Thanks to Kuroppoi Kitsune for following my story.
NicoleR85: thanks!
"But how do you travel in time? What makes it go?" Martha asked while clinging onto the console.
"Oh, let's take the fun and mystery out of everything. Martha, you don't want to know. It just does", the Doctor said "Hold on tight!"
The TARDIS jerks to a halt. Martha would've nearly fallen if Jenna hadn't grabbed hold of her with one hand while gripping onto the console with the other. "Blimey. Do you have to pass a test to fly this thing?" Martha asked.
"He failed it", Jenna said dryly "big time".
"I did not", the Doctor said quickly.
"12 months instead of hours. Aimed for New York and got London 1953. Dropped my mother off in Aberdeen when she wanted Croydon", Jenna listed off "Shall I go on?"
"Please don't", the Doctor muttered. He turned to Martha who was looking a little worried. If the Doctor had ended up in the wrong place several times would he be able to get her home? "Anyway, make the most of this because I promised you one trip. And one trip only" the Time Lord walked down the ramp to the doors "Outside this door, brave new world", he said.
"Where are we?" Martha asked as she and Jenna joined him.
"Take a look. After you", the Doctor replied opening the door. Martha left the TARDIS and was amazed.
"Oh, you are kidding me. You are so kidding me. Oh, my God, we did it. We travelled in time", Martha said taking in their surroundings "where are we?" she asked "No, sorry…when are we?" she amended. She was suddenly pulled backwards by Jenna just as a man empties his slop bucket from an upstairs window.
"Somewhere before the invention of the toilet. Sorry about that", the Time Lord said answering her question.
"I've seen worse. I've worked the late night shift A+E", Martha said. Jenna screwed her nose up at the smell. "Are we safe? I mean, can we move around and stuff?" the trainee doctor asked.
"Of course we can" the Doctor answered "Why do you ask?"
"It's like in the films. You step on a butterfly, you change the future of the human race", Martha said.
"What have butterflies ever done to you?" Jenna asked confused.
"What if, I don't know, what if I kill my grandfather?" Martha asked.
"Are you planning to?" the Doctor asked starting to walk again.
"No", Martha replied.
"Well, then", the Doctor said.
"This is London, right?" Martha asked looking around as they walked.
"Yep", Jenna replied popping the p "about…." she tilted her head thinking "1599 I believe". Jenna looked to the Doctor and he nodded.
"That's about right", the Doctor confirmed.
"So where are we going first?" Jenna asked.
"Well if I'm right, we're just down the river by Southwark, right next to…" the Doctor grabbed Jenna's hand and ran. He stopped when the Globe Theatre came into view "the Globe Theatre! Brand new. Just opened. Through, strictly speaking, it's not a globe…"
"It's a tetra decagon. Fourteen sides", Jenna said interrupting him.
"And containing the man himself", the Doctor added.
"Whoa, you don't mean… is Shakespeare in there?" Martha asked, a little thrilled at the prospect of meeting the infamous playwright himself.
"Yep", Jenna replied.
"Miss Jones, Miss Smith, will you accompany me to the theatre?" the Doctor asked offering both arms to them.
"Mr Smith, I will", Martha replied taking one of his arms.
"Watching a play by Shakespeare in the Globe Theatre sounds like fun. Count me in", Jenna said linking her arm through his other one.
"When you get home, you two can tell everyone you've seen Shakespeare", the Doctor said.
"I could get sectioned", Martha joked.
"If you did, I'd rescue you", Jenna assured her.
"Really?" Martha asked.
"Of course!" Jenna said.
"That's amazing! Just amazing. It's worth putting up with the smell. And those are men dressed as women, yeah?" Martha asked after the play had finished.
"Ah…men dressed in drag", Jenna sighed "London never changes".
"Where's Shakespeare?" Martha asked "I want to see Shakespeare. Author!" she called "Author! "Do people shout that?" she asked to the Doctor and Jenna quietly "Do they shout Author?"
"Author! Author!" a man shouted and soon the crowd started chanting it.
"Well, they do now", the Doctor said. The chants turned into applause as the one and only Shakespeare came out on the stage.
"He's a bit different from his portraits", Martha commented.
"He's better looking than his portraits", Jenna said earning her a look of disbelief from the Doctor. Not that the brunette noticed.
"Definitely", the dark skinned woman agreed.
"Nothing on you love", Jenna added looking at the Doctor who now looked pleased.
"Genius", he said "He's a genius. THE genius. The most human there's ever been. Now we're going to hear him speak. Always he chooses the best words. New, beautiful, brilliant words".
"Maybe we should leave and let the Doctor fan boy over Shakespeare. We could take Sexy for a spin", Jenna whispered to Martha. She was going to reply when the playwright spoke.
"Shut your big fat mouths!"
"Oh, well", the Doctor said clearly disappointed.
"You should never meet your heroes", Martha said.
"You've got excellent taste, I'll give you that. Oh, that's a wig. I know what you're all saying. Loves Labour's Lost, that's a funny ending, isn't it? It just stops. Will the boys get the girls? Well, don't get your hose in a tangle, you'll find out soon. Yeah, yeah. All in good time. You don't rush a genius", Shakespeare said and then bowed. He suddenly jerked upright, Jenna frowning at the action "When? Tomorrow night. The premiere of my brand new play. A sequel, no less, and I call it Loves Labour's Won", he added. But there isn't a sequel Jenna thought, she knew that much.
"I'm not an expert, but I've never heard of Loves Labour's Won", Martha said as they filed out with the rest.
"Exactly. The lost play. It doesn't exist, only in rumours. It's mentioned in lists of his plays but never ever turns up. And no one knows why", the Doctor said.
"Have you got a mini-disc or something?" Martha asked "We can tape it. We can flog it. Sell it when we get home and make a mint".
"That wouldn't be a good idea Martha", Jenna said.
"How come it disappeared in the first place?" Martha asked.
"Well…I was just going to give you a quick little trip in the TARDIS, but I suppose we could stay a bit longer", the Doctor said.
Eventually the trio find where Shakespeare was staying. "Hello! Excuse me, not interrupting, am I? Mr Shakespeare, isn't it?" the Doctor asked entering the room.
"Oh, no. No, no, no. Who let you in? No autographs. No, you can't have yourself sketched with me. And please don't ask where I get my ideas from. Thanks for the interest. Now be a good boy and shove..." Shakespeare then noticed both Jenna and Martha "Hey, nonny. Sit right down here next to me". The writer then turned to Burbage and Kempe "You two get sewing on them costumes. Off you go", he said.
"Come on, lads. I think our William's found his new muses", Dolly said ushering out the other two men.
"Sweet ladies", Shakespeare said as the trio sat down in front of his table "Such unusual clothes. So fitted".
"Er, verily, forsooth, egads", Martha said trying to sound like the Elizabethan people.
"Martha don't do that", Jenna said knowing that you only had to talk normally to them.
"I'm Sir Doctor of TARDIS. This is my wife Dame Jenna and our companion Miss Martha Jones", Doctor said showing Shakespeare the psychic paper, making sure to emphasise the word wife. He didn't want Shakespeare to flirt with his Jenna. Martha, yes. Jenna, no. Absolutely not.
"Interesting, that bit of paper", Shakespeare commented "It's blank".
"Oh, that's very clever. That proves it. Absolute genius", the Doctor said happily.
"No, it says so right there. Sir Doctor, Martha Jones. It says so", Martha said looking at it and seeing the words.
"And I say it's blank", Shakespeare repeated.
"Psychic paper. Er, long story. Oh, I hate starting from scratch", the Doctor said tucking the psychic paper in his coat.
"Psychic? Never heard that before and words are my trade. Who are you exactly? More's the point, who is your delicious blackamoor lady and lovely woman with unusual eyes?" Shakespeare asked eyeing the two females
"What did you say?" Martha asked slightly outraged by what he called her.
"Oops. Isn't that a word we use nowadays? An Ethiop girl? A swarth? A Queen of Afric?" Shakespeare asked.
"I can't believe I'm hearing this", Martha said getting more annoyed.
"Unbelievable", Jenna muttered.
"Its political correctness gone mad", the Doctor said "Er, Martha's from a far-off land. Freedonia". Freedonia? Jenna thought could've come up with a better name than that.
A man in expensive clothes and wearing a gold chain of office enters the room. "Excuse me! Hold hard a moment. This is abominable behaviour. A new play with no warning? I demand to see a script, Mister Shakespeare. As Master of the Revels, every new script must be registered at my office and examined by me before it can be performed"
"Tomorrow morning, first thing, I'll send it round", Shakespeare said to him.
"I don't work to your schedule, you work to mine. The script, now!" Lynley demanded.
"I can't", Shakespeare said.
"Then tomorrow's performance is cancelled", Lynley said firmly. Jenna glanced over at the young maid as she slips out of the room. "I'm returning to my office for a banning order. If it's the last thing I do, Love's Labours Won will never be played", Lynley said and with that he walked out of the room.
"Well then, mystery solved. That's Love's Labour's won over and done with. Thought it might be something more, you know, more mysterious", Martha said.
Jenna suddenly shot to her feet and dashed out of the room, the Doctor and Martha quickly following her. The trio rushed outside in time to see Lynley stagger across the courtyard spewing water.
"It's that Lynley bloke", Martha said. She, the Doctor and Jenna went to him to try to do something to help. The man collapsed on the cobble stones "Got to get the heart going. Mister Lynley, come on. Can you hear me? You're going to be all right", Martha said starting to clear Lynley's airways for CPR, and water gushes out "What the hell is that?" she explained.
"I've never seen a death like it. His lungs are full of water. He drowned and then, I don't know, like a blow to the heart, an invisible blow", the Doctor explained. Jenna looked up at the balcony where the maid was watching what was going on. Their eyes met and Jenna got a really bad feeling. You had something do with this she thought as the woman moved away from the balcony.
"Good mistress, this poor fellow has died from a sudden imbalance of the humours. A natural if unfortunate demise. Call a constable and have him taken away", the Doctor said to Dolly.
"Yes, sir", Dolly said.
"I'll do it, ma'am", the maid offered. Dolly nodded and the maid walked off but not before making eye contact with Jenna again.
"And why are you telling them that?" Martha asked.
"This lot still have got one foot in the Dark Ages. If I tell them the truth, they'll panic and think it was witchcraft"
"Okay, what was it then?" Martha asked.
"Witchcraft", the Doctor replied seriously.
"I got you two rooms, Sir Doctor. You, Miss Jones and Dame Jenna are just across the landing", Dolly said to the three of them when they went back the Shakespeare's room.
"Poor Lynley", Shakespeare sighed "So many strange events. Not least of all, this land of Freedonia where a woman can be a doctor?"
"Where a woman can do what she likes", Martha replied.
Shakespeare turned to Jenna "there's something about you Dame Jenna, something… impossible. In more ways than one", he said. He then looked at the Doctor "And you, Sir Doctor. How can a man so young have eyes so old?" Shakespeare asked turning to the Doctor.
"I do a lot of reading", the Doctor replied.
"A trite reply. Yeah, that's what I'd do" Shakespeare turned to Martha "And you? You look at him like you're surprised he exists. He's as much of a puzzle to you as he is to me" he looked at Jenna "But not to you Dame Jenna".
"I think we should say goodnight", Jenna suggested and left the room, Martha following. She was a little bit uneasy at how the man mentioned her being 'impossible'. It was like he knew something that even she wasn't aware of. "You and the Doctor share a room. I'll take the other", she said to the trainee doctor before entering one of the rooms. Truthfully she wanted to be alone so she could think. There was something about the maid that was bothering her.
"I must work. I have a play to complete. But I'll get my answers tomorrow, Doctor, and I'll discover more about you and why this constant performance of yours", Shakespeare said to the Time Lord.
"All the world's a stage", the Doctor said.
"Hmm. I might use that. Goodnight, Doctor".
"Nighty night, Shakespeare", the Doctor said and left.
He was a little disappointed when he stepped into Jenna's room to find the brunette was already asleep. He really wanted to talk to her about what was going on. However, he wasn't going to wake her just for a chat. He'd talk to her in the morning.
The Doctor walked over to the bedroom window, pulling it closed before he got into bed, taking care not to jostle Jenna. He didn't go to sleep though. His mind was still going over everything that had happened. He knew there was something wrong, something that was staring him in the face but he couldn't see it!
Suddenly a scream sounded. The Doctor scrambled out of bed and ran out of the room. He met Martha out in the hall and they hurried to Shakespeare's room. Martha goes to the window while the Doctor went to Dolly. Shakespeare could only just stare at the unmoving innkeeper.
"Her heart gave out. She died of fright", the Doctor said.
"Doctor?" Martha called still looking out the window.
"What did you see?" the Doctor asked when he joined the other woman at the window.
"A witch", Martha replied. She then noticed that a certain brunette was missing. "Doctor? Where's Jenna?" she asked. The Time Lord glanced around the room, surprised she wasn't there. He'd thought she was right behind him.
The Doctor went back to the bedroom and found Jenna still asleep. It was surprising really, he would've thought she'd have been woken by the scream. He went around to her side of the bed and gently shook her shoulder. She didn't stir. "Jen?" He said shaking her a little harder. Still she didn't wake.
"Doctor is she ok?" Martha asked from the doorway.
"I don't know", he replied "she's not waking up". The Doctor quickly checked her pulse and breathing, both of which were not normal. Why didn't he realise that something was wrong before? Why did he just assume that she was asleep? The Doctor got out his sonic and scanned Jenna. His eyes widened at the results.
"Doctor, whats wrong?" Martha asked seeing his reaction.
"Martha… she's dying", the Doctor breathed staring at Jenna, his hearts starting to hammer in his chest.
"What?!" Martha exclaimed running over "what do you mean she's dying?"
"She's been poisoned", the Doctor whispered.
"Oh god", Martha gasped "the witch must've done it… is there anything you can do to save her?"
"I-I don't know. I don't recognise the poison that was used", the Doctor admitted running a hand through his hair.
"So we need to find the witch then? Maybe she's got an antidote", Martha suggested trying to stay calm as she could see the Doctor starting to fall apart.
The Doctor nodded "yeah… maybe", he agreed "but I don't know where we'd start!" he smacked his hand on the wall "Jenna would….she would know! She always seems to know these things! Martha I…I can't… I…I need her…"
"Doctor she needs you" Martha said grasping his hands "you've got to keep it together".
The Doctor glanced at Jenna. Martha was right, he did need to keep it together. Him falling apart wasn't going to save her. "You're right Martha. We need to find this witch", he said firmly.
"Peter Streete spoke of witches", Shakespeare spoke up.
"Who's Peter Streete?" the Doctor asked.
"Our builder. He sketched the plans to the Globe", Shakespeare replied.
"We need to talk to him", the Doctor said. If this Peter Streete knew of the witches then he might be able to help find them.
"You won't get an answer", Shakespeare said "A month after finishing the Globe theatre, he lost his mind"
"Why? What happened?" Martha queried.
"Started raving about witches, hearing voices, babbling. His mind was addled", Shakespeare explained.
"Where is he now?" the Doctor asked
"Bedlam", Shakespeare replied.
"What's Bedlam?" Martha asked.
"Bethlem Hospital. The madhouse", Shakespeare answered.
"We're going to go there. Right now", the Doctor added.
"Doctor, I think I ought to stay with Jenna", Martha said "in case she wakes up or something".
The Doctor nodded "All right. She's got a phone. Call me if anything changes", he said. Martha promised to do so and the two men left.
~Bedlam~
"Does my Lord Doctor wish some entertainment while he waits? I'd whip these madmen. They'll put on a good show for you. Mad dog in Bedlam", the keeper said to the Time Lord.
"No, I don't!" the Doctor shouted.
The keeper put his hands up and continued walking, the Doctor and Shakespeare following. "They can be dangerous, my lord. Don't know their own strength", the keeper warned as they entered the cell.
"I think it helps if you don't whip them. Now get out!" the Doctor shouted at him. The keeper of the hospital left. The Doctor tried to talk to Peter but he wasn't answering so he decided a different tact. He placed his fingers on the man's temples "Peter, I'm the Doctor. Go into the past. One year ago. Let your mind go back. Back to when everything was fine and shining. Everything that happened in this year since happened to somebody else. It was just a story. A Winter's Tale. Let go. That's it. That's it, just let go"
The Doctor lies Peter down on his cot "Tell me the story, Peter. Tell me about the witches", he said.
"Witches spoke to Peter", Peter said quietly "In the night, they whispered. They whispered. Got Peter to build the Globe to their design. Their design! The fourteen walls. Always fourteen. When the work was done they snapped poor Peter's wits"
"Where did Peter see the witches? Where in the city? Peter, tell me. You've got to tell me where were they?" the Doctor urged. He had to know! Jenna's life depended on it!
"All Hallows Street", Peter replied.
"Too many words", a woman who looked exactly like a stereotypical witch said suddenly appearing next to the Doctor.
"Just one touch of the heart", the woman, Doomfinger, said and placed a hand on Peter's chest.
"No!" the Doctor shouted as Peter cried out.
"Witch! I'm seeing a witch!" Shakespeare exclaimed.
"Who would be next, hmm? Just one touch", Doomfinger said turning to the Doctor and Shakespeare.
The Time Lord stepped forward "if you're looking for volunteers", he said "but there's something I need first".
"And what would that be?" Doomfinger asked.
"The antidote for the poison that's killing my girlfriend", the Doctor replied glaring at her.
"So the impossible child is still alive?" Doomfinger asked rather intrigued by that "that'll have to be rectified".
~the witches house~
Lilith moved away from the caldron and picked up the locket she'd taken. She held it in her hand and started to chant.
~Jenna's room~
Martha was startled when Jenna suddenly started to convulse. She stood up and held her down. The only thing she could do really under the circumstances. She let out a small scream when Jenna's eyes flew open and she let out a gasp.
"Martha", she gasped "C-Carrionites…14…w-words…Harry…" Jenna's eyes closed, her body going lax under Martha's hands. The black woman checked her pulse. It was very weak.
Martha snatched up Jenna's mobile which she'd taken from her pocket and quickly texted the message to the Doctor.
~Bedlam~
The Doctors' phone buzzed. He took it out and saw he had a message.
Carrionite
14
Words
Harry
Hurry Doctor, she's very weak
Carrionite. That was very familiar to the Doctor. That had to be the species! "I want that antidote for Jenna. Now", the Doctor demanded.
"I'm afraid I don't have it on me and even if I did, it wouldn't do much good for Jenna. She's going to be dead very soon", Doomfinger smirked.
The Doctor narrowed his eyes at her "Well, I suppose the only thing I can do now is to name you", he said.
"None on Earth has knowledge of us", Doomfinger said with a smirk.
"But I'm not from Earth. And I name you Carrionite!" the Doctor pointed his finger at Doomfinger. The now named Carrionite screamed and vanishes in a flash of light.
"What did you just do?" Shakespeare asked.
"I named her. The power of a name. That's old magic", he replied.
"But there's no such thing as magic", Shakespeare said shaking his head.
"Well, it's just a different sort of science. You lot, you chose mathematics. Given the right string of numbers, the right equation, you can split the atom. Carrionites use words instead", the Doctor explained.
"Use them for what?" Shakespeare asked.
"The end of the world", the Doctor said seriously.
The moment the Doctor and Shakespeare came back to the Elephant Inn, the Time Lord immediately headed to Jenna's room. "She's very weak Doctor", Martha said worriedly.
The Doctor came around the bed "we know where they are Jenna, just hang on a little longer", he said gently touching the brunette's cheek.
"What did her message mean Doctor?" Martha asked.
"Well, Carrionite is the name of the alien species we've encountered. They use words as power", the Doctor explained "but the thing is, the Carrionites disappeared way back at the dawn of the universe. Nobody was sure if they were real or legend".
"Well…I'm going for real", Shakespeare said.
"But what do they want?" Martha asked.
"A new empire on Earth. A world of bones and blood and witchcraft", the Doctor replied.
"But how?" Martha asked.
"I'm looking at the man with words", the Doctor said looking pointedly at Shakespeare.
"Me? But I've done nothing", Shakespeare insisted.
"What were you doing last night, when that Carrionite was in the room?" Martha asked.
"Finishing the play", Shakespeare replied.
"What happens on the last page?" the Doctor asked.
"The boys get the girls", Shakespeare answered "They have a bit of a dance. It's all as funny and thought provoking as usual. Except those last few lines. Funny thing is, I don't actually remember writing them".
"That's it. They used you. They gave you the final words like a spell, like a code. They are going to use the play", the Doctor realised "The right combination of words, spoken at the right place, with the shape of the Globe as an energy converter! The play's the thing! And yes, you can have that".
It didn't take long for the Doctor to find All Hallows Street on the map provided by Shakespeare. The Time Lord instructed the author to go to the Globe to stop the play while he headed to the witches house. Martha stayed behind with Jenna.
~All Hallows Street~
The Doctor stopped in the street and looked at the different houses. "Which house is it?" he muttered. A door to one of the houses creaked open "make that witch house", he joked. The Doctor entered the house and walked up the steps to the attic. "I take it we're expected", the Doctor stated to the young woman that was waiting for him.
"Oh, I think Death has been waiting for you a very long time", the young woman, Lilith said "Sir Doctor!" she pointed at him but the Doctor didn't flinch. "Fascinating. There is NO name. Why would a man hide his title in such despair?" Lilith asked "oh, but look…there's one word with the power that aches".
"The naming won't working on me", the Doctor said.
"No?" Lilith smirked "not even the dying lady…your beloved Jenna?"
The Doctor glared at her and strode forward, the words having the opposite effect on what Lilith had hoped "oh, big mistake", he growled "cos that name keeps me fighting!"
"For the moment…" Lilith produced Jenna's locket causing the Doctor to stop "unless of course your beloved dies". She was startled when the locket was yanked out of her hand by something invisible.
"How did you do that?" Lilith asked gaping at the Doctor.
"I didn't do it", the Doctor said defending himself. He was just as surprised as she was. But he was glad that she no longer had the locket in her possession. Who knows what she could've done to Jenna! "Now, the Carrionites vanished", he said getting back to more important matters "where did they go?"
"The Eternals found the right word to banish us into deep darkness", Lilith replied still a little shaken by what had just happened.
"And how did you escape?"
"New words. New and glittering from a mind like no other", Lilith answered.
"Shakespeare", the Doctor nodded.
"His son perished. The grief of a genius. Grief without measure. Madness enough to allow us entrance", Lilith explained.
"How many of you?" the Doctor asked.
"Just 3. But the play tonight shall restore the rest. Then the human race will be purged as pestilence. And from this world we will lead the universe back into the old ways of blood and magic"
"Hm…busy schedule…" the Doctor remarked "but first you've got to get past me".
"Oh, that should be a pleasure considering my enemy has such a handsome shape" Lilith reached up to touch his face but the Doctor grabbed her hand.
"Now, that's one form of magic that's definitely not gonna work on me", the Doctor said. There was no way Lilith could ever charm him. For one very good reason. She wasn't Jenna.
"Oh, we'll see", Lilith smirked before quickly yanked out a lock of his hair with her free hand.
"What did you do?" the Doctor demanded as Lilith backed away.
"Souvenir", Lilith said.
"Well, give it back!" the Doctor lunged for her but she stepped back, throwing her arms up. The window blew open and the Carrionite flew back out, levitating in the air. "That's just cheating!"
"Behold, Doctor. Men to Carrionites are nothing but puppets" Lilith pulled out a doll and wrapped his hair around it.
"Now, you might call that magic…I'd call that a DNA replication module", the Doctor said seeing the doll.
"What use is your science now?" she asked before stabbing the doll. The Time Lord cried out in pain and collapsed. Lilith then flew away.
The Doctor tried to stand but he promptly fell to his knees. He tried again and nearly fell for a third time if it wasn't for someone grabbing his arm. It was Naiyah in her last regeneration. He noted that she had a very faint golden glow around her. "Looks like I'm bailing you out again Doctor", she said "you've really got to learn to stop getting yourself into these kind of messes".
"But that's what you always liked about me", the Doctor countered giving her a sad smile despite the pain.
"I know", Naiyah said "now brace yourself, this is going to hurt". She proceed to thump him on the chest over his right heart and then hit him on his back.
The Doctor breathed a sigh of relief when his right heart started up again. "Much better, thank you", he said.
"You're welcome", Naiyah said helping him to his feet.
"Not that it isn't good to see you but how are you here?" the Doctor questioned "I mean last time it took the heart of the TARDIS and your locket…"
"A little of the energy went into my locket where it stayed until I was needed again", Naiyah explained, touching the piece of jewellery around her neck.
"I just wish you were needed sooner", the Doctor said quietly "I missed you".
The Time Lady smiled "I know", she said softly "Unfortunately I don't have much time here. Neither does Jenna but it's a good thing I got this" she held up a small phial.
"The antidote", the Doctor said eyeing it.
The Time Lady nodded "give this to Jenna and in probably….2 maybe 4 hours, she'll be perfectly fine", she said.
The Doctor took the antidote from her. "Thank you", he said grateful that his best friend somehow had gotten the cure. For one horrible moment he thought that Lilith had taken it with her.
"No problem"
"Um….Naiyah? Do you think you could help me stop the Carrionites?" the Doctor asked. He could do with all the help he could get.
Naiyah smiled "yes", she said "yes, I can".
"Right! To the Globe!" the Doctor declared and hurried out of the room. Naiyah chased after him.
"We're going the wrong way!" Naiyah yelled as they ran down the street.
"No, we're not!" the Doctor called back.
"Yes we are!" Naiyah shouted grabbing his arm and pulling him the right way. When they reach the theatre, a red glow hangs over it.
"Stage door!" the Doctor shouts darting towards it. The trio found a groggy Shakespeare backstage "Stop the play. I think that was it. Yeah, I said, stop the play!"
"Doctor moan at him later. We've got to stop the Carrionites", Naiyah said.
"Right you are", the Doctor agreed. He runs out onto the stage, followed by the Time Lady and Shakespeare.
"The Doctor! He lives!" Lilith cried spotting the Doctor on the stage "Then watch this world become a blasted heath! They come. They come!" Lilith shouted holding up a crystal ball out into the red light and bat-like creatures fly into the theatre. They circle a bit then fly up into the sky.
"Come on, Will! History needs you!" the Doctor said loudly as to be heard over the noise.
"But what can I do?" Shakespeare asked.
"Reverse it!" the Doctor shouted.
"But what words? I have none ready!" Shakespeare cried.
"You're William Shakespeare!"
"But these Carrionite phrases, the need such precision", Shakespeare said not believing that he could do what the others expected of him.
"Trust yourself", the Doctor urged "When you're locked away in your room, the words just come, don't they, like magic. Words of the right sound, the right shape, the right rhythm. Words that last forever. That's what you do, Will. You choose perfect words. Do it. Improvise".
"Close up this din of hateful, dire decay, decomposition of your witches' plot. You thieve my brains, consider me your toy. My doting Doctor tells me I am not!" Shakespeare began.
"No! Words of power!" Lilith cried.
"Foul Carrionite spectres, cease your show! Between the points…" Shakespeare continued.
"Seven six one three nine oh!" the Doctor put in.
"Seven six one three nine oh! Banished like a tinker's cuss, I say to thee…"
"Expelliarmus" Naiyah whispered to the Doctor. She knew that no one but the Doctor will be able to see or hear her.
"Expelliarmus!" the Doctor shouted.
"Expelliarmus!" Shakespeare yelled
"Good old JK!" the Doctor cheered. He also realised that was what Harry meant on the message Martha sent him, it was a reference to Harry Potter.
The Carrionites scream. "The deep darkness! They are consumed!" Lilith exclaimed. The Carrionites are sucked into a tornado, along with all the extant pages of the play.
"Love's Labours Won. There it goes", the Doctor said watching the pages go. The sky clears with a flash and bang. After a few moments, someone starts clapping, then all the audience joins in.
"They just think its special effects", Naiyah commented shaking her head. That got a curious look from the Doctor, not that she noticed.
The Time Lord slipped away, heading up to the empty box to collect the crystal the Carrionites were now trapped in. He then hurried out of the Globe, running back towards the Elephant Inn. He had a girlfriend to save.
Martha looked up when the Doctor burst into the room. "I got it", he said holding up the phial. He sat Jenna up, leaning her against him as Martha opened the phial and poured a little into the brunette's open mouth.
"How long is it going to take?" Martha asked.
"Couple of hours maybe more", the Doctor replied. He noticed Naiyah by the doorway and mouthed 'thank you'. She gave him a smile before disappearing before his very eyes, the locket clattering to the floor. The Doctor went over to it, popping the necklace into his pocket before he headed back to the bed. He carefully gathered Jenna up in his arms and walked out of the room. Martha followed after him. They went back to the TARDIS and stepped inside. Moments later the wheezing noise had started up and the blue box disappeared.
~Jenna's bedroom~
The Doctor gently laid Jenna down on her bed and pulled the duvet over her. He then settled down into the desk chair readying himself for the wait until she woke.