The Lost Girl Chronicles Book 2: The Spark That Lingers

by frosty600

For Sophie, it continued with a crash landing and almost being crushed under the weight of the new man the Doctor had become. For the Doctor, it continued with a brain implosion and blue eyes and a smile that made his hearts race. Second in the Lost Girl Chronicles. Doctor/OC

11. Chapter 10 The Idiot's Lantern

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who. Just Sophie my o/c.

A/N: A big thank you to everyone who followed/favourited and reviewed last chapter and thank you to Saberbladeprime for helping out again with this chapter.

CHAPTER 10

The Idiot's Lantern

Sophie stood in the Tardis' wardrobe in front of a full body mirror. She looked herself over, teeth nibbling on her lower lip as she took in the light blue peep-toe heels, the white fishnet stockings, the vintage halterneck, kind of rockabilly dress, that was white with hundreds of light blue roses patterned all over it, white petticoats giving the lightly pleated skirt of the dress a very 1950s flare, a creamy white cinch belt clasped about her waist, the same colour as the elbow length gloves she was wearing to go with it.

Sophie turned to Rose who was standing just off to the side of her, in a dress similar to her own, but pink without a pattern, black fishnet stockings and pink peep-toe heels and a blue waist length jeans jacket. The blondes face fell slightly at the look on Sophie's face, "You don't like it?" she asked with obvious disappointment.

"No… I-I like it," Sophie assured a bit hurriedly as she turned her head to look back at her reflection, "I just…" she tangled her fingers into the ends of her hair, "Just, the leather jacket doesn't really go with this… and heels…" she muttered, glaring lightly down at the pretty blue shoes that would start making her feet hurt sooner rather than later, despite the sturdy low heel, "I can't get away with wearing runners in this…" she turned back to Rose, eyes slightly hopeful, "Can I?"

Rose who'd started to smirk knowingly, shook her head adamantly, "Nope, ya can't. Besides they're cute. And," she turned casting her gaze about the wardrobe, "We can find you another jacket to wear, one that'll really go with that dress."

The bells adorning Sophie's ears, chimed softly as the brunette nodded even as she pouted, just slightly, "The leather jacket's comfy," she muttered.

"Uh-huh," Rose practically sing-songed with amusement as she perused a rack, making a face at one of the jackets she was looking at, before moving on.

Sophie blinked at the tone in confusion, "It is," she insisted.

Rose glanced over her shoulder at her, smirking, "I'm sure it is," she said agreeably, but still something in the blonde's tone left Sophie blinking at her, watching her for a moment her brow scrunching quizzically.

She opened her mouth to ask about it, before she snapped it shut and, the bells chimed a bit louder as she shook her head, already hearing the 'nothin' Space-Cadet' the blond would say in response if she did ask. She turned and picked up a creamy white shawl that she'd set aside, before turning back to the blond, "I'd figured this would go nicely," she called.

Rose turned in response and took in the shawl in Sophie's hands before nodding, "Yep!" she popped the 'p' and quickly moved back towards the brunette, who blinked as the blond took hold of her hand and pulled her along after her as she crossed the wardrobe, "Time to do our hair," she exclaimed with a grin and turned to bat her lashes at Sophie, "I want a French twist, please!"

Sophie blinked at the fluttering lashes, before she huffed softly with amusement and, the bells chimed all so softly as she nodded lightly in agreement, "I can do that."

"Ooh, yes!" Rose cheered happily, her beaming grin widened, her tongue poking out from between her teeth.

Sophie shook her head again, smiling widely with her amusement at the blondes excited antics. She idly twirled a lock of her hair around one of her fingers as she started to really think about how she wanted to do her hair… what 1950's style she wanted to go with…

Sometime later, Rose was sitting down at one of the vanities that were scattered in various spots around the massive Tardis wardrobe as Sophie played with her hair, fingers working diligently into putting her hair into the French twist she'd asked for, a slender pink hair band in her hands ready to be put in to add just that extra dash of the 50's to the style she'd wanted to go with her outfit. Her gaze shifted from her own reflection in the mirror of the vanity to Sophie, "What're you thinking?" she asked.

"Hmm?" Sophie hummed distractedly, her brow scrunched with concentration.

"For your own hair?" Rose clarified.

"Oh," Sophie blinked, fingers twisting Rose's hair into place, the silky strands attempting to be stubborn as they tried to escape, "Um… I'm thinking of a 50's style bouffant ponytail, ya know with the volume at the back," she gestured, and then pouted as some of Rose's hair fell free, "Ah, oops, sorry," she murmured and Rose shook her head in amusement, "Oi!" Sophie protested, "Keep still!" she insisted shooting her a pointed look through the mirror.

Rose gave her a mildly sheepish look, "Sorry," she laughed.

Sophie nodded shooting her a warm smile, before she turned her gaze back to what she was doing and then sighed as a small section started to slip again, "I think your hairs too clean!" she muttered as she eyed the flyaway bits that were refusing to do what they were told.

"Well, I did wash it earlier," Rose hummed, "Maybe I'll just have to have a different style," she murmured with mild disappointment.

Sophie shook her head, bells chiming a bit louder with the movement, "Nope, you wanted a French twist, I'll give you a French twist," she said with determination, and mock scowled at the strands, "Now, behave or I'll sick the hairspray on you!"" she threatened them and Rose laughed as the brunette set to work again on the twist.

"You already did," the blond reminded her.

Sophie shrugged, "Well, I'll sick more on 'em!" she declared, "In fact, hand me the hairspray!" she requested and Rose reached for where it was settled on the vanity, "A touch more and it should start to behave a bit better," she muttered mostly to herself and Rose nodded in agreement earning another 'oi' from the brunette, which only had her laughing again…

"It looks great! Thanks!" Rose declared appreciatively a short while later, her hair having finally been pulled up into the twist she wanted and the pink band added.

"Your welcome," Sophie replied as she settled herself into the chair, Rose had just left, "Now, to do mine," she murmured as she opened a drawer and started sorting through it looking for a bouffant styling comb and pulled one out a moment later.

"I'll start looking for some rad accessories for us," Rose said as Sophie's hands went to her hair already starting work on the style she'd decided upon.

Sophie nodded, bells chiming gently, as she ran a brush through her hair, already working on sectioning her hair for the styling comb…

*O*O*O*

"Stop fiddling with it," Rose scolded lightly as she and Sophie stepped out of the wardrobe and began down the corridor.

Sophie paused, her fingers on the light blue silk hair scarf she'd tied around her head to compliment the bouffant ponytail she'd teased her hair into, having been in the midst of adjusting it once again, "It needs to sit right," she muttered, but none the less lowered her gloved hands from the scarf.

Rose shook her head lips quirking up in amusement, "It's not possible to wear a hair scarf wrong, Space-Cadet."

Sophie glanced over at her, "I suppose not…" her fingers twitched with the desire to adjust the head scarf again and instead fiddled with the row of creamy white pearls around her neck and then back up to the bells in her ears that were chiming all so softly as they swayed gently with her movements, "Just not used to wearing a scarf on my head, I guess."

"Hmm," Rose hummed and nodded in agreement, "Oh, speaking of which…" she put a hand into her jacket pocket, "You almost left these behind," she stated holding out blue rimmed sunglasses that looked kind of similar to the pink ones that Rose had found for herself during her hunt for accessories, the lenses just a tiny bit rounder.

"Oh, thanks," Sophie murmured, and then blinked at her curiously, "How's that speaking of?" she asked.

Rose shrugged, "I dunno… it just is."

Sophie nodded, bells giving a louder chime once again, her lips twitching in amusement as she turned the sunglasses over in her hands idly as they continued down the corridor towards the console room. A few moments later they were alighting the stairs and descending into the console room.

"Bout time!" the Doctor exclaimed from where he was fiddling with the console, inputting the coordinates for their trip. He twisted another dial and looked up, pausing as his gaze landed on Rose and Sophie as they stepped off the stairs and started towards the console, "Blimey!" he breathed, his hearts, both of them, skipping a beat in his chest as his gaze focused on the petite brunette.

Sophie blinked back at him, her gaze locked on his gelled back hair, her lips quirking up into another smile, "Ooh, a teddy-boy. Very 50s rockabilly."

The Doctor swallowed thickly, his mouth feeling a little dry, "Isn't it just," he grinned and Rose rolled her eyes in fond amusement as she watched the two. The Doctor tugged at his ear, "You uh," he cleared his throat a slight flush dusting his cheeks as he glanced over at Rose who was smirking at him rather knowingly, "You both look good… you gals do 50s well," he complimented, affecting a bit of an American accent for a moment, looking away as he scratched at the back of his neck.

Sophie smiled, a light flush heating her cheeks as her heart did an odd beat in her chest, "Thanks," she murmured.

Rose huffed under her breath in amusement and mild exasperation… 'The both of them, completely clueless, well one's clueless and the other's a stubborn idiot,' she corrected herself shooting a slightly narrowed look over at the Doctor, 'But still, just really…!'

The Doctor clapped his hands together, "Right, 1950's!" he exclaimed jovially as dashed about the console, inputting the finishing touches to the coordinates, "New York!"

Rose and Sophie blinked in surprise, "New York?" they questioned.

"Yep!" the Doctor replied as he pulled a lever and the Tardis jerked slightly, shaking lightly as she glided out of the drift she'd been idling in.

Rose and Sophie exchanged a look, before the brunette shrugged and they shared an excited smile, they were off to see Elvis!

*O*O*O*

Rose and Sophie stepped out of the Tardis and out onto the street, the blond brushing some of her hair out of her eyes as they looked about the street they were on, "I thought," Rose began.

"We," Sophie murmured the correction and Rose shot her a quick grin.

"We," she adjusted, "As in Soph and I, thought we'd be going for the Vegas Era, you know, the white flares and the…" Rose let out a seductive growl that had Sophie blinking at her, before the brunette made a low sound of amusement and the blond winked at her, "Chest hair."

The Doctor poked his head out of the Tardis door, "You are kidding, you gals are, aren't you?" he asked staring at them with a touch of incredulity. Sophie shook her head in response and Rose merely gave him a look in return, "You wanna see Elvis, you go in the late 50's! The time before burgers," he disappeared back inside the Tardis, "When they called him 'the Pelvis' and he still had a waist," he carried on as he moved about inside.

Rose and Sophie exchanged a brief amused look and laughed.

"What's more, you see him in style," they heard him say a moment before the sound of an engine reached them and they looked round to the Tardis in time to see the Doctor ride out on a blue late-50s moped, a sidecar attached to it, a white helmet now on his head and big sunglasses. Sophie grinned as he pulled up whilst Rose let out another amused laugh, "You dolls goin' my way?" he asked in his best Elvis impression.

"Is there any other way to go, daddy-o?" Rose replied as she and Sophie walked towards the moped, "Straight from the fridge man!"

Sophie blinked at her bemused whilst the Doctor beamed a delighted grin, "Hey, you speak the lingo!" he glanced over at Sophie, "What about you Sparks? Got any of that 50's lingo?"

Sophie arched a brow at him at the question, "Apart from what I learned from Rose, just then… nope," she shook her head, bells chiming merrily once again, and shrugged a bit, "I struggle enough deciphering the lingo from our present," she replied with a gesture to herself and Rose.

"Ah…" the Doctor hummed in understanding as he picked up a pink helmet, tossing it to Rose who caught it, before picking up a blue one and tossing it to Sophie, who did the same.

"Oh well…" Rose began turning to Sophie as she put the helmet onto her head, "I only know cos me, mum, Cliff Richard movies every Bank Holiday Monday," she explained.

The Doctor made an 'I knew it' face, "Ah… Cliff," he murmured and Sophie blinked at him at the almost reminiscent expression on his face, "I knew your mother'd be a Cliff fan," he muttered.

Sophie blinked at him again, "You've met him?" she asked curiously, bells giving another soft chime as she tilted her head slightly. The Doctor glanced over at her with a smirk and a wink, but otherwise didn't say anything, and she huffed amused even as she rolled her eyes, taking it for a 'yes', "Is there a famous person you haven't met?" she asked with mild amused sarcasm as she placed her light blue helmet on her head.

"Course there is! Plenty, I haven't met, Sparks," the Doctor replied as if her question had been entirely serious, "I keep meaning to drop by on Shakespeare…" he mused, "Never seem to get around to it though…" he paused in surprise as he caught the grimace that crossed Sophie's face, "You don't like Shakespeare?" Sophie shook her head in the negative and the Doctor gaped at her aghast, "But-But, he's brilliant. His way with words, absolutely brilliant!"

Sophie shrugged a bit, she had tried to enjoy Shakespeare, but well… "I just didn't get it…" she explained, "Found the whole language thing confusing."

"You weren't the only one," Rose muttered, with a mild grimace of her own.

"I mean I'd uh, kind of get the gist but…" Sophie trailed as the Doctor continued to gape at her aghast, "…sorry?" she offered the apology somewhat bemused by his reaction to her dislike of Shakespeare's works.

The Doctor clicked his jaw shut as he finally pulled himself out of his shock enough to stop gaping at the petite brunette, who he'd been positive would have adored Shakespeare's works, and got up off the moped.

Sophie blinked as he took her hand and started leading her back towards the Tardis much to her surprise, "Um, where are we going?" she asked bemused.

"To the library," the Doctor replied glancing over his shoulder at her.

"Eh?!" Sophie exclaimed in surprise, her eyes widening with it.

"We'll go over some of his plays, by the time I'm done, you'll love 'em!" the Doctor exclaimed and Sophie blinked at him again, a sceptical brow arching at the Time Lord's back as she tottered after him with a bit of reluctance.

"Oi, Bookworms!" Rose exclaimed with irritation from behind them and the Time Lord paused in his stride and turned on his heel to look back at the exasperated blond questioningly. The blond raised incredulous brows at him, her hands on her hips as she tapped her foot, eyes narrowed on him, "Elvis, remember?" she huffed and the Doctor's expression immediately turned sheepish and he tugged at his ear a bit embarrassed at having gotten so easily distracted, whilst Sophie huffed out an exasperated and amused breath as she shook her head at him, "You can show Soph the error of her ways later!" Rose huffed.

"Oi!" Sophie protested shooting Rose a look that the blond merely shrugged at.

"Right," the Doctor nodded as he headed back towards the moped, hand still clasped about Sophie's as he led her back towards it.

Rose shook her head at him, hands falling from her hips as her gaze turned to Sophie again, "I can take the sidecar if ya like?" the brunette offered as the Doctor situated himself back on the scooter.

"Nah, I got the sidecar," Rose replied slipping on her sunglasses, turning to the sidecar as she spoke.

Sophie blinked at the blond a little surprised. She was the smallest after all, but nodded all the same as she slipped on her sunglasses, mostly to free up her hands as she turned back to the Doctor and clambered onto the back of the scooter behind him.

"Hold on tight, Sparks," the Doctor told her and Sophie nodded complying just before the Doctor revved the engine and they took off down the street.

"Where are we off to?" Rose shouted loudly over the sound of the engine.

"Ed Sullivan TV Studios," the Doctor shouted back, "Elvis did 'Hound Dog' on one of the shows, there were loads of complaints. Bit of luck, we'll just catch it."

Sophie blinked as she glanced about the street they were driving down, "Ooh…" she murmured, her lips starting to twitch upwards.

"And that'll be TV Studios in, what, New York?" Rose asked.

"As in 'The Big Apple' New York?" Sophie piped up speaking loud enough to be heard over the engine this time, her lips curved up in amusement.

"That's the one!" the Doctor replied with a beaming grin, no sooner had the words left his mouth that a red double-decker bus drove past them and the Doctor came to a stop by a red post box staring after it, rather bemusedly.

Sophie sniggered lightly as the Doctor and Rose stared at the Union Flags that were hanging from roof top to roof top, "Ooh, just lovin' the 'Big Apple'!" Sophie chortled teasingly.

Rose nodded as she took let out an amused laugh, "Yep, definitely digging that New York vibe!" she agreed and the two exchanged looks full of amusement.

"Well…" the Doctor hedged as he continued to glance about the street, "This could still be New York. I mean, this looks very New York to me…" Sophie and Rose shot him amused sceptical looks, "Sort of… Londony New York, mind."

Sophie shook her head, grinning, "Or, more likely, it's a Londony London…" she commented and the Doctor pouted whilst she pulled a slight face as she ran what she'd said back through her mind, "Did I just say Londony," she muttered more to herself.

The Doctor smirked, picking up the muttering, "Yep, ya did," he replied all so helpfully and felt Sophie poke at it his side playfully.

Rose shook her head in amusement at them as she looked around the street again, "What's with all the flags?"

"Celebration, maybe?" Sophie suggested turning her attention back to the flags.

The Doctor grinned, "Let's find out."

*O*O*O*

"Smashing," Eddie praised as he got up from the couch he was sitting on with his family, the theme song for 'Muffin the Mule' rounding off, "Smashing, ennit?" he asked them as he moved towards the television and Tommy and Rita turned their unenthusiastic eyes from the telly to him, "You'd think they was in the room with you, eh? Fair do's Tommy, you had a point! New Television! There," he turned back to his family that stared back at him sadly, "That should cheer you up a bit, Rita. Give us a smile, then, eh?"

"I can't," Rita murmured sadly, "Nothing's the same anymore," Eddie's smile fell away, "Not without her…"

"Stop going on about it!" Eddie demanded sternly.

"But her face, Eddie!" Rita protested, as she stared at him with heartbroken eyes, "What happened to her? That awful face…"

"I said, stop it!" Eddie shouted and Tommy flinched a bit, he hated it when his dad shouted at his mum.

A series of thumping taps came from the ceiling and they all looked up towards it, "She's awake…" Rita breathed quietly to her son, not wanting to provoke her already agitated husband further, "I think she's hungry…" she murmured softly, glancing over at her son who swallowed and gave a minute nod of his head.

*O*O*O*

Magpie threw open the doors to his van and two errand boys pulled out a television and started for the house, whilst the home owner looked on, quite pleased that his new television had arrived, "There you go, sir," Magpie commented, smiling politely at the man, as another man and two women approached from down the street, "All wired up for the great occasion."

The Doctor, Sophie and Rose who'd been about to walk past heard him and paused as they turned to him, "The great occasion? What do you mean?" the Doctor asked.

Magpie turned to them incredulously, "Where've you been living, out in the Colonies? Coronation, of course," he stated as he shut the doors of his van.

"Oh…" Sophie hummed with realization, her gaze going to the Union flags hanging across the rooftops again.

"What Coronation's that then?" the Doctor asked curiously and got an awkward smile from the man they'd approached, whilst Sophie and Rose shot him surprised looks, it seemed kind of obvious to them.

"What d'you mean?" Magpie asked blinking at him in bemusement, "The Coronation."

The Doctor merely blinked at the man, still pulling a complete blank, before he turned to Sophie and Rose questioningly, the two still staring at him.

"The Queen's!" Rose replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Queen Elizabeth!" Sophie clarified for him as the Doctor continued to stare at them blankly.

"Oh!" the Doctor exclaimed as realization dawned and he turned back to the man who was still staring at him in bemusement, "Oh, is this 1953?!"

"Last time I looked," Magpie nodded, "Time for a lovely bit of pomp and circumstance, what we do best."

"Look at all the TV aerials…" Rose murmured as she turned her gaze to the chimneys.

Sophie followed her gaze, looking about the rooftops again, really taking in the aerials this time, "That's a lot of aerials," she murmured with mild confusion.

Rose nodded, "Looks like everyone's got one,"

Sophie glanced at the Doctor and Rose, "That's weird, isn't it?"

The blond nodded whilst the Doctor continued to look about the street thoughtfully, "Yeah, definitely weird," Rose agreed, "My nan said tellies were so rare they all had to pile into one house," the bells in Sophie's ears chimed softly as she nodded, her fingers tapping lightly over the blue helmet she was holding in her hands, that's what she'd thought too.

"Not around here, loves," Magpie replied and shifted to show them the writing embellished on the side of his van as the Doctor started off back down the street, "Magpie's Marvellous Tellies, only five quid a box," he exclaimed.

Sophie turned to Magpie blinking in confusion, "Five quid?" she murmured questioningly, her brow scrunched slightly in thought. That didn't sound right, it was far too cheap for a telly especially in the 50's, even if the man was having some kind of special.

Magpie nodded, smiling, "That's right, Love," and Sophie let out a low thoughtful hum, her brow still slightly scrunched as she exchanged a brief look with Rose.

"Oh, but this is a brilliant year! Classic!" the Doctor called as he turned back to Sophie and Rose with an enthusiastic grin, stepping back towards them energetically, "Technicolour, Everest climbed, everything off the ration," he exclaimed his companions' eyes following him as he walked past them a pace or two. He turned back to face them again as he continued dramatically "The Nation throwing off the shadows of war and looking forward to a happier, brighter future!" the Doctor lowered his arms back down to his sides, grinning rather fondly as Sophie and Rose grinned at him in amusement as they laughed.

The jovial sound cut off abruptly, smiles disappearing as a woman's frantic shouts suddenly rent the air, and they turned towards the sound in alarm, "Someone help me please!" the woman cried as she rushed out of her house, "Ted!" she called desperately as the Doctor, Sophie and Rose hurried towards them as two large men in suits marched a man with a blanket over his head towards a black police car, "Leave him alone! He's my husband! Please!"

"What's going on?" the Doctor demanded as the man with the blanket over his head was pushed forcibly into the back of the police car.

Tommy, having been drawn by the commotion rushed out of his family home, "Oi!" he shouted as he hurried towards them, "What are you doing?!"

One of the officers turned to the Doctor, "Police business, now get out of the way, sir," he demanded as he and the other officer made their way round to the front car.

"Who did they take?" Rose asked Tommy as the Police officers got into the car, "Do you know him?"

"Must be Mr. Gallagher…" Tommy replied, trailing as the car drove away, leaving Mrs. Gallagher to stare after it in despair as she sobbed.

"Why would they take Mr. Gallagher?" Sophie asked softly, her gaze going to the distraught wife, not wanting to distress her further, her gaze going back to the teenager as he spoke.

"It's happening all over the place," he muttered, "They're turning into monsters…"

"Tommy!" Eddie shouted and the teen looked back at his house to see his dad fuming outside the door beside his mum who was watching on nervously, "Not one word!" Eddie demanded as the Doctor, Sophie and Rose turned their gazes to him, "Get inside now!"

"Sorry," Tommy apologised as he turned back to the three he'd been talking to, "I'd better do as he says…" he muttered before he turned and headed back towards his house.

The Doctor pulled his gaze from the back of the swiftly retreating car as it drove off up the road, hurriedly putting his sunglasses back on as he ran for the moped, Sophie and Rose right behind him. The Doctor threw his leg over the back of the scooter, jamming his helmet back on his head as Sophie scrambled to get on behind him, whilst Rose jumped back into the sidecar, hands fiddling hurriedly with her helmet.

Sophie's fingers lowered from the under the chin strap of her helmet as the Doctor kicked the moped to life, engine roaring, "All aboard!" he shouted over the noise of it, glancing over at the sidecar to see the blond in it as Sophie's hands clasped tightly about his waist and he took off up the street after the black car as it sped around the corner.

The rushing air making the girls squint against it and Rose, having her hands free dug her sunglasses out of her pocket and slipped them on, a second later her hands were flying to the sides of the sidecar, clutching it in a white knuckled grip as the Doctor haphazardly took the corner at great speed and Sophie clutched at the Doctor's waist tighter still, face paling slightly as they continued to speed precariously down the road after the black car, "Oh bugger!" she breathed as she couldn't help but suddenly wonder if the Doctor even had a licence to drive the moped…

*O*O*O*

"Operation Market Stall," one of the officers in the black car spoke loudly into a radio as they sped around another corner, "Go, go, go!"

In response to the order tall corrugated metal gates opened at the end of the street, allowing the car to speed through them, before closing tightly behind it. Immediately, two men wheeled a wooden market barrow full of vegetables in front of the closed gates and before they took up broom and started sweeping out the front of it, looking for all the world like they'd been there the entire time.

*O*O*O*

Sophie's arms squeezed about the Doctor's waist as he careened them around yet another corner and down the street they'd turned into, only to stop just short of the market barrow at the end of the road, "Lost 'em," the Doctor muttered bemusedly as he stared at the sweepers, "How'd they get away from us?"

Sophie blinked, brow scrunching as she glanced about the dead-end street, "They pulled a Houdini!" she muttered, her grip around the Doctor's waist loosening now that they'd come to a stop.

Rose nodded her agreement, before she turned her gaze to the Doctor, "Surprised they didn't turn back and arrest you for reckless driving," she remarked and Sophie nodded turning her gaze from the street to the Doctor, "Have you actually passed your test?!" the blond asked.

The Doctor gave no answer as he continued to stare about at the dead-end with bemusement and Sophie narrowed her gaze slightly on him, before she groaned lowly, "Oh, of course he hasn't," she sighed, "The instructors probably didn't understand his genius then either," she muttered sarcastically with a shake of her head.

"Men in black?" the Doctor muttered, choosing to ignore his companions as he continued to stare at the dead-end, "Vanishing police cars?" he shook his head, "This is Churchill's England, not Stalin's Russia!"

"Monsters, that boy said…" Rose murmured thoughtfully, her eyes on the two men that were still sweeping about their vegetable barrow as the Doctor turned his head to look at her.

Sophie's brow scrunched thoughtfully as she gave a slow nod of agreement, he had said that, one of the only things he'd been able to say before he'd been called back inside by his unhappy father, "You wanna head back?" the Doctor shifted his gaze to her, "Poke about a bit?" she guessed, smiling at the blond, it was a good idea.

Rose nodded, returning the smile, "Maybe chat up the neighbours a bit," she agreed, "See what they know."

"That's what I like about you, Rose," the Doctor replied all sweetness as he looked away from the blond, "The domestic approach."

"Thanks," Rose replied, her smile widening into a beaming grin, before she blinked, her smile fading rapidly as she ran what he said over in her head again, "Hold on," she muttered exchanging a look with Sophie who'd evidentially come to the same conclusion as her, "Was that an insult?!" she demanded.

The Doctor merely grinned to himself as he kicked the moped back to life, engine roaring and Sophie and Rose let out alarmed sounds as he turned them around sharply. The blonde's hands grasped the edges of the sidecar in a white knuckled grip again, whilst Sophie tightened her grip about the Doctor's waist again, her eyes squinted against the wind as they sped down the road and haphazardly around the corner that had her fearing that they'd spin out of control and crash to their deaths.

*O*O*O*

Magpie stood before a display tower of tellies in his shop, all of them showing the no broadcast signal, except for the one in the middle, "I've finished it, as you instructed…" he spoke to it, eyes locked on the tellie, palms sweating profusely as he laid a strange device that appeared to be a cross between a portable radio and a TV onto one of the tellies.

A woman appeared on the screen he'd been addressing, "That's awfully good of you, Mr. Magpie," she replied.

"So, you'll go soon?" Mr. Magpie asked a touch hopefully, "You'll leave me?"

"Oh, we'll see," the woman replied sweetly, "If you're a very good boy."

Mr. Magpie grabbed at his face, his expression turning pained, "Please… you're burning me… inside… behind my eyes, it hurts!" he pled, "Even my memories hurt! I just want things back like they used to be!"

"Oh, but this world of yours is busy, busy, busy! Forging ahead into a brand-new age, you can never go back! That's your tragedy. But now, the time is almost ripe, Magpie. Cometh the hour, cometh the man," the woman gave a coy laugh, "Or lady…"

*O*O*O*

Tommy approached the bottom of the stairs nervously, a key clutched in his hand. He took a breath and slowly started up them moving as quietly as he could. He paused, swallowing as the banging started up again, it was only a brief hesitation though, before he was continuing up the stairs. He reached the landing, and his gaze immediately went to the shadows moving behind one of the closed doors. He quietly drew closer, one of his hands still clasped about the small key to the door, "Gran?" he called tentatively, "Gran, it's me. It's Tommy. I'm gonna come in gran," he told her as heh shifted a bit nervously, "Stand back…" he faltered slightly, "Just don't… I'm sorry, but I've got to come in."

"What do you think you're doing?!" Eddie demanded darkly as he glowered at his son from where he was standing by the landing.

Tommy spun around to face him, eyes slightly wide with surprise and a small amount of fear, even as he frowned defiantly, "We've got to try and help her, dad!"

"Gimme that key!" Eddie demanded and glowered darkly as his son did nothing but stare at him, "I said, give me that key, right now," he demanded again.

Tommy swallowed again, but slowly shuffled towards his father and handed over the key with heavy reluctance.

Eddie snatched it and shoved the offending key into his pocket, "Don't think I'm finished with you," he threatened his son as he grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, making Tommy wince before he started back down the stairs, dragging Tommy with him.

Eddie pulled his son along with him as he walked over to his wife who stood up from where she was sitting on the sofa at the sight of them, her eyes anxious, "All the warnings I've given you, and every time, every time," he reiterated, "You disobey me!"

"We can't just lock her away," Tommy cut in.

"Excuse me, sunshine, I am talking!" Eddie shouted, anger rising at his son's stubborn disobedience and audacity in talking back to him, "And you can forget that college nonsense. You're going to come and work alongside me. Get your hands dirty for once."

Another bang came from upstairs, "Oh Lord," Rita moaned in distress at the sound, "Won't she ever stop?" she asked miserably, close to tears as the banging continued over and over again.

Eddie softened, suddenly caring as he turned to his wife, "There, there, Rita, my sweet," he stepped towards her placing a hand on her shoulder, "Business as usual. Now let's get these up all over the house," he gestured over at the Union Flags that had been set out in preparation of being put up, "In honour of her Majesty."

"But Eddie," Rita whispered tearfully, "What if she's dying?" she asked despairingly.

"I am talking!" Eddie shouted, his simmering anger exploding again and Rita flinched and the room fell silent apart from the tellie in the background. Eddie took a breath, calming again, "That's better. A little bit of hush," he murmured.

The doorbell rang, Eddie stilled, his body stiff as they all turned towards the general direction of the front door. Tommy moved to go answer it, only for Eddie to catch him by the arm, "I'll get it," he stated and Tommy nodded, frowning at his father's back, before moving after him to see who was at the front door.

*O*O*O*

"Hi!" the Doctor, Sophie and Rose said in chorus as soon as the door opened, the three of them grinning widely at Tommy's dad.

Eddie peered at the three standing at his front door suspiciously, whilst Tommy lurked a bit further back, "Who are you, then?"

"Let's see then," the Doctor mused as he looked the man over, reaching into one of his suit pockets, "Judging by the look of you, family man, nice house, decent wage, fought in the war, therefore, I represent Queen and Country!" he declared as he pulled out the physic paper, presenting it with a flourish to the startled man, "Just doing a little check of Her forthcoming Majesty's subjects before the great day," the Doctor chattered on tucking the physic paper back into his pocket, "Don't mind if I come in? Nah," he continued before the man could do so much as take a breath to reply, "Didn't think you did, thank you!" the Doctor said as he shoved past the man and into the house, leaving the man to frown after him, rather disconcerted.

"Sorry, for the intrusion," Sophie muttered apologetically as she pushed past him, Rose a step behind her as they swiftly followed the Doctor inside and into a living room.

"Not bad, very nice!" the Doctor commented as he glanced about the tidy room, "Very well kept!" he turned to the woman who was staring at him from where she was standing by the tellie, "I'd like to congratulate you, Mrs…?"

"Connolly," Rita replied timidly.

Sophie blinked at that, a soft mumbled, "Oh," escaping her in surprise and a bit of wonder, her gaze darting swiftly to the Tommy, who'd just stepped into the living room, before going to the Doctor and Rose who'd both glanced over at her curiously for her reaction.

"Now then, Rita," Mr. Connolly spoke as he stepped into the living room after his son, "I can handle this. This gentleman's a proper representative," Sophie's brow scrunched slightly in concern as Rita's anxious expression turned terrified. The Doctor winked reassuringly at the woman, whilst Rose moved to perch on the arm of a sofa, "Don't mind the wife," Mr. Connolly continued addressing the Doctor now, "She rattles on a bit."

Sophie's lightly scrunched brow furrowed into a frown as she glanced from Rita to her overbearing husband, 'Right… the 50's…' Sophie thought dismally a disquieted grimace crossing her features.

"Well, maybe she should rattle on a bit more," the Doctor retorted as he too frowned at Mr. Connolly, who stared back shocked, Tommy's mouth fell open slightly as he too stared in shock at the gentleman.

The bells in Sophie's ears chimed softly as she nodded and turned her gaze away from Mr. Connolly, "You can find out some really interesting things when people rattle on."

"That you can, Sparks," the Doctor agreed shooting her a quick grin whilst Mr. Connolly seemed to stiffen and twitch, brow furrowing.

Rose grinned at the Doctor, "You'd know all about that, wouldn't ya? Rattle on for days, he would, if you let him."

"That he would," Sophie agreed with a smile, bells chiming again as she gave another nod, studiously avoiding looking over at Mr. Connolly, whose cheeks had started to puff out a bit in anger, whilst Rita stared at the two younger women in her home with slightly wide eyes, not sure what to make of what was happening. Whilst Tommy's mouth quietly clicked shut, lips starting to twitch up ever so slightly.

"Love a good gab," the Doctor agreed with a bit of a cheeky wink at Sophie and Rose, before he turned his gaze about the living room again, taking note of the flags scattered about the room, still waiting to be put up.

"Now see here, sir…" Eddie began doing his best to keep a tight grip on his temper and his voice calm and polite as he focused his attention on the gentlemen… the representative of the Queen, he forcibly reminded himself.

"I'm not convinced you're doing your patriotic duty, Mr. Connolly," the Doctor cut him off, sounding for all the world like he hadn't even known that the man was talking as he turned his gaze back to him, "Nice flags. Why are they not flying?"

Eddie blinked, somewhat taken aback by the sudden change in the subject. He cleared his throat a touch nervously, "There we are Rita," he turned to his wife, "I told you," Rita nodded timidly, glancing nervously from her husband to the representative and back again, "Get them up, Queen and Country!"

The Doctor's expression turned sceptical and he started to move across the living room towards Eddie, whilst Rita swallowed, "I'm sorry…" she began only to hesitate as the Doctor gestured for her to stay where she was.

"Get it done. Do it now!" Eddie demanded at seeing her hesitate and Rita glanced between the two nervously.

"Hold on a minute…" the Doctor began still frowning at Mr. Connolly.

"Like the gentleman says," Eddie continued not hearing him speak as he stared intently at his wife.

"Hold on a minute," the Doctor cut in a second time and Mr. Connolly turned to him again, visibly surprised, "You've got hands, Mr. Connolly. Two big hands!" the Doctor observed, "Why is that your wife's job?"

"It's housework, innit?" Eddie replied.

"And that's a woman's job?" the Doctor asked, his brows raised and Sophie grimaced anticipating Mr. Connolly's answer.

"Course it is!" Eddie scoffed dismissively. Sophie shifted uncomfortably, hand toying with the string of pearls at her neck, her brow furrowing a bit deeper at the answer despite having expected it. Whilst Rose silently bristled where she was comfortably perched on the arm of a sofa, eyes narrowing on Mr. Connolly.

"Mr. Connolly, what gender is the Queen?" the Doctor asked, his brows still raised.

"She's a female," Eddie replied defensively.

"And are you suggesting the Queen does the housework?" the Doctor persisted as he stared pointedly at Mr. Connolly.

"No!" Mr. Connolly exclaimed hastily and Tommy's lips started to curl up into a small smile and even Rita seemed to hearten slightly as her husband was forced to concede to the logic of the Queen's representative, "Not at all!" he muttered.

The Doctor picked up a string of Flags and held it out to Mr. Connolly, staring at him insistently, "Then get busy," he ordered and Sophie raised a hand in a poor attempt to hide her amused smile as Mr. Connolly took the Union Flags from the Doctor's outstretched hand.

"Right, yes sir," Eddie murmured as he turned and set about hanging up the Flags, "You'll be proud of us, sir!" he exclaimed with poorly feigned enthusiasm, "We'll have Union Jacks left, right and centre!" he declared as the Doctor slowly moved back across the room.

Rose got to her feet hands on her hips, "'Scuse me, Mr. Connolly, hang on a minute! Union Jacks?" she asked.

Eddie paused in his work to glance over at her in surprise and slight confusion, "Yes, that's right, isn't it?"

Sophie coughed slightly to smother a light chuckle, "Not exactly…" she murmured and got a blink from Mr. Connolly.

"That's the Union Flag," Rose elaborated for him, "It's the Union Jack only when it's flown at sea," she explained and Tommy's smile widened into a fully-fledged grin as his father stuttered and attempted to save face.

"Oh…" Eddie exclaimed wrongfooted and attempted a humble apologetic smile, "Oh, I'm sorry, I do apologise."

"Well, don't get it wrong again, there's a good man," Rose replied with a wide smile, "Now get to it!" she ordered forcefully, turning away as Mr. Connolly hastily got back to work hanging up the Flags that Rita hadn't found the time to put up yet.

"Right then!" the Doctor exclaimed as he moved towards the sofa Sophie was standing in front of settling himself into one of the cushioned seats and Sophie settled herself on the sofa beside him as Rose joined them sitting in the single sofa beside the double, "Nice and comfy at Her Majesty's leisure," the Doctor commented as Eddie continued to, in all haste, hang the string of Union Flags. He leaned towards Rose, "Union Flag?" he whispered.

Rose shrugged, "Mum went out with a sailor," she replied in explanation.

"Oh, ho, ho, ho. I bet she did," the Doctor murmured with an amused smirk.

Sophie rolled her eyes at him, "Leave Jackie alone," she mildly chided him, keeping her voice as soft as his.

The Doctor shot her a quick amused smirk, "Anyway," he addressed the room again, "I'm the Doctor, this is Sophie," he gestured her, "And this is Rose," he turned to the teen, "And you are?" he asked and got a surprised look from him at suddenly being addressed.

"Tommy," he replied as he returned Sophie's and the Doctor's smiles with a slightly hesitant one of his own.

"Well, sit yourself down, Tommy," the Doctor urged as he and Sophie shifted on the sofa, budging up to make room for him to sit between them. He motioned for Rita to take a seat and Rose noticing that there wasn't much more available chair space got up from the single sofa seat for the woman and walked around the back of the couch the Doctor and Sophie where occupying to easily perch on the arm of it beside Sophie as Tommy sat between them and Rita took the vacated sofa with another discreet look at her husband as he continued to work.

"Have a look at this," the Doctor murmured indicating the TV, their gazes turning to the box that was still on, "I love telly, don't you?"

Tommy nodded, his hesitant smile from before turning into a wide grin, "Yeah, I think it's brilliant!" he exclaimed.

"Good man!" the Doctor said with a nod, from where she was sitting on the single sofa Rita stared down at her hands that were folded in her lap.

There was silence for a few moments as they watched the man that was currently on the telly as he showed the viewers the vertebra of an ichthyosaurus. The Doctor turned in his seat, checking on Mr. Connolly to see him still begrudgingly hanging the Flags as he'd been instructed, "Keep working Mr. C!" he called jovially, sniggering just a little under his breath, before he turned to Rita, his cheerful countenance dropping and his voice quieting to a low murmur, "Now, why don't you tell me what's wrong?" he asked.

Rita swallowed, lifting her sad eyes from her hands to look at him and hesitated briefly in mild reluctance, her gaze drifting briefly to her husband before returning to the man that was staring at her, waiting patiently for her to speak, "Did you say you were a Doctor?"

The Doctor nodded and smiled reassuringly, "Yes, I am."

Rita shifted turning in her seat to face him fully, "Can you help her?" she asked him urgently, "Oh please, can you help her, Doctor?" she pleaded.

"Now then Rita," Eddie cut in, having heard his wife, her voice having risen in her desperation, "I don't think the gentleman needs to know…"

"No, the gentleman does!" the Doctor cut in, shooting the man a look that was full of irritation, his patience with him starting to wear thin. Whilst Sophie's brow scrunched in concern as Rita began to cry.

She shifted in her seat, turning her head to look at Tommy, "Where's the kitchen?" she asked softly.

Tommy stared at her quizzically a brief moment, before nodding in the general direction of the kitchen, "Through there," he murmured.

Sophie nodded and stood, walking across the living room in the direction Tommy had indicated. Eddie who was already rather irritated by being spoken to in such a manner by the Doctor in his own home no less, scowled at her darkly, "Where are you going?!" he demanded unpleasantly and the Doctor stiffened in his seat at his tone, his brow that had already been furrowed in concern darkened in anger as his attention shifted from the upset Rita to her husband as Sophie paused in her stride and turned to the man.

"To the kitchen," she stated shortly as she frowned at him, "To make your wife some tea," she turned from him and started walking again without waiting for a response, "I hear it's soothing," she sassed as she stepped from the living room and into the kitchen the sound of a kettle being put on reached them a moment later.

Rose smirked as Mr. Connolly gaped after Sophie, whilst Tommy ducked his head a bit to hide his own smile this time, not wanting to draw his father's ire if he caught sight of it. The Doctor's expression, however didn't lighten in the slightest as he all but glowered at the other man, "You will speak to my friends with respect Mr. Connolly," he warned him coldly and Mr. Connolly seemed to swallow, but otherwise didn't answer as he stared at the Doctor, "Now, I suggest you get back to hanging those Flags."

Sophie popped her head back into the living room, "Did you take any sugar, milk or cream in your tea Mrs. Connolly?" she asked.

Rita blinked, sniffling quietly as tears continued to make tracks down her cheeks despite her best efforts to control herself, they had guests and here she was crying and being waited on by one of them! She was the hostess she should have been offering them tea, Eddie would be so mad when they left, "Uh," she found her voice, "Just milk," she murmured quietly.

Sophie nodded, before she disappeared back inside the kitchen the soft sounds of her bustling about reaching them as the kettle started to whistle. A moment later she was stepping fully back into the living room a steaming tea cup in hand, "There you are, Mrs. Connolly," Sophie murmured softly, offering the upset woman a kind smile as she offered the tea cup to her.

Rita reached up, accepting the cup from the younger woman, "Thank you," she murmured quietly, fingers trembling slightly, the tears still falling down her cheeks.

"And here," Sophie murmured, holding out a few clean tissues she'd plucked from a tissue box in the kitchen on her way back out. Mrs. Connolly accepted them with a nod of thanks, immediately moving to dab at her cheeks and eyes with them, before taking a sip of the tea, rather grateful for the hot drink. Whilst Sophie quietly stepped away from the older woman, not wanting to hover over her, moving to retake her seat on the sofa beside Tommy.

"Tell us what's wrong," Rose urged gently as Rita stared despondently down at the contents of her cup, tissues crumpled in one hand, "And we can help," she murmured and Rita couldn't help it as her silent tears turned into loud sobs and she shook her head. Rose got up from her perch and went to her, "I'm sorry," she apologised, she hadn't meant to upset the woman further, she placed an arm around the woman's shoulders as she tried to comfort her, "Come on, come on…" she soothed softly as Rita held the tissues to her face as she continued to sob.

Whilst Sophie stared helplessly at the distraught woman, blue eyes concerned as Rose rubbed soothingly at Rita's arm, she shifted on her seat, moving to get up to grab more tissues for Rita only to still, her posture stiffening as Mr. Connolly yelled.

"Hold on a minute!" they turned their gazes to him, to see him glowering at them and Tommy swallowed a bit uncomfortably, whilst Sophie's gloved hands balled into fists on her lap, teeth sinking into her lower lip as she stared at the angry man and the Doctor's jaw clenched in rising anger, "Queen and Country's one thing, but this is my house!" Mr. Connolly snapped angrily and Sophie frowned as her eyes narrowed slightly on him, whilst Rose continued to rub soothingly at Rita's arms as the woman continued to sob heartbrokenly, even as her own eyes narrowed on Mr. Connolly.

The Doctor shifted in his seat, propping his head up on his forearm and balled fist, his expression still calm, even as he forcibly restrained himself as his anger simmered closer and closer to the surface.

Eddie looked down at the Union Flags in his hands, "What the…" he tossed them furiously to the ground, "What the hell am I doing?!" he snarled at himself, before he rounded on the Doctor, striding towards him angrily, "Now, you listen here, Doctor!" the Doctor stared at him as he continued to rest his head on his tightly balled fist, still outwardly calm, though his brown eyes were flinty in their regard, "You may have fancy qualifications, but what goes under my roof is my business!"

"A lot of people are being bundled into…" the Doctor started scathingly.

"I am talking!" Eddie shouted angrily, his eyes bulging in their sockets as he glowered at the Doctor as he cut him off.

"And I'm not listening!" the Doctor shouted back furiously, his patience snapping as he stood, looming over Mr. Connolly as he glared darkly down at the man, "Now you, Mr. Connolly, are staring into a deep, dark pit of trouble if you don't let me help," Eddie took an involuntary step back from the Doctor, rather shaken, whilst Tommy and Rita looked at him with wide shocked eyes, unsure how to react in that moment, "So, I'm ordering you, sir!" the Doctor continued, still glowering at Mr. Connolly, "Tell me what's going on!" he demanded threateningly and Mr. Connolly swallowed as he tried to think of something to say.

Sophie tore her wide slightly startled gaze from the confrontation between the Doctor and Mr. Connolly as a thump came from upstairs, cutting off whatever it was that Mr. Connolly had been about to say in response to the Doctor's demand. Beside her, Tommy looked about a bit nervously, whilst Rita sighed sadly and shook her head miserably.

"She won't stop," Eddie breathed with a degree of fear in his voice, drawing the eyes in the room from the ceiling back to him as the thumping above them continued, growing louder, "She never stops."

"We started hearing stories," Tommy began in a slightly shaky, hesitant, nervous voice and the Doctor turned to him, "All round the place. People who've… changed. Families keeping it secret 'cos they were scared," Tommy swallowed, "Then the police started finding out," Mr. Connolly shifted, his head bowing slightly, "We don't know how, no one does. They just… turn up, come to the door and take 'em," he explained, "Any time of the day or night."

"Show me."

*O*O*O*

The door to a dark room creaked open and Tommy poked his head around it as he cautiously peered into the room, "Gran?" he called, "It's Tommy," he told her as he opened the door a wider, allowing the Doctor, Sophie and Rose to see into the dark room, their gazes landing on the shadowed silhouette of Tommy's gran as she stood by the window, the curtains drawn tightly shut to prevent anyone from seeing into the room.

"'S all right, Gran," Tommy assured her as the figure obscured by the darkness of the room slowly moved towards them, "I've brought help," he murmured, stepping further into the room, the Doctor, Sophie and Rose following him in, whilst Rita hesitated out in the hallway close to the door of her mother's room, Eddie beside her his arms folded unhappily across his chest.

Tommy flicked the light switch illuminating the room and Sophie's eyes widened minutely, her lips parting slightly in shock and horror for the poor woman as Rose swallowed heavily, her own eyes wide with her shock and horror at what had been done to her, whilst the Doctor merely stared his brow furrowed with concern as they regarded the elderly woman whose face was completely blank, nothing of her features left to the naked eye… just smooth skin.

*O*O*O*

A black police car, it's headlights on, drove down the residential street and pulled up outside of the Connolly's house.

*O*O*O*

The Doctor stood in front of the elderly woman peering closely at the smoothed over skin as he examined it, Sophie and Rose standing on either side of him, "Her face is completely gone," he murmured.

"It's not just her face," Sophie murmured softly as she stared at the elderly woman that was standing before them motionless for the most part. She hadn't intended too, but she'd been so shocked by the sight of her featureless face that she reached out mentally, past her shields, for the woman before she'd even really realized that she was going too, was there, only to find… nothingness, "She's empty," she continued softly, her brow scrunched with concern as she turned her gaze to the Doctor and Rose who had both turned their gazes to her, "It's like someone reached in and scooped her out."

"What?" Rose breathed as she turned her gaze back to the woman staring at her with a troubled expression.

The Doctor gave a slow nod, his brow furrowed disconcertedly as he pulled out his sonic screwdriver and used it to scan over the smoothed over skin of the woman's face, "Scarcely an electrical impulse left," he murmured in agreement, "Almost complete neural shutdown, she's ticking over, like her brain has been… wiped clean."

"What are we gonna do, Doctor?" Tommy asked desperately as the Doctor tucked his sonic screwdriver away, his scan finished, "We can't even feed her!" he exclaimed just before there was a loud crash from downstairs, the sound caused Rita, who was standing beside her son to gasp in horror, her eyes wide. Whilst the Doctor, Sophie and Rose spun to face the door that Mr. Connolly was standing in, the man having refused to actually enter the room, let alone look at what was left of his wife's mother.

"We've got company…" Rose muttered and Sophie gave a slight nod as the sound of heavy footsteps echoed up to them.

"It's them," Rita breathed in horror as she griped her son tightly for comfort, whilst Eddie seemed to relax in relief, "They've come for her!"

The Doctor turned his gaze to Rita and Tommy, "What was she doing before this happened?" he asked urgently, his voice low and hurried, "Where was she?" Rita hesitated unable to think clearly as they heard the police's heavy steps on the stairs, "Tell me, quickly, think!" the Doctor urged.

Tommy shook his head desperately, "I can't think! She doesn't leave the house! She was just…" he trailed as a burly looking police officer appeared in the doorway, stepping into the room along with a couple of others.

"Hold on a minute!" the Doctor said, holding up his hands as he attempted to buy sometime, "There are three," the burly police officer paused in front of him, "Important, brilliant, and complicated reasons why you should listen to me. One…" he was cut off as the burly man punched him, hard, and he crumpled to the floor unconscious.

"Doctor!" Rose exclaimed alarmed.

"You didn't have to hit him!" Sophie protested as she and Rose crouched by the Doctor, the police officers moving past them, throwing a blanket over the faceless woman, whilst Rose slapped at the Doctor's cheeks and Sophie shook his shoulders as they attempted to wake him up.

"Leave her alone!" Rita shouted in protest as the officers moved to barge past her and out of the room, "No!" she cried as they pushed her carelessly out of their way, leaving Tommy to catch her. Whilst Eddie pushed the men onward, encouraging them to leave quicker. Rita and Tommy hurried after them into the corridor, "Mum!" Rita cried out desperately.

"Doctor! Doctor!" Rose called to the unconscious Doctor, still slapping his cheeks.

"Oh, come on! Wake up!" Sophie urged as she continued to shake his shoulders, the sounds of the heavy-footed officers and the frantic members of the Connolly family travelling back to them as they headed down the stairs to the lower level of the house.

"Don't hurt her!" they heard Rita call desperately.

*O*O*O*

Eddie blocked the front door as he watched the police officers bundle the blanketed form of his faceless mother-in-law towards the car, determinedly preventing Rita and Tommy from following them outside, "Back inside, Rita," he ordered, forcing her back as his wife continued to try and get past him and out of the front door.

"She's my mother!" Rita cried.

"Back inside now, I said," Eddie ordered, not relenting in the slightest, despite his wife's heartbroken face and his sons glower as the police finally bundled the mindless woman into their car.

*O*O*O*

Rose looked up from the Doctor, still slapping at his cheeks in her bid to help wake him, her gaze going to Sophie who was still shaking his shoulders, "Perhaps you should kiss him," she suggested, pausing in her slaps as she did so.

Sophie met her gaze, blinking quizzically at the blond, pausing in shaking his shoulders for a moment, "Why?" she queried.

"Worked in Snow White," Rose muttered under her breath as she turned her gaze briefly back down to the still unconscious and unresponsive Doctor.

"I'm sorry, what?" Sophie blinked in confusion, wondering why the blond had spoken so low, making it impossible for her to properly catch the words.

"I said," Rose hesitated a brief moment as she looked back up at Sophie, who was still blinking at her, "Might shock him awake," she decided upon.

Sophie sank her teeth into her lower lip as she pondered over the logic of Rose's suggestion, even as she started to shake the Doctor's shoulders again, only for the Doctor to suddenly sit up and the two had to jerk back a bit before their heads collided.

"Ah, hell of a right hook," the Doctor muttered with a mild grimace and Rose pouted slightly at his timing despite being relieved that he was finally awake, whilst Sophie smiled in relief, "Have to watch out for that!" he swiftly got to his feet and belted out of the room, Sophie and Rose hurrying to follow him.

*O*O*O*

"Don't fight it, back inside!" Eddie shouted at his family still trying to push them back from the door as the Doctor dashed down the stairs towards them as the police car drove off.

"Sparks, Rose, come on!" the Doctor called urgently as he pushed past Mr. Connolly and hurried towards the moped.

"I'm here!" Sophie called to him as she too, all but shoved past Mr. Connolly herself and out of the house, her feet disliking the quick speed she was moving at in the low heels she was wearing, but she didn't slow.

A short distance behind her, as she hurried across the living room, Rose slowed and then paused completely as she noticed red buzzing tendrils of what appeared to be an electric sort of energy coming from the telly.

"Get back inside!" Eddie demanded again.

"But dad, they took her!" Tommy protested vehemently as he continued to struggle with his father to get outside to his gran.

"Go back inside, don't fight it…" Eddie urged as he continued to attempt to usher his wife and son away from the front door.

*O*O*O*

"Perhaps I should drive?!" Sophie suggested as she and the Doctor quickly approached the moped at a quick clip.

"Why?" the Doctor asked curiously even as he swung his leg over the back of the moped, hands reaching for his white helmet.

"Cos, I actually have my moped license," Sophie replied, earning a curious and mildly surprised look from the Doctor as she snatched up her own helmet off the seat of the moped, before she settled onto the back of the moped behind the Doctor, before she glanced about the dark street her brow scrunching as her gaze landed on the Connolly's that were still blocking the doorway, "Hold on… where's Rose?"

"Rose!" the Doctor shouted, jamming the white helmet on his head, "We're going to lose them again!" he yelled urgently as he fastened his helmet under his chin.

*O*O*O*

Rose glanced in the direction she could hear the Doctor and Sophie calling for her, torn between hurrying to catch up to them and watching the red energy. Her gaze was drawn back to the telly and the red energy coming from it as the tendrils started to recede and she stepped closer to the telly, her brow slightly furrowed as she eyed the energy.

"Dad, they took her!" Tommy shouted as his father still held him back, squirming in his arms, "That was Gran and they took her!"

Eddie held him fast, "Come on, back inside now."

*O*O*O*

Sophie stared at the front door, teeth nibbling on her lower lip as she frowned slightly, "What's taking her?" she muttered, "Rose!" she shouted again.

The Doctor shook his head turning his own gaze from the door and to the street where the car was quickly driving down almost out of sight now, "We can't wait any longer, Sparks," he stated as he revved the engine of the moped and Sophie nodded a bit reluctantly shooting a last look at the house that Rose had yet to come out of as she grasped his sides, just a moment before they shot off down the road after the black police car.

*O*O*O*

Rose fumbled with the telly, turning it around her eyes landing on the last of the dispersing red energy as it buzzed along the wires at the back of the telly along with a large label that read 'Magpie Electricals'.

"Anyway," Tommy said with a frown as he, his mother and father came back into the living room, "How did they find her? Who told them?"

Eddie opened his mouth about to give vague dismissive answer when he noticed one of the women who'd barged inside his house along with that Doctor bloke still in his house kneeling by the telly, "You!" he snarled angrily, and Rose jumped a bit as she got to her feet and spun round to face him, "Get the hell out of my house!" he demanded.

"I'm going, I'm done!" Rose replied stepping towards them, smiling at Tommy and Rita, "Nice to meet you Tommy, Mrs. Connolly," she said with all politeness, "And as for you, Mr. Connolly," she stated as she turned her gaze back to the man who was glowering at her, "Only an idiot hangs the Union Flag upside down," Eddie gaped in shock and offence, "Shame on you!" Rose scolded him, and couldn't help the cheery grin that was curving up her lips as Mr. Connolly continued to gape at her, his eyes bulging in affront and with that she ran past them and out of the house. She paused for a moment on the threshold and blinked at seeing the moped, along with Sophie and the Doctor gone and she sighed softly as she looked down at her pretty pink shoes, suddenly regretting them just a little, before she squared her shoulders and started off quickly down the street.

*O*O*O*

The black police car swerved around another bend and sped down the street and through the gates and the same wagon was being wheeled into place as the Doctor and Sophie careened around the bend and on down the street chasing after the police car, just as the last touches fell into place and the Doctor sped to a stop and Sophie and the Doctor blinked as the gates just finished closing and the exact same sweepers as earlier that day swept at the ground outside their wooden vegetable market wagon.

Sophie's mouth fell open slightly as an impressed sound escaped her, "Well, gee…" she murmured as she stared at the now completely concealed gate.

The Doctor nodded in agreement, "Oh, very good! Very good!" the Doctor said appreciatively to the men that were still sweeping out the front of their 'stall', grinning at them, before he kicked the moped back to life and took off.

He parked the scooter a short distance away and the two started off on foot, "So," the Doctor murmured glancing at her curiously as they turned a corner, moving along the side of the building, "Why a moped license?"

Sophie blinked and glanced over at him at the question, before she shrugged slightly, "It's cheaper to buy than a car," she murmured in explanation, "And a moped is more economical to keep on the road too," she gave him a small smile as she continued, "I was looking to buying one when the whole living plastic thing happened."

"Ah," the Doctor murmured in acknowledgment, nodding a bit as he returned her small smile with one of his own.

The two continued to walk along the side of the building until they reached a small side gate, "Bingo!" the Doctor exclaimed softly sharing a grin with Sophie as he tried the gate, only to find it locked. He peered a bit closer as he pulled his sonic screwdriver from his suit jacket pocket and Sophie glanced about the deepening night as he aimed it at the lock and with a quick buzzing whir, blue tip of the sonic flashing briefly, he unlocked it, before opening the gate and slipping inside, holding the door open for Sophie as she followed him into the rather dismally lit building. The two paused as they caught sight of two police officers as they stood, their backs to them as they padlocked the doors to a large cage, before they turned and walked away.

The Doctor and Sophie waited a moment just to be sure, before they started quietly towards the cage that the officers had just locked. They came up to the locked door and peered through the sturdy wired mesh of the caged off area to see more cages inside, the dark silhouettes of what had to be several dozen people inside them, hands pressed against the sturdy wired mesh of the walls of their cages.

Sophie shifted her shawl around her shoulders as she glanced about the dimly lit warehouse they'd broken into. Her brow scrunched and her eyes squinted against the dimness as she tried to pierce it to no avail as the Doctor cast his own gaze about briefly as he pointed his sonic at the lock, easily unlocking it, before he carefully took it off and handed off to Sophie with one hand as he carefully pushed the door open with the other.

Sophie closed her hand about the metal of the padlock as she followed the Doctor into the caged off area, moving slowly and carefully so that her low heels made minimal sound against the concrete floor as they approached one of the large cages, her eyes locked on the silhouetted forms that had yet to make a sound, their hands just clenching and unclenching in an almost rhythmic, reflexive motion.

The Doctor soniced the lock on the cage door and slowly pushed it open, staring intently at the quiet figures as he stepped inside, a hand reaching into his pocket for the flashlight that was rattling around in its depths somewhere. He pulled it out and switched it on, shining the torchlight over the peoples' faces revealing them all to be just smooth featureless sink and Sophie swallowed thickly at the sight, her eyes widening minutely as she swept her gaze over the many faceless people that had had been shoved into just this one cage. Her gloved hand tightened around the padlock in her grip as the people started to shuffle towards them, hands still clenching and unclenching. The Doctor shifted, stepping in front of her protectively as he gestured for her to start backing up. Sophie did so, hands reaching behind her for the cage door that they'd come in through, the Doctor moving with her, neither taking their eyes off the faceless people as they continued to shuffle towards them. Sophie's fingers had just brushed across the sturdy wired mesh of the cage when suddenly a bright light beamed on somewhere behind them.

They turned their heads, squinting heavily against the bright lights and through the mesh of the cage to see the two policemen that had locked the cage standing in front of the police car and another a bit further behind, the headlights beaming brightly.

"Stay where you are!" the one wearing a hat ordered.

'Oh…! Bugger!' Sophie couldn't help but think with a bit of a guilty grimace as she eyed the burly looking officers, they were totally busted.

*O*O*O*

Sophie grimaced a bit as the officer that had her by her upper arm, over the material of the white shawl, shoved her into one of two chairs situated in front of a desk, before releasing her and moving away.

The Doctor who was shoved into the chair beside Sophie's, frowned as he glanced at her and saw her rubbing at her upper arm, he turned unhappy eyes to the officer that had escorted her into the quite frankly shabby office in the derelict building they'd been brought to. He didn't have to hurt her, she hadn't given him any trouble!

The Doctor turned his gaze to the Detective Inspector as he stood on the other side of the wooden desk, leaning his fists against it as he glowered at them menacingly.

"Start from the beginning," the Detective Inspector demanded sharply, "Tell me everything you know."

"Well…" the Doctor started his expression serious as he started at the man, frown still furrowing his brow, "For starters… I know you can't wrap your hand around your elbow and make your fingers meet."

Sophie, who'd been eyeing him curiously, blinked at that, before she groaned lowly as she rolled her eyes at him, 'Has to be trying to get shot,' she thought as she eyed him.

The Doctor blinked as Sophie's thought reached him and he shot her a look, 'Am not,' he projected back in response.

'Could of fooled me,' Sophie replied just as the Detective Inspector pointed a threatening finger at the Doctor.

"Don't get clever with me," the Detective Inspector reprimanded, "You were both there today at Florizel Street, and now breaking into this establishment. Now, you're both connected to this. Make no mistake."

"Well, the thing is, Detective Inspector Bishop…" the Doctor began.

Bishop stiffened, shoulders tensing as he narrowed suspicious eyes on the other man, "How do you know my name?" he demanded.

Sophie blinked at him, "Your collar…" she murmured gesturing at it and Bishop lifted a hand fiddling with the collar of his shirt, still frowning, his thumb brushed over the hand stitched embroidery on the inside of the collar, and embarrassed look crossed his face as realization dawned and he lowered his hand from the collar and the stitching that spelt out his name.

"Bless your mum," the Doctor smirked in mild amusement, before he sobered again, his smirk falling away as he eyed Detective Inspector Bishop, "But, I can't help thinking, Detective Inspector, you're not exactly doing much detective inspecting. Are you?"

"I'm doing everything in my power," Bishop responded curtly and received sceptical looks from the two sitting across from him.

"All your doing is grabbing those faceless people and hiding them as fast as you can," the Doctor replied eyeing the Detective Inspector as he shifted a bit guilty and Sophie glanced over at the Doctor as he started to spin his chair from side to side in lazy movements, apparently completely relaxed now as he gazed at Bishop, his brows raised, "Don't tell me orders from above, hmm? Coronation day… the eyes of the world are on London Town… so any sort of problem just gets swept out of sight."

Sophie blew out a breath, grimacing mildly in dawning realization, "Can't have the nation looking weak," she muttered distastefully, her gloved fingers twisting together on her lap. All those people locked in cages, left in the dark because those in positions of power didn't want word getting out… not with the young Queen Elizabeth the Second about to be coronated.

"The nation has an image to maintain," Bishop replied shortly, slightly irritated that the man seemed to know so much about what was going on inside Scotland Yard.

"But doesn't it drive you mad? Doing nothing?" the Doctor asked incredulously, "Don't you wanna get out there and investigate?"

"Course I do," Bishop snapped before he sighed lowly, "But…" he sank down into a chair an air of dejected defeat about him, "With all the crowds expected, we haven't got the manpower. Even if we did… this is… beyond anything we've ever seen," he turned his gaze to the candid shots of those faceless people they'd stolen away from their families and locked away with a heavy sense of helplessness, "I just don't know anymore," he admitted, "Twenty years on the force…" he muttered. He hadn't ever seen anything that'd remotely prepare him for something like this before. Sophie's face softened and the Doctor leaned forward in his seat, listening intently as he stared at the man, "I don't even know where to start. We haven't the faintest clue what's going on," he admitted rather pained at the knowledge that he wasn't or more accurately didn't have a single clue how to help those poor sods.

"Well…" the Doctor began slowly, "That could change."

"How?" Bishop asked staring at him, hardly daring to hope that there was actually something that could be done for those people.

Sophie smiled at Bishop before glancing at the Doctor, "Well, he's clever," she stated factually and Bishop glanced over at her taking in the warm expression on her face as she stared at the man who called himself, Doctor, "Brilliant, really."

The Doctor smiled at her, warmth filling him, his expression fond as he stared at her for an extended moment, before he stood his attention returning to Bishop, the smile still tugging as he looked down at the man, "Start from the beginning," he ordered, "Tell me everything you know."

*O*O*O*

Another black police car pulled up into the warehouse that had been commandeered by the police. Two officers got out of the front seat and they walked around the car, opening the back door and together they pulled out a female figure in a pink voluminous skirt, black fishnet tights and pretty pink heels, blanket thrown over her head to obscure her face…

*O*O*O*

"We started finding them about a month ago," Bishop explained as he, the Doctor and Sophie stood examining a large map that was pegged up on a stand, dotted with pins that indicated a location that a faceless person had been found, "Persons left sans visage. Heads just… blank."

Sophie glanced at Bishop as the Doctor slipped his spectacles out of his jacket pocket and slipped them on, "How are you finding them?" she asked.

Bishop glanced over at her, hesitating a brief moment as he glanced over at the Doctor who nodded at him, before he glanced at a desk and spied a file, "Tipsters," Bishop replied, "Sometimes neighbours who'd seen something suspicious…" he grimaced shamefacedly, "Family members, looking for help."

Sophie nodded and let out a thoughtful hum, brow scrunching, as her gaze returned to the map whilst the Doctor picked up the file and started flipping through it, "Is there any sort of pattern?" he asked as he frowned at the files contents.

"Yes," Bishop replied, "Spreading out from the North of London. All over the City. Men, women, kids… grannies… the only real lead is there's been quite a large number in…"

"Florizel Street," the Doctor cut in as he looked up from the file he was quickly reading over.

The scrunch to Sophie's brow deepened as she eyed the map, the concentrated pins on Florizel Street, "Aerials…" she muttered lowly her expression pensive, "Five quid a telly…" she turned from the map, "Doctor!" she called urgently and he turned his attention to her, their eyes meeting just as a knock sounded on the door and everyone in the office turned to it as it creaked opened.

A policeman entered, "Found another one, sir," he reported as he opened the door wider and Sophie felt herself freeze as a figure in a flaring pink skirt and pink heeled shoes was led in a blanket over her head… not a sound escaping the figure… her eyes widened in horror, heart pounding in her chest as she stared.

"Oh, er, good man, Crabtree," Bishop replied as the Doctor swallowed heavily, the file that had still been in his hands dropping to the desk as he stared at the all too familiar figure, even if her face was still obscured by the blanket, "Here we are Doctor…"

"No, no…" Sophie muttered, pained, as she suddenly unfroze and started forward towards the figure, bells chiming heavily as she shook her head in denial. The Doctor moving after her swiftly, his eyes wide with concern and disbelief.

Bishop blinked after them, "Take a good look," he commented, "See what you can deduce…"

Sophie let out a strangled sound as the blanket was pulled off, revealing Rose's head… the skin of her face smoothed over featureless.

"Rose," the Doctor murmured horrified as he stared, coming to a stop beside Sophie in front of the mostly motionless blond, eyes locked on the smoothed over skin of her face.

Sophie swallowed heavily, blue eyes wide with her horror, "Oh… Rosie," she breathed softly, her voice pained.

"Do you know her?" Bishop asked them with surprise as he took in their reactions, their expressions pained as they stared at the woman who'd been brought in.

Sophie blinked, "Know her?" she repeated, hearing a faint buzzing in her ears as she continued to stare at the faceless Rose, "She's… she's uh…" she trailed as she swallowed heavily unable to think of the word she needed in that moment.

The Doctor placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "She's…" he swallowed heavily, "Our friend," he supplied and Sophie reached up placing her hand over his as she nodded slowly in agreement, bells giving a small chime as she did so.

"They found her in the street, apparently," Crabtree informed Bishop and Sophie felt herself tense all over again those words ringing in her ears above the dull buzzing she was hearing, "Over at Master Square, abandoned."

"That's unusual, that's the first one out in the open," Bishop commented as the Doctor's jaw clenched in rising anger, "Heaven help us if something happens in public tomorrow for the big day, we'll have Torchwood on our back, make no mistake."

"They did what?" the Doctor cut in, his voice cold.

"I'm sorry?" Bishop asked with mild confusion, as he turned his attention from Crabtree to the Doctor.

Sophie swallowed heavily against the painful lump in her throat, that faint throbbing buzzing still in her ears, "Abandoned…" she muttered, voice strained with emotion, "In the streets, you said," she murmured, tearing her gaze from the faceless Rose to pin Bishop and Crabtree with a look.

"Yes… that's right," Bishop replied as Sophie looked away again, her gaze returning to her 'little sister'.

"She was just left…" the Doctor muttered with forced calm, an angry storm brewing behind his eyes, making them flinty.

"Over at Master Square," Bishop elaborated for them, in case they'd missed that bit of information too.

"In the street," the Doctor muttered quiet, but no less cold, whilst Sophie took in a deep shaky breath as she attempted to keep herself calm, the backs of her eyes pricking hotly, "They left her in the street. They took her face and just chucked her out and left her in the street. And as a result, that makes things… simple," Sophie pulled her gaze from Rose again to look at him, "Very, very simple," he finally pulled his gaze from his faceless companion, taking off his spectacles, "Do you know why?" he asked Bishop.

"No…" Bishop replied slowly, eyeing the Doctor warily.

"Because now, Detective Inspector Bishop," the Doctor replied, his voice low but filled with growing fury, "There is no power on this Earth that can stop me. Come on!" he yelled as he started for the door.

Sophie followed him, glancing at the faceless Rose as she past her, before she squared her shoulders, determination written all over her face as she hastened out of the door moving to catch up with the Doctor as he stalked down the corridor they had been escorted through earlier. Bishop catching up to them a brief moment later.

A couple of moments later the three burst out of the gates and onto the street, "The big day dawns…" Bishop observed, his gaze going to the sky and the sun that was slowly rising.

The Doctor didn't even spare him a glance as he immediately started moving down the street. Sophie moved after him, glancing at him as she came up beside him, "The Connolly's?" she murmured quietly.

The Doctor glanced over at her, before he nodded just a touch shortly, "Tommy knows something," he replied firmly.

Sophie nodded, bells chiming softly with the action, and they lapsed into silence as the three of them walked briskly along the street.

*O*O*O*

A small boy fiddled with the television in the Connolly's living room, that was crowded with friends and family, all of them eager to watch the Coronation of their Queen. A little girl spotting him doing it moved towards him and slapped his hand away, earning a wounded look from the boy that she promptly ignored.

Eddie pushed open the door and stepped inside, shutting it behind him with a click as Rita stepped into the front passage of the house from the kitchen a platter filled with sandwich slices in her hands. Eddie turned to her, his expression menacing as he loomed over her, "You've had your fun with your little Doctor…" he said threateningly as Rita swallowed nervously as she eyed him with fear, "But now you're left with me, Rita. So, you'll behave yourself," Rita gave a small timid nod, "And smile," Eddie demanded.

Rita did her best to fix a smile on her face, too scared to do anything else as she turned and followed her husband into their crowded living room.

"Here we go, everyone!" Eddie said cheerfully, a broad smile on his face as he squeezed into the crowded space, "Here we go! Grub's up, grub's up," he called as Rita offered the platter to their guests, "Tuck in, everyone, tuck in, take a sandwich," he urged as their guests moved to take one of the sandwiches. Eddie glanced at the telly to see the first footage of the Coronation on the screen, "Oh, here we go, here we go, it's started!" he called, "Take your places, sit down, sit down," he urged as he settled himself into his comfy chair.

"Rita, love!" Betty called as she sat herself down into her chair, "Just look at that tellybox then, eh?" she said as she stared at the telly impressed, "Innit marvellous? The pictures so clear!" she exclaimed.

"Here, Beth," Eddie said as he leaned towards her with a grin, "I says to Rita, I says 'You didn't need to get your hair done special, love! The Queen won't be able to see you!'" he and Betty shared a laugh at that.

Rita who'd perched herself on the arm of the sofa beside Tommy who was sitting next to Aunt Betty, glanced down at her lap unhappily, unamused by her husband's joke, before she looked up and plastered a polite smile on her face as Eddie and Betty continued to laugh. Tommy however, stared at his father affronted on his mother's behalf.

Betty turned her attention back to Rita as she calmed, "Where's your old mum, then?" she asked and Rita stilled, "She can't go missing it!"

"Sorry, um…" Rita glanced at Eddie, who gave her a warning look and she swallowed as she turned her gaze back to Betty, "Mum can't make it down."

"Ah, bless her," Betty replied, "Maybe we could pop up and see her later," she suggested.

"Maybe we could," Tommy said, turning in his seat to look at Aunty Betty who blinked at him a little surprised, "What do you think, dad?" he asked as he turned his gaze to his dad, giving him a rather pointed look as the older man glared at him, "Maybe Aunty Betty can go and see Gran later?"

Eddie glared at Tommy a brief moment longer, silently fuming at his son, before he turned his gaze to Betty as she turned to him and he smiled at her jovially, "Oh, he loves his gran, this one," he laughed, "Proper little mummy's boy all round!"

"Oh, you know what they say about them," Betty chortled out a short laugh, "Eddie, you want to beat that out of him."

Eddie laughed, "That's exactly what I'm gonna do," he agreed as he threw a threatening look at his son.

Rita shot her husband an alarmed look at that, it was a look that went largely ignored as the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Tommy said forestalling his mum as she went to get up, jumping to his feet himself and heading for the front door, leaving everyone else to watch the telly, glad for the excuse to put some distance between himself and his dad.

He crossed the front passaged and pulled open the door. His gaze immediately landing on the three that were standing outside of it.

"Tommy, talk to me," the Doctor said seriously, forcing himself to keep his voice calm as he stared at the teen.

Tommy gave a small nod and stepped out of the doorway, his gaze sweeping over the Doctor, Sophie and the officer that was with them as he quietly pulled the door shut behind him, wanting to help if he possibly could.

"I need to know exactly what happened inside your house," the Doctor stated firmly, eyes serious as he regarded the boy, needing answers now.

Their gazes snapped to the door as it was violently jerked open and Mr. Connolly stormed out, furious eyes locked on Tommy as he rounded on him, "What the blazes do you think you're doing?!" he snapped roughly.

"I wanna help, dad," Tommy replied, firmly meeting his dad's angry glare head on, determined to hold his ground this time.

"Please…" Sophie began pleadingly and the furious Mr. Connolly turned his infuriated gaze to her, his mouth opening to spit out something.

"Mr. Connolly…" the Doctor cut in warningly, before the man could, jaw clenching as he glared coldly at the man as Mr. Connolly rounded on him in turn.

"Shut your face, you. Whoever you are," Mr. Connolly spat loudly, spittle flying in his fury and Sophie frowned at him, "We can handle this ourselves," he glowered, before he turned back to his son, "Listen, you little twerp. You're hardly out of the bloomin' cradle, so I don't expect you to understand. But I've got a position to maintain," Mr. Connolly continued as the Doctor, Sophie and Bishop watched, "People round here respect me. It matters what people think!"

Tommy frowned at him, things clicking into place for him, "Is that why you did it, dad?" he asked stiffly, betrayal stinging through him.

"What do you mean?" Eddie asked taken aback by the question, "Did what?"

"You ratted on gran," Tommy accused, "How else would the police know where to look? Unless some coward told them…"

"How dare you!" Eddie cut in, enraged all over again as he glowered darkly at his son, "Do you think I fought in a war just so a mouthy little scum like you could call me a coward?!"

"You don't get it, do you?" Tommy asked, his voice trembling slightly as he shook his head at the man who'd helped raise him, "You fought against fascism, remember? People telling you how to live, who you could be friends with, who you could fall in love with, who could live and who had to die," Tommy levelled a glare at him as a muscle in Eddie's jaw ticked, "Don't you get it? You were fighting so that little twerps like me could do what we want. Say what we want. Now you've become just like them," he accused, "You've been informing on everyone, haven't you? Even gran. All to protect your precious reputation."

"Eddie… is that true?" Rita asked horrified as she appeared in the doorway, having been drawn by the raised voices of her husband and son.

"I did it for us, Rita!" Mr. Connolly said defensively, "She was filthy!" he spat and Sophie flinched and swallowed heavily eyes darting back to Rita who was hovering in the doorway to her home staring at her husband with wide wounded eyes, "A filthy, disgusting thing!"

Rita stared at him, her eyes wide with shock now, "She's my mother," Rita murmured, her voice quiet with her dismay at Eddie's betrayal, "All those others you informed on, all the people in our street, our friends."

"I had to…" Eddie protested, his lips quivered slightly, "I did the right thing…!" he said with increasing defiance.

Rita eyed him, "The right thing for us… or for you, Eddie?" she asked, before turning to her son, before he could formulate a reply not interested in hearing it, "You go, Tommy. You go with the Doctor and Sophie, do some good. Get away from this house, it's poison," she let out a chocked sob as her gaze slid back to her husband, "We had a ruddy monster under this roof, all right, but it weren't my mother!" she cried, close to tears as she swung the door shut, slamming it in her husband's face, flicking the lock into place with a click.

"Rita!" Eddie yelled desperately at the door, disbelief colouring his tone as he stared at the unyielding wood of his front door.

"Tommy?" the Doctor called, gesturing for him to come join them as Tommy turned his gaze from his dad to look at him. Barely a moment later, Eddie was left standing alone out the front of his house as he stared at the locked door to his home as the Doctor, Sophie, Tommy and Bishop headed off down the street.

*O*O*O*

"What was all that, then?" Betty asked as Rita stepped back into the crowded living room.

"That was…" Rita murmured, trailing slightly as she took steading as she sat down beside Betty on the sofa, "That was the sound of something ending. And about time too," she stated managing a small smile for the other woman, "Everyone alright?" she asked and cast her gaze about the room as her guests all nodded, "Smashing. Nothing's going to spoil our big day, is it?"

*O*O*O*

"Tommy, tell me about that night," the Doctor urged as they walked swiftly down the Florizel street, moving past people as they bustled about setting up large trestle tables in preparation for the street party, "The night she changed."

Tommy shrugged a bit helplessly, "She was just watching the telly."

The Doctor and Sophie looked up, their gazes going to all the aerials on the rooftops, "Rose said it," the Doctor murmured, "She guessed it straight away," he muttered as he glanced about the street from rooftop to rooftop each with an aerial, "All these aerials in one little street. How come…?" he trailed, eyes widening as he turned to Sophie, "Sparks!" he exclaimed drawing her gaze from the rooftops, "Five quid a telly!" he recalled her murmuring in the office just before she'd tried to tell him something, "You said it earlier! Five quid a telly!"

Sophie nodded, bells chiming, "That bloke we met, Magpie. That's what he's selling them for," she explained.

Tommy nodded his agreement, "It's why we had a new telly. 'Cos, he's selling them so cheap," he murmured.

"Is he, now?" Bishop muttered with a contemplative frown, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Tommy nodded again, "He's just up the road," he said gesturing in the shops general direction, he'd barely finished speaking before the Doctor was off and running, Sophie right behind him.

"Come on!" the Doctor shouted back over his shoulder at Tommy and Bishop, his hand finding Sophie's as they ran.

*O*O*O*

They reached Magpie's shop and the Doctor released Sophie's hand as he tried the knob of the door and scowled darkly at finding it locked. He smashed the glass in a swift violent movement, that had Sophie staring at him, rather startled at the action, having thought he'd use his sonic screwdriver like always.

"Here, you can't do that… Bishop started to protest as the Doctor reached in through the broken window unlocking it, ignoring him completely as he swung the door open and marched inside. Sophie and Tommy swiftly followed him in and Bishop grumbled under his breath as he too followed the civilians inside the shop.

"Shop?!" the Doctor yelled angrily as he marched to the counter and started pressing the bell on it repeatedly with frustrated angry impatience, drawing Sophie's gaze from the tellies on display and the strange signal on them, "If you're here, come out and talk to me!" the Doctor shouted, his voice booming throughout the shop, "Magpie!"

Sophie bit her lower lip as she took a deep steadying breath against her own anger, her own concern and fear for Rose, her 'little sister' as no answer came in response to the Doctor's shouts. She swept her gaze over the many tellies stacked about the shop, before she moved around the counter starting to poke around, looking for something, anything that'd give them a clue as to what was going on with the tellies. Her heart heavy in her chest as she pulled open one of the drawers and started riffling through it.

"Maybe he's out," Tommy suggested.

"Looks like it…" the Doctor agreed lowly, his throat tight as he moved about the counter to join Sophie in rifling through the drawers of the counter, pulling one open as Sophie closed the one she'd been searching through to pull open another, her eyes almost immediately landing on something strange.

"Doctor!" she called urgently, immediately drawing the Doctor's attention from the papers he'd found in the drawer, as she pulled out a device that if she had to guess was some kind of cross between a portable radio and a telly, "Have a look at this!" she urged as she turned to him, device in hand.

"Oh hello…" the Doctor murmured as he accepted the portable device from Sophie, holding it up as he examined it, "This isn't right. This is very much not right," he murmured seriously, before he licked it and Sophie grimaced slightly, her nose crinkling in disgust as she eyed him, honestly… it was so gross when he did that.

"Tastes like iron. Bakelite," the Doctor observed as he placed it down on the countertop, leaning against it as he stared down at it, "Put together with human hands, yes, but the design itself…" he trailed as he pulled out his sonic screwdriver and scanned it over the portable device, "Oh, beautiful work. That's so simple."

"That's incredible," Bishop exclaimed as he stared at the device, "It's like a television, but portable," he looked up at the Doctor who was staring at his sonic screwdriver, "A portable television!"

The Doctor raised his sonic, pointing it around the room and Sophie blinked staring at the tellies that were mounted on display as the strange signal on them flickered briefly before turning fuzzy, dissolving into static, "It's not the only power source in this room…" the Doctor told them as he flicked a switch on the sonic before pressing a button, the blue tip lighting up.

As the sonic screwdriver whirred they looked at the tellies as the static snow gradually faded away from the many screens, revealing faces, a face on each telly… everyone one looking terrified, mouthing pleas for help. The Doctor stared at them with a furrowed brow, his gaze going from face to face, searching… beside him Sophie doing much the same, the both of them looking the familiar face of their blond friend.

"Gran?" Tommy called horrified as he spotted his gran's face on one of the tellies.

"Rosie!" Sophie breathed as her gaze finally landed on the face of her 'little sister', moving closer to the telly as the Doctor jerked around at the sound, his own gaze finally landing on Rose as she stared out at them.

He stepped closer, kneeling beside Sophie in front of the screen as Rose silently called 'Doctor! Sophie!' over and over again.

"What could do this…?" Sophie muttered softly, her voice strained as she stared sadly at Rose, who was still mouthing their names at them.

"We'll find out, Sparks," the Doctor promised her and Sophie pulled her gaze from the telly to glance at him, their eyes meeting. The bells in her ears chimed softly as she nodded, lips quirking up ever-so-slightly. The Doctor pulled his gaze from Sophie to stare at Rose's face again, "We're on our way," he promised her.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Magpie exclaimed in shock and panicked alarm as he came in from the back of the shop, brought up short as he stared at the people in his shop.

"Sparks and I want our friend restored," the Doctor thundered, his expression dark as he stalked towards the man, "And I think that's beyond a little backstreet electrician," he spat glowering at Magpie, who flinched in the face of the Doctor anger, "So tell me, who's really in charge here?!" he demanded furiously.

A telly flickered on and Magpie flinched again at the sight of the dark-haired woman as she filled the screen, "Yoo-hoo!" she called jovially, "I think that must be me," she continued as they all turned to face her with varying degrees of surprise, "Ooh, this one's smart as smart as paint," she cooed at the Doctor as they approached.

Bishop swallowed, eyeing the screen, "Is she talking to us?"

"I'd say so…" Sophie muttered in reply as she too eyed the image of the woman on the telly that was smiling at them cheerily.

"Sorry, gentlemen, miss, I'm…" Magpie swallowed fearfully, "I'm afraid you've brought this on yourselves. May I introduce you to my new… friend."

"Jolly nice to meet you," the woman simpered happily at them as she gave them a cheery wave and a grin.

"Oh my God, it's her, that woman off the telly," Bishop exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock and disquiet as he stared at the woman that was talking to them from inside the telly.

"No, it's just using her image," the Doctor replied with a shake of his head as he eyed the being in the telly.

"So, she… it," Sophie corrected herself, her brow scrunched slightly in thought, "Doesn't have a face of its own," Sophie muttered and the image of the dark-haired woman the alien was using focused on her.

"Ooh, another clever clog," the woman cooed at her, all cheery amusement that could have almost been mocking in its tenure.

"What…" Tommy began as he stared uneasily at the woman, swallowing heavily, "What are you?" he asked.

"I'm the Wire," she replied with another cheery smile as she looked at the teen, "And I will gobble you up, pretty boy. Every last morsel. And when I have feasted, I shall regain the corporeal body, which my fellow-kind denied me," and Sophie blinked as the image of the woman turned her face away from them, the black and white pixels gradually colourizing before their eyes.

"Good Lord," Bishop breathed wide-eyed, "Colour television!" he exclaimed and Sophie wasn't sure if he was more amazed at the sight or afraid.

"So, your own people tried to stop you?" the Doctor asked as he frowned heavily at the Wire, glowering at the turned away face it was using.

The Wire turned to look at them, "They executed me," she stated simply, before she smirked smugly, "But I escaped in this form and fled across the stars."

"And now you're trapped in the television," the Doctor replied mockingly.

The smirk faded from the lips the Wire was using and the pixels of the telly faded back into black and white as it sneered at them instead, "Not for much longer."

"Is this what got my gran?" Tommy asked as he glanced away from the screen to look at the Doctor, his brow furrowed.

"Yes, Tommy," he replied with a nod, "It feeds off the electrical activity of the brain," he explained his eyes hardening into another glare as he continued to stare at the Wire, "but it gorges itself like a great overfed pig. Taking people's faces, their essences, it stuffs itself."

"And you let her do it, Magpie," Bishop accused as he turned to the man.

"I had to!" Magpie cried defensively, "She allowed me my face! She promised to release me at the time manifestation."

Sophie stared at him incredulously, "Uh-huh," she murmured sarcasm lacing her tone, "And an escaped intergalactic criminal would never ever tell a lie," she huffed, bells chiming as she shook her head, 'Un-bleedin-believable!'

"Time of manifestation? What does that mean?" Tommy asked looking at the others.

"The appointed time," the Wire hinted and the eyes in the room turned back to it, "My crowning glory."

Bishop paled as understanding dawned, "Doctor, the Coronation!" he exclaimed, horrified.

"Oh, bugger…" Sophie breathed wide-eyed as the implications sunk in whilst the Wire smirked smugly at them all, completely confident in its plans.

The Doctor nodded grimly, "For the first time in history, millions gathered around a television set," he moved closer to telly the Wire was trapped in, "But you're not strong enough yet, are you?" he mocked her as the Wire's smirk faded again as it stared at him in annoyance now, "You can't do it all from here. That's why you need this," the Doctor said as he held up the portable telly, "You need something more powerful! This will turn a big transmitter into a big receiver."

"What a clever thing you are!" the Wire cooed mockingly as it tilted the image of its head at him, "But why fret about it? Why not just relax? Kick off your shoes and enjoy the Coronation. Believe me," it smiled at them cheerily again, "You'll be glued to the screen."

Tendrils of red electric energy shot out of the telly towards the Doctor, Sophie, Bishop and Tommy, the energy pulling at their faces… and Sophie let out a low sound that was a cross between a groan and a whimper at the awful tugging sensation that was trying to forcefully draw her out… draw her out from behind the mental shields. Shields that were standing stoutly against the onslaught and she gritted her teeth as she dug her mental heels in, doing her best to resist the insistent tugging that had her mind slipping forward closer to her shields… 'No… I won't!' she thought desperately, her jaw clenching as she gritted her teeth.

"Doctor!" Bishop cried out in pained desperation.

"Hungry! Hungry!" the Wire groaned, "The Wire is hungry!" the red tendrils of electric energy focused more intently on the Doctor, "Ah, this one is tasty. Oh, I'll have lashings of him! Delicious! Ah!"

Sophie let out another low whimpering sound as she felt a strong lance of pain and heard a mental snick, before a louder snap and she was being tugged forward faster, "No!" she gasped, the edges of her mind beginning to darken terrifyingly and she tried to mentally dig her heels in deeper, not wanting to go, but it didn't seem to do anything as she continued to slip forward faster and faster, 'No, I don't wanna go!' she thought with desperation, the darkness deepening around her and she was tugged forward faster.

The Doctor's arm twitched as he moved it with a great effort, reaching into his pocket and pulled it out, his fingers moving over it as he began to raise it.

"Armed!" the Wire gasped, "He's armed and clever!" it cried, "Withdraw! Withdraw!" and the red tendrils of electric energy retracted and the four crumpled to the floor unconscious, "The box, Magpie! The box!"

Magpie ran forward, palms sweating profusely as he snatched the portable telly up off the floor where the Doctor had dropped it and turned, holding it up as he did his best not to look at the crumpled forms on his shop floor.

"Hold tight…" the Wire ordered, before it conducted itself from the telly into the portable one via a beam of red electric energy, "Conduct me to my victory, Magpie," it ordered as the image of the woman it was using appeared on the screen of the portable telly.

Magpie ran out of his shop and over to his van and scrambled inside of it. He placed the portable telly behind the steering wheel, before he took off down the road, "Hungry! Hungry! Feed me!" the Wire groaned at him.

*O*O*O*

The Doctor woke up with a low groan and he shifted on the floor he was lying on, his gaze landing on Bishop, the skin of his face smoothed over and featureless. He turned his head, his hearts hammering, freezing in his chest before plummeting sharply as his gaze landed on Sophie to see her face smoothed over and featureless too, her hands clenching and unclenching, "Sparks…!" he breathed with horror. He swallowed heavily as he tore his gaze from her to scan over the tellies desperately, until he found her.

Her terrified face staring out at him as she mouthed words at him, mouthed them over and over. His hearts clenched painfully in his chest as he read her lips, 'No, I don't wanna go! No, I don't wanna go!' "Sparks…" he breathed, pained, fury scorching through him, "I'll save you," he promised her firmly, before he turned to Tommy, the teens face still intact and his jaw clenched as he reached for him, "Tommy, wake up!" he called, his voice rough and gave the boy a bit of a shove, "Tommy! Come on!"

"What happened?" Tommy groaned, a hand going to his head as he sat up, a horrified sound escaping him as he looked down and caught sight of the faceless forms of Sophie and the Detective Inspector.

"Where's Magpie?" the Doctor all but growled, helping Tommy to his feet as he glanced about the shop again, his gaze landing on the telly that had housed the Wire and upon seeing it empty he tore out of the shop, Tommy right behind him, only to see that the van that had been parked outside when they'd entered was gone, Magpie and the Wire with it.

"We don't even know where to start looking," Tommy exclaimed dejectedly as he glanced about the street, "It's too late."

The Doctor gritted his teeth, fighting down the urge to snap at the boy, "It's never too late, as a wise person once said, Kylie, I think…" he trailed, swallowing heavily as his mind raced… he needed to save his Sparks and Rose… his brilliant companions who always knew just what to say. Spotted things he didn't… his hands clenched at his sides, his jaw clenching and they were trapped, locked away… he took a breath, he needed too… he needed to think! "But the Wires got a big plan…" he muttered as he turned, "So it'll need… yes, yes, yes, it's got to harvest half the population… millions and millions of people… and where are we?" he asked abruptly as he turned back to Tommy who blinked at him a bit at the question.

"Muswell Hill," Tommy supplied.

"Muswell Hill. Muswell Hill! Which means…" the Doctor muttered thoughtfully as he turned again looking around, searching as his mind raced, until his gaze landed on a large building on the horizon and he gestured at it with both hands, "Alexandra Palace, biggest TV transmitter in North London!" he exclaimed, "Ohh! That's why it chose this place! Tommy?" he called as he dashed back towards the shop.

"What are you going to do?" Tommy asked staring at him with confusion, even as he started after him.

"We're going shopping," the Doctor replied as he disappeared inside the shop, not bothering to look back to see if the boy followed.

*O*O*O*

Magpie swallowed heavily, his heart heavy in his chest, his hands tight about the steering wheel of his van as the Wire chuckled malevolently.

*O*O*O*

The Doctor moved swiftly about the back of the shop, gathering the equipment he needed, trying his hardest to focus on what he was doing and not on Sophie's faceless body that was sitting or standing somewhere in the front of the shop, hands clenching and unclenching, nor her terrified face on the telly as she mouthed those words over and over again. 'No, I don't wanna go!' his hands trembled slightly as he grabbed another electronic piece of equipment he needed.

A short distance away Tommy was doing the same, shifting through the pieces of equipment, searching for one that fit the description the Doctor had given him, he shoved another bit out of his way and his eyes lighted on a small bulb-like piece and he snatched it up and turned and hurried over to the Doctor holding it up, "Is this what you want?" he called.

The Doctor looked up and nodded, "Perfect!" he exclaimed scooping up the small pile of equipment they'd gathered, "Right, I need one more thing…" he murmured as he handed the pile off to Tommy before he darted off in search of it.

*O*O*O*

Magpie continued to drive the van, trying to block out the sound of the Wire as it groaned and moaned and laughed intermittently, wondering how he was going to bring himself to do it… to do what the Wire wanted… if he even could…

*O*O*O*

"Got it, let's go," the Doctor exclaimed as he and Tommy ran out onto the streets, both loaded with the equipment they'd gathered.

*O*O*O*

Magpie stopped his van and jumped out of the van, before he snatched up the portable telly from behind the steering wheel and hurried up a flight of metal stairs heading for the transmitter.

*O*O*O*

The Doctor and Tommy ran down another street headed for the Palace, the teen loaded down with most of the equipment as the Doctor fiddled with a few pieces, rapidly putting them together, his hearts pounding in furious desperation, unable to help but feel that he and Tommy where moving too slow.

*O*O*O*

Magpie climbed up the transmitter, sweating profusely with the effort. He paused in his climb up as his will wavered, and he looked down at the Wire in the portable telly that it had forced him to make in part of the exchange for his life, "I can't do this!" he pleaded with it, "Please… please don't make me!" he begged.

"The time is at hand," the Wire shouted at Magpie, "Feed me! Feed me!" it demanded and Magpie swallowed heavily as he forced himself to start climbing up again.

*O*O*O*

The Doctor and Tommy raced towards the Palace as fast as they could, finally nearing the bottom of the tower.

"There!" Tommy shouted drawing the Doctor's gaze as he pointed a finger towards the pylon, where Magpie was climbing the pylon.

"Come on!" the Doctor shouted urgently as they hurried on, running past an official guard, who upon seeing them immediately tried to stop them.

"Woah! Woah! Woah!" he shouted and the Doctor immediately started reaching into his pocket impatience burning through him, "Where do you think…" the guard trailed as the Doctor held up his small black wallet, flashing the psychic paper at him, "Oh!" the guard exclaimed, "I'm sorry, sir," he apologised as the Doctor started off again, "Shouldn't you be at the Coronation?"

"They're saving me a seat!" the Doctor called back over his shoulder and the guard blinked after the two in confusion but nodded none the less as they swiftly disappeared around a corner.

"Who did he think you were?" Tommy asked him as they ran on.

The Doctor glanced down at the psychic paper he was still clutching in his hand, "King of Belgium, apparently."

*O*O*O*

The Doctor dashed about the control room of the Palace gathering the equipment he needed, before he dashed over to where he'd set Tommy up in front of a video machine and television set, "Keep this switched on," he ordered the teen as he snatched up a coil of copper wire, "Don't let anyone stop you, Tommy. Everything depends on it. You understand?"

Tommy nodded and the Doctor turned from him, dashing out of the control room. He rounded the corner again, a trail of magnetic recording tape behind him from a reel around his waist. He dashed past the same official guard and started up the stairs and started up the pylon of the transmitter.

The guard stared at him, rather confused and worried, "You'll get yourself killed up there!" he hollered, "Your Majesty!" he shouted only to be ignored as the Doctor continued to climb as fast as he could.

*O*O*O*

Magpie finally stopped climbing the pylon as he reached the main plugs, "Feed me!" the Wire demanded. Magpie swallowed, but did as commanded as he pulled his little portable telly into the main current and the Wire laughed triumphantly. Red electric energy filled the little screen then streamed out from the top of the mast to all the nearby aerials. The sparking red electric energy spread further and further extending across the country and the people inside, who's eyes were glued to their telly's as they watched the Coronation got caught in it, the energy latching on to them and started to pull them in…

"Oh!" the Wire moaned hungrily, "Feast! Feast…ing! The Wire… is feasting," she crooned as the Doctor reached the top of the pylon.

Magpie turned to look at him, "It's too late!" he cried as the sound of terrified people screaming reached them, "It's too late for all of us!"

The Wire pulsed with red electric energy, "I shall consume you… Doctor," It blasted the energy at the Doctor and Magpie whimpered as he winced in pain.

The Doctor cried out in pain as it hit him, turning away from it for a moment as the energy lashed at him, before he set his jaw and turned back, his Sparks, Rose… they were counting on him to save them. He turned back his face set with determination as he glared at them, "I won't let you do this, Magpie!"

Magpie groaned in pain, "Help me, Doctor!" he pleaded, "It burns!" he cried as the Doctor looked on his brow furrowed and jaw clenched, "It took my face, my soul!"

"You cannot stop the Wire," it boasted gleefully, "Soon I shall become manifest," it declared, before it blasted another wave of energy at the Doctor, determined to consume him this time.

The Doctor gritted his teeth against it, wincing as it lashed at him.

"No more of this!" Magpie shouted in agony as he turned to the Wire, pleading with it, "You promised me peace!"

"And peace you shall have," the Wire promised ominously, before shooting a bolt of red electric energy at him, laughing as Magpie let out an agonized scream as he was blown to a thousand tiny atomized pieces.

The Doctor frowned and reached for the portable telly only to get zapped by red sparks that came flying off it in retaliation, "Been burning the candle at both ends? You've overextended yourself missus. You shouldn't have a had a crack at poor old Magpie there," he reached for the portable telly again, picking it up this time just as a bolt of red electric energy zapped at his foot, "Rubber soles!" he declared with a smirk, "I swear by them!" he inserted a switch into the portable telly…

Downstairs in the control room, Tommy flinched and jumped back a bit as the machine sparked and broke…

"Oh dear!" the Wire laughed, "Has our little plan gone horribly wrong, Doctor?" she crooned, still laughing mirthfully as the Doctor stared in horror, hearts pounding, blood rushing in his ears, no… no! This couldn't be happening! 'Sparks…! Rose…!'

Downstairs, Tommy snatched up a replacement bulb and hurried back over to the machine and plugged it into the machine and switched it back on with batted breath watching as it started up again…

The Doctor watched, horror fading as the red electric energy beams retreated from the pylons and right back into the portable telly.

"No!" the Wire wailed as it shrieked and writhed in agony and downstairs in the control room Tommy grinned as he realized that it was working.

"It's closed down, I'm afraid," he shouted, staring darkly at the agonized being that had done harm to his companions… had almost stolen them from him, "And no epilogue."

The Wire gave a last piercing shriek before the portable telly switched off and the Doctor stared down at it a moment, a smile beginning to pull at his lips, before he turned and started back down the pylon.

*O*O*O*

Sophie let out a groan, gloved hands coming up to touch her face and she grimaced, "Oooh, that was not pleasant!" her head was throbbing something shocking.

"What?!" she heard Bishop call as she looked over to see him staring about alarmed and bewildered, "What the in the devil happened?!"

Sophie smiled lowering her hands from her face, "The Doctor did it!" she cheered brightly, her smile widening further as she took in all the telly's in the shop their screens free of faces now, "Rosie!" she breathed with excitement, before she turned and dashed out of the shop and out onto the streets moving as fast as she possibly could in the blue heels.

*O*O*O*

The Doctor stepped back into the control room, the National Anthem playing as the Coronation proceeded, Tommy watching it off one of the screens, "What have I missed?" the Doctor asked as he moved towards the machine he'd assembled.

"Doctor!" Tommy exclaimed as he spun around to face the older man, "What happened?"

"Sorted," the Doctor beamed a grin at the teen, "Electrical creature, TV technology, clever alien life form. That's me by the way. I turned the receiver into a transmitter and I trapped the Wire in here," he jabbed at a button, popping open the machine he'd made and pulled the home video from it, "I just invented the home video thirty years early. Betamax," he murmured with bemusement, grinning widely. Sophie would get a kick out of that when he told her… she'd probably say something a bit cheeky. He looked up, his gaze landing on the screen as the young Queen Elizabeth the Second waved at the gathered crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, "Oh look! God save the Queen, eh?"

*O*O*O*

Rose paused in her walk as she heard the sound of heels and the telling sound of bells chiming and she turned grinning, "Soph!"

"Rosie!" the brunette shouted back as she dashed past other people that were milling about making their way home, the blond starting towards her, picking up speed, throwing her arms around the blond, hugging her tightly.

Rose returned it just as tightly, and a couple moments later the two were walking on down the street, their arms linked, chatting away as Sophie told Rose what little she knew about what had happened before she'd lost her face.

*O*O*O*

The Doctor and Tommy walked at a quick clip down Florizel Street, their eyes scanning the crowds of people that were milling about, as families reunited with their loved ones that they had feared lost to them forever.

"Gran!" Tommy shouted joyfully as he spotted her in amongst the others.

"Look, it's my grandson!" his gran called back moving towards him, "Oh, son!" she cried with delight as Tommy ran to her, hugging her tightly.

The Doctor continued to scan the crowds a bit impatiently now, turning a bit, his breath caught as he spotted Sophie, Rose beside her, eyes meeting. He grinned and Sophie and Rose grinned back, his pace quickened.

Rose blinked seeing what was about to happen she swiftly unlinked her arm with Sophie's a merry laugh escaping her as the Doctor swept Sophie up into a tight hug spinning her around, the bells in Sophie's ears chiming merrily, before setting her back down.

Sophie smiled hugging him back just as tightly even as the spinning made her throbbing head throb a bit harder. His consciousness brushing hers in a joyfully 'hello' that Sophie returned, a slight grimace crossing her face as her head continued to pound as she pulled away from him as the Doctor turned to give Rose a hug.

The Doctor hugged Rose tightly, the blond throwing her arms about him in return. His grin faded slightly and his brow furrowed with mild concern as his consciousness that was still brushing along Sophie's felt a fissuring crack in her mental shields. He turned his eyes to her releasing Rose as he reached a hand towards her temple, "Sparks, there's a crack," he murmured.

Sophie grimaced again slightly, "I suppose that explains the headache beating along my temples…" she muttered and that mental snap-like crack she'd heard when the Wire had been pulling her out of herself.

"I'll fix it," the Doctor promised.

Sophie nodded, bells chiming softly, as their eyes met. Her stomach did that odd summersault and her heart did an odd beat, before it beat a bit faster at the strange intense look in his eyes and her brow scrunched in confusion again at the reaction as that weird tension built as she stared back at him.

The Doctor smiled fondly at her, before he shook his head and his smile widened to a beaming grin as he reached out and pulled both Sophie and Rose into a tight hug, the girls returning it just as tightly with wide smiles of their own, even as Rose rolled her eyes a bit at the cluelessness of her 'big sister' and the stubbornness of the Time Lord.

*O*O*O*

"We could go down to the mall," Rose suggested as the three of them walked down the street, the party in full swing, "Join in with the crowds."

Sophie scrunched her nose at the blond, their arms linked as they strolled, "Nah, too crowded," she smiled as she looked around at the people celebrating, eating, drinking, talking, laughing, dancing to the 50's music that was playing through the street, "And this is nice," she murmured.

"Besides," the Doctor spoke up as he swallowed down a bite of the small slice of Victoria sponge cake he was eating, "That's just pomp and circumstance," he nodded at the celebrating people, "This is history right here."

"The domestic approach," Rose teased with amusement and Sophie shrugged a bit at her as she smiled.

The Doctor nodded, beaming an amused grin, "Exactly!" he agreed with a bit of a laugh.

Rose's smile faded slightly, "Will it…" she hesitated, "That thing… is it trapped for good, on video?" she asked.

Sophie turned curious eyes to the Doctor too as he gave a low thoughtful hum, "Hope so," he replied.

Sophie arched a brow as she eyed him, "Only hope so?" she questioned.

"Well," the Doctor shot her a smile, "Just to be one the safe side though, I'll use my unrivalled knowledge of trans temporal extirpation methods to neutralize the residual electronic pattern?"

Sophie blinked at him as her brow scrunched a bit in confusion, "Eh?"

Rose stared at him with equal confusion, "You what?"

"I'm going to tape over it," the Doctor explained and Sophie huffed out an amused breath as she shared an amused look and smile with Rose who rolled her eyes a bit at the Time Lord's need to be all impressive.

"Just leave it to me," Rose said with a laugh as she turned her gaze back to the Doctor, "I'm always doing that."

"Tell you what, Tommy," the Doctor said as they came to a stop by the teen, "You can have the scooter. Little present. Best… um… keep it in the garage for a few years though, eh?"

Tommy nodded, smiling with delight at the unexpected gift… it was a smile that faded however as his gaze was drawn to his house as the front door open and Eddie Connolly stepped out onto the street in his overcoat and a battered old suitcase in hand. He scowled at him, "Good riddance," he grumbled bitterly as his mum and gran hugged in the doorway as his dad walked away, lugging his suitcase.

"Is that it, then, Tommy?" the Doctor asked as he looked away from Mr. Connolly to gaze at the teen, "New Monarch, new age, new world. No room for a man like Eddie Connolly."

"That's right," Tommy replied, his voice quivering slightly as he watched his father as he walked slowly towards his car, "He deserves it."

"Tommy, go after him," Rose murmured gently as she nudged his shoulder.

"What for?" Tommy asked turning to look at her with a bit of a frown, conflicted.

"Cos he's your dad," Sophie murmured with a small shrug offering him a small smile as Tommy turned his gaze to her, "You only get one of those, ya know," she murmured lightly.

"He's an idiot," Tommy muttered his frown deepening, conflict growing as he glanced back at his father… his father who'd disappointed him so much.

"Of course he is," Rose agreed and Sophie nodded, "Like Soph said, he's your dad. But you're clever. Clever enough to save the world, so don't stop there. Go on."

Sophie gave him an encouraging nod as he continued to hesitate, "Go on," she repeated and Tommy gave them a small nod, before he turned and hurried over to his dad.

The three watched as Tommy silently took his father's suitcase from him, visibly startling the man, before he followed his son towards his car, allowing him to carry it, his head bowed slightly in shame as he walked.

The Doctor turned to the table and picked up a couple of glasses of orange juice, before turning back and handing them to the girls, before grabbing one for himself and the three drank a celebratory toast.

Sophie turned her gaze back to Tommy as he hefted his dad's suitcase into the boot of the car, his dad hovering with an awkward and ashamed air behind him. Her expression thoughtful as she looked at him curiously unable to help but wonder again like she had when she'd heard that his name was Tommy Connolly.

"What is it, Sparks?" the Doctor asked curiously, drawing Sophie's attention from the scene that was playing out.

"Hm, oh…" Sophie murmured, "Tommy Connolly was the name of Jane Connolly's dad," she replied glancing back over at Tommy with curious eyes.

Rose blinked, "One of the women who found you?"

Sophie glanced at her with a bit of a smile, "Yep. So, I was just kind of wondering if that was him… I mean it might not be. I'm sure that there's other Tommy Connolly's running about, but…" she trailed blinking, "Now that I think about it," she murmured with a thoughtful frown, "Jane did say her dad was fond of telling this crazy story about the monster in the telly," she mused.

Rose blinked and stared at Tommy Connolly with slightly wide new eyes, "Wow…" she breathed with surprise, "Sounds like the same Tommy to me."

"Yep," the Doctor agreed with a grin and Sophie nodded, before she smiled at her friends as they started walking again, leaving Tommy and his dad as the two chatted with stilted awkwardness by the driver's side door of the car.