The night passes slowly, the weather so changed that night held its grip longer. The Doctor knew what classed as mornings was in fact around noon. The clouds so thick that night passed beyond the dawn, grasping until the snow abated. He looked out, having no idea how deep the snow would have become. Maybe above the knees? He looked down as Rose stirred in his embrace, the feel of her warm breath on his neck as she had buried her head under his chin. Their legs had become entangled in the need to get closer for the warmth.
He kissed the top of her head, and she stirred taking a deep breath. He shivered and he hoped she thought it was because of the cold. Her head raised, bleary eyed, blinking at the Doctor.
"Hi"
"Hello" he smiled at her, then watched her blush as she realised how entangled they had become "were you a contortionist in a past life?" he asked cheekily, earning a slap on the shoulder.
"Brrrr, God it's cold Doctor." She shivered, disappearing under the throw to get back to the momentary warmth.
"I know, lets get back to the TARDIS, get some warmer clothes then see what's going on." The Doctor got to his feet, pulling Rose up with him, seeing the goose bumps rise on her skin. He grabbed the throw and wrapped it around her form. Rubbing her arms to keep the warmth in. "Come on,"
They walked through the remains of the kitchen, broken plates and glass on the floor, their outlines softened by the layers of gray ash. The cold wind hit them as the it blew through the broken windows, a little pile of snow flowing down like small ski slops from the base of the window pane to the worktop. Rose shivered at the sight of the snow, no longer the pure white but almost black. The snow the same shade as the slush after the thaw. The dirt mixed in as it melted. But this, it was like it was showing how tainted this world had become. The innocence lost in a blaze of nuclear fire.
The Doctor opened the door, the black snow falling in. It was as he expected just above knee height. He looked at Rose's face.
"Got any tennis rackets in that coat of yours?" she asked tongue between her teeth
"What?" he asked confused.
"You know, to tie to our feet so we don't sink in the snow"
"Oh! Snow shoes, no sorry all out of them." the Doctor rolled his eyes at her as he started making a path in the snow.
"Don't roll your eyes at me, you never know what you have in your bloody pockets. I keep expecting the kitchen sink" her voice wavered as she tried to stop shivering.
The surroundings now instead on the gnarled trees and carcass of farm animals were odd mounds here and there in the smooth layer of dark snow. It was as if the dark storm clouds had fallen to the ground. They made their way back to where they had left his TARDIS. But as they got near they could see the ground was flat under the snow, no bump to give away where it was.
"You s..s..Sure you p.p.p.parked here?" Rose stuttered.
"Course I'm sure!" the Doctor exclaimed. The sky had become dark once more, threatening more snow.
"S..s…sorry" Rose stuttered voice hurt as the Doctor had almost shouted at her. He turned to her, seeing her lips turning blue. He moved up to her, bringing her into his arms trying to warm her up.
"No, I'm sorry. Not your fault, I get touchy when someone moves my TARDIS" he explained, looking apologetic.
"It's okay, I'd get moody to if someone went off with my camper van"
"Camper van! You saying my fantastic time ship is a camper van?" he looked at her shocked and insulted on his TARDISes behalf. Rose giggled and leaned up to kiss his cheek.
"So w…w..what n.n..now?" she asked. As he still looked at her mock insulted, but inside he knew she had said that to get his mind off the guilt that had crept inside at the situation they were now in.
"Head that way?" he pointed to the distance.
"Why t..that way?" she looked trying to see what he had.
"Because there's smoke, and where there is smoke there is fire, and where there is fire in this weather there are people round it." He set off, Rose following.
"Or people standing round it watching as someone is burnt at the steak" she muttered darkly.
"You're never going to let me forget that are you?"
"Nope" Rose laughed as the Doctor shook his head in mock exasperation.
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They continued on, wading through the thick tainted snow. They came to the streets of what once must have been the town. There were mounds here and there, the Doctor dug around one to find a hover car, rendered inactive thanks to the electromagnetic pulse.
At the end of the street they could see the temple, one of the tower crumbled, the bell no doubt fallen to the bottom. It was from here the smoke came from. In the graveyard was a barrel fire; Rose could see shapes moving around the fire for warmth. Inside through the once stained glass windows, now boarded up to ward the wind, was more light. The light was dull, must be candles the Doctor thought.
As they drew near they could see people watching them, starving wretches, hair gone, faces covered with radiation sores. They looked at them like they were the abnormal ones, that the perfect un-marked skin was not natural. The Doctor looked as some of the men looked at Rose with blazing lust. He placed a protective arm round Rose as they came closer.
"What we ave ere?" one male asked, eye swollen closed, puss leaking from the side. Tufts of hair ragged and tangled, blew in the cold wind.
"We were just looking for somewhere warm, but I can see you're full, so we'll just pass on" The Doctor replied, keeping himself between the men and Rose. But now more had come forward, all looking at the un-marked form of Rose.
"You found a pretty one there, shame to keep her all to yourself" one reached out to touch Rose, she shied back. The Doctor knocked the mans hand away.
"Don't you touch her!" his voice full of malice and their only warning.
"Poor thing seems cold, we'll soon warm her up won't we boys?" one laughed, pushing the Doctor out of the way and lunging for Rose.
"Get off me" Rose shouted at him, he had caught the throw, Rose threw it off kneeing him in the groin. He doubled over with a shout, hands over the place of impact.
"Leave her alone!" The Doctor tried to get to Rose, who was standing in the thigh high snow, shivering with her arms about her. But two men had come forward, holding tight to his arms. The men had surprising strength despite their ill appearance, The man from before now getting up and moving back towards Rose. The Doctor struggled; he could not let this happen.
"Oh, you're a feisty one, I'll have fun with you" Rose was being backed into a wall.
"You touch me again and I'll m….m..make sure you never think about it again" Rose threatened, voice stuttering thanks to the cold.
"Oh, will you now pet?" he rushed her, them both disappearing into the deep snow. The Doctor could see her flailing around trying to kick the guy off, her screaming at him and calling for the Doctor.
"No! Get off her! Leave her alone!" He wrenched his arm free, throwing the man holding the other arm to the ground with a crunch of snow, and then he was running to Rose. He pulled the man off her with strength he didn't know he had, the man landed near the first, he then helped Rose to her feet. Her top was ripped exposing the pink bra underneath. Her lip was bleeding where she had been struck. The Doctor stood before her, ready to fight off the three men that were again coming closer.
"STOP THIS!" all turned to the entrance to see a man in robes. "You will not defile this innocent in the grounds of the Gods" he had a gun in his hands, pointing at the men. "Go back inside"
The men growled walking off, the leader wrapping the blanket around himself and throwing a sneer at Rose shivering in the cold. The Doctor did not relax his stance as he watched, Rose holding on to the back of his coat. Once they were out of sight he took his coat off and placed it round Rose.
"W….w…..what about you?" She asked in a weak voice. As she tried to disappear into the coat, reveling in the momentary warmth from his body.
"I'll be fine," He turned to the priest as he came closer. "Thank you"
"You two should go, there is no place for you here among the damned." He said sadly, his appearance like the rest,
"But I need to get Rose some clothes…she'll freeze to death." The Doctor laid his hand on the priests arm.
"You can not come in son, there are many more like those inside, and I will not be able to hold them all at bay." He recanted sadly, "go to the hills, I see you have not been cursed by the Gods, there is a farm at the bottom of the hill. You will find your welcome there….go quickly" the priest left them to walk back inside the temple, the statues of various deities fallen to the floor.
"Come on Rose" he lead Rose back out of the graveyard, she was shivering so much, her lips blue. He needed to get her somewhere warm; she would get pneumonia, frost bite and ultimately die. They walked towards the hill, Rose tucked safely under his arm as he guided her through the snow.
"So Rose, where do you fancy to go shopping" he asked randomly, he had to keep her talking. She blinked a few times, the now falling snow collecting on her drooping eyelashes.
"Wha?" she asked confused, wondering what he was going on about now.
"You know, once we're finished here…. Jupiter? Saturn? There's a nice restaurant I should take you to on Saturn" he babbled on as the farmhouse finally came into view, the smoke rising from the twin chimneys. He could see the greenhouses containing plants and animals. All safe and warm, well fed too by the looks.
"Doctor…I'm cold" Rose slurred; he legs gave way as her eyelids closed briefly.
"Wake up Rose, I know you're cold. But you need to stay awake" he shock her, rubbing her hands in his to get some warmth in them.
"I'm tired," she slurred, no longer shivering and that worried him more.
"I know, but stay with me Rose" he pleaded as he picked her up in his arms. Her head lolling on his shoulder.
"….always" she whispered.
The Doctor waded through the snow with as much speed as he could, he came to the gate just as the door to the fame house opened. A man in a navy blue overall, a makeshift helmet on. In his hand was a shotgun, an old relic but probably the only thing that still worked, the EMP having made all sonic blasters inoperative,
"I'm sorry, I can give you some lettuces but you have to leave" the man called to them the gun aimed at them both.
"Please, she's freezing to death. I need to get her warm," the Doctor pleaded.
"I don't have enough food for the dying, just about enough for the living.
"We haven't got radiation sickness, look at her. Would she have all her hair, no sores if she had? Would I?" he shouted, his eyes black.
"What about her lip? Looks like a sore to me"
"She was attacked by those at the temple. They nearly raped her and now you are going to let her freeze to death!" The man looked at them both a moment….then lowered the gun.
"Okay, come on" he walked to the gate; there would be no way to open it. So the Doctor passes Rose gently over before climbing over himself. He quickly took her off the man before following to the cottage. They passed into the entranceway, what would have once been a place to hang coats, now served as an airlock.
They passed into the main part of the house, the man indicated for the Doctor to follow into a side room. There inside were two single beds, the room changed from a study to a place to sleep. By the large fireplace were the remains of what once would have been an ornate desk. It had been chopped up to serve as fuel for the fire. The man placed more wood to the flame as the Doctor placed Rose on the bed nearer the fire.
"Rose…Rose" he tried to stir her, but she would not respond. He placed his hand under her top and onto the flesh above her chest, feeling the coolness. "We need to get her body temperature up"
"Kate!" the man shouted there came a rush of feet. There in the doorway appeared a child around 6 years old. "Grab some more blankets and bring the hot water bottle" The man then got up and went into the next room, he came back with a pan of water that he placed over the fire to heat it up. Kate came back with the blankets, and her other arm was a ceramic hot water bottle. It was cylindrical with a stopper in the center. It also was ceramic with rubber seals to keep the water inside. The Doctor took the blankets gratefully, while the man filled the hot water bottle then handed it to the Doctor.
He placed the hot water bottle beside Rose, and then he stroked her hair looking at her lax face. She had come so far with him; she did not deserve to be near death all the time. This was supposed to be a day off, to enjoy the day after the trouble with the Cybermen and Mickey staying behind. Not to be in the middle of a nuclear holocaust.
"Sorry for the way I greeted you, but I can't be too careful. My names Johnson" he held out his hand to the Doctor.
"I'm the Doctor, that's Rose." He took the hand then indicated Rose lying in the bed.
"Glad to meet you, the young one there is Kate. Come, let's get something in you." The Doctor looked to Rose a moment, hesitant, but there was nothing more he could do for her right now other than to let her sleep.
He followed Johnson through the house to the kitchen, once there Johnson went straight for a battered tea pot, he took out some teabags while a metal kettle whistled on an old cottage stove.
"I'm trying to save the tea, only use it on special occasions. But you look as though you need it" the Doctor nodded his thanks weary now beyond belief. The tea was made and drunk for a little while in silence. Before the Doctor's curiosity demanded attention.
"What happened here? It should the festival of the Gods," The Doctor indicated out the window with a tired wave. "Not a nuclear fall out"
"You're right, it should be the festival. No one can now tell you when it started. As far as I knew we had good relations with the north until a couple of seasons ago. Then things changed, almost overnight." Johnson went over to the window to look out over the landscape, but he wrenched the curtains over the window, unable to see the devastation any longer.
"Then things began to fall apart so quickly, their boarders and ports closed. They wouldn't let our ambassadors on their soil. Rumors began that they were making weapons. One man tanks, missiles, the whole works." He sat back down opposite the Doctor.
"What did the other continents try to do? Peace offering? Doves? Fruit basket? Anything" the Doctor became more agitated as he continued the sentence.
"We never got the chance Doctor. One minute we have a cease-fire. Then all communication was cut off. Somehow our government found out they had nuclear bombs, there was a rush of training programs and leaflets on how to survive a hit…. then 2 weeks later it happened." Johnson out his head back, eyes unseeing to the ceiling. Never seeing the pealing paint but the land as it used to be. Living and hole.
"Johnson" came the sweet voice of Kate.
"Yes poppet?" Johnson's tired face turned into a warm fatherly smile on Kate.
"All the animals are fed, and locked in." she replied, looking shy round the Doctor.
"Good girl. Have you turned the area alarm on?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, then off to bed with ya."
"Night Johnson, night mister" she went to turn to go up to bed.
"Kate" the Doctor said, his voice in child like welcome. 'Thank you for looking after Rose for me, here" he pulled out of his pocket a bar of chocolate. Kate's eyes lit up like stars.
"Thanks mister"
"Call me Doctor"
"Thanks Doctor" she came up like the innocent child she should have been and kissed the Doctor on the cheek. Then she skipped out of the room all smiles. Johnson smiled his thanks to the Doctor.
"It's been a while since I saw her smile like that" he got up and put the cups in the sink that was filled with cold water.
"You seem to have a lot of water on hand" the Doctor suddenly commented, in all the time he had been here he had seen Johnson use a lot of water that should be saved.
"I'm lucky, when my Granda built this at the founding. He built it over an underground spring. The well is actually in the living room. The water rises deep fro under the ground so there is no chance it will be contaminated" Johnson rose from the chair and indicated the Doctor to follow.
There in the back of the living room was a round gray brickwork in the center. There was a wooden top covering the hole. Above it connected to a thick wooden beam was a block and tackle with a bucket hanging from the hook. Johnson opened the top so the Doctor could peer inside. The air coming up heavy with moisture.
"So I see."
"Well it's late, best we turn in" Johnson recovered the well, and then doused the oil lamp. He lead the Doctor back to Rose's room, where she till slumbered. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like."
"Thank you" Johnson bid the Doctor goodnight then closed the door. The Doctor walked up to Rose, checking her over before he lay down on the other bed, eyes locked on her face.
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At the Temple many bedded down for the night, but one who's lust had not been sated decided to find the blonde Goddess from before. He knew she had gone to Johnson's farm. He would have to go round the outskirts.
So he moved in the darkness, the snow crunching underfoot. He could see the farm in the distance, sitting safe at the base of Bad Wolf hill. He moved through the remains of the trees, once proud now blanked in the same death as the rest. He moved right on the edge of the land, the moon bleak behind the black tainted clouds.
He would never know what claimed him, if the gods had seen his evil and decided to send him to a place worse than the underworld. The messengers of the dead, voice grating and inhuman as they floated from the sky.
"SUB-JECT FOUND. HE-WILL-BE -ADE-QUATE"
His screams echoed round the hills…..
TBC…..
KITG: sorry for the wait. Don't you just love moving house…..NOT!