The Last of Us

by Miniguard26

The Heart of the Tardis was in Rose, guiding her back to the Doctor to save him. But did Rose's actions end up saving the Doctor in more ways then what she had initially assumed? With the Bad Wolf incident behind them, the Doctor and Rose set about their adventures, unaware of what the Tardis had woken. (Full Summary Inside.)

6. Chapter 6

Hey y'all, two chapters in a day! And this is a behemoth of a chapter, so if you like that then horary! If you don't, sorry, I just wanted to get this out. I'm glad y'all are liking it thus-far, I have lots of plans for what is to come! And just as a heads up, things won't always be canon strict, and I do have plans later on of changing quite a few things. But for now it'll stick semi close. Anyways, hope y'all enjoyed, and Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it. :)

---

A considerable amount of time had passed, and Rose wasn't there, the Doctor tried not to think about it too much, but he couldn't help but harken back to yesterday, last time she'd been gone for a while…

"Your companion begs an apology, Doctor. Her clothing has somewhat delayed her." The head manservant claimed as he entered the room, the Doctor nodded feeling a bit more relaxed.

Of course, the clothing would give her issue, she'd probably never tried anything like it. He couldn't help but smile a bit at the idea of her grumbling over the many layers and complications. He'd probably hear about it later.

"Oh, that's all right. Save her a wee bit of ham." He said, and the queen hummed.

"The feral child could probably eat it raw." She said, only for Reynolds to burst into laughter, the Doctor turned to him arching an eyebrow slightly.

"Very wise, Ma'am. Very witty." He said recovering from his laughter.

"Slightly witty, perhaps. I know you rarely get the chance to dine with me, Captain, but don't get too excited. I shall contain my wit in case I do you further injury." The queen responded, if not with a slight scold in her tone. Reynolds sobered immediately.

"Yes, Ma'am. Sorry, Ma'am." He said turning back to his food.

The Doctor spared a glance past the embarrassed man and to Benedict, he hadn't touched his food, not really, he did however seem to be staring at something just past the Doctor.

Out of his peripheral, the Doctor took note of the butler who'd informed him of Rose's delay.

Did Benedict…

He said he was able to see people's auras…

Benedict felt his stare and turned his attention to him, the Doctor however turned to the remaining people at the table.

"Besides, we're all waiting on Sir Robert. Come, sir. You promised us a tale of nightmares." He said with raised brows, but he made note to keep a closer eye on the butler.

"Indeed." The queen chimed, "since my husband's death, I find myself with more of a taste for supernatural fiction." She sat up straighter, and the Doctor looked over to her.

"You must miss him."

"Very much. Oh, completely. And that's the charm of a ghost story, isn't it?" A thin, if not haunted smile pulled at her face, "not the scares and chills, that's just for children, but the hope of some contact with the great beyond. We all want some message from that place." Even the bare smile dropped as she stole a soft breath, "it's the Creator's greatest mystery that we're allowed no such consolation. The dead stay silent, and we must wait." There was a beat of silence, before she straightened again and turned to their host. "Come. Begin your tale, Sir Robert. There's a chill in the air. The wind is howling through the eaves. Tell us of monsters."

---

Rose had been dragged down to the basement and cuffed to a long chain that seemed to hold the entire staff and the lady of the house. They were across the room from a young man clothed in a dark cloak and bound behind iron bars.

Isobel looked over to Rose her eyes big, "Don't make a sound. They said if we scream or shout, then he will slaughter us." She breathed, but Rose frowned looking over to him.

"But he's in a cage. He's a prisoner. He's the same as us."

Isobel shook her head again though she wasn't looking at Rose anymore, her eyes were fixed on the man in the cage.

"He's nothing like us. That creature is not mortal." Isobel breathed, and Rose frowned further turning toward the man. He seemed to sense their gaze as he opened his eyes.

Rose suppressed a gasp as she stared into inky black eyes, there was no iris…just black.

She wasn't going to doubt Isobel's fear, that would be stupid, but it could be a misunderstanding…she needed to know for herself.

Which meant she needed to speak with him.

---

"The story goes back three hundred years." Robert started as the wind howled over the valleys around the home. It seemed to set the perfect atmosphere for this.

"Every full moon, the howling rings through the valley. The next morning, livestock is found ripped apart and devoured." He continued, though he couldn't seem to hold anyone's gaze.

Reynolds scoffed from where he sat, "Tales like this just disguise the work of thieves. Steal a sheep and blame a wolf, simple as that." He explained, and Robert lifted his gaze, fixing it on the man despite his previous uncertainty.

"But sometimes a child goes missing. Once in a generation, a boy will vanish from his homestead." He said, and the Doctor's brow pinched, he opened his mouth to ask something only to get cut off at the sound of a chair sliding on the floor.

All attention went to Benedict who had stood up, and before anyone could ask, he left the room.

"Benedict?" the Doctor prompted watching him leave, however the entity said nothing.

"I suppose he mustn't have the stomach for such tales." The queen hummed; the Doctor looked to her.

"Yeah…he…mustn't." However, he was frowning.

That didn't make any sense…so why…?

---

Rose got to her feet and slowly started to approach the caged man, she heard a slight gasp from behind her.

"Don't, child." Isobel warned, but Rose ignored her and went as far as the chain would let her.

"Who are you?" She asked, but received no response, he continued to stare blankly at her.

"Don't enrage him." Said a man, but Rose continued to ignore them.

"Where are you from? You're not from Earth. What planet are you from?" She asked instead, and the man finally blinked tilting his head slightly.

"Oh, intelligence." He purred, and Rose tensed slightly, but pressed on.

"Where were you born?" She pressed, and he hummed looking up at the skylight.

"This body? Ten miles away. A weakling, heartsick boy, stolen away at night by the brethren for my cultivation." He turned and looked back at her, the newfound intensity of his gaze made Rose inhale sharply, "I carved out his soul and sat in his heart." He said, his lip curling up in a snarl.

"Are there descriptions of the creature?" the Doctor finally asked, turning back to Robert. The man looked up at him and let out a breath.

"Oh, yes, Doctor. Drawings and woodcarvings. And it's not merely a wolf. It's more than that. This is a man who becomes an animal." He said, and the Doctor sat a little straighter in his seat.

"A werewolf?"

---

"All right, so the body's human. But what about you, the thing inside?" Rose asked, trying to keep her wits about her, the more information the better, and this one seemed willing to give it.

"So far from home…" he murmured, and Rose shifted where she had crouched down before him.

"If you want to get back home, we can help." She offered, part of her knew that wasn't going to be the case…it never was, but she'd offer at least.

"Why would I leave this place?" he asked, confirming Rose's suspicions, "a world of industry, of workforce and warfare. I could turn it to such purpose." He said, almost dreamily.

"How would you do that?"

"I would migrate to the Holy Monarch."

Rose tensed, "you mean Queen Victoria?"

"With one bite, I would pass into her blood, and then it begins. The Empire of the Wolf." He started at her, slowly dipping his head to the side, "oh…many questions…" the cloaked man lurched suddenly toward the bars of the cell, Rose and the others gasped sharply. The companion, however, held her ground and tensed her jaw.

"Look. Inside your eyes. You've seen it too." He stared up at her with wide eyes, pressed up against the bars that he gripped with his hands.

Rose's own eyes were widened, watching and wondering if he could break out of the bars.

"Seen what?"

"The Wolf." He murmured, "there is something of the Wolf about you." He said, and Rose stiffened up.

"I don't know what you mean." She tried to keep the tremor from her voice but was entirely unsuccessful. What she could only presume was a werewolf bore his teeth at her.

"You burnt like the sun, but all I require is the moon." He snarled and Rose couldn't help but gulp. Where was the Doctor? Why hadn't he-

"What the hell?" A familiar voice made Rose whip toward the door to the cellar. A door which soon shook. "Why is every door locked in this house?"

Rose didn't think she'd feel so relieved at the disgruntled grumble of their newest Tardis member.

"Benedict!" She shouted before running over, behind her the wolf watched closely. Though no one noticed the new shadows disrupting the light from the cellar skylight.

Rose ran to the door and grabbed for the handle, but as Benedict claimed, it was locked. "Where's the Doctor?" She asked as the door shook again.

"At dinner, which, be glad you missed it, it was shit." He answered, before a thud on the sturdy door indicated a kick from him.

"Wait…but why…how did you find me-"

"It took a minute, but I saw you down here. Thought it was a little weird, but I was bored so I came down to see what you were doing." There was a huff, "would you just open the fu-"

"I can't! It's locked from this side to." She looked over her shoulder at the staff and then at the wolf. "I'm in here with the staff her lady ship and…I don't know I think he's an alien werewolf?" She looked to the wolf again before the door. "Go tell the Doctor." She whispered to the wood, "he plans on infecting the queen or something I don't know-"

"What? And get in trouble for leaving you here? Yeah no thanks. I don't want another lecture." He said, before huffing again. "Step back, imma try something."

Rose opened her mouth before closing it and stepping back from the door. Her eyes occasionally going to the man in the cage who watched all her movements like a hawk.

"Okay…if this doesn't work, you stop nagging me." Said Benedict, and Rose snapped her attention to the door.

"What? I'm not nagging you!"

"Wha…I wasn't talking to you! Ugh! Whatever."

Rose stared at the door brows pinched, only for it to suddenly swing open revealing Benedict.

The companion didn't waste a second running up to him and pointing to the wolf, "that's the alien." She turned to look at her rescuer, "he plans on infecting the queen or something-"

"With what? The cold?" the man asked, and Rose stared at him a second.

"No! Werewolf! He wants to make the queen a werewolf!" She explained, and Benedict nodded.

"Right." He then looked to her hands, "you're chained up." Then before Rose could answer he stepped past her and over to the wolf, he didn't keep nearly as much distance between them as Rose had. "So, you're the reason this place smells like dog." He said, and Rose stared at him a moment before looking at the door. She wasn't sure what his plan was, but she'd been around the Doctor enough to take advantage of distractions. She turned to the others and then to the chain hook that bound them to the wall.

She went over to Isobel, "we need to get out of here."

The woman glanced between Rose and the man in the cage, but the companion snapped her fingers in front of her face, "focus your ladyship, we need to get this chain off the wall." She stood again and turned to Flora, "Flora, all of you, we've got to get ahold of the chain and pull." She ordered and Flora, whilst shaking, got to her feet, the others looked uneasy, but they followed orders as well.

As Rose grabbed ahold of the chain she glanced to Benedict, he still stood before the caged man.

"You…" the werewolf murmured looking up at him, "you aren't like the others…"

"Nope, one of a kind." He then crouched down in front of the cage, "now…how does this wolf thing work anyhow?"

Rose started to pull on the chain with everyone else, the metal groaned, but it refused to give, she wasn't entirely sure they could do it either. She'd never removed nailed in metal from a wall before…but it should work, right?

"Moonlight." The werewolf breathed, and just as the word exited his mouth, there was a thud, Rose's attention snapped to the scene only to find the cellar skylight door had been thrown open. Moonlight streamed into the room, directly framing both Benedict and the werewolf.

Rose quickly realized this meant that he would be transforming soon and turned to her fellow prisoners, "hurry!"

Whether they realized it or not, the others got the message enough as they started to pull more on the chain. And whilst pulling, she looked again over to the scene, Benedict had stood, so did the now disrobed prisoner. He stood, basking in the moonlight, and Rose's grip on the chain tightened when a wild wind from no discernable place began to whip everyone's hair about.

"Shit…" she breathed as he began to scream in pain and jerk about, his features transforming grotesquely. In response, she dug her heels into the ground and leaned back, trying her best to summon all her strength to try and get the chain from the wall. It grunted and groaned. "Benedict!" She barked, "a little help!"

Rose's heels began to slide on the hay covered floor, to her left she heard peculiar sounds that indicated a transformation sequence going on.

"One, two, three, pull! One, two, three, pull!" She ordered, trying to pause and pull the chain in a pumping fashion in hopes of dislodging it, but dammit! It was taking so long! Surely, he'd be strong enough to bust out of his cage once he was fully transform-

She nearly let out a yelp as she felt someone brush against her left, but a quick glance told her it was Benedict and not the wolf, he looked down at her and then at the chain before then heading over to the source of their problem. He grabbed the free part of the loop with a hand and planted a foot against the wall, then he began to pull as well.

"One, two, three, pull!" She called again.

With the added strength at the source, the thing finally seemed to snap, Benedict stumbled with the rest of them but managed to recover faster, and suddenly appeared before her again. He looked over the chains and then to the wolf, Rose followed his gaze only to find that the man had fully transformed and now was looking over his paws, Rose's eyes widened only to feel a pair of hands on one of her cuffs, she looked down at Benedict's hold of it only to watch as he split one of the cuffs in half.

Her eyes lifted, only to find blood dripping from his nose, but before she could ask, he split the other, the werewolf started snarling at them, and the Doctor ran in with Robert following closely behind.

Rose was both elated and infuriated to see him. She ran up to him all the same, "where the hell have you been!?" She demanded, in spite of knowing the answer. The Doctor offered her a grimace before turning to look at their lupine companion.

He stopped and stared, Rose puffed a breath and turned to the others. Robert had ran over to Isobel and was encouraging her and the others to exit the cellar. Rose however lingered back watching the Doctor, Benedict watched both of them.

The Doctor's gaze however was fixed on the wolf,

"Oh, that's beautiful." He breathed, and Robert continued to usher everyone.

"Come on, go. Get out!" He ordered pulling the people out, and just then, the wolf ripped at the bars that gave way like tin foil.

That seemed to make the Doctor realize as he jumped back and turned to them.

"Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out!" He barked as the wolf continued to destroy his cage. Rose ran over to the older man who was one of the last in the cellar.

"Come on." She told him, and ducked out the door, Benedict waited by it, and moments later the Doctor emerged, Rose spared a quick glance back but hurried on with the rest. The Doctor sonicked the door before running after them. Benedict was behind her, and the Doctor taking the tail.

However, it didn't take long before both men caught up with her.

"So that's where you ran off to!" The Doctor said and Benedict grunted.

"I told you this place smelled like dog." He said back.

"No, you said it smelled like shi-"

"Not the time!" Rose said, just before they caught up with the group.

The older servant was handing out guns to the men. The Doctor immediately turned to Rose and held up his sonic looking to her hands.

"What happened to-"

"Benedict got them." She said, panting a bit. The Doctor turned to Benedict who was watching behind them. But the time-lord didn't comment and went over to the previous prisoners and began to sonic open their shackles.

"Arms, and you five." The older gent said before looking over the men he handed weapons, "ready, everyone?" The men nodded and he turned to Isobel. "Take the girls. Get them out through the kitchen." He said, but Isobel turned to Robert.

"I can't leave you. What will you do?" She asked, holding onto his hand, he gazed down at her, conflict and a bit of shame written on his face.

"I must defend her Majesty. Now, don't think of me, just go." He gave her hand a squeeze with both of his and she nodded, her jaw set and she turned to the servant girls.

"All of you, at my side. Come on!" She called, and once free of their shackles, the girls took off, leaving the Tardis trio and a group of armed men.

The Doctor turned back to Rose, but looked to where they left the wolf. "It could be any form of light modulated species triggered by specific wavelengths. Did it say what it wanted?" He asked, and Rose stole a breath.

"The Queen, the Crown, the throne - you name it."

Just as she answered, there was a loud crash from where they came. The Doctor looked toward it, before slowly approaching, Rose remained where she was, but watched carefully.

Benedict stayed in place but watched as well.

Only for a second later, the time-lord ran back in and grabbed ahold of Rose pulling her out of the way, just then the group of men aimed, for a moment Rose panicked seeing Benedict in the way. But he vanished from the spot and she felt a presence on her right, a quick glance confirmed it was him. And just in time.

"Fire! Fire!" The older servant ordered, and a round of bullets went off, smoke popping off the guns in puffs Rose ducked and covered her ears leaning into the Doctor. He wrapped an arm around her but watched on. She could hear his hearts pounding in his chest.

Once the men ran out of bullets they lowered their weapons and relaxed, Rose turned to look and Doctor let her go heading for the stairs.

"All right, you men. We should retreat upstairs. Come with me." He said, but the older gent turned to him.

"I'll not retreat. The battle's done. There's no creature on God's Earth that could survive such an assault." He claimed confidently.

"It's not dead." Benedict said, pulling the servant's attention to him.

"And how would a man of your impairment know?" He asked snidely, Benedict turned to him and bristled.

"You ever shot a werewolf before? You don't even know what that thing is!"

The older man opened his mouth, but the Doctor cut him off.

"Steward! I'm telling you, come upstairs!" He said but the steward puffed a breath.

"And I'm telling you, sir, I will sleep well tonight with that thing's hide upon my wall." He said, and into the corridor, then he turned back to face them all. "It must have crawled away to die." He said resolutely, only to then be grabbed and hoisted up to the ceiling. There was a short scream and blood began to spill from above. Rose stepped back wide eyed, and the Doctor grabbed her arm pulling her attention to him.

"There's nothing we can do!" He said over the sounds of flesh being ripped apart and the accompanying snarls. Rose nodded but spared another glance back before following the Doctor up the stairs. Benedict soon followed. However, the other armed men did not take their lead, and instead remained, just as the wolf jumped and devoured them as well.

As they fled, the trio and Robert heard gunshots…and then screams.

---

With the wolf in hot pursuit, the Doctor led the way through a door that put them back into the dining area, once everyone was inside. The Doctor turned and used his sonic to lock the door, Robert, however fully entered.

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty!" He called, and the Doctor turned just to see Victoria come down from the stairs.

"Sir Robert? What's happening?" She called as she made her descent. "I heard such terrible noises."

Robert looked her over as the Doctor went for the front door. Only to find it completely boarded up. He let out a breath but quickly returned pocketing his sonic, he found Victoria by Robert, Rose waiting for him, and Benedict watching the door where they came from.

Both Robert and Victoria looked over upon his entrance, "The front door's no good, it's been boarded shut." He explained, before turning directly to Victoria, "pardon me, Your Majesty. You'll have to leg it out of a window."

The woman straightened and lifted her head, the Doctor nodded and motioned for the corridor to the drawing room. He let both and Rose pass, he glanced back at Benedict. "How close?"

Benedict took a step toward him but kept his eyes on the door, "seven meters and dropping." He then turned to the Doctor as he headed through the corridor, "he took a detour to the kitchens, but all the maids are still alive."

The Doctor followed him with a frown, "why would it do that?"

Benedict offered a shrug as they entered the drawing room. The queen headed for the window only to get stopped by Robert, "Excuse my manners, Ma'am, but I shall go first, the better to assist Her Majesty's egress." He said, and the queen looked him over with a nod.

"A noble sentiment, my Sir Walter Raleigh." She said, and the Doctor let out a breath.

"Yeah, any chance you could hurry up?" he asked a bit snippy, Robert seemed to snap to and headed for the window.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Benedict said, making the Doctor turn to him before his attention snapped back to Robert as gunshots popped off the window. Everyone ducked and Robert stumbled back inside keeping his head down.

The Doctor crept forward and peered out of the window, "I reckon the monkey boys want us to stay inside." He said, and Benedict joined his side.

"They are surrounding the house. All of them armed and all of them smelling awful." He grumbled the last part.

"Do they know who I am?" the queen asked, and Rose, whom was crouched next to her responded.

"Yeah, that's why they want you. The wolf's lined you up for a, a biting." She said, and the queen turned to her.

"Stop this talk. There can't be an actual wolf." She said, only for all of them to hear a howl ring about the building.

Everyone stood and the Doctor took the lead, taking them back to the stairway corridor. There they found the door that blocked them from the wolf was quickly splintering and snapping as he clawed at it furiously.

"What do we do?" Rose breathed from next to the Doctor.

"We run."

"Is that it?" She asked, and he turned to her.

"You got any silver bullets?"

She shook her head, "not on me, no."

Benedict leaned in, "so this thing is a thing we kill?" he asked, shifting his head look between them.

The Doctor took a breath, "depends, you got any silver bullets?" He asked, and Benedict turned to him.

"No. Just checking. I can think of something though." He said, and the Doctor stole breath but nodded.

"You get on that. But until then, we run." He turned to Victoria, "Your Majesty, as a Doctor, I recommend a vigorous jog. Good for the health." He claimed whilst jogging in place, then he beckoned them all. "Come on!"

He took off on the stairs with the others following closely behind, the werewolf soon busted through the door and followed quickly after, Benedict had taken up the rear, and while it was a several level spiral incline, it didn't take them too long to reach the top where the Doctor motioned them through another doorway that led to a hallway.

Once everyone had cleared, he caught a brief glance at the wolf who was just one stair level below and he took off after the group.

The Doctor wouldn't often say he was relieved to see a soldier with a gun, but given the circumstances, when he saw Reynolds, pistol ready, he let out a breath of relief.

They sprinted down the hallway with the wolf at their heels, and it wasn't until they went past Reynolds and the man shot at the wolf that they were given minor reprieve.

The lupine cried out and stumbled back, the Doctor stopped, the others following suit as they turned to the soldier who was already reloading the revolver. He turned to them and despite the minor shaking of his hands, his eyes held resolve.

"I'll take this position and hold it. You keep moving, for God's sake!" He said, and then turned to Victoria, "Your Majesty, I went to look for the property and it was taken. The chest was empty." Victoria straightened.

"I have it. It's safe."

The man straightened as well, his eyes growing steely.

"Then remove yourself, Ma'am." Reynolds then turned to the Doctor, "Doctor, you stand as Her Majesty's Protector." Then finally he turned to Robert, "And you, Sir Robert, you're a traitor to the crown."

But just as he turned to go, the Doctor grabbed his arm, "Bullets can't stop it!" he said, and the man gazed back at him evenly removing the Doctor's hand.

"They'll buy you time. Now run!" He barked, and the Doctor looked at him before swallowing and stepping back. He took off running with the others following close behind. Round after round of bullets were fired off, they reached the library door that the Doctor used his sonic to open before hurrying inside, he watched as Robert and the queen entered, and soon after came Benedict dragging Rose with him.

"Barricade the door." Robert said as he caught his breath, he went over to several tables, the Doctor soon joined him, Benedict however was covering his nose and looking at the door. A door that was soon barricaded as Robert, Rose, and the Doctor shoved as much furniture against it as they could.

Once they had sufficiently blocked it, everyone stepped back, "Wait a minute. Shush, shush, wait a minute." The Doctor said, a finger to his lips, there was silence for a moment before a howl filled the area. Then he turned to Benedict who seemed to sense his gaze.

"It stopped." He muttered before slowly stepping closer to the door, peering at it, "he's right here." There was the sound of sniffing, "…he's walking down the hall…" footsteps crossing the hallway outside the wall confirmed this.

Then Benedict's attention snapped to the other side of the room, "this isn't the only door."

The Doctor jumped to and sprinted to the other side of the room, Robert following behind, together the two men barricaded it as well. Then they stepped back again. Benedict quietly approached and watched the wall while the Doctor and Rose watched him.

"He's lingering about…but he won't come inside." Faint footsteps and breaths from the other side of the wall confirmed again what he'd said.

Rose, however, shook her head, "I don't understand. What's stopping it?" She looked to the Doctor who spun on his heel looking around the room with pinched brows.

"Something inside this room. What is it? Why can't it get in?" He asked, and Benedict turned to them.

"Dogs don't like strong smells, right?" he glanced around, "this room smells the strongest."

The Doctor however shook his head, "no but it's just old books." He ran a hand through his hair and went over to one of the walls looking it over and sniffing, but he couldn't catch any scent outside of the natural wooden smell.

Turning on his heel he faced the entity, "what are you smelling?"

Benedict shrugged tightening his blindfold, "I don't know…some kind of plant? I'm not well versed on Earth vegetation."

"Well…" Rose started as she joined their side, "I'll tell you what, though." Both men looked at her.

"What?" the Doctor prompted, and she smiled.

"Werewolf."

The Doctor couldn't help but mirror her smile, "I know." Then he looked her over, "you alright?"

She gave a nod and took his hands, giving them a squeeze, "I'm okay, yeah." The Doctor looked to Benedict.

"You?"

Benedict turned back to him where his gaze had wandered back to the walls, "what?" then his question registered, "oh, uh…yeah I'm fine."

"I'm sorry, Ma'am." Robert started, pulling the Doctor's attention to him, "it's all my fault. I should have sent you away. I tried to suggest something was wrong. I thought you might notice." He turned to the Doctor, "did you think there was nothing strange about my household staff?" He asked, and the Doctor opened his mouth.

"I thought they smelled weird." Benedict said, before nodding in the Doctor's direction, "but he said that's what everything smells like in this time."

The Doctor looked at him before going back to Robert, "well, they were bald, athletic. Your wife's away, I just thought you were happy."

Rose turned to the queen and stepped closer, "I'll tell you what though, Ma'am, I bet you're not amused now." She tried, but the queen turned to her, all calm gone from her face.

"Do you think this is funny?" She snapped, and Rose instantly retreated.

"No, Ma'am. I'm sorry." She whispered and the queen turned to face them all.

"What, exactly, I pray tell me, someone, please. What exactly is that creature?"

The Doctor pocketed his hands and looked to her, "you'd call it a werewolf, but technically it's a more of a lupine wavelength haemovariform." He explained with a breath, the queen gazed at him face hard.

"And should I trust you, sir? You who change your voice so easily? Claim blindness of a cousin you consult for sight? What happened to your accent?" She asked, and the Doctor winced, not having realized how suspicious his behavior had been recently.

"Oh right, sorry, that's-"

"I'll not have it." Victoria said intercutting him. "No, sir. Not you, not your strange cousin, not that thing. None of it, this is not my world." She said resolutely.

There was a pause before Benedict stepped up next to the Doctor, "since we are coming clean…he is not my cousin. Just so you know." He said, and everyone stared for a moment only for him to shrug, "what? The last thing I want is for people to think I'm related to you." He pulled a grimace, and the Doctor sent him a vaguely irritated look before taking a breath.

"Yes, well we do have to deal with the present circumstances." He clasped his hands before him before looking about the room. "Ben, you said it smells like vegetation?"

Benedict hummed looking around the room, "yes."

The Doctor looked around before spotting a carving on the wall lifting his head in realization.

He went over to it and lightly traced over the design with his hand. "Mistletoe. No wonder I couldn't catch it."

Rose frowned from where she was, "mistletoe?"

The Doctor turned and nodded, "correct. The poison without a smell. Sir Robert." He turned to him and the man straightened, "did your father put that there?" He asked pointing to the carving.

Robert looked at it and then to the Doctor giving a slight shrug, "I don't know…I suppose."

The Doctor hummed and looked about, catching the carving on the other door, "that one too." He frowned, "no, a carving wouldn't be enough." He turned to Benedict, "you said it was strong in here."

"Yeah, this place reeks with it."

Rose stepped forward, "wait, but I don't understand, if it doesn't smell…how would that stop the wolf?" She looked to Benedict, "and how come he can smell it?"

"Just cos we can't smell it doesn't mean it inherently doesn't have a scent." The Doctor explained, before going over and brushing his hand over the wood, looking it over, but seemingly not satisfied he leaned over and licked the wood.

"Doctor!" Rose called and he turned to her, her eyes were blown wide, "what are you doing!? You said it was poisonous!"

The Doctor stepped back, "in small doeses it's fine." He tasted it and hummed, "Viscum album, the oil of the mistletoe. It's been worked into the wood like a varnish." He chuckled with a grin, "how clever was your dad? I love him. Powerful stuff, mistletoe. Bursting with lectins and viscotoxins."

"And it stinks." Benedict grumbled, but he was relatively ignored.

"And the wolf's allergic to it?" Rose asked, and the Doctor shrugged.

"Well, it thinks it is." He went over to the window and gazed down at the monks, "the monkey monk monks need a way of controlling the wolf, maybe they trained it to react against certain things." He said and turned back to the group.

"Nevertheless, that creature won't give up, Doctor, and we still don't possess an actual weapon." Robert said, and the Doctor sighed.

"Oh, your father got all the brains, didn't he?" He asked, and Rose frowned at him.

"Being rude again."

"Good. I meant that one." He turned to Benedict, "where's our lupine friend?"

Benedict sent a glance around, "milling about the house, though he's nearby."

The Doctor nodded with a breath, "alright, good." He turned to everyone, "you want weapons? We're in a library." He grabbed a book off the shelf and held it up, "books! Best weapons in the world. This room's the greatest arsenal we could have." He grabbed several more and tossed them to Rose, who, while startled managed to catch them. He grinned at her, "Arm yourself."

---

A little later, Rose, the Doctor and Robert were going through various books trying to see if any sort of solution would present itself.

Benedict kept watch, looking around the room trying to see if the wolf was growing any closer.

The queen, however, was sitting and watching the others mill about.

"Biology, zoology. There might be something on wolves in here." Rose said, looking through a book in her hand, the Doctor was up on a ladder reaching up to the higher shelves to find books.

"Hold on, what about this? A book on mistletoe." He said holding it up to the group, Rose pulled another off the shelf.

"A book on magic." She said mostly to herself.

"Some form of explosive." Robert said looking up from his book.

The Doctor, however, was looking through one of the books in his hand. "Hmm, that's the sort of thing." He said before getting off the ladder and pulling on his glasses to look closer.

Rose looked up and went over peering at the book he was reading. "Wolf's bane, what about that?"

"Look what your old dad found." Robert looked over at the mention of his father and soon joined the Doctor's side. "Something fell to Earth."

"A spaceship?" Rose wondered, but Robert leaned over to peer into the book.

"A shooting star." His eyes scanned the page. "In the Year of our Lord 1540, under the reign of King James the Fifth, an almighty fire did burn in the pit. That's the Glen of Saint Catherine just by the monastery." He looked to the Doctor; Rose however frowned.

"But that's over three hundred years ago. What's it been waiting for?" She asked, and the Doctor closed the book with a furrow of his brow.

"Maybe just a single cell survived. Adapting slowly down the generations, it survived through the humans, host after host after host."

"But why does it want the throne?" Robert asked, and Ross stole a breath.

"That's what it wants. It said so. The, the Empire of the Wolf."

"Imagine it." The Doctor cut in, "the Victorian Age accelerated. Starships and missiles fueled by coal and driven by steam, leaving history devastated in its wake…" he trailed and the queen finally made her way over to them.

"Sir Robert. If I am to die here." She said, pulling all attention to her, Robert stepped forward.

"Don't say that, Your Majesty."

She however held up a hand, "I would destroy myself rather than let that creature infect me. But that's no matter. I ask only that you find some place of safekeeping for something far older and more precious than myself." She said, and the Doctor raised an eyebrow.

"Hardly the time to worry about your valuables."

The queen spared him a glance before taking a breath, "thank you for your opinion, but there is nothing more valuable than this."

Then she pulled out a large diamond, this conversation was enough to pull Benedict's attention over, however at the sight of the diamond he frowned.

His reaction was not shared by the Doctor and Rose whose eyes were once again blown wide open.

"Is that the Koh-I-Noor?" Rose breathed leaning closer to it, the Doctor nodded as even he looked impressed.

"Oh, yes. The greatest diamond in the world." He said, but Benedict frowned looking between everyone his brow pinched.

"Given to me as the spoils of war. Perhaps its legend is now coming true. It is said that whoever owns it must surely die." The Queen said gazing at the shimmering rock.

The Doctor hummed, "well, that's true of anything if you own it long enough." He looked from the jewel and to the queen, "can I?" He asked holding out his hands, she nodded, and he took a step closer gently taking it into his hands. Rose stepped over and gazed down at it as well.

After a moment Benedict came over to the Doctor's other side frowning down at it.

"That is so beautiful."

"It's a rock."

Benedict said while the Doctor spoke.

The time-lord looked to him, "it's a bit more than a rock." He held up the diamond a bit more, "here this thing is extraordinary expensive." He said, Benedict frowned still.

"How much is that worth?" Rose asked and the Doctor turned to her.

"They say the wages of the entire planet for a whole week."

Ross couldn't help but laugh, "good job my mum's not here. She'd be fighting the wolf off with her bare hands for that thing."

The Doctor chuckled in return, "and she'd win."

"Why is it so expensive?" Benedict asked, "it's pressurized carbon." He pointed to it turning to the Doctor, "there are planets where this looks like a piece of limestone."

The Doctor nodded, "yes, but here it's a scarce resource, so it's valued higher as a result."

"But why? It's such a silly thing to value." He waved a hand at it dismissively, "diamonds are one of the easiest rocks to make." He claimed, and Rose blinked at him.

"You can make diamonds?" She let out a short laugh, "you're kidding right?"

Benedict looked to her and gave a half shrug, "I used to." He gazed at his hand that he flexed a moment, "when I wasn't bound to this form."

The Doctor glanced over him a moment and pocketed that information for later. But for now, he turned to the queen, "why do you travel with it?"

The queen, who had been watching the interaction with slightly wide eyes turned to him seemingly relieved to hear something normal come from his mouth.

"My annual pilgrimage. I'm taking it to Helier and Carew, the Royal Jewellers at Hazelhead. The stone needs recutting." Her claim made the Doctor blink and turn back to the rock.

"Oh, but it's perfect." Rose breathed from beside him.

"My late husband never thought so." The queen countered, almost fondly.

The Doctor nodded turning to Rose, "now, there's a fact. Prince Albert kept on having the Koh-I-Noor cut down. It used to be forty percent bigger than this. But he was never happy. Kept on cutting and cutting." He said looking back at it, Benedict, no longer interested, went back to his observing duties.

"He always said the shine was not quite right. But he died with it still unfinished." Victoria murmured and the Doctor blinked, something clicking.

"Unfinished. Oh, yes." Then he tossed the diamond back to Victoria, who caught it with wide eyes before cradling it close to her chest.

The Doctor looked about the room with a renewed sight, "there's a lot of unfinished business in this house. His father's research, and your husband," he turned back to Victoria. "Ma'am, he came here, and he sought the perfect diamond." His eyes widened and he spun on his heel holding his head a moment. "Hold on, hold on. All these separate things, they're not separate at all, they're connected." He smacked the side of his head, turning about the room as he tried to think faster. "Oh, my head, my head." He stopped spinning and turned to Victoria, "what if this house, it's a trap for you. Is that right, Ma'am?"

"Obviously."

But the Doctor pointed at her, "at least, that's what the wolf intended. But, what if there's a trap inside the trap?"

The queen frowned at his words, "Explain yourself, Doctor."

"What if his father and your husband weren't just telling each other stories. They dared to imagine all this was true, and they planned against it, laying the real trap not for you but for the wolf." And as if speaking about him summoned the wolf, dust began to fall from the ceiling everyone looked up, only to find the wolf having gotten outside and was now on the glass ceiling of the library.

"That wolf there." The Doctor breathed, just as the glass began to fracture under the pressure of the wolf who began to crawl atop it.

"Out! Out! Out!" The Doctor barked as they began to dismantle the barricade and hurried out the door, the last to leave was Benedict who watched the lupine curiously before leaving as well.

The Doctor lingered to shut the doors before following, he fell in step with Benedict easily.

"A warning would've been nice." He said, and Benedict puffed a breath.

"What? And interrupt your monologue?" He asked innocently, the Doctor frowned but dismissed it and headed forward taking the lead easily.

The group hurried down the aisle, Rose taking up the rear and as the wolf busted through the doors, he sprinted down the corridor for them. He easily caught up with Rose, but just as she was to be pounced on, Flora tossed the contents of a steaming pot at the creature. It shrieked in pain and retreated. The others noticed and stopped momentarily. Benedict watched the wolf retreat and the Doctor grinned at Flora.

"Good shot."

"It was mistletoe." She said with a breath, the other women emerged from the adjacent hallway and Robert stepped forward with a relieved breath.

"Isobel!" He embraced and kissed her deeply pulling her close, before reluctantly separating and holding her by her upper arms. "Now, get back downstairs." He said, and she nodded gazing back at him seriously.

"Keep yourself safe."

"Now go." Then he released her and she turned to the women in her company.

"Girls, come with me. Down the back stairs, back to the kitchens. Quickly!" She said, and the group hurried off, a sentiment shared by the Doctor as he stepped forward.

"Come on!" He beckoned and Robert nodded taking the lead.

"The observatory's this way." The group began to ascend the staircase with Benedict taking up the rear, sparing glances over his shoulder toward the werewolf.

---

As they got to the room the Doctor took notice of the door, "no mistletoe in these doors because your father wanted the wolf to get inside." He ushered Rose and the queen inside as he looked to Robert who stood across from him. "I just need time. Is there any way of barricading this?" He asked looking over the door.

Robert however straightened, "just do your work and I'll defend it."

The Doctor however looked over the door again, "if we could bind them shut with rope or something." He said, however Robert set his jaw, something Benedict who was looking down the hall for the wolf took note of, turning to look at the man.

"I said I'd find you time, Sir. Now get inside." He looked to Benedict, "the both of you."

The Doctor looked up at him and gave a single nod, "Good man." Robert gave a nod in return and the Doctor retreated into the room.

Benedict however gazed at Robert a moment, "you're going to die."

Robert spared him a glance before going over to the wall and pulling a sword off a display, "I might, but I must pay recompense. I have betrayed my queen and country." Turning the sword in hand he straightened where he stood, "if I must, I shall lay down my life to save my queen." He nodded to the door of the observatory, "you must hurry inside."

"Yeah…no, I'm not gonna do that." Benedict said, and Robert turned looking at him, he was about to speak but a low snarl pulled their attention to the werewolf as he entered the hallway they were in.

"By the lord…" Robert breathed, his hands gripping the handle of the sword, "I must insist you proceed inside with the others." He said, an edge to his voice, but Benedict ignored him watching as the werewolf lowered himself and started stalking forward. "I do not need assistance-"

"I'm not helping you." Benedict snapped sending the man a glare, "I don't fucking care what happens to you." He turned and pointed to the wolf, "but this bag of fleas is annoying the crap out of me." He growled before turning to the wolf fully and huffing. "You freakin' smell like shit, you've been chasing us down in the house and have FAILED at killing us every single time." He took a step forward and was met with a growl that he ignored. "You are stupid enough to think you are allergic to a fucking plant that is probably completely harmless to you. You rant and rave about an empire of the wolf." He then scoffed, "but let's be honest here, your puny little empire will probably get crushed before it even comes into fruition."

The werewolf growled and stepped forward again, body tensing and ready to pounce. Robert shuffled behind him and seemed like he was going to grab him or warn him, but Benedict pressed on.

"Oh yeah? You wanna kill us huh?" he tossed out his hands, "then go ahead and try, you ugly bastard."

The wolf let out a snarl and pounced at him, but Benedict vanished from the spot leaving Robert in shock he had to quickly recover from and lift his sword to swing it.

However, before he could swing his blade, the wolf let out a yelp and mid-pounce was yanked backwards. He was slammed into the wall causing the old manor to shudder and the wooden boards to crack on the wall.

Robert stared at the dazed wolf wide eyed and then slowly lifted his eyes to Benedict. The man stood now behind the lupine and wiped away blood from under his nose.

Then he reached back and removed his blindfold, making Robert take a slight step back at the alien-galaxy filled-eyes that stared back at him. The poor Scottish man let out a shudder, gripping his now shaking weapon tightly as he stood scrutinized by what could not be a normal man.

"Wha…" he started but his voice died in his throat. Benedict gazed at him easily, his purple hued iris piercing.

"Get your ass inside that room."

His voice was on a different resonance than before, causing Robert to let out a shudder and take a shaky step toward the door.

Though his eyes did break from the man's and to the beast, "the creature-"

"I'm not going to kill it. It's not worth the effort and these clothes are new." He adjusted his cuffs that ended at the elbow and scratched at his head, "plus, I think the Doctor has some plan or something and she's curious to see it."

Robert swallowed glancing up at the man only to flinch and look down at the beast again, "she…?"

The man paused, "…Rose." He then nodded toward the door.

"Go inside, tell them to let me know when they need him inside."

Robert stood there a moment, his heart racing in his chest, he'd been so prepared to die…

All the same he swallowed and opened the door.

Everyone whipped around when he did all with varying degrees of shock at his presence. A sense of shame flooded him but he cleared his throat.

"Sir Benedict has neutralized the beast, he wants to know when you would like it inside." Robert flinched as he heard the wolf growl, only to hear a muttered curse from Benedict and the sound of some bone snapping. The wolf yowled in pain.

The young lass-Rose widened her eyes, she was closest to the door and heard it as well.

The Doctor man however looked a bit surprised, "he…didn't kill it?"

"He cl aimed you had a plan sir." Robert admitted quietly, "and that your companion Rose would want to see it."

Both looked surprised and slightly confused, but the Doctor stole a breath, "alright then. Tell him to…bring the wolf." He then went back to the telescope and Rose, who stood by the gears, looked at the Doctor.

"You said this thing doesn't work."

Before the Doctor could respond, Robert turned back to the strange scene before him, Benedict-who had his blindfold back on-had a foot on the head of the werewolf seemingly holding the snarling beast down. Robert gazed at it apprehensively.

"The Doctor said to bring it inside." He said, and Benedict took a big breath but nodded. He leaned down and grabbed the beast by its muzzle. It snarled glaring up at Benedict with an unmatched feral hatred.

The beast tried to back out of Benedict's hold, its claws raking on the wooden floors as it scrambled to get up, but the man's grip held strong, even if drops of blood fell from his nose.

"Do you want your other leg broken?" Benedict snapped with a near feral growl of his own.

Robert, who stood hesitantly by the door spared a glance at the wolf's legs, its rear hind leg was bent in an awkward way and he didn't seem to be using it as much.

The wolf snarled again, this time lowly. Benedict removed his foot from his head, but the moment this happened, the wolf jerked his head back and swiped with it's claws at Benedict's middle, Robert lurched forward sword at the ready.

The man bent back awkwardly to avoid the swipe, however the wolf managed to angle itself out of the man's hold on his face. Snapping his jaws at his hand.

Robert rushed over, sword held out though it shook in his hand. The beast snarled as it leant against the wall. It's injury didn't seem to be lasting however, as it's leg was making strange stomach churning sounds as it tried to repair itself.

The werewolf was not willing to wait for it to heal. It snarled and lunged for both again.

Robert lifted his sword and this time made contact with the beast's face, slashing it over one of it's eyes. It yowled and jerked back stumbling on it's still healing leg.

Though it was not finished it let out a guttural snarl and tried to lung again.

"SIT." A deafening command came from his companion, Robert flinched hard and covered his ears, and though he felt the unexplainable urge to obey the command he managed to resist and take a step away from the man instead.

The wolf, however, didn't seem to fare as well, it cowered back and let out a snarl that was intermixed with a whine. It didn't look like it was going to obey but ever so slowly it sat back on it's haunches, growling softly and watching them with piercing eyes.

Though, its eyes soon weren't the most piercing, as a quick glance to Benedict told Robert he'd taken off his blindfold and had his impossibly intense gaze fixed on the werewolf before them.

There was a moment of tense silence before Benedict spoke again, his voice carrying the same low and bone shaking resonance as before. "Beg." He said and Robert looked to him only to flinch at his eyes and tense at the glee on his face.

The lord of the manor took a step back with a soft breath, then, pulling his attention to the wolf was the pathetic, dog-like cries that began to come from it. Its head was lowered, its ears bent back, and its eyes were wide and…scared.

Robert heard the slightest of chuckles from Benedict as the man…thing…took a step closer to the beast. A creature that once hunted them with the predatory ferocity of a monster now cowered back like a pup to be scolded by its master.

The man stared after Benedict and swallowed thickly, should he speak-"sir…the Doctor is ready with his plan." He said keeping the tremor from his voice.

Whatever this man was, he was as human as the beast that cowered beneath him.

Meaning…not at all.

Benedict paused mid-step and lifted his head from where he gazed down at the wolf and glanced over his shoulder at Robert.

The human flinched hard as he was not met with the ethereal-yet terrifying-eyes from before.

Instead, he found himself staring into the eyes of some creature he couldn't comprehend. The ancient being regarded him like Robert would regard the ants that milled about the cobblestone outside.

Like he was hardly something of note.

Those eyes were endless hypnotic abysses that Robert couldn't look away from.

Robert was a religious man, he believed what he was taught in church, and while this night had pushed a bit against the strong foundational belief's he'd known. He'd never regarded the monster as anything more than that, a monster in need of killing. For all intents and purposes, it was a rabid wolf that needed extermination.

Robert had no idea what to make of the man before him.

The only thought that came to mind was something akin to a demon.

For when he gazed into those abysses, he did not find reassurance that an angelic figure would bring. He did not find the holiness that the Lord would provide.

The hallway they stood in seemed to stretch on for eons, and yet Robert felt like the walls were closing in, it was getting harder to breathe, harder to register anything outside of those eyes. He could hear his own heart thudding in his chest as he gazed into the eyes of the man before him. Bracing himself at what he saw.

He bore witness something dark, nasty, and filled with so much visceral hatred it made Robert's knees shake.

He felt as though he looked into the eyes of a demon, a demon who held the same regard for him that he did for a fly buzzing around his ear.

The human could only let out a shuddering breath, and when he felt a hand clasp his shoulder, his full body flinched.

It was enough of a distraction to break his eyes away from the demonic gaze of Benedict and to the other lanky man amidst them.

The Doctor didn't look at Robert, but instead looked at Benedict.

"Seem to be taking awhile." He said casually, something Robert couldn't understand, how could he be so at ease? Did he not feel the tension? The power-the evil wafting off the creature before them? The creature disguised with the face of a man.

But then. Like a withheld breath being released, the tension in the room vanished, like someone reached in and pulled it all out again. Robert's body relaxed instantly, as he sagged where he stood, subconsciously leaning into the Doctor's hand on his shoulder.

There was a scoff from Benedict, though it was substantially lighter than his tone from before, "you wanted time, didn't you?"

Robert dared to look up, only to find Benedict tying the blindfold around the back of his head. When he finished, he examined his own hand where Robert caught sight of a gash.

The wolf must've gotten him when it snapped it's jaws.

"Well, that's gonna be annoying." The man grumbled, before looking back at the wolf who tensed again under his gaze. "Get into the observatory." He growled and the werewolf flinched slightly before rising on it's now healed leg and heading into the observatory. The Doctor spared a glance at Benedict before heading inside.

Robert very quickly followed.

---

Rose wasn't sure what to think anymore, the werewolf sat leant against the wall of the observatory, snarling at them and eyeing the queen, but not making a move toward either. The queen held up a small cross at the sight of the creature. Soon after it entered the Doctor, followed closely by a still alive Robert, and finally Benedict.

The final man to enter the room looked a little worse for wear, he was several shades paler than before, flakes of dried blood resided under his nose, and he seemed to have a sheen of sweat over him.

He looked rather disgruntled as well.

All the same, he turned to the wolf who stopped growling at his gaze, its ears flicking back and head lowering. Benedict pointed to the moon-lit spot.

"Go."

The wolf growled but got up again and walked its way to the moonlight lit ground, the light from the telescope bounced off the diamond.

As the wolf approached, he hesitated only a moment before lunging toward the queen.

The monarch yelped, Rose followed suit, Robert and the Doctor started forward-

The wolf never reached the queen, it let out a yowl of pain and stopped in it's tracks.

They soon discovered why.

Robert stood right before the wolf, his sword piercing it's chest as he stared up at the beast panting and confused.

He had been nowhere near the creature.

Rose and the Doctor's attention briefly went to Benedict who looked awful faint, his nose dripped a faint stream of blood and he let a raised hand drop.

The human and time-lord looked to each other and nodded.

Rose went for Benedict easily, bracing him as he started to sway. The Doctor went over to Robert and helped the man shove the wolf right into the moon-light stream.

The werewolf who had been already starting to heal was suspended in the air by the moonlight and was slowly transformed back into the man Rose had seen in the cell earlier. Though his form was very indistinct.

He hung in the air like he was hanging crucified. Whatever injury the wolf sustained was gone, the only reminder was blood stains on his chest and on Robert's sword.

Everyone stood back a moment, observing the scene. Though Benedict seemed to sag further into Rose making her grunt and adjust her hold on him.

"Make it brighter." The man suspended in air said softly pulling Rose's attention back to him, "let me go."

His voice was forlorn, and Rose couldn't help but wonder if this was the boy that the wolf had suppressed for so long.

Her question wasn't answered, as the Doctor turned up the magnification and the moon-beam got brighter. Briefly blinding everyone before the werewolf transformed back briefly, howled and then vanished entirely.

The Doctor turned off the telescope and then turned to Victoria and Robert.

"Are you two alright?" He asked looking them over.

The queen nodded with a bit of a pant, and the Doctor turned to Robert, "and you?"

"I'm alright…" he held up his hands, "just…messy." He let out a short laugh, and the Doctor nodded, though he eyed the blood on him.

"Go hurry and get cleaned up. You don't want any of that in your mouth." He said and Robert nodded, then turned and bowed to the queen.

"My deepest apologies my queen. I can only hope you might forgive my transgression considering the circumstances." He said soberly, the queen was silent a moment.

"Given how you saved me from the beast and were willing to lay down your life at multiple points…consider youself pardoned Sir Robert." She said and Robert let out a deep breath.

"My deepest gratitude your majesty." He gave another low bow before turning to the Doctor, "and Sir Doctor, your aid in this situation has my gratitude as well. I do not know how I will repay you. But I will find a way."

The Doctor however waved him off, "oh don't worry too much about it."

Robert hesitated but nodded, he inclined his head to Rose, but froze when he looked at Benedict. He looked a little ashen for a moment before swallowing and turning back to the Doctor.

"I shall inform my wife of our victory and do as you advise good sir." And giving Benedict and Rose a wide berth, he headed off.

---

With the captain dead, the next soldier in charge was assigned to the queen's protection. And although the threat was gone, with the monks arrested and all. The security around the Queen was still very tight.

They didn't see her the rest of the night.

Though considering what they were doing it was probably for the best.

Benedict had been bit by the wolf, and currently they were trying to decide what to do about it.

---

The whirring of the Doctor's sonic seemed to only bother Benedict more, he groaned and shoved it away whilst slumping back into the armchair he was in. They had retired back to the Doctor and his room. And Rose doubted any of them would be getting any sleep.

"Stop swatting it like a cat." The Doctor scolded, and Benedict muttered a curse but seemed to allow Rose to reach up and put a palm to his forehead.

She winced and pulled her hand back looking to the Doctor, "he's burning up." She said and the time-lord puffed a breath.

"Seems like a normal fever. But I can't know that for sure unless you let me take readings." The Doctor said frowning at his patient, Benedict hummed with thought.

"No, that thing hurts my ears." He grumbled and the Doctor sighed before pocketing the tool.

"Fine, but if you start getting furry…" he warned, and Benedict huffed rubbing at his eyes under his mask tiredly.

"I'm not going to fucking turn into a wolf." He hissed, he then growled and pulled off his blindfold and rubbed his eyes harsher.

"You can't know that." The Doctor scolded, "but if you just told me what your body is then we stand a chance of finding out."

Benedict lifted his gaze to him slowly and Rose felt the Doctor flinch next to her which made her blink and look between the two of them.

The Time-lord's jaw was set his brows drawn inward, though he didn't seem in any way comfortable with this stare-down. Which was peculiar to Rose, she glanced back at Benedict, and found herself both fascinated and drawn in by his galactic eyes. She watched as what appeared to be nebulas in his eyes grow stormier. It was just like those pictures she'd been shown in school, but…so much more real, like she could reach out and grasp the stars that danced about within the confines of his eyes. She'd seen the vastness of space a few times whilst traveling with the Doctor, and while it was beautiful, it was also haunting, unnerving.

And she found Benedict's eyes to be much the same, like when she would look at pictures from a time before, or when places so full of life were abandoned, there was a strange haunting but alluring feeling to staring into his eyes.

Rose didn't realize she'd stepped forward till a hand grasped her shoulder. She jumped, coming back to reality only to find both Benedict and the Doctor staring at her. She blinked and her face heated.

"What?"

"You alright? We lost you there for a moment." The Doctor said, his eyes wandering over her face, and she couldn't help but wonder what he was looking for.

"What? Yeah…no, no, I'm okay." She sent a quick glance toward Benedict who was regarding her with a tilt of his head.

She couldn't help but feel disappointed when she noticed his blindfold was back on.

When she looked back to the Doctor, she found his brows pinched inward, he was looking at her with concern. So, in hopes of alleviating that she offered a smile, grasping his hand on her shoulder. "Really, I'm fine Doctor."

He didn't look entirely convinced but nodded, he gave her shoulder another squeeze before turning back to Benedict.

"Alright, we'll keep an eye on you throughout the night." He held up a finger and pointed at him sternly, "but if you at any point feel inclined to feast on blood, tell me."

Benedict, who still looked feverish gave a two fingered salute and the Doctor sighed before running a hand through his hair.

He then sent the room a regarding look before puffing a breath out.

Rose looked around as well, there were two beds as there had been in a few of the other rooms. She thought it a bit odd at first, but then recalled that it wasn't very common for couples to share a bed for sleeping at this time. So it would make sense for the guests rooms to accommodate this.

Except there was three of them.

Rose felt a bit of heat flood her face as she spared a glance at the two men with her. Benedict had his head on the top of the chair he sat in. As he gazed at the ceiling taking deep, if not feverish breaths.

The Doctor's brows were drawn inward as he seemed to be lost in thought. Of what? Rose hadn't a clue. She wondered if he had thought of their predicament.

She doubted MUCH sleep would be happening tonight. It was already in the early hours of the mornings it didn't really make sense to settle into bed now when they could just sleep when they got back to the Tardis.

Or…well she could sleep. And maybe Benedict because he was sick. She knew the Doctor often pulled all-nighters without issue. Which of course had to do with him being a timelord and all, he'd explained briefly before. But Rose still felt exhausted just thinking about it.

In fact, now that everything had calmed, she realized how tired she really was.

It had been a very long day.

"What are you doing?" Benedict's voice made her turn to him blinking a bit sluggishly as her body suddenly felt ten times heavier than before.

"What?"

He puffed a breath and slouched further in his seat. "You're about to collapse where you stand. There are still a few hours till the appointed time with the head lady. You should sleep."

The Doctor seemed to snap to and look between them before settling on Rose. "He's right, get some rest, I'll keep watch on Benedict." He gave her a smile that made blood rush briefly to her face and she nodded.

Her cheeks remained heated, though for a different reason.

She felt a bit like a child being sent to sleep. Logically, yes, it made sense. But it still felt like she was being dismissed.

All the same, she felt too tired to protest and went over the bed closest to the window.

When she laid back on it, burying herself under the covers, the full weight of the day hit her…and it wasn't very long before she was out.

---

The Doctor watched as Rose's breath evened out and her face grew more slack. He felt a sort of warmth settle in his hearts. She was safe, despite the repeated dangers they'd faced she was alright. And sleeping peacefully at that.

"Do you often stare at people when they sleep?" Benedict's voice cut in and the Doctor couldn't help but sigh.

He turned to face the newest addition.

The man still looked a bit feverish, but it seemed to have gotten better.

"No." The time-lord finally said before sighing and pulling up a chair and taking a seat. He didn't have anything to fiddle with so habitually he brought out his sonic, feeling along the familiar groves and letting out a relaxed breath.

"We're leaving after the appointment with the lady right?" Benedict asked, causing the Doctor to hum.

"That would be the queen, and yes. We will be back to traveling normally." The Time-lord saw his companion nod his head before letting it rest against the top of the chair. When he did the Doctor spared him a glance, letting his eyes sweep over the enigma of a creature before him.

"I would say as a human you need sleep. But I doubt that's what your host body is."

His statement drew an annoyed groan from Benedict as he lifted his head and while the Doctor couldn't-thankfully-see his eyes he felt as though the being was glaring at him.

"You are damn persistent, aren't you?"

The Doctor hummed in response, and when he didn't give a verbal response Benedict's lips thinned.

He turned his head away and rubbed his face tiredly, "is it so hard to believe that this body is mine?" He asked, and the Doctor let out a breath that sounded a bit like a laugh.

"If that body was yours, and you are as old and as powerful as you both claim and seem to be. You would not been restricted in your power."

His claim made Benedict snap his attention to him, his hand curling a bit into a fist.

"How do you-"

"It's obvious if you pay attention." The Doctor said, and Benedict pursed his lips, "despite only being around you for a few days you've used your abilities multiple times. Including, teleportation, enhanced physique, enhanced smell, and of course the one you displayed this very night. Bend will." He looked up at Benedict who was now gazing down at the floorboards. "That last one is interesting. Especially considering how…pleased you seemed." His companion remained silent, so the Doctor pressed on, "though, after all of them, apart from teleportation, it has taken a toll on you. Most obviously displayed by the nosebleed."

"What's your point."

The Doctor sighed and rested one leg on his other, "my point is, you can't be using your own body. My belief is that you are possessing a form that is not equipped to handle the power you hold." He then regarded the being before him carefully, "and then of course, comes the question. Who is it?" Levity had all but disappeared from the Doctor's voice.

If Benedict had taken possession of someone's body, what did that mean for the person inside? Was it like how the wolf had taken residence in a human body? All but squashing the soul inside? Was it like how Cassandra had near killed Rose?

Seeing his companion quickly start to clam up the Doctor let out a breath, "Benedict, it isn't right to steal the life of another. We can find a solution, but you cannot remain there, it's not-"

"They were dying."

That made the Doctor pause, "dying?"

Benedict nodded, and lifted his head to face the Doctor, "we were both dying." He then wiped at his brow, taking a sheen of sweat with it. "Obviously I escaped the time-war, but it came at a cost. I couldn't maintain a physical form anymore. Not my own at least. That's when I found them…that's when I found her." He stole his breath and fiddled with his hands, "I don't know what she is, I don't really care. I know she's a human mutt. Probably combined with several different species down the line." A frown tugged at his lips, "it's not like I tried to possess her. It just…happened. My power changed her." He paused and then motioned to himself. "Clearly."

The Doctor regarded him for a moment, as if trying to piece together what variant of human he could be in but given how much they spread around the galaxy it was very difficult to tell without a blood test.

"Is she still in there?"

"No."

The Doctor regarded him a moment before tilting his head back slightly, "then…who do you talk to?"

Benedict gazed back at him, as if he was analyzing him, as if he was deciding what to say.

It gave the Doctor an unsettled feeling, even now, he didn't think he was getting the full story.

"I would prefer it if you spoke honestly." The Doctor said, hoping to ward off any lies that he saw incoming.

He almost felt Benedict narrow his eyes, "if I must be honest. Then so do you."

The Doctor pursed his lips but Benedict pressed on.

"I'm not like that human girl, if you want answers about me, I want answers about you. It's only fair."

The Doctor…didn't particularly like that. He hadn't really had to share things about himself in a very long time. Often it was better for people he's with to know less about him. It tended to help them have more faith that he could do things. Because they knew not of his catastrophic failings.

But he knew Benedict was right. Often he didn't want to share information with his companions in fear that they would regard him as a monster. See his sins as unforgivable. And he didn't know if his hearts could take that kind of rejection.

But…Benedict already hated him. He'd made it very clear early on that he held the Doctor at no pedestal.

Would it be so bad to talk to someone whose opinion was already negative? An opinion he didn't want to have to worry about?

The thought of revealing anything tended to make the Doctor clammy, he'd prefer to keep his secrets to himself.

But he was realizing that Benedict seemed much the same.

The Doctor figured he had shared the amount he had only due to necessity.

But the time-lord had so many more questions that bounced around his head. Some of them purely about the Tardis and what she was like. Though he'd avoided really asking due to the sore spot that seemed to bring up.

Some of his other questions however weren't so…pleasant.

He hated it, but he had to know. Benedict had mentioned during their initial conversation that he'd ripped hearts out of time-lord's chests. He'd also displayed a certain comfort with violence and the prospect of killing.

Not to mention the glee the Doctor had caught on his face only a few hours prior when the wolf was groveling before him.

The Doctor wanted to know if he'd purely been an adversary to his people in the war. Which seemed like a stupid question. There were very obvious signs that Benedict had played a very destructive role in the war.

He just wish he knew what he had been then.

Perhaps it would give him the insight he needed.

"Copper for your thoughts?" Benedict's voice cut in, and the Doctor glanced up at him.

"It's penny."

Benedict waved him off dismissively. "Same difference." He then leant back in his seat. "So, what's it gonna be?"

The Doctor regarded him a moment before sighing and pocketing his sonic.

"Alright. I suppose it's important that we trust each other. At least to some degree." He spread his hands. "What do you want to know?"

Benedict looked a little surprised at his willingness, before his lip quirked slightly. Then he paused looking to the side and considering a moment.

"How old are you?"

The question caught the Doctor so off guard he couldn't help but puff a laugh. A bit of tension leaving his shoulders. "Nine hundred." He leant back in the chair. "You?"

Benedict hummed, "Two thousand and twenty six. Last I checked anyways." A Cheshire grin spread over his face, "which makes me older than you."

The Doctor snorted, "yeah, alright." His eyes went to the window where he saw the ever lightening sky. They didn't have a ton of time left. His eyes went back to Benedict, "how are you feeling?"

Benedict hummed and rubbed at his face, "tired. But the fever is subsiding."

The Doctor nodded and regarded him a moment, "you avoided answering me earlier. Is she still alive?"

But Benedict just smirked, "ah, easy now, you've asked your question."

The Doctor blinked, "what? That doesn't count! I was asking out of concern!"

Benedict snorted at the concept, "doubt that. You were asking to make sure I wasn't gonna transform. C'mon Doctor. We both know you don't like me being here. Me being a werewolf? Convenient way to be rid of me."

The Doctor frowned at that, "I offered to help you multiple times. You're the one who stubbornly refused it. Which naturally makes me think you are trying to hide something. But no, I do not want to be rid of you." He then huffed and leant back in his seat, "ask your question."

Benedict watched him for a moment before tilting his head, "why don't you want to be rid of me?"

The Doctor paused and let out a breath, "I figured it would be obvious." That made Benedict raise an eyebrow, a prompt for him to continue. "Given the situation we are in, being the last few from Gallifrey, and considering your sister is my Tardis. Well. This seemed to be the best solution." He conceded, and Benedict gazed at him, and for a long moment he was quiet, his brow pinched slightly, before he leant forward. Elbows on his knees.

"You're lonely."

The Doctor didn't answer for a long moment, and he found he didn't like being pinned under Benedict's gaze. Even with the mask blocking his eyes, the Doctor felt scrutinized.

Whether she sensed his distress, or something was smiling favorably upon him he knew not, but he heard Rose get off the bed and wander over.

She leant over the back of his chair and the Doctor, despite himself found he was relieved by her presence.

Though that could also be because Benedict sent his gaze up to her instead of him.

"The Doctor was lonely." She murmured, still groggy from sleep. But as she continued he could hear the soft smile in her voice, "but he isn't anymore. Right Doctor? Cos you've got me, and now you've got Benedict."

The time-lord craned his head back and looked up at her she had a soft look on her face that his hearts couldn't help but swell at. He smiled up at her, "yeah." She smiled at that and then hummed rubbing her eyes groggily. "Did we keep you up?" He asked, and she moved so she was sitting on the end corner of the bed nearest to them. She yawned a moment before gathering herself.

"Mmm, no, these beds are just crap."

Benedict snorted and then leaned forward elbows on his knees and head propped by the backs of his hands. "Couldn't get your beauty sleep princess?"

Rose frowned in his direction before sticking out her tongue.

An action that Benedict mimicked.

At their antics the Doctor couldn't help but sigh as he rose to his feet.

"Alright you two." They both looked at him Rose perking up more as she woke. "Let's see if the Queen is ready to see us. The sooner we're done here the sooner we can be back on the Tardis."

Rose nodded and got to her feet. "Then let's hurry along. The sooner I can be in my bed the better!" She determined before heading out the door. The Doctor chuckled and glanced at Benedict who was looking elsewhere, seemingly lost in thought.

The time-lord gazed at his new companion a moment before letting out a breath, "yes." That snapped Benedict's attention to him as the Doctor pulled on his trench coat. "I'd like to continue our conversation later on." He ventured, and Benedict paused before getting to his feet.

"Mmm, not sure about that Doc I think I'm starting to feel that fever come on again." He wiped his forehead in a feign to act like he was sick.

The Doctor puffed a breath. "Mmhm. C'mon let's not keep the Queen waiting."

---

In the drawing room they were surrounded by the whole household, Robert holding his wife close, the armed soldiers all around, and the queen that stood before them sword in hand.

It had taken an elbow from Rose to get Benedict to kneel before the queen with the Doctor and her.

"By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee Sir Doctor of Tardis. By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee Sir Benedict of Tardis. By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee Dame Rose of the Powell Estate. You may stand." She said, and the three followed the command, rising to their feet.

"Many thanks, Ma'am." The Doctor said with a dip of his head. Rose was grinning ear to ear.

"Thanks. They're never going to believe this back home." Out of the three, however, Benedict didn't say anything.

"Your Majesty, you said last night about receiving no message from the great beyond. I think your husband cut that diamond to save your life. He's protecting you even now, Ma'am, from beyond the grave." He offered softly and she nodded giving a small smile in return.

However, that smile quickly fades, "Indeed. Then you may think on this also. That I am not amused."

That caused Rose to near jump for joy as she turned to the Doctor excitedly, "yes!"

The queen however continued, "not remotely amused. And henceforth I banish you."

That made the smiles drop from both Rose and the Doctor's face, Benedict however raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry?"

The queen stood straighter handing her sword off to one of her men, "I have rewarded you, Sir Doctor, and now you are exiled from this empire, never to return." She decreed, before taking a breath, "I don't know what you are, the three of you, or where you're from, but I know that you consort with stars and magic and think it fun." She then motioned to Benedict, "you have a blind man who can see through his blindfold and bend the will of monsters with just a word. Your world is steeped in terror and blasphemy and death, and I will not allow it. You will leave these shores and you will reflect, I hope, on how you came to stray so far from all that is good, and how much longer you may survive this terrible life. Now leave my world, and never return."

---

"I told you." Benedict said as they got off the cart out once again near where the Tardis had been left. "I knew we'd somehow piss her off." He didn't sound particularly upset about it, just mildly amused.

"Cheers Dougal!" The Doctor said to their cart driver and he gave a small nod.

"Walk on."

And so they did, heading for the Tardis that sat upon a small hill. The Doctor turned to Benedict, "okay fine, but banishment? I think it's wholly unnecessary."

"Yeah!" Agreed Rose, "we did after all save her! There wasn't even a scratch on her." She huffed, and Benedict glanced to her.

"Are you more upset about that, or the ten quid you owe me?"

Rose rolled her eyes and sent him a look, "do you even know what quid is?" Benedict put a hand to his chest and puffed a breath.

"I may not be the most familiar with your human customs but I'm not so stupid I don't know what currency is." He held out a hand, "hand it over."

Rose rolled her eyes, "I don't have it on me, I'll give it to you later." She eyed him, "so long as you don't wolf out on us or anything."

That earned her a look from Benedict, "don't insinuate that a stupid dog had the willpower to take me over. The fever was my body burning those damn mutt cells to ashes."

That gave Rose a momentary pause, "speaking of the fever, how are you feeling? You looked ready to pass out earlier." she asked as they entered the Tardis with the Doctor leading.

"I feel fine." He looked up at the lights when they flickered at their entrance. "I am fine." He said, though he seemed to be speaking to the Tardis when a soft hum resounded about the room. Rose took note of it with interest and a small smile.

"She concerned for you?" Benedict only gave a shrug in response as he adjusted his tie.

The Doctor glanced over at them from where he was by the console, "I'd imagine she would be." He sent a glance around, still doing his best to get used to the fact that she was a lot more sentient than he'd assumed. All the same, he turned to Rose and raised an eyebrow.

"Now why don't you head off and get some sleep before we head off?"

Rose opened her mouth to protest but all that came out was a yawn that faded into a pout when the Doctor smiled knowingly.

"Fine, but only cos I miss my bed." She looked to both of them, "now, no fighting while I'm gone. Got it?"

"Understood."

"No promises."

Said the Doctor and Benedict respectively before turning to look at each other. Rose couldn't help a chuckle before she headed off to her room.