Jordan's Journeys New Earth
)0(
Tory ran her hand through her hair as she gazed around the shops that surrounded her, desperate and hoping for a miracle. It was one day before Christmas Eve and Tory had yet to get Jordan a present. Jordan was going to KILL her!
"Not good, not good, not good!" Tory muttered as she left the shopping district, waving for a taxi and climbing in. She gave directions to the flat and glowered the whole journey as she scrambled to think of something she could get for Jordan.
When the drive stopped Tory climbed out and handed him a fifty.
"Keep the change mate." She told him, turning away.
"Thanks!" the driver called as he drove off.
Tory sighed and let herself into the building.
"Victoria dear!" Mrs Walters, the older woman who owned the building, called as Tory walked passed her door towards the stairs.
"Mrs Walters." Tory smiled at her, "Can I help you?"
"Oh no dear; I just wanted to invite you and Jordan down on Boxing Day for a bite to eat, I don't like spending the day alone."
"Of course," Tory agreed, Mrs Walters had always being kind to the two women and both of them would be more than happy to return that kindness, "Jordan and I'll be down at one?" the older looking woman smiled happily and nodded before going back into her own flat. Tory shook her head, amused and continued up the stairs.
She walked out onto the second floor and unlocked the flat door before walking in.
Jordan, dressed in comfortable jeans and a jumper, glared at her as Tory closed the door.
"What have I done this time?" Tory asked quickly. Jordan raised an eyebrow but remained silent for another beat.
"Well?" she demanded. Tory blinked, trying not to let her confusion on her face, "When are we leaving and when are we going." Tory blinked again.
"Sorry what?" Tory asked, shocked. Jordan rolled her eyes.
"You're taking me on a trip for Christmas."
"Oh…oh….Oh! Right! I remember now! That was my plan all along!"
"Riiight." Jordan muttered sceptically, "Whatever you say."
Tory grinned sheepishly.
"Soooo…..Alien planet?" Tory suggested with a grin.
)0(
Tory and Jordan appeared on a grassy hill staring over a river surrounding an island with futuristic buildings covering it, Jordan's gaze focussed on one with a green crescent moon on the side.
"That's the universal sign for hospital." Tory explained seeing Jordan's gaze on the sign.
"Wow. Where are we?" Jordan asked turning to her best friend as she noticed the flying cars in the distance. Tory grinned at her friends shocked expression.
"It's the year five billion and twenty three, if I'm not mistaken, the galaxy M87 and this planet is called New Earth." Jordan laughed in amazement.
"That's just…" she frowned, "Hang on, New Earth? What happened to Old Earth?" she sniffed, "And why does it smell like apples?"
"Apple grass," Tory shrugged, "It's a New Earth thing."
"I bet it is." Jordan muttered.
"Anyway, in the year five billion the sun expands, that was right after I regenerated, remember?" Jordan made an agreeing noise, "The Earth roasted and the human race was spread out among the stars, once they realised just what they'd lost they started a huge revival movement but then they found this place!" Tory spun on the spot, arms out, gesturing at the whole landscape around them, "Same size as Earth, same air, same orbit, everything. The call went out and the humans moved in." They grinned at each other and sat down.
"So which 'New' city is this?" Jordan asked with a grin as she picked some grass and held it up to sniff.
"New New York." Tory answered as she lay down, placing her hands behind her head and grinning up at her still sitting best friend.
"You're kiddin' me!" Jordan laughed.
"I'm being completely serious!" Tory objected, laughing along. Jordan giggled once more before looking thoughtful.
"So why are we here?"
"I'd thought you'd like to see just how well you humans do," Tory shrugged, "do you like it?" she asked hopefully.
"I love it." Jordan reassured her before jumping to her feet, "so where we off to?" Tory held out her hands, Jordan grabbed them with an eye-roll and pulled her upright.
"Thanks. The hospital's closest so we'll go there and catch a lift into the city."
"Great!" Jordan grinned, "Let's go!" she cried, grabbing Tory's hand and running down the hill, dragging Tory behind her.
)0(
They walked into the hospital reception, Jordan admiring the architecture and Tory glancing around the room looking for something.
"This is amazing." Jordan grinned.
"Where's the little shop?" Tory asked.
"How should I know?" Jordan answered, still looking around, "What do you need a little shop for anyway?"
"Best place to get a lift from or, at least, information." Tory shrugged.
"Why not ask at reception?"
"Where's the fun in that!" Tory protested.
"I will never understand you." Jordan sighed. Tory grinned and winked.
"But you love me anyway!"
Jordan rolled her eyes.
"So what're we gonna do?" Tory shrugged.
"We could explore." Tory answered.
"Okay." Jordan agreed eagerly. Tory looked around.
"Ah-ha!" she cried, pointing off to the left, "The lifts!" she lead Jordan off at a brisk walk.
Tory pressed the button and the door open soundlessly, the two women entered and the door closed behind them.
"Pick a number!" Tory ordered playfully.
"Twenty six." Jordan responded immediately. Tory blinked in surprise, "You told me to pick a number." Jordan shrugged.
"Okay then." Tory rocked on her heels, "Ward Twenty six." The lift started to move upward, "Oh, by the way, watch out for the disinfectant."
"The what?"
Commence stage one... disinfection. The computer rang out as the lights on the side of the lift flashed green and a clear shower of liquid fell from the ceiling.
"What the-!" Jordan shrieked as she tried to jump away. Tory laughed. "I'm gonna kill you." Jordan growled as she stopped moving and stood still; letting herself get soaked. Next a white powder covered the two and then a blow-dryer activated. Tory spun on the spot to get a full drying effect. Jordan scowled but copied her actions. When the lift door opened on ward twenty six both Tory and Jordan looked better than when they had walked in.
One of the white clad nuns greeted them removing her face covering, Jordan gasped as the cat face greeted her.
"Greetings, I am Sister Jatt, how may I help you?"
"Ahh yes…um….." Tory trialled off.
"You don't know who you're visiting?" the sister sighed, "Come, the last one went this way." Sister Jatt turned away and led them further into the ward, past a man with wild brown hair wearing a brown pinstripe suit and brown trench coat.
"Someone else is here?" Tory asked.
"Indeed." Tory and Jordan followed the sister in silence until Tory spotted a familiar tank in front of the windows.
"Boe!" she ran forwards, falling to her knees beside the tank. The Face Of Boe's eyes remained closed as she pressed her hand up against the glass, "I'm here, Boe, I'm here."
Jordan watched as her friend placed her hand against the glass of the tank.
"I'm afraid the Face of Boe's asleep." Jordan jumped as another cat nun spoke up, "That's all he tends to do these days." She paused, looking between Jordan and Tory on the floor, now resting her forehead against the glass, "Are you friends, or...?"
"I've never met him," Jordan shrugged, "He saved Tory's life once."
"Oh," the nun paused, "I'm so sorry. I thought you knew. The Face of Boe is dying."
"Of what?" Jordan asked quietly.
"Old age." The nun answered, "The one thing we can't cure. He's thousands of years old. Some people say millions. Although, that's impossible."
"Nothings impossible." Jordan answered with a smile.
"Oh I like you." Jordan turned, blinking in surprise as the brown haired man they had passed on the way in arrived behind her.
"Do I know you?"
"Yes…"he answered slowly.
"That's odd; I've never seen you before." Jordan stared at him.
"Oh er…" he rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm the Doctor." Jordan stared.
"You're not how I remember you."
"Oh, erm, has Tory told you about regeneration?"
"Ah, I get it now!" she snapped her fingers and smiled at him. The Doctor smiled at her before walking passed and placing his hand on Tory's shoulder. Tory jerked around.
"Doctor?"
"It's me."
"Oh Doctor!" Tory let out a small sob and through herself into his arms.
"Shhh,shhh. It's okay, it's okay." He stroked her hair, wrapped his arms around her, "I'll help him if I can."
)0(
Hope, harmony and health. Hope, harmony and health. The PA announced as Jordan walked back towards where Tory and the Doctor were sitting next to each other on the floor in front of the windows, his arm around her shoulders.
"Thank you." The Doctor nodded at her while Tory gave her a watery smile.
"You gonna be okay?" she asked gently.
"Yeah," Tory answered, her voice getting stronger, "Yeah." Jordan gave her a gentle smile before holding out her hands to pull her to her feet. Tory brushed down the back of her jeans as the Doctor stood behind her, his arm slid around her waist. She let back against his chest before realising exactly what she was doing, blushing and moving away to stand beside Jordan, facing the Doctor.
Jordan grinned at the light blush across Tory's cheeks.
"Erm…..hi." she muttered awkwardly.
"Hi." He winked at her. Jordan's grin got larger as Tory's blush got more prominent.
"According to the nurse-nun," Jordan spoke up, trying to save Tory from further embarrassment, "The Face of Boe is the last of his kind; the rest died out long ago. There are legends that say that the Face of Boe has watched the universe grow old. One of the most told stories says that just before his death the Face of Boe will tell his greatest secret but, and here's the best bit, he will only speak those words to one like himself, a traveller, a wanderer, a man without a home, the lonely God." The Doctor nodded as Tory sent him a questioning look.
"That'd be you then." She spoke out loud for Jordan's benefit.
"Yep." He answered, popping the 'p'. Tory smiled, "Oh….I'd best call Rose; she'd love to see you again." He wandered off a few feet to one of the 'phone booths'.
"So…" Jordan grinned at her blushing best friend.
"So what?"
"You like him." Jordan teased. Tory didn't say anything. Jordan nudged her with an elbow.
"Whaaaatt?" Tory whined, dragging out the word impossibly. Jordan grinned.
"Am I distracting you from your admiring of that arse in those oh so fitted trousers?" Jordan teased.
"Yes, yes you are," Tory agreed, unashamed, "Now if you would allow me to return to my staring?"
"Of course, don't let me stop you." Jordan laughed waving towards the Doctor who was just hanging up the phone like device.
"Awe," Tory whined, "he's done now." Jordan laughed as the Doctor walked back towards the pair.
"She's on her way." he grinned.
"Brilliant." Jordan matched his grin, "I can't wait to meet her," her grin turned evil, "all the gossip."
Laughing distracted them from whatever they were about to say next, they turned to face one of the other patients.
"Didn't think I was going to make it!" the large man laughed, the Doctor led the way over, when the large man caught sight of the Doctor he called out, "It's that man again!" the Doctor smiled and tugged on his ear, Tory and Jordan standing on either side of him, "He's my good luck charm! Come in! Don't be shy!" The trio stepped forward prompting the woman beside the bed to speak to them.
"Any friendship expressed by the Duke of Manhattan does not constitute a form of legal contract." Tory and the Doctor nodded while Jordan rolled her eyes.
"Winch me up!" the Duke ordered, he gave the group a thumbs up as he was winched up right, "Ah! Look at me! No sign of infection!"
"Champagne, sir, ma'am, ma'am?"
"Please!" Jordan answered, grabbing a glass. Tory shook her head silently.
"No thanks." The Doctor dismissed the waiter, "Uh…you had Petrifold Regression, right?" he checked.
"That being the operative word! Past tense! Completely cured!" the Duke spoke happily, laughing.
"But that's impossible." The Doctor stuttered.
"Petrifold Regression?" Jordan muttered.
"He was turning to stone." Tory explained.
"But that's impossible." Jordan echoed.
"And incurable." Tory spoke out loud.
"Primitive species would accuse us of magic," one of the cat nuns spoke up, "but it's merely the tender application of science."
"How on Earth did you cure him?" the Doctor asked, staring at her.
"How on New Earth, you might say." The cat nun avoided the question.
"What's in the solution then?" Tory asked, nodding towards the multi-coloured drip beside the Duke's bed.
"A simple remedy."
"Then tell us what it is." Jordan challenged, handing her now empty glass of champagne back to the waiter. Tory did a double take; when did she drink that?
"I'm sorry. Patient confidentiality." The nun studied them, "I don't believe we've met. My name is Matron Casp."
"I'm the Doctor and this is Tory and Jordan."
"I think you'll find that we're the Doctors here."
"Matron Casp... you're needed in intensive care." Sister Jatt spoke up as she walked towards the group.
"If you would excuse me." She nodded and they walked away with Sister Jatt, the Doctor stared after them suspiciously.
"What are they up to…." Tory muttered, wandering away from the Duke. Jordan moved forward to continue to talk to the man whilst the Doctor followed her.
"What are you thinking?" the Doctor whispered to her as he placed his head over her shoulder, his lips brushed against her ear, making her shiver.
"I've never like cats," Tory muttered, trying as hard as she could to keep still, "never trusted them." She frowned, "Never trusted nun's either." The Doctor grabbed her by her shoulders and turned her to face him.
"What can you hear?" he asked quietly, "You're even more psychic then I am, if they're doing something to a higher life form you should be able to detect it."
"And what good will that do?" Jordan asked as she joined them, leaning on the wall.
"All higher species are slightly, if not completely psychic," the Doctor ranted as Tory closed her eyes, "Tory here is part TARDIS and a TARDIS is a higher life form, probably the highest, but this means that she's psychic and that means that If anyone or anything is crying out for help Tory will be able to hear it."
"Humans aren't higher life forms, though." Jordan realised.
"What does that have to do with anything?" the Doctor asked. Jordan sighed.
"If its humans she won't sense anything." She pointed out.
"Oh."
"I can't sense anything." Tory spoke up as she opened her eyes having completely missed the Jordan and the Doctors conversation.
"Oh." The Doctor repeated. Tory shrugged.
"Sorry."
"Not your fault, you can't detect any lower life forms after all." Jordan covered up a snort.
Tory gave the Doctor a smile. He winked before pulling out a pair of glasses, putting them on and wandering off towards some of the unused medicine drips.
"Doesn't he look sexy with those on?" Jordan muttered in Tory's ear as she walked passed her to follow the Doctor.
"Yeah, yeah he does." Jordan grinned as Tory realised what she'd done, "Git!"
"But you love me for it!" She called over her shoulder.
)0(
Rose walked out of the lift, pulling her shirt down as she did so; a shirt with most of the buttons undone Tory noticed. Tory raised an eyebrow as Rose completely over looked her.
"There you are!" the Doctor exclaimed happily, grabbing Roses' hand, "Come and look at this patient!" he led her over to a completely red male patient, "Marconi's Disease." He took his glasses off, "Should take years to recover. Two days. I've never seen anything like it... they've invented a cell washing cascade... it's amazing. Their medical science is way advanced. And this one!" he pulled her over to another bed, this one containing a man who was completely white, Jordan was standing next to it covering Tory from any of the nun-nurses views as she tried to use her TARDIS side to get a read on the solution in the medicine bags, "Pallidome Pancrosis." The Doctor continued, "Kills you in ten minutes, and he's fine!" he waved cheerily at the patient. Jordan sighed as she felt Tory walk up beside her.
"Did you find anything?" she asked.
"Nah," Tory replied, "didn't expect to if I'm honest." She shrugged, "Fat lot of good I've being so far, eh?"
"Come on," Jordan pulled her towards the Doctor and Rose by the elbow.
"Did you find anything?" the Doctor asked as he noticed the two. They shook their heads, "I need to find a terminal then. I've got to see how they do this." He walked off grabbing Tory's hand as he passed her.
Jordan grinned at their backs and turned to Rose.
"Hi, I'm Jordan."
"Er, yes," her voice was not what Jordan expected from the descriptions that Tory had given her, she was expecting more Southern less Queens English, "Rose."
"I thought we'd met before, last Christmas."
Rose laughed, slightly nervously, before following after the Doctor and Tory to avoid the question. Jordan scowled at the younger girls back before following.
The Doctor seemed to be mid-rant when the two joined him and Tory at the ward entrance.
"Because if they've got the best medicine in the world... then why's it such a secret?"
"I can't Adam and Eve it." Rose put in as they stopped moving. The Doctor glanced over at her.
"What's... what's with the voice?" he asked, confused. She stepped closer to him, causing Tory to back away in surprise.
"Oh, I don't know... just larking about New Earth... New me..." she trailed off suggestively, looking him up and down. The Doctor looked down at her and finally seemed to notice that most of the buttons on her shirt were undone.
"Well, I can talk. New New Doctor." He grinned.
"Mmm..." Rose muttered, "aren't you just..." suddenly she pulled him down so their faces where level and yanked them together, kissing him. Jordan and Tory both stared, wide eyed as the two finally parted. The Doctor just stared down at Rose shock etched on his face. Rose stared back slightly breathless. "T... terminal's this way." She walked off letting out a breath. The Doctor stared after her.
"Oh hell no." Tory growled stepping up to the Doctor in much the same way Rose had, she grabbed his tie and pulled, the Doctor jerked towards her. She ran her hands into his hair before kissing him fiercely. They parted reluctantly Tory running her hands through his hair one last time before turning away from him, "Right terminal, thata way." She wandered after Rose.
The Doctor turned to Jordan with a dazed look on his face.
"Yep..." Jordan giggled at the high pitch tone of his voice, "still got it..."
"I'm not gonna kiss you." Jordan scoffed.
"Right."
"Tory would kill me."
"What?"
"She's very possessive." Jordan explained with a smirk, "I know a guy's worth it if he survives the Tory Test." Jordan looked the Doctor over critically, "She's taken a shine to you though." Jordan moved to walk passed him, "Don't screw this up." She warned following after Tory and Rose.
)0(
Me: Jordan is such an epic character.
Tory: I know, she's my best friend!
Me: indeed.
Timmy: You aren't half possessive though, are you? Rose kisses the Doctor so you do to.
Me: Timmy, leave Tory be there is a reason for her behaviour and if anyone can guess it right they are permitted to ask any character including you, Dary, me, Tory and Jordan a question. But only if they get it right. *smirk* Which they won't.
Legend-wait-for-it-dary: Really, is it that hard?
Me: No, it's that easy. *grin*
)0(
The Doctor stared after Jordan but not really seeing her, just what did he want from Tory? And what was wrong with Rose?
Rose had always supported whatever was between him and Tory, even pushing them together when she had the chance, he didn't understand what had suddenly changed her mind unless the regeneration…but no Rose couldn't, wouldn't be that shallow. So what was it then? He frowned as he considered all possible options and mindlessly followed the three women to the console Rose was waiting impatiently besides.
)0(
Tory stared at the Doctor as he worked on the console, trying to by-pass the security lockouts, what had she just done? Snogged the Doctor because she was jealous? Possessive? She had never been before with previous boyfriends….hang on when did she start to think of the Doctor as her boyfriend?!
"Nope..." The Doctor spoke up as he scanned the data on screen, "nothing odd... surgery... post-op... nano-dentistry... no sign of a shop... they should have a shop."
"I know right?" Tory put in, trying to distract herself from her thoughts, "How else are you supposed to ask stupid questions that you are expected to know the answers to without it looking bad?" Rose glared at her for distracting the Doctor making Tory start in surprise, if nothing else had told her something was up with Rose that most certainly did.
Rose walked around the Doctor to get closer to the screen. As Jordan walked passed Tory and leant against the blank white wall behind her.
"No, it's missing something else. When I was downstairs, those Nurse/Cat/Nuns were talking about Intensive Care. Where is it...?"
"You're right, well done." The Doctor glanced at her. Jordan and Tory shared a frown.
"Why would they hide a whole department?" Rose mussed. The Doctor pulled his sonic from his inner coat pocket, "It's gotta be there somewhere. Search the sub-frame." Rose ordered. Tory stared and Jordan realised that Rose Tyler should have no idea what she was talking about.
"What if the sub-frame's locked?" the Doctor tested.
"Try the installation protocol..." Rose explained like she was talking to an idiot.
"Yeah, course." He turned to the screen and scanned it with the sonic, "Sorry. Hold on." He clicked the sonic and suddenly the entire wall Jordan had been leaning against moved upwards. Jordan fell back with a loud crack as she hit the floor.
Tory spun and ran to her friends side the Doctor and Rose close behind. Rose ignored the injured Jordan and moved into the darkened corridor that had once being hidden behind the wall. The Doctor knelt on one side of the injured Jordan while Tory took the other. They helped Jordan to sit up and the Doctor scanned her with the sonic.
"Concussion." He read off, glancing down the corridor as Rose slowly got further and further away.
"Go," Tory urged him, "I'll find one of the nurses, you go fix Rose." The Doctor stared at her for a moment before standing.
"Be safe." He ordered.
"I promise nothing." Tory joked, helping Jordan stand and wrapping her arm around her neck to help her walk. The Doctor glanced after Rose again before darting forwards and planting a soft kiss on Tory's forehead. He jogged down the corridor after his companion before Tory could really react. She smiled to herself, and headed towards the lift to go to the human only floor that would be better suited to care for her injured friend.
)0(
Tory was sitting in Ward 7's lobby waiting for the resident nun to come and fetch her after Jordan's healing when the alarms started to ring and shutters slammed down over the windows next to her. She jumped to her feet and raced into the Ward, uncaring about what the nun's had told her to do and worried for Jordan.
Repeat... this building is under quarantine. No one may leave the premises. Repeat no one may leave the premises.
Jordan was climbing out of her bed when Tory found her.
"I've being looking all over for you!" she exclaimed, helping Jordan stand.
"I've been right here the whole time," Jordan quipped, "It's your fault for wandering off!"
Tory gave a short laugh.
"We have to find the Doctor!"
"Tell me something I don't know!" Jordan yelled over the continued announcement of the PA.
Tory and Jordan made it to the lifts easily, Jordan no longer needing help walking after the medication started to take effect.
"Where do you think he'll be?" Tory asked as they waited for the elevator to arrive.
"Right where all the trouble is, probably somewhere down that hidden corridor." Jordan shrugged, "Are we going looking for him?"
"Obviously." Tory drawled, "Did you expect any different?"
Jordan paused for a moment pretending that she was actually thinking about the question.
"No." she answered finally, cheeky grin on her face, "Never." Tory grinned back just as the elevator lift opened and human looking diseased 'things' walked through.
"Space Zombies!" Jordan screeched, pulling Tory back by her sleeve so that the 'zombies' wouldn't have a chance to touch her.
"What?!" Tory yelled, both she and Jordan continuing to back away from the advancing…..zombies.
"Space zombies!" Jordan repeated before looking Tory straight in the eye as she took her hand ready for the same method of escape they had employed countless times in their missions for U.N.I.T, "I thought it was appropriate." Tory stared for a moment.
"No just no!" she shook her head, glancing back at the zombies. They were almost able to touch them.
Tory closed her eyes and concentrated.
"Doctor." She sighed and the two women vanished in a flash of silver light.
)0(
"Honey I'm home!" Jordan cried as they rematerialized in a dark cellar like room with some sort of frame with a brain in a tank underneath it and a ladder behind it. Tory sighed and pushed off the wave of exhaustion caused by just moving through space rather than time. "No one's here." Jordan noted as she studied the room once more, "And there is a dead brain in that tank." She added as an afterthought.
"We've seen stranger." Tory responded as she pulled out a bag of Skittles and dug in.
"We have." Jordan agreed, holding out her hand right as Tory tipped over the bag to pour some of the sweets into her hand. Jordan munched on the Skittles as she walked over to the lifts.
"They won't be working," Tory called after her as she continued to stand by the doorway Tory had just passed through and study what Jordan had thought where just odd wall panels, "the buildings under quarantine; nothing in, nothing out." Jordan nodded in acknowledgement.
"I see three possible exits." Jordan listed, "Two doors and a ladder."
"Agreed." Jordan walked slowly back to the centre of the room just as Tory straightened from the crouch she had being in while studying the equipment on the floor.
"Why are we here?" Jordan asked suddenly just as the door furthest from the pair slammed open then shut admitting the Doctor and the body of Rose Tyler.
Rose ran across the room to the other door, not noticing Tory and Jordan watching her movements, and pulled it open, only to slam it closed as more of the zombies were on the other side.
"We're trapped!" Rose cried, still speaking in that posh accent, "What're we going to do?"
"Well, for starters, you're going to leave that body." The Doctor demanded angrily.
"Ah-ha!" Tory yelled, making the Doctor, Jordan and Rose jump, "It's a psychograft!"
"What's a psycograft then?" Jordan asked.
"That thing there!" Tory pointed to the odd wall panels, "It lets one living mind take over another!" Tory paused turning to Rose.
"I thought she was nothing like you said!" Jordan muttered, "It explains so much!"
"That psychograft is banned on every civilized planet!" The Doctor continued waving his sonic at it, "You're compressing Rose to death." Tory stopped smiling and glared at the body of someone she considered a very good friend, she hadn't know that fact.
"But I've got nowhere to go." Rose's body whined, "My original skin's dead."
"Not my problem." The Doctor snapped, "You can float as atoms in the air. Now, get out." He waved the screwdriver threateningly, "I won't let you kill her."
"You asked for it." Rose's body agreed with a shrug. A cloud of pick-gold light left through her mouth and into the air, hovering a moment before darting into Tory. Tory's body stumbled back as her mind was pushed away and replaced by someone else, Cassandra."
"Blimey, my head..." Rose muttered, standing straight and giving the Doctor a grateful smile for his supportive arm "Where'd she go...?"
"Oi!" Jordan shouted, grabbing both their attentions as Tory's body straightened and put her hand to her chest.
"Oh, my this is different." She muttered, the same Queens English that Rose had being using coming out of her mouth.
"Cassandra?" Rose questioned, not quite sure what was happening, "Jordan?" she continued realising the dark hair woman was staring at her best friend with murder in her eyes.
"Get out." Jordan snapped, "Get out of her right now!"
"Ah.. ah!" Cassandra- Tory panted, "Two hearts! Oh, baby, I'm beating out a samba!"
"Leave her." The Doctor growled, "Give her back to me." The threat in his voice was obvious. Cassandra-Tory turned to face him.
"Why should i? Any other body I'd bet you'd be willing to hurt to get me out of but not this one, you want to know why?" she paused, "Rose's memories show it clear as day; you lo-" her voice was cut off by the sound of flesh hitting flesh. Cassandra-Tory's head whipped around to the side as Jordan slapped her, "You slapped me!" Cassandra-Tory exclaimed.
"I'll do worse than that." Jordan threatened.
Suddenly both doors to the room slammed open letting in the hordes of slow moving zombie humans.
"Ah!" Cassandra-Tory screamed in fright, "What do we do!"
"Ladder..." Rose realised, "we've gotta get up." Cassandra-Tory moved as if to get their first but her legs locked up forcing her to remain still.
"Human's first." Tory spoke through clenched teeth.
"Tory?" Jordan demanded.
"Yes," Tory hissed, fighting Cassandra for control, "Now move!"
Rose and Jordan started climbing followed by the Doctor as he lagged back to make sure Tory would follow.
Tory relinquished control and Cassandra staggered forwards towards the ladder. They climbed up.
)0(
"If you get out of Tory's body she could get us out of here." Jordan bluffed as they continued to climb the ladder, the Doctor in the lead followed by Rose the Cassandra-Tory and lastly Jordan.
"God, it was tedious inside your head." Cassandra-Tory yelled up to Rose, "Hormone City."
Whatever Rose planned to say in come back was cut off as Jordan cried out in surprise as one of the nurse-nuns had grabbed her by the ankle. Unnoticed by anyone Tory's eyes flashed silver.
"Get off!" Jordan kicked her leg, trying to loosen the hold.
"All our good work! All that healing!" Cassandra-Tory's eyes rolled, "The good name of the Sisterhood... you have destroyed everything!"
"Go and play with a ball of string." Cassandra-Tory dismissed.
"Everywhere... disease! This is the Human World. Sickness!" The cat was stopped as she wailed in pain and her face broke out into boils, she let go of the ladder and fell back down the shaft, screaming the whole way. The zombies below her watched transfixed as she fell before turning their attention to the two Time Lords and the two humans and started climbing up towards them.
"Move!" The Doctor ordered. They made it up to the top of the ladder but the doors where sealed shut.
"Now what do we do?" Cassandra-Tory whined.
"Shut up." Jordan snapped.
"Thanks, really feeling the love right now." Tory muttered, breaking through Cassandra's control just to show that she could do it.
The Doctor pulled the sonic out of his pocket and waved it down at Cassandra-Tory.
"Open it!" Cassandra snapped up at him.
"Not 'til you get out of her."
Cassandra-Tory rolled her eyes.
"Really?" she asked, "You'll kill us all just to get me out of this body?"
"Yes." Silence. "I order you to leave her!" he shouted. Cassandra-Tory rolled her eyes again but when she glanced down and saw how close the zombies were getting.
"Fine." She sighed. Tory sagged against the ladder as the cloud that was Cassandra floated down and tried to enter Jordan.
"Touch her and you die." Tory growled. Jordan blinked in surprise. Cassandra floated back into Tory.
"What else am I supposed to do?" Cassandra-Tory whined, "And no matter how difficult the situation, there is no need to shout."
"Cassandra, get out of her!" Rose ordered.
"She won't let me go anywhere else! She's so unreasonable!"
"That's my girl." Jordan grinned.
"Oh be quiet." Cassandra-Tory snapped. Jordan's grin got wider.
"I don't care," the Doctor spoke, "I will not open this door until you get out of her body."
"Oh, I am so gonna regret this..." Cassandra left Tory again and floated passed Jordan into the first zombie, a woman. "Oh, sweet Lord... I look disgusting." The Doctor opened the lift doors and climbed through, he helped Rose and then Tory. Rose helped Jordan to climb out while the Doctor grinned goofily at Tory, his arms wrapped around her waist.
"Nice to have you back."
"No you don't..." Cassandra muttered leaving the zombie and flashing back into Tory.
"That was your last warning, Cassandra!" the Doctor barked after he sealed the doors, whirling on Tory-Cassandra who had fallen back on the wall a look of complete depression on her face, a look he hoped never to see again.
Rose and Jordan backed away to give the other two some space and check for zombies on the path ahead.
"Inside her head..." Cassandra-Tory murmured quietly, "they're so alone... they keep reaching out, just to hold us... all their lives and they've never been touched." The Doctor held out a hand, Cassandra stared up at him before taking it. He pulled her up to her feet and followed Jordan and Rose towards the doors of Ward 26.
They passed through the door and were ambushed by the woman who served the Duke, brandishing a chair at them and snarling like an animal.
"We're safe!" the Doctor reassured, moving to the front of the group, "We're safe! We're safe. We're clean! We're clean! Look, look..."
"Show me your skin." The woman ordered.
"Look!" The Doctor held up his hands flashing the palm and the back to her, Rose and Jordan copying his actions while Cassandra-Tory stood impassively, "Clean. Look... if we'd been touched, we'd be dead." The woman nodded and placed the chair back down, "So, how's it going up here? What's the status?"
"There's nothing but silence from the other wards." She reported, "I think we're the only ones left. And I've been trying to override the quarantine." She fiddled with a phone like device that hand managed to go unnoticed in her hand, "If I can trip a signal over to New New York, they can send a private executive squad."
"You can't do that." the Doctor protested, "If they forced entry, they'd break quarantine."
"I am not dying in here."
"We can't let a single particle of disease get out..." the Doctor tried to make her see reason, "there is ten million people in that City, they'd all be at risk! Now, turn that off!"
"Not if it gets me out."
"All right, fine. So I have to stop you lot as well. Suits me. Rose, Jordan, Novice Hame. Everyone!" he moved around the Duke, "Excuse me your grace... get me intravenous solutions for every single disease. Move it!" Everyone darted around doing as he ordered while Tory took control back from Cassandra and moved towards the Face of Boe, he was still asleep.
"What I wouldn't give for a nap."
Why? Cassandra asked.
I want the nap because I'm tired, keeping you out of my head takes a lot out of me.
Not that! Why do you let me stay?
Because I believe that you aren't nearly as shallow as you seem.
Tory and Cassandra ended their conversation as the Doctor called out to them, she ran over and started attaching solutions to a rope someone else had tied around his body.
"How's that?" he asked her as she attached the last one, "Will that do?"
"I don't know!" Cassandra answered, "Will it do for what?" the Doctor walked passed her towards the lift doors and waved his sonic at them, opening them. The lift wasn't there and the only thing they could see was a single cable hanging down the centre.
"The lifts aren't working." Cassandra pointed out. The Doctor lent over and peered down the shaft.
"Not moving." The Doctor corrected, "Different thing." He jogged back to where Cassandra-Tory was standing getting ready to jump, "Rose stay here, you too Jordan." He waited for the two to nod, "Here we go." He placed the sonic between his lips, ran, jumped and landed on the rope; he attached something to it to hold him in place.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Cassandra yelled at him from beside the elevator doors.
"I'm going down!" he answered fixing whatever he used to attach himself to the line, making it secure, "Come on!" he called to her.
"Not in a million years." Cassandra answered and shook her head as she felt a spike in lust from Tory.
"I need another pair of hands." The Doctor explained, "What do you think? If you're so desperate to stay alive... Why don't you live a little?" he glanced at her.
Cassandra panicked as more zombies emerged from the quarantine zone. She was sealed out of the Ward, Jordan and Rose had their faces pressed against the glass screaming at the woman who had locked her out. Cassandra had no choice. With a shriek she ran forward and jumped landing on the Doctor's back with a quiet, regretful, moan.
"You're completely mad." Cassandra paused, "I can see why she likes you." The Doctor froze for a fraction of a second; did she mean Rose, or did she mean Tory?
"Going down!" he yelled and realised the clamp on the wire. They fell down the shaft faster and faster until the Doctor closed the clamp again and they slowed down until they came to a complete stop just at the top of the elevator.
Cassandra dropped off straightening Tory's clothes.
"Well, that's one way to lose weight." She commented mildly.
I'm so doing that again when I get the chance. Tory was grinning.
The ride or riding the Doctor? Cassandra questioned. Tory gaped.
"Now, listen..." the Doctor interrupted their internal conversation, "when I say so, take hold of that lever."
"There's still a quarantine down there, we can't..." she tried to protest.
"Hold that lever!" the Doctor shouted. Cassandra stopped complaining and knelt beside the lever, "I'm cooking up a cocktail." The Doctor explained without prompting, "I know a bit about medicine myself." He started to pull packets from wherever they were attached to him, rip the tops of with his teeth and pour them into a large clear container meant for the disinfectant solution, "Now, that lever's going to resist." He warned, "But keep it in position."
"Doubting me Doc?" Tory asked with a grin, Cassandra chuckling in the back of her mind. The Doctor grinned at her.
"Never. Hold onto it with everything you've got."
"What about you?" Cassandra questioned.
"I've got an appointment." He moved over to the trap door into the lift, opened it and lowered the bottom half of his body through it before looking back up and meeting her eyes, he winked, "The Doctor is in." he dropped down into the lift and opened the doors with the sonic, "I'm in here, come on!" he yelled.
"Don't tell them!" Cassandra yelled at him.
"Pull that lever!" he yelled back, "Come and get me, come on! I'm in here, come on!"
Commence stage one... disinfection.
"Hurry up, come on!" Cassandra-Tory could hear the solution activate, "Come on, come on. All they wanna do is pass it on. Pass it on!"
"Pass on what? Pass on what?!" Cassandra muttered, asking Tory instead of the Doctor knowing she was more likely to get an answer.
The cure.
"Pass it on!" the Doctor encouraged.
Once all the solution finish Cassandra let go of the lever and jumped down into the lift beside a still dripping Doctor.
"Tory says you cured them." She told him as he helped her down, his hands lingering a little longer than normal. The Doctor grinned.
"Of course I did, I'm the Doctor." One of the women walked up to the Doctor and hugged him, "That's right!" he told her gently, "Hey, hey! There we go, sweetheart! Ay? Look at him..." he moved her off to sit beside a male, "Go on, that's it! That's it! It's a new sub-species, Cassandra, Tory!" he took a man by the shoulders and looked at him, "A brand new form of life! New Humans! Look at them, look!" he knelt down so their faces were level, a huge smile on his face, "Grown by cats... kept in the dark, fed by tubes... but completely, completely alive!" he pointed straight at Cassandra-Tory, "You can't deny them, because you helped create them. The human race just keeps on going. Keeps on changing. Life will out! Ha!"
)0(
The Doctor had lost his coat somewhere and was going round in a wet clinging shirt causing Tory to force Cassandra to keep looking at him while the police were collecting the nuns for processing.
They re-entered Ward 26 only to be grabbed into tight frantic hugs by their respective companions, Tory took over from Cassandra as Jordan's arms wrapped around her. No words were spoken by either pair as they let go.
All staff will present themselves to the officers for immediate arrest. I repeat... immediate arrest. All new life forms will be catalogued and taken into care. All visitors to the hospital will be required to make a statement to the NNYPD.
"Face of Boe!" the Doctor cried rushing off again, the three females following. They approached Boe to find him awake, alive and well. Tory released control over to Cassandra, too tired to keep it. Tory felt a wave of worry but didn't comment.
"You were supposed to be dying." The Doctor smiled as he spoke.
There are better things to do today. Boe answered, Dying can wait.
"Oh, I hate telepathy." Cassandra muttered, "Just what I need, a head full of big face."
"Shh!" Jordan nudged her.
I have grown tired with the universe, Doctor, but you have taught me to look at it anew.
"There are legends you know," the /doctor spoke as he kneeled beside the tank, "saying that you're millions of years old."
There are? He chuckled, That would be impossible.
"Wouldn't it just?" the Doctor paused, "I got the impression... there was something you wanted to tell me..."
A great secret.
"So the legend says." The Doctor agreed.
It can wait.
"Oh, does it have to?" The Doctor asked, rather put out.
We shall meet again, Doctor, for the third time... for the last time... and the truth shall be told. Until that day...Boe teleported away.
"That is enigmatic." The Doctor sounded impressed, "That... that is... that is textbook enigmatic." He nodded to himself then stood to face Cassandra-Tory, "And now for you."
"But... everything's happy. Everything's fine... can't you just leave me?" Cassandra tried.
"You've lived long enough. Leave that body and end it, Cassandra."
I won't last long if you stay. Tory added almost silently, I'm fading now, can't you feel it.
I don't want to die… Cassandra answered.
"No one does." The Doctor answered, startling Cassandra who didn't know that she'd spoken out loud.
Cassandra opened her mouth again but paused grabbing her head and bending over in pain.
"Help her!" she begged, "Help Victoria!"
)0(
Tory opened her eyes to see a male face staring down at her, pale and covered in…..doodles?
"Goodbye," he spoke and somehow Tory knew it was Cassandra, "my friend."
)0(
"There we go." The Doctor grinned as he opened the doors of the TARDIS to reveal the inside of Tory's room.
"Should I be worried?" Jordan teased as she walked out.
"Very." Rose joked.
"Hey!" the Doctor whined, "Oh hang on," he pulled the sonic out, "give me your phone for a second." Jordan handed it over and watched as he fiddled for a moment before handing it back, "Upgrade," he explained, "Universal roaming; call anywhere anywhen."
"Thank you." Jordan grinned at him.
"You're welcome, I've preprogramed the TARDIS phone in there…."
"Hang on, you have a phone?"
"It is a phone box." Tory pointed out as she stepped around Rose and out of the TARDIS.
"Yeah, but…..you know what? Nevermind." Jordan hugged Rose and gave the Doctor a friendly punch on the arm, "See ya next time Doctor man." She used two fingers to give them a casual salute and wandered out of the room.
Tory patted the side of the TARDIS.
Look after him old Girl.
Always, The TARDIS answered, sister.
Thank you.
You are most welcome. A pause, You do know that we are connected yes?
Yep.
Then I will look forward to our next conversation.
As will i.
Rose walked back into the TARDIS and the Doctor look slightly awkward. Tory stepped up to him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Until next time." The Doctor grinned at her, turned and closed the door of the TARDIS behind him. They dematerialised and Tory smiled.
Until the pain started.
)0(
Me: Please don't hate me for the cliff-hanger! Remember if you can guess why Tory is feeling possessive you can ask any of my characters a question!
Tory: and actually get truthful answers!
Me: shut up Tory!
Tory: *grins and mimes zipping lips shut*.