing on her carpet.
She blinked and yep, he was still there. Sage shook her head, "I'm not awake enough for this," she muttered.
Sage turned back around and headed for her bathroom. She brushed and washed her face before walking back out to the living room.
The Doctor was still walking back and forth but at a more subdued pace. Sage shrugged, if he wanted to pace and contemplate whatever, he could.
Sage just headed for the kitchen and got some cereal. Taking the bowl with her, she walked out and sat on the couch, spooning cereal into her mouth.
She watched the Doctor mutter to himself for several more minutes as he walked. Moments later, he seemed to have deflated before his eyes narrowed onto her eating form.
"How long've you've been sittin' there?" he asked.
Sage shrugged, "Couple minutes, came out while you were still in a frenzy though."
She nodded to the shoes at the door, "Thanks for remembering to take off your shoes though, most don't remember."
She shoveled another spoonful into her mouth, carefully chewing and swallowing before asking, "What's got your knickers in a twist, if you don't mind my asking?"
The Doctor reared up again and started to rant about Rose and their recent adventures. About the past mistakes, some boy named Adam, and Rose almost tearing a rip into the space-time continuum.
Sage listened patiently, eating and finishing the rest of her cereal. When she finished that, she set the bowl on the coffee table to put away later.
"Feel better?" she asked when he finished his rant.
The Doctor stopped and stared at her. Sage shrugged noncommittally, "It seems you've already blamed yourself quite a lot going about your last few statements. I don't know what you want me to say. Do you want me to blame you? Because you're already beating yourself up about this."
"You still feel very guilty about what happened with Gallifrey and I'm not going to get into a debate about that. You saw someone struggling with the same thing you were and tried to help her," Sage gave him a gentle look.
"But that doesn't give her the right to ignore you when you specifically said something."
"I should've warned her more though," the Doctor argued. "She's only human."
"She's only human, yeah, but that doesn't give her the right or the excuse to disregard what you said."
"She's human, Doctor, and we make mistakes, we fight, we argue and things get messy," she took a deep breath and seemed to steady herself.
"At the end of the day though," she said softly, "We apologize and make up."
She gave him a fierce look, "That doesn't mean it's your fault," she reached up and grabbed his hands, dragging him down.
Sage turned to face him, crossing her legs and holding both of his hands with hers.
Her face was set and her jaw was clenched, "This was not your fault. You were doing a favour for a friend, and things got out of hand. You stopped it from getting worse and saved lives."
The Doctor had a lost look on his face like no one had ever said this to him.
Sage's heart clenched and she repeated firmly, "This was not your fault."
She stared into his blue eyes, daring him to say anything different and he seemed to deflate.
"It hurts," he whispered. "This emptiness."
"It does and sometimes it seems like it'll never get better, but one day at a time. If you feel shitty, then accept that you feel shitty. If you feel good, then embrace the good day, that's my motto at least. Helps some, not a lot but a little."
The Doctor huffed out a silent laugh, "Where'd you get this advice?"
Sage flushed and bit her lip before shrugging, "It's stuff my therapist said when my sister died and I was struggling with guilt."
The Doctor sucked in a breath and his eyes held guilt, "Sage, I'm sorry-"
"It's fine," she cut him off. "It was a long time ago, I made my peace with it."
"Besides we're talking about you," she said, avoiding his guilty stare. "And talking about you, I can't believe you actually came at the end of the school year," she teased, voice slightly falling flat.
He smirked but it wasn't with the same twinkle in his eyes, "Told you I would, didn't I? Does this mean you're traveling with me full time?"
Sage pretended to think about it before nodding, "Suppose it does, though that means I have to pack." She groaned at that thought.
The Doctor shook his head, "You don't need to, TARDIS has everything you need."
She contemplated this, tilting her head to the side in thought and nodded in assent.
"Right!" she pulled her hands away and jumped up. "I'll wash my dirty plates and meet you down by the TARDIS. Same place as last time?"
The Doctor nodded and watched as Sage flashed him a brilliant smile before walking back to her kitchen.
The Doctor stared at a wall before standing up. He'd take it one day at a time and keep running from his guilt.
He stared at where Sage had gone once more before walking out back to the TARDIS. They wouldn't notice if he left and come back for a bit.
Sage came out of her spot behind a wall. She had watched as the Doctor had stomped away with a worried frown.
She knew that he was going to fly away for a bit, he was going through a multitude of emotions.
And his default was to run away, not that Sage could blame him; she'd run away too if she could.
But this meant that Rose might find out he was gone and who knew how she'd react.
Sage remembered how she and Rose didn't really acknowledge each other and she always felt guilty about that.
Rose was young, sheltered and now she was experiencing firsthand loss. Well, Sage knew a thing or two about that.
Maybe this was the turning point where she and Rose could finally acknowledge each other and team up against the Doctor. Maybe she can finally get another friend. It'd only work if she go and distract her now, though.
Sage stared at the door, hesitating. Before she shook herself, this wasn't the time for her petty issues. She had to be comforting or at least distracting Rose from the Doctor being gone.
Sage shoved her shoes on before heading over across the hall. She didn't even knock, barreling in the room.
In the living room, Jackie and Rose were a heap on the couch. Jackie was awake and stroking her daughter's hair while Rose was peacefully slumbering on her lap.
Jackie spotted her tiptoeing near and made a gesture of quiet. Sage nodded in acquiesce, coming over quietly.
"Knocked out cold, just like when she was a child," Jackie said fondly.
Sage's heart clenched at the unexpected reminder of her family but pushed it away.
"Want me to bring her to her room?" she asked quietly.
Jackie gave her a dubious look, and Sage smiled reassuringly, "I'm stronger than I look, besides you're a bit stuck right now."
Jackie nodded reluctantly. "I do need to go and see Bev."
Sage reached out and scooped Rose up, carrying her bridal-style. She grunted slightly at the weight but carried her to her room without a hitch.
She gingerly set Rose down on the bed. Rose huddled into herself on the bed and Sage frowned.
Her mascara had ran and was in streaks upon her face. She tsked and went in search of a makeup removal wipe.
Rummaging around she made a small noise of hurrah at finding it before going back to Rose.
Sage sat on the bed and carefully maneuvered Rose onto her back. She gently wiped off the mascara and smiled in satisfaction when everything was off.
She crumpled the wipe up and stuffed it into her pocket. Looking at Rose now, Sage could see how young she was.
It seemed what they say was true, in sleep you do look years younger and Rose looked like so young.
Sage was broken out of her thoughts by a whimper. She glanced at Rose's face and saw her brows furrowing and and a frown take over her face.
Sage moved automatically, moving Rose's head to her lap and stroking her hair. She whispered words of comfort until she calmed down.
Sage made to move Rose away when there was a small noise of protest. Sage stared down at Rose who was holding onto her shirt determinedly.
She sighed but settled back in and started her stroking again. This time she talked in a low voice about anything and everything, lulling Rose into a contented sleep.
Rose cracked open her eyes. She was warm and laying on something that was not a pillow.
She sat up and hit her head on someone's chin. "Ow!" said twin cries of pain.
Rubbing her head, Rose noticed that she was in bed with Sage. Her glasses were askew and her hair was mussed as she sat up more.
Sage yawned, "Thank god you're finally awake, I don't know how much longer my neck could stand leaning back like that."
"Why are you in my bed?" Rose asked.
Sage raised an eyebrow at her tone but she explained, "You fell asleep on Jackie's lap, but she had to go somewhere so I volunteered to take you to your room."
At that announcement, Rose looked at her dubiously and Sage laughed, "Yes, I actually carried you to your room."
Rose flushed at that pronouncement and scowled, "That doesn't explain why you're still in my bed."
"I tried to get up but someone was feeling a little clingy," Sage said innocently and grinned at her.
Rose flushed a deeper red and softly hit Sage on the shoulder, "Shut up."
Sage smirked before sobering, "Do you feel better now?"
Rose's whole demeanor changed and her expression fell, "He told you, huh."
Sage nodded, "He did, but do you want to tell me what happened?"
Rose shrugged, "He already told you how it went."
"He did, but haven't you heard the saying, 'There's three sides to every story, your side, their side and the truth' I need to know what happened from your side of the story before I start condemning you."
Rose looked away, picking at the blanket that was covering her. Sage waited patiently before Rose sighed.
And the stories came pouring out of her. Sage listened, enraptured, and obligingly opened her arms when Rose fell into them crying again.
Sage soothingly rubbed her back as Rose choked out her last words, "That's what happened."
Sage didn't say a word, just continued to rub her back. When Rose's sobs quieted, she untangled herself from Sage.
Sage's stare was pensive as she mulled the words to say, "I'm not going to sugarcoat this. What you did was your fault a bit, I won't deny it. But I feel like you've paid your penance well enough, don't you?"
She didn't wait for Rose to answer and continued, "Now that you know what can happen if you don't listen to the Doctor, you won't do it again, yeah? I'm not saying not challenge him, but when it comes to matters of time and space, listen to him."
Rose nodded obediently and Sage smiled warmly, "Great now can we finally get out of this bed? I think I'm sticking to the headboard."
Rose giggled and flopped back onto Sage, "Never!"
Sage groaned exaggeratedly, "Oh no! I've been vanquished. Now I must lay here forever as my resting place."
Loud laughter erupted from the two of them as they tussled playfully. They flopped down onto the bed together in giggles as they caught their breath.
"Sage?"
"Hmm?"
"Thanks."
Sage turned her head to smile at Rose, "It's nothing. I think Jackie's all but adopted me now, so I guess I'm your new big sister."
Rose stared at her and Sage attempted to swat at her, "Not height wise, jeez. I'm older."
"How old are you?" Rose asked curiously.
"Twenty-seven," Sage answered.
"Wow," Rose whistled jokingly. "Eight year difference, mum was certainly busy between you and me."
"You were a surprise," Sage answered just as easily.
Sage dodged another swat, laughing, "Okay, the Doctor's bound to be back by now and I dunno about you but I'm itching for an adventure."
Sage rolled off the bed and reached out for Rose, "Back? Where'd he go?" Rose questioned.
Sage hummed noncommittally, "Well, after he ranted at me for a solid ten minutes, he ran out, so I'm assuming he went looking for an adventure just to keep his mind off of things."
Rose stared at Sage who stared right back, "How'd you know that?"
"He's like every man, hmm? Anything containing feelings, he runs and escapes it. At least that's how society's trained them here on earth. I assume same goes for every man."
A nod of understanding, "Mickey's like that too, just sex and football goes round his mind."
"That why you have your sights set on the Doctor?" Sage asked nonchalantly.
Rose stumbled getting up, "What?" she squeaked.
Sage fixed her with a knowing look, "I've been with you from the start, Rose. Granted, I haven't been with you on all your adventures. I could tell that you were interested, though. So are you trying to get with the Doctor instead?"
Rose shrugged, a lost look on her face, "I don't know anymore, at first I thought we could but then Adam and the Reapers. I feel like I'm too young and inadequate for him."
Sage turned and fixed her with a stern look, "Now see here Rose, you're young yeah, but never say you're inadequate. You are not, and I'll smack you upside the head if you say that again."
Rose wilted under her glare and Sage softened her expression, "Rose, you made mistakes, but don't ever think that you need someone to prove that you're worth something."
Sage sighed and moved over to Rose, she kneeled down and took Rose's hands, grasping them tightly. "Rose, don't ever think that you need a man to feel special. You're special in your own right."
Rose didn't say anything, just stared down at her lap. "But I'm just a shop girl that the Doctor found," she said quietly.
"Rose, dear heart, you are more than just a shop girl. Who was the girl who has so much compassion that you managed to give Adam a chance? Who was the girl that snapped at the undertaker and van Statten? Who was the girl who was so proud that she was human that she snapped at a bitchy trampoline?"
Rose giggled, "There's that smile." Sage said with her own smile.
"You're more than just a shop girl. The Doctor only takes the best and if you're still with him, then that means you're the best."
She nodded her head but still looked dubious. Sage tilted her chin up and stared intently into her eyes, "The universe decided that you were born, not any other child born to Jackie Tyler, you. If the universe created you specifically, then that means you have a purpose. It's okay if you don't know what yet, but know that you are needed. It may be hard to see at first, but if you look at your family, then you'll see."
"The universe also decided that my father had to die young," Rose muttered crossly.
Sage sighed wearily, letting Rose go, "Every death has a significance. I know what that sounds like, but if your father hadn't died, things would've been very different. Who knows, maybe you wouldn't even have met the Doctor? The universe is confusing, but I know that if Pete Tyler hadn't passed, the strong Rose Tyler I know today wouldn't exist. Experiences shape people, Rose and your father's death shaped you."
Rose nodded reluctantly, "Yeah, I suppose you're right."
"Of course I'm right," Sage grinned. "I'm your big sister, I know just as much as dear, old mum."
Rose shoved her and Sage fell with a noise of offense and mock hurt, "Shove off, old maid."
"Who you callin' an old maid?!"
"The one on the floor," Rose answered innocently.
"Oh, I'm gonna get you, you little-"
Rose squealed and hopped up, running out of the room with Sage chasing after her. The Tyler flat was filled with laughter once more.
The TARDIS shook, and Sage and Rose ran out to the Doctor.
"What's the emergency?" Rose yelled.
"It's mauve," the Doctor replied.
"What the fuck is mauve?" Sage shouted, holding onto dear life on a railing.
"Universal colour for danger," was the reply.
"What happened to red?" Rose wondered.
"And why mauve? That's like a pale purple, not something flashy to get attention," Sage asked.
"That's just humans. By everyone else's standards, red's camp. Oh, the misunderstandings. All those red alerts, all that dancing. It's just a warning. If they wanted people to panic, they wouldn't use mauve."
He gestured to the monitor where an object was on it, "It's a basic flight computer. I've hacked into it, slaved the TARDIS. Where it goes, we go."
"How safe is that?" Rose asked.
"Very," the Doctor reassured.
There was a giant spark that made everyone jump.
"Okay, reasonably. Should've said reasonably there."
There was a beeping and the Doctor jumped back to the monitor, "Oh, no, no, no, no, no! It's jumping time tracks, getting away from us."
"What exactly is this thing?" Rose queried.
"No idea."
"Oh great, a mysterious object hurtling through time and space that may or may not kill us and we're chasing it," Sage muttered.
The Doctor shot her a grin, "It's mauve and dangerous! And thirty seconds from the centre of London."
The Doctor ran around the console, preparing her to land and the familiar wheezing sound commenced.
The TARDIS landed with a soft thud and Rose exited, Sage and the Doctor close behind.
"Do you know how long we can knock around space without having to bump into Earth?" the Doctor asked, in mock annoyance.
"Five days? Or is that only when we're out of milk?" Rose played along.
The Doctor shook his head with a smile, "Of all the species in the universe and it had to come out of a cow."
Sage didn't respond, her eyes fixed on the barrage balloons above.
Rose and the Doctor walked away continuing their conversation and Sage absentmindedly followed.
"What other time period had barrage balloons? Vietnam? No too late for that, what then? Oh, oh, oh! World War II!" Sage lit up in realization and hurried to follow the others.
She didn't catch up to them on time because the Doctor was entering a door and Rose was halfway up a ladder.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" she threw her hands up in the air. "You know what, they're fine on their own. I'm going back to the TARDIS and I'll wait for whoever comes first."
She started her trek back, grumbling all the way.
"Rose? Sage?" The Doctor called. He rounded a corner and noticed a cat, he picked it up.
"You know, one day, just one day, maybe I'd meet someone who gets the whole don't wander off thing," he said to the cat.
"Oh, don't be a hypocrite. You wander off just as much in your own right." Sage retorted crossly. The Doctor looked up and Sage was leaning against the TARDIS door.
"I'm a Time Lord, Sage. I don't wander off," he replied.
"Oh, please that's just a fancy name. You have no idea what you're doing most of the time," she argued back, pushing off the door.
"Well, where would the fun be if I did?" he said, grinning at her.
Sage stared up at him with a cute, indignant look as she crossed her arms. The moment was broken when the TARDIS phone rang.
The two exchanged looks and Sage glanced down at the cat still in the Doctor's arms with a raised brow.
He glanced down before putting the cat down and walked over to Sage.
The Doctor opened the compartment to the phone, "How can you be ringing? What's that about? Ringing? What am I gonna do with a ringing phone?"
"I suppose you'd pick it up and see what they're ringin' about," Sage suggested.
"Don't answer it. It's not for you," a young woman interrupted.
The Doctor and Sage turned simultaneously to stare at her questioningly.
"And how do you know that?" The Doctor asked warily.
"'Cause I do," she replied promptly. "And I'm tellin' ya, don't answer it."
"If you know everything, tell us why it's ringin' then," Sage asked skeptically. "'Cause it's not even a real phone."
The woman shook her head and walked away. "Hey, wait! I'm not done, oh, whatever," Sage gave up on calling after her.
She turned back to the Doctor who shrugged. The two stared at the phone before the Doctor hesitantly picked it up.
There was nothing but silence and the Doctor shook his head at Sage's questioning look.
"Hello?" he tried. "This is the Doctor speaking, how may I help you?"
A child's voice rang out, "Mummy?"
The Doctor pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it incredulously as the child asked again, "Mummy?"
He put the phone back to his ear and asked, "Who is this? Who's speaking?"
"Are you my mummy?" was the answer.
"Who is this?" The Doctor asked more forcefully.
"Mummy?"
"How did you ring here? This isn't even a real phone, it's not connected," there was a click as the call ended.
The Doctor pulled the phone away and stared at it incredulously. He slowly put the phone back on its cradle.
He answered Sage's silent question with a sharp shake of his head.
"Where's Rose?" he asked instead.
"Dunno, last I checked she was climbing up a ladder," Sage shrugged at the Doctor's look.
There was a loud crashing sound and the pair barely exchanged looks before rushing off toward the sound, hand in hand.
They rushed around the neighborhood before hearing people speak, "The planes are coming. Can't you hear them? Into the shelter. None of your nonsense, now move it!"
Following the voices, the Doctor stood atop dustbins and Sage kept watch on the ground, grumbling.
"Damn my height. Why's it that I can't see a damn thing even standing on things, ugh."
The Doctor jumped down, startling Sage who flinched. He grabbed her hand and they rushed off.
They entered a house through the back and made their way to the dining room. At least a dozen children were sat there and the young woman was herding them.
The Doctor made his way to a seat and sat down. Sage stood vigilant behind him, declining when he offered his seat.
The woman was cutting into the meat and the children were gathered around talking.
"It's got to be black market. He couldn't get this all on coupons," a young boy said seriously to another.
Sage smiled secretly at that but the woman looked up sharply, "Ernie, how many times? We are guests in this house. We will not make comments of that kind. Washing up."
The other children laughed at Ernie while he looked shamefaced.
"Oh, Nancy!" he whined.
Nancy shook her head with a smile before her gaze landed on another boy, "Haven't seen you here before."
The boy nodded his head at another one, "He told me about it."
"Sleeping rough?"
"Yes, miss," he nodded again.
"Alright then," she passed a plate full of food around. "One slice each, and I want to see each of ya chewin' properly."
The boys accepted the plate with a grateful, "Thank you, miss."
Sage sighed when the plate reached the Doctor and she already knew what he was about to do. She was proven correct when he took the plate with a too wide grin and bright, "Thanks, miss!"
The children gasped loudly at his voice and some even dropped their forks.
"It's alright!" Nancy held her arms out in reassurance, "Everybody stay where you are."
Sage sniggered when one of the boys from earlier stared at the Doctor in shock, a piece of turkey hanging from his mouth.
"Good here, innit?" The Doctor said, ignoring the stares. "Who's got the salt?"
"Back in your seats! He shouldn't be here either," Nancy ordered.
Sage popped out front behind the Doctor, "Like that ever stopped him. He sees a sign saying, 'Keep Out' and takes that as a suggestion instead."
The children had tensed at Sage's sudden appearance but relaxed when they saw that she wasn't going to do anything.
She plopped down on the Doctor's lap who grunted but didn't protest, continuing to help himself to some sauce. She settled in his lap, curling up so that the Doctor had room to move.
Sage buried her face into his jumper, the tiredness from not sleeping settling in.
"So you lot," he started, gesturing with his fork. "What's the story?"
"What'd you mean?" Ernie asked.
"You're homeless, right? Living rough?"
"Why'd you want to know? You a copper?" One of the boys asked defensively.
"If he's a copper, then I'm a queen," Sage quipped, slightly muffled from her face in the Doctor's jumper.
The Doctor rolled his eyes, "She's right, I'm not a copper. What's a copper gonna do with you lot anyway? Arrest you for starving?"
Sage and the children giggled and the uncomfortable air dissipated.
"It's 1941, you lot shouldn't be in London. You should've evacuated into the country by now," the Doctor pointed out.
"I was evacuated. They took me to a farm," a boy piped up.
"So why'd you come back?"
"There was a man there…."
"Yeah same with Ernie. Two homes ago," Another interrupted.
Ernie shoved him, "Shut up. It's better on the streets anyway. Better food."
"Yeah, Nancy always gets us the best food."
There was a smile on the Doctor's face, "So that's what you do, is it Nancy?"
"What is?" she asked, a hard edge in her voice.
"Soon as the sirens go, you find a big fat family meal, still warm on the table with everyone down in the air raid shelter and, bingo! Feeding frenzy for the homeless kids of London Town. Puddings for all! As long as the bombs don't get you."
"Something wrong with that?" Nancy asked, steely.
"Wrong with it? It's brilliant. I'm not sure if it's Marxism in action or a West End musical."
"Too young, Doctor," Sage commented, amused.
He nodded as Nancy glowered at the Doctor, "Why'd you follow me? What'd you want?"
"I want to know how a phone that isn't a phone gets a phone call. You seem to be the one to ask."
"I did you a favour. I told you not to answer it, that's all I'm telling ya," Nancy said firmly.
"Great, thanks," he said sarcastically. "And I wanna find a blonde in a Union Jack. I mean a specific one, I didn't just wake up this morning with a craving."
The children laughed and Sage shook with silent giggles.
Nancy was unimpressed and walked over to him, yanking his plate away.
"Hey!" the Doctor cried indignantly. "What've I done wrong?"
"You took two slices," she said simply. "And you shouldn't talk about other women when you've your wife right there."
Sage shot up and accidentally hit the Doctor in the chin. They both hissed as Sage rushed out a litany of apologies.
When she finished apologizing, she turned her head to look at Nancy, "Nancy, he and I aren't married."
"Courting then, 'cause the two of you sure are sweet on each other." Sage sputtered but Nancy ignored her. Sage deflated when she realized that Nancy wasn't going to believe otherwise and settled back in the Doctor's lap.
She looked at the Doctor, "No blondes, no flags. Anything else before you two leave?"
"Yeah, there is actually. Thanks for asking. Something I've been looking for, would've fallen from the sky about a month ago, but not a bomb." The Doctor shifted slightly and grabbed a notebook and pencil from his pocket.
Flipping it open, he started to sketch, arms around Sage, "Not the usual kind anyway. Wouldn't have exploded. Would've just buried itself in the ground somewhere, and it would've looked something like…"
There was a final stroke, "This."
He showed them the drawing, and Nancy stared at it intently but didn't say anything.
There was a knock on the door and the children gasped.
"Mummy?" A child's voice sang, "Mummy, are you in there?"
Sage slid off the Doctor and went to the window, pushing the curtains aside. She jumped when there was a small child with a gas mask, knocking.
"Mummy?" The child continued.
"Who was the last one in?" Nancy asked urgently.
"Them," Ernie pointed at Sage and the Doctor.
"No, they came round the back. Who came in the front?"
"Me," a child said, paling at the realization.
"Did you close the door?" Nancy rounded on the boy.
"I-I-uh," he stuttered.
"Alf, did you close the door?" she asked, a little hysterically.
"Mummy? Mummy?" The child's voice got louder.
Nancy rushed down the hallway, and shut and bolted the door. She backed away from the door, staring at the shadow of the child, terrified.
The Doctor and Sage had followed behind her, "What's that then?" The Doctor asked, concerned.
"It's never easy being the only child left out in the cold," he mentioned off-handedly. Sage stood quietly on the side and grasped his hand in comfort.
"I suppose you'd know," Nancy replied snidely.
"I do actually, yes," he smiled pleasantly.
Nancy huffed, "It's not exactly a child," pushing past them to the dining room.
"Mummy."
Sage and the Doctor watched the children pass slightly confused.
"Mummy?"
Sage let go of the Doctor's hand and went to the door, "Are you alright dear?"
The child stuck his hand through the letterbox, and Sage saw the y shaped scar on the back of his hand.
"Please let me in, mummy," the child said, pleading.
Sage reached to grab his hand when there was a loud shattering. The child withdrew his hand quickly.
"You mustn't let him touch ya!" Nancy cried.
"What happens if he touches you?" The Doctor asked, Sage coming back to his side.
"He'll make you like him," she answered cryptically.
"And what's he like?" Sage asked.
"I've gotta go," Nancy sidestepped her question, stepping away.
"Nancy, what's he like?" The Doctor asked again.
She hesitated before saying, "He's empty."
The phone rang and Nancy nearly jumped out of her skin, "It's him. He can make phones ring, he can. Just like with that police box, you saw."
Sage and the Doctor exchanged looks before the Doctor picked up the phone, "Are you my mummy?" The child asked.
Nancy snatched the phone out of the Doctor's hand and slammed the phone down.
The radio turned itself on, and music played but the child's voice was over it, "Mummy? Please let me in, mummy."
Sage turned the tuner but stopped when a toy monkey suddenly sprang to life.
"Muu-mmy, mu-mmy, mu-mmy," the child said through the monkey. The Doctor picked the toy up.
"Stay if you want," Nancy said before she left.
The child stuck his hand through the letterbox again, "Mummy, let me in. Please, mummy."
This time the Doctor knelt by the letterbox, Sage behind him.
"Please let me in," he begged.
"Your mummy isn't here." The Doctor tried.
"Are you my mummy?" The child asked innocently.
"No mummies here. None but us chickens," the Doctor said with a smile on his face.
Sage coughed, and the Doctor corrected, "Us chickens and Sage."
"I'm scared," the child said with a small voice.
"Why are the other children scared of you?"
"Please let me in, mummy. I'm scared of the planes and bombs."
The Doctor turned to look at Sage who had sorrowful look in her eyes. He sighed and said, "Okay, I'm opening the door now."
The child withdrew his hand from the letterbox and the Doctor stood up. He drew back the bolt and opened the door, but the child was gone.
He exchanged a worried look with Sage before the two took off down the street.
"What happened to the kid that made everyone so scared of him?" Sage asked.
"I don't know, but it seemed like Nancy's involved with it."
"That why we're following her?"
The two turned a corner toward train tracks. There was a faint figure of a woman hurrying down them. The Doctor renewed his efforts in answer and she followed after him.
Nancy hurried into a house, checking every so often over her shoulder. Sage and the Doctor walked up to her, standing in the doorway, and Nancy spun around.
"How'd you follow me here?" she demanded.
"Good at following, me. Got the nose for it," the Doctor replied happily.
"People can't follow me if I don't want them to," she said, narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
"My nose has special powers," he replied nonchalantly. Sage bit back the smile threatening to spread across her face.
"Yeah? That why it's… uh."
"What?" he asked defensively.
Nancy shook her head, "Nothing."
"What?" he persisted and Sage was shaking with silent giggles.
"Nothing!" she teased. "Do your ears have special powers too?"
Sage barked out a laugh before immediately covering her mouth. The other two looked at her, Nancy with a smile and the Doctor with a betrayed look on his face.
"Sorry, sorry," she managed to force out. "Can't breathe."
Sage forced herself to take a deep breath and stopped laughing.
"Okay, I'm okay. Continue on," she waved at them.
The Doctor shook his head with a rueful smile, "Nancy, there's something chasing you and the other kids. Looks like a boy and it isn't a boy, and it started about a month ago, right?"
Nancy turned away, "Goodbye mister, miss."
"Nancy, please," Sage begged. "Give us the information and we'll be on our way, promise."
Nancy turned back, and bit her lip. The indecision on her face was obvious, "There was a bomb. A bomb that wasn't a bomb. Fell the other end of Limehouse Green Station."
"Take us there." The Doctor demanded.
Nancy shook her head, "There're soldiers and guards. You'll never get through, but…"
"But?" Sage asked hopefully.
"You sure you really wanna know what's been going on?"
"We really wanna know," the Doctor said.
"Then there's someone you have to meet first."
"Who's that?" Sage asked curiously.
"The Doctor," Nancy replied simply.
The Doctor and Sage's brows furrowed and Nancy turned away to walk.
"Future you?" Sage questioned.
The Doctor shook his head, "If it was, I'd know," he tapped his head, and Sage nodded in understanding.
She looked over at Nancy walking away, "C'mon else we'll lose her."
The two quickly followed Nancy, staying close behind.
"Should we worry more about where Rose is?" Sage asked. "Because I am and I'm trying my best not to have a panic attack about that right now."
The Doctor opened his mouth, but Nancy interrupted, "There, that's where it is," she pointed at a securely enforced area.
"The bomb's under that tarpaulin. They put the fence up over night. See that building? The hospital."
The Doctor took out a pair of binoculars, zooming into the pointed area. He brought the binoculars down and offered it to Sage who declined.
He shrugged and looked back into them, "What about it?"
Sage squinted behind her glasses, making out soldiers and searchlights.
"That's where the Doctor is."
"Why're you so adamant on us talking to the Doctor?" Sage asked.
"The Doctor knows more about the boy than I do. He had it, talked to it and studied it."
She stared intently at the bomb, "Maybe then you won't want to know what's there."
Nancy began to walk away, "Where're you going?" The Doctor asked.
"There was a lot of food in that house. I've got mouths to feed. Should be safe enough now." Nancy answered.
"Before you go, can I ask? Who'd you lose? Cuz a young woman like you, mothering those kids, you're trying to make up for who you lost, yeah?" Sage asked kindly.
Nancy swallowed hard, "My little brother. Jamie. One night I went out looking for food. Same night that thing fell. I told him not to follow me, told him it was dangerous, but he just... he just didn't like being on his own." Her voice broke and she looked away.
Sage reached out and squeezed Nancy's hand in comfort before dropping it.
"What happened?" The Doctor asked knowingly.
Nancy gave a wet laugh, "In the middle of an air raid? What'd ya think happened?"
The Doctor nodded before smiling, "Amazing."
"What is?"
"1941." Above planes dropped bombs and a barrage balloon hovered above them. There were loud explosions heard near them.
"Right now, not very far from here, a German war machine is rolling up the map of Europe. Country after country, falling like dominoes. Nothing can stop it. Nothing. Until one, tiny, damp little island says "no". 'No'. Not here. A mouse in front of a lion."
The Doctor lowered his binoculars and looked directly at Nancy, Sage smiling slightly.
"You're amazing, the lot of you. Dunno what you do to Hitler, but you frighten the hell out of me. Off you go then… do what you've gotta do. Save the world."
Nancy stared at him, bemused before walking away.
"You're a good man, Doctor," Sage commented.
"No, I'm really not. You don't want to know what I can do," the Doctor said.
Sage stared at him for a long time, "Maybe I don't, but I know what you've done for the universe, if the TARDIS's constant bragging is something to go by. And maybe you feel like you're a monster, but I don't think you are."
The two were quiet as they walked to the gates of the hospital.
"Thank you," the Doctor said quietly after several moments. Sage didn't reply, only squeezed his hand tighter.
When they reached the gate, it was locked. The Doctor reached into his pocket with his free hand and took out his sonic.
He flicked a switch and the lock sparked before unlocking. Sage pulled the chain off and cast it aside as the Doctor opened the gate.
They walked in and entered a dark ward. There were rows and rows of people lying on beds, gas masks covering their entire faces.
"Oh my god," Sage breathed out in horror. She gripped the Doctor's hand tighter in terror.
The Doctor tugged her away, "C'mon let's go find this Doctor."
They exited the ward and followed the brighter hallway, there was another ward which was lit better than the other.
Even more rows of people lying lifelessly with gas masks filled the room. There was a noise and Sage jumped.
The Doctor pulled her behind him protectively as they turned around.
An old man entered, a hand up in surrender, "My apologies, I hadn't meant to scare you."
The Doctor relaxed minutely and Sage cautiously came forward to stand by the Doctor's side.
"You're the Doctor?" Sage asked warily.
"I am, Doctor Constantine," he nodded. "And who are you?"
"Curious about them," she nodded at the people. "Nancy sent us."
"Nancy? That means you've been asking about the bomb."
"Yes," the Doctor answered. "Why're they wearing gas masks?"
"They're not," Doctor Constantine answered cryptically.
"What in the world does that mean?" Sage asked incredulously.
"Check them out for yourself," he waved them off. He staggered to a chair, sitting down heavily.
The Doctor released Sage's hand and went to check the people.
"Don't touch the flesh else you'll become just like them," Constantine warned.
"Were they caught in the blast?" Sage asked.
"No," he laughed before hacking. Sage approached him worried, but he waved her off.
"You're sick. Why're you still here working?" she asked, concerned. She stayed hovering over him.
"Dying, actually. I'm only here because no one else can. Are you a doctor?" he asked, addressing the Doctor.
"I have my moments," the Doctor answered nonchalantly.
"Have you examined any of them?" he asked.
"Just the one, and the injuries are extensive. Massive head trauma, mostly to the left side…" he ran the sonic over the other side.
"Partial collapse of the chest cavity, mostly to the right. There's some scarring on the back of the hand and the gas mask seems to be fused to the flesh but I can't see any burns."
"Examine another one," Constantine suggested.
The Doctor turned his head but did as asked. There was a quick scan and the Doctor turned the sonic off.
"This isn't possible," he said incredulously.
"What isn't?" Sage asked.
He ignored her and went to another body. And another. And another.
"How? They all have the same injuries!"
"Yes." he said simply.
"Exactly the same. Identical, all of them. Right down to the scar on the back of the hand."
Doctor Constantine looked down at the scar on his hand and Sage followed his line of sight. Her eyes widened and she gasped quietly.
Sage backed away, positioning herself by the door.
"How did this happen? How did it start?" The Doctor asked quickly.
"When that bomb dropped, there was only one victim," Constantine started.
"Dead?"
"At first. His injuries were truly dreadful. By the following morning, every doctor and nurse who had treated him, who had touched him, had those exact same injuries. By the morning after that, every patient in the same ward had the exact same injuries. Within a week, the entire hospital. Physical injuries, as plague. Can you explain that? What would you say was the cause of death?"
"The head trauma," the Doctor said automatically.
"No."
"Asphyxiation," he tried again.
"No."
"They're not dead," Sage said quietly.
"What?" the Doctor said incredulously, face turned in surprise at her.
"She's right," Constantine nodded. "They're not dead."
He rapped his cane loudly against a metal bin. All of a sudden the patients shot up.
Sage yelped quietly, jumping slightly.
"Okay, who's scared? I am, I'm never gonna look at gas masks the same way again."
"It's alright." Constantine assured them. "They're harmless. They just… sort of, sit there. No heartbeat, no life signs of any kind. They just… don't die."
"And they've just been left here? Nobody's doing anything?" The Doctor asked.
The bodies laid down again, "I try to make them comfortable as possible. What else is there?"
Constantine sighed, "Before this war, I was a husband, father and grandfather. Now I am not, but I am still a doctor."
"Yeah," the Doctor admitted. "Know the feeling."
Constantine started hacking and coughing loudly, "Stay back, stay back," he warned.
"Listen, top floor. Room 802's where they took the first victim - the one from the crash site. And you must find Nancy again."
"Jamie was the first victim," Sage said with realization and pity.
"Yes, yes," he coughed loudly. "Go to her and she mi- Mi- Mu- mum, mummy. Are you my mummy?"
Sage and the Doctor watched in horror as gas mask protruded horribly out of Constantine's mouth. His eyes became the gas mask, and it fused onto his face, and he went limp.
"Leaving? That sounds like a great idea right now," Sage suggested nervously.
"Hello?" A voice said in the distance.
The Doctor and Sage looked at each other, "Rose!" before quickly exiting.
They walked out and met two people walking toward them.
A man in a period era jacket shook the Doctor's hand, "Good evening. Hope I'm not interrupting, Jack Harkness. I've been hearing all about you on the way over."
Rose turned to the Doctor as Jack's eyes fell onto Sage, "Though not enough about you."
His smile turned flirtatious, and he reached to grab her hand. He kissed the back of her hand, "Captain Jack Harkness, and who might you be, pretty princess?"
Sage retracted her hand with a slight grimace, discreetly wiping it on her jacket.
"Sage, and I'd appreciate it if you toned down the innuendos toward me. It makes me uncomfortable," Sage said.
Jack gave a small nod of consent and Sage smiled, "For your information though, I'm not a princess. I'm a queen."
Jack chuckled, "Feisty, alright, Queenie. Anything for you."
Sage stiffened at the nickname and instantly realized who the Face of Boe was. That cheeky face!
"Done with your nattering?" The Doctor interruped her thoughts with an irritable tone.
Jack rolled his eyes, "Real pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Spock."
The Doctor turned with a bemused look at Rose and Jack walked away.
Sage giggled before hurrying after him, "So what's a guy like yourself doing here?"
"I wanna make a deal to some Time Agents, just my luck you came," he winked.
Sage swatted at him, "I told you not to flirt with me."
"Fair, what're a couple of Time Agents like yourselves doing here?" he asked.
The two reached a door and Sage pushed it open, "Look for yourself."
Jack looked at her curiously before going to scan a body, "Impossible."
"What kind of Chula ship landed here?" The Doctor demanded.
"What?"
"He said it was a warship. He stole it. Parked it somewhere out there, somewhere a bomb's gonna fall on it - unless we make him an offer," Rose added.
"What kind of warship?" The Doctor asked harshly.
"Does it matter?" Jack asked, agitated.
"Okay," Sage, ever the mediator, intervened. "Tone it down, boys. Before we get out a measuring stick."
The Doctor clenched his jaw and Jack blew out a harsh breath.
"What's the ship got to do with this?" Jack gritted out.
"This started at the bomb site. It's got everything to do with it. What kind of warship?"
"An ambulance!" Jack fumbled with his wrist device and showed a hologram of the ship.
"That's what you chased through the Time Vortex. It's space junk. I wanted to kid you it was valuable. It's empty. I made sure of it. Nothing but a shell. I threw it at you. Saw your time travel vehicle, love the retro look, by the way, nice panels, threw you the bait…"
"Con man?" Sage asked.
"Yeah! It was a con, I wanted to sell it to you then destroy it before you found out it was junk."
"But you said it was a warship," Rose protested.
"They have ambulances in wars," he walked away, annoyed. "It was a con, I'm conning you, that's what I am, a con man. I thought you were Time Agents but you're not, are you?"
"Just a couple more freelancers," Rose said.
"Ahh… should've known. The way you guys are blending in with the local colour, I mean, Flag Girl was bad enough, but U-Boat Captain? At least Queenie here wore the right coat."
Sage flushed as incredulous eyes turned on her and she shrugged.
Jack continued, "Anyway…. Whatever's happening here has got nothing to do with that ship."
"What is happening here, Doctor?" Rose asked curiously.
"Human DNA is being rewritten, by an idiot." he answered.
"What'd you mean?"
"I dunno, some kind of virus? It's converting human beings into that. But why? What's the point?"
"Hey Rose, how'd you meet Jack?" Sage asked out of the blue.
"Oh um, there was this little boy atop a roof and a rope swung down, turns out it was a part of a barrage balloon and it took me with it. I was swinging there, then Jack rescued me." She answered while examining a body.
The body sat up suddenly and Rose jumped back.
Sage pulled her away, "Careful, touch 'em and you'll turn into 'em."
All the bodies soon sat up and got off the bed. They began to enclose around the four.
"Mummy," they said repeatedly.
"What's happening?" Rose cried.
"I don't know," the Doctor said, at a loss.
The chants began to get louder as the bodies closed in on the four, backing them up against a wall.
"Mummy?"
That was 'The Empty Child'!
This took me way too long, but I kept struggling with certain dialogues. It turned out as good as I can hope for. There was some Rose and Sage bonding time, good ol' Doctor and Sage comforting and just Sage comforting and dealing with everyone's problems except hers. Oh Sage, when are you going to talk about your feelings? Thank you everyone who reviewed, followed and favourited! You guys are amazing and see you next week in the next chapter!