A Plague Upon Your Flat

As the darkness engulfed the entire city, Tobias pulled Susie close. "What the hell's going on, Zephy?"

Zephyrus stared at the sky in shock. "I don't know. But we should probably stay here for now. Seal the windows. Something bad's coming."

Faith, with Sampson close to her side, walked to the window. "Good idea."

Susie hugged Tobias tightly for a moment before stepping away from him and grabbing his hand. "C'mon, let's get them windows blocked. Think we need to worry bout upstairs? Dammit! Can't see a bloody thing!"

Zephyrus threw Tobias a torch. "Go with Susie. Secure the upstairs. Faith, I want you to get in the bedroom. Clear a spot for yourself under the bed, and stay put. No matter what. Don't come out until I tell you."

Faith looked blindly in the direction of Zephyrus' voice. "Which way? I'm by the window."

He grabbed her hand and led her to the bedroom, shoving her gently under the bed. As he pulled away, she felt something hard in her hand. A gun.

Zephyrus whispered fervently at her. "Please, just stay safe. Promise me you'll stay put."

"Ok. I promise." She gripped the gun tightly, remembering how the cool metal object worked. She prodded Sampson in Zephyrus' direction. "Stay with him, Sampson."

As soon as Tobias had the torch on, Susie pulled him up the stairs, heading for the first room. "Well, today just keeps getting better, doesn't it?"

She squeezed his hand in comfort as they headed to the first window. "You have no idea how relieved I am to see you home with us Toby."

Tobias leaned against her, kissing the top of her head gently. "I would have. . . I'm sorry for getting hurt. But I'm not going anywhere. I missed you."

She sighed and leaned into his body for a moment. "Try not to do that again for awhile huh? You scared me half to death!"

She leaned forward and kissed his mouth, hard and passionate. "And I don't know what I'd do without you!" she gasped.

"Mutual." He said, smiling against her. "Decidedly mutual."

They checked the other windows in the bedroom. As they did, the door behind them slammed shut. Tobias tried to open it, but it was sealed fast. They were trapped.

Tobias moaned. "Not that I mind being locked in a bedroom with you, but somehow I don't think this is a good thing."

Susie smirked. "Wow! Someone decided to give one of us an early birthday present!"

She tried the door herself. Nothing. She turned to the windows. "I know it's not one of my better ideas, but you think we should exit the window and try to get back to Zephy? I don't like him being alone down there."

Just then, there was a rattling at the window like a hail storm. Thousands of large insects began desperately flinging themselves against the wall of the flat.

Tobias shook his head. "I have a feeling we're stuck here."

Susie backed hurriedly away from the windows, nearly knocking Tobias over in her haste. Then she rushed to the drawers against the wall, going through them hurriedly. "C'mon, I know I put them here for emergencies! Toby, what happened to the stash of weapons we kept up here?"

As he reached for the stash under the bed, he pulled back in horror. He covered her eyes and led her to the back corner. "Don't look, Susie. Don't look."

She fought against him, trying to see. "Hey! Tobi! What're you doing? What did you see?" She tried to remove his hand, but the moment she touched him she could feel him shaking like a leaf.

She turned in his arms and grabbed his face, forcing him down to her shoulder where she held him close. "What's going on Toby? Please, you're scaring me!"

He struggled to speak, his eyes wide with terror. "Under. . . the bed. . . frogs. All the guns. . . frogs."

Meanwhile, Zephyrus was struggling to keep calm. Tobias and Susie should have checked in by now. He started shoving towels under the front door, trying to keep the insects out.

Faith could hear the "hail." She clutched her gun tighter and curled fast under the bed. "Oh God come to our assistance…" she murmured.

As she prayed, something at the back of Faith's mind begins to prod at her. Like an alarm going off. Something was seriously wrong. She jumped out from under the bed and dashed out of the room.

"Zephyrus!" she bellowed.

He turned, hearing Faith's voice. As he did so, he missed the figure looming behind him.

"Hello, Faithlet," crooned Death.

The Time Agency, London: Same Day

As Romana was walking with Nine, he suddenly vanished right in front of her without any warning. She looked around. It was clear that she was on the grounds of the Time Agency, but the sky had grown dark and hostile.

"Doctor? What the… Oh shit, what now?" She looked up at the sky, worry and fear twisting her stomach.

Suddenly, she realized that the fountain in the quad didn't sound right. It seemed to be gurgling rather than gushing. As she looked at it, she realized in horror that the water had changed into blood.

Romana grimaced. "That's new… I wonder if its something to do with us being here…the paradox…" She wandered over for a closer look, making sure to not get splashed. She had a feeling it wasn't normal blood.

Team Awesome's Hideout: Same Day

"Get down!" Faith yelled to Zephyrus as a bolt of light energy shot for her older self. "Damn Plagues!" she hissed. "Should have known you'd show up." She stepped between Death and Zephyrus.

Death staggered at the blast, but laughed. "Well, he is a firstborn son."

Faith growled. "You. Will. Not. Touch. Him!"

Meanwhile, upstairs, some of the fear left Susie as Tobias spoke. She hadn't known he was afraid of frogs! She giggled quietly, then stopped herself with a shake. "Hell, I'm sorry love. I know better than to laugh at other people's fears. You want me to check for you? I'll be okay, I promise."

A thought occurred to her. "Crap! I forgot about our manipulators! Can you get a message to Zeph to tell him we'll be okay?"

Tobias nodded shakily. "It's worth a try." As he turned to her, she saw that his face was covered in boils.

Susie recoiled from him in shock, then quickly checked herself. Yep, boils alright. Suddenly she was furiously angry. "Just what the hell is going on here? Plagues? In the 51st century? When I find out who's playing this game I'll make them regret they ever came up with the idea!"

Meanwhile, Zephyrus and Faith continued fighting Death.

"What in the hell is going on here?" cried Zephyrus, firing a particle gun at the spectre with little effect.

Faith staggered as Death shot a bolt of darkness at her. "You know the plagues of Egypt. The 10 that God sent on Pharaoh when he refused to release Israel?"

Zephyrus nodded. "I thought those were a myth, though. You're saying that stuff's real? Damn it, I did not get enough sleep for this."

Faith jumped at her darker Self, trying to get her hands on her. "This is Death. She is very real. All the plagues are real. This is no myth."

Zephyrus sighed. "Well, then, how the hell do we stop it?"

Faith grimaced as Death punched her in the gut. "Still trying to figure that one out."

Death laughed at Faith's attempts. "This boy is the person who becomes your mother? How pathetic. He's clueless."

Faith finally got her hands on the woman, her arms wrapping around Death's torso. "I have no idea what you are talking about." She began to chant, binding Death to the spot.

"Zeph! Go! Tobias and Susie need help!"

Zephyrus looked up in shock. "Your mother? The hell?"

Faith began to falter, her eyes glazing over. Damn. Why was Death so strong this time?

"Faith!" cried Zephyrus. He stepped between the two of them. "I don't know what the hell you're playing at, lady. But I won't let you hurt her."

Faith turned to him, brown eyes wide in terror. "Dammit! Zeph! Don't!"

Death laughed and reached for the young man.

Summoning her strength, Faith pushed Zephyrus away. "Don't be an idiot! Open the damn Vortex!"

Zephyrus cried out in pain, falling to his knees. "Faith. Run."

The Time Agency: Same Day

Lucian caught the Time Lady by the shoulders. "Professor Romana! Hurry!"

He grabbed her hand and dragged her inside the Agency headquarters. As they evacuated the outside, Mira ran for the fountain with a bucket, scooping up some of the blood.

Romana looked at them cautiously. "Lucian, Mira, what are you doing here? What started this?"

Mira frowned. "There's no time! Can you get me to Baker Street? I have to help the others!"

"In old London?" she thought for a second. "Hmm… Come on, I think I remember a shortcut!" Taking the kids' free hands, she took off in the direction of Baker Street.

Team Awesome's Hideout: Same Day

Tobias whimpered, in a great deal of pain. As he cradled his head, a small box dropped out of his pocket.

Susie leaned down and picked up the box. "What's this?"

Tobias reeled at her. "No! Don't touch that!"

She opened it to find a simple ring with a small diamond in the center. Susie stared at the ring in shock, all thoughts of immediate danger flying from her mind. "I…um…Toby?"

Tobias sighed. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. But I guess you know now. Don't bother telling me we're too young, or that the timing sucks. I already know all that. But I love you. And no matter what you say, I want to marry you. Will you, I mean, if we survive this?"

Susie looked from Tobias, to the ring, then back to Tobias. She tried to speak but had to stop to swallow past the emotion. "You. . . you. . . dumbass! I couldn't say no if I tried! I've loved you since the first day I met you. So of course my answer is yes!"

She jumped him, forgetting about his ribs as she kissed him with all the emotions she couldn't find words for.

Tobias kissed her back, all pain suddenly gone, overpowered by joy. He placed the ring on her finger and smiled happily. "Well, then. We should probably go rescue Zephy."

Susie sighed. "You're right, the timing sucks! Let's go find that idiot brother of mine then!"

She quickly reached under the bed and rescued the weapons, handing the bigger ones to Tobias. She waved a handgun towards the locked door. "You wanna do the honors, my soon-to-be-husband?"

Meanwhile, Sampson bounded from the darkness and jumped onto Death, growling, his maw open and teeth flashing. As the hound tackled Death, she screamed in terror.

Zephyrus, freed from her power, dragged Faith into the kitchen, locking them both in.

Faith leaned hard against the wall. She put a hand to her forehead. It was warm. "Are you ok?" she gasped.

Zephyrus moaned. "I don't. . . I. . ." The color slowly drained from his face, eyes, and hair.

Faith's eyes went wide. "Oh, crap!" She caught him as he fell to the ground, reaching out and feeling for a pulse. "Zeph! Stay with me!"

He smiled weakly up at her. "You're. . . really pretty. . . when you're worried." He went completely limp and clammy.

Romana suddenly appeared in the kitchen. "Faith! Let me see." She knelt next to him, knowing what she had to do. She put her hand on his chest, concentrating on him.

Tobias smirked at Susie. "You don't have to ask me twice!" He blew the door open, only to find himself face to face with Death.

Susie, looking over Tobias' shoulder, glared at the stranger. "What is this? Stranger Danger Week or something? Move it or lose it Lady!" She moved to stand next to Tobias, her gun trained on the woman's temple, a second gun aimed at her midriff.

Death laughed. "Your weapons are useless." She sent a burst of dark energy at them, sending them flying across the room.

Tobias gasped in pain. "And who are you?"

"No one of your concern. I will end –" Suddenly her face contorted in pain and she screamed. The front door burst open from the ferocity of the scream and she ran.

Susie looked in confusion at Tobias. "Okay…what just happened?"

As Death ran, she bowled over Mira, who was clutching the now-empty bucket.

"What the?" asked Tobias, blue eyes wide.

Mira smiled. "Lamb's blood. I poured it on the doorframe. Guess my Mythology specialty isn't as useless as you thought, Mr. 40th Century Studies."

Susan suddenly remembered her adopted brother. "Crap! Zephyrus!" She grabbed Tobias and raced to the kitchen.

Romana smiled weakly. "There, he should be ok, now… what the Hell is Death doing here, and how?" She ssts back, exhausted for the moment. "Where is everyone else, for that matter?"

Faith sighed. "As far as I can tell, the Plagues of Egypt somehow arrived here. Zephyrus is a first born… so naturally, Death would go after him. I honestly don't know where the Doctor is. Apparently there are three of him running around."

"And what a day it's been, too!" crooned Jack Harkness, whistling. "Three Doctors. . . and all of them have vanished. Hey Faith."

He blushed slightly at his daughter. It was clear that he remembered the actions of his younger self and did not want to think about them.

Gwen ran in after him. "So what's the damage report, Romana? Are the kids safe?"

Romana smiled at her friends. "Oh, fantastic… Wait, three of him? I was with him… and he dissap- Faith, the Doctor we arrived with, where is he? If all three vanished…we may be in trouble…"