Chapter 13: Slow Cruel Hands of Time

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who, it belongs to BBC

Brick Walls- Passenger

Well we dance without our shoes,

But there's glass around our feet

And we'd walk around the town,

But we're allergic to concrete

We'd be stuffed to the gills

But there's nothing here to eat

No, there's nothing here to eat

Kit wrapped her arms around herself as she shivered from the cold. She sat on the steps outside the building for what felt like hours. She wasn't sure if she should go to the Tardis or not but she knew for sure that she didn't want to stay inside. Kit wasn't really going to leave the Doctor. She couldn't even if she wanted to. She just needed air and she needed to be away from him. Kit knew her anger would eventually get the better of her and she would say something she would regret. Most of all, though, she couldn't be apart in what was going to unfold. She couldn't be the reason for Gwyneth's death. She wanted to scream at the Doctor; at all of them. She wanted to scream that she knew the future and it doesn't end well.

Kit stood up and kicked the snow on the ground in anger. She still could've stopped Gwyneth from allowing the Gelth through the rift. Instead, she just argued with the Doctor and ran away. Kit suddenly frozen. A thought came to mind. She was so busy trying to convince the Doctor about the dangers of allowing the Gelth through, she never though of trying to convince Gwyneth. Kit screamed in frustration. She ran away because she didn't want to be the reason for the girl's death but by not doing anything she was still going to be a reason for Gwyneth dying. Kit sighed and looked at the door. She could still go in and do something if everything hadn't gone to shit yet. She could still save Gwyneth.

Kit was about to walk back into the house when Dickens flew out from behind the door. He leaned up against the door, completely out of breath.

"What the hell happened?" Kit questioned, noticing his extremely pale face.

"The blue ghosts," he replied in between his heavy breathing. "The girl let them through and they turned on us! They killed Mr. Sneed. They want all the bodies!"

Kit's eyes widened. She was too late. "Where's the Doctor and Rose?"

He shook his head. "I left them. I couldn't—I wasn't—" Before he could finish, blue mist started seeping through the cracks of the door.

The blue gas started to form an outline of a person. The Gelth hovered in front of Dickens and screamed at him.

Kit ran up to him and took Dickens hand. "Come one, run!" She shouted and took off with Charles right behind her.

They ran down the street, the Gelth hot on their heels.

"Where are we going?" Charles asked trying to keep up with her.

"The Tardis," She replied. "If we get inside we'll be safe and I can figure out a way to kill these thing!"

"The what?"

"The Tar—you know what? Never mind just keep running."

The Gelth were getting closer to them. They were fast and Kit didn't know if they were going to make it to the Tardis.

Suddenly the Gelth stopped and screamed. "Failing! Atmosphere hostile!"

Kit turned around in time to see them dive into the street lamp and disappear. "The gas," she thought out loud, her mind going a million mile an hour. "Of course! I'm so stupid," she turned to Dickens. "The Gelth are gaseous. If we turn up all the gas in the lamp it should suck them away."

He nodded in understanding. "Yes, that makes sense. We must to hurry and help the Doctor and Rose."

Kit grinned at his change of attitude. "You don't want to stay here, away from the danger?"

He straightened and gave a brave look. "I ran away once. I will not do it again."

"I hear that," she nodded. "Now, let's go save the world!"

They ran as fast as they could back to the house. They burst through the door. She could hear the Gelth screaming and whining. Kit and Dickens ran to the lamps and turned them off and then on again. The gas caused her to start coughing and she pulled her shirt up to cover her nose and mouth. The moved down the hall, doing the same to the other lamps. The more lamps they turned off and on, the more gas filled the room and the more she started to feel light headed. She followed Dickens as he led her to where the Doctor and Rose were.

They ran down into a room which she assumed was the morgue. Kit looked around and spotted the Doctor and Rose behind a gate surrounded by walking dead bodies.

"Doctor!" She shouted to get his attention.

"Kit?" He questioned in surprise.

"Oh look at this, zombies are attacking you because the Gelth are actually evil. It's like I told you so or something," she couldn't help but tease. "But that's not the point right now. We have to turn off the lamps and then turn up the gas," she explained as Dickens did just that with the lamps.

The Doctor gave her a confused look. "What do you mean? What are you doing?"

Kit noticed that the zombies were starting to notice her. "We need to fill the room with gas!" She exclaimed, panic setting in. "Flood the place."

Realization dawned on the Doctor. "Brilliant. Gas."

Rose still looked confused. "What, so we choke to death instead?"

Kit shook her head. "No, no! If we fill the room with gas, then we can pull the Gelth out of the bodies."

The Doctors smile grew. "Suck them into the air like poison from a wound!"

The Gelth fully turned around to face her. They started to corner Kit and Dickens.

"Are you sure this is going to work?" Inquired Dickens nervously.

"Yes," she gulped. The Gelth continued to move closer to them. "I mean, mostly, like ninety percent sure." Still, nothing was happening. "Okay, maybe more like sixty percent!"

"Plenty more!" The Doctor suddenly shouted.

He yanked off a gas pipe that was beside him. The Gelth left the bodies through their mouths as they screamed. The bodies collapsed on the floor.

Kit let out a sigh of relief. "See? Totally worked, didn't doubt myself for a seconds."

The Doctor and Rose burst through the gate. "Gwyneth, send them back. They lied. They're not angels," he told her.

Gwyneth's arms fell to her side. "Liars."

Kit moved towards her. "Yes, Gwyneth, they lied to you. They were never angels but demons. They didn't really care about you." She wanted to say more but the gas in the room was making it hard to speak. Kit started to cough violently.

"Look at me," the Doctor piped in walking towards Gwyneth. "If your mother and father could look down and see this, they'd tell you the same. They'd give you the strength. Now send them back!"

"I can't breathe," Rose wheezed. Kit agreed as she started to feel like she was going to faint.

"Charles, get them out," the Doctor commanded.

Kit could feel Dickens grab her arm but she pulled it away. "I'm not leaving!" She snapped.

"Me either," Rose added. "I'm not leaving Gwyneth!"

Gwyneth shoulders slumped. "They're too strong."

"Remember that world you saw? Rose's world?" The Doctor asked her. "All those people. None of it will exist unless you send them back through the rift."

Gwyneth frowned. "I can't send them back," she insisted. "But I can hold them. Hold them in this place, hold them here. Get out," she demanded. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a box of matches. Kit's eyes grew wide.

"You can't!" Rose screamed and ran over to her but the Doctor stopped her.

"Rose, get out. Go now. I won't leave her while she's still in danger. Now go!" He commanded. Rose didn't argue this time and left with Dickens but Kit didn't move even though her lungs were screaming for her to. "Kit, you need to leave as well."

She shook her head. "No, I'm not running away this time." Kit looked back at Gwyneth. "Come on, Gwyneth. Just give us the matches. We'll figure another way to send them back. No one has to die," she pleaded.

Gwyneth's face didn't change, though. In fact, when Kit looked into her eyes they were very hollow. She looked so pale that Kit though she was dead. Kit suddenly grew sick. She hesitantly and shakily brought her fingers to Gwyneth's neck. She placed her fingers at her pulse.

Kit eyes widened. "I—I can't feel a pulse," she stammered, her hand slumping to her side. "She's dead." She looked up at the Doctor. His face went from confused to mournful. "But that's not—how's that possible?"

The Doctor shook his head. "I don't know," he admitted.

Kit couldn't believe it. She thought she still had a chance to save Gwyneth. She knew the future and she still couldn't do anything about it. She was able to save Jade but she couldn't save this innocent girl?! This was her fault. She could have stopped this from happening. She should've tried harder!

Kit looked back at Gwyneth. "No, please, Gwyneth. You can't be dead," she whispered.

The Doctor kissed Gwyneth's forehead. "Thank you."

He grabbed Kit's hand and tried to pull her away but Kit wouldn't leave. There was a chance that she could still save her. She didn't know how exactly but she had to try. She wouldn't leave Gwyneth like that.

"Kit, we have to go," he urged, pulling her away.

Kit shook her head violently. "I can still save her! There has to be another way!" She screamed.

"It's too late. She's dead," he insisted, tugging Kit now by the waist.

Tears escaped from Kit's eyes. "No! No, no, no!" She cried. "Please! Please, I can still do something!"

The Doctor turned her around to face him. "There's nothing we can do," he said softly and wiped the tears from Kit's cheek. "I'm sorry. I am so sorry." Kit cried harder. She hated when he said that. It always meant that there was no hope. "The best thing we can do for her now is live and remember her. Remember what she did."

Kit looked back at Gwyneth who gave her a sad smile. Kit just nodded to the Doctor. She knew he was right. The Doctor grabbed her hand and they ran out of the room. The ran as fast as they could down the hall. They just made it out the door when large explosion ripped through the air. It threw Kit and the Doctor across the street. Her ears were ringing but other than that she was perfectly fine. She slowly stood up and saw the Doctor doing the same.

She looked back at the house that was now in flames. She swallowed a lump in her throat. She quickly wiped the tears out of her eyes. She couldn't be weak like that again. She needed to be better.

Rose and Dickens ran over to them. Rose looked between the both of them with a shocked look. Kit looked down at her feet. "She didn't make it," it wasn't a question.

"I'm sorry. She closed the rift," the Doctor told her.

"At such a cost. The poor child," Dickens added.

"We tried! We really did," Kit shook her head. "But she—she was already dead."

"What do you mean?" Rose questioned.

"I think she was dead from the minute she stood in that arch," the Doctor explained.

Rose shook her head. "But she can't have. She spoke to us. She helped us. She saved us. How could she have done that?"

"There are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy," Dickens cut in. "Even for you, Doctor."

Everyone was silent for a moment. "She saved the world. A servant girl. No one will ever know," Rose muttered.

"We will. We'll remember and we'll tell her story," Kit whispered and then looked up at the Doctor. He gave her a small smile and took her hand.

They watched the flames engulf the house.

They stood there for quite some time before they decided it was best to go. Kit had been able to collect herself and organize her thoughts. By the time they came to the Tardis, she was feeling ten times better.

The Doctor took his key out from his pocket and then turn to Dickens. "Right then, Charlie boy, I've just got to go into my, er, shed. Won't be long," he lied.

Kit tried hard not to laugh. "Clever," she said under her breath so only the Doctor heard.

"What are you going to do now?" Rose asked.

"I shall take the mail coach back to London, quite literally post-haste. This is no time for me to be on my own. I shall spend Christmas with my family and make amends to them. After all I've learned tonight, there can be nothing more vital," he beamed.

Kit smirked. "You seem happier."

"Exceedingly!" He laughed. "This morning, I thought I knew everything in the world. Now I know I've just started. All these huge and wonderful notions, Doctor. I'm inspired. I must write about them."

"Do you think that's wise?" Rose asked in amusement.

"I shall be subtle at first. The Mystery of Edwin Drood still lacks an ending. Perhaps the killer was not the boy's uncle. Perhaps he was not of this Earth," he told them. "The Mystery of Edwin Drood and the Blue Elementals. I can spread the word, tell the truth."

The Doctor smiled widely. "Good luck with it," he shook Dickens hand. "Nice to meet you. Fantastic."

"Bye, then, and thanks," Rose said as she shook his hand and then kissed his cheek.

Dickens blushed. "Oh, my dear. How modern."

Kit laughed. "It really was nice to meet you," she went over to him and gave him a hug. "You really are cool, Dicky."

"Thank you," he replied and them gave them a confused look. "But, I don't understand. In what way is this goodbye? Where are you going?"

The Doctor shrugged. "You'll see. In the shed." He opened the Tardis door.

"Upon my soul, Doctor, it's one riddle after another with you," he laughed. "But after all these revelations, there's one mystery you still haven't explained. Answer me this. Who are you?"

"Just a friend passing through."

"But you have such knowledge of future times. I don't wish to impose on you, but I must ask you. My books. Doctor, do they last?" He asked.

The Doctor smiled. "Oh, yes!"

"For how long?"

"Forever!" Kit exclaimed. "People never stop enjoying them." Dickens smiled at that and then looked down at his feet.

"Right. Shed," the Doctor said after a long pause. "Come on, Rose and Kit."

Dickens gave them a shocked look. "In the box? All three of you?"

Kit shook her head. "Ew, no!" She could hear the Doctor laughing. "See you, Dicky."

All three of them walked into the Tardis. Kit ran up the ramp and watched Dickens on a video screen looking very confused. She laughed to herself.

"Doesn't that change history if he writes about blue ghosts?" Rose questioned, coming up beside Kit.

"It's 1869, right? Doesn't he die in early 1870?" She asked looking up at the Doctor.

He nodded. "Sorry. He'll never get to tell his story."

Rose frowned. "Oh, no. He was so nice."

The Doctor shrugged. "But in your time, he was already dead. We've brought him back to life, and he's more alive now than he's ever been, old Charlie boy," he grinned. "Let's give him one last surprise."

The Doctor started up the Tardis. They watched the shocked and amazed expression on Dickens face as the Tardis started to disappear.

Rose stepped back from the screen. "Well, unlike you two, I need to change. This dress is seriously crushing my ribs," she joked. "I'll be right back… unless I get lost again."

Kit gave her a thumbs up. "Good luck."

Rose left and it was just Kit and the Doctor. An awkward silence settled in the air. Neither of them were too sure on what to say.

"You okay?" The Doctor finally asked.

Kit nodded. "Yeah, I'm feeling better."

There was a moment of silence. "You were right, about everything," the Doctor said quietly.

Kit gave him a sad smile. "I know. I just really wish I wasn't." She sighed. "For once, I actually wanted to be wrong."

"I still should've listened to you, you and Rose. I just thought that if I could save them then—then-"

"It would make up for what happened to your planet," Kit shook her head knowing she was getting too close to the actual truth. "I mean, your planet died from the war so maybe you could save another from it. I understand and I don't blame you."

He nodded. "Well, thank you anyways."

Kit gave him a puzzled look. "Thank you? For what? For yelling at you? For running off? For not being able to save Gwyneth?" She questioned and looked down at her feet. "You have not reason to thank me. It was my fault."

Kit felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw the Doctors soft expression. "Kit, that was hardly your fault."

She shook her head. She couldn't tell him the real reason on why it was her fault and she couldn't tell him the real reason on why she was so upset. This wasn't the first time she couldn't save someone and she doubted it would be her last. Still, it was the first time where she knew the outcome and she could've stopped it.

"I just—I should have tried harder," she insisted.

"You did everything you could, Kit. You did save me and Rose from the Gelth. You're being too hard on yourself," he told her. "If it's anyone's fault, it's mine."

Kit sighed. "I just wish—I wish…"

The Doctor suddenly pulled her into a hug. "I know. I know."

A/N- Last chapter for the Unquiet Dead! I am officially into exams so my writing will be non existent but don't worry I'm still going to post. Hope you enjoyed and don't forget to review!