Rated T for safety reasons.

Disclaimer: Belongs to BBC. I'm just a girl who fell in love.

Thanks for the reviews(!): bored411, sophiewhettingsteel, and LG176

Finally, the event you have all been waiting for!

Unbeta'd: All mistakes are my own and I will fix them when you or I catch them :)


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Empty Child:

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Year 2591, Planet Tre'Odro

Castle Fallen's Day; Drum'it'um, Ledge

"Tell us, Lady May, how did you come to meet the Sir Doctor?" Inquired the Queen, her three golden hued eyes staring unblinking at May – who was in mid motion of shoveling the purple-like lasagna into her mouth. The pasta dropped unceremoniously back on top of the plate with a "plop" and silence stretched across the room eerily. All eyes, pairs of two and threes, landed on her. All conversation had stopped as soon as the Queen had opened her mouth because once the Queen spoke - all listened.

"Uhh." She mumbled dumbly as she glanced at the Doctor - the source of the question. He was looking at her now, his brown eyes piercing. He was sipping his drink carefully - slowly. She could see his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed the yellow liquid down. Rose was to his left picking at her food with a small scowl on her face. Her brown eyes continuously flickered over to the Doctor's right where another blonde sat. The Princess of Tre'Odro was gorgeous: tall, long limbs, subtle curves, face of perfection. She was an artists' goddess, a man's dream, and a woman's envy. She was sweet, innocent, and wanted for not.

And right now she wanted the Doctor – the hero of the Tre people.

May had been sitting innocently at the round table, eating her meal, watching the scene like a bad TV soap opera it was. The Doctor obviously liked (loved) the attention he was receiving. He didn't accept the Princess's persistent invitations, actually he dodged them quite nicely, it was just that he never said no either. Something that Rose didn't miss. The King immediately set the wedding date for tomorrow (servants scrambled around in preparation) – the Princess squealed in excitement, the Doctor chocked on his meal, and Rose stabbed something. It was an extremely amusing sight, and May couldn't stop the chuckle that had escaped her. All the while, the Queen had been more subdued unlike her family through the whole event. She asked the usual questions: "Who are you, sir Doctor?", "Time Lord?", "And your box?", "What is a Tardis?", "Where are you and your companions from?", "And your heading?", "Doctor? Doctor who?".

It was all very typical – till it wasn't.

"It isn't a very amusing tale, ma'am. Ah, I mean your majesty." May stumbled feeling her cheeks burn embarrassingly. "You'll be bored." May hurried and took a sip from her drink in order to stop herself from talking. She wasn't used to being a topic of conversation especially not when the Doctor was around. He always took most of the attention whether it be deliberate or not. He had that kind of presence. May was fine with that.

"I suspect nothing involving sir Doctor is ever boring, Lady May." The Queen replied running an elegant finger down the curve of her face. She definitely hasn't had to sit through an entire debate of whether the effects of the Quantitative Movement of Radical Mathematic thesis is a better theory on the June Division rather than the Infinite Pie Quantitate Effects of Imaginary Numbers.

It still gave her a migraine just thinking about it.

"Tell us." Pushed the Queen. "I'm sure it is quite the tale."

"Not really." May grumbled slouching her shoulders feeling a bit reluctant. "I was barely involved through the whole ordeal."

"Come on, May." Rose interrupted sitting up in her seat, giving the tall woman an encouraging smile. "Don't be so hard on yourself, just tell the story. It'll be a nice change of pace." Her pink lips twitched a little before she gave May a full blown grin. "Hearing someone else talk for a while." At the Doctor's indulgent yell and pout he gave his blonde companion caused May to smile – if only a little.

"I agree." Spoke the Princess – her voice smooth as silk. "I also wish to know how you and your companions met, but I wish the sir Doctor to tell them. He is an excellent story teller." She gave Rose a sparkling grin and laid her head upon the Doctor's shoulder. Rose glowered and chugged down her drink. The Doctor grinned broadly before turning sheepish and scratching his cheek.

"Well, I don't know about that." He cocked his head as if thinking about it before his eyes twinkled and he glanced down at Rose. "But the story of how Rose and I met is quite a monumental tale – if not life changing." He brought his hand down and covered Rose's. "Especially for me." The blonde human blushed an interesting shade of red and this time her glare turned playful.

"Oh, shut up." And she shoved him with her opposite hand while the other stayed wound together with his. The Princess reared back, frowning at the sudden display of affection. She glanced at their woven hands then back at their faces, eyes narrowing dangerously. May quietly took another bite of her meal, completely unfazed. Exactly like a TV soap opera.

"Please do tell?" The Princess asked, her voice still pleasant and smooth, but held a bit of bite to it.

The Doctor scratched his cheek again. "Well it all started when I received a signal in the Tardis-."

"Excuse me, Sir Doctor." Interrupted the Queen, raising her hand. "I'm sorry for the interruption, but that story is one I do not wish to hear at the moment." Her gaze drifted over to May who had frozen as soon as the Queen had spoken. "I wish to hear Lady May's tale spoken in her own words."

May lowered her fork and stared curiously at the Queen. "You are persistent." She felt the other patrons around her stiffen, some even chocked, and a few gasped - appalled by her impudence. May didn't care.

The Queen just smiled brightly.

"I am Queen." She stated as if it clarified everything, and maybe it did.

May chuckled and sat up in her chair. "I guess it doesn't matter if I tell you or not." She gave the Queen a pointed look. "Though I was telling the truth when I said it is boring."

"I'll be the judge of that." She replied and crossed her fingers.

"Ookay." May shrugged and leaned back. "I'm sure the Doctor and Rose could tell it better, but here goes nothing." She brought her hand to her chin and scrunched her nose thoughtfully. "I first met Rose and the Doctor at a hospital a long time ago on Earth. I was waiting for a friend who I had -."

"No." Interrupted the Doctor, his tone and look expressing some sort of deep disapproval. "That is not how we first met."

May's heart stuttered in her chest and her brain went completely blank. What?

How could he possible know?

He couldn't know.

He was still too far behind to actually know.

He hadn't even met Martha yet!

There was no way he knew that they had first meet one hundred trillion years in the future.

He would know about Utopia.

He would know about Jack.

He would know about the Master!

Unless…May's lungs quit working, and suddenly, she felt dizzy. Unless the Tardis told him.

Could she even do that? Was that even allowed? Wasn't that breaking fifty time-traveler rules? No, no. The Tardis couldn't have told him. That didn't make sense.

Except it does.

It all makes sense. The Tardis hated her. Of course she would tell the Doctor about…

"We had met earlier." Came the Doctor's voice, piercing her very soul with anxiety.

"I didn't know that." Said Rose who glanced curiously back and forth between May and the Doctor. "When? Where?"

"When I was searching for the Empty Child." Explained the Doctor, running a hand through his brown hair. "We bumped into each other on the streets."

"Empty Child?" The Princess asked curiously, edging towards the Doctor, pushing her chest out. "What is that?"

Before he could explain May had gasped, her eyes wide in remembrance.

"Oh yes!" She exclaimed in surprise. "I remember now." Her heart beat and anxiety slowed while embarrassment grew in their stead. Of course he didn't know. There was no way.

"It was at night during the air raid." She began thinking back. "I was running." Her eyes began to glaze over as she remembered, and a small genuine smile fluttered across her face. "Because that is what someone does when they meet the Doctor – they run."

..


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Year 1941, Planet Earth

London, England

The streets were empty and the houses were long abandoned by the time May had stumbled across them. May eyed the barren structures with an ounce of pity. How long would they remain standing? The war wouldn't be over for a little while longer. Would people come back home to see everything they owned and loved in ruins? Or would these houses lay untouched, waiting for someone that would never show? It was a sad and sort of a humbling sight. May didn't linger, though she had an urge to snoop. 1930s. London Blitz. Who wouldn't be at least a little bit curious about their history?

But she had to move on.

May had no intentions what so ever to meet the Doctor and his Tardis ever again. She didn't know how, or when, but she would find her own way back home. Back to her own universe. There were plenty more time travelers out there besides the Doctor. He was just the more eccentric one out of the group.

So she left, embarking on her own independent journey. May felt extremely guilty for leaving Jack, but this was something she had to do on her own. He had his own destiny – with the Doctor and Rose. She couldn't interfere with that. If she had told him her plans on leaving would he have demanded to come with her? Told her to stay? She couldn't do that to him.

So May continued walking alone in the dark back streets of London sticking close to the shadows. When she heard the sounds of planes flying overhead May's heart jumped unexpectedly. Today was the day. They were here. That only put more fire into her steps. She wanted to be long gone, at least on the other side of the capital, before he and his companion began snooping around.

Looking for danger they would surely find.

Danger, she supposed, is something I should also be looking out for. May leaned back against a shambling wall, pushing herself closer to the shadows as the headlights of multiple cars passed. When they were gone, May moved on.

Jogging behind a house and into the backyard she scanned over the wreckage that was clearly vandalism. May spotted a pair of trash cans tossed unceremoniously to the side. She hoisted them upright, moving the open ends downwards, and stepped on top of them. She then hoisted herself up the brick wall that separated the backyard from the railroads. She grinned, slipping a leg over the wall before just sitting there, legs dangling on either side.

She looked back to her left, peering at the sight of Big Ben just over the houses. So far away. The giant bell looked almost like a skinny pole with a face, but she knew better. The way she had came was lit up with strobe lights, and surrounded with multiple barrage balloons. Then she looked to her right: long winding railroads going east to west. Then to the south were more buildings and neighborhoods. All was silent, barren, sad, and dark.

Taking a deep breath, she jumped to the other side landing on her feet without so much as a stumble. Grabbing the straps of her backpack for a little moral support, May trudged onward towards the railroad tracks.

"Are you my mummy?"

May stumbled forward, nearly falling to the ground, before she caught herself. Her heart lurched in her chest as she twirled around to see a child. A small child, maybe five or six, wearing ratty worn clothing and a black gas mask.

"No. No. No. No." She denied, vigorously shaking her head. "You shouldn't be here. Why are you here?"

He took a step forward and May took two steps back. "Mummy? Are you my mummy?"

"Sorry, no mummies here." She laughed, though it sounded a little strained. "Why are you here? You should be…be…not here…most definitely not here." He took another step forward and May scrambled backwards. "Stay there! Don't move!" She raised her hand, but the boy just cocked his head in question and continued walking.

"Mummy? Don't you recognize me mummy?"

"Come on, kid. I'm not your mother." She pleaded, her hands still hanging in the air. "And I really don't want to turn into a gas masked zombie with mommy issues."

He clearly wasn't listening. "Why are you backing away? Are we playing a game?"

Oh man. Oh man. Oh man. This isn't good. Her teeth dug into her bottom lip as she contemplated her situation. What was the best way to get rid of a possessed little boy? It wasn't like she could call a priest. This wasn't a demonic issue, it was science. Stupid stupid science.

"Hey now." She called out to him. "How about I help find your mommy? Would you like that?"

"Mummy?" He echoed, curiosity in his voice.

"Yeah. Mummy." She agreed as she reached behind her back. Sticking a hand in her bank pocket she pulled out a pair of gloves. Still eyeing the child, whose name she couldn't remember for the life of her, she slowly slipped the gloves over her fingers.

The child only turned other people with a touch, or rather, skin to skin contact. So as long as she kept her skin covered she should be alright. At least, that was the theory. The boy stopped his pursuit in order to watch May's movements. Curiosity radiated off him as May knelt to the ground, her arms open wide.

"Let's find your mommy." She stated with a genuine smile on her face. She began waving her hands, coaxing him closer. When he didn't move, she began to frown.

"Come on, kid." She whined. "You came to me not the other way around." May lowered her hands. "I need your help here, okay?" She raised her brows expectantly, keeping her voice calm and smooth. "Now I want to help you, but I can't do that unless you let me. I wanted to leave but you stopped me for some ungodly reason. Out there, there is someone who can help you-." She pointed out back towards the city. "A man who could find your mother."

"Mummy? Find mummy?"

"Take my hand and I will take you some where safe." Or hopefully some where safe. I didn't really think this through.

The kid just continued watching May. Not moving or saying anything.

She whined in frustration. "Come on, kid. No reason to start changing your M.O. now. The faster I get you some place safe, the faster I can leave." A child walking around the streets of London, even scientifically enhanced, couldn't possibly be good. "You want to see your mommy right?" At the word the boy jerked into action again taking a step forward.

"There you go." May coaxed with a grin. "That's right. Don't be afraid, I won't hurt you. Come on."

He walked towards her with hesitation in his steps. His pace was slow, but May was patient. It wasn't until he was no more than three feet away from her that he stopped, or more like froze.

"You're not mummy." He mumbled softly, too softly.

"What?" May asked confused, unable to hear him. "What did you say?"

"You're not my mummy!" He shouted, his tiny fists clenched. "Not mummy! Not mummy! Not mummy!" And then he took off, back into the darkness, screaming for his mother. May watched him go with her jaw dropped, completely flabbergasted.

"Wha-? W-wait!" She cried out after a moments hesitation. "Stop!" May took a step forward in an attempt to chase after him.

"I just want to help!" She yelled though her voice drifted off towards the end. "What the heck just happened?" May gripped the straps of her backpack in comfort and began gnawing on her bottom lip. Should I go after him? She shook her head. Best not get further involved. It will all work out…I think? So with one last look towards where the boy had ran, May turned back around and continued her journey.

"Hello!"

"Ahhhhh! Holy cra-aaah!" May screamed with utmost grace. She stumbled backwards, arms flailing, and stared wide eyed at a man.

The Doctor.

"Sorry." The Doctor laughed with a large smile plastered on his face. "I was just passing by and…are you alright?" His bright blue eyes stared curiously at her as May gaped openly, her jaw dropped. This isn't possible. This isn't right. No no no no no. He can't be here. He CAN'T be HERE! No no no no no no.

"No!" She shouted out before she could stop herself. She felt her face go hot in embarrassment and swallowed nervously. "Y-you shouldn't sneak up on people like that."

"Again, sorry." The Doctor apologized as he crossed his arms with a brow raised. "As I was saying, I was just passing by and saw you standing here. You wouldn't have happened to have seen a young boy walking around here wearing a gas mask?"

May's mouth went dry. "I-ah umm." Her eyes shifted to the side unable to look at him. What was he doing here? This wasn't possible. He should be off running around, sonicing things, not talking to her.

"How about a woman this tall, dark brown hair, dark eyes, mysterious air about her, bit of a temper."

She shook her head vigorously and gripped her backpack straps - slowly backing away. "No, sorry I-ah got to-ah…" I need to go. Far away. Far far away. I can't be dragged into this again.

The Doctor took an aggressive step forward. "No? Then how about a blonde woman, nineteen, wide innocent brown eyes, wearing a Union Jack T-shirt?"

"No. No." She shook her head again. "I'm sorry." She tried to leave, but he stopped her once again by stepping in her way.

"Not many people are brave enough to be out during an air raid." He stated rather casually. "Most people would be hiding in their little tin huts by now."

"I'm not brave."

"Then what a time for a stroll, isn't it?" The Doctor laughed, but it sounded hollow. "You're not homeless, I can tell by the smell. I can also smell that you're not from around here."

"I don't know what you're talking about." May stated defensively as she tried to sound offended by the idea, but she was shaking in her boots. "Please I must-."

"You know time travel leaves an impression on people. In the way they talk or how they hold themselves. It's also deeper then that on a molecular level. Each time period has a distinct smell to them, which clings to organisms, and you…" He took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he did. He held it there for a few moments before he let out the air in a slow hiss. "You smell…different." He cocked his head. "Where are you from? The 42nd Century? 43rd? 51st? Don't tell me the 55th century?"

"I don't know what you're talking abo-."

"Why did you lure me here?" He interrupted. "Why did you send the mauve signal?"

"I didn't!" She shouted turning red faced. "I didn't ask for you!"

The Doctor didn't say anything back, and silence stretched on. The blood was pounding so hard in her head that she could barely hear the sounds of the airplanes. Her thoughts began racing and May dreaded that she was no longer able to get away. The Doctor had caught her in his snare.

"That is the first truthful reaction I have gotten out of you." He said finally uncrossing his arms. "But you do know what is going on around here don't you?"

May blinked stupidly before shaking her head vigorously.

"Excuse me for saying this, but I just don't believe you." He stated staring at her hard. "Why do you have your face covered?"

"Why do ask so many questions?" May shot back glaring, but nervously gripped her straps harder. "What do you want from me?"

"Now who is asking too many questions." The Doctor quipped. "There is something about you that I don't like. You're hiding something."

May's heart clenched painfully, and she lowered her head in order to keep the Doctor from seeing how much his words stung. "You don't know me, sir. Please, I must go."

"Mmm?" He hummed in thought. "Nope."

Click

May looked up to see the Doctor grinning with a hand raised, showing off a silver bracelet on his wrist. She looked down to her own hands and noticed an identical bracelet around her left.

"No. No. No. No. Did you just handcuff me?!" May shouted in anger and tried to pull the silver band off. It wouldn't budge.

"Don't worry it's only temporary." He explained brows raised. "It only stops you from going more than ten feet away from me. It won't cause you any physical pain or trauma."

"Why?" May glared. "This is kidnapping."

"Don't worry, I'm not taking you off planet." He grinned. "I'm just keeping an eye on you until this whole situation has been solved."

"This has nothing to do with me." She growled tugging at the band.

"Maybe, but I highly doubt that." He then clapped his hands. "Now that we've got that out the way. Let's get going."

May floundered, stunned by his indifference, and couldn't help but shriek out a confused: "Where?!"

"To where that boy you were talking to ran off." He pointed behind her. "We are following him."

May pursed her lips and looked away. He knew all along. He was just toying with me. She was so distracted by wanting to get away she didn't even realize. She should have just told the truth.

"I don't want too." She replied truthfully, face pale, but the Doctor was already walking past her.

"Don't care." He grinned and sauntered off. May stood there, not moving, watching the Doctor's leather clad back get further and further away. Suddenly, an uncontrollable outside force lifted her left hand and the silver bracelet began pulling her forward. May gritted her teeth and dug her heels into the gravel, but the bracelet was relentless. No! This isn't fair! I just wanted to leave! I. Don't. Want. This!

"By the way, the names the Doctor." He exclaimed jovially without turning around. May grabbed her wrist and pushed the limb towards her waist. With a scowl she began walking just behind the Doctor careful not to get too far away.

"May." She stated glaring at him. Would he recognize my name? Does he even know me yet? She stared at his back trying to gauge his reaction. "May Owens."

But he didn't say anything. Just continued on walking. So May followed without another word, her head down, and her heart clenching painfully.

..


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The Doctor spotted the young woman an hour later sneaking into an abandon shack made up of broken rail sidings and train car doors. He walked towards her with purpose in his step. May followed unwillingly, but she hung a little ways back, rubbing her hands together nervously. The young woman was startled to see them, and began glancing around, quickly looking for an escape route. May couldn't blame the girl, for she had done the exact same thing, but the Doctor did what he always did.

He talked, and when he talked his words would get confusing and muddled in your head. Then before you know it, you would be serving him tea like an old friend. The young woman and the Doctor began joking with each other before May realized it. She pointed out the Doctor's long nose, ridiculously large ears, and the Doctor humbly played ignorant. May would have laughed if the silver band around her wrist didn't feel like fire against her skin.

Then they were off, walking back into the dark, ignoring the sounds of planes and bombs. The young woman and the Doctor chatted, both seemingly ignoring her, but May caught her more than once glancing back at her. They walked and walked for what seemed like miles down the rail road tracks. All this walking had May slightly panting and her sides aching as sharp needles climbed up her legs. She desperately needed to sit down but dared not to complain. Not while the Doctor had her chained like a dog.

Coming into view was a large hospital, and around that hospital were barbed wire fences and men with guns. May shivered from an unexpected chill. She felt such strong hated towards guns. The Doctor began to sprint, forcing May to run too, which had her moaning and groaning. Together they cleared the road without being spotted and ended up on a stairwell that lead towards a bridge leading towards the hospital. May sat down unceremoniously on the steps not caring that it was damp from the light drizzle of the night. Her legs began pulse with protest from all the unexpected amount of exercise. She rubbed her sore knees and sat with her head resting against the wall. Just watching the Doctor quietly pull out binoculars from his inner jacket pocket.

The young woman walked up to him, just inches away from his shoulder, to stare into the opening, Where a mass amount of soldiers grouped.

"The bomb's under that tarpaulin." She said with a guarded expression. "They put the fence up overnight." She then nodded in the direction towards the hospital. "See that building? The hospital."

"What about it?"

"That's where the doctor is. You should talk to him."

"For now, I'm more interested in getting in there." He stated pointing towards the fence. Inside sat a large cylinder shaped machinery covered in a tarp. May's heart clenched painfully in her chest, and her expression became crestfallen. The ambulance.

The young woman shook her head. "Talk to the doctor first."

"Why?"

"Because then maybe you won't want to get inside." Her face turned grim and she back away, climbing the stairs.

"Where're you going?" The Doctor inquired not even turning around or removing the binoculars.

"There was a lot of food in that house. I've got mouths to feed. Should be safe enough now." She replied defensively as if urging him to say something.

But the Doctor didn't

"Can I ask you a question?" He asked suddenly, and the young woman rolled her eyes. "Who did you lose?"

She froze. "What?"

"The way you look after all those kids." The Doctor lowered his binoculars and turned fully towards her. Staring at her with inquisitive eyes. "It's because you lost somebody, isn't it? You're doing all this to make up for it."

She didn't back down and stared straight into his eyes. "My little brother, Jamie. One night I went out looking for food." Her eyes shifted towards the ambulance and nodded. "Same night that thing fell. I told him not to follow me, I told him it was dangerous, but he just-!" Her face scrunched together and there was a strain in her voice. "He just didn't like being on his own."

"What happened?"

"In the middle of an air raid?" She scoffed and then sneered at him. "What do you think happened?" The Doctor nodded looking down for just a moment before glancing up again. Silence stretched as he gazed up at the stars. May followed his gaze.

"Amazing." He finally said with a smile.

The young woman stared at him like he was crazy. "What is?"

"1941." He looked at her before glancing back up the sky. "Right now, not very far from here, the German war machine is rolling up the map of Europe. Country after country, falling like dominoes. Nothing can stop it. Nothing." The sky was burning red and yellow from the planes' bullets and bombs. Barrage balloons bounced and swayed in the air. And the moon, the moon was barely visible from all the smoke and carnage. "Until one, tiny, damp little island says no. No. Not here." The Doctor chuckled and a look of pure amazement crossed over his face. "A mouse in front of a lion." He turned to stare at the young woman with such a look of deep sincerity it hurt to see. "You're amazing, the lot of you. Don't know what you do to Hitler, but you frighten the hell out of me." The young woman smiled, it was small and sad, but it was there. "Off you go then. Do what you've got to do. Save the world."

Then he turned around and trotted down the rest of steps. May groaned silently and pushed herself up. She walked quickly down the stairs before the Doctor got too far away. When she brushed past the woman, a hand caught her elbow. May's eyes widened in surprise and she turned her head toward the woman.

"Miss, are you alright?" She asked her brown eyes narrowed suspiciously. She cast a glance over her shoulder towards the Doctor who had stopped and was now waiting. He stood watching them, hands on his hips and a curious look on his face. May relaxed. So, she didn't trust the Doctor fully. She smiled. Good for her.

But there wasn't anything she could do to help.

"I'm fine." May smiled warmly and took her hand in hers – squeezing it gently. "It's been a long night."

The young woman stared at her, her eyes scanning all over her cloth covered face. "If you're sure."

May nodded and smiled again before continuing to climb down the stairs. She jogged towards the Doctor who had turned back around as soon as she began her approach. Together they walked towards the underbelly of the bridge.

"Nothing to say?" The Doctor questioned without looking at her.

May glanced at him. "What is there to say?"

"No hints or suggestions?"

May shut her mouth and glared. They continued on without another word.

..


..

Okay, this is creepy. Very creepy. Despite her fear and mistrust of the Doctor, May stuck close to him as he led her through the many halls of the empty hospital. Well, not exactly an empty hospital. Every corridor they passed, every room they looked into, there were people. People in beds: not moving, not breathing, not doing anything. It was like they were dead, but May knew better. An overwhelming sense of guilt began to fill her. This was her fault. All these people, all these lives, destroyed because she couldn't stop Jack. And that little boy. He was lost and alone because of her.

They entered a lightly lit room and the Doctor scanned the people with a look of confusion and slight intrigue on his face. Even though she knew it was coming, May still jumped when the other doctor came into the room with a tap of his cane.

"You'll find them everywhere." He exclaimed with a slight wheeze. "In every bed, in every ward. Hundreds of them." The Doctor turned towards him nearly knocking into May who was still cowering at his side.

"Yes, I saw." He replied, eyeing the old man. "Why are they still wearing gas masks?"

"They're not." The old doctor arched his brows as his eyes swept around the room before landing on him. "Who are you?"

The Doctor straightened. "I'm, er." He deflated slightly and glanced at the old doctor's white coat. "Are you ah the doctor?"

"Doctor Constantine." The older man nodded. "And you are?"

The Doctor easily avoided that question.

"Nancy sent me."

"Nancy?" Constantine gave May a glance before looking away. "That means you must've been asking about the bomb."

"Yes."

Constantine gave the Doctor a questioning look. "What do you know about it?"

"Nothing." He shrugged. "Why I was asking. What do you know?"

Constantine turned full circle gesturing to the room full of people. "Only what it's done."

"These people, they were all caught up in the blast?"

"None of them were." Constantine chuckled before breaking out into a coughing fit. He coughed so hard his body began shaking and he fell into a chair.

"You're very sick." The Doctor analyzed him carefully.

"Dying, I should think." He gave morbid chuckled. "I just haven't been able to find the time." Constantine turned and stared hard at the Doctor. "Are you a doctor?"

"I have my moments." He smiled grimly.

"Have you examined any of them yet?"

"No."

The old doctor raised his cane and pointed it to one man on a bed. He gestured him towards the Doctor. "Don't touch the flesh."

"Which one?" He asked glancing at the bodies around the room.

"Any one." Constantine replied causing the Doctor to raise a brow in question. He walked towards the patient while May stayed put. Glancing around the room, May spotted a cabinet where white neatly folded blankets sat. Without thought, May went over to it and opened the doors. Grabbing one, she turned back around and walked towards the doctor. The old man broke his gaze away the Doctor to stare up at her.

May smiled. "Here you go, doctor."

"Thank you, dear." He replied returning the smile though it was strained. He looked back towards the Doctor. "Conclusions?"

"Massive head trauma, mostly to the left side." The Doctor replied scanning his sonic close to the patient's flesh. "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."

Constantine coughed. "Examine another one." The Doctor looked at the older man with his face scrunched together in confusion but did as he was told. He walked to another patient, a woman this time, and scanned her from head to toe.

The Doctor read his sonic with a look of awe on his face. "This isn't possible."

"Examine another."

The Doctor ran this time. As he scanned another patient his gaze turned from awe to confusion to suspicion. He glanced at May who refused to look at him.

"This isn't possible."

"No." Constantine agreed.

The Doctor scanned yet another patient. "They've all got the same injuries."

"Yes."

"Exactly the same."

"Yes." Constantine began coughing, his face even paler.

"Identical, all of them, right down to the scar on the back of the hand." The Doctor exclaimed in amazement.

Doctor Constantine looked down at his own hand where a scar sat openly. He glanced at May who stared at him with an expression of pity and guilt. Constantine covered the scar by covering it with his other hand.

"How did this happen?" the Doctor shouted. "How did it start?"

Constantine looked back at him. "When that bomb dropped, there was just one victim."

"Dead?"

"At first." Constantine stared the Doctor down. "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, the exact same injuries. Within a week, the entire hospital. Physical injuries as plague." His expression was grave. "Can you explain that? What would you say was the cause of death?"

"The head trauma." The Doctor guessed.

"No."

"Asphyxiation."

"No."

"The collapse of the chest cavity."

"No."

"All right." The Doctor gave up; exasperated. "What was the cause of death?"

"There wasn't one." Constantine told him plainly. "They're not dead." He raised his cane and hit it against a trash can near May's feet. At the sound, the dozen of patients around them sat up almost instantaneously. The Doctor shuffled backwards his sonic slightly raised in alarm. May had jumped, bumping into the side of the table, causing said table too scoot backwards noisily.

"Jesus!" She shouted in surprise. God did she hate zombies.

"It's all right. They're harmless." Constantine soothed softly. "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?" The Doctor inquired angrily. "Nobody's doing anything?" The zombie patients began to lie down again, making May relax slightly. Letting go of the edge of the table, May began walking back towards the Doctor and stopped just behind his back.

"I try and make them comfortable. What else is there?"

"Just you? You're the only one here?"

Doctor Constantine glowered at the Doctor. "Before this war began, I was a father and a grandfather. Now I am neither. But I'm still a doctor."

May saw the Doctor's shoulder slump and the expression on his face soften. "Yeah. I know the feeling." It made May's heart break for him. The Doctor: always alone, always running, always carrying such heavy burdens.

Constantine turned melancholy. "I suspect the plan is to blow up the hospital and blame it on a German bomb."

"Probably too late." The Doctor pointed out.

"I know." Constantine agreed. "There are isolated cases. Isolated cases breaking out all over London." Suddenly, he began choking, his body shaking vigorously. So bad the blanket May had placed over his lap fell to the floor. The Doctor stepped forward, but Constantine waved him away. "Stay back, stay back! Listen to me." He looked the Doctor straight in the eyes. "Top floor. Room 802. That's where they took the first victim, the one from the crash site. And you must find Nancy again."

"Nancy?"

"It was her brother." He began coughing. "She knows more than she's saying." Constantine gaze shifted over to May who had covered her mouth in horror. "She won't tell me, but she might…m-might…m-m-m-mummy? Are you…m-my…mummy?" May held back a scream that climbed up her throat as the good doctor's face began to contort and mold painfully. From his mouth emerged the mouth piece of a gas mask, his eyes began to darken and shift into round lenses, and his skin burned to a dark coal color. Constantine's head limply fell backwards, and the grip on his cane loosened, causing the piece of wood to clatter on the floor. Silence stretched between May and the Doctor.

Feeling her heart break for the poor doctor, May moved first. The Doctor's gaze burned her back as she picked up the fallen blanket and the cane. She sat the cane against the table's edge and then opened the blanket. She tucked it over the old man's shoulders and gave him a small sad smile. Don't worry. You'll get better soon.

"Got anything to say now?"

May straightened and turned slowly towards the Doctor. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh don't you?" He sneered crossing his arms. "So you're saying that your appearance and this sudden plague is all a coincidence?"

"I don't kno-."

"Stop with the lies." The Doctor pointed towards the patients. "For their sake, you should tell me what is happening."

May's tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth, and she felt her face burn with shame. I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do! Should I tell him? I should tell him but what if…what if?

"Hello!" Jack voice called out. May's heart soared and the feeling of relief spread instantly across her body.

"Jack." She whispered with a grin.

"Hello?" A female's voice cried out causing the Doctor to turn.

"Rose?" The Doctor questioned with an expression of disbelief. May took off running before the Doctor could stop her. With a sudden shot of adrenaline, all the aches and pains in May's body disappeared. As she burst through the double doors to her delight Jack was just turning the corner with a small blonde at his side.

"Jack!" She shouted causing said male to look up at her.

"Legs? What are you doing here?" The captain exclaimed but returned her smile with his own. May ran towards her friend and jumped into his arms which he had open before she even began running. She buried her head into his shoulder, and took a deep breath. Instantaneously, muscles she hadn't even known were tense, relaxed.

"You weren't on the ship when I got back." Jack mumbled into her shoulder. "I was worried."

Guilt once again crept into her heart. Pulling back, May searched his eyes for some kind of sign that he knew she had run away. Nothing came to light. He just looked genuinely curious and worried about where she had been. He hadn't read my note.

May smiled. "I went on a walk, like you asked."

Jack's brows raised as he looked past her. "With a backpack?"

"Provisions?" She replied doing her best to look innocent. Jack just smiled.

They pulled apart and Jack took May's hand in his.

"Good evening. Hope we're not interrupting." The captain extended his other hand, the one not holding onto May's, towards the Doctor. "Jack Harkness. I've been hearing all about you on the way over."

"He knows." Rose spoke up before anyone else had a chance to speak. She grinned at the Doctor. "I had to tell him about us being Time Agents." May turned to stare at the blonde fully. Rose truly was beautiful. It was no wonder the Doctor fell in love with her. She was short, but not as short as Martha. Wonderful smile, luscious lips, high cheek bones, perfect nose, and bright brown eyes. Rose must have broken some hearts in high school.

The Doctor nodded in understanding at Rose's subtle hint.

"And it's a real pleasure to meet you, Mister Spock." Jack clapped the time lord's shoulder before pulling May back towards the ward.

"Where have you been Legs?" he muttered quietly.

"I told you, I went for a walk." She mumbled back, looking away.

"In the middle of a London air raid?" He asked dubiously.

May shrugged. "Well, bombs weren't falling when I left."

Jack chuckled before letting go of her hand and snaking an arm around her shoulders. "I'm glad you're okay, Legs. You had me worried, seriously."

"I'm sorry." She replied genuinely. "Won't happen again."

He shook her shoulders. "Good. Now, what do you know about Mister Spock?"

"What? What do you mean?"

"What kind of feel do you get off of him? You've known him longer than me. Do you think he will make the sale? I know his partner is very interested." He gave her one his flirty grins and wiggled his brows.

May scoffed. "Jack, no. Be serious. There is no sale."

"What do you mean?" Jack reared back and stared at her. "Then why are we here?"

Before May could answer the Doctor's booming voice answered from behind them. "Well Captain Jack Harkness that is a very good question. Why are you here? And why are they here?" The Doctor shoved past them and opened the double doors revealing the room full of patients to Rose and Jack. Rose gasped in horror while Jack went stark white.

"What's going on here?" Jack asked as he glanced around.

The four of them entered the room, and the Doctor made a gesture towards Jack. "Why don't you have a look?"

Glancing at May, who meet his confused gaze with her hard one, Jack rolled up a sleeve revealing a tricorder watch. He walked toward one of the zombie patients and began scanning.

Jack grew paler by the second. "This just isn't possible." He then walked to another patient and scanned them too. "How did this happen?"

"What kind of Chula ship landed here?" Asked the Doctor as he leaned against one the tables with Rose at his side.

"What?" Jack shouted in confusion as he scanned a fourth patient.

"He said it was a warship." Rose replied for him, nodding towards Jack. "He stole it, parked it somewhere out there, somewhere a bomb's going to fall on it unless we make him an offer."

May didn't think the Doctor's face could get any harder than it already was, but like always, she was wrong.

"What kind of warship?"

"Does it matter?" Jack yelled running a hand through his hair nervously. "It's got nothing to do with this." He looked at May pleadingly, his expression heart crushing. May went to his side without hesitation and grabbed his hand in comfort.

"This started at the bomb site." The Doctor explained, looking absolutely livid. "It's got everything to do with it. What kind of warship?" Before Jack could speak May placed a hand on his chest.

"It's an ambulance." She stated glancing at the Doctor and Rose.

The Doctor snorted and sarcastically said: "Finally a piece of truth comes out her mouth."

"Hey!" Jack shouted, his face twisting in anger. "Lay off her! Legs had nothing to do with this - it was my idea." He let go of May's hand in order to type into his tricorder, and produced a hologram of the Chula ambulance.

"That's what you chased through the Time Vortex." Jack pointed at it. "It's space junk. I wanted to kid you it was valuable." May's heart twisted and turned her head away unable to look at Jack. It wasn't junk. "It's empty. I made sure of it." It wasn't empty. It had held so many memories for her. "Nothing but a shell. I threw it at you when I saw your time travel vehicle." Jack laughed and held up his hands. "Love the retro look, by the way, nice panels." Jack lowered his hands and slumped his shoulders. "So I threw you the bait."

"Bait?" Rose inquired looking between Jack and the Doctor.

Jack groaned exasperated, and grabbed his head with both hands before turning away. "I wanted to sell it to you and then destroy it before you found out it was junk."

"You said it was a war ship." She pointed out.

"They have ambulances in wars, sweetheart." He rolled his eyes at her. "It was a con. I was conning you. That's what I am, I'm a con man. I thought you were Time Agents!" He eyed them both. "You're not, are you?"

Rose shook her head and glared at him with an expression of disgust. "Just a couple more freelancers."

"Oh. Oh! Should have known." Jack laughed but it was dry. "The way you guys are blending in with the local color. I mean, Flag Girl was bad enough, but U-Boat Captain?" Both Rose and the Doctor glanced at each then back at Jack – offended.

Jack crossed his arms and stared at them both with finality. "Anyway, whatever's happening here has got nothing to do with that ship."

Rose gazed around the room. "What is happening here, Doctor?"

"Human DNA is being rewritten by an idiot." He replied sharply.

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know. Some kind of virus converting human beings into these things. But why? What's the point?" As soon as the Doctor finished speaking, the zombie patients rose and turned their heads - all looking straight at the four. May screamed slightly, and moved behind Jack who instantly raised his arms in defense.

"Mummy. Mummy. Mummy? Mummy?" The zombie patients began to chant.

"What's happening?" Asked Rose who had moved closer towards the Doctor.

"I don't know." He replied surveying the room.

"They didn't talk before." May added clinging onto Jack's lapels.

"Mummy. Mummy? Mummy!" They began climbing out of their beds and walking towards the four of them. Even the good doctor Constantine lifted out of his chair and hobbled towards them - stepping on his blanket. The Doctor and Jack began pushing the girls backwards.

"Don't let them touch you!" Shouted the Doctor.

"What happens if they touch us?" Rose asked, her expression terrified.

"You're looking at it." The Doctor glanced at the blonde before turning back towards the patients.

"Help me, mummy." Some called out. "Help me."

May closed her eyes and buried her head between Jack's shoulder blades.

"Mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy. Mummy."

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I've got to confess that this was not a fun chapter write. Honestly, out of all of them, its my least favorite so far. I love the Doctor no matter what regeneration, but Nine...is just so HARD to get into. I had difficultly getting into his head. I tried my best to keep him in character though.

You all must be wondering why I had Nine handcuff May. Out of all the Doctors' he is the only one I could possibly seeing doing this. Just imagine it from his perspective. A woman, obviously from a different time period, coaxing the Empty Child to come with her without any obvious fear. So many people had been running away from this kid and she welcomes him with open arms? Bit suspicious. Then when he goes and confronts her - she lies. Badly, but she does it, which adds more suspicion. Plus she is trying to run away from him. What should a poor, no violence, Doctor do? The answer: chain her to him until he figures it all out.

:3

Well, that is what I thought anyway. I hope I haven't deter anyone off. It only gets better from here.

And don't worry, May's self-deprivation and skittishness goes away eventually.

love,

Kait

p.s.

PLEASE REVIEW! Y.Y REVIEWS FEED MY ARTISTIC SOUL! And makes me feel better. Lets me know people are actually reading my work. GOOD OR BAD! I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! And any suggestions you might have to offer me. THANK YOU! xD LOVE YOU GUYS TO PIECES!