Chapter 7

Every few minutes, John walked the perimeter of the bookshop scanning with the screwdriver. Thus far he had yet to get a live reading, but he found traces of spores in some of the older books in the back room. He kept the shop closed and the door locked as a precaution. He thought about calling Rose on the store phone, but decided against it. The Doctor would have told her what was happening, and he had nothing to report that the Doctor didn't already know from monitoring his scans. John knew the vashta nerada tended to return to their place of birth around nightfall so that any recently hatched life forms could join the swarm. Since he found spores he was certain this was their place of birth. He hoped Torchwood would erect a bio-filter and that the Doctor would be back by then.

As he wandered the bookshop alone, his thoughts turned towards the Doctor. Normally it was reassuring when he met an older version of himself. It didn't completely guarantee he would survive until the next regeneration. Time was usually in flux, but it always gave him hope. This time he was human, and he would never turn into that man, the last regeneration of the last Time Lord in existence. The Doctor would eventually die, and the memories of his people would die with him. He pushed aside these grim thoughts and focused instead on the recent mysteries. How did the Doctor get through to this universe? Why did a fixed paradox get created? Why had the TARDIS brought him to those two boys? What did 'BAD WOLF' have to do with it? Rose couldn't have been involved the way she had been the last time so what did it mean? How did it all fit together? He allowed himself a small smile. It was good to be doing something exciting again!

The day wore on and he continued to find nothing. He wondered if exciting had maybe been the wrong word. He tapped his fingers on the counter. He spun around in the chair by the front register. He ran his hands through his hair and then he looked at the clock. It was 5:40 PM and the sun would be setting soon. He walked to the front of the store and switched off all but the front light. Then he unlocked the door and stepped out. He used the screwdriver to scan the outside of the shop. He expected them back soon, and maybe he could catch them as they arrived. He bent down with his back to the door and used the sonic to scan shadows. He noticed one under the bench that looked darker than it should be. Sure enough it was a live reading. He took a step back. Then he the heard the bookshop door open and shut behind him. He turned around and what he saw in the window made his heart sink. He raced back inside. How could I have been so foolish to leave the door unlocked.

"Now mummy just needs to find-" Jackie Tyler cut herself short when she noticed that only the front light was on and the shop appeared to be empty. "Hello?" she called. The door opened and slammed closed. Jackie turned to look behind her.

"Jackie, I'm sorry we're closed. You need to leave," said John. He walked up next to her and pointed at the door.

"Doctor? What on earth are you doing here?" she asked.
"I work here!" said John in an exasperated voice. "And you need to leave now." He said gesturing with his arms for her to head towards the door. "Out, Out, Out!"

Jackie frowned. She was in a mood to argue. "No, I checked online it said 6 PM. I still have 15 minutes. That's plenty of time to find a book," she said.

"No, it isn't!" said John. "Not for you it isn't. I've seen you shop, Jackie." John took out the screwdriver, and started scanning the air. His eyes went wide. The swarm moved. It was in the shop. He looked about wildly for a misplaced shadow, but he didn't see one. "Jackie, You're son's life is in danger you need to leave now."

"What from?"

"Trust me!" said John. He looked at Jackie his face deadly serious. "Keep ahold of him. Don't you let go for anything."

"Are there monsters?" asked Tony.

"Yes there are!" said John, "you keep ahold of your mum's hand," he said.

"Oh, alright we're leaving. I thought these days were behind us," she said "come on Tony we better do as the Doctor says." They turned to leave.

"Wait! Stop!" shouted John.

Tony stopped dead in his tracks. Jackie took half a step forward, but paused because her son stopped. He had a death grip on her hand. John was suddenly glad he had spent so much time with the boy last week. Tony trusted him, and that might just save his life. "Well, which is it? Make up your mind," said Jackie.

"I need you both to stand very, very still. Can you do that for me?" John circled around Tony, careful not to step over his shadows. He looked Tony in the eyes. "Tony, can you do that for me? Stand as still as you can. Pretend it's a game. It's like hiding from the monsters only these monsters can only get you if you move. So stand still, okay?" Tony nodded. "Good!" said John.

"Doctor, what's going on? What is it?" asked Jackie.

"Jackie, I need you to turn slowly and face your son. It's super hero time," he said, "don't let go of his hand! Kneel down, and grab his other hand. Don't let go of him. Tony keep very, very still," said John.

Jackie did as John asked. She gripped her son's hands. "What is it, what is the matter?" Jackie asked, "you've got my poor boy terrified."

"I know. I'm sorry but he should be. Look at me Tony. It's good to be scared when you're in danger because scared keeps you alive. I can save you but you have to do exactly as I say. This isn't the kind of danger you can run from. You need to stay perfectly still for this to work."

"Doctor, will you please tell me what is going on!" shouted Jackie.

"Jackie, your son has two shadows. There is only one light source, so why does your son have two shadows? Answer: because one of them isn't a shadow," said John speaking quickly.

"What is it?" asked Jackie.

"The vashta nerada, the shadows that melt flesh. It's hunting your son. You remember the infants on the news?"

"Oh God! You got to save him!" shouted Jackie. John Smith pointed the sonic screwdriver at Tony's shadows. It buzzed and whined and told him the information he needed to know.

"There's not enough of them yet. So they're gathering in the shadow, waiting for now. If I'm right, they're confused. They aren't sure where you end and your son begins. That's the only reason they haven't attacked your son yet. They think they need enough to get both of you. You're keeping Tony alive by holding on to him." John pointed the sonic at the door and the lock clicked closed.

"You're locking us in here with them?"

"I'm not locking you in here I'm keeping everyone else out."

Outside a dirigible flew past, and then another, shining bright spotlights, lighting up the street like day. "This is an evacuation order," said a voice overhead, "leave your homes and proceed to the checkpoint at the end of the blockade. There is an alien presence contained within this zone and we need everyone to move as fast as you can."

"Except us," said Jackie her voice filled with dread.

"Right, you don't move!" said John, "I can't believe they let you walk past the barricade! I expected better from Rose's team."

"We were in the toy shop and then we stopped to get some chips. We've been here for hours." said Jackie.

"Of course you have," said the Doctor throwing his hands up in the air. He circled back behind Tony and scanned the shadows. Any minute now they would have enough to take Rose's mother and brother. John ran both hands through his hair pulling it back flat against his skull. He tried desperately to think of anything that might help. Surely the Doctor saw the readings back on his TARDIS. He should be here any minute, but would he be in time? He thought again about calling Rose, but what good would that do? The Doctor wouldn't delay unless he had good reason.

"What are we going to do?" asked Jackie. Tony began to shake. Tears streamed down his face. "It's okay, sweetheart, I've got you. You heard the Doctor. Nothing can get you as long as I'm holding on, and I'm not letting go! Not ever!"

"I have an idea, a bad one, but it's my risk to take," said John. "I don't think the swarm is big enough to take all three of us at once. They never half eat anything. They always wait until there is enough. There must be a reason for that. A half-eaten meal must cause problems for them…" John sniffed and ran his hand through his hair once more. He shook his head.

"Doctor, what are you going to do?" asked Jackie.

"It's the only way," John whispered to himself. He didn't appear to hear Jackie. "Okay, Tony, in a minute I'm going to come up behind you," said John, "It's just me, okay. I'm going to put my hands on your shoulders. Jackie, I'm about to do something I should never do. I'm going to cross his shadows. If I'm wrong and there's enough to kill me, you just keep ahold of your son. Help is on the way. Rose and the Doctor are coming."

"But you're the Doctor!"

"The Doctor with the TARDIS, the real Doctor! He came through somehow. Don't ask me how. I don't know and there isn't time," said John speaking quickly.

"Where is he?" asked Jackie. "Can't we wait for them?"

"No, Listen! Whatever happens next, one way or another it will buy you time. So if this is goodbye just know the real Doctor is on his way, and he'll save you. You just have to hold on until then."

"You're real enough for me," said Jackie.

For a fraction of a second a half smile formed on John's lips, but then it turned serious once more. "I can't let her lose you. She's lost so much already. I can't let her lose either of you! My life isn't important. I'm an accident….a mistake but at least I can do this," said John. He crouched down behind the boy. "Okay, Tony, here we go. If I scream don't turn around. Just keep looking at your mother. Just look straight ahead at her whatever happens. Count of three my hands on your shoulders. One, two, THREE."

John thrust his hands forward crossing the shadows and for a moment his right hand disappeared into a black cloud. "AAH!" He cried out in pain. His left hand managed to grab ahold of Tony's shoulder. "AAAAAAAH!" John screamed again. Tony's eyes widened and he shook with fright.

"You just look at me. It's going to okay," said Jackie.

John continued screaming, but he kept ahold of Tony with his left hand. Tony started to turn his head to glance behind him.

"No! Look at me, sweetheart! Keep looking at me," she said, "I've got you. The Doctor's got you. We won't let go. She squeezed her son's hands tightly as she watched a black cloud disperse and retreat into the unlit section of the bookshop. Finally John stopped screaming, and took several ragged breaths.

"It hurts. Wow, that hurts!" he said looking at his right hand in disbelief. It looked like one of those plastic 3-D cross sections for an anatomy class or perhaps a gruesome Halloween decoration. Except it wasn't made of plastic it was his real hand. The last two digits on his right hand were just bones being held together by the threads of a few remaining ligaments. He could see several of the carpal bones in his wrist, and a few white patches on the rest of his hand as well. He felt a burning sensation that stopped just below his elbow and assumed that much of the skin on his arm had been damaged as well. He couldn't pull back his sleeve to examine it without removing his other hand from Tony's shoulder, something he dare not do if he wanted to live. John noticed at least his major arteries and veins in his wrist been sealed as if cauterized. He didn't understand why, but he let out a sigh of relief. The wounds would ooze and bleed a little. His arm would probably have to be amputated, but it appeared he wasn't going to immediately die of blood loss so that was something.

"Doctor it's gone. It's hiding in the shadows," said Jackie. "I saw it disappear."

"We should go," said John, "don't let go of him were not out of danger yet. It's still around. Still waiting."

"I'm not letting go of you either. Give me your hand," said Jackie. John stood up and reached for Jackie's hand with his left.

"Oh my god, look at your hand! It almost finished you off!" said Jackie. She recoiled from him in shock and pulled back her hand. John shook his left arm frantically. His eyes were wide and his lips pressed tightly together as he silently asked her to grab his hand quickly. Jackie realized her mistake and quickly grabbed his good hand while keeping a tight grip on Tony with the other. John breathed a sigh of relief. He noticed Jackie was still staring at his half-eaten hand.

"It's just a flesh wound!" said John flashing a grin in between grimaces. Jackie glared at him. "Oh come on that was funny," he said but Jackie's angry glare did not abate.

John swallowed. "I just saved your lives. Why do you look like you want to kill me?"

"Doctor, don't you dare say your life isn't important! My Rose wasn't planned, but she was never a mistake!"

John's face grew stern. He nodded. "Point taken. Now let's get out of here."

"Tony, sweetheart, were going to go now. It's okay. We're going to be okay now. The Doctor saved us!" said Jackie.

"Are the monsters gone?" he asked.

"For now," said John, "but they are nearby. We need to leave."

The trio moved awkwardly toward the door. John lifted his right hand instinctively but he stopped when his arm seared with pain, contorted his face, and let out a gasp. He looked over at Jackie. "I'll need you to open the door."

"How? You've got my hand?" she asked.

"Let go slowly but don't break the contact," said John. Slowly she opened her hand. John slid his left hand carefully over Jackie's wrist. He held on gentle while Jackie twisted the lock. She opened the door, and the three of them race outside. Jackie grabbed ahold of John's good hand once more.

"Come on, this way," said John tilting his head to the right towards the far end of the street. Even from this distance they could see the faint translucent purple glow of the bio-filter stretching up into the sky.

As they race off a dirigible caught them in their spotlight. Over the loud speaker a garbled voice announced "This block is being evacuated by Torchwood. Stop and put your hands up in the air."

"Oh, who put this idiot in charge?" asked John realizing as he said it that it was probably Rose. "We can't put our hands up. We can't let go of each other." He spoke barely above a whisper. "I'm a target now. I let go of you for a second then I'm next. They have already marked me." He gasped and his face contorted from the pain.

"Hey! You lot," shouted Jackie "I'm Jackie Tyler. Rose's mother! My three year old is terrified, and the Doctor is injured! I'm not letting go of either of them!"

"Acknowledged!" the voice above their heads said, "make your way to the blockade at the end of the street. You will be checked for contaminates before being allowed to leave the quarantine zone."

They started quickly as they could towards the end of the road. Each hurried step John took caused his arm to sear with pain as it swung at his side. He brought his arm close to his body but bending his elbow caused every nerve ending to scream in protest. He groaned. No matter what he did the pain slowed him down. Jackie led the trio with John and Tony falling behind in a V shape like migrating birds.

Tony tripped and lost his balance. Jackie kept a firm grip on his hand, but the motion wrenched the boy's arm at an uncomfortable angle. He stumbled again and stubbed his left foot on a patch of uneven pavement. Tony's pace slowed to a crawl and then stopped completely. He trembled and tears pooled in his eyes. He cried loudly and refused to budge. Jackie crouched down beside her son and John echoed her movements, not daring to let go of her hand.

"It's okay sweetheart," Jackie said to her son, "but we've got to keep moving."

"Pick him up!" said John, "I won't let go of you."

"You better not," said Jackie.

"I have no wish to die," said John.

"Could have fooled me earlier," said Jackie as she grabbed ahold of her son, "Why cross the shadows. Why not just grab his other hand or mine. We'd still look bigger to it wouldn't we?"

He shook his head. "I could have done that, but there was still a chance they would have gone for Tony first. I couldn't let that happen. It's better I look like this than him," said John holding up his right hand. He winced immediately regretting the unnecessary movement of his arm.

Once Tony was secure in Jackie's arms the pair stood up. They heard a noise like pebbles falling to the ground. John looked down and noticed several small thin bones on the pavement. He looked at his hand to confirm what he feared. His two fleshless fingers had just fallen off. His arm hurt so much he couldn't feel the difference. Jackie screamed. Tony wailed louder.

John tightened his grip on Jackie's arm and pulled her along. "Come on," he said gritting his teeth.

"Oh My God!" shouted Jackie hurrying along beside him. "Shouldn't you pick them up?"

"No point," he said, "My arm's lost. If I survive this I'll have a prosthetic. That will be different."

They reached the blockade a few minutes later. A purple glow reached from the ground upwards curving towards the Torchwood zeppelin high in the center of Zone 7. The containment dome sealed in anything that had not been cleared to leave. The Torchwood team assembled with scanners and brilliant white lights that rivaled the sun. There was a long queue of people waiting to get through. The Doctor made a motion to file in behind them.

"Oh, no we don't! Step aside!" she shouted, "This man is badly injured we're going first!"

People started to object, but when they saw the Doctor's ghoulish hand they stepped aside not wanting to get too close.

A man in army uniform held a spotlight pointing it at the people in front of them, while another man John recognized as Wilson held a scanner. The light on the scanner flashed green and a man was given the all clear. When he walked to the bio-filter's energy barrier it became a glowing tunnel of purple light, and then sealed itself off once the man had made it to the other side. John and Jackie stopped pushing their way to the front. The family of four in front of them had just been given the all clear. The mother held her two children's hands tightly and the dad followed behind. They raced through the purple tunnel. The three of them were next.

"Mrs. Tyler you and your son are clean, but I'm sorry he's not," Wilson said. He held the scanner pointed at John, and an indicator light kept flashing red on top. He frowned as he made eye contact with John. "Doctor, I'm sorry but you have two shadows."

John looked down at his feet and in the single blinding beam of light that shown directly at him. There were two shadows. The benign one, or so he hoped, stretched off towards Jackie and her son while the other one stretched off behind him and to the right.

"I can't leave. You'll die," said Jackie.

"Jackie, you have to!" said John, "Get your son out of here!" He loosened his grip on her arm.

"No! Don't you dare!" said Jackie looking over her shoulder at John.

Tony whipped his head around. His watery eyes locked on John. He reached out his hand towards him and squirmed in his mother's arms. "Doctor!" Tony cried, "Doctor!"

Suddenly Rose and her father Pete appeared on the other side of the translucent purple energy barrier.

"Jacks come on!" said Pete.

"Mum come on, leave him!" said Rose. She didn't meet John's eyes as she said this.

"This man saved our lives!" said Jackie.

"Not yet, I haven't. You need to go!" said John.

Rose locked eyes with John. "I'm sorry, Doctor. I don't know what else to do."

"It's alright," said John. He gave Rose a brave smile, but he knew she would see right through it. Still she had called him 'Doctor' and he had to live up to that title. He had to be strong for her even now. "What about the Doctor? If he used the TARDIS he should be able to filter-"

"He's run off!" Rose interrupted, "I don't know where he's gone. Something about finding proof that he has a new home for them."

John nodded. "Jackie, get ready to run," he said.

"But you'll die!"

"Better me than all three of us," said John. He let go of Jackie's arm. "Run!" he shouted. To his relief Jackie ran towards the energy barrier and it became a tunnel of purple light permitting her and Tony to leave. In a moment they were safe on the other side. Pete Tyler pulled his family into a hug. He took Tony in his arms and Jackie turned around. John still stood there looking at her.

"They didn't get him!" said Jackie.

"It's only a matter of time. Once they have enough…" John said. He swallowed and took a deep breath. "Everyone keep back!" he said and made a sweeping motion with his left arm. "I'm the next target, but the swarms not big. If you keep away from me, you'll be fine!" he said but crowd didn't budge. They didn't seem to understand what was happening. Rose walked over to the man in uniform and said something to him John couldn't hear. "Tell them!" said John looking over at the two of them.

"This man is right!" The soldier's voice boomed over a megaphone. "Make your way to the other exits. The nearest exit is behind you to the left on Totter's lane. Go quick as you can. You are in danger as long as you stay here."

The crowed started to move and John allowed himself a small sigh of relief. He's body trembled of its own accord he couldn't stop it. He couldn't tell if it was from fear, pain, or both. "Two weeks. That's all I've lasted. Two and half weeks."

Two familiar young faces moved against the crowed, moving towards John. They stopped in front of him careful not to get near his shadows.

"No, stay back!" John shouted gesturing wildly with his good arm.

"You have to help him!" shouted the older boy looking at Rose. Rose recognized him as Bill, "You're Torchwood, you have to do something!"

"I'm sorry, son, there is nothing we can do," Wilson replied.

"The Doctor saved my life!" shouted Joey, "You can't let him die!" He also looked over at Rose. Rose sniffed, brought her hand to her mouth, and shook her head. She looked down at the pavement.

"Bill just go! Get your brother out of here!" shouted John, but the kids didn't move.

"This isn't supposed to happen!" said Bill "You're the Doctor. It's all over the web. You saved us from the cybermen! And you saved my brother and me. You're a hero!"

"Please, you need to leave!" said John.

"You'll regenerate won't you?" asked Bill, "The rumors say you can't die, you just change shape, right?"

"Yes, that's right!" he lied. "So you don't worry about me. Just go. Just run!"

The two boys left. He wasn't sure Bill believed him, but it didn't matter. The result was the same. John trembled worse. Every nerve ending in his arm screamed at him, and he knew his last moments would end in agony.

"He's coming back!" said Rose. John looked over at her but said nothing. "He's the Doctor. He wouldn't leave us. You still have his screwdriver. You know he wouldn't leave without that," said Rose. He could see her blink back tears.

"Yeah, I still have his screwdriver," said John quietly. His eyes went wide. "I still have his screwdriver!" He said again more loudly. He let out a short gasp of air that was something between a laugh and a sigh. Carefully he reached into his suit pocket with his good arm, and pulled the out the screwdriver. He raised it in the air high above his head, and turned it on. The device let out its high pitched buzzing noise. He looked up at the sky for a moment and then back at Rose. Her eyes were full of tears. Then the blackness closed in on him blocking Rose and everything else from view. He closed his eyes and braced himself for the end.

The Doctor stood outside Zeppelin book in the exact location John Smith last used his sonic. Beside him sat the turkey in the glass cage with the door open. "I can help you!" He said to the darkness counting on the TARDIS to translate for him. "I can give you a new home with plenty of food. I offer this as proof!" The Doctor gestured to the turkey. After a minute a second shadow appeared off of the turkey, but it didn't attack. A minute later it vanished. He ran back inside the TARDIS. "It's moved but where? It was here moments ago. It's hunting something else, something bigger." He flipped a few buttons on the console and let out a sigh. There were no new readings from his sonic.

He ran back out outside, closed the door on the cage, and hauled it back into the TARDIS. Next he wired up the metal handles to the console with a device about as sophisticated looking as jumper cables. Then he made a few adjustments to the TARDIS controls.

The Doctor slammed his fists down on the console. "Remember when you used to take me not where I asked to be but to where I needed to be? Remember that, Old Girl? Couldn't you do that again just one more time? I think John's in trouble." Then he heard the shrill whistle of his screwdriver being amplified by the TARDIS sound system. "Take me there! Now!" He shouted and to his delight the TARDIS engaged without him pressing a button.