Disclaimer: I don't own Dr. Who. I'm just someone who got struck by a series of plot bunnies who won't leave me alone. Hope you enjoy.
"Run!" The Doctor grabbed her hand as they tore across the monastery's cloister. This was supposed to be a quiet trip. Then again when is a trip with the Doctor EVER been just a quiet trip.
He led her into a small area that may have been a storage area, but was now some tour guide's office. "We should be safe in here for now." He lit an oil lamp as he looked around.
"What was that?"
"Haven't the foggies." He said out of breath.
Rose's comment was cut off by the sound of a loud scream.
"Not good…" The Doctor ran his fingers through his hair. "Remind me to 'thank' your father when we get back home."
This had whole thing started four days before when they had spent the weekend at the Manor. Pete was going to a conference, and Jackie was going with him. That left Toni with Rose and the Doctor. It was a little bit of a hassle getting to work from the Manor, but at least getting Toni to nursery was a lot easier. Upon their return, Rose was with her mother catching up, while the Doctor was left to his own devises in the library.
As he read from a book, he found himself playing with his wedding ring. Even after 4 months, he was still getting use to it. He knew it has been a part of human culture for thousands of years. The Egyptians braided papyrus into rings that symbolized the never ending progress of life. The space inside the ring was a gateway, a gateway to a new life. This symbol of eternity is worn on the third finger of the left hand because the Egyptians believed that a vein in it went directly to the heart. Thus love from the heart flowed through a gateway to eternity. A ring on someone's hand showed they were bound, especially if it was gold as it very valuable. A ring of gold to show you trust them with what is most valuable and they are bound to you for eternity. The thought of spending eternity bound to Rose was a wonderful thought indeed.
His thoughts were broken when he heard Pete knock on the door. "I thought I would find you here."
He stood up and stretched, "If you are looking for Rose; she is upstairs with Jackie. Last I saw Toni, he was tearing out to the garden to play that new toy you got him."
"I was actually looking for you." He clasped his hands in front of him.
"Oh, really?" The Doctor picked up his coat from where he tossed it over the sofa. "What does Torchwood want?"
"What makes you think this is Torchwood related?"
"Because," The Doctor slid his coat on. "If it is a simple, 'I'm-your-father-in-law-asking- a- favor' thing you wouldn't be asking me alone. And second, I've been getting calls from Universitat de Barcelona about guest lecturing for their Physics department." He gave Pete a pointed look.
"Alright, it is Torchwood related." He looked chagrined.
"Not interested." The Doctor headed for the door.
"It would be a great opportunity for your career." Pete followed him.
"Rose, Ellen will be holding dinner for us." He called up the stairs, he then turned to Pete. "If it was just that I MIGHT consider it. In the four months we have been married half of it Rose has been off on missions, and I would like some time with her."
"What is it now?" Rose asked as she came down the stairs.
"Your father is trying to drag me off to Spain." The Doctor took her hand, and glared at his father in law.
"Where in Spain?"
"Barcelona," Pete smiled at her daughter, "Think of it this way you are finished looking around, you can have a nice holiday."
One look from Rose and the Doctor knew they were going, but he had a feeling he was going to regret this.
"Find anything?" The Doctor asked as he looked through the sparse office.
"There is this." She handed him an old book. "The image on the cover looks odd to me. Think it could be something."
The Doctor took it from her. "This might be it."
"What is it?"
"This symbol is that of the Black Madonna." He traced the symbol with his finger.
"The Monastery is known for having one of the best preserved black Madonna paintings in Europe."
"Not that type of Madonna." He opened the book to confirm his suspicions. "In your world the cult had been stamped out before Christian times. It is possible that here, the cult has been resurrected, or just has been hiding for centuries." He snapped the book closed, and began looking for a torch.
"Why were they stamped out?"
"They were stamped out because the followers would lace victim's bodies with a drug that would put them in a drug induced sleep. This allowed their mistress to invade their minds." He checked the door to see if it was safe to leave.
"Mind control?"
"No," Finding the way clear, he lit the torch. "Follow me, closely. If this is a Black Madonna cult it may be worse than I thought."
Carefully they made their way down the halls. "If not mind control, what is it?"
"Imagine your worst nightmare," He carefully made his way down the corridor. "Only imagine it 100-1000 times worse, to the point of sheer terror." He showed the light into all the dark spaces as they past. "Then have the images invaded your waking life."
Rose involuntary shuttered. "You are NOT making me feel any better Doctor."
"It is not a happy thought for me either." He squeezed her hand. "If a Black Madonna has taken up residence here it would explain the students from the university going missing. The Black Madonna feeds off their endorphins, and the electrical impulses that originate from the portions of the brain that are active during dreams, specifically when you are haveing bad dreams. The stronger the dream the more they have to feed upon. If she can keep people in a state of night terror she can gorge upon the energy they produce."
When they came to an intersection, the Doctor makes sure it was clear. "The Chapel is just down this hallway. Hopefully the Abbot and the others have taken refuge in the chapel. For the moment it is the safest place to be."
Behind him the monks continued to chant. "Keep it up." The Doctor called.
"Are sure that this will work?"
"When you were little, how did your mother calm your fears after bad dreams?"
"She would hold me, and sing to me." Rose smile, "Now I get it."
The Doctor hurried around, "These old churches have great acoustics. The resonance of their chanted prayers should be enough to break the hold it has on their minds."
The sound of breaking wood was their only indication that some thing was wrong. From the back of the church people came streaming into the room, followed my a mass of darkness and tentacles.
Soon as the people were with in the room they began clutching at their heads and screaming.
"It's working," Rose called from nearby.
"Their terror is my milk Doctor." The mass of inky blackness spat from it's beaklike maw.
"Your milk is about to sour." He challenged, then looked to the men on the sides of the room. "Now!"
Hidden in the darkness by the windows two of the monks ran over and cut the lines that were supporting the canvas drapes on the grand stain glass windows. The drapes fell letting in the shining light of the dawn. The Black Madonna began to writhe and scream as she blistered all over. The people who she had ensnared began to scream as a dark mist left their mouths. As the mist left them they fell unconscious, into a dreamless sleep.
In a matter of moments it was over. The monks let the chant fade. And every one let out a sign of relief.
"Is it over?" One priest asked. The Doctor nodded. "God bless us."
"Let's hope he forgives us for the mess." The doctor reached for Rose's hand as they went to examine the victims.
As they were coming up a group, the Doctor spotted movement just as the man shouted, "The abominations must die!"
The sound of the gun shot, and Rose's scream of "Doctor!" echoed through the church.
Author's Note: I know a cliffhanger. If you must throw something at me for it, make it popcorn. Read and Review.
