Wanderer of Time: Darkness Within

by Tinker16

The powers within have been steadily growing, buying time until the moment of remembrance. The moment swiftly approaches. Wanda's fears are coming to a head as she realizes what has been living inside her has only one purpose in the universe. And it holds no qualms in destroying any who gets in its way, even those who Wanda loves. (Part Three of the Wanderer of Time trilogy)

32. Ch 32: Friend Departed

Why, hello there! ;)

I was up a bit late and had a spark of writing craze for editing over the new chapter. So I thought I might go ahead and post it today. :) Mostly wanted to get it done for all you readers for being so amazing and sending such support to the story. I loved reading all of your reviews and it just makes me so happy to see such joy the story brings. I know I can never be that good in writing, but I'm just so happy that the story has been doing well so far. I really hope I can continue to bring you all joy through the rest. :D

For all reviewers, I promise to reply to your comments in the next update! So, please, enjoy the new chapter!

XxXxXxXx

Chapter 32: Friend Departed

As Wanda slowly felt herself come to, her whole body ached. Every muscle screamed in pain and exhaustion. It almost hurt to expand her chest out to breath, let alone trying to focus on opening her eyes. It was almost déjà vu in the sensation as she remembered feeling this way before when she had first arrived into this universe. Arriving on the cold ground of a grave, her whole body feeling that of a giant bruise. It was strange in how similar she felt again. She could even feel the coldness of the ground she laid upon now. Had she jumped to another time again? Where was she? Why was she so sore? And why . . . why could she not remember what she had been doing beforehand?

Her mind tried to begin processing on where or when she was. It tried diagnosing what exactly had been done to her body to make it so weak and tired. It also tried recalling what exactly she had been doing moments before. But her head throbbed so much from a painful headache that it was difficult to even try to think. The sharp ringing in her ears was not making the situation any better. The main issue she wished to focus specifically on though was why . . . why could she not remember? She wanted to remember. She gritted her teeth as she forced her mind to focus on every detail of what had happened before she found herself lying on the cold floor of . . . wherever she was now. But try as she might, nothing came to her. All she remembered was . . . Daleks. The Cult of Skaro. They came out of the Sphere and then . . . No wait—someone was talking.

"When will she wake up?"

"I don't know."

"How are we going to explain the cuts all over her body?"

"I don't know."

"And the Cybermen and Daleks?"

"I don't know."

"Is she going to be all right?"

"Rose, for the last time, I don't know."

Wanda's brows furrowed as she realized she was hearing Ten and Rose arguing. Figures. They always bloody argue. Well, no wait—she took that back. They did not always argue. Ten and Rose mostly just had a row whenever stress levels were high. When each one felt extremely pressured and were on high tensions with everything around. Which then resulted in them taking out their stress on each other from time to time. Though, not that they truly meant these spats as a way to be cruel to each other. Only, in a strange way, to help each other relieve some stress and feel better about the situation at hand. Which meant something bad must have occurred before Wanda had her blackout. But that just led her to her earlier question: Why could she not remember what she had been doing?

"Oi, you two, no need for a spat when the world is coming to an end," Wanda grumbled as she finally made herself open her eyes. Though it was still a struggle to do for her lids felt so heavy from exhaustion. Blinking, she saw the Doctor and Rose both next to her. Rose sat beside her on the ground, holding onto one of Wanda's hands, while the Doctor remained standing up with his hands in his pockets.

Wanda noticed instantly how something was wrong. Very wrong. The way Rose looked visibly shaken, and the deadpan expression the Doctor held on his face . . . Something terrible must have happened. Wanda glanced at Rose, squeezing the girl's hand as a sign of reassurance. But when she made this gesture, the companion's reaction was not that of being comforted. Instead, Rose flinched. Wanda blinked, greatly taken back by the way Rose appeared torn in remaining seated next to Wanda and seemed to rather move away all together. But when the companion saw the confused and wounded expression cross over Wanda's face, Rose instantly shook her head as if snapping herself out of something and smiled at the Time Lady in an assuring manner that everything was fine.

Feeling at a loss from how Rose appeared so unsettled by something, Wanda looked to the Doctor, hoping for some comfort or explanation from him. But when she looked into his brown eyes, all she received was a distant stare. As though he were not truly looking at her, but instead staring past her, through her, examining her. It was a stare he would normally give to someone who . . . someone who was not on his good side. A stare given to that of unfriendly company.

"Doctor? Rose? Is everything okay?" Wanda asked immediately, voice filled with concern and worriment for her closest loved ones. She sat up, quick to find out what had gone wrong since the last thing she remembered. Had someone from their group died? She knew that Pete and his other party from the parallel universe were supposed to be here by now. Had Pete died? Or Jackie? Or Mickey? Had any of them been seriously injured? And Rose or the Doctor been hurt as well? What happened? Wanda became woozy after sitting up at a quick rate. She wobbled where she sat, ending up leaning against Rose as the room around her tilted. The first thing Wanda noticed was the room was empty of all others besides Rose, the Doctor, and herself.

"You feeling okay, Wanda?" Rose asked her friend, gently patting the Time Lady on the back. Wanda could only shake her head in response as she had to keep her mouth clamped shut. Nausea built up within her very swiftly, and she knew she was going to be sick. She slapped a hand over her mouth, pointing in urgency at a nearby small trash bin sitting by a desk in the Breach room they were in. The Doctor seemed to get what Wanda was indicating as he moved away casually from the Time Lady, picking up the small bin and bringing it back over to her.

As soon as Wanda had the trash bin in her hands, she leaned right over it and began heaving. She trembled as she let nausea overtake her, gripping the sides of the bin so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She felt as though the sickness would never end, but fortunately, it soon subsided. Sitting back from the bin, she pushed it away in disgust, not wishing to have the smell make her even sicker. The Doctor took the bin and placed it back by the desk while Rose rubbed soothing circles on Wanda's back.

"Feeling better?" the companion asked.

"Not really, but I'll be okay," Wanda mumbled, giving Rose a small smile. Then her smile dropped, giving the companion a concerned expression as Wanda gently touched Rose's arm. "Are you all right? Had anything bad happened? I . . . I can't really remember anything much after . . . the Daleks." Wanda looked to the Doctor after Rose seemed uncomfortable and unwilling to reply to her questions. Then, seeing how the Time Lord was eyeing her, Wanda swallowed as an unsettled feeling swept through her. "Doctor? What's wrong?"

Standing stiffly next to the sitting Time Lady and Rose, the Doctor tightened his hands into to clenching fists within his pockets. He kept his gaze cool, showed no true emotion on his features, and made certain to only allow Wanda to see his infamous Oncoming Storm stare. For at the current moment, he felt the storm raging inside of him. During the time Alpha had taken over, his only thoughts were to get Wanda back. To get his friend back. But now, after she was indeed back, he felt . . . betrayal. Hurt. Torn. And boiling anger building up to a peak. Because, while Wanda had been unconscious on the floor, as he had time to think over the events that had occurred, process past occurrences, and contemplate the very relations that he and Wanda held . . . all he could think of was one conclusion: That all this time . . . everything between them—the adventures, the laughs, the joys, the . . . relationship—had been nothing more than lies.

She was just . . . another puppet from the Time War. A puppet of the Daleks. Maybe she had been made to be their toy only for the war itself and had somehow made it out of the time lock. Or she could have been purposely placed with him in the TARDIS, made to get closer to him over time. Break his barriers down, make him fall for someone who seemed so innocent and was also the last of the Time Lords. This option seemed more logical to him out of all the other reasons he contemplated through his mind. He felt it made the most sense out of everything else today. Wanda, the Wanderer . . . she was nothing more than lies. She was not real. Alpha, that . . . thing . . . she was the real one in charge.

Or was she? Maybe it was the other way around? Perhaps Wanda was the true personality and Alpha was the fake. It could have been Alpha had been forced into Wanda's mind long ago during the Time War. Then that would have meant she had known. All this time, Wanda had known that dangerous, wolf-like creature lived within her, ready to come out at a moment's notice. Yet she never once told him? Warned him in some way? Had she lied to him, tricked him all these years? What if this had been planned all along? What if she had purposely made herself trapped within his life, twisting it around so they would become close? Grown close to him because deep down the Daleks' programming or mind control or training made her? Had it all been nothing more than lies or a twisted scheme of some kind? Had he really let himself fall for someone else who would rip his hearts away like they were nothing?

"Doctor?"

Focusing away from the recesses of his mind, the Doctor stared at Wanda who now stood in front of him. She wobbled on her feet, looking weak, but remained standing all the same as she stared at him with great concern.

"What happened?" she asked him again. His hands tightening in their clenched position within his pockets, the Doctor felt the swell of anger rush out of him.

"How long have you known?" he grounded through his teeth in a deep tone of anger. Wanda blinked in shock as she felt unsettled by seeing the Oncoming Storm gaze directed at her. Never, in all the time they had spent together, had he ever sent her such an enraged expression. Even when Nine had thrown his temper at her, he would still hold back in showing his dwelling storm within. But now . . . She could almost understand now why so many felt fear when the Doctor directed his brewing storm at them.

"D-Doctor?" she questioned in uncertainty.

The Time Lord in front of her did not blink, only keeping his hard gaze and expression. Glowering at her in a way that made her hearts break. "How long have you known about Alpha?"

Wanda blinked, taken back by this question. There it was again. That name. The same name always seemed to be whispered by everyone in fear or in spite. Alpha. She felt fear in hearing this name, and also experienced a strange recognition to the name as well. "I don't . . . Who's Alpha?"

Watching Wanda's reaction carefully, it was clear to the Doctor that she had some sort of recognition of the name. So, that meant she was lying. Right to his face, she was misleading him. The one thing she always said she would never do. If she was lying to him now, then what else had she lied about through these years? Was anything she said true? Was anything they shared together real?

"You're lying," the Doctor gritted out. He let his hands slid out of his pockets as he took a step towards her. Staring down at her with the storm darkening in his eyes. Wanda actually took a step back, feeling confused and at a loss. What was going on? Why would the Doctor think she was lying?

"I'm telling you the truth. I don't know who Alpha is," she explained to defend herself. "I've heard the name a few times before, but I don't know anything more than that." Then, when seeing his hand come up, ready to point a finger of accusation at her, the deep red mark on his palm caught her attention. Before the Doctor could continue to go onto his rant of anger, she grabbed his hand in a gentle grasp, pulling the injured appendage up towards her so that she might get a better look at it.

Wanda stared at the hand in horror. It was worse than the first time she had seen it. Before, during the time they had met Donna, the Doctor's hand had been all bandaged up. He had never once allowed Wanda to see it clearly. The only thing she had gotten a glimpse of was the edges of red skin around the bandages. Never letting her take a proper look at the wound, it was as if . . . he feared to scare her of what sort of injury he had received. But now, seeing the hand freshly hurt . . . it was worse than she would have thought. The skin was still red. But it looked sick. Like a horrible, horrible burn. The veins around his wrist appeared inflamed, with black edges around them. The injury, it almost as if . . . something at killed the cells within the top tissues of the appendage.

"Your hand . . . You're hurt," Wanda whispered in dismay, her voice wavering. Her mind raced a mile a minute, thinking of all the horrible outcomes of what happened to his hand, and how it could have possibly happened. She glanced up, noticing how the Doctor winced as her grip tightened in her panic around his hand. He must be in terrible pain.

"Forget about my hand. You need to tell me the truth, Wanderer," the Doctor said gruffly, wishing she would stop staring at him with those worried eyes. Was that fake as well? Did she pretend because Alpha wanted to put up a front? Was Wanda's caring nature even real?

"Are you in pain? How bad of an injury is it? Do you have any medicine for it? Can we heal it faster, or is anything to ease the pain?" Wanda asked with rapid questions, ignoring the suspicious gaze the Doctor sent her. As if not believing she truly was panicking over his wound and was scared for him. Almost as though he no longer trusted her at all. She ignored the twist in her hearts at this thought. "How were you hurt? Is it serious? Can we treat it at all? Are you going to be all right?"

"Tell me about Alpha," the Doctor continued to bark at her, demanding for answers while he was still boiling with anger. If she continued to give him those pleading looks with her emerald eyes, his resolve might give in and he might not let himself see the lies that were there. The lie of her. He might see her as—

"Shut it!" Wanda gritted her teeth as the Doctor stiffened, holding a steady gaze with her piercing eyes. "You can yell at me and ask your questions later. Right now, you're hurt and we need to fix that. Now shut up and let me help you. And for Pete's sake, stop being Mister Grumpy Time Lord." Grabbing him by the upper portion of his other arm, she steered him over to a nearby desk, pushing him down to sit on a chair.

The Doctor sat there, stunned in how forceful she was. He tried protesting, but she merely shushed him. Even placing a finger onto his lips as she held a stern gaze as she kneeled in front of him. He watched her shaking hands dig around within her trouser dimensional pocket, pulling out a small medical kit. She then unbuttoned his wrist cuff of his suit jacket, then rolled up the sleeve of his dress shirt in the gentlest fashion possible. Then, she proceeded to clean the area of his injury with a healing solution, finishing up with wrapping his wrist and palm in medical bandages. All the while, her hands trembled as though she were greatly disturbed by the sight of him being hurt. He even saw a few tears falling down her face. Once she finished wrapping up his injury, she softly pulled up his hand and kissed it tenderly, with the Doctor's hearts beating in rapid pace from the gesture.

"I . . . I was the one who hurt you, wasn't I?" Wanda whispered once she moved the Doctor's hand from her lips. She stared up at him, her eyes welled up as she looked ready to burst. Her bottom lip quivered as she spoke. "You're angry with me because I hurt you."

"No. You didn't hurt anyone," spoke Rose. The companion finally snapped herself out of the stupor she had been in. Still sitting on the floor from when Wanda had awoken. Rose had been mutely listening to the Time Lords earlier, still lost in thought from the disturbing events from earlier in having met Alpha. But hearing Wanda sounding so upset in the idea of having hurt her precious Doctor, Rose shook herself out of her daze. Standing up, she marched right over to the Time Lady, picking her up from the floor. "You would never hurt anyone. Right, Doctor?"

The Doctor raised a brow at the companion, giving a disproving frown as he knew she was trying to avoid the subject. The same way he had before when First Wanda showed signs of having those strange headaches. But he was done avoiding now. He needed them all to face the truth behind Wanda.

"No, you did hurt me," he said sternly, eyeing Wanda as he watched her tense and looked greatly unnerved. "You hurt us all today."

"W-what?" Wanda breathed, beginning to panic now, feeling sick again at the idea she had hurt her husband and her friends. Why? Why would she ever do something like that? And she did not even remember it.

"It wasn't her, it was Alpha," Rose retorted crossly at the Doctor, throwing him a sharp glare. The Time Lord tossed in his own glare.

"But if Wanda had told us about Alpha, then none of this would have happened," the Doctor bit back.

"W-who's Alpha?" Wanda asked them. She gripping her hands tightly together in a shaking grasp as she felt the barrier within pound away along with her growing headache. The barrier, it felt angered by what was being said. As well as angry over her fear and panic from what the Doctor was telling her.

"Oh, come on, stop lying," the Doctor responded gruffly as he fixed and buttoned his shirt cuff once more. "You know exactly who I'm talking about. Don't try to act like you haven't known about Alpha. There's no possible way you could have not known of that . . . of that thing living inside of you. Anyone could sense such a being inside their own mind. It would be impossible otherwise."

"If she says she doesn't know, then she's telling the truth. Wanda would never lie on purpose," Rose argued.

"I-I don't know," Wanda agreed, shaking her head rapidly. The room around her tilted as she fought with her headache in her mind. The ringing in her ears built up and the headache grew worse. Images suddenly flashed through her mind. Memories of herself . . . doing awful things. It was like watching in third person. She saw herself destroying the Dalek's Genesis Ark. Turning Rajesh to dust. Doing the same to the Cybermen. Causing the ground itself to shake in fear from the fury and power she had possessed. She began to quake, only half listening to the bickering Rose and the Doctor were doing next to her as she felt her world come crashing down. She . . . she was going to be sick. Her hearts cried in dismay and anguish at the knowledge of realizing she . . . she had hurt . . . she had killed.

She began to hyperventilate as other images began to jump at her. Dark walls. Children wailing. Blood. So much blood.

No! He wasn't supposed to tell!

The Doctor and Rose snapped out of their argument as Wanda suddenly screamed next to them. They watched as she gripped her head and fell to the floor onto her knees.

"Wanda!" Rose cried, going to the floor next to her friend as the Time Lady grew limp, leaning against the companion as she fell unconscious. Wanda repeatedly jerked and twitched as she muttered rapidly 'I remember' under her breath. Standing up from the desk chair, the Doctor crouched down in front of the Time Lady, watching this occurrence carefully. It was just like those other two occasions. Were these 'relapses' even real? Were they false as well?

Wanda gasped as her eyes snapped open. She jerked away from Rose's grasp, stumbling as she seemed to gain her senses back as she blinked rapidly and gazed around the room. Finally, Wanda looked at the two staring at her.

"Doctor? Rose? Is everything okay?" Wanda asked instantly, her voice filled with the same worriment as it had before. Exactly what she had said when she had awoken the first time.

Rose bit her lip and glanced at the Doctor. Meanwhile, the Time Lord stared evenly at Wanda, wondering what exactly she was playing at. But then, he was shocked when Wanda gasped, going towards him and grabbing his one hand that hung limp at his side. She held his bandaged hand in trembling hands, appearing horrified all over again by the sight of his injury.

"Your hand . . . You're hurt," Wanda breathed, looking greatly stricken. The Doctor watched as she stared up at him, and saw the racing thoughts going through her mind from the way her eyes appeared. Panicking and fearing for him all over again. What? Why? Did she . . . not remember?

"Are you in pain? How bad of an injury is it? How were you hurt? Is it serious?" Wanda questioned just as rapidly as she had before. "Was it treated properly? Did you put enough medicine on it? Will you be all right?"

"You . . . you already bandaged it," Rose replied, shaking her head in confusion. Continuing to stare at Wanda in disbelief.

"What? What are you talking about?" Wanda responding, very confused as well as she furrowed her brow. "I just woke up. From the . . . from the Daleks." Her nose crinkled from the deep frown she was holding, the deep concentration. "Did I blackout from them? I don't really remember anything else after that." Wanda blinked, looking back and forth between the two as their mouths hung open slightly and were clearly beyond flabbergasted. "What?"

"She—she erased your memories," the Doctor uttered as it dawned on him what exactly happened. What might be happening every time Wanda went through one of her headaches. He knew Alpha said she would not change the personality of Wanda. But . . . erasing memories? That seemed something that Alpha was completely willing to do. Then again, Alpha already said she would not make Wanda forget about him and the others the Time Lady loved, since that would make Wanda sad. However, it appears Alpha was very quick to change other memories around. But why? What was the purpose? The Time Lady stared curiously at him, tilting her head in confusion.

"Who did what now?" she asked.

"Alpha," the Doctor muttered.

"Who's Alpha?" Wanda questioned, shaking her head as she seemed at a loss. After this was said, the Doctor tensed as he saw the brief white flash within the Time Lady's eyes. A warning. Alpha was telling him to shut up, or face the consequences. Swallowing thickly, the Doctor turned around when he heard the others finally coming back, glad for a distraction from the mess with Wanda. He would just try to figure out if she was even real or not later.

"Doctor, we got those magna-clamps you wanted," Mickey said as soon as he and the group walked into the room with clamps in hand.

"Good," said the Doctor as he bounced over to the two, grabbing the clamps from Mickey and going over to begin his work at Torchwood's computers.

"Pete! And Jake!" Wanda suddenly exclaimed merrily when she saw the two newcomers from the other universe. She bounced over in excitement, happy to finally be meeting the two. Even though she had met Pete from this universe, she was still happy in seeing parallel universe Pete and Jake. But she suddenly faltered when both Jake and Pete, along with the others from the other universe, took a step back when Wanda grew closer to them. Halting in her steps, blinking as she felt at a loss, Wanda could only stare at them. She felt a strange twist in her hearts at the way they looked at her. The way they appeared wary, as if nervous around a dangerous wild animal.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to make anyone comfortable with my outburst," Wanda said lightly, trying to ease off their and her own worries. "I know we haven't really met yet, so some random person knowing your names must be bizarre." She gave them all a kind smile, hoping that maybe it was just the tension of the day that made them all jumpy. A strange twinge went through her as Pete seemed to narrow his eyes at her, making her feel as if she had done something terrible to him. But then Jackie sent Wanda a warm smile, Mickey nodded in reassurance, and Rose walked up behind the Time Lady, patting her back. Well . . . at least not everyone was nervous around her. Wanda glanced over to the Doctor, seeing how he still refused to look at her since she had woken up from her blackout earlier.

What the hell happened that made everyone so . . . unsettled?

"You might want to hurry, Doctor. The Cybermen from all over are starting to advance onto Torchwood," Jake told the Time Lord. The Doctor merely nodded in response, not really paying attention.

"And . . . and the Daleks, too, right?" Wanda added in, trying to shake off her growing sense of fear. Something . . . something awful had occurred. She just knew it. Like a memory in the back of her mind, but it would not surface. Why? Was it because of the growing headache in her mind, or the fact that she felt so weak? In fact, why did she feel so weary and exhausted. And . . . She glanced down at her arms when she suddenly became aware of the many sharp cuts and gashes on her skin. Her hands appeared the worse as dried blood and fluids of some sort covered them. "Heh. Did I go through a blender of something earlier? My hands and arms are a mess."

"The Daleks are gone."

Wanda turned sharply around when the Doctor spoke, shocked when hearing him say this. An even stare was given to her in return from the Time Lord. Holding a blank expression with only a grim gaze from his brown eyes.

"I stopped them, destroyed the Ark, and you were hurt in the process," he replied, his tone somber. Though with a hint of an unwelcoming tension from him as well.

"W-what?" Wanda stuttered in utter disbelief as her mind raced with the possibilities through her mind. Nothing to which showed her the outcome of the Daleks being stopped before the Doctor opened the Breach once more. She winced at the sharp headache from the images, but ignored her throbbing mind as she kept focused on the Doctor. "How can that be? That can't have happened."

"Well, it did, all right," the Doctor retorted. Wanda flinched as she felt the directed Oncoming Storm gaze upon her. She backed up, eyes wavering as she stared at her Time Lord. The Doctor seemed to realize his harsh attitude towards her as he quickly dropped the strict demeanour, turning around to continue his work. He felt a twinge of guilt go through him as he knew it was not her fault. Or, at least, he hoped it was not.

"Right, Doctor, now that you have your girl with you, and those clamps, can you close the Breach now?" Pete spoke up, sounding edgy to get things over with.

"Well, only really needed the clamps," the Doctor responded casually, sounding indifferent now as he shut down his emotions, knowing his still surfaced anger will get him in trouble if he let it continue.

"Are you telling me you never needed that girl to begin with? You lied?" Pete said in outrage, pointing a finger at Wanda as a jab of sorts.

"Yep," the Doctor remarked, popping the 'p' at the end. Still not looking directly at anyone. "Had to get you lot to help me get her back, didn't I?"

Wanda watched as Pete and the others walked over to the Time Lord, fuming about something or another. She was still at a loss. Everything they were saying, everything that was happening, made absolutely no sense whatsoever. Every second she tried thinking it over, her mind merely pounded more. It hurt so much. She hurt so much. She could barely stand anymore as it was. She knew something terrible, horrendous, must have happened for the Doctor and the others to be acting and saying such strange things. The Daleks. The cuts on her body. The Doctor's injured hand.

"Hey? You all right?" came the gentle voice of Rose. Wanda blinked, snapping herself out of her inner turmoil and thoughts as she saw her friend had remained by her side, staring at her in concern and holding a firm hand on the Time Lady's arm for support.

"Y-yeah. Just tired is all," Wanda whispered, looking away from the smiling companion to the floor. Feeling dread build up within her as she tired focusing on the upcoming situation at hand and not what had happened beforehand. She could always go over what happened later with the Doctor . . . right? Swallowing heavily, Wanda could not help but to question the girl next to her. "Rose, did . . . did I do something bad?"

"No, it wasn't you," Rose replied firmly. Wanda gave the companion a quick side look, gazing away back to the floor.

"Okay, then . . . Did something hidden within me cause an awful occurrence?" Wanda breathed. Observing the companion's reaction from the corner of her eye, she saw Rose gulp, hesitating for her reply. Dread hit Wanda in the gut as in the back of her mind, she knew what had happened.

"Hey, don't worry about it, okay?" Rose said, trying to ease Wanda's fears, giving the Time Lady an encouraging smile. Though, the smile held some uncertainty as well. Taking in a deep breath, Wanda slowly let it out, knowing she needed to calm herself. Rose was right. This was not the time and place to be dwelling on what exactly had occurred earlier. Wanda would question more on that later. For now, . . . she knew she must concentrate on . . . Rose . . .

"You're right, Shelly," Wanda sighed, shaking her head lightly. "Forget about the past, focus on the future."

Rose blinked, frowning as she stared at the Time Lady with great concern now. "'Shelly'? Wanda, are you sure you're feeling all right?"

"Huh?" Wanda blinked as well, shocked as she realized her slip up. What? What was up with her? Why was her mind . . . glitching so much? It was becoming hard to concentrate on anything now. Everything hurt, her mind was fuzzy, the ringing in her ears would not go away, and every time she stared at Rose, she would see Shelly for some reason. Or . . . was she seeing Rose? It was hard telling anymore. She hardly remembered what anyone from her home world had looked like. In fact, every time she tired envisioning Shelly or Tina or even her parents, all she could image was her current friends in place of the old.

"Sorry. Sorry, my mind's in another place at the moment," Wanda said, smiling in reassurance. Rose seemed to accept this as she nodded and smiled as well.

"Cybermen are part of the problem, and that makes them part of the solution! And really, isn't anyone going to ask, what is with the glasses?"

Wanda and Rose looked over to the Time Lord, seeing how he seemed to be going on in rambling to Pete and the others about what he was planning on fixing the Breach. However, he was doing his usual avoidance of a straight answer to everyone's questions. He was wearing the 3D glasses again as he had been observing the Cybermen marching towards Torchwood outside, and stood by the computers to the Breach, typing away as he began activating the hole between the universes.

"We're so used to you doing strange things, Doctor, that we tend to not bother asking anymore," Wanda spoke up, gaining the Time Lord's attention. The Doctor pulled off the red and blue lensed glasses, pouting as the Time Lady smiled cheekily at him. He could not help but let a small smile twitch on his lips. Even though he still felt somewhat betrayed and hurt by what happened earlier, he still loved the way she would always try to ease the situation with humour.

"Yes, well, anyway, I can see," the Doctor continued on explaining to the lot, hoping they would keep up with his plans for the day. "We've got two separate worlds, and in between the two separate worlds, we've got—."

"The Void," Wanda finished for him. Seeing the stern look the Time Lord shot her, she felt like looking away meekly, but, instead, she stuck out her tongue sassily as she knew she needed to help ease whatever had fallen between them. As well as in hopes of making up for whatever she had done to him and everyone else. "Sorry, didn't mean to steal your thunder."

"Yes, the Void," the Doctor went on, ignoring the sassy Time Lady. He knew she was trying to ease the tension between him and everyone else by being her normal giddy self. But . . . it would take some time before he could try to forgive her for what had happened. Even if it was not 'technically' her fault, it was still, in a way, her doing. "That's where the Daleks were hiding. And the Cybermen travelled through the Void to get here. And you lot—," the Doctor pointed at Pete, Jake, Mickey, and the others, "one world to another, via the Void. Everything that goes through the Void end up covered in, um . . ." He snapped his fingers, thinking of the correct term that the humans would understand.

"Void stuff?" Wanda offered.

"Like, um . . . background radiation," Rose added in. The Doctor smiled and nodded at the companion, but ignored the offer Wanda had made completely as he began working fast, getting the ghost shift system up to speed. They heard the computer announcing the countdown until the Breach would open once again.

"So, since the Cybermen are covered in the Void stuff—bristling with it—I'm going to open the Void and reverse," the Doctor told them. "The Void stuff gets sucked back inside."

"Pulling them all in!" exclaimed Rose in victory as she knew the Doctor had it all figured out. Just as he always did—saving the day. The companion beamed brightly at Wanda, ready to cheer with her friend, but blinked when seeing the Time Lady shaking instead. Rose felt the blonde gripping onto her hand with a trembling grasp. She was not certain why Wanda was so fearful all of the sudden. Patting the Time Lady's hand in reassurance, Rose hoped that everything did turn out all right in the end. She did not think Wanda could handle any more stress from the way she was slowly breaking down.

Noticing the quivering Time Lady in the corner of his eye, the reaction was ignored completely by the Doctor as he knew it was nothing. It was just Wanda either going through exhaustion or acting up again. He would just deal with it later, along with the long conversation he and the Time Lady would be having about what and who exactly she was.

"Sorry. What's—what's the Void?" Mickey questioned, gaining everyone's attention, asking the same question that all of the humans had been wondering.

"The dead space. Some people call it Hell," the Doctor answered in a quick response.

"So . . . you're sending the Cybermen to Hell," nodded the man. Mickey gave a grin, glancing at Jake. "Man, I told you he was good."

"But they'll get sucked in as well," Wanda breathed, gaining everyone's attention. They saw the way she held Rose's hand in a vise grip, staring at the Doctor with wavering eyes. "The only one not covered in Void stuff is Jackie. All the rest will be pulled in along with the Cybermen. Even you."

"And you as well," said the Doctor, holding the same even stare at the Time Lady as before, trying to keep her from seeing any emotions from him whatsoever. "You're covered in just as much Void particles as the rest of us."

"Who cares about me. I just don't want anyone else to get hurt," Wanda replied sternly. Grabbing Rose more firmly, the Time Lady walked the girl over to her mother and parallel father, pushing her closer to the group from the other universe. Rose stared at Wanda in confusion and disbelief as Wanda held a steady gaze with the girl. "Rose . . . I'm sorry, but you have to go with them."

"What?" Rose asked in bewilderment, blinking rapidly at this statement.

"It's . . . it's the only way to keep you safe," Wanda said quietly, keeping her gaze averted from the companion's as she felt no longer able to stare into the hazel eyes of her dearest friend. If she stared at Rose's warm eyes any longer, her resolve to keep the hardship from coming might falter completely. Wanda knew she might just cave in and stop the fixed events from happening all together.

"She's right," the Doctor agreed, walking up to the companion and others. Glad that Wanda was still just as caring as he had always known her to be. At least that was something she held differently from Alpha. "You've got to go. Back to Pete's World." The Time Lord gave a half smile, finding this term humourous for a moment. "We should call it that—Pete's World." Shaking his head, he grew serious once more as he stared solemnly at the companion. A sharp twinge hit him as he knew this might have been the reason Wanda had been trembling. This was their goodbye. Their best friend and companion, leaving them forever.

"The Doctor, he's only opening the Void from this side," Wanda breathed, her voice so quiet and somber that only Rose and the Doctor could hear her. And still, her gaze remained fixed on the floor as she refused to meet Rose's eyes. "You, Pete, Jackie, Mickey, Jake, and all the others will be safe on the other side."

"And with the Breach being soaked in Void stuff, in the end, it'll close itself," the Doctor added in his take, keeping his voice steady. As well as his expression. Best not let Rose or the others see his resolve break. This needed to happen, whether any of them liked it or not. It was the only way now.

"But you two will stay on this side," Rose stated, shaking her head as she frowned at the two Time Lords. "You'll both be pulled in."

"That's why I had the others bring me the magna-clamps," the Doctor explained to her. "I can put them to the wall, and we'll just hold on tight. Been doing that all my life." He gave the companion a reassuring grin. One that Rose did not buy whatsoever as she narrowed her eyes at him.

"I'm supposed to go. Just like that?" said the companion in a low tone.

Merely staring back with a cool regard, the Doctor did not even blink at the heated eyes Rose was giving him. He had become quite used to the glares she would often give him when they had clashed before. "Yeah."

Rose's eyes narrowed more. "To another world, and then it gets sealed off."

Still, the Time Lord remained unblinking. "Yeah."

Rose scoffed, laughing sharply. "That's not going to happen. Right, Wanda?" Looking at the blonde in front of her, Rose's frown deepened. "Are you seriously okay with this?"

"Yes," Wanda mumbled as had her hair in front of her eyes, not meeting Rose's questioning and suspicious eyes. "It is what's best for us all. You'll be safe and happy."

"All right. Then look at me and tell me to leave, and I will," Rose grounded out in annoyance. Wanda gave a small shake of her head. The companion gritted her teeth together. "Wanda, look at me." Watching as the Time Lady shook head sharply, Rose reached forward and jerked the smaller blonde's chin up, making them stare at each other. Rose blinked as she saw the tears leaking down Wanda's face, visibly shaken by what was going to happen.

"I . . . I don't want you to go," Wanda whispered, sniffling with her voice wavered as she seemed to plead for her friend's life. Suddenly, the building shook violently as they heard the barking orders of the Cybermen outside. Wanda stumbled away from Rose as the quaking continued, barely holding onto the girl's hand for dear life. Pete swiftly marched forward with a determined expression as he jerked the girl's hands apart, throwing a severe look at the Time Lady.

"We haven't got time to argue, and this isn't your decision. The plan works. We're going," Pete barked, specifically glowering at Wanda as he pulled Rose away.

"Let me go! I'm not going!" Rose shouted, angered by the way Pete directed her like she was some child, and how he glared at her friend. Suddenly, Rose stiffened as someone placed a yellow disc chain around her neck. Turning her head around, she saw the Doctor just behind her having been the one to place the device on her. "No!" Then, in a flash, she and the others were all gone.

There was a long moment of silence from the two Time Lords as they merely stood in place, gazing at the spot where their companion and best friend had disappeared from.

"I . . . I didn't even get to say goodbye," Wanda breathed out shakily. She wiped away her tears, knowing she should not be crying. She did not deserve to cry. And really, the Doctor did not get a chance to say farewell, either. It must be tearing him up just as badly. For her to let her emotions get the best of her was just another way she burdened her husband with her always being a drag in some ways. "I'm sorry. I know you must have wanted to say goodbye as well."

"It's for the best," the Doctor replied, no emotion within his voice as he walked over to the desks, getting the magna-clamps ready as he placed the first one onto the wall. Just next to the one lever that would activate the Breach. In disbelief to his cold demeanour and bleak response, Wanda could only shake her head in dismay to how the Doctor was reacting.

"Aren't you even a little remorseful to her being gone?" she said gruffly.

The Doctor turned sharply towards her, eyes blazing as his irritation spiked. "You don't think I'm not upset? That I won't miss Rose, my best mate? Of course I will! Don't think of me as heartless as you!"

Wincing, Wanda felt a sharp twinge go through her, stinging her to the core at this remark from him. "What? You think I'm heartless?" She watched as he snapped his mouth closed, giving a quick shake of his head.

"No, I didn't mean . . . What I meant . . ." The Doctor let out a frustrated breath as he ran a rough hand over his face, not looking at her once again. As for every time he stared at her, all he could see was the cruel gaze of Alpha. All he could envision as that thing living within Wanda. "Never mind. Just get to work, would you?"

Wanda could only stare at him for a moment longer. Wondering once again why he was so angry with her. Sucking in a breath, she walked forward, grabbing the other magna-clamp and going over to place it on the other side of the room right behind the second lever for the Breach. Her grip remained tight on the bar of the clamp, staring hard at the wall in front of her as she heard the Doctor muttering behind her. "Whatever I had done to you, I'm sorry."

Scoffing came from the Time Lord as he glanced up at Wanda's back. "What makes you think you did anything wrong?"

"From the way you're acting, I know it must have been something. Something awful." She turned, staring at him more fully now with sad eyes. "I'm sorry. Whatever I had done . . . I am so sorry."

He looked away from her, unable to meet her woeful eyes. "You didn't do anything wrong. So, quit worrying and just shut up already."

Observing him for a moment longer, Wanda turned away, walking over to the lever next to her to prepare for the Breach opening.

"I think this is the 'on' switch."

Both Time Lords swiftly jerked their heads when they heard Rose Tyler's voice. The companion stood in the middle of the room, tossing the yellow disc away from her as she smirked at them both.

"Thought you just get rid of me that easily?" she joked, a chortle held in her tone. Wanda could not help it. The beaming smile on her face appeared as she felt herself become giddy at the sight of her friend.

"Rose!" she exclaimed with a laugh.

"What are you doing?!" the Doctor barked in outrage, storming over to the girl. He gripped her arms, shaking her. "Once the Breach collapses, that's it! You will never be able to see her again, you own mother!"

"I made my choice a long time ago, and I'm never going to leave you two," Rose said evenly, staring back at the angry Time Lord coolly.

"Oi, Doctor, lay off her, will you?" Wanda spoke up, lightly pushing the Time Lord away after walking up to the two of them. "Rose is a big girl. She can make her own stupid choices. As for you, Rose Tyler," Wanda gave the girl a sharp smack on the head, "you're an idiot."

"Yeah. I've learned it from the best," Rose replied cheekily. Wanda rolled her eyes, smiling all the same as she was glad to see her friend again. But then . . .

"Rose, you should really go back," Wanda told the girl, keeping a steady gaze with the girl.

"No, I really shouldn't," Rose responded, giving the Time Lady a curt nod as she crossed her arms. "I'm not going and that's that."

"Rose," Wanda gave an exasperated sigh. Rubbing a hand through his hair in aggravation, the Doctor shook his head, grumbling under his breath.

"It's too late for Rose to go back now. She can just help us like normal," he said gruffly. Eyeing the companion, he smiled lightly at her. "Good to have you, though." He gave the companion a quick hug before running over to the computers, getting the systems up as the computer announced the Breach ready for activation. Truly happy that Rose was not leaving him and Wanda just yet. They still had plenty of adventures to go on. And he just knew Rose could help him figure out what was wrong with Wanda so that they might save her. Save the Time Lady from whatever cruel fate the Daleks and Alpha had done to her.

Wanda pinched her thumb behind her back as she watched Rose and the Doctor at work, knowing what was to come now. It was too late. She could not stop it. Even . . . even though she wanted to. It was like with Amy, Rory, and Melody at Demons Run all over again. All Wanda could do was stand aside and let time run its course. As she knew she must always do when it came to certain points in time. There were just some things that could never be changed or shifted. And Rose would get her happy ending. So . . . so Wanda knew there must be no reason for her to feel so torn for what was to come. There was no reason for her to feel sad for the companion when it would only lead to happiness.

Gripping at her chest, trying to ignore the deep sense of desperation to keep her friend alive and by her side. Trying to ignore the strange feeling within her as if she had seen this happen to another a long time ago. Seen another dear, dear friend die on her—No wait, Rose was not dying. Why did she keep thinking and imaging Rose dying? That was not going to happen. Not at all. Everyone was going to be fine. Shelly would live like always and—Wanda gasped, gripping her head as a sharp jab went through her mind. Stop it. She had to stop it. Whatever the heck was wrong with her, she had to fight it. Had to concentrate. Had to focus. For the Doctor, for her Theta. For Rose, for her friend. Shaking her head, Wanda jogged over, helping Rose and the Doctor set up the Breach quicker as she knew the Cybermen would be upon them very soon.

The three then ran over to the power levers. The Doctor on one side, holding the lever at the ready, while Wanda and Rose went to the other side, gripping the lever together.

"When it starts, just hold on tight," the Doctor instructed the girls. "Shouldn't be too bad for us, but the Cybermen are steeped in void stuff." Looking to them, seeing how both held such deep determination to pull through this day, he nodded curtly at them. "You ready?"

"Ready," both replied firmly.

Together, the three of them pushed the power levers up, activating the Breach. They then ran to the magna-clamps, wrapping their arms around the bars as they all gripped on for dear life as the hole in the universe opened. A great gale of wind pulled at them, making all three of them lift off their feet as the Breach began sucking in all who had travelled through the Void. The while light from the Void grew brighter and brighter as the hole opened wider, bringing in thousands of Cybermen up from the streets below and from the rest of the world. Consuming all of the metal men hungrily. All the while, the trio could hear the Cybermen screaming as they flew through the air and into the Void.

"The Breach is open!" the Doctor shouted over the uncontrollable windstorm from the Void. "Into the Void! Ha!" Rose grinned brightly along with the Time Lord as Wanda stared at the one lever next to her and the companion, waiting now for the time.

It came too soon for Wanda. All of it, it was too sudden. For before she knew it, one of the Cybermen came zooming in along with the others, banging with a loud clang into the power lever for the Breach. The machine sparked wildly and the lever shifted downwards as the system began to go offline once more. As the winds slowed down, so did the Cybermen being sucked into the Void. The Doctor stared at the power lever in alarm, knowing without both levers up and running, there would be no stopping the Cybermen or the tear in the universe. Wanda gripped onto the magna-clamp tighter, swallowing heavily now. Maybe . . . Maybe if she could do it herself, she might be able to—

In a blink, Rose left the magna-clamp, grabbing onto the lever before Wanda even realized the companion had left her side. Collectively, both Time Lords felt their hearts freeze in place, watching as Rose struggled to hold onto the lever as she got it back up into position. Soon, she succeeded in her goal and was hanging onto the metal lever for her life as the gale picked up once more and the rest of the Cybermen were pulled into the Void. Watching in dread, Wanda could only stare at her friend as Rose clung to the lever, gazing back to the Time Lady fearfully.

"Rose! Hold on!" the Doctor shouted over the gusting winds of the Void, watching the companion in fright for her life.

Rose let out a small scream as her hands began to slip from the lever. Then, without a second warning, she lost her grip and began to fly backwards towards the whiteness of the Void. There was a loud smack as a sudden hand grabbed the companion's, stopping her in mid-fall. Rose gazed with wide eyes at Wanda, who held onto the girl with one hand while the other clutched at the lever. Both girls were sideways in the air as the whirlwinds around them still pulled with all its might, ready to devour them both.

"Hang on, Rose! Don't let go!" Wanda screamed at her friend, gripping the girl's hand as if her own life depended on it. She could not do it. She could not sit idly by and watch her friend leave forever, or to somehow slip into the Void to die. Wanda knew she must save her friend. She had to save her! She could not let her die again! Wanda squeezed her eyes shut as she forced herself to hold onto the lever with all her might.

But her might was not good enough. The pull from the Void was too strong. Her body was too weak from the turmoil it had gone through that day. The more she held on, the more her muscles in her body screamed for rest. Each clenched hand began to quake as she was slowly losing her grip. Rose's eyes widened more as she realized what was happening. And the Doctor, who had felt his hearts freeze over entirely and his breath leave him the moment the saw Wanda letting go of the magna-clamp to catch her friend, let out a wild pleading scream.

"WANDA!" he bellowed in desperation, eyes staring at her in pure terror in seeing her losing her hold on the lever. He held out a hand towards her direction, frantic in wanting to catch her and keep her safe.

Wanda was unable to look at his direction as she fixated everything on keeping Rose with her. But then, she gasped as she felt the squeezing hand of Rose. Eyes whipping to her friend, hearts stopping completely, she saw the small smile on Rose's face. A memory flashed from Wanda's mind as she recalled a very similar smile during a very comparable situation. Eveleen Sommer, from the Midnight shuttle bus, had given her that very same smile. The smile that said . . . 'goodbye.' Then, before Wanda knew what was happening, Rose jerked her hand out of the Time Lady's grasp, letting herself fall back towards the Void.

"NO! SHELLY!" Wanda howled in utter despair. Her hand, still outreached and grasping at thin air as she only wanted Rose to be within her reach and safe. She watched as the companion drew closer and closer to the Breach, ready to be pulled into the Void. Then, in a blink, Pete Tyler appeared, with yellow disc in hand and snatched Rose just as she was about to fall into the white nothingness, and the two vanished from sight in the next instant. Both of them going back to Pete's World for good.

Wanda's hand on the lever trembled and finally gave out, letting her fall to the Void to follow the same path Rose had almost gone. She looked over to the Doctor, seeing the silent screaming of panic and terror on his lips. The wind from the Void being too deafening for her to hear what he was shouting as he held out his hand towards her direction. And, like Rose, fate decided to spare Wanda from the Void. The Breach faltered, the winds died down, and the Void snapped shut. The blinding whiteness disappeared in a blink just as Wanda slammed against the white wall of Torchwood Tower. She fell to the floor in a heap, laying there facing the wall as the computers called out all systems being closed for good. All was silent and still as Wanda simply remained there on the cold chilled floor, staring blankly at the wall where the hole of the universe had been.

Shakily, her hand reached up as she slowly sat up from the floor, feeling the freezing wall that matched the similar coldness which seemed to have washed over her. Her breathes came in and out at a building rapid pace. Hyperventilating, she began slapping, then slamming, then pounding at the wall as tears poured out of her emerald eyes and down her pale cheeks. All the while, desperate screams ripped right out of her lungs as she almost clawed at that damn white wall that she knew separated her from her friend. Her only friend.

"NO! BRING HER BACK!" Wanda beseeched to the wall, pleading, begging as her voice wailed. "Bring her back! Please, bring her back! Don't let her leave, please! Don't let her leave me!" Sobs tore from her as she slumped against the wall, weakly slamming her fists against the concrete as she continued to wail for the loss of her dearest friend.

Gentle but strong hands slowly touched her back, moving up to her shaking shoulders. She felt herself being pulled back from the wall, turning to face the crouched man in front of her. She could barely see him through the thick tears in her eyes. But she knew it was the Doctor, coming to comfort her. She wept even harder, falling into his chest as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her so tight against him and rocking her as he rubbed circles on her back. All the while, she clung to him, muttered weakly against his chest as her mind had gone through too much and a few barriers, ones that had already been cracked on that day, started to leak out even more muddled images from a haunting past.

"Shelly. Shelly. It's all my fault. All my fault. I'm sorry. So sorry. Shelly. Shelly. All my fault. My fault," Wanda repeated in a broken voice over and over again as she constantly twitched against the Doctor.

Gazing down with tears in his eyes, he saw how Wanda's eyes had turned blank and dull, staring at nothing as she continuously trembled and jerked in his grasp. Arms closing around her even tighter, the Doctor pressed his lips to the top of her head, letting whatever horrifying visions she was seeing pass. Soon to be forgotten once more.

XxXxXxXx

Three days.

That was how long it had been since Torchwood. Three long, slow days. Days that seemed to drag on and on. The clock never ticking for the couple within the TARDIS. Neither had fully rested since that awful day. Neither had let themselves fully heal, either. All other small wounds on the Doctor were fine. Only his hand remained damaged from the strange injury he had received. Wanda's wound had closed up mostly. She had already cleaned herself up, taking a scalding showering to scrub away her woes. After this, she had remained by the Doctor's side, ever vigilant in helping him succeed in their tasks. Their goal to contact Rose through the last tear in the universe, and to say . . . their last goodbyes.

Currently, Wanda sat on the captain's chair, holding one of Rose's blouses in her hands. She continuously thumbed the thin material of the once companion's shirt, staring distantly at the purple colouring as she remembered helping Rose pick out this particular blouse a long time ago during a day on a market planet. A shiver went through the Time Lady, making her pull her maroon overcoat tighter around herself. Since that day in Torchwood, she just could not stop shivering as the coldness never seemed to leave her now. And she felt so tired, hungry, and weak. Her stomach cramping up and gurgling away in an unpleasant noise. Gripping at her middle, she tried getting the nauseous feeling to pass, not wishing to throw up again for a fifth time this day.

Next to the console, the Doctor continued to repeatedly glance over to Wanda as he went on this his work, knowing he had to finish this for her. To give her the last goodbyes she so desperately wished to give Rose. To her best mate. Their lost Rose. Guilt laid heavily upon him as he knew this was his fault. He had caused Wanda's sadness. Never before had he seen her so . . . miserable. Well, no, he took that back. He had seen her in this sort of state before. On a rare few occasions. And during those times, she had seemed even sadder then than during this moment. But with the constant sickness she seemed to be going through, it worried him greatly. No matter how often he would check on her, Wanda always seemed so pale. Her freckles stood out even more than usual.

Looking away in dejection, he knew there was another thing he wished to do for her. But . . . damn him. He could still not get himself to tell her. He had already apologized in the way he had acted beforehand. Guilty over how harshly he had judged her and had been foolish enough to ever think that his . . . his Wanderer could even remotely be something like Alpha. She would never purposely lie to him, deceive him, or to be cruel to others. Not with her full mind. For Wanda could never be any of that on her own accord. No, Wanda was simply a victim of the Time War. He knew that now. There had been so many victims from that horrible war. So many lives that he tried mending, a punishment for his own actions during the war. Now, he had another life that he knew he must mend. No matter how long it took, he knew he needed to fix Wanda's mind, her memories, and to get Alpha out of her completely.

Of course, when he had cried into Wanda's shoulder, telling her how sorry and foolish he was, though unable to tell her why exactly he had been so angry with her to begin with, she had smiled and immediately told him, 'Idiot. There's no need to apologize. I'd already forgiven you.' He had smiled right after this, touched in how instantly she would always forgive him. Just as she had promised so long ago, never would she hold something against him. And for this, he knew, in the future, no matter what she would do or what Alpha could do, he would also always forgive and forget. Then, of course, when she tried to apologize as well, crying over what happened to Rose and saying sorry repeatedly of whatever she had done to him to back at Torchwood, he had swiftly kissed her, letting her know there was nothing to be sorry for. She was forgiven by him, too.

Still, however, he questioned who the real her was. He felt constantly plagued in wondering . . . who was the real Wanderer in the end? Was it really her? Truly her real name? Or was it someone else entirely? Was her mind her own? Were her memories real? What was she? Who was she? Did she . . . He swallowed heavily, questioning if she truly loved him at all.

Glancing over at her again, he saw how she shivered and wrapped her arms around her middle, sniffling as it seemed she were letting herself come undone once again. Just as the many times she had let herself fall apart over the loss of their Rose. Walking over to her, he crouched down next to the seat, patting her knee gently as he showed her a warm smile.

"I've sent the mental link to Rose last night. She should be seeing my message as a dream when she's asleep in Pete's World," he said quietly. Wanda forced herself to stop shivering, giving him a weak smile in return.

"Good. We'll be seeing her soon, then," she replied softly. She let her hand fall onto his, giving injured appendage a light squeeze. Pulling the hand up, she kissed it again as she often did whenever she had a chance. Each time, it sent a wave of warmth through the Time Lord as his hearts soared. Letting his hand lay back on her lap, she looked up to the scanner just behind him, seeing the supernova outside the orbiting TARDIS doors on screen. "How long will the supernova last during the transmission?"

"Two minutes. Five tops," the Doctor told her. "It'll be a while before the connection establishes and stabilizes. So . . . we have some time."

"How long do we have to wait?" Wanda scooted over on the chair, allowing the Doctor to sit next to her. They kept holding onto each other's hand, either one wishing to ever let go.

"Hard telling. But the TARDIS will let us know when she's ready." The soft hum of the console room was the only thing that broke the silence between them. Neither one wished to speak as they remained focused on watching the scanner continue with its calculations and connection settings. Anticipating when the moment would arrive for them to tell Rose their last goodbyes. But there was also a feeling of dread as well.

"I thought I was going to lose you, too."

Wanda blinked, turning her head to stare at the Doctor, seeing how he kept his eyes fixed on the console. Stone-faced as it seemed he let all emotions within shut down as he feared in overwhelming her from the true torment within him. "Huh?"

"When you let go of the power lever, falling toward the Void . . . I thought I'd lost you. Forever. I . . . I-I don't know what I would have done if you had been lost to me." His hand tightened around hers. "It was like my hearts were being ripped apart in every second you fell."

She squeezed his hand in comfort, thumbing the rough skin of his palm. "But I'm fine, Theta. Please, don't tear yourself over what could have happened. Or even what did. It's not your fault. None of it was. Rose and I both know that."

"But it could have happened. It would have if it had been a second sooner. Then you would never know that I . . ." The Doctor looked at Wanda beside him, feeling the buildup of what he wanted to say to her. The words felt ready to burst through him, announcing what his hearts were screaming, pleading to say at that very moment.

It was similar to how he had felt down in the Beast's pit on that impossible planet. When he had dangled there by that cable that Ida had lowered him down with, knowing that he was going to let himself fall down into the depths of where the Beast lived, he had wanted to say it then, too. He tried to say it, telling Ida to pass on the needed message to Wanda if contact had been established again once he was gone. But he had been idiotic then as well. He had been unable in his own stubborn way to admit it, to let himself say what was on his mind or his hearts. With a second of him letting the moment pass and himself fall into the pit, he regretted it instantly, believing that he had missed his chance to ever let Wanda know what true regard he held for her.

And this time, it was the other way around. Instead, it was her that had fell towards a bottomless pit. Towards the Void, Hell itself in the making. She would have been trapped. For all eternity, in endless nothingness. The only thing she would have had in remembering him, the last moments they had together, was his anger and harsh attitude towards her. She would only remember him in a moment of frustration and doubt. Never knowing how he truly felt for her. And for all time, he would regret his last actions and words towards her. He would never have the chance to make amends. Never to solidify their relationship permanently by telling her that he . . .

Turning to her, his hands came up to hold her arms, making them both face each other squarely. She blinked in confusion as he swallowed thickly, gaining up his resolve.

"Wanda, I . . . I . . .," he tried speaking but failed. Damn him. Why could he not say it? It was three words. Just three. He could speak thousands of words in a single breath. Why could only three simple ones be so hard to say? Wanda smiled softly, reaching up to thumb at the side of his face tenderly.

"It's okay, Doctor," she spoke softly. "You don't have to say it now. You always have other Wandas to say it to." Her eyes were so kind, so understanding. That mystical gaze within her emerald irises that had always captivated him, that held such deep emotions whenever she would look at him. His resolve strengthened as his grip on her arms tightened, determined to get his words out now or never.

"No. It doesn't matter about later Wandas. What matters is you, the Wanda here and now," he told her, voice filled with strong emotion. The words felt ready to burst from him, but he knew he needed her to understand what he has felt for her all this time. She must understand and to never feel that he doubted her ever again. Not by any means. And to let her know just how torn he felt on what had almost occurred for them both. "I would have always been thinking of what could have happened. I would have always been wondering and plagued by what I could have said to you. This you, now. I would have always thought back to this day and wished I could have said it.

"But I'll say it now," he continued. "Because you're my Wanderer. It doesn't matter how young or old you are. It doesn't matter whether you're blonde or raven or even brunette. None of that matters. All that matters is that you're my Wanderer." He cupped her face with both hands, watching as her eyes sparkled as he held a deep gaze with her. His hearts soaring even higher as the words finally left him. "You're my Wanderer, and I love you."

He then sealed his declaration with a kiss. Their lips seared together as the Time Lord bond sparked up at a fierce level, making them both feel as though nothing else in the universe matter expect for this moment between them. Here and now, that was all either one cared about. Wanda tangled her fingers through her Theta's messy hair as she was pulled up against him. Light smacking came as their lips danced, molding their passion so each could feel the love the other felt. Soon, Wanda pulled away, keeping their gaze locked as she held such a smile on her face. Pure radiance as the Doctor smiled as well. Joyful tears were in her eyes as she felt such elation in finally being within the moment when the Doctor her told how he felt.

"You're my Theta, and I love you, too," she told him, her voice soft, loving, as she let her fingers trail down to thumb his face.

"Wanderer," he sighed in relief, capturing her into a kiss once more. But they abruptly pulled away as the TARDIS console beeped, letting them know the connection was finally ready. It was time for their last goodbyes.

Both stood up quickly, going over to help the TARDIS establish a firm line with the parallel universe. Wanda left the purple blouse on a railing, forgetting it for the moment as she focused on getting their task done. The control room flashed its lights at the connection was officially made, bringing in the image of Rose Tyler into the room in front of them. The Doctor and Wanda turned, facing the blurred image of the companion. She wore a long-sleeved, black jacket, seemed bundled up from whatever cold place she had arrived to in hopes to talk to them once more. Rose looked at them both with wavering eyes, hair whipping around her face as it seemed she stood somewhere very windy. A small smile appeared on the girl's face as it appeared she felt joy in seeing them both again once more.

"Where are you?" she asked them both immediately, her curiosity to how they were contacting her outweighing the need to tell them everything else she wanted to say.

"Inside the TARDIS," the Doctor explained gravely to the distant companion. "There's one tiny little gap in the universe left, just about to close. And it takes a lot of power to send this projection. We're in orbit around a supernova. We're burning up a sun just to say goodbye." Both Time Lords smiled dully at this. Rose, however, only looked even more devastated than before as her eyes wavered once again. Seeming to be holding back tears in knowing this was the end for them. The end of their adventures, forever.

"You both look like ghosts," she remarked, staring at them both as she was seen trying to see them more clearly than what they appeared before her. Wanda pulled out her sonic screwdriver from her coat, aiming it at the console, adjusting the projection. Rose's own image came in more clearly, making it look as if she were standing just there with them. As though they were talking like normal in the control room as they always had. The companion moved closer to them, staring in desperation at them as she raised a hand towards the two Time Lords.

"Can we touch?" she asked them.

"No," Wanda told the girl sadly.

"We're still just an image," the Doctor replied gravely.

Rose dropped her hand to her side, appearing dejected by this. She wanted to ask if they could come through the gap in the universe. To be with her in this world. But . . . she knew this could never be. The universe, her old home, needed the Doctor and the Wanderer. There was still so much more to come for them both. That much Rose did know. And, if things were truly meant to be different than this, this separation between the three of them, she knew Wanda would be smiling away, assuring them all that everything would be fine in the end. Just as she always did. Not this time, however. Rose only saw the grave, somber expression from the Time Lady. Letting the girl know that this was the end for them all. It was just . . . too soon for Rose.

"I wish . . .," Rose began speaking, trying to convey her desire to see them properly. To be with them again. Both Time Lords gave another sad smile.

"I know," the Doctor said quietly.

"Us, too," Wanda breathed. Rose's lips quivered as she tried smiling as well, glad that they all wanted the same thing.

"Where are we? Where did the gap come out?" the Doctor suddenly questioned, gazing around as if seeing what landscape their images had appeared at within the other universe. Though really, he was simply staring at the control room around the TARDIS. Unable to truly see where Rose was.

"We're in Norway. About fifty miles out of Bergen," Rose explained, looking around where she was in the other world. Wanda knew the girl was standing on a beach at the moment. The beach with the name—"It's called Darlig Ulv Stranden. Translates as 'Bad Wolf Bay.'" Rose gave wet laugh through her built up tears, ready to cry. But she withheld, keeping her smile as she did not wish to have their goodbye to be sad. As she knew neither of them wanted that either from the way their kept their small smiles strained on their faces. However, when Rose spoke again, her voice spoke of nothing but sorrow. "How long have we got?"

"About two minutes," the Doctor told the crying companion.

Rose nodded, breathing in and out to steady herself. Straightening up, she stared at the Doctor with full resolve. "Doctor, there's something I've been wanting to tell you. I've wanted to say . . . that I love you."

The Doctor gave the companion a sympathetic smile. "I know. I'm sorry."

Rose glanced down, watching as he held Wanda's hand even more firmly then. Smiling warmly, Rose felt relief as she finally got that load off her chest, and to see the two together as they should be. "Just had to get that out in the open. Don't worry, I'm not upset at all. I was rooting for you two from the start." She laughed, holding a more brightly lit smile this time. Eyeing Wanda, seeing the guilt crossing the Time Lady's face, Rose crossed her arms sternly. "And stop being dramatic with the guilt, Wanda. You know we both wouldn't have it any other way."

Wanda felt the Doctor squeezing her hand. Raising her gaze from the floor, Wanda saw each of them smiling at her in reassurance that things were fine this way. She smiled and nodded, knowing she would let herself feel guilty over this later. For now, it was best to make this a happy goodbye.

"I know. I'm sorry," Wanda whispered, gazing solely at Rose now. "Rose, I'm so sorry. I know things haven't worked out the best for you. But I promise, you will find your own Doctor one day. And don't think this is the last time we will see each other. There will be one more time of us visiting in the future." She winked, happy to have given Rose hope as the girl's smile grew.

"Good," Rose replied, nodding firmly. She then gazed more serious at the other blonde, holding a thoughtful expression. "Wanda, there's been something on my mind since . . . since that day. It's been three months now, and it's all I can really think about."

"What's that?" Wanda asked curiously, wondering what could possibly plague Rose more than not being able to be with them on the TARDIS.

"It's just . . . something I've been wanting to say . . .," Rose bit her lip, shifting on the spot. She laughed, shaking her head. "I'd thought . . . I'm being stupid, but it's just . . . maybe I should tell you that . . . just to get another thing off my chest . . ."

"Rose?" Wanda stared at her, trying to understand what the girl was trying to convey.

The lost companion looked at the Time Lady, then to the Time Lord next to her. The Doctor held an expression of understanding and sympathy. If anyone looked at them during that moment, one might assume they were conveying of a secret that only they shared. Rose bit her lip harder while the Doctor nodded as if to encourage her.

"Wanda, . . .," Rose tried speaking, but her voice caught in her throat. When Rose's eyes met Wanda's, her shoulders visibly slumped. In the end, she let out a sigh and soft smile, shaking her head. "No. Nevermind, me."

"Rose . . . ," the Doctor mumbled quietly, swallowing when seeing the lost companion's firm gaze.

"It's fine, Doctor. I'm fine," Rose said quietly, smiling even more now through her watery gaze. She looked at Wanda, her expression turning to a strained, sad, slim smile. "There's just . . . something I need to ask you."

"Anything," Wanda assured the girl, wanting nothing more than to give Rose whatever she wanted. In anything she wished to say, to help her find peace and ease, Wanda wanted that for her friend.

Rose bit her lip, seeming uncertain if she should ask such a bizarre question. But it was something she wanted to know. Something that, in the back of her mind, told her she needed to bring up the topic. To have Wanda herself question this as well. "When I fell . . . when I was falling towards the Void . . . you yelled out a name. You yelled for Shelly, your old mate." Rose stared at the Time Lady, seeing how Wanda was stunned by this, looking as though she did not remember screaming that name at all. Just as Rose suspected. "Do you . . . have any idea why you'd shout Shelly's name?"

Wanda shook her head, not understanding what Rose was asking. Shelly's name? She did not remember saying that name at all. But then . . . she remembered more clearly. Rose falling. The desperate cry that had ripped from Wanda's lungs. She had screamed for Shelly. Why? She was just as confused as Rose was for the slip of that old name. "I don't know. I didn't mean to. I'm sorry."

"Wanda . . . I remember how Gwyneth told us both once how we would be with our families one day," Rose said slowly, seeming to try to help Wanda in some ways in remembering. In fighting against Alpha in her mind that kept memories at bay. "She said how Shelly and Tina were in the same place my dad was. Do you think . . . Do you think that Shelly's dead? Do you remember Shelly dying?"

Wanda's breath left her as her mind halted. Everything seemed to go still as an icy feeling swept over her. Her breath froze in place as the room around titled. The more she stared at Rose, the more she saw Shelly staring back at her. The more Wanda felt her memories from her old home went fuzzy and short-circuited. Then, everything went blank, and she could not recall a single image of Shelly at all. Only to see Rose standing before her. Nothing . . . Nothing seemed right. Everything, absolutely everything, was wrong.

"I-I don't remember," Wanda said, hitching in breath. Her eyes wavered even more. "I-I-I can't remember. All I remember is. . . Rose . . ." She stared at Rose, alarmed as she suddenly became aware of the image of the companion slowly fading away. "Rose!" Wanda leaped forward, reaching for her friend just as the image of Rose reached for her as well. No! It was too soon! They did not have enough time to talk at all, to ease Rose's pain away. She wanted Rose to feel at peace, not to worry about them. Not to worry about herself.

But Wanda's hand swept through nothingness as Rose's vanished completely. The control room remained perfectly still, motionless as none could believe it had ended so suddenly. That the goodbye could be gone, just like that. The shivering began through Wanda once more as tears began running down her face. She hiccupped, clutching hands to her mouth as she tried holding in her sobs. She felt the Doctor slowly hug her from behind, shaking as well. For he too was crying and mourning over the loss of their friend.

Letting her hands drop from her mouth, Wanda stared over her shoulder to her Theta, eyes brimming with sadness and despair. "She's gone." Nodding, the Doctor held her tighter, allowing Wanda to turn in his grasp as she hugged him as well. Burying her face into his chest. Then, she asked one last desperate question. A question that seemed to simply spill right out of her. "Why can't I remember?"

"I don't know," the Doctor said, holding her as tight as he could. Wishing to bury this day away for good and let them both forget their woes completely. "But I'll figure it out. I promise."

However, time had other plans as a sudden yelp gained the attention of the two grieving Time Lords. They instantly pulled away from each other, looking around towards the front of the room near the doors to where a strange woman wearing a wedding gown had appeared. Wanda backed up behind the Doctor as he stuttered in utter disbelief at the sight of Donna Noble. Wanda closed her eyes, letting the warmth overcome her and the white light to sweep her away for good.

XxXxXxXx

;_; I feel a mixture of emotions right now. I don't know what to think. Mostly nervous to see what you all thought of that chapter. I hope it was good. Even if it was sad in the end. Please let me know what you all thought in a review. Of course, if you can. Don't want to push you all to review if you do not wish to. :) Even though that ended sad, I hope that the rest of the day/night is filled with joy and bliss. *hugs*

Until next time everyone!

~Tinker~