Hey again!
Welp, as promised, here's the second chapter for the day. I hope everyone likes it. :)
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Chapter 4: Chaotic Hospital
Wanda could only watch, feeling the anxiety and worriment kicking in tenfold as Cassandra called Chip down into the Intensive Care. The clone arrived almost immediately. He helped his mistress place both unconscious Rose and the Doctor into an unused cell. The Doctor was placed up onto the chair within, strapped down to keep him there, while Rose was left at his feet on the floor. With them locked away, the only two left in the dark and solemn hall waited for the arrival of the Matron. Wanda remained ever vigilant of what was occurring and being done. As well as keeping an ear out for when the Doctor and Rose would awaken again. Finally, her two friends locked away in the cell began to stir.
"Let us out! Let us out!" the Doctor and Rose yelled together. Gazing to the two within the cell, Cassandra sauntered over to stare at them through the green tinted glass.
"Aren't you both lucky there was a spare? Standing room only," Cassandra said with a smug voice. Having already felt her victory was met for the day.
"You've stolen Wanda's body," the Doctor grounded out in rage.
"Well, I was aiming for little old Rose, but the Wanderer got in the way," Cassandra told him. "So, I had to make do."
"What? You were after me?" Rose asked, sounding very much surprised.
"Over the years, I've thought of a thousand ways to kill the two of you," Cassandra continued on, ignoring Rose completely. "And now that's exactly what I've got—one thousand diseases. They pump the patients with a top-up every ten minutes. You've got about three minutes left. Enjoy."
"Just let Wanda go, Cassandra," said the Doctor, completely ignoring the fact that both him and Rose were likely to die. Internally, Wanda was huffing. Not believing the Doctor did not include Rose there for Cassandra to let loose. Forget about Wanda's life, saving Rose and the Doctor himself was more important.
"Well, I was. But now, I find myself rather attached to this body," Cassandra replied in a sly tone, rubbing her hands around Wanda's body, once more admiring the curves and the backside. "She is rather young looking. I need youth for the plans I've got cooked up. Though, I will have to make her classier and less common looking. As well as figuring out how to get her to shut up."
"Wait, Wanda's still aware?" the Doctor questioned, very much shocked by this information.
"Very much so," Cassandra gnashed, clearly annoyed by this fact. "She won't shut up, really. Now, hush-a-bye, it's showtime."
Wanda did not pay attention to the arrival of Matron Casp and Sister Jatt. Cassandra had her full attention on the two cat nuns while Wanda herself let her own focus trail off in waiting for the chaos to begin. She already knew the blackmail Cassandra was going to try on the Sisters was not going to work. Things would only go downhill from there.
Wanda? the Doctor's voice echoed within Wanda's mind. She tensed for a moment, afraid that Cassandra might hear him as well. But the woman simply continued on trying to get the Matron and Sister to give her money. Apparently, only Wanda could hear the Doctor.
Yes? Wanda replied, going into the back reaches of her mind so that Cassandra could not hear her speaking to the Doctor. She heard the Doctor sigh in relief.
Good. You are still there. I was afraid she had erased you in order to gain your body. the Doctor said quietly.
No, I'm all right, just a little compressed at the moment. Wanda explained, trying to sooth his worries.
But . . . how are you still conscious? I mean, it's possible for someone to lock up their mind from the invading consciousness, but to still be aware is, well, bizarre. How are you doing it?
Wanda hesitated, wondering if she should tell him. Would it be too soon? Too late to tell? She never knew exactly when the Doctor knew of her . . . strange mind. Though, 'strange' was putting it lightly. Perhaps, if the question comes up again, she might explain it all later. For now, it was best to only focus on one crazy mess at a time. Let's just say I have many abnormalities to my mind.
Both of their attentions were drawn away as Cassandra's blackmail on the Sisterhood failed. Matron Casp and Sister Jatt outright refused, evening going as far as deeming that Cassandra must be silenced from knowing of the Sisterhood's dark secret. Upon the sight of Matron Casp's claws, Cassandra hurriedly ordered Chip to release all diseased humans from their cells on the level they were currently on. The cells doors opened quickly, allowing not only the Doctor and Rose to be freed, but the captive humans locked up within the hall as well. The two nuns backed up as the dazed diseased started to come towards them. Wanda watched anxiously for a second before Cassandra turned away from the scene and started to walk down the hall.
"What have you done?" the Doctor asked Cassandra, outraged that she had allowed this to happen. Had she no clue what consequences would come of this? Was she truly clueless in her greed?
"Gave the system a shot of adrenaline, just to wake 'em up," Cassandra answered quickly. "See ya!"
Inside, Wanda could only watch helplessly as Cassandra ran down the hall away from the scene. Chip followed closely behind his mistress. Wanda could hear Rose and the Doctor not too far back from them. It was only a few seconds later that the entire Intensive Care facility sparked along all the cells. Every single one of them opened, releasing the diseased carriers from within. Cassandra started to scream in panic as she ran faster in fright, knowing that everything was now thrown into chaos as the cells around them exploded along the locks of the doors, making every cell burst open behind them. All around them they could hear the dazed humans whispering out hoarsely for someone to save them, to stop the pain. Finally, they all came to a stop by a staircase to look around in horror at the sight of all the plague carriers roaming around.
"Oh, my god," Cassandra gasped.
"What the hell have you done?" the Doctor growled at her.
"It wasn't me!" Cassandra exclaimed. The Doctor glared at her, knowing she had been the one to start the chain reaction.
"One touch, and you get every disease in the world," he told her. "And I want that body safe, Cassandra!"
"Doctor!" Rose said, gaining his attention. She pointed at the slowly advancing diseased humans stumbled towards them.
"We've got to go down," the Doctor ordered them, making Rose move down the staircase first. Then Chip went next in a rush, though not before glancing over his shoulder towards his mistress.
"But there's thousands of them!" cried Cassandra at the Doctor, staring around in horror upon the sight of all the massive hordes of infected coming towards them.
"Run!" the Doctor yelled at her. The woman only shook with fear at the sight of the diseased humans coming even closer.
You heard the man, now move it! Wanda shouted.
Finally, with a scream of fright, Cassandra ran down the stairs with the Doctor right behind her. Keeping a firm hold on her shoulder as they went as though he wanted to make absolutely certain Wanda's body would be unharmed. They could hear the building announcing quarantine in affect for the entire building. No one was leaving the hospital anytime soon, leaving them all trapped within with the infected carriers.
Reaching the basement area that had once been Cassandra's lair; the woman tried getting the lift to let them up. But the quarantine made it so nothing could move between the different hospital floors. Cassandra then promptly led the group back towards the room she had been living, knowing of another escape route they all could take. As they arrived into the room, a group of diseased humans arrived, blocking off Chip's path from them.
"Don't let them touch him!" the Doctor yelled, starting to go back for the clone.
"Leave him!" shouted Cassandra. "He's just a clone thing. He's only got a half-life. Come on!" She grabbed both Rose and the Doctor's hands, pulling them along. More of an instinctive reaction from Wanda's body than her own doing. In truth, Cassandra would rather not touch or help either of them out at all. They could hear Chip calling out for his mistress as they ran off. Cassandra felt no sympathy for him whatsoever.
Oh, you really are heartless, aren't you? Wanda bit out, feeling her own sympathy for the poor clone.
Shut up. Cassandra retorted, feeling a twinge of regret. Being in this oversensitive body and its emotions were really starting to affect her. It was like . . . everything about the Wanderer just screamed 'save them,' 'help them,' 'love them all.' Still baffling and confusing Cassandra on why that was. Eventually, they reached the room of Cassandra's lair, but became trapped on all sides by the incoming plague carriers.
"We're trapped!" cried out Cassandra in desperation. Completely frightened and unable to think of anything that could save them . . . save her life. Not them. She could care less about them. Cassandra winced as she felt a strange twinge go through her, grounding her teeth as she knew this was the Wanderer's doing. She even felt the smug satisfaction coming from the Wanderer as though the trapped girl had won at something.
Actually caring for someone other than yourself there, Cassandra? Wanda replied smoothly.
Shut up! Cassandra barked back.
"Well, it's your fault in the first place," Rose bit back at the woman who had her friend's body, replying to the earlier comment the woman had made. The companion glared heatedly at Cassandra, hating the once flat woman even more than she had before. Cassandra glared at her in return.
"Shut up! This is not my fault!" the woman yelled, hating the feeling as though she were trapped in a corner. She glanced back and forth between companion and Time Lord, desperate for them to come up with something for a plan of escape. "Now, what are we going to do?" Eyes darkening when he saw the psychograft in the corner of the room, the Doctor gazed harshly at Cassandra.
"Well, for starters, you're going to leave that body," the Doctor ordered her. Walking over closer to the machine in the corner, he pointed his hand holding his sonic screwdriver harshly at it. "That psychograft is banned on every civilized planet. You're compressing Wanda to death."
"Well, she's not exactly dead, now is she?" Cassandra retorted, crossing her arms as she adverted her gaze and pouted like a child being scolded.
"Conscious or not, she'll die off if you remain in her body," the Doctor countered bitterly, wishing he could just rip her out of Wanda's body. To save his . . . friend, somehow. He stormed closer to Cassandra when seeing her refusing to even acknowledge him. "Now, get out!"
Cassandra walked away from the two glaring people, staring off to a far wall with a disgruntled expression. "But I've got nowhere to go. My original skin's dead."
"You should thought of that before you took Wanda's body," snapped Rose, just as irate as the Doctor by this point. Though, the Time Lord's fury could still be outmatched as he gritted his teeth, eyes flaring with a storm as he felt ready to snap at the idea of Wanda being close to death.
"Well, I'm not leaving," Cassandra replied, crossing her arms. Dead set on remaining alive within this body. The Doctor whipped his sonic at the woman, aiming it at Cassandra with a raging storm within his eyes and demeanour. Ready to strike the woman down.
"Get out, now. Give her back to me," the Doctor growled darkly.
"I can't," Cassandra barked at him, turning around with a sharp glare. But then she sucked in a breath, backing up as the Doctor stormed right up to her, towering over her with a dark look in his eye. A vicious storm within him, ready to burst at her.
"If you don't give her back to me, Cassandra, I will not hold back," he growled in a very low and threatening tone, pointing his sonic at her chest. "Now get out!"
"You asked for it," Cassandra retorted. Sucking in a breath, Cassandra's consciousness left in a pink glowing energy, going straight into the Doctor himself. The Time Lord stumbled back as Wanda gasped loudly, sucking in her first own breath since Cassandra's control. It hurt just as bad as Cassandra going into her body. Everything sort of snapped back into place all at once. Her vision and hearing cleared in an instant, and felt her muscles aching from the sudden change in who exactly was controlling the body. And she had a raging headache to boot. Wanda moved her hands around some, double checking that her motor functions were still in proper order, as well as her actually being in full control. Her legs wobbled, making her almost fall to the ground as they felt heavy as if they had fallen asleep.
"Wanda, are you okay?" Rose asked the stumbling Time Lady, holding onto the short girl to help her not fall onto the ground.
"Yep, that just hurt a little," Wanda assured her friend, smiling as she patted Rose's arm in reassurance. Turning her attention onto the moving Doctor, she glared knowing who was truly in charge of the Time Lord now. She only hoped the Doctor was able to block off his mind before he was rendered unconscious.
"Ooh, my," said Cassandra with the Doctor's voice. Sounding ever so wrong with the way the words were being spoken. As well as the way the Doctor's body was moving around. He grinned ever so cheekily as he (Cassandra) looked his new body over. "This is . . . different."
"Cassandra?" Rose asked in disbelief at the sight of the Doctor moving around and grinning slyly. Then his hands began to roam as Cassandra inspected the new body. The very same as she had done with Wanda's, inspecting all the sensual foxy curves.
Wanda felt her face heat up in her anger, wishing that her body was not so sore so that she might rip that damn woman out of her Theta's body. Damn Cassandra for touching what should only be touched by her! Wanda blinked at that thought, but did not scold herself for thinking it as she would have in the past. He was her husband after all. She should be allowed to think such thoughts. Plus . . . really, no one should touch him like that unless he wanted to be.
"Goodness me, I'm a man. Yum!" Cassandra spoke in delight by the new experience. "So many parts, and hardly used. Brand new just like the Wanderer's. Ah! And with two hearts as well! Oh, I really do like the samba these two have going on!"
"Get out, Cassandra," Wanda ordered, hating the way the woman was treating the Doctor's body even more as she saw hands wandering even lower than they should be. Damn it, if she dare touch him anywhere else, Wanda swore she would—
"Ooh, he's slim," Cassandra continued on, ignoring the Time Lady. "And a little bit foxy." The Time Lord's brows wiggled some at the two blondes.
"I swear to god, Cassandra, if you don't get out of him this instant . . . ," Wanda growled in spite, ready to snap at the woman.
"What are you gonna do? Punch me? Hit your precious Doctor?" Cassandra snorted, laughing as if she had told the funniest joke.
Wanda balled up her fist and shook it at the woman as her left eye twitched rapidly. "Maybe I will, if you don't get out!" Though, Wanda knew this was merely a statement in hopes that Cassandra might be frightened enough to leave the Doctor's body. In truth, Wanda did not think she could ever truly lay a hand on the Doctor. The doors around the room suddenly burst open, letting in a horde of the diseased humans. All heading straight for the group. The Doctor's body jumped with alarm as Cassandra panicked.
"What do we do? What would he do? The Doctor, what the hell would he do?" cried out Cassandra, making the Doctor sound like a frightened child. Wanda rolled her eyes.
"How about using your eyes?" she retorted, pointing to the ladder behind them that would lead to the lift's open shaft. Cassandra immediately pushed the two girl's out of the way, climbing up. Wanda made sure Rose followed right after with herself coming up the rear.
They all hurriedly climbed up the ladder into the empty lift shaft. It was a vast and long stretch between them and the ground. Taking a long while before any of them came close to an escape. Wanda refused to look down, not even once. Her hands shook tremendously, gripping on tighter onto the ladder each time she climbed higher and higher. Gosh, did she hate heights. Ever since dying from that one fall in 1938, as well as the Doctor almost falling from the Empire State Building, her fears of high places had only worsened. Suddenly, she screamed out as someone grabbed her foot roughly. Almost slipping for a second, Wanda hurriedly wrapped her arms tightly around the side of the ladder to hold on. Glancing down, she saw how it was Matron Casp holding onto her.
"All our good work, all that healing, the good name of the Sisterhood: you have destroyed everything!" Matron Casped yelled at Wanda, yanking on her foot harshly.
"Go and play with a ball of string," retorted Cassandra from above.
"Everywhere—disease!" hissed Matron Casp. "This is the human world. Sickness."
Suddenly, the cat started to scream out in pain. Wanda watched with wide eyes as the boils and sickly skin spread throughout the nun's face. The nun let go of Wanda as she slipped, screaming all the way down the long shaft and hitting the floor below with a echoing thud. Wanda let out a shaky breath as she started to climb up again. She ordered the other two to do the same as the diseased people continued to climb up after them.
Eventually, they reached the top of the shaft, ending at a lift door. Cassandra slammed on the door with her new hands, but it was pointless. Only a sonic screwdriver could open the doors. Wanda was too far away herself to be able to open them with her own screwdriver. Only the Doctor could with his body being the closest.
"Now what do we do?" Cassandra whined out.
"Use the sonic screwdriver," Rose ordered her. Fumbling around for a moment, Cassandra pulled out the sonic from within the Doctor's suit pocket.
"You mean this thing?" she asked them, holding up the silver tool for them to see.
"Yes, I mean that thing," Rose said, sounding greatly annoyed.
Cassandra made a very disgruntled and annoyed expression on the Doctor's face which did not suit the Time Lord at all. "Well, I don't know how. That Doctor's hidden away all his thoughts."
Rose rolled her eyes. "Cassandra, just go into me. The Doctor can open it."
"Don't you dare!" shouted Wanda, glaring at the Time Lord above. "I swear, if you even think about going into Rose, I will do much worse than punch you!"
"Wanda, I'm not letting her go back into you," Rose argued. "Just let me—."
"No! This isn't open for debate," Wanda disputed, shooting Rose a sharp look before glaring at the Time Lord above once more. "Cassandra, just go into me. And for the love of god, Rose, tell the Doctor to just open the doors. Don't let him argue about with Cassandra."
"Hold on tight," Cassandra spoke up. She exhaled, letting out her consciousness. The energy travelled straight to Wanda, entering her once again. Everything was compressed about her once more, sending Wanda back into the recesses of her mind having Cassandra back in control. The Doctor above shook his head as he snapped back into awareness. He then promptly glared down heatedly at the Time Lady below.
"Cassandra, get out of her," he growled, pointing the sonic at Wanda's body.
"Doctor, Wanda said not to argue," Rose told him.
"I don't care!" he yelled, his eyes flashed with a furious storm as he stared the Time Lady down. "I order you to leave her!"
Oh, Doctor, shut up! Wanda yelled at him. I'm fine. Just open the damn doors. But it was too late, Cassandra had already left and went right back into the Doctor's body.
"No matter how difficult the situation, there is no need to shout," Cassandra grumbled, as if still talking to the Doctor.
"Cassandra, get out of him! We need to get the doors open!" Rose yelled.
"But if I go into the Wanderer, he simply refuses. He's so rude," Cassandra complained. Wanda groaned and started to bang her head against the ladder's side. They did not have time for this!
"Oh, for Pete's sake! Cassandra, just go into one of the sick below us," Wanda told the woman. "It's the only way to get the idiot to shut up and open the doors." Cassandra looked down at the diseased woman climbing up the ladder below Wanda with an expression filled with disgust and revulsion. But Wanda could tell the women knew she had to do it.
"Oh, I am so gonna regret this," moaned Cassandra. Exhaling, her consciousness went into a female plague carrier below them. The Doctor shook his head, really starting to get a headache now. With a glance down below him, he saw Wanda and Rose were still themselves. The sick woman far down was heard complaining about her looks, telling him where Cassandra had gone to. In a rush, the Doctor opened the lift doors, allowing their escape. He helped Rose up quickly, followed by pulling a panting Wanda up.
"Nice to have you back," he beamed at the Time Lady. He then frowned with concern when seeing how pale and shaken the short blonde appeared. "You all right?"
"Yeah. It's just, I really, really, don't like heights," Wanda explained, sighing in relief for being back on solid ground. She smiled as she felt the Doctor rubbing his hands along her arms in a soothing gesture as though hoping to help ease her fears away. Suddenly, she fell forward as Cassandra hurriedly went back into her. Wanda's body fell to the ground, moving to lean up against the wall. The Doctor closed the lift doors, making sure they were all safe before glaring at the dazed Time Lady on the ground.
"That was your last warning, Cassandra!" he began to yelled angrily at her. But he stopped short upon seeing the distant gaze of those emerald eyes.
"Inside her head . . . they're so alone," Cassandra breathed ever so quietly. In such remorse. "They keep reaching out, just to hold us. All their lives, and they've never been touched." For once, she was truly feeling empathy and overwhelming sadness. Something she had not felt for centuries. It only made it worse with the two hearts. Two hearts that made the emotions twice as woeful. How could the Time Lords stand such amplified effects? Especially the Wanderer?
The Doctor held out a hand to the Time Lady, feeling pity for Cassandra. Gazing up at him, Cassandra took the offered hand, using it to pull herself off the ground. They stared at each other for a second before the pounding doors behind them made it clear they should get a move on. Rose patted the Time Lady's arm lightly as she felt her own pity for the woman within. The trio then ran, hand-in-hand, ready to fight for their lives . . . together. Arriving to Ward twenty-six, they were greeted with a charging Frau Clovis, the Duke of Manhattan's assistant, banishing a chair as defense. But after showing her their skin as a sign they were not infected, Clovis dropped the chair.
She informed them at Ward twenty-six was the only safe place. All the other Wards had been taken over with the infected. Acting fast, especially after Clovis' announcement of her trying to override the quarantine to save herself, the Doctor ordered everyone to gather up the intravenous solutions around the room. All cures made for every disease by the Sisterhood. The Doctor fashioned a heavy silk rope, strapping all the solutions onto said rope and around himself. Creating another metal device to let himself slide down the lift's cables outside in the hall from the Ward. He then ran outside the Ward after convincing the group of survivors to open the doors for him. Once outside in the hall, opening the lift doors, he jumped onto said cables and attached the device he had created. Rose and Cassandra could only stare at him in disbelief by his actions.
"What do you think you're doing?" asked Cassandra.
"I'm going down," the Doctor explained, though his words came out muffled with the sonic screwdriver clamped tightly in his teeth. Getting the device set tightly on the cables, he pulled out the sonic from his mouth and sonicked the metal clamp he had made. He then glanced over his shoulder at the two blondes staring at him as though he were mad. "Come on."
"Ha! Not in a million years," Cassandra retorted, crossing her arms in a huff.
"Yeah, I'm with her on that one," Rose agreed, stepping away from the lifts.
"I need another pair of hands. I need at least one of you to come with me," the Doctor told them in exasperation, wishing Wanda were here with him right now. He knew she would not hesitate or complain if he asked her for help. She would already be on his back, ready for action by now.
"Well, if you just need one of us," Rose spoke up. Sending a sly smile and glance to Cassandra, Rose suddenly grabbed her and pushed her to the Doctor. Cassandra screamed and leaped at the last second, wrapping her arms around the Doctor to hold on tight. Rose waved at them with a laugh and hurriedly went back into Ward twenty-six before Clovis closed it from the incoming plague carriers from down the hall. Gulping, Cassandra only gripped onto the Doctor tighter as Wanda's fear of heights was beginning to affect her as well.
"You're completely mad!" Cassandra exclaimed with fear upon looking down to the long drop below them. But then Cassandra felt the two hearts beginning to flutter at the closeness of the Time Lord to this body. Cassandra smirked slightly. "I can see why the Wanderer likes you."
The Doctor grinned proudly at this as he felt Wanda's hand hold onto him for support. "Going down." He let go of the brakes on the device, sending them plummeting down at rapid speed. The metal grated against the cable and sparked as they fell farther and farther down. The Doctor was heard laughing with glee with Cassandra screaming in fright. They slowed down and came to a light stop at the ground level lift. Immediately the Doctor began to work, emptying out all the intravenous solutions from his makeshift sling into the disinfectant tanks above the lift.
"Now, that lever's going to resist," the Doctor told Cassandra after instructing her to hold onto a lever next to the tanks. "But keep it in position. Hold on to it with everything you've got." The tank started to bubble and smoke from all the solutions mixing together. Once finished with the solutions, the Doctor then opened the lift's emergency door.
"What about you?" Cassandra asked, greatly confused by what the Time Lord was doing.
"I've got an appointment," the Doctor replied with a small grin. "The Doctor is in." With that said, he jumped down into the lift.
Cassandra held onto the lever as tightly as she could. Below she and Wanda could hear the Doctor open the lift doors with his sonic and started to call the many diseased humans inside towards him. Cassandra pulled the lever at the Doctor's command, using all her strength to hold on. The computer announced the disinfection and the process began by spraying the entire lift with the intravenous solutions the Doctor had mixed together. The solutions sprayed both the Doctor and all the infected humans inside the lift. The plague carriers were stunned by the liquid hitting them, backing up from the lift.
"All they want to do is pass it on. Pass it on!" the Doctor said loudly to the humans. "Pass it on!"
"Pass on what?" questioned Cassandra, still bewildered as to what was happening.
The cure. Wanda explained to her, internally smiling with joy. The Doctor cured them. He saved them. Everybody lives! She laughed merrily, wishing she could jump around with glee. Cassandra felt stunned by this news. She thought the Doctor would have killed them, not saved them. Jumping down next to the Doctor, Cassandra could only stare in awe at the sight of the once diseased humans now completely healed. No cracked and dirty skin. No boils. Only clean and healthy. One of the young female humans walked up to the Doctor, giving him a hug.
"Oh, that's right. Hey, hey. There we go, sweetheart," the Doctor said kindly, giving the young dazed girl a hug back. Wanda felt her hearts swell with pride and love at the sight of seeing the Doctor be so gentle and kind. The love and warmth he shared with others, the healing Doctor he was. The man Wanda loved more than anything in the universe. She dearly wished to have control of her body at that moment. Not only to hug the new humans around them, knowing how much each one only wanted some affection and love. But she wanted to hug the Doctor as well to show him how much she loved the healing man he was.
"It's a new subspecies, Cassandra," the Doctor went on speaking, walking around the room to give more new humans a hug or pats on the shoulders. "A brand-new form of life. New humans! Look at them, look! Grown by cats, kept in the dark, fed by tubes, but completely, completely alive! You can't deny them 'cause you helped create them. The human race just keeps on going, keeps on changing. Life will out! Ha!"
Cassandra rolled her eyes somewhat, finding his rambling and gleeful attitude to be both annoying and amusing. She could see another reason why the Wanderer loved the strange man. Not only was he mad, but he was wonderful in bringing warmth to the world as well. She could learn to respect a man like that. Even if she did still feel dislike for him.
I thought he was going to kill them, like the way he killed me. Cassandra spoke to Wanda as they continued to watch the Doctor happily help the once sick people. The way he showed them all kindness . . . it baffled Cassandra in some ways. He had been so willing to let me die in the past. What's changed?
Well . . . he never technically 'killed' you in the past. Wanda corrected her. True, Nine did not act to save Cassandra from her seemingly fate. But . . . he still did not 'kill' her pre say. Wanda internally frowned, not sure on what to think about that. Anyway, he's a different man now. Much more . . . forgiving in some ways.
But will he always be like this? Forgiving, I mean? asked Cassandra.
Wanda went to answer 'yes,' for to her the Doctor was always forgiving. But, for others . . . . Images from her show flashed through her mind. Moments the Doctor had later within his life. Moments to which always made Wanda wary to think about. She remained quiet, unable to say 'yes' in confidence. But unable to say 'no,' either. For the Doctor was forgiving. Just . . . not always. For sometimes . . . he was vengeful.
And what about you? Cassandra continued to wonder. Will you always be forgiving as well?
Once again, Wanda could not answer that. She thought over what she had said and done within the alternate timeline to Kovarian. The anger and hate Wanda had felt for that woman. The unforgiving emotions she held . . . Wanda had never felt such a way before. Well . . . maybe once with the Family after what Alice, her human self, had been through. But still, she had tried to be forgiving and merciful with the Doctor by becoming Alice Rivers along with John Smith. However, back there, within that alternate timeline with Kovarian . . . Wanda had never felt so . . . dark before. And now that she truly thought on it, she realized much of her has changed over the past decades. She has become someone rather different than from the timid girl she once was. The only question now: Was this necessarily a good thing? Or was it bad all together?
I . . . I don't know. Was all Wanda could say in the end.
XxXxXxXx
It was some time later when the quarantine finally lifted that the authorities arrived. All of the remaining Sisters of Plenitude were arrested. They watched back in Ward twenty-six as Novice Hame was escorted out in cuffs. All the new humans and remaining people of the hospital were taken to safety. Luckily, hardly any Wards had actually been taken over by the plague. Only a few people had been infected and died. This made Wanda glad that at least many had a happy ending. With Novice Hame gone, the Doctor realized there was still one patient left that had been asleep this whole while. And now, without his attendant, the Doctor knew they needed to check up on the Face of Boe.
Going further into the Ward, they all saw the Face of Boe had awoken and was staring off at the distant city of New New York from the window next to him. A calm, gentle gaze in those old eyes of Boe. Rose and the Doctor both walked up smiling at him while Cassandra remained back. Giving a slightly purse of her lips at the sight of the old Boe Face.
"You were supposed to be dying," the Doctor said to the ancient being.
There are better things to do today. the Face of Boe responded within all of their minds in a calm, soft voice. Dying can wait.
"Oh, I hate telepathy," complained Cassandra. "Just what I need, a head full of big face." Both Rose and the Doctor sent her a stern gaze and shushed her.
I have grown tired with the universe, Doctor, but you have taught me to look at it anew. said the Face of Boe. The Doctor walked up closer to the old Face and kneeled down in front of the glass container.
"There are legends, you know, saying that you're millions of years old," the Doctor said.
Well, now, that would be impossible. chuckled Boe in response. Wanda internally chuckled along with him, swearing that she saw a small wink sent her way.
The Doctor smiled at the old Boe Face. "Wouldn't it just?" His smiled disappeared, giving a more serious expression and tone to the ancient being. "I got the impression there was something you wanted to tell me," he glanced over at the Time Lady, "and Wanda."
The Face of Boe nodded. A great secret.
The Doctor nodded. "So the legend says."
The old Boe Face smiled at him. It can wait.
The Time Lord gave a pout, his tone changing to a slight whine. "Oh, does it have to?"
We shall meet again, Doctor, for the third time—for the last time—and the truth shall be told. Until that day. The Face of Boe then slowly vanished in from of them in a glittering, blue energy, beaming to another location within the universe. The Doctor, Cassandra, and Rose could only stare at the spot in astonishment.
"That is enigmatic," the Doctor remarked, nodding with delight approval. "That—that is—that is textbook enigmatic." Internally, Wanda was giggling away.
Always the showoff, Jack. she said quietly, making sure Cassandra and the Doctor did not hear her. In her mind, Wanda could hear a chuckle. This only made her smile more, knowing it was the old Boe Face himself. She watched as the Doctor stood up and faced Cassandra squarely.
"And now for you," he said sternly. Rose turned to face the Time Lady as well, crossing her arms in the same stern manner. Cassandra stared at them both warily.
"But everything's happy. Everything's fine," she told them. "Can't you just leave me?"
"No. Get out of Wanda," ordered Rose, growing angry again by Cassandra being so selfish as to put Wanda in harm's way.
"You've lived long enough," the Doctor added. "Leave that body and end it, Cassandra." The woman felt a stab of fear making the body she was in shake with fright.
"I don't want to die," she cried. Though her cry sounded fake and forced, it did hold some truth in how frightened she felt. How terrified she was of dying.
"No one does," the Doctor replied quietly.
"Help me!" Cassandra cried loudly. Though, she was saying this more to the Wanderer than to the Doctor. She could feel pity coming from the Wanderer within her as the girl watched on.
Sorry. But there's nothing I can do. Wanda spoke softly.
I'm scared to die. Cassandra sniffled. I'm so afraid.
I know. It's okay. Wanda whispered gently. It's okay to be afraid. And it's okay to die as well. Death is just another waiting adventure. Cassandra only felt confused and unsure by this. She had never seen death that way before. Only as the final end, never a waiting journey for someone.
"I can't," the Doctor answered Cassandra's earlier plea as she continued to cry.
"Mistress!" came the call of Chip. Cassandra and the others turned in shock to see the clone still alive and well. He smiled brightly at his mistress as he walked up to them.
"Oh, you're alive," gasped Cassandra.
"I kept myself safe, for you, mistress," Chip explained. Cassandra stared at him for a moment, her mind racing with a new plan as she saw the male clone smiling at her.
"A body," she contemplated aloud. "And not just that—a volunteer." The Doctor looked at her quickly, his eyes narrowing, once more looking strict and stern.
"Don't you dare," he said, pointing a finger at the Time Lady. "He's got a life of his own."
"Haven't you've destroyed enough lives today?" Rose snapped at Cassandra.
"But I worship the mistress. I welcome her," argued Chip defensively. He was all but ready to give Cassandra whatever she desired. Even his own life. Cassandra winked at Chip as she exhaled.
Before either the Doctor or Rose could protest any more, the woman had already left Wanda in the pink energy. The energy went straight into Chip who gladly accepted it. Wanda's legs gave out as the muscles objected greatly at having another snapping switch of who was in control. Apparently, the body was complaining about the constant jumping of consciousness. The Doctor and Rose both caught her before she fell to the ground.
"Whoa! Careful," Rose said, patting the Time Lady's back.
"You all right?" asked the Doctor, staring at Wanda in concern.
"Yep. Fine. Just a little lightheaded," Wanda assured them as she straightened up to face Cassandra in her new body. She stumbled again there for a moment. The Doctor decided to keep an arm around her, allowing her to lean against him until she could get her bearings. He knew that even though she had been conscious inside the body, she had still suffered great affects from being compressed for so long today.
"Oh, sweet lord, I'm a walking doodle," Cassandra said while examining her many swirling designs on her skin.
"You can't stay in there," the Doctor told her in a hard tone. "I'm sorry, Cassandra, but that's not fair. I can take you to the city, they can build you a skin tank, and you can stand trial for what you've done."
"Well, that would be rather dramatic," Cassandra remarked with a small shrug. "Possibly my finest hour. And certainly my finest hat." She touched her head, laughing lightly. Letting her hands drop to her sides, she sighed quietly. "But I'm afraid we don't have time. Well, poor little Chip is only a half-life, and he's been through so much. His heart is racing so." Cassandra paused, letting herself feel the body's internal discomforts. "He's failing. I don't think he's going to last—."
Suddenly, Cassandra's legs gave out. Wanda was already there by her side, knowing what was going to happen. She caught the woman, helping her lower gently to the ground. The Doctor and Rose hurriedly kneeled down beside the dying body of Cassandra. The woman panted out as Chip's body slowly failed her.
"I'm dying," Cassandra noted, feeling at her chest. She thought for a moment, staring to the trio kneeling beside her. She smiled at them. "But that's fine."
"I can take you to the city," the Doctor offered. Cassandra smiled more, shaking her head sadly.
"No, you won't," Cassandra countered. "Everything's new on this planet. There's no place for Chip and me anymore." Pausing for a moment, she continued on. "You're right, Doctor, Wanderer, it's time to die.
"An awaiting adventure," Wanda smiled. Cassandra laughed and nodded.
"That's good. I like that thought," Cassandra agreed. Patting the woman's hand gently, Wanda looked to the Doctor and Rose.
"There is one last thing we can do," she told them, her voice sounding grave. "A final farewell."
XxXxXxXx
They walked out with Cassandra into the restaurant of the last night anyone had ever called her beautiful. Mingling and laughing in the crowd of party goers was young Cassandra, still human and her ordinary self. Wanda patted the future Cassandra's shoulder softly as the dying woman hugged the black cloak around herself tighter.
"Thank you," the woman whispered to both Time Lords.
"Just go. And don't look back," the Doctor replied quietly.
"Good luck," Rose added kindly.
"Take care," Wanda said softly. She gave one last pat on the woman's shoulder as Cassandra walked away from them.
They watched as future Cassandra gave her younger self a heartfelt goodbye of sorts. Telling the young self on how beautiful she really was. Then, Chip's body finally failed. The young Cassandra caught the poor dying body, calling out for medical help for the dying Chip and older Cassandra. Young Cassandra cradled the dying person in her arms tenderly, unknowing that it was her future self who she was caring so kindly for.
Wanda reached down, holding both the Doctor and Rose's hands as they solemnly turned back around to the TARDIS, leaving behind the last human in peace.
XxXxXxXx
Good? Bad? The most terrible thing ever? If you have any thoughts on the chapters, or anything particular, or even if you just want to make a shout out, just leave a review. It always helps to see what everyone has in mind for the story. Especially with just how many wonderful and brilliant ideas you all have! :D Bye-Bye everyone! Until next time!
~Tinker~