A/N: Hey guys, here's a nice adventure filled chapter to keep you going until I get a change to update again. I hope you all like this one, and please review.
Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who or Al Bowlly. Pity…
Chapter Seven.
The Doctor was in his element, bouncing around the TARDIS console and thinking up a plan on the spot. Rose watched him with love in her eyes and wondering if he'd actually heard what she'd said to him when he was unconscious.
"Righto Rose Tyler, allons-y!" he cried, grabbing his trench coat and racing over to the door but Rose stopped him.
"Doctor, I thought you said we needed a detailed plan," she said and the Doctor grinned.
"And we'll have one, no worries. I'll think up each detail as we go! Now come on!"
Rose sighed and raced after him. The sun was rising over the hills casting golden light over the manor and its surrounding grounds. It really was quite beautiful and Rose felt slightly breathless at the sight. No time for sentiments though, and she jogged to keep up with the Doctor. They ran in through the main door, clasping each others hands tightly and flew up the staircase. They slowed down to a walk when they reached the floor that their room was on and as they came around a corner Rose squeaked.
"Ah, I've been looking for you two," said the old man, wheeling towards them.
"Hello Colonel Bancroft," the Doctor said warmly, shaking the man's hand. Rose frowned as the poor old man shifted slightly as though trying to stand but growled in frustration and sat back in his wheelchair. The blanket that was draped over his lap slipped slightly and Rose saw a glimpse of the man's thin wasted legs before he tweaked the fabric back into place. She saw the haunted look in his eyes and felt so sorry for him at that moment that she thought her heart might burst.
"I get the feeling," the old man said in a measured tone, "that you two youngsters know more than what you're letting on."
"Ohh, you've seen through us," the Doctor sighed, running his hand through his hair and making it stick up everywhere. "Colonel, I don't know if you'll believe me or not, but I'm the Doctor. We fought together in the War."
"I know," the Colonel said wryly to the Doctor's surprise. "I knew from the moment you arrived. One of the maids reported a blue box appearing from nowhere. I told her it was nonsense and dismissed her, but I knew it must be you."
"Oh," the Doctor said simply.
"You're doing well for yourself then," the Colonel said, eyeing Rose up and down. "And you no doubt are going to explain how you are a completely different and much younger man now?
"I'm not human," the Doctor said sharply. "I can change my body when necessary."
"I figured that much," the Colonel said evenly, surprising both the Doctor and Rose. "I've seen many things, Doctor. Many more since we last met."
"William," Rose said, speaking up at last. The Colonel nodded and sighed. "Can you tell us what you know?"
"I only know that he must be stopped. He isn't my son anymore. He stopped being my son the night he died, all those years ago."
"But he didn't die," Rose said softly.
"He did," the Colonel said. "Or he should have died, at any rate. I consider my boy to be dead, and merely a body with a stranger inside living in this godforsaken manor."
The Colonel spoke so bitterly that he almost spat the words and heaved for breath. Rose bit her lip, seeing the emotional struggle going on behind the poor old man's watery eyes and she really felt for him. The Doctor was obviously sharing her thoughts and he grasped her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"I grieve for the boy I lost," the Colonel continued. "I don't know this… thing. He is a stranger to me. My son was a compassionate lad in whom I bestowed great pride. Not this monster, no. He is not my son."
"Then will you help us, Colonel?" asked the Doctor quietly, and the old man suddenly seemed very small and frail as he looked up at the Doctor and Rose, his eyes filled with pain. The man paused and drew in a deep rattling breath before he spoke, so quietly it was almost a whisper.
"Yes."
Several hours later…
Everyone was in position. It had all been discussed quickly and the plan was anything but foolproof, all based on guesswork and luck. If anything went wrong… Well, the consequences were that which Rose preferred not to think about as she crouched beside the old wireless. She glanced over at the tall suit of armour behind which the Doctor was hiding, waiting. She smiled encouragingly at the Colonel who tried to return it, but failed as he sat in his wheelchair, completely vulnerable in the middle of the smoking room.
The Colonel took a deep ragged breath and rang the bell, calling out in a thin wavering voice. "William! Come here, m'boy! William!"
Rose still couldn't understand how William would be able to hear the Colonel's feeble calls throughout the expanse of the huge manor, but the Doctor had explained about the setup in the bells. They had been used many years ago to call the servants from wherever they may be. Also, sound travelled effectively in the old and relatively empty manor so the Colonel didn't seem surprised to hear scuffing footsteps within minutes and William swung the door widely, letting it bang open with his silhouette lit imposingly as he stood in the doorway.
"Father?" he rasped, stepping into the room and letting light fall onto his pale face, making his gaunt cheeks look even more hollow. "What do you want? You never call for me. I thought you didn't want to know me any longer."
"I changed my mind," the old man said. "I should like to talk. It's been long enough."
"Let sleeping dogs lie?"
"I'd just like to talk."
"Very well," William said as he pulled up a rickety wooden chair and faced his father.
Rose couldn't help but think, although thin and pale, William really was quite handsome. She shook that thought away quickly and concentrated on the matter at hand. The plan was to reason with him and see if all could be sorted amicably. If not, then Plan B would be put into action, but only as a last resort, or if the Colonel were put in danger.
"William," the Colonel said softly, reaching out to take the boy's hands but he pulled away. Rose flinched at the look of hurt upon the Colonel's face which he quickly hid.
"Father, I assume that you are in league with the Doctor and that delightful young lady, Rose Tyler," William said in a slightly mocking voice. "I'm not dull. I realise that you will never accept me for what I am."
"Son, give this up," the Colonel said, leaning forwards in his wheelchair to gaze into the young man's eyes. "You have a good life going for you here. A manor with servants, lovely grounds… A father who loves you… What more is there, eh?"
The hope shone brightly in the old man's eyes and for a moment Rose saw William's face soften. But a moment isn't very long. He scoffed and leaned back in his seat.
"Father, I am dying. Can you not tell?"
"Nonsense," the old man growled. "You just need a good meal and to take the sun daily. Look at you, pale as the linen on my bed."
William sighed, rubbing his eyelids with his knuckles before gazing gently at the tired old man before him.
"Oh, Father," William said softly and suddenly Rose felt hope. "I want so much to repay you for the love you gave me in my younger days. But now I've forgotten how to do anything but want. Want for myself. Not a care for you, for anyone. For that, I am almost sorry."
The Colonel's chin trembled slightly but he said nothing. Rose watched carefully as he lifted his left thumb slightly. That was his signal to her. She twisted the knob on the wireless and fumbled with the sonic screwdriver. The Doctor had told her the correct settings and she pressed it against the dial. Music began to flow out in warbling strains and Rose adjusted the volume dial. The soulful croons of Al Bowlly came from the dusty speakers, letting the music fill the room.
"What is this?" William demanded, rising from his seat. Rose bit her lip as the young man tuned in to the lyrics of the song.
Love
is the sweetest thing.
What else on earth could ever bring
Such
happiness to ev'rything
As Love's old story.
Love is the
strangest thing
No song of birds upon the wing,
Shall in our
hearts more sweetly sing
Than Love's old story.
Whatever
hearts may desire;
Whatever fate may send.
This is the tale
that never will tire.
This is the song without end.
Love is
the greatest thing.
The oldest yet the latest thing
I only
hope that fate may bring
Love's story to you.
William's dark eyes narrowed as the words worked into his confused mind and Rose saw them beginning to sink in. Would it work? Would William understand? Would he accept the love he was being offered by his family and stop this tirade? Rose's heart skipped a beat as any ounce of humanity left William's eyes and he grinned a grin of pure evil and faced the Colonel.
"Tonight, Father," he hissed, "you shall die."
"No!" Rose screamed, throwing herself out from behind the wireless. She reached into her pocket for the handgun the Doctor had given her earlier and realised with wide-eyed horror as William advanced towards her that she'd dropped it somewhere in their hurry… She was now completely defenceless…
TBC…
A/N: PLEASE review and tell me what you think guys! Merry Christmas everyone!
