Chapter 8 -- Old Friends

Kyra didn't go inside. She simply sat on the steps and waited for the interrogation to be over.

Robson had taken Nora home, refusing to have his Potential involved.

But Kyra didn't leave. She sat and waited.

"Do you have a way of waking him?" the Doctor asked Tommy. "He hasn't come to yet."

Wordlessly, Tommy injected something into the vampire's arm. "Slayer blood."

"Hmm. Whatever works."

The vampire stirred.

"I want you to know," the Doctor said. "You try to escape, you're history."

He bared his fangs. "Aren't I already? You left me to die!"

"No, I didn't. You insisted."

"You didn't even try to save me."

"By then, it was too late. I thought it was too late. What happened?"

The vampire grinned, baring fangs. "It saved me. It rescued me, infused me with new life!"

"What saved you?"

"Wait for it. It comes."

"No, no, no. You're going to tell me now! What saved you."

The vampire grinned larger. "From beneath you, it devours." He yanked his arms free and leapt at Tommy.

The Doctor caught him, yanked him back, slammed him down. "No! You're going to answer me! And then maybe, maybe, I'll save your soul."

"There is no soul to save. From beneath you, it devours."

"What devours?" Tommy demanded. "What's beneath us?"

The vampire refused to answer.

"Look, Jack, Jack, I know you're in there. You maybe invaded by another being, or demon, or whatever it is, but I know you're still in there. You can do what you meant to do before. Whatever it is that's coming, we need help. I'm not asking you to do anything, I just need information! Please. For me!"

"There is no soul here! Only memories!" He laughed. "You do not understand."

"No, I understand perfectly. Even though there's only memories, there's more to a person than just a soul. The personality is in the brain!"

"I welcomed it, when it came. The Darkness. The end of all pain. You cannot stop it. It was First, and it can never die."

"Tell me what it is!"

"He just did," Tommy said. "The Darkness. The First."

"The First, the First. Why does that sound familiar? The First what?"

"Evil," Tommy replied bleakly. "If he has been infused by the first, we can't let him go."

"Not on Earth."

"Do whatever you want, but don't turn him loose here."

Tommy turned and strode out, looking ill.

"Jack."

"What?"

"What was the last thing I said to you."

"Out of all the humans you've known, I was the only one you considered a friend. Still hold true, Doctor?"

"Yes."

"You couldn't save me. Please, let me die. I don't want to be this."

"I know people that could help you. Not on this planet, but..."

"I don't want help, Doctor. I want peace. It's been a very long time since I had peace."

"OK, Jack. Take care."

"You, too."

The Doctor picked up the crossbow, aimed..."Jack, despite what you believe, you're still good. Goodbye, Jack." And fired.

The vampire crumpled to dust.

The Doctor put down the crossbow and left the room.

Kyra looked up. "I'm sorry about your friend."

"He redeemed himself."

"Aye."

He looked down at her. "Don't believe it, do you?"

"I believe you. Let's just leave it at that."

"I'll have to disappear for awhile. There are things coming that I can't interfere with."

"Is it really the Darkness? The First Evil?"

"That's what Jack said."

"Fuck me."

"You have my word, you'll have friends. I've seen that much."

She rose to her feet and hugged him tightly. "Take care of yourself."

"You, too. I expect you to still be here when I come back. Don't go doing anything foolish."

"I can't promise," Kyra said. "But I'll try like hell."

"Just...be careful."

"I will."

He turned down the stairs and walked away.

"Doctor?"

"Hmm?" He turned back to her, eyebrows raised.

"Who did you lose?" she asked. "Who was it that made your eyes sad?"

"A friend."

"Yeah. All right."

"A very close friend."

"I'm sorry."

"So am I."

He turned and walked away.

TBC...