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)

42. Ch 42: Are You My Mummy?

Hey, readers!

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XxXxXxXx

Chapter 42: Are You My Mummy?

The crisp night air settled through the brick alleyway. Every so often a brisk wind swept through, making the old tarps hanging along the brick walls flutter. Crates and piles of random objects laid around, making the place look as though many had left abandoned in a haste. The only bright and colourful object in the alley was that of the blue police call box. The TARDIS herself, looking ever so beautiful. A white light appeared right beside the old girl, revealing Wanda. The light slowly disappeared as the Time Lady took in her surroundings while patting an affectionate hand onto the ship.

"Where am I this time, old girl?" Wanda asked softly in cheer, smiling brightly at the ship. She received a gentle song in reply, which she tried her best to sing a tune back. She was getting better at communicating this way to the TARDIS. Soon she might be able to sing fully with Sexy, allowing it so the old girl would no longer be the last one to sing away the sorrows.

"Mummy!"

Wanda stiffened when hearing the eerie child's voice. The word being almost sung out in a way. Peaking around the TARDIS, she saw the figure of a small little boy standing on the rooftop above wearing an old war gas mask. Oh. So it was that adventure, was it?

"Okay, hang on, don't move," she heard the voice of Rose Tyler from up above as well. Though she did not see the companion, she knew the girl would be trying to reach the boy. Then, at that moment, sirens began wailing through the night. Oh no, not good. She stiffened when hearing the cry of alarm from Rose. The next second, she saw the companion, holding onto a rope attached to a London, second World War, barrage balloon, floating away from the rooftop. Going higher and higher into the air as the wind carried her off.

"Girlie! What the heck are you doing?!" Wanda shouted at Rose, running down the alleyway, following after the balloon and companion. Rose whipped her eyes towards the ground, surprised to see the short blonde jogging down the street (in bellbottoms and a green tie-dyed tunic no less) right under her, following along with the barrage balloon's path.

"Wanda! Help!" call out the companion in panic as she floated even higher into the air, getting far away from both the Time Lady and the ground. Wanda sped up in her pace, trying to keep up with the floating companion. It was harder running, considering the extra weight she was carrying along now. However, through whatever exhaustion, she would keep up, making certain Rose would be all right. It had been so long since she had seen Rose. Last time had been . . . had been . . . that horrid day. It was still hard for Wanda to get over what had happened. Even if it already was meant to be. Even knowing that Rose was happy in Pete's world with Fred. It still . . . hurt so much in knowing her best friend was gone. Just like with River though, Wanda would make certain that every moment was amazing.

Wanda sped up as she heard distant bombs and the hum of German planes overhead. The war cry of the Blitz. Her dread kicked in at full height. It did not help seeing the streets of London so bare and lifeless, either. It only made her more fearful for the hanging companion above her. She continued to keep up with the girl the best she could. Moving deeper and deeper into the Blitz as she followed after Rose. Fires were every from the bombs raining down. The explosions grew louder, rocking the ground under her feet. Every time she heard a plane buzz overhead, she ducked under a crumbled building, hidden from sight until the plane left. She would then run as quickly as she could to catch up with Rose a fast as possible. Soon, Wanda was near St. Paul's and the Thames, getting closer to where she knew a certain Captain would be watching the dangling Rose.

A bomb went off in a fiery blaze just a few feet in front of her down the road. She jumped, falling onto her back from the shock wave the bomb gave. Staring up wide-eyed at the sky, she felt her breath catch as she saw Rose lose her grip on the rope of the balloon, screaming as the girl fell.

"NO!" Wanda shouted, getting back up to her feet in horror. Then, a moment after she yelled, a strange beam shot out near Big Ben, halting Rose's fall. A swirling light field, the tractor beam, that twirled around Rose's suspended body, keeping her from plummeting to her doom. Wanda let out a breath of relief, knowing it was a certain Captain coming to the rescue. She could kiss him in gratitude for saving Rose. Though, since this was early Captain Jack Harkness, he might take that the wrong way.

"Okay, okay, I've got you!" Wanda heard Jack speak over the com system of the ship he was currently in by Big Ben. Though it was not as loud for her as it would be for Rose who was still high in the air, far above the Time Lady.

Wanda picked up in pace as she saw Rose being sucked down the light field and into the invisible ship by the clock tower. She knew she needed to get to Jack, or else she might end up meeting a bad end with a German bomb if she continued to be in the heart of the air raid. Though it was difficult getting close under to where she knew Jack's ship was as there was much debris from buildings and fires from bombs all around her. The eerie sounds of the planes overhead only kept her going in wanting to hurry out of the dangerous situation. That, and the stress of worrying over whether or not she would be blown up could not be good for Ember.

Eventually, she managed to get close under where she suspected the cloaked ship would be. Now, the only question left was: How was she going to convince Jack to let her on board? They were not exactly friends just yet, so there would be no open arms of glee in seeing each other. He was in the middle of a scam, so he would be wary of anyone seen as a time traveller. Especially after what the time agency from his time had done to him. So . . . she would just have a play to his charm. Should be easy enough. Picking up a stray rock (more like a piece of concrete from a building), it weighed heavily in her hand as she judged where the ship should be, aimed, and threw the heavyweight up into the air. She missed the first time. But when she threw another, it made a loud clang in midair and she could see a ripple effect of where the ship would be. Bingo. Grabbing another chunk of rock from the ground, she made certain to aim at the same spot, hitting the hovering ship with another loud clang.

"Hey, who's hitting my ship?" came the voice of Jack from a speaker, sounding off loudly in the night air. "I swear if you leave any dents—."

"Then you'll have me buy you dinner," Wanda finished for him, cupping hands around her mouth to project her voice as loud as she could. She held a large smirk, knowing that she had gotten what he was going to say, which must have surprised him by the silence that followed. Then, a bright light lit over her, pointed right at her direction. She smiled and waved, bouncing giddily on her feet in excitement. Meeting a companion for the 'first' time was always the best.

"Dinner, and a dance through the night," added Jack in his very smexy voice. Wanda giggled, nodding in agreement.

"Oh, yes, a wild dance party! On the ceiling with bubbles and disco lights! And a bottle of hypervodka for you, of course," she exclaimed merrily, waving her hands in the air and doing a funny jig. Just like she had done with Eleven at Amy and Rory's wedding. She heard Jack chuckling in amusement over the speaker. Most likely finding her behaviour odd but likable. Then, he went to business with his voice being much more curt.

"All right, so, you know how I like my drinks. Do we know each other?" he asked her curiously, sounding intrigued by her presence.

"Not yet, but we will," Wanda replied, winking at the air again where she knew he would be watching her. "You could say that you're my Smexy Time Agent. But, I also can just call you Captain Jack Harkness, if you'd prefer that for the time being, since this is our first meeting and all. Don't want to make you uncomfortable. Unless, you want to be." She smirked, chuckling under her breath as she knew Jack must be very much interested in her now in the way she flirted back. Not many did so with him. At least, not during the first time meeting him.

Jack's voice went back to his usual flirtatious tone. "Right, uncomfortable can most definitely be fun. Especially with the right handcuffs." There was a pause as Jack seemed to snap himself back out of flirt mod and into his curt demeanour once again. "Okay, who are you? What do you want? And how is it that we know each other?"

She put on a serious demeanour herself, getting back on track and to the point. Best save the best flirting for later. "Well, for starters, you have someone I care about with you. I mean, thanks for saving her. I'm truly grateful. But I'd like to get up there and make sure that she's simply passed out from a bit of scrambled mind from a tractor beam and isn't injured seriously anywhere else. You did place her on a nice bed for resting, yeah? I swear if you just left her on the floor I'm so gonna—." She took in a breath, realizing she started rambling rapidly again. Gotta get to the point with Jack. "Anyway, as for the rest of your questions, just bring me on board already. I'm tired of shouting. It's making my throat hoarse."

The light around her disappeared, sending her into darkness. She blinked, trying to let her eyes adjust again in the night as spots danced around her vision from the sudden loss of light. Then, the light reappeared, this time being that of a tractor beam. She smiled as she was lifted up off the ground, floating towards the ship. The next thing she knew, she was inside with Jack sitting in the pilot's seat, watching her carefully as she steadied herself on her feet. The inside of the ship was dark, with only a few lights coming from different panels and the floor. It was a grunge mess for the most part, with bronze-coloured metal for the ship's design, and wires hanging all over the place.

"Thanks," she said, smiling and giving him a thumbs up, shrugging off the effects of the tractor beam. She immediately saw Rose sleeping on a nearby bunk, curled up peacefully in her sleep. Wanda went over to her in an instant, pulling out her sonic as she checked over the girl. Finding everything to be all right, save for the rope burns on the girl's hands, Wanda nodded as she placed her sonic back into her trouser pocket. "All right. Everything seems to be in order. She'll be up again in a little while. So," she clapped her hands together, facing Jack with a bright smile, "where were we?"

"You were about to tell me exactly who you are," Jack told her, keeping things curt again. She saw how he had his hand resting close to his hip. Close to where his gun was. Right, he was on defense. Might as well get to the point, then.

"I'm the Wanderer. Though friends call me Wanda for short," she explained politely. "And my friend here, the one you saved, she's Rose Tyler. A companion and best mate of mine."

"Did the Time Agency send you?" Jack quizzed her, his voice having a steeled edge when saying the accursed agency that had ruined his life.

"No, I would never work for them," Wanda replied, also having a curt voice when referring to the agency. "Besides, my way of time travel is much safer. Mine's a sports car in comparison, really." She smirked proudly when thinking of the TARDIS. The old girl was leagues above any Vortex manipulator.

Jack seemed more eased, believing her statement as he always had a way of knowing when others were lying. That, and he had his ship's computer doing a scan that would beep in letting him know if she did lie. "Okay. So, tell me, how do we know each, then?"

"We're meeting each other now, aren't we?" Wanda smirked cheekily, walking up and shaking his hand in enthusiasm. "Hello, Jack Harkness. Nice to meet you."

"Likewise?" Jack frowned, confused on how bubbly the blonde was acting. "It's not exactly us first meeting if we've already met."

"It's the first time for you meeting me." Wanda stepped back after shaking his hand. "But for me, I've already met you over seventy years ago."

"Seventy years?"

"As in seventy years for me. Not timewise, my time. I'm currently . . ." She paused in saying her age, knowing that she was still uncertain what it truly was. She still remembered vaguely of the Doctor showing her a scan of her 'actual' age. But . . . what had the sonic say of her 'real' age again? She could not recall. Shaking her head, she decided to bypass that. "Well, let's just say I'm very old. Older than you. You're practically a child in comparison. And yes, I know I don't look my age."

Jack raised a brow, looking her up and down in disbelief. But he smirked nonetheless. "Looking good for your age, then. I'd like to know your secret."

"I change faces." She waved a hand over her face, making a silly expression. "This is my third face, so far. Had two others before. Not as fun as current me, but they know how to have a few good laughs every once and a while."

". . . Changing-faces?" Jack merely stared at her, seeming at a loss and beginning to believe her as mad.

Wanda smirked, rocking on her feet in clear ease and giddiness. "Yep, do that as a way to cheat death. It's a, ah, special ability of my . . . species, I guess you could say. My husband can do it, too. But don't tell him that he's my husband. He doesn't know yet." Placing a finger to her lips, she winked as she giggled at the clear flabbergasted expression Jack was giving her.

"Okay . . . I think the tractor beam messed with your head a little bit too much."

"Doesn't matter what you think. It's true. I don't ever lie to friends."

"But we're not friends."

"Not yet. Not in this moment." She shrugged, seeing how he still stared at her warily. "We are in the future, though. Quite close, I think, from the way you act around me."

Jack folded his arm, leaning back in his chair as he observed Wanda evenly. "How close is close?"

Humming, Wanda rocked on her feet again as she stared up towards the roof of the ship. "Well . . . I know you're Captain Jack Harkness, though that isn't your real name as you took that name after the real Captain Jack Harkness died in an air battle. Note on that: You will be meeting him again, make sure to make his night joyful, he deserves it. Moving onwards, I know that the Time Agency stole two years of your life that you're currently working to earn back. You spent five years in a two-week loop with a former lover, John Hart. Also note: watch out for him, it's going to be a doozy that day. Oh, and back on Boeshane, you were known as the Face of Boe for being the first from there to be a Time Agent. I know I'm missing a few things, but those would be spoilers for you if I said them right now. So, best not." Glancing back down at him, she beamed as she saw his blue eyes staring wide at her, completely at a loss for words. A first for him, she supposed.

He shook his head, seeming to snap himself out of it as he now looked her up and down with keen interest. Even giving his famous smirk. "We . . . know each other that well?"

"Well, truth be told, most of that is a cheat on my part. See, I've already known this information up front from my old universe where you were a character from a show. In fact, this whole universe was nothing more than a show. So, it's not really that I know you well. It's more of I just know things in advanced."

"All right, now I know you're pulling my leg. No one can travel between the universes."

Wanda smiled, raising a brow. "Wanna bet?" Still, he looked skeptical and unbelieving, so she ended up shrugging. "Believe what you want. In the end, you'll see the truth for yourself. Trust me."

"What I'm more concerned about is that you know almost everything about me, yet I know nothing of you. So, how can I trust you?" He gave her a pointed look, making her see to reason on why he, seeing her as nothing more than a strange, should ever trust her.

"Ah. Right. Um . . ." Bringing a hand to her chin, her mind pondered over on how she could begin to break the barriers between them, earning his trust and friendship. She thought over everything that she could possibly do or say, but nothing seemed as equal value to what she knew about him. So . . . she would have to confine a deep secret with him. Not really a secret, but more of something that if it were to be known too soon by a certain Time Lord, then it could cause disaster. Nodding, she knew exactly what she could tell him. If there was anyone she could trust, it would be Jack Harkness. He knew how to keep secrets and spoilers safe just as well as River. Really, both were held in a similar light in Wanda's hearts. How could she ever not trust both Jack and River?

"All right, then. I'm going to reveal something very important, very precious to you. For I trust you dearly. Almost right up there with my husband and sister," she said slowly, carefully, trying to make him understand the gravity of this secret she was about to reveal. Jack tensed slightly but held a firm face as he watched Wanda reach down her shirt, pulling out the hidden necklace with a key attached and an unnoticed silver ring. "You can't tell anyone this. At least not until I say you can."

". . . Okay," Jack replied, though sounding wary. As though he dreaded what kind of secret this was going to be.

"I mean it, Jack. You must never tell a soul unless I say so. Not even myself. The consequences on time could be catastrophic," Wanda warned him. He straightened in his seat, demeanour changing to serious and deadest.

"I swear, I won't tell a soul," he stated with absolute resolve.

"All right." Wanda nodded as she pulled off the necklace.

Instantly, Jack's eyes widened dramatically as he saw the swift change of the blonde in front of him. One minute, she was a thin girl, then the next she had a rather swollen belly, clearly in the middle of her pregnancy. She still wore the same clothing, but they appeared to be made much looser for her form than what he had seen before which shaped her curves in a slim fashion. She smiled lightly, looking hopeful for some sort of comfort or welcoming in her pregnancy from Jack. He sat there in stunned silence for a moment longer before shaking his head and clearing his throat.

"Well . . . can't say I was expecting that," he finally said. He looked her up and down, inspecting her form before giving her a cheeky smile. "What, are you worried no one will think you look good with a bun in the oven? 'Cause I think you're gorgeous no matter what."

"Oh, shut it," Wanda chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. "I can't tell anyone because no one can know about the little arrival." She patted her stomach affectionately but then gave him a sharp look. "If they knew, it would be dangerous. For both my sake and my child's. Understand?"

"Yeah, sure, but how can you hide something like that?" He waved his hand up and down, indicating at her change of form. "How were you able to do that?"

Wanda held up the necklace, allowing him to observe it. "Perception filter, camouflage matrix, misdirection circuit, and a lot of other little technical designs. Keeps all peering eyes away from me until it's time for my baby to be born." Placing back on the necklace, she appeared to change again to Jack. Going back to her thin form as she stood there with a hand on her hip and smiling at him. "Makes it so my little, ah, growing situation, goes unseen and unnoticed by all."

"And you're hiding that you're pregnant because . . . ?"

"Because, as I said, there would be consequences if the wrong person found out at the wrong time."

"Sounds complicated." Drumming his fingers on the chair's armrests for a moment, he finally shrugged with a smile. "All right, well, as I said, your secret is safe with me. No one is going to find out that your pregnant from these lips."

"You're what?!"

Wanda turned sharply around, facing a now very awake Rose Tyler who had just stood up from the bed. The companion stared wide-eyed at the Time Lady with mouth gaped open in pure shock. Slowly, Wanda turned back around, her left eye twitching like mad as she stared down a sheepish Captain Jack.

". . . Starting now," he stated, a small laugh heard in his voice.

"Harkness," Wanda growled out in a warning, her face turning red in her growing anger. She clenched her fists, storming forward towards Jack as he chuckled in uncertainty, standing up to make it so at least he had height over the furious blonde.

"You know, you're cute when you get all angry like that," he said, trying to distract the blonde with another conversation. Still, Wanda did not look amused as she gritted her teeth together, placed her hands on her hips, and glared at Jack. He chuckled lightly again, before beaming and snapping his fingers. "Tinkerbell! I kept thinking you reminded me of someone, and now I know what. It matches you perfectly. Just look at you: short, blonde, cute, wears green—."

"Jack," Wanda said in a low growl, her temper only rising.

"—your face is even red like hers when you get adorably angry! You're a perfect Tinkerbell." He laughed for a moment before being abruptly cut off when she punched him harshly in the arm.

"Jack Harkness, you are in big trouble! I told you to keep it a secret and what do you go and do?! I can't believe you!"

"I thought she knew already, so, when I saw her getting up, I assumed that it wouldn't matter what we were talking about," he argued in defense, rubbing at his arm from the pain.

"Well, she didn't, but now she does. Ugh." Wanda pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out an exasperated breath. Turning around slowly, she held a nervous smile as Rose continued to stare at her in disbelief. "Rose, girlie, how are you feeling?"

"You're pregnant and you weren't going to tell me?" Rose stated, sounding very offended by Wanda, her best mate, wanting to keep such a secret from her. "What, you don't trust me or something?"

"No, no, of course I trust you," Wanda assured the girl, though holding a guilty expression. "I just . . . don't trust you with secrets." Rose scoffed, while Wanda held up her hands in defense. "The last time I told you to keep a secret from the Doctor, you ended up telling him not even an hour later because you said you felt guilty if you didn't tell him."

Rose huffed, crossing her arms. "That was for a surprise present. I'm bad at keeping surprise secrets. But if it was this important . . . Why can't I tell him? Doesn't he have the right to know that you're . . . you know." She waved a hand up and down Wanda's direction, blushing as the companion suddenly felt uncomfortable thinking about the Time Lady being pregnant with . . . Rose bit her lip, suddenly feeling uncertain. "Who's the father?"

Wanda sighed, giving Rose a pointed yet guilty look. "Who do you think?" She watched as there was a slow drop in Rose's face. A sudden sad demeanour taking over as the companion seemed at a loss for words. And upon seeing Rose's sad face, Wanda felt old guilt burning to the surface. This had been one of the main reasons she did not wish to tell the companion. In knowing how Rose secretly held strong feelings for the Doctor, Wanda did not wish to put the girl through in seeing the signs of his love never being returned, to know that one day, he would fall for another and even start a family. Wanda never wished to have it sort of thrown into Rose's face that the Time Lady was the lover of the Time Lord. It pained her to see such a dejected expression on Rose, knowing she had caused the girl heartache.

"Rose, I'm sorry, I know that—," Wanda began to apologize, assuming Rose would be heartbroken knowing the Doctor did not return any love for her.

"Are you guys going to leave me now that you're starting a family?" asked the companion, still appearing dejected by the turn of events. "There's no real use for me now that you're having a kid. Is that why you haven't told me?"

Wanda shook her head rapidly. "No, of course not. We would never kick you out just because someone new arrived in the TARDIS. You're our best friend, Rose. How could we ever leave you behind?" Reaching behind her back, she began tugging on her hair. "Actually, I really didn't want to tell you because . . . because . . ." She gave a heavy sigh, staring directly into Rose's hazel eyes. "Because I know how much you love the Doctor. I didn't want to practically rub it in your face on . . . his and my future relationship." Even though she had come to except the Doctor and Rose never getting together, Wanda still felt old guilt trickling over her as she averted her eyes from her friend's.

Rose let out an exasperated sigh, walking over to place a hand on the Time Lady's shoulder. "Wanda, I'm fine. I'm not going to get all . . . bent out of shape just because of you both being happy together. True, I'm a little . . . put off," she said while shrugging, "but I'm not going to mope about it, now am I?" Smiling, she ended up giving Wanda a warm hug. "I'm happy for you. Really, I am." She then held the short blonde at arm's length away, looking her up and down. "You're . . . pregnant. Well, this . . . this was unexpected. Never pictured this coming." She let out a small, uncertain laugh, still reeling over the news.

Her mind reeled again when Wanda pulled off the perception necklace, showing the companion the clear signs of her being in the fifth month of her pregnancy. After Wanda explained what the necklace did, hiding the baby away and everything, Rose simply shook her head, trying to wrap her mind around the situation.

"I can't believe it," she finally said. Then, she frowned in an afterthought. "But why do you want to hide it?"

"Think about it. Could you imagine the Doctor finding out about this," Wanda waved at her protruding belly, "before we've even kissed? Especially with his temper? And just think of all those enemies out there who would just love to get their hands on the Doctor's child. No, it's best I just always keep this thing on." She slipped back on the necklace, appearing as thin and tiny as ever once more.

"I guess that makes sense," Rose agreed, shrugging half-heartedly as she still felt uncertain by the whole situation. But, in the end, she smiled as she felt so happy for Wanda and the Doctor. She remembered how often the Doctor would speak of family, hinting at his own loss and possibly wanting another. Though that dream always seemed so far away to him, in seeing what Wanda was carrying, Rose knew the Time Lord would finally have his wish. He would finally have his family, his dream come true. Shaking her head to clear her wandering thoughts, Rose frowned again. "Wait . . . so, I get that I can't tell him, or any versions of you for that matter, but how can I tell when you are pregnant? Do I just guess or . . ."

"Just ask me: Do you have the ring? I'll get what you mean if it's the right me, and I'll say 'yes,'" Wanda said, glancing back at the quiet Jack who had simply been standing there observing the two girls. "That goes for you, too, Smexy. Don't say anything but that. Got it?"

"Uh, right," he nodded, understanding what she meant. His earlier flirtatious smile appeared, demeanour changing as he walked up to Rose. "Now that we've got all of that explained and decided, I have to say that it is a great pleasure in meeting you, Rose." He took her hand, giving it a shake while he smiled coyly. "Captain Jack Harkness, One Three Three Squadron, Royal Air Force—."

"Oh, quit lying, Smexy. You're so not a volunteer from America," Wanda scoffed, bumping the man with her hip as she grinned cheekily at him. "And even if you tried the psychic paper, it would just end up saying that you're single and work out. Which, by the way, we can most certainly tell you work out from the way girlie here keeps eyeing you and getting all flustered." Rose, who had been blushing and appearing in a tizzy since Jack shook her hand, scoffed and hit the laughing Time Lady on the arm.

"Am not!" the companion exclaimed as a wave of embarrassment washed over her. Wanda continued to giggle as Jack eyed her, suddenly realizing what her future knowledge might mean for his little . . . plan. Would the scam even work if she already knew that he was lying? He blinked when Wanda suddenly winked at him, making him wonder if perhaps she would not care about the scam or not, that she might just be playing along for the ride.

"Are you always going to call me 'Smexy'?" he asked her, cocking a sly brow as his lips twitch into a crooked smile. "'Cause a guy could get used to it. Helps with the ego."

"Well, I'll keep calling you 'Smexy' as long as you keep calling me 'Tinkerbell,'" Wanda replied, winking again as she giggled.

"Deal," Jack nodded, grinning at their agreed nicknames. Then, he got down to business once more. "Now, this other companion of yours, the Doctor, does he handle the business? Is he authorized to negotiate?"

"What makes you think that we're not?" Wanda countered, going over to Rose and placing an arm around the girl's shoulders. "We're just as capable to negotiate about that warship of yours." Wanda eyed Jack, seeing the wary expression he gave her while she kept her calm and cool behaviour.

"Warship? What warship?" Rose asked curiously.

"A Chula warship that Jack here found and parked. And now, you want to sell it to us, right?" Wanda said, smiling slyly at the man who seemed flabbergasted by how keen her foreknowledge really seemed to be. "We can negotiate a great deal with you on that ship, even better than want you originally hoped for, but first—."

"'First'?" Jack questioned, uncertain and uneasy now with this strange blonde who appeared to know so much, yet still seemed to want to go along with his scam. Why? Did she have her own scam planned, or . . . did she do this often in the future with him? Let him do his scam, helped him along, then they would take off with a laugh once it was all over?

"First, you're going to help me get Rose's hands healed," Wanda said, grabbing as gently as she could onto the companion's hands, making Rose hiss from the raw wound on both hands. She had not even noticed the injury until now. Wanda glanced back over to the Captain, trying to keep her worriment from showing, but failing as when it came to her friends (especially Rose) in pain. She could not help but let her eyes shine with fear for Rose. "Please."

In the end, those emerald eyes got to Jack as they seemed so desperate to help her friend, even over a simple rope burn injury. He could not help but feel the need to help the short blonde feel more at ease by helping her friend. So, he reached over to the main controls on the ship, activating the nanogenes in the air of the ship. The nanogenes were sent the message to cluster around the nearest open wound. Which so happened to be Rose's raw palms. The subatomic robots glowed a soft yellow light as they worked their magic, circling around the blonde's hands while they did a quick patch and repair to the damaged skin. Leaving in a flash, disappearing into nothing in the air once more when having completed their task in as little as a few seconds. Rose stared at her healed hands in amazement, blown away by such quick healing done to her hands.

"Nanogenes. Brilliant, aren't they?" Wanda commented merrily, glad to see her friend patched up and no longer in pain. "Now," she clapped her hands, turning to Jack with a bright smile, "time to get to that ship, yes? It goes up in a bomb in about two hours, so we best find our companion to make that deal for you."

"How did you know about . . .," Jack paused upon seeing the cheeky smile on Wanda's face. "Right. Future knowledge. Okay, well if we need your companion for a full deal, then we better find him."

"And how are we going to do that?" Rose questioned him.

"Easy," Jack replied as he began fiddling with the Vortex manipulator on his wrist. "I'll do a scan for alien tech." He turned around, going back over to the pilot seat as he began the search for the Doctor.

Rose grinned as she leaned closer to Wanda, whispering into the Time Lady's ear, "Finally, a professional."

Wanda snorted slightly, replying in return, "Professional only when he wants to be. Besides, I like how the Doctor handles things. It's much more fun and entertaining." It was a few short minutes later that Jack turned back around, grinning as his manipulator beeped.

"Got him," he stated, ready to get on track. He walked up to both of the girls, holding out an arm to each of them. "So, are you ladies ready for departure?" Wanda happily linked her arm with his, while Rose did the same, blushing from being in close contact with him. She just could not stop her heart from fluttering around this man. Gosh, was he gorgeous. If he was not taken, then she would definitely ask him on a date. Maybe for a dance, too. She watched him as he began pressing a few buttons on the device on his wrist. Then, the next thing she knew, her body gave a nasty jerk and lurch as it felt as though everything was squeezing her from all sides. Nausea hit her in waves as a blinding flash of light blinded her one second, and the next she was stumbling into Wanda who caught her.

"Careful," Wanda said gently to Rose, holding onto the companion. "Time travel without a capsule is never fun."

"What was that?" Rose asked, trying to shake off the painful headache she had received. She looked over at Jack, seeing him smile in apology as he held up his wrist.

"Vortex manipulator. Parting gift of the Time Agency," he explained. "Sorry, should have warned you about the side effects if you've never used one before. Wanda did mention you both had other means of traveling around. I'd love to see how you manage that."

"I'm telling you, sports car," Wanda replied, giving him a sly wink before looking around the dark building they had arrived at. The whole place looked empty and abandoned. With some white beds placed out in the halls, and what appeared to be a doctor's coat hanging on a hook beside a door down the way. She recognized the halls of the Albion Hospital. The place where the mystery case of Jamie, Nancy's 'brother,' had started. By now she knew the Doctor would have met Nancy, seen where the Chula 'warship' would have landed, and had met Dr. Constantine with all those different patients. That meant things were about to get interesting for them.

"Where's the Doctor?" Rose asked as she took in their surroundings as well. Jack flipped up his wrist, glancing at the device he had on.

"According to my scans, he should be on the floor above us," he told them.

"Then we best go look for him," Wanda said with a skip in her step as she started down the hall. Rose and Jack glanced at each other before walking after the short blonde.

"Wanda, I still want to know more about your, um . . . growing baby," Rose said as they made their way up some nearby stairs. "How long have you been pregnant so far?"

"Almost five months now," Wanda answered briskly. "And for more answers: Yes, it's a girl. No, we don't have a plan for when it's time just yet. And her name is Ember."

"Ember?" Rose responded, blinking upon hearing that name, frowning a moment later. "That's an odd name."

"How's it odd?" Wanda asked, pouting at Rose. She had hoped the companion would have approved of the name.

"I don't know. It just seems . . . so simple. I would have expected a name much grander, knowing how the Doctor is and all," Rose concluded, shrugging in response.

"I like it," Jack countered, grinning as he marched up the stairs alongside of Wanda. He noticed how the shorter blonde began slowing down in her walk up the stairs. Must be straining for her, carrying a baby and all. He made a mental note in helping her out when she needed it if trying to hide her pregnancy became too much. Though, he was not sure why exactly he felt the need to help her. Maybe it was because she seemed to be such a close friend to him in the future? Would they be friends from this moment onward? Would she travel with him? Maybe. For now, he felt as though he should be on his guard as he did not wish to feel too comfortable with a stranger he had only just met.

They made their way into another deserted hallway. It was eerie how silent the place was, with an atmosphere of foreboding from how still the air felt. Wanda glanced around, seeing a light coming from down the hall, towards a more secluded place in the hospital. She walked briskly forward, not paying attention to whether Rose or Jack followed her along as she only wanted to get to the Doctor now. The two behind her even started to call out for the Time Lord, hoping to meet him halfway somewhere. She did not join in calling out for her husband as she sped up in pace. It had been so long since she had seen Nine. True, every time they had met it had not been the best moments between them. Especially with her current face and her First self. But it still did not mean that she missed being able to be with him. The one Doctor she never had a chance to love. However, he was the one Doctor who was her most precious friend, her best mate and companion of them all.

Coming down a narrow, small, white hall, she saw the Doctor in leather coming out of a different ward down the ways. He held a confused expression, seeming to try to shake off something unpleasant he had just witnessed. She knew it was what had happened to Dr. Constantine that had the Doctor unnerved. Upon seeing her there ahead of him, smiling away in joy in meeting up with him again, she saw the frown appear on his face. She felt a twinge go through her, hoping that they would not start going into a temperamental argument as they usually did when the Doctor was under stress and in one of his moods. But upon seeing his frown turn into a small smile, she knew he was indeed happy to see her.

"Where have you been?" he asked, sounding like he was trying to be cross but failed miserably nonetheless. He even crossed his arms as he eyed Wanda up and down in her clear sixties 'hippie' getup. "And what's with the bellbottoms?" Wanda stopped in front of him, scoffing in retort as she placed her hands on her hips.

"I like bellbottoms, thank you very much. I think they're groovy," she replied smartly.

"'Groovy'?" the Doctor snorted, shaking his head. "You gonna start going all 'flower power' on me, too?"

"That's Mrs. Flower Power to you," she countered crossly, pointing a stern finger at him. They both grinned before she jumped forward to give him a hug. "Oh, I missed you."

"You're always with me. Can't really miss someone you're always around and travelling with." He stood there stiffly as she hugged him. Not exactly returning the hug, but not pushing her away as he had done in the past. Now, instead of growing disgusted with her, he sort of patted her awkwardly on the back. That was one thing about Nine, he was always more than willing to give hugs to others, but never to Wanda.

"I've been with Ten and Eleven. Not you. I've missed you." She stepped back from him, knowing how uncomfortable her hugging made him. She suspected it was because of how . . . unknown their relationship was to him for him to be more willing to hug her. Or maybe it was just she did not hug well enough? Could be anything with him, really.

The Doctor frowned once more, surprised that she had missed this version of him. He had always thought whatever future Doctors were around that she had enjoyed them more. But she really missed him? Even though they were constantly at each other throats? Huh. Must have made a better impression than he thought. He turned when he heard someone walking up to him. He expected for a moment for it to be their companion, Rose. But instead, he raised a brow when seeing a tall man with slick, black hair, blue eyes, bright smile, and clearly a soldier judging by the man's outfit. The Doctor's frown deepened as the man grabbed his hand, shaking it firmly in an introduction.

"Good evening. Hope we're not interrupting. Jack Harkness," greeted Jack as he merrily shook the Doctor's hand. "I've been hearing all about you on the way over." Raising a brow even higher, the Doctor looked skeptical at the man before glancing at Rose and Wanda.

"He's a fellow time traveller like us," Wanda explained to the Doctor, smiling away. "He's here to offer us a deal. Though, I still think we can offer you a better one, Smexy." Jack looked Wanda up and down with a cheeky grin, showing off his famous flirtatious manner.

"Maybe you can after that dance you owe me, Tinkerbell," Jack replied, winking slyly at the blonde girl before walking past the Doctor. "You did promise me, after all."

"Yep, a dinner, dance, and a bottle of hypervodka. Only the best for you, my Smexy Captain," Wanda giggled as she walked after him, going into the room after Jack. Standing there, blinking blankly, the Doctor felt confused by what had just happened. Then, his brows furrowed as he went over what Wanda had called that man.

"'Smexy'?" he grumbled, feeling a spark of . . . irritation go through him. "What was she calling him 'Smexy' for?"

"They know each other . . . sort of," Rose explained as she scooted over to stand beside the Doctor. "Though, I think it's more of Wanda knows him and he had just met her today."

"And he's calling her . . . 'Tinkerbell'? What is that even supposed to mean?" the Doctor said, his voice gruff as he stared at the door ahead of them. Rose blinked, raising a brow at the Time Lord next to her, taking in the way his face stayed in a heavy frown, set in clear disproval to the brief encounter he had just witnessed. She held a small smirk as she knew why he was grumbling. It had only been a second of flirting between Jack and Wanda, and the Doctor was already jealous? Rose snickered, shaking her head. The Doctor threw her a look of irritation.

"What? What's so funny?" he asked her in demand.

"Nothing," she replied smoothly.

"Where have you been anyway? We're in the middle of a London Blitz and you let Wanda pick up a stray?" The Doctor continued to grumble as he walked off, going back into the room with the strange patients. He did not know why he suddenly felt so . . . peeved. But it was this strange spark that went through him the moment he saw that Jack Harkness fellow. Especially when seeing the way the man eyed up his Wander—ah, his friend. Yep, him and Wanda, friends. That was it. She is not his in any way. Right. Anyway. He still did not like the way that Harkness man eyed her up, as though she were some sort of prize. And had they been flirting? And they had nicknames for each other?

The Doctor and Rose stepped into the room, finding Jack kneeling in front of Wanda, who currently sat in the corner of the room. The Time Lady had her head tilted to the side cutely while she watched Jack rub smooth circles into her ankles as some sort of demonstration.

"And if you just put enough pressure here . . . See? No soreness at all. You can be on your feet all day and won't feel a thing," Jack finished his demonstration, grinning away at the Time Lady. Wanda nodded, seeming impressed as she flexed her ankle.

"Nice. That really does help. Thanks, Jack," she expressed in her gratitude for him helping with her sore ankles. Only five months into her pregnancy and already her flipping ankles were wearing out. What was up with that? She was just glad she had mentioned it so that Jack could help massage her muscles out.

"Anything for you, Tink," Jack replied, winking as he normally did.

"Ahem."

Wanda and Jack turned their attention over to the Doctor when he had cleared his throat loudly. They saw how the Time Lord eyed them, with arms crossed and expression set in a heavy frown of disproval. Not noticing the clear irritation the Doctor was showing, Wanda beamed and waggled her ankle at him.

"You should totally have Jack give you a massage next. It feels amazing," she said merrily, grinning away.

"No thanks," the Doctor mumbled as he eyed Jack carefully. "If you two are done, can we get back to more important things tonight? I think massages can wait."

"You're right. Sorry, got distracted," Wanda apologized, embarrassed that she kept letting herself get sidetracked. It was just so fun being able to hang out with Jack, though. She never really got the chance to. And it was always so exciting in getting to know a companion for the first time. Hopping up from the chair she had been sitting on, she walked over to one of the nearby patients of the ward, examining the gas mask that had been fused with their flesh. So many doctors, nurses, and other victims of the war. Victims of the progressive mutation that Jamie had undergone. Put through hell because of a simple mistake. She was just glad that everything would turn out all right in the end. Turning around from the man lying on the bed, she beamed at the other three standing in the room.

"So, Jack, you wanna strike up your deal with the Doctor?" she asked, waving her hand towards the Time Lord. "Tell him about that Chula ship you found and parked."

"Chula?" the Doctor mumbled, eyeing Jack suspiciously now. "Where did you find a Chula ship?"

"On one of my travels in the Time Agency before I quit," Jack replied. A clear lie that was a part of his little scam. "It's stuck in the ground where I had accidentally, ah, landed. And now we've only got two hours before a German bomb will hit it and destroy the ship. I was figuring since you're time travelers, you might have connections with other Time Agents. I was also thinking if you can make a good offer—."

"This is no time for whatever 'deal' you're looking for," the Doctor said curtly. "Right now, I'm trying to figure out what's wrong here with these people." He waved his hand out towards all the patients. All the people lying stiffly in their makeshift medical cots, seemingly dead with gas masks on. Jack frowned, glancing around at all of them.

"Aren't they dead?" he asked. He had assumed that they were the moment he had walked into the room. Figured that maybe they were victims of the war or something. Sure, it was strange that they were all wearing gas masks. Though he had dismissed it as some sort of coincidence.

"No, they're not. Still alive. Or at least, still act like they're alive," the Doctor explained.

"Why are they wearing gas masks?" Jack questioned, beginning to walk over to one of the patients, looking them over.

The Doctor nodded at the one Jack was observing. "They're not wearing them. See for yourself."

Puzzled by the invitation to check over seemingly 'dead' people, Jack activated the scanner on his manipulator, checking over the lying man next to him. When seeing the readings from the man, and the mask fused into the man's skin, Jack's eyes widened. "What?" Walking over, he scanned another. And then another. But still, he received the same exact readings from each individual lying on the cot. "This just isn't possible. How did this happen?"

The Doctor continued to eye Jack as he saw the man beginning to appear unnerved and worried about what he was seeing. Arms staying crossed tightly, the Time Lord asked, "What kind of Chula ship did you land here?"

"Well, it's not a warship, that's for certain," Wanda spoke up sarcastically, gaining their attention. They all looked over to see her leaning against the wall, tapping her foot on the ground as she stared Jack down. "You wanna tell them what you really found, Jack?" She watched as Jack's eyes hardened, tensing under her gaze.

"I thought you were on my side, Tink," he grounded out, suddenly realizing that she had him backed up into a corner. Had this been her plan all along? String him along as though they were 'friends' while she stabbed him in the back and turned him in for his con? How could he have ever fallen for something like this? How stupid could he get? However, upon seeing her gentle gaze and smile, he wondered if there was something else she had planned for him.

"What kind of ship is it?" questioned the Doctor, voice stern as he kept a steady gaze on edgy Captain.

"Does it matter? It's got nothing to do with this!" Jack exclaimed angrily, throwing out his hand to indicate at the people around them.

"This started at the bomb site," the Doctor disputed crossly, jabbing a finger at the patients as he stepped aggressively towards Jack. "It's got everything to do with it. What kind of ship?" Wanda glanced over, seeing how Jack held his ground, not wanting to give up his con just yet. Or rather, did not wish to admit in a mistake he might have made. Sighing, she shook her head as she walked over to the Doctor and Captain.

"It's a Chula ambulance," Wanda stated calmly. "He found an ambulance and was going to pass it off as a warship for sale before allowing the bomb to destroy it. He gets the money, while we would have never received the ship. Done deal. A good con if you think about it. Very smart there, Smexy." She smiled briefly at them before her expression growing blank again. "Show us the hologram of it, Jack." The Captain merely stared at her for a moment, wondering on what he should do now. But, finally, he gave in, pulling up the schematics of the Chula ambulance on his manipulator.

"Look," he said as the blue image projected upwards for all to see, showing the image of a cylinder-like ship, "that's what you chased through the Time Vortex. It's space junk. It's empty. I made sure of it. Nothing but a shell. And Tink here already explained it, I wanted to scam you. Sell you the junk to you, then destroy it before I was found out." Jack got rid of the hologram, sighing in exasperation as he saw the disproving and glaring eyes of Rose and the Doctor. "Can't believe I thought you might be friends with Time Agents. Should have realized you were freelancers after Tink here said she wasn't an agent."

"Yeah, you really should have," Wanda commented lightly, sounding sassy, shrugging her shoulders when Jack sent her a look that said 'not helping.'

"Anyway," Jack grumbled, highly disgruntled now," whatever's happening here has got nothing to do with that ship."

"Ha! It has everything to do with that ship," Wanda barked. Not sounding particularly angry, but not sounding happy, either. She walked over, jabbing a hand towards one of the lying patients next to her. "What do you think is happening here? It's not natural, that's for certain."

"She's right. Human DNA is being rewritten . . . by an idiot," the Doctor spoke up, earning their attention as he kept his sharp eyes on Jack, though not without showing a small smirk in seeing Wanda scolding him. Ha. Not so 'Smexy' anymore.

"What do you mean?" Rose asked curiously as she too stared around at the gas mask wearing people.

"I don't know—some kind of virus, converting human beings into these things," the Doctor explained in a mutter, turning his sharp eyes on Wanda. "But why? What's the point?" He frowned as he saw her staring back at him, no emotion shown on her features. "Do you know what it is?"

"Yes," she replied smoothly. His frown deepened.

"Can you tell me?" he questioned gruffly.

"Nope," she replied with a small pop. "You'll have to figure that one out on your own, Spaceman. But don't worry, you will." She smiled kindly and winked, as though promising things would be all right in the end.

He sure hoped it would, for at that very same moment, all the people around the room sat up together. Turning their large, masked eyes onto the group in the middle. All saying just one, almost haunting, word: Mummy.

XxXxXxXx

Happy to be back with Nine again! Can't wait until next time! I hope everyone enjoyed it. I would love, love to see what you all have to say in a review. Though, hopefully the reviews don't glitch this time around. Also, if you do not see a reply to your review in this chapter, please let me know. The issue that's been happening has made it so I don't always get reviews from people.

Reviewers:

heroherondaletotherescue: Yeah, there's been so weird mixups with the updates recently. Many people either aren't getting the notifications or they are coming out of order. Hopefully this time around things work out better. :) So glad you enjoyed all the chapters. Even if they were in the wrong order. haha.

Authora97: Woo! So glad you loved it! I love Rory exactly for those reasons. Because of those brilliant questions he has sometimes. lol ;) Oh, yes, Third Wanda is much more dirty than her counterparts. haha. Hope you enjoyed the new chapter!

All The Stories Are True 24601: Well, I always think my writing is horrible. But I'm just never confident when it comes to my writing skills. That's why it took me two years before I actually posted this story up for people to read. Glad you enjoyed the two chapter update. :) Thank you for the birthday wishes! I had a great time this weekend in celebrating it. I hope yours was just as fantastic. :) Yeah, I know what you mean. I've gotten so many Valentine's gifts that I now hate the color pink. haha. But at least now that I'm older most people don't bother with Valentine gifts anymore. Again, I really hope you had a great time at the theatre celebrating your birthday. :D Until next time!

singingKatelyn: It really was, wasn't it? So glad you liked it! :D

arianaestela: Yay! So glad to make your week great! I hope you've been enjoying the new app they have. I've been having problems with it myself, but if it works for you then that's great! :) Glad you enjoyed that little callback moment there to First Wanda. I've always loved moments like that myself, so I'm thrilled to place them in stories. Hope you enjoyed the newest chapter! Until next time!

Momochan77: haha Glad you liked it! This Wanda really seems to love her dirty jokes. lol ;) See you next time!

swimmjacket: Third Wanda and Eleven really are cute together, aren't they? ;) Amy and Rory had to be the godparents. They're just too perfect not to be. Welp, Rose and Jack know now. So shouldn't be long for Martha to find out I suppose. Oh, don't worry. There's a lot more cute moments to come. ;) Hope you enjoyed the new chapter! Can't wait until I see you again, too!

bored411: They are so adorable sometimes. haha ;) I really hope you enjoyed the newest chapter! Take care!

TheGirlWhoWept: haha Eleven is definitely the purest of the Doctors, I think. Glad you enjoyed the joke!

SakuraRcoa: So glad you enjoyed that! XD

Whovianeverlark17: Yay! So glad you liked it all. There's a lot more to come, so can't wait to see what you think of it all in the future. :)

deadflowerseverymorning: Thank you for always giving such lovely reviews! I always enjoy hearing from you. :) Really hope that you enjoyed the new chapter!

NerdWithAPencil: Hmm. You might be onto something there. I'm sure everything will be fine, though. Hopefully. I make no promises though. lol ;) Anyway, so glad you liked it! Really hope that this chapter was just as fun to read. :)

FictionalBoysAreBetter: Yeah, there's been a lot of weird things happening with the site lately. I hope this time around you get the updates properly. So glad you enjoyed them all when you had a chance to finally read them. :D Welp, perfect timing in mentioning Nine for here he is! Yep, Wanda will be there right before he regenerates. Ten mentioned that very moment in a chapter in part two of the trilogy. Actually, Time Lords chose those sorts of names for themselves as a promise to themselves when they reach adulthood. Which a Time Lord is an adult when they reach the age of 200ish. So until then, they just use either their birth name or their Academy name given to them during their school years. So, technically anyone can know their names in the beginning, but after they make their promised name for themselves then their original name becomes a sacred thing for them. At least, that's how I've come to understand it from the research I've done. The cannon behind the Time Lord name has changed so much through the series that it's hard to keep track of. For now, let's just say for this trilogy that Ember will keep her birth name until she reaches adulthood like other Time Lords. :) As for who Aleena is, that's a mystery for another time. Welp, I hope that helps! Until next time! If you have any more questions, just let me know. I'm always happy to answer. :)

alwaystherereading: Yep! Here's Jack and ready to go for an adventure. ;) Amy and Rory, always the best parents of the universe. Definitely will be getting more scenes with them, I promise you that. Glad you like the name! Of course, Wanda and the Doctor would pick that for a name. haha. Amy did almost spoil the name, at least twice. Spoils all over the place about little Ember. ;)

Ruby Slippers: Woo! So happy you enjoyed it! :D

QuirkyKim: I know! Would never picture Wanda ever getting to the point of making such dirty jokes. haha. XD

You all are just the best! *hugs* I hope everyone has the most brilliant of days to come!

~Tinker~