26
28/03/2020
Title: Wolf Whispers
Rating: T/M
Pairing: Nine/Charlie (Slight)
Outfit: Outfits can be found on my Pinterest profile - (Click on the image to enlarge it)
Disclaimer: I own Charlie and any other OC characters. I do not own Doctor Who.
Wolf Whispers
Previously
Once on the TARDIS she turned to the Doctor,
"I'm going to shower," she said, "After all the sweating I was doing, I desperately need one, not to mention my makeup is now completely smudged." She walked upstairs and into the hallway before poking her head back out, "If you're going out, get chips, will you? There's money in my bag on the seat," she winked and left the two to talk.
She could sense they both had some tension between them that needed sorting out, she really should stop leaving the Doctor alone with people, he always seems to get into a fight about something.
Regarding Rose, Charlie hoped she would stay. It would be nice, having some female company onboard. Someone to talk girly things with.
Oh well, she supposed it was up to the Doctor now. She just hoped he manged to convince her to stay.
Wolf Whispers
After the Doctor spoke to Rose, she decided to stay with the time travelling duo much to Charlie's happiness. The night before, Rose and Charlie stayed up quite late talking, Charlie told her how she met the Doctor and Rose was horrified by what happened to her, but glad the Doctor manged to rescue her from an eternity on ice.
The next day the trio were stood in the TARDIS console room, Rose was trying to help the Doctor pilot the ship whilst Charlie tried to stay up-right during the rather jerky flight.
"Hold that one down!" the Doctor yelled over the loud engines.
"I'm holding this one down." Rose yelled back, rolling her eyes.
"Well, hold them both down." He groaned back.
"She's not Mr Fantastic!" Charlie laughed.
"Yeah it's not going to work." Rose agreed, trying to stretch across the console.
"Oi! Now, you've seen the future, let's have a look at the past. 1860. How does 1860 sound?" The Doctor grinned.
"What happened in 1860?" Rose asked excited.
"Something bad probably," Charlie mused, given that whenever they land somewhere, there is usually a 70% chance that they'll run into trouble.
"Let's find out. Hold on, here we go!" the TARDIS roughly landed making the three of the crash to the floor.
"Blimey!" Rose exclaimed from her place on the floor.
"You're telling me," The Doctor laughed, "Are you all right?" he asked the girls.
"I'm good!" Charlie lifted herself from the floor,
"Yeah. I think so." Rose stood up and checked herself over, "Nothing broken. Did we make it? Where are we?" she rambled, grinning.
"I did it," The Doctor checked, "Give the man a medal. Earth, Naples, December 24th, 1860."
"You sure?" Charlie muttered as she stood beside him, the Doctor looked her sheepishly and shrugged. That meant maybe, Charlie could work with that.
"That's so weird. It's Christmas." Rose beamed.
"All yours." The Doctor smiled at the excited blonde. He was glad he didn't scare her away on Platform One.
"But, it's like, think about it, though." Rose rambled again, "Christmas. 1860. Happens once, just once and it's gone, it's finished, it'll never happen again. Except for you two. You can go back and see days that are dead and gone a hundred thousand sunsets ago. No wonder you never stay still."
"Not a bad life." He shrugged, glancing at Charlie.
"Better with company. Come on, then." Rose ran to the door, but was stopped.
"Hey, where do you think you're going?" The Doctor asked, frowning.
"1860," Rose said in a 'duh' voice making Charlie laugh.
"We can't go out dressed like this, Rose. Come on, there's a wardrobe with period outfits we can pick from," Charlie grabbed the blonde's hand and looked back at the Doctor, "Are planning on changing anything but your jumper this time?"
"What do you think?" he raised a brow smiling, "Go on!" the girls ran off to get changed.
Wolf Whispers
The Doctor was waiting for the girls when Rose appeared at the top of the stairs. She was dressed in a 1860s red and black dress, her hair was up with a black clasp and she wore black boots of her feet.
"Blimey," The Doctor's eyes widened, "You look good," he smiled.
"If you think I look good, you should see Charlie," Rose smirked and descended the stairs just as the red head appeared at the top.
The Doctor stared at his best friend. He couldn't take his eyes off her, she looked amazing. The 1800s dress was a dark blue colour with a corset top and flared skirt. She had a matching blue transparent cape on her shoulders and black 3" heeled boots on her feet with her hair in an elegant updo.
"You look beautiful!" he breathed, creating a pink blush to grace Charlie cheeks and Rose's smirk to widen.
"Thank you," Charlie grinned and walked down the stairs.
"Will you be warm enough in that?" he looked at the cape that was really for appearance rather than keeping her warm.
"I'll be fine, promise," Charlie smiled,
"Right come on then," the Doctor clapped.
"You stay there. You've done this before. This is mine." Rose all but ran to the door and threw in open.
The street they landed on was dark but lit beautifully by the lanterns. The snow covered the street and continued to fall around the trio who gazed around them.
"Ready for this?" the Doctor asked, and the two girls linked arms with him, "Let's go," they started to walk down the street.
As they walked, Charlie felt the small hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Someone was watching them. With that knowledge, she began discreetly looking about her, whilst talking with her friends. They came to a stop when the Doctor bought a newspaper from a man. Charlie felt eyes looking at her, so she turned and saw a shadow standing in a nearby alleyway.
"Charlie?" The Doctor asked concerned when he saw her staring into space
"I'll be back in a minute," Charlie smiled and walked towards the alley. The Doctor watched after her, before deciding she was more than capable to defend herself, so he left her go alone.
Charlie entered the alley, "Hello?" she called softly, "Why were you watching me?"
She felt a presence behind her and spun around, grabbing the persons arm and throwing them against the wall.
"So you were always like this, good to know," a male American voice laughed.
"Who are you?" Charlie asked, not letting him go just yet.
"Captain Jack Harkness," he introduced, throwing a wink over his shoulder at her, "Given by this reaction, I take it you haven't met me yet?"
"Another one I'll meet in the future?" Charlie stepped back, letting the man go, "Is there a club or something?"
"Well I don't know about that," Jack laughed, taking in the red head, it had been a while since he saw her, "You've just left Platform one, right?"
"How'd you-" Charlie stared confused as to how this man could know that.
"You told me or will tell me. I just figured since I knew you would be here; I'd take a chance. It was good to see you," he smiled softly.
"I'd say the same, but I don't know you," Charlie laughed shaking her head.
"Yeah I know," he smiled sadly, "You should get back before the Doctor comes looking for you," he reached out and hugged her tightly which surprised her, but she hugged back regardless, "Oh, and when I meet you for the first time, don't mention that you know me, best for everyone." Jack then turned and left the alley leaving her alone.
"Well, that was something," Charlie mumbled to herself as she too, left the alley and she found the Doctor again, but this time he was chasing a hearse.
"Doctor!" she shouted and chased him.
"Charlie!" The relief was clear on his face, "Someone took Rose!
"What!?" Charlie exclaimed; another man ran towards them.
"No time, Come on!" the Doctor grabbed her hand and made to run when they were stopped.
"You're not escaping me, sir." The unknown man exclaimed, "What do you know about that hobgoblin, hmm? Projection on glass, I suppose. Who put you up to it?"
"What's he talking about?" Charlie raising her eyebrows at the Doctor, but he ignored her.
"Yeah, mate. Not now, thanks." The Doctor shot at man a look "Oi, you! Follow that hearse!" he demanded to the carriage drive before pulling Charlie in with him.
"I can't do that, sir." The Driver called.
"Why not?" the Doctor asked frustrated, the man from before got in the carriage beside them.
"I'll tell you why not," he said irritated, "I'll give you a very good reason why not. Because this is my coach."
"Well, get in, then. Move!" the Doctor demanded once again.
"Hey, she'll be okay." Charlie grabbed his hand, soothing him, "We'll find her,"
The Doctor squeezed her hand in thanks as the carriage began to race down the street.
"Come on, you're losing them." The Doctor yelled.
"Everything in order, Mister Dickens?" the driver called, both the Doctor and Charlie's eyes darted to the man beside them.
"No! It is not!" Dickens shouted annoyed.
"What did he say?" Charlie breathed, watching the man wide eyes.
"Let me say this first. I'm not without a sense of humour." Dickens groaned.
"Dickens?" the Doctor asked, suddenly giddy.
"Yes." Dickens nodded confused.
"Charles Dickens?" Charlie asked grinning along with the Doctor.
"Yes."
"The Charles Dickens?" the Doctor asked again making the man glare at him.
"I think we've said his name enough times, Doctor," Charlie said amused.
"Should I remove the gentleman and the lady, sir?" the driver called again.
"Charles Dickens?" Charlie laughed at the glare her friend was receiving, "You're brilliant, you are." He praised making the glare weaken slightly, "Completely one hundred percent brilliant. I've read them all. Great Expectations, Oliver Twist and what's the other one, the one with the ghost?"
"Ooo I like Oliver Twist," Charlie commented smiling.
"A Christmas Carol?" Dickens guessed.
"No, no, no, the one with the trains. The Signal Man, that's it. Terrifying! The best short story ever written. You're a genius." The Doctor grinned happily, staring at the Author.
"Such a fanboy!" Charlie giggled and shrieked when the Doctor nipped her arm for her comment, "Hey!" the Doctor turned his head and stuck his tongue out.
"You want me to get rid of them, sir?" the Driver's voice came down once more.
"Er, no, I think they can stay." Dickens allowed, believing the duo to be harmless.
"Honestly, Charles. Can I call you Charles?" the Doctor rambled, "I'm such a big fan."
"A what? A big what?" Charlie smiled into the Doctor's shoulder at how lost the famous Author sounded.
"Fan. Number one fan, that's me." The Doctor giggled.
"How exactly are you a fan? In what way do you resemble a means of keeping oneself cool?"
Charlie laughed loudly as the Doctor raised his voice over her.
"No, it means fanatic, devoted to. Mind you, I've got to say, that American bit in Martin Chuzzlewit, what's that about? Was that just padding or what? I mean, it's rubbish, that bit."
"I thought you said you were my fan." Dickens said offended.
"Typical Author," Charlie rolled her eyes.
"Ah, well, if you can't take criticism." The Doctor agreed, "Go on, do the death of Little Nell, it cracks me up. No, sorry, forget about that." The Doctor suddenly remembered why they were in the carriage in the first place, "Come on, faster!"
"Who exactly is in that hearse?" Dickens asked.
"Our friend. She's only nineteen. It's my fault. She's in my care, and now she's in danger."
"Our care," Charlie corrected and grabbed his hand again, she held it tightly not letting go.
"Why are we wasting my time talking about dry old books?" Dickens asked, "This is much more important. Driver, be swift! The chase is on!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Attaboy, Charlie." The Doctor grinned.
"What did I do?" "Nobody calls me Charlie."
"Not you, Red" the Doctor told Charlie before turning to Dickens with a smirk, "The ladies do."
"How do you know that?" Dickens asked, glancing at the young woman in the carriage with them.
"I told you, I'm your number one-"
"Number one fan, yes." Dickens rolled his eyes.
Wolf Whispers
Charlie stood beside the Doctor and Dickens outside the Chapel of Rest.
"Can you…?" the Doctor whispered, nodding to the building.
"Three," Charlie answered, "She's in there, I can smell her," Charlie whispered a little uncomfortable with announcing she can smell other people's scents. Sometimes she felt more animal than human.
After knocking on the door, they only had to wait a few moments before the door opened revealing a brown-haired young woman who looked more than a little nervous to see them there.
'Stars, I can smell how nervous she is from here' Charlie thought looking at the young woman.
"I'm sorry, sir. We're closed." She went to close the door but was stopped by Dickens.
"Nonsense. Since when did an Undertaker keep office hours? The dead don't die on schedule. I demand to see your master."
"He's not in, sir." The girl stuttered.
Charlie almost scoffed at how bad of a liar the girl was, but then she remembered that she was once a bad liar too, before the Academy changed that.
"Don't lie to me, child." Dickens growled, "Summon him at once,"
"I'm awfully sorry, Mister Dickens, but the master's indisposed." The girl protested.
Charlie frowned and nudged the Doctor when she saw the lamp behind the girl flare and grow in sized.
"Having trouble with your gas?" the Doctor questioned, getting a frightful look in return.
"What the Shakespeare is going on?" Dickens whispered seeing the lamp too.
The three of them barged into the chapel, the Doctor examining the lamp. Charlie discreetly sniffed about, trying to pick me Rose's scent.
"You're not allowed inside, sir." The girl stuttered.
"There's something inside the walls. The gas pipes. Something's living inside the gas."
Charlie frowned when Rose's scent changed from confusion to fear, she could hear someone banging on a door. Catching the scent Charlie ran off leaving the others behind.
"Charlie!?" the Doctor called behind her quickly following behind.
"Rose!" Charlie called running down the corridor.
"Let me out!" they could hear Rose's frightened screams, "Open the door!"
Charlie got to the door first and kicked it open, seeing her blonde friend in the arms of a dead man, she lunged forward and pulled the scared girl away. Rose, still shaking from her encounter, clutched the older girl like a child would to its mother.
The Doctor and Dickens appeared behind her along with another man and the girl from before.
"She alright?" the Doctor asked concerned seeing the blonde girls state.
"I'm fine," Rose said, her voice still shaking a bit, but she stood up straight as they all looked the dead man and woman. Now that Rose was out of danger, Charlie felt her senses adjusting themselves, making her eyes water at the stench of the dead people. She quickly covered her mouth and nose, trying to block the smell out.
"It's a prank. It must be." Dickens stated, "We're under some mesmeric influence."
"No, we're not. The dead are walking. Hi" The Doctor said to Rose who smiled back.
"Hi. Who's your friend?" she nodded to Dickens.
"Charles Dickens." Charlie grinned along with the Doctor.
"Okay." Rose nodded taking it in stride, but Charlie supposed that after almost being cooked by the sun due to a human trampoline and now looking a dead person that was up and walking about, meeting Charles Dickens was probably low on the 'wow' list.
"My name's the Doctor." The Doctor now spoke to the dead people, "Who are you, then? What do you want?"
"Failing." The man spoke with multiple voices, "Open the rift. We're dying. Trapped in this form. Cannot sustain. Help us. Argh!" the gas creeped out of the man and woman and returned to the lamps. As the gas left them, the bodies, now dead once again, collapsed to the floor.
Wolf Whispers
The group gathered in the living room where the Doctor and Charlie were enjoying watching Rose give Mr Sneed, the funeral director, a piece of her mind whilst Gwyneth poured tea for everyone.
"First of all you drug me, then you kidnap me," Rose ranted angrily to the man who was slowly turning red, "and don't think I didn't feel your hands having a quick wander, you dirty old man," Charlie shot the man a dark look, which he noticed and flinched back from the red head.
"I won't be spoken to like this!" he huffed at the blonde who continued as if he hadn't spoken.
"Then you stuck me in a room full of zombies! And if that ain't enough, you swan off and leave me to die! So come on, talk!" Rose demanded.
"It's not my fault. It's this house." Mr Sneed moped, "It always had a reputation. Haunted. But I never had much bother until a few months back, and then the stiffs, the er, dear departed started getting restless."
"Tommyrot." Dickens scoffed which surprised Charlie. She thought that as someone who wrote books on supernatural happenings, he would be more open minded.
"You witnessed it. Can't keep the beggars down, sir." Mr Sneed told the Author, "They walk. And it's the queerest thing, but they hang on to scraps."
The young brunette placed two cups of tea in front of Charlie and the Doctor.
"Two sugars, sir, and one sugar for the lady, just how yous like it," she wandered away missing the looks the two time-travellers shared.
"One old fellow who used to be a sexton almost walked into his own memorial service. Just like the old lady going to your performance, sir, just as she planned." Mr Sneed said.
"Morbid fancy." Dickens once again rolled his eyes.
"Oh, Charles, you were there." The Doctor said disappointed with his favourite Author.
"I saw nothing but an illusion." Dickens dismissed.
"If you're going to deny it, don't waste my time," the Doctor scoffed, "Just shut up. What about the gas?"
"That's new, sir." Sneed said, "Never seen anything like that."
"Means it's getting stronger," the Time Lord said, "the rift's getting wider and something's sneaking through."
"Rift?" "What's the rift?" both female travellers asked.
"A weak point in time and space. A connection between this place and another. That's the cause of ghost stories, most of the time." The Doctor explained.
"That's how I got the house so cheap." Sneed nodded, "Stories going back generations."
Dickens stood, having heard enough and slammed the door after leaving the living room.
"Echoes in the dark, queer songs in the air," and this feeling like a shadow passing over your soul. Mind you, truth be told, it's been good for business. Just what people expect from a gloomy old trade like mine." Sneed told Rose who stared at him in shock.
Wolf Whispers
Charlie and Rose went with Gwyneth to help her with the washing up.
"Please, miss, you shouldn't be helping. It's not right." Gwyneth protested.
"Don't be daft. Sneed works you to death. How much do you get paid?" Rose asked as she washed dishes.
"Eight pound a year, miss." Gwyneth said happily.
"How much?" Rose blinked shocked.
"That's a lot for these times Rose," Charlie whispered as she dried the dishes.
"I know. I would've been happy with six." Gwyneth smiled.
"So, did you go to school or what?" Rose asked suddenly.
"Rose!" Charlie exclaimed, she knew the blonde was curious, but there was a better way to ask.
"Of course I did. What do you think I am, an urchin?" Gwyneth asked offended, "I went every Sunday, nice and proper."
"What, once a week?" Rose asked, shocked.
"Having school once a week, would have been amazing," Charlie whispered to her friend who nodded.
"We did sums and everything. To be honest, I hated every second." The three girls shared a giggle.
"Me too." Same"
"Don't tell anyone," Gwyneth whispered, "but one week, I didn't go and ran on the heath all on my own."
"I used to skip school a few times a month before I went to the academy," Charlie admitted, "Sometimes I'd meet with my boyfriend and we'd go shopping, but others I'd just get fish and chips and sit in the park,"
"I did plenty of that. I used to go down the shops with my mate Shareen. We used to go and look at boys." Rose smirked.
"Well, I don't know much about that, miss." Gwyneth blushed.
"Come on, times haven't changed that much. I bet you've done the same." Rose nudged the young girl.
"I don't think so, miss." She stuttered.
"Gwyneth, you can tell us. I bet you've got your eye on someone." Rose smiled.
"I suppose." She shrugged, "There is one lad. The butcher's boy. He comes by every Tuesday. Such a lovely smile on him."
"I like a nice smile. Good smile, nice bum." Rose grinned.
"Nice bum is very important," Charlie nodded seriously, "And they have to be taller than me, preferably older," she missed Rose's amused look as she rambled on.
"Well, I have never heard the like." Gwyneth breathed.
"Ask him out. Give him a cup of tea or something, that's a start." Rose encouraged.
"I swear it is the strangest thing, miss." Gwyneth laughed, "You've got all the clothes and the breeding, but you talk like some sort of wild thing." She told the girls.
"Maybe I am. Maybe that's a good thing. You need a bit more in your life than Mister Sneed." Rose told the girl.
"Rose is right, you're a young woman. You should be out, having fun. Not stuck in here," Charlie said in agreement.
"Oh, now that's not fair." Gwyneth shook her head, "He's not so bad, old Sneed. He was very kind to me to take me in because I lost my mum and dad to the flu when I was twelve."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Rose and Charlie looked apologetic.
"Thank you, miss." Gwyneth sniffed, "But I'll be with them again, one day, sitting with them in paradise. I shall be so blessed. They're waiting for me. Maybe your dad's up there waiting for you too, miss."
"Maybe." Rose froze for a second, "Er, who told you he was dead?"
"I don't know. Must have been the Doctor." Gwyneth said nervously.
"My father died years back," Rose said absentmindedly.
"But you've been thinking about him lately more than ever," the young girl said blankly, staring into space.
"I suppose so. How do you know all this?" Rose questioned frowning, Charlie also watched the girl with concern.
"Mister Sneed says I think too much," Gwyneth said quietly," I'm all alone down here. I bet you've got dozens of servants, haven't you, miss?"
"No, no servants where I'm from." Rose shook her head.
"Me neither. I mean the school I was at had maids and other staff, but no servants," Charlie told the girl.
"And you've come such a long way. Both of you," Gwyneth said blankly once again.
"Why'd you say that?" Charlie watched the young girl, her concern growing.
"You're both from London, yet different ones . I've seen London in drawings, but never like that. All those people rushing about half naked, for shame. And the noise, and the metal boxes racing past, and the birds in the sky, no, they're metal as well. Metal birds with people in them. People are flying. And you, you've flown so far. Further than anyone. The things you've seen. The darkness, the big bad wolf. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, miss," Gwyneth whimpered.
"It's all right." Rose soothed.
"I can't help it." Gwyneth said scared, "Ever since I was a little girl, my mam said I had the sight. She told me to hide it."
Charlie turned her head when the Doctor stepped in.
"But it's getting stronger, more powerful, is that right?" he asked seriously.
"All the time, sir. Every night, voices in my head."
"You grew up on top of the rift. You're part of it. You're the key." He realised.
"I've tried to make sense of it, sir. Consulted with spiritualists, table rappers, all sorts." She told him.
"Well, that should help. You can show us what to do." The Time Lord said.
"What to do where, sir?" Gwyneth asked confused.
"We're going to have a séance." The Doctor grinned happily whilst the girls looked apprehensive.
Wolf Whispers
In another room, everyone including Dickens, sat around a table. Charlie sat between the Doctor and Gwyneth and across from Rose. She wasn't too sure about having a Séance, she had a bad feeling about it. Like when a dog can sense a storm.
"This is how Madam Mortlock summons those from the Land of Mists, down in big town," Gwyneth explained, "Come, we must all join hands."
"I can't take part in this." Dickens stood, intending to leave.
"Humbug?" the Doctor taunted, making the Author stop in his tracks, "Come on, open mind." He reminded.
"This is precisely the sort of cheap mummery I strive to unmask. Séances? Nothing but luminous tambourines and a squeeze box concealed between the knees. This girl knows nothing."
"Hey!" Charlie scolded, seeing the girl look down disheartened.
"Now, don't antagonise her. I love a happy medium." The Doctor grinned.
"I can't believe you just said that." Rose shook her head.
"Come on, we might need you." The Doctor nodded his head at the empty seat between Rose and Gwyneth and Dickens sat down.
"Good man. Now, Gwyneth, reach out." The Doctor coxed once everyone was holding hands.
"Speak to us. Are you there?" Gwyneth spoke, "Spirits, come. Speak to us that we may relieve your burden," the lamps started to flicker, and distorted whispers filled the room.
"Can you hear that?" Rose whispered.
"Nothing can happen. This is sheer folly." Dickens denied.
"Look at her." Rose nodded to Gwyneth who stared intensely into space.
"I see them. I feel them." She whispered as blue gas tendrils gathered above their heads.
"What's it saying?" Rose asked.
"I can't make It out," Charlie said frustrated.
"They can't get through the rift," The Doctor listened, "Gwyneth, it's not controlling you, you're controlling it. Now, look deep. Allow them through."
"I can't!"
"Yes, you can. Just believe it. I have faith in you, Gwyneth. Make the link." The Doctor encouraged.
Charlie closed her eyes, she couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.
"Yes," Gwyneth breathed, suddenly the tendrils drifted down further, and they merged together, creating outlines of what looked like people.
"Great God! Spirits from the other side." Mr Sneed gaped.
"The other side of the universe." The Doctor smirked.
"Pity us. Pity the Gelth," the figures spoke with children's voices, "There is so little time. Help us."
"What do you want us to do?" The Doctor asked seriously.
"The rift. Take the girl to the rift. Make the bridge." They whispered.
"What for?"
"We are so very few. The last of our kind. We face extinction." The blue mist moped.
"Why, what happened?" The Doctor asked concerned.
"Once we had a physical form like you, but then the war came,"
"War? What war?" Charlie felt the Doctor grip her hand tighter as Dickens spoke.
"The Time War." Rose and Charlie both glanced at their friend who looked tense, "The whole universe convulsed. The Time War raged. Invisible to smaller species but devastating to higher forms. Our bodies wasted away. We're trapped in this gaseous state."
"So that's why you need the corpses," The Time Lord said knowingly.
"We want to stand tall, to feel the sunlight, to live again. We need a physical form, and your dead are abandoned. They're going to waste. Give them to us." The Gelth pleaded.
"But we can't." Rose protested.
"Why not?" the Doctor demanded.
"It's not. I mean, it's not-" The Doctor cut the blonde off.
"Not decent?" he glared, "Not polite? It could save their lives."
"Open the rift. Let the Gelth through. We're dying. Help us. Pity the Gelth." The Gelth flew back into the gas lamps and Gwyneth face planted the table.
"Gwyneth?" Charlie and Rose tried to wake the younger woman.
"All true." Dickens said faintly
"Are you okay?" Rose asked the brunette
"It's all true." Dickens continued.
Sometime later the group was gathered back in the living room, Charlie and Rose doted on the young woman who was laid on a chaise lounge.
"It's all right. You just sleep." Rose old the woman who wanted to get up.
"But my angels, miss. They came, didn't they? They need me?" Gwyneth questioned, sitting up.
"They do need you, Gwyneth. You're they're only chance of survival." The Doctor told her seriously.
"Doctor," Charlie scolded softly, she needed to speak to him alone.
"I've told you, leave her alone," Rose glared, "She's exhausted and she's not fighting your battles. Drink this." She passed the woman a glass of water.
"Well, what did you say, Doctor?" Sneed asked, "Explain it again. What are they?"
"Aliens." He replied.
"Like foreigners, you mean?"
"Yeah foreigners," Charlie rolled her eyes, "From Canada," she said in an Canadian accent, getting an amused look from Rose and a disapproving one form he Doctor.
"Canada really?" Sneed asked amazed. Charlie and Rose shared an amused look.
"Close." The Doctor winced, "And they've been trying to get through from Canada to Cardiff but the ocean is a dangerous. Only a few can get through and even then they're weak. They can only test drive the bodies for so long, then they have to revert to gas and hide in the pipes."
"Which is why they need the girl," Dickens nodded.
"They're not having her." Rose shook her head.
"I agree," Charlie said crossing her arms.
"But she can help. Living on the rift, she's become part of it. She can open it up, make a bridge and let them through." The Doctor argued.
"Incredible. Ghosts that are not ghosts but beings from another world, who can only exist in our world by inhabiting cadavers." Dickens breathed.
"Good system. It might work." The Doctor shrugged.
"You can't let them run around inside of dead people," Rose scoffed.
"Why not? It's like recycling." The Doctor dismissed.
"It really isn't." Charlie argued, "For one, it's disrespectful and two the corpses may be reanimated, but they're still corpses. You know, those dead things that decompose. You can't have a load of decomposing corpses walking around the world. This isn't the Walking Dead!" Charlie and the Doctor glared at each other.
"This isn't some TV show!" The Doctor exclaimed, annoyed she was comparing their situation to a zombie tv show.
"Your right, it isn't!" Charlie snarled, "This is real life! And I can say with certainty that a bunch of corpses bumbling around amongst living people, IS NOT GOING TO WORK!" the two friends glared heatedly at each other for a few moments, the other watching them in shock, especially Rose who had never seen the friends act like this before.
"Do you carry a donor card?" The Doctor asked Rose, ignoring his red headed friend who shook her head in disbelief.
"That's different," Rose blinked at the sudden attention, "That's-"
"It is different, yeah. It's a different morality. Get used to it or go home." He glanced at Charlie who was fuming, "Both of you," he ignored the scoff from behind him and spoke to Rose, "You heard what they said, time's short. I can't worry about a few corpses when the last of the Gelth could be dying."
"I don't care. They're not using her." Rose denied again.
"Don't I get a say, miss?" Gwyneth spoke up.
"Look, you don't understand what's going on," Rose said softly.
"You would say that, miss, because that's very clear inside your head, that you think I'm stupid." Gwyneth smiled sadly.
"That's not fair." Rose shook her head.
"It's true, though. Things might be very different where you're from, but here and now, I know my own mind, and the angels need me. Doctor, what do I have to do?"
"You don't have to do anything." The Doctor glanced at his travelling companions, both of them glaring daggers at him.
"They've been singing to me since I was a child, sent by my mam on a holy mission. So tell me." Gwyneth said.
"We need to find the rift," The Doctor ignored Charlie as she stormed from the room, "This house is on a weak spot, so there must be a spot that's weaker than any other. Mister Sneed, what's the weakest part of this house? The place where most of the ghosts have been seen?"
"That would be the morgue." Sneed said.
"No chance you were going to say gazebo, is there?" Rose asked rhetorically, feeling bad for Charlie. She hoped the Doctor spoke to her soon.
Wolf Whispers
Charlie stood in an alley way beside the Chapel of Rest. She knew she probably shouldn't have stormed off, but if she stayed and listened to their ridiculous plan, she might have screamed. The redhead sighed and leaned against the wall, the dark dank alley was peaceful to her, given that it was empty of people. It meant she didn't have to listen to people's heart beats and she's not being overwhelmed with any scents either.
Charlie remembered the first time since her abduction, she had been around a lot of people. The Doctor had taken to her to festival of life on an alien planet. Being around so many people gave Charlie a headache like none other and she had to cover her nose from the scents coming from all directions, from the food to the people. Funnily enough she doesn't remember being overwhelmed whilst in Pivonoe and dealing with the Sulae race. She put it down to it being adrenaline rush because she had recently been set free.
Charlie smelt the Doctor before she saw him appear in the alley with her. The faint spicy scent of cinnamon reached her nose, she turned her head seeing the man standing at the mouth of the alley. She looked away when he began to approach her, breathing deeply so she did not snap at him.
"Want to tell me what that was about?" his deep northern accent echoed through the dark.
"You mean you couldn't tell?" Charlie asked, raising a brow.
"I don't see the issue with helping the-"
"No you wouldn't," Charlie told him, crossing her arms over her chest, "You're too busy trying to make up for the Time War – let me finish," she told him when he opened his mouth to argue, "That you're completely missing the point!"
"What point!?" the Doctor exclaimed getting frustrated with his friend. He couldn't deny though, she was right about him feeling responsible for the Gelth since the Time War killed them, but he needed to do this, she had to understand.
"That you're not human!" she huffed, "You cannot make a decision this big, that will effect Earth massively, that will effect TIME massively," she threw her arms up and began to pace with him watching her, "Because this is not your home – and before you say," she stopped in again from speaking, "That Gwyneth can make the decision, no she can't,"
"Why not?" the Doctor asked frowning at the young woman
"Because you can't put Earth's fate in the hands of a delusional young woman from the 1800s. There, I said it! She is delusional, Doctor! She thinks they are angels, and you're not helping by encouraging her. Something WILL go wrong. I know what manipulation looks, sounds and feels like, and what the Gelth were doing, by using child-like voices, was just that. Manipulation. I mean using a child's voice is genius, who could say no to helping a child. Not to mention the mental and emotional pain at seeing a dead loved one walk round as if they did not know you!" Charlie ranted, her face almost reaching the colour of her hair.
"I- I have to try," the Doctor said quietly. He understood where she was coming from, Earth wasn't his home, his home burned and by allowing this to happen, he may be condoning Earth to a similar fate, but the Gelth need help and they needed it now.
"Well I can't stand there and go along with this," Charlie shook her head, she wanted so bad, to make him understand. She wanted to shake him till the idea about what he was about to do, fell out his head.
"Come with us," The Doctor pleaded, "If something does go wrong, I'll need you there," he saw the conflict in her eyes. He knew she wanted nothing more than to tell him to 'stuff-it', but he also knew she couldn't let anyone be put in danger because of him.
"Fine, but I'm not doing this for you," Charlie said firmly.
"That's fine!" The Doctor nodded his head to the alley exit and the two of them walked out to meet the others. The air between them thick with tension.
Wolf Whispers
The group descended into the morgue. Rose cringed at the white sheets that covered the deceased and held on to Charlie as they walked down the steps,
"Just how I pictured a morgue," Rose commented, "Cold and creepy,"
"Of course, it's cold, the dead don't need heat," Charlie scoffed, "At least it's silent," she smirked, "Would hate to wake to dead,"
"Isn't that what we're doing?" Rose asked still disgusted they were going through with this.
"Touché," Charlie nodded at the blonde.
"The thing is, Doctor," Rose started, "the Gelth don't succeed, 'cos I know they don't. I know for a fact there weren't corpses walking around in 1869."
"Time's in flux, changing every second. Your cozy little world can be rewritten like that. Nothing is safe. Remember that. Nothing," The Doctor told her firmly. Charlie decided the best thing to do would be to stay out of it, she'd rather not start another fight.
"Doctor, I think the room is getting colder," Dickens warned as Charlie could hear the whispers once more making her shiver.
"Here they come." Rose told them as the blue mist erupted from the lamps again and a blue figure stood under a stone archway.
"You've come to help," Charlie glared at the Gelth, their child-like voice echoing through the morgue, "Praise the Doctor. Praise him."
"Promise you won't hurt her." Rose said firmly, clutching Charlie's hand.
"Hurry! Please, so little time. Pity the Gelth." The Gelth whined.
"I'll take you somewhere else after the transfer. Somewhere you can build proper bodies. This isn't a permanent solution, all right?" The Doctor told them sternly. He had been thinking about what Charlie said on the way over and she was right, but the best he could do right now would be to have them use humans temporary until he could find them an alternate option.
"My angels. I can help them live," Gwyneth breathed, looking at the Gelth in awe.
"Okay, where's the weak point?" the Doctor demanded, wanting to get this over with.
"Here, beneath the arch,"
"Beneath the arch." Gwyneth walked to where the Gelth stood inside the Gelth's outline.
"You don't have to do this," Rose ran to the young woman.
"My angels," Gwyneth clutched Rose's face in her hands before the Gelth spoke again, scaring Rose away from her.
"Establish the bridge. Reach out to the void. Let us through!" the Gelth demanded, Charlie shivered as the room got colder, she stood beside the Doctor.
"Yes, I can see you. I can see you. Come!" Gwyneth pleaded.
"Bridgehead establishing!" The Gelth shouted happily.
"Come to me. Come to this world, poor lost souls!" Charlie watched as Gwyneth stared into space, her hands by her side.
"It is begun. The bridge is made," the Gelth stated, as Gwyneth opened her mouth, her eyes wide and devoid of emotion as the blue mist shot out from her mouth.
Charlie covered her mouth, her eyes tearing up, she should have stopped this. She should have pulled Gwyneth from the arch as soon as she stepped in it.
"She has given herself to the Gelth. The bridge is open. We descend," the blue apparitions turned flame red and their teeth sharpened, "The Gelth will come through in force." The one child-like voice, had deepened and hardened.
Everyone stood in shock staring at the now red mist.
"You said that you were few in number." Dickens cried in fear.
"A few billion. And all of us in need of corpses," the mist flew into the near by bodies and they sat up, the white sheet falling to the floor.
"Gwyneth, stop this. Listen to your master. This has gone far enough. Stop dabbling, child, and leave these things alone, I beg of you," Sneed pleaded with the girl, Charlie felt tears fall as Gwyneth neglected to answer her former master.
"Mister Sneed, get back!" Rose shouted as a corpse stepped up behind him. Her call came too late as the corpse grabbed her head and snapped his neck before a Gelth zoomed into his mouth, using his body as a puppet.
"I think it's gone a little bit wrong," the Doctor winced, looking at the corpses, clothing in on the them.
"Really? You think?" Charlie spat as she kicked a corpse away from her and Rose, before grabbing one's arm and throwing them over her shoulder.
"I have joined the legions of the Gelth. Come, march with us," Gelth-Sneed, approached Dickens who flinched back in fear.
"No," he refused backing away.
"We need bodies. All of you. Dead. The human race. Dead," the Gelth snarled.
"Gwyneth, stop them! Send them back now!" the Doctor cried.
"She can't hear you," Charlie whispered, drawing his attention. When their eyes met, the red head shook her shook slowly, her eyes still filled with tears. A look of understanding crossed the Time Lord's face and he looked down sadly before grabbing Charlie's hand.
"Three more bodies. Convert them. Make them vessels for the Gelth," Sneed's corpse backs the three time-travellers up against a metal gate.
"Doctor, I can't. I'm sorry. This new world," the Doctor opened the gate behind his, dragging the girls in with him before closing it, "of yours is too much for me. I'm so-" Dickens what cut off by the Gelth screeching at him, he ran upstairs out of sight.
"Give yourself to glory. Sacrifice your lives for the Gelth,"
"I trusted you. I pitied you!" the Doctor spat, holding on to the girl's hands.
"We don't want your pity. We want this world and all it's flesh." The Gelth smirked darkly.
"Not while I'm alive," The Doctor denied.
"Then live no more," the Gelth spat as the corpses tried to reach the time-travellers.
"But I can't die," Rose's voice shook as she spoke to the Doctor, "Tell me I can't. I haven't even been born yet. It's impossible for me to die. Isn't it?" she ranted fearfully.
"I'm sorry," The Doctor said sorrowfully, to both the girls who looked at him with fear and sadness.
"But it's 1869. How can I die now?" Rose asked scared, watching the corpses.
"Marty McFly altered time and his life ceased to exist," Charlie said, "Is that what would happen to us?"
"Not really," the Doctor told the redhead, "But good guess. Time isn't a straight line. It can twist into any shape. You can be born in the twentieth century and die in the nineteenth and it's all my fault. I brought you here," he finished shaking his head.
"It's not your fault. I wanted to come," Rose told him, getting a smile.
"Same here," Charlie squeezed his hand, "And I'll never leave you," the two smiled at each other.
"What about me?" the Time Lord scoffed, "I saw the fall of Troy, World War Five. I pushed boxes at the Boston Tea Party. Now I'm going to die in a dungeon in Cardiff," the three laughed at how ridiculous it was.
"It's not just dying," Rose reminded them, "We'll become one of them,"
"Yeah I'd rather not If I'm honest," Charlie scrunched her nose up in disgust at the stench of the bodies.
"We'll go down fighting, yeah?" Rose smiled encouragingly.
"Yeah," The Doctor smiled at the blonde.
"Totally, couldn't pick a better way to go," Charlie winked at the two as they shook their heads at their friend.
"Together?" Rose squeezed the Doctor's hand.
"Yeah," the trio faced the Gelth, hands tightly held by one and another.
"I'm so glad I met you," The Doctor grinned at the girls.
"Me too," Rose grinned back.
"Me three," Charlie smiled, "Now let's kick some ass," she laughed just as Dickens ran into the room with a cloth over his mouth and nose.
"Doctor! Doctor!" he called through the room, drawing the attention of the Gelth, "Turn off the flame, turn up the gas! Now, fill the room, all of it, now!"
"What're you doing?" the Doctor wondered, he thought the Author had deserted them.
"Turn it all on. Flood the place!" the Author cried again.
"Brilliant. Gas." The Doctor grinned excitedly as he understood what the other man meant.
"What, so we choke to death instead?" Rose sassed.
"There's enough smells in this morgue without adding gas into the mix," Charlie whined, holding her nose.
"Am I correct, Doctor?" Dickens asked after fiddling with a gas lamp and re-covering his mouth and nose, "These creatures are gaseous."
"Fill the room with gas," the Doctor explained watching the Gelth, "it'll draw them out of the host. Suck them into the air like poison from a wound!" The corpses turned from the trio and began bumbling towards Dickens.
"I hope, oh Lord, I hope that this theory will be validated soon, if not immediately," Dickens worried.
"Plenty more!" the Doctor then ripped a gas pipe from the wall letting the room fill with it. Charlie held her breath as the scents got too much for her. She could hold her breath longer than the average human, but only for a few minutes more.
"It's working!" Dickens cried as they watched the Gelth exit the mouths of the corpses. The time-travellers left the alcove they were hiding in and walked towards Dickens
"Gwyneth, send them back," The Doctor knew the poor girl was no longer alive, but he hoped that even a small part of her remained to send the Gelth back, "They lied. They're not angels."
"Liars?" the young brunette asked innocently.
"Look at me," he clutched the girls face in his hands, "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 gasped and clutched her chest.
"Charles, get them out." The Doctor demanded the Author who nodded and grabbed Rose gently.
"I'm fine," Charlie refused to the Doctor.
"I'm not leaving her," Rose refused.
"They're too strong," Gwyneth whimpered.
"Remember that world you saw? Rose's world?" The Doctor asked, "All those people. None of it will exist unless you send them back through the rift."
"I can't send them back," Gwyneth's voice shook, "But I can hold them. Hold them in this place, hold them here. Get out." She pulled a box of matches from her pocket.
"You can't!" Rose coughed harshly, Charlie held her up right, watching the scene sadly.
"Leave this place!"
"Rose, get out," The Doctor knew trying to get Charlie to leave would be futile, "Go now. I won't leave her while she's still in danger. Now go!" Rose and Dickens ran for the exit leaving them.
"I'm sorry," the Doctor whispered and kissed the girl's forehead, "Thank you." He grabbed Charlie's hand and pulled her through the house and out into the street just in time to avoid the explosion as they threw themselves into the snow.
"She didn't make it," Rose stated sadly when she noticed the young Welsh woman was not with them.
"I'm sorry. She closed the rift," The Doctor heaved himself up out the snow and helped Charlie up.
"At such a cost. The poor child," Dickens looked away in regret for the lost life.
"I'm so sorry Rose, but Gwyneth was already dead," Charlie told her gently, "Her heartbeat stopped as soon as the bridge connected to her,"
"But she can't have," Rose said in confusion, "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. Even for you, Doctor." The Doctor and Dickens stared at each other for a few moments before the Author looked away.
"She saved the world," Rose whispered, gazing at the burning building, "A servant girl. No one will ever know."
"We'll know," Charlie wrapped an arm around the blonde and the group slowly walked back to the TARDIS.
Wolf Whispers
Outside the TARDIS, Charlie let her arm drop from around Rose.
"Right then, Charlie boy, I've just got to go into my, er, shed. Won't be long," the Doctor grinned and unlocked the TARDIS door.
"What are you going to do now?" Rose asked the Author who was looking at the TARDIS with confusion.
"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," Dickens told them happily.
"You've cheered up," The Time Lord commented.
"Exceedingly! 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.
"Yeah, what if someone puts 2 and 2 together and what am I saying," Charlie shook her head, "Humans are masters at being oblivious,"
"I shall be subtle at first," Dickens assured, "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. The Mystery of Edwin Drood and the Blue Elementals. I can spread the word, tell the truth,"
"Good luck with it. Nice to meet you. Fantastic," The Doctor grinned happily, still overjoyed that he met his favourite Author.
"Bye, then, and thanks," Rose shook Dicken's hand and kissed him quickly on the cheek.
"Oh, my dear," Dicken's stuttered as he received a hug and kiss from Charlie too, "How modern. Thank you, but, I don't understand. In what way is this goodbye? Where are you going?"
"You'll see," The Doctor winked, "In the shed." He went to walk in to his home when Dicken's spoke again.
"Upon my soul, Doctor, it's one riddle after another with you. But after all these revelations, there's one mystery you still haven't explained. Answer me this. Who are you?" he wondered.
"Just a friend passing through," The Time Lord evaded smiling.
"But you have such knowledge of future times," Dickens said, "I don't wish to impose on you, but I must ask you. My books. Doctor, do they last?"
"Oh, yes!" The Doctor exclaimed.
"For how long?" Dickens asked.
"Well I'm form the year 2020," Charlie told him, seeing his look of awe she quickly hurried on to prevent him from asking her any questions, "And we still read your books, and we study them in class at school,"
"Forever," Dickens looked down feeling emotional, "Right. Shed. Come on, girls." The Doctor and the girls once again tried to enter the TARDIS but Dickens spoke.
"In the box?" he asked faintly, "All three of you?"
Charlie laughed and teased, "Only in my dreams," she laughed harder when Rose hit her whilst blushing, The Doctor rolled his eyes at her antics.
"Down boy," The Doctor winked, "See you," he pushed the girls into the ship before Dickens could comment further.
In the TARDIS, Rose turned to the only male.
"Doesn't that change history if he writes about blue ghosts?" she asked.
"He doesn't finish it," Charlie commented sadly.
"In a week's time it's 1870," The Doctor nodded at the redhead, "and that's the year he dies. Sorry. He'll never get to tell his story."
"Oh, no. He was so nice." Rose looked sorrowfully at the TARDIS monitor, seeing the Author still stood in the snow.
"But in your time, he was already dead," he told her, "We've brought him back to life, and he's more alive now than he's ever been, old Charlie boy. Let's give him one last surprise." The three grinned and watched the monitor and enjoyed Dickens' astonished eyes as they dematerialised.
Back in the snow Charles Dickens grinned happily and laughed before turning and walking away. He listened softly to the choir singing 'Hark the Herald Angels'.
"Merry Christmas, sir," a passing man said to him and Dickens gave a laugh of delight.
"Merry Christmas to you. God bless us, everyone!" he cheered.
Thank you to everyone who has followed & favourited my story so far.
I'd love to hear your opinions, so pretty please with a cherry on top, leave a review. I have gotten some reviews, so thank you to NicoleR85 & Faron Oakenshield.
I'll take criticism as long as it constructive, so I can try and work on it in the future.
I've put a small A/N at the bottom of the 1st chapter for anyone that would like to read it.