Ever since Rose's fuck up we'd been laying low, spending more time in the TARDIS and less outside helping. I liked it at first, the peace and lack of constant running but now I'm bored. And from the Doctors behaviour it's safe to say he's bored as well. The alien is practically bouncing off the walls, this morning he made at least three new devices, each with the most random functions. One is a banana peeler and the other a very extremely quick kettle thing that essentially makes our kettles blow up because it heats the water too fast. Or like the Timelord rather loudly shouted, 'human products are just too inferior to handle proper technology and science'.
Staying inside though isn't all bad, I've managed to spend more time with the man. Staying up late until I'm fighting to keep my eyes open whilst watching movie marathons; or competing in either a baking or swimming competition. One time we even went as far as just sitting with each other whilst reading our own books, at one point of the night I had finished my book. The Doctor then read out loud slowly lulling me to sleep with Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. These moments made it harder for me to ignore my brewing emotions, after his 'death' and the realisation that I have a growing crush on the alien I've decided to ignore it since there is no way in hell anyone would reciprocate those feelings. That though doesn't mean I can't let that little part of me enjoy the tender moments we share and hope for just a second that something would happen.
"ALULA!" A very loud yell echoes throughout the TARDIS, I jolt out of my bed before racing to the door.
"WHAT?!" I bellow back, I then take notice of Rose running down the corridor and at me.
"He needs help." she frantically calls, panting when she reaches me. "He's done something to a part of the TARDIS in the most random places in a corridor and now the lights are flickering there and there's a bit of smoke and she seems angry you need to get him out." she adds in one breathe, panting heavily once finished.
"Okaay then. Lead the way blondie." I reply shortly, tugging my green zipped hoodie tighter. I trail behind her as she speed walks in the direction of the crazed Timelord. We find him after a quick search, the alien had moved to the kitchen. Fiddling with the back of our new kettle which I had to coax the TARDIS into giving us after he fucked up the last one. "What are you doing?" I loudly announce, the man in front of me jumps in shock before spinning to greet me with a guilty face. "I told you to stop bullying the kettles."
"Yeah well I don't recall agreeing to listen to you." he retorts, pushing the kettle away from himself slowly. I roll my eyes before grabbing his hand and dragging him out. "Where the hell are you taking me?!" he exclaims, stumbling behind me. It doesn't take long for him to straighten out and he walks alongside me easily.
"We," I start, tugging his hand to add emphasis, "Are going to the console where YOU are going to fly us somewhere we can help people." I reply, all but shoving him at the console.
The man stutters and incoherently protests. "But, I, no, why?"
"Because you are going insane and we need to give the TARDIS some quiet. Let her recuperate after you try to destroy her internal organs."
The man opens his mouth to reply but chooses to comply, snapping his jaw shut before excitedly bounding around the console. He seems so eager which only confuses me as to why we haven't gone anywhere recently. I store it to ask him later when we're alone again. Our bodies sway and lightly collide as our friend drives us through time and space, I sigh in relief at the seemingly calm ride.
"Maybe, your flying is getting better." I compliment, smiling over the console at Doc. He grins widely back before suddenly disappearing from my view as the ship practically does a flip. I land left, right and centre, bending in ways I didn't even think I could before we're forced onto the floor. As always the Doctor recovers quickly, frantically scurrying around the controls and dragging the monitors. I unsteadily rise, my vision swimming as a pounding settles in my head. The TARDIS harshly jolts, as if unable to stay on the right track. "I talked too soon." I cry out, clutching the railing with a vice-like grip that turned my knuckles white. Sirens start flooding the spaceship, a red hue flashing across the screens.
"Oh shut up!" Doc snaps, pushing me aside to rapidly press a load of buttons. I childishly poke my tongue out at him which earns an eye roll from my friends. "It's mauve." he mutters, practically ripping the screen off of the TARDIS centre when swinging it to himself.
"What?!" I shout at him, not quite catching his mumblings.
"It's mauve!" he yells back, "The universally recognised colour for danger."
"What happened to red?" Rose pipes in, clinging onto the railing almost as tightly as I am.
"That's just humans. By everyone else's standards, red's camp." he rants, smiling widely at us as he adds. "Oh, the misunderstandings. All those red alerts, all that dancing."
I chuckle at him, earning a grin in return. "What you doing?" I question, watching as the man prances around the console to my side, slamming and twisting mutiple buttons near me.
"It's got a very basic flight computer. I've hacked in, slaved the Tardis. Where it goes, we go."
You did what to T?" I loudly demand. Frowning over at the slightly sheepish Timelord.
"And that's safe, is it?" Rose questions, slightly uneasy with the idea.
Nodding the Doctor grins, "Totally." Just as he finishes the console explodes, sparks erupting near my clenched hands. I yelp letting go which was a fatal mistake as I'm sent to the ground. Thankfully Doc reacted quickly, grabbing my arm and heaving me up. I smile in thanks before glaring at him. He sheepishly smiles down at me before adding, "Okay, reasonably. Should have said reasonably there."
"Really?!"
"No, no, no, no! It's jumping time tracks, getting away from us."
"What exactly is this thing?" Rose cries out, her body harshly swaying.
Doc simply shrugs, "No idea."
"Then why the fuck are we chasing it?" I question making eye contact with the Timelord.
"It's mauve and dangerous, and about thirty seconds from the centre of London." he explains.
"Ah."
~1~
We had found a doorway nearby that led to a stage with a woman singing 'It had to be you' by Frank Sinatra. We stand in the doorway waiting patiently for her to finish, I hum gently along to the song, remembering the lyrics vaguely. The beautiful singers stops, exiting the stage which the Doctor took as an invitation.
"Excuse me. Excuse me." he gathers the crowd's attention. I move to stand on the side, near the stairs to the stage. "Could I have everybody's attention just for a mo? Be very quick."
I chuckle at his awkwardness, glancing around the room. A few posters scattered around catch my eye, Hitler will send no warning poster with a plane dropping a bomb. I stand tense as I fixate on the paper, he brought us to fucking World War 2.
"Hello! Might seem like a stupid question, but has anything fallen from the sky recently?" Doc asks blindly, I choke back a laugh whilst the audience all cackle at him. "Sorry, have I said something funny? It's just, there's this thing that I need to find. Would've fallen from the sky a couple of days ago." he continues obliviously.
Suddenly a harsh siren fills the building, causing the crowd to sober up and quickly scatter. Confused and slightly annoyed the Timelord still persevered. "Would've landed quite near here. With a very loud-" I finally put him out of his misery by ripping a poster off of the wall and presenting it to him. "Bang."
I finally start cackling, clutching my stomach as I gasp for breath. "You're so oblivious, it was obvious."
"Yeah yeah laugh it up, you could have stopped me at any point but chose to stand there." he grumpily replies, a smile tugging his lips. I finally calm down, smiling brightly up at him. I reach out taking his hand before heading off back through the doorway.
"Where do you think Rose went." I question, swinging our hands slightly. He shrugs a large smile on his stupid face as he calls out.
"Rose?" I repeat, after no reply and seemingly no sight of the blonde we start running down the alleyways. Panic rising as there is no sign of our friend.
"Rose!" we call out together, stopping in our tracks when we managed to find the TARDIS. As we walk towards it a yowl to my right catches my attention. I look over to see a small black cat on top of some bins.
"Aww your adorable aren't you." I mumble, gently petting the cat. Noticing my distraction Doc stops near me. He gently picks the feline up, stroking it whilst talking,
"You know, one day, just one day, maybe, I'm going to meet someone who gets the whole don't wander off thing." he complains, I scoff slightly insulted. "Nine hundred years of phone box travel, it's the only thing left to surprise me."
"Okay old man, what am I roast beef. Last I checked I didn't wander off." I pout, sulking slightly whilst moving towards him to pet the cat. The small moment though is interrupted as a sudden ringing echoes down the alley, I jump at the interruption glancing at the TARDIS confused. Doc passes the small cat to me to approaching the phone on the outside of our time machine cautiously.
"How can you be ringing? What's that about, ringing?" he rambles, flitting between watching the now annoying phone and looking at me confused. "What am I supposed to do with a ringing phone?"
"I dunno, maybe answer it?" I sarcastically reply, still holding that cat which gently taps my face for attention.
"Don't answer it. It's not for you." a new voice calls out. Startled I spin on the spot to see a young woman, about my age stood in the alleyway.
"And how do you know that?" I question her, taking a small step away from her and towards my companion.
"'Cos I do. And I'm telling you, don't answer it." she replies, I frown at her lack of explanation. The small cat starts to wriggle so I walk over to the nearest bin and gently place the feline down.
"Well, if you know so much, tell me this. How can it be ringing?" Doc queries her as I pet the cat, "It's not even a real phone. It's not connected, it's not-" he cuts himself off. I turn around to see the young woman gone and a rather frustrated Doctor.
"You gonna answer it now? It's beginning to annoy me." I ask, walking over to the alien to watch as he picks the receiver up.
"Hello? Hello? This is the Doctor speaking. How may I help you?" he cheekily answers, I roll my eyes; this man can never be serious I swear.
My small humour is cut off though when a child's voice answers through the phone, "Mummy? Mummy?
"Who is this? Who's speaking?" I gently reply into the phone, holding onto the Doctors hand to pull the phone towards me.
"Are you my mummy?" they simply question, I furrow my brows at the weird question.
"Who is this?" Doc repeats my question, taking a hold of my hand as I stand there in confusion. How does the child not know who his mother is?
"Mummy?"
"How did you ring here? This isn't a real phone. It's not wired up to anything." Doc tries, annoyed and confused.
"Mummy?" the child repeats before the phone cuts off. I stand there discombobulated as the Time Lord places the phone back in its holder. Rather confused, we decide to store the confused child for a later problem and return to searching for our lost blonde friend.
I quickly stick my head into the TARDIS, "Rose? Rose, are you in there?" I call, but with no reply I turn to the Doctor. My worried gaze reaching his blue eyes, "Doc, what if something happened to her?"
"I'm sure she's fine Al." he closes the distance between us, placing his hands on my upper arms; his thumbs gently rubbing up and down as I chew my lip in worry. "Come on, let's look some more."
He slides his left hand down my right arm, taking my hand before tugging me along. We turn out at the end of the alley, shouting behind a wall getting our attention,
"The planes are coming. Can't you hear them?" A female voice shouts out, we both share a look before hoisting ourselves up and onto the dustbins near the wall, holding tightly to the edge as we take in the backgarden; a large woman ushering her son into the shelter, "Into the shelter. None of your nonsense, now move it!"
The lady pauses, looking up at the sky before opening the door to the shelter, "Come on, hurry up, get in there. Come on." she then turns back to the house, my head following her, "Arthur! Arthur, Will you hurry up? Didn't you hear the siren?"
A similar sized man exits the house, looking rather disgruntled. "Middle of dinner, every night. Blooming Germans. Don't you eat?" he shouts, I roll my eyes, his only priority should be getting his family safe.
"I can hear the planes!" his wife whimpers, ushering him to walk faster.
"Don't you eat?!" the man shouts to the planes, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he leisurely strolls down the garden.
"Oh, keep your voice down, will you? It's an air raid!" his wife orders, finally closing the door.
We both share a cheeky grin, our attention is brought back to the garden as a familiar figure walks into the house. The girl from earlier disappears into the now neglected house.
"Looks fun, shall we join her?" Doc proposes, jumping over the wall. I grin down at him hoisting myself up to sit on the wall and look down at him,
"Why of course kind sir." I respond, holding to his shoulders as I jump down; his hands on my waist as he assists my descent. "Thank you." I smile up at him, I get a grin back before he grabs my hand.
We reach the window, watching as the young girl sets the table for multiple. Young children all flooding the house, their clothes dirty and ragged in places; I tighten my hold on Docs hand as my chest tightens. A deep sorrow for these kids seeping into me. We slide into the house, careful to not make a noise. I gently shut the door behind me.
"It's got to be black market. You couldn't get all this on coupons." one of the boys states, staring at the large meal with large eyes.
The girl tsks, "Ernie, how many times? We are guests in this house. We will not make comments of that kind. Washing up." she orders, the children all laugh at Ernie's demise. The boy whines slightly but doesn't say anything else. Another boy seems to have caught her attention though, "Haven't seen you at one of these before."
"He told me about it." he responds smiling at Ernie.
"Sleeping rough?" Nancy responds, the kid looks down shamefully.
"Yes, miss."
"All right, then. One slice each, and I want to see everyone chewing properly." Nancy welcomes the child, watching each other kids take one slice each. The Doc gently pulls us to the last free seat, he seats himself quietly before pulling me onto his lap. I blush profusely before leaning back slightly. My cheeks rosy and hot as he reaches under my arms to the plate putting a couple roasted potatoes on his plate before putting some on mine, I smile gratefully. Watching as the meat gets passed around.
Each child saying 'thank you, miss' before it reaches the Doctors hand who also chimes in,
"Thanks, miss!" the children all panic, some stand whilsts others nearly choke on their mouthful.
"You scared them." I scold slightly, smiling as he places a slice on his and then my plate. I then address the children, "It's all right."
"Everybody stay where you are!" Nancy orders, comforting the children.
"Good here, innit? Who's got the salt?" Doc continues, I roll my eyes at his poor social timings.
"Back in your seats. He shouldn't be here either." this causes all the kids to return to their seats, seeming more comfortable with us knowing we weren't meant to be here as well.
"So, you lot, what's the story?" Doc questions, swallowing his mouthful. I chew on the carrots, slightly disturbed by their coldness.
"What do you mean?" the child named Ernie queried.
"You're homeless, yes?" I reply, leaning back into the Doctors chest.
"Living rough?" Doc continues, the kids look at us suspiciously.
"Why do you want to know that? Are you a copper?" one asks, his face scrunched up.
"Of course I'm not a copper. What's a copper going to do with you lot anyway? Arrest you for starving?" he answers, eating half of his meat.
It's what, 1941. Shouldn't you have been evacuated to the country by now." I question softly, moving my piece of meat onto the Doctors plate. When did he last eat?
"I was evacuated. Sent me to a farm." A kid replied,
"So why'd you come back?" Doc questioned, placing a hand on my hip.
"There was a man there." the kid replied, I look down at my now empty plate. Poor kid.
"Yeah, same with Ernie. Two homes ago." another kid pitches in, I look at Ernie, watching as he shrugs it off.
"Shut up. It's better on the streets anyway. It's better food." Ernie responds, digging into his meal.
"So, that's what you do, is it, Nancy?" Doc questions, looking down the table to the girl.
"What is?" she responds, watching us closely.
"As soon as the sirens go, you find a big fat family meal still warm on the table with everyone down in the air raid shelter and bingo! Feeding frenzy for the homeless kids of London Town. Puddings for all, as long as the bombs don't get you." he replies, smiling slightly.
"Something wrong with that?" she snips back defensively.
"Wrong with it?" he repeats.
"It's brilliant, Nancy. Not everyone would help so many people with no strings attached." I continue.
"Why'd you follow me? What do you want?" she questions, slightly exasperated by us.
"We want to know how a phone that isn't a phone gets a phone call. You seem to be the one to ask." he states, watching her as he chews on his potatoes.
"I did you a favour. I told you not to answer it, that's all I'm telling you." she replies, shaking her head. I watch the kids, their heads bouncing back and forth like the conversation was tennis.
"Great, thanks." I reply dryly, my attention now on the girl.
"And we want to find a blonde in a Union Jack. I mean a specific one. I didn't just wake up this morning with a craving. Anybody seen a girl like that?" he adds, rambling as he reaches for the meat I gave him. I watch as Nancy leans over the table towards us, out of instinct I grab her wrist. Her hand holding the Doctors plate who watches her. "What have I done wrong?"
"You took two slices. No blondes, no flags. And let go of my arm. Anything else before you leave?" she replies, glaring at me. I hold her gaze, Docs thumb once again stroking up and down on my hip though distracts me, but as Nancy pulls her wrist free and moves the plate away I grab the slice of meat and place it on my plate.
"It was my slice that I gave him." I respond, allowing Doc to quickly eat the slice. He must've been starving.
"Yeah, there is actually. Thanks for asking. Something I've been looking for. Would've fallen from the sky about a month ago, but not a bomb." Doc starts rambling, pulling out a sketch pad and pencil, drawing a rough sketch of a cylinder, "Not the usual kind, anyway. Wouldn't have exploded. Probably would have just buried itself in the ground somewhere, and it would have looked something like this." he shows the awful drawing to the kids. Before any of them could reply a knock at the door causes us all to jump.
"Mummy? Are you in there, mummy?" the same child from the phone calls from out front of the house. He gently nudges my off of his lap, I trail behind him to the window. Pulling the floral curtain back to see a boy in a gas mask standing at the window.
"Mummy?" they repeat. Pressing a hand against the window pane.
"Who was the last one in?" Nancy questions, standing as the kids all stare in slight horror at the child. What's so scary about a scared boy?
"Them." Ernie points at us. I shake my head.
"No, they came round the back. Who came in the front?" she demands, her tone turning more urgent.
"Me." one child confessed.
"Did you close the door?" she hurriedly asks. The boy hesitates. "Did you close the door?" she repeats, when there's no answer she hurries into the hallway.
"Mummy? Mummy? Mummy?" the child repeats, Doc and I chase after the young woman. Watching as she closes the slowly opening door and locks it shut.
"What's this, then? It's never easy being the only child left out in the cold, you know." Doc states, watching rather confused. I watch the child outside worried for him.
"Why don't we just let him in. There is plenty of food." I state, holding Doc's hand.
"I suppose you'd know." Nancy snarks to the Doctor, completely ignoring me.
Doc's gaze darkens slightly. "I do actually, yes." I squeeze his hand tightly.
Nancy gives in to his unwavering gaze, "It's not exactly a child." she hesitates after, watching our reactions. I open my mouth to respond but the child repeats 'mummy?'; its voice startling us all. The children let out small squeaks and squeals of fear, most still sat at the table waiting for Nancy.
"Right, everybody out." Nancy orders, they all stand in a hurry some of the younger ones struggle with their coats. "Across the back garden and under the fence. Now! Go!
I reach a nearby little girl not much older than four, struggling with her coat. "Let me help." I mumble gently, untangling the coat from the chair and guiding it onto her. I wrap her scarf around her neck before motioning for her to run with the others, "Go on. Follow the others, you'll be perfectly fine." I smile awkwardly at it.
"Come on, baby, we've got to go, all right?" Nancy tells the young one, leading her to the door. "It's just like a game. Just like chasing, go on. Go!"
I watch as the little girl runs off, so young and she lives on the streets. It's sick. The child's voice calls out again through the front door, "Mummy? Mummy? Please let me in, mummy. Please let me in, mummy." I spin on the spot, watching as the boys hand stretches out through the letterbox.
"Are you all right? You must be terrified." I respond, creeping closer to the scared child.
"Please let me in." he pleads, stretching towards me. My own hand moves towards the poor kid but before anything else could occur a ceramic vase is thrown at the door, due to the Doctors keen reflexes he grabs my round my waist and hoists me away. But not before a flying shard slices my palm. I hiss quickly clutching my injured appendage to my chest as I send a glare at my assailant.
"You mustn't let him touch you!" Nancy shouts, full of panic.
"What happens if he touches us?" The doc replies, interrupting whatever rude comment that was about to fall from my lips.
She stops for a second before cryptically replying, "He'll make you like him."
I roll my eyes before demanding, "And what's he like? And don't give me another half assed response."
"I've got to go." she replies, ignoring my question.
My alien companion though interrupts, "Nancy what's he like?"
The young woman concedes at his serious gaze, "He's empty."
I go to open my mouth, but am once again stopped as the shrill ringing of the telephone causes us all the jolt slightly.
"Why does nothing let me fucking speak?" I question rhetorically, crossing my arms before unwrapping them quickly as a biting pain shoots through my hand. We all peer at the ringing device before Nancy panickedly announces,
"It's him. He can make phones ring. He can. Just like with that police box you saw." her eyes wide with worry. I sigh before picking up the receiver, the child's voice calls out through the speaker,
"Are you my mummy?" I sliver of fears trickles down my spine, at first it had been worrying but now after hearing the same phrase repeated like a stuck record it was more unnerving. Nancy snatches the phone out of my hands to return it, although this doesn't stops the boys voice as it echoes around the house through varying types of speakers, the radio and then the toy monkey.
"This is like a bloody horror movie." I state, spinning around back to the door. In her fear Nancy edges towards the back of the house.
"You stay if you want to." she states before running off out the back.
"Mummy? Let me in please, mummy. Please let me in." the poor boy calls out through the door, The Doctor and I share a sad glance before simultaneously crouching beside the door.
"Your mummy isn't here." Doc responds gently, watching the door with curiosity.
"Are you my mummy?" he queries, waiting for an answer.
"No mummies here. Nobody here but us chickens." Doc replies, before catching my joking glare and adding, "Well, this chicken."
"I'm scared." the boy whimpers, causing my heart to clench.
"Why are those other children frightened of you?" I question gently, although I'm ignored as the boy repeats,
"Please let me in, mummy. I'm scared of the bombs." This causes me to stand quickly, sharing a glance with the Doctor and the same thought before undoing the bolts that lock the door.
"Okay. We're opening the door now." he informs, opening it once I'd undone the last bolt. We both are met by an empty front porch, confused we both step out a few steps with our heads on a swivel. Except there is no sign of the child having ever been there.
~1~
The Doctor never fails to surprise. Like right now, the man is hunting down Nancy like some canine. Apparently his nose is special, I mean not only can he time travel the alien also has enhanced senses.
"So if you have an enhanced sense of smell, how's your hearing." I question, walking backwards as he leads the way. He sends me a glance sideways and rolls his eyes at my grin before replying,
"Good enough that if I concentrate I can hear your heartbeat." he states quickly, I quirk an eyebrow internally hoping that he hasn't tried that. The amount of times this man has got me flustered is... uncountable.
"Oh.." I trail off, lost in thought. I break the silence as another thought pops into my brain, "Wait so does that mean touch is weird for you?"
My companion simply shrugs his shoulders before grabbing my hand to pull me into an enclosed space on the railway track. I hadn't even realised we were walking along a track.
"How'd you follow me here?" Nancy calls out, as she turns on her heel to see us.
"He's got a really cool nose." I answer, fidgeting on my feet. Nancy frowns at my reply, staring at us with mistrust. I mean understandable we did kind of stalk her.
She watches us closely, "People can't usually follow me if I don't want them to."
Doc simply smiles brightly at her replying with a bouncy, "My nose has special powers."
Nancy's eyes glimmer with humour as she smirks towards us, "Yeah? That's why it's..." she trails, waving a hand over her own nose. I start cackling at her insinuation whilst the alien beside me looks lost.
"What?" he questions, watching as I cackle.
Nancy continues on, "Do your ears have special powers too?" This causes me to lose control, I fold over clutching my stomach. His lost face just makes it so much better.
"Oh bless you and your obliviousness. She's talking about your nose and ear size." I explain between laughter. His face drops into a frown at this, seemingly slightly hurt. His hand reaches up slightly touching his ears, "Oh don't worry just because they're bigger than average doesn't mean you're not attractive." I continue, before processing my words and slamming a hand over my mouth. My cheeks flush a light pink as I avoid his wide smirk.
"Goodnight, Mister. Miss." Nancy interrupts, saving me with a small smirk on her face.
This though seems to snap Doc back into business, "Nancy, there's something chasing you and the other kids. Looks like a boy and it isn't a boy, and it started about a month ago, right?" he starts, watching as she avoids eye contact. "The thing we're looking for, the thing that fell from the sky, that's when it landed."
"You know what we're after, don't you?" I ask gently, "You can tell us Nancy. We're trying to help."
The young woman watches us closely, "There was a bomb. A bomb that wasn't a bomb. Fell the other end of Limehouse Green Station." she concedes. Having forgotten his manner the Doctor demands she led us there.
"There's soldiers guarding it. Barbed wire. You'll never get through." Nancy warns, hoping to avoid going.
"Try me." he retorts, crossing his arms of his jumper clad chest.
"You sure you want to know what's going on in there?" Nancy confirms, looking at us with hope that we'd change our answer.
"We really want to know." I answer, shifting my weight to lean against the Doctor.
Nancy watches us for a moment before nodding her head, "Then there's someone you need to talk to first."
"And who's that?" I respond, tilting my head.
"The Doctor."
~1~
"Do you think it's like a past or future version of you." I mumble to the Doctor beside me. He shakes his head, looking from Nancy to me.
"I know for a fact it isn't past but the future well it could be. Which means this is going to get very tricky." he replies, taking my hand as we walk up the hill to the barbed wire.
We stand on a metal bridge not too far from the camp with soldiers, Doc holds a pair of alien tech binoculars to his face as Nancy points out the object.
"The bomb's under that tarpaulin. They put the fence up over night. See that building? The hospital." she shifts her pointing hand further right, the large building with a few lights on stood behind the mass of soldiers and tents.
"What about it?" I mumble, smiling as the Doctor holds the binoculars to me. I watch as the soldiers patrol the area, rifles at the ready.
"That's where the doctor is. You should talk to him." Nancy replies, standing on a few steps higher than us.
"For now, I'm more interested in getting us in there." Doc replies, indicating to the fallen 'bomb'.
Nancy huffs, "Talk to the doctor first." she insists.
"Why? Why is this Doctor so important Nancy?" I query, annoyed with her persistence.
She ignores my tone replying, "Because then maybe you won't want to get inside."
"Not ominous in the fucking slightest." I sneer, the pills pain side effects start creeping into me, starting at my chest. I rub circles on my sternum watching the oblivious soldiers. I zone out, the repeating motion of my attempt at soothing the pain lulls me to a blurry and half visible vision.
The Doctor had agreed. After a heated fight over the risks and the sacrifice we were about to make we agreed that saving the universe is more a priority than our own planets. The Timelords call it The Moment. A weapon that will freeze the events and everyone and everything in it. Constantly stuck in this state, state of burning and agony.
Overhead warships sped through the sky, their loud rumble startling me from the 'vision'. I rejoined the conversation as my senses came back to me, my hand still soothing the heartburn.
"What is?" Nancy questions, watching the Doctor with attentive eyes.
"1941. Right now, not very far from here, the German war machine is rolling up the map of Europe. Country after country, falling like dominoes. Nothing can stop it. Nothing. Until one tiny, damp little island says 'No. No. Not here.' A mouse in front of a lion. You're amazing, the lot of you. Don't know what you do to Hitler, but you frighten the hell out of me." he rambles, peering up at the war over our heads. He turns to Nancy, a small smile on his lips, "Off you go, then. Do what you've got to do. Save the world."
The young woman smiles before turning, Doc takes my hand and we turn the opposite way down towards the hospital.
~1~
Large rusted gates tower over us as we stand at the entrance, worn lettering spelling, 'Albion Hospital' above the gates shine out in the night. With a quick shine of the sonic Doc swings, loudly, the gates open. Holding it for me before taking my hand again. We quietly enter the building, an eerie silence throughout the building which sends a cold shudder through me. I tighten my grip on Doc's hand, shifting closer to him as we enter a darker section. With so little light that I couldn't see ahead of myself.
We enter a ward, more light peering through the windows from the moon. All of the hospital beds lay in rows; each and every single bed holds a lifeless body. Men, women, children all lay motionless. The weirdest aspect was what they were all wearing, not hospital gowns, but normal day to day clothes and gas masks. Every last one of them wore a gas mask.
"What the fuck?" I mumble, separating slightly from my alien to get a closer look, the darkness making it hard for my eyes to focus. We walk to another ward, the same; we go to enter the hallway again only for the door behind us to squeak loudly. I jump slightly, my heart reaching a new top speed. "Fuck off!"
We turn to see an old man in a white lab coat, his right hand clutching a walking stick as he approaches us.
"You'll find them everywhere. In every bed, in every ward. Hundreds of them." he informs us, his voice gravelly and tired.
"Yes, we saw." Doc states, watching the male human closely.
"Why are they still wearing gas masks?" I query, stepping back closer to my companion.
"They're not. Who are you?" the man replies, I quirk an eyebrow. Either I'm blind or he is.
"I'm, er..." Doc trails off, "Are you the doctor?"
The man nods, "Doctor Constantine. And you are?" he repeats.
"We're friends of Nancy." I answer this time offering a hand to shake but he looks down at it before shuffling back slightly. I frown but lower my hand.
"Nancy? That means you must've been asking about the bomb." he states, slowly walking to the middle of the room, towards a desk and chair.
"Yep." I chirp.
"What do you know about it?"
"Nothing."
"That's why we're asking. What do you know?" I add on.
The man turns to us before ominously replying, "Only what it's done." he states, motioning around the room.
"These people, they were all caught up in the blast?" Doc questions, I peer around, all of these the same. Lay motionless with gas masks.
"None of them were." Doctor Constantine replies, chuckling which quickly transitions into aggressive coughing. He slowly lowers himself down in the chair nearby.
"You're really sick." I state, watching the man catch his breath.
"Dying, I should think. I just haven't been able to find the time." he jokes, I chuckle slightly turning to see the Doctor gazing intently at the patients with intense calculating eyes. "Are you a doctor?" Constantine asks him.
My companion shrugs him off, "I have my moments." I roll my eyes at the irony.
"Have you examined any of them yet?" Clementine suggests. He quickly warns him, "Don't touch the flesh."
"Which one?" Doc replies, walking towards the closest patient.
"Any one." Constantine replies, complying Doc scans the patient with the sonic before frowning.
Constantine clears his throat, "Conclusions?"
Doc frowns slightly harder before listing off, "Massive head trauma, mostly to the left side. Partial collapse of the chest cavity, mostly to the right. There's some scarring on the back of the hand and the gas mask seems to be fused to the flesh, but I can't see any burns." his tone tense with confusion. I also frown, my eyes trailing down to the back of the patient's hand, the same scar that the young boy had.
"Examine another one." Constantine requests, Doc complies shouting out it wasn't possible. This repeated for another two more patients as Doc becomes more and more interested and most like excited.
"They've all got the same injuries." I state, my brows furrowed. Constantine agrees, watching us closely.
"Exactly the same." Doc adds.
"Yes."
"Identical, all of them, right down to the scar on the back of the hand." Doc rambles, scanning another patient as I watch Constantine. The old man's eyes trail down to his own hand, I follow letting a quiet gasp. His hand held the same scar. "How did this happen? How did it start?" Doc continues, oblivious to our danger.
"When that bomb dropped, there was just one victim."
"Dead?" Doc asks, I roll my eyes. Like someone would have survived that.
"At first. His injuries were truly dreadful. By the following morning, every doctor and nurse who had treated him, who had touched him, had those exact same injuries. By the morning after that, every patient in the same ward, the exact same injuries. Within a week, the entire hospital. Physical injuries, as plague." I take a small step back from Constantine, taking my Timelords hand. "Can you explain that? What would you say was the cause of death?"
"The head trauma." Doc answers.
"No."
"Asphyxiation." I state.
"No."
"The collapse of the chest cavity." Doc guesses, his face tense.
"No." Constantine repeats, leaning back in the chair.
"All right. What was the cause of death?" Doc concedes.
"There wasn't one."
"They're not dead." I mumble in horror, my eyes widen as the man hits a nearby metal bucket with his walking stick. The loud clanging ringing in my sensitive head. I jump a small noise escaping me as all the patients sit up simultaneously.
"It's alright they're harmless. They just sit there, no heartbeat, no life signs of any kind. They just don't die."
"And they've just been left here?" I question, still on edge.
"Nobody's doing anything?" Doc continues, coming up behind me placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. All the patients slowly lie down, we must have bored them.
Dr Constantine clears his throat, "I try and make them comfortable. What else is there?"
"Just you?" Doc questions, glancing around uncomfortably.
"You're the only one here?" I add, empathy pooling out of me as I glance at him with a still cautious look.
"Before this war began, I was a father and a grandfather." the old man starts, his voice grave, "Now I am neither. But I'm still a doctor."
I smile at the commitment, it's nice to know that there are some good humans out there.
My alien companion's face drops slightly, his eyes dull as he responds, "Yeah. I know the feeling." I gently place a hand on top of the Doc's, squeezing it to hopefully offer some comfort.
"I suspect the plan is to blow up the hospital and blame it on a German bomb." Constantine states out loud, his theory was most like probable.
"Probably too late." Doc answers, his face still dark and sombre.
"No. There are isolated cases-" the old man coughs breaking his sentence, "Isolated cases breaking out all...", the man dry heaves again I move forwards to help but Doc grabs my hand gently. "over London. Stay back, stay back." the old man demands, holding his hand out to. "Listen to me. Top floor. Room 802." he pauses again swallowing thickly, That's where they took the first victim, the one from the crash site. And you must find Nancy again."
"Nancy?" Doc repeats, I tilt my head in confusion.
The dying man nods, "It was her brother. She knows more than she's saying." he adds, I grin internally. I knew it! "She won't tell me, but she mi- mummy." the man grasps at his neck, making a strangled choking sound. "Are you my mummy?"
I watch in horror as his face starts to contort grotesquely, his mouth extended and eyes bulging, bug like; the skin of his face spreading black like an ink stain, his transformation slow and gory. I stand in shock, stuck in a morbid fascination.
"Doctor.. What the fuck?" I mumble, my words quiet and slow. I stand still staring at the man, my hands shaking slightly. When there is no reply I glance to my left to see the man glaring at the now unconscious 'man'. I unsteadily re-take my alien hand, squeezing it. I receive a gentle pulse back before we're both torn from our shock.
"Hello?" a masculine voice, calls out. My head swivels, still holding the Doctor's hand.
"Hello?" Rose's voice follows, my ears perk up at this.
"Rose?" I call out, unsure about the new voice.
"Hello?" the other person calls again. I share an uncertain glance with my companion. What the fuck is going on? We both move out to the corridor, where we meet Rose in all her glory with a tall dark haired guy with blue eyes. His RAF greatcoat catches my eye as does his military outfit underneath.
The newcomer flashes a bright charming smile, his teeth unnaturally white, "Good evening. Hope we're not interrupting. Jack Harkness." his voice quick but assertive. He reaches out and shakes the Doctors hand, before turning to me. His gaze becomes flirtier if even possible and his voice lowers slightly. "And who are you?" he questions, staring intently at my face. I glance at him blankly, before leaning away and subconsciously inching closer to the Doctor.
"Luna." I reply shortly, tensing slightly before quickly relaxing when I realise it was only the Doctor who had placed two hands on my shoulders. His thumbs rub in a circular motion as he watches Jack with suspicious eyes.
"I've been hearing all about you on the way over." Jack continues either ignoring or oblivious to the waves of tenseness radiating from the alien behind me.
"He knows." Rose breaks the awkward stare between the two, "I had to tell him about us being Time Agents." I send a rather confused look to the blond woman.
"And it's a real pleasure to meet you, Mister Spock." Jack states, his eyes flicking over our tense stand. He then walks the way we had come, back to the creepy patients.
"Mister Spock?" I question, a large grin on my face now that the stranger is gone. "Also who the fuck is he?" I add jabbing a finger in said person's direction.
"What was I supposed to say? He doesn't have a name." she exclaims, rolling her eyes at the man (still holding onto me), "Don't you ever get tired of Doctor? Doctor who?"
"Nine centuries in, I'm coping." he responds, running his hands down my arms before quickly manoeuvring to take my hand and start walking to follow the new guy. "Where've you been? We're in the middle of a London Blitz." he adds, turning to Rose.
"Yeah it's not a good time for a stroll." I add, giving my friend a one over.
"Who's strolling? I went by barrage balloon. Only way to see an air raid." she answers, my eyebrows shoot to the sky.
"I'm sorry?"
"What?!" Doc exclaims, I shake my head in exasperation.
Rose disregards the severity and moves the conversation, "Listen, what's a Chula warship?"
I perk up at this also curious. I can't wait to learn more.
"Chula?" Doc repeats, not giving an answer in the slightest.
"No she said chips. Yes Chula." I retort, I think my nerves are still on edge still. We all make it back to the previous room, Jack checking out the patients injuries in the same disbelief ads we were.
Still not trusting him Doc and I watch him closely, Doc questioning him on the ship.
"He said it was a warship." Rose replies for them "He stole it, parked it somewhere out there, somewhere a bomb's going to fall on it unless we make him an offer." she explains, I raise a brow in suspicion.
"What kind of warship?" my alien friend adds, his arms crossed now as I simply flop to the floor and sit criss cross at his feet.
"Does it matter? It's got nothing to do with this." the military dude dismisses.
"This started at the bomb site. It's got everything to do with it." I snap, how oblivious can one be?
"What kind of warship?" my friend behind me repeats, his voice tenser than before.
The man rolls his eyes before exclaiming, "An ambulance! Look." Jack pulls his sleeve up revealing a futuristic looking watch, after a bit of typing a hologram of the cylinder warship appears. "That's what you chased through the Time Vortex. It's space junk. I wanted to kid you it was valuable." he starts, I roll my eyes; he's a con-man. "It's empty. I made sure of it. Nothing but a shell. I threw it at you. Saw your time travel vehicle, love the retro look, by the way, nice panels." he wanders off of the point for a bit but I smile at the Tardis appreciation. "And threw you the bait."
Rose's face drops slightly, his shoulders rolling as she echoes, "Bait?"
"I wanted to sell it to you and then destroy it before you found out it was junk." the criminal explains, I sigh loudly leaning my head against the Doctors leg.
"You said it was a war ship." Rose accuses, her voice raised slightly.
Jack winces, "They have ambulances in wars." he excuses. "It was a con. I was conning you. That's what I am, I'm a con man!" he rants, not appreciating the judging stares. "I thought you were Time Agents. You're not, are you." he accuses, now judging us.
"Oh sue us, we're just a couple more freelancers." I snip, fiddling with the laces of my shoes.
"Oh. Should have known. The way you guys are blending in with the local colour. I mean, Flag Girl was bad enough, but U-Boat Captain and Fashion Disaster." Jack rudely snaps at us, I look down at my low waisted blue jeans, converse, simple band shirt and my green zipped hoodie. I didn't think it was that bad of an outfit. "Anyway, whatever's happening here has got nothing to do with that ship." he denies, catching my glance at my own outfit. I swear a flash of regret in his eyes was visible, or maybe that was just my shitty eyesight.
"What is happening here, Doctor?" Rose addresses the man I'm leaning against.
"Human DNA is being rewritten by an idiot." he grumbles with pure irritation. I huff, deciding that moving might distract me from the growing pain in my chest and limbs. Thankfully the excruciating migraines haven't started. I lean away from Doc, moving to stand which he notices and helps me. Grabbing my hand and pulling me the rest of the way.
"Thank you." I mumble, holding onto his hand. I get a smile in response before Rose continues her conversation.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know." did he just admit to not knowing? "Some kind of virus converting human beings into these things. But why? What's the point?" he rhetorically asks.
"Did he just say he doesn't know?" I conspiratorially whisper to Rose. She grins before replying in the same loud whisper.
"I think he did. For once he doesn't know everything."
We both giggle as the Timelord ignores us, simply rolling his eyes at our theatrics. He loves us really.