The
Feeding Ground
Part Two
Rose looked in through the glass outside of her Mother's hospital room. Mickey came up from behind to comfort her. Jackie was lying in a hospital bed fast asleep.
"What is it?" Rose asked.
"It started out as Breast cancer but now its spread to her lungs." Mickey explained.
"How long does she have?"
"Not long. You should see her, talk to her." Mickey urged.
"I can't. I've never seen her like this before, so helpless." Rose said as she sat down on a bench behind her.
"I never thought….I've been traveling, seeing things that no one on Earth ever will. I've faced Daleks, Slitheen even a werewolf but I can't go in that room. I'm scared." Rose said as she embraced Mickey and began to cry.
"Oh Hello am I interrupting something? And Mickey aren't you married?" The Doctor said walking towards them.
Mickey suddenly back out of the hug looking embarrassed.
"It's amazes how much can change in 30 years: hover cars, trans-mats and I think they just came out with the last Potter book." The Doctor said cheerfully
"My Mother's dying and you're making jokes?"
"Sorry, is there anything I can do?"
"I don't know. I don't even know what to do." Rose said.
"Alright well I think I'm going to explore a bit give you some time alone. Rose, I'm sorry." The Doctor said.
"Thanks, Doctor." She said as the he walked off.
"Listen Jackie's Doctor will page me when she wakes up, how about we get some chips and I can fill you in on what you missed?"
"Yeah sounds good." Rose said.
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The Doctor walked through the busy hospital halls. Surgeons ran by him pushing a gurney towards the emergency room. As he moved upstairs the action began to die down until he found himself in a quieter part of the hospital. The hall was empty except for one little girl.
"Hello there, what's your name?" The Doctor said getting down on his knees to her level.
"Amy, who are you?
"I'm The Doctor, why are you out here playing all alone?" The Doctor wondered.
"There's no one else to play with. He took them all."
"You mean all the children? Amy, who took them?" He questioned.
"The doctor, he took them to that room." Amy took his hand and led him to a room filled with sleeping children.
"Amy there you are, you can't leave your room like that. Who are you?" A Doctor said running up to them.
"Doctor John Smith and you are?" The Doctor asked.
"Doctor Clayton, I'm head of the children's wing."
"Do you mind telling me what happened to them all?"
"It's the strangest thing, they are all in comas." Clayton revealed.
"Well that's not so strange."
"They also have been showing no brain activity what so ever."
"They're brain dead?" The Doctor was baffled.
"We can't explain it."
"Do you mind if I take a look?" The Doctor asked.
"No be my guest. Now if you'll excuse me I need to get Amy back to her room."
The Doctor looked over the room. There were at least 10 children lying perfectly still in their beds. He examined one of the children closer. Pulling a small flashlight out of his pocket he force open an eye and shined light into it. The child did not react at all. He put his head to the boy's chest and heard a heart beating. He could tell they were all still breathing from their chests moving up and down.
"What's done this to you?" The Doctor said as he moved his flashlight around the room stopping on a security camera that seemed to be following his every move.
"Or who's done this to you?"
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"So where do you want to start? Did The Doctor say you were married?" Rose asked.
"Yeah he must have noticed the wedding band on my finger. You remember the girl from the shop?" Mickey stated.
"You married her?" Rose raised her voice in confusion.
"I waited for you Rose. I waited until one day when I realized you weren't coming back. So don't judge me." Mickey yelled.
Suddenly Mickey's pager went off.
"What is it?" Rose asked.
"It's your Mum, she's awake."
Rose walked up to her Mother's room and stopped. Mickey came up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Well don't stand out there all day, come on it where I can see you." Jackie yelled.
"Jackie, I've got a little surprise for you." Mickey said walking in.
"Rose, come on in." Mickey waved her inside.
"Mum?" Rose looked down on her Mother. Jackie now had wrinkles covering her face and her once blonde hair had now turned to gray.
"Rose, My sweet Rose. Is it really you?" Jackie was stunned.
"Yes Mum, it's really me." Rose began tearing up.
"You were gone for so long." Jackie said.
"I know but now I'm here to stay." Rose said as The Doctor walked into the room.
"There you are. We have a problem, we have to go."
"You're not taking my daughter anywhere!" Jackie yelled.
"I'm sorry I can't go with you." Rose said.
"What's wrong?" Mickey asked.
"Well it's the children you see, all brain dead." The Doctor explained.
"Not now Doctor." Rose was getting mad.
"Brain dead?" Mickey was intrigued.
"Apparently the Doctors can't explain it. I plan to." The Doctor said in a grim voice.
"How can you do this?" Rose said in anger.
"You took my daughter away from me. I hate you." Jackie yelled.
"Yes sorry, anyway we have to find out what's happening in this hospital." The Doctor said sitting down on a chair with a coat sitting on it. His hand felt something in the pocket of the jacket. He reached in and pulled out an apple.
"I swear this friend of your Mother's, has he ever pocketed a potato?"
"Get out!" Jackie yelled.
Rose grabbed the Doctor's arm and pulled him out of the room.
"How can you act like this? My Mother is dying at least show a little respect, if not for her then for me!" Rose yelled.
"Sorry, I'm being rude. Rose I've seen in all my lives, so much of death. I guess I've gotten use to it. What I haven't gotten use to is seeing you in pain. We could leave; I could take you home right now to see your Mother."
"No, I want to stay."
"Alright well I'm going to go back to the Tardis to try and find out what's happening to the children." The Doctor said as he walked off.
Rose returned to the room to find her Mother had fallen asleep again. Mickey was waiting along with Jackie's Doctor.
"Hello I'm Doctor Matthews; I understand it that you are Mrs. Tyler's niece."
"Yes, that's right. Can you tell me how she's doing?"
"Well I'm afraid there's not much we can do for her now except make her comfortable."
"Thank you, Doctor." Rose said as Doctor Matthews made his way to his office.
Rose and Mickey sat down and held each other. In her pack the small ornament began to glow. It slowly rolled out of the pack and unfurled into the shape of a snake. It slithered out under the crack of the door.
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The Doctor made his way to the elevator and pressed the button for the Lobby. The elevator responded and began to descend. The light showed he had reached the Lobby but the lift kept on going down. It had just passed the basement when it stopped and the doors opened.
"Hello." The Doctor chirped.
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Doctor Matthews sat down in his office and began going over some files. The snake slithered in and moved under his desk. It made its way up his leg and onto his arm. Doctor Matthews yelled out as the snake was wrapped around his arm. It opened up its jaws and sprayed something into his mouth. I then fell to the floor and curled back into a ball.
