Thanks to Snackysnacks35, wolfgirl232323 for following/faving my story.
NicoleR85: yes she is
The Phoenix pulled her hair into a messy bun as she contemplated the nursery. After spending time in Gabriel's reality she decided that the room needed a change. She couldn't keep it the same for the baby that was coming. As much as it still hurt to think about the child she had lost, it was in her past and she had to try and move on from it. Focusing on her son or daughter that'll be arriving in about 23 months' time is the best way.
The Time Lady touched her overall clad stomach with a small smile. Despite all the years she'd been alive, she couldn't understand how human pregnancies could only last 9 months. It was much longer for Time Lords as their species needed much more time to develop.
The Phoenix started to gather up the toys, putting them in the box with no problems. However, when she got to a rather tatty and well loved plushie red bird which you could kinda call a phoenix, she stopped. It was given to her by her mother when she was born. She had to leave that one out. It didn't matter if she was going to give it to the child that she had lost, she couldn't put it away. The Time Lady set it down in the crib carefully, stroking its 'feathers' and a tear rolled down her face.
Suddenly a phone rang from her pocket which made her jump. The Phoenix wiped the tear away as she fished in her pocket for the device. She took it out and saw that it was Sarah Jane calling. The Time Lady took a breath to pull herself together before she answered. "Hey Sarah", she greeted.
"Hey, Nix…you sound different", the reporter remarked.
"Well, I have changed a few times since I saw you last", the Phoenix informed her "but you didn't ring up just to hear my different voice, did ya? So whats up?"
"I've discovered something interesting going on with Deffry Vale. School gets record results but there's also a high number of students getting ill too", Sarah Jane explained.
"You think there's a link?" the Phoenix asked.
"I'm not sure, I want to do some more digging before I jump to anything", Sarah Jane replied "I am wondering if you…"
"Would go under cover at the school and see whats what? Of course I will", the Phoenix said without letting her finished. Her friend had her at kids getting ill.
"Thanks Nix. If I can get enough, I might be able to swing an interview with the headmaster", Sarah Jane said.
"Well, if you need any help in that regard, let me know and I'll work my 'magic'"
Sarah Jane snorted at the other end of the phone. She knew very well that her 'magic' consisted either calling in favours from people who owed her or the Time Lady will use her handy dandy psychic paper. "Thanks Nix, I owe you"
"No, you don't. Its what friends are for", the Phoenix said "and quite frankly, I needed something to do anyway".
Two days later saw the Phoenix at the school as the new history teacher. She was currently pouring over the quiz that she had set the students. Honestly she was astounded by their knowledge. She knew clever kids but this was impossible! Every single one of the quizzes were marked 100%. Even the bonus question she had slipped in which was on something that she had learned at the academy. And they still got it correct. Normally she'd be impressed but these children had knowledge beyond education levels on Earth and it was fairly unnerving.
The Time Lady sat back in her chair, thinking. Something was making the students smarter. But what could it be? There was also the matter of the headmaster and those other teachers. Something about them was making her very uneasy. She was too deep in her thoughts that she didn't even sense the Doctor appear in the doorway of her classroom.
The Time Lord the in question was staring at her. He hadn't expected to see her so soon and to be honest he was pretty glad for it too. Mickey was absolutely fine as was Goose. Shame he couldn't say the same for Rose. Damn girl was annoying him to know end with the terrible flirting. He had quite recently questioned his judgement in letting her continue to travel with him after the way she was around the Phoenix at Christmas. "Enya", he breathed, making the brunette's head snap up.
"Doctor", she whispered, getting up from the desk "hi". The brunette walked around it and the Doctor stepped into the room.
"I've missed you", he murmured as he carefully hugged her "how have you been?" he asked stepping back "both of you?" he went to touch her stomach but let his hand drop by his side instead.
"We're fine", the Phoenix replied "how's Goose and Mickey? They behaved?"
"Of course", the Doctor answered "wish I could say the same about Rose".
The Phoenix sighed "what did she do this time?" she questioned.
"She…was more annoying than normal. And…she wouldn't stop flirting with me", the Doctor explained "I've tried to tell her I'm not interested. I've done my best to show her that I'm not but nothing seems to be working", he ran a hand through his hair, making it stick up "help?"
"I might have an idea that'll get her to back off", the Phoenix said "though it does depend one thing".
"What's that?" the Doctor asked.
"Whether you don't mind me kissing you in front of her", the Phoenix replied.
"Yes!" the Doctor said with probably a bit more enthusiasm than he should have considering that they're supposed to only be friends. Well, the Time Lady believes them to just be friends as she had no idea that he'd fallen in love with her. The Doctor wasn't sure about admitting it to her. Correction, admitting it to her again since he had already done it once when his regeneration was going wrong. That's probably why she hadn't brought it up because she possibly thought it was due to what had happened and that he wasn't in his right frame of mind. But now that it had settled, could he really tell her that he wasn't just saying it at the time, he actually meant it too?
What about Jack? She loves him and that's not likely to change, ever. She pregnant with his baby, for someone's sake! The Doctor couldn't help feel a bubble of anger and jealousy toward the American. The man had her hearts AND fathered a child with her! Didn't matter how much he loved her. It didn't matter that he had been in her life far longer than the former Time Agent. The Phoenix was Jack's and there wasn't anything he could do about it.
However, it didn't mean that he couldn't be there for her throughout the pregnancy. And if by chance something were to develop between them… then he would take the opportunity. Until then, he was her best friend and nothing more. "I mean…yeah. I'd be happy with it", the Doctor added, pretending to sound like he wasn't going to be affected by the Time Lady's idea "if it'll stop Rose from flirting then I'm all for it". If I happen to enjoy the kiss when it happens, I can put it down to being an act he thought.
"Good", the Phoenix said "now I'm guessing you're here as a teacher, physics probably. So what's Rose as?"
"Dinner lady", the Doctor replied and the Time Lady snickered.
"Probably the only thing she could do well", she remarked "how about Mickey? Is he undercover here too?"
The Doctor shook his head "no, he decided that someone should do some research into this place. Just in case there's something we need to know".
"He didn't want to be around Rose, did he?" the Phoenix questioned with a grin "not that I blame him".
"Finally!" Rose said, suddenly appearing "I've been looking every…oh you've got to be kidding me!" she complained, seeing the Time Lady "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I'm investigating just like you two are", the Phoenix replied.
"Well, we've got it under control so you can go away and take that freaky cat of yours too", Rose said rather rudely.
The Phoenix raised her brows but before she could say anything, the Doctor spoke up. "Rose, that's enough. I'm tired of you being so rude and snarky towards her. And I'll say again that I don't appreciate you flirting with me".
"You didn't seem to mind when I kissed you at the hospital in New New York", Rose countered, her voice taking on a more playful tone "in fact I know you loved it".
"I didn't like it", the Doctor gritted out. He'd tried to push Rose/Cassandra away when she'd done that but she had been far too clingy. "There's only one person I would ever want to kiss and that's not you Rose Tyler", he spat. He turned to the Time Lady, the brunette a little startled by the tender look in his eyes, a very quick shift from being angry at the human. The Phoenix's hearts jumped as he caressed her cheek. Its all part of the plan she had to mentally remind herself it doesn't mean anything. The Doctor leant in "I love you Enya", he whispered into her ear and then softly yet lovingly kissed her.
The Time Lady felt a familiar warmth spread through her body, the same kind she got every time Jack had kissed her. She was rather startled to be getting that reaction from herself as it was her best friend not her lover that was kissing her. There was his little declaration in Gallifreyan no less. She honestly hadn't expected that at all. She'd eventually disregarded the first time he had said that he loved her because his regeneration was going wrong, he didn't mean it. She was sure he didn't mean it this time either, it was part of the act. However, there was a small part of her that argued that if it was all an act, why say it in Gallifreyan? Rose can't understand the language. And the way he said it…definitely did something to her. Stop it! Its and act! Don't read into it! a voice inside her head scolded. Yes, that's all it was. An act. A very, very convincing act.
Rose tried to avert her gaze from the Time Lords making out in front of her but she found herself watching them, jealousy welling up inside of her. This is just some ploy to make me stop flirting with him she thought well, its not gonna work. He can't truly love her. She's so rude and uncaring! He deserves someone a thousand times better…someone like me. "How could you do that to Jack?" the blonde demanded forcing the pair to part "I thought you loved him!"
"I do but I also love the Doctor as well", the Phoenix informed her and Rose glared "oh don't look at me like that, but I could tell you about the cultures and planets were the people have more than one lover at a time. In fact in some cases its expected of you. However, it would take a very long time, longer than your lifespan".
"But…"
"Rose, you and I aren't going to happen. Ever. So just forget about it", the Doctor cut in sternly wrapping an arm around the Phoenix's waist.
"I hate you", the blonde spat and spun on her heel, stomping off.
"I think that went well", the Phoenix lightly remarked "she probably won't flirt with you for a little bit AND she hates me even more. So all in all, a success".
"Yeah, it was", the Doctor agreed, smiling to himself about the kiss. He had definitely enjoyed it and hoped that they could do it again, even if it was under the guise of getting Rose to back off. Though in the back of his mind, he did worry about what Jack might do if he ever found out about this. He had no idea if that second phoenix had done more than just revive Jack at the Game Station. He wasn't particularly fond of the idea of a superpowered man hunting him down for making out with the mother of his child.
A couple of hours later, the Phoenix slipped into one of the computer labs to do a bit of snooping. She'd tried to do it when she first arrived but was stopped by the IT teacher, she couldn't remember his name…though she did remember that she got an unpleasant feeling from that encounter. "Right, no Mr IT Man to stop me this time", she muttered "let's see if you're hiding anything". The Phoenix flexed her fingers and started to type.
Over in the canteen, the Doctor shifted in the uncomfortable plastic chair for the third time, glancing at the clock. Ten minutes. This wasn't like the Time Lady at all to be late, that was usually him, not that he would admit it out loud. It was possible that she had some marking to do and that was what was delaying her. The Phoenix had always taken this undercover thing more seriously than he ever did. She show. She always does he though picking up a chip and nibbled on the end. He made a face and spat it out. That was gross!
Back in the computer lab, the Time Lady was staring in horror at the code on the screen. Her entire frame trembled with fury at the thought of the children being used to crack the Skasis Paradigm. "Someone is going to die today", she growled, her eyes shining reddish-gold as the Firebird within begged to be let loose. But she wasn't going to unleash her fury until all the children were safe. The Phoenix's eyes flickered over to the fire alarm and she smiled. She moved over to it, setting her hand alight. She waited for a moment and then it started to blare. Within minutes she could hear commotion in the corridor as the school began to evacuate.
The Phoenix watched through the window in the doors at the kids running past. Once the stampede had gone, she left the lab and went straight for Finch's office. She knew he had to be involved, him and those other new teachers. Everything had started happening since they had arrived. She had neared the office when she heard Finch talking to the others in the Staff Room. "I want you to find the trouble maker who set that off", he ordered "Nothing will stop us from cracking the code".
The Time Lady walked through the door, smirking at the startled looks on their faces. Oh she loved freaking them out by being able to phase through walls and doors like a ghost. "You don't need to find the 'troublemaker cos I'm right here", she declared "and I AM the one who's gonna stop you from cracking the code".
Finch laughed "You? You're just a teacher" he sneered "that little trick of yours will only serve to allow you to run away from us".
"And what makes you think I'll run away from you lot?" the Phoenix asked, the phoenix aura starting to appear around her, making Finch and the other Krillitane very uneasy "YOU are using children. Harming them for your own selfish gain! That will NOT stand! Not now. Not ever!" the aura grew stronger around her "I am the Phoenix! And you should never have come here". The Time Lady raised her arms and cut loose.
Outside the school, the Doctor was frantically looking around for the Phoenix. "Nix where are you!" he called, eyes darting from adult to adult. No brunette haired Time Lady.
"Whats going on?" a familiar voice asked. The Doctor glanced to his left and saw his former companion, Sarah Jane Smith standing there.
"Fire drill", the Doctor replied. He wanted to be excited over seeing her again, he really did but he was more worried over the whereabouts of the Phoenix. Suddenly all the windows in the school exploded outward!
"Not so much a fire drill anymore", Sarah Jane breathed, hand pressed over her mouth at the sight of the flames.
"Nix", the Time Lord breathed, his hearts constricting in fear for the pregnant Time Lady. Yes, he knew that a little fire didn't affect her given what she was descended from. Didn't stop him from being afraid for her.
"You can't go in there!" Rose exclaimed, rushing over to grab the Doctor's arm as he started toward the school.
"The Phoenix is in there!" the Time Lord shouted back "I have to help her!"
"What good can you do her Doctor?" Rose argued "she wont burn but you will!"
"She's got a point", Sarah Jane reluctantly agreed, both surprised and happy to see the Doctor again. Unlike the Phoenix, she didn't think she would ever see the Time Lord.
"But I…"
"Doctor, she'll be fine", Sarah Jane assured.
"Sarah…she's…she's…." the Doctor trailed off when the flames disappeared as quickly as they had appeared. They waited, eagerly to see if the Time Lady will show. Rose rolled her eyes when she saw the Phoenix's bird form fly out of the upper windows, partially obscured by the smoke. The Doctor took off, following the Time Lady.
When they got to an alley way, the Phoenix changed back. The Doctor was quick to dart forward, grabbing her as she collapsed. "I gotcha", he said.
"You always do", the Time Lady murmured, tiredly.