A/N: Okay, guys, you know the drill. I have a busy life, and have only just started the next episode. It will be a combination of Rise of the Cybermen and Age of Steel, so it will probably be five chapters and then the next interlude, so it'll be a longer wait as I write those extra chapters. So don't be surprised when I disappear for a while. Keep being awesome!
Interlude: Lost Ones
John woke to the hum of the TARDIS, quietly alerting him that something was up with her slightly anxious sounding chime. "What's going on?" he asked the ceiling.
"I'll tell you what's going on," the Wolf's voice came from the other side of his closed bedroom door. "Just, are you decent?"
John checked just to make sure nothing strange had happened in the night. "Yeah," he confirmed. With no further urging, the Wolf sauntered into his room. "And when am I not?" he asked.
The Wolf shrugged. "You tend to forget bits and pieces when you're tired and distracted," she reminded him. "Shoes, shirt a few times, thankfully, so far, you've always had pants on." John reddened.
"You said something was up?" he hastily changed the topic.
The Wolf nodded. "Yup. We're going somewhere fun! Safe! No haemovores, no werewolves, no clockwork men, just good old-fashioned human colonists," she announced with satisfaction.
"You do know that, statistically speaking, humans are the most dangerous creatures on planet Earth, right?" John asked.
"Oh, that's before you got all educated about the universe. You're much better in the future." The Wolf paused. "Well, I say much. I mean more – sort of. Some. A few?"
John pushed her playfully, chuckling. "I get it. We're all a bunch of narcissistic apes that can't be trusted with our own shadows. You don't have to rub it in."
"I did say some," the Wolf protested, grinning.
"Yeah, yeah. But if you want to go to – where are we going?" he asked.
"Surprise," she said, still grinning.
John rolled his eyes. "Okay. If you want to go wherever we're going at any point today, you do have to get out of my room so I can lose said bits of clothing and put different ones on."
The Wolf leapt out of the bed. "Well, hurry up. I want to be able to at least look around the market before it closes for the day."
"Ha!" John said triumphantly. "Marketplace, huh?"
"Get dressed!" was the Wolf's only answer as she shut the door behind her.
The Wolf opened the TARDIS doors with a flourish. "John, welcome to the Sharengan Market on the planet Sharenova. Human colononized, forty-second century." John didn't answer as he was peering around the corners of the TARDIS, on the lookout. "Johnny, what are you doing?" she asked, watching his strange behavior.
"I'm looking for any aliens with guns pointed at our heads," John replied, still inspecting the surrounding area. "Based on experience, it seems highly likely."
The Wolf grabbed his hand and jerked him out of the ship. "Come on, Johnny boy," she complained. "Would I really take you somewhere that dangerous?"
John crossed his arms and stared at her, coming to a dead stop. She huffed and turned around to face him. "Shall I answer that or should I just glare?" he drawled.
The Wolf sighed exasperatedly. "Fine, you got me there. But I promise, this place is perfectly alright, look." She waved her hand at the sprawling market, which took up much of the clearing the TARDIS had landed in. People were milling about –human descendants and aliens alike –haggling over prices, exchanging coins or goods, or generally having a good time.
John bit his lip, but admitted defeat. "Alright. It looks normal, I'll give you that," he told her.
The Wolf grinned. "Told ya. Now come on! I want to get some parts for the TARDIS." She took his hand again and pulled him after her, and this time, John went willingly.
The Wolf dragged John to stall after stall, geeking out about the strangest bits of metal. John nearly had to break up an argument between her and a blue-skinned stall owner who tried to sell her a fake gyrosautner - whatever that was - but overall, the day had been fairly quiet and enjoyable. Ever since the Wolf's regeneration, she seemed more drawn to danger, and after several high adrenaline, high stakes adventures recently, John was glad for the day off.
John was just thinking about convincing the Wolf to leave the part stalls alone for a bit to find some food when he realized the Wolf was no longer next to him. Turning in a circle, he finally spotted her twenty feet away, crouched next to a human looking toddler. Curious, John approached slowly, not wanting to draw attention to himself.
The boy appeared to be about four, assuming he was human, and he was crying, which John hadn't been able to see from a distance. The Wolf seemed to be speaking quietly to him, and whatever she said made the kid suddenly latch onto her, throwing his arms around her neck as he kept crying.
John crept closer as the Wolf lifted the boy, setting him on her hip as she made shushing noises. "So much for a calm day, Wolf," he teased quietly, not wanting to startle either of them. "Can't stand watching children cry, can you?"
"Oh, shut up," she grumbled, but with little heat behind it. "Besides, it's not like this is a world crisis. We just have to find his mum. What's your name, sweetheart?" she asked the kid gently.
"S-S-St-Stephanel," he blubbered through his tears. "Stepanel Y-Yorkin."
The Wolf rubbed his back, comforting him. "Okay, Stephanel," she said smoothly. "We'll find your mum in no time. I promise."
"And she always keeps her promises, mate," John jumped in.
"That's right," the Wolf agreed, nodding. "So there's really no reason to cry, is there?" Stephanel shook his head, taking a deep breath to try and stop his tears. "Good," she praised him. "John here and I will get you home in no time, but before that, we're going to have to play a little game. Do you think you can do that?" The boy nodded mutely, tears still shining in his eyes but no longer falling. "Great! So, Stephanel, where do you live?"
His face immediately crumpled. "I don't – I don't – I don't 'member!" he wailed, beginning to cry again.
"Okay, okay, that's not a big deal," the Wolf soothed, bouncing him on her hip until he calmed once more. "Let's try an easier question first. What's your favorite color?"
"Bwue," Stephanel replied, sniffing.
The Wolf grinned. "Mine too! Excellent answer," she said excitedly. "Okay, how about...do you have a pet?"
"A Wookin. He called Albert."
"Lovely name, Albert. Met a prince called Albert, once. Genius, he was. How about this: do you know how to read?"
Stephanel looked affronted at the question. "'Course," he scoffed. "On'y babies can't wead."
"Too right. Isn't he right, John?" the Wolf asked.
"Absolutely," John agreed.
"Okay, Stephan – can I call you Stephan?" The boy nodded. "Stephan, what does that sign over there say?"
Stephanel squinted to read the street sign. "Ole – Ole – gindy Stweet," he sounded out.
"So it does," the Wolf said in a overly surprised tone. Stephan looked pleased at his success. "So what's the street called where you live?" she asked casually.
"Tannekinty Stweet," Stephan replied promptly.
The Wolf smiled. "Excellent, Stephan," she praised softly. "You did amazing. Here, take a piece." She dug in her bottomless pockets and pulled out a bag, holding it to the boy. "It's a sweet. You'll like it," she promised. When he was sufficiently occupied, she turned to John. "Go ask one of the stall holders where Tannekinty Street is," she instructed quietly. "Time this little one went home."
John and the Wolf watched as Stephanel was reunited with his weeping mother, who lifted him up and held onto him tight. Stephan was squeezing just as hard. The pair turned to go, but her voice stopped them. "Wait!" she called, walking as quickly as she could toward them without jostling her son. "Thank you so much," she said fervently. "He's such a curious little boy – I turn my back for a second, and he's out the door and on the street."
The Wolf smiled. "I know someone a bit like that," she replied, shooting John a grin as he mock glared at her.
"How can I repay you for finding my boy?" the woman asked.
The Wolf held up her hands, shaking her head. "We just helped a little boy find his way home. No thanks necessary."
"You do not want gratitude?" the mother inquired, confused.
"Call it my good deed of the day. Just do something kind for someone else," the Wolf suggested. "Pass it on."
The mother nodded thoughtfully. "Even if you do not accept it, you have my everlasting thanks," she told them, before backing away to go inside, still carrying Stephan.
"You're just a big softie, aren't you, Wolf?" John whispered in her ear.
"If you tell anyone..." the Wolf tried to growl threateningly, but it had no impact on John whatsoever apart from making him grin mischievously.
Stephan waved over his mother's shoulder. "Bye, Woof! Bye John!" he yelled.
The two waved back before heading back to the market. John took her hand, letting their joined limbs sway between them as they walked. The Wolf was quiet on the return journey, seeming contemplative. "You were really good with that kid, Wolf," John finally broke the silence ten minutes later.
"You'll find that children all over and from many different cultures are really always quite similar," the Wolf replied absently. "In all my journeys, I've found that an upset child can be expediently and efficiently calmed by mere distraction, rather than by scolding or cajoling. Stephan didn't even realize that I was asking him for information he had forgotten five minutes before because he was so focused on the 'game' we were playing."
John considered that for a moment. "You must have a lot of experience with children," he pointed out.
"I did. Once."
The Wolf's face had closed off slightly, but John pushed once more. "Have you ever been a mother?" he asked.
"Like I said: once." John opened his mouth to ask another question, but the Wolf cut him off. "Back to the TARDIS, shall we? I think I have everything I need here."
Recognizing her need, John dropped the subject. "Alright, sounds good." The Wolf relaxed after a few minutes, gripping his hand tightly in thanks, and by the time they returned to the ship, she was laughing and joking like always.
Before they went back into the ship, John stopped to look around at the market once more. The Wolf joined him, her eyes content and her body completely still for once. "Thank you for today, Wolf," John said quietly. "Sometimes, with all the running, it's easy to forget."
"Forget what?" the Wolf asked.
"Why you do all this. You didn't start traveling to save worlds and universes, although I'm sure you consider that a great bonus. You flew the TARDIS away from your world to see new planets, meet new people. To explore. I forget that, when we're in the middle of an adventure. It's just – nice to be reminded," John explained, shrugging.
The Wolf slipped an arm around his waist, and he lifted his to put around her shoulders. "I needed it too," she admitted. "But you're enough of a reminder, John," she continued, gazing up at him with a serious look in her eyes. "As old as I am, I've seen a lot of this universe. After a while, it loses that – shininess that I see in your eyes whenever I take you somewhere new. I can't see it anymore. But you. You see it. And when you see it, I see it."
John grinned. "Then I guess you're just going to have to keep taking me places," he teased.
"I would want nothing more," she replied soberly.