A/N: Wow, you guys. I passed 25K views and 250 reviews with that last chapter. You're all amazing. I continue to watch your reception of this story with awe. Next up is Love and Monsters, though not quite the episode you might be expecting.
Love and Other Monsters
The Wolf was standing by the console the next morning, fiddling with a lever but not doing much else when she heard John walking down the hall. She could sense him hesitate at the entryway when he saw her and she stiffened, but then he came over and wrapped gentle arms around her from behind. The Wolf relaxed slightly.
"I'm sorry," John whispered. "I shouldn't have said those things last night. I shouldn't have accused you of anything – I shouldn't have said any of it."
She turned around in his hold, not able to meet his eyes. She stared at his chest instead, knee bouncing up and down nervously. "Maybe not," she agreed, "but you're not wrong, either. Maybe I'm not always the most clear-sighted person where you're concerned, and that should probably bother me. But it doesn't. And you weren't completely right." She pulled away, putting some distance between them. "You couldn't save Toby, and neither could anybody else on the surface, but we don't know if I could have. I wasn't there, and I'm sorry for that, because maybe I could have helped him. And that's something we'll never know. So yes, if it had been you, I would have done everything I could to save you, including bringing you on the TARDIS, because we don't know if I could have saved him. She's shielded in a way neither of us could ever be. She's safe. If that's the answer you wanted, then yes, I would have brought you here. But – for what it's worth – I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have reacted like that."
John nodded, silently accepting her apology. "I meant what I said. Well, not all of it, but that last bit I did. It may not end up being a conscious choice, it may not be a real one, but someday, I think it's gonna happen. And you're going to have to leave me behind."
"Maybe," the Wolf acknowledged. "But that day wasn't the other day. And it's not going to be for a long time if I can help it."
John finally smiled. "Me too. I plan on being on this ship having adventures for a while."
The Wolf grinned. "Speaking of adventures, if you're all rested up from Kroptor, where do you want to go? What do you want to see?"
He thought it over for a second. He knew so little about the universe, how could he, even after all this time, even begin to come up with something to see? He was about to just say whatever she liked, when he had an idea. "You know," he began knowing he had to go about this carefully, "we always leave at the end of our little outings. We never stick around for the cleanup. The aftermath."
The Wolf shuddered. "Too much paperwork," she complained. "If I stayed after saving everyone, I'd never get past all the filling out papers explaining what I'd done and all the damage I'd caused. I'd never do anything else. S'why I left UNIT in the first place."
"But what about the people?" John asked. "The ones that meet you but never see you again. The ones you save. Aren't you ever just a bit curious about what happens to them?"
"They go on with their lives," the Wolf replied with a shrug. "Normal."
"Do they, though?" John pressed. "Can you honestly say that meeting you would have so little impact on them?"
"I'm just a blip on their radar. A strange happenstance," she brushed off.
"You weren't just a one time thing in my life," John pointed out. "Look what's happened to me. There has to be someone out there who still looks for you out of the corner of their eye, just waiting for you to turn up again.
"Maybe," the Wolf agreed. "The point is I don't go looking for them. So, dealer's choice then if you don't have anything in mind." She turned to the console, pushing the buttons of the start up sequence and spinning the little hand wheel that began the physical dematerialization.
John closed his eyes and concentrated. He was supposed to be telepathic all of a sudden, right? This would be a cinch. Hopefully. TARDIS? he asked silently, feeling like a moron talking to himself.
A reassuring hum sounded in his head, letting him know that she was listening.
Okay, that's weird.
A slightly more indignant hum. She was not weird, she was perfectly functional, thank you very much. This was expressed not in words, per se, so much as feelings, and a pinch in John's mind.
John winced. Sorry. But look, you heard all that, right?
Another affirmative.
Good. So, do you think you can take us someplace? To someone she's met before? She needs to see the effect she has on people.
There was no mental reply from the ship this time, but a rumble and the beginning of her shaky take off was enough of a physical answer for John. He grinned as he held onto the railing.
The Wolf, however, was in a frenzy. "What are you doing?!" she yelled at the ship as she frantically tried to stop their flight, to no avail. "I didn't even put in coordinates yet. How can you be screwing up already?!"
The TARDIS happily shuddered to a stop, landing more gracefully than normal as she hummed in satisfaction. Thanks, girl, John thought to her.
"If we die when we leave here, I'm dismantling you after I regenerate," the Wolf muttered as she stomped over to the doors. John grinned and followed without a word. The Wolf continued grumbling under her breath as she made her way outside. "Never go where I want to go, never do what you're supposed to do. You know, for once in my life, I would like to have some say in our destination," she berated her ship's doors. "I would like to have a random landing that is not London!" She waved her arms around, gesturing at their environment.
John glanced up. They were indeed, back in London. Perfect, he told the ship. The TARDIS hummed back in glee, enjoying the joke.
"Would it really be so hard to take me somewhere new if you're determined to be all willy-nilly?" the Wolf continued her ranting at the box. "Nine hundred years of traveling in you – you know how many times you've landed me in London? One thousand, three hundred and sixty-two times, that's how many!"
John looked around, searching for a hint of what he was looking for. He spotted a newspaper lying on an abandoned bench. Trusting the TARDIS' instincts, John went over and scooped it up as the Wolf kept up her nagging. He flipped through the paper, listening to the Wolf with one ear as he read.
"That's not counting the two hundred and forty-five times you took me to New London and the fifty-six times we went to the New Age of England on the planet London. And that is certainly not counting the four years we were stuck here in this primitive town when you decided to let the High Council break you!" The Wolf threw her arms up in disgust and stalked away, only to spin around and come back for more, pointing an accusing finger at the TARDIS. "I stand by what I said before," she warned the ship. "If we die, I am coming straight back here and dismantling you after I regenerate. And this time, I won't put you back together. I threw out the manual. It's gone."
John, having found what he was looking for ages ago, watched in amusement as the Wolf continued her railing at the TARDIS. "If you're done dramatically yelling at the wooden blue box in the middle of an English street," he drawled, "I know where we're going."
The Wolf paused her chastisement, hand still raised, and looked back at him. "What?" she asked, still sounding put out.
He rolled his eyes. "You're making a scene. People will stare," he said blithely. "Think of what the neighbors will say."
"You're as bad as her!" the Wolf complained. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you two are plotting against me."
John grinned. "Caught. No, but come on. Look what I found."
The Wolf stalked over and looked at the advert he was pointing to. "'London Investigation n' Detective Agency – LINDA – Looking for any information on the alien calling herself the Wolf, also known as the Bad Wolf. May be traveling with a companion inside a wooden blue police box'," she read aloud. "I've run into LINDA before," she dismissed. "In the future. They're harmless. Just a bunch of misfits."
"Okay, but don't you think maybe you should talk to them?" John suggested.
"What in the name of Rassilon for?"
"Obviously they know things about you. Odds are, at least one of the people in this LINDA has met you," John reasoned. "Don't you think it would be better off for both you and them in the long run if you gave them a bit of closure? It's really going to make waltzing around London town whenever you want to difficult if you've got groups like LINDA running after you every step of the way and drawing attention to you."
The Wolf sighed exasperatedly. "Fine," she muttered, "but we are staying five minutes. And then we're gone."
"Fifteen."
"Ten," she countered, "and that's my final offer."
John grinned. "Done."
"Why do I let you talk me into these things?" the Wolf wondered aloud.
"It's my rugged good looks," John teased.
"You are anything but rugged," she shot back, smiling a bit. "You're too sleek. City – born and raised. It's obvious with you."
"Oi!" he complained. "I'll have you know that I could survive in the wilderness if I had to."
"Oh, yeah? How long, then?"
"…At least four hours."
The Wolf burst into laughter. John shoved her playfully, making her stumble as they made their way to the abandoned building LINDA held their meetings at. "Laugh it up, fur ball," he grumbled.
"Fur ball?" she asked, confused.
"Wolf?" John prodded. "Really?"
It was her turn to push him, making him clip a light pole. "No puns about my name," she warned after he recovered his stance.
John grinned, glad they were back to normal. "Whatever you say, Balto," he said as a parting shot, jogging ahead before she could process what he said.
"Oi!" she yelled after him. "Balto was full Siberian husky, he wasn't even a little bit wolf. And he was a hero to Alaska. I will not have you besmirching my name nor his. Now, are we going to meet this LINDA, or not? Because if the TARDIS is determined to never let us leave London, I would at least like to get some chips while we're here."
"We agreed ten minutes, Wolf," John reminded her. "Then we can get as many chips as you want."
The sounds of music faded as a group of five turned to stare at the two newcomers. "Hello, there!" the Wolf greeted cheerily. "I'm the Wolf. You must be LINDA. I hear you've been looking for me." The members of LINDA remained silent, awestruck at the sight of the alien they had been searching for.
Feeling bad for surprising them, John spoke up. "Hey guys."
"Hi," a younger blonde man answered hesitantly. The other four followed suit, mumbling quietly.
"What are your names?" she asked.
"Elton," the blonde replied.
"Ursula," a young brunette in glasses murmured.
"Bliss."
"Bridget," a middle aged woman introduced herself.
"Mr. Skinner," the oldest gentleman answered.
"Okay, listen, Elton, Ursula, Bliss, Bridget, Mr. Skinner," the Wolf told them seriously. "I told John here I'd come meet you for ten minutes. From the looks of things, you guys've got a good set up here. And yet you're looking for me in the newspaper?" They looked down sheepishly. "A: that's not a really great way of getting in touch with me in the first place. I don't read newspapers – dreadful boring things. Two: did it ever occur to any of you that it might be a bit dangerous to go touting my name however you please? I try to lay low –" John snorted, making the Wolf glare at him. "– but that doesn't always happen. I get noticed, as I obviously did with all of you. But not all those who want to find me have as innocent intentions as you. People I meet are dangerous, and you could lead them directly to you. And three – or C – don't you think it's just a bit rude? I like my privacy," she said firmly.
"You don't want to upset her," John informed them, grinning. "She gets cranky."
The Wolf shoved him by the shoulder, making him laugh. "The point is," she continued, shooting another warning look in his direction, "don't waste your lives looking for me. You don't have to find me to be amazing. You already found each other. That's pretty astounding in and of itself."
"And they found you as well, Wolf," a new voice interrupted from the back. "They are better than I had given them credit for." A pudgy man in a raincoat and hat appeared at the foot of the stairs, leaning on a cane.
"Who are you?" Elton asked, voice trembling a bit.
"Oh, Victor's my name, boy. Victor Kennedy. And I did have a job for all of you misfits, but I see that that is no longer necessary." Victor turned to face the two travelers. "Wolf. We meet at last," he breathed.
The Wolf smiled genially. "I'm afraid I'm at a disadvantage. I have no idea who you are," she said cheerfully.
"But I know quite a lot about you, Wolf."
"Nice cane," she complimented, nodding at the silver fist that topped the stick of wood. "He's dangerous," she muttered to John under her breath.
"And you didn't want to stay more than five minutes," John teased quietly.
"What do you want?" Elton asked, stepping closer to the newcomer.
Victor backed away quickly. "No, no, no! Stay back," he warned. "I suffer from a skin condition. Exeema. Very contagious." Mr. Skinner, Bliss, and Bridget immediately moved away, though Elton and Ursula remained just behind the Wolf and John.
"You mean eczema?" Ursula corrected.
"Yes, yes, quite," Victor agreed. "Exeema. Dangerous. You don't want to be anywhere near it."
"That's not your only skin condition, is it?" the Wolf spoke up.
Victor hesitated. "What do you mean?" he asked nervously.
"Well, it must be awfully uncomfortable walking around in a Shimmer. Dries the skin right out, I find," she said easily.
"And what exactly is a 'Shimmer'?" Victor asked pompously, gaining some of his attitude back in bravado.
"Weeell –" the Wolf dragged out, tossing her screwdriver in the air and catching it, "this. Shimmer!" she said gleefully, flicking a setting and activating the sonic.
Victor growled as his true, hideous green form was revealed. The five Earth bound humans stared in shock. "Now do you see why you shouldn't advertise about me in the paper?" the Wolf asked them. They all nodded mutely. She looked back at the now visible alien. "Now, Johnny, what do you reckon this smart looking fellow is?"
John considered the glowering being. "If I'm honest, I'd say he looks a bit Raxicoricofallapatorian."
"You insult me!" Victor spat. "I will not be compared to those dreadful pigs."
"Go on then, tell us. Where're you from?" the Wolf asked.
"...Their twin planet. Clom," he muttered angrily.
"Ooh, good guess," the Wolf complimented John. "But hang on a minute. Clom? And Raxicoricofallaptorius? Who put those two names together? Who comes up with Raxicoricofallapatorius and thinks of it's twin planet and goes: 'Clom, that's a good, similar name to Raxicoricofallapatorius'? Honestly, who runs this universe?"
"How many times can you fit Raxicoricofallapatorius into one conversation, Wolf?" John asked.
The Wolf grinned. "Quite a lot, Johnny. Want to find out?"
"Do not mention that name in front of me again!" Victor ordered, trying to sound superior and not quite managing it.
"Oh, sorry big fella," she apologized. "Let's have a look at you then, since you want the attention." She scanned him quickly with her screwdriver. "Oh, you've had some cowboys in here," she murmured. "Literally. You have the DNA of a cowboy from Wyoming running through your body. It's faint, but it's there. How'd you manage that then?"
"The same way I will obtain yours, Wolf," Victor threatened, "and thus gain sole possession of your time traveling machine."
"People always think that the TARDIS will all of a sudden accept a new driver," John pondered. "She barely lets you drive her, how do they expect to get anywhere with her?"
"Oi!" the Wolf protested. "I am a very good driver, thank you very much. But back to the point. How does the foreign DNA get into your cells? Is it endocytotic, parasitic, symbiotic, meiotic, what? Oh – oh!" she said excitedly. "You absorb it! You're some kind of Absorbatrix, Absorbatron, Absorbaloff –"
"Absorbaloff!" Victor interrupted. "Yes, I quite like that." He suddenly grabbed at Elton, dragging him forward and shoving him hard to the ground on his knees. "And now you will surrender yourself to me, Wolf, or this one dies," he warned. John took a step toward the other pair but the Wolf stopped him with a hand on his arm. "You see, I've read about you, Wolf. So passionate, so sweet," Victor sneered. "You would never let an innocent man die. And I'll absorb him, unless you give yourself up to me."
John fidgeted, all his effort going into staying still and silent. He hoped the Wolf had a plan. This was a little more than he bargained for when he asked the TARDIS for assistance. Did you know this was going to happen? he asked her. The equivalent of a mental shrug was his only response. Don't get coy with me.
Silence.
He rolled his eyes.
"Sweet, maybe," the Wolf was replying. "Passionate, that's a new one, but I can roll with it." She winked at John surreptitiously, making him blush, before growing serious once more. "But don't ever mistake those for nice or kind. Now, this is your one warning. Return to your planet, leave this group in peace, or you will learn to regret how not kind I can be when I'm angry."
"But – I will kill him!" Victor shouted, sounding less sure of himself. "I will absorb this boy and grow strong from his DNA!"
"Well, yeah. You could, yeah," the Wolf agreed. "But the thing is – you've absorbed a lot of people's DNA over the years. All that biological data that doesn't belong to you, swimming around in your cells." She paused. "This is your last warning."
"I will kill him!"
The Wolf shook her head somberly. "I warned you. Elton, his cane," she said quickly.
"What?" the boy asked, confused and scared.
"His cane, break it. Now!" she ordered.
Elton snatched the alien's cane from his sluggish grasp and snapped it in half, making Victor wail. "What have you done?" he cried, holding his sides as though he were in pain. "What's happening.
"I don't take being threatened well," the Wolf growled. "I take the threat to innocents even less well. You've lost the conducive force of the limitation field the cane generated around you. Fairly easy to pick up with a sonic screwdriver. All that DNA you stole, all those people you killed, their fighting back now, even if they're long gone. Your body can't hold them any longer."
With one last glare, the Absorbaloff melted into a puddle of goo that slowly spread across the concrete.
"Did I do that?" Elton whispered, staring at the liquid in horror.
Ursula rushed over to the boy, kneeling beside him and hugging him tightly. "You're okay," she reassured him. "We're all okay now."
The Wolf knelt down in front of Elton, waiting for him to look at her. "You don't remember," she began gently. "All those years ago." Elton shook his head, and the Wolf explained. "There was a shadow in your house. A shadow living in the darkness. An elemental shade had escaped from the Howling Halls. I stopped it, but I wasn't in time to save her. I'm sorry."
John remembered that day a few months ago. The Wolf had gotten an alarm from the TARDIS and had landed them somewhere. She had flatly refused to allow him to leave the ship, going out on her own. It was the one time she and the TARDIS had been in complete agreement, as the ship had locked her doors after the Wolf and kept them that way until the Wolf returned. John had been ready to berate the Wolf for leaving him behind again, but the look on her face had stopped him. She had been quiet for days, not leaving the vortex and never telling him what was wrong. Then, about a week later, she was back to her old self, having never said a word about what happened. Now he knew.
The Wolf stood, looking around at the three humans still standing, stunned at the day's turn of events. "Now you know what happens when you come looking for me," she advised quietly. "Often you get more than you bargained for. But you five have done something incredible all on your own. I told you before. You found each other. And you didn't need me to do that – I was just the topic you had in common. So go out. Get out of this basement and go live your lives. And you know – just be mates," she urged them. Mr. Skinner, Bliss, and Bridget nodded silently. "And Elton," she continued. Elton looked up at her. "Ask Ursula out. S'bout time you did."
"You and the TARDIS planned this together, didn't you?" the Wolf asked John over chips later that afternoon.
John shrugged sheepishly. "Not where you want, but where you need, right?" he tried.
The Wolf smiled. "Right." They were quiet for a while, the Wolf blissfully enjoying her chips while John ate a bit more slowly, smiling over at her once in a while. "You do know that this means that we're going to have take a field trip to see the singing sheep of Lemmonpoole, right?" she asked casually.
John groaned. "I'll never ask the TARDIS to take us anywhere again. Please don't take me back there," he begged. "That was the most unnatural torture you could ever devise. No sheep should ever sing."
The Wolf's laughter filled the small shop.