There was no time. The creature pushed Sara down; her head jarred against the unforgiving cobblestones. Sharp pieces of pebbles stuck inside the palms of her hands as the beast had her pinned. She could smell more acute the foul encroach of its saliva beneath the mutated mask as its sharp claws began to dig into her flesh.
It drew back on its hindquarters putting one of its front claws on her neck, sniffing her from beneath the mask obscenely. Every time she attempted to move, those silver talons pressed further against her throat. Blood was starting to dribble down her neck and she couldn't breathe let alone think.. Was this how she was going to die?
The Doctor had watched in horror as the creature had altered its direction and charged directly at Sara hurling itself on top of her. He moved quickly summoning up his own physical strength matched with lightening fast reflexes known to time lords as he took hold of the Cybershade and hurled it against the alleyway wall.
It was stunned but only for a moment as it once again attempted to throw itself on top of Sara. "No!" He yelled at it as he moved in front of its path in a defensive posture. It growled ferociously at him and he turned to glance at Sara who was lying on the ground behind him. Bleeding welts covered the length of her neck and her eyes had a glazed expression as she stared at the sky. What had he done?
The man at his side who was strangely using his name moved to stand directly adjacent to the Doctor. "Rosita!"
"I'm ready." Rosita replied.
Mere moments later a lasso yanked the creature from its position and was being dragged away from her. Sara, finally jarred from her stupor, slowly turned over on her abdomen and labored to right herself. She was shaking too hard from the sudden assault that she found herself unable to get to her feet.
The Doctor was at her side, his hands on her elbows as he helped her to standing position and assisted her to the very entrance of the alley where she was in view of the crowds at the market place. A wooden crate offered a temporary respite as he supported her into a sitting position. "I'm sorry." He gripped her shoulders. "Just wait here, all right?"
She nodded absently looking at the bricks on the opposing wall. Carefully, she examined the cracks and defects in the structure. So many little faults. I can see them all. She thought idly and smiled blankly at the barrier. If she stared hard enough she could meld right into the cracks and see the molecules spinning around her. The Doctor's right. It's so beautiful. Everything is spinning and nothing stands still. Why did I ever think it did?
The Doctor frowned at her. Shock and a concussion. He decided. He would have to attend to it later. His assistance was more desperately required with that of the 'second Doctor'. It seemed an apt nickname until he could verify his own suspicions. With that, he rushed in his direction to assist in their capture of the Cybershade. Why did it attack Sara?
She watched as he ran down into the alley to assist the other second Doctor who was boldly struggling with the creature. She hadn't the time to convey to the Doctor his true identity but her fear regarding encountering Cybermen had disoriented her and now she could hardly think straight. His name. What's his name? Her thoughts were erratic coming in subtle bursts but then became too slippery to catch. She looked at her hands, which were mottled with deep cuts still bleeding, deep ruby droplets that trailed down her arms. For a reason unbeknownst to her, she instinctively licked the blood that was pooling in her palm. O positive. I'm O positive. She frowned and briefly shook herself. The taste of copper mixed with various dirt particles filled her mouth. That's disgusting. Why did I do that?
Swallowing hard to keep the bile that was creeping up her throat, she glanced at the two Doctors. They were trying to chase the shade that dashed up another building however the creature was still looking at her with disturbing intensity. It was attempting to attack her again but the rope was yanking it back and away from her. She felt unmistakable dread considering the fact that just her presence was already altering the events. I'm all wrong and that thing knows it.
Their struggle with the creature seemed to have results as the cybershade appeared to give up its quarry. It now seemed to flee although the second Doctor still had his lasso firmly engaged on the beast, however the shade seemed able to summon incredible strength. It was pulling him up, directly off the ground and he was flailing unable to match the force the creature could assert. The Doctor at once attempted to assist by grabbing hold of the rope only to be pulled up as well.
Rosita threw up her hands in fury. "You idiots!"
Sara could only watch as they were both pulled into a broken window with Rosita in hot pursuit.
She heard a scuffle and a crash. Moments later, the three emerged from the downstairs warehouse.
The Doctors were apparently tremendously amused with themselves as they chuckled making their way back into the alley. Rosita hardly seemed to share their enjoyment.
"Well, I'm so glad you both think this was funny." She exclaimed. "You are both absolutely mad. " Pointing to Sara, "She could've gotten killed." She spat. "And you too!"
Rosita looked at Sara with apparent concern. "It really got its hooks into 'er."
The Doctor snapped back to reality and knelt down in front of Sara, removing his sonic screwdriver, swiftly conducting a scan. "Ok, it's fine. Just a minute."
The other Doctor attempted to placate Rosita. "But evidently we did not. She's a little worse for wear."
Sara was muttering to herself. "I'm all wrong inside. Damaged everywhere and I can taste it." She found herself digging her nails into the wounds on her palms to keep her hands from trembling. The pain she felt in reaction was somewhat reassuring.
She jerked back in panic as the Doctor suddenly reached for her head. "What are you doing?"
Gripping her arms, he fixed his eyes on her. Will I regret this? His reluctance would have to wait as he stared directly into her eyes accessing only the outer layer of his psychic telepathy field. It wasn't since Harriet Jones had he used the power of his words to place a deep seated suggestion but for this brief moment, he required her trust.
"Sara, only four words."
He had carefully managed to break through her mental barrier and she was starring at him transfixed.
"Trust me right now." He whispered. Gripping both of her hands, he reached for her head. This time she didn't move but her gaze remained focused on him, her eyes placid. Distantly, she felt his hands on her ears and a sudden movement relinquished the pressure that was building up inside her head. The blurriness dissipated as her world came back into focus and she struggled to take a deep breath.
The corset was still constricting her lungs but the outer dress had nearly been torn to shreds along with the gouges in her flesh.
The Doctor was examining her arms as Sara gazed at him in bewilderment. "My head, the noise is gone." She glanced down watching him examine his screwdriver as the color was flickering on the other end.
"What's that-"
"Just recalibrating. Now this might hurt a bit."
Sara yelped in pain as the instrument in its capacity burned into her flesh but mended the wound right in front of her eyes.
"A few more to go." The Doctor assured.
"But-"
In a low murmur, he told her. "We can't return to the Tardis right now." Sara bit her lip as he took to healing another welt. "We're almost done."
The second Doctor approached them. "Forgive me, I've been remiss. I should introduce Rosita, my faithful companion, who apparently always tells me off."
Rosita gave a swift nod in approval. "And rightly so."
The Doctor glanced back at them in amusement, "Well they do, don't they?" He nearly looked forlorn at the mention of the companion's name. "Rosita? Good name." He glanced up at her. "Hello Rosita."
Rosita eyed Sara. "Is she all right?"
The Doctor's painstaking efforts at healing her welts brought sharp tears to Sara's eyes. "Still with me, Sara?"
"I-" She paused, looking down. The injuries were gone, leaving nothing but the residual blood in their midst. "Yes, I thought it was-" She pushed herself back up to standing finding herself unable to finish. Distractedly she looked at her gown. "My dress." She picked at the torn pieces of fabric. "It's completely ruined. I never knew how to sew."
Still in shock. Entering her mind even at a superficial level was a risk and she was left in a state of disorientation after he had cured her concussion. He had applied field remedies and though his sonic screwdriver was capable of healing those small wounds, it was considerably more painful to humans then options he was privy to in his sickbay. With Cybermen in the vicinity and his next regeneration apparently here, he had no time to retreat to his Tardis.
Rosita was examining the vicinity. "I'll have to go and dismantle all those traps. All that work for nothing." She glanced at Sara. "But your friend some cleaning up, I daresay. I'll take her back to the Tardis. Meet you there after the funeral right?"
"Funeral?" The Doctor asked perplexed.
"Oh long story" The second Doctor explained. "Not my own, at least not yet." He bent over and groaned. "I'm not as young as I once was."
"Well not as young as you were when you were me." The Doctor replied in fascination.
Sara let out a groan considering the circumstance. A man in a fugue state with memories imprinted on him which were easier to accept then his current predicament. She pondered for a moment why she hadn't succumbed to one upon entering this reality. Surely it would have been easier to let her memories dissipate into a smoky haze of denial thus forgetting her universe altogether.
But she had always considered herself uncluttered and too rational a person to be given to such meanderings. Her desperate need for control would not allow her to slip into the realm of insanity
Rosita approached her, shaking her head. "Shame about your dress. Madmen we travel with. Let's get you taken care of."
Sara already felt a strange affinity towards this person offering Rosita a smile in return.
"Wait," The Doctor immediately interrupted them. "I can't have her wandering about and leaving our sight." If this Doctor was his future incarnation, surely he would know of Sara's importance but there was something not quite right about him. It deemed further investigation. If his companion intended to stay with Sara at their Tardis, her safety would be reasonably assured. Unless she used the opportunity to run again for which he did not relish hunting her down in Victorian London. It was unlikely given her fear of leaving the Tardis previously but he wavered on making this decision.
"Not to worry. Rosita has nursed me through many an injury. You can trust her. She'll bring your fiancé back in one piece."
"He's not my fiancé" Sara was indignant.
"Right. Married already. She'll bring your wife back in one piece."
Sara protested, "No he's my-"
The Doctor interrupted smoothly. "Sara is my ward."
"Of course. I doubted no impropriety although a young lady of her reputation should be kept out of harm's way."
The Doctor sighed coming to a decision, turning to Sara. "Remember what I told you before." Taking her shoulders, he lowered his voice. "No second chances."
Sara felt a chill that had nothing to do with the weather. She remembered the conversation all too well.
Rosita attempted to intercede. "Nothing will happen to her."
He glanced at Rosita and shook his head. "Never say nothing. Don't let her wander off."
He released her, allowing Rosita to guide Sara away. I hope this wasn't a mistake. Turning to the second Doctor, he inquired, "Do you remember being me?"
The Second Doctor seemed perplexed. "Do I remember being who?"
"Don't you recognize me?"
"Not at all."
"But you're the next Doctor."
The conversation was starting to trickle out as Sara followed Rosita a further distance away.
"How'd you get stuck with the likes of him?" Rosita asked.
Sara could only respond dryly. "Believe me. I keep asking that myself."
She was led into a series of stables and although Sara knew what they called the Tardis was a hot air balloon; she still thought it was a lovely creation to behold. She judiciously made no comment on it, and only when prompted, she answered Rosita promptly that it was beautiful to which Rosita seemed pleased.
The coarse chemise and skirt that Rosita offered was a blessed relief in contrast to the nightmare of the confines of the corset and crinoline undergarments which had caused her skin to itch terribly from the irritation. Her lungs greedily drank in oxygen as she yanked the corset free, pulling the hook and eyes apart from the back and tossing the contraption into a corner.
"If I never see that thing again, it will be too soon." Sara muttered.
"I would tend to agree with ya." Rosita said, picking up one of the shattered garments. "Such a waste though. Satin isn't it?"
"You know, I have no idea." Sara shrugged. "Doesn't matter now. Wasn't mine anyway."
"Do you hate 'em?"
"Your guardian. The Doctor. Not that I can rightly blame you." Rosita shook her head. "They are both down right barking mad but he pulled that thing right off ya. Saved your life. Maybe something has gone round the bend for you before but that's no mistake what I saw-"
"I-" Sara paused remembering briefly the frenetic look in the Doctor's eyes as he yanked the creature off of her. She had seen him express true panic, which to her was a fairly illuminating experience but then this was the Doctor who regarded her as some unique scientific curiosity. "It's complicated."
"Always is with men." Rosita replied. "My Doctor's brilliant but a loon. Always must be in charge, that one. I'm always cleaning up, doing whatever he says."
"Sounds familiar."
"Nah" Rosita denied. "Ya don't seem like the person to take orders. Neither does that one. If I were you, I'd watch your step."
"Why do you stay with him?" Sara asked out of curiosity.
"Needs my help, didn't he? Besides, he did save me life." She poured a small glass of a slightly pink concoction. "I'm a bit mad myself. Have to be to be with him."
Sara laughed and Rosita joined in before offering her the liquid.
"Here, might help a little. Eases the nerves."
"What is it?" Sara asked.
"Just some herbs mixed with willow bark. Have it every night myself."
Oh right. Aspirin derivative. "Thank you." She smiled at her and accepted the glass. "That's pretty clever."
"These days I couldn't get on without it, not with what I've seen."
Sara gulped down the bitter liquid in one swallow nearly gagging at the taste. Rosita offered her a cup of water, which she found brackish but managed to eliminate the flavor that had lingered.
"Preaching to the choir." Sara agreed.
"You're American aren't ya? But you have no family over there?"
Sara winced. "My family, they, well-" she choked briefly on a sob that arose in her throat. "They all vanished all of a sudden." She thought of her mother and how proud she had been at her college graduation, which earned her the trip to London. Her mother and Sara had been quite contentious with each other throughout most her life with her father forced to play peacemaker.
'You two are too much the same people. If I wasn't here, you'd both burn the house down.' He had said in exasperation.
What wouldn't I give for just one more day. Sara thoughts seemed to be becoming languid. The distinct misery she had felt was slowly slipping away.
Rosita glanced down. "Sorry to hear. My family has been called home too."
Sara felt a wave of drowsiness, which rather then provoking fear, made her feel quite pleasant. "You think my family is there too? You know, home? Can't just be gone." She looked at Rosita in a daze. "Could they really be there?"
Rosita smiled. "Of course. I tell ya what. They are probably all there, eating chops, glancing down at us every now and again. Sending down good thoughts cause ya know, that's what keeps the metal men at bay."
Sara was feeling like her eyelids were at half mast and it was a herculean task to keep them open. "Cybermen." She repeated. "Yes, Cybermen. They delete, upgrade and then delete, upgrade."
She felt Rosita take her arm leading her across the stables. "There's a funeral for Reverend Fairchild and I need to check in with the Doctor. Ya think you'll be ok resting here?"
"Reverend. So sad. Did he need to die?" Sara asked, her tongue felt thick.
She found herself being pushed down on a mattress. "I will tell him you're here. Your Doctor."
"He stole me you know." Sara confided and giggled despite herself.
"Stole you?"
"Yes, I ran and ran and ran. There was a bridge. I had to get back you see and he took me."
"Took you?"
"I've seen it all. Like in movies." Rosita looked confused. "No, not movies. Like in plays but that is his life all acted out ahead of time. His life in motion and I know his part. I knew. The dog shouldn't of attacked me. That was wrong. Now I'm part of the play. I don't know my lines."
Rosita found herself perplexed at the girl's mutterings. "The laudanum." She said, pushing her down on the pillow. "You can just sleep it off. I'll be back in two shakes, all right?"
She had already drifted away and Rosita quickly covered her with a blanket, heading off to meet the Doctor. The other man had been quite severe about not leaving her side but what trouble could this sleeping girl cause in her state. Rosita shrugged. None at all.
Night was already starting to fall as Rosita made her way back to the alley where she had last seen the Doctor. She was in a state of considerable panic having not been able to locate either him or the girl's Doctor at the funeral and started to pace. Did the metal men-the Cybermen kill them both? Mad men, the two of them. Both dead now. I should of stayed-
Her relief was unimaginable when she saw the two of them making their way into the alley. "Doctor!" Without thinking, she embraced him muttering prayers of gratitude inwardly that he was still alive.
He seemed embarrassed as he detached himself from her but smiled nonetheless. "Now then, Rosita. A little decorum."
The other man was examining her intensely, seemingly puzzled at her presence. The girl's Doctor isn't he? Wonder if he did steal her. He seemed nearly heroic at the time yanking the creature off of her but somehow he also radiated a danger. Still, this stranger might have been sent by fate to help her Doctor. The terrible nightmares and ravings he had at night were more then she could manage but nevertheless, she had sworn to stay by his side.
"Where is Sara?" the man asked sharply and Rosita was slightly taken aback.
"Ah Rosita, forgive him." Her Doctor interceded. "This is John Smith and we were just ambushed by Cybermen. A bit rattled is all and he is helping me to-"
She turned on him in frustration, remembering her dread upon considering his demise. "You've been gone for so long." Glancing at John Smith who appeared to be in a state of anxiety. "He's always doing this, leaving me behind. Going frantic."
"What about the Tardis?" Her Doctor asked.
"Don't tell me she ran off again." The man reached into his jacket to remove a tool and Rosita could distinctly hear a high-pitched noise. "Once chance, I did tell her that."
"Do you always whistle when you're nervous, sir?" Her Doctor inquired.
Whistle?
"Now hold on. Your friend didn't run off. She's just asleep. Had a right shock she did." Rosita explained. "I gave her something for the nerves and it sent her right off."
"Something for the nerves?"
"Neither of you use laudanum?" She shook her head. "Asleep within minutes going on about how you stole her and her family vanished. Her head must've gone wrong."
"What about the Tardis?" Her Doctor asked.
Rosita nodded. "Oh, she's ready. Come on." She clutched her Doctor's arm. Glancing over at the other man. "The girl's right in there. Could be still a bit knackered but she had a good fright."
The Doctor silently put his screwdriver away and followed the pair pondering whether he had made the right decision to leave Sara with this woman. He already had a theory of who the other Doctor was but it was still a fascinating experience and not one he had seen. Infostamps. Quite clever if you think about it.
Still if Sara was safely stowed away inside and asleep somewhere, he would have had less to worry about had she been in the house being pursued by Cybermen.
"I'm looking forward to this." He said finally as they left the alley.
"Jess, where are you going?" Sara was trying to catch up. They were supposed to have tea at the Orangerie but Jessica was running too fast. Sara felt like her legs were made out of water. "Slow down a sec. Just hold on!"
"But you're late!" Jessica pronounced to her. "Far to late, you see?" Jessica pointed to something just ahead of her. Then Sara saw it. Bright bits of light. Rips of it descending from the sky straight towards her.
"Jessica!" Sara yelled out to warn. It was too late. The light ate right through her, flesh and bone. She watched in horror as Jessica's skin dissolved in front of her eyes as
everything else was being consumed in its path. "Stop!" Sara tried to cry out but Jessica was right as everything was being eaten out of existence.
There was a hand on her shoulder and startled, Sara turned. "Donna?" She asked.
"I know you, don't I?" Donna asked.
The light engulfed them, melding them together and Sara could feel the burning sensation ravaging inside her body. The pain was agonizing. She screamed.
Sara bolted up from the mattress choking on the scream that was in her throat. A homespun quilt fell from her shoulders and she concluded that Rosita must have covered her with it when she had fallen asleep.
Then she remembered Rosita saying something about laudanum and Sara felt undeniably foolish. Essentially she drank liquid morphine allowing herself to think it was nothing stronger then aspirin. Rosita had been so disarming in her nature that Sara couldn't help but let her guard down.
The woman appeared to have vanished and Sara was momentarily alone in the stables although she knew the Doctor was sure to return lured by the possibility of seeing this Doctor's Tardis. But then considering the behavior of that strange Cybershade, the course of events had seemed to be altered and Sara didn't know to what degree.
It was possibly very late afternoon to nearly early evening by the way light was shifting into the stables and she forced herself into sitting position and stretched.
Whatever Rosita and the Doctor had ventured, Sara desperately longed for fresh air. The smells emitted by the hot air balloon as well as the current tenants in the stables were not mixing well with the aftermath of the morphine induced slumber. She pushed herself up on her feet and shoved open the door.
She felt as if her heart nearly stopped and her panic had left her frozen in place. A woman in crimson red gown and dark hair fixed her with a gaze that seemed to be born out of utter cruelty. At her side were Cybermen, their armor gleaming in the snow. Sara could clearly see the human brains that were woven in the circuitry within their skull and there she could hardly fathom a more repellant sight.
"Has no one told you that it's impolite to stare?" The woman asked.
Sara swallowed down the bile in her throat. She remembered her. Miss Harrigan or Miss Harnigan. Wait. That's it. Miss Haritgan. She thought she could work with the Cybermen to fulfill her own plans. Delusional.
She managed to find her voice, attempting to summon a trace of confidence. She was in control, she just had to be and she utterly refused to let these things take that away from her. "Miss Hartigan, what are you doing here?"
The woman seemed surprised at Sara's knowledge of her name but covered her astonishment quickly.
"Why, looking for you, my dear." She took a step closer. "I hear you're considerably unique and indeed, you are a worthy find."
Sara shook her head. "You're supposed to be at the graveyard."
The woman's smile broadened. It was venomous. "Indeed I was going to pay a visit but I left them in very capable hands. I felt that you needed my personal touch. Aren't you flattered?"
Sara took a measured step back. "I have nothing here for you. Why don't you just run along?"
"I wouldn't say that. You're here. You met my little pet earlier didn't you, my dear?"
"Your pet?" Sara muttered. "The Cybershade."
"You have your own little treasure inside you and that is considerably useful at least to them you see." She gave a cold laugh. "Once they study and upgrade you, imagine all that we'll accomplish together."
Sara shook her head adamantly refusing to let that happen. "Like hell."
"How very lacking in decorum you are."
"You want to talk to me about decorum?" Sara clenched her teeth. "The Cybermen are just using you and soon enough they'll convert you. You can stop this right now."
"You're a liar."
"I'm lying? They have designated this whole time as a lie. Who do you think they will have ascend tonight as the Cyber King?"
Miss Hartigan seemed in part perturbed. She glanced at one of the Cybermen at her side. Then she looked at Sara and shook her head in adamant refusal. "Nicely played, my dear. I can see the value you have to them and soon, the two of us will bring about a revolution." She nodded to her companions. "Go on. Take her back to the work-"
In fury, Sara let fell a punch straight across her jaw. The other woman was stunned as trickles of blood dribbled down her mouth and onto her neck. She glared at Sara with malevolence.
Without hesitating, Sara turned and started to run. Everything is out of order. What has gone so wrong.
A/N: I have finally finished all my revisions on all my previous chapters so I can actually start writing my new content. I want to thank Fan Fanfiction Authoress for helping to beta my writing and being patient through my revisions as well as LovelyAmberLight for her insights in my story structure.
There were some major revisions if any of you care to go through prior chapters. At any rate, now I can start working on new content. I'm sorry this has taken a considerable while. If any of you read the changes, I would be interested to know what you think.
