Recovery

St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London: August 22, 5090

Mira, Tobias, and Lucian lay in hospital beds. Nine was watching them carefully, a worried look on his face.

The nurse smiled at him, sensing his worry. "You said you found them in an alley?"

He sighed. "Yeah. Poor kids."

She shook her head. "Then I don't suppose you're a relative? I'll have to ask you to le–"

He flashed psychic paper at her.

She reeled back, flustered. "Oh, pardon me, sir! I had no idea that the Noun Ambassador would be in town this week."

Nine smiled. "We're here secretly. I'd like to stay and watch over these children. You understand. For the voters."

She nodded. "Yes. Absolutely. I'll be back later to check their vitals."

Mira stirred, whimpering softly to herself. Nine walked over to her, placing his hand in hers. She squeezed tightly.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you, little one. Don't worry. I'll keep you safe. I promise." He stroked away her bangs from her forehead, his eyes filled with anger and sorrow. "Whatever they're doing to you, it ends today."

Tobias looked over at them, his pupils slightly dilated. It was clear he had a concussion. "Doctor?" he moaned, "Is she going to be ok?"

Nine pasted on a wide grin. "Okey-dokey and right as rain! No need to worry! Just take care of yourself for now, Tobias!"

Romana walked in, and could barely contain herself. It was the Doctor . . . but another regeneration?

"Hello, Doctor, I was told I'd be needed in here… Oh my god, what happened to you guys?"

She moved over to examine them.

He sighed. "They were attacked. A student apparently turned into a monster. I got there after it happened."

Romana nodded, gently checking Mira. She noticed the girls ribs, and wondered if she could heal her. "Well, it looks like you found them in time… Her injuries are serious."

She turned, looking up at him with a slight, sad, smile. "You don't remember or recognize me, do you, Doctor?"

Nine beamed at her, his signature grin bright and manic. "There's no forgetting you, Romana! Not a chance!"

She smiled wider, practically jumping to hug him. "It's so good to see you! I was…gone, for a long time, not quite myself. On Earth, of all places."

She stepped back, eyes serious. "We need to talk…about home. Not now, though, these kids come first. Now, Mira's ribs are broken, I'm sure I can help that."

He smiled. "Thank you. Maybe you can talk to her as well? I'm sure she'd rather talk to a woman than daft old me."

He turned to Lucian, whose face was half-covered with bandages. "Poor lad, trying to protect his sister. They think he might lose the eye."

"Not if we can help it," chirped Romana. "Now, I'm going to need you to make sure I'm not disturbed." She pulled a chair next to Mira's bed, taking one of the girl's hands and putting her other one on her ribs. "I'm going to try an energy transfer…might take a year or two off my life, but it's not like I'll truly get old, right?"

Smiling at him, she closed her eyes, concentrating. A faint golden glow covered her and Mira's hands, as well as the girl herself.

"Yeah," he muttered. "I'll go keep watch." He left the room, standing outside it. He didn't want to watch this process.

A bit later, Romana opened her eyes, and sat back, tired. She gently checked Mira's ribs and smiled to herself. The girl's ribs were healing much quicker than before.

She turned to the boy, moving her chair. She looked at him for a moment, then did the same as before. She went still, concentrating, but it didn't take nearly as long. She sat back, watching him for a moment longer, before going to get the Doctor.

"It's done," she yawned. "They should be fine." Giving him a small smile, she leaned against the wall.

He stared at her in concern. "Are you all right, Romana?"

Nodding, she looked up at him. "I'll be fine, just tired."

He watched her carefully, not entirely convinced. But he turned away rather quickly when the nurse returned. "Pardon me, miss."

The nurse gulped. "Yes, Ambassador?"

"I would like to take these children to our private medical bay. They will be well cared-for there."

"But sir, I. . ."

She noticed his eyes beginning to narrow. "Very well. Just sign here so I can release them into your care."

She handed him a tablet, which he signed. He beamed at Romana. "Just like old times!"

She beamed back, happy that this version seemed more like her old Doctor. "Indeed… So, what are you doing later? I'd like to catch up, if you're up for it."

His grin faded. "I'm sorry. But I have something I need to take care of. An errand, for an old friend. You understand."

Her smile faded as well, and her hearts sunk a little. "Oh, right, of course. I understand. I'll see you around then, hopefully." Giving him another nod and a smile, she turned, heading back down the hall. She could use some hot tea, and maybe a nap.

Nine called down the hallway after her. "I suppose. . . you could help me, if you want. It'll be a little boring, but. . ."

She stopped. "Wellll…. If you're sure, then…" She walked back, stopping in front of him. "What's the plan?"

Nine grinned. "Fantastic! Ok, so the Face of Boe. He asked me to stop over at the Academy and get something for him. Something he claims to have left there a long time ago. I'm not sure what it is, but it's all he asked for the last time I saw him, and he is a friend."

Romana nodded. "All right then, sounds good! Oh, and nothing with you is ever truly boring." She smirked at him.

Wells Time Academy, London Campus: Same Day

As the unscathed members of Team Awesome returned to campus, Zephyrus looked at his schedule. "So, I've got Weapons Training next. What about you ladies?"

Faith quickly glanced at her own schedule and suppressed an eye roll. "Same here. Do you have Professor Hart?"

Susie nodded. "Me too. Don't worry kiddo, we'll make sure you're okay!" She winked reassuringly at Faith.

Zephyrus sighed. "Well, we'd better go find a seat. I think. . ." He paused, smelling the air. "Is that. . .smoke?"

"Get down!" bellowed John Hart. He charged out of the classroom and pulled the three to the floor. There was a large explosion and metal shrapnel flew everywhere.

He stood up and looked critically at them. "Anyone injured, then? No? Oh, thank God."

He turned back to the classroom, shouting. "I told you that the proton magnifier would be too powerful for the toaster! Why don't you ever listen to me?"

Faith shook her head, trying to clear the stars from her vision. "What just happened J–Professor?"

He stalked away, muttering under his breath. "Damn Aussie. . .death of us all. . . I need a drink."

Oh no…

Older Susie, under the alias Jill Warden, yelled from in the classroom. "God dammit John! I told you this was a bad idea for the first class! We're supposed to be teaching them to use weapons, not how to make them!"

"Well, looks like we're in the right place," mused Zephyrus. He chuckled at Faith's traumatized face. "Don't worry. I'm sure nothing else will happen."

"I hope so," she muttered. Though, knowing John and the Older Susan, that hope was rather small.

Jill stormed out of the classroom, almost running over the students. She looked them over with interest. "Oh good. New blood. Get your butts in here and help me clean up the idiot's mess will you?"

Zephyrus grinned cheekily. "Will that be for extra credit, ma'am?"

For reply, Jill grabbed Zephyrus' ear and dragged him into the classroom. "No my little boffin, but you will get kicked out of class if you don't! How's that, hmm?"

Susie just shook her head at her adopted brother. He had the worst lines sometimes! She followed them into the classroom.

Faith followed shortly behind, attempting to keep the straightest face possible.

Hart stormed back in with a mop and something that looked like an automated vacuum cleaner. "Here, Jill. You can have one member of my class to help you. The rest of you, let's go to the range and practice with the laser cannon."

She just folded her arms and gave him a look. "Are you trying to annoy me John? 'cause it's working."

She glanced at Faith, raising her eyebrow in inquiry. The girl smiled and nodded.

Zephyrus sighed. "Screw this. I'll see you fools later."

He glared at Jill and fled the classroom.

Hart sighed. "Should I even bother trying to write him up?"

Jill gave Faith a quick grin before turning back to her nemesis. "If you hurt so much as a single hair on those kids…" She grabbed the mop from him and used it to force him out of the door.

"Oi! No need to get rough, Jill! Save it for later, yeah?"

"Get out already," she screamed in reply. "God, you're worse than the idiots we're supposed to be teaching! Chase up the boy and drag him along with you – hopefully you can do that much without screwing it up."

Susie smiled at her older self. "I'll go get him if you like. I know where he'll be."

Hart growled at Jill. "Temper, temper. As if I've ever been able to get that boy to do anything he didn't want to do." He smiled at Susie. "Let's go blow stuff up, yeah? You like that, don't you?"

Jill looked at her younger self consideringly. "Reckon you would at that. Go on then, scoot! And keep him out of John's way, yeah? No telling what the Idiot will do left to his own devices.

Susie just looked at Hart, unknowingly giving him the same look as her older version. "I'll go find my brother first I think." She quickly disappeared from view.

Hart stalked off after her.

Faith looked between the retreating Hart and Jill. She could practically feel the tension. "We should start cleaning this up, yes?"

Jill stared at the retreating back of her young self. She shook her head sharply to bring herself back to the present. "Yeah, I guess. The sooner this is done the sooner we can rescue those poor kids."

After a moment, she turned back to Faith. "So, how's your day been?"

This time, Faith did not suppress her eye roll and picked up the vacuum cleaner. "Interesting. I can see why Jack didn't send me to school in the 21st century."

Jill snorted in derision. "21st century's got nothing on us honey! Here it's learn or die…though I'm sure I don't remember it being quite this dangerous!"

Faith chuckled. She turned on the device. It emitted a low hum, but wasn't loud enough to deter conversation. She began to vacuum up the black dust on the floor.

"Yeah. So what did you blow up?"

Jill laughed. "Toaster Laser. Damned if I know what he was thinking! Sat there like king of the hill and told me to 'show the kiddies how one was made' then kept contradicting everything I did. Pity he wasn't closer to the thing when I blew it up!"

Faith smirked. "He would be one to do that." She continued to clean for a moment and then looked at the older woman. "How on earth were you chosen to be his TA?"

She sighed. "Honestly? If I didn't know any better, I'd say John set it up. As it is, I think I'm just bloody unlucky!"

Between the two of them, the room was quickly set straight.

Jill sighed, stretching her back. "Well, now that that's done, what do you think? Rescue the kids? Or we could just skip class altogether and find something more fun to do!"

Faith laughed. "That's a tough choice. Though I have a feeling you would rather be nowhere near John right now."

"Too right there, my girl! Let him clean up his own damn mess this time! I say we go shopping!"

Faith smiled. "I don't see why not. . ."

New West End, London: Same Day

Jill and Faith stepped into the huge complex that was the shrine of shopping in the local area.

Faith gazed around with wide eyes. Never had she seen a shopping centre this big.

Jill smiled at the girl's face. "Kinda bowls you over the first time huh? Welcome to the biggest shopping centre that has – so far – been constructed! Takes up five blocks and is about ten stories up. Five below too!"

She took Faith's hand and led her confidently towards the nearest clothing shop. "We'll start here, and keep going till we find what we need. It won't take as long as it looks, I promise."

Faith let herself be dragged along. "What are we looking for?"

Jill gestured at their appearances. "Well, we definitely could do with a change of clothes don't you think? Don't worry! I'm not that excited to go shopping, but it gives us a change of scenery!"

Faith nodded. "Ah. Yeah. I could use some, and a bath for that matter."

"So, change of clothes and toiletries…let's see now…" She walked along for a moment, thinking. "I know just the place! Where we can get everything we need as quickly as possible so we can get the hell out of here! Next floor up and halfway along! Don't let go of my hand Faith."

She walked swiftly towards a set of moving stairs to the next floor.

Suddenly, a blue woman in a patterned skirt stepped in front of them. She was a space gypsy, one of the nomadic races of the outer spiral.

"Pretty ladies! Hello! I have magnificent offer for you!"

Jill looked in amusement at the woman. "Honey, you always have magnificent offer! And they always turn out to be twice the price of a normal offer!"

Faith kept a neutral face. With all she'd seen today, her caution radar was on high. She looked to Jill then back to the woman.

The woman frowned slightly. "Ah! Ladies, this is offer you not want to miss, yes? Is good! Nadia will tell you secrets!" She stared at Faith. "Little sister. We talk, yes?"

Faith scrutinized the woman. Why would she want to speak with her? "Um."

She looked up at Jill, then back at the woman, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Alright."

Nadia led them to a small back room hung with tapestries depicting various scenes. In most of them, a little blue box could be seen hiding in the background. "You make a wise choice, sister. Sit, sit. We will talk of things that are and have been."

Faith took a seat and looked at the older woman. She folded her hands carefully in her lap. "What did you wish to speak to me about, big sister?"

Jill remained standing just behind Faith's seat. She was interested in seeing where this led.

Nadia frowned. "You will soon have to make choice between the happiness of the people you love and something very precious to you. I need to know that you will make right choice."

Faith tilted her head slightly. "A choice? Something precious to me? Forgive me, sister, for I do not understand."

"You will have chance to become who you could have been. To have normal life, with family. But at great cost. You could lose family you have."

At these words, Jill stiffened. "Now wait just a minute! What the hell kind of talk is this?"

Faith's eyes widened. "I could be living…" she suddenly frowned. "But the Doctor resurrected me so that Death wouldn't cause mass mayhem. This doesn't make any sense. How could I become living if Death would be the one to take over?"

Jill just looked at Faith in confusion. Death? Resurrection? What the hell was she talking about?

Nadia sighed. "I have no answer. Only I see this come. You must be ready."

Faith sighed. "Alright. How must I prepare? Is it someone close to me I must face?"

Suddenly, the woman looked frightened, her eyes wide. She stared at something invisible behind Faith. "Go. You must go. I can say no more. Be careful, sister. May my Lord Gedeminas . ." She crumpled to the ground, blood flowing from her mouth. A stab wound was visible in her chest, but how it got there, and who stabbed her remained unseen.

Jill grabbed Faith and roughly dragged her back out into the main store, through the crowds of shoppers, and onto the moving stairs. "You and I are gonna have a nice little chat about this, but after we get out of here okay? I'm done shopping for the day. Let's go back."

Faith's eyes were wide and scanning the walls. "Sure thing. But we gotta run."

Holding Faith's arm in a death grip, Jill led them out of the centre, not slowing her pace until they were in sight of the academy.

Weapons Classroom: Same Day

Jill dragged Faith through the door of the classroom before letting her go and turning to her. "I think it's time for that discussion now my girl. I mean, I pegged you as older than you look, yes. The eyes kinda give that away, but what is this death business?"

Faith sighed and looked up at the Australian. "You might wanna sit for this one. I was born in the 13th century. To whom, I don't know. I never met my mother or my father. I was raised by the local priest at St. James Parish. Anyway, shortly after I turned nine, I got really sick. The priest, God bless his soul, took care of me as best he could, but he could not save me. I died after a week."

She took a deep breath and continued. "He called for the Doctor. Apparently the two had met before I could remember and the Doctor promised he'd help the priest. Fr. Joseph begged if there was any way to bring me back. There was. It's called the Resurrection Gauntlet. There are only two and both have been destroyed now. However, when I was resurrected, a part of myself was pulled out, a darker me. I call her Death. She killed 12 people after being brought out. I defeated her somehow. I can never truly remember how I did so."

She grabbed one of Jill's hands and brought it to her throat where an artery was supposed to pump blood. There was no heart beat. "I'm not a zombie. I don't understand what exactly I am though."

She stopped and awaited Jill's reaction.

Jill's eyes went distant as she thought through the ramifications. "Ok, so you're not alive, but you're not a zombie either…" She moved her hand until it was cradling Faith's cheek. She lightly kissed Faith's cheek and leaned back, a small smile on her mouth. "Well, that wasn't so hard, was it?"

She chuckled at Faith's expression of disbelief. "Honey, I've seen some strange shit in my time! And whatever you are, you don't feel evil to me, so I can live with it. Thank you for being honest with me."

Faith's eyes lit up, as if a huge burden had been lifted from her shoulders. "You're welcome!" She hugged Jill, glad to have found, at last, someone who didn't judge her or think she was lying. She closed her eyes.

Maybe telling Jack the whole story wouldn't be a bad idea after all.