Doctor Who: Infection

Chapter 39/TW1 - Remembrance/Sweet Hello

Disclaimer - I don't own nothing or nobody you know/recognize. Doctor Who is intellectual property of the BBC, afaik.

Characters: Gleeson!Doctor, Markham, River, Jack, Ocs


Will Markham and Jackson Lake walked down the Wyndham castle hall, discussing the latest developments in the succession detail when Will spotted a group coming down from the other end. An Asian woman led a young blonde who seemed vaguely familiar and a group of four guards. "Hold up," he motioned to Jackson before turning his attention to the ladies. "I don't believe you have clearance to be here, do you?"

The Asian was not impressed by the badge he flashed. "We have every right to be here," she retorted.

"Who do you think you are, the Empress of Xi'an?" he asked, holding out a hand for her identification. She took his hand and the next thing he knew, he was airborne, flipping through the air and landing hard on his back, his arm twisted above him still in her grasp.

He tried to make sense of the images flashing through his mind's eye. He was intimate with this woman, emotionally and physically; two babies; arguments; he slammed a door as she ran to him, crying. His heart broke as he did so.

He heard her voice above him as Jackson tried to stifle a laugh and the blonde woman yelped. "My name is Toshiko Sato. I am personal escort to Lady Miranda, one of the primary candidates for Queen Regent. You would do well to remember that." She released his hand and motioned to the blonde to follow her, the guards throwing him amused looks as they filed past.

Jackson leaned over him, still smirking. "Smooth move, Romero."

"Marry me!"

Jackson was taken aback. "Will? Are-are you serious?"

"Not you, her," he said, sitting up. The group had stopped.

Sato had turned back to him, hands on hips. "Not if I really was the Empress of Xi'an!" she yelled back and promptly left.

"You're breaking my heart, Markham," Jackson said as he hefted his cohort and occasional lover to his feet.

"You're my best friend, Jacks, but when she flipped me-? I saw us, me and her, we-" He stopped short, seeing the visible look of hurt on Lake's face. "It doesn't mean we have to end us, but I saw...I saw my life with hers." He kept the rest of the vision to himself.

"She'd have us both?" Jackson inquired.

Will laughed. "I didn't see that much, but-" his voice trailed off. "She never warned me about this, just the other stuff to come."

"Other stuff? Are you talking about your gran again?"

"You've read her file, Jacks. I know my father had us both read it, many times over. She was one of the best minds on the planet." He looked to his friend again, dead serious. "The Ginger King is coming, and the Revelation is beginning. Losing the Royal Family was the first sign. You know that."

"So, does this mean the man we're headed to see in the Colonies is King Regent?"

Markham was tightlipped. He already knew the answer to that. His grandmother had warned them, long ago. "I'll tell you when we meet him," he lied. "Now come on, our flight leaves in a couple hours."


Will sat up with a start. He looked around the room, disoriented. It was mostly bare, save for a few decorations and machines supporting the tank he laid against. He turned his head slightly and saw a tendril pod fall away from where he had been pressed against the glass.

"It seemed so real," he sighed.

"It was," came the booming voice inside. "Your memories."

"I miss them, old friend," he replied. "I know I'll never see them again. Tosh, Jacks, my boys. All gone."

"We dance in the stream of time, old friend," he replied. "None are truly lost to us."

"My world, my home, it's locked away. I'll never see them again."

"Open the box."

Will turned to look at the giant face inside the tank. "What box?"

A tendril pod floated down to the other side of Will. A small box sat there that hadn't been there before Will had begun his remembrance session. He cautiously opened it to find a vortex manipulator lying on top of a ruck sack.

"It has been pre-programmed to take you home. If you wish."

Will saw his few personal possessions in the bag. He looked from the device to his ancient friend and laid a hand on the glass. "Thank you."

"You have been, and always will be, my friend."

Will smiled. "I remember that vid." He splayed his fingers against the glass where the pod touched on the other side of the glass. "Thank you, Captain."

Will took the device out of the box and strapped it to his wrist, then pulled the pack over his shoulders. "Farewell my friend."

"All my love to long ago," he replied.

Will activated the device and disappeared in a flash. The Face of Boe was left alone. Again.


Will always hated the inversion effect of the vortex manipulator, especially on a full stomach. He much preferred travel by TARDIS, albeit he usually traveled by RAFT, as the Doctor's progeny insisted on calling theirs. It was still a TARDIS. A stray thought of his early days and the "time sickness" he felt that ended his brief travels with the Time Lord, before he later found himself with the man's progeny.

He shook his head and looked around as several young voices screamed in surprise. He heard what sounded like tin cans falling and the hasty retreat of young feet. As he got his bearings, he saw he was in a village that looked passing familiar. He had also interrupted some young hoodlums spray painting a wall, the "tin cans" he heard having been their spray paint cans. A quick glance around to several vehicles told him he had landed circa the turn of the 21st century, and not his own world, but the one belonging to Jack Harkness and the Doctor's Companions. He gave a heavy sigh and checked his manipulator again.

The device was telling him it had to recharge before proceeding. He looked at the reading in puzzlement. It had never needed to recharge after one leap before? He wondered what Boe had programmed into it? The last time he had allowed the giant head to do such, it had been for John Hart's device, which had somehow sent him into the past of his own world, to which he had never returned, only his device. Will briefly wondered if this was the same device his former pupil Hart had used? If so, what was Boe up to this time?

Since he had an hour to pass, he decided to take a walk and see the sights this town had to offer before he (hopefully) finally left this world for his own.

He had barely turned the corner when he saw a familiar park bench and a very familiar face sitting on it, reading. One he had seen in the mirror in his younger days.

He suddenly recalled his brief time spent at Torchwood Estate before reluctantly being recruited as tutor -or rather, Mentor Chiron- to the Time Lord's young twin boys. He retraced his steps to the fallen spray cans and began his work.

No sooner had he finished the first message than a beeping from his arm alerted him before jerking him inside out to the same location. The weather told him it was a different day and there was no sign of either his or the youth's messages before him. He tried to recall another one and began his work again before being removed once more as soon as he finished. He would have laughed if he didn't feel like losing the contents of his stomach after three sudden jumps.

The next jump took him to a flat that he had to recall for a moment as living in briefly. He plopped down in a chair and sighed with relief when he was greeted by "Hello Sweetie."

Will looked up to see the vibrant blonde with wild curls take the seat opposite him. He could see through the window behind him it was near dark. "How goes the struggle, soldier?" she asked.

"I'm tired, River," he replied. "I just want to go home."

"Something we all yearn for," she said with a comforting smile. "When are you, these days?"

"The kid is Governor, you have been rescued, and I just retired from training Time Agents," he told her. "Too bad I let Boe program this damned thing," he said, holding up his wrist as he took his pack off one arm, letting it hang on the other.

She nodded. "And miles to go before we sleep." She rose and walked over to him, giving him a hug. "If I haven't told you before, thank you for all you have done for us." She kissed him on the forehead.

"I think we did pretty well, considering," he replied. "Have you seen him lately? Have you told him what you know?"

She took her seat again. "Not yet. It isn't quite time for him to know, but soon. I'm really just here to drop off something for Jack and his friends." She pulled several notebooks from his satchel.

He saw each one had a name written across it. He had barely glanced at them before leaving Boe, knowing full well they were his journals. He pointed to a counter drawer. "I think they found them in there?"

"If you say so?" she said as she rose and placed them where he indicated. "How long do you have?"

He glanced to his wrist. "It still says I have an hour?"

She nodded to one of the bedrooms. "Go lay down and get some rest, sweetie. I'll take care of Jack and his friends when they arrive."

He gave her a curious look. "They're coming here?"

She nodded. "They're already outside, watching the place for intruders and surveillance," she informed him.

He looked to the patio door. "I'm tempted to see them, one last time, to say goodbye..."

"I'm sorry, sweetie. He didn't remember meeting you tonight."

He nodded sadly and rose, headed toward the bedroom. "River?" She nodded. "Give them my love."

She took his hand. "Of course. Always."

He went to his room and saw he had left a picture of himself and his Toshiko on the dresser. He picked it up and touched her face. "I miss you, my Queen of China," he whispered. He hugged the picture tight to his chest and sat on the bed, then leaned back to try and rest.

Will faintly heard the beep, but before he could react, he was falling backwards once more. He had no idea if he had fallen asleep or if the vortex manipulator went off early, but it didn't matter. What did was that he still had hold of her picture as he felt his feet touch the ground, but his body position was still the same. He felt himself fall into something -no, someone- who yelled in surprise before they disappeared, followed by the slamming of a wooden door. Regaining his surroundings, Will saw he was in some sort of barn or large shed. There was no sign of the man he heard cry out. He stashed Tosh's picture in his pack and went to a window. He saw the building was on a hill. There were a number of ravens outside. A scene that was hauntingly familiar.

He looked around again, he realized there was a trap door in the floor where he landed. Whoever he bumped into, he had knocked them into the chamber below. He reached for the door handle, almost afraid who he would see below. He forced his hand to pull open the door. He could see a body on the floor below.

Cursing himself, he slowly made his way below, listening for the other occupant he knew was near. He checked his younger self for injuries, knowing full well there would be none. A slight moan from his counterpart. A scuffling sound from another room. Will panicked and hid himself behind a small stack of straw bales.

"Well, well, what have we here?" came a sing-song voice that haunted Will's nightmares for far longer than it should have. "Another lost soul, ripe for the taking?" he asked his victim, examining Will's face. "You look familiar? Haven't I seen you on the newscasts?"

Elder Will chanced a peek to confirm the man's identity. He watched in anguish as the man withdrew a needle from a valise he carried, injecting his younger self with what he hoped was a sedative. "There, that should keep you compliant for now. You're too big for me to carry," the other man complained to his victim, before looking around and spying a blanket. He grabbed it, rolling the younger Will onto it and dragging it back the way he had come.

The elder Will cursed his cowardice, but he knew he had to let things play out as he remembered. He crept out from his hiding spot, and cautiously followed. Finding the hidden room, the scene of those horrors, he could see light peeking out from several holes. He peered through one to see the kidnapper stripping his younger body. "Nice and meaty. You'll feed many," the man cooed, groping and obviously pleased with his captive as he reached to a side table and began tying straps to Will's wrists and neck. He then pulled the limp body towards several chains hanging from the rafters, hooking him up, then pulling him upright.

The elder Will winced as he watched, memories flooding back as he saw the man remove his younger self's pants and lace him in a chest harness before adding in ankle straps and pulling the chains tight, limiting any chance of movement. Will recalled the helpless feeling of waking up and struggling against his restraints to no use, until...

He struggled to remember, how had he woken up? Something unexpected happened, this child killer refused to say what. Will couldn't-

Flashes of light. The other man was taking pictures of his helpless younger self. Trophies of his victims they later found came flooding back. Horrific images pasted in volumes of obscene albums.

Will was moving before he realized it. He stormed into the room, barreling down at the man. He went flying across the room. It was over before he knew what he had done. He turned to his younger self, began loosening the straps, give himself a fighting chance. Beeping.

He stopped and stared at his wrist in horror. No. Too soon. He panicked in the last moment he had left, he cried out for help before he vanished.

Outside, Jackson Lake heard something from the direction of the barn on the hill. He had already seen the unusually large number of ravens crowded on and around it. He began running for the building. He knew Will was in trouble.


Will looked around, this setting was one unfamiliar to him, but gave him a sense of déjà vu. The air was humid, thick, and smelt of honeysuckle, river, and rich food. He stumbled out of an alley and looked around.

New Orleans.

"You got the wrong guy!" came a not unfamiliar voice.

Will looked around, across the crowded street, there was a commotion. The voice was coming from the center of a scuffle between one young but large man and a couple of the local constabulary. "Charles?" he called out.

The young man pushed one officer off him, then eyeballed Will. "You want some, too, old man?" he slurred, ready to take another swing.

"What's the problem, here, Champ?" he asked the man as one officer tried to grab his arm, only to be shaken loose. Charles spun around, intending to roundhouse whoever met his fist, but Will caught it and flipped him over, knocking him flat onto the cobblestones. "Settle down, Champ," he scolded.

The two officers trying to arrest him had regained their footing, and stepped forward once more. "Leave him to us," one warned, ready to hit the young Charles with his nightstick.

"You touch this boy and that will be the last thing you do," Will warned, grabbing and disarming the man in one swift move belying his age.

"Who do you think you are?" the other accused as two more officers came scurrying up to assist their comrades.

"Markham, I'm Royal Torchwood," he intoned.

"Torchwood?" the second officer scoffed. "They ain't got no authority here! You're a long way from home, old man."

"Like you wouldn't believe," Will muttered, then declared, "The boy is under Royal Torchwood protection. You want him, you go through me, first."

The four officers took that as a challenge. Within the hour, Will found himself laughing beside Charles in a jail cell. "Dad's going to flooding love this," he told his future Regent.

The booking officer had had him press his palm into the scanner and inquired to his name. "Will Markham, but I'm not sure I'm in their database yet? Crossref Gwyneth. She will confirm, if she isn't already trying to get hold of your chief," he ordered them. The woman rolled her eyes, but made note as he requested.

"Who are you and why are you standing up for me?" Charles finally asked, nursing his hangover.

"As a friend of mine likes to say, spoilers."

Charles glared at him. "You're from Albion." Will nodded. "You're not trying to pick me up, are you?"

"Is that all you think of us, Champ?" he chuckled. "No, you made it clear over the years, and I respect that," he confided to the confused youth, before adding "still don't know what you're missing, tho" with an elbow nudge to the other man's bruised ribs, causing him to wince.

"Why do you keep calling me Champ? How do you even know that name?"

"You told me only your grandmother called you that before she died," Will confessed. "Or rather, you will tell me that."

"Will?"

"Yes?"

Charles glared at him, mad and confused. "Who are you?"

"Get your act together, and you'll find out in a few years, kid," he advised. "You're going to do great things once you do."

"You're not making any sense?"

"I'm making perfect sense, you just don't know it yet."

Their conversation was cut short by the Watch Commander at the cell door. His face was ashen, unable to take his eyes off the older man. "I-uh, I'm told to release you at once, and take you and your charge directly home. All charges have been dropped?" He held out their meager belongings.

Will elbowed Charles once more. "See? What did I tell you?"

As they stepped outside, Charles accused "You're a crazy old man."

"You'll appreciate me when you're older, Champ." He scrounged through his pack, checking for his photo and one other item, which he pulled out.

Charles bristled. "Stop calling me that. Only my family is allowed."

Will smiled and said. "I know." He slipped something into Charles' front pocket. He took it as a flirtation and pulled back to hit the older man.

A beeping broke the tension. "What is that?"

Will glanced to his wrist strap. "Charles, the next time you see me, you won't recognize me. Just trust me, and know the future depends on you. I love you, Cha-"

Charles blinked in shock, but the old man was gone. He looked around, but no one else seemed to have noticed that a man just disappeared in broad daylight as if he were a hologram that had been turned off. He headed home and stuck his hands in his pocket. The one Will had made a grab for now contained a small envelope. "Will open when alone." was all it said. He hurried home. His now-ex-girlfriend should have left his apartment by now, he hoped.


The next moment, Will found himself turned inside out again. He was glad his pack still held the picture of Tosh. Looking around, he saw he was outside. The edge of a forest to his right, a wall to his left. No sign to indicate where he could be, but it looked familiar. He began walking. Before he had gone a hundred feet, he saw a vehicle approaching. A carriage without horses. He held back the tears as it stopped in front of him and a vaguely familiar face appeared in the driver's seat.

"Halt! Who goes there on the King's... Markham?" Jackson Lake gasped in surprise.

"I am ever his servant and his friend, Jacks," he said, collapsing to his knees and crying. "I'm home."

Jackson ran to his aged friend and hugged him tight. "I thought I'd never see you again," he whispered.

"I think you still have a few years on me, yet," Will whispered back as the other occupant of the carriage disembarked.

He slowly approached the hugging pair, staring in disbelief. "F-Father?"

Will broke his embrace to see a young man with slightly Asian features before him. "Iason?" he gasped. "Iason!" he shouted, struggling back to his feet as his son embraced him. It was the last thing he remembered as he fell.

The trio returned to the castle medical wing, where summons for King William, Toshiko, and Ianto Jones were quickly answered, along with Will's other son, Hiro. All assembled around his hospital bed as he woke.

"Am I dead?" he asked, looking at the crowd around him.

"Even worse, you made it home," Tosh said and kissed his cheek. She handed him a photo. "Iason said you were still clutching this when you collapsed." It was the sole memento he had kept from his departures.

Tears rolled down his cheeks. He profusely apologized to his former wife for his absence, learning he had only been gone five years, their time. "Is Ianto taking care of you?" he asked.

The man actually blushed after all this time, "Yes sir!" he saluted.

"And Charles? Where is your Regent?"

Awkward glances fell to the King. "My father is on his way back from the Colonies, but has been residing in Scotland since I took the Crown, Uncle," he informed the man.

Will chuckled at the term. "And you? How fares your reign, so far? Don't tell me you forgot all I taught you?"

"No major problems, as yet," he replied. "At least, no such alarms as my Ascendancy. Things have been pretty quiet."

"And your brother?"

"Made him Prince Regent of Wales," he chuckled. "He's slightly miffed at the moment, having lost his spot in the line of succession," he shrugged.

"Yeah? Well, tell him-" Will stopped and eyed his former student. "wait a minute!" He pulled the King into a hug. "Congratulations, boy!" he laughed. "How soon?"

"Another two months, sir," he laughed back. The whole world's up in arms about it. "And, no, I don't want you to tell us! We want to be surprised! Only Royal Surgeon Jones knows, and she's sworn not to say!"

"Best of luck to you, my boy," he smiled, then turned to his boys. "What about you two? When am I going to be a grandsire? As you can see, I'm not getting any younger," he teased.

The pair rolled their eyes in unison and looked to their mother. "Leave them be," she scolded them.

He turned back to the young king. "How long until your father returns? I haven't seen him since the Cavalry on Barcelona," he inquired.

Confused looks filled the room. "My father hasn't been to Iberia in several years, let alone Barcelona," William replied.

"What? No, not the country, the plan...net," Will informed them, realizing when he was. "There was no trip back to the Doctor's world, was there?"

"I'm afraid we have no idea what you're talking about?" Jackson informed him.

"Flooding time travel," Will griped. "As soon as your father arrives, I need to see him," he ordered, then turned to Lake. "The both of you. We have rescue plans to make."

"Rescue who?"

"Me, the Doctor, Jack, all their friends," he informed them. "I've already lived it. Decades ago for me, so just hope I remember who else was there."


"Congratulations, you two!" Jack saluted Toshiko and Ianto on their announcement. Gwen already pulled her away to discuss maternity things as fast as she could waddle, Martha following. Rhys pulled him into a bear hug, slapping him hard on the back.

"Congrats, lad! You had sex!" he laughed. "With a girl!"

Ianto coughed, trying to regain his breath from the attack as he turned to Jack. He could see various emotions play across his boss' face. "You seem to have some reservations, sir?" he inquired.

Jack shook his head. "No. I just...I want you to be happy," he replied and pulled his once-lover into an embrace. It was hard for him not to kiss the other man, but he knew this man had never known him as intimately as he and the others remembered. He saw Rhys give them an odd look.

"Thanks," he stammered. Then whispered, "Um, Tosh told me. About us. About you and the, erm, other Ianto, I guess?"

Jack's smile froze on his face.

"I'm sorry things didn't work out between us, but-"

"No, stop." Jack shook his head. "I'm a time traveler. I've loved and left many behind. Even before I was immortal. Seek your own happiness, Ianto. Just be a good dad, okay? That's all I ask." The lies came too easy.

Ianto gave a chagrined nod and turned back to see the women giggling over their various preparations.

Jack left them to their celebrations and returned to his office. He pulled out a photo of himself and Ianto that had somehow survived the timeline shift. He smiled at the memories and returned it to his drawer. "Are you going to stand there all day?" he asked.

"Sorry, sweetie," she replied. "I'm told you have something of mine?"

He pulled the battered blue book out from underneath the photo. "So I'm told?" He held it out to her.

"Did you read it?"

"Don't think I wasn't tempted," he smirked, leaning back in his chair and lacing his fingers behind his head. "But no, I did not peek at any of it."

She nodded down at the excitement below. "Having a good moment?"

"Well, someone had a good moment, a few weeks ago," he chuckled.

She studied the group below a moment. "You haven't told her?"

"Gwen or Tosh?"

"Ah. Nevermind then."

"River...?"

"I've said too much."

"Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Have you seen him lately?"

"I have not seen either of them since we left Barcelona."

"So he doesn't know?"

"That's not something I can confirm or deny."

"Will's gone home. So there's that."

"I thought he was living in the future?" he asked, both now fully aware that Will would go on to teach his younger self to be a Time Agent.

She nodded. "He was. He decided to retire. Boe gave him a vortex manipulator that was supposed to send him home," she informed him.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "I sense a 'but' coming?"

"He was pinballing back to a few times in the recent past, after he arrived here. Then he was gone."

"How do you know?"

"Remember when we met in his flat not too long ago?" she asked. "When you found those notebooks?" He nodded. "I talked to him before you came inside. I saw him go lay down in his bedroom, then he never came out."

"You think he finally went home?"

"Even I don't know that," she sighed. "He was the oldest I ever saw him. Even after everything that has happened between us."

Jack eyed her a moment. "I take it you had more dealings with him besides dropping the boys off and Barcelona?"

She smiled. "Far more," she teased. Jack shook his head.

"Why don't you go back and ask him before he leaves?"

"I should, shouldn't I?" she smiled. "I just might."

"Excuse me?" came a voice from the door. "Sorry, didn't mean to intrude, but I just wanted to ask Jack something?" Gwen explained.

"Gwen Cooper, River Song. I believe you two have met?"

The two ladies reached out to shake, but Gwen shook her head, "No, I don't believe so?"

River cautioned a glance down. "Not quite yet, at any rate. Soon enough, I believe?"

"Ex-Excuse me?" Gwen stammered.

"Last I saw you, you were, well, further along?" she explained. "First or-?"

Gwen giggled, still confused. "Second," she admitted, then turned to Jack. "I'm sorry, are you one of Jack's friends or-?"

"We've had a few adventures together," he replied, giving her a curious look. "Usually with the Doctor."

"Ah. Well why didn't you say so?" she replied. "Look, I can come back-?"

"That's okay, Gwen, I was just leaving," River informed her. "I was just stopping by to pick up something of mine Jack had." She held up her diary and tapped a finger on the cover.

"That was yours?" she asked. "I'm sorry! I found it in the TARDIS library! I had no idea!" She clasped her hand over her mouth in embarrassment.

River cast a curious glance to Jack. "Did you read any of it?

"Not really, sorry. A few random pages. I kept getting interrupted and it didn't make much sense to me." She turned to Jack. "Didn't Will say he read part of it?"

Jack held up his hands and shrugged.

"Then I hope he got my message?"

"That would explain part of what the blunder twins were up to then?" Jack quipped. "They started off on some secret project, then Will skipped out on us. That's apparently when he landed here, though?"

"So that's a yes," she said. "Well then, I'm off. Any message for him when I see him again?"

Jack shrugged. "Not really. I'm sure I haven't seen the last of him, either."

"I'll see you in a few, then?"

Jack rose and gave her a salute. "Professor."

She returned the gesture, "Captain. Ms. Cooper." She took a half step back and touched her wrist, vanishing in a burst of light.

Gwen blinked the glare from her eyes. "So that was River Song?"

"That was River Song," he echoed. "You had another question?"

"Tosh and I were just curious as to how long you were going to let us keep doing our duties before benching us?"

"I'd thought I'd leave that up to you two, with Martha's okay?" he replied. "Far be it from me to tell you ladies you can't be working mothers and such."

"Seriously?"

"Of course," he nodded. "My first instinct is to tie you both down in the kitchen barefoot, but as long as Rhys and Ianto can pick up your slack?" He began laughing, unable to get the rest of the scenario out before she punched him.

She finally relented. "We're holding you to that, Harkness," she mock-threatened before leaving him to rejoin the others.

Jack chuckled at her departure before looking back to the far corner of his office. "What do you think that means?"

River stepped out, having simply teleported ahead one minute. "That she didn't remember me from Barcelona? I couldn't tell you."

"She remembered it before?"

"Yes? But not me?"

"More time ripples? If Tosh and Ianto came back, who's to say that we saw the last of the effects of that...our abduction to Barcelona?"

"You think their memories were erased somehow?"

"Or altered. Anything is possible, says the future man who cannot die to the woman who was a living time paradox."

"I hate you, too," she retorted.

"No you don't," he replied.

"In any event, I'm sure you will need these to get past Kate's security," she handed him a small stack of thick blue envelopes. "Don't be late. You're his best man, after all."

"If you insist, it would be my extreme honor, ma'am!" he saluted, as she smiled before disappearing for real. He glanced down at the envelopes. Each had a date and coordinates on one side, a name on the other. He smiled and tucked them into a locked drawer for the time being.


"You got old."

"I feel old, Champ," Will agreed. The two men clinked their glasses together, toasting their reunion.

"I worried about you, you know," Charles confided. "Color me dumbfounded when my boy texted me Mentor Chiron is home," he chuckled. "You ruined my fishing trip in the Gulf."

Will smiled. "I never forgot about you lot," he admitted. "I never thought I would see any of you again."

"How long was it?"

Will was quiet. "We're not done with them. Not yet."

"You're going back?"

Will shook his head. "No. Not me. You are."

"How? When?"

"How will come to us, the girls will be here soon enough," he replied. "We have some things to take care of first."

"Like what?"

"You get to lead a commando troop to rescue the Doctor."

"Oh, is that all?" the larger man laughed.

"Right after we dig up an old friend in Glastonbury." He tossed the last of his drink back.

Charles glared at his friend. "No. No fucking way."

Will reached for his friend's temple. "Yes. I've already seen it."

Charles recoiled at the images filling his mind. He was leading a squad of men. Some sort of coliseum, filled with some sort of short blue and tall silver armored men, and rolling tanks, and dark figures on a dais. Captives in cages, the Doctor tied to the ground. A yellow box, similar to the Doctor's blue one, and inside...a masque of horror. Ancient and immortal.

Charles let out a string of curses at his friend, trying to recover his vision. Will steered him into a chair behind him. "Warn a person when you do that, gods damn you!"

"I'm sorry, it was the quickest way to convince you what must be done."

"Just because you had one of your visions-!"

"That wasn't a vision, Charles. That was a memory."

The former Regent looked at his friend in shock.

"That happened to me a few years after I left. Decades ago, now."

Charles laid his large hand on his friend's shoulder. "I-I don't know what to say?"

"We start training tomorrow," Will informed him and turned to leave. "One more thing? Not everyone survived."

Charles was silent a moment, then reached into his coat pocket. He held out an aged, dirty envelope. It had been opened. "That explains this, then."

Will could see the familiar handwriting. "Will open this alone."

"It was meant for you all along."


TBC…