"Doctor?"
Wilf lets the woman in surreptitiously, seeing as how she looks like a woman possessed anyway. Her eyes are wide and she hardly waits for him to move before she goes into the house. The man closes the door and finds her standing in the kitchen, turning full circle.
"John's not here," the Doctor says with a harried whisper of an undertone.
"He's not with you?" Wilf asks with a shaky pointing hand. Instead of answering the Doctor continues to nibble at her lips. Her eyes move in dizzying patterns.
"He disappeared. We were - he was - in—I don't know! He's gone, he has just…vanished!" The Doctor seems more and more human as she spirals into hysterics. Her eyes become wrought with emotion, glazing over with tears. The frantic tone in her voice is frightening.
"All right, now, all right," Wilf goes to the ginger woman. She allows him to take her by the shoulders and lead her to the sitting room. He sits her down in a chair and mentions tea, although she's not listening. She does nothing but sit, looking horribly lost and distressed, moving her head wildly at every stimulus around her. She looks broken.
The Doctor hears the whistle of the kettle but doesn't pay it any heed. She's paying everything else too much attention. She's paying everything too much attention, she feels like her head is going to split open. Every little sound outside and flash of light is too much for her to handle. She hasn't felt like this in a long time. It has been a long time since she felt so alone that not even silence could keep her company.
""Here we are, Sweetheart." Wilf places the cup in the woman's hands, guiding them with his so he's sure she can hold it herself. Slowly, he takes his hands away and sits. "Now, what's happened?"
"John," the Doctor begins, letting his name slip like a precious secret. "He just…disappeared. I blinked - all I did was blink - and he was gone."
"That's impossible," Wilf frowns deeply.
"Not impossible," the Doctor sighs, "just a bit unlikely."
"So, what could have been the cause of it?" Wilf leans forward. He's trying to understand it all. It's not that he thinks the Doctor let something endanger John, but it's a little out of his grasp at the moment. John never fully explained their travels, just gave summaries. Well, he abbreviated their travels and then spent tedious time talking about the Doctor. Wilf would sometimes put the phone down and make himself a cuppa, just to give himself a break. John could talk any person's ear off, and he sounded like a boy with his first crush when he talked about the Doctor. "The last I talked to him he said he had been to a planet of diamonds, called Midnight."
"What did he say?" the Doctor asked. She felt dread and shame flood her. What Wilfred must think of her, letting his only grandson go off with an alien madwoman who couldn't even keep him safe. Had John told Wilf that he had made a mistake in going with her? Had he said that they were in a (tentatively developing) relationship? Did he mention the times he wanted to go home? He did he mention their relationship?!
"Oh, he said it was brilliant, mentioned his jaunt around the diamonds. He told me about this creature that was out there, and how he saved them, with your help!" Wilfred talks with excitement, and the pride one would expect from a grandfather.
"Oh, no, that wasn't me, that was all John," the Doctor smiles as well.
"No, he said that you had some telepathy nonsense and that's how he defeated that thing! Oh, you should have heard him, Doctor. John used to always play superheroes with his father, tellin' stories of adventures in outer space. He sounded just like he was a kid again!" Wilfred laughs a little to himself before letting the air settle. When he looks at the Doctor she still looks disheartened. Wilf pats her hand with his. "You've made his dreams come true, Doctor. John never thought he would do anything spectacular when he grew up. As he grew up, he lost his dream of being a spaceman, and travelin' the stars. You saved him."
The Doctor drops her head as tears fall from her eyes. She's shaking, and she wishes she weren't. Above her pride she can't afford to be breaking down over John like this. There will be time for tears later. She looks up, letting Wilfred keep her hand under his while her other grasps her tea. "Wilf, I will find John."
"Oh, I know you will." Wilf says it without a hint of doubt in his voice. It's a matter of fact statement, almost cocky as he takes a sip of tea.
The Doctor affords Wilf his tea and goes back to her own. She's still pouting a bit, but more in thought than anything. She had hoped beyond hope that John had been transported home in some kind of protocol blip thanks to the TARDIS. No such luck, and John has disappeared without a trace. He wasn't transported or quantum pulled, he just up and POOF!
Wilf watches the Doctor, deep, deep in thought. If computers could have expressions while processing things he thinks that would be the Doctor right now. Every couple of seconds her lips will move, ghosting over malformed words. Maybe it's a different language. "Is there anything I can do?"
The Doctor smiles at Wilfred Mott. He is such a sweet man, and she really adores him. She wishes she had family like him; well, it's more like she wishes, if she had family, it would be him. "I don't know."
"What about that link John was telling me about? He said he could hear your thoughts. Nothing naughty, but," Wilf tilts his head inquisitively. The Doctor goes through a range of emotional reactions. First she turns pensive, then confused, then a little abashed before settling on blank. "What is it, Doctor?"
"Wilf, do you remember the year that wasn't?"
It sounds like a ludicrous question, but Wilf realizes what she means. He does remember, although that's not what he calls it. To him it was a year like any other, although when the new year rang in things were certainly different from before. "That's what John called it."
"It was a ripple in time, that resulted in a year's worth of reality passing in what was actually minutes. It separated John and I before Adipose Industries."
"He spent the year working as a temp, just the norm, like always. He was waiting for you." Wilfred sees he has the Doctor's full anticipatory attention and continues. "He spent the year waiting to find you, again. He remembered meeting you, in the TARDIS, and wanting to go with you."
"Wilf, I gave John a ring," the Doctor begins and starts talking with her hands, the first sing of her returning to herself. "It's a biodampener, it locks onto a genetic signature. It usually blocks, but I have my own, linked to John's."
"So, you have a matching ring set?" Wilf raises his brows in a way that is most certainly from where John gets it. "Rings that keep you bound together?"
"Guess you could put it like that," the Doctor murmurs grudgingly. It's not an unpleasant thought, but there is a better time and place for this conversation. "Anyway, the ring I gave John is connected to mine."
"Yeah, he told me it was to keep him hidden. Why do you have one? Is it because you're an alien?" Wilf knows it might not be the best time or the right question to ask, but he's curious!
"Um, kind of an endangered species," the Doctor squint, neither denying him an answer nor lying about the whole truth. "Anyway, did John wear it through the year when we were separated? He doesn't wear it now but he mentioned once he left it here."
"Oh!—yes, he did, it's here!" Wilf near jumps up and dances at the epiphany. "He put it in a hiding place 'cause he was afraid Sylvia would steal it from him."
"Yeah, she's not exactly a fan of mine, is she," the Doctor sighs. She has bigger problems than John's intolerant mother. Regardless, she follows Wilf as he leads her hurriedly through the house. The two of them trot up the stairs and Wilf opens a door. The room looks aged, but designed for an adolescent. There are stacks of comic books on the floor while other books are thrown about the room, on shelves and on the desk. "This is John's room."
"Yep, nary changed since he was a boy." Wilf begins rifling through John's desk drawers, tossing out useless objects. "Oh, I know he put it in here somewhere."
The Doctor lets Wilf forage at his own will. She glances around the room fondly, noticing little touches of John here and there. The lamp is clearly a new addition, fairly modern. On the other hand the blanket at the foot of the bed is bright red, with a lightning bolt insignia folded at its center.
"He used to tie that around his neck and run around with it for a cape," Wilf looks away from his task briefly only to comment.
The Doctor chuckles a little. She hopes she can get to know more of John's past (and maybe his future). "He loves superheroes."
"I think he liked that they could be ordinary people and still do super things." Wilf walks over to the Doctor, who is still drifting a feather light touch over it. "John always thought he was average, but he still wanted to do great things. I guess he just never believed he could—could make a difference; be special."
"Oh, John's one of a kind, he is," the Doctor says, believing it so with everything in her.
"Here," Wilf holds out his hand. In it sits a box with a six digit tumbler lock. "Something he bought from an antique shop; thought it was a neat little gadget. He never told me the combination, though, probably so Sylvia couldn't drag it out of me."
The Doctor takes the box from Wilf silently, pulling out her glasses. She vaguely recalls John's love of them and it brings a half-smile to her face. It's a funny little thing, entirely wooden, like a puzzle box. Of course it's wood; no Sonicking it. "Why is it wood?"
Wilf shrugs, not knowing why that's relevant. Nonetheless, the Doctor begins fiddling with it. "Can you figure it out?"
"It's too pretty for him to make the combination a superhero or something. It's probably a sentimental whatnot." The Doctor puts her glasses away and exchanges them for her stethoscope. Six digits of a wooden tumbler. She starts with the easy guesses, all birthdays and anniversaries and such. "So, how are things here, Wilf?"
"Oh, we're fine, really," Wilfred waves nonchalantly. "I'm fine, still got me ol' bum ticker. Sylvia is fine, though she wishes John were here, I think. We miss him."
The Doctor doesn't know what to say to that. She'd love for things to all work out, but life doesn't function in that way. John deserves a good, happy, healthy, long life—a normal life. He promised her forever, though, and she has ever intention of making that promise come to fruition. Somehow, she'll find a way. "I'm getting nothing; do you have any ideas, Wilf?"
"None, I don't know any of John's passwords," the man shrugs. He pauses for a moment. "Well, actually, Sylvia got onto John's computer by guessing 'Doctor'."
"Oh," the woman's throat constricts for a moment. As the realization sets in she begins turning numbers with rushed, trembling fingers. A click sounds her success and she barks a victorious laugh. "Oh, that sneaky little Earthboy; gotta love 'im!"
"Certainly, yeah," Wilf chuckles to himself. He's at least glad the Doctor seems as smitten with John as he is with her. "Doctor, may I ask you a personal question?"
"Permission granted," the Doctor turns to Wilf tentatively.
"Are you and John…?" Wilfred lets the question speak for itself as he rolls his hands to gesture for an answer.
"Oh," the Doctor repeats herself; she did not expect this. "Um, well, I suppose…in a-a, well, um, i-in a way… "
"John told me that he wanted to travel with you forever." Wilfred faces the woman solidly, nearly standing at attention. "Would you?—would you travel with him forever?"
"I would," the Doctor answers in less than a heartbeat's time. "I want to, Wilfred. I want to be with John…forever."
In only a second Wilf's serious facade falls and he breaks into a wide smile. Without hesitation he takes the alien woman into a tight hug. "I knew it! I told him!—I told John you had to love him too! And you, young lady, you must call me Gramps from now on!"
"All right, then," the Doctor laughs as Wilf continues to capture her in his embrace. Her heats feel warm, and happy. "I'd be proud to call you my grandfather!"
"You will visit, though, right? I mean, will there be a wedding?—we'll be there, yeah? Oh, Sylvia would have a fit if we weren't. What about young ones? Have you discussed it at all? You'll have to bring them around too, you know. Oh, there's so much to talk about, love!"
"Oi, Gramps," the Doctor addresses Wilf amicably. "Listen, I'd love to stay and chat, about all of that, but I have to find John. Besides, we haven't even talked of all that yet, it's too early for you to be thinking about it."
"Oh, that's what you think," Wilf laughs. There will be plenty of time for family bonding, though. He'll gossip with her to his heart's content later—preferably with John there, so he can be well embarrassed over everything. "So, you can use that to find John?"
"Oh, yes," the Doctor growls out with a toothy smile. She clasps the ring between her fingers tightly. "This is like a key, that will magnetize John's essence. If I can get a transdimensional spanner to transmit through it I can pull John back to me no matter where he is, in any reality, anywhere, anywhen."
"Well, go on, then!" Wilfred cheers. "And don't tell Sylvia what's—"
"Don't tell me what?"
The Doctor feels ice flood her veins at that voice. She turns, clasping the biodampener tightly in her fist. "Sylvia, you're looking well, this has been lovely, I really must—"
"Hold on, you're that Doctor!" Sylvia closes in, unbelievably frightening for a human woman of average height and build. "You were at the wedding, and then John went looking for you and disappeared! Then there was the Atmos thing and he disappeared again! Who the hell are you?!"
"I'm the Doctor," she answers cryptically.
"But who are you?!" Sylvia continues to roar and rage at the strange woman, ignoring her father. "Tell me! Give me one reason to trust you with my John!"
"I can't!" the Doctor shouts back, silencing both humans effectively. "I don't have a reason for you to trust me."
"Then why should I believe that John is safe with you?!"
"Because I love him!" The Doctor doesn't back down, or waver under Sylvia's hard glare. If anything she stands taller, staring the older woman down. "I love John, and that's all you'll ever have to know about me, is that I would do anything to keep your son safe."
"How can you love him?" Sylvia asks rhetorically. It's not that her son is unlovable, but rather she doesn't know how this nearly alien woman could love any human. "Don't you have anyone else to sink your claws into?"
"No," the Doctor says in a quiet contrast, now looking decisively down at Sylvia, but not angrily. "I don't have anyone, not anymore. I only have John. He's the only one for me; one of a kind."
"Of course he's one of a kind, he's my son."
"Then tell him that," the Doctor rebuts. She feels like a young wife on Gallifrey, quarreling with her mother in law again. "Tell him that instead of how normal he is, because he is anything but average. John Smith is brilliant, and one of a kind, one in a million. John is my most faithful companion. He promised me forever—he is my forever!"
Sylvia physically recoils from the Doctor's words. She knew nothing of their relationship. John was determined to find her but she didn't think they were ever actually tied like this. He gave little word of his "travelling and helping people with the Doctor". He said it kept him busy, like a job.
"And I plan to make the most of every moment of it." The Doctor holds the biodampener in front of Sylvia for just a second as she starts out of the house. She registers the shock on Sylvia's face and revels in it just a little bit. "Don't worry, we'll see each other again."
"You go, sweetheart!" Wilfred waves at the Doctor from the door.
The Doctor makes it to the console when she feels a rumbling outside the TARDIS doors. She looks up at the ceiling but her ship is scarily quiet. The lights have all gone a dampened red. The Doctor approaches the door and opens it slowly. "Gramps?"
There's nothing. It's just air, and space. The cosmos floats by, showing no sign of the Earth. There's no trace, no hint, not even a whisper. The Earth is gone. She really has lost everything now.
"Right…now we're in trouble."