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Chapter Text

The Doctor grinned at Rose and Angel before dashing to the console and flicking a few switches, checking the monitor. Angel glanced at Rose a moment before cautiously making her way to the console to help him, "6pm..." he muttered, turning a knob, "Tuesday...October...5006...on the way to Barcelona!" he straightened up and grinned, very pleased, as he looked over, Rose by the Y-beam and Angel at the side of the console, "Now then...what do I look like?" he only gave Rose a second before holding up a hand, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No. Don't tell me."

"Two legs," Angel said softly and he looked at her, grinning as she didn't give him any specifics, "Two arms…"

He beamed and reached out, taking her hand, "Two hands..." he laughed, before frowning and twisting his one wrist, feeling it with his other hand, though he still held her hand with the other, "Slight weakness in the dorsal tubercle…" before letting go as his hands flew to his head, his eyes wide, "HAIR! I'm not bald!" he ran his hands though his hair with glee, "Oh, oh! Big hair! Feel that!" he reached out again and took Angel's hands, putting them in his hair for her to run her fingers through with a little laugh. His hands trailed down to the sides of his head, his thumbs feeling there while his fingertips remained on the back of Angel's hands, "Sideburns, I've got sideburns!" he was delighted, "Or really bad skin…"

"It's sideburns," Angel reassured him with a small smile, pulling her hands away.

"Little bit thinner…" he remarked, slapping his stomach, "That's weird. Give me time, I'll get used to it," he gasped, shifting, feeling something, "I...have got...a mole," he breathed, sounding for all the world as though he'd just made a remarkable discovery, he looked at Angel, "I can feel it…"

Angel however, glanced at Rose, who was breathing quite heavily, looking scared of the new Doctor before her, though he didn't notice, his attention on her.

"Between my shoulder blades," he reached out and took Angel's hand again, turning and twisting his arms to place her hand where the mole on his back was, though she couldn't feel it through his leather coat, "There's a mole," he rotated his shoulder, "That's alright. Love the mole!" he turned to Rose finally, "Go on then, tell me," he stood straight as Angel walked back to Rose's side, waiting for an assessment from her, "What do you think?"

"Who are you?" Rose asked him quietly, very shy and scared.

The Doctor frowned, almost confused as to why she didn't recognize him, "I'm the Doctor."

She shook her head, "No...where is he? Where's the Doctor?" her voice rose, "What have you done to him?!"

He blinked, "You saw me, I…I changed..." he jerked a thumb over his shoulder, "...right in front of you."

"I saw him sort of explode, and then you replaced him, like a...a teleport or a transmat or a body swap or something."

The Doctor could only stare at her, at a loss, before glancing at Angel, who was looking at him as she always had, a warmth in her eyes and a curiosity as to what sort of man this new Doctor was. He couldn't help the small shiver that raced down his spine when he saw her beautiful green eyes gazing over him, feeling a heat strike up in his neck, threatening to make its way to his cheeks.

Luckily he was distracted from that when Rose stepped forward and pushed his chest, "You're not fooling me," he rocked back on his heels a bit, "I've seen all sorts of things. Nanogenes...Gelth..." her gaze darkened, "Slitheen..."

The Doctor raised his eyebrows and turned to Angel, incredulous.

"Oh my God," Rose gasped, "Are you a Slitheen?"

"He's not Slitheen, Rose," Angel assured her calmly, "From what I've seen they're rather tubby and he's far too thin to fit one in him."

Rose shook her head, starting to shout, "Send him back. I'm warning you, send the Doctor back right now!"

"Rose, it's me," the Doctor said softly, trying not to startle her. He leaned forward but she stepped back, "Honestly, it's me."

Rose could only stare at him, breathing heavily.

"He was dying Rose," Angel whispered, reminding her, as she placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, she always hated when humans got upset.

At first she wasn't sure why Rose was making such a big deal out of the regeneration, it was such a part of Time Lord culture that she had to remind herself Rose was human, she had no idea what was going on and the Doctor hadn't exactly been able to explain it thoroughly before it had happened. She swallowed hard, she hadn't gotten to say something very important to him either in all the chaos of the Daleks and taking in the Vortex and him regenerating. She hadn't gotten a chance to tell him what she'd realized earlier, that she loved him. Yes, it was still the Doctor, just with a new face, new personality, but...she'd wanted to at least tell HIM before he changed into him. She...she didn't want him to think she'd started to love him because he changed but before he had.

"To save our lives," she shook herself from her thoughts, she would tell him soon, she promised herself that, but right now Rose was terrified and quite possibly in shock, "Time Lords change our bodies. Every single cell, but...it's still him. It's still the Doctor."

"He can't be," Rose whispered to her, though her eyes remained on the Doctor.

Angel looked at him, stepping away from Rose, "Show her," she whispered to him as she moved over to the console.

He nodded, taking a few steps closer, to stare Rose in the eye, "The very first word I ever said to you, trapped in that cellar, surrounded by shop window dummies...oh..." he looked away in reminiscence a moment, "...such a long time ago. I took your hand..." he reached out and took her hand, "I said one word...just one word, I said, 'run.'"

Rose looked at him, her eyes filling with tears, as she whispered, "Doctor?"

He grinned widely, "Hello!"

Rose sighed and pulled away, stumbling back as everything hit her at once.

The Doctor, however, just ran back to the console, flicking switches as he moved behind it, "And we never stopped, did we? All across the Universe. Running, running, running...dancing too!" he turned to Angel, grabbing her hand, pulling her close into a little dance with a wide smile before spinning her out in a circle, "Oh! And that one time we had to hop. Do you remember? Hopping for our lives," he started to hop up and down madly, taking Angel with him as he had yet to let go of her hands, as Rose just watched them. He glanced at her, "Yeah? All that hopping? Remember hopping for your life? Yeah?! Hop? With the..." he slowly stopped, letting go of Angel's hands, seeing Rose still just staring, "Rose...no?"

"Can you change back?" Rose asked him quietly.

He frowned, "Do you want me to?"

"Yeah."

"Oh," he looked down.

"Can you?"

Angel reached out and took his hand this time, "No," she answered for him.

He looked at her with a small smile, squeezing her hand back as he gazed softly at her for her support, before turning to Rose, "Do you want to leave?"

"Do you want me to leave?!" she asked, shocked.

"No!" he said quickly, "But...your choice...if you want to go home..."

Rose just looked at him, upset, whether from his question or what happened he didn't know.

He nodded and stepped away from Angel, back to the console, "Cancel Barcelona."

"Doctor…" Angel began, walking to his side, she was getting a terrible knot in her stomach. Either something was wrong or something bad was going to happen…or both…

He just continued on, "Change to...London, the Powell Estate, ah let's say the 24th of December," he glanced at Rose, "Consider it a Christmas present!"

"Doctor…"

Rose edge closer as he flicked a switch.

"There," he stepped back, his arms tucked under his armpits, almost defensive.

Rose glanced at him, then the console as the TARDIS shuddered, "I'm going home?"

"Up to you. Back to your mum...it's all waiting. Fish and chips, sausage and mash, beans on toast…no, Christmas! Turkey! Although, having met your mother, nut loaf would be more appropriate," Rose looked down, trying to hide a smile, "Was that a smile?"

"No."

"That was a smile..." he said knowingly.

"No it wasn't."

"You smiled..." he teased.

"No I didn't."

"Oh, come on, all I did was change, I didn't…"

"Doctor!" Angel finally cut in, clearly this one was quite the talker as well.

He looked at her quickly, seeing the tense look on her face, "What is it?" he frowned, worried.

"Something's wrong…" she replied, shaking her head, trying to put words to it, "Something's going wrong."

"Wha…" he began, when he suddenly gagged, the TARDIS shuddering.

Angel quickly reached out and grabbed him.

"What is it?" Rose looked between the two, alarmed.

The Doctor could only gag again, more violently, as Angel tried to help him, the poor man retching terribly, "Uh oh," he muttered.

"Is he alright?" Rose asked, edging closer as Angel helped him up. An orange burst of energy breezed out of his mouth, "What's that?"

"What's gone wrong," he moaned, "The change is going a bit wrong and all," he choked again, nearly falling to his knees had Angel not caught him, his face contorting in pain.

"Look...maybe we should go back," Rose tried, "Let's go and find Captain Jack, he'd know what to do."

"Gah, he's busy!" the Doctor waved her off, jolting a bit at the thought of Jack, the handsome Time Agent, being back with them, with Angel, "He's got plenty to do rebuilding the Earth!"

"Doctor please," Angel whispered, trying to lead him to the captain's chair, "Sit…"

He seemed about to move, when a lever caught his eye, "I haven't used this one in years!" he flicked it and the TARDIS shuddered violently, nearly knocking them all off their feet.

"What're you doing?!" Rose shouted.

"Putting on a bit of speed!" the Doctor called, sounding almost crazed, "That's it!" he pushed away from Angel and moved around the console, turning knobs as Rose tried to hold on, the box shaking around them.

"Doctor!" Angel yelled, rushing over, trying to stop him.

"My beautiful ship!" he was too fast, running around flicking every sort of switch and knob and button he could find, just bursting with energy he didn't know what to do with, he needed an outlet, he needed an adventure, "Come on, faster! That's a girl!" Rose looked terrified as his voice turned almost violent, "Faster! Wanna to break the time limit?!"

"Stop it!" Rose snapped, angry, scared, as Angel struggled to alter what he'd done.

"Ah, don't be so dull, let's have a bit of fun! Let's rip through that Vortex!" he reached for a button when Angel's hand landed on his, holding it lightly, stopping him. He looked at her, catching her beautiful green eyes, feeling himself calm as he stared into them, "The regeneration's going wrong," he breathed, actually starting to sound scared of himself, "I can't stop myself…" he grimaced in pain, "Ah, my head..." before violently springing up, crazed once more, "Faster! Let's open those engines!"

An alarm started to ring as Rose looked up, "What's that?"

The Doctor crouched down beside her, grinning madly, "We're gonna crash land!" he laughed manically as Angel ran around the console, pulling levers and typing commands, seeing him having stopped for now.

"Well then, do something!" Rose shouted.

"I'm trying!" Angel called back, not sure if Rose was yelling at her or the Doctor.

"Too late!" the Doctor laughed, "Out of control!" he ran around the console back to Angel's side, giggling, absently putting an arm around her waist for a moment, "Oh, I love it! Hot dawg!" he hopped up excitedly as she dashed around.

"You're gonna kill us!" Rose screamed.

"Hang on!" Angel called, pulling a lever, trying in vain to control the TARDIS, "Here we go!"

"Christmas Eve!" the Doctor cheered as the TARDIS fell out of the Vortex and over the Powell Estate…

To be continued…

Chapter Text

Jackie picked up a red bauble and hung it on her white Christmas tree, standing in the corner of the room. She picked up two presents, ready to put them under the tree when the label of one caught her eye. She sat down slowly, looking at it, 'To Rose. Merry Christmas. Lots of love, Mum x.'

She sighed.

~8~

The radio in the garage was blaring out 'Merry Christmas' when Mickey suddenly paused, listening, "Hey, turn that down. Hey, Stevo, turn that off! Turn it off!"

With the radio off he could clearly hear the sound of the TARDIS engines.

He dashed off.

~8~

Jackie hung some Christmas cards on a length of string on the wall, stopping mid-move and turned around, hearing the engines.

"Rose!" she dashed out of the apartment and down to a row of flats, seeing Mickey on the other end. They ran towards each other, "Mickey!"

"Jackie, it's the TARDIS!" Mickey shouted as they met in the middle.

"I know! I know, I heard it! She's alive, Mickey! I said so, didn't I? She's alive!"

"Shush! Shut up a minute!"

They looked around frantically, "Well, where is it then?"

Suddenly the TARDIS appeared out of thin air about 20 feet above their heads, crashing against buildings as it spun, till it fell towards the Earth. Jackie screamed and grabbed Mickey as it finally skid to a halt, smashing into a post van and knocking over some dustbins on the way.

The Doctor threw the doors open and peered out with his mouth wide open, "Here we are, then! London! Earth! The Solar System! We did it Angel!" he called back before stumbling out of the TARDIS, gazing at the flats, noticing Jackie and Mickey, "Jackie! Mickey! Blimey! No, no, no, no, hold on," he stumbled back a few steps, "Wait there, I've got something to say. There was something I had to tell you. Something important, what was it? No, hold on, hold on…" he walked over to them, putting his hands on their shoulders, thinking hard, "Hold on, shush, shush, shush, shush...OH!" they jumped at his outburst, "I know!" he looked at them, panting and beaming, "Merry Christmas!"

Just then the doors of the TARDIS opened and Angel ran out, catching the Doctor just before he collapsed, Mickey helping her support his weight as Rose stepped out, looking down at him, "What happened?" Rose asked, "Is he alright?"

"I don't know, he just keeled over!" Mickey said.

"He's asleep," Angel replied gently, checking the Doctor over.

"But who is he? Where's the Doctor?"

"That's him," Rose nodded at the man, "Right in front of you. That's the Doctor."

"What d'you mean, 'that's the Doctor?'" Jackie looked up, confused, "Doctor who?"

~8~

The Doctor was tucked away in bed, now dressed in a pair of blue striped pajamas as Rose sat on the bed near the door, Angel on the other side of him, when Jackie entered with a stethoscope, "Here we go," she handed it to Rose, "Tina the cleaner's got this lodger, medical student. And she was fast asleep, so I just took it," Rose put it in her ears, "Though, I still say we should take him to hospital."

"We can't," Rose took the scope off, "They'd lock him up. They'd dissect him."

"Just a bottle of his blood would change the future of the Human Race," Angel remarked softly, her gaze on the Doctor, "One single cell could have thousands of empires fighting wars over it…"

Jackie's mouth fell open at that, about to ask the woman something, when Rose cut in, "No! Shush!" Jackie closed her mouth as Rose put the stethoscope in her ears and placed it on the Doctor's chest, checking both sides, "Both working."

"What d'you mean 'both?'" Jackie frowned.

"We have two hearts," Angel explained.

"'We?'" Jackie looked at her.

"Time Lords," Angel replied, still not taking her eyes off the Doctor, "I'm Angel. Nice to finally meet you Jackie."

Jackie nodded, realizing this must be the girl Rose and Mickey had told her about, the other alien, before her words caught up with her. She lifted an eyebrow and looked at Rose, "Anything else they've got two of?"

"Arms," Angel answered distractedly, "Legs, eyes, ears, hands, feet, nostrils..."

Rose just sighed, shaking her head, finding herself less amused at Angel's answer than she would have been, her stomach twisting in knots the longer she was around the girl. She got up and headed for the door, "Leave 'em alone," she called to her mother, walking out, leaving Jackie to peer at Angel and the Doctor before following her.

Angel watched as the Doctor released a wisp of orange regeneration energy, "Just rest up," she whispered to him, tugging the blanket up higher, wanting...no, needing...him to get better as soon as he could.

She blinked, feeling tear threatening to form in her eyes at everything that had happened, at the state he was in...because of her.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly, reaching out to place a hand on his, "I'm so, so sorry Doctor," she added, her voice catching in her throat, "Please be alright," she swallowed hard, "Please..."

She didn't know if he could hear her, but she knew what he'd say if he could. That it wasn't her fault.

And she knew, for once, he'd be completely wrong.

She took a breath, willing the tears back, she had to be strong right now. The Doctor would need her to be.

~8~

Rose opened the fridge and picked up a pork pie as Jackie stood behind her, "How can he go changing his face?" her mother asked as she shut the fridge, "Is that a different face or is he a different person?"

"How should I know?!" Rose yelled, before pausing, guilty, "Sorry," Jackie nodded, "The thing is...it was supposed to be me," Rose said, her eyes filling with tears, "Angel said...she said that if I used the Vortex it would destroy him but it happened anyway…" she swallowed hard, "I was the one who was supposed to…"

She looked away at the thought she might have kissed the Doctor. She was so confused about her feelings, between him, between Mickey. She didn't think she felt that way about the Doctor, he certainly hadn't given much indication that he felt that way about her either, but...he was just so amazing that she'd thought maybe, just maybe, one kiss with him would help her sort her feelings, decide if what she was feeling was love or just another form of it…and even that had been snatched away from her.

"Sounds to me like she was trying to avoid this mess sweetheart," Jackie said gently, stepping forward and wiping Rose's tears away, "She couldn't have known it would happen either way."

Rose nodded, smiling a bit, not wanting to talk about it any longer. To be honest, the more she thought about the Doctor, why he was hurt, and what had happened, the angrier she felt towards Angel for being the cause of it. And that wouldn't do, she knew her mother was right, Angel had tried to stop it, but...it had just...happened anyway.

"The big question is..." she nudged her mother, "Where'd you get a pair of men's pyjamas from?"

Jackie walked off, "Howard's been staying over."

"What, Howard from the market? How long's that been going on?"

"A month or so. First of all, he starts delivering to the door and I thought, 'that's a bit odd.' Next thing you know, it's a bag of oranges…"

Rose glanced over, hearing a familiar voice on the TV that was playing in the next room, "Is that Harriet Jones?!" she made her way into the sitting room.

"Oh, never mind me..." Jackie rolled her eyes.

"Why's she on the telly?"

"She's Prime Minister now. I'm eighteen quid a week better off," Rose smiled, "They're calling it 'Britain's Golden Age.' Keep on saying 'my Rose has met her.'"

"Did more than that. Stopped World War Three with her. Harriet Jones..."

"Harriet Jones," a man on the telly asked, "What about those calling the Guinevere One Space Probe a waste of money?"

"Now, that's where you're wrong," Harriet replied, "I completely disagree if you don't mind," Rose laughed, "The Guinevere One Space Probe represents this country's limitless ambition. British workmanship sailing up there among the stars."

"This is the spirit of Christmas," another man beside Harriet added, "Birth and rejoicing, and the dawn of a new age, and that is what we're achieving fifteen million miles away. Our very own miracle."

An image of the probe appeared, the newsreader reporting, "The unmanned probe Guinevere One is about to make its final descent. Photographs of the Martian landscape should be received by midnight tonight."

~8~

Rose and Mickey walked down the street crowded with Christmas shoppers together, "So, er, what d'you need?" Mickey asked, "Twenty quid?"

"Do you mind?" she asked, taking it, "I'll pay you back."

"Call it a Christmas present," Mickey laughed.

"God, I'm all out of synch. You just...forget about Christmas and things in the TARDIS. They don't exist. You get sort of...timeless."

"Oh, yeah, that's fascinating, 'cos I love hearing stories about the TARDIS," he remarked dryly, "Oh, go on Rose, tell us another one 'cos I…wow, I could listen to it all day. TARDIS this, TARDIS that..."

She smiled, "Shut up!"

"Oh! One time, in a big yellow garden, full of balloons."

"I'm not like that!"

"Oh, you so are."

"Hmm, must drive you mad. I'm surprised you don't give up on me."

"Oh, that's the thing, isn't it? You can rely on me. I don't go changing my face."

"Yeah…" she nodded slowly, "What if he's dying?"

"Ok…" Mickey stopped.

"Sorry!"

He took her hands in his own, "Just let it be Christmas! Could you do that? Just for a bit. You and me, and Christmas. No...no Doctor, no Angel, no...no bog-monsters...no life or death."

"Ok," she nodded.

"Promise?"

"Yes!"

"Good," he smiled, putting his arm around her, but even he had to add, "And besides Angel wouldn't let him die. She's watching him, like his guardian angel or something, making sure he's ok."

And he could tell, it just seemed like the sort of thing the woman would do. She'd watched out for him when Margaret had been loose, making sure he'd be alright, why wouldn't it be the same for the Doctor?

Rose looked down at that, somewhere in her gut, try as she might not to, she just couldn't help but blame Angel for all this.

"Right!" he continued, "What're you gonna get for your mum?" he let go of her and started walking on, Rose looking behind her, distracted, "I'm round there all the time now, you know. She does my dinner on a Sunday...talks about you all afternoon, yap yap yap yap yap. Is that how it is in the TARDIS with the Doctor? I bet it is. No idea how you and Angel bear it. Mind you, do you think I should pick up something for her? Angel, I mean. Like a little gift. She seems sort of, I dunno, sad, might cheer her up a bit. It's Christmas after all..."

Any other time Rose would probably have smiled at how Mickey couldn't seem to stop talking about Angel, much like she had a hard time not talking about the Doctor, but right now...her focus was on a trio of brass band masked Santas playing 'Good Tidings of Comfort and Joy.' She frowned as something struck her.

Just before she and Mickey had left, she'd stopped to check on the Doctor, Mickey wanting to invite Angel along as well. Angel had simply shaken her head, her focus still on the Doctor as she sat at his side, holding his hand, but she did have something else to add. She'd told them to be careful, that they wouldn't find joy or comfort out there…now, as she watched the players, she couldn't help the feeling of unease, especially when they lowered their trumpets, holding them like weapons...moments before flames shot out of them.

People started screaming and running around as the Santas blasted all around them.

"It's us!" Rose shouted as she and Mickey hid behind a booth, "They're after us!"

The Santas blasted at their booth as Rose screamed. They turned and ran, the Santas pursuing them until one blast caught a large Christmas tree instead and it fell on top of it, distracting the others enough for the duo to race down the street.

"What's going on?" Mickey yelled, frantic, "What've we done? Why are they after us?"

"Taxi!" Rose called, getting one to stop for them to get in, "They're after the Doctor."

"I can't even go shopping with you. We get attacked by a brass band," the taxi drove off as Rose pulled out her mobile, "Who're you phoning?"

"My mum," she said, putting her phone to her ear, listening to it ring and go busy, her mother on the phone with someone, probably just yapping about nothing, "Mum, get off the phone!"

Police sirens rang in the background as Mickey glanced back over his shoulder, "Who were...those Santa things?"

"I dunno. But think about it, they were after us. What's important about us? Well, nothing. Except the one thing we've got tucked up in bed with another watching him. The Doctor and Angel."

~8~

Jackie wandered into the Doctor's room with a cup of tea, handing it to Angel as she smiled her thanks to the woman who was still on the phone, "Oh, no. Don't come round darling. No, flat's all topsy turvy," she nodded a 'welcome' back to Angel and turned to leave, "Yeah, she just barges in and litters the place. Yeah, no…I'll come round and see you on Boxing Day…"

Angel turned to the Doctor just as another burst of energy escaped him. She quickly put the cup of tea aside, it was still too hot for her to use it, and moved to open the window. There hadn't been much testing on Gallifrey of what residual regeneration energy could do to other species, other than power a battery, but she didn't want to take the chance on Jackie.

That woman was so lovely, she didn't know why the Doctor complained about her so much.

~8~

The taxi pulled up and Rose and Mickey jumped out, running towards the flats, bursting in to see Jackie was, in fact, yapping away on the phone, "So, save us a chipolata..."

"Get off the phone!" Rose yelled.

"It's only Bev!" Jackie rolled her eyes at Rose, "She says hello."

Rose took the phone from her, "Bev? Yeah, look, it'll have to wait," and then hung up, "Right, it's not safe, we've gotta get out…where can we go?"

"My mate Stan, he'll put us up," Mickey replied.

"That's only two streets away," Rose shook her head and turned to her mum, "What about Mo? Where's she living now?"

"I dunno!" Jackie frowned, "Peak District!"

"Oh, we'll go to Cousin Mo's then."

"It's Christmas Eve! We're not going anywhere! What're you babbling about?"

"Mum…" Rose stopped suddenly, noticing the green tree in the corner of the room, "Where'd you get that tree? That's a new tree. Where'd you get it?"

"Well, I thought it was you!"

"How can it be me?"

"Well, you went shopping, there was a ring at the door, and there it was! That girl back there though, she said something about it being too green, that it wanted red. Said I shouldn't bring it in…"

"And you didn't listen to her?" Rose gaped. The Doctor had told her and Jack about Angel's feelings and sensations on things. If she literally said to not bring it in, it shouldn't be brought in.

"I thought she was being daft or something. She talks the oddest way. Is she alright in the head?"

Rose just pulled her mother behind her as the tree lit up, "Oh, you've gotta be kidding me…"

The tree started to spin, slowly at first, then very fast. Jackie screamed as 'Jingle Bells' started to play as well, the tree moving towards them, turning the coffee table into bits of wood in mere moments.

"Go, go, go!" Mickey shouted, grabbing a chair and holding it in front of him to protect them as they ran past, "Get out!"

"We've got to save the Doctor!" Rose yelled.

"What're you doing?!" Jackie ran after her.

"What's going on?" Angel called, running to the doorway of the Doctor's room to look out.

"Mickey!" Jackie shouted as the tree tore at the legs of the chair, "Leave it! Get out! Get out!"

"Mickey! Get out of there!"

He gave up and ran back to the room, slamming the door shut, listening to the tree smash through the hallway. He and Jackie turned and pushed a wardrobe in front of the door as Rose ran to the Doctor's side, "Doctor, wake up!" she shook him.

"Rose!" Angel called, needing to stop her from waking him, knowing what could happen if the Doctor woke from his healing coma too early, "Where's the sonic?!" Rose looked up at her, "Rose where is it?!"

Rose and Jackie had gotten the Doctor all changed and put his clothes somewhere. Rose jumped up and ran to the Doctor's jacket, hanging on a rack, and pulled it out.

"Rose, give it to me," Angel held out a hand.

"No," Rose ran over to the Doctor's side, placing it in his hand, but he remained lifeless.

"Rose I know what to do!" Angel yelled as the tree hit the wardrobe.

"You've done enough!" Rose glared at her, making the girl flinch.

Her emotions were running so high she just didn't care anymore. Her mother and Mickey were about to be attacked and the Doctor wasn't awake to stop it, to save them, and there was only one reason why he wasn't...Angel.

"I'm gonna get killed by a Christmas tree!" Jackie cried, being thrown back by the tree.

Rose turned to the Doctor, leaning close to his ear, "Help me," she drew back slightly as the Doctor suddenly sat up and pointed the sonic at the tree, causing it to explode.

"Remote control," he commented, lowering the sonic, "But who's controlling it?" he got out of bed, glancing over to see Angel standing near the coat rack, tears in her eyes, "You alright?" he asked her, concerned.

She nodded, swallowing hard before she picked up a robe and tossed it to him, "Better take that, it's chilly out," he smiled at her and pulled it on as he headed for the door, stepping out onto the walkway before the flats, the group following him, only to see a group of three Santa standing there.

"That's them," Mickey pointed, "What are they?"

"Shush!" Rose hissed before looking at the Doctor, who just raised the sonic and pointed it at the Santas, the threat clear. They backed away and stood closer to each other before teleporting away.

"They've just gone! What kind of rubbish were they? I mean, no offense, but they're not much cop if a sonic screwdriver's gonna scare them off."

"Pilot fish," the Doctor remarked.

"What?" Rose frowned as they all looked at him.

"They were just pilot fish," he repeated.

Angel quickly grabbed his arm just before he coughed and threw himself backwards against the wall, in pain. He reached over and grabbed her hand, squeezing it as the pain struck again.

Chapter Text

"What's wrong?!" Rose cried, kneeling down beside the Doctor with the others.

"You woke him up too soon," Angel answered as the Doctor panted, "He's still regenerating."

He nodded, "I'm bursting with energy," he opened his mouth and a small burst of orange regeneration energy escaped, "You see? The pilot fish could smell it. A million miles away. So they eliminate the defense, that's you lot, and they carry me off. They could run their batteries on me for a couple of year…" he jolted forward with a groan, Angel still at his side, half-being taken with him as he had yet to let go of her hand.

"Oh!" Jackie gasped, "Oh! Oh!"

"My head!" he moaned through gritted teeth, his knuckles nearly white as they gripped Angel's hand, refusing to let go. Jackie knelt before him, helping the girl hold him up, "I'm having a neuron implosion. I need…"

"What do you need?" Jackie cut in, worried.

"I need…"

"Say it, tell me, tell me."

"I need…"

"Painkillers?"

"I need…"

"Do you need aspirin?"

"I…"

"Codeine? Paracetamol? Oh, I dunno, Pepto-Bismol?"

"I need…"

"Liquid paraffin? Vitamin C? Vitamin D? Vitamin E?"

"I need…"

"Is it food? Something simple? Uh, a bowl of soup? A nice bowl of soup? Soup and a sandwich? Soup and a little ham sandwich?"

"I need you to shut up!" he shouted.

"Oh, he hasn't changed that much, has he?"

Angel, despite the situation, had to giggle a bit at that, "I like her, she sounds like you," she remarked to the Doctor. Rambling, not letting someone else get a word in, but still trying to help, that was so the Doctor.

This Jackie was so different from the one they'd met in the past. But, she supposed, the circumstances that shaped the woman before her were MUCH different. She'd lost her husband, a man she loved, and had to raise her daughter by herself. She'd had to mature and face the world and grow stronger as a result. She was remarkable, she could see where Rose got it from.

"She doesn't sound a thing lik..." he began, almost offended, before he jolted forward again, leaning against the wall of the building, "We haven't got much time. If there's pilot fish, then…" he pulled an apple out of his pocket, "Why's there an apple in my dressing gown?"

"Oh, that's Howard, sorry," Jackie smiled.

"He keeps apples in his dressing gown?"

"He gets hungry."

"What, he gets hungry in his sleep?"

"Sometimes."

"Will you give it a second chance?" Angel asked, out of nowhere.

"What?" he looked at her, utterly confused.

"I dunno," she shook her head, too tired to try and make sense of it.

"No, what did you…" he began, sensing that this was one of her feelings on something, but he suddenly collapsed to the ground, grimacing in pain, "Brain…collapsing…" he grabbed Angel's arm, struggling to speak, needing to warn her, needing her to know what was happening...he needed her to be safe, "P…the pilot fish. The pilot fish mean...that something…something…"

"Something's coming," Angel finished for him.

He nodded for only a moment before falling into her lap in a faint.

~8~

Angel knelt beside the Doctor on his bed, quietly whispering to him as she wiped his brow with a cloth as Rose stood at the foot of the bed, watching her with a cold look on her face. Mickey passed the room, holding a laptop, glancing in at Rose before nodding towards the sitting room. Rose cast one more glance at Angel before turning and joining Mickey. He put his laptop on the table and opened it, "Jackie, I'm using the phone line. Is that alright?"

"Yeah," Jackie said, cleaning up, "Keep a count of it. It's midnight. Christmas Day," she looked when Rose stepped in, "Any change?"

"He's worse," Rose replied, "Angel said just the one heart is beating now."

Jackie sighed and sat in a chair, watching the TV, "Scientists in charge of Britain's mission to Mars have reestablished contact with the Guinevere One Space Probe," a news reporter began on TV, "They're expecting the first transmission from the planet's surface in the next few minutes."

"Yes, we are," a scientist replied at a press conference, the same man who had been with Harriet before, "We're…we're back on schedule. We've received the signal from Guinevere One. The Mars landing would seem to be an unqualified success."

"But is it true that you completely lost contact earlier tonight?" a member of the audience asked.

"Yes, we had a bit of a scare," he nodded, "Guinevere seemed to fall off the scope, but it…it was just a blip. Only disappeared for a few seconds. She's fine now, absolutely fine. We…we're getting the first pictures transmitted live any minute now. I'd better get back to it, thanks."

"Here we go, pilot fish," Mickey brought up a page on his computer as Rose came to look on, "Scavengers, like the Doctor said. Harmless, they're tiny, but the point is, the little fish swim alongside the big fish."

"Do you mean like sharks?" Rose shook her head.

"Great big sharks. So, what the Doctor means is, we had them…now we get that."

Rose watched as the animation of a shark snapped viciously on the screen, "Something is coming...how close?"

"There's no way of telling, but the pilot fish don't swim far from their daddy."

"So, it's close?"

"Funny sort of rocks," Jackie commented, looking at a distorted image on the screen.

"It's not rocks," Angel said. They looked over to see her standing in the doorway, the tea cup that Jackie had brought her now empty in her hand as it had been knocked over in the scuffle with the tree, looking at the TV where the image slowly cleared.

"...coming live from the depths of space on Christmas morning," the news reporter continued.

The image cleared to reveal an alien face, roaring at them.

~8~

"The face of an alien life form was transmitted live tonight on BBC1," a BBC newsreader stated.

"On the 25th of December, the Human Race has been shown absolute proof that alien life exists," an American reporter said.

"These remarkable images have been relayed right across the world," another newsreader added.

~8~

Three cars drove through the gates to the Tower of London, pulling up outside it. The driver opened the door for the scientist in charge of the probe while a military, black man stepped out of the building, "This way, sir," he was led through the halls to the base of UNIT, extremely busy, "Mr. Llewellyn," the general introduced him.

"Mr. Llewellyn, ma'am," Llewellyn approached Harriet Jones.

"Harriet Jones," she greeted, holding up her ID, "Prime Minister."

"Oh, well, yes. I know who you are. I suppose I've ruined your Christmas."

"Never off duty. Now, we've put out a cover story. Alex has been handling it."

"We've said it was a hoax," the man beside her with an earpiece in stated, "Some sort of mask or prosthetics," Llewellyn nodded, "Students hijacking the signal, that sort of thing."

"Alex is my right-hand man. I'm not used to having a right-hand man. I quite like it, though."

"Quite like it myself."

"I…I don't suppose there's any chance it was a hoax?" Llewellyn asked.

"That would be nice," she remarked, "Then we could all go home. I don't suppose anyone's offered you a coffee..."

"No," he shook his head.

Harriet turned and poured him some, "But, no, the transmission was genuine. And this seems to be a new species of alien," she handed it to him, "At least, not one we've encountered before."

"You seem to be talking about aliens as a matter of fact."

"There's an act of parliament banning my autobiography."

"Prime Minister?" the general stepped up.

"I'm with you," she followed him into a busy room.

"Miss Jacobs can explain," he motioned to a blonde woman at a computer who stood up to greet her.

"I don't think we've been introduced. Harriet Jones, Prime Minister."

"Yes, I…I know who you are," she smiled, "The transmission didn't come from the surface of Mars. Guinevere One was broadcasting from a point 5,000 miles above the planet."

"In other words, they've got a ship and the probe is on board," the general stated.

"But if they're not from the surface, then...they might not be from Mars itself," Llewellyn reasoned, "Maybe they're not actual Martians."

"Of course not, Martians look completely different. We think the ship was in flight when they just came across the probe."

"And they're moving," Jacobs added, "The ship's still in flight now. We've got it on the Hubble array."

"Moving in which direction?" Harriet asked as the woman turned back to the computer.

"Towards us."

"How fast?"

"Very fast."

Harriet turned her gaze to the diagram showing the position of the ship to the Earth on the largest monitor, "What was your name, again?"

"Sally."

"Thank you, Sally," Harriet replied, staring at the screen.

~8~

Rose sat on the sofa when Mickey called her over to the laptop, "Rose," she got up and perched on the edge of his chair, "Take a look, I've got access to the military. They're tracking a spaceship. It's big, it's fast, and it's coming this way," he showed her the same image of the alien's position.

"Coming for what though?" Rose frowned, "The Doctor?"

"I don't know. Maybe it's coming for all of us," the image of four aliens came onto the screen, speaking their language, completely un-translated, "Have you seen them before?"

Rose shook her head, "No."

~8~

The aliens continued to speak, UNIT watching them intently, "Translation software," the general called.

"Yes, sir," Alex got to work.

~8~

"I don't understand what they're saying," Rose frowned, frustrated, "The TARDIS translates alien languages inside my head, all the time, wherever I am."

"So, why isn't it doing it now?" Mickey asked.

"I don't know," she whispered, upset, "Must be the Doctor. Like he's part of the circuit and he's...he's broken."

"The TARDIS shares a psychic bond with its pilot," Angel's voice said, they looked up to see her standing behind them in the doorway, "He's weak, so it's weak."

"What are you doing out here?" Rose asked her, rather rudely if Mickey had to describe it.

"Getting tea," she replied, taking a step into the room, about to head into the kitchen where she saw Jackie puttering around, the tea kettle just recently whistled.

"So you're just gonna make tea while the Doctor dies?" Rose scoffed, glaring at her.

"He's not dying Rose. He just needs a bit of tea and…"

"He doesn't need tea!"

"These aliens," Mickey cut in, trying to diffuse the situation, knowing how Rose could be when she was upset about something, he'd seen it himself when she'd thought the Doctor and Angel were in danger with the Daleks, she tended to shout in her frustrations and lash out at people who were just trying to help her,"Do you know what they're saying? Can you translate?"

She nodded, hesitantly, she hadn't exactly excelled at alien languages, but she could understand them if she needed to, "Yeah…"

"We don't need your help," Rose nearly spat at her.

"Rose why are you so cross with me?" Angel finally asked. She'd been dealing with Rose's attitude and looks all night, and frankly she was just too tired, physically, from taking in the Heart of the TARDIS, and emotionally, from dealing with the Doctor's sudden regeneration, to try and work out for herself why the human was acting the way she was. And honestly, she probably wouldn't be able to work it out anyway, humans confused her.

"Because this is all your fault!" Rose shouted, standing up to face the girl, "If you hadn't used the Vortex, made me put it in that necklace thing for you, the Doctor would be awake, he'd be himself! He's lying in there, helpless, and it's all because of you! You did this to him! And you made ME help you!"

That was one thing she was really upset about, if she had known that this would happen she never would have done what Angel's hologram had asked her to do, she would have figured something else out. Now it was partially her fault what had happened to the Doctor and she didn't like that at all, she didn't want to think that she could have had a hand in the Doctor's death. She had trusted Angel to save him and she'd failed.

"It's your fault!"

Mickey looked at Angel as she stood there before the irate blonde, tears in her eyes, "Alright then…" she swallowed hard, "I'll just go look after the Doctor," she turned and left, not even bothering to shout back at Rose, to defend herself, because, as far as she was concerned, it really was her fault. She'd been blaming herself the entire time…and, as she now realized, so had everyone else…

She sat in the Doctor's room, just holding his hand, wiping his brow for a few moments, when Mickey entered slowly, the laptop tucked under his arm. He gave her a small smile and moved to sit at the foot of the bed, "Don't mind Rose," he told her quietly, setting his laptop up again, he'd been on the receiving end of her anger a few times in the past, "She's just upset."

"She's right," Angel said, her voice cracking.

"No she isn't," Mickey shook his head.

"She IS," Angel insisted, "You weren't there Mickey, you don't know what happened..."

"So tell me," he said softly, "What did happen?"

She looked over at him and back at the Doctor, squeezing the man's hand, "When Margaret was here, she set up a trap in the TARDIS, the Heart of the TARDIS opened to stop her. I...I was right next to it and...I felt it. I felt the power that was inside it and..." she shook her head, "I had this terrible feeling that the Heart of the TARDIS would destroy someone. I was afraid it would be Rose or the Doctor, I just knew it would be them, so...I tried to avoid it. I tried to change it. I made it so that I would take in the power of the Vortex instead of either of them, I thought, maybe, it would save them that way. But...the Doctor pulled it out of me anyway. He died...and regenerated..."

Mickey nodded slowly, absorbing what she'd said, fitting the peices together, "So you were trying to stop it from happening?"

She nodded, "The Doctor jokes that I'm psychic but...I didn't know it would happen anyway...honestly, I didn't!"

"Well even psychics can't see everything," Mickey nudged her, "Otherwise they'd be winning the lottery every week eh?" he smiled as that got her to laugh a bit, "You gotta allow for hum...well, I suppose it's Time Lord error huh?" he reached out and put a hand on her shoulder, getting her to look at him, "You were just trying to help and that's something the Doctor would never blame you for, so don't go blaming yourself either, ok?" he asked and she nodded, "Good," he leaned back, "Rose'll calm down and she'll apologize. She's just...worried."

Angel frowned, "Worried?" from what she'd seen, humans were never quite as angry as Rose was when they were worried.

He nodded, "I've seen her and her mum, instead of showing they're worried they tend to just get angry."

Angel blinked and nodded slowly, yes, humans definitely confused her. She glanced back at Mickey, offering him a little smile, "Thanks Mickey."

He grinned, "No problem."

And then she noticed the laptop, "Still want me to translate?"

"If you want," he'd come in there to try and cheer her up a bit, distract her, include her. She'd made him feel like a part of the group back when they'd stopped in with Jack, the least he could do was return the favor. And it seemed like it was working.

She nodded, and he passed the laptop to her, she listened a moment as the aliens spoke, "Um…people, you belong to us," she said, "To the Sycorax. We...own you. We now…possess your land, your minerals, your…precious stones. You will surrender or…they will die. Sycorax strong, Sycorax mighty, Sycorax…um, rock?"

Mickey frowned, "What do they mean? They will die?"

Angel could only shake her head, handing Mickey back the laptop as she leaned forward to rest her head in her hands, Mickey watching her sadly. He could only imagine what the girl was going through, fearing for the Doctor, dealing with Rose, and now having this piled on...he set the laptop aside and scooted over to sit beside her, rubbing her back in comfort, offering her his human strength, but also telling her she wasn't in it alone despite how she might think so because of Rose.

~8~

"I'm getting demands from Washington, ma'am," the general stated as Harriet walked up to him, "The President's insisting that he take control of the situation."

"You can tell the President, and please use these exact words, he's not my boss and he's certainly not turning this into a war," Harriet replied, turning to Alex, "What've we got?"

"Nothing yet," he replied, "Translating an alien language is going to take time."

"How far off is the ship?" the general asked.

"About five hours," Alex replied.

Harriet looked up at the screen, showing the ship coming towards the Earth.

~8~

"Despite claims of an alien hoax, it's been reported that NATO forces are on red alert," an American newsreader said on the TV.

"Speaking strictly off-the-record, government sources are calling this our longest night," another one reported.

~8~

The general sat in a chair, deep in thought when Harriet approached him, "I don't suppose we've had a Code 9? No sign of the Doctor?"

"Nothing yet," he stood, watching her close her eyes in disappointment, "You've met him, haven't you?" she nodded, "More like the stuff of legend."

"He is that. Failing him..." she looked him in the eye, "What about Torchwood?"

His eyes widened in shock, "I…"

"I know I'm not supposed to know about it, I realize that. Not even the United Nations knows. But if ever there was a need for Torchwood, it's now."

"I can't take responsibility..."

"I can," she replied grimly, "See to it. Get them ready."

He nodded and left as Alex approached with a laptop, "Prime Minister..."

"Has it worked?"

"Just about," he nodded, placing it down on the desk as Llewellyn and Sally joined, "'People...' that could be 'cattle,' 'you belong to us. To the Sycorax,' they seem to be called 'Sycorax,' not Martians. 'We own you. We now possess your land, your minerals, your precious stones. You will surrender or they will die. Sycorax strong, Sycorax mighty, Sycorax rock,' as in the modern sense, they rock."

"'They will die?'" Llewellyn muttered, "Not 'you will die,' 'they will die?' Who's they?"

"I don't know, but it is the right personal pronoun, it's 'they.'"

"Send them our reply," Harriet ordered, "Tell them...this is a day of peace on planet Earth. Tell them...we extend that peace to the Sycorax," Alex nodded, taking notes, "And then tell them...this planet is armed and we do not surrender."

Sally nodded, the three leaving her, "Come on."

~8~

Jackie slept soundly at the Doctor's side, having joined Angel a short while ago in keeping watch over him, especially after hearing Rose shouting at the poor girl. Rose watched her, leaning against the doorframe as Mickey stood beside her, "The Doctor wouldn't do this," she said, her voice shaking, "The old Doctor. The proper Doctor. He'd wake up. He'd save us."

"He can't wake up," a voice said behind them. They turned around to see Angel standing there with a cup of tea, "He's in a healing coma, if he wakes up again before he's ready his heart will give out."

"What's with the tea?" Mickey asked, eyeing the cup.

"It's for the Doctor."

Rose just rolled her eyes and snatched the cup away, "God, you're just like my mother," and strode off back to the kitchen to dump it.

Angel sighed, before going to sit back down at the Doctor's bedside, resigned.

~8~

Daylight broke as UNIT continued working hard, "They got the message," Sally called, "Here comes the response."

They looked up at the screen where an image of the Sycorax was being transmitted, the leader simply holding out his hand, a blue light around it, "What was that?" Harriet asked, "Was that a reply?"

"I don't know," Alex shook his head, "Looked like some sort of energy, or...static?"

"Almost like someone casting a spell," Llewellyn remarked, none of them noticing the same light surrounding Sally's head and a few others, "Maybe it's a different form of language, some sort of ideogram or pictogram…"

Suddenly the members of UNIT affected by the light turned and began to march from the room as though in a trance.

Chapter Text

"What the hell?" Llewellyn gasped at the men and women marched, spotting the light flickering around their heads, "It's the light! It's the same light! Sally? What're you doing? Sally?" he tried to grab Sally, but she just continued on.

"Oh, leave her!" Harriet called, "You'll hurt her!"

The security guards raised their guns ready to fire, not sure if the men and women were going to attack, when the commanding officer shouted, "Let them pass!"

"Where are they going?" Llewellyn wondered.

~8~

Rose headed for the door of the flat, hearing one of the neighbors shouting.

"Sandra?" she called as she and Mickey popped their heads out to see Sandra chasing after her husband as he marched down the hall.

"He won't listen!" she cried, "He's just walking, he won't stop walking! There's this sort of...light thing. Jason? Stop it!" Rose took a few steps forwards, Mickey following, "Right now!"

They looked over the railing to see scores of people entranced by a blue light, just...marching.

~8~

"They're all heading in the same direction!" Harriet shouted as she and a few other members of UNIT followed the people.

"It's only certain people," Llewellyn remarked, "Why isn't it affecting us?"

"Prime Minister?" Alex called, "It's happening all over the country."

~8~

A woman desperately tried to get her family to stop marching, "Anna, come on, now stop this. It's not funny anymore. Come on, Anna. Come back inside the house. Katherine...Katherine, now listen to me, you come back inside now," she tried to stop her children but they kept walking, "And you, Jonathan, you come back in with mummy. Jonathan, come on back in with mummy! You're scaring me now! Come on!" she tried again, close to tears, turning to her husband, "Alan, help me out here! Please!"

All around people were frantic, trying to stop the people marching.

"As far as I can tell, they're heading for any sort of high-rise building," a police officer called in to his radio, "Anything with stairs...anything with steps..."

They watched in horror as the people climbed steps up the sides of buildings.

~8~

"They've gone all the way up!" Llewellyn called, "They've gone into the roof."

~8~

"Just making my way to the front of the building now," the officer reported, "There's hundreds of them. Oh, God. They've gone right to the edge. They're gonna jump. They're all gonna jump!"

~8~

Llewellyn hurried across the roof after Sally, "Sally, stop it," he walked backwards, trying to stop her, "It's Danny Llewellyn. Daniel Llewellyn. Sally, just concentrate. Listen to me, you're being controlled. We need you!" she just walked on, "Stop it, Sally!"

~8~

Angel peeked out of the window of the flat, eyeing the people standing at the edge of the roofs and high-rises, their loved ones trying to hold them back before turning and walking back to the Doctor. There was nothing she could do to help them, not now, and if she tried...she'd probably just fail in that too...

~8~

"Jason, I'm talking to you!" Sandra shouted as Mickey and Rose watched, "Just stop!"

Just as the people reached the edge...they stopped.

~8~

"It's not just the whole country," Alex reported, "It's the whole world."

~8~

"They've stopped," the officer called, "They've all stopped. They're just...standing there. Right on the edge."

~8~

"According to reports, it's like a third," Alex reported to Harriet, back in the base, at his laptop, "One third of the world's population. That's two billion people ready to jump."

~8~

"What do we do?" Mickey asked.

"Nothing," Rose replied, defeated, "There's no one to save us. Not anymore."

He looked at her sharply, "What about Angel?"

Rose scoffed, "She got us into this mess in the first place!"

"Rose don't you think you're being a bit harsh?" Mickey eyed her disapprovingly, "She's not the one who brought the aliens to Earth."

Angel had done everything she could to help them, to help the Doctor, and Rose just wouldn't leave her be for even a minute. He knew enough to know Angel didn't deserve that. And for once he was going to take a stand against Rose.

"The aliens are here for the Doctor, for his regeneration energy or whatever that is," Rose countered, "And he's regenerating because of her. If she hadn't done what she did the Doctor would be awake right now to stop this."

"Rose..." Mickey shifted, not wanting to get on her bad side too, but not wanting her to keep taking it out on Angel like she was when the girl wasn't even there to defend herself, "YOU were the one who woke the Doctor up when Angel said not to," he pointed out, making Rose look at him so fast he was afraid she'd gotten whiplash, "He'd be up now if you'd just let him sleep then."

And with that, he turned and headed back in...more like ran for the door, knowing how Rose could be.

"It's not MY fault!" she shouted after him, even though her gut told her it was, even a little, her fault, she just...she didn't want to admit it. She'd been responsible for the Doctor dying once before, with the Reapers, she couldn't be again, not again, "It's not!"

~8~

Llewellyn and the major ran back into the base.

"Wait a minute, there is a pattern," Alex gasped, "All these people tend to be father and son, mother and daughter. Brothers and sisters, family groups, but not husbands and wives."

"Oh, my God," Llewellyn stared at the screen, Alex and Harriet looking over at him, "It's Guinevere One," he turned to Alex, "Have you got medical records on file for all your staff?"

"'Course we have, yes," Alex nodded, moving aside so Llewellyn could sit, Harriet and the major joining them.

"What about Torchwood?" she asked the major quietly.

"Still working on it," he replied, "Bear in mind, they have just lost a third of their staff."

"But do they have what we need?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Well, tell them to hurry up."

"Here it is," Llewellyn brought up the medical files, "Sally Jacobs...blood group, A Positive. Who else walked out?"

"Luke Parsons," Alex answered after a moment of thought.

"Luke Parsons...A Positive."

"Jeffery Baxter."

"Baxter...A Positive. That's it. They're all A Positive."

"How many people in the world are A Positive?" the major asked.

"No idea. But I bet it's one third."

"What's so special about that blood group?"

"Nothing. But...it's my fault. Guinevere One...it's got one of those plaques identifying the Human Race. Er...a message to the stars. I mean, you don't expect anything to come of it, but...I put on maps and music and samples. There's wheat seeds and water and...and blood. A Positive. The Sycorax have got a vial of A Positive. And well, I don't know how, but...through that..."

"They control the blood," Harriet finished.

"Oh, my God," he gasped.

"There's only one more thing I can try," Harriet said, turning to leave, "Major, with me."

~8~

"Ladies and gentlemen..." Harriet broadcasted over the TV, Rose, Mickey, and Jackie watching, "If I may take a moment during this terrible time. It's hardly the Queen's speech, I'm afraid that's been cancelled," she looked off camera, "Did we ask about the royal family?" she blinked at the reply, "Oh. They're on the roof. But, ladies and gentlemen, this crisis is unique, and I'm afraid to say, it might get much worse. I would ask you all to remain calm. But I have one request: Doctor, if you're out there...we need you."

Jackie looked at Rose but she wouldn't look away from the TV.

"I don't know what to do. But if you can hear me, Doctor..."

Rose turned away.

"If anyone knows the Doctor, if anyone can find him...the situation has never been more desperate."

Rose turned and walked back towards the kitchen.

"Help us. Please, Doctor. Help us."

She leaned heavily against the counter, sobbing at how hopeless it all was. Jackie quickly made her way over to her, taking her in her arms, trying to comfort her.

When suddenly a massive wave smashed all the windows and glass.

~8~

"Sonic wave!" Llewellyn shouted as an alarm went off, "It's the spaceship, it's hit the atmosphere!"

~8~

Mickey, Rose, and Jackie ran outside, looking up as a huge spaceship floated into view, obscuring the sun, hovering right over central London. Rose stared at it a moment before running back inside. She burst into the Doctor's room as Angel was dabbing his head, "Mickey, we're gonna carry him!" she shouted back, running to the bed and throwing the duvet off, "Mum, get your stuff, and get some food. We're going."

"Rose what are you doing?" Angel asked, a bit shaken from the wave that had struck only moments ago.

"Well, where to?" Mickey countered.

"The TARDIS," Rose answered, "It's the only safe place on Earth."

"What're we gonna do in there?!" Jackie shook her head.

"Hide."

"Is that it?!"

"Mum, look in the sky. There's a great, big, alien invasion and I don't know what to do, alright? I've travelled with him, and I've seen all that stuff, but when I'm stuck at home, I'm useless. Now, all we can do is run and hide, and I'm sorry. Now, move."

Jackie turned to leave the room as Rose heaved to get the Doctor up.

"Here let me help," Angel stepped forward, agreeing the TARDIS was the safest place. She'd just put a hand on the Doctor's shoulder when Rose snapped.

"Don't touch him!" Rose nearly spat at her, making Angel flinch back, "Mickey grab his legs!"

Mickey stepped forward and grabbed the legs, helping Rose carry him out of the room.

~8~

"They're transmitting" Llewellyn called as Harriet ran over, "Onscreen."

The Sycorax appeared on the monitor, speaking in their language as Alex translated for them, "'Will the leader of this world stand forward.'"

Harriet stepped forward, "I'm proud to represent this planet."

"'Come aboard...'"

"Well, how do I do that?" Harriet wondered.

Suddenly her, the major, Llewellyn, and Alex were bathed in blue light.

"Wh…what's happening?" Llewellyn asked.

"I would imagine it's called a teleport," Harriet remarked as they were beamed to the ship.

They looked around in shock and awe, surrounded by thousands of Sycorax. One of them, the leader, stepped forward, and the humans did the same. He lifted his hands to his head, pulling off a helmet.

"It's a helmet. They might be like us!" Llewellyn's smile faded when, with the helmet off, they could see the face beneath seemed to be skeletal, made of bone and muscle on the outside, "...or not."

And then the aliens began to speak...

~8~

Rose and Mickey carried the Doctor out of the front door, Jackie behind them, trying to follow with quite a few bags in her hands. She dropped one and tried to pick it up again, "Mum, will you just leave that stuff and give us a hand?" Rose shouted.

"It's food!" she argued, "You said we need f…"

"Just leave it!"

"Here Jackie," Angel stepped forward, not having anything in her arms and taking some from her, "Let me help."

"Oh, thanks love," Jackie smiled at her softly, so sorry for how Rose was treating the girl.

Angel smiled in thanks, "Did you bring tea?"

"Oh, of course," she beamed as they turned to follow Rose and Mickey.

Angel's smile fell just a bit...why did she keep asking about tea? She had to admit, it probably seemed mad and rather unimportant, but...she...she just knew it might help the Doctor but...she didn't know how. She hadn't paid all that much attention in the Academy, not about maths or science or much else but space and time, little bit of history, tiny bit about other species, she wasn't sure why it would help. And she knew that Rose, given how she currently felt, wouldn't believe her if she told her that the tea would cure the Doctor. She'd want an explanation, she'd want a reason, and she...she just couldn't give it without claiming it was 'just a feeling,' something that would probably set Rose off given how her last real 'feeling' had gone.

~8~

The Sycorax leader began to speak while Alex translated, using a small handheld translator, "'You will surrender, or I will release the final curse. And your people will jump.'"

"If I can speak…" Llewellyn pushed himself forward.

"Mr. Llewellyn, you're a civilian!" the major grabbed his arm.

"No!" he shook his head, "I sent out the probe. I started it. I made contact with these people, this whole thing's my responsibility," he pulled his arm away and stepped forward, addressing the leader, "With respect...sir. The Human Race is taking its first step towards the stars, but...we are like children compared to you," the leader looked unimpressed, "Children who need help. Children who need compassion. I beg of you now...show that compassion."

The leader just raised a whip and lashed it at Llewellyn, fastening it around his neck. The man shouted with pain and glowed blue, falling down on the ground, nothing more than a pile of bones.

"That man was your prisoner!" the major stepped forward angrily, "Even your species must have articles of war, forbidding…"

The leader just used the whip on him too.

Alex moved to step forward, but Harriet stopped him, stepping up herself, holding out her ID, "Harriet Jones. Prime Minister."

"'Yes,'" Alex translated, "'We know who you are. Surrender or they will die.'"

The leader turned his back on them, moving up the stairs to stand next to a large red button.

"If I do surrender..." Harriet hesitated, "How would that be better?"

He placed his hand over it, "'Half is sold into slavery or one third dies,'" Alex paused, "'Your choice.'"

Harriet closed her eyes, opening them again as the leader hissed at her.

~8~

Rose and Mickey carried the Doctor into the TARDIS, Jackie and Angel following them with the food. They walked in, laying the Doctor on the ground, "No chance you could fly this thing?" Mickey turned to Angel.

"I could," she said, shivering just a bit, "But if I power her up the Sycorax will be able to detect her."

"So, what do we do? Just...sit here?"

"That's as good as it gets," Rose leaned against the console, frustrated, as Angel placed the bags down and knelt beside the Doctor.

"Right, here we go," Jackie smiled with a thermos, "Nice cup of tea."

"Hmm, the solution to everything, isn't it Angel?" Rose glared at her.

"Rose, stop it," Jackie scolded, tired of how her daughter was acting, but knowing she couldn't argue much against it. She was just as bad, she'd rather argue till she was blue in the face than admit she was wrong about something, "Now, I'll get the rest of the food, you just wait here," she turned and headed out of the TARDIS.

"Tea," Mickey smiled, taking the thermos that Jackie had put down, "Like we're having a picnic while the world comes to an end. Very British," Rose didn't answer, though he didn't notice as he saw the monitor, "How does this thing work? It picks up TV, maybe we could see what's going on out there. Maybe we've surrendered," he looked up, "What do you do to it?"

"I dunno, it sort of tunes itself," Rose muttered, turning around to push a few buttons.

"No!" Angel shouted, "Don't touch that!" she jumped to her feet, running to the console...

But it was too late.

~8~

On the Sycorax ship, the leader turned quickly hearing a faint blip.

"The noise," Alex said quietly to Harriet, "The bleeping, they say it's machinery. Foreign machinery. They're accusing us of hiding it. Conspiring. Bring it on board."

~8~

Jackie stepped out of the flats, holding two more bags, walking towards the TARDIS when it teleported away, "Rose?" she asked and it disappeared, "Rose!"

~8~

"What?" Mickey looked over at Angel as she quickly hit a few buttons, turning off the monitor, "What is that like a distress signal?" Mickey asked, but Angel was on the other side of the console now, trying to see if they'd been detected.

"Fat lot of good that's gonna do," Rose remarked bitterly.

"Are you gonna be a misery all the time?" Mickey rounded on her.

"Yes."

"You should look at it from my point of view," Mickey remarked, putting the thermos down on the edge of the console, moving to lean next to her, "Stuck in here with your mum's cooking."

"Where is she?" Rose looked around, before heading to the door, "I'd better go and give her a hand. It might start raining missiles out there."

"Tell her anything from a tin, that's fine."

"Why don't you tell her yourself?"

"I'm not that brave."

"Oh, I don't know..." she smiled back at him and stepped outside just as Angel's eyes widened.

"Rose no!" she turned, but Rose was already out.

A moment later she screamed.

"Rose!" Mickey ran off to follow, running out, leaving the door open.

Angel quickly grabbed the thermos and knelt beside the Doctor, looking around for a moment as though trying to figure out what to do before pouring it through the grating around him, "Breathe deep," she whispered in his ear, giving his hand a quick squeeze and dropping a kiss to his forehead, before getting up and running out.

"The door!" Rose was shouting, "Close the door!"

Mickey turned around but was grabbed by a Sycorax, but luckily Angel stepped out and shut the door right behind her, getting grabbed as well and dragged off.

~8~

The tea landed on a hot object below the grilling, causing it to steam up around the Doctor.

~8~

The leader smirked as the trio was brought forward.

"Rose," Harriet gasped, stumbling forward to hug the woman, though both were terrified, "Rose! I've got you. My Lord. My precious thing. The Doctor...is he with you?"

"No," her voice shook, "We're all on our own."

"You've still got me," Angel reminded her quietly.

Rose turned to glare at her, "Lot of good that will do us."

Angel stepped back at that, Mickey putting a hand on her shoulder in comfort. She reached up and squeezed his hand, giving him a small smile which he returned encouragingly, at least he supported her.

~8~

Inside the TARDIS, steam surrounded the Doctor's head, him inhaling it with each breath he took. He took a deep one in his sleep, opening his mouth for more orange regeneration energy to escape.

~8~

The leader pointed at Rose and addressed her angrily, "'The yellow girl,'" Alex translated, "'She has the clever blue box. Therefore, she speaks for your planet.'"

"But she can't," Harriet argued.

"Yeah, I can," Rose said quietly, not taking her eyes off the leader.

"Don't you dare," Mickey hissed.

"Someone's gotta be the Doctor."

"Then why not let the Time Lady fill in for the Time Lord," Mickey argued, but Rose ignored him, stepping forward.

"They'll kill you!" Harriet grabbed her arm.

Rose shook her off, "Never stopped him," she took a few more steps forward, speaking nervously, "I, um...I address the Sycorax according to...Article 15 of the Shadow Proclamation. I command you to leave this world with all the authority of the...Slitheen Parliament of Raxacoricofallapatorius, and um...the Gelth Confederacy?" the leader strode towards her, "A…as uh...sanctioned...by the Mighty Jagrafess...and...oh, the Daleks! Now, leave this planet in peace! In peace..."

There was a moment of silence before the Sycorax burst out laughing, "'You are very, very funny,'" Alex translated as the leader grew angry, "'And now you're going to die!'"

Chapter Text

Harriet and Mickey lunged forward to try and help Rose but the Sycorax pulled them back.

"No, don't!" Angel managed to pull herself out of the guard's grip and run in front of Rose, holding up her hands in peace, "I am speaking to the Sycorax under Jurisdiction 2 of the Intergalactic Rules of Engagement, I request parley in compliance with the Shadow Proclamation! Do you accept?"

She really hoped they did, that was as far as her attention had gotten her in her 'Intergalactic Relations' class at the Academy...this was the culmination of years of schooling...and she only barely remembered it. Stick her in front of a TARDIS and she could rattle off its entire history...give her a math equation, it could take her hours.

The Sycorax fell silent once more as the humans stared at her in shock before the leader asked her something, "'Who spe…'" Alex began.

"Yes, thank you," Angel cut in, "I can understand him well enough," she took a breath and squared herself, trying to be as confident as the Doctor always seemed despite the fact she was pretty sure she'd muck this up too, "I am the Angel...of Gallifrey," she hesitated before adding, "Nice to meet you."

The Sycorax eyed her now with a small amount of wonder at her announcement before speaking. Alex looked around a moment before starting to translate for the humans at least, "'You should have spoken first, instead of her with the stolen words. We may have given pause. Instead she insults us with her mockery…'" Alex paused as Harriet closed her eyes in despair, wondering why Rose hadn't just let the girl talk in the first place, "'We are the Sycorax. We astride the darkness. Next to us you are but a wailing child. If you are the best your planet can offer as a champion...'"

"Then your world will be gutted..." the Sycorax said, in English.

"'...then your world will be gutted...'" Alex continued as Rose and the Angel stared.

"...and your people enslaved."

"'...and your people enslaved…'" Alex looked up, "Hold on, that's English."

"He's talking English," Harriet's eyes widened.

"You're talking English," Rose blinked at the leader.

"Oh thank God," Angel breathed, knowing what that meant.

"I would never dirty my tongue with your primitive bile!" the leader shouted.

"That's English," Rose pointed at him, backing up a bit before turning to Harriet, Mickey, and Alex, "Can you hear English?"

"Yeah, that's English," Mickey agreed as they all nodded.

"Definitely English," Alex nodded.

"I speak only Sycoraxic!" the leader yelled.

"If I can hear English..." Rose began slowly, realizing, "Then it's being translated, which means it's working, which means..." she turned around slowly to look at the TARDIS, everyone following suit.

The doors swung open and there, standing, smiling, in his pajamas and dressing gown, was the Doctor, "Did you miss me?"

Rose smiled in delight as Angel just closed her eyes tight, tears in them, so relieved he was alright.

The leader roared in fury and lashed his whip at the Doctor, who just caught the end and pulled it away from him, tossing it to the side, "You could have someone's eye out with that!"

The leader roared again and tried to attack with his staff but the Doctor just snatched it and snapped it over his knee.

"You just can't get the staff. Now, you, just wait. I'm busy," the leader stared incredulously as the Doctor pointed at him warningly, looking around, "Mickey!" he greeted, "Hello!" and then saw Harriet, "And Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North! Blimey, it's like 'This Is Your Life!'" he turned to Rose, beaming, "Tea! That's all I needed! A good cup of tea! Superheated infusion of free radicals and tannin. Just the thing for healing the synapses..."

"You should've let Angel help," Mickey muttered to Rose, thinking about all that tea Angel had been trying to give him.

The Doctor turned around, looking for the missing Time Lady, only to see her standing behind him seemingly just barely managing not to cry. He frowned and walked over to her, completely ignoring the aliens anf humans around him at seeing that, "Hey, you alright?"

She swallowed hard, "Better."

"What's wrong?" he reached out to touch her but she stepped back.

"One third of the Earth is being controlled by them," she took a breath, "Deal with them first…or second," she added, smiling just a bit.

He nodded and spun around, "She's right, first things first..." he walked over to Rose, wanting to give Angel a moment to gather herself, "Be honest. How do I look?"

"Um...different?" Rose supplied.

"Good different or bad different?"

"Just...different."

"Am I...ginger?" he asked, dead serious.

She looked up at his hair, "No, you're just sort of brown."

"Aw, I wanted to be ginger," he turned away, pouting, "I've never been ginger," he turned, pointing at her violently, "And you, Rose Tyler, fat lot of good you were, you gave up on me…" he cut off suddenly, "Oh, that's rude. That's the sort of man I am now, am I? Rude?" he ponder it a moment, "Rude and not ginger."

"I'm sorry, who is this?" Harriet frowned.

"I'm the Doctor," he smiled.

"He's the Doctor," Rose nodded.

"But what happened to my Doctor?" Harriet asked, "Or is it a title that's just passed on?"

The Doctor walked over to her, "I'm him. I'm literally him. Same man, new face, well, new everything."

"But you can't be."

"Harriet Jones. We were trapped in Downing Street, and the one thing that scared you wasn't the aliens, wasn't the war, it was the thought of your mother being on her own."

"Oh, my God."

"Did you win the election?"

She smiled, pleased, "Landslide majority."

"If I might interrupt!" the leader sneered.

They all spun around, almost forgetting he was there, "Yes! Sorry! Hello, big fella!"

"Who exactly are you?"

"Well," he grinned, "That's the question."

"I demand to know who you are!"

"I DON'T KNOW!" he imitated the leader's roar, before relaxing, "See, there's the thing. I'm the Doctor, but beyond that, I…I just don't know. I literally do not know who I am. It's all untested," he walked around, looking at people, "Am I funny? Am I sarcastic? Sexy?" he turned suddenly and winked at Angel who smiled a bit, "Right old misery? Life and soul? Right-handed? Left-handed? A gambler? A fighter? A coward? A traitor? A liar? A nervous wreck? I mean, judging by the evidence, I'm..."

"Still a talker," Angel supplied with a laugh.

He beamed at her, she had such a beautiful laugh, "Oh yes, always!" before his gaze was captured by the Sycorax's button, "And how am I gonna react when I see this?" he pointed at it with an insane smile, "A Great-Big-Threatening button," he ran up the stairs, laughing, "A Great-Big-Threatening-Button-Which-Must-Not-Be-Pressed-Under-Any-Circumstances. Am I right? Let me guess, it's some sort of control matrix? Hmm? Hold on, what's feeding it?" he bent down and pulled open a small door to access the controls underneath, frowning at the sight of a red liquid, "And what've we got here? Blood?" he dipped his finger in and tasted it, "Yeah, definitely. Blood. Human blood. A Positive. With just a dash of iron," he waggled his tongue around at the nasty taste and wiped his finger off, "Ah. But that means..." he looked at Angel, encouraging her to answer.

"Blood control?" Angel called, guessing.

"Blood control!" he grinned, very pleased, "Oh! I haven't seen blood control in years! You're controlling all the A Positives!" the Sycorax's grin faltered slightly, "Which leaves us with a great big stinking problem. 'Cos...I really don't know who I am. I don't know when to stop. So if I see a Great-Big-Threatening-Button-Which-Should-Never-Ever-Be-Pressed...then I just wanna do this," he whacked his hand down on it.

"No!" Rose and Harriet cried.

~8~

All the A Positives standing on the rooftops suddenly took a step forward, like they were about to step off, before falling backwards, looking around, confused.

"What the hell am I doing up here?" Sandra's husband called.

"Get away from the edge!" she shouted, pulling him back.

~8~

"You killed them!" Alex shouted.

"What do you think, Angel?" he leaned over the button to look down at her to see her smiling, his hearts flittering at the sight despite the fact he could see unshed tears still lingering in them, "Huh?" he turned to the Sycorax, "How 'bout it big fella? Are they dead?"

"We allow them to live," the leader replied tersely.

"Allow?" the Doctor snorted, "You've no choice! I mean, that's all blood control is. Cheap bit of voodoo. Scares the pants off you, but that's as far as it goes. It's like hypnosis, you can hypnotize someone to walk like a chicken or sing like Elvis, you can't hypnotize them to death. Survival instinct's too strong."

"Blood control was just one form of conquest. I can summon the armada and take this world by force."

"Well, yeah, you could, yeah, you could do that, of course you could," the Doctor stepped down and turned to look at the leader, "But why? Look at these people," he gestured to the humans, speaking passionately, "These human beings. Consider their potential. From the day they arrive on the planet and blinking step into the sun. There is more to see than can ever be seen. More to do than..."

"That's the 'Lion King,'" Angel cut in softly. They'd gone on a bit of a Disney kick a while ago when they realized Angel had never even heard of it. They'd plopped down and had a marathon of classic Disney movies, the Lion King was one of her favorites, she rather loved Rafiki.

"Is it?" he gave her a smile, as though he knew full well that it was, before looking at the Sycorax again, "But the point still stands. Leave them alone!"

"Or what?" the leader demanded.

"Or..." the Doctor trailed, grabbing a sword from one of the guards and running to the empty space in front of the TARDIS, raising it in the air, "I challenge you."

All the Sycorax burst out laughing.

"Oh, that struck a chord. Am I right that the sanctified rules of combat still apply?"

The leader walked down the steps, pulling out his own sword, "You stand as this world's champion?"

He shrugged off his dressing gown, "Thank you. I've no idea who I am, but you just summed me up," and tossed it over to Rose, "So, you accept my challenge? Or are you just a cranak pel casacree salvak?"

Angel had to give a small laugh at that as the leader hissed, but especially when the Doctor winked at her again...and she realized, winking, joking, quoting the 'Lion King,' he was trying to cheer her up, to make her laugh. That was just like him too. Yes, still the same old Doctor just with a different personality.

The Doctor and the leader knelt on the ground, with their swords, "For the planet?" it asked.

"For the planet," the Doctor agreed.

They stood and faced each other, holding their swords at the ready.

"Does he even know how to handle a sword?" Mickey asked.

"We were at war Mickey," Angel called back, uneasy with the knowledge, "There's few weapons we DON'T know how to use."

And she hated that. She hated guns, she hated weapons in general. It was her belief that using them just took away small parts of someone's soul in the process. She had seen it during the War, it was especially obvious in the younger Time Lords who fought, the 'children.' They were just...so young, so impressionable...she could never imagine letting her own child fight in such a way, swore she'd never ever let her son or daughter become a soldier like that. Not ever.

The Doctor and the leader ran at each other, fighting. After a few seconds the Doctor was thrown aside and the leader laughed. The Doctor just stood again and they continued.

"Look out!" Rose yelled as the leader swung his sword at the Doctor.

"Oh, yeah, that helped," he called back sarcastically, "Wouldn't have thought of that otherwise, thanks," they started fighting again, the Doctor climbing up the stairs backwards, leading the leader out, "Bit of fresh air?" he hit a button and a door opened, to a platform outside the ship. They kept fighting, the group and the Sycorax following until the leader managed to catch the Doctor slightly on the nose, he groaned.

Rose moved to run forward but Angel pulled her back, "If you stop the challenge then the Sycorax win the planet by default," she told the woman.

The Doctor nodded his thanks at her, wiping his nose and turning to the leader, clashing their swords together, locking them.

They both strained with effort before the Doctor was knocked backwards to the ground. The leader slashed at the Doctor's wrist, cutting his hand off. It fell down the side of the ship, sword and all. He watched it drop and looked back at the leader, stunned and annoyed, "You cut my hand off!"

"YAH!" the leader shouted, "Sycorax!"

The Doctor just got to his feet, "And now I know what sort of man I am. I'm lucky. 'Cos, quite by chance, I'm still within the first fifteen hours of my regeneration cycle. Which means I've got just enough residual cellular energy...to do this," he held up his stump of an arm, growing his hand right back.

"Witchcraft!"

"Time Lord."

"Doctor!" Rose shouted, grabbing one of the guard's swords and tossing it to him.

He caught it by the handle and spun it around, "Oh, so I'm still the Doctor, then?"

"No arguments from me!" Rose smiled.

He turned back to the leader, "Wanna know the best bit? This new hand..." he assumed a Texan accent, "It's a fightin' hand!" he ran at the leader and the fight resumed. They fought a few more moments before the Doctor got him hard in the stomach with the hilt of his sword. The group winced as the leader groaned. The Doctor did it twice more, causing the leader to fall to the ground. He pointed his sword at the leader's throat, "I win."

"Then kill me," it groaned.

"I'll spare your life if you'll take this champion's command. Leave this planet, and never return. What do you say?"

"Yes."

He pushed the sword closer, angrier and more serious than they had ever seen him, "Swear on the blood of your species."

"I swear."

He grinned lightly, "There we are, then! Thanks for that! Cheers, big fella!" he jabbed the sword into the ground and turned to them.

"Bravo!" Harriet clapped.

"That says it all," Rose ran forward, "Bravo!"

Mickey looked over at Angel as she watched on sadly. She had moved to run forward as well, but Rose had bolted out first so she'd hung back.

"Yeah!" the Doctor grinned, "Not bad for a man in his jim-jams!" Rose helped him back into the gown, "Very Arthur Dent. Now, there was a nice man. Hold on, what have I got in here?" he pulled out a satsuma from his pocket as Rose giggled.

"Mickey?" Angel called and looked over, "You may want to move over two steps to the left."

He frowned but did so anyway, stepping away from a large button on the wall.

"A satsuma!" the Doctor laughed, tossing the satsuma in his hand, "Ah, that friend of your mother's, he does like his snacks doesn't he? But doesn't that just sum up Christmas?" they started walking back towards the door, "You go through all those presents and right at the end, tucked away at the bottom, there's always one stupid old satsuma. Who wants a satsuma?"

Behind them the Sycorax leader got to his feet, picking up his sword, roaring as he charged at them.

Without even turning around the Doctor lobbed the satsuma at a switch on the side of the ship beside Mickey, causing the ground beneath the leader to open, sending him tumbling to Earth. His smile faded as he stopped by the door and glanced at Angel, "No," he answered a question she had asked long ago, "No second chances," he turned and walked back in, "I'm that sort of a man."

He strode through the ship till he stood before the TARDIS with the others, addressing the rest of the Sycorax, "By the ancient rites of combat, I forbid you to scavenge here for the rest of time. And when go you back to the stars and tell others of this planet...when you tell them of its riches, its people, its potential. When you talk of the Earth, then make sure that you tell them this: It. Is. Defended!"

And then they were all teleported away, materializing on a street near the Powell Estate.

"Where are we?" Rose looked around.

"We're just off Bloxom Road," Mickey laughed, "We're just round the corner, we did it!" he whooped.

The Doctor held out his hand as the spaceship engines started up, "Wait a minute...wait a minute..." the ship took off, flying away, and the Doctor grinned.

"Go on, my son! Oh, yeah!"

"Yeah!" Rose jumped on Mickey's back, "Don't come back!"

"It is defended!" Mickey added, both of them laughing happily till Rose jumped off his back and hugged him, and then Alex as well.

Angel eyed them, before moving back to lean against the TARDIS, just watching as the Doctor approached Harriet.

"My Doctor," Harriet held her arms out.

"Prime Minister," he greeted, hugging her.

"Absolutely the same man," she remarked, pulling away after a moment. He smiled at her as they both looked up at the sky, "Are there many more out there?"

"Oh, not just Sycorax. Hundreds of species. Thousands of them. And the Human Race is drawing attention to itself. Everyday you're sending out probes and messages and signals, this planet's so noisy. You're getting noticed...more and more," he looked at her, "You'd better get used to it."

"Rose!" Jackie called, running around the corner.

"Mum!" Rose ran to her.

"Oh!" the Doctor mock groaned, "Talking of trouble..."

"Oh, my God!" Jackie gasped, "You did it, Rose! Oh!"

The Doctor smiled, watching as Mickey joined Jackie and Rose.

"You did it too!" Rose laughed, "It was the tea! Fixed his head!"

"That was all I needed, cup o' tea," he grinned.

"I said so!" Jackie called.

"Yeah, you shoulda let Angel give him the tea when she wanted to," Mickey continued, nudging Rose, "But you were all, 'no he doesn't need tea' and 'we don't need your help' and 'it's all your fault' and…"

The Doctor's grin steadily faded, hearing that. He glanced over at Angel, just waiting by the TARDIS, keeping her distance from Rose and her family. He caught her gaze for a moment before she looked away.

"Shut up," Rose nudged him back, far too relieved to think about what had happened and what she'd said, how she'd treated Angel, far too caught up in the excitement and the thrill of their victory, before smiling at the Doctor, "Look at him!"

"Is it him, though?" Jackie asked, "Is it really the Doctor?" and then she noticed Harriet, "Oh, my God! It's the bleeding Prime Minister!"

"Come here, you," the Doctor walked towards them, going to hug the woman for a moment when Rose and Mickey joined in.

"Aww..." Jackie gushed, "Are you better?"

"I am, yeah," he nodded, before looking over at Angel, still standing apart, "Don't you wanna join us?"

Angel shook her head sadly, opening the TARDIS door behind her, "I don't want to see this…" she paused, looking back at his confused and hurt face, realizing how he'd taken her words so she added, "You won't either," before she threw one more glance at Harriet and Alex, stepping in and shutting the door behind her.

Alex moved to Harriet just then, "It's a message from Torchwood. They say they're ready."

Harriet closed her eyes briefly, opening them to see the Doctor looking concernedly at the TARDIS, Rose and her family chatting happily behind him.

"You left me!" Jackie turned to Rose.

"I'm sorry!" she laughed.

"I had the rest of the food!"

The Doctor turned his gaze to Harriet, confused by Angel's words, knowing that the woman must have something to do with it all.

"Tell them to fire," she said.

"Fire at will," Alex called into his comm..

Suddenly a large green beam of light shot loudly from five points on the ground, connecting in the middle and shooting up at the retreating Sycorax ship, destroying it.

Chapter Text

"What is that?" Rose's eyes widened, staring in shock as the burning remains of the ship fell to Earth, "What's happening?"

Jackie put her hand over her mouth in horror at what had just happened, at what their beloved Prime Minister had just ordered.

The Doctor turned from the sky back to Harriet, walking towards her angrily, "That was murder!"

"That was defense," she argued, "It's adapted from alien technology. A ship that fell to Earth ten years ago."

"But they were leaving!" he countered, still angry.

Now he knew, now he understood Angel's words, why she'd hidden away in the TARDIS. He'd noticed...it had been quite obvious when she'd faced the Daleks...that she didn't like death. She understood that everything had a time, that everything, all things, must die at one point or another, accepted it...but it didn't mean she liked it. It didn't mean she enjoyed watching it happen. Even with all the power of the Vortex running through her she hadn't killed any of the Daleks, their most hated enemies, but stopped them. She couldn't bear to watch as Harriet ordered the death of the Syrcorax, enemy or not. She couldn't bear the fact that there was nothing they could have done to stop it happening, not in the time they had before Harriet gave the order.

She had been right again, he hadn't wanted to see that.

"You said yourself, Doctor," Harriet pulled him from his thoughts, "They'd go back to the stars and tell others about the Earth. I'm sorry, Doctor, but you're not here all the time. You come and go. It happened today, Mr. Llewellyn and the major. They were murdered. They died right in front of me while you were sleeping. In which case, we have to defend ourselves."

"Britain's Golden Age," he remarked disdainfully.

"It comes with a price."

"I gave them the wrong warning. I should've told them to run, as fast as they can, run and hide because the monsters are coming: the Human Race."

"Those are the people I represent," she said, offended, "I did it on their behalf."

"Then I should've stopped you."

"What does that make you, Doctor? Another alien threat?"

He stepped towards her once more, "Don't challenge me, Harriet Jones. 'Cos I'm a completely new man. I could bring down your Government with a single word."

"You're the most remarkable man I've ever met. But I don't think you're quite capable of that."

"She's right you know," a soft voice called from behind them. The Doctor turned to see Angel standing in the doorway of the TARDIS, half hanging out, watching them sadly, "Not a single word," she added as he frowned at her, "Six words."

He blinked, thinking, before nodding.

"I don't think so," Harriet shook her head.

"Six words," he agreed.

"Stop it!"

"Six," he turned and walked around her, towards Alex, taking off his earpiece and speaking to him quietly, "Don't you think she looks tired?"

He turned and walked off again, leaving Alex confused and Harriet alarmed. He paused by Rose, Mickey, and Jackie, looking back as Harriet rushed to Alex, "What did he say?" she asked urgently.

"Oh, uh, nothing, really…" he stumbled over his words.

"What did he say?!"

"I…nothing! I don't know!"

"Doctor!" she turned, but he just looked at her, "Doctor, what did you…what was…what did he say?!" she spun back to Alex.

The Doctor turned to Rose, "Head on back, I want to put on a change of clothes, meet you there," he walked off towards the TARDIS as Rose gave him one last look and left with her family. He smiled at Angel as he reached the doors.

She stepped back, letting him in, "Keep track," she told him, "I think...27."

He paused a bit in thought at that before shrugging and continuing on, wondering what his 27th outfit would be.

~8~

The Doctor stood in the enormous wardrobe of the TARDIS, shuffling through the clothes, looking for an outfit that would fit the new him. He picked up a soldier costume and held it out, before shaking his head.

~8~

Mickey, Rose, and Jackie prepared Christmas dinner, Mickey carving the turkey as they hurried to get everything ready.

~8~

The Doctor frowned as he shuffled through some more clothes, he had just put down his 26th consideration and was slowly growing hopeless that the very next one would be it…when he spotted a brown suit out of the corner of his eye. He walked over and scooped it up, grabbing a long brown duster behind it and smiled with delight, dashing off to change.

~8~

Rose served the sprouts at the table, glancing at the door, waiting for their guests to arrive.

~8~

The Doctor slowly walked up to a mirror, hands in his pockets, dressed in his new brown suit and jacket. He turned, looking at his reflection before leaning forward and running a hand over his face, examining it. He ran his tongue over his teeth and turned his head from side-to-side, admiring himself. Raising his eyebrows, sniffing, and nodding, before heading out.

"You're really getting better at this," he called as he entered the control room where he'd left Angel to go change, "I mean really, 27th, spot on and…" he stopped short, seeing the grilling up and resting on the console with no Angel in sight. He walked forward, peering through the bottom to see Angel kneeling above something, "What are you doing?"

"Cleaning up the tea," she remarked quietly, though he could hear a sort of thickening in her words, like she'd been stuffed up and trying to hide it, "Didn't have time to feed it to you…had to improvise. It got everywhere. Just trying to clean it…Need to make sure everything's ok, everything's fixed and..."

He frowned, "Are you alright?"

"Of course," she called, but he detected a sniffle at the end, "I just...I want to fix this one thing. I just want one thing to be ok and..."

"Angel..." he called gently.

A moment later she burst into tears.

"Hey, hey," he called, crouching by the grilling, "Come here," she slowly made her way to him as he helped her up. He pulled her closer, his hearts breaking at seeing her in such a state, he could venture what was the matter, but still he asked, "Now what's wrong?"

She just shook her head and buried her face in his chest, all he could do was hold her as she cried, trying his best to comfort her.

~8~

The Doctor and Angel stepped into Jackie's flat a short while later, shutting the door behind them. Rose looked up and smiled at them, seeming to have forgotten all the tension from before. The Doctor gave her a small smile, though it fell off his face when Angel just excused herself to go help Mickey carry something from the kitchen, avoiding Rose in the process.

~8~

Rose gave a startled yelp as the Christmas cracker she pulled with the Doctor banged. He won, but he passed on the prize to her anyway, "Oh, that's yours..." he remarked.

Rose pulled out a pink party hat, "It's pink! Mum, it should be yours!" but she put it on anyway.

The Doctor glanced at Angel to see her beside Mickey at the table with a small smile, uncomfortable though she was, she made an effort to put on a happy face.

"Look, it's Harriet Jones!" Rose shouted, pointing to the TV.

The Doctor pulled out a pair of thick rimmed, brainy specs and put them on, facing the TV.

"Prime Minister, is it true you are no longer fit to be in position?" a man asked.

"No," she said, "Now, can we talk about other things?"

"Is it true you're unfit for office?"

"Look, there is nothing wrong with my health! I don't know where these stories are coming from! And a vote of no confidence...is completely unjustified."

"Are you going to resign?"

"On today of all days, I'm fine. Look at me, I'm fine. I look fine, I feel fine."

"It's Beth," Jackie called from the phone, "She says go and look outside."

The Doctor pulled off his glasses and turned back around as Rose asked, "Why?"

"I dunno, just go outside and look. Come on, shift!"

They all got up and headed out to the courtyard to see a few other people around as well, snow falling from the heavens. They laughed and looked up, seeing meteors in the sky.

"Oh, that's beautiful," Rose smiled up at the sky, "What are they, meteors?"

The Doctor turned to answer, pausing when he saw Angel had hung back to stand by Jackie and Mickey, she'd been giving Rose a wide berth the whole night. He felt his hearts constrict at that, that sad-but-trying-so-hard-to-seem-happy expression killing him. Angel was meant to smile, he'd decided, she was always meant to smile and laugh and be happy. Right now, she wasn't, and that wouldn't do at all.

"It's the spaceship breaking up in the atmosphere," he mumbled, "This isn't snow, it's ash."

"Ok, not so beautiful…"

"This is a brand new planet Earth. No denying the existence of aliens now, everyone saw it. Everything's new."

"And what about you? What are you gonna do next?"

"Well...back to the TARDIS...same old life," he shrugged.

"On…on your own?" she continued tentatively.

"I'll never be on my own," he said, a serious note to his voice, "I've got Angel," he gave Rose a meaningful look that she seemed to miss. He was not about to lose Angel, not to anyone, not because of anyone, not even Rose, "Why, you wanna come?"

"Well, yeah," she nodded.

"Do you, though?" he continued, growing even more serious.

"Yeah!" she cheered, having not noticed.

"Well, than that depends…"

"On what?"

"On you."

"I just said I wanted to come Doctor," she rolled her eyes at him.

"No, not that," he said, now completely serious. She looked at him, confused, "You blamed her for all of this when it wasn't her fault."

"She told you?" she asked quietly.

"No," he shook his head, "She didn't say word, could barely talk actually, she was crying that hard."

"She was crying?" Rose frowned, guilt creeping into her.

She hadn't meant to make Angel cry, she...she knew she'd been terrible to the girl, so harsh and biting and she knew that being scared of losing the Doctor, in shock of everything that had happened with the Daleks, and terrified of what was coming with the Sycorax was no excuse. She'd just...lashed out, as she always did, at the closest person, trying to make herself feel less responsible. It was wrong, and it was cruel, and she was so sorry that she'd done it. She didn't even like thinking about the things she'd said to Angel, wanted to forget those words had even come out of her mouth, so she'd tried to ignore what happened, to not mention it, hoping it would just go away.

Even though she knew that never worked.

"I could hear you in there Rose," he told her.

And it was true.

He'd been able to hear everything, even what was being said in other rooms given his Time Lord hearing. He'd heard Angel trying to give him tea. He'd heard Mickey and Jackie trying to warn Rose away from the remarks she made. He'd even heard Mickey comforting Angel for which he'd never been more thankful of the idiot. But...he'd heard Rose. He'd heard her speaking of her fears to her mother, her worries about what had happened, heard how upset she was over his near-death state after he'd woken, heard how overwhelmed she was by everything. And he could understand, she was human, the things they'd seen in the past did not amount at all to what had recently happened and he knew how humans handled things. But...it didn't change the fact that he'd heard everything she'd said to Angel too.

"All the while I was sleeping," he nodded, "I heard what you said. How could you do that to her?"

And what's more, he'd heard everything Angel had said to him.

"She was already blaming herself," he added quietly, his hearts breaking as he recalled her heartbroken words, her pleas for him to wake up safely, her soft cries when everything got to be too much but not wanting the humans to know she was afraid. He'd heard her every time she'd spoken, every time she'd whispered to him, apologizing over and over for everything, how sorry she was, how it was her fault...

"She was?" Rose blinked back tears.

"You have no idea how many times she apologized to me for it all happening, even before you yelled at her. It was my decision to take in the Vortex to free her. She'd barely gotten a few months in her new body and the one before that was chained and imprisoned for 50 years. I wanted to give her the chance to live," he fell silent for a moment, staring at her harshly, "And Rose..." he shook his head, "YOU were the one about to open the Heart of the TARDIS. I checked the programing on the hologram Angel rigged up, it was only set to go off if someone was already trying to open the Heart," he gave her a pointed look, "Angel, by doing what she did, she stopped all this from being on YOUR head."

Rose's eyes widened as she gasped at that, she hadn't looked at the situation at all like that. But...it was true. If she had opened the Heart of the TARDIS, it really would have destroyed her. It had nearly killed Angel and she was a TIME LADY. There was no way a human would have survived...unless the Doctor tried to save her too. And he would. Because he was the Doctor. And then they'd be right back where they were now, only...he would have died because of HER and not Angel.

"Oh my God," she breathed, everything hitting her so much worse as she realized just how close she'd come to everything being on her instead.

Angel hadn't stolen anything from her, she'd saved her from them.

And she'd treated the girl so badly.

She felt sick.

"I'll take you along on two conditions," the Doctor continued, seeing the cogs working, seeing the realization dawning in Rose's eyes.

It was hard not to get angry with her, but...Angel wasn't and Angel had been the one targeted by Rose. Angel was admittedly hurt, even slightly confused, though mostly hurt. She didn't understand how humans could feel one way but act another. To her, Rose's reaction had been more of the girl genuinely being cross with her than trying to mask her fears with attitude. And even then she didn't want to upset Rose even more, she was just...too good.

So, for her, he'd try to keep his temper in check. He could understand humans more, he knew where Rose's mind had gone and how she'd dealt with the situation in...such a human way.

She was human.

"Anything," Rose said quickly, eager for some way to make her actions up, not only to the Doctor, but to Angel.

"You apologize to her. And you don't ever do anything like that again. Understood?"

Rose nodded and turned on her heel to go talk to Angel.

He watched from a distance as Rose gently tugged the Time Lady a few feet away and tearfully apologized, explaining why she had acted the way she had and speaking of how it wasn't right to treat her that way at all. Angel, as he knew she would, just nodded and gave Rose an understanding smile, she was the most forgiving soul he knew, and the two women hugged before laughing and walking back to the Doctor, arm-in-arm, coming to stand beside him, Angel between them.

"So we all set?" he asked.

"Yep!" Rose grinned.

"You're never gonna stay, are you?" Mickey said quietly and they looked over to see him looking at the ground.

Rose frowned, "There's just so much out there. So much to see...I've got to."

He smiled, understanding, but still not happy, "Yeah."

Angel just gave him a sad smile as well, wanting so badly to invite him along, but knowing it wasn't her place to do so.

She wasn't a pilot.

"Well, I reckon you're mad," Jackie said, "The lot of you. It's like you go looking for trouble."

The Doctor rushed up to her, "Trouble's just the bits in between!" he put an arm around her and looked up at the sky, "It's all waiting out there, Jackie. It's brand new to me. All those planets...creatures and horizons...I haven't seen them yet! Not with these eyes..." he walked back to Rose and Angel, standing back on the other side of Angel, "And it is gonna be...fantastic."

Rose smiled at the use of his old catchphrase. The Doctor just reached out and took Angel's hand, looking up at the stars. Rose frowned a bit at the action but figured, she'd done enough harm and hurt to Angel to last a lifetime, she could give her this. From now on, her and the Doctor would just be friends. Besides, with the way he'd been acting and focused on Angel since he woke up…this Doctor was her sort of man. And...

He really wasn't HER sort of man either.

She understood now, her feelings, it was the confusion of the moment, the shock of losing him so suddenly, it hit her all at once, so fast that she thought she might be feeling it so intensely because she felt something more for the Doctor than just friendship...but now that it had all settled down, she didn't feel that way any longer. It made her realize...he was an amazing man, probably the most amazing man she'd ever met but...it just...didn't...click, the two of them. She didn't feel that spark that she always heard love was meant to be. And she could see, he clearly felt it with Angel and for that, she couldn't be happier for her two friends no...her friend and her sister.

"So, where're we gonna go first?" she smiled.

"Um...that way!" he pointed up at a star in the sky.

Angel grinned, "No, I think more..." and pushed his hand to the left, "There!"

"That way?" Rose pointed.

Angel just laughed, nudging her hand to the right.

~8~

The Doctor stood in the TARDIS, looking at the console, just refueling some more, giving Rose a night home with her mum for Christmas.

Angel popped out from under the grilling, having finished the last bit of cleaning, "All done," she grinned, taking his offered hand and hauling herself out of the hole, dropping the grilling down. She looked up at him, "Anything else that needs to be done?"

"Yeah," he nodded, "One more thing."

She waited a moment, but he said nothing, just looked at her in thought, "What is it?"

"Earlier…I was weakened and the TARDIS didn't work, that could be really dangerous…"

"Alright…so what do you want to do?"

"I want you to bond to the TARDIS too," he said, watching as her mouth dropped open in shock, of anything he could have said, he knew that was NOT what she expected, even being a precog.

"Doctor…" she shook her head, "Are you serious?"

"Very."

"But…the ONLY time two people bond to the same TARDIS is when…"

Is when they take a Mate.

"I know," he smiled at her.

On Gallifrey, TARDISes weren't just transport ships that shared a connection to its pilots, they were alive, they became a part of their pilot's life! Two people would typically only bond to the same TARDIS when that TARDIS was meant to become a part of the family so to speak. More often than not their children would become pilots of it as well. It was a family object, meant to keep an entire family safe, it was where the notion of the pilots designating 'companions' came from. The TARDIS would only protect those the pilot trusted and cared for, most often their children but also their trusted friends, their 'companions.'

And she knew what this meant, he wasn't asking her to break tradition and to bond to the TARDIS without Mating to him, he was literally asking her to become his Mate as well.

That was...a very serious thing to do.

She blinked, "But we can't."

"Why not?" he frowned, hurt, his hearts on the verge of breaking.

"Doctor I…"

"Theta."

"What?" she breathed, praying that hadn't just happened.

His emotions were high, she knew, she didn't want him to rush into this…it was far too serious a matter to take lightly and…she hadn't gotten the chance to actually talk to him about her own feelings for him, his possible feelings for her from before he regenerated. She didn't want this to just be an aftereffect of the regeneration, it was so sudden and...

"My name is Theta," he told her.

"No," she shook her head quickly, "No. Don't do this. Don't!"

To tell someone your name…it was absolutely forbidden on Gallifrey.

Except for Mating.

The only ones who knew your name were your parents and you, not even your siblings knew your name, being raised to refer to each other as 'brother' or 'sister' or small nicknames and the like.

It was that sacred of a secret.

The only time they were allowed to or able to tell someone else their name was when they took a Mate, beginning the process of trust and connection that Mates were known for. It was the most sacred secret a Mated pair could share…

"I'm sorry," he sighed, turning around to look at the console, "I know it's sudden and unexpected, I mean, you don't know what sort of man I am now, neither do I for that matter. But what I do know is that...when I saw you crying, all I wanted to do was make you feel better, cheer you up. And when I realized it was Rose that made you sad I…I was gonna leave her on Earth, so she couldn't hurt you anymore. I care about you, so much. And it's not just this version of me, I did before," he shook his head, not noticing her gasp behind him at that admission, "I just…I couldn't express it, I was too hurt, too scarred, too broken from the War. But I'm better now, YOU made me better, you healed me and fit me back together and mended pieces I didn't even know had been broken and..." he ran a hand through his hair, "I'm sorry Angel, I just…"

"Nella," came the quiet whisper.

He stiffened, his eyes widening for a moment before he turned to face her, stunned, "What?"

She smiled at him, tears in her eyes, "My name…" she took a breath, "Is Nella."

"Then…" he swallowed, scarcely daring to hope, "You accept?"

"We need to take this slow," she warned, stepping closer to him, also telling him that she did indeed accept, "Do this properly."

"Of course," he nodded, "Yes!"

Before he quickly reached out and pulled her to him, kissing her deeply, savoring the experience, committing evert facet of it to his considerable memory, every emotion, every thought (few though they were), every sensation...Angel had once let it slip that she'd had dreams of kissing him, he had to admit the same, for quite some time. And this, right here, right now, was so much better than any dream his vivid imagination had come up with.

Angel found herself quite breathless as they pulled apart, but she had to say one thing floating through her mind, "That isn't exactly taking it slow."

"Right…sorry..." he nodded, stepping back, realizing he was probably moving far too fast and...

Angel laughed, walking up to him, and putting her arms around his neck as he confusedly put his around her waist, "I wasn't complaining. I was just stating...that wasn't slow."

He beamed at her, leaning forward to kiss her again, much slower.

Chapter Text

The Doctor couldn't help the grin on his face as he watched Angel working away at the console, with a soft smile of her own, "And what's got you all smiles?" he asked, walking over to her, standing beside her, their arms touching.

She looked up at him, her hearts skipping a beat as she saw that sparkle in his eye that was only ever there when he looked at her, "You."

He nearly beamed at that, his hearts racing, "Me?"

She nodded, "You always make me smile," she informed him before turning to lean on the console so she could talk to him properly, "Half the time though it's because Rose said that I should just smile and nod when you talk and I don't understand what you've said...which happens a lot," he gave her a little pout at that, "But..." she smiled, "MOST of the time it's because...you just make me happy."

This time he beamed fully, his hearts feeling like they were going to burst out of his chest at the admission. He made her happy, mad old him. He felt warm, nearly giddy, at the thought that just him being him could make her smile, "You make me happy too," he told her, staring deep into her eyes so she wouldn't doubt him, "More than you could possibly know."

"I'm glad," she said softly, "I...I never ever thought someone would want to Mate to me," she admitted as well.

He knew that though, she'd told him she thought she'd make a rubbish Mate when she'd told him more about her sister after they'd met Pete Tyler. There were two examples of what humans would define as marriage on Gallifrey, pretty much in the same Earth terms, there was marriage though those tended to be preplanned by the families, marriages of convenience to ensure the continuation of the family line. And then there was Mating, basically choosing for yourself who you wanted to spend your lives with, which made the connection of Mating all the more powerful.

"Even before the War I could never quite picture it," she added, shaking her head thoughtfully at him, "And then you come along, dropping out of the sky, and suddenly...I CAN picture it. And...suddenly I can't imagine it with anyone else. Because I don't want anyone else. I just want you."

"Good," he grinned, "Because I just want you too and..." he dragged out the 'and,' "Now that I've got you, I'm never ever gonna let you go, you know," he blinked, "Probably should have warned you about that before I asked you to Mate though..."

She laughed lightly, "I don't mind, I hope you don't let me go," she added playfully, knowing he was actually being dead serious.

He reached out and gently took her hands in his, needing her to understand how true it was, how much he meant it, "You know, I think I figured out the very last piece of the sort of man I am now," he said quietly, his voice nearly a whisper.

She tilted her head, "And what's that?"

He lifted her right hand to his lips, placing a sweet kiss to the back of it, "I'm a man who will never disappoint his Mate, ever. I swear it to you Nella. I will never let you down. I will never let you go."

She took in a subtle intake of breath, she didn't think she'd ever get used to someone actually using her NAME, "I don't think you could disappoint me even if you tried..." she smiled, "Theta."

He let out a soft laugh, joy bubbling in him at hearing her say his name. He couldn't measure how irritated he'd gotten with his 'wife' on Gallifrey only able to call him 'husband' or some other title like that because he'd refused to tell her that sacred secret. Hearing his NAME, hearing it falling so naturally from Angel's lips...nothing could compare, "But I do promise you that."

She nodded, freeing her left hand to place it on his cheek, just stroking it gently with her thumb, still getting used to the new him, "I know."

He leaned in and kissed her softly, the kiss growing more loving and full of promises as each second went on...

Till the TARDIS gave a gentle hum.

Angel laughed softly, pulling back, "I think she's getting impatient to leave," she remarked, resting a hand on the console, "Is that it girl? You ready to get out there, start a new adventure?"

"Maybe it's just the excitement of bonding to you," the Doctor suggested.

As though understanding him, the TARDIS gave another hum.

Angel laughed, "Well I'm excited too," she told the box and him, smiling at him as she gave the console a small pat, "We should get on though. The longer we stay on Earth, the harder it is to leave."

"I'm glad you like it so much," he remarked, pleased that his favorite planet of all was as beloved by her as it was by him.

"Humans are interesting," she shrugged, "I can't understand them for the life of me but...that's part of their charm, I think. They're confusing and they make you want to understand them."

He shook his head gently at that, humans were, by far, the simplest species he'd come across in his long life, but he could see it. He could see how new and exciting they were, through Angel's eyes. She found them fascinating and he learned new things about them through her, through her comments and observations, little things he hadn't noticed before till she asked about them. She found them, to quote his old self, fantastic, and now...he could see it too.

He reached out and pulled a lever, the two of them taking a moment to watch the rotor rise and fall as the engines started up.

She hadn't been lying, she was nearly buzzing with excitement. As soon as they were in the Vortex she'd be able to complete the psychic link with the TARDIS. It was sort of a tradition to bond while in flight through the Vortex. She was a bit sad though, she had wanted to ask Mickey to join them, as her companion, as her first ever companion, but she wasn't technically an official pilot yet and…knowing the Doctor's timing...they'd go up and end up back on Earth 20 years later and then where would she be? Poor Mickey would have spent all that time waiting…no, it was better to bond first and ask as soon as they saw Mickey again…which she could just feel would be very soon.

~8~

Rose stood by her mother and Mickey, all packed up and ready to get going, "Have you got everything?" Jackie asked.

"I've got everything, don't worry," Rose smiled.

"Be careful," Jackie pulled her into a hug.

"Don't worry, I've got those two looking after me," Rose hugged her tight, "And don't forget, you got to call Mo about that…"

"Oh, never mind Mo..." Jackie waved her off.

~8~

Angel pulled another lever and the rotor sped up. They glanced at each other, grinning proudly at the old ship, before Angel ran to the doors, "Rose come on!" she called out to the girl.

"Ok," she nodded back to Angel before turning to her mother, "I'm going now. I love you!"

"I love you," Jackie kissed her on the cheek.

"Love you, love you..." Rose laughed, turning to kiss Mickey goodbye.

"Love you," he said quietly.

"Bye," she replied softly, before walking toward the TARDIS, stepping in as Angel moved to the side.

"Bye Mickey!" Angel shouted, waving at them as Rose shrugged off her bag, "Bye Jackie! Um..." she frowned a moment in thought, "See you later...you um...crocodile?"

Mickey laughed, "It's 'see you later alligator.'"

She nodded, smiling at him in thanks, remembering it now, "In a while crocodile!" she pointed at him.

"That's it!" he gave her a little cheer, pointing back at her, pleased that she'd used that expression to say goodbye, he'd taught her it and, now, he realized she'd actually listened to him. That was nice.

"You take good care of her!" Jackie called over the sound of the engines nearing dematerialization, "You hear me?"

"Not even a bee sting," Angel promised, closing the doors and running up to the console where Rose and the Doctor were waiting. He pulled down a lever and the TARDIS began to fade, Jackie and Mickey watching till it was gone.

"So, where are we going?" Rose asked, excited.

"Further than we've ever gone before," the Doctor replied with a grin.

Rose glanced at Angel and smiled widely.

~8~

Rose stepped out of the TARDIS onto a windy, grassy area, gaping at the advanced skyline before her.

The Doctor and Angel stepped out behind her, watching her reaction, "It's five billion and twenty three..." Angel stated, "The galaxy M87," she smiled, "Welcome to New Earth."

Cars flew past them towards the futuristic city across the water.

"That's just..." Rose blinked, unable to find the words, "That's…" she started laughing in amazement.

"Not bad," the Doctor nodded, "Not bad at all!"

"That's amazing! I'll never get used to this. Never. Different ground beneath my feet!" she started hopping in place, "Different sky...what's that smell?"

The Doctor crouched down to pull up some grass, "Apple grass."

"Apple grass!"

"Yeah, yeah."

"That's beautiful!" Rose turned to Angel and the Doctor to see them standing beside her, the Doctor's arm around Angel's waist as she leaned a bit against him, "Oh, I love this. Can I just say..." she walked around and nudged her way in between them to put her arms around their shoulders, wanting to be able to hug them both, "...travelling with you two...I love it."

"Us too," Angel smiled before grabbing Rose's hand, "Come on!" she pulled her away, dashing off as the Doctor chased after them.

~8~

In the basement of a hospital the trio was being watched through a red tinted orb by a pale man covered with red tattoos. His eye widened, "Human! She's pureblood human," he twisted a control to zoom in on Rose, "Closer. Closer!"

~8~

A small robotic spider crept closer to where the Doctor, Angel, and Rose were sprawled on the grass. The Doctor was lying on his coat, his arm wrapped around Angel's waist as she laid beside him, in between him and Rose, just looking at the sky, Rose's eyes on the city, "So, the year five billion," the Doctor began, "The sun expands, the Earth gets roasted…"

"That was our first trip!" Rose smiled at him.

"We had chips!" he recalled as they laughed at the memory, Angel smiling as she recalled the story the Doctor had told her of it, "So anyway…planet gone, all rocks and dust, but the Human Race lives on, spread out across the stars. Soon as the Earth burns up, oh, yeah, they get all nostalgic, big revival movement...but find this place!" he sat up for a better look, Angel just laying on her back instead, "Same size as the Earth...same air...same orbit...lovely! Call goes out, the humans move in!"

"What's the city called?"

"New New York."

"Oh, come on," Rose scoffed.

"It is! It's the City of New New York!"

"The...fifteenth New York since the original, isn't it?" Angel remarked, her eyes closed, just basking in the sun.

The Doctor grinned, "Which makes it New New New New New New New New New New New New New New New York," Rose looked at him, "What?"

"You're so different," she commented.

"New New Doctor," he laughed.

"I have to say," Angel opened her eyes to look at him, "I rather like this New New Doctor."

He beamed down at her, reaching out to stroke her cheek a moment before putting a strand of hair that had escaped her clip in the wind behind her ear, "Me too," and then placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Though I must admit, I do miss Mr. Brooding."

"Mr. Brooding?" the Doctor asked, incredulous, as Rose let out a giggle, quickly trying to cover it up as he looked between the two of them, "Is that what you two called me behind my back?"

"Oh no," Rose remarked.

"Not ever," Angel added.

They were serious for a moment, before laughing once more.

"Oh yeah, well, would 'Mr. Brooding' do this?" he replied, before reaching out and tickling the two of them.

~8~

"Impossible!" a female voice gasped at the image, "I recognize that child. Her face. Show me her face!"

"Closer," the man controlled the spider, bringing it closer, "Closer! Face! Face! Face!"

~8~

Rose rolled away from the Doctor's tickle attack and got up, "Can we go and visit New New York, so good they named it twice?"

The Doctor ceased his attack on Angel, getting up as well, "Well, I thought we might go there first," he pointed to a rather large building on the coast before reaching down and helping Angel up.

"Why?" Rose squinted at it, "What is it?"

"Some sort of hospital," Angel replied, picking up the Doctor's coat and helping him into it, "It's got the universal symbol for hospital on the side of it."

"Oh," Rose nodded, catching sight of a green moon painted onto the building.

"I got this," the Doctor showed her the psychic paper, "A message on the psychic paper."

He and Rose watched as 'Ward 26, please come' scrawled across the paper, Angel not being able to see it, though the Doctor had told her the message before.

"Someone wants to see you," Rose commented.

Angel blinked in thought, "A familiar…face…"

He smiled at that, "A good one or a bad one?"

She smiled as well, "Good, I think."

"Hmm!" Rose grinned, pleased that it wouldn't be some sort of enemy like the Daleks again, "And I thought we were just sightseeing. Come on then! Let's go and buy some grapes," she linked her arm through theirs and led them off towards the hospital.

"Why do we need grapes?" Angel asked with a small frown of confusion.

Rose just laughed and tugged her on.

~8~

"Rose Tyler!" the woman gasped, "I knew it! That dirty blonde assassin!"

"She's coming here mistress!" the man cried.

"This is beyond coincidence! This is destiny. At last I can be revenged on that little…"

~8~

"Bit rich coming from you," Rose said to the Doctor as they walked into reception.

"What is?" Angel looked at Rose.

"Him," she nodded at the Doctor, "Not liking hospitals."

Angel paused a moment, thinking, "That's...irony right?" she asked Rose, "You think it's ironic?"

Rose smiled, "Yeah."

"Because, as a Doctor, he should love hospitals!" Angel worked it out.

"Exactly!" Rose cheered, holding up a hand to Angel who high-fived her back, now knowing what a high-five was.

"I can't help it!" he defended, "I don't like hospitals, they give me the creeps!"

"I'm not much of a fan either," Angel added though, now starting to look around hesitantly, "Not all the people who bid for me and the Dalek just kept us locked up."

The Doctor's face darkened, taking her hand and holding it tightly. He knew what she was implying. She'd never really talked about the people who had captured her and the Dalek or the others besides Van Statten that had gotten their hands on her over the years. But now, to hear a hint of it, to hear that she had probably been dissected at one point or another…she squeezed his hand back, instantly soothing his murderous thoughts, whatever had happened was in the past, clearly where Angel wanted to leave it.

"The Pleasure Gardens will now take visitors carrying green or blue identification cards for the next fifteen minutes," came the announcement over the speakers, "Visitors are reminded that cuttings from the gardens are not permitted."

"Very smart," Rose eyed the place, trying her best to change the topic, she had gathered exactly what the Doctor had, "Not exactly NHS."

"No shop," the Doctor groaned, "I like the little shop!"

"I thought this far in the future, they'd have cured everything."

"The Human Race moves on, but so do the viruses. It's an ongoing war."

Rose stared at a cat-nurse walking by, nodding politely at her as she did, "They're cats…" she murmured, pointing at them.

"Now, don't stare...think what you look like to them..." the Doctor chastised, looking her up and down.

"Like a pink weasel in a blonde wig," Angel replied promptly, answering the Doctor's question.

Rose looked at her, horrified, and looked down at herself.

"Pink and yellow…" the Doctor nodded, before he pointed over her shoulder, "That's where I'd put the shop! Right there!" Rose turned around to look where he'd pointed, only for the Doctor to grab Angel's hand and walk over to the lift, "Ward 26, thanks!" he called up when they got inside.

~8~

"Override controls," the man said.

~8~

"Hold on!" Rose shouted, rushing to join them in the lift, but the doors already shut, "Hold on!"

"Oh, too late," the Doctor called down to her, "We're going up."

"It's alright! There's another lift."

"Ward 26," Angel shouted, "Don't get lost!"

"And watch out for the disinfectant," the Doctor added.

"Watch out for what?" Rose's distant voice reached them.

"The disinfectant!"

"The what?"

"The di…"

Angel put a hand on his arm, smirking a little, "She'll find out."

He had to laugh, she certainly would.

~8~

Rose stepped onto the lift, awkwardly looking around, "Um...Ward 26. Thanks..."

The doors shut and the lift went down.

~8~

"Commence stage one: disinfection," a computer announced.

A green light turned on and the Doctor and Angel were soaked in a shower of disinfectant, both perfectly calm, rinsing their hair, smoothing their hands through it.

~8~

"Commence stage one: disinfection."

Rose screamed as disinfectant poured down over her, frantically smacking the walls till the shower turned off.

~8~

A white powder suddenly fell onto the two Time Lords, poofing into the air around them.

Angel laughed, clapping her hands and watching the powder puff off it.

~8~

Rose squeezed her eyes shut, shocked, and more than a bit disgusted, as the powder fell on her.

~8~

A blow-dryer turned on, blasting the Doctor and Angel with warm air. The Doctor laughed as Angel tried to hide behind him, her hair whipping around her, having fallen out of the clip during the shower. He quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her out, holding her before him as the air blasted them.

~8~

After the initial shock of the air suddenly assailing her, Rose gently started trying to tidy her hair.

~8~

The lift doors slid open on Ward 26 and the Doctor and Angel headed out, both looking very well groomed, though Angel's hair had more of a poof to it as she tried to clip it back again.

~8~

Rose took a step out at what seemed to be a cellar of some kind, still pulling at her hair, when someone called out to her, "The human child is clean."

She looked up to see a pale man with red tattoos down the end of the corridor, "Um...I'm looking for Ward 26..."

"This way, Rose Tyler," he hurried off.

Rose knelt and picked up a metal rod before following the odd man apprehensively.

~8~

The Doctor and Angel walked arm-in-arm into Ward 26, following one of the cat-nurses, "Nice place," he remarked, looking around, "No shop downstairs. I'd have a shop. Not a big one, just a shop. So people can…shop."

"You're rambling," Angel whispered to him, he just winked at her.

"The hospital is a place of healing," the cat-nurse replied, shocked at the suggestion.

"A shop does some people the world of good," he shrugged, "Not me."

"Or me," Angel agreed.

"Other people though..."

The cat-nurse led them off, down the Ward, past a completely red patient, "The Sisters of Plentitude take a lifelong vow to help. And to mend…"

The Doctor slowed at a bed where an extremely fat, extremely gray, man was laying.

"Excuse me!" a very stern looking woman approached them angrily, "Members of the public may only gaze upon the Duke of Manhattan with written permission from the Senate of New New York."

"That's Petrifold Regression, right?" the Doctor asked, nodding at the Duke.

"I'm dying, sir," he replied, "A lifetime of charity and abstinence. And it ends like this."

"Any statements made by the Duke of Manhattan may not be made public without official clearance," the woman added.

"I thought abstinence meant self-restraint and moderation," Angel frowned.

"And?" the woman shook her head, not sure what the woman was asking.

"Well he's rather large for living in moderation," Angel stated.

The woman gaped at her as the Doctor tried to hold in his laughter at her blunt reply, while she had gotten better at realizing social cues, knowing when others were joking or being rhetorical or ironic, she wasn't quite there when it came to social faux pas and whether to speak what was on her mind or not.

"Frau Clovis!" the Duke groaned. The woman threw one more glare at Angel before hurrying to his side, grasping his hand, "I'm so weak!"

"Sister Jatt!" the woman turned to the cat-nurse, "A little privacy, please!"

Sister Jatt just turned to lead the Doctor and Angel away, "He'll be up and about in no time."

"I doubt it," the Doctor stopped a little ways away, "Petrifold Regression? He's turning to stone. There won't be a cure for...oh...a thousand years? He might be up and about, but only as a statue..."

"Have faith in the Sisterhood," Jatt said softly, when Angel caught sight of something at the end of the Ward and slowly made her way to it, "But is there no one here you recognize?" the Doctor barely heard her question as he watched Angel slowly approach a very familiar sight and crouch down, "It's rather unusual to visit without knowing the patient."

"No," he said quietly, "I think we've found him."

She turned to see Angel was crouching down before the Face of Boe, her hand gently resting on the glass of his container.

"Novice Hame," Jatt nodded at the cat-nurse sitting beside Boe as she led the Doctor over, "If I can leave this gentleman and woman in your care?"

"Oh, I think our friend got lost," the Doctor turned to Jatt, "Uh, Rose Tyler. Could you ask at reception?"

"Certainly, sir," she smiled, turning to go.

Hame looked up at the Doctor, "I'm afraid the Face of Boe's asleep. That's all he tends to do these days. Are you friends, or…"

"We met just the once on Platform One," the Doctor replied quietly.

"I've only just," Angel added, looking sadly at the alien.

"What's wrong with him?"

"I'm so sorry," Hame said gently, "I thought you knew. The Face of Boe is dying."

"Of what?" the Doctor looked at her, surprised.

"Old age," Angel answered for her, her gaze flickering across Boe's face, taking him in, "He's so old now."

Hame sighed, nodding, "The one thing we can't cure. He's thousands of years old. Some people say millions…"

"He is," Angel whispered, tilting her head as she looked at him. It was...weird...it felt like she knew the Face of Boe from somewhere, despite the fact she was sure she'd never met him before. He felt...familiar to her, like she should know him...but...she just didn't know why...

"That's impossible."

The Doctor smiled, "Oh, I don't know...I like impossible," he knelt down beside Angel, resting a hand on her back as he spoke to Boe, "I'm here. I look a bit different, but it's me...it's the Doctor..." he placed his other hand on the tank as Boe sighed, "And I've brought someone very special, the Angel, just what you need eh?"

Angel smiled at him softly, before looking at Boe in thought, "He's not the only face around here, is he?" she turned to Hame.

"Well…" the cat-nurse blinked, confused by her question, "There are faces all around us. Our patients, their families…"

The Doctor looked at Angel, he knew that wasn't exactly what the question she had asked meant, but from the frown on her face, she didn't know exactly what that was either.

He'd noticed her sensations seemed to be getting stronger, if that was the right word, she'd been speaking more about them, getting more of them. But...that could have been because she'd tried to keep herself from feeling them for so long, maybe this was how she would have have natrually felt, how often she felt them. But he also knew it frustrated her. There were times she'd say something so randomly, so out there, that they KNEW it was a feeling about the future, like when she'd asked if he'd give a piece of fruit a second chance. Other times she'd make a passing comment that would later mean so much more, something they might have been able to deal with if only they'd realized it sooner, like when she'd told Rose to hang on back when they'd met Nancy and Jamie. And then there were times she'd say something and not have the faintest clue why she said it or what it meant, like just now. It frustrated her to not be able to put an explanation to her words, to not know why she said it, to not even know what it meant.

He'd never dealt with Visionaries before, not enough to be able to help, and that killed him.

All he could do was try to be there for her, help her work her sensations out.

~8~

Rose emerged from the corridor into a room with an old video playing. She looked over at the flickering image being projected onto the screen, a glamorous party where everyone present was laughing and holding champagne glasses.

A blonde woman was there, talking to everyone, the center of attention, "I mean, you never know what your life's going to be like! Ever! I'm bored with this drink," she handed her drink to someone off camera, "Anyway, oh, hello darling! Now, don't! Stop it!" she playfully pushed a man away.

"Wait a minute..." Rose froze in thought, recognizing the woman's voice, "That's..." she spun around to see Cassandra, the piece of skin with eyes and lips behind her, the man at her side.

"Peekaboo!" Cassandra grinned.

"Don't you come anywhere near me, Cassandra," Rose held up the pipe.

"Why? What do you think I'm going to do? Flap you to death?"

"Yeah, but...what about Gollum?" she gestured to the man.

"Oh...that's just Chip. He's my pet."

"I worship the mistress!" Chip stated.

"Moisturize me, moisturize me..." she ordered. Chip picked up a canister and began to spray Cassandra with the solution, "He's not even a proper life form. He's a force-grown clone. I modeled him on my favorite pattern. But he's so faithful. Chip sees to my physical needs."

"I hope that means food," Rose remarked, "How comes you're still alive?"

"After you murdered me…"

"That was your own fault."

"The brain of my mistress survived," Chip explained, "And her pretty blue eyes were salvaged from the bin."

"What about the skin? I saw it, you…you got ripped apart."

"That piece of skin was taken from the front of my body," Cassandra explained, "This piece is the back."

Rose laughed, "Right! So you're talking out of your…"

"Ask not," Cassandra cut in with a glare.

"The mistress was lucky to survive," Chip told her, "Chip secreted milady into the hospital."

"So they don't know you're here?" Rose reasoned.

"Chip steals medicine. Helps milady. Soothes her. Strokes her..." he raised a hand do just that.

"You can stop right there, Chip," Rose called, disgusted.

"But I'm so alone, hidden down here...the last human in existence..." Cassandra sighed sadly.

"Don't start that again, they've called this planet New Earth!"

"A vegetable patch."

"And there's millions of humans out there...millions of them."

"Mutant stock!"

"They evolved, Cassandra. They just evolved, like they should. You stayed still. You got yourself all pickled and preserved, and what good did it do you?"

"Oh, I remember that night," Cassandra looked at the film, ignoring her, "Drinks for the Ambassador of Thrace. That was the last time anyone told me I was beautiful. After that it all became...such hard work."

"Well, you've got a knack for survival, I'll give you that."

"But I've not been idle, Rose..." she turned back to her, "Tucked away, underneath this hospital, I've been listening. The Sisters are hiding something."

"What d'you mean?"

"Oh...these cats have secrets. Hush, let me whisper. Come close."

Rose laughed, "You must be joking if you think I'm coming anywhere near you!" she backed up, only for a light to turn on around her, binding her hands with red light, trapping her.

"Chip! Activate the psychograft!"

Chip rushed over to the controls.

"I can't move!" Rose shouted, frightened, "Cassandra, let me go!" Chip pulled a lever and bars of light came down from the ceiling, surrounding her like a cage, "What're you doing?!"

"The lady's moving on," Cassandra laughed gleefully, "It's goodbye trampoline, and hello blondie!"

A pink light flew out of Cassandra, across the room, and into Rose.

Chip released the lever, Rose's body falling to the ground, "Mistress?" he peered at her.

"Moisturize me…" Cassandra said in Rose's body as she began to wake. Chip turned to retrieve the canister when Cassandra realized she was in an actual body again, "How bizarre...arms...fingers...hair! Let me see! Let me see!" she sprang up and dashed to the mirror, her eyes widening in horror, "Oh my God. I'm a chav!"

Chapter Text

"Hope, harmony, and health," the speaker called, "Hope, harmony, and health."

The Doctor walked across Ward 26 and handed Hame a glass of water before handing one to Angel as she sat cross-legged before Boe, leaving one for himself, "That's very kind," Hame thanked, "But there's no need."

"You're the one working," he countered.

"There's not much to do. Just maintain his smoke. And I suppose I'm company. I can hear him singing, sometimes. In my mind...such ancient songs..."

"Are we the only visitors?" Angel asked, glancing at the cat-nurse.

"The rest of Boe-kind became extinct. Long ago. He's the only one left. Legend says that the Face of Boe has watched the Universe grow old," the two Time Lords smiled, "There's all sorts of superstitions around him. One story says that, just before his death, the Face of Boe will impart his great secret. That he will speak those words only to those like himself."

"What does that mean?" the Doctor frowned.

"It's just a story."

"Tell us the rest," Angel turned to her gently, "Go on. I love a good story."

"It's said he'll talk to wanderers. To the ones without a home. The lonely god and his angel."

The Doctor and Angel exchanged a glance at that, both recognizing someone like them in her story.

~8~

Cassandra stood in front of the mirror, just looking at Rose's body, absolutely horrified, "Look at me!" she cried, frantic, "From class to brass! Although..." she pulled the zipper of Rose's shirt down slightly and felt along the girl's curves, "Oh...curves...oh, baby..." she hopped up and down, Chip following suit, "It's like living inside a bouncy castle!"

"Mistress is beautiful!" Chip grinned.

"Absolument!" she winked at him, "Oh, but look..." her attention turned to her skin sheet, now faded and cracking.

"Oh..." Chip frowned, "The brain lead expired...my old mistress is gone."

"But safe and sound in here," she reassured him, tapping her head.

"What of the Rose child's mind?"

"Oh...tucked away...I can just about access the surface memory, she's..." she paused to think, "Gosh...she's with this woman and…the Doctor...a man...he's the Doctor...the same Doctor with a new face! That hypocrite! I must get the name of his surgeon," she turned to look at the mirror again, "I could do with a little work. Although..." she felt Rose's behind, "Nice rear bumper. Hmm!" she smiled just as Rose's mobile began to ring, "Oh...it seems to be ringing...is it meant to ring?" she pulled it out of Rose's back pocket and stared at it.

"A primitive communications device."

She pushed a button and the Doctor spoke, "Rose, where are you?"

"How does she speak?" Cassandra hissed to Chip, holding her hand over the end of the phone.

"Old Earth Cockney," he replied just as quietly.

"Um..." she picked the phone back up, "Wotcha..."

"Where've you been?" he asked, "How long does it take to get to Ward 26?"

"Two minutes and th..." she heard another woman start to speak, her voice a bit soft as she wasn't the one currently on the phone, "Oh...rhetorical. Right. Sorry! Continue."

Cassandra shook her head, hearing the Doctor laughing lightly at the other woman's words, "I'm on my way, governor," she said, forcing her voice to attempt to sound like what she thought Rose's might be, "I shall proceed up the Apples and Pears."

"Are you still hungry Rose?" the woman called, "Did we not buy enough grapes? That fruit stand did have quite a bit to pick from. They might have apples and pears. We can stop and get some for you when we leave. I wouldn't eat the pears though, don't you think they taste...funny?"

Cassandra pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at oddly, as though she'd be able to stare at the girl speaking through it. What on New Earth was she talking about?

"Urgh," the Doctor blanched, "I hate pears, nasty little buggers they are. But listen," Cassandra put the phone back to her ear, sensing that the Doctor was speaking to her again, or at least to Rose, "You'll never guess. Angel and I are with the Face of Boe! Remember him?"

She laughed through gritted teeth, "Course I do...that big old...boat...race..." her words grew softer and softer as she spoke. She had no idea who the Face of Boe was or who this Angel character was, though she guessed it was the other woman Chip had spied with him and Rose before.

"I'd better go," he said, distracted, "See you in a minute."

~8~

Angel looked over as the Doctor placed the receiver of the phone down and headed over to where the Duke was laughing, having a glass of champagne with Clovis, looking like the epitome of health...well...excepting his weight.

"Didn't think I was going to make it!" the Duke called, spotting the Doctor, "It's that man again!" the Doctor smiled, scratching his ear absently, "He's my good luck charm! Come in! Don't be shy!"

"Any friendship expressed by the Duke of Manhattan does not constitute a form of legal contract," Clovis informed him.

He nodded.

"Winch me up," the Duke commanded, giving the Doctor a thumbs up. Clovis pressed a button on a remote and the bed started tilting up, "Ah! Look at me! No sign of infection!"

"Champagne, sir?" a waiter approached him.

"No thanks," the Doctor waved him off, "Uh...you had Petrifold Regression, right?"

"'Had' being the operative word!" the Duke shouted gleefully, "Past tense! Completely cured."

"But that's impossible…"

"Primitive species would accuse us of magic," an older cat-nurse approached, "But it's merely the tender application of science."

"How on Earth did you cure him?" the Doctor looked at her.

"How on New Earth, you might say," she smiled.

He nodded at the drip hanging beside the Duke's bed, connected to his arm, feeding the fluid into him, "What's in that solution?"

"A simple remedy."

"Then tell me what it is."

"I'm sorry. Patient confidentiality. I don't believe we've met. My name is Matron Casp."

"I'm the Doctor."

"I think you'll find that we're the doctors here."

"Matron Casp, you're needed in intensive care," Jatt called, approaching them.

Casp nodded at him, "If you would excuse me?"

The Doctor nodded and she turned to leave with Jatt, watching them walk away closely.

"It's happened again," Jatt hissed to Casp, speaking in a whisper so not even the Doctor could hear her, "One of the patients is conscious."

"Oh...we can't have that..." she replied quietly.

The Doctor glanced over and saw Angel eyeing them as well, still sitting beside Boe, not seeming willing to leave the old Face's side. He walked over to her, sitting close beside her, "What do you think?" he asked her quietly so as not to alert Hame, "What's in there?" he nodded towards the various drips hanging up around the room, healing the patients.

She looked at them a moment, "Sadness," she replied, going with the first words that came to her, "Loneliness, pain…and the tears of millions…" she swallowed hard, unable to continue. It was almost like she could feel it, the solitude, the hurt...it was crushing...

He wrapped an arm around her, hugging her to his side, as he stared at the drips.

This was not good.

This was not good at all.

~8~

"This Doctor man is dangerous," Chip warned Cassandra, watching as she flicked Rose's hair back and fixed herself up in the mirror.

"Dangerous and clever," she corrected, "I might need a mind like his. The Sisterhood is up to something. Remember that Old Earth saying? Never trust a nun. Never trust a nurse. And never trust a cat. Perfume?"

Chip pulled a small tube of perfume out of his pocket and gave it to her. She pushed it down into the front of her shirt and strode out of the room with purpose.

~8~

Sister Jatt and Matron Casp passed a number of luminous green doors in intensive care, almost like pods, stopping before one, "It was having a perfectly normal blood-wash," Jatt explained, "And all of a sudden, it started crying. It's this one."

They opened the door and looked inside as diseased hands reached out to them, "Please..." the patient within begged.

"Look at its eyes. So alive."

"Positively sparkling!" Casp agreed.

"Please...where am I?" the patient asked.

"And speech! How can it even have a vocabulary?"

"Sister Corvin's written a thesis on the migration of sentience," Jatt said, "She calls it 'The Echo of Life.' It's well worth a read."

"Help me..." the patient begged.

"I've seen enough, thank you," Casp grimaced, disgusted, as they shut the door and walked away, "If this happens again, we might have to review our brain stem policy."

"And what should we do with the patient?" Jatt asked.

"Standard procedure," she said dismissively, "Incinerate."

Jatt pulled a lever on the wall, ignoring the terrible scream from the patient's cell as it glowed white, before turning to leave.

~8~

Cassandra walked onto Ward 26, still smoothing down Rose's hair, when she spotted the Doctor and another blonde woman standing near a drip of a patient next to a large Face in a tank, examining it, the Doctor wearing a pair of brainy specs, his arm moving around Angel when the girl shivered. She smiled though when Angel looked up and noticed her, nudging the Doctor.

"There you are!" the Doctor called, jogging over to her, "Come and look at this patient!" he took her arm and led her to a patient with red skin, "Marconi's Disease," he pulled off his glasses, "Should take years to recover. Two days. I've never seen anything like it, they've invented a cell washing cascade, it's amazing. Their medical science is way advanced. And this one!" he pulled her to another one where the man had white skin, "Pallidome Pancrosis. Kills you in ten minutes, and he's fine!" he waved cheerily at the patient, before turning around, "I need to find a terminal. I've got to see how they do this."

They turned and walked off, Angel frowning at Rose from behind her, she was walking rather oddly.

"Because if they've got the best medicine in the world...then why's it such a secret?" the Doctor wondered.

"I can't Adam and Eve it," Cassandra stopped.

"Doctor!" Angel called suddenly, startling him into turning around, seeing her standing there with wide, frightened eyes.

"What is it?" he asked her quickly, worried that something had harmed her.

"Something's wrong with the TARDIS."

He blinked, "What do you mean?" he shook his head, "The TARDIS was fine when we landed and..."

"You're ok," she cut in, "And even if you weren't, I'M ok. The TARDIS should be working just fine, translating everything."

She looked at him as though he should be seeing what she was saying.

He just blinked again, "It is translating. Isn't it?"

Angel shook her head and stepped closer to him, "I can't understand a word she's saying," she whispered to him, nodding over at the blonde human beside them, "She's not speaking English!" she shook her head, "It's like she's speaking Welsh or something."

Seriously, the only thing she'd managed to gather since the Doctor had managed to call Rose's mobile had been the words 'apples' and 'pears.' Everything else...made no sense to her. But then again, it hadn't been that she wanted to EAT apples and pears but that she was going to go UP the apples and pears. She shook her head, nope, now she was certain she didn't understand anything.

The Doctor gave a little chuckle, "The TARDIS is working just fine," he reassured her, "Trust me, as hard as it may be to believe, that is actually English..." but then he gave a little more thought to it and turned to his companion, "What IS with the voice though?" he looked at her, confused.

"Oh, I don't know..." Cassandra sighed, looking at him, "Just larking about. New Earth...new me..." she eyed him intently.

"Well, I can talk," he grinned, "New New Doctor."

"Mhmm..." she nodded, "Aren't you just..."

And then, very suddenly, pulled his face towards her and planted a large kiss right on his lips.

Angel's eyes widened in shock at the sudden and very uncharacteristic move.

When Cassandra finally pulled away he looked very shocked and she was slightly breathless, "T-terminal's this way," she breathed, walking off.

The Doctor blinked, before rounding to face Angel, who had turned to look at Cassandra, frowning. His hearts were beating in his chest at the thought of what Angel might be feeling about that kiss. He'd just asked her to agree to be his Mate and then kissed another woman in front of her! Mind you, she had kissed him, but still…if this destroyed the chance he had with Angel…he honestly didn't know what he would do. He...he'd never felt this way about any woman before, just the thought that he might lose Angel because of this...it terrified him...

"I'm sorry," he said frantically, speaking very fast, "I didn't…and she just…and it was too sudden…and I just…"

"That's not Rose," Angel cut in, speaking very quietly, her gaze still trained on Cassandra.

He looked at Cassandra, and back at her, then back at Cassandra, before settling his gaze on Angel once more, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…Angel I didn't mean to…"

"I know," she looked up at him, taking his hand, she could tell that he honestly did not intend for the kiss to happen, his reaction alone told her he hadn't enjoyed it and hadn't wanted it to happen at all, "I don't blame you. That was rather unexpected wasn't it?"

"Yeah…" he breathed, still watching her carefully, if she was trying to cover up her feelings…

She leaned forward and gave him a small peck on the cheek, assuaging his fears, "Come on," she tugged him in the direction Cassandra had gone.

But he tugged her back to him.

She turned, looking up at him curiously as he just stared at her with an intense look in his eyes. He reached out, gently cupping her cheek before he leaned in and kissed her tenderly, needing to do this to relieve his own guilt at what had happened. He'd been kissed by another woman, another woman had left her impression on his lips, and that wouldn't do. The only one he wanted kissing him was Angel. He needed this, he needed to cover that impression up, replace it with one he welcomed.

And he rather enjoyed kissing her too.

Angel smiled as they pulled away, the Doctor resting his forehead to hers a moment, "We really do need to find out what's wrong with her," she murmured quietly. She was worried, Rose wasn't acting like Rose, and if something was wrong with Rose well, she wanted to help.

He nodded against her forehead and squeezed her hand, still held in his other hand, before stepping back and leading her off after the wayward human.

Angel's smile remained though, knowing what the kiss had meant to the Doctor, and why he'd done it. She couldn't understand humans, try as she might, but, even being as awkward as she was, she always managed to understand him. Maybe not his words, but his intentions, his thoughts, his feelings, just...him. She had noticed a sort of bond that Rose and the Doctor shared when they first met, but as time went on, she and the Doctor had spent more time together, just talking of home, bonding over their shared pain and loss in the War. After Rose had tried to save her father was when she really started to notice a divide between Rose and the Doctor, a sort of drifting. They were still very good friends, but that small something that they had, that bond that could have led to something more had diminished. It was almost as though before that the Doctor hadn't truly seen Rose as a human with all their faults, especially after how quickly he'd dismissed Adam. But seeing Rose break almost every rule and all for very human purposes, he seemed to realize she was, in fact, human, prone to and vulnerable to their temptations and limitations. Near the end she'd seen Rose and the Doctor's bond morph into one of deep friendship…and what Rose had just done was not like her at all.

They caught up with her at a terminal, the girl having already brought up details of the hospital on the screen, "Nope..." the Doctor said, giving it the onceover, "Nothing odd...surgery...post-op...nano-dentistry...no sign of a shop...they should have a shop."

"No, it IS missing something," Angel remarked as Cassandra turned to take a closer look, she could just feel it, there was something out of place here.

"When I was downstairs, those nurse/cat/nuns were talking about Intensive Care," Cassandra said, "Where is it?"

"You're right," the Doctor blinked, seeing that it wasn't on the details, "Well done."

"Why would they hide a whole department?" Cassandra asked. The Doctor pulled out the sonic and flashed the screen, "It's gotta be there somewhere. Search the sub-frame."

"What if the sub-frame's locked?"

"Try the installation protocol..."

Angel frowned, watching her, Rose would definitely not have known or even suggested that. Not even SHE would think to do that. Not that Rose couldn't be smarter than her in certain areas, she was brilliant when it came to understanding situations, she'd helped teach her about the social cues and other things she sometimes had difficulty picking up. And they would talk, about a lot of things. Rose was brilliant in a different way than a Time Lord, she knew things and understood things, but this...she did know Rose wasn't too tech-savvy, especially with the futuristic technology. Rose wouldn't have known to try the installation protocol, she probably wouldn't even know what the sub-frame was either.

"Yeah, course," the Doctor nodded, though Angel could detect the same suspicion in his voice, "Sorry. Hold on…" he stopped sonicing just as the entire wall before them moved downwards, revealing a secret passage behind it.

Cassandra smiled and walked right through it, not noticing the Doctor and Angel exchanging looks behind her, both knowing something was wrong with 'Rose.'

"Intensive Care," the Doctor commented as they entered after her, "Certainly looks intensive."

They walked down metal steps into Intensive Care, finding themselves in a huge, cavernous room where there were rows and rows of green doors on every level.

The Doctor walked along one of the rows, stopping when he felt Angel wasn't behind him any longer. He looked back to see that Angel had stopped and turned to one of the doors, placing a hand on it.

"It's empty…" she looked at the Doctor and nodded to the door beside it, that one was NOT empty.

He reached out and opened it with his sonic. They stared in horror at the sight of the man standing within, covered in boils, surrounded by smoke, staring at them blankly.

"That's disgusting," Cassandra nearly sneered, "What's wrong with him?"

Angel blinked, feeling tears in her eyes at the sight before them. That man, blank though his stare was, she could see a pain lingering within it. And now she knew for certain that Rose wasn't Rose. Rose would have gasped at the discovery, wanted to help the man. Yes, she would have been disgusted, but not by the man, by what had been done to him. She felt her stomach churning at the thought...what had been done TO them. Someone else was responsible for the state of that man and all the others in the cells. Someone had DONE this to them.

How could they?

She was going to be sick.

"I'm sorry," the Doctor breathed, "I'm so sorry."

Cassandra held her nose while the Doctor gently closed the door, turning to open another one, only to see a woman there in a similar state as the man, "What disease is that?"

"All of them," Angel replied quietly, "Every disease you could possibly find. They've been infected with all of them."

"What about us? Are we safe?"

"The air's sterile," the Doctor reassured her, "Just don't touch them," he shut that door as well and turned to lean over the railing, Angel at his side, looking at all the millions of doors.

"How many patients are there?"

"They're not patients," Angel replied almost automatically.

"But they're sick."

"They were born sick," the Doctor stated angrily, "They're meant to be sick. They exist to be sick. Lab rats. No wonder the Sisters have got a cure for everything. They've built the ultimate research laboratory. A human farm."

"Millions of them," Angel looked up and down.

"Why don't they just die?" Cassandra shook her head.

"Plague carriers," the Doctor said, "The last to go."

"It's for the greater cause," a voice said down the end of the corridor. They looked over to see Novice Hame there.

The Doctor turned to her, "Novice Hame. When you took your vows, did you agree to this?"

"The Sisterhood has sworn to help."

"What, by killing?!"

"How does that help anyone?" Angel shook her head, not understanding. This was a hospital, a place for healing, not for murder.

"But they're not real people," Hame argued, "They're specially grown. They have no proper existence."

"What's the turnover?" he advanced dangerously, "Hmm? Thousand a day? Thousand the next? Thousand the next? How many thousand? For how many years? How many?!"

"Mankind needed us," she didn't answer, she couldn't answer, there had been so many she couldn't even begin to give an idea of a number, "They came to this planet with so many illnesses. We couldn't cope. We did try. We tried everything. We tried using clone-meat and bio-cattle...but the results were too slow. So the Sisterhood grew its own flesh. That's all they are. Flesh."

"They are alive," Angel shook her head at her.

"But think of those humans out there...healthy...and happy, because of us..."

"A life that's a result of this is worthless."

"But who are you to decide that?"

"I'm the Angel. Nice to meet you."

"And I'm the Doctor," he added, stepping forward, "And if you don't like it...if you want to take it to a higher authority, then there isn't one. It stops with us."

"Just to confirm..." Cassandra looked over their shoulders, "None of the humans in the city actually know about this?"

"We thought it best not…" she began.

"Hold on," the Doctor cut in, "I can understand the bodies. I can understand your vows. But one thing I can't understand, what have you done to Rose?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"I'm being very calm about this," the Doctor warned her, "You wanna beware of that, calm. The only reason I'm being so calm is that the brain is a delicate thing. Whatever you've done to Rose's head, I want it reversed."

"We haven't done anything."

"Doctor…" Angel said, he looked to see her staring at Hame intently, "She's telling the truth…"

"I'm perfectly fine," Cassandra agreed.

Angel turned to him, "I didn't mean it as Rose was acting different, I meant it as that is NOT Rose…" she looked at Cassandra, "There's someone else inside her."

The Doctor nodded and rounded on Cassandra as well, "These people are dying and Rose would care."

"Oh, alright, clever clogs," she rolled her eyes, before grinning and pulling his tie out of his suit flirtatiously, "Smarty pants," she smirked, whispering huskily, "Lady-killer."

The Doctor stepped back, tugging his tie out of her hands, very uncomfortable, "What's happened to you?"

"I knew something was going on in this hospital. But I needed this body and your mind to find it out. She…" she nodded at Angel, "Was an added bonus."

"Who are you?"

"The Last Human."

"Cassandra?" the Doctor's eyes widened in horror.

"The trampoline?" Angel looked at the Doctor, thinking about what he'd told her of the piece of skin that could talk.

Cassandra glared at being called that, "Wake up and smell the perfume," she snapped, quickly pulling the tube of perfume out of her shirt and spraying it in the Doctor's face. He keeled over, Angel rushing to try and grab him before he fell but Cassandra took advantage of her distraction to spray her too.

"You've hurt them!" Hame gasped, kneeling beside the two, checking to make sure they were ok, "I don't understand, I'll have to fetch Matron!"

"You do that, 'cos I want to see her," Cassandra smirked, "Now, run along! Sound the alarm!"

Hame hurried off as Cassandra just ripped a cable off the wall and set off the alarm.

~8~

Hame ran out of Intensive Care and over to Matron Casp and Sister Jatt as she caught sight of them, "Matron! It's that man and woman. And the girl!"

"We heard the alarm, now get back to work," Casp told her, "Tend to your patients."

Hame hurried off as Casp and Jatt walked into Intensive Care.

~8~

The Doctor woke up to find himself inside one of the cells in Intensive Care, "Let me out! Let me out!" he struggled, leaning forward trying to peer out.

"Aren't you lucky there was a spare?" Cassandra appeared in the doorway, smirking in at him through Rose's mouth, "Standing room only."

"Where's Angel!?" he tried to peer around her.

Cassandra's smirk widened, "You were right Doctor, their turnover is remarkably high. There were quite a few spares," she stepped back as the Doctor squinted through the door, barely able to make out someone in a cell across from him, banging on the other door.

"You've stolen Rose's body," the Doctor glared at her, "And shoved my Mate into a holding cell!"

"Over the years, I've thought of a thousand ways to kill you, Doctor. And now, that's exactly what I've got. One thousand diseases. They pump the patients with a top-up every ten minutes. You've and your…Mate, got about...three minutes left. Enjoy."

"Just let them go Cassandra! Let Rose and Angel go!"

"I'll let Rose go! As soon as I've found someone younger and...less common...then I'll junk her with the waste. Now hushaby! It's show time."

She turned as Casp and Jatt approached her, "Anything we can do to help?" Jatt asked.

"Straight to the point, Whiskers..." Cassandra smirked, "I want money."

"The Sisterhood is a charity," Casp replied dryly, "We don't give money. We only...accept."

"The humans across the water pay you a fortune. And that's exactly what I need. A one-off payment. That's all I want...oh, and perhaps a yacht. In return for which, I shall tell the city nothing of your institutional murder. Is that a deal?"

Jatt pressed a button on a control as Casp grinned, "I'm afraid not."

"I'd really advise you to think about this."

"There's no need. I have to decline."

"I'll tell them! And you've no way of stopping me! You're not exactly Nuns with Guns, you're not even armed."

"Who needs arms when we have claws?" Casp raised her hand and claws shot out of her paws as she hissed menacingly.

"Well, nice try," Cassandra remarked, spinning around to call Chip, who was waiting behind her, "Chip? Plan B!"

Chip pulled a lever beside him and every cell door on the row opened. The Doctor shot out of his cell and over to Angel as she stumbled out of hers, taking her head in his hands, looking at her, making sure she was alright, before spinning to Cassandra, "What've you done?!"

"Gave the system a shot of adrenaline, just to wake 'em up!" Cassandra shouted back, "See ya!" she took off down the hall, jumping out of the way of the infected.

"Don't touch them!" the Doctor called after her, looking back at the nurses, "Whatever you do, don't touch!" he took Angel's hand and the two ran after Cassandra and Chip, the infected swarming around Jatt and Casp.

"I think we should withdraw," Jatt remarked.

"We understood what you did to us," one of the infected men said, "As part of the machine, we know the machine."

"Fascinating," Casp backed away, "It's actually constructing an argument."

"And we...will end it," the man finished, before punching his hand into the electrics, electrocuting himself but causing every single door in Intensive Care to open.

Cassandra screamed as she, the Doctor, Angel, and Chip ran for their lives along the row, the infected starting to leave their cells.

"They're free!" Jatt cried, looking over the railing, "By the Goddess Centauri, the flesh is free!"

The infected staggered slowly towards them, muttering 'stop the pain,' reaching out to them. Jatt found herself backed against the wall as one of them touched her face. She immediately broke out into boils, screaming in pain as she collapsed, dead.

The Doctor, Angel, Cassandra, and Chip paused for a moment, trying to find a way out as the infected swarmed, "Oh, my God..." Cassandra gasped.

"What the hell have you done?" the Doctor turned to her.

"It wasn't me!"

"One touch and you get every disease in the world, and I want that body safe, Cassandra!"

"But there's thousands of them!" Cassandra shouted as the infected advanced.

"Run!" Angel yelled, "Down! This way!" she rushed down a set of stairs, leading them.

Casp picked up a phone, "Quarantine the building!" she shouted before running, just barely managing to escape the infected as the building started to shut down, trapping everyone inside.

Chapter Text

"This building is under quarantine," the speaker stated as shutters sealed off every entrance and exit, alarming the patients and staff, "Repeat, this building is under quarantine. No one may leave the premises. Repeat...no one may leave the premises."

~8~

"Keep going!" the Doctor shouted as they raced down the stairs, "Go down!"

His hearts were pounding away, and not just from the run. Not only was Rose there, unable to act of her own power with Cassandra controlling her every move, but Angel was there. His Mate. Surrounded by infected who could contaminate, and probably kill, you with a single touch.

Disease, he hated that. It was the ONE thing he couldn't protect people from. Harm, witnessing things, sadness, he could do so much to help in that, to protect someone. But disease, that was an internal battle, that was something that couldn't be fought by an outside source. Medicines could help, yes, but it was the body's fight to wage. It made him feel helpless to see someone suffering with an illness because there was nothing he could physically do to make them better, only to comfort them.

If he lost Angel to any of these diseases...he knew, he'd hate himself forever. No, he'd hate himself however long it took for another of the infected to touch him too.

No, he shook his head, grabbing her hand to take the lead she'd been trying to maintain, he wouldn't let any of the infected touch her. He'd protect her from them, he'd always protect her.

~8~

The door to the Intensive Care opened and the infected reached out into the hospital, grabbing onto a woman's arm whispering 'help us, stay with us.'

"Help me!" the woman screamed as her skin broke out into boils.

~8~

Cassandra, Chip, the Doctor, and Angel descended the last flight of stairs and burst through a door into a cellar. Cassandra ran to the lifts, trying to operate them.

"No, the lifts have closed down," the Doctor stopped a moment, trying to get his bearings, "That's the quarantine, nothing's moving."

"This way!" Angel shouted, running the other way with the group on her heel, getting them past a converging corridor just before more infected people began to spill out of it, cutting them off from Chip.

"Someone will touch him!" the Doctor turned back.

"Leave him!" Cassandra grabbed his arm, "He's just a clone thing, he's only got a half-life, come on!"

"Mistress!" Chip called pitifully.

The Doctor looked between him and Cassandra who was running, Angel looking between him and Cassandra as well.

"I'm sorry," the Doctor shouted to Chip, "We can't let her escape!" he turned, grabbing Angel's hand and running after Cassandra.

"My Mistress!" Chip yelled, terrified, before turning and running back, jumping down a waste chute.

~8~

Clovis ran through some sliding doors, "Excuse me..." she called out, irritated, "Can we get some service?" she looked around helplessly at the empty room when she saw the Intensive Care door open and infected emerge.

She screamed, pressing the alarm to seal the Ward and running away.

~8~

The Doctor, Cassandra, and Angel ran into the room Cassandra's skin had been stored in, slamming the door behind them. Cassandra ran to another door at the other end of the room, about to open it when...

"Cassandra, no!" Angel shouted, running over to her and shoving the door shut just as she opened it to reveal infected behind it.

"We're trapped!" Cassandra gasped, frantic, rushing to lock the door, "What're we going to do?"

"Well, for starters, you're going to leave that body," the Doctor told her, pointing at the psychograft with his sonic as Angel stepped back, "That psychograft is banned on every civilized planet! You're compressing Rose to death."

"But I've got nowhere to go. My original skin's dead."

"Not our problem. You can float as atoms in the air. Now, get out."

"You asked for it," Cassandra glared, before opening her mouth.

A cloud of light leapt from her body to the Doctor's.

"Blimey, my head..." Rose muttered, stumbling as Angel caught her, "Angel?" she frowned, shaking her head before looking around, "Where'd she go?"

"Where do you think?" Angel asked, looking over at the Doctor as he stood before them, a bewildered expression on his face, not looking like his normal self at all. Even just standing there, the way he was carrying himself, they could tell it wasn't him any longer.

"Oh, my," Cassandra remarked, from inside the Doctor's body, "This is...different."

"Cassandra?" Rose's eyes widened.

"Goodness me, I'm a man. Yum. So many parts! And hardly used..." she wiggled around crazily, "Ah…ah! Two hearts! Oh, baby, I'm beating out a samba!"

"Get out of him," Angel glared as she stepped up to face her. She felt...something...stirring inside her. It...she couldn't describe it. It was like this...determination, this...pressure growing in the pit of her stomach, her hearts pounding. She wanted the Doctor back, and she wanted him back now.

"Ooh, he's slim," Cassandra ran a hand down the Doctor's body, ignoring the Time Lady, she wasn't quite as much of a threat as the Doctor, she'd seen that much in Rose's mind. The girl wouldn't harm a fly much less her precious Doctor's body, "And a little bit foxy," she raised his eyebrows and looked at the girls, "Rose certainly thought so too…"

"Only at first!" Rose defended, turning a sheepish look to Angel, "Just when he changed. Just for a second. That's it. I promise!"

Cassandra shook her head, "I've been inside her head..." she smirked at Angel as Rose looked even more sheepish, "She's been looking...she likes it…"

Rose gave Angel an apologetic look now. But Angel just shrugged, the Doctor was rather handsome, both of him had been. She had no control over what others thought, if they noticed or not. She could admit this Doctor was handsome, so could others, at least Rose didn't have the same feeling behind her thoughts as she did. She took comfort in knowing that Rose merely thought he was physically nice to look at. SHE, on the other hand, she saw beyond that. He wasn't just handsome, not to her, he was the most beautiful soul, the most incredible mind, the most amazing man she'd ever met. The things they'd bonded over, the ordeals they'd survived, the things they'd lost and suffered and endured, drew them closer than most. The connection they shared ran so much deeper than anyone could understand.

Cassandra frowned suddenly, "Oh, so sad, he loves you though," she eyed Angel, as though trying to see what was so special about her. Before any of them could reply the infected suddenly burst through the doors, making them all jump, "What do we do? What would he do?! The Doctor, what the hell would he do?!"

"Ladder!" Rose shouted, spotting a ladder near the back of the room that went up into the ceiling, into a sort of shaft, "We've gotta get up."

Cassandra shoved Rose and Angel out of the way with an "Out of the way, Blondies!" and clambered up, Rose and Angel hurriedly following after.

~8~

The infected pressed against a glass window in Ward 26, trying to get into the room beyond, while all available people tried to keep them back.

~8~

Chip whimpered as the infected closed in on him in Intensive Care. He quickly scuffled back into one of the cells, shutting the door on himself.

~8~

"If you get out of the Doctor's body, he can think of something!" Rose called up to Cassandra as they climbed.

"Yap yap yap..." Cassandra muttered, "God, it was tedious inside your head. Hormone City."

"We're gonna die if…" Rose began, when a startled shout behind her caused her to stop.

"Let go!" Angel yelled as Matron Casp grabbed her ankle.

"All our good work!" Casp glared, "All that healing! The good name of the Sisterhood, you have destroyed everything!"

"Go and play with a ball of string," Cassandra yelled down dismissively.

"Everywhere, disease! This is the human world. Sickness!"

A diseased hand grabbed Casp's ankle, causing her to wail in pain and break out into boils. She let go of Angel's ankle, falling back into the shaft, down past the line of infected that were climbing up after them.

"Hurry!" Angel shouted as the infected watched the cat fall.

Cassandra whimpered and hastily started climbing again.

"Maximum quarantine," the speaker announced, "Divert all shuttles."

They tried to get to the top of the ladder, only to find the lift doors, their only means of escape, were sealed.

"Now what do we do?" Cassandra groaned.

"Use the sonic screwdriver!" Angel called up.

Cassandra pulled out the sonic from the Doctor's pocket, holding it gingerly, wrinkling her nose, "You mean this thing?"

"Yes, that thing," Rose nodded, seeing it.

"Well, I don't know how, that Doctor's hidden away all his thoughts!"

"Cassandra, just go into me," Angel offered, she didn't want Cassandra going back into Rose, the girl had suffered enough and, as the Doctor had said, the psychograft would just keep compressing her. She didn't want that to happen to Rose and she was sure her mind, a Time Lord mind, could endure more than a human's could, she'd be safe, Rose wouldn't, "The Doctor can open it then. Do it!"

"Hold on tight," Cassandra warned, before leaping out of the Doctor and into Angel.

"Oh...not another one!" Cassandra moaned, "These two hearts are rather irritating," she looked up to see the Doctor shake his head clear, "Open it!"

"Not 'til you get out of her," the Doctor pointed the sonic at her threateningly.

"We need the Doctor!"

"I order you to leave her!" he demanded angrily, a dangerous glint in his eyes, "You give her back to me Cassandra! You give my Mate back!"

Cassandra actually flinched at that, at the threat in his voice, she'd been in his head, she'd seen how he felt about Angel, no matter how blocked most of his thoughts had been, Angel was a rather large topic even on his surface thoughts. She knew exactly what he'd do to her to free Angel. So she breathed out, leaping back to the only person she could that would protect her from the Doctor...into the Doctor himself.

"No matter how difficult the situation, there is no need to shout," she remarked.

"Cassandra you need to get out of him!" Angel called.

"But I can't go into you, he simply refuses, he's so rude. And you don't want me to go into her," she nodded at Rose, "What else am I supposed to do?"

"I don't know! Think of something."

"Oh, I am so gonna regret this..." she mumbled, disgusted, before leaping out of the Doctor's body and into a diseased woman right below Angel, "Oh, sweet Lord...I look disgusting."

The Doctor opened the lift, holding out a hand to Rose, helping her through, "Nice to have you back," he smiled at her before hefting Angel up as well, giving her a quick peck to see she was alright.

"Oh no you don't..." Cassandra grumbled, leaping out and into Angel, being the closest to the closing doors, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground.

"That was your last warning, Cassandra!" the Doctor sealed the door, spinning around angrily.

"Inside her head..." Cassandra breathed as she sat on the floor, an almost devastated look on her face as it slowly scrunched in pain, "They're so alone...they keep reaching out, just to hold us...all their lives and they've never been touched…ah!" she leaned forward, pressing her hands to her head, "Doctor it hurts!"

Rose's eyes widened in shock at those last words, they weren't said with Cassandra's inflection, but Angel's.

The Doctor knelt before her, taking her head in his hands, looking at her intently, "She's compressing you. You hear that Cassandra!" he glared, "Her mind's more advanced than a human's. It's working to expel you but the more it does the more you compress her, you're killing her!"

"Let her in me," Rose offered, kneeling beside the Doctor.

"Rose…"

"Just for now. Just till we figure this all out," he seemed to struggle with it for a moment, "Doctor look at her!" Angel had tears coming out of her eyes from the pain, she was starting to shake, "Please."

She had to do this, for Angel. The girl had clearly been trying to keep Cassandra from compressing her mind more than it already had been, but none of them thought that this would happen. The Doctor, his mind was as advanced as Angel's, but...he realized what had happened and managed to just lock away his thoughts. He'd had experience with other things trying to take over his mind before. Angel hadn't. This was a natural reaction for their minds, a natural defense for Time Lords, to fight back, and that's what her mind was doing, the more she fought, the harder Cassandra's essence would fight to remain planted.

Rose put a hand on the Doctor's shoulder, nodding. She would be alright, as he'd implied her human mind was more simple, it didn't have the defenses, she'd be alright for a while longer, but Angel...Angel wouldn't.

"Alright," the Doctor nodded.

A light flew out of Angel's mouth and into Rose. The Doctor quickly helped Angel to her feet, throwing a glare at Cassandra who had the decency to look both concerned for Angel and guilty.

~8~

Clovis brandished a chair at the trio menacingly when they stepped out onto Ward 26, roaring like a wild animal, "We're safe!" the Doctor shouted, "We're safe! We're safe. We're clean! We're clean! Look, look…"

"Show me your skin!" Clovis demanded.

"Look!" the Doctor held up his hand as did Rose and Angel, though the Time Lady only held up one, the other rubbing the side of her head, "Clean. Look, if we'd been touched, we'd be dead," Clovis nodded and put down the chair, "So, how's it going up here? What's the status?"

Clovis watched as he helped Angel over to the Face of Boe, sitting her down beside the face, leaning her against his container. She had a very severe migraine from Cassandra's stint, "There's nothing but silence from the other Wards," Clovis replied, "I think we're the only ones left. And I've been trying to override the quarantine," she fiddled with a small communication device in her hand, "If I can trip a signal over to New New York, they can send a private executive squad."

"You can't," Angel said quietly, she did know this from her time in some of the human hospitals, "If they manage to get in, then they break the quarantine."

"I am not dying in here!"

The Doctor stepped up to Clovis, standing in between her and Angel, knowing that the woman's shouting wasn't helping the girl's headache, "We can't let a single particle of disease get out," he told her quietly, though with a heavy threat in his voice, "There is ten million people in that City, they'd all be at risk. Now, turn that off."

"Not if it gets me out."

"Doctor…" Angel said after a moment of silence, he looked over at her, "Pass on the rainbow."

He looked at her, just a bit confused, but she just nodded towards the drips, the colored drips. His eyes widened in realization, "Brilliant! Rose. Novice Hame. Everyone! Excuse me your grace, get me intravenous solutions for every single disease. Move it!" everyone ran around, gathering all the solutions, handing them to the Doctor as he tied a rope around his body, Cassandra attaching the solutions to it, "How's that? Will that do?"

"I don't know!" Cassandra replied, "Will it do for what?" the Doctor just turned to the lift and opened it with his sonic, "The lifts aren't working."

The Doctor peered down the shaft, "Not moving. Different thing," he stepped back, ready for a running jump, "Here we go!" he stuck his sonic in his mouth and ran.

"But you're not going to…" Cassandra began, watching as he jumped into the middle of the shaft, clinging to the rope, "What do you think you're doing?!"

"I'm going down!" he replied, flashing the winch with his sonic as Cassandra looked away, exasperated, "Come on!"

"Not in a million years."

"I need another pair of hands. And Angel can't right now. What do you think? If you're so desperate to stay alive...why don't you live a little?"

Infected started to emerge from another quarantined area, "Seal the door!" Clovis shouted just before Cassandra jumped and joined the Doctor as the doors shut behind them.

"You're completely mad. I can see why Angel loves you."

The Doctor smiled to himself at that before shouting, "Going down!" they whizzed down the shaft, screaming, till they reached the bottom, landing on the lift.

"Well, that's one way to lose weight."

"Now, listen, when I say so, take hold of that lever."

"There's still a quarantine down there, we can't…"

"Hold that lever!" he yelled. Cassandra quickly backed down and grabbed it, "I'm cooking up a cocktail. I know a bit about medicine myself," he ripped the tops of the packets of each solution with his teeth and squirted them into the clear container where the disinfectant for the lift was meant to go, "Now, that lever's going to resist. But keep it in position," he opened a trapdoor in the top of the lift, "Hold onto it with everything you've got."

"What about you?"

"I've got an appointment. The Doctor is in," he dropped down into the lift, opening the doors with his sonic to see all the infected people sitting in groups. When they saw him they started to move towards him, "I'm in here, come on!"

"Don't tell them!"

"Pull that lever!" he called as the infected staggered towards him, "Come and get me, come on! I'm in here, come on!"

"Commence stage one, disinfection," the computer announced as they reached him.

"Hurry up, come on!" he beckoned them towards him, the solution showering down into the lift, soaking him, "Come on, come on!" the infected stumbled in, soaked as well, "All they wanna do is pass it on. Pass it on!"

"Pass on what?" Cassandra called down, "Pass on what?!"

"The rainbow!" he laughed as they cured themselves, "Pass it on!"

The infected people started to touch each other, passing on their good health. The boils started to fade, the Doctor grinning widely at it. Cassandra jumped down into the lift as soon as the solution had run out, "What did they pass on?" she asked, watching them, "Did you kill them? All of them?"

"No," the Doctor beamed, "That's your way of doing things," he walked into the midst of the formerly infected, "I'm the Doctor and I cured them," the New Humans looked around at their surroundings, slightly childlike, a woman came up to the Doctor and hugged him, "That's right! Hey, hey! There we go, sweetheart! Look at him..." he ushered her off to sit with someone, "Go on, that's it! That's it! It's a new subspecies, Cassandra!" he took a man by the shoulders and looked at him, "A brand new form of life! New Humans! Look at them, look!" he bent down to look at them all, a huge smile on his face, "Grown by cats, kept in the dark, fed by tubes...but completely, completely alive!" he pointed at Cassandra, "You can't deny them, because you helped create them," she rolled her eyes at him, "The Human Race just keeps on going. Keeps on changing. Life will out! Ha!"

Just then one of the lifts pinged, now working as the quarantine had been broken by the cure being spread. He spun around to see Angel stumble out of it and just look at him, "What are you doing?" he asked, still unable to stop smiling.

"I wasn't going to miss the grin on your face," she replied, walking towards him slowly, he met her halfway, putting his arms around her, "I love that grin."

He just beamed in reply.

~8~

Police officers had swarmed the hospital as the still-wet Doctor, Cassandra, and Angel emerged back into Ward 26, "All staff will present themselves to the officers for immediate arrest," the speaker reported, "I repeat, immediate arrest. All new life forms will be catalogued and taken into care."

Novice Hame was led away by the police, catching the Doctor's eye, before looking down in shame.

"All visitors to the hospital will be required to make a statement to the NNYPD…"

"The Face of Boe!" he shouted, suddenly remembering. He dashed off with Cassandra and Angel following him over to Boe, who looked very much alive and much better, "You were supposed to be dying!" the Doctor said with a smile.

"There are better things to do today," Boe countered in their minds, "Dying can wait."

"Oh, I hate telepathy," Cassandra muttered, "Just what I need, a head full of big face."

"Quiet," Angel hushed her.

"I have grown tired with the Universe, Doctor," Boe told him, "But you and your Mate have taught me to look at it anew."

The Doctor held out a hand to Angel and they both knelt before him, "There are legends you know, saying that you're millions of years old," the Doctor replied.

"There are?" he laughed, "That would be impossible."

"Wouldn't it just? I got the impression...there was something you wanted to tell me...tell us…"

"A great secret."

"According to the stories," Angel smiled.

"It can wait."

"Oh, does it have to?" the Doctor moaned, put out.

"We shall meet again, Doctor. For the third time. And my dear Angel, for the last time...and the truth shall be told. Until that day..." he disappeared in a flash of light.

"That is enigmatic," the Doctor nodded, impressed, "That…that is…that is textbook enigmatic," he nodded to himself and stood with Angel to face Cassandra, who was examining Rose's nails, completely disinterested, "And now for you."

"But...everything's happy," she smiled, "Everything's fine...can't you just leave me?"

"You've lived a full life Cassandra," Angel replied, "Rose still has the rest of hers to look forward to. She deserves to live it in her own body."

"Leave that body and end it, Cassandra," the Doctor agreed.

"I don't want to die!" she cried.

"No one does," Angel said quietly, "But everything, all things, must die."

"Help me!"

"We can't," the Doctor shook his head sadly.

"Mistress!" someone called. They looked up to see Chip running towards them.

"Ah!" Cassandra called, "You're alive!"

"I kept myself safe. For you, mistress."

"A body..." Cassandra remarked, eyeing him, "And not just that, a volunteer..."

"Don't you dare," the Doctor warned, "He's got a life of his own."

"But I worship the mistress!" Chip cut in, turning to her as she winked at him, "I welcome her."

"You can't, Cassandra, you…" the Doctor began.

But Cassandra ignored him, leaping into Chip's body.

Rose fell forward, the Doctor lunging to catch her, "Oh! You alright?"

Rose paused and lost her balance again, Angel catching her this time, "Watch out!" she laughed, straightening Rose again, "Ok now?"

"Yeah…" she said slowly, getting her bearings. She looked up at them, smiling, "Hello!"

"Hello," the Doctor grinned.

"Welcome back!" Angel hugged her.

"Oh, sweet Lord," Cassandra popped up in Chip's body, "I'm a walking doodle."

"You can't stay in there," the Doctor told her, "I'm sorry, Cassandra, but that's not fair. I can take you to the city. They can build you a skin tank and you can stand trial for what you've done."

"Well, that would be rather dramatic. Possibly my finest hour. And certainly my finest hat," the trio glanced at each other, "But I'm afraid we don't have time. Poor little Chip is only a half-life. And he's been through so much. His heart is racing so. He's failing," she blinked, sounding surprised, "I don't think he's going to last…" her legs gave as they all jolted forward to support her.

"Are you alright Cassandra?" Angel asked. Despite what had happened, she could tell something was wrong, she'd seen it, a faint spark of fear in Chip/Cassandra's eyes just then.

"I'm fine," she said quickly, before pausing, "I'm dying. But that's fine."

"We can take you to the city…" the Doctor tried again.

"No, you won't. Everything's new on this planet. There's no place for Chip and me anymore. You're right, Doctor. It's time to die," she swallowed hard, "And that's...good."

The Doctor and Rose helped Cassandra to her feet, "Come on," the Doctor said, "There's one last thing we can do," they slowly led her away.

~8~

The TARDIS landed in the back room of a party, the group stepping out, followed by Cassandra, now dressed in a black cloak styled robe. Rose looked around, recognizing the party as the one from Cassandra's recording, and there she was, the Last Human, laughing and talking to a group, the soul of the party.

Cassandra gasped and turned to the Doctor, "Thank you."

"Just go," he nodded.

"Don't look back," Angel smiled sadly, "You'll lose your nerve."

"Good luck," Rose whispered.

Cassandra walked over to her human past, smiling, watching her.

"And if you'd actually seen them, they were shocked!" the human Cassandra exclaimed, "But don't quote me on that. Oh, naughty. À bientôt!" she turned to walk away from the group, when her future-self approached her.

"Excuse me..." Cassandra called, "Lady Cassandra..."

"I'm sorry, I don't need anything right now, I'm fine, thank you," she made to turn away.

"No," Cassandra nearly shouted, "I just wanted to say...you look beautiful."

"Well, that's very kind, you strange little thing. Thank you very much."

"I mean it," Cassandra stepped forward, looking straight into her past-self's eyes, speaking so sincerely, "You look...so beautiful."

She looked truly touched, "Thank you," suddenly Cassandra's eyes fluttered closed and she fell over, "Oh, my Lord. Are you alright? What is it? What's wrong? Someone get some help!" she quickly gathered herself into her arms, sinking to the floor, "Call a medic or something, quickly!"

"Who is he?" a woman asked.

"I don't know!" she cried frantic, "He just came up to me. I don't even know his name. He just collapsed. I think he's dying. Someone do something! I've got you, sweetheart...it's alright..."

Rose watched, close to tears, as the Doctor and Angel watched solemnly, Cassandra rocking Chip, rocking herself, in her arms.

"There you are...there you are, I've got you...it'll be alright. There, there, you poor little thing..."

They turned and slowly walked back to the TARDIS.

~8~

Angel sat beside the console, having just finished repairing some random wires. Working on the TARDISes on Gallifrey always helped her calm down and quell a headache, letting her focus on just one task, working automatically, not straining her mind any more than it already was. She could feel it just starting to recede.

"Angel?" Rose called. She looked up to see Rose standing a few feet away, a small cup in her hand, "I just wanted to give this to you," she walked forward and handed Angel the cup of tea she'd made, "You were right, I should have let you give the Doctor tea before. It helped him when his brain was shutting down, so I thought it might help your headache."

Angel smiled up at her, "Thanks!" she scooted to the side and patted the grilling beside her for Rose to join her. Rose grinned widely and plopped down. Angel took a sip of the steaming cup and sighed in appreciation, "I think this might actually be better than your mum's."

"Oh God," Rose laughed, "Don't tell her that!"

Angel laughed as well, taking another sip, before turning to Rose, "Will you tell me what it was like? Travelling with the Doctor before you ended up in Van Statten's museum."

"I thought the Doctor told you all about that before?"

"He did. But I want to hear your point of view. I'm sure he left out the bits where you bested him and saved the day."

Rose laughed, "Well, the very first time I met him, I saved him from this pile of plastic goop. That Nestene thing."

"You can't just leave it there!" Angel smiled.

As Rose launched into the tale of her daring deeds and adventures with the Doctor, neither of them noticed the man himself standing on top of the gantry, watching them both laughing and bonding, with a soft smile on his face.

Chapter Text

A procession of monks walked into the yard of an old, manor-like house, when the steward looked up from his work. He rolled his eyes, sighing before making his way over to meet the head monk as he pulled his hood off, "Come now, Father," the steward spoke, "You should know better. You're not welcome here, and especially not today. I've got no time to start old arguments."

"We want only one thing," the father replied.

"And what would that be?"

"This house."

The steward started to chuckle at that, incredulous, "You want the house?"

"We will take the house."

"Would you like my wife while you're at it?" he smirked, clearly thinking this was all a great big joke.

"If you won't stand aside, then we'll take it by force."

"By what power? The Hand of God?"

"No," the father's eyes narrowed, "The Fist of Man!"

Suddenly he thrust his staff into the steward's stomach, knocking him to the ground. He kicked him clear across the yard and signaled for the monks to drop their cloaks, revealing bright red clothing beneath. They swung their staffs, using sharp martial arts moves to fight against the household staff. They made quick work of the men in the yard before running into the house and capturing the maids in the kitchen while a few others ran up stairs and knocked out the head of the house, leaving the lady of the house easy prey.

~8~

The steward came around in the cellar of the manor, chained up with the rest of the staff and the lady of the house, when the door was wrenched open by one of the monks.

"In the Name of Heaven..." the steward breathed, before spotting the lady, "My Lady?!" but the lady's eyes were trained on the monks as several of them dragged in a cage, covered by a sheet, leaving it at the opposite end of the cellar, "What's in there? What is it, what's under the canvas?"

The father stepped to the cage, staring at it, unanswering.

"Father!" he shouted, "Answer me. What's in there?"

The father turned a haunted look to him, "May God forgive me," he and the monks ripped the sheet off and the prisoners screamed at the creature that lay within...

~8~

The Doctor was holding a CD in his hand, showing it to Angel, explaining who the musicians were and the types of music they created while she listened eagerly. For the last 50 years she hadn't had much experience in terms of music, no one who had taken possession of her or the Dalek really thought much of letting them listen to it. The musuem especially rarely played anything of the sort of the speakers, there not being any people wandering around it that needed to enjoy it. Van Statten himself was the sort of man who, if the music played was not of his liking, would likely have the person who selected it removed from the property with memories erased. The only thing she'd been able to hear while she'd been chained up had been the screams of the Dalek as it was tortured. Not exactly sounds she wanted to hear as it only served to remind her that, as soon as they were able to examine the true Dalek within, it would be her turn. Not that she didn't know what that would entail.

She had, at various points, been poked and prodded...dissected even. The humans were just so eager to find out the differences between their species, not all of them had the technology Van Statten had acquired, and she was much easier to get to than the Dalek. They took extra measures, of course, to make sure that she would survive their experiments. They didn't know how human blood would react to hers so they would collect any that escaped during the operations and filter it back into her. They didn't know what medicines or chemicals would react to her physiology, so they didn't use any. She'd been conscious when it happened. It had been hell, yes, but she could take comfort in the fact that, much like those in Van Statten's, those who 'tortured' her took pity on her, felt guilt, because she looked so much like a human. They would try to make her as comfortable as they could while still maintaining objectiveness, gave her time to heal before running more less invasive tests on her. The dissection only ever happened once whenever she changed hands, sometimes not at all, like with Van Statten.

She didn't hold it against the humans for what they did. There were different ways to learn things, they were curious, and she refused to believe that they genuinely wished to harm her through their actions, the humans the Doctor loved so much couldn't be that cruel. She had to believe that, it was the only way she could cope with what happened.

That it just...happened.

And, she supposed, she knew that it wouldn't happen again. Now, looking back on it, when she'd arrived in Van Statten's, when she'd heard the Dalek's screams, she coudln't help the feeling that she was grateful it wouldn't happen to her. It was like, deep down, she just knew that she would get out before they could move onto her. Now she knew, it was because of the Doctor. Somewhere inside her, she must have sensed that he would come, that he would rescue her, and that she would be safe.

It had happened, it was in the past, somewhere that she couldn't live, it wasn't healthy. In their own personal timelines, there was only the present and the future, ones that, she had to admit, were far beyond her wildest dreams and made her so happy she honestly couldn't believe it was real. And it was all because of the Doctor.

Rose finished zipping up her bag and shoved it out of the way, straightening up as she gestured to her outfit, "What do you think of this?" she asked, pulling their attention to her as she looked down at a rather short dungaree skirt with a pinkish shirt and black tights, "Will it do?"

"In the late 1970s?" the Doctor asked, "You'd be better off in a bin bag. Hold on, listen to this," he pushed the CD into a player and 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' by Ian Dury and the Blockheads blared out, "Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Number One in 1979."

"You're a punk!" Rose laughed.

The Doctor just pushed down a few controls before spinning and pulling Angel to him, dancing with her as he sang along, sang to her, "'It's good to be a lunatic…'"

Angel laughed as he moved her around, "And what a one you are!" she laughed, "You're absolutely mad!" she put her arms around his neck, rocking with the music, "A madman with a box."

"Best kind there is!" he smiled, spinning her around.

"That's definitely what you are," Rose smiled, watching them, "A big old punk with a box and bit of Rockabilly thrown in."

She really was so pleased to see them like this, so happy with each other. She'd see it so often in the Doctor's eyes before they'd found Angel, the loss, the loneliness, the guilt, the sorrow...he'd had a terrible burden placed upon him due to the War, a burden she hadn't been able to lift or lighten. No one had, not till Angel came aboard. She'd seen it happening through their travels, seen the light growing in the Doctor's eyes, positively sparkling whenever Angel was around or even mentioned. He'd finally been able to share that burden with someone who had lived through the War, seen the destruction the Daleks had done, seen what their own people had become, and understood. She understood why he'd done what he had and did not hold it against him in the slightest. Angel had been able to give him the forgiveness he so desperately needed to even begin to heal.

And heal he had.

Just looking at them now, it was hard to imagine the beaming man before her had been such a brooding and angry mess. You'd never think it watching how happy he was around Angel.

"Would you like to see him?" the Doctor looked over at Rose as he and Angel continued to dance.

"How'd you mean? In concert?"

"What else is a TARDIS for?" the Doctor countered as he separated from Angel but still danced his way around the console.

"All sorts of things!" Angel laughed, the Doctor chuckling at that. Angel turned to Rose, "We can go and watch the Battle of Trafalgar, or...the first anti-gravity Olympics. Oh! Or we can join Caesar crossing the Rubicon or..."

"Ian Dury at the Top Rank!" the Doctor cut in with a smile, making a mental note to visit all of those places and events, Angel must have been curious about them if she could list them off the top of her head. And he really did love seeing her smile, much like she did with him. He put in some more coordinates, getting them ready, "Sheffield, England, Earth, 21st November, 1979. What do you think?"

"Sheffield it is!" Rose cheered.

"Fantastic!" Angel agreed, poking him in the side jokingly as she passed him to turn a knob he'd forgotten.

"Hold on tight!" the Doctor called. He pulled a lever and they all lurched forward as the TARDIS shook and whizzed through the Vortex...

And then the Doctor started whacking the console with hammer in time with the music.

"Oi!" Angel shouted, half jumping on his back, "Stop hitting her!"

Rose couldn't help but laugh at the sight of the Doctor, swinging away, with Angel dangling from his back.

"Stop it!" she tried again, clinging to him with one arm while her other reached out to grab his hammer-weilding arm.

The Doctor stopped hitting the console just as the TARDIS jerked, sending them all to the floor. The Doctor twisted himself so Angel landed on top of him, all of them just laughing their heads off.

"1979!" the Doctor got up, helping Angel up as well, "Hell of a year!" he turned and pulled Rose to her feet, "China invades Vietnam..." he continued as Angel helped him into his jacket, "The Muppet Movie! Love that film."

"I haven't seen that one," Angel remarked.

He turned and gave her a peck, "We'll watch it after the concert," he promised, taking her hand to give the back of it a small kiss as well, before turning and rushing towards the doors with her, "Margaret Thatcher, ugh, Skylab falls to Earth, with a little help from me, nearly took off my thumb…" he opened the door and they stepped through, "I like my thumb."

Angel smiled at how he could ramble, "I do too," she squeezed his hand, running her thumb over his thumb for good measure.

She loved it when he got like this, so excited that he spoke so quickly that it was hard to keep up. She admitted she often couldn't keep up with him, but...he had a very nice voice. She loved hearing him talk even if she couldn't always follow.

"I need my thumb," he continued, "I'm very attached to..." before faltering, noticing that they were surrounded by Scottish soldiers on all sides, guns raised. They quickly put their hands up, "...my thumb."

"1879," Angel said quietly to him as the guns clicked, ready to fire.

"Same difference," he shrugged.

"You will explain your presence," the Captain of the Guard stated from atop his horse, "And the nakedness of this girl."

Rose looked down at herself, starting to blush, wanting desperately to tug on the hem of her skirt but couldn't lower her hands.

"Are we in Scotland?" the Doctor asked, taking on a Scottish accent.

"How can you be ignorant of that?"

"Oh, I'm…I'm dazed and confused," he started to smile, "As I often am around my lovely," he beamed at Angel, winking at her, "I've been helping her chase this...this wee naked child," and then nodded at Rose, "Over hill and over dale. In't that right, ya...timorous beastie?"

"Ooch, aye!" Rose said with a horrid attempt at a Scottish accent, "I've been oot and aboot."

"No, don't do that," the Doctor whispered to her.

"Hoots mon."

"No, really don't," Angel agreed, just barely managing not to laugh, "Really."

This was a first, it wasn't often she got to laugh at Rose. More often then not, when Rose was trying to be funny, the joke would go over her head...if that was the right phrase. She didn't really understand that one. But she'd miss the joke and laugh once it had been explained. But this...this was really funny.

Rose just smiled at her and nudged her.

"Will you identify yourself, sir?" the Captain called out to them.

"I'm Doctor James McCrimmon," the Doctor introduced, "With my...wife...Angela," he nodded at Angel.

"Wife?" she whispered at him, her eyes wide.

He just shot her a smile, making her smile thoughtfully in return, blushing lightly, before continuing on with his explanation to the Captain, "From the...Township of Balamory. Eh...I have my credentials, if I may..." he gestured towards his pocket and the Captain nodded. He fumbled to get his psychic paper out, showing it to the man, "As you can see, a Doctorate from the University of Edinburgh. I trained under Dr. Bell himself."

"Let them approach," a woman's voice called from the carriage the soldiers were guarding.

"I don't think that's wise, ma'am," the Captain replied, still suspicious of the trio.

"Let them approach."

The Doctor gestured towards the carriage and the Captain nodded again, having no choice but to let them approach, "You will approach the carriage," the Captain stated, "And show all due deference."

The Doctor made an 'aye aye' signal and slowly approached with Rose and Angel, one of the footmen opening the door to reveal Queen Victoria.

"Rose, Angel," the Doctor smiled, recognizing the woman, "Might I introduce her Majesty Queen Victoria. Empress of India and Defender of the Faith."

Angel nodded, "Angela McCrimmon, Ma'am."

Rose curtsied, "Rose Tyler, Ma'am. And my apologies...for being so naked," she laughed nervously.

The Queen just eyed her, "I've had five daughters. It's nothing to me. But you, Doctor...show me these credentials," the Doctor obligingly held out the psychic paper to her and she eyed it, "Why didn't you say so immediately? It states clearly here that you have been appointed by the Lord Provost as my Protector."

"Does it?" the Doctor's eyes widened at that, "Yes, it does! Good! Good!"

"Sums you up doesn't it?" Angel nudged him a bit, "Protector."

He smiled at her softly, "Same with you," he murmured, lifting her hand to kiss the back of it, "An angel. MY angel."

"My Doctor," she whispered, smiling in return.

"My psychic," he continued.

"My thief."

Rose smiled at them, they were just so sweet, but...there was something she was wondering though, "If you don't mind my asking, Ma'am," she turned to the Queen, "What are you doing all the way out here?"

"Right," the Doctor nodded, pulling his attention away from Angel to frown at the Queen, that was a very good question, "Why is your Majesty travelling by road when there's a train all the way to Aberdeen?"

"A tree on the line," the Queen sighed.

"An accident?"

"I am the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Everything around me tends to be planned."

Angel frowned before realizing, "An assassination attempt?"

"What, seriously?" Rose's eyes widened in shock, "There's people out to kill ya?"

"I'm quite used to staring down the barrel of a gun," the Queen informed her.

"Sir Robert MacLeish lives but ten miles hence," the Captain called from his horse, "We'll send word ahead, he'll shelter us for tonight, then we can reach Balmoral tomorrow."

"This Doctor, his wife, and their...timorous beastie will come with us."

"Yes, Ma'am. We'd better get moving, it's almost nightfall."

"Indeed," she agreed, "And there are stories of wolves in these parts…" the Doctor cast a glance at Angel as she stiffened beside him, "Fanciful tales intended to scare the children. But good for the blood, I think. Drive on!"

"What is it?" he whispered to her as the carriage drove past.

"It's more than just a story," she replied, equally as quiet.

Rose turned to them, grinning, not having heard their hushed conversation, "It's funny though, 'cos you say 'assassination' and you just think of Kennedy and stuff. Not her."

"1879," the Doctor shrugged as they turned to follow, "She's had...oh...six attempts on her life? And I'll tell you something else...we just met Queen Victoria!"

"I know!" Rose squealed excitedly.

"It's amazing," Angel agreed.

"She was just sitting there!"

"Like a stamp," the Doctor nodded.

"I want her to say," Rose began, putting on an affected, upper class accent, "'We are not amused,'" before dropping it, "I bet you five quid I can make her say it."

"Well, if I gambled on that, it'd be an abuse of my privileges of traveler in time."

"…ten quid?"

"Done."

"I wouldn't take that bet if I were you," Angel remarked.

He looked at her, amused, "What, you think she'll do it?"

"Not saying," Angel replied with a grin. The Doctor shrugged and turned back to walk, Angel shooting Rose a wink behind his back.

Rose grinned excitedly at the hint that she might just win this bet.

~8~

The carriage pulled up to a large stone manor reading 'Torchwood Estate,' a man, the head of the house, looking down from a window, uneasily, "I can't do this. It's treason."

The head monk appeared behind him, "Then your wife will suffer the consequences. And believe me, Sir Robert...she will be devoured."

Sir Robert closed his eyes, helpless, before making his way downstairs to greet his guests with the monk following. He stepped out of the house just as a footman opened the door to the carriage, helping the Queen down, "Your Majesty," he bowed.

"Sir Robert," she nodded, "My apologies for the emergency. And how is Lady Isobel?"

"She's...indisposed," he supplied hesitantly, earning a frown from Angel, "I'm afraid, she's gone to Edinburgh for the season. And she's taken the cook with her, the kitchens are barely stocked...I wouldn't blame your Majesty if you wanted to ride on."

Angel glanced at the Doctor, seeing that he too had sensed that Sir Robert was trying to warn the Queen away. She looked back, only to find her attention drawn to the bald staff members behind the man instead.

"Oh, not at all!" the Queen replied cheerily, "I've had quite enough carriage exercise. And this is...charming. If rustic. It's my first visit to this house. My late husband spoke of it often. The Torchwood Estate. Now, shall we go inside?" Robert was reluctant though the Queen didn't seem to notice, "And please excuse the naked girl."

"Sorry," Rose smiled bashfully.

"She's a feral child," the Doctor added, "I bought her for sixpence in old London Town. It was her or the Elephant Man, so..."

"Thinks he's funny but I'm so not amused," Rose commented, turning to look pointedly at the Queen, "What do you think, Ma'am?"

"It hardly matters," the Queen shook her head, "Shall we proceed?"

Sir Robert nodded and they began to make their way into the house, leaving Rose, Angel, and the Doctor outside with the guards.

"So close," Rose muttered.

"Makerson and Ramsey, you will escort the property," the Captain commanded, "Hurry up."

"Yes, sir," the two soldiers said, moving off to do their tasks. One of them pulled a small wooden box from the carriage and carried it carefully into the house.

"What's in there, then?" the Doctor asked, watching them.

"Property of the Crown," the Captain said sharply, "You will dismiss any further thoughts, sir. The rest of you go to the rear of the house. Assume your designated positions."

"You heard the orders," a soldier turned to the Doctor, "Positions, sir."

He nodded and they turned to head into the house, "But the guards won't be watching them," Angel remarked quietly, glancing back at the soldiers.

"Who?" the Doctor frowned, turning to her.

"The staff."

"What about them?" Rose asked her.

"They're wrong. They just…feel wrong."

~8~

In the cellar, the prisoners watched the shadows go past the door into the house with fear in their eyes, turning to look at the man in the cage across from them. He simply raised a finger to his lips, shushing them.

~8~

One of the soldiers placed the wooden box carefully inside a safe, "Guard it with your life," the Captain ordered, shutting the door, sealing it in.

~8~

Sir Robert led them to the observatory at the top of the house, the Queen, Rose, Angel, and the Doctor entering with three of the bald staff members. They stopped and stared in awe at what looked like an enormous telescope in the middle of the room, "This, I take it, is the famous endeavor," the Queen commented.

"All my father's work," Robert smiled softly, "Built, by hand, in his final years. Became something of an obsession, he spent his money on this rather than caring for the house or himself."

"I wish I'd met him, I like him," the Doctor smiled, "That thing's beautiful, can we um..." he gestured towards it.

"Help yourself," Robert nodded. The Doctor, Angel, and Rose moved forward to examine the telescope and the wheel next to it.

"Did he use any sort of model?" Angel asked, looking back at Robert over the wheel.

"I know nothing about it. To be honest, most of us thought him a little...shall we say, eccentric. I wish now I'd spent more time with him. And listened to his stories."

"It's a bit rubbish," the Doctor commented, peering through it. Rose turned and went to join Angel next to the wheel, both of them sharing a look at his rudeness, "How many prisms has it got? Way too many. The magnification's gone right over the top, that's a stupid kind of a…" he leaned in to the girls, "Am I being rude again?"

"Yep," Rose said at the same time as Angel said, "Yes."

"But it's pretty!" he turned back to Robert, "It's very...pretty."

"Please ignore my husband," Angel stepped up beside him, rather liking this cover he'd come up with, "More often than not his words get away from him."

The Queen nodded, "I do believe though that the imagination of it should be applauded."

"Mmm!" Rose eyed her, "Thought you might disapprove, your Majesty. Stargazing. Isn't that a bit fanciful?" the Queen gave her a look, "You could easily...not be amused, or something...no?"

"This device surveys the infinite work of God," the Queen looked at the telescope as Angel just patted Rose reassuringly on the arm while the Doctor shook his head at her, "What could be finer? Sir Robert's father was an example to us all. A polymath. Steeped in astronomy and sciences, yet equally well versed in folklore and fairytales."

"Stars and magic," the Doctor remarked, "I like him more and more."

"Me too," Angel nodded, "He reminds me of someone," she smiled at the Doctor.

He grinned and winked at her before he wandered around the telescope once more to examine it.

"Oh, my late husband enjoyed his company," the Queen murmured, before looking at Rose and Angel, "Prince Albert himself was acquainted with many rural superstitions, coming as he did from Saxe Coburg."

"That's Bavaria," the Doctor whispered to them.

"When Albert was told about your local wolf, he was transported," the Queen added to Robert.

"So, what's this wolf, then?" the Doctor asked, recalling Angel's warning that it wasn't just a legend.

"It's just a story," he Robert shrugged.

"Then tell it."

They glanced at each other as Robert squirmed, glancing at one of the bald men uncomfortably, "It's said that…"

"Excuse me, sir," one of the men interrupted, "Perhaps her Majesty's party could retire to their rooms. It's almost dark."

"Of course," he nodded quickly, "Yes, of course."

"Did you see it?" Angel leaned to whisper to the Doctor, her gaze on the bald men. He nodded.

"And then supper," the Queen agreed, not noticing, "And...could we find some clothes for Miss Tyler and perhaps Mrs. McCrimmon? I'm tired of nakedness."

"It's not amusing, is it?" Rose asked the Queen pointedly.

The Queen glanced at Rose before deciding to ignore her comment and turned back to Robert, "Sir Robert, your wife must've left some clothes. See to it. We shall dine at seven. And talk some more of this wolf. After all...there is a full moon tonight."

"So there is, Ma'am," Robert smiled tensely, bowing as the Queen left the room.

Rose huffed but moved to follow the Queen out with a few of the staff and Robert, the Doctor about to go as well when he noticed Angel staring at the telescope. He frowned and walked over to her, gently putting his arm around her waist, "What is it?"

"I don't know," she murmured, reaching out to rest a hand on the telescope, feeling along it, much like she tended to do with the TARDIS, before she flicked a small switch in the side of it.

The chambers of the telescope opened and caught the sun, reflecting through the prisms within and casting dots of rainbow on the floor.

Angel smiled at the sight, "It's beautiful."

The Doctor smiled softly at that, she was so easy to please, just taking joy in the simple things that life offered her, "I've seen better," he whispered pointedly into her ear, nuzzling his nose against her temple.

"Mrs. McCrimmon?" Robert called, appearing in the doorway again, "I've a room prepared," he gestured out to the hall.

"Right," Angel nodded, "Sorry," she smiled, rushing out of the room as the Doctor smiled, watching her go, rather looking forward to seeing her in a gown of the period, she'd probably be lovely.

~8~

Rose walked to the wardrobe and opened the door, finding a brown dress, holding it up to herself in the mirror before quickly putting it back.

~8~

The monks carefully brewed some sort of drink in the kitchen, tossing mistletoe into it.

~8~

Angel stood before a wardrobe, her hand out, gently letting it brush over the different dresses within, feeling the different fabrics.

~8~

Rose pulled out a very frilly gown and held it up to herself, laughing as she put it back.

~8~

The head monk smiled, handing the mugs to the men standing guard.

~8~

Angel's hand stopped on a lovely red gown, smiling softly as she pulled it out to look at it fully.

~8~

Rose smiled, holding up a very pretty, dark blue dress and twirling around, deciding on that one.

~8~

The guards sipped the brew, thankful for the hospitality shown to them.

~8~

Angel placed the dress down onto the bed and began to pull off her duster.

~8~

Rose placed the dress down on her bed, crossing the room and opening another wardrobe, only to scream, seeing a young maid hiding inside, terrified.

~8~

One by one the guards fell down, unconscious, the monks hurrying over to take their guns.

~8~

Angel paused in getting dressed, looking up a moment to stare curiously at the door to the room. She quickly walked over and locked it, listening intently as the sound of footsteps reached her door, testing the knob, before walking away.

~8~

Rose sat beside the young maid on the bed, "They came through the house," the maid was explaining, "The incitements, they took the Steward and the Master. And my Lady."

Rose squeezed her hand, "Listen, I've got these friends, the Doctor and Angel, they'll know what to do. You've gotta come with me."

"Oh, but I can't miss."

"What's your name?"

"Flora."

"Flora, we'll be safe. There's more people arrived downstairs, soldiers and everything, and they can help us. I promise. Come on. Ok? Come on," Rose got up and led her to the door, peering out of it carefully, stepping out when she saw the coast was clear. If they could just make it around the corner and down the hall to Angel's room, she knew they would be safe.

Angel...the girl seemed to have a knack for survival, even better than Cassandra's. She'd not only escaped the Time War, but survived years in captivity, on top of taking in the Vortex AND all their adventures. She always just seemed to know where to go to be safe and, the times she was able to 'sense' danger on the horizon were growing. She'd even seen the girl save people the Doctor couldn't. Like Lynda and the Controller from when they'd gotten involved in that whole Bad Wolf incident. Angel would be able to keep them safe, she knew. She trusted the girl with her life, much like she did the Doctor, between the two of them, there was no doubt in her mind that she and Flora would be safe.

They rounded the corner, stopping short when they saw a guard, unconscious.

"Oh, miss! I did warn you!"

Rose knelt down beside the man and felt for a pulse, "He's not dead...I don't think, he must be drugged or something..."

Suddenly Flora's stifled scream reached her, she spun around to see Flora being dragged away by a monk before she herself was grabbed and pulled away as well.

Chapter Text

In the dining room of the Torchwood Estate the head monk entered, glancing at the people sitting around the table. The Queen and her guard were on one side, with the Doctor on the other, an empy chair beside him, Sir Robert sitting at the head with another empty chair at the other end, "Your young companion begs an apology, Doctor," he called, "Her clothing has somewhat delayed her."

"Oh, that's alright," the Doctor nodded, "Save her a wee bit of ham."

"The feral child could probably eat it raw," the Queen commented with a small smirk.

The Captain laughed heartily at that, just a bit too heartily, "Very wise Ma'am! Very witty!"

The Queen turned an apprising gaze on him, "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."

"Yes Ma'am," he replied meekly, clearing his throat, "Sorry Ma'am."

The Doctor looked back at the staff member, "And Angela?"

"Your wife…" he began, smirking.

"Apologizes for being late," a voice said from behind the man, causing him to stiffen, an expression on his face as though he couldn't believe she was there appearing for only a moment before it disappeared, though the Doctor didn't notice as his gaze was locked on something just behind the man.

Angel stepped into the room and the Doctor could just barely refrain from letting his jaw hit the table as he stared at her. She was wearing a beautiful, dark red, high collared, corseted dress with long sleeves and a slightly rumbled skirt. There were very thin black lines running down it. Her hair, her lovely golden hair, was hanging freely around her face, framing it. It wasn't often she let her hair down, liking it more held back and out of the way in it's claw-like clip. She'd always said that hair could get in the way when repairing a TARDIS and, now, even more so in their adventures. But now, it was hanging, a bit more curled than it typically was given that it had been twisted into the clip. It was only held back slightly by two red clips on either side of her head.

She smiled warmly at the Doctor, whose eyes had widened and stared at her unblinkingly, "I hope I did not keep you waiting long," she recited, trying her best to mimick the Queen's speech, she was dressed the part of a woman from 1879, she thought it best to try and speak like one as well.

"Not at all," the Queen smiled, glancing at the Doctor, who seemed to have forgotten how to speak himself as he openly gaped at his wife.

She could see it exactly at that moment, though she had been able to see it all along, just how much the man loved his wife, though now it would be obvious to most anyone. She'd seen the way he looked at her, how his focus was always on her, he was always touching her or holding her hand. He truly looked at the woman, as he was now, as though she were the center of his Universe, like she was his whole world. Which she didn't doubt, that was how her own husband often looked at her and she him. She could see the young girl looking at him now with the same look, that same softness in her eyes. She stared at her husband as though he were the most remarkable man she'd ever met, as though he held her very heart in his hand, which she could tell both did.

Ah, young love.

Angel nodded her thanks to the Queen before taking a seat beside the Doctor, who had jumped up to pull her seat out for her, ever the gentleman, "You look beautiful," he whispered to her, sincerely, just taking in her appearance as he sat back down.

She blushed but smiled at that, "I might just make a habit of this."

"Of what?" he asked, still unable to take his eyes off her, neither of them noticing the head staff member stepping over to one of his fellows and speaking angrily with the man, both casting glances over at Angel.

"Dressing for the period."

"Why?"

"Captain Jack was right about one thing. You do blend in more," she smiled, "And it's quite a bit of fun too," she blinked, "Do you think we could go to the 1920s one day?" she asked him quietly, "I'd love to be a flapper."

He grinned at her, chuckling a bit as he nodded, anything and everything she wanted he'd do his best to provide. He heard someone clear their throat and glanced over at the Captain, who seemed a bit uncomfortable with their whispered words, still not too trusting of the Doctor. And he noticed that, while the Queen was smiling softly at them, Robert seemed to be very nervous.

"Come, Sir Robert!" he called, drawing the man's attention away from the staff, "You promised us a tale of nightmares."

"Indeed," the Queen nodded, "Since my husband's death, I find myself with more of a taste for supernatural fiction."

"You must miss him terribly," Angel commented softly, looking at the woman sadly.

She looked over at the young couple, "Very much," she said quietly, watching as the Doctor took Angel's hand, "I hope you do not ever have to experience a loss like that as early as I did…" she trailed off, seeming very sad, before shaking her head, "And that's the charm of a ghost story, isn't it? 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...it's the Creator's greatest mystery that we are allowed no such consolation. The dead stay silent. And we must wait," Angel squeezed the Doctor's hand, both of them recalling their people, "Come! Begin your tale, Sir Robert. There's a chill in the air. The wind is howling through the eaves. Tell us of monsters!"

~8~

"Don't make a sound," Lady Isobel warned Rose as they sat, staring at the man in the cage, "They said if we scream or shout, then he will slaughter us."

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

"He's nothing like us," Isobel replied, her voice full of fear, "That creature is not mortal."

The man raised his head slowly and opened his eyes, revealing them to be completely black.

Everyone whimpered and jerked back as Rose stared, scared.

~8~

"The story goes back 300 years," Robert started, "Every full moon, the howling rings through the valley. The next morning, livestock is found ripped apart and...devoured."

"Tales like this just disguise the work of thieves," the Captain cut in, sure, "Steal a sheep and blame a wolf, simple as that."

The Queen looked a bit irritated at that.

"But sometimes a child goes missing. Once in a generation. A boy will vanish from his homestead."

~8~

Rose stood and took a step towards the man, "Don't child!" Isobel cried, but she ignored her, slowly edging towards the man, the chains rattling.

She knelt down when the chains let her go as far as she could get, "Who are you?"

"Don't enrage him," the steward warned.

"Where are you from? You're not from Earth. What planet are you from?"

"Oh...intelligence..." the man spoke.

"Where were you born?"

"This body...ten miles away...a weakling, heartsick boy. Stolen away at night by the brethren from my cultivation. I carved out his soul and sat in his heart."

~8~

"What does this creature look like?" Angel asked, a bit curious.

She was almost certain it was some sort of alien, she just had a feeling. There was little on Earth that wasn't human or known to them, anything that wasn't had to be alien. And, while she wasn't very good at identifying all alien species, she knew the Doctor would probably have a better time of it. But she could help!

"Oh there are drawings and woodcarvings," Robert sighed, "And it's not merely a wolf. It's more than that. This is a man who becomes an animal."

"A werewolf?" the Doctor started to smile, interested now.

~8~

"Alright...so the body's human...but what about you?" Rose asked, "The thing inside?"

"So far from home," it sighed.

"If you wanna get back home, we can help."

"Why would I leave this place? A world of industry, of workforce and warfare. I could turn it to such purpose."

"How would you do that?"

"I would migrate to the Holy Monarch."

"You mean Queen Victoria?"

"With one bite, I would pass into her blood. And then it begins. The Empire of the Wolf! So many questions..." he suddenly lunged forward, making everyone jump, "Look! Inside your eyes! You've seen it too!"

"Seen what?" she gasped.

"The Wolf! There is something of the Wolf about you! You've seen it!"

Rose stared at him, hardly daring to breathe as she recalled the whole Bad Wolf debacle, how she had been ment to become the Bad Wolf, whatever that was, but how Angel had saved her from that fate, "I don't know what you mean."

"You saw her burn like the sun," he hissed, as though reading her mind, "But all I require is the moon."

~8~

"My father didn't treat it as a story," Robert added, "He said it was fact. He even claimed to have communed with the beast, to have learned its purpose."

Angel looked over as the head monk's attention shifted to something out the window.

"I should've listened," he glanced at the monk as well and, seeing him distracted, began to speak quickly, seizing his only chance, "His work was hindered, he made enemies. There's a Monastery in the Glen of Saint Catherine. The Brethren opposed my father's investigations."

"Perhaps they thought his work ungodly," the Queen offered.

"That's what I thought. But now I wonder...what if they had a different reason for wanting the story kept quiet?"

Angel put her hand on the Doctor's arm, leading his attention to the monk staring out the window, chanting in Latin under his breath, the words 'lupus deus est' reaching them.

"What if they turned from God and worshipped the wolf?"

"And what if they were with us right now?" the Doctor agreed, his eyes on the monk.

~8~

The doors of the cellar were thrown open from the side, the ones leading out to the yard, and moonlight flooded in, straight over the man as he pressed his face against the bars with a smile, "Moonlight..."

The prisoners shifted uncomfortably, not knowing what that meant, when suddenly the man shed his cloak and grasped the bars of the cage fiercely.

"All of you!" Rose shouted urgently, realizing what was happening, working it out, "Stop looking at it! Flora, don't look, listen to me. Grab hold of the chain and pull!" she turned and pulled on the chain, "Come on! With me! Pull!" there was a growling from the cage as Isobel looked on in horror, "I said pull! Stop your whining and listen to me! All of you! And that means you, your Ladyship! Now come on, pull!"

They all stood and helped Rose pull the chain, trying to tear it out of the wall.

~8~

"What is the meaning of this?" the Queen demanded as the room broke out into chaos, the monk still chanting, all of them jumping up, the Doctor tugging Angel behind him as he glared at the monk.

"Explain yourself, Sir Robert!" the Captain pulled out his gun and turned it on Robert.

"What's happening?" the Queen looked around.

"I'm sorry, your Majesty, they've got my wife," Robert pleaded.

"Rose!" the Doctor shouted, dropping his accent, "Where's Rose? Where is she?!"

Angel suddenly turned and ran out of the room, the Doctor ran after her, calling, "Sir Robert, come on!"

They both ran out of the room, following Angel, as the Captain turned his gun on the monk, ready to defend his Queen.

~8~

The man was slowly transforming into a wolf, screaming in pain as his skin bulged horribly, his screams turning into growls.

"...three...pull!" Rose shouted as they all tugged on the chain, desperate, "One, two, three, pull!"

~8~

"Tell me, sir," the Captain demanded of the monk, "I demand to know your intention!"

"Lupus deus est," he continued to chant, not at all disturbed by the man holding a gun to him, "Lupus deus est. Lu…"

"What is it that you want?"

The monk stopped chanting and turned to the Captain, "The throne," and suddenly he wrenched the gun aside and hit the Captain across the face, knocking him out as the Queen watched in shock.

~8~

"Where are we going?!" Robert shouted as he followed the Doctor following Angel.

"No idea!" he replied, still following the girl, trusting her.

She'd done this before, on New Earth, in the hospital. When the infected had been swarming, she'd led them down, through corridors, right to Cassandra's hiding room, a safe spot for them to figure out what to do. If she had been able to lead them to safety then, perhaps she would be able to lead them to Rose now.

~8~

The wolf had completely transformed, growling and flexing its claws at the prisoners, making them scream.

"One, two, three, pull!" Rose shouted, and suddenly the chain came free.

"In there!" they heard a woman's voice shout on the other side of the door moments before it was kicked down by the Doctor.

"Where the hell have you two been?!" Rose demanded as the trio ran into the room.

"Dinner," Angel replied, rushing forward to help some of the maids, who had fallen when the chain came free, up and pushing them towards the door.

The Doctor turned to see what was happening and stared at the werewolf with wide eyes, "Oh, that's beautiful!"

"Get out!" Robert shouted to his wife.

The wolf began gripped the bars tightly, bending them, snapping them, before throwing the top of the cage off.

"Just look at you," the Doctor started to smile as he stared at the werewolf.

"Not the best time!" Angel yelled, getting the Doctor's attention back as the staff clambered out of the room.

"Right!" the Doctor shouted, ushering them out, "Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out!"

"Come on..." Rose urged.

The wolf threw the rest of the cage across the room, narrowly missing the Doctor as Angel grabbed his hand and pulled him from the room, all of them running for it, the Doctor slamming the door behind him and locking it with the sonic.

The wolf howled at the moon.

~8~

The Queen stared down the monk, "I take it, sir, that you halted my train to bring me here?"

"We have waited so long for one of your journeys to coincide with the moon," he replied.

"Then you have waited in vain. After six attempts on my life..." she pulled a small gun from her bag and pointed it at him, her hands shaking, "...I am hardly unprepared."

"Oh, I don't think so woman."

"The correct form of address is 'Your Majesty,'" she replied, pulling the trigger.

~8~

The steward handed guns to all his men as they crowded around a room, "Arms...and your strife...ready everyone?" he turned to Isobel, "Take the girls. Get them out through the kitchen."

Isobel shook her head and walked over to her husband, "I can't leave you. What will you do?"

"I must defend her Majesty," he breathed, "Now, don't think of me, just go."

She kissed him, pulling away to hold him tightly, when she felt a hand on her arm, she turned to see Angel standing there behind her with a small smile on her face, trying to comfort the woman as best she could. She hated seeing people sad and...she knew what the woman was feeling. It was what she felt whenever she found herself separated from the Doctor, a terrible fear of wondering what he would do, if he was hurt, if she would see him again. And the worst part was, she was never sure if the tiny feeling inside her, like she just knew he'd be alright, was just wishful thinking or a real 'sensation.' Anything she could do to help the woman, to offer her this one comfort of knowing she'd see her husband again, she would do.

"I'll keep an eye on him," Angel promised the woman who looked unsure, "Trust me," she added, glancing back at the Doctor, "I know how you feel."

Isobel nodded thankfully, seeing and understanding the look, and gathered her maids, "All of you at my side, come on!"

She pulled them through to the halls as Angel walked back over to the Doctor as he tried to use the sonic to release Rose from her manacles, "It could be any form of light modulated species triggered by specific wavelengths, did it say what it wanted?" he asked, very quickly.

"The Queen, the crown, the throne, you name it," Rose remarked.

"Frederik," Angel offered quickly, "Or Fred."

Rose just stared at her, shaking her head, "What?"

"Fred," she repeated, "You said to name it," she nudged Rose, as though reminding her of what she'd said, not seeming to notice that hadn't quite been what the girl had been asking, "I think Fred suits it. I don't know why," she shrugged, "Oh!" she realized something, "Did you have another name in mind?"

Rose blinked, before having to smile at that. Oh Angel. That was SO her. She really would have to explain expressions like that to her when this was all over but, for now, it really was very sweet how the Time Lady answered questions that didn't need an answer, so innocently.

There was a thumping sound from the cellar, cutting off Rose's thoughts, as they looked around. The Doctor slowly ventured into the corridor to investigate, only to see the wolf at the other end. They stared at each other a moment longer before the wolf growled and ran after him. The Doctor ran back into the room, grabbing Rose and Angel's hands and pulling them behind the line of men.

"Fire!" the steward shouted as they shot at the wolf, "Fire!"

~8~

Isobel and the maids ran through the kitchen, trying to get out the back door, only to find it locked, "It won't open, they've sealed us in."

"Oh, my Lady, look!" Flora called. Isobel joined her at the window to see the monks surrounding the house with guns poised and ready, "They'll never let us out. They mean for us to die!"

"Don't say that, Flora!" Isobel pulled the girl into a hug.

~8~

The room filled with smoke from the guns but there was no sign of the wolf, "Alright, you men, we should retreat upstairs, come with me," the Doctor ordered.

"I'll not retreat," the steward said, "The battle's done."

"But the guns didn't stop Fred," Angel told him, not seeming to notice their stares at her dubbing the wolf trying to kill them all as 'Fred' nor their disbelieving looks at how she claimed their guns had failed them, "The guns won't work on him."

"Listen to her, come with us," the Doctor agreed, and probably would have been chuckling a bit at 'Fred' had the situation not been so dire.

"What would a woman know about guns?" the steward sneered, making the Doctor glare at him in defense of Angel, "There's no creature on God's Earth that could survive such an assault."

"I'm telling you, come upstairs!" the Doctor shouted angrily.

"And I'm telling you, sir, that I will sleep well tonight with that thing's hide upon my wall!" the steward turned and stormed across the room to look down the corridor for the wolf. They all watched him carefully. He stood there a moment longer before striding back, "Must've crawled away to die…"

Angel suddenly grabbed the Doctor's arm, a moment before the steward was lifted right up and through the ceiling by the wolf, the sounds of him being devoured drifting down to them.

"There's nothing we can do!" the Doctor called, ushering Rose and Angel out of the room with him while some of the firing squad remained behind, stunned, frozen, before opening fire on the wolf again, both in retaliation of their fallen friend and to try and stop the wolf from attacking again.

They failed.

~8~

Isobel and her maids listened to the firing in fear, "Did they kill it?" Flora whispered.

But the firing just died off, the soft patter of paws on the floor reaching them, drawing nearer and nearer to the kitchens.

Isobel and the maids backed into the corner of the room, Isobel wrapping her arms around them as they crouched down, her eyes fixed on the door when the wolf appeared in the doorway. She screwed her eyes shut and looked away.

The wolf sniffed the air and then...just turned and left.

She opened her eyes and looked around, confused.

~8~

The Queen grabbed the wooden box out of the safe, stowing it in her handbag, before rushing out of the room and down the stairs where the Doctor, Rose, Angel, and Robert had just entered from a room at the bottom. The Doctor shoved the door shut behind them and locked it with the sonic.

"Your Majesty!" Robert's eyes widened, seeing her running down the stairs, "Your Majesty!"

"Sir Robert!" she cried, "What's happening? I heard such terrible noises."

"Your Majesty, we've got to get out. But what of Father Angelo? Is he still here?"

"...Captain Reynolds disposed of him."

"The front door's no good," the Doctor dashed over to them, "It's been boarded shut. Pardon me, your Majesty, you'll have to leg it out of a window," he gestured through a door and the Queen obliged with her head held high.

Robert followed and they found themselves in another room, "Excuse my manners, Ma'am," Robert stepped forward, "But I shall go first, the better to assist her Majesty's egress."

"A noble sentiment, my Sir Walter Raleigh," the Queen nodded.

Angel glanced over at the Doctor, "That IS English, right?" she pointed subtly at the Queen and Robert. She was able to understand them for the most part, but she found she was much better at understanding 'modern' English, like what Rose and Mickey spoke.

"Yeah," he nodded at her, before noticing Robert was still inside, just standing at the window, looking out, "Any chance you could hurry up?" he asked impatiently.

He was getting nervous. The longer they were there, the better the wolf's chances of finding them and he did not want that to happen. Not with Angel there. He didn't ever want her to be in danger, or hurt, not while he was around to protect her. It was his job as her Mate to keep her protected, happy, safe...and these humans really were taking far to long in their escape.

Robert nodded and began to climb onto the windowsill, only to have Angel dash forward and pull him down just before the monks outside, hidden in the darkness, started shooting at him.

The Doctor ran forward, checking to make sure she hadn't been hurt or caught by a bullet before glancing out the window, his eyes wide, "I reckon the monkey boys want us to stay inside."

"Do they know who I am?" the Queen demanded, indignant at the thought.

"Yeah, that's why they want ya," Rose nodded, "The wolf..."

"Fred," Angel added.

Rose smirked a bit, trying not to laugh, when she realized...maybe that's why Angel had given it a name, Fred, much less scary to call it Fred than a werewolf, "It's lined you up for a...a biting."

"Now, stop this talk. There can't be an actual wolf."

As soon as the words had left her mouth, a howling rang through the house. They spun around, alarmed, and ran out of the room, into the hallway with the stairs, as the wolf slammed against the door the Doctor had locked before.

"What do we do?" Rose asked.

"We...run!" the Doctor shouted.

"Is that it?!"

"You got any silver bullets?"

"Not on me, no!"

"There we are then, we run," he decided, turning to the Queen, "Your Majesty, as a Doctor, I recommend a vigorous jog," he jogged in place to demonstrate, "Good for the health. Come on!" he grabbed the Queen's hand and led her from the room, all of them running as fast as they could up the staircase, the wolf managing to crash through the door as soon as they reached the top and bound after them, "Come on! Come on!" they turned and ran down a corridor, the wolf on their tails, almost ready to pounce when…

"Duck!" Angel shouted, half-pulling Rose to the ground with her as they all dropped down...just as the Captain appeared before them, shooting the wolf, making it reel backwards down the corridor. They dashed past him, around a corner, into another corridor.

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

"I have it," she told him, "It's safe."

"Then remove yourself, Ma'am. Doctor, you stand as her Majesty's protector. And you, Sir Robert, you're a traitor to the crown," he readied his gun.

"Bullets can't stop it!" the Doctor cried.

"They'll buy you time. Now, run!" he positioned himself at the end of the corridor, gun ready, waiting for the wolf.

Angel turned, looking down the corridor, her gaze shifting over all the rooms and turns at the end, "This way," she called, leading the Queen and Robert away, down the corridor, followed by the Doctor and then Rose.

She led them right to a library, all of them piling in but Rose, who stopped outside the door and watched as the Captain shot at the wolf, till it pounced on him and ripped him apart.

"Rose!" Angel shouted, seeing her frozen.

The Doctor rushed out the door, grabbed her, and pulled her back into the room, Angel slamming the door shut behind them. The Doctor and Robert quickly got to work barricading the doors with chairs and bits of wood.

"Wait a minute, shh, shh, wait a minute..." the Doctor hushed them for a moment. They listened to the wolf howl and fall silent, "It's stopped."

He looked back to see Angel, holding her hand to the wood of the wall, leaning on it, as though listening through the wall. He watched her close her eyes and focus before opening them, "I think Fred's leaving," she whispered.

"Listen..." Rose muttered, hearing the footsteps of the wolf head away.

The library fell into dead silence as they waited, listening.

"Is this the only door?" the Doctor whispered to Robert.

"Yes," he answered quickly before realizing, "No!" he dashed over to another door, the Doctor helping him barricade it shut.

"Shh!" Rose and Angel hissed at them, listening as the wolf made a sound and then walked away again.

"I don't understand," Rose shook her head, "What's stopping it?"

"Something inside this room," Angel replied as Robert fell down on one of the chairs, his head in his hands.

"What is it?" the Doctor turned to her, confused, "Why can't it get in?"

She looked around the room a moment, as though trying to see what it could be that had kept the wolf back, but she couldn't see a thing, "I don't know," she shook her head.

He stepped towards her and took her hands, "You led us here for a reason. What was it?"

"A feeling. It felt...safe, strong...the walls were strong," she paused a moment to think, before shaking her head again, unable to offer any more in explanation, "I'm sorry."

"It's alright," the Doctor put an arm around her, comforting her. He knew she was getting frustrated. There were times where she would say something exactly spot on, a clear prediction, and other times when she'd not have the faintest idea why she'd said something that made no sense at all. And then...there were times she'd say something so ordinary that she wouldn't even realize it was a feeling or a prediction till much later. Those were the ones that frustrated her the most, to not even be able to tell.

"I'll tell you what, though..." Rose stepped over, trying to comfort the girl as well.

"What?" she looked up.

"Werewolf!" Rose grinned, earning one for Angel as well.

"I know!" the Doctor agreed as the three of them laughed a bit.

"Are you alright Rose?" Angel asked.

"I'm ok, yeah!" she nodded.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am," Robert said from behind them, "It's all my fault. I should've sent you away. I tried to suggest something was wrong, I...thought you might notice. Did you think there was nothing strange about my household staff?"

"Well, they were bald, athletic..." the Doctor trailed, "Your wife's away, I just thought you were happy."

"They were wrong," Angel murmured, agreeing that she had noticed something.

"I'll tell you what though, Ma'am, I bet you're not amused now," Rose turned to the Queen.

Chapter Text

"Do you think this is funny?" the Queen snapped at Rose, glaring at her, completely overwhelmed with the entire situation. She'd been forced into a trap, her life was in danger, she'd shot a man, and her Captain had just been brutally murdered by a gigantic wolf and here this girl was laughing about it!

"No, Ma'am, I'm sorry," Rose answered, slightly shamed.

She just...couldn't help it. Adventures with the Doctor and Angel were just...exhilarating. True, she was scared out of her mind for parts of it, but after the fear faded there was always this rush of excitement, at the knowledge that she had survived! She found herself just so thankful that she'd made it that she couldn't help but be happy, laugh, giggle, hug someone. And, recently, the scared parts had been diminishing and the excitement started happening earlier. She knew why though.

Angel.

Ever since the girl had joined them, since just before the Doctor had regenerated really, she always felt...safer...with Angel around. The Doctor had mentioned repeatedly, joked about it quite a bit, that Angel was psychic. If that was true, she trusted the girl to see what was coming, the dangers ahead, and steer them clear of it, or at the very least, know how to get them out of it. And, if not, she wouldn't fault the girl for it, she could tell Angel got frustrated with how odd her abilities seemed to be at times, and, in those cases, she trusted the Doctor just as much to have some sort of plan to save them.

The adventures were really becoming adventures now, at least in her mind. Yes, she knew there would always be dangers out there. Yes, she knew that she could be harmed at any moment. Yes, she knew any trip could be her last. But...she was starting to think Angel was rubbing off on her because...she just knew that nothing too terrible would happen to her with her Time Lords around. Even here, even now, when she'd been captured and taken prisoner, they'd rescued her. Angel had led them right to her and the Doctor had gotten her out.

She could just feel it, she'd be with them forever.

"What, exactly," the Queen huffed, "I pray someone please, what exactly is that creature?"

"His name is Fred," Angel answered, "Short for Frederik."

The Queen just gave her the most unamused look, clearly thinking she was jesting.

"You'd call it a werewolf," the Doctor scratched his ear, "But technically it's a more of a lupine wavelength hemovariform."

"And should I trust either of you, sir?" the Queen narrowed her eyes at him, "Your wife, who makes friends with beasts! Who gives them names! Or you, who change your voice so easily? What happened to your accent?"

The Doctor stood there, realizing he'd completely forgotten the Scottish accent, "Oh...right, sorry…"

"I'll not have it! No, sir, not you...not your wife...not that thing...none of it. This is not my world."

~8~

Isobel stood, looking at the monks outside, squinting as she made out a garland of mistletoe around their necks, "Mistletoe...they're all garlanded in mistletoe and the wolf doesn't attack them. Who brought this into the kitchen?"

"It must've been the Brethren," Flora replied, looking at the mistletoe still lying on the table and scattered around the room.

"Gather it up. Quickly. Every last scrap!" the maids began to clamor to gather the green plant up, "Quick, now!"

~8~

The Doctor touched the woodwork of the library, "The walls are strong," he murmured, recalling Angel's words as he eyed a carving of a mistletoe plant on the door, "Mistletoe...Sir Robert, did you father put that there?"

"I don't know, I suppose..." he murmured.

"On the other door, too..." the Doctor thought out loud, "A carving wouldn't be enough...I wonder..." he turned and quickly licked the woodwork, making Rose and Angel grimace, "Viscum album, the oil of the mistletoe, it's been worked into the wood like a varnish!" he paused, turning to face Angel with a grin, "That means we're standing under mistletoe," he told her, pulling her into his arms. He gave her a quick peck on the lips before kissing her once more, deeper, he just...could never get enough of kissing her, one was never enough for him. He beamed as she gave him a third peck, it seemed the same was true for her, before spinning around to face Robert, "How clever was your dad?! I love him! Powerful stuff, mistletoe. Bursting with lectins and viscotoxins."

"And the wolf's allergic to it?" Rose asked, grinning at Angel as she tried to keep a blush off her face. Those two really were so sweet together it just made her feel giddy to watch them. How in the world she ever thought SHE and the Doctor could be made her feel a bit ridiculous now. She could see it, there really wasn't anyone else for the Doctor but Angel. And they both deserved each other so much if they made each other that happy.

"Well, it thinks it is. The monkey-monk-monks need a way of controlling the wolf, maybe they trained it to react against certain things."

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

"Oh, your father got all the brains, didn't he?"

"Being rude again," Angel muttered to him.

"Good. I meant that one," he strode over to the bookshelves, "You want weapons? We're in a library. Books! Best weapons in the world," he put his glasses on, "This room's the greatest arsenal we could have," he pulled a book of the shelf and chucked it to Rose, "Arm yourself."

~8~

The maids and Isobel quickly worked in the kitchen, chopping up the mistletoe, "No sound of the wolf, my Lady," Flora commented, "Perhaps it's gone?"

"Perhaps it's toying with us," she countered, "But my husband's up there. And if there's any chance he's still alive, then by God, I'll assist him."

Flora threw the mistletoe into the boiling water.

~8~

Rose, the Doctor, and Robert were frantically leafing through the books, talking over one another, trying to find something to help as Angel stood on a table that had been pushed up against the shelves behind the Doctor, just looking at the bindings of the books before her, running her hand along them gently.

"Biology, zoology...there might be something on wolves in here…" Rose muttered.

"Hold on, what about this?" the Doctor tossed a book to Rose.

"...some form of explosive..." Robert remarked, moving through his own book.

"Hmm, that's the sort of thing."

Angel paused in her minstrations, her hand lingering on the spine of a particular book, a religious text from what she could make of the faded title. She gently ran a finger along the chipped gold lettering before she blinked, "Doctor," she called quietly.

He turned around to see her pull out the book and hand it to him. He opened it and flicked through it quickly, "Ooh..." and a grin spread across his face. He jumped down from where he'd been sitting on the edge of the same table, holding the book and turning to place it on the table, "Look what your old dad found," the Doctor looked at Robert, "Something fell to Earth," he pointed to the open page where there was an illustration of a rock falling to Earth as Rose and Robert looked on.

"A spaceship?" Rose asked.

"A shooting star," Robert corrected, reading, "'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."

"But that's over three hundred years ago. What's it been waiting for?"

"Maybe just a single cell survived," the Doctor suggested, "Adapting slowly down the generations. It survived through the humans. Host after host after host."

"But why does it want the throne?" Robert frowned.

"To wear the crown that sits upon it," Angel answered, kneeling down on the table, turning the book to face her as she frowned at the illustration.

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

"Imagine it..." the Doctor thought in foreboding, "The Victorian Age accelerated...starships and missiles fueled by coal and driven by steam...leaving history devastated in its wake..."

"Sir Robert!" the Queen stood suddenly as Robert went to her, unable to bear them talking about the end of her reign, what might happen to her beloved country if the wolf were to attack her, "If I am to die here..."

"Don't say that, Your Majesty," he cut in.

"I would destroy myself rather than let that creature infect me," she nearly spat, before taking a breath, remaining as strong as her years on the throne had made her, "But that's no matter. I ask only that you find some place of safekeeping for something far older and more precious than myself."

"Hardly the time to worry about your valuables," the Doctor commented as she opened her bag.

"Thank you for your opinion," she remarked sarcastically, "But there is nothing more valuable than this," she pulled out the Koh-I-Noor and held it in her hand.

"Is that the Koh-I-Noor?" Rose's eyes widened.

"Oh, yes...the greatest diamond in the world," the Doctor nodded as he helped Angel down from the table, the three of them stepping closer for a better look.

"Given to me as the spoils of war," the Queen recalled, "Perhaps its legend is now coming true. It is said that whoever owns it must surely die."

"Well, that's true of anything if you own it long enough. Can I..." he held out a hand for the diamond, the Queen handing it over gingerly. He put his glasses down his nose to look at it closely, "That is so beautiful," he muttered, before sending a soft smile at Angel, "Like you."

"Stop it," she nudged him gently, her blush returning as he grinned widely at the reaction.

He loved seeing that blush, what's more, he loved knowing HE was the one to make her blush so beautifully. He took it as an enormous compliment that she only blushed upon HIS advances. He remembered Jack, how the man had flirted blatantly with Angel, right in front of him. True, Angel hadn't been his Mate then, but she had been HIS. Even then he'd felt the possessiveness, the jealousy, the anger, rising in him at the thought of another man taking her away from him, or trying to. He'd never wanted to punch a man more for looking at someone than he did Jack during those first few minutes of meeting him. Thankfully the relationship Jack had tried to forge with Angel, and the one he himself began to form with Jack, had changed dramatically once both men realized how uncomfortable she was with Jack's flirting. He was more at ease around Jack, somewhere in the back of his mind, recognizing the fact that Angel wouldn't ever be Jack's, that the man wasn't a threat. And Jack had toned down the flirting, become more playful in an older brother sort of way with the girl, something he was grateful for. Not only did it mean Jack backed off, but...it also meant someone else was as keen to protect Angel, should anything happen, as he was.

He sighed internally at that though. Even then he'd harbored feelings for Angel on some level. If only he'd been able to recognize them and act on them. He knew his regeneration had thrown her, his sudden ability to show his deeper emotions shocking her a bit. Looking back on it now, it was so obvious to him how he felt about the Time Lady, how much he cared for, how much he loved, her. All he could do, he supposed, was make sure she was always aware of it now and in the future.

"How much is that worth?" Rose wondered, staring at the diamond as it glittered in the moonlight.

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

"Good job my mum's not here. She'd be fighting the wolf off with her bare hands for that thing."

"And she'd win," Angel remarked, getting a laugh from Rose.

"Where is the wolf?" Robert asked, walking around, "I don't trust this silence."

"Why do you travel with it?" Angel looked over at the Queen.

"My annual pilgrimage," she replied, "I'm taking it to Helier and Carew. The Royal Jewelers at Hazelhead. The stone needs recutting."

"Oh, but it's perfect," Rose frowned.

"My late husband never thought so."

"Now, there's a fact," the Doctor pulled off his glasses, "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 gently handed the stone to Angel to see if she might feel something off it.

"He always said..." the Queen swallowed hard at the mention and memory of her husband, "The shine was not quite right. But he died with it still…"

"Unfinished," Angel finished for her.

The Doctor's eyes widened, "Unfinished...oh, yes!" he took the jewel and tossed it back to the Queen as he spoke very fast, thinking it through, "There's a lot of unfinished business in this house. His father's research, your husband, Ma'am, he came here and he sought the perfect diamond, hold on, hold on…" he ruffled his hair violently, trying to work it out, "All these separate things, they're not separate at all, they're connected! Oh, my head, my head! What if, this house, it's a trap for you, is that right, Ma'am?"

"Obviously," she agreed.

"At least, that's what the wolf intended. But! What if there's a trap inside the trap?"

"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."

"That wolf," Angel's voice cut in.

They turned to see her staring up as a bit of plaster dust fell upon them from above. They followed her gaze to see the werewolf standing on the glass dome of the library.

"Hello Fred."

The glass started to crack and they ran for the door.

"Out!" the Doctor shouted, "Out! Out!" he and Robert began to destroy their barricade, running out into the corridor just as the wolf fell through the glass dome, landing square on its feet before bolting after them.

"Your Majesty!" Robert shouted as the Doctor quickly shut the doors behind them and they ran as fast as they could down the corridor.

"Gotta get to the observatory!" the Doctor yelled. They careened around a corner, the wolf close behind.

Rose turned around and stared at it in horror, screaming as it pounced at her, when she was suddenly pulled away by Angel as Isobel appeared, throwing a pan of boiling mistletoe water at the wolf. Rose screamed again but the wolf just bound back and ran away, hurt.

The Doctor ran over, pulling Angel into his arms as he held her tight, before letting out a breath of relief and turning to Isobel, "Good shot!"

"It was mistletoe!" Isobel explained.

He ran down the hallway to check after the wolf as Robert ran to Isobel, "Isobel!" he shouted, kissing her, "Get back downstairs."

"Keep yourself safe."

He nodded, kissing her once more, "You go."

Isobel looked over at Angel as the girl nodded, renewing her promise to the woman as she and the maids rushed past Robert, running back towards the kitchen, "Girls, come with me. Down the back stairs, back to the kitchen. Quickly!"

As they ran off Angel glanced back at Robert to see him looking at his wife as though he might not see her again.

"Come on!" the Doctor yelled, running past them again.

"The observatory's this way!" Robert called, leading them up the central staircase, the wolf, now recovered, giving chase once more. They finally arrived at the observatory, the Doctor in the lead.

"No mistletoe on these doors. Your father wanted the wolf to get inside! Get inside! I just need time! Is there any way of barricading this?!"

"Just do your work and I'll defend it."

"If we could bind them shut with rope or something…"

"I said I'd find you time, sir," Robert replied seriously as Rose and the Queen stared at him, aghast, realizing what he was offering, no, what he was intending, to do, "Now get inside."

The Doctor looked at him a moment, "Good man," Robert closed the door as the Doctor turned to the Queen, "Your Majesty, the diamond."

"For what purpose?" she asked, gripping the diamond tightly in her hand.

"What it was being cut for," Angel answered her, though her gaze remained on the doors.

The Queen stared at her a moment, that girl...there was something...off...about her. She spoke so strangely, seemed to have a sense about her of things to come, seemed to understand the wolf even, naming it. It unsettled her, no one should possess that power, no one but God himself. But now, now was not the time, if this could save her, if this could stop the wolf...she handed it over to the Doctor.

He ran over to the telescope, "Rose! Angel!" Rose ran over to the Doctor, "Lift it! Come on!" Rose started to help him, both struggling to turn the wheel, "Angel!"

"I can't," she replied, not moving from her spot, still staring at the doors Robert had closed behind him. He looked at her oddly a moment and she seemed to sense that, glancing over at him, "I promised his wife."

He nodded, getting back to the telescope, now more determined than ever to get it working. The wolf was just outside the doors, and Angel...she was standing right by them.

"Is this the right time for stargazing?" Rose asked sarcastically.

"Yes, it is," he strained.

Angel walked to the door, standing behind it, her hands on the knobs, ready. She had to time this perfectly otherwise she knew Robert would surely die, she couldn't let that happen. She couldn't let Isobel suffer that fate, it was not something she would ever wish on anyone to lose the person you loved with all your heart, like she did the Doctor. She closed her eyes, focusing, pulling the feeling she often got, her intuition, and forcing it to the surface, something she had, admittedly, never truly attempted before and was praying would work now. She had tried to sense for the Doctor when he'd gotten trapped in the Big Brother show, but that was more her trying to let herself feel as opposed to burying the feelings down. This...this was different...this time, she was actively trying to force a feeling, to force that sensation to the surface...

"I committed treason for you," she heard Robert say through the door, "And now my wife will remember me with honor!"

She quickly pulled the door open as the man slashed at the beast, forcing it back for just a moment.

And in that spilt moment, she pulled him back into the room, slamming the door shut and yanking the sword out of his hand to shove between the door handles, locking it from within.

"Get back!" she shouted, ushering the stunned Robert further into the room before running to help the Doctor and Rose.

The Queen lifted her crucifix as the wolf battered against the door.

"You said this thing doesn't work!" Rose yelled as she and Angel struggled on their side to raise the telescope.

"It doesn't work as a telescope because that's not what it is!" the Doctor called back, remembering the specks of rainbow that Angel had observed before, the result of sunlight, "It's a light chamber! It magnifies the light rays like a weapon. We've just got to power it up!"

"But there's no electricity!" Rose replied, the Doctor just grunted. Rose's eyes widened, realizing, "Moonlight! But it needs moonlight! It's made by moonlight!"

"Then how come humans can drown?" Angel remarked, "You're mostly water! Now come on!" they finally started to line it up with the moon, "A little more!"

It had just aligned when the wolf broke through the door. Light spewed out of the end of the light chamber and onto the floor too far away from the wolf. It turned on the Queen as Robert rushed forward to try and pull her back but the Doctor just dove across the floor and threw the Koh-I-Noor into the light. A brilliant prismatic beam of light hit the wolf, lifting him off the floor and into the air, turning him human once more.

"Make it brighter," the poor boy pleaded, "Let me go."

The Doctor looked over at Angel, who flicked the same switch on the light chamber she'd touched before, opening all the chambers around the prisms, magnifying the light. With one final howl from the wolf form, the creature vanished and the light shut off.

Rose breathed a huge sigh of relief, Robert looking as though he wasn't sure he'd really just survived that, while the Queen stared intently at a wound on her wrist she had received only a moment before Robert had pulled her away.

"Your Majesty?" the Doctor stepped up, seeing her looking at her wrist, "Did it bite you?"

"No, it's...it's a cut," she waved him off.

"If that thing bit you…"

"It was a splinter of wood when the door came apart."

"Let me see," he reached for her hand.

The Queen pulled away from him, "It is nothing!"

The Doctor and Angel just gave her a look, not believing her at all.

~8~

Rose, the Doctor, and Angel knelt before Queen Victoria the next morning, Robert and Isobel standing on either side of the Queen, watching, "By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub thee, Sir Doctor of TARDIS," she tapped him on the shoulders with a sword, before moving onto Angel, "By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub the, Dame Angela of TARDIS," she did the same to Angel before moving to Rose, "By the power invested in me by the Church and the State, I dub the, Dame Rose of the Powell Estate," she tapped her on the shoulders as well, "You may stand."

They all stood, "Many thanks, Ma'am," the Doctor nodded.

"Thank you," Angel smiled at her.

"Thanks!" Rose beamed, "They're never going to believe this back home."

"Your Majesty, you said last night about receiving a message from the great beyond," the Doctor added, "I think your husband cut that diamond to save your life. He's protecting you even now Ma'am, even from beyond the grave."

"Indeed," she agreed, "Then you may think on this, also: that I am not amused."

The Doctor groaned while Rose and Angel just high-fived each other, Angel initiating it this time, much to Rose's delight.

"Yes!" Rose exclaimed.

"Psychic," the Doctor muttered to Angel.

"Thief," she shot back playfully.

"Not remotely amused!" the Queen continued angrily, "And henceforth...I banish you."

"I'm sorry?" the Doctor asked as they looked at her, shocked by the turn of events.

"I rewarded you, Sir Doctor, and your wife," she replied, trying in vain to keep calm, "And now you are exiled from this empire, never to return. 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. But 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 managed to stray so far from all that is good. And how much longer you will survive this...terrible life," she stepped away from them, "Now leave my world. And never return."

As they turned to leave, they cast one last look back at those still standing in the room. Angel caught the eye of Isobel, who could only smile gently at her with tears in her eyes and mouth 'thank you' with a quick glance at her husband who stood on the other side of the Queen, very much alive, she knew, thanks to her. She nodded in reply before turning to leave with the Doctor and Rose a soft smile on her face as well.

~8~

They hitched a lift off the back of a farmer's cart, hopping off when they neared the TARDIS, still sitting in the middle of the field where they'd left her.

"Cheers, Dougal!" the Doctor waved to the farmer as they walked away and the farmer continued on, "You know, the funny thing is, Queen Victoria did actually suffer a mutation of the blood! It's historical record, hemophiliac. It used to be called the Royal Disease! But it's always been a mystery because she didn't inherit it. Her mum didn't have it, her dad didn't have it, it came from nowhere!"

"What, and you're saying that's a wolf bite?" Rose looked at him as he walked arm-in-arm with Angel.

"Hemophilia could be a code word," Angel reasoned.

"For werewolf?"

"Could be!" the Doctor defended.

"Queen Victoria's a werewolf?"

"And the former Mayor of Cardiff was a Slitheen," Angel remarked, matter-of-factly.

The Doctor laughed at that point before continuing, "And her children had the Royal Disease. Maybe she gave them a quick nip."

"So, the Royal Family are werewolves?" Rose muttered.

"Well…maybe not yet. I mean, a single wolf cell could take..."

"A hundred years to mature..." Angel answered.

He nodded, taking her word for it, "So they might be ready by…oh…"

"Early 21st century."

The Doctor had to smile at that, moving to take her hand and kiss the back of it. He loved it when she answered things like that, so confidently. Half the time she didn't even realize how remarkable that was. To her, it was simple time-telling, but not even he was that apt at it and she did it with such ease. She just had this amazing sense of time, she could guess, right down to the second, how long something would take or what time it was, things like that. No idea how she did it, he didn't think it had anything to do with her 'feelings' or being a precog, not that he could tell, but it was still incredible.

"Nah!" Rose shook her head, "That's just ridiculous!" but then she paused to consider it, "Mind you…Princess Anne..."

"I'll say no more," the Doctor grinned.

"And if you think about it..." Rose really began to think now, "They're very private. They plan everything in advance. They…they could schedule themselves around the moon, we'd never know!"

The Doctor sniggered as they reached the TARDIS, opening the door for them all to head in.

"They like hunting! They love blood sports!"

Angel laughed as the TARDIS began to dematerialize.

"Oh my God, they're werewolves!"

~8~

That night at the Torchwood Estate, the Queen stepped towards her carriage with Robert and Isobel, "What will you do?" she looked at Robert and his wife, "Will you stay here?"

"No," Robert shook his head, after that nightmare, all he wanted was to get his wife as far away from that house as he could, "I think we shall sell it."

"I'd pull this place down," Isobel remarked quietly, still in shock over what had happened, what had nearly happened. Robert had told her, told her of how he'd fully intended to die fighting the beast off, to restore his honor. But then...how Angel had pulled him back inside just in time to save him and still keep the wolf at bay. To come that close to losing the man she loved...she had never been more thankful for anything in her life. She honestly couldn't say what she would do without her husband.

The Queen glanced at the sign of Torchwood and sighed grimly, "Although we may not speak of these events in public, they'll not be forgotten. I promise you that. The terrible nightmare you both endured...the ingenuity of your father...they will live on."

"But how?" Robert frowned.

"I saw last night, that Great Britain has enemies beyond imagination. And we must defend our borders on all sides. I propose an institute to investigate these strange happenings and to fight them. I would call it 'Torchwood.' The Torchwood Institute. And if this Doctor or this Angel should return, they should beware…because Torchwood will be waiting."

Robert and Isobel exchanged a look of distress. Although they had suffered terribly, Angel, and admittedly the Doctor as well, had saved their lives…they could only hope that, should the two ever encounter Torchwood, they would be ready.

~8~

Angel was lying on the grilling of the TARDIS control room as the Doctor worked beneath it, just reorganizing some things.

"Doctor…" she began.

"Yeah?" he called.

"Will you tell me about your adventures before the War?"

He popped up from the grilling, looking at her curiously, "Why?"

She rolled on her side to look at him for a moment, reaching out to touch his face lightly, just tracing it, she was getting used to his new face and she rather enjoyed being able to touch him, "Just a feeling," she smiled, about to pull her hand away when he snatched it and linked their fingers together, "I think I'd rather enjoy hearing them."

He grinned widely and pulled himself up, dropping the top of the grilling down, and lying down beside her, never letting go of her hand, and recounting his most favored adventures with his dearest companions.

Not even noticing the sly, knowing smile on her face.

Chapter Text

The headmaster of the school descended a flight of stairs and headed for his office, when he spotted a small girl sitting outside it, waiting. At first he walked right past her but paused and looked back at her, "What do you want?"

"The nurse sent me, sir," the girl replied, "I was in English and I got a headache."

"Then don't bother me, go home."

"I can't."

"Why? Is your mother at work?"

"I live in Ambrose Hall. The children's home."

"No parents," he started to smile, "No one to miss you?" she shook her head, "I see why the nurse sent you. You poor child. Poor...thin, child. Come inside," he turned to his office and walked in, the girl following him, "It's nearly time for lunch," he shut the door behind him.

Suddenly there was a horrible screech and the sound of flapping from within before the girl screamed.

~8~

The school bell rang and the stairways were crowded with children hurrying to get to their next lesson. A boy ran into the science lab and went to sit on the bench just as the door opened and a familiar pair of white trainers stepped inside. The Doctor plunked his briefcase onto the teacher's desk and turned his attention to the class, "Good morning class," he smiled, "Are we sitting comfortably?" he waited a moment before turning and writing 'PHYSICS' on the whiteboard, underlining it, "So. Physics..." he replaced the cap and tossed it back on the desk, turning to the class, "Physics. Eh? Physics. Phyyyyyyyysics. Physics! Physics. Physics, physics, physics, physics, physics, physics, physics," the class looked bemused as he sniffed loudly, "I hope one of you is getting all this down. Um, ok, let's see what you know. Two identical strips of nylon are charged with static electricity and hung from a string so they can swing freely. What would happen if they were brought near each other?" a small boy with glasses put his hand up, "Yes, uh, what's your name?"

"Milo," the boy replied.

"Milo! Off you go."

"They'd repel each other because they have the same charge."

"Correctamundo!" the Doctor paused in thought, "A word I have never used before and hopefully never will again. Question two, I coil up a thin piece of micro-wire and place it in a glass of water. Then I turn on the electricity and measure to see if the water's temperature is affected. My question is this, how do I measure the electrical power going into the coil?"

Only Milo's raised his hand to answer.

"Someone else?" he looked around to see no one else wanted to even attempt the answer, "Nope...ok, Milo, go for it."

"Measure the current and PDs in an ampmeter and a voltmeter," Milo replied, amazing his classmates.

"Two to Milo!" the Doctor nodded and leaned against a table, looking at him, "Right then, Milo, tell me this, true or false, the greater the dampening of the system, the quicker it loses energy to its surroundings."

"False."

"What is a non-coding DNA?"

"DNA that doesn't code for a protein."

"65,983 times 5?"

"329,915."

Some of the students started to look a little disturbed at that but the Doctor continued, "How do you travel faster than light?"

"By opening a quantum tunnel with an FTL factor of 36.7 recurring."

The Doctor gaped at him, that was right!

~8~

Angel, dressed similarly to how she always dressed, though her crocheted, lacy duster was replaced by a solid TARDIS blue cardigan, blinked and stared at the line of students growing along her desk. She'd taken a position as the librarian, much like the Doctor had gotten a job as the physics teacher. She really hadn't known what she could contribute to a school in terms of a cover story. She wasn't very physical so the PE teacher was out, nor did she think herself capable of teaching any of the subjects, save perhaps history, but that spot had been filled by one of the new teachers. She wasn't very good at keeping track of things, often would her mind wander and things got lost so secretary was crossed off. She doubted she'd be able to be a tech teacher as she was better at TARDISes than any other mechanical or technological device. And...well...the last time she'd tried to cook anything they'd had to vacate the TARDIS for three hours till the smoke from the kitchen cleared even with the extractor fans running at full pelt.

She was fairly certain the TARDIS had been laughing at her after that attempt.

She'd pouted a bit, she'd been trying to make a cake as a treat for Rose and the Doctor, just on a whim, little cupcakes really with those edible ball-bearings on top, but it had blown up in her face...literally exploded...and then set fire to the kitchen. The Doctor though, ever the doctor in wanting to make her feel better, had just smiled and remarked that he was actually happy that she wasn't a great cook. She'd been confused by that, not sure why he was so pleased she'd basically failed, and he'd just said that...she was perfect. To him, she really was just...perfect. She was just so sweet and kind and forgiving and...full of light...that there were times he doubted she was real. He actually admitted to her that he did find himself pinching himself at times just to make sure she wasn't a dream. He honestly couldn't believe that a girl like her, so...good...could ever love a man like him, could even exist really. The fact that she couldn't cook, well, it made her real. That flaw (because he truly couldn't seem to find another despite her protests) made her that much more real to him. She wasn't just some figment of his imagination, a result of him finally going mad, but truly there and his.

And then he'd grinned and said that it would give him the chance to teach her how to cook, a new bonding experience for them.

She'd smiled at that.

But right now, now she couldn't help but sigh as she sat there looking at the children impatiently waiting for their books to be checked out. Sitting there, around nothing but books, made her feel rather useless. All she seemed capable of was stamping the date into a book. She couldn't teach, she couldn't cook, she couldn't really do much of anything. She understood how Rose felt now when the Sycorax had invaded. When Rose was stuck at home she felt useless. When SHE was away from a TARDIS she felt rather useless too.

"Ma'am," one of the young boys called, trying to get her attention as her mind wandered, "My book?"

"Oh, yes, sorry," she nodded, stamping the book out and handing it to the boy who beamed, pleased he finally got a shot at the advanced physics textbook he'd nabbed off the shelf, much to the annoyance and grumblings of his peers.

"Ma'am?" another girl came up to her as she continued stamping.

"Yes?" she looked at her, "Can I help you?"

"Yes ma'am," she nodded, "Would you happen to know if this facility is stocked with any new bibliographic items that may contain situations involving multiple quadratic factors, scholarly stylings of Pythagoras, or collections of algorithmic sequences?"

Angel blinked and stared at her, "I have no idea what you're saying."

The girl sighed, rolling her eyes, "Math? Got any books on math?"

"Oh," she nodded, blushing just a bit in embarrassment, "Yes, back wall," she pointed, "The one on the right. It's only half stocked though..." she called as the girl dashed off after the books. She'd noticed the math and science books were quite popular.

She sighed, stamping the last book, the children rushing to their tables and chairs and desks to get to their readings, quieting down almost immediately, the library falling silent, when another boy stepped up to her, his head bowed a bit. She smiled, "What can I do for you Kenny?"

The boy just placed a book before her, more pictures than words, but all about medieval knights, "I'd like to check this one out."

She laughed, looking at it, "Oh, I loved books like this when I was a child," she told him, stamping it for him, "I think you'll enjoy it too," she leaned in, "Knights in shining armor. Rescuing the damsels in distress. Heroes, rising from the shadows and saving the day," she gave him a soft look, "Much more interesting than any old physics book eh?" she winked, getting him to smile before he scooted off.

Her work there was done, she'd gotten a smile out of the boy. She'd noticed that Kenny didn't seem to be as eager to learn as his classmates, not seeming able to keep up as much, and she could empathize entirely.

~8~

The dinner ladies scooped food onto the oncoming plates of students and teachers alike as they slowly filled the canteen for lunch. The Doctor moved along the line with his tray, pausing by Rose, disguised as a dinner lady, so she could serve him a helping of mashed potatoes, all the while giving him a dirty look. He just smirked at her and headed over towards a table where Angel was waiting for him. He sat down beside her, placing the tray between the two of them to share.

Both of them were nibbling on food here and there when Rose came over with a dishcloth to wipe down the table, "Two days," she mumbled.

"Sorry, could you just…" he gestured to an area of the table with his fork, "There's a bit of gravy," Rose moved to wipe it, "No, no, just there," she wiped it again, "No…"

"Leave her alone," Angel nudged him playfully.

"Two days, we've been here," Rose continued.

"Blame your boyfriend, he's the one who put us onto this," the Doctor shrugged, "And he was right. Boy in class this morning, got a knowledge way beyond planet Earth."

"And I've checked the library databases," Angel added, shaking her head, "All the advanced books on science have been checked out constantly by at least half the student body already, the other half are on the waiting list. The rest of the students have taken to the math books as well."

"You eating those chips?" Rose asked, eyeing the untouched chips on their tray.

"Yeah, they're a bit...different," the Doctor trailed, watching as Rose helped herself to one.

"I didn't like them," Angel frowned, recalling the taste of them, "They taste...funny. Really oily."

"I think they're gorgeous," she sat down across from them, "Wish I had school dinners like this."

"It's very well behaved, this place," the Doctor glanced around.

"I know," Angel agreed, "I've never seen a library that silent or students so serious and studious. Though," she paused to think, "I suppose I'm just...not a fan of the quiet..." she trailed off in thought a moment.

Van Statten's, and quite a few other places, had been far too silent. No one really talked to her, fearful that they'd let some important piece of Earth information slip to the 'alien enemy' or just because they didn't know what to say. And, in the silence, she could often hear the Dalek screaming more clearly. No, she didn't like the quiet.

She had to smile though, things weren't ever very quiet for very long anymore.

"Which it never is now, thanks to you," she nudged the Doctor playfully.

"Oi!" he laughed, though pleased he was able to comfort her, provide her with that small reminder that she wasn't alone anymore, just like he wasn't.

"I'd take your gob over silence in a library any time," she told him, making him beam.

"Mmm," Rose seemed to agree...though they weren't too sure as her mouth was full of chips.

The Doctor glanced at Rose and the chips, before watching as the students continued to eat them as well, "I thought there'd be happy-slapping hoodies. Happy-slapping hoodies with ASBOs. Happy-slapping hoodies with ASBOs and ringtones," he turned to smirk at Rose, "Yeah? Yeah? Oh, yeah! Don't tell me I don't fit in."

"You are not permitted to leave your station during a sitting," a dinner lady reprimanded Rose as she stopped by their table.

"I was just talking to these teachers," Rose gestured to the Doctor and Angel as she stood.

"Hello!" the Doctor smiled as Angel waved.

"Don't like the chips," Rose whispered to the head dinner lady.

"The menu has been specifically designed by the headmaster to improve concentration and performance," she replied, a bit offended, "Now, get back to work," she turned and left, forcing Rose to follow.

"See?" Rose turned back to them as she walked, "This is me," she waved a hand at her apron, "The dinner lady."

"We'll have the crumble!" the Doctor called after her.

"I'd rather have a cookie," Angel shook her head.

The Doctor laughed, he really did love how some jokes just went right over her head, "Alright then, two..."

"Three," Angel whispered, "One for Rose!"

"Three cookies!" he smirked at Rose.

"I'm so gonna kill you," Rose threatened, returning to her station.

The Doctor looked around, spotting another teacher, Mr. Wagner, he recalled, making his way over to a girl sitting a few tables away, "Melissa. You'll be joining my class for the next period. Milo's failed me...so it's time we moved you up to the top class. Kenny?" he looked at the slightly pudgy boy beside her, "Not eating the chips?"

"I'm not allowed," Kenny replied.

"Luke, extra class," Mr. Wagner glanced at another boy, "Now."

He turned and left, quite a few children following him, as the headmaster watched from a balcony above the canteen. He glanced down to see the Doctor and Angel watching him.

"What do you think?" the Doctor muttered to Angel as the man walked away.

"He and the teachers seem rather like bats don't they?" she asked.

He cast a quick glance at the headmaster's retreating figure.

Not remotely.

But then again, knowing Angel and her comments, they were probably some sort of bat-like alien beneath their human-like image.

~8~

Rose stood in the kitchen, drying a tray, as a group of dinner ladies, very carefully, wheeled a barrel of oil in. She eyed them, all wearing masks, goggles, gloves...

"Careful..." one of the women warned, "Keep it steady...don't spill a drop. I said keep it steady. Careful...that's it...easy now...steady..." Rose's mobile rang and she quickly answered it, "Right, second barrel, quickly now!"

"What you got?" Rose asked, knowing it was Mickey.

"Confirmation," Mickey said, "I just got into army records. Three months ago, massive UFO activity. They logged over forty sightings, lights in the sky, all of that. I can't get any photos, 'cos then it gets all classified and secret. Keeps locking me out."

"Tell you what, though," Rose commented quietly, "Three months ago, turns out all the kitchen staff were replaced," she glanced over to see the women moving another barrel with unnecessary caution, "And this lot are weird."

"See, there's definitely something going on. I was right to call you home."

"I thought maybe you called me home just to...well, just to call me home," she remarked fondly, slightly hopeful.

"Do you think I'd just invent an emergency?"

"Well, you could've done!"

"That's the last thing I'd do."

"Watch it!" a dinner lady shouted.

"Because every time I see you, an emergency just gets in the way…"

Rose's eyes widened as the barrel toppled over and spilled onto one of the dinner ladies who screamed in agony and started smoking.

"I've gotta go!" she cut in, hanging up on him.

"Get her up, get her up!" one of the women shouted as the scalded woman was helped to her feet and steered into an office, still wailing in pain. Rose tried to peek through the partition but the blinds were drawn closed. She heard a scream and started dialing 999 when the head dinner lady emerged from the office, pulling her goggles down and eyeing Rose suspiciously, "What're you doing?"

"Calling an ambulance."

"No need. She's quite alright," Rose hung up, when suddenly there was a sound of something bursting into flames followed by a smash, smoke billowing out of the door, "It's fine. She does that," she turned and walked back into the office, leaving Rose looking confused as she cautiously eyed the barrel of oil.

~8~

Mr. Wagner made his way to the front of the IT room, the children already at their terminals, "I'd like you all to put your headphones on now, please," he said and the children did, "Now, children...the things you will see..." he pressed a key on his computer and the children raised their hands to the keyboards, typing unnaturally fast, eyes locked on the screens where some sort of green code was scrolling down the monitor.

~8~

The headmaster led an older woman down a flight of stairs, talking to her about the praises of the school, "My improvements aren't confined to the classroom. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. We've introduced a new policy. School dinners are absolutely free. But compulsory. Do try the chips."

"Oh, I'd love to, thank you! And it's got to be said, the transformation you've brought about is amazing. I mean, maybe you're working the children a little bit too hard now and then…"

"Hmm?"

"But I think good results, they're more important than anything."

"Exactly. You're a woman of vision, Miss Smith."

"Oh, I can see everything, Mr. Finch," Sarah Jane Smith stated, "Quite clearly."

~8~

The Doctor sat on a desk, nibbling a biscuit, as Angel sat beside him, fidgeting slightly as she looked around, as though looking for someone, another teacher pacing up and down before them, "But yesterday, I had a twelve year old girl give me the exact height of the Walls of Troy...in cubits!" the man stated.

"Things like that have been happening since Mr. Finch took over?" Angel asked.

"Finch arrived three months ago. Next day, half the staff got flu. Finch replaced them with that lot," he nodded over to where a group of serious, smart looking teachers were standing rigidly, "Except for the teacher you replaced," he turned to the Doctor, "And that was just plain weird, her winning the lottery like that."

"How's that weird?" the Doctor looked back at him.

"She never played! Said the ticket was posted through her door at midnight."

"Hmm!" the Doctor popped the biscuit into his mouth, "The world is very strange."

"You've got to stop doing that," Angel remarked as the other teacher turned to add something to his tea.

"What?" he asked her quietly.

"Using the lottery as an excuse. What if we end up somewhere where there's no lottery? What then?"

"Well then the winner would be very lucky, wouldn't they?" he grinned at her.

"Excuse me, colleagues!" Mr. Finch called, "A moment of your time?"

The Doctor and Angel stood, turning to look at Mr. Finch, standing beside a very familiar woman in the doorway.

"I knew it," Angel whispered, smiling widely.

"May I introduce Miss Sarah Jane Smith. Miss Smith is a journalist, who's writing a profile about me for the Sunday Times," Sarah Jane smiled and nodded at them, the Doctor just staring at her in disbelief and utter happiness, "I thought it might be useful for her to get 'a view from the trenches,' so to speak. Don't spare my blushes."

And with that, he stepped back out of the room.

Sarah Jane caught the Doctor's eye and headed over to him as Angel turned around to busy herself at the small tea counter, giving him space to talk to his old companion, "Hello!" Sarah Jane grinned.

"Oh, I should think so!" he beamed.

"And, you are..."

"Hmm?" he shook his head quickly, snapping out of his thoughts, "Uh, Smith. John Smith."

"John Smith?" she eyed him curiously, "I used to have a friend who sometimes went by that name."

"Well, it's a very common name!"

She paused a moment in thought, "He was a very uncommon man," she held her hand out to him, "Nice to meet you!"

"Nice to meet you!" he shook her hand eagerly, "Yes! Very nice! More than nice, brilliant!"

"Um...so, um, have you worked here long?"

"No. Um, it's only my second day."

"Oh, you're new, then?" she leaned in a bit, "So, what do you think of the school? I mean, this new curriculum? So many children getting ill, doesn't that strike you as odd?"

"You don't sound like someone just doing a profile," he smiled at her.

"Well, no harm in a little investigation while I'm here."

"No," he nodded, "Good for you," she gave him a smile in return and turned to greet the rest of the teachers, "Good for you," he breathed, so, so proud, "Oh, good for you, Sarah Jane Smith."

"Are you surprised?" Angel asked, stepping to his side.

"Very," he nodded, still unable to take his eyes off Sarah Jane.

"I'm glad," she grinned, "It's strangely hard keeping secrets from you."

He turned to her sharply, his eyes wide, "You knew!?"

"I had a feeling. That we'd meet someone you knew, someone good this time, someone you really missed. I thought it might be an old companion, seems I was right."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted to see the look on your face. It was worth it to see you that happy."

He smiled at her softly, pulling her to him, "You make me that happy," he whispered, gently cupping her cheek, it was true, she did make him happy, so, so happy words could hardly express it, "Psychic."

"Thief," she laughed at what had seemed to become their playful nicknames for each other.

The bell rang, shaking them both out of their little world.

~8~

Kenny watched a few of his fellow students go up the stairs, very lost as to why they actually wanted to go to class. He looked down the hall, hearing a flapping noise, before following it to the IT lab. He crouched down to peer under one of the desks and jumped back, seeing a horrible bat creature screech at him.

As he popped up Mr. Wagner straightened up from behind a desk, cracking his neck, eyeing him dangerously, "This isn't your classroom, Kenny. Now run along."

Kenny turned and ran down the hall.

~8~

The corridors were dark and empty that night, the chairs up on the desks when a torch shown into a classroom. Sarah Jane appeared at the window, undoing the latch and peering inside. When she was sure the coast was clear she hoisted herself in.

~8~

The Doctor opened a fire door, stepping through with Angel into a dark corridor, followed by Rose and Mickey.

"Oh, it's weird seeing school at night," Rose shivered a bit, "It just feels wrong. When I was a kid, I used to think all the teachers slept in school."

"You never know," Angel looked around at the dark hall, "They just might…"

"Alright, team," the Doctor turned to them, "Oh, I hate people who say 'team.' Um...'gang.' Um...'comrades.' Uh...anyway, Rose, go to the kitchen and get a sample of that oil. Mickey, the new staff are all Maths teachers, go and check out the Maths department, Angel, try the nurse's room for records on the kids getting sick, I'm gonna look in Finch's office. Be back here in ten minutes."

He turned and took off up the stairs as Angel ran down a hall, leaving Mickey and Rose standing there, "You gonna be alright?" Rose asked Mickey, tugging on her sleeve.

"Me?" he smirked, "Please. Infiltration and investigation? I'm an expert at this," he strode off in the direction Angel had gone while Rose stood there, smiling, just waiting for him to come back…which he did, "Where's the Maths department?"

"Down there," she pointed the other way, "Turn left, through the fire doors, on the right."

"Thank you," he nodded, striding away again.

~8~

The Doctor headed down a dark hall, his brow furrowed, when he heard screeches and flapping down a ways. He paused for a moment, when his curiousity got the best of him and he turned to follow the noise.

~8~

Sarah Jane started picking the lock to Finch's office when a bang made her jump. There was a screech behind her and she spun around, listening as the sounds grew louder. She gasped and quickly backed down the corridor.

~8~

Rose pulled the lid off the barrel of oil, spooning some into a small jar, when a shadow passed over her followed by a screech. She looked up sharply, trying to spot the source of the noise.

~8~

Sarah Jane backed into a room and slammed the door shut behind her, turning around slowly, only to stop short at the sight before her.

There, standing right there, was the TARDIS.

Her eyes widened in shock and she backed out of the room, not believing it…

~8~

Angel had just reached the nurse's office when she spun around, a sense that she was being watched overtaking her. She looked up and down the corridor before slowly turning and hurrying back down the hall.

~8~

Sarah Jane stared at the closed door she'd just come out of, before turning slowly around to see the Doctor standing behind her.

"Hello Sarah Jane," he greeted.

"It's you," she breathed, "Oh...Doctor..." she started to smile, stepping closer to him, "Oh, my God, it's you, it's...it's...you've regenerated."

"Half a dozen times since we last met."

"You look...incredible…"

"So do you," he smiled.

"I got old," she argued lightly, moving closer still, "What're you doing here?"

"Well...UFO sightings, school gets record results," he gave a shrug, "I couldn't resist. What about you?"

"Same," she laughed, when her smile faded entirely, "I thought you'd died," she said, close to tears, "I waited for you and you didn't come back, and I thought you must've died."

"I lived," he said quietly, "Everyone else died."

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone died, Sarah," he said, in quiet pain, "Everyone except…"

Sarah Jane shook her head, not wanting to cause him more pain by making him tell her, "I can't believe it's you..."

And then someone screamed in the distance.

"Ok! Now I can!"

They both smiled and ran to find the source of the scream, almost skidding into Rose at the corner.

"Did you hear that?" Rose gasped, before catching sight of Sarah Jane, "Who's she?"

"Rose, Sarah Jane!" the Doctor introduced happily, "Sarah Jane, Rose."

Rose looked a bit upset and displeased with that as she shook hands with the woman.

"Hi," Sarah Jane said with fake sweetness, "Nice to meet you," she looked at the Doctor, "You can tell you're getting older, your assistants are getting younger."

"I'm not his assistant!" she shouted, almost insulted.

The Doctor winced and tugged on his ear, uncomfortable and wondering where Angel might have gotten to, she would be a great help in diffusing the situation.

"No? I get you, tiger."

The Doctor just sped off down the hall, leaving them to follow, to a room where Mickey was standing, surrounded by dozens of vacuum packed rats, "Sorry!" he said, "Sorry, it was only me. You told me to investigate, so I…I started looking through some of these cupboards and all of these fell out of them."

The Doctor bent down and picked up a few of them.

"Oh, my God, they're rats," Rose shuddered, "Dozens of rats. Vacuum packed rats."

"And you decided to scream?" the Doctor turned to Mickey.

"It took me by surprise!" he countered.

"Like a little girl?"

"It was dark! I was covered in rats!"

"Nine, maybe ten years old. I'm seeing pigtails, frilly skirt."

"Oi!" a voice cut in. Sarah Jane looked up to see the woman she recognized as making tea when she'd talked to 'John Smith' enter, though she was now wearing a lacy blue duster of sorts, "Stop picking on him."

"But…"

"No," she cut in, pointing a warning finger at the Doctor as Mickey smirked, pleased, behind him. She turned to see Sarah Jane looking at her curiously and gasped, "Oh my God you're Sarah Jane!" she quickly reached out and hugged the surprised woman, "THE Sarah Jane! Sarah Jane Smith!"

"Um, yes," Sarah Jane laughed, though throwing a small smirk over Angel's shoulder at Rose before pulling away, "And you are…"

"Oh, right, sorry," Angel smiled, having got so caught up in the excitement of finally getting the chance to properly meet one of the Doctor's past companions. Sure, she had been standing only a few feet away when they saw Sarah Jane earlier, but she'd really wanted to give the Doctor his moment, now it was her turn, "I'm the Angel."

"The Angel?" Sarah Jane's eyes widened, "As in…you're a Time Lady?"

"Exactly," she nodded, "Nice to meet you!"

Sarah Jane nodded as well, realizing who the 'except' had been. She glanced over to see the Doctor looking fondly at Angel.

"Hello, can we focus?" Rose cut in, drawing them all back to point, "Does anyone notice anything strange about this? Rats in school?"

"Well, obviously they use them in Biology lessons," Sarah Jane guessed, "They dissect them. Or maybe you haven't reached that bit yet. How old are you?"

The Doctor and Mickey started shifting, looking warily between the women as Angel just watched, slightly confused yet amused at the same time.

"Excuse me, no one dissects rats in school anymore," Rose shot her a glare, "They haven't done that for years. Where are you from, the dark ages?"

"She's from the 70s," Angel answered.

"Anyway, moving on," the Doctor shouted, trying head off the fight, not wanting Angel to get caught in the crossfire he knew was coming given how Sarah Jane and Rose gave each other dirty looks, "Everything started when Mr. Finch arrived. We should go and check his office," he tossed a rat to Mickey who dropped it, all of them following the Doctor out of the room and into the corridor.

"I don't mean to be rude or anything, but who exactly are you?" Rose shot a look at Sarah Jane.

"Sarah Jane Smith. I used to travel with the Doctor."

"Oh! Well, he's never mentioned you."

"Oh, I must've done!" the Doctor tugged on his ear again, "Sarah Jane! Mention her all the time."

Rose paused a moment to think, "Hold on...sorry...never."

"Well he's told me all about you," Angel cut in, trying to keep the two women from going at each other's throats as she hadn't the faintest idea why they were.

"Really?" Sarah Jane smiled, victorious.

"When did this happen?" Rose demanded, feeling slightly hurt.

"Well, you were asleep," Angel explained, "We were waiting to test one of the repairs…got to talking…" Rose just rolled her eyes and walked off quickly, "Rose!" Angel called, hurrying after her as Sarah Jane sped off after them.

"Ho ho mate!" Mickey laughed, patting the Doctor on the back, "The past meets the present and the future…welcome to every man's worst nightmare," he grinned at the Doctor as they took off after the women.

~8~

The Doctor used the sonic on the lock of Mr. Finch's office, "Maybe those rats were food."

"Food for what?" Rose asked.

He opened the door and looked inside, his gaze travelling up at some rather odd noises, his eyes widening at the sight, "Rose...you know you used to think all the teachers slept in the school...well...they do."

They looked up at a number of huge bats on the ceiling, hanging upside.

Chapter Text

"No way!" Mickey shook his head, seeing the larger than life bats, before turning and bolting down the hall. Rose and Sarah Jane dashed after him as the Doctor and Angel exchanged a look before shutting the door.

At the sound of the clicking one of the bats awoke and screeched.

~8~

Mickey burst out of the doors of the school followed by the others, hunching over to pant, "I am not going back in there. No way."

"Those were teachers!" Rose shouted.

"When Finch arrived, he brought with him seven new teachers, four dinner ladies, and a nurse," the Doctor explained, "Thirteen. Thirteen big bat people. Come on."

He turned to head in again when Mickey called out, "Come on, you've got to be kidding!"

"We have to get the TARDIS," Angel remarked, "How else are we going to analyze the oil Rose got?"

"I might be able to help you there," Sarah Jane grinned, taking the Doctor's arm and leading him towards the car park, "I've got something to show you!"

She led them straight over to her car, opening the boot and tossing a green blanket aside to reveal…

"K9!" the Doctor grinned at the powered down, rocotic dog sitting there, "Angel, Rose Tyler, Mickey Smith, allow me to introduce K9, well, K9 Mark III to be precise."

"That's K9?" Angel smiled, excited, moving to pat the dog, "He's so cute!"

"He's so retro," Rose corrected, eyeing the lump of metal, unimpressed, "Why does he look so...disco?"

"Oi!" the Doctor mock glared at her, "Listen, in the year 5,000, this was cutting edge! What's happened to him?"

"Oh, one day, he just...nothing!" Sarah Jane sighed.

"Well, didn't you try and get him repaired?!"

"How could she?" Angel asked, "Half the technology used to make him won't be around for at least another 2,500 years."

Sarah Jane nodded, "It's not like getting parts for a mini-metro! Beside, the technology inside him could rewrite human science. I couldn't show him to anyone!"

"Ooh, what's the nasty lady done to you?" the Doctor cooed at K9, "Eh?"

Rose and Mickey stared at him as though he'd lost what little of his mind he had left, especially when he started making the cooing noises and petting the tin dog. Angel looked up at the sky, a slight shiver running down her spin, she couldn't help but feel like they were being watched.

"Look, no offense but could you just stop petting for a minute?" Rose cut in, "Never mind the tin dog, we're busy!"

"She's right Doctor," Angel said, her eyes still on the sky, he looked at her, growing serious at the tone of her voice, "I think we should go somewhere else…just for now."

He followed her gaze, looking up but not seeing anything. Still, he agreed and closed the boot. He'd learned to pay close attention to what she said.

~8~

They decided on a nice chip shop close to the school to get to work. The Doctor, Sarah Jane, and Angel sitting around a table by the window, working on K9, while the Doctor and Sarah Jane chatted and laughed. Mickey and Rose stood at the counter, ordering chips, "You see, what's impressive is that it's been nearly an hour since we met her and I still haven't said 'I told you so,'" Mickey smirked.

Rose looked away from the trio, "I'm not listening to this."

"Although, I have prepared a little 'I was right' dance that I can show you later."

"Two quid, love," the shopkeeper held out a hand to her. She handed over the money and took the chips, tucking into them immediately.

"All this time you've been giving it, 'he's different!' When the truth is, he's just like any other bloke with loads of girls!"

Rose plopped down in a seat away from the trio, "You don't know what you're talking about."

And he really didn't. The only girl she could ever picture with the Doctor was Angel. To be honest, that was the only girl she ever wanted with him either. For all the joking that she and Angel were sisters, given their blonde hair, she really did feel like Angel was an older sister of sorts. And she just wanted her to be happy, which the Doctor made her, exceptionally so. She could remember what Cassandra had made her do on New Earth, how she'd been forced to kiss the Doctor. She could remember his reluctance, how much he really didn't want to kiss her. There was a man, with an attractive (she liked to think) woman practically throwing herself at him, and he refused, Angel had even told her that he'd actually apologized to her for the kiss, been upset that it had happened. 'Any other bloke' would have probably loved the fact that two women were attracted to him, but not the Doctor, he really only had eyes for Angel, as it should be.

"Maybe not," he shrugged.

He probably didn't know, he could agree there. The last time he'd seen the Doctor and Angel had been when the man had regenerated. He knew Angel had been terribly upset about it all, blaming herself, Rose not helping her guilt in the slightest, but...he could just tell...he'd seen it on her face, it went much deeper than concern for another person. He knew that expression, it was one he often saw in the mirror after a particularly awful nightmare where he would see Rose getting hurt. It was the look of someone who was terrified for the person they loved. He didn't know if the Doctor returned the feelings, but he could see it between them. If he hadn't, the man surely would soon, if he had, well...Angel was a great girl and he could understand why Rose would defend him in that. He was of the opinion that the Doctor tended to cause a lot of other people to fade into the background, his presence just being near overwhelming. He could just tell though, by the looks he'd seen the man give Angel, that she did the same but in an entirely different way. Whereas men and women alike were forgotten while the Doctor was around, no other woman could even be noticed by the Doctor in that way if Angel was in the same room.

He smiled a bit at that, good on them, he was happy for 'em...but then his smile faded into a bit of a grimace as he noticed Rose, still piling in the chips, "But if I were you...I'd go easy on the chips."

Rose looked over at him, half a chip sticking out of her mouth.

~8~

Mr. Finch stood on a rooftop, on a building, on the other side of the road, "Come to me...come to me..." he called out to one of the bats, waiting till it swooped towards him and landed beside him, both of them watching the Doctor and Angel through the window of the shop.

~8~

"I thought of you on Christmas Day," Sarah Jane told him, "This Christmas just gone? Great big spaceship overhead, I thought, 'Oh, yeah. Bet he's up there.'"

"Unfortunately he was right on top of it," Angel remarked as she worked on fixing one side of K9.

It wasn't as easy as fixing the TARDIS, but she could recognize some of the tech at least. She paused, that was...ironic...that she should have an easier time repairing a box that could bend the laws of the Universe and travel through space and time...but not a simple robotic dog. Oh well, she'd probably just spent so much time around the TARDISes she liked to think they just told her, in their own way, what was wrong.

"And Rose?"

"She was there too," he nodded.

They were silent for a moment, Sarah Jane watching the Doctor before speaking, "Did I do something wrong? Because you never came back for me. You just...dumped me."

"I told him that was rude," Angel remarked, "Not even saying goodbye."

The Doctor rolled his eyes, they'd gotten into about an hour long debate when he'd told her of some of his adventures with Sarah Jane in the TARDIS and how he'd left, "I told you. I was called back home and in those days humans weren't allowed."

"I waited for you," Sarah Jane admitted quietly, "I missed you."

"Oh, you didn't need me! You were getting on with your life."

"You were my life," she corrected gently as he looked at her, "You know what the most difficult thing was? Coping with what happens next, and with what doesn't happen next. You took me to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, you showed me supernovas, intergalactic battles, and then you just dropped me back on Earth. How could anything compare to that?"

He furrowed his brow, "All those things you saw, do you want me to apologize for that?"

"I think she means that it was hard returning to everyday life," Angel cut in softly, the Doctor looked at her, "If I were to take off in the TARDIS and leave you on Earth to live life as a human, time moving in the proper order, slowly…how would you feel?"

He blinked, looking down, slowly understanding, before beaming at her, "You just understood a human!"

She laughed, "She's not just any old human though," she countered, "She's YOUR companion. I understand them better because...they're a part of you," she looked at him, "You're a part of them. I understand you, don't I?"

"More than I ever thought someone could," he admitted.

She nodded, "She just missed you, a lot, like she said," Angel gestured at Sarah Jane, she could understand that. She'd miss someone as great as the Doctor too if he left.

"To get a taste of that splendor with you..." Sarah Jane nodded sadly, "And then we have to go back."

"But look at you," he smiled at her, "You're investigating. You found that school, you're doing what we always did."

"You could've come back."

"I couldn't," he replied quietly, looking away.

"Why not?"

The Doctor couldn't answer.

Sarah Jane shook her head and the Doctor turned his sonic on, returning to repair K9. Sarah Jane looked at Angel, shooting her a grateful smile at her attempt to help her get through to the Doctor, "It wasn't Croydon. Where you dropped me off, it wasn't Croydon!"

"Where was it?" he frowned.

"Aberdeen," she replied, irritated.

His eyes widened at the thought, "Right…that's next to Croydon, isn't it?"

Sarah Jane smiled and shook her head and a second later K9 sprang to life.

"Oh, hey! Now we're in business!" he leapt to his feet and stood before K9, Angel getting up to stand beside him.

"Master!" K9 exclaimed.

"He recognizes me!" the Doctor beamed, ecstatic.

"Affirmative."

"K9," the Doctor pulled Angel a bit closer so the dog could see her, "This is the Angel, a Time Lady."

"Nice t…to m…meet you!" K9 waggled his ears.

"Nice to meet you too," Angel smiled.

"Rose, give us the oil," the Doctor called, holding his hand back to her for it.

He took the lid off the jar and was just about to stick his finger in it when Rose called out, "I wouldn't touch it, though, that dinner lady got all scorched!" she warned.

"I'm no dinner lady. And I don't often say that," he dipped his finger in and smeared it on K9's sensor, "Here we go. Come on, boy. Here we go."

"Oil," K9 examined, "Ex…ex…ex…extract ana…an…analyzing..."

Mickey grinned, delighted, "Listen to it, man! That's a voice!"

"Careful!" Sarah Jane pointed at him, "That's my dog!"

Mickey smiled at her, sheepish.

"Confirmation of analysis, substance is Krillitane Oil," the dog announced.

"They're Krillitanes," the Doctor breathed, shocked, as Angel's eyes widened, recognizing the aliens.

"Is that bad?" Rose asked.

"Really bad," Angel nodded.

"Think of how bad things could possibly be, and add another suitcase full of bad," the Doctor agreed.

"And what are...Krillitanes?" Sarah Jane shook her head.

"They're a composite race. Just like your culture is a mixture of traditions from all sorts of countries, people you've invaded or have been invaded by, you've got bits…bits of Viking, bits of France, bits of whatever, the Krillitanes are the same. An amalgam of the races they've conquered. But they take physical aspects as well. They cherry-pick the best bits from the people they destroy. That's why I didn't recognize them. The last time I saw Krillitanes, they looked just like us except they had really long necks."

"What're they doing here?" Rose frowned.

"It's the children," Angel blinked, "They're doing something to the children."

~8~

Mickey and Sarah Jane hoisted K9 into the boot of her car once more, "So, what's the deal with the tin dog?" Mickey asked.

"The Doctor likes travelling with an entourage," Sarah Jane leaned against her car, "Sometimes they're humans, sometimes they're aliens, and sometimes...they're tin dogs," Mickey smiled and laughed a bit at that, "What about you? Where do you fit in the picture?"

"Me?" he smiled proudly, "I'm their Man in Havana. I'm the technical support, I'm..." he trailed, "Oh, my God. I'm the tin dog," he sat down heavily in shock.

Sarah Jane just patting him on the shoulder.

~8~

The Krillitane on the rooftop screeched, but Mr. Finch put his finger to his lips to silence it, "On my command."

~8~

The Doctor and Angel left the chip shop, Rose following after them, "How many of us have there been, travelling with you?" she demanded of the Doctor.

"Does it matter?" he continued walking.

"Yeah, it does, if I'm just the latest in a long line," she replied, her voice trembling.

"As opposed to what?" he turned to face her, angry and hurt.

Angel remained quiet, this was really an issue Rose had with the Doctor, his past, not hers.

"I thought you and me and Angel were friends," Rose said, tears in her eyes, before she turned her gaze on Angel, "I thought we were sisters," she sniffled, upset, "But I obviously got it wrong."

"Rose…"Angel began, she really considered Rose to be one of her good friends, truly more like a younger sister than anything…why the girl would ever think differently she couldn't understand.

"I've been to the year five billion, right, but this...now this is really seeing the future. You just leave us behind. Is that what you're going to do to me?"

"No," the Doctor sighed, "Not to you."

"I won't let him," Angel agreed, "I won't let him do that to anyone else, not anymore," she promised.

Seeing him with Sarah Jane had made her realize how much he needed his old companions, the memories he cherished with them, the closure of seeing them doing fantastic and living brilliant lives. She couldn't ever imagine doing that to one of his companions, to her friends, to her...family.

"But Sarah Jane..." Rose shook her head, looking at the Doctor, "You were that close to her once, and now...you never even mention her. It's like you don't even think about her. Why not?"

"We don't age," the Doctor told her, "We regenerate. But humans decay. You wither and you die. Imagine watching that happen to someone you care about."

"Imagine thinking back to a friend," Angel added quietly, taking his hand, understanding why the Doctor didn't bring up his past companions, but knowing that he really should start, "Only to find out they're dead," because even in death their memories should be celebrated.

The Doctor squeezed her hand tightly, "You can spend the rest of your life with us, but we can't spend the rest of ours with you. We have to live on. That's the curse of the Time Lords."

"Time Lord!" Mr. Finch hissed. They looked up to see him and the other Krillitane on the roof. It screeched and swooped down towards them. They ducked down but the bat just flew away.

"Was that a Krillitane?" Sarah Jane asked as she and Mickey ran over.

"But it didn't even touch us, it just flew off!" Rose exclaimed, "What did it do that for?"

~8~

The next morning, when the school bell rang, and the children rushed towards the building, the Doctor, Mickey, Rose, Sarah Jane, and Angel got out of Sarah Jane's car, striding towards the school. The Doctor paused for a moment, turning to them, "Rose and Sarah, you go to the Maths room. Crack open those computers, I need to see the hardware inside. Here, you might need this," Rose held out her hand for the sonic but he gave it to Sarah Jane, "Mickey, surveillance. I want you outside."

"Just stand outside?" he asked.

"Here, take these, you can keep K9 company," Sarah Jane tossed him the keys to her car.

"Don't forget to leave the window open a crack," the Doctor reminded him.

"But he's metal!" Mickey shouted.

"I don't think he meant the dog," Angel called. Mickey just pouted and she jogged over to him, "Krillitanes are very dangerous Mickey," she told him, reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder, "I'd honestly rather have you and K9 safe till we can see what they're planning."

He looked at her, just a bit shocked that her reason for wanting him to stay outside was his safety, it was oddly nice having someone care about him like that.

She grinned, "And you never know, if we get trapped in there, you get to come and rescue us!"

He laughed at that, nodding. That would be the day.

"What're you gonna do?" Rose looked at the two as Angel walked back over to the Doctor who was beaming at her.

He'd actually developed a bit of a growing respect for Mickey the Idiot. Ever since Angel had pointed out how Rose had treated the poor boy when they'd faced Margaret, he'd learned to appreciate just how much Mickey cared for Rose and his drive to help them despite his treatment. And then that respect had just grown when he'd defened Angel against Rose when he'd regenerated, he could hear the boy, how he'd tried to comfort Angel, how he'd tried to get Rose to lay off. He knew that it was quite easy to stand up to your enemies, it was much harder to stand up to your friends, and ever harder still to stand up to the person you loved. The fact he'd done that for Angel had made him respect the boy that much more.

Not that he'd admit that openly, he liked to tease the man too much.

But, he had to admit, it did make him smile to see Angel taking such an interest in Mickey, trying to include him, make him smile, cheer him up when things went a bit too far. She was so considerate like that, hated seeing others sad.

"Meet the Krillitanes," Angel answered Rose, pulling him from his thoughts.

He nodded, "It's time we had a word with Mr. Finch," he said, taking Angel's hand and leading her into the building.

~8~

Mr. Finch paused in the stairwell, looking up to see the Doctor and Angel looking down at him, neither of them making a move to disguise the fact they were watching the other. After giving a hard stare, Mr. Finch continued on his way as the duo headed up the stairs.

~8~

The Doctor opened the door to the school's swimming pool, allowing Angel in first as they saw Mr. Finch waiting for them at the opposite end of the water, "Who are you?" the Doctor called to him.

"My name is Brother Lassa," he introduced, "And you?"

"The Doctor."

"The Angel," Angel greeted, adding, "Nice to meet you," if just for politeness sake.

The Doctor had to smile at that, it was becoming her own little catchphrase so to speak, much like he'd always said 'Fantastic!', "Since when did Krillitanes have wings?"

"It's been our form for nearly ten generations now," Mr. Finch explained, "Our ancestors invaded Bessan. The people there had some rather lovely wings. They made a million widows in one day, just imagine."

"And now you're shaped human."

"A personal favorite, that's all."

"What about the other teachers?" Angel asked.

"My brothers remain bat form. What you see is a simple morphic illusion. Scratch the surface and the true Krillitane lies beneath," they slowly started walking to the same side of the pool, "And what of the Time Lords? I always thought of you as such a pompous race. Ancient, dusty senators, so frightened of change and...chaos. And of course, they're all but extinct. Only you two. The last."

"This plan of yours, what is it?" the Doctor eyed him, taking a single step ahead of Angel, unconsciously trying to guard her against the enemy before them.

"You don't know?" he raised an eyebrow.

"That's why I'm asking," the Doctor replied as they came to a stop before each other.

"Well, show me how clever you are. Work it out."

"If we don't like it...then it will stop."

Mr. Finch paused a moment, eyeing him, "Fascinating. Your people were peaceful to the point of indolence. You seem to be something new."

"War changes people," Angel reasoned, though the frown on her face proved just how much she hated that fact.

"Would you declare war on us?"

"I'm so old now," the Doctor remarked, "I used to have so much mercy," he turned to stare at Finch, "You get one warning. That was it."

He took Angel's hand, turning to walk away, when Finch called out, "But we're not even enemies. Soon...you will embrace us," the Doctor paused, looking back, "The next time we meet, you will join with me. I promise you," he walked past them with a knowing smile and left.

"No you won't," Angel remarked as the door closed, "You're stronger than him."

He squeezed her hand at her faith in him, turning to go, they needed to find out what Rose and Sarah Jane had discovered.

~8~

Mickey wound down the window of the car, folding his arms, sighing, bored, "'Surveillance.' If you ask me, it's just the Doctor's way of saying 'go sit at the back of the class with the safety scissors and glitter.'"

He definitely preferred Angel's reasoning, made him feel less like a…tin dog.

Speaking of, he looked over at K9 who wasn't switched on but had his head poked through the gap between the two front seats.

"That'd be me talking to a metal dog, then."

~8~

Sarah Jane crouched beneath one of the computers, trying to turn the sonic on. She straightened, hitting the keyboard and stared at the sonic as Rose sat with her legs crossed on one of the chairs, "It's not working!"

"Give it to me," Rose took the sonic and rolled her eyes, ducking beneath the desk.

"Used to work first time in my day."

"Well, things were a lot simpler back then," Rose replied, turning on the sonic and using it on the computer.

"Rose, can I give you a bit of advice?" Sarah Jane asked, eyeing the young woman.

"I've got a feeling you're about to," Rose straightened.

"I know how intense a relationship with the Doctor can be. And I can only imagine what a friendship with two Time Lords can be like. I don't want you to feel I'm intruding…"

"I don't feel threatened by you if that's what you mean," Rose cut in quickly, a bit too quickly to Sarah Jane.

"Right," she nodded slowly, "Good. Because, I'm not interested in picking up where we left off."

"No?" Rose scoffed, "With the big sad eyes and the robot dog? What else were you doing last night?"

"I was just saying how hard it was adjusting to life back on Earth..."

Rose stood and walked a few feet away, "The thing is...when you two met...they'd only just got rid of rationing. No wonder all that space stuff was a bit too much for ya."

"I had no problem with space stuff," Sarah Jane walked over to her, indignant, "I saw things you wouldn't believe."

"Try me," Rose challenged coldly.

"Mummies."

"I've met ghosts."

"Robots. Lots of robots."

"Slitheen. In Downing Street."

"Daleks!"

Rose gave a smug snort, "Met the Emperor."

"Anti-Matter monsters."

"Gas masked zombies."

"Real living dinosaurs!"

"Real living werewolf!"

"The Loch Ness Monster!"

Rose blinked, "...seriously?"

Sarah Jane put her hands over her mouth, shaking her head as Rose smiled and laughed, "Listen to us. It's like me and my mate Shireen. The only time we fell out was over a man, and...we're arguing over the Doctor and he's not even ours," Sarah Jane relaxed against a desk as Rose looked at her a moment, "And…I suppose…I am a bit…threatened…" she admitted.

"Rose I really don't mean to start up again," Sarah Jane told her earnestly.

"It's just…the Doctor and Angel, they're like my best friends now, I mean Angel's practically adopted me as her little sister. I don't…" she trailed off, trying to find the words.

"You don't want to lose them," Sarah Jane nodded, understanding, "You don't want me to take them away from you."

Rose nodded, looking sheepish at that, she knew she didn't have a claim to the Time Lords. She understood they could be friend with whoever they wanted. It was more the fact that she really hadn't known they'd had other companions on Earth before her. She thought the Doctor at least had been travelling all over with other Time Lords, other aliens, robots and things, maybe a human here or there...to be confronted with the fact that there was someone else out there, someone so close, who knew so much more about the Doctor than she did...having Angel react so happily and warmly, so accepting and excited to meet this old companion...it made her worried. She just...

She didn't want to be forgotten or replaced.

She shook her head, that was the most ridiculous thing she'd ever thought, she now realized. Actually giving herself time to work out why she was so cold to Sarah Jane...what had she been thinking? As though the Doctor would ever replace her! As though Angel would ever just let him dump her without a goodbye! The Doctor had far too much respect for his companions to ever try to replace one with someone else and Angel was just too kind to ever just leave someone. She'd been a fool, worrying needlessly over that. And poor Sarah Jane had gotten the brunt of her fears. She didn't deserve that.

She looked at the woman and smiled, really wanting to put that whole mess behind her and start new. This was an old companion! This was someone who had done and seen what she had, when else would she get the chance to talk about everything with someone who understood it and all the wonders of it completely?

"With you," she began, "Did he do that thing where he'd explain something at like, ninety-miles-per-hour, and you'd go, 'what?' and he'd look at you like you'd just dribbled on your shirt?"

"All the time!" Sarah Jane laughed.

"I swear the only person I've ever seen who could keep up with him when he gets to talking about time is Angel," Rose laughed as well, "Even Captain Jack got lost a few times."

It was true. She knew Angel kept on about how she wasn't all that clever and she supposed the girl did get lost on quite a few things. But...when the Doctor got really excited, especially about time travel, Angel really was the only one who could keep up with him. There were times she'd even seen the girl surpass him! One thing could be said, a lifetime around TARDISes had certainly made Angel quite the expert on the subject of space and time. She'd actually seen the Doctor get lost and confused and unable to actually give an answer once or twice when Angel got started, though she was sure a few of those times might have been because he was just staring at Angel instead of actually listening. She, herself, hadn't a clue what they were talking about during those debates, but the Doctor's expression when he realized he didn't know something was hysterical.

"Does he still stroke bits of the TARDIS?" Sarah Jane asked.

"Yeah!" Rose pointed at her, "Yeah! He does! I'm like, 'do you two wanna be alone?'" they started laughing madly, "He's even got Angel doing it!" she added before sobering quickly, "But between you and me," she leaned forward conspiratorially, "I think he'd rather stroke bits of her instead."

Both women reared back in hysterical laugher at that.

"How's it going?" the Doctor asked as he and Angel walked in.

Rose and Sarah Jane looked at them, the sight of the pair making them laugh even harder.

"What?" Angel frowned, not sure what was going on.

The women just pointed at her, cracking up.

"Listen," the Doctor cut in, "We need to find out what's programmed inside these…"

The duo just ignored him, flailing around, laughing hysterically, Rose pointing the sonic at him as she laughed.

"What?" he cried, genuinely confused, "Stop it!"

Angel shook her head, "I don't get it."

"Me either," he muttered, sighing as the women held onto each other to keep their balance as they continued to laugh their heads off.

~8~

Mr. Finch entered his office where the rest of the Krillitanes were sitting around a table, waiting for him, "Brothers, we must initiate the final phase. Get the children inside and seal the school. Our time has come, my brothers. Today we shall become gods."

~8~

The children were in the play area, laughing and talking, when the buzzer went off, "All pupils to class immediately," the speaker called, "And would all members of staff congregate in the staff room."

The students started to move indoors quickly with the exception of Kenny. Melissa paused as she passed him, "Break time's finished early. Isn't that fantastic?!" she rushed off again, Kenny waiting till everyone had gone before reluctantly following after them.

~8~

The children tried to get inside the IT suite the Doctor, Angel, Rose, and Sarah Jane were in but Rose quickly shooed them away, "No, no, this classroom's out of bounds. You've all gotta go to the South Hall. Off you go, South Hall!"

The children turned as Rose shut the door with a huff of air.

~8~

Mr. Finch and his brothers entered the staffroom when one of the teachers stood, "What is it now, Mr. Finch?"

"Slight change in the timetable," Finch replied, "We're having an early lunch."

Mr. Wagner closed the door and soon it was filled with screeching and screams.

Chapter Text

The Doctor pulled quite a few wires out of a computer and hung them around his neck, flashing the sonic along the back of the computer as Sarah Jane watched him, "I can't shift it," he mumbled.

"I thought the sonic screwdriver could open anything," Sarah Jane shook her head, confused.

"Not a deadlock seal," Angel replied from her position kneeling beside the Doctor, holding the other odds and ends he'd already torn out.

"There's gotta be something inside here," the Doctor remarked, "What're they teaching those kids?"

~8~

Mr. Wagner held open a door for the children, bundling them inside the classroom, leaving Kenny outside, not even noticing the boy run off, scared.

~8~

Mr. Finch entered his office and moved to his desk, "Close the school," he taped a few keys and the screen flashed, overriding the security. He sat back in his chair, burping quietly into his hand, as every exit to the school slammed shut.

~8~

Mr. Wagner once again brought up the code on the children's computer screens, all of them snapping forward and typing quickly as it scrolled before them, all of them lost in the program.

~8~

"You wanted the program," Sarah Jane murmured, "There it is."

They looked up to see every computer in the IT room now had the green code working, including a large screen in the front of the room.

"Some sort of code..." Angel remarked, stepping closer to it, she could recognize that much at least. She didn't have a clue what code it was though.

She glanced at the Doctor as he frowned, eyeing it, just knowing he'd work it out.

~8~

Kenny ran down the corridors, looking through windows, only to see all the children staring fixatedly at the computers, seemingly in a trance. Terrified, he ran back down the hall towards the main doors, trying to get out but they were sealed. He rattled them, calling for help, when Mickey noticed him from the parking lot and quickly got out of the car.

~8~

"No..." the Doctor breathed, staring at the code in shock, "No, they can't be..."

~8~

"They've taken them all!" Kenny shouted to Mickey through the glass.

"What?" Mickey frowned.

"They've taken all the children!"

Mickey turned and ran back to the car, pulling the blanket off K9 and pushing the buttons frantically, trying to turn him on, "Come on, I need some help!"

He whacked K9 on the head, looking away, helpless, when K9 booted up, "System restarting. All primary drives functioning."

"You're working! Ok, no time to explain, we need to get inside the school. Do you have like, I dunno, a lock picking device?"

"We are in a car."

"...maybe a drill attachment?"

"We are in a car."

"Fat lot of good, you are."

"We are in a car."

"Wait a second..." Mickey realized, "We're in a car!" he turned to shout to Kenny, "Get back!"

Kenny squinted through the window at him, confused.

~8~

"What is it?" Angel asked, knowing from the tone of his voice that whatever code it was, it couldn't be good.

"The Skasis Paradigm," he answered, "They're trying to crack the Skasis Paradigm."

"The Skasis what?" Sarah Jane shook her head.

"The...god-maker."

"The universal theory, right?" Angel recalled, her eyes widening when the Doctor nodded. She looked at Sarah Jane and Rose, who both looked confused, and tried her best to explain, seeing as the Doctor was too stunned by the revelation to speak, "If the children manage to crack it, they'll have given the Krillitanes control over everything. All the Universe. Time, space, matter, everything."

"What, and the kids are like a giant computer?" Rose ventured.

"Yes," the Doctor nodded, starting to pace around, working it out, "And their learning power is being accelerated by the oil! That oil from the kitchens, it works as a…as a...conducting agent. Makes the kids cleverer."

"But that oil's on the chips…I've been eating them."

"What's 59 times 35?"

"2,065," Rose replied quickly as they stared at her, "Oh my God..."

"Why did the chicken cross the road?" Angel asked her, actually sounding dead serious as she waited for an answer.

Rose stared at her a moment before giving her a small smile, "Thanks," she laughed, assuming Angel had asked her that to cheer her up, give her a question that couldn't be answered.

Angel just blinked, "No, I really do want to know," she shook her head, "Everyone always asks that but no one ever gives the same answer."

The Doctor smiled, "The oil doesn't make them THAT clever."

Angel pouted and looked back at the code, one day she'd find out the answer.

"But why use children?" Sarah Jane argued, confused, needing to get them back on topic, "Can't they use adults?"

"No, it needs imagination to crack it," Angel said, recalling that much of it from her studies, as she stared solemnly at the screen, "It doesn't just take intelligence, it takes heart and soul as well. Everything the children are will be sucked out of them till they just...burn out."

Sarah Jane gasped at that, her research on the school, on all the children who had gotten so ill, now making sense. They were the children who had been too absorbed in the program, too focused, lost too much of themselves to it.

"Let the lesson begin," Mr. Finch called, entering the classroom as they turned to face him, "Think of it, Doctor, Angel, with the Paradigm solved, reality becomes clay in our hands. We can shape the Universe and improve it."

"Oh yeah?" the Doctor glared at the man, "The whole of creation with the face of Mr. Finch. Call me old-fashioned, but I like things as they are."

"You act like such a radical. And yet all you want to do is preserve the old order. Think of the changes that could be made if this power was used for good."

"But you wouldn't use it for good," Angel said, frowning at the man, knowing it was true.

"You would, which is exactly what we want," he smirked as the Doctor's eyes widened, not expecting that, "The Paradigm gives us power, but the two of you could give us wisdom. Become gods. At my side. Imagine what you could do, think of the civilizations you could save. Perganon, Assinta...your own people. Standing tall. The Time Lords...reborn."

The Doctor was silent, staring at him.

"Doctor, don't listen to him," Sarah Jane called.

"And you could be with him throughout eternity," Mr. Finch turned to the humans, "Young...fresh...never wither, never age...never die," before returning his attention to the Doctor, "Their lives are so fleeting. So many goodbyes. How lonely you must be. Join us."

The Doctor swallowed hard, so tempted, "I could save everyone..."

"Yes," Mr. Finch smiled.

"I could stop the War..."

"No," Sarah Jane cut in desperately, "The Universe has to move forward. Pain and loss, they define us as much as happiness or love. Whether it's a world, or a relationship...everything has its time. And everything ends."

Angel stepped forward, taking the Doctor's hands in hers, drawing his attention, "Everything, all things, must die," she whispered, repeating the words she had said when she'd taken in the Vortex, "The War is over," she reminded him gently, "We need to move on."

He nodded, squeezing her hands, before suddenly grabbing a chair and hurling it through the screen displaying the code, smashing it, "Out!" he shouted at Mr. Finch who stormed out of the room, glowering at his lost chance.

~8~

Mickey started the car and drove it straight towards the school, right through the front doors, smashing the windows. He quickly leapt out, "Come on!" he shouted to Kenny, taking off.

~8~

Mr. Finch let out a screech that echoed through the school from the stairwell he stood in.

Mr. Wagner and two other Krillitanes paused and morphed into their bat-like forms.

~8~

Kenny and Mickey nearly ran into the Doctor, Rose, Angel, and Sarah Jane at the bottom of another stairwell Angel had led them to, "What is going on?" he asked.

"Well," Angel began...when suddenly three Krillitanes half-flew, half-climbed along the corridor towards them.

They turned and ran in the opposite direction, the Krillitanes separating at the end of the hall till only one was following them. They ran straight into the canteen area, trying the doors on the other side but they were locked. The Doctor pulled out his sonic just as Mr. Finch burst through the doors with several more Krillitanes.

"Are they my teachers?" Kenny asked.

"Yeah," the Doctor nodded, "Sorry."

"But they're bats!"

"Aliens," Angel corrected lightly, "That are just like bats in every way."

"Leave the Doctor and the Angel alive," Mr. Finch ordered, "As for the others...you can feast."

The Krillitanes swooped down on them, the Doctor and Angel trying to swat them away while the others screamed and tried to duck. One of the Krillitanes was hit with a red light out of nowhere, falling to the floor, dead.

K9 wheeled in, his laser out, as Mr. Finch roared with rage.

"K9!" Sarah Jane gasped.

"Suggest you engage running mode Mistress," K9 replied.

"Come on!" the Doctor shouted, leading the others out as K9 distracted the Krillitanes, firing at them, "K9, hold them back!"

"Affirmative, Master. Maximum defense mode!"

They reached a door, the Doctor pushing them through, "Come on!" he slammed it shut behind them and locked it with the sonic.

"Power supply failing," K9 remarked as he continued to shoot, slowing down.

"Forget the shooty dog thing," Mr. Finch said in exasperation.

"Power...supply...failing," K9 announced, powering off.

~8~

"It's the oil!" the Doctor shouted as they huddled in the physics lab, having a sudden brainwave, "Krillitane life forms can't handle the oil! That's it! They've changed their physiology so often even their own oil is toxic to them. How much was there in the kitchens?"

"Barrels of it," Rose replied.

They jumped as the Krillitanes started to pound on the locked door, their claws dipping holes in it.

"Ok, we need to get to the kitchens. Mickey!"

"What now, hold the coats?" he asked sarcastically.

Angel smiled, starting to speak before the Doctor could even open his mouth, "Get all the children away from those computers and out of the school."

He looked at her, glancing at the Doctor to see if she was serious, giving him an actual role, an actual task. The Doctor seemed like that had NOT been what he was about to say, but nodded anyway, trusting her. Mickey practically beamed at the opportunity to prove he wasn't just a tin dog and ran out of the doors as the Doctor turned to the group, "Now then, bats, bats, bats, how do we fight bats?"

Kenny looked up suddenly, recalling something from science before things became too advanced, bats operated by sonar and if they really were just like bats...

He rushed over to the fire alarm and broke it with his elbow, setting it off.

The Krillitanes outside the door immediately winced and wailed at the sound.

The Doctor beamed and flung the door open, leading them down the hall quickly while the bats were too distracted to attack.

~8~

Mr. Finch, grit his teeth and punched through the wall, ripping out a bundle of wires, stopping the alarm, "Get after them!" he ordered, striding down the staircase as the Krillitanes followed.

~8~

They ran down the corridor, K9 emerging from a doorway, "Master!"

"Come on, boy!" the Doctor shouted, not stopping, "Good boy."

K9 trundled along after them.

~8~

Mickey burst into the south IT room, "Ok, listen everyone, we've gotta get out of here!"

No one seemed to notice him, all the children still working on the code.

Mickey stared at a monitor, waving a hand in front of Melissa's face, but got no response.

~8~

The group ran into the kitchens, the Doctor quickly rushing to a barrel with the sonic, "They've been deadlock sealed!" he ran to another, "Finch must've done that, I can't open them."

"The vats would not withstand a direct hit from my laser," K9 remarked, "But my batteries are failing."

"Right. Everyone out the back door, Angel you as well, keep them safe. K9, stay with me," Sarah Jane, Rose, and Kenny ran out the back door, leaving the Doctor crouched before K9 while Angel paused a moment in the doorway, looking back sadly at the little dog, a terrible pit in her stomach that told her this might be the very last time she'd see K9 Mark III, before running on.

~8~

Mickey tried to stop the code from the main computer without any luck. He looked around, he needed to find a way to free the children. Angel was counting on him and...he really didn't want to disappoint her, not when she trusted him with this part of the mission.

He just had to find a way to turn the computers off, but he was running out of ideas. He huffed, looking up for some help, when a bright yellow and black stripped covering caught his eye. He followed the wire covering across the ceiling and down a wall to a single plug socket. He ran over and pulled it out, the computers going dead.

"Everyone get out, now!" he shouted. And the children quickly got to their feet and ran out, "Come on, move! Let's go, let's go!"

~8~

The Doctor moved the vats of oil together, giving K9 a better shot, "Capacity for only one shot, Master. For maximum impact, I must be placed directly beside the vat."

The Doctor turned and moved over to him, "But you'll be trapped inside."

"That is correct."

"I can't let you do that."

"No alternative possible, Master."

The Doctor looked over his shoulder, hearing the Krillitanes screeching before turning back to K9, realizing the dog was right, "Goodbye, old friend."

"Goodbye Master."

"You good dog," he smiled.

"Affirmative," K9 waggled his ears and tail.

The Doctor briefly placing a hand on the dog's head before rushing off. He flew out the back door, slamming it shut, locking it with the sonic, only to see Sarah Jane standing behind him.

"Where's K9?" she asked urgently.

"We need to run," was all he said, running towards her, but she didn't move.

"Where is he?! What've you done?!"

He grabbed her hand and pulled her away.

~8~

Mr. Finch and his brothers entered the kitchen, "When you find him...eat him if you must, but bring me his brain," he glanced down at K9, who raised his head, "The little dog with a nasty bite," Mr. Finch mocked, bending down slightly, "Not so powerful now, are you?"

K9 just shot his laser at the vat, causing it to explode all over the Krillitanes, burning them, making them scream.

~8~

"Come on, guys!" Mickey yelled, ushering the kids outside, "Let's go, let's go!"

~8~

The Krillitanes wailed in agony, covered in the oil.

"Burning!" a dinner lady screeched.

"You bad dog," Mr. Finch glared at K9

"Affirmative," he agreed, just before the school exploded.

The children outside all burst into cheers as Rose and Mickey joined in, hugging each other.

"Yes!" Kenny cheered.

Melissa turned to him, "Did you have something to do with it?"

"Yeah, I did."

Melissa's mouth dropped open, "Oh my God," she turned to the students and shouted, "Kenny blew up the school! It was Kenny!"

The children cheered even harder, chanting Kenny's name and patting him on the back. The only ones not joining in the cheer were the Doctor, Angel, and Sarah Jane, Angel standing with her arm around the distraught looking woman.

"I'm sorry," the Doctor said gently to his old companion.

"It's alright," Sarah Jane said quickly, "He was just a...daft metal dog. Fine, really," she tried to hold back the tears but couldn't any longer.

The Doctor hugging her closer in comfort as Angel rubbed the woman's back.

~8~

It was a beautiful day as Sarah Jane strolled through the park and up to the TARDIS just as the Doctor stepped out, "Cuppa tea?" he asked, stepping aside to let her walk through the doors. She gasped, looking around at the inside, awed. The Doctor followed her through and shut the door behind her.

"You've redecorated!" she grinned at him.

"Do you like it?" the Doctor asked.

"Oh, I…I do. Yeah. I preferred it as it was, but uh...yeah. It'll do!"

"I love it," Rose grinned from where she was standing by the console with Mickey, Angel leaning on a railing across from her.

"Hey, you, what's 47 times 369?"

"No idea. It's gone now, the oil's faded."

"But you're still clever. More than a match for him."

"You and me both," Rose grinned.

Angel smiled joyfully at the two women having come to form some sort of friendship. It was her opinion that past companions should stick together.

Sarah Jane nodded and looked around.

"Doctor..." Rose shot the man a meaningful look.

He looked up from where he was typing something into the console to see Rose and Angel eyeing him expectantly, "Um, we're about to head off, but...you could come with us."

Rose and Angel looked at Sarah Jane hopefully as the woman looked at them, before shaking her head, "No...I can't do this anymore," the Doctor and Rose's smiles faded though Angel's just became more understanding, this was a turning point for Sarah Jane, the closure she needed to really begin to enjoy her life, "Besides, I've got a much bigger adventure ahead! Time I stopped waiting for you and found a life of my own."

"Well then," Angel spoke up, "If you can't come, then I think Mickey should."

Everyone looked at her, startled at her suggestion.

"What?" Mickey breathed, stunned that she seemed to be inviting him.

"You're not the tin dog Mickey, not to me," she told him as he looked at her in surprise, he hadn't mentioned his fear to her nor did he think Sarah Jane had, "And…" she continued, starting to grin, "I've bonded to the TARDIS as well, which means I am officially a recognized pilot and can take a companion of my own and the Doctor's got no say in it whatsoever."

The Doctor pouted at that.

Angel just smiled completely and walked over to him, putting her arms around his neck, "But still, I'd never do that to you, so what do you think? Can he come? Please? As my companion?"

"Oh go on, Doctor," Sarah Jane called, seeing him debating it, "Sarah Jane Smith, Mickey Smith. You need a Smith onboard!"

"Ok then, I could do with a laugh," he nodded.

Mickey laughed in delight, grinning widely, excited at the idea that he'd get the chance to see what was so great about being a companion, when he noticed the only one seeming to not be all that thrilled was Rose, "Rose, is that ok?" he asked.

"No, great," Rose muttered, "Why not?"

She couldn't help but feel like it wasn't fair. She knew she was being selfish, wanting to keep the Doctor and Angel to herself, but…they were just…so wonderful…they made her feel wonderful and important and special…with Mickey there, as Angel's companion no less, would they even still notice her and rely on her like they had? Would she and Angel still have the close relationship they'd forged with the Time Lady's attention now partially give to Mickey? She supposed she'd find out soon, wouldn't she?

"Well, I'd better go," Sarah Jane spoke up, trying to break the awkward silence that had fallen. She stepped over to Rose, pulling her aside as the Doctor and Angel gestured Mickey over to properly welcome him aboard before Angel seemed to remember something, mid-hugging the boy, and ran out the doors, "It'll be alright," she told the girl, "The Time Lords, they've got two hearts you know, gives them lots of room for everyone in them," she pulled the girl into a reassuring hug, "Find me...if you need to, one day. Find me."

Rose gave her a small smile and a nod, sad to see her go.

Sarah Jane looked around the TARDIS once more before stepping outside for the last time. The Doctor followed her, standing before her, "It's daft," she admitted, "But I haven't ever thanked you for that time, and like I said, I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

"Something to tell the grandkids," he grinned.

"Oh, I think it'll be someone else's grandkids now."

"Right…" he trailed awkwardly, "Yes, sorry, I didn't get a chance to ask. You haven't...there hasn't been anyone...you know..."

"Well...there was this one guy. I travelled with him for a while. But he was a tough act to follow," she laughed slightly as the Doctor smiled softly at her, "But um, I have to ask, you and Angel…are you…"

"We're Mates," he practically beamed in joy.

"And not the friendly sort eh?" she had to add, laughing at the pink tinge that appeared on his cheeks, "Good for you, you of all people deserve to be happy Doctor," he looked away a bit, embarrassed though pleased, as she sighed, "Goodbye."

"Oh, it's not goodbye…"

"Say it, please. This time. Say it."

"Goodbye," he grinned, "My Sarah Jane," he pulled her into a tight hug, lifting her right off the ground, before placing her back down with a laugh.

"Can I say goodbye too?" Angel called, peeking around from the back of the TARDIS.

Sarah Jane laughed and waved her over, hugging the blonde woman as well, "You take good care of the Doctor," Sarah Jane told her, mock seriously.

"Oh I will," she smiled, pulling away.

"We take care of each other," the Doctor added, putting an arm around her shoulder, "Don't we?"

"Yeah we do," she said softly, just gazing up at him.

Sarah Jane smiled widely at the moment, watching them. He really did deserve every happiness and...seeing him just then, looking at Angel, she'd never seen him happier than at that moment. She was so glad for him.

They gave her one last smile before heading back into the TARDIS, closing the door behind them, leaving her standing alone outside. The engines started up and Sarah Jane slowly turned to walk away, not looking back till it was almost gone, tears in her eyes, goodbyes were always hard.

But just as it faded she caught sight of something behind the box.

"K9!" she shouted, overjoyed to see him looking much better and more updated.

"Mistress!" he wheeled over to her.

"But...you were blown up!" she crouched beside him.

"Master and Mistress Angel rebuilt me. My systems are much improved with new undetectable hyperlink facilities."

"Oh...he replaced you with a brand new model!"

"Affirmative."

"Yep," she nodded in thought, "He does that. Come on you. Home. We've got work to do."

"Affirmative," he agreed, following Sarah Jane as they walked off into the sunset.

~8~

The Doctor stood at the side of the console, typing something into the monitor, smiling as he read through all the reports Sarah Jane had done in her investigative journaling. She really was remarkable. Much like another woman in his life. Speaking of, he looked up to see Angel sitting on the captain's chair, her legs bent, knees to her chest, with her arms absently around her legs as she gazed up at the rotor, her chin resting on her knees, clearly lost in her thoughts. He would have left her to them had he not noticed the small frown and slight worry in her eyes at wherever her thoughts had gone.

He frowned himself, as he often found himself doing when she was upset. It was new to him, that feeling of finding himself smiling or frowning with another. So much of his own happiness was based on her own, when she laughed, he laughed, when she frowned, he frowned, when she was hurt...well, yes, he WAS hurt as well, but there was also the intense, and quite startling given his personality, desire to find what had hurt her and make it suffer equally. It was...strange. He never felt this way before. Sure, when his companions had been harmed or happy, he felt sad or happy too but this...this was something...beyond. He could physically feel his hearts constrict when she was upset, feel the warmth bubble in him when she laughed. He'd never felt that way about his 'wife' on Gallifrey. They were, at best, civil to each other for the sake of the children but there had been no genuine love there.

Not like now.

"Angel?" he called softly, making his way over to her, but she didn't even blink, "Angel?" he tried again as he moved to sit beside her, still no reply, "Nella?" he reached out to touch her shoulder.

She blinked, and looked over at him, a bit surprised, "Yes?"

He smiled, pleased she had responded, "What's wrong?"

She looked away a bit, an almost reluctant look on her face and he reached out to gently turn her head back to him, "You can tell me, you know," he whispered.

He knew it was sometimes hard for her to speak of things that were truly bothering her. He knew her mother had been the one she often sat with to speak of her more troublesome thoughts, but, with her mother having died so suddenly and not having that sort of relationship with her father or sister, she kept her fears and troubles to herself.

"You never have to hide anything from me," he added, "Ever."

She smiled, that was so like him, wanting to help in any way he could, make people feel better, ever the doctor, "I just...I can't help but think about my...feelings."

"What about them?" he shook his head, not entirely sure what was wrong. She'd been getting better at feeling them, the number of them increasing, the sensations growing stronger, more...

"It feels like they're getting stronger," she whispered.

He blinked, "And that's...bad?"

"I dunno," she shook her head, swallowing hard, "I just...these last few adventures, I've been...reacting, before I even realize I have, have you noticed?" he nodded, "It started on Satellite 5, when I tried to find you but...it hasn't stopped. I was running around and grabbing things, like the bracelets, and putting in codes I had no right to know and..." she swallowed hard, "I tossed Jack a gun," she breathed, so quiet he almost had to strain to hear her, "I just tossed him a gun before I even realized I had. I didn't realize Theta," she looked at him, alarmed "I didn't even notice I'd done it till after he'd fired at the Dalek and..." she shook her head again, "I run off, like in the hospital or in the manor, I run off and you always follow and I don't ever know where I'm going just that I have to get there and I touch things and say things and DO things when I don't even know what they mean or why or even that I'm doing it and..."

"Nella," he cut in, taking her hands in his, seeing her getting so upset over all this, "It's ok."

"No, it's not," she shook her head, genuinely frightened, "Theta...I can't help it. It just happens. I get a feeling and, before I know it, I've run off or done something before I can even process it. What if..." she cut off suddenly.

He frowned, "What?" he squeezed her hands.

She took a breath, looking at him, "What if...I get a feeling and...and I hurt someone."

He stared at her for a moment before starting to laugh at the absolute absurdity of it all. HER, hurt someone? Angel? His Angel? His Nella? Ever be capable of harming another living soul? He couldn't even get her to swat a fly as she claimed it had it's own life to live! She'd even muttered that she hadn't wanted to start an intergalactic war if she did. He had no idea how that could even happen, it wasn't like a fly could be the leader of a country or a warrior chief or anything.

"It's not funny," she said quietly, frowning as he kept laughing, "What if...I run somewhere and you follow and it ends up being a trap?" she continued as his chuckles quieted, hearing the tears in her eyes, "Or, what if I say something so random and...it ends up being some sort of secret knowledge that gets us thrown in prison as spies? Or what if I react to something and I end up hurting someone? What if I hurt Rose, or Mickey, or...or you?" she blinked and the tears were more prominent, "What if I hurt you Theta?" she shook her head, "I couldn't bear it if I..."

"Nella," he cut in, scooting closer to pull her into his arms as she started to cry, "That will NEVER happen."

"You can't know that," she shook her head into his chest.

"Maybe I can't SEE that," he remarked, "But YOU can," he nudged her playfully, needing desperately to cheer her up, "You're the precog."

"Mickey was right," she murmured, "Psychics can't see everything."

He had to nod at that, "Maybe not," he agreed, "But Nella, surely you can see how ridiculous that is?"

"It's nothing of the sort!" she pulled back, truly scared of it, "Theta if I ever hurt..."

"You won't," he reached out and cupped her face in his hands, staring deep into her eyes, "Nella, you are the kindest, warmest, caring, most...beautiful woman I have ever met," he told her, the sincerity in his words shining in his eyes, in his every gesture and move, "YOU could NEVER hurt someone," he smiled, moving to stroke her cheek, "You went face-to-face with the DALEKS and you couldn't even kill them. You STOPPED them. You didn't even hold a weapon to the one that took your sister from you," he reminded her.

She looked down and he frowend again, he knew that look. It was the same look she'd had when they'd discovered Margaret the Slitheen had survived, like she'd had a feeling but not told him, "What is it?"

"I think..." she took a moment to try and find the words, "I think I knew it would try to kill me Theta," she admitted.

"You did?" he breathed, his hearts constricting painfully. If she had, why hadn't she taken a weapon to defend herself? Why had she just stood there and let it happen?

His hearts stopped.

Had she wanted to die?

"I felt like...my hearts hurt," she mumbled, her face scrunched as she tried to recall what she'd felt, "My chest kept aching and I kept rubbing it, I didn't know why...and then...I got shot inthe chest."

He swallowed hard, "Nella, did you..."

"No," she cut in, looking up at him, offering him a small smile, "If I did know I'd be shot, then I think I may have known I'd regenerate also."

"But why waste the energy?" he shook his head, though he was relieved she hadn't intended to die, he still couldn't understand that. Their planet was gone, the High Council was gone, any and all means of obtaining more regenerations was gone. They only had the energy for 12 and he knew she was on her 9th body already.

"I wanted a new start," she told him, "I knew you'd take me away and I didn't want to be that girl anymore. I had been her for 50 years. 50 years of captivity, of loneliness, of pain and..." she shook her head, "I didn't want to be her when I had a new chance. I wanted a new life for my new start."

"And that's just what it is," he stroked her cheek again, smiling once more, relieved he'd been able to give her that new start, "Nella it's a new start. This is the first time in a LONG time that you've actually LET yourself feel those sensations of yours isn't it?" he asked, she nodded, "They've always been there, just beneath the surface, but you kept pushing them down. They're just starting to rise, to grow as they'd been trying to, only now, you're letting it happen," he watched as she frowned, thinking on his words, "Your abilities Nella...I've never met a Visionary quite like you before. I think, I'm quite certain really, that they've all gone a bit barmy after they came away from the Untempered Schism, but not you. You...are remarkable," she looked up at him, starting to smile, "Your abilities, your feelings, they're growing stronger because they have the chance to. Let them," he told her quietly, "The more you let yourself feel them, the more you'll come to understand them and, I'm quite sure, the more you'll be able to control them and yourself in the future."

"But what if I do hurt someone?" she asked, still scared despite his reassurances.

"You never would," he promised her, "And if, and that's a very big IF," he smiled, "If you did, then I fully believe that it would be because they aren't a good person and want to hurt someone else and you're just trying to stop them. You're just..." he let out a little laugh, "You truly are a guardian angel you know," he leaned forward and kissed her softly, "You just want to protect everyone."

She gave a little laugh, "Says the man who just wants to make everyone feel better."

He gave her a little smirk, "Did it work?"

She nodded, "It always does," she gave him another kiss before resting her forehead to his in a tender moment, "Just being near you makes me feel better."

"I'm glad," he beamed.

Chapter Text

Screams echoed through the halls of Versailles as the aristocrats, all beautifully dressed for their party, ran from the ballroom, the sounds heard by a lonely blonde woman, standing before a fireplace, the flames casting a warm glow so contrary to the coldness and darkness behind her out in the halls.

"We are under attack!" the King of France shouted, entering the room and making his way over to her, "There are creatures...I don't even think they're human. We can't stop them."

"The clock is broken," she replied, staring at the broken clock on her mantel, the glass front shattered. She reached out and gently placed a finger to it, tracing the cracks as she smiled, not at all as fearful as the King seemed to be, "They're coming."

The King stepped towards her, concerned that she wasn't moving, "Did you hear what I said?"

He took her hand to pull her away but she stopped and looked at him insistently, "Listen to me. There is a man and a woman coming to Versailles. They have watched over me my whole life and they will not desert me tonight."

"What are you talking about? Who?"

"My guardians, my angels," she looked up to see the King staring at her as though she'd gone mad, "No, don't look like that, there's no time. You have your duties. I am your mistress. Go to your Queen," she turned back to the fireplace, crouching down and calling through the flames, "Are you there? Can you hear me? I need you now, you promised. The clock on the mantel is broken. It is time. Doctor! Angel!"

~8~

The Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS to see where it had set down on its mystery tour. They'd debated for ages on what would be the best first trip for Mickey, Angel insisting that it be special. The Doctor had taken Rose to the end of the world, she wanted to take Mickey somewhere equally as epic. The only thing was, there was SO much to pick from! The Universe was ever expanding, there were so many monumental events in human history, in all history really, that to pick just one was nearly impossible. The humas only knew their past and tended to only think of events from that, but the Time Lords knew most of the humans' future and had infinitely more options. It had gotten to the point where Mickey himself had been too excited by all there was to pick from that he just said for them to put the options in a hat and pick from it at random.

Angel had commented that they didn't make hats big enough to fit all the options in before gasping and saying they should go to Ravan-Skala! Apparently the people there were giants! She'd remembered because she'd learned about them in school and they reminded her of the giants from the Earth fairytales, one book of which was the last one her mother had read to her before she'd passed on.

Mickey had laughed and shook his head, explaining he'd meant it as let the TARDIS pick, just go anywhere, randomly. He hadn't meant to literally put everything in a hat, but that now he did want to go to 'Ravskul' at some point too. The Doctor had grinned and hit a button on the TARDIS, setting the old box up for a mystery tour, and there they were.

Rose stepped out after the Doctor, followed by Mickey and then Angel, shutting the door behind her before linking her arm with Mickey, eagerly watching his expression while the rest looked around the dark room, the stars visible through a few porthole-like windows.

"It's a spaceship!" Mickey beamed, his eyes wide in excitement making Angel laugh, happy he was so pleased, she'd been hoping for that reaction. She really wanted to make his adventure with them incredible, "Brilliant, I got a spaceship on my first go!"

"Looks kind of abandoned..." Rose murmured, looking around, "Anyone onboard?"

"Nah, nothing here," the Doctor replied, "Well! Nothing dangerous. Well! Not that dangerous."

"Nothing alive," Angel added.

The Doctor paused at her words, "You know what, I'll just have a quick scan...in case there's anything dangerous."

Rose and Angel smirked at each other as he walked over to a control panel and started pushing the buttons of it, "So, what's the date?" Rose asked Angel, knowing the girl seemed to have a knack for pinpointing their time, "How far we gone?"

"3,000 years in the future," Angel answered, "51st century."

The Doctor pulled a switch and the lights turned on, the roof slowly opening to reveal a window through which they could see even more of the stars, "Diagmar Cluster, you're a long way from home, Mickey! Two and a half galaxies!"

Mickey stepped away from Angel and over to a porthole, looking out in amazement, as Rose walked over to him, putting her hands on his shoulders, smiling, while Angel went to join the Doctor, looking around the control panel, "Mickey Smith, meet the Universe," Rose smiled, "See anything you like?"

"It's so realistic!" he breathed.

"Dear me, had some cowboys in here!" the Doctor mumbled.

"Literally," Angel agreed, her hand resting on the wall of the ship, "Inside the walls…"

"Got a ton of repair work going on," the Doctor agreed, looking at the fried wires hanging above Angel's head. He tossed a piece away when a screen caught his eye, "Now that's odd, look at that. All the warp engines are going...full capacity! There's enough power running through this ship to punch a hole in the Universe...and we're not moving. So where's all that power going?"

"Where'd all the crew go?" Rose asked, looking around as Angel made her way back to the Doctor, looking at a few controls.

"Good question. You were right Angel, no life readings onboard," the Doctor nodded, flicking a few knobs and buttons.

"Well, we're in deep space, they didn't just nip out for a quick fag."

"Nope, checked all the smoking pods," he straightened up and sniffed, "Can you smell that?"

"Yeah, someone's cooking."

"Sunday roast, definitely!" Mickey laughed.

Angel paused in looking at the controls and pressed a button. A door slid open behind them. They turned and walked through it to see a part of the wall and floor looked like an 18th century fireplace.

"Well, there's something you don't see in your average spaceship," the Doctor remarked as they moved closer, "18th century! French! Nice mantel," he pulled out the sonic and flashed it over the fireplace, "Not a hologram," he knelt down to examine it closely, Angel peering around the back sides of it as Mickey and Rose looked at the rest of the room, "Not even a reproduction, this actually is an 18h century French fireplace. Double-sided, there's another room through there."

Rose paused to look through a porthole to see space on the other side, "There can't be, that's the outer hull of the ship, look."

The Doctor moved over, looking through the fire into another room, only to see a young girl with long blonde hair, dressed in a nightgown, looking back at him, "Hello!"

"Hello..." the girl replied cautiously.

Angel shuffled over to the Doctor's side, smiling warmly through the fire at the girl, her smile widening when the Doctor put his arm around her, "What's your name sweetheart?"

"Reinette."

"Reinette, what a lovely name!" she smiled, making the girl beam.

"Can you tell us where you are at the moment, Reinette?" the Doctor asked.

"In my bedroom," she said slowly.

"And where's your bedroom? Where do you live, Reinette?"

"Paris, of course!"

"Paris, right…"

"Monsieur, madam, what are you doing in my fireplace?"

"Oh, it's just a routine...fire check. Can you tell me what year it is?"

"1727," Angel replied.

"She's right monsieur," Reinette nodded.

"Lovely!" he flashed a grin at Angel before turning back to Reinette, "One of my favorites...August is rubbish though. Stay indoors. Ok, that's all for now. Thanks for your help. Hope you enjoy the rest of the fire. Night night!"

"Goodnight monsieur. Goodnight madam."

"Goodnight Reinette," Angel smiled, "Pleasant dreams!"

The Doctor stood, looking thoughtful, as Angel just returned to the right side of the fireplace as she was examining it before.

"You said this was the 51st century," Mickey looked at Angel.

"And I said this ship was generating enough power to punch a hole in the Universe," the Doctor cut in, "I think we just found the hole. Must be a spatio-temporal hyperlink."

Angel paused and looked back at him over her shoulder with a frown, "What's that?"

"No idea," he smiled at her, winking as she nodded and turned back to the fireplace, "Just made it up. Didn't wanna say 'magic door.'"

Mickey shook his head at that. He'd almost asked what it was himself, but...he felt like it would be a stupid question. Whatever sort of hyperlink it was, he'd just thought it was something they all knew about already, something he 'should' have known and something the Doctor would just make him feel like a bit of an idiot for asking about. But he smiled too, Angel had asked. Angel hadn't known and Angel was brilliant. The more he thought about it, the more he figured he should just ask her questions like that in the future. She had a way of explaining things and NOT making him feel stupid for having asked. And, if she didn't know, then it would be something they could learn about together.

"And on the other side of the," Rose dropped her voice, "'Magic door,'" before returning to normal, "Is France in 1727?"

The Doctor nodded, tossing his coat into the corner of the room, onto a table with bits of rubbish on it, "Well, she was speaking French. Right period French, too."

"She was speaking English, I heard her!" Mickey looked at him.

Rose put an arm around Mickey's neck as the Doctor strode over to the fireplace, crouching at Angel's side, his hand on the small of her back, to see what had captured her interest so much, she'd hardly looked away from the fireplace since they'd seen it, "That's the TARDIS, translates for ya."

"Even French?!"

"Yep."

"Knew it!" Angel cried as she bumped something.

Rose and Mickey looked over just in time to see the fireplace rotate with Angel and the Doctor on it, "Doctor!" Rose shouted at the same time as Mickey called, "Angel!"

The Doctor and Angel could faintly hear their cries as the wall stopped spinning, releasing them in Reinette's bedroom at night. They looked over to see Reinette sleeping peacefully on her bed, a clock ticking in the background. The Doctor quietly made his way to the window and looked out to see Paris at night in the winter as Angel frowned, tensing a bit as she turned back to reexamine the fireplace, something about the room not sitting right with her.

A horse neighed loudly and Reinette awoke with a gasp to see two people in her room.

"It's ok!" the Doctor whispered, "Don't scream! It's me, it's the fireplace man. Look," he walked over to a candle and lit it with the sonic, she still looked a bit startled, "We were talking, just a moment ago. We were in your fireplace."

Reinette glanced between him and the woman at her mantel, "Monsieur, that was weeks ago. That was months!"

"Really?" his eyebrows rose in surprise, "Oh."

"Doctor…" Angel called quietly, her gaze fixed on the clock on the mantel, the broken clock…

He walked over to the fireplace, leaning over to listen to it as he knocked against it, "Must be a loose connection. Need to get a man in."

"Who are you?" Reinette asked, watching as Angel tugged his arm and gestured to the clock, "And what are you doing here?"

The Doctor's mouth dropped open, slightly fearful, as he realized what Angel had, "Ok, that's scary..."

"You're scared of a broken clock?"

"Just a bit scared, yeah," he nodded, his arm winding around Angel's waist, pulling her closer, wanting to keep her near now that he knew there was a danger there, he couldn't bear it if she was harmed, "Just a little tiny bit. 'Cos you see, if this clock's broken, and it's the only clock in the room..." he trailed off, glancing at Reinette, "Then what's that?"

The ticking of the clock grew louder as Reinette looked around, scared, Angel quickly stepped away from the Doctor and made her way to the girl's side, sitting on the bed beside her, putting a comforting arm around her. She knew the Doctor had a soft spot for children, hardly able to stand seeing them cry. She was much the same, she just...hated to see them frightened.

Fear, she thought, was almost worse than tears.

"'Cos you see that's not a clock. You can tell by the resonance. Too big. Six feet, I'd say. Size of a man."

"What is it?"

The Doctor quickly checked behind the curtains, finding nothing he turned back to the bed, "Now, let's think. If you were a thing that ticks and you were hiding in someone's bedroom, first thing you do: break the clock. No one notices the sound of one clock ticking, but two? You might start to wonder if you're really alone…" he eyed the bed closely before crouching down, "Stay on the bed. Right in the middle. Don't put your hands or feet over the edge."

He pulled out the sonic, peering underneath the bed as Angel whispered comforts to the frightened girl, running a hand through Reinette's hair much like her own mother used to do for her whenever she had a nightmare as a child. He turned it on, only for something to lunge at him, startling him back. He gasped and scrambled to look underneath it again, only to see the feet of something standing on the other side of the bed. He slowly lifted his head, looking behind the girls. He could see in Angel's eyes and how she stiffened that she knew something was there already.

"Reinette...don't look round," he murmured.

There, behind the bed was a man dressed in French aristocratic attire and a rather disturbing porcelain mask that made it look like it was leering down at Reinette.

"You stay exactly where you are," he whispered to her as he straightened.

Angel cast a glance back at the figure over Reinette's head, a frown appearing on her face as her brows furrowed. Her eyes widened a moment later when she realized what it was doing before she turned to the Doctor, "They've been scanning her!"

He blinked at that, shocked, "Hold still, let me look..." he leaned over and gently took Reinette's head in his hands, staring her in the eyes, growing more disturbed before he straightened up and glared at the figure, "What, you've crossed two galaxies and thousands of years just to scan a child's brain? What could there be in a little girl's mind worth blowing a hole in the Universe?"

"I don't understand...it wants me?!" Reinette turned to the figure, frightened, "You want me?"

The figure's head titled mechanically to one side, "Not yet," it replied, "You are incomplete."

"'Incomplete?'" Angel shook her head, "How is she 'incomplete?'"

The figure just continued to stare at Reinette.

The Doctor glared at it, holding out the sonic and aiming it threateningly at the figure, "You can answer her, you can answer us. What do you mean, 'incomplete?'"

The figure didn't reply, though it did take a few jerky steps around the bed, towards the Doctor. It extended an arm, a blade sliding out at the Doctor's face.

"Monsieur, be careful!" Reinette shouted.

"Just a nightmare, Reinette, don't worry about it. Everyone has nightmares," he started backing away, the figure following him as Angel stood up and cautiously moved after them. He jumped back as it swung at him before reaching the fireplace, "Even monsters from under the bed have nightmares, don't you, monster?"

The figure slashed once more but Angel pulled him aside just in time for the figure's blade to hit the mantel and get stuck.

"What do monsters have nightmares about?" Reinette wondered.

"Us!" the Doctor shouted, jolting the fireplace so it moved, "Ha!"

It spun around, back to the spaceship.

"Doctor!" Rose shouted.

Angel sprinted across the room and grabbed a gun-like object off the wall, just knowing it would help, and turned to spray an icy substance all over the figure. It twitched, trying to get away, before it froze entirely.

"Excellent, ice gun!" Mickey eyed the gun appreciatively.

"Fire extinguisher," the Doctor corrected as Angel handed the gun to Rose warily.

He stepped over to Angel and put an arm around her, knowing that she still wasn't too comfortable with how she would just react to things before she knew she was. He'd seen it in her expression just after the figure had stopped. She hadn't known what the gun would do, just that it would help, and run to get it before she even realized she was using it. It had only been an 'ice gun,' but still, he knew her mind had probably gone to what if it hadn't been? What if it had been a gun that destroyed something?

He firmly believed though that, if it had been a real gun, Angel wouldn't have even 'felt' to use it. It just...wasn't HER.

"Where did that thing come from?" Rose asked, eyeing the figure.

"Here," Angel replied, starting to feel better with the Doctor beside her. She just had to remind herself that, using that 'ice gun' had stopped the figure from attacking Rose and Mickey too and THAT was why she'd grabbed it. Not to harm the figure, but to stop it from harming others.

"So why is it dressed like that?" Mickey frowned.

"Field trip to France, some kind of basic camouflage protocol," the Doctor shrugged as he turned to eye the figure.

"See," Angel cut in, nudging him in the side, "Captain Jack was right. I should see if the TARDIS has any period clothes from France," she added thoughtfully.

He just rolled his eyes at that, but had to smile. He knew the TARDIS did and he had to admit, he was more than a little eager to see her in a dress again. She was just so lovely when she got all dressed up, not that she wasn't normally, but...seeing her in those sorts of dresses, like when they'd gone to 1879, those gowns just emphasized her natural beauty with their simplicity. Angel was not a complicated woman, something he appreciated because it made him feel like he could understand her as well as she could him. Simple things made her smile, simple things made her beautiful.

He shook his head, the faint ticking of the figure reminding him that they still had to deal with that, he could daydream about her in gowns all he liked later, but, for now, he needed to focus. Something that would be hard to do with the object of his thoughts right beside him.

He leaned forward to examine the figure once more, "Nice needlework! Shame about the face," he reached out and pulled off the wig that was also attached to the mask to reveal a glass egg for a head with a clockwork device with in, "Oh, you are beautiful!" he breathed, pulling on his glasses to look more closely, "No really, you are, you're gorgeous! Not as beautiful as my Mate though," he shot a wink at Angel, making her smile, "But still...look at that! Space age clockwork, I love it! I've got chills! Listen, seriously, I mean this from the heart, and, by the way, count those, it would be a crime, it would be an act of vandalism, to disassemble you," he pulled out the sonic, "But that won't stop me."

The droid sprung to life, teleporting away.

Rose and Mickey turned around, trying to spot it, as the Doctor stuffed the screwdriver back into his pocket. He ran back to the fireplace, "Short range teleport, can't have got far," he muttered before nodding Angel over as well, "Could still be onboard…"

"What is it?" Rose asked.

"Don't go looking for it," Angel warned them, not sure if it was a feeling or just the fact that she KNEW how they could be, curious, but still wanting to try and stop them.

"Where're you going?"

"Back in a sec," the Doctor nudged the fireplace, swinging them around to Reinette's side once more.

Rose looked down at the fire extinguisher, weighing it in her hands.

"She said not to look for it..." Mickey told her, seeing what she was planning.

"Yeah, she did," Rose agreed, mock serious. They looked at each other a moment before Mickey smiled and grabbed another fire extinguisher off the wall, "Now you're getting it!" they both turned and jogged out of the room.

~8~

The Doctor and Angel stood by the fireplace in a rather plush bedroom, decorated in reds and golds, much different than the little girl's room they'd been in moments ago.

"Reinette..." the Doctor called, "Just checking you're ok..." he looked around the room, stepping over to a harp and running his hand down the strings. He let out a soft chuckle as he thought about how humans typically portrayed harps, in the hands of an angel. He glanced at his own Angel as she stood behind him, running her hand along the mantel of the fireplace, and smiled at her, just watching her a moment, the sunlight reflecting through the window making her glow...when a throat cleared.

They looked up to see a young woman with blonde hair, dressed in a light blue period dress, standing by the doorway.

"Oh!" the Doctor turned to her, smiling, "Hello!" he quickly pulled off his glasses, surprised.

"We were trying to find Reinette," Angel explained as she moved to the Doctor's side, the fireplace forgotten for a moment.

"Is this still her bedroom? We've been away, not sure how long."

"Reinette!" an older woman called from a distance, "We're ready to go!"

"Go to the carriage, mother," the young woman called as the Doctor and Angel smiled, "I will join you there," she walked toward them, a teasing smile on her face, "It is customary, I think, to have imaginary friends only during one's childhood. You two are to be congratulated on your persistence."

"Hello Reinette," Angel smiled, hugging the woman before stepping back to the Doctor's side.

"Goodness, how you've grown," the Doctor added jokingly.

"And you do not appear to have aged a single day," she eyed them, "That is tremendously impolite of you."

"Right...yes...sorry. Um...um...um...listen, lovely to catch up, but er, better be off, eh? Don't want your mother finding you up here with strangers, do we?"

"Strangers? How could you be strangers to me? I have known you since I was seven years old."

"That you have," Angel laughed, "We took the quick route on accident."

Reinette reached forward and touched a lock of Angel's hair, just wanting to be sure that the hug hadn't been her rather active imagination playing tricks on her, and then placing her hand on the Doctor's cheek for a moment before pulling back though still examining them, "Well, you seem to be flesh and blood, at any rate, but this is absurd. Reason tells me you cannot be real."

"Oh, pfft...you never want to listen to reason..." the Doctor shook his head.

Angel smiled, "Especially when he's around," she nodded at the Doctor.

"Oi!" he cried, mock-offended, but just smiled at her.

"Mademoiselle!" a servant called from another room, "Your mother grows impatient."

"A moment!" Reinette called back, before looking at the rather handsome Doctor, she stepped forward...only for something to catch her eye, the Doctor was holding Angel's hand. She smiled softly at the sight, looking up at them, realizing the relationship that must be between them. They were rather comfortable with each other, standing so close, smiling so widely at each other. She was surprised she hadn't seen it as a child, she had always been rather observant. But then again, she'd only ever seen them twice, met them in person once, and it had been dark both times with a slight threat about the situation, hardly a time to notice the interactions of others.

"So many questions…" she sighed.

"So little time," Angel finished for her.

Reinette smiled at her, about to say something else when the servant shouted once more, "Mademoiselle Poisson!"

Reinette rolled her eyes before turning to grab her purse off a table and dash off moments before the servant entered the room.

"Poisson?" the Doctor mumbled, realization growing on him, "Reinette Poisson?" he looked at Angel, growing excited, "No...no, no, no, no, no way, Reinette Poisson?!" she eyed him curiously, "Later Madame Etoiles?" she still seemed lost as to the significance of that, "Later still mistress of Louis the Fifteenth, uncrowned Queen of France?" he shook his head in amazement, "Actress, artist, musician, dancer, courtesan? Fantastic gardener!" he laughed.

"Who the hell are you?!" the servant demanded, seeing the two oddly dressed people in the woman's bedroom.

"I'm the Doctor and this is Angel," he grinned as he dashed back to the fireplace with her, "And we just met Madame de Pompadour!" he laughed manically as the fireplace revolved back to the ship, "Rose!"

"Mickey?" Angel looked around for her companion, only to see there was no one there and sighed, "I suppose it's official now that he's my companion?" she looked at him, "It seems like your companions never listen."

"Every time," he muttered as he stalked off, having to agree with her there, "Every time, it's rule one, don't wander off! I tell them," he spun around to face her, still walking back as she followed, "I do, rule one! There could be anything on this ship!"

They rounded a corner to see a white horse standing in the middle of the corridor.

The Doctor blinked as the horse whinnied.

"Aww…" Angel ran over to it, petting it as it nuzzled her neck, making her laugh, "Can we call him Arthur?"

~8~

Mickey looked furtively down a dark hall, one of the fire extinguishers in hand, before doing a forward roll, springing to his feet before looking up at a surveillance camera as it moved towards him and blinked, "Are you looking at me?" he asked.

The camera moved closer and he jumped back, seeing a human eye in the lens.

"Look at this," he called to Rose as she joined him, "That's an eye in there. That's a real eye."

The eye moved back into the wall as the sound of a heartbeat echoed. Rose bent down to a small covering and tried to pull it away, snapping her hand back for a moment before quickly trying again. They looked in to see a human heart with wires and pipes attached to it.

"What is that?" Mickey grimaced, "What's that in the middle there? It's like it's wired in."

"That's a heart, Mickey..." she breathed, "That's a human heart."

~8~

The Doctor crossed a junction of corridors, looking completely lost, "Rose?" he called, "Mickey?" he stopped to look down a corridor before spinning to face the horse as it trotted after him, "Will you stop following me? I'm not your mother!"

"Oh, but Arthur likes you," Angel said, patting the horse's neck as she walked beside it, "Quite right too Arthur," she spoke to the horse, "You have excellent taste."

The Doctor smiled softly at that, watching as the horse nuzzled its nose into Angel's palm as she pet him, he could tell, they did speak Horse after all, that the horse rather liked Angel as well. But, then again, he had yet to meet someone who didn't like the woman, who didn't fall in love with her in some small way. It was probably impossible not to like her, she was just so sweet and kind, he just couldn't imagine anyone hating her...well...except probably the Daleks, but they hated everyone anyway so that didn't count.

His thoughts, though, were cut off when the horse stepped forward and nosed him, but he just moved away. He glanced over to see a set of white French double doors and opened them to see a vast patch of land, "So this is where you came from, eh, horsey?"

"I told you. His name is Arthur."

He just shook his head fondly at her as they walked out onto the grassy courtyard. He nodded her over, spotting a familiar figure walking past, laughing, arm-in-arm with a friend of hers. Angel stepped beside him, leaning against a low wall and pillar to see Reinette.

"Oh, Catherine, you are too wicked!" Reinette laughed.

Angel quickly pulled the Doctor down moments before Reinette looked back in their direction.

"Oh, speaking of wicked, I hear Madame de Chateneux is ill and close to death," Catherine replied.

They peeked over the wall and stood up when Reinette turned back.

"Yes," she nodded, serious, "I am...devastated," before laughing.

"Oh, indeed," Catherine agreed mockingly, "I myself am frequently inconsolable. The King will therefore be requiring a new mistress. You love the King, of course?"

"He is the King," Reinette sighed, "And I love him with all my heart. And I look forward to meeting him."

Catherine laughed and Reinette turned back once more, convinced she was being watched but seeing no one as the Doctor and Angel had ducked behind a pillar this time.

"Is something wrong, my dear?" Catherine asked.

"Not wrong, no," Reinette smiled softly. She linked her arm with Catherine's once more and turned to walk away, the Doctor and Angel moving around the pillar to watch them leave.

"Every woman in Paris knows your ambitions."

"Every woman in Paris shares them."

"You know of course that the King is to attend the Yew Tree ball?" Catherine asked before they turned a corner and their voices faded.

The Doctor smiled softly as the two women disappeared and shook his head, looking back at Angel as he took her hand, "Come on, we'd better find Rose and Mickey."

Angel nodded and they headed back inside, she couldn't help but feel a little twinge within her as she cast one more glance in the direction Reinette had gone and back at the Doctor. No, it wasn't a twinge for Reinette, it was a twinge because of the Doctor.

Chapter Text

Mickey and Rose walked slowly down the corridor, the cameras watching them, "Maybe it wasn't a real heart," Mickey suggested.

"'Course it was a real heart," Rose shook her head.

"Is this like normal for you? Is this an average day?"

"Life with the Doctor and Angel, Mickey, no more average days."

They stopped by a large window to see an ornate 18th century room beyond, "It's France again," Mickey nearly laughed, "We can see France."

"I think we're looking through a mirror," Rose squinted at the window, watching as a regally dressed man entered with two servants.

"Blimey, look at this guy," Mickey scoffed, "Who does he think he is?"

"King of France," the Doctor answered as he and Angel appeared behind them, Angel moving to give Mickey a little one armed hug.

She knew it could be quite a bit overwhelming travelling with the Doctor, seeing all the things out there, sometimes a hug of reassurance was all you needed, even if it hadn't hit you yet. She always listened when people talked, even if she couldn't understand them, so when she and Rose had talked about the girl's adventures with the Doctor before they'd found her in Van Statten's, she'd listened. She could remember Rose's words about how she'd felt seeing the Earth about to be destroyed, how it felt to realize she was so far in the future that her mother was dead, just the strangeness of it all. She'd been watching Rose's expressions as she recalled it, seen how it had impacted the girl, affecting her even then when she was just thinking back on it. She didn't want Mickey to feel that way, afraid, lost, devastated. No, she wanted him laughing and smiling and enjoying all the wonders of the Universe. And she knew better than anyone to never underestimate the power of a hug. She didn't know if it was just a Time Lord thing, but the Doctor's hugs always calmed her down and made her feel loads better, she could only hope her own Time Lady hug would have the same affect on Mickey.

Mickey smiled at her, winding an arm around her waist to just return the hug a moment before pulling back. She was so considerate like that, always making sure he was alright. Just before they'd landed she'd shown him around the main console room and showed him the controls incase they ever needed help piloting, which, given how often the Doctor seemed to nearly crash the TARDIS might not be all that far away. It made him feel really happy that she trusted him and believed he could help pilot if the time came. It really made him feel like a part of the team.

And she was so great at explaining it too! The last time he'd asked the Doctor about something in the TARDIS he'd just given him a short answer, made him feel like an idiot, and then proceeded to explain it too fast for him to keep up. He probably made up a few words to throw him off even more. He wouldn't put it past the last Doctor to do that. Not Angel though. She'd taken him, by the hand, and physically showed him what certain buttons did and how certain knobs ought not to be turned, what pulling one lever could do over another. She hadn't let him move on from one till he understood it and remembered it. She had this way of just making everything simple for him.

Well...not at first.

Sometimes she'd go off on tangents, much like the Doctor, using complicated words that he didn't understand but, unlike the Doctor, she didn't stare at him as though he'd just dribbled on his shirt. No, instead, she'd smile bashfully and remark that she'd gotten ahead of herself, before backtracking to try and explain it in a way he could follow, now conscious that she had been rambling. She took his feelings into consideration, never making him feel like an idiot because he couldn't keep up, but realizing she might be contributing to his confusion. And she never got upset or frustrated with him when he didn't get it right away. She'd just smile and go over it again, as many times as he needed, answering any question he asked.

He really appreciated that because, once he could keep up and understand it right from the start, he was more eager to learn, able to really get into it, more sure of himself when he answered her back on reviewing a button or two.

It was nice.

"Oh, here's trouble," Rose smirked, "What you two been up to?"

"Oh, this and that," the Doctor waved her off, subtly reaching out to pull Angel away from Mickey, wrapping his own arm around her waist with a smile, he loved this, having her in his arms, nothing felt more...right.

"We became the imaginary friends of a future French aristocrat apparently," Angel supplied.

Rose frowned as she glanced at Angel, there was something in her tone that she hadn't really heard much from the girl. It was almost...sad? No...resentful? No, not that either. Tense? Yes, that was it. It was almost like she was unhappy with that fact but...not really unhappy that they were friends with some one just...unhappy with who that someone was? Perhaps? She looked at Angel closely, really wanting to know what exactly was bothering her. Much like the Doctor, she didn't like seeing the woman upset either and she still felt ill thinking of the time she herself had caused the girl hurt.

"Picked a fight with a clockwork man..." the Doctor added.

"Oh, and we met a horse," Angel smiled now as Arthur trotted into view.

"What's a horse doing on a spaceship?" Mickey asked, eyeing the white animal.

"Mickey, what's pre-Revolutionary France doing on a spaceship?" the Doctor countered, "Get a little perspective."

"Oi!" Angel nudged him, "It's a valid question!"

Mickey beamed at being defended. He'd actually been a bit worried about that. He knew the Doctor liked poking fun at him, the old him even more so, and he was a little concerned at what Angel would do. Now that he was her companion, he honestly wasn't quite sure what to expect. But he had to shake his head at himself, she had often defended him from the Doctor's little digs when they'd just been friends, now that he was her companion she was even more protective of him. And he'd been worried that she would stop? NOW he felt a bit like an idiot, if anything, he should have expected that she'd defend him more. Because now he wasn't JUST her friend, he was something a bit more.

The Doctor just sent her a fond smile as they looked through the window, "See these?" he continued, "They're all over the place. On every deck. Gateways to history. But not just any old history..." he touched the glass as Reinette entered, "Hers. Time window...deliberately arranged along the life of one particular woman. A spaceship from the 51st century stalking a woman from the 18th. Why?"

"Who is she?" Rose squinted, having seen Angel's dim reflection in the window sadden just a mite, now she knew who that someone was.

"Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, known to her friends as Reinette. One of the most accomplished women who ever lived."

"So has she got plans of being the Queen, then?"

"No, he's already got a Queen. She's got plans of being his mistress."

"Oh, I get it," Rose smirked at Mickey, "Camilla."

"I think this is the night they met," the Doctor added, watching as the King left, "The night of the Yew Tree ball. In no time at flat, she'll get herself established as his official mistress, with her own rooms at the palace...even her own title, Madame de Pompadour."

"Queen must have loved her..." Rose remarked as they watched Reinette fix herself up in the mirror, not realizing they could see her.

"Oh, she did. They get on very well."

"The King's wife and the King's girlfriend?" Mickey scoffed.

"France. It's a different planet."

"Doctor…" Angel called softly. He looked at her to see her staring, concerned, at something in the room. He followed her gaze to see a figure standing in the background, the clock on the mantel broken, the ticking noise still there.

"How long have you been standing there?" Reinette spun around to look at the figure, having noticed as well, "Show yourself!"

The figure turned around, one of the clockwork droids!

The Doctor grabbed Mickey's extinguisher as Angel swung the mirror around to enter the room as it advanced, "Hello, Reinette!" he called, "Hasn't time flown?"

"Fireplace man!" Reinette gasped as he stepped past her and sprayed the droid with the ice, Angel placing an arm around the startled woman, the little girl from barely an hour ago. The Doctor tossed the extinguisher back to Mickey as the droid tried to move.

"What's it doing?" Mickey eyed it cautiously.

"Switching back on," the Doctor replied, "Melting the ice."

"And then what?"

"Then it kills everyone in the room," he added. The droid's arm suddenly shot out towards the Doctor's throat. He jumped back and stood beside Angel, "Focuses the mind, doesn't it?" he smiled at Angel before turning back to the droid, "Who are you? Identify yourself."

The droid cocked its head but made no reply.

"Order it to answer him," Angel said quietly to Reinette.

"Why should it listen to me?" she looked at Angel, alarmed.

"I don't know," Angel shook her head, "But it will."

Reinette hesitated a moment before turning to the droid, "Answer his question. Answer any and all questions put to you."

The droid let its arm fall to its side, "I am repair droid seven."

"So what happened to the ship then?" the Doctor asked, "There was a lot of damage."

"Ion storm. 82 percent systems failure."

"That ship hasn't moved in over a year. What's taken you so long?"

"We did not have the parts."

Mickey laughed, "Always comes down to that, doesn't it? The parts."

"What's happened to the crew, where are they?" the Doctor shook his head.

"We did not have the parts," it repeated.

"There should have been over fifty people on your ship. Where did they go?"

"We did not have the parts."

"Fifty people don't just disappear!"

"There are cowboys in the walls," Angel breathed, blinking, feeling a bit ill at the thought.

"Oh…" the Doctor trailed, "You didn't have the parts, so you used the crew."

"The crew?" Mickey shook his head.

"We found a camera with an eye in it..." Rose murmured, "And there was a heart...wired in to machinery."

"It was just what it was programmed to," the Doctor replied grimly, "Repairing the ship any way it can, with whatever it could find. No one told it the crew weren't on the menu. What did you say the flight deck smelt of?"

"Someone cooking..." Rose said quietly.

"Flesh plus heat. Barbeque. But what are you doing here? You've opened up time windows, that takes colossal energy. Why come here, you could have gone to your repair yard. Instead you come to 18th century France? Why?"

"One more part is required," it said, its head jerking towards Reinette as they looked at her.

"Then why haven't you taken it?"

"She is incomplete."

"What...so, that's the plan then? Just keep opening up more and more time windows, scanning her brain, checking to see if she's 'done yet?'"

"Why her?" Rose asked as they looked at her, surprised at the question, "You've got all of history to choose from, why specifically her?"

It wasn't just curiousity either. She realized now why Angel had seemed tense before. Reinette was in danger, the Doctor loved saving people, mostly women, from danger, and women...often tried to show their gratitude. She remembered a few lessons on Madame de Pompadour now, she was an incredible woman and, as the Doctor said, very accomplished, and Angel...she already knew the girl had trouble seeing how brilliant she was. Honestly, the girl knew more about time and space than anyone she'd ever met, half the time it was like she knew more than the Doctor himself. And the way she was with the TARDIS, so tuned to the old box, she knew it inside and out and how it worked and how it did what it did. Understanding the mechanics of space and time travel couldn't be simple. Angel was just brilliant, Angel was her friend, and now, Angel felt threatened by Reinette but...bless her...was still trying to protect and help the woman as well.

"We are the same," it said.

"We are not the same, we are in no sense the same!" Reinette exclaimed.

"We are the same."

"Get out of here! Get out of here this instance!"

"Reinette, no," Angel said, but it was too late, the droid disappeared, "It's back on the ship."

"Rose," the Doctor turned to Rose, "Take Mickey and Arthur, get after it. Follow it, don't approach it, just watch what it does."

"Arthur?" Rose looked at him, confused.

"Good name for a horse."

"I told you!" Angel cheered.

"No, you're not keeping the horse," Rose rolled her eyes at them.

"I let you keep Mickey," he argued.

"No, you let me keep Mickey," Angel corrected, "MY companion."

Mickey nearly laughed at the slight possessive tone to Angel's words. She really seemed to like pointing out and reminding the Doctor that she had a companion now as well. It made him feel included, important enough that she wanted people to remember him as that, that she considered him important enough to be remembered. He really liked that feeling, being wanted, not in that way, but just for companionship. He had to admit, though he probably wouldn't say it out loud around Rose, given how sensitive she was to other people around the Time Lords, but he liked thinking of Angel as HIS pilot, not Rose's. The Doctor could be whoever's pilot he wanted, but Angel was his.

"Look we don't have time for this, just go, go, go!" he shouted. Mickey and Rose ran back through the mirror as the Doctor shut it behind them.

"I'll go keep watch," Angel called, dashing off down the hall to stand, peeking out of the double doors. If Reinette was destined to be mistress to the King, it wouldn't do for him to walk in and see her standing with the Doctor. And, she supposed, keeping a watch out for the King would also let her 'keep a watch' on the Doctor and Reinette as well.

The Doctor opened his mouth to argue, but Angel had already run off. He didn't like it when she did that, when she wasn't with him. He'd been hoping she'd be able to help him keep Reinette calm for what he was about to do, he'd noticed she had a remarkable affect on others, for all her lack of understanding humans, she was exceptional at knowing when they were upset and needed comfort, brilliant at giving it. But that was just her in a nutshell, she always made him feel happy, comforted, he...he even found himself not thinking of the War and what he'd done when she was around. It was truly as though he simply forgot all his problems, all his demons, when she was near. She just...made him so happy, all the time, that it was actually hard to think of things that upset him.

He sighed, shaking his head, and turned to Reinette, "Reinette, you're going to have to trust me. I need to find out what they're looking for, there's only one way I can do that. Won't hurt a bit."

She nodded and the Doctor placed his fingers on her temples, closing his eyes as she closed her own, "Fireplace man..." she breathed after a moment, "You are inside my mind."

"Oh dear, Reinette. You've had some cowboys in here."

~8~

Mickey and Rose walked cautiously through the corridors, Mickey laughing, "So, that Doctor, eh?"

"What are you talking about?" Rose asked.

"Well, Madame de Pompadour. Sarah Jane Smith. Cleopatra."

"Cleopatra, he mentioned her ONCE!"

"Yeah, but he called her 'Cleo.'"

Rose rolled her eyes, "I've told you like a thousand times, I'm not interested in the Doctor!" he gave her a look, "Alright, once I was, for a second…but…Mickey you haven't seen it, seen him and Angel together…he loves HER."

He nodded at that, he actually had seen it as well, probably not as often or as blatantly as Rose had, but he did see the little glances the couple would send each other…the look in the Doctor's eyes whenever he would look at Angel, thinking no one was looking. He could understand it, it was so easy to love Angel, even he did, in a way, more of a fond friendly way than anything. She took an interest in him, she talked with him, explained things to him, let him join in on the fun, she really just seemed to want him to have the best time. And he was, though he was starting to think it was more the company than the adventures. He'd actually agreed to come on the adventures because Angel had asked him to, no one had really wanted him to go, certainly not Rose if her less than pleased reaction was anything to go by. But Angel…SHE wanted him there, SHE wanted him, just him, plain old Mickey Smith, to come, so…he came…

"Mickey!" Rose shouted, cutting him out of his thoughts. He spun around, only to be caught in the neck by a droid, another grabbing Rose as well. They extended a needle from their arms, sticking the humans until they collapsed, unconscious.

~8~

"You are in my memories," Reinette gasped, "You walk among them."

"If there's anything you don't want me to see, just imagine a door and close it," he told her, "I won't look. Ooh…actually...there's a door just there," Reinette opened her eyes to grin at him slyly, "You might want to clo…ooh, actually, several."

She closed her eyes once more, smiling softly at the wonder of what was happening, "To walk among the memories of another living soul...do you ever get used to this?"

"I don't make a habit of it."

"How can you resist?" she laughed a bit.

He paused, his brow furrowing, "What age are you?"

"So impertinent a question so early in the conversation. How promising."

"No, not my question, theirs. You're 23 and for some reason, that means you're not old enough," she flinched, "Sorry, you might find old memories reawakening. Side effect."

"Oh, such a lonely childhood..." she whispered, her heart breaking, feeling a crushing sense of lonliness bearing down on her.

"It'll pass. Stay with me."

"Oh, Doctor," she frowned, "So lonely. So very, very alone."

She felt like she was drowning in the darkness, the cold, the guilt, but...then...there was this...light...this warm golden light that was growing bigger and bigger...

"What do you mean, alone? You've never been alone in your life…" he opened his eyes quickly, "When did you start calling me 'Doctor?'"

"Such a lonely little boy. Lonely and lonelier...but...not anymore," she opened her eyes, unable to keep them closed as the golden light nearly blinded her behind her lids, "You have an angel watching over you."

"How did you do that?" he stepped back from her.

"A door, once opened, can be stepped through in either direction..." she explained as though it were obvious, he just stared at her, alarmed, "Oh, Doctor," she stepped towards him, "Dance with me."

"I can't," he replied warningly.

"Can't or won't?" she teased, knowing exactly who that golden light she'd seen represented.

"This is the night you dance with the King."

"What if I should make him jealous first?"

He looked down, answering her first question, "I won't."

She smiled at him, understanding, "The Doctor and his Angel..." she murmured, "But who are you? It's more than just a secret, isn't it?"

"What did you see?"

"That there comes a time, Time Lord, when every lonely little boy must learn how to dance."

"I do know how to dance," he admitted, knowing the conversation was not about dancing anymore but something infinitely more personal and serious.

"And yet you will not ask her to join you in one," she glanced back at Angel.

"She doesn't know how," he whispered, "She's never danced before."

"Then you must teach her."

He looked at Reinette, such concern in his eyes, "And what if I step on her toes?"

She eyed him a moment, understanding his veiled words, "You fear hurting her," she stated, before taking his hand, "Then you must prove your care for her, prove your love. Teach her the steps one at a time till you are both ready. For when you are…" she smirked at him, seeing a red blush on his cheeks from what she was saying, "It will be magical," she laughed, "Now, come, I must ready both of you for the ball," she pulled him down the hall towards Angel, taking the woman's hand as well and leading her, confused, away.

~8~

Rose blinked blearily as she awoke to see she was strapped to a table, the droids looming over her, "What's going on?" she looked around, "Doctor? Angel!"

"Rose?" Mickey called from a table beside her, "They're gonna chop us up. Just like the crew, they're gonna chop us up and stick us all over their stupid spaceship. And where's the Doctor? Where's Angel? They've been gone for flipping hours!"

"You are compatible," a droid stepped towards Rose.

"Well...you...you might wanna think about that," Rose stammered, "You really, really might because...me and Mickey...we didn't come here alone, oh no! And trust me, you wouldn't wanna mess with our designated drivers," the droid just thrust out a sharp cutting device, "Ever heard of the Daleks? Remember them? Well one of our friends turned them to stone. And our other friend well, they had a name for him. They had myths about him, and a name. They called him the..."

There was a loud bang in another room, "I could've danced all night, I could've danced all night..." the Doctor's drunken singing echoed to them.

"They called him the…they called him the…the…" Rose muttered, looking in the direction of the singing distractedly.

The Doctor staggered into the room, dancing with Angel, who was dressed in an 18th century yellow French dress with golden leaves embroidered on it and artificial hips, her hair haning but pulled back by a headband. The Doctor, however, was wearing his typical attire, but with a pair of sunglasses on and his tie around his head.

"And still have begged for moooore..." he sang, "I could've spread my wings and done a thou…" he suddenly turned to them, "Have you met the French?" Mickey looked at the pair, confused, "My...GOD, they know how to party."

"Oh, look at what the cat dragged in," Rose rolled her eyes, "The Oncoming Storm."

"Oh, you sound just like your mother."

"What've you been doing?! Where've you been?!"

"Well...among other things, I think I just invented the banana daiquiri a few centuries early. Do you know, they've never even seen a banana before!" he stepped away from Angel to lean over towards Rose, "Always take a banana to a party, Rose. Bananas are GOOD," he looked up, spotting the droids, "Oh ho ho ho ho, brilliant. It's you! You're my favorite, you are, you are the best! Do you know why? 'Cos you're so THICK!"

Mickey looked over at Angel, only to see her inching her way back towards a control panel.

"You're Mister Thick Thick Thickity Thick Face from Thicktown, Thickania…and so's your dad!" he strolled away, "Do you know what they were scanning Reinette's brain for?" he sniggered, "Her milometer. They wanna know how old she is. Know why? 'Cos this ship is 37 years old. And they think that when Reinette is 37, when she's 'complete,' then her brain will be compatible. So, that's what you're missing, isn't it?" he stared at one of the droids mockingly, "Hmm? Command circuit. Your computer. Your ship needs a brain. And for some reason, God knows what, only the brain of Madame de Pompadour will do."

"The brain is compatible," it stated.

"Compatible?" the Doctor walked towards it, "If you believe that, you probably believe this is a glass of wine," he pulled the droid's wig off and dumped the liquid from the cup in his hand into the clockwork head, replacing the wig and patting it just as it wound down, "Multigrain anti-oil," he explained, completely sober, "If it moves, it doesn't," the droids around the room began to advance when Angel pulled the lever, deactivating them, "Brilliant!" the Doctor called to her with a wink before turning to Rose and Mickey, "Right, you two, that's enough lying about..." he flashed the sonic on their restraints, releasing them, "Time we got the rest of the ship turned off."

"Are those things safe?" Mickey eyed the droids.

"They're fine Mickey," Angel moved to his side, checking where the restraints had held him down to make sure he wasn't hurt. She smiled up at him, seeing he was alright, "Besides, I won't let anything hurt you."

He smiled softly at that, touched, sensing more to it than just that, it was like she really did promise not to let anything hurt him and wasn't just saying it to make him feel better, "I know," he nodded, "Feeling's mutual by the way."

"As it should be," she nodded.

The Doctor smiled a bit at that, he could tell Mickey meant it as well, something he appreciated, knowing that she would be safe even if he wasn't there...which would never happen. He wasn't about to go anywhere without her, "Safe," he agreed, pulling his tie down and pushing his sunglasses up onto his head, "Safe and thick. Way I like them. Ok, all the time windows are controlled from here. I need to close them all down," he patted his pockets, "Zeus plugs. Where are my Zeus plugs?"

"You used them as castanets," Angel called, turning around to face him, "Remember?" she laughed lightly and walked over to him, reaching out to straighten his tie which was all skewed.

He beamed at that, leaning down to kiss her quickly in thanks. Kissing her once more before he pulled away. God, he loved doing that, being able to do that, knowing he would be the ONLY one to do that.

"Why didn't they just open a time window to when she was 37?" Rose asked.

"These circuits are too damaged," Angel remarked, even she could see that. She'd seen the TARDIS after the Doctor flew her solo, it was never very pretty. The wires and circuits around the ship were in even worse condition than that, and that was really saying something in terms of damage, "It takes enormous power and precision to open a time window on a good day. In this condition," she shook her head, "I'm honestly surprised they got the right century."

The Doctor smiled at that, she really was brilliant. To her, he knew, she was thinking about the ship in terms of the TARDIS. If the TARDIS was ever damaged this badly, she knew exactly what it would or wouldn't be able to do so she could guess at how much trouble this ship would be having, "Trial and error after that," he nodded, moving to try and operate the computer but it wouldn't work, "The windows aren't closing. Why won't they close?" he looked at Angel.

"You can't close a door if there's a foot in the way?" she shrugged, just before an ominous ping resounded.

"What's that?" Rose frowned at the computer.

"I don't know..." the Doctor murmured, "Incoming message?"

"From who?" Mickey asked.

"Report from the field..." he read, "One of them must still be out there with Reinette! That's why I can't close the windows, there's an override! A foot in the doorway!"

Behind him one of the clockwork droids sprang to life with a whirr. Rose gasped as the droid squirted out the wine onto the Doctor's shoes.

"Well, that was a bit clever," he muttered as the rest of the droids started to spring back to life, "Right...many things about this are not good…" the ping rang out again, "Message from one of your little friends? Anything interesting?"

"She is complete," a droid stated, "It begins."

"What's happening?" Rose looked around as the droids teleported out.

"One of them must've found the right time window, and now it's time to send in the troops," the Doctor remarked, "And this time they're bringing back her head."

Chapter Text

Reinette stood by the window of her new quarters, looking up at the sky, when she heard footsteps approaching. She quickly checked the clock face, whole and working, only to see a woman's figure reflected in the glass, "Madame de Pompadour…" Rose called as the woman gasped, "Please, don't scream or anything, we haven't got a lot of time," Reinette quickly made her way over to Rose, recognizing her from the last time she'd seen the Doctor and Angel, "I've come to warn you that they'll be here in five years."

"Five years?" she frowned.

"Some time after your 37th birthday," she nodded, taking a seat, "I um...I can't give you an exact date. It's a bit random. But they're coming. It's gonna happen. In a way, for us, it's already happening. I'm sorry, it's hard to explain. The Doctor does this better."

"Then be exact, and I will be attentive."

"There isn't time."

"There are five years."

"For you. I haven't got five minutes."

"Then also be concise," Reinette took a seat opposite Rose, ready to listen.

"Er...there's a, um...a...a...a vessel," Rose struggled to explain, "A ship. A sort of sky ship. And it's full of...well, you. Different bits of your life in different rooms, all jumbled up," she shook her head apologetically, "I told you it was complicated, sorry."

"There is a vessel in your world...where the days of my life are pressed together like the chapters of a book so that they may step from one to the other without increase of age while I, weary traveler, must always take the slower path?"

Rose smiled, "They were right about you..."

"So, in five years these creatures will return. What can be done?"

"The Doctor says keep them talking. Angel thinks they're programmed to respond to you. You won't be able to stop them, but you might be able to delay them a bit."

"Until?"

"Until the Doctor and Angel can get there."

"They're coming, then?" Reinette breathed a sigh of relief.

"They promise."

"But they cannot...make their promises in person?"

"They'll be there when you need 'em. That's the way it's gotta be."

"It's the way it's always been," she sighed, "The monsters, the Doctor, and the Angel. It seems you cannot have one without the others."

"Tell me about it," Rose laughed slightly, "The thing is...you weren't supposed to have either. Those creatures are messing with history. None of this was ever supposed to happen to you."

"Supposed to happen?" Reinette snapped angrily, "What does that mean? It happened, child. And I would not have it any other way. One may tolerate a world of demons for the sake of an angel, and I have two," she stood and turned to face the fireplace.

"Rose!?" Mickey called from another room, "Rose!" he pushed his way past a tapestry, "Rose!" Rose ran over, "The time window when she's 37. Angel found it. Right under our noses," he stopped and looked at Reinette who walked quickly towards the tapestry, wanting to see behind it.

"No, you can't go in there, the Doctor will go mad…" Rose tried to stop her but Reinette had already walked through to the ship.

"Hello Reinette," Rose heard Angel greet. She stepped past the tapestry to see the Time Lady standing there with Mickey, having led him there so the boy wouldn't get lost on the way back, not about to abandon her companion.

Reinette looked around lost, confused, scared, as Rose and Mickey watched her, "So, this is their world…" she breathed before turning to Angel, "Your world?" but before Angel could respond the sound of screaming echoed to them, "What was that?"

"It's alright," Angel stepped up, putting an arm around the woman's shoulder in comfort.

"The time window, the Doctor fixed an audio link," Mickey explained.

"Those screams..." Reinette swallowed hard, turning to Angel desperately, "Is that my future?"

"Yes," the woman replied sympathetically, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Reinette nodded, taking Angel's hand and squeezing it, "Then I must take the slower path."

"Are you there?" Reinette heard herself shouting from down the hall, "Can you hear me? I need you now, you promised. The clock on the mantel is broken. It is time."

"That's my voice," Reinette breathed, Angel could only squeeze her hand back

"Come on, we've gotta go," Mickey said softly, "There's...there's that problem..."

Angel nodded and stepped back from Reinette to Mickey's side. Rose just moved over to Reinette, "Give me a moment?"

Mickey nodded and they turned to rush off but Angel paused and turned back, "Reinette, keep back from the mirror."

Reinette nodded, confused by the words, but feeling they should become clear in time.

"Are you ok?" Rose asked Reinette gently as Angel and Mickey left.

"No," she replied, "I'm very afraid. But you and I both know, don't we, Rose? The Doctor and Angel are worth the monsters."

Rose nodded, "A thousand times over."

Reinette offered a small smile before she walked back to the tapestry, ignoring her calls for the Doctor and Angel in the future.

~8~

"Doctor!" Reinette yelled into the fireplace, years later, "Angel!"

"We must go!" the King shouted, "No one is coming to help us."

One of the droids appeared in the doorway as Reinette turned. She gasped at the sight, recalling her nightmares as a child as two more droids flanked it.

"You are complete," the droid said, "You will come."

~8~

The Doctor was working frantically at the controls when Rose joined them, Mickey standing by the time window, Angel fixing some wires by the doorway, "You found it, then?" Rose asked Angel.

"They knew we were coming," Angel replied, "Blocked it all off."

~8~

One of the droids pulled Reinette along by the arm, "Where are we going?" she demanded.

"The teleport has limited range," it stated, "We must have proximity to the time portal."

"Your words mean nothing. You are nothing."

The droid just turned the corner, two others holding the King back as well.

~8~

"I don't get it," Rose joined Mickey by the window, "How come they got in there?"

"They teleported," the Doctor said, still working, "You saw them. As long as the ship and the ballroom are linked, their short-range teleports will do the trick."

"Well, we'll go in the TARDIS!"

"We can't," Angel cut in, "We're part of events now."

"Well, can't we just smash through it?" Mickey suggested.

"Hyperplex this side, plate glass the other," the Doctor shook his head, "We need a truck."

"We don't have a truck."

"I know we don't have a truck!"

"Oi!" Angel glared lightly at him, "No yelling at my companion!" she understood he was concerned and stressed, but that was no reason to shout at Mickey.

"Well, we've gotta try something!" Rose exclaimed.

"No, smash the glass, smash the time window, they'd be no way back," the Doctor said.

"I don't know," Angel replied and the Doctor looked at her, "Reinette's clever, she opened one door, perhaps she can open another…"

The Doctor watched her closely as she suddenly stood up and dashed into the hall, a moment later a whinny was heard as Arthur trotted back into the room, Angel leading him along.

~8~

"Can everyone just calm down?" Reinette shouted to the scared men and women gathered in the ballroom, "Please. Such a commotion. Such distressing noise. Kindly remember that is Versailles. This is the Royal Court. And we are French," she turned to the droids, "I have made a decision. And my decision is 'no,' I shall not be going with you today. I have seen your world, and I have no desire to set foot there again."

"We do not require your feet," it replied.

Two droids came up on either side of her, pushing her down to a kneel, pointing their cutting devices at her neck as the first droid approached her, extending its device as well.

"You think I fear you," she glared at it, remaining as brave as she could, hoping to do as Angel and the Doctor had asked, delay them, "But I do not fear you, even now. You are merely the nightmare of my childhood. The monster from under my bed. And if my nightmare can return to plague me, then rest assured…" she lowered her voice threateningly, "So will yours!"

The sound of a horse whinnying echoed and Reinette looked towards the large mirror on the back wall just before it shattered, the Doctor and Angel riding through it on a white horse. The guests shrieked as Reinette's mouth dropped open.

"Hello Reinette," Angel greeted as the Doctor hopped off the horse and helped her down.

"You look younger every day," he commented.

"What the hell is going on?" the King shouted.

"Oh, this is my lover, the King of France," Reinette introduced.

"Yeah?" the Doctor looked over a bit disdainfully as the King glanced past him to look at Angel, still in her period outfit. He quickly wrapped an arm around her waist, "Well, we're the Lord and Lady of Time," he led her over to a droid, "And we're here to fix the clock," he pulled the wig and mask off the droid, revealing its clockwork head before it pointed a weapon at him, "Forget it. It's over. For you and for us," he glanced up at the broken mirror to see a brick wall behind it, "Talk about seven years bad luck. Try 3,000..."

~8~

Rose stared down at the broken shards of glass where the window to the ballroom once stood.

"What happened?" Mickey frowned, "Where did the time window go? How're they gonna get back?"

Rose just shook her head, she didn't know…but she had to have faith…just before Arthur had galloped towards the window, Angel had called to them to give it five and a half hours...

~8~

The droid repeatedly tapped its wrist, trying to teleport but failed.

"The link's broken," Angel explained, "There's no way back to the ship now."

"You don't have the parts," the Doctor agreed, "How many ticks left in that clockwork heart? A day? An hour? It's over. Accept that. Neither of us are winding you up."

The clockwork slowly wound down, the droid going dead before the other droids followed suit, slumping forward. One fell backwards, smashing its head on the ground as the guests whispered.

"You alright Reinette?" Angel asked as she and the Doctor helped the woman to her feet.

She nodded, "What's happened to them?"

"They've stopped," the Doctor said, "They have no purpose now."

~8~

"We can't fly the TARDIS without them," Mickey continued, his heart racing at what this might mean for his pilot, "How're they gonna get back?"

Rose looked up at the stars for a moment before closing her eyes, she had to pray that Angel was right…

~8~

The Doctor and Angel were standing by a window in Reinette's quarters, the Doctor holding a glass of wine, both looking up at the stars when Reinette joined them, "You know all their names, don't you?" she asked, eyeing them, "I saw that in your mind. The name of every star."

"What's in a name?" the Doctor shrugged, "Names are just titles. Titles don't tell you anything."

"Like, 'The Doctor,'" she smirked, "Or 'The Angel.'"

"Like, 'Madame de Pompadour,'" Angel retorted lightly, nudging her.

Reinette laughed, "I have often wished to see those stars a little closer. Just as you have, I think."

"From time to time," he replied.

"In saving me, you trapped yourselves," she frowned, looking more at Angel than the Doctor, "Did you know that would happen?"

"I had a feeling," Angel admitted.

"I saw that as well. The future burning around you…you knew yet, still...you came."

"Yeah, we did, didn't we?" the Doctor smiled, "Catch me doing that again."

"There were many doors between my world and yours. Can you not use one of the others?"

"When the mirror broke, the shock will have severed all the links with the ship. There'll be a few more broken mirrors and torn tapestries around here, I'm afraid. Wherever there was a time window. I'll…I'll, er...pay for any damage. Um...oh," he blinked, "That's a thought, I'm gonna need money. I was always a bit vague about money. Where do you get money?"

"So, here you are," Reinette smiled at them, "My lonely Doctor and his glowing Angel. Stuck on the slow path, with me."

"Yep," he grinned, holding out his glass, "The slow path. Here's to the slow path."

Reinette clinked her glass with his, "It's a pity...I think I would've enjoyed the slow path."

"Well, we're not going anywhere."

"Oh, aren't you?" she raised an eyebrow, "Come…" she placed her glass down and led them out of the room, to her chambers, where she gestured at the fireplace, "It's not a copy. It's the original. I had it moved here and was exact in every detail."

"The fireplace…" the Doctor remarked as he and Angel walked towards it, "The fireplace from your bedroom. When did you do this?"

"Many years ago," she sighed, "In the hope that a door once opened, may someday be opened again," the Doctor paused and looked at Angel curiously, "One never quite knows when one needs one's doctor or one's angel. It appears undamaged, do you think it will still work?"

"You broke the bond with the ship when you moved it," the Doctor blinked, Angel's words making sense, "Which means it was off-line when the mirror broke. That's what saved it. But..." he moved closer to the fireplace, "The link is basically physical, and it's still physically here…" Reinette slowly approached them, watching as the Doctor worked, tapping the woodwork and listening to it, "Which might just mean, if I'm lucky...if we're very, very, very, very, very, very lucky..." he beamed, "Ah ha!"

"What?"

"Loose connection!" he pulled out the sonic and flashed it, "Need to get a man in!" he hit the mantel, "Wish us luck!"

"Good luck," she whispered as the fireplace turned, bringing them back to the ship.

They turned and crouched down by the fire, looking through the flames, "Madame de Pompadour!" the Doctor shouted, watching as she crouched down on the other side, "Still wanna see those stars?"

"More than anything."

"Give us two minutes. Pack a bag!"

"Am I going somewhere?"

"Go to the window. Pick a star. Any star," he stood and dashed off to the TARDIS, Reinette smiling as she looked back through the flames, only to see the sad look on Angel's face before the woman made to follow him.

Her smile fell.

No, no, she would not be going anywhere…

~8~

"How long did you wait?" the Doctor asked as he hugged Rose, Mickey and Angel hugging as well.

"Five and a half hours!" Rose laughed.

"Right, always wait five and a half hours!"

"I told you," Angel turned to hug the young woman as well, the Doctor making to hug Mickey but deciding to just shake his hand.

"You were right," Rose nodded, "Never doubted you. But where've you been?!"

"Explain later," the Doctor waved her off, "Into the TARDIS, be with you in a sec," he rushed over to the fireplace, Angel casting a sad, knowing look after him before joining, Rose and Mickey glancing at each other, having seen that look and knowing what it meant, this wouldn't end well.

"Reinette?" the Doctor called, peering through the fireplace, "You there, Reinette?"

Angel just walked to the side, triggering the fireplace to revolve back to Reinette's bedroom, now dark.

He paused, looking around, before taking Angel's hand and wandering through the halls, "Reinette?" he called, only to see the King standing by a window, "Oh. Hello."

"You just missed her," he replied, "She'll be in Paris by six."

"Ah," the Doctor nodded.

The King turned to stare at them, taking a few steps forward in shock, "Good Lord...she was right. She said you never looked a day older…so many years since I saw you last, yet not a day of it on your faces..."

The Doctor tensed as the King examined Angel a bit longer than himself.

A moment later the King shook his head and walked over to a side board, taking out a letter, "She spoke of you many times."

Angel reached out and took the Doctor's hand as he realized what had happened, why the man kept talking about Reinette in the past tense.

"Often wished you'd visit again. You know how women are," he held out a letter to the Doctor who took it, looking down at it addressed to him and Angel.

There was a whip in the distance and the King returned to the window, "There she goes," he frowned, watching the coffin drive off, "Leaving Versailles for the last time. Only 43 when she died."

The Doctor and Angel walked up behind him, solemnly watching.

"Too young...too young. Illness took her in the end. She always did work too hard," he looked back at the Doctor, "What does she say?"

The Doctor just put the letter in his pocket.

"Of course. Quite right," he turned back to the window, the Doctor and Angel walking away a few moments later.

~8~

The Doctor closed the door to the TARDIS and walked up to the console, clutching Angel's hand in his own.

"Why her?" Rose asked as she and Mickey stood by the console, "Why did they think they could fix the ship with the head of Madame de Pompadour?"

"We'll probably never know," the Doctor shrugged, "There was massive damage in the computer memory base. Probably got confused."

Angel walked past him to the controls, "The TARDIS'll close the time windows with the droids gone. Keep the ship from making any more disturbances in time."

The Doctor stopped beside her, leaning on the console sadly.

"Are you alright?" Rose asked after a moment of watching the two Time Lords.

"I'm always alright," the Doctor looked up, smiling briefly, as Angel just nodded and continued on the controls.

"Come on, Rose," Mickey tugged her arm, sensing the Time Lords needed a moment, "It's time you showed me around the rest of this place."

Rose hesitated a moment, not wanting to leave the two in pain, but they had each other, and this was something they needed to do together. She nodded, turning to walk off.

The Doctor glanced up once they were gone, making sure it was just him and Angel before pulling out the letter. Angel walked over and stood beside him, tucking her arm through his and leaning her head on his shoulder to look at it as well:

My Dear Doctor, My Guardian Angel,

The path has never seemed more slow, and yet I fear I am nearing its end. Reason tells me that you and I are unlikely to meet again. But I think I shall not listen to reason. I have seen the world inside your head, Doctor, and know that all things are possible. Hurry though, my loves. My days grow shorter now, and I am so very weak. God speed, my angels.

The Doctor tucked the letter back into his coat and turned back to the console. He looked up to see that the fireplace was on the monitor. Angel took his hand, squeezing it as he reached up and pushed a few keys, the picture going out, the time windows closing.

~8~

The Doctor casually tossed his jacket over the gantry's edge, he'd come down, having realized Angel hadn't left the console room to sleep, and wanted to check on her. She was standing there, seemingly working on the console, though she was barely moving. He reached into his inner suit pocket, feeling Reinette's letter, and pulled it out. He was going to head down and put it in his collection of items from his trips when something caught his eye, there was a small bit of parchment folded and stuck to the back of the letter, held at the end of the wax on the back. He frowned, having not noticed it before and pulled it out to see another small letter from the woman.

My Doctor,

I have seen many things through your eyes, in your mind, but nothing burns more brightly in you than the love you have for your Angel. And I can tell she loves you as well. There was a moment within your memories when you both spoke of your love for each other, but through another. Reason tells me, you have not yet told her of your affections clearly and in your own person. Please do, for you fear hurting her, and you will if you do not tell her soon.

He looked up, startled at her insight, recalling when Cassandra had let it slip that they loved each other…perhaps that was what she meant. He nodded to himself, he would tell Angel soon…now…yes…he looked down to see Angel still at the console, just absently flicking a button here or there, a small solder in her other hand, long since cool. He frowned, he'd been watching her the past few minutes and she hadn't seemed to notice…something had to be bothering her, she was always aware of him. He slowly made his way down the steps and over to her, taking the solder out of her hand, seeming to snap her out of her thoughts.

"Oh!" she blinked and turned to him, "Sorry, must've gotten distracted."

He looked at her closely, his brows furrowed, "What's wrong?"

She peered at him a moment as if debating whether or not to lie and say she was fine or tell him the truth. She sighed, she'd never been very good at lying, and turned back to look at the console, "Did you only ask me to be your Mate because you wanted to strengthen the TARDIS?"

"What?" he gaped at her, "No, of course not."

She turned to him, "Then was it because I'm the only Time Lady left?"

"No!" he exclaimed, looking at her, shocked and slightly hurt, "Where's all this coming from?"

"I just…" she shook her head and looked away from him, moving back to flick some more buttons, "I'm not an actress, or an artist, or a musician, or a dancer, or a gardener, I'm not as smart as other Time Lords, not as clever, and I know I'm awkward around humans, and that I talk nonsense half the time, there's nothing remotely special about me…" she looked up at him suddenly, tears in her eyes, "So why did you pick me?"

He blinked, hearing his own words about Reinette reflected back at him. He hadn't even considered what his praises of another woman might do to her. He stepped towards her and took her hands in his own, "I think we should start working on establishing a mental bond."

The mental bond was the first step in truly Mating. It was a three step process that was meant to build up and strengthen the connection between Mates. First there was the mental bond. Their people were largely telepathic in nature, to a point. They could always feel the presence of their people around them, in their minds, a faint buzzing, read each others thoughts if they desperately had to. However, a mental bond solely between two Time Lords was unique, it meant that you trusted your Mate with what you knew and what you thought, giving them access to your mind.

Next there was the creation of an emotional connection. This was what would allow Mates to feel the other's emotions, feel what they felt, feel if they were in any danger or pain. It was harder to establish than a mental bond, Time Lord minds being more logical and often organized, while emotions could be turbulent and extreme and shifting. There were so many to sort through that it could take years to actually fully form one. But it was so worth it in the end, to be able to feel the warmth of your Mate's happiness, know when your Mate needed comfort, just understanding them in a new way, on a new level.

Finally there was the physical aspect of the Mating. Well...nothing more really had to be said about that. The point when two Mates joined together so completely and openly that their souls touched and merged together forever...it was a powerful, moving, and life-changing moment, when all the efforts came to a head and two Mates found themselves joined for life. Truly, upon the final step being completed, a Mated pair would depend on each other, when one died, the other often followed, such was the depth of their bond that the soul could no longer go on without its other half.

"Why?" she frowned, confused as to why he hadn't answered her question.

It was something that had bothered her from the beginning. She knew, he'd mentioned, that he had felt something for her before he regenerated, but...she couldn't help but worry that it was just wishful thinking on his part, looking back on how he felt and interpreting it to how he was currently feeling. She hadn't gotten the chance to tell his 9th self she loved him, hadn't heard it from him either. And then he regenerated and suddenly...he loved her. He claimed that he had before and that now it was just that he could express it. She believed him, she did, but...somewhere in the back of her mind she feared that it was just an affect of how suddenly he'd changed, that...what if he regenerated again and didn't love her still? She knew it was a silly thought, their feelings and memories didn't change upon regeneration but...it just bothered her that he suddenly seemed so focused on her.

That was just it, to her, it was so sudden.

She was afraid that, once the newness of his new body wore off...once his feelings settled...that he'd realize he'd made a mistake. No one on Gallifrey had ever even given her a second glance. True, she hardly made an effort, the TARDISes didn't care what she looked like, if she walked around in her dirty work clothes with grease on her face and her hair all tangled. Other Time Lords though, did, it seemed. She was just the dirty TARDIS farmer, the only time they talked to her was when they had a problem with their TARDIS or had come to select one.

To have someone like the Doctor interested in her, love her even, she just...she couldn't believe it was real. She just couldn't believe he wanted her for her and not because of the reasons she'd just listed. He was just...too amazing to want a simple Time Lady like herself.

"I want you to see how amazing I think you are," he told her sincerely, as though reading her mind, "How fantastic, how brilliant," she looked down and the Doctor quickly lifted her chin, "And I know you won't believe me without seeing it in my head and in my hearts first."

It was his fault, he knew, why she felt this way. He'd asked her to be his Mate but done little in terms of actually seeing the process begun. He'd...he knew his regeneration had thrown her, knew she felt guilty about it, and he wanted to give her time to get to know the new him before they really began anything. If (and he really prayed it wouldn't happen) she decided she didn't like this new man that he was, then they could stop. Once the process had begun, there was no turning back. He'd be heartbroken, devastated really, the traditions of their people broken too, if they stopped even after having asked her to be his Mate, but...he'd stop, for her. It didn't seem like she wanted it to stop though, he now realized. It seemed like she had taken his hesitations in beginning the process as his own hesitations about it and about her.

That wouldn't do at all.

He just...he hadn't wanted to hurt her. As she had said when he'd asked her, they had to take this slow. Neither of them had Mated before, not that they truly could have Mated to someone and then Mated to another person, the bond wouldn't allow that. But...it was new to both of them, he was new to her, and it really was far too serious a step to take too hastily. He didn't want to rush her. He didn't want to make her feel like he was pushing her to do something she might not have been ready for. He wanted to give her the chance to form the bond he'd felt with her in his last body with his new one. He'd tried to keep things as slow as possible, for her, the times she'd been brilliant and all he wanted to do was just pull her into his arms and kiss her or compliment her or praise her, he'd held back on. It seemed, in trying to not rush into things, in trying to control himself (which was admittedly one of the hardest things he'd had to do in his long lives), he'd given her the impression he might be regretting his proposal to Mate.

Well, he had to smirk a bit, no more slow going for him.

Not anymore.

Now, he'd kiss her and praise her and hold her to his hearts' content, anything to prove to her, as Reinette had insisted, that he truly did love her with all his hearts. Because he did. She had slowly but surely become his world, now he just had to show her that, prove to her that he wasn't about to let her go for anything. She was his Mate.

She would be in for quite the time.

"I know you're telling me the truth," she mumbled, "I know you are. I just…I have trouble believing in it. I've spent my whole life thinking I was nothing special, a simple TARDIS farmer, not a very good one Time Lady either according to my father. It's just…hard…to believe someone actually thinks I'm special. Especially someone as wonderful as you."

He grinned softly, "And that's just it," he cupped her cheek, stroking it gently, "I wouldn't pick anyone less than absolutely amazingly brilliant to be my Mate. And I picked you, Nella."

She looked into his eyes, looking for any hint of falseness, but could only see truth and honesty. She leaned forward and just hugged him close, letting her head rest on his chest, hearing his double hearts beating, for her. A soft smile grew on her face as he wrapped his arms around her as well, just holding her.

Perhaps, one day, she really could feel like she deserved this mad, ridiculous, wonderful man.

Chapter Text

A man in a white lab coat pressed a button, switching on a flood light, silhouetting a human-like yet clearly robotic outline, "The prototype has passed every test, sir. It's working!"

"I hardly think 'working' is the correct word," an older man in a wheelchair called out, gliding into the room, the chair he was sitting on packed and crowded with medical equipment, a breathing apparatus, among other things, "That would apply only to machines."

"I'm sorry," the scientist replied, "I should say...it's alive."

The man wheeled his chair closer to the 'robot,' eyeing it closely, "Can it hear me?"

"It might still be in shock," the scientist glanced at his readings when the metal man didn't reply, "Bear in mind the brain has been welded to the exoskeleton."

"Skin of metal..." he breathed, spinning the wheelchair to the side to examine the robot, "...and a body that will never age...or die. I envy it. Do you know me? Answer. Do you know me?"

"You are John Lumic," the robot replied.

Lumic laughed, "My child. Mark this day, Dr. Kendrick. We are blessed!"

"Well, it's not quite over yet, sir," Kendrick stated, "We need Geneva's approval. Technically, this is a new form of life. And that contravenes the bio-convention. They need to ratify this."

"And they will refuse me."

"Nonetheless, we need to tell them."

"And if I don't?"

"Well, I'm sorry, sir, but it's my duty. I shall have to inform them."

Lumic smirked, glancing back at Kendrick, "And how will you do that from beyond the grave?"

"I don't quite understand..." Kendrick shook his head.

"Kill him," Lumic ordered.

Kendrick's smile faded as he turned around, just in time for the robot to grasp his shoulder, electrocuting him. He cried out in pain as Lumic just smiled.

"Captain?" he called into a computer.

"Yes, sir?" came the Captain's reply.

"Inform all staff. We have a new destination. Set sail...for Great Britain!"

~8~

The Doctor and Rose were sitting side-by-side on the captain's chair of the TARDIS while Mickey stood by the console and Angel laid on her back, half-under it, working away at a few wires that had blown during their last adventure.

"And that weird munchkin lady with the big eyes?" the Doctor smiled as he and Rose recounted an adventure for Mickey, apparently, he'd been as curious as to the Doctor and Rose's adventures before he joined up as Angel had been, "Do you remember? The way she looked at you! And then she opens her mouth and fire comes out!"

"I thought I was gonna get frazzled!" Rose laughed, "Thank God Angel pulled me out of the way!"

"Yeah! One minute she's standing there, and the next minute…rawwwh!" they both made moves as though fire were coming out of their mouths, laughing hysterically.

Mickey gave a small nod, trying to keep up, but they were just jumping around all over the place, "Yeah...where…where was that, then? What happened?"

"Oh, it was on this um...uh, this uh...planet thing, asteroid," the Doctor waved him off, "It's a long story, you had to be there."

"Don't worry Mickey!" Angel called, her voice just a bit muffled from under the console, "I'll tell you everything as soon as I'm done."

Mickey grinned, he really loved that about Angel. She never left him out, always made sure that he was up with whatever was going on around them, trying her very best so he wouldn't feel lost or confused. And, to be honest he hadn't, not in the last few adventures. He was actually really starting to enjoy this, these trips, he'd actually managed to understand some of 'tech talk' between the Doctor and Rose, which had surprised the Doctor quite a bit. He'd just smirked and said his pilot had been giving him lessons. Angel had blushed when the Doctor remarked that he understood, if Angel had been his teacher in the Academy he would have definitely paid attention more. That is, until Rose pointed out he'd have failed that class because he'd be paying too much attention to Angel and not what she was teaching.

The Doctor hadn't even argued, agreeing fully.

He had to admit, he'd noticed a change in the Doctor and Angel ever since Madame de Pompadour, they were...closer. He couldn't really describe it, but they were closer than he'd ever seen since the Doctor had regenerated, limited as his experience with the man was, he'd only really had one trip with the man but even then he'd been able to see the change. But Angel was happy, really happy, and that made him happy too.

"Thanks!" he nudged her leg with his foot, unable to really kneel down as he was…

"Um..." the Doctor eyed him, pushing a button on the console, holding it down, "What're you doing that for?"

"'Cos you told me to..."

The Doctor nodded, "When was that?"

"About half an hour ago…"

"Um," he swallowed, a bit embarrassed, "You can let go now."

Rose sniggered as Mickey let go of the button, "Well, how long's it been since I could've stopped?"

"Ten minutes? Twenty?"

"29," Angel said, sliding out from under the panel and wiping her hands off on a small rag beside her.

"You just forgot me!" Mickey shouted.

"I don't ignore Rose," Angel told the Doctor, pointing a warning finger at him, "Don't you ignore my companion."

Mickey smirked as Angel defended him. It was nice to know that she at least paid attention to him, even when the Doctor was in the room, because the man really did tend to blot things out when he was around. Even Rose hadn't noticed him at times in favor of the Doctor, like when she'd run off when Margaret the Slitheen had tried to tear Cardiff apart. He thought it would be even more of a 'blotting' now that the Doctor had been sweeter on Angel than ever before. He really had no idea how Angel could tear her attention away from the man when he started on her. Half the time he felt like the Doctor might be doing it purposefully to try and distract Angel enough for him to let a slight insult slip through. Angel, though, always seemed to know what he was trying to do and would catch him right out and add a compliment to her companion just to balance it out.

"No, no, no," the Doctor insisted, "I wasn't! I was just…I was just...I was calibrating. I was just...no, I know exactly what I'm doing."

"Right…" Angel laughed, nodding, with a smile on her face, "The last time you said that we ended up…AH!" she hunched forward suddenly, grabbing her head as a severe, sharp pain shot through it.

The Doctor half threw himself out of the chair to kneel at her side, concerned. He'd just reached her, just taken her face in his hands, when the console exploded violently. Sparks and flames shot up everywhere, making the humans scream in slight fear. He grabbed Angel, trying to shield her from the heat as the TARDIS fell through the Vortex. He looked down as Angel tried to reach the console, both of them turning to attempt operating the box.

"What's happened?!" Rose gasped.

"The Time Vortex is gone!" Angel called, grabbing a lever and trying to pull it down…the emergency brake that she had fixed a while ago, but it wouldn't budge.

"That's impossible," the Doctor shook his head, moving to help her, "It can't be just gone!"

The TARDIS jolted.

"Hold on!" Angel warned the humans as the Doctor grabbed her to pull her down and shield her, "Crash landing!"

They barely had time to duck down before the TARDIS landed with an almighty thud, throwing them all backwards, gasmasks falling from the ceiling as the lights on the TARDIS went out.

"Everyone alright?" the Doctor asked, looking around as he helped Angel to her feet, checking her first to make sure she was fine before turning to their companions, "Rose, Mickey?"

"I'm fine," Mickey nodded, getting up on the other side of the console, "I'm ok, sorry..." he frowned, looking at Angel who was staring up at the rotor, "Angel? You alright?"

They looked over at her before following her gaze to the darkened, still rotor and all around the console.

"She's dead," Angel breathed, laying a hand on the console, still warm as the engines cooled down.

"The TARDIS is dead," the Doctor shook his head, unable to wrap his mind around that as he stepped to her side, putting an arm around her waist, holding her close, knowing how jarring it must be for her given her occupation on Gallifrey. This was the last TARDIS and now it was just...gone.

"You can fix it?" Rose asked them hopefully.

"There's nothing to fix," Angel shook her head mournfully, twisting a knob to no avail, tears starting to gather in her eyes. She felt her breath catch in her throat, her stomach clenching terrible, this couldn't be happening.

"She's perished," the Doctor agreed, pulling a lever, "The last TARDIS in the Universe...extinct."

"We can get help, yeah?" Rose tried again, seeing how upset the Time Lords were growing.

"Where from?" he turned to her, stepping away from Angel.

"Well, we've landed, we've gotta be somewhere."

"We fell out of the Vortex, through the Void, into nothingness. We're in some sort of no-place...the silent realm...the lost dimension..."

"Otherwise known as London!" Mickey called from the doors, now open. They turned to see him standing in sunlight before stepping out. Rose laughed and ran after him, the Doctor watching them, before glancing at Angel who still stood near the console, her hand on it, stroking it lightly.

"You alright?" he asked her quietly.

"It hurts…" she murmured, blinking back her tears as she lightly rubbed the center of her chest, feeling her hearts pounding.

He quickly walked over to her and pulled her into his arms. He'd noticed her connection to the TARDIS, he could only imagine what it must be doing to her to have the TARDIS die, especially being so newly bound to it, "Hey," he whispered in her ear as he nuzzled the top of her head with his nose, "It'll be alright…we'll figure something out. Ok?" she nodded into his shoulder, taking a deep breath.

"Come on," she mumbled, sliding her hands down his arms to take his hand, "We better make sure our companions aren't causing a commotion outside."

He laughed at that, knowing that it was a combination of her truly wanting to check on their companions and partly not wanting to be in the dark TARDIS, knowing there was nothing she could do to help the old box. It had just...died...there truly was nothing to fix, everything was fine, it was just...gone.

She stepped away from him, heading towards the doors when he tugged her back a moment, smiling as he cupped her face, "Nella," he breathed, his thumb catching a stray tear and wiping it away, "Everything WILL be fine," he promised her. He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss, before realizing, he really should stop doing that. One kiss, one quick kiss, was far too little and far too short. He smiled softly, leaning in to kiss her just a bit longer, not pulling away till he could feel her starting to smile again. He beamed when he saw the faint blush on her cheeks and the smile now gracing her beautiful face, "There it is," he let his thumb gently trace her lips, "That smile," he winked, "I love that smile."

She let out a little laugh, "Yeah, well, I love that grin," she pointed up at him, at his beam, before taking his hand again moving him towards the doors once more, heading out to see London, just as Mickey had said.

"London, England, Earth," Mickey grinned, "Hold on..." he jumped down off a low wall and picked up a paper from the dustbin, "First of February, this year, not exactly far-flung, is it?"

Rose jumped down and looked over his shoulder to see the paper, followed by the Doctor, who continued to walk alongside the wall, holding Angel's hand as she walked on top of it.

"So, this is London," the Doctor looked around.

"Yep."

"Your city."

"That's the one."

"Just as we left it."

"Bang on."

"And that includes the zeppelins?"

They looked up to see the sky full of zeppelins, Angel laughing at the sight, nope, definitely not their London.

"What the hell..." Mickey gaped.

"That's beautiful," Rose gasped.

"Ok…so, it's London with a big international zeppelin festival."

"This is not your world," the Doctor stated.

"But if the date's the same..." Mickey frowned.

"That's because it's…" the Doctor began.

But Angel nudged him in the side, "Wait for it," she turned to Mickey, "Go on Mickey," she urged, smiling as she saw the pieces fall together a few moments later.

Mickey's eyes widened, "...it's parallel, right?"

He looked at Angel, eager and a bit happy that she'd let him work it out for his own. Just because he wasn't as experienced with time travel like Rose or as clever as the Doctor didn't mean he was stupid, something Angel seemed to realize. It really made him WANT to answer things too. The way she looked at him, like she knew he could do it, like she knew he was capable of working something out for himself and not needing others to spell it out for him, it meant so much to him. Angel would give him all the time he needed and all the hints she could to help him, letting him come to it on his own terms. And truly, that was how he learned best, working it out for himself. You could tell someone 2 plus 2 equalled 4 but if they didn't know addition, they'd never understand how it equalled 4. He didn't just want to know facts, he wanted to understand.

"Am I right?" he grinned, getting excited, feeling like he just might be right, "Like a parallel Earth where they've got zeppelins, am I right? I'm right, aren't I?"

"Must be," the Doctor nodded, looking around.

Angel hopped off the wall and put an arm around Mickey, hugging him sideways, proud, "My companion is brilliant!"

Mickey beamed at her. The last Doctor kept calling him an idiot, made him feel it too, Angel though...she did this a lot, called him brilliant. Didn't necessarily mean he believed her, but it was still nice.

"So, a parallel world where…" Rose shook her head.

"Oh, come on," Mickey grinned at her, feeling more confident now, "You see it on films. Like an alternative to our world were everything's the same but a little bit different, like...I dunno, traffic lights are blue, Tony Blair never got elected..."

"And he's still alive…" Rose added, her words faint as she stared at a poster they'd just passed, of her father, Pete Tyler, on a wall, holding a bottle of Vitex, seemingly a wealthy businessman, "A parallel world and my dad's still alive..."

"Rose don't look at it," Angel warned as the girl stepped towards it.

"Don't even think about it," the Doctor agreed, "This is not your world."

"But he's my dad…and..." she reached out to touch the poster, the picture springing to life.

"Trust me on this," the poster said, winking and giving a thumbs up.

Rose smiled, "Oh, that's weird. But he's real!"

"Trust me on this."

She laughed, not noticing the others watching her sadly, "He's a success! He was always planning these daft little schemes, health-food drinks and stuff. Everyone said they were useless. But he did it!"

The Doctor suddenly reached out and took Rose by the shoulders, looking into her eyes, "Rose, if you've ever trusted me, then listen to me now," she glanced at it, "Stop looking at it!" she hesitated before looking back at the Doctor, "Your father's dead. He died when you were six months old. That is not your Pete. That is A Pete. For all we know, he's got his own Jackie, his own Rose. His own daughter who is someone else, but not you."

Rose started to look at the poster again but managed to refrain.

"You can't see him Rose," Angel stepped up and put a hand on Rose's shoulder, even though the girl wasn't her companion, she was still her friend, and she knew how much this must be killing her, she could recall how devastated Rose had been the last time they'd met Pete Tyler, "Not ever."

Rose swallowed hard and nodded as Mickey came over and put his arm around her too, the poster still repeating, 'Trust me on this.'

~8~

Pete pulled up to an enormous house in a rather plush car, a bunch of flowers in his hand as he headed to the front door, hiding them behind him as he entered, "Hello?" he called, "Sweetheart? Only me."

"Oh," Jackie appeared on a staircase, nicely dressed but irritated, "The bad penny. Was this your idea? Don't deny it, it's got your fingerprints all over it," she mockingly gave him a thumbs up, "'Trust me on this.' Oh, I can trust you alright. Trust you to cock it up."

"What've I done now?" he sighed.

"Have a look," she led him into another room where the staff were putting up a huge banner reading 'Happy 40th Birthday' as she put her hands on her hips to glare at him.

"What's wrong with that?"

"40. It says 40."

"You are 40."

"Well, I don't want the whole world telling, do I?"

"You're having a party tonight!"

"My 39th. My official biography says I was born on the same day as Cuba Gooding Junior, and that makes me 39, thank you very much," she turned and strode out of the room, "Rose? Come here! Rose?"

Pete followed her out into the hall, holding out the flowers to her, "These are from the girls in the office. Happy birthday."

"I've got hand-sculpted arrangements by Veronica of Reykjavik, and your secretary stopped off at a garage?" she eyed them with disgust, "I don't think so. And if you're giving out presents, where's my zeppelin? Everyone else has got one!" Pete slotted the flowers into the banister as Jackie continued to call up the stairs, "Rose? Come on, Rose!" she turned back to Pete and gestured at the ear-pods she had in her ears, "Look, you didn't even notice, did you? Special delivery. Got sent round today. Birthday present from Mr. Lumic. Latest model. Diamond studded. Pick up signals from Venezuela."

"Why would you wanna pick up signals from Venezuela?"

"Well, I don't know! But now I can find out!" she rounded on the stairs, "For God's sake, where is she? Rose? Oh, she needs a good bath before tonight, she's gonna be honking. Rose, come to mummy!" a small yorkie puppy clambered down the stairs and right over to Jackie, "Come on! There you are, my darling!" she patted the dog on the head when Pete's phone began to ring.

He tapped the ear-pod, "Mr. Lumic! Jackie was just saying thank you. That's very kind of you."

"Those ear-pods are handmade," Lumic's raspy voice replied, "Tell her to take care."

"Course I will, course I will. I don't suppose you'll be uh, joining us tonight? For the party? We'd be very honored."

"The world below can party. Some of us have work to do. My plans have advanced, Peter. The President has promised a decision. I'm flying in now. We'll be at the air slip by five o'clock."

"Right," he paused, glancing at Jackie to make sure she wasn't listening, "It's just that...I promised I'd help the wife out tonight."

"If the President of Great Britain can make this meeting, then so can you."

"Oh I dunno, he's not married to Jackie, is he?"

"Five o'clock, Mr. Tyler. Famous day."

~8~

Up on the zeppelin, Lumic pushed away his breathing apparatus and turned to the computer, "Voice-print access. John Lumic," he waited till his name appeared on the screen, "Initiate ear-pod override. Subject, Jacqueline Tyler. Activate."

~8~

Jackie sat at her vanity, powdering her face when she froze, dropping her brush, and stared into space. The ear-pods activated, a metal rod sticking up from them and connecting over her head.

~8~

"Download, Tyler residence, February the 1st, give me security arrangements for tonight," Lumic ordered, "Passwords, encryptions, services," he watched as the information scrolled across the screen, "And restore."

~8~

Jackie's ear-pods retracted back into themselves and Jackie unfroze. She blinked a few times, shaking her head slightly before shrugging off her disorientation and picking up her brush to resume her powdering.

~8~

"Thank you, Mrs. Tyler," Lumic sneered, "Activate picture link," a screen popped up with his associate, another man in a white coat, "Mr. Crane?"

Mr. Crane looked up, a bit startled, to see Lumic, "Mr. Lumic?"

"Events are moving faster than I anticipated. I need extra staff."

"Very good, sir. I shall go on a recruitment drive," he turned to the man driving the lorry he was sitting in, "Back her up!" the driver turned and began to reverse the truck slowly, Lumic cutting off the footage.

~8~

Angel leaned against the Doctor as they sat at the captain's chair, just looking at the unmoving rotor, "You got any feelings about all this?" the Doctor asked her, absently stroking her arm.

"No," she shook her head, sighing as she snuggled more into him, "I feel like I'm half asleep, like I'm off, like I'm…empty…"

"I don't think you're just intuitive and have an affinity with TARDISes," he murmured, thinking out loud, "I think the connection goes deeper than that. And with the TARDIS gone, you feel the absence more…"

He'd noticed how she was with the TARDIS. He'd been in the old box for centuries and even HE couldn't read the box like she could and he knew, with her age, she while she had been around MORE TARDISes than he had, he'd been around this particular one longer. It was the way she reacted to the box. How the box reacted to her. It was different, how she knew things about the old box, different than her normal 'feelings' or 'sensations,' it was...something else entirely. He didn't know what, exactly, but he could just tell it was special.

"What are we going to do?" she whispered.

"What we always do," he dropped a kiss on top of her head, "Make it up as we go along and hope for the best," Angel nodded, leaning more into him as he hugged her to his side.

This was the scene Mickey walked into as he entered the darkened TARDIS, the two of them snuggled together, talking quietly.

"I thought I told you to keep an eye on her," the Doctor remarked as Mickey walked over to them.

"She's alright…" Mickey began.

"She goes wandering off," the Doctor shook his head, getting up to look at Mickey more pointedly, "Parallel world, it's like a gingerbread house! All those temptations calling out..."

"Oh, so it's just Rose then?" Mickey glared at him, "Nothing out there to tempt me?"

"Oh there's loads," Angel got up, moving to link her arm through Mickey's for a moment, nudging him, "That's why I'm glad you came in."

Mickey shot her a gentle smile as she looked over at the console, at least SOMEONE cared about him.

"And how am I supposed to know?" the Doctor reasoned, "I can't worry about everything...if I could just get this thing to…"

"Don't kick the console," Angel called, a split second before the Doctor did just that.

He walked over to the captain's chair, grimacing in pain.

"Did that help?" Mickey asked, mildly amused.

"Yes," the Doctor nodded.

"Did that hurt?"

"Yes," the Doctor repeated, before rubbing his foot, "Ow."

"I told you not to kick her," Angel remarked.

He looked at her suspiciously, "A feeling?"

She smiled softly at him and shook her head, "No, I just know you."

~8~

Rose strolled down the bank of the Thames, coming to sit on a bench, deep in thought, as the zeppelins chugged softly overhead. A moment later her phone beeped and she pulled it out of her pocket. The message on the screen said 'Welcome, free trial period' and she frowned. She agreed and footage of the news began to play.

"...and it's good news for Great Britain as John Lumic returns to the country of his birth. Mr. Lumic, the inventor of high-content metal, has denied allegations of ill health."

"We're all flesh and blood, but the brain is what makes us human," a rather ill-looking man she could only assume was Lumic spoke, "And my mind is more creative than ever."

"With shares in Cybus Industries doubling in price, Mr. Lumic..." the newsreader continued.

Rose glanced up at the zeppelins, realizing who might be inside them. She quickly looked down at her phone and closed it as the reporter went on to discuss some Torchwood institute.

~8~

"We really shouldn't be here," Angel was explaining to Mickey, refusing to leave him in the dark about all this. He was HER companion and she would be damned if she let him feel as left out as the Doctor had, something Mickey seemed to appreciate. She walked around the console slowly as she spoke, trying to sense if there was anything at all that could help, "A TARDIS can draw power right from the Universe, but this world, it's the wrong Universe. It's like..." she frowned, trying to think of a way to explain it simply, "If you put diesel in a petrol engine."

"But...I've seen it in comics," Mickey fell down into the seat beside the Doctor on the captain's chair, "People are hopping from one alternative world to another, it's easy."

"Not in the real world," the Doctor replied with a sigh, "Used to be easy. When the Time Lords kept their eye on everything, you could hop between realities, home in time for tea. Then they died, took it all with them. The walls of reality closed, the worlds were sealed. Everything became that bit less kind."

"Then how did we get here?"

"I dunno. Accident? Should've been impossible, now we're trapped."

"There's something..." Angel murmured, coming to a stop.

"What?" Mickey shook his head.

Angel looked around, rubbing her head, as though trying to find something, before looking down, her eyes widening, "That! That's not a reflection is it?"

They looked down to see a small green light on under the grilling.

"It's a light!" the Doctor shouted, "Is it? Is that a light? I think that's a light! That's all we need!" he dashed over to Angel, "Well done!" and kissed her, this time needing it to be a quick one as they had work to do.

Angel laughed as she stepped back, the Doctor and Mickey pulling up the grilling.

"We've got power!" the Doctor cheered, jumping down, "We've got power! Ha!"

~8~

Crane strode out of the lorry as it pulled up to a scrap yard where a handful of homeless people were milling around. He patted the side of the lorry signaling for it to be opened before continuing on to the men, "Gentlemen! Gentlemen! I beg your attention. Christmas has come early, so come and get it," two of his staff let down a ramp onto the back of the lorry, "Ah, smell that, comrades. Burgers and chips, sausage and beans..." the men, starving, started for the van, not seeing a young man with spikey blonde hair hiding behind some junk, looking on anxiously, a video camera in his hand, "Pork...chicken...and hot, sweet tea. All for free."

"Don't go!" the young man ran forward, trying to stop the last man.

"Oh, but there's food!" the man breathed, staring at the lorry.

"All you can eat, free of charge," Crane continued, "Don't just stand there! Fill your faces with pasty and..."

"He's lying," the young man insisted.

"It's easy for you to say," the man countered, "When did you last starve?"

"All those people disappearing off the streets. It's been going on for months. It's them. They're taking you away."

"What for?"

"Experiments."

"Oh, I'm so hungry..." the man looked torn for a moment, before heading towards the lorry.

"So, come and get it while it's hot!" Crane shouted, "That's it, kind sir! Get in there and fill your face!" the man hopped into the lorry as the young man ducked behind some scrap and began filming, "Feast yourself, brother. Feast yourself!"

Suddenly screams rang out form the lorry, the last man struggling to get out but was pushed violently back inside.

"Take them away."

"No!" the last man shouted, "No, help!"

The lorry doors were shut.

Chapter Text

Angel and Mickey looked down as the Doctor stood in the grilling, just underneath the console, ripping out some rather important looking items that Mickey was sure probably would have sparked or set fire to something had the TARDIS not been seemingly permantently powered down at the moment.

"Oh be careful!" Angel cried, avoiding a mess of wires that was thrown out, "I'm going to have to fix all that later," she pulled Mickey into a duck as bits of old tubing were tossed back, sailing over their heads, "I'd rather not have you rip everything out."

"But it's alive!" he cried, excited.

"And you won't be for long when the TARDIS is back and working," Angel reminded him, kneeling down beside the opening, "She'll murder you for this."

The Doctor paused for only a moment, considering her words, "Nah," he shook his head, throwing a wink at her over his shoulder, "You'll fix everything up right as rain for me before that happens right?"

Angel smiled softly and had to laugh, "Of course I will," she nodded, reaching out to gently touch his face, "I can't lose my Mate now can I?"

He beamed, turning his head to drop a kiss onto her fingers before he turned back to his digging, Angel blushing a bit, pulling her hand back, as Mickey smirked.

He really was happy for her though. That look just then, that look between Angel and the Doctor, he and Rose used to have that look. Or, he didn't know, maybe they didn't? He knew he certainly looked at Rose that way. And...he realized...she...never really had returned that look. He should have known really, figured it out ages ago, but...he always did that. Ever since he was a kid, he'd just grab onto the nearest thing and hold on. Rose had been there for him during quite a few tough times in his life, he hadn't wanted to lose the comfort he associated with her.

He blinked, frowning as he realized...comfort. That was what he associated with Rose. Not...not love. Well...that was something. He paused a moment. Huh. It didn't...hurt...as much as he thought it would to realize Rose didn't really love him, not in that way. But...he was ok with it. Because, he supposed, in a way he had loved Rose but, he'd had to grow up quite a bit during that first year she'd spent with the Doctor. He'd grown distant, they both had, not just because of her travelling, but...he'd started to realize that she really wouldn't stay and that she had changed. The Rose he knew wouldn't have left him in the middle of a crumbling Cardiff with no idea what was going on, she'd probably have pulled him to the nearest doorway thinking it was an earthquake.

And that was fine because he'd changed too.

He'd changed.

He blinked, he really had.

Months ago he wouldn't have ever even let the idea of Rose leaving make its way into his mind and here he was, thinking of it but without the bitterness. Rose had her own life, her own friends, her own sense of self. Travelling with the Doctor had helped her to grow and find out who she was, the sort of person she wanted to be.

And now, now it was his turn to find out who he'd be, with Angel there to help him.

He smiled, listen to him sounding all mature and noble.

He shook his head, seeing the Doctor slowly straightening with a small object in his hand, "What is it?" he asked.

"It's nothing," the Doctor started to smile, turning to Angel, cupping the object in his hands to show her, "It's tiny. One of those insignificant little power cells that no one ever bothers about, and it's clinging onto life. But with one little ounce of reality tucked away inside."

"Enough to get us home?"

"Not just yet," Angel said as the Doctor handed her the power cell before pulling himself up onto the grilling beside her, "We just need to charge it up."

"We could go outside and latch it up to the national grid!"

Angel laughed with a smile, "That would definitely power any other power cell up, 100 percent. But for this," she held up the cell to show Mickey, "It's the wrong energy," Angel looked back down at the cell, moving it between her and the Doctor, the Doctor smiling at her softly, proud, he loved hearing her talk so confidently, talk about something she knew, and TARDISes were definitely something she knew inside and out, "It'll only work if it's energy from our Universe."

"But we don't have anything…"

"There's us," the Doctor said as he leaned over Angel, placing his hands around hers, both of them blowing softly on the cell in Angel's hands, making it glow, Angel starting to blush a bit, feeling the Doctor's breath on her hands was a nice feeling, feeling his thumbs absently running over the back of her hands was even nicer, "We each just gave away five years of our lives," the Doctor beamed, "Worth every second!" he laughed as Angel smiled as well.

~8~

Rose sat on a bench by the Thames, searching Peter Tyler on the Cybus Network.

~8~

"It's going out, is that ok?" Mickey looked at them, concerned, as the cell started to fade.

The Doctor opened his mouth to answer, when Angel beat him to it, "It's just on a recharging cycle," she smiled as it glowed brighter again, pulsing, "It'll keep looping around till it fully powers back up," she looked up at Mickey, "Only needs about 24 hours before we can get back."

The Doctor took the cell and kissed it, before leaning in and kissing Angel as well, "You are brilliant," he told her softly, beaming at her.

"Stop it," she whispered, playfully nudging him.

It seemed the Doctor had been serious during their discussion after helping Reinette. He really was dead set on proving to her how amazing he thought she was. The way he looked at her, the way he moved around her, the way he kept touching her...she was finding it harder and harder to keep believing that she wasn't worth him, especially when he looked at her with that sparkle in his eyes that only ever flared to life around her. It took her breath away and made her hearts race to see him looking at her like she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. It really made her try as hard as she could to establish the mental bond with him just so she could see truly what he thought of her.

It was turning out to be more difficult than either had anticipated though.

"So, that gives us 24 hours on a parallel world?" Mickey asked, excited.

"Shore leave!" the Doctor nodded, tossing the cell in the air and catching it again, "As long as we keep our heads down. Easy. No problem."

He stood up, reaching out to help Angel to her feet, not letting go of her hand as he entwined their fingers together, "We should tell Rose the good news!" she cheered.

~8~

The Doctor, Angel, and Mickey walked along the sidewalk by the Thames till they spotted Rose, "There you are!" the Doctor cried, "You alright? No applause, we fixed it!" he pulled out the cell to show her, "24 hours, then we're flying back to reality," he sat down on the bench beside her, holding it up, but she didn't even notice.

"Rose?" Angel asked, sitting down on the other side of her as Mickey stood at the end of the bench. She reached out and put her hand on Rose's shoulder, "What's wrong?"

"My phone connected," Rose sighed, "There's this...Cybus Network, it finds your phone. It gave me Internet access."

"Rose, whatever it says, this is the wrong world," the Doctor reminded her.

"I don't exist."

"What do you mean?" Angel shook her head, "Of course you exist. You're sitting right here," she poked her in the arm, "Real and solid."

"No I mean...there's no Rose Tyler, here, in this world. I was never born. There's Pete, my dad, and Jackie...he still married mum...but they never had kids."

"Give me that phone," the Doctor tried to snatch it away.

Rose just pulled it back, "They're rich. They've got a house and cars, and everything they want," she frowned, "But they haven't got me," she stood and walked off to look at the river before turning to face them, "I've gotta see him."

"You can't."

"I just wanna see him."

"We can't let you."

"You just said 24 hours!"

"Do you remember the last time you wanted to see your father," Angel glared, suddenly angry, "We told you not to and guess what happened, you didn't listen and nearly destroyed the world!"

She really had no idea where the anger was coming from. No...that wasn't entirely true. It was the Doctor. It was what happened to him as a result of Rose's actions...she couldn't even bring herself to say it out loud just then. She could still remember exactly how she felt seeing the Doctor taken by the Reapers, the despair, the crushing pain, the fear, the heart breaking realization that she was alone again. She could feel herself getting upset just thinking about it, if Pete hadn't managed to fix everything, if she'd truly lost the Doctor...

She felt someone take her hand and looked over to see it was the Doctor. She knew he hadn't felt her emotions, they hadn't come anywhere near being ready to take that step, but she knew what he'd say as an excuse. Apparently this version of her wore her heart on her sleeve, her expressions gave away her feelings, and she must have looked devastated if the pained expression on his face was anything to go by.

He hated seeing her upset.

She took a breath, reminding herself that he was still there, with her, and squeezed his hand, reassuring him she was fine as well, that she would be fine.

"Well that won't happen this time," Rose countered, "'Cos he's alive here."

"You can't become their daughter, that's not the way it works!" the Doctor turned and stood abruptly, starting to get upset as well, "Mickey, tell her."

"24 hours, yeah?" Mickey murmured in thought before he took a step back.

"Where're you going?" the Doctor looked at him.

"Well, I can do what I want!"

"I've got the address and everything," Rose started walking backwards too.

"Stay where you are, both of you!" the Doctor shouted, looking between them, "Rose, come back here! Mickey, come back here right now!"

"I just wanna see him."

"Yeah, I've got things to see and all," Mickey nodded.

"Like WHAT?" the Doctor glared.

"Well, you don't know anything about me, do ya?" Mickey glared at him in return, "It's always about Rose. I'm just a spare part."

"Not to me Mickey," Angel got up and stepped towards him, "You're MY companion."

"I'm sorry," Rose murmured, turning to walk away, "I've gotta go."

"Go on then," Mickey scoffed at the Doctor, "No choice, is there?"

"He's right," Angel cut in, looking at the Doctor as she rubbed her head, "You go with your companion and I'll go with mine."

"Angel…" the Doctor began, not liking the idea of being separated. Really not liking the idea. While he did trust Mickey to keep her safe, he'd rather be the one keeping her protected, being there for her, being her...hero. He knew she loved it when he played the hero. Her very own knight in shining armor.

"It's the only way we can make sure they BOTH stay out of trouble."

He sighed, he couldn't argue with that. As she had pointed out on numerous occasions, Mickey was HER companion. She was as determined to protect and look after the boy as he had been, and still was, with Rose. It was all about responsibility and he couldn't ask her to abandon her companion, he just had to trust that everything would be alright...not an easy thing to do give how his psychic Mate seemed to have been blindfolded for the moment. He reached into his pocket and tossed her the power cell, "Back here in 24 hours."

"Of course," she smiled lightly, knowing why he'd given her the cell. It was a part of the TARDIS and, if he couldn't be with her, he wanted something of his, of theirs, to be with her instead. She stepped up to him and gave him a quick peck, "I could never stay away from you for too long," she added.

She moved to join Mickey when the Doctor pulled her back, kissing her deeply, leaving her rather breathless when he pulled away, actually needing to take a few moments to gather his bearings himself as he rested his forehead against her own, smiling softly. He loved that feeling. That feeling of being so happy it felt like his hearts would burst. He looked up at Mickey, the man smirking at them, "I'm trusting you to take care of her," he told the boy, serious.

Mickey nodded resolutely, "I'd never let anything happen to her," he promised, meaning it.

The Doctor nodded as Angel squeezed his hand and moved back to her companion.

"You can count on me boss!" Mickey smiled, giving a little salute, just happy that Angel had chosen him and stuck with him, her companion, instead of going with Rose, her friend.

The Doctor shook his head, watching them go, waiting till Angel disappeared around a corner before he remembered, Rose! He turned and jogging after his own wayward companion, catching up to her a short ways down the road.

~8~

Lumic's zeppelin touched down on an airstrip as a car pulled up and a black man and two guards stepped out to see Pete already there, "Mr. Tyler," the man greeted as he approached, "What the matter, couldn't wait until tonight?"

"Mr. President," Pete shook his hand, "Honored. I'm on the fast-track program. Cybus Industries have pulled up my company, so I'm part of the firm now."

"Some people say they've bought my government."

"I've never heard anybody say that. Never," he winked and gave a thumbs up, "You can trust me on this."

"I tried your drink. That Vitex stuff. It tastes like pop."

"Well, it is pop."

"You made money by selling a health-food drink into a sick world. Not quite the ordinary Joe you appear to be, are you?" Pete looked like he didn't know what to say, the President sighed, "He does like to keep us waiting," he walked off, Pete following till they reached the steps of the zeppelin, "But tell me, you've had a chance to observe John Lumic more than most. What's your opinion?"

"He's very sharp, I'd say. Sharp as ever. Very clever man. Brilliant, in fact."

"Then, you don't think he's insane?"

"That's not the word I would've used, no."

"I see," the President nodded, turning to climb into the zeppelin as Pete followed.

~8~

Angel laughed as Mickey snuck yet another glance at her. He'd been doing that for a while, just casually glancing at her, she'd catch him sometimes with this look that was a cross between confused and touched, it made her curious, "What is it?"

"I just…can't believe you wanted to go with ME," he shrugged, trying to play off how much it actually meant to him, "I mean Rose and you…"

"We're friends yeah, but YOU are my companion, I'm always going to pick you," Angel said simply.

And she meant it.

He knew that.

Angel, he'd noticed, was the sort of person who said exactly what she thought and felt. It was highly amusing when her inner thoughts commented on some sort of situation or person, often she'd make a remark that left him in stitches while also having said it so innocently that the other person just couldn't be offended. Confused, yes, but not offended.

He grinned shyly, a warmth bubbling up in his chest at that, "I'll always pick you too, my pilot after all."

Angel smiled back at him, reaching out to link her arm with his, "You know…I've actually, wanted you to come on adventures since I met you."

He looked at her, shocked, "Really?"

"Yeah," she laughed just a bit, "I was actually torn when you didn't come back with Rose after the whole Margaret the Slitheen thing."

"Torn?"

She nodded, "Like I said, I wanted you to come but…if you had come, you would've been the Doctor's companion and not mine," seeing his slightly confused look she explained, "The TARDIS will only respond to and protect those that the pilot trusts, their companions. I hadn't been bound to the TARDIS then so…"

He let out a little laugh, nudging her, "You REALLY wanted me to be your companion that badly hmm? Even over Captain Cheesecake?"

She laughed, "Of course!" she nudged him back, "I wanted YOU to be my first companion Mickey."

"Why?"

She smiled at him, "There's just...something about you Mickey Smith, something special."

His grin faded as he looked down, "I'm not special…I'm just…an idiot."

"Oh I don't believe that for a moment!" she cheered, squeezing his arm with her other hand.

"But…" he sighed, not sure how to phrase it, "You and the Doctor…you're…brilliant."

"I suppose," she nodded, seeing where he was going, recalling a similar conversation she and the Doctor had had recently, "So what makes you think I'd ever take anyone less than fantastic as my companion?" Mickey looked at her, shocked at her implication, "I'm not quite sure what you are yet Mickey, but I can't wait to find out!"

He looked at her as she smiled at him, the warmth in his chest returning tenfold. He'd never really had anyone believe in him that much, think HE was extraordinary. Plain old Mickey Smith he was. But the way Angel looked at him, included him, supported him, stuck with him…believed in him…he could, for a moment, believe it too.

"Now, come on," she slipped her arm away from him, "Let's go meet your Gran!"

He blinked in surprise as she jogged off, "How did you…"

"Did you forget already?" she turned to him, walking backwards, "I'm psychic!" she winked playfully.

It wasn't that. She hadn't had any 'feelings' since they'd arrived in the parallel world, but, she remembered Mickey mentioning his departed Gran once or twice when they would talk. She was really the only person he'd had besides Rose...and Jackie...and well, Rose apparently didn't exist in this world so it was safe to assume the Jackie here wouldn't know who he was. That just left his Gran to check on, she could only hope the woman might still be alive in this world.

Mickey just looked at her, stunned, before laughing and running after her. He grabbed her around the middle, swinging her around before pulling her into a small headlock, noogying her head a moment as she laughed before pulling away. He laughed as she tried to pat down her hair, having to pull her clip out and redo it though she was smiling as she went, not at all cross that her hair had been messed up, when a thought suddenly struck him.

Angel was psychic, she knew things before they happened, and…if she felt like he was special and extraordinary and…and worth something, then…maybe he was. Or at least he would be one day.

He smiled at her, reaching out to hug her to his side a moment before slipping his arm back through hers, the two of them walking on in companionable silence until they came to a stop at a military blockade down the road, "Can we pass?" Angel asked as a soldier walked up to them.

"Yeah," he nodded, "No bother. Curfew doesn't start 'til ten."

"There's a curfew?" Mickey frowned.

"Course there is. Where've you been living, mate? Up there with the toffs?"

They looked up at the zeppelins, "I wish," Mickey smiled, "See ya," they walked on, to another soldier who lifted the barrier for them.

~8~

Rose and the Doctor were walking down the street as Rose explained just where Mickey had run off to, "Mickey's mum just couldn't cope. His dad hung around for a while, but then he just sort of...wandered off. He was brought up by his Gran," she grinned, "She was such a great woman. God, she used to slap him!" she laughed a bit before sobering quickly, "And then she died. She tripped and fell down the stairs. It's about five years ago, now. I was still in school."

"I never knew," the Doctor mumbled.

"Well, you never asked."

"You never said!"

"Angel knew. He told her."

"He did?" the Doctor frowned. Why hadn't she told him? He shook his head, no, of course she wouldn't tell him, that was a very personal and private fact that Mickey had shared with her.

Rose shrugged, "That's Mickey. I s'pose I…we just...take him for granted and Angel didn't. Do you think she's still alive, his Gran?"

"Could be," the Doctor nodded, lost in thought, "Like I said, parallel world, gingerbread house. We need to get out of here as fast as we can."

A short alarm sounded and everyone around them froze in place, the duo looking around, very confused, "What're they all doing?"

"They've stopped…" the Doctor remarked, pausing beside a man and squinting at his ear-pods, "It's the earpieces...like Bluetooth attachments, but everyone's connected together."

Rose's phone beeped again and she pulled it out to look at it, "It's on my phone. It's automatic, look. It's downloading. Is this what they're all getting?" the Doctor looked at her phone over her shoulder, slipping his specs on as Rose scrolled down through the downloads, "News, international news, sports, weather..."

"They get it direct. Downloaded right into their heads."

"TV schedules, lottery numbers…"

"Everyone shares the same information," he took the phone from her and looked at it, "Daily download published by Cybus Industries," he watched as the update scrolled down to 'Joke.' Everyone around them started laughing before going on their way, as though that hadn't happened, "You lot, you're obsessed. You'd do anything for the latest upgrade."

"Oi...not my lot. Different world, remember?"

"It's not SO far off your world. This place is only parallel," he tapped the phone and held it up, "Oh, look at that. Cybus Industries owns just about every company in Britain, including Vitex. Mr. Pete Tyler's VERY well connected," Rose didn't reply but just smiled up at him innocently, hope shining in her eyes. He sighed, handing her back the phone, "Oh, ok. I give up. Angel took Mickey to see his Gran, let's go and see your dad."

~8~

Mickey turned a corner to a rundown looking area, leading Angel across the street, slowing down as he they drew nearer to one particular door. He took a breath, looking at Angel who smiled excitedly at him, nodding encouragingly. He smiled a bit, squeezing the hand she'd taken in thanks for her support, glad he didn't have to face this alone, because if no one answered the door, he'd be crushed. He gathered his courage and sped up, knocking on the door.

"Who's that there?" an elderly woman shouted from inside. The door opened and there was Mickey's blind grandmother, Rita Anne, standing within, "Who is it? I know you're there. Shame on you, tricking an old lady. I've got nothing worth stealing," she swung her cane at them, "And don't think I'm gonna disappear! You're NOT gonna take ME."

"Hi," Mickey mumbled.

Rita stopped, "Is that you?"

"It's me. I came home."

"Ricky?" she reached out to touch his face.

"It's Mickey."

"Parallel world," Angel whispered a reminder, so quietly not even Rita could hear her.

"I know my own grandson's name," Rita continued, "It's Ricky. Now, come here," she reached out further and pulled him to her, hugging him tightly.

"Ok, I'm Ricky," he grinned, tears in his voice as he hugged her, "Of course I am. Ricky, that's me," suddenly he was shoved back and hit on the shoulder, repeatedly, "Ow!"

"You stupid boy!" Rita shouted, smacking him again, "Where've you been?"

"Ow! Stop hitting me!"

"It's been days and days!" she kept on smacking him as Angel laughed silently, amused and slightly confused as to whether this was a normal way for humans to greet each other at times, "I keep hearing all these stories. People disappearing off the streets. There's nothing of it on the download," she pointed to her ear-pods, Angel suddenly frowning at them, "But there're all these rumors, and…and whispers. I thought that God had disappeared you!"

Mickey didn't respond, his attention drawn to the torn carpet on the stair behind her, "That carpet on the stairs, I told you to get it fixed, you're gonna…" his voice trembled as he closed his eyes, "Fall and break your neck."

Angel put her hand on his shoulder, squeezing it in comfort, knowing that that was how his grandmother had died, the guilt he felt about it. He put a hand on top of hers, returning the squeeze with one of thanks.

"Well, you get it fixed for me."

"I shoulda done way back," he nodded, "I guess I'm just kinda...useless."

Angel squeezed his shoulder again, though this time more of a pinch than anything. He looked at her and she gave him a warning look that clearly told him she'd do it again if he kept calling himself that.

"Now, I never said that…"

"I am, though," he choked up a bit, even as Angel rubbed his shoulder this time, "And I'm sorry, Gran. I'm so sorry."

"Don't talk like that. Do you know what you need? A nice sit down and a cuppa tea. You got time?"

Mickey looked over at Angel, who just nodded with a comforting smile, "For you, I've got all the time in the world," he beamed.

This was so like Angel. The Doctor would have them running off, probably not even realize how important this was to him, but not Angel. Angel knew him. They talked, a lot, he told her things he'd only ever told Rose because he just…he trusted her. She made him feel like a part of the team, like she cared, and she did. She'd let him sit there and have tea with his Gran to his heart's content, just to make him happy, and that meant more to him than she could possibly know that SOMEONE out there wanted to help him and see him happy. It was one of the reasons he stuck with her, sure he was her companion, but even more important, she was his pilot. He could see why Rose was so keen to help and protect the Doctor now, if he was even half the person Angel was then he would have been worth any terror or danger.

Rita laughed, pulling him from his thoughts, "You say that, but it's all talk. It's those new friends of yours. I don't trust them."

"What friends are they?" Mickey asked, frowning as he glanced at Angel, she was the only friend he could really say he had, at least in this world.

"Don't pretend you don't know. You've been seeing them. Mrs. Chan told me. Driving about all helter-skelter, in that van."

"What van's that, then?"

"You know full well! Don't play games with me. Get inside!"

Suddenly a bright blue van pulled up behind them, the young man from the scrap yard jumping out and pulling Mickey and Angel into it, "I've been looking for you everywhere!" he shoved the door shut and the van drove off, leaving a rather startled Rita shouting after them, "Ricky, you were the one who told us, you don't contact your family 'cos it puts them in danger!"

"Yeah," Mickey said slowly, not sure what was going on, "Ricky said that. Course I did, just testing."

"Who's she?" the man asked, eyeing Angel.

"I'm Angel," she smiled, reaching out to shake his hand as the man stared at her, confused, "Nice to meet you."

"She's with me," Mickey added quickly, clearly this Ricky was in charge and he wasn't about to let them toss Angel out.

The man nodded, accepting that, before turning back to him, "I saw them. I taped them! They went round Black Friars gathering up the homeless like a child-catcher. They must've took four dozen."

"The vans were hired out to a company called 'International Electromatics,'" a blonde woman who was driving called back to them, "But I did a protocol search...turns out that's a dummy company established by guess who?"

"Who?" Angel asked.

"Cybus Industries!" they shouted.

"And now we've got evidence!" the man smiled at the woman driving.

"Bad news is, they've arrested Thin Jimmy," the woman replied, "So that just leaves you."

"Leaves me...what?" Mickey shook his head.

"The Number One," the man grinned, "Top of the list. London's Most Wanted."

"Ok, cool," he nodded, before it hit him, "Say that again?"

"You're London's Most Wanted," Angel repeated.

Mickey shot her a small smile, "Thanks."

~8~

Lumic sat in his zeppelin, showing Pete and the President a presentation of his invention, diagrams demonstrating as he spoke, "The most precious thing on this Earth is the human brain, and yet we allow it to die. But now Cybus Industries has perfected a way of sustaining the brain indefinitely within a cradle of copyrighted chemicals. And the latest advances in synapse research allows cyber-kinetic impulses to be bonded onto a metal exoskeleton. This is the ultimate upgrade. Our greatest step into cyberspace..."

"I'm sorry," the President cut in, "Could we stop it there?" Lumic wrenched the breathing apparatus from his face, affronted, "I don't need the pitch. I think we all know what this 'ultimate upgrade' entails. And I'm here to tell you, John, the answer is no," Lumic grunted, "My government does not give you permission," he stood up, "And I think no government ever will."

"I prepared a paper for the ethical committee."

"Oh, come on," the President turned to leave, "It's not just unethical. It's obscene."

"Mr. President...if I might make a personal plea. I am dying, sir."

"I'm aware of that. And I'm very sorry."

"Without this project, you have condemned me. My inventions have advanced. This whole planet...would you have all that perish?"

"You're a fine businessman, John. But you're not God. I'm really very sorry, but I think we should end it there. Mr. Tyler, I'll see you tonight," Pete nodded, "I think we could all do with a drink. Mr. Lumic," he turned to leave as Lumic watched, horror struck.

"Still, it's not the only country in the world," Pete turned to Lumic reassuringly, "There's always New Germany."

"This is the homeland," Lumic shook his head, "My birthplace. You may leave."

"Thank you, sir," Pete stood and left, leaving Lumic alone.

"Mr. Crane?" Lumic called, turning to the monitor.

"Ready and waiting, sir," Crane appeared on screen.

"Did the override work?"

"Well, needs a bit of fine-tuning, we weren't exactly delicate given the rush, but er, yeah. Yeah. It's all working," he turned and walked away from the computer, another screen flashing on to show him standing across from a row of homeless men, "I've been testing the system, sir," he gestured to the men standing still, dazed, ear-pods in both ears, "They've grafted on a treat, these have. Given a little persuasion. If you care to observe, sir..." he pressed a remote control, "And turn to the right..." the men did, "...and back to the left..." and again they obeyed.

"Are you having fun, Mr. Crane?" Lumic demanded coldly.

"Oh, no, no, not at all, sir, no," Crane said sheepishly, "It's just, well, it's er...irresistible."

"Then resist. And start the upgrade."

"Did we get permission?"

"I am governed by greater laws, old friend. The right of a man to survive. Now, begin!"

~8~

The screen went to static as Crane turned back to the men, "And turn to the left..." the men turned, "...forward march," the men marched forward, through a door that was held open by a staff member, to an area glowing red. As they entered, disappearing from sight, screams resounded, "Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's cover up that noise. Er...give us...track number 19."

A technician obliged and 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' began to blare over the speakers as the machine worked on upgrading the men, blades swopping down on them, the music just barely covering their screams.

Chapter Text

The blue van pulled up outside an old house, the young man, Jake, as he'd later introduced himself to Angel, getting out first, frowning when he caught sight of something odd, "There's a light on. There's someone inside the base," Mickey and Angel clambered out to see the light on as well, the faint glow shining through one of the windows, "Mrs. Moore, we've got visitors."

Mrs. Moore nodded, moving to his side as they quickly snuck down along the side of the house, trying to be as quiet as they could. Angel and Mickey exchanged a look before following them, the human pair with guns at the ready, moving to crouch down outside a door.

Jake turned to Mrs. Moore, whispering as he counted on his fingers, "One...two...three...go!"

They burst into the house, Mrs. Moore and Jake pointing their guns, only to see a man who looked just like Mickey, clearly Ricky, standing inside.

"What the hell are you doing?" Ricky glared at them.

Mrs. Moore and Jake just looked between him and Mickey, completely astounded, "What're you doing there?!" Jake called to Ricky.

"What am I doing HERE?" Ricky asked, walking forwards, "What am I doing THERE?" he pointed at Mickey.

Jake and Mrs. Moore quickly turned their guns on him and Angel, Mickey immediately taking a step in front of Angel, pushing her behind him.

He'd promised the Doctor he'd protect her.

What's more, he promised himself he'd protect her too.

And that was exactly what he was going to do.

~8~

The Doctor and Rose hid in some bushes outside the Tyler Mansion, watching as quite a few expensive cars pulled up, "They've got visitors," the Doctor remarked, pouting a little as he watched person after person amble into the building. Angel would have loved to be there, she loved meeting new people, always found them fascinating. And, just looking at how these men and women were dressed, the semi-snooty expressions on some of their faces, he could tell Angel would have probably given some of them one of her 'comments' or asked them something that would have them huffing off while she just pouted her adorable confused pout as they chuckled quietly beside her, never laughing at her, but more at the others who would storm off.

Once you got used to Angel's questions and comments, it was far more entertaining and truly thought-provoking than offensive.

Though...it was more than that though, he missed her. Already. It had only been an hour or two at the most and he already wanted to drag Rose back to the main part of town and find Angel. He blinked, realizing something. He and Angel had never been separated for this long before...not ever really. Ever since she'd joined them on their adventures, even before he'd regenerated, he hadn't ever let her wander too far away from him. Sure, there were times where she would suddenly rush off, but he always followed. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he realized she'd only ever left his side a handful of times by choice, and only for a few minutes, ten at most, and only once by force, when they'd been separated on the Game Station. He didn't count the time he'd been attacked by the Reapers as he truly couldn't remember it. To him he'd just disappeared and reappeared a short time later.

He really missed her.

It just...didn't feel right to be without her, not anymore. He missed holding her hand, seeing her smile, hearing her laugh, just the little things. And, while he knew they'd see Angel and Mickey soon, only 24 hours at the absolute most, he just couldn't help but wish she was there with him. As she should always be, with him, like he should be with her.

"February the 1st, mum's birthday," Rose murmured, pulling him from his thoughts, "Even in a parallel Universe, she still loves a party."

"Well, given Pete Tyler's guest list, I wouldn't mind a look," he admitted, shaking his head to gather his focus, "And there is one guaranteed way of getting inside," he held up the psychic paper.

"Psychic paper!" she squealed excitedly.

"Who do you wanna be?"

~8~

Several waiters stepped out of the kitchen of the Tyler residence with refreshments, the Doctor and Rose among them, dressed in the same black uniforms. A woman took some food from Rose's plate and walked off, Rose smiling politely at her, "We could've been anyone," Rose remarked quietly to him.

"Got us in, didn't it?" the Doctor countered.

"You're in charge of the psychic paper. We could've been guests. Celebrities. Sir Doctor, Dame Rose. We end up serving. I had enough of this back home," they both smiled politely as guests took some items off their trays.

"If you wanna know what's going on, work in the kitchens," the Doctor argued, "Worked with the Krillitanes didn't it?"

Rose rolled her eyes, "That's only because Angel suggested we start there," she reminded him, "As I recall, she got that expression about the way to someone's heart being through their stomach mixed up and thought the kitchen was the heart of the school."

"Still," he had to smile at that, Angel had gotten much better at her expressions, but some still escaped her, "She was right."

Rose nodded, "When is she wrong?" she countered as they moved slightly to the side of the room, watching as people chatted and laughed.

"According to Lucy, that man over there…" the Doctor began, nodding at the President.

"Who's Lucy?" Rose turned to him sharply, a frown on her face.

"She's carrying the salmon pinwheels," he replied, pointing to the young woman and her tray.

"Oh, that's Lucy, is it?" Rose narrowed her eyes at the girl. As Angel's best friend and psuedo-adopted younger sister, it was her duty to keep an eye out from other women when Angel wasn't with the Doctor.

She and Angel had talked, a lot, about what happened with Reinette, what the girl had felt seeing the Doctor interacting with and praising the woman. She'd nearly smacked herself for being so daft as to think anything between her and Angel would change just because Mickey was her official companion. Angel still came to her to talk about things the men wouldn't understand, still asked her to explain expressions and other cultural norms that humans shared. They still joked and laughed and spent time together, actually even more than before. She'd listened to Angel speak of how she'd felt hurt that the Doctor had complimented Reinette having only just met her, how she'd worried the woman might make the Doctor regret asking her to Mate (she still giggled at the word despite the fact that both Angel and the Doctor had explained what it meant in the context of their people), and she'd listened to Angel speak of her own insecurities. It really made her feel special that SHE had been able to reassure Angel of the Doctor's affections, talk to her, encourage her to talk to the Doctor about it. Angel was always making sure she was alright, it was nice to be able to return the favor. Angel had seemed much more thoughtful as she'd left her room that night to work on the console, and ever since then she'd noticed a change and a closeness between the Doctor and Angel that clearly made the two of them very happy.

"...yeah," the Doctor nodded, not seeming to notice Rose's intentions, "Lucy says, that is the President of Great Britain."

"What, there's a President, not a Prime Minister?"

"Seems so."

"Or maybe Lucy's just a bit thick."

"Excuse me!" they heard Pete call out, following the crowd to see him standing on the stairs, "Thank you very much. Thank you, if I could just have your attention, please?"

"Pete!" a man shouted, "Go on, Pete!"

"Thank you very much!" Pete grinned.

"It's about time you did some work. I thought you liked them young!"

"Um, I'd just like to say, er, thank you to you all, for coming on this er, this very special occasion," Pete began as Rose watched him, "My wife's...39th..." the crowd chortled at that, "Trust me on this…" he gave them a thumbs up and a wink, earning a laugh, "So, without any further ado, here she is. The birthday girl...my lovely wife...Jackie Tyler."

Rose leaned over for a look as the Doctor eyed her, concerned. He knew that, though Rose didn't seem to realize it at the moment, it would be hard to have Jackie, the woman she saw and knew as her mother, speak and look at her as though she didn't know who on Earth Rose was. He could only hope that Rose wouldn't get the chance to have a one-on-one chat with the woman, hoping the guests would keep Jackie occupied. Rose would want to talk to her mother, and 'her mother' wouldn't have a clue who the girl was, nor would she probably care. And he knew, that would hurt Rose badly. He knew from past experience, it always hurt to have someone you cared about look at you as though they'd never seen you before, to have someone forget you, because they must.

The crowd cheered and snapped photos as an elegantly dressed Jackie stepped down the staircase, smiling as them, "Now, I'm not giving a speech, that's what my parties are famous for, no work, no politics, just a few good mates and plenty of black-market whiskey," she announced as the crowd laughed, "Pardon me, Mr. President!" she smiled at him, "So, yeah! Get on with it, enjoy, enjoy."

The crowd cheered as Pete took Jackie's hand and they moved down the rest of the stairs to greet their friends.

"You can't stay," the Doctor reminded Rose softly, "Even if there was some way of telling them."

"Course I can't," she nodded, though a bit distracted, "I've still got my mum at home, my real mum. I couldn't just leave her, could I? It's just...they've got each other. Mum's got no one."

"She's got you! Those two haven't!" he huffed, "All these different worlds, not one of them gets it right."

"Rose!" Jackie called as something barked, "There's my little girl!" the yorkie scampered over to Jackie who scooped her into her arms, "Come to mummy, come to mummy! Yes, good girl! Good girl, aren't you?"

Rose's mouth dropped open at the sight, the Doctor taking one look at her expression before laughing.

He stopped quickly as she shot him a dirty look, "Sorry."

~8~

Crane walked outside the factory, a metallic voice ringing out as the newly created robots marched past in an orderly line, "Platoon now boarding," a robotic voice stated, "Platoon 0-L-2 boarding."

"Stop staring," Crane scolded a man watching the metallic men walk by.

"Who are they, sir?" the man breathed.

"I'm told they're the future. Ain't technology wonderful? Go on, get in the cab. Start her up."

"Sir," the man nodded, going to do that, happy to be away from the metal men.

"Mr. Crane, are we mobile?" Lumic's voice rang over the ear-pod.

"Just about in the road, sir," Crane replied, "And yourself?"

"I'm arriving, Mr. Crane. Prepare the factory," Crane looked up to see Lumic's zeppelin coming in, "Now, send them forth, old friend. Let the good work begin."

~8~

Jake, Ricky, and Mrs. Moore stripped Mickey to his boxers, tying him to a chair as Angel, fully clothed, sat at another chair, tied to that as well, looking away to offer Mickey some form of dignity and privacy. Jake crouched by Mickey's side, scanning him with some sort of device, the results filtering through to Mrs. Moore's laptop, "He's clean," Jake told Ricky, "No bugs."

"But this is off the scale," Ricky remarked, eyeing Mickey, "He's flesh and blood, how did that happen?"

"Well, it could be that Cybus Industries have perfected the science of human cloning..." Mrs. Moore shrugged, "Or your father had a bike?"

Ricky's gaze narrowed on Mickey as he circled him menacingly, "Your name is Mickey, not Ricky?"

"Mickey," he swallowed hard, "Dad was Jackson Smith. Used to work at the key cutters in Cliffton's Parade. Went to Spain, never came back."

Ricky leaned closer to him, "But that's MY dad. So...we're brothers?"

"Be fair," Jake called, "What else could it be?"

"I don't know. But he doesn't just look like me, he is exactly the same. There's something else going on here, Jake."

"You're twins," Angel called out, trying to cover for them, give the humans a believable explanation. She knew what could happen if humans learned about time and space travel before they were ready, she'd seen it in Adam, they became greedy, sometimes violent in their quest to obtain it. And, while she doubted Mickey's double could ever be so, she was extremely protective of the old box, "Only explanation," she added when Ricky glanced at her, "Separation at birth."

"So, who are you lot?" Mickey cut in, trying to get their attention off Angel. He'd promised the Doctor, hell he'd promised himself, he'd take care of her, bang up job he was doing so far.

"We…we are the Preachers," Ricky stood tall, "As in Gospel Truth. You see?" he pointed to his ears, "No ear plugs. While the rest of the world downloads from Cybus Industries, we…WE have got freedom. You're talking to London's Most Wanted. But target Number One is Lumic, and we ARE going to bring him down."

"From your kitchen?"

"Have you got a problem with that?"

"No, it's a good kitchen."

"I like kitchens," Angel added, nodding, "Not cooking in them though. I've been told I'm not allowed within five feet of a stove anymore."

Ricky just shook his head at her, not really sure how to responed, when the laptop beeped.

"It's an upload from Gemini!" Mrs. Moore exclaimed.

"The constellation?" Angel asked, "You can talk to the stars on that?"

"I think it's a code name," Mickey supplied, seeing her confused expression.

"Oh," she nodded, that made much more sense.

"The vans are back," Mrs. Moore reported, "They're moving out of Battersea. Looks like Gemini was right. Lumic's finally making a move."

"And we are right behind him," Ricky smirked, "Pack up, we're leaving. Take those two with you," he added before heading out the door.

~8~

A huge lorry from Cybus Industries drove past a dark road. The Preacher's van pulling out of the shadows after it drove past. Ricky was driving, Jake and Mrs. Moore in the back, loading their guns.

Mickey looked on uneasily before glancing at Angel to see her clutching the power cell in her hand. He knew she wasn't very comfortable around guns, around weapons really, she and the Doctor seemed to have that in common. He'd asked her why once, an adventure or two ago, she'd just said that weapons took a little piece of you when you used them, especially to hurt someone else and she just didn't feel comfortable with them, not even during the War. He reached over and put his hand over hers, offering the comfort she so often offered him, small though it was as he wasn't the Doctor. The resulting smile put one on his face as well, he was proud he'd managed to at least comfort her even by a little.

~8~

The Doctor slipped away from the crowds in the mansion, walking down a corridor, past a darkened room where the door was open slightly. He stepped back, seeing a laptop open on the desk inside. He glanced back and snuck into the room, closing the door behind him. He pulled on his glasses and got to work.

~8~

Rose watched as Jackie chatted with the President, laughing at a joke, when Pete appeared next to her, "I remember her 21st," he commented, "Pint of cider in the George."

"Sorry, champagne?" she offered the tray, trying her best not to stare at him.

He picked up a glass, "Might as well. I'm paying for it!" he laughed.

"It's a big night for you…"

"Well, for her...still, she's happy."

"Yeah, she should be. It's a great party."

"Do you think?"

She gave him a thumbs up and a grin, "You can trust me..."

"You can trust me on THIS," he corrected her jokingly, winking with his own thumbs up.

"That's it, sorry, yeah!" she laughed, "So, um, how long have you two been married?"

"Twenty years."

"And no kids, or..."

"We kept putting it off," he sighed, "She said she didn't wanna spoil her figure."

"It's not too late. She's only 40."

"39."

"Oh, right, 39!" she chuckled a bit.

"It's still too late..." he shook his head and she could see the sadness in him, "I moved out last month. We're gonna keep it quiet, you know, it's bad for business," Rose's smile faded as she nodded, "Why am I telling YOU all this? We haven't met before, have we?" Rose stared at him as he did her, "I dunno, you just seem sort of…"

"What?" she breathed, recalling the last time she'd seen her father, the connection he'd felt with her even then.

Pete eyed her a moment, unable to put his finger on it, "I dunno, just sort of...right," he quickly stepped away, growing uncomfortable, "Stevey, how's things? How's it going at Torchwood?"

Rose watched him go sadly.

~8~

Ricky and Jake crouched out in some bushes, but talking to Mickey, Angel, and Mrs. Moore as they sat in the car, waiting, "I don't know what they're doing," Ricky's voice came over the comm., "But they seem to be the target. Big house, fair bit of money...now we've got to find a way to get in."

"The front door is usually the best way into a house and the most polite," Angel remarked, "You just go up and knock, or ring the bell, or sometimes there's a knocker, which helps because your knuckles might hurt a little when..."

"I think he meant sneaking into the house," Mickey told her quietly with a smile.

"Right," she laughed a little at herself.

"I've identified the address," Mrs. Moore continued, ignoring them for a moment, "It belongs to Peter Tyler. The Vitex millionaire."

"Pete Tyler?" Angel's eyes widened as she looked over at the house, just knowing the Doctor and Rose were inside. It would only be a matter of time before Rose figured out where Mickey had gone, where she'd let Mickey go, and convince the Doctor to do the same for her, see a 'dead' loved one.

"He's listed as one of Lumic's henchmen. A traitor to the state."

"But...but...we've gotta get in there!" Mickey shouted, clearly making the same connection Angel had.

"Now, shut it duplicate, that's what I just said," Ricky called before the sound of heavy footsteps marched in the distance, "What're they doing..."

Angel's eyes widened at the all too familiar sound, her hearts stopping in her chest as she clutched the power cell so tightly her knuckles turned white.

"What the hell are they?"

"Get out of there!" Angel leaned forward and pressed the comm., "Just get out! Quickly!"

Mickey looked back at her, concerned, as she moved back into her seat, closing her eyes and scrunching up her face in extreme concentration, pressing her fists to the sides of her head. She and the Doctor had been working on establishing a mental bond, one that would allow them to read each other's minds with ease. It was turning out to be a bit difficult as it seemed her time with the mental dampener had left an impression on her mind. When she'd regenerated her mind had automatically quieted and guarded her thoughts, making it difficult to lower her mental shields and let someone in, but they were getting there, slowly but surely.

She could only hope the Doctor would hear her calls of warning.

~8~

The Doctor watched the presentation of Lumic's play out on the laptop, "The most precious thing on this Earth is the human brain..." Lumic spoke as the demonstration began, a slight itching in the back of his mind telling him he wouldn't like what he had found.

~8~

Jackie sat alone, just outside the mansion, on the porch. Rose spotted her through the window and followed her outside, "Mrs. Tyler, is there anything I can get you?" she asked.

"The last twenty years back," Jackie laughed tiredly.

Rose smiled, uncertain of how to respond to that, "I can manage a glass of champagne...or a nice cup of tea?"

"Oh, that'd do me!" Jackie smiled as they laughed.

Rose sat down beside her, "My mum loves that. End of a long night, she never goes straight to bed, she always stays up just to have that last cup of tea."

"Oh, I'm the same!"

"Two sugars..."

"And me," Jackie laughed, "Pete always says, you know..." she stopped suddenly, shaking her head, "...ah, never mind him."

"I was talking to him earlier. He's a nice man. You know, bit of a Jack the Lad I s'pose, even if he has got money, but...he's a good bloke. Better than most," she glanced at Jackie a moment, "He's worth a second chance."

Jackie turned to her sharply, "Are you commenting on my marriage?" she asked coldly.

"No, I was just…"

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Jackie glared, "You're staff! You're nothing but staff, you're just the serving girl, for God's sake," Rose looked away, hurt, hearing the woma she recognized as her mother speaking to her in such a way, "And you are certainly not getting paid. Don't you dare talk to me!" she stood up and stormed back inside, leaving Rose alone on the bench, upset.

Suddenly a floodlight snapped on, making Rose squint through it to see figures approaching, with a boom of their steps.

~8~

"This is the ultimate upgrade," Lumic's voice finished, "Our greatest step into cyberspace."

The Doctor looked horrified, seeing the finished product of Lumic's invention, the metal men that were the houses for the removed human brain, "Cybers…" he gasped.

The itch in the back of his mind had become a dull throb now, nagging him to get out. He ran out of the room and through the partygoers to see Rose come in from the porch and head to the window. He ran to her, looking out, pressing his face against the glass to see robotic, metallic men approaching.

"It's happening again," he breathed, his eyes wide, his mind already drifting back to the times he'd faced this very same enemy in the past, knowing full well what they were capable of and what they would do to the humans.

"What do you mean?" Rose frowned.

"I've seen them before."

"What are they?"

"Cybermen," he swallowed hard.

Cybermen were approaching the house…

Cybermen were outside…

Where Angel was…

His hearts stopped. He had to get out there! He had to find her! He had to get her away from the threat of the Cybers and...

Suddenly a number of the Cybers shoved their fists through the window, striding into the house, forcing the guests back till they were cowering in the back of the room, no way out, the Doctor and Rose among them.

The President tapped his ear-pod as it beeped, "Mr. Lumic."

"Mr. President," everyone could hear Lumic reply, "I suppose a remark about crashing the party would be appropriate at this point," he gave a sick-sounding chuckle.

"I forbade this."

"These are my children, sir. Would you deny my family?"

"What are they?" Rose turned to the Doctor, "Robots?"

"Worse than that," he shook his head, looking around the room, trying to see if there was anyway to escape, to make it past the robots, to get out...

"Who were these people?" the President asked.

"Doesn't matter," Lumic spat.

"They're people?" Rose gasped.

"They were," the Doctor nodded, "Until they had all their humanity taken away. It's a living brain jammed inside a cybernetic body. With a heart of steel. All emotions removed."

"Why no emotions?"

"Because it hurts."

"I demand to know, Lumic, these people, who were they?" the President shouted.

"They were homeless, wretched, and useless until I saved them," Lumic stated, "And elevated them. And gave them life-eternal. And now, I leave you in their capable hands. Goodnight, sir. Goodnight, Mr. President."

He hung up as one of the Cybermen stepped forward, "We have been upgraded."

"Into what?" the Doctor asked.

"The next level of mankind. We are Human-Point-Two. Every citizen will receive a free upgrade. You will become like us."

"I'm sorry," the President stepped up to the Cyberman, "I'm so sorry for what's been done to you. But listen to me, this experiment ends. Tonight."

"Upgrading is compulsory."

"And if I refuse?"

"Don't!" the Doctor called, jolting, refusing would set the Cybers off on an attack, it would cause chaos and, while that would be the perfect opportunity to escape, it would also put the Cybers on higher alert and make it much more difficult to do so.

"What if I refuse?"

"I'm telling you, don't."

"What happens if I refuse?"

"Then you are not compatible," it replied.

"What happens then?"

"You will be deleted," the Cyberman suddenly grabbed the President's shoulder, electrocuting him.

The crowd screamed and started to run.

"Jackie?!" Pete shouted, trying to get through to Jackie but there was too much chaos.

The Doctor grabbed Rose's hand, pulling her through one of the broken windows and outside, "There's nothing we can do!"

Rose pulled away, trying to get back in, "My mum's in there!"

The Doctor just pulled her away again, "She's not your mother! Come on!"

They ran for a small hill in the backyard, stopping when a row of Cybers appeared in the distance. They spun around and ran back to the side of the house as Pete jumped out the window.

"Quick!" Rose called to him, "Quick!"

He ran after them.

~8~

Jackie shrieked as a Cyberman spotted her, running down a corridor, pursued by them, till she turned and ran down the stairs into the cellar.

But the Cyberman followed.

~8~

"Pete, is there no way out?" the Doctor shouted as they reached the front of the house, he needed to get out. He had to find Angel!

"The side gate," Pete called, leading them over to it, "Who are you? How do you know so much?"

"You wouldn't believe it in a million years…" the Doctor started. They stopped quickly as another row of Cybermen appeared. They turned and ran to the back of the house as two figures ran at them with guns.

"Who's that?!" Rose squinted, a light shining behind the men, making it hard to see.

"Get behind me!" Ricky ordered.

The group ran behind Ricky and Jake as they fired at the Cybers, forcing them to stop.

Rose ran up to Ricky, "Oh my God, look at you..." she hugged him tightly, "I thought I'd never see you again!"

Ricky pulled back, "Yeah, no offense sweetheart, but who the hell are you?"

"Rose!" Mickey shouted, dashing down the hill with Angel behind him, the girl half-leaping into the Doctor's arms as he pulled her into a tight, relieved hug, "That's not me. That's like...the other one."

"Oh, as if things weren't bad enough, there's two Mickeys," the Doctor remarked.

"Oi!" Angel nudged him, stepping back out of his arms, "You're just jealous that I've technically got two equally handsome companions now."

"Handsome?" the Doctor shouted, mock cross, at the same time as Mickey beamed at her compliment with a "Thanks!"

"Handsome?" the Doctor repeated, pouting at Angel.

"And one very handsome Mate," she added, making him beam.

Ricky, more than a little confused, just chose to introduce himself, "It's Ricky."

"But there's more of them…" Mickey pointed at the Cybers.

They looked around to see the Cybermen moving to stand around them.

"We're surrounded..." Angel gasped, grabbing the Doctor's hand in her own, needing the comfort she always felt when she was around him. The Cybermen...she couldn't...she just...not them. Anyone but them.

"Put the guns down," the Doctor said as Ricky raised his gun, "Bullets won't stop them," Jake ignored him and fired a rally. The Doctor pushed the gun down with his free hand, not about to let go of Angel's hand even if he could get out of her death grip, "No! Stop shooting, now!" he straightened and turned to the Cybers, "We surrender! Hands up..." he put his hands up with Angel's as did everyone else, "...there's no need to damage us, we're good stock. We volunteer for the upgrade program. Take us to be processed."

"You are rogue elements," a Cyberman stated.

"But we surrender."

"You are incompatible."

"But this is a surrender!"

"You will be deleted."

"But we're surrendering! Listen to me, we surrender!"

"You are inferior. Man will be reborn as Cybermen but you will perish under maximum deletion," it raised its arm as did the others, "Delete. Delete! DELETE!"

To be continued…

Chapter Text

The Cybermen surrounded them, all reaching out, crying "Delete!"

When Angel suddenly pointed the power cell at the metal men, expelling a shot of golden light, bounding off one of them and onto the others, incapacitating them. The humans, well, Rose and Mickey, looked at her, a bit shocked she had openly attacked the Cybers, they hadn't ever really seen Angel willingly try to harm anyone in such a way. And there she was, knowing full well that the Cybermen had been human at one point yet still firing that blast at them. It was alarming because...it was just so unlike her.

The Doctor, though, knew it was nothing of the sort, it wasn't an attack, per say, not really. The power cell wasn't a lethal weapon, it wasn't going to kill or destroy the robots or the human brains within them. It was just as it said on the tin, a power cell, a cell that stored power an energy. All that a blast from it could do would be to create a small surge of power within them, overpowering the Cybers' systems for a few moments, freeze them so to speak, so that the humans could escape.

He knew her, she couldn't and wouldn't ever harm another being, not even Cybers.

"What the hell was that?" Ricky demanded, spinning around to face Angel.

The Doctor glanced at Angel as well, shifting when he saw an odd expression on her face, a cross between fear and...anger…almost borderline hate. He didn't like it. That expression on her face just seemed so...wrong. Angel wasn't meant to be hateful, she was, well, an angel really.

He knew, very well, that Angel wasn't perfect. As she had said before when they'd discussed Reinette, she didn't have very many talents, wasn't quite so accomplished, he knew she couldn't cook, she didn't understand humans much, and she sometimes had a hard time keeping up with things that he knew every Time Lord had learned in the Academy. But...he loved that about her. It made her so...real. He didn't want a perfect doll, he wanted someone with flaws that he could watch as they grew, as they dealt with them, as they left them be. It wasn't perfections that made someone attractive, if everyone was perfect they'd be so dull! It was their flaws that made them unique, and Angel was by far the most unique person he'd ever met.

He could tell though, that she saw her flaws and imperfections as the reason why she, in her mind, wasn't good enough for him. Mad she was. He, on the other hand, believed whole heartedly that it was BECAUSE of those imperfections and flaws that he loved her so much. He loved her flaws and quirks, they made her who she was.

She wasn't perfect so he knew she could feel hate and anger and fear, but...to know she felt them about the Cybers...he wanted to help her. He never wanted her to be afraid, not when he was there to protect her, he never wanted her to be angry or hateful, he just...he wanted her happy and smiling and laughing. If anyone was going to be fearful, or angry, or hateful, it would be him and it would be directed at the thing that had made HER feel that way in the first place.

Looking at her now, seeing that expression on her face, like she actually WANTED to hurt the Cybermen, broke his hearts, because she really was just so sweet and good-natured, he didn't want her to lose that out of anger and hate. He didn't want it to corrupt her like it had him.

He quickly took her hand, needing to offer her support, needing to pull her attention away from the Cybers, actually...needing to get her away from the Cybers now that he thought about it, get them ALL away, "Well how 'bout instead, RUN!"

They bolted right as Mrs. Moore drove up in the blue van, "Everybody in!"

Pete turned, needing to get back inside, but the Doctor grabbed his arm, "I've gotta go back, my wife's in there!" Pete struggled against the Doctor's grip.

"Everyone in there is already dead," Angel said quietly, a hint of bitterness in her voice, "The Cybermen just kill everything they encounter. They don't care about anyone else."

"If you wanna help, then don't let her die for nothing," the Doctor added, squeezing Angel's hand, growing even more worried, "You've gotta come with us right now."

Pete nodded and hurried back to the van as Mrs. Moore shouted, "Come on, get a move on!"

"Rose," the Doctor said, seeing Rose staring at the house as well, "She's not your mother."

"I know," she nodded, but made no move to turn away.

"Come on," Angel called, reaching out to take her hand, "We need to go! Now!"

The three ran back to the van, hopping in.

"Finished chatting?!" Mrs. Moore muttered, "Never seen a slower getaway in my life!"

They drove off, a line of Cybermen, their systems now restored, marching after them.

~8~

Jackie peeked out of a crack in the door, seeing Cybermen walking around the basement. One walked away from her and she let out a breath of relief at seeing it leaving...when another stepped out of a doorway just before her. She gasped and withdrew, but it heard her nonetheless.

~8~

Ricky, Jake, and Mrs. Moore were in the front of the van as the woman drove, the men looking at the group seated in the back, "What was that thing?" Ricky looked at the power cell clutched firmly in Angel's hand.

The Doctor paused a moment, waiting for Angel to answer, because the power cell was a part of the TARDIS and he knew how much she loved it when she got to talk about that old box. But she was silent, sitting, staring, not even blinking though he could see the faint hint of tears in her eyes.

"Little bit of technology from our home," the Doctor mumbled, his gaze locked on Angel as he held her other hand, concerned. She was just staring into space, pale, frowning, distant. He'd tried to touch her mind, to see what she was thinking, what was bothering her, but he couldn't really grasp much of anything. They'd only just started working on the bond after all, at most they could feel a small prick in their minds signaling that the other was attempting to connect, but he'd run into a wall. Her mind was stronger than it should have been because of Van Statten's device. Getting her to weaken her mental walls enough to forge the connection was difficult, and now, with her mind drifting, she didn't even seem like she was aware he was even trying to connect to her mind at all.

"It's stopped glowing," Mickey frowned, "Has it run out?"

"Revitalizing loop," Angel mumbled quietly, pulling her attention away from the fascintaing paint-peeling wall of the van to look down at it, not even seeming to notice the Doctor beside her, or where she was in fact, which made the man in question frown just a bit at how she'd reacted to Mickey's question and not his own words, "Four hours and it'll charge up again."

"Right," Ricky rolled his eyes, "So, we don't have a weapon anymore."

"Yeah, we've got weapons," Jake countered, "Might not be one of those metal things, but they're good enough for men like him," he looked pointedly at Pete.

"Leave him alone!" Rose glared, immediately defensive of her father, "What's he done wrong?"

"Oh, you know, just laid a trap that's wiped out the Government. And left Lumic in charge."

"If I was part of all that, do you think I'd leave my wife inside?" Pete frowned.

"Maybe your plan went wrong," Ricky argued, "Still gives us the right to execute you though."

"Talk about executions, you'll make ME your enemy," the Doctor said, turning to face the men, "And take some really good advice, you don't wanna do that," he squeezed Angel's hand, half expecting her to leap to Pete's defense as well, but she barely seemed to notice what the discussion around her was about, still staring at the power cell, lost in her thoughts.

Whatever the Cybermen meant to her, it was truly hurting her.

"All the same...we have evidence that says Pete Tyler's been working for Lumic since 20.5."

"Is that true?" Rose asked him quietly.

Pete was silent.

"Tell 'em, Mrs. M."

"We've got a government mole who feeds us information," she reported, "Lumic's private files, his South American operations, the lot. Secret broadcasts twice a week."

"Broadcast from Gemini?" Pete looked up.

"And how do you know that?" Ricky glared at him.

"I'm Gemini. That's ME."

"Yeah, well you would say that."

"Encrypted wavelength six-five-seven using binary nine," Pete replied as Ricky and Jake shared a look, "That's the only reason I was working for Lumic. To get information. I thought I was broadcasting to the Security Services, and what do I get? Scooby Doo and his gang. They've even got the van!"

The Doctor frowned, watching Angel. Right about now she'd make some sort of comment about how that little puppy of Jackie's should have been called 'Scrappy' instead of 'Rose,' the others would stare at how she knew about the dog when she hadn't even been there, and she'd just smile. He'd call her psychic, she'd call him a thief, and she'd laugh that beautiful laugh which always left him smiling, the tension broken if for a bit.

But Angel hadn't even looked up.

"No, no, no!" Mickey shook his head, "But the Preachers know what they're doing. Ricky said he's London's Most Wanted!"

"Yeah, that's not exactly..." Ricky began, shifting a bit at having to admit this.

"Not exactly what?"

"I'm London's Most Wanted…for parking tickets."

The Doctor smiled, seeing Angel smile at that, finally seeming to start coming out of her thoughts, whatever they might have been, while Rose looked at them incredulous.

"Great," Pete rolled his eyes.

"They were deliberate! I was fighting the system! Park anywhere, that's me."

"Good policy," the Doctor nodded, though his attention never drifted from Angel, seeing her look away from the cell and back up, breathing a small sigh of relief to see her thoughts seemed to have settled for now, "I do much the same. I'm the Doctor, by the way, if anyone's interested..."

"I'm Angel," Angel introduced, "Nice to meet you."

The Doctor started to smile at that, hearing her saying her typical 'nice to meet you' greeting. There was his Angel.

"And I'm Rose," Rose smiled, "Hello!"

"Even better," Pete remarked, "That's the name of my dog. Still, at least I've got the catering staff on my side."

"I knew you weren't a traitor."

"Me too," Angel added.

"Why's that, then?" Pete glanced between them.

Rose looked over at the Doctor and Angel who were watching her, Angel concerned, the Doctor warningly, "I just did."

"And she's psychic," the Doctor added, squeezing Angel's hand again.

"And you're a thief," she countered lightly, nudging him in the side, making him smile wider, she was getting there, back to her old self.

"They took my wife," Pete shook his head.

"She might still be alive," Rose tried to comfort him.

"That's even worse. 'Cos that's what Lumic does. He takes the living...and he turns them into those machines."

"Cybermen," Angel cut in, everyone turned to look at her, those who knew her a bit startled by the force and venom in her voice, "They're called Cybermen," she sighed and rubbed her head, closing her eyes a moment before looking at Pete, "And I'd take those," she nodded at his ears where he had ear-pods plugged in, "Off, if I were you."

"She's right," the Doctor murmured, though frowning at Angel as he squeezed her hand reassuringly, before turning to Pete, who took his off and handed them over, "You never know...Lumic could be listening…" he flashed his sonic across them, turning them off, "But he's overreached himself. He's still just a businessman. He's assassinated the President. All we need to do is get to the City and inform the authorities. Because I promise you, this ends tonight."

Everyone nodded, wanting it over with, before turning away in silence, taking a moment to gather their thoughts about what had just happened.

The Doctor turned back to Angel, "What happened?" he asked her quietly, just knowing there was more to the Cybermen than she was letting on, something had to have happened with them at some point, she clearly had some experience with them in the past, "What's wrong?"

She was silent for a moment, gathering her strength to talk about what was quite possibly her most painful memory, before she turned to look up at him, "Remember how I told you about my mum, what happened to her," she said quietly, not wanting Rose or Mickey to overhear, it was hard enough to talk to just the Doctor about. She swallowed hard as he nodded, "I never told you which enemy it was."

He blinked, "Cybers?" he breathed, stunned. No wonder she'd reacted in such a way. She and her mother had a remarkable relationship, she was closer to the woman than anyone else and, to lose her at such a young, well, young for THEM, age...it must have been devastating. And now, to see the enemy that had taken her mother's life reborn in another dimension...he couldn't even imagine what she was feeling.

She nodded, "They wanted access to temporal technology like the Daleks…sent a small fleet…and…" she blinked quickly, the tears in her eyes even more prominent, her anger turning into sorrow.

He quickly pulled her to him, hugging her tightly as she recalled the death of her mother. He promised himself then and there, it WOULD end tonight, he would make sure of it. These Cybermen would not spread across the galaxy like the others of their world had. They would not cause the hurt that Angel was feeling, not if he had anything to say about it.

~8~

Several Cybermen stood in Lumic's office as he examined them, "My everlasting children...tell me...how does it feel?"

"We feel nothing," a Cyberman replied.

"But in your mind? What do you think?"

"We think the same. We are uniform."

"But you think of...what?"

"We think of the humans. We think of their difference and their pain. They suffer in the skin, they must be upgraded."

"Excellent," he laughed, "Then let's begin! Computer, identify John Lumic."

"Voice print acknowledged," the computer announced.

"Activate ear-pod primary sequence."

"Please state area of activation."

"The City of London. I've just declared Independence. Begin transmission!"

~8~

An alarm sounded in the middle of London, much like the one that had signaled the downloads earlier, all the people coming to a halt, frozen in their tracks as their ear-pods flashed.

~8~

The cellar door creaked open and Jackie was revealed, standing there, motionless, her ear-pods activated.

~8~

As one, the people of London began to turn and walk in the same direction.

~8~

Jackie stepped past the Cybers, marching up the stairs and out of the basement.

~8~

"You will come to me," Lumic grinned, watching the progress on his computer, "My dear children. The Immortal Ones."

~8~

"All of London has been sealed off," a news reporter announced, sans ear-pods, "There are reports of an army, an army of metal men. All citizens should remove their ear-pods. Repeat: remove all ear-pods. London has been placed under martial law. If you're hearing this, stay in your homes. I repeat: stay in your homes."

~8~

Crane winced, clutching his ears as he leaned against a lorry, ripping the pods from them, "Oh no, you don't."

~8~

The gang walked down a road, eyeing all the people just marching in the one direction, completely befuddled, "What the hell..." Jake shook his head.

"What's going on?" Rose frowned.

"It's the ear-pods," Angel eyed a nearby woman.

"Lumic's taking control," the Doctor muttered.

"Can't we just...I dunno, take them off?" Rose reached out to the nearest man's ear-pods.

"No!" Angel shouted, wincing as she rubbed her head, spinning around and quickly putting her other hand over Rose's to stop her from pulling the ear-pod off.

The Doctor looked at Angel, concerned, but she just shook her head, the flash of pain she'd felt already gone.

"You alright?" Rose asked, having seen it as well, moving to put her hand on Angel's shoulder.

"I'm fine," she offered the girl a smile, "But we can't take the pods out, it's a failsafe that the Cybermen use. Try and cut the connection by removing the pods and it'll cause a brainstorm. It'll kill them," she looked at the marching people sadly, "And they're still human."

Rose eyed Angel a moment, this was the most she'd ever heard the girl talk about another species or technology. It was like she didn't 'know,' as in know through one of her feelings, but actually did KNOW quite a bit about the Cybermen.

The Doctor nodded, "Human Race, for such an intelligent lot, you aren't half susceptible. Give anyone a chance to take control and you submit. Sometimes I think you like it. Easy life."

"Hey!" Jake shouted, motioning for them to come to where he and Ricky were peeking around the corner, "Come and see."

They walked over to see a row of Cybermen marching right beside the people, all heading in the same direction, "Where are they all going?" Rose squinted.

"I don't know," the Doctor shook his head, "Lumic must have a base of operation."

"Battersea," Pete stated, "That's where he was building his prototypes."

"Why's he doing it?" Rose asked him.

"He's dying. This all started out as a way of life by keeping the brain alive. At any cost."

"The thing is," Rose looked at the Doctor, "I've seen Cybermen before, haven't I?"

Angel nodded, "The head of a Cyberman was in Van Statten's museum," she shifted a bit, "He used to brag about the different alien 'parts' he'd acquired."

In reality, she knew he had been trying to intimidate her, scare her, make her think he'd add a piece of HER to the collection as well. She never reacted though, she could tell he was bluffing. All the pieces he had had come from debris and other remains of battles and things. He would never have risked trying to remove anything from a live sample.

"Ah, there are Cybermen in our Universe," the Doctor explained, about to continue when Angel cut in.

"They began on as simple a planet as any but spread through the Universe, like a plague. This is just a parallel version of them, happening right on Earth," she sighed.

The Doctor nodded slowly, "Yeah..."

"What the hell are you on about?" Pete eyed her curiously as well.

Angel shrugged, "Know thy enemy," she muttered, she understood that phrase well enough.

The Doctor's eyes widened, realizing what had happened. When Angel's mother had died, she must have researched the ones who killed her. He doubted it was for revenge though, she hadn't used the power cell with the intent to kill the Cybermen, and not even the Daleks got her riled up enough to kill them even with the power of the Vortex in her, and they had been responsible for the death of her sister and father and scores of their people, but...given the sort of person Angel was, he very much believed that she had probably learned about them so, should she encounter them, she might be able to stop them, save others, know their weaknesses so she could escape or help others escape. It explained how she knew the power cell would work, how their own technology worked, their origins...

"I didn't want them to hurt anyone else," Angel added, as though reading his mind, "Not if I could stop them."

He smiled, he knew it.

"Never mind that," Ricky interrupted, "Come on, we need to get out of the City," he turned around to see Cybermen coming up behind them, "Ok, split up, Mrs. Moore, you look after that bloke," he nodded at Pete, "Jake, distract them, go right, I'll go left, we'll meet back at Bridge Street. Move," he turned and ran off, Jake going in another direction.

Mickey turned to Rose and Angel, "I'm going with him," he quickly kissed Rose.

"Be careful," Angel warned him before he nodded, silently promising her he'd do as she asked. She trusted him enough to let him run off with the Preachers, saw how important it was to him that he be of some help in protecting them, he wouldn't fail her now. He turned and ran off after Ricky.

"Come on, let's go," Mrs. Moore said, turning to lead them away. They ran off, the Cybers following them, "There!" she pointed to a side alley, leading them down it.

~8~

Ricky and Mickey came to a fork in the road, stopping to catch their breath, "Which way?" Mickey looked around, "I don't know where we are."

"Did they see us?" Ricky glanced back.

"Do they know where we are?"

"I think they saw us. I bet they can see in the dark…"

"I bet they got satellites…"

"I bet they saw us in the dark…"

"They know where we are!" they both said at once, looking at each other.

"I don't get it," Ricky shook his head, "What is it with you? You are exactly like me."

"I dunno," he shrugged, "I reckon you're braver."

"Oh yeah. Ten times. Still, your friends aren't bad. I'll give you that."

"What, the Doctor and Rose?" he shook his head, "I just tag along behind."

"I thought you and that Angel girl…"

"Oh, yeah," Mickey nodded, smiling a bit, "Yeah, she's a friend."

She really was, his...his best friend really. It was weird how fast that had happened. He'd met Angel and, right from the get go, she'd taken to him, treating him as though he were already an old friend. He hadn't understood it, why she was so kind and interested in him, but...he liked it. And then she just seemed to like him more and more every time they met. He found himself liking her more and more as well. She was interesting and funny and sweet, she made him feel protective and determined and, whenever he got to help her, it made him feel...strong.

Yeah, she was his friend.

What's more, she was his pilot.

"Well, then you're not that bad," Ricky shrugged.

"D'you think?"

"Yeah, I suppose."

They glanced back at the sound of marching feet to see Cybers down the street.

"Cybermen," Mickey breathed.

"Split up!" they both shouted, dashing off in opposite directions.

~8~

The Cybermen stomped down the road towards where the Doctor, Rose, Pete, Angel, and Mrs. Moore were crouched, hidden behind a pile of bins. Rose grabbed Pete's hand while the Doctor held tightly to Angel's, he could feel her shaking a bit beside him. Despite her anger and, well, hate, for the Cybers, they were a deadly enemy. She knew better than anyone what they could do, would do, to get their way. It was only natural that she'd be afraid of them as well. He hated Daleks, and they still terrified him as much as he did them.

The Cybers stopped, about to investigate more, when the Doctor pulled out the sonic and turned it on. It bleeped once and the Cybers turned and marched on their way, their signal scattered for just a moment.

Rose stood up, dropping Pete's hand as she watched them go.

"Go," the Doctor hissed.

They all crept out from behind the bins and ran back the way they came.

~8~

"Chamber twelve now closed for sterilization," a Cyberman reported as the people of London, including Jackie, marched into the factory of Battersea, "All reject stock will be incinerated."

~8~

Ricky ran as fast as he could but the Cybermen were hot on his trail. He changed direction, when he found himself blocked by another group of them. He turned, rushing down a side alley, his last chance, only to see a metal fence. He rattled it, but the gate was locked.

Mickey ran around from the other side, "Come on!" he cried as Ricky started climbing up, the Cybers approaching, "Come on! Come on!"

But it was too late.

One of the Cybermen simply grabbed Ricky's foot, electrocuting him.

"No!" Mickey shouted as Ricky fell backwards off the fence, landing in a heap on the ground, dead. Mickey looked from the body to the Cybermen who just stood there, watching him, unmoved and unaffected, before he stumbled backwards and ran off.

~8~

"This one is unprogrammed," a Cyberman reported as Crane was led before Lumic.

"Mr. Crane," Lumic frowned, "I thought you were one of the faithful."

"Oh, that I am, sir," Crane nodded, "My ear-pod must've malfunctioned. For which I apologize," Lumic squinted at him suspiciously, "If I er...might..." Lumic nodded and he stepped forward a few paces, "I'd like to request an upgrade, sir. I've seen the future, and it's copyright Cybus Industries. Sign me up."

"A willing volunteer," he started to smile.

"You've known me a long time, sir. Quite a team, you and me. I've been with you all the way. But believe me, sir, knowing you so well...I know exactly what to do!" he suddenly lunged forward and ripped the breathing apparatus away from Lumic, ignoring his cries, smashing the life support system built into the chair till it exploded.

"Help me!" Lumic cried desperately.

One of the Cybermen stepped forward, shoving Crane across the room with one swipe.

"Die, you!" Crane shouted, trying to lunge forward again, but another Cyberman grabbed him by his neck, killing him.

"Help me!" Lumic gasped, trying to get the breathing apparatus back online.

"You are in pain," a Cyberman stated, "We can remove pain forever."

"No! Not yet! I'm not ready."

"We will give you immortality."

"I've told you," he struggled to breathe, "I will upgrade. Only with my last breath!"

The Cyberman stomped round the back of Lumic's wheelchair, "Then breathe no more," he hit the logo on his chest and wheeled Lumic out.

"No! No! I command you, no!"

~8~

Jake ran back to where the small group was waiting at Bridge Street, "I ran past the river. You should've seen it, the whole City's on the watch. Hundreds of Cybermen all down the Thames," Mickey appeared at the end of the street, running towards them. Jake looked over, his face lighting up, "Here he is!" Mickey came to a sudden halt, "Which one are you?"

Mickey shook his head, his face full of guilt, "I'm sorry. The Cybermen. He couldn't..."

"Are you Ricky? ARE YOU RICKY?"

"It's Mickey," Angel said, she knew her companion when she saw him, double or no.

"Yeah," Mickey nodded. Rose ran forward, throwing her arms around him as Jake fell silent. Mickey turned to him, "He tried. He was running..." Jake just looked away, "There was too many of them..."

"Shut it," Jake cut in, pained.

"There was nothing I could do…"

"I said just SHUT IT!" Jake shouted, rounding on him, "Don't even TALK about him. You're NOTHING, you are," Mickey's eyes filled with tears, "Nothing."

"No you're not Mickey," Angel stepped forward, taking Mickey's hands, her own eyes filled with tears at seeing her companion so upset, so affected by the harsh words of Jake, "You are not nothing. Alright? I am nothing."

Mickey looked at her, shocked she would ever consider herself such a thing. He thought she was amazing.

"And you…you are so much more than amazing. Believe me, 'cos you are nothing like me."

He blinked as she said the words he'd just been thinking, just been believing, about himself. He could hear it, she really believed he was more than her, but...he KNEW she was brilliant…so what did that make him?

"You're incredible," Angel breathed, answering his unspoken question.

The Doctor swallowed hard, tears in his own eyes at Angel's words. He could hear the truth in her voice, she honestly believed she wasn't amazing, still, despite his claims to the contrary. He knew it was just something that had been hardwired into her over the years by her father's less than pleasant comments and her own regenerations, it would be difficult to crack, he would do it though, no matter what he'd make her see just how fantastic she really was. But just hearing it…he swallowed, "We can mourn him when London is safe. But now, we move on," the group nodded and turned to go, the Doctor stepping forward to Angel's side as Rose led Mickey off, "And you and I are going to talk about that…" he warned, leaning in to give her a gentle kiss of reassurance.

She nodded when he pulled away, she knew how he felt whenever she put herself down, only now she could understand. It was the same way she felt when Mickey put himself down as well, she didn't like it and she certainly didn't believe it.

Her companion was just fantastic.

Chapter Text

The small group stood at the edge of the Thames, looking at the Battersea factory just across the water, "The whole of London's been sealed off, and the entire population's been taken inside that place," the Doctor replied, "To be 'converted.'"

"We've gotta get in there and shut it down," Rose said.

"How do we do that?" Mickey shook his head.

"Oh, I'll think of something," the Doctor shrugged.

"You're just making this up as you go along!"

"Yuuuup. But I do it brilliantly."

Rose smirked as Mickey had to nod.

"Unfortunately so," Angel agreed as well from her spot beside the Doctor, the man having not let go of her hand since they'd gotten into the van.

"I've found something," Mrs. Moore called as she brought up a 3D model of Battersea for them all to look at as they crowded around her, "That's a schematic of the old factory. Look, cooling tunnels...underneath the plant...big enough to walk through."

"We go under there and up into the control center?" the Doctor pointed to a line of tunnels.

"Mhmm," Mrs. Moore nodded.

"There's another way in," Pete said as everyone turned to him, listening, "Through the front door. If they've taken Jackie for upgrading, that's how she'll get in..."

"We can't just go strolling up," Jake said, joining them as he'd been standing a few feet away, unwilling to be near Mickey.

"Or, we could...with these…" Mrs. Moore pulled out two pairs of ear-pods from her bag, the Doctor taking one, letting go of Angel's hand, "Fake ear-pods. Dead. No signal. But put them on, the Cybermen would mistake you for one of the crowd."

"Then that's my job," Pete determined.

"You'd have to show NO emotion," Angel warned, knowing better than anyone what the Cybers would look for.

She wasn't proud of the fact that the one time she'd actively tried to learn something was because of her mother's death. She'd learned all about the Cybers because she hated them and because, if they attacked her she wanted to know how to fight back. She wanted to know their weaknesses, how to exploit them, how to...hurt them...and that left her feeling so ill, to look back on that and realize that had been why she'd been so eager to learn about them. It upset her, she didn't LIKE attacking anyone, hurting anyone, but, at that point in her life, she'd been so...angry. So hurt, so devastated, she needed to do something! Centuries had passed since her mother had died, and with that time came a sort of healing. She mourned her mother, still missed her, but all that hate that had built up...slowly it had disappeared, muted. She supposed she'd seen the future so to speak during the War, that's when it truly hit her the path she'd been headed oh so long ago. The Daleks were nothing but hate, they were the epitome of it. One need only meet a Dalek to know what hate looked like. And she did NOT want to become that.

"None at all," she continued, "Show ANY sign of emotion and it'll give you away."

"How many of those have you got?" Rose asked Mrs. Moore.

"Just two sets," the woman sighed.

"Ok," she nodded, "If that's the best way of finding Jackie...I'm coming with you," she stood and moved to Pete's side.

"Why does she matter to YOU?" Pete frowned.

"We haven't got time. Doctor, Angel, I'm going with him, and that's that."

"No stopping you, is there?" the Doctor glanced at her.

"Nope."

He chucked an ear-pod at her, "Tell you what...we can take the ear-pods at the same time. Give people their minds back. So they don't walk into that place like sheep. Jakey-boy?"

The Doctor lightly pushed Jake back towards the bank of the Thames as Angel turned, "Mickey, with us…" she nodding him over, bringing him up alongside the Doctor and Jake as the two looked at the zeppelin stationed over Battersea.

"Lumic's transmitting the control signal, and it must be from over there…" the Doctor pointed his sonic at the craft, "There it is...on the zeppelin, see? Great big transmitter. Good thing Lumic likes showing off."

"Do you think the two of you could take it out?" Angel looked between the two of them.

Jake glared at Mickey, "I don't need you, idiot."

"I'm not an idiot!" Mickey shouted at him, Angel had said as much and if she believed it, he would too, "You got that?!"

Angel quickly stepped up and put a hand on his shoulder, tugging him back as she rounded on Jake, herself. She didn't let the Doctor pick on Mickey, she was not about to let anyone else either, "He's offering to help and you are going to take it understood? Everyone gets a partner for this, we're not going it alone. Got that?"

Jake eyed her a moment, before nodding and turning to the Doctor, "Consider it done," he muttered, still not very pleased, but understanding.

The Doctor gave Jake a pat on the shoulder as they turned back to the group, "Mrs. Moore...would you care to accompany me and Angel into the cooling tunnels?"

"How could I refuse an offer of cooling tunnels?" Mrs. Moore replied, standing.

"You want me to come?" Angel asked him quietly, honestly sounding surprised she'd been invited. It really shouldn't have though, the Doctor seemed just as keen to have her around as she always had with him.

He turned to her as Mrs. Moore packed her bags, "Why wouldn't I?"

She shifted back and forth, "Well it's just…since the TARDIS is down…I'm rather useless you know?"

She really could only seem to fix TARDISes, it was the one thing she was very good at doing, the one thing that came naturally to her, as naturally as breathing. There was nothing she could do to help the TARDIS except wait till the power cell kicked on. And it wasn't like she'd been getting any feelings, which, she had to admit, was a little odd...but still. There went the only two things she was any good for.

"You?" he raised his eyebrows, "Useless?" he took her hand, squeezing it till she looked up at him, "Never ever," he breathed, speaking so sincerely that she would have to believe him. Even just having her beside him changed more than she could know. He thought faster, he reacted quicker, he felt stronger when she was with him.

He blinked though as he eyed her a moment, thinking on her 'feelings.' He was actually starting to think it wasn't her affinity with the TARDISes that allowed her to get a feel for the future as she thought and often insisted, but more a natural gift she already had, simply strengthened by her connection to them. TARDISes, much like their people, were telepathic in nature, linked to their pilots via a psychic connection. She had spent her LIFE around them, and they were eleven-dimensional beings, able to not only travel in time but see through it. There was often talk on Earth about environmental factors that could affect the way children developed, perhaps it was the same for Angel. Perhaps she had been born a precog and all her time around the TARDISes just helped strengthen her natural gifts. He would have to talk to her about that, it seemed like a very plausible explanation. But, right now, they really had more important things to deal with, not that he could really classify it that way.

To him, nothing was more important than Angel.

But, he also knew, she would want the humans safe and sound before she'd even let him start talking about her.

He pulled off his glasses and turned to the group, "We attack on three sides, above, between, below. We get to the control center, we stop the conversion machines."

They all nodded, turning to head off in their directions when the Doctor saw Angel wince terribly, pressing a hand to the side of her head, "Mickey!?" she called out, turning to him as he stopped and looked back, "Good luck and don't get hit."

Mickey smiled, giving her a nod, "Yeah. You too. Rose, I'll see you later."

"Yeah, you better!" Rose shouted to him as they all continued on.

"If we survive this," the Doctor told him, "We'll see you back at the TARDIS."

Mickey laughed, "That's a promise."

"It better be," Angel warned him lightly, "You come back with so much as a scratch on you Mickey Smith and there'll be hell to pay, whatever that means!"

He chuckled lightly, mock saluting her, throwing her a wink, though very touched by her concern. She'd partnered him and Jake together, she trusted him to handle himself, she…she thought he was capable and ready to do it. And he would prove himself, for her.

"Good luck," the Doctor called to Rose as they all disappeared in their directions.

~8~

The Doctor opened a latch into the cooling tunnels, allowing Mrs. Moore to descend, followed by Angel, and then himself, "It's freezing here," Mrs. Moore remarked.

"Well...it's a cooling tunnel," Angel remarked, staring at the woman with a look she was sure others had given her when she stated something so obvious, "It's not going to be warm otherwise it'd be a heating vent or something."

Mrs. Moore smiled and laughed, "Fair enough."

"Any sign of a light switch?" the Doctor squinted, trying to see in the dark.

Angel turned to him now, "A light switch? In a tunnel?"

He just shrugged, they'd found a horse and Pre-Revolutionary France on a spaceship, why not a lightswitch in a tunnel?

Mrs. Moore shook her head, "Can't see a thing. But I've got these..." she sifted around in her bag and handed the Doctor a light to put on his head, "A device for every occasion..."

"Ooh!" the Doctor beamed.

"Put it on," Mrs. Moore told him, finding one for herself and slipping it on.

"Haven't got a hotdog in there, have you? I'm starving."

Mrs. Moore laughed, "Of all the things to wish for! That's mechanically recovered meat!"

"The Cyberman of food," Angel smiled.

"But it's tasty," the Doctor countered.

"So is a cookie," Angel remarked, "But you don't see me asking for one."

He laughed, "We'll bake a..." he paused, considering his words, "I'LL bake you a whole batch when we get back to the TARDIS," he promised.

He'd learned rather quickly that, despite his insistance that he and Angel could bond over him teaching her to cook, she really was terrible in the kitchen, actually a danger to those around her. He honestly hadn't thought it was possible to burn water when trying to boil it...Angel had proved him wrong. She'd been ready to make tea when an adventure had popped up, rushed off, leaving the kettle on...they'd come back to see the kettle completely charred with bits of burned water stuck to the inside.

It frustrated her to no end, but he rather found her attempts adorable. Rose and Mickey seemed to take delight in Angel trying to cook and offering him a taste of it, watching his expression when he tried it and tried to keep from showing how BAD it was. Angel though, always seemed to know and would just smile and laugh about it too. He loved that, how she could laugh at herself whenever she didn't do something well.

"A proper torch," Mrs. Moore handed Angel a handheld torch as she had no more head lights.

"Thanks," Angel smiled, turning on her light. She turned to flash it down the tunnel, only to jump back into the Doctor at the sight of a Cyberman, the Doctor quickly putting his arms around her to steady her and reassure her. They looked down the corridor to see hundreds of them, lining the tunnels.

"Already converted, just paralyzed," the Doctor assessed, giving Angel a comforting squeeze, "Come on!" he stepped forward, taking Angel's free hand and leading the way as Mrs. Moore followed. He paused briefly by one, tapping it on the head to hear a hollow noise, "Let's go slowly. Keep an eye out for trip systems."

"Slower may not be better," Angel commented, rubbing her forehead as her eyes stayed on the Cybermen as they passed lifeless form after lifeless form.

~8~

A huge truck drove away from Battersea, a row of Cybermen marching in the opposite direction, as a metallic voice called, "Chamber six now open for human upgrading," Rose and Pete darted alongside the building, trying to remain unseen, "Chamber seven now open for human upgrading," they watched a row of controlled people walk past, "Chamber eight now open for human upgrading."

"Just put them on," Pete nodded at the ear-pods, "Don't show any emotion. No signs, nothing. Ok?"

"Don't worry," Rose whispered, "We can do it."

"Chamber seven now open for human upgrading."

Pete put his ear-pods in, "We could die in here. Why are you doing this?"

"Let's just say I'm doing it for my mum and dad," Rose remarked, putting her own on as well, "Right, let's go!"

They dashed out from their hiding place and joined a line of people filing into the building.

"Chamber eight now open for human upgrading. Chamber nine now open for human upgrading. Chamber ten now open for human upgrading. Chamber eleven now open for human upgrading…"

Rose and Pete took a breath, walking in, not a flicker of emotion on their faces.

~8~

Jake climbed a ladder to the roof where the zeppelin was parked, smiling at the sight. Mickey followed behind him, the two creeping stealthily behind a wall to avoid being seen by the two dazed guards.

"Two guards," Jake whispered, "We can take them."

"Don't kill them," Mickey warned, grabbing the man's arm as he tried to rush around the corner, stopping him.

"Who put YOU in charge?" Jake glared, yanking his arm away.

"If you kill them, what's the difference between you and a Cyberman?"

Jake paused, "Well, I suppose we could use these," he handed Mickey a small corked bottle.

"Smelling salts?" Mickey eyed them skeptically.

"Bit stronger than that. One of Mrs. Moore's little tricks. Should knock them out. Three, two, one…" they ran out from the wall and behind the guards, grabbing them and shoving the bottles under their noses, knocking them out in a second.

"There's gotta be more guards onboard."

"Then let's go get them," Jake nodded, heading up the ladder into the zeppelin.

~8~

The Doctor, Angel, and Mrs. Moore quickly made their way along the tunnel, just talking as they did, the Doctor absently rubbing small circles into the back of Angel's hand as he held it in his own, just trying to offer her a small bit of comfort. The tunnel had narrowed to the point where they couldn't walk side-by-side any longer, so he'd taken the lead, not about to let anything pop out ahead of them to harm Angel.

"How did you get into this, then?" he asked, "Rattling along with the Preachers?"

"Oh, I used to be ordinary," Mrs. Moore sighed.

"Oh I doubt that's possible," Angel smiled back at her, making Mrs. Moore smile in return.

"Worked at Cybus Industries. '95. 'Til one day, I find something I'm not supposed to. A file on the mainframe. All I did was read it. Then suddenly, I've got men with guns knocking in the middle of the night. Life on the run. Then I found the Preachers. They needed a techy, so I...I just sat down and taught myself everything."

"What about MR. Moore?" Angel looked at her.

"Well, he's not called 'Moore,'" she laughed lightly, "I got that from a book, 'Mrs. Moore.' It's safer not to use real names. But...he thinks I'm dead. It was the only way to keep him safe. Him and the kids. What about you two? Got any family, or..."

"Just each other," the Doctor said, taking Angel's hand in his own.

Oddly enough, he didn't feel...bitter...or hurt by that fact as much as he had after the War. There had been no love between him and his 'wife' on Gallifrey, he did love his children, of course he did, but they had all grown up, had lives of their own, made their own choices to fight in the War. He'd lost them, yes, he'd lost everything and he missed them terribly but...in a way...gained other things in the process. He'd gained Angel. He knew she would never take the place of his family, she wouldn't even ever try, just like he could never take the place of her family. But, now, they were becoming each other's family, a new family. One that, he hoped, one day, might expand.

Angel had seemed to jokingly 'adopt' Rose as her younger sister, a joke that they'd played off of in an adventure or two, making a family out of the humans. He, while he did love all his companions in their own way, he wanted a real family one day. A Time Lord family. But that would be a very long way into the future, possibly centuries, if it even happened. He was not going to rush Angel into anything like he sometimes felt he had by asking her to Mate. They hadn't even managed to establish a mental bond yet and there he was, thinking about children! He did always have a soft spot for children though. And it was a nice thought, a child, their child. Angel's child, if anything like the mother, would truly be an angel, he knew. A symbol of hope for him, hope for a brighter future and a stronger bond between him and his Mate.

"And the whole world on our shoulders," Angel joked, looking up, nudging him, pulling him from his thoughts, "Almost literally."

The Doctor laughed a bit at that, before glancing back at Mrs. Moore, "Go on then, what's your real name?"

"Angela Price," Mrs. Moore replied, "Don't tell a soul."

"Not a word," the Doctor promised.

None of them noticed a red button behind a Cyberman light up and start beeping, the Cyberman slowly turning its head.

~8~

An alarm went off in Lumic's headquarters, a Cyberman striding over to it, "Movement in Deepcold Six."

"Awaken the army," a second Cyberman ordered.

~8~

"Did that one just move?" Mrs. Moore gasped, seeing a Cyber's hand twitch.

"It's just the torchlight," the Doctor reasoned, tightening his hold on Angel's hand, feeling her stiffen and tense behind him, "Keep going, come on."

But then another one in front of them turned to face them.

"They're waking up!" Angel gasped.

"RUN!" the Doctor shouted, pulling her off.

They bolted down the cooling tunnel as fast as they could, the Cybers springing to life behind them. They reached a ladder at the end of the tunnel, scrambling to get up it as the metal men began to make their way towards them.

"Get up!" Mrs. Moore yelled, "Quick! They're coming!" the Doctor frantically tried to open the seal above them with the sonic, "Open it! Open it!" he managed just in time, throwing it open and climbing up, "Get up!" they all clambered up, "Quick! Quick!"

"Come on!" the Doctor called, "Come on!" they jumped out of the hole, smashing the door down on the Cybers as they tried to follow, the Doctor sealing it with the sonic without a moment to spare.

"That was a bit close," Angel panted, "Far too close," she added as a whisper.

The Doctor looked over at her, knowing it couldn't have been easy to be so close to being trapped with that particular enemy, to have them closing in around her. He quickly made his way over to her, pulling her into his arms. Yes, they had a mission to see to, they barely had any time to spare, but he'd always been a fan of wasting time when he didn't have any. And comforting Angel, that would never be a waste of time. He would always give her as much time as she needed, no matter what.

She breathed deeply, hugging him back tightly for a moment, before nodding into his shoulder, "Come on," she breathed, "We need to stop this."

He pulled away, reaching out to gently stroke her cheek a moment, "We will," he promised her, taking her hand once more, the three of them heading off.

~8~

Rose and Pete stood in line inside the factory, as a speaker stated, "Units upgrading now 5,500. Repeat: 6,500 and rising."

They walked along, emotionless, when a Cyberman stepped in front of them, stopping Rose from moving on, "You will wait," it stated.

"Are you ok?" Pete whispered to her as the Cyber walked off.

"No," she admitted, frightened.

"Chamber Six now open for human upgrading," they stood as people filed forwards, ready to be upgraded, "All reject stock will be incinerated," they watched in horror as a woman walked into a cell, blades swooping down on her, converting her, a Cyberman's head lowered down before the door opened and a Cyberman walked out.

"Any sign of Jackie?" Pete whispered.

A Cyberman turned and faced them, causing Pete to freeze a moment before it stomped over to him, "You are Peter Tyler. Confirm: you are Peter Tyler."

"Confirmed," he said, almost uncertainly.

"I recognize you. I went first. My name was Jacqueline Tyler."

"No!" Rose gasped.

"WHAT?!" Pete's eyes widened.

"They are unprogrammed," the Cyberman reported, "Restrain."

"You're lying! You're not her! You're not my Jackie!"

Several Cybermen stepped forward, ready to hold them back them, when Pete lunged forward at the Jackie-bot, "No. I am Cyber-Form. Once I was Jacqueline Tyler."

"But you CAN'T be...not her..." Rose said, horrified.

"Her brain is inside this body."

"Jacks, I came to save you," Pete muttered.

"This man worked with Cybus Industries to create our species," the Jackie-bot informed the others, "He will be rewarded by force. Take them to Cyber Control," the Jackie-bot stomped away as Rose and Pete were grabbed from behind and marched forward.

"They killed her...they just took her and killed her!" Rose breathed.

"Maybe there's a chance, I dunno," Pete swallowed hard, "Maybe we can reverse it."

"There's nothing we can do."

"But if...if she remembers..." he glanced over his shoulder, only to see a horde of identical Cybermen standing behind them, "Where is she? Which one was it? Which one was her?"

"They all look the same!" Rose exclaimed before they were roughly shoved forward again.

~8~

Mickey and Jake entered the control room of Lumic's zeppelin, Jake looking around, "Nice one," he smiled, seeing the room deserted, "Nobody's home. Find the transmitter controls."

"What do they look like?" Mickey asked, trying to find it.

"Well, I don't know, they might have 'TRANSMITTER CONTROLS' written in big red letters, just look!" Jake cried exasperatedly.

They both looked around the control room when Mickey turned and jumped, seeing a Cyberman right behind him, standing in a dark alcove.

"Cyberman!" Jake pointed his gun at it but it made no move.

Confused, Jake stepped closer and turned on a light switch.

Mickey reached out and looked at it, seeing it was lifeless, "It's dead," he stated, "I don't think it was ever alive," he tapped it on its head, hollow, "It's empty. No brain. It's just a robot suit. It's for display."

"Ok," Jake nodded, "Transmitter..."

They turned and headed in different directions, looking for it.

~8~

The Doctor, Angel, and Mrs. Moore slowly crept down a dark hall, when a Cyberman appeared before them, startling them, "You are not upgraded," the Cyberman assessed, reaching out a hand, ready to attack.

"Yeah?" Mrs. Moore glared, "Well, upgrade THIS!" she threw a small device at the Cyber which latched onto its chest. It shot out a spark and electrocuted the metal man, making it shake and jerk till it slumped to the floor.

"What the hell was that thing?!" the Doctor asked, eyes wide.

"Electromagnetic bomb," Mrs. Moore replied as they moved closer to the Cyber, "Takes out computers, I figured it might stop the Cyber-Suit."

"You figured right," the Doctor remarked, "Now, let's have a look..." he pulled out the sonic and held it to the Cybus logo on its chest, "Now..." he looked at Angel softly, "Know your enemy..." she gave him a small smile in return, "And the logo on the front...Lumic's turned them into a brand," he pulled it off to see inside.

"Heart of steel..." Angel pointed to the plate the Doctor held up for Mrs. Moore to see, indicating to a lump of metal attached to it.

"But look..." he reached inside and pulled out a white tissued mess.

"Is that flesh?" Mrs. Moore grimaced.

"I think that's the central nervous system," Angel replied, eyeing it, "It's artificially grown and basically wired into the Cybers. It's what lets them respond almost like a living thing."

"Well, it IS a living thing," the Doctor mumbled, rooting around in the chest cavity, "Oh, but look..." he pointed to a metal chip.

"The emotional inhibitor," Angel looked at Mrs. Moore who was frowning, not sure what that meant, "It...it keeps them from feeling."

"But...why?" Mrs. Moore shook her head, confused.

"It's still got a human brain..." the Doctor shrugged, "Imagine its reaction if it could see itself. Realize itself inside this thing. They'd go insane..."

"So they cut out the one thing that makes them human."

"Because they have to."

"Why am I cold?" the Cyberman called, recovering.

"Oh, my God," Mrs. Moore gasped as Angel tensed, "It's alive. It can FEEL."

"The bomb short circuited the inhibitor," Angel frowned, eyeing the chip instead of the metal man.

The Doctor moved closer, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Why so cold?" it asked again.

"Can you remember your name?"

"Sally. Sally Phelan."

"You're a woman..." Mrs. Moore's eyes widened.

"Where's Gareth?"

Angel blinked and finally looked at the Cyber's face, "Gareth?"

"He can't see me. It's unlucky the night before."

"You're getting married…" Mrs. Moore realized.

"I'm cold. I'm so cold."

"Sorry," the Doctor whispered, "You sleep now, Sally. Just go to sleep," he aimed the sonic at the suit, the blue light in the chest turning off.

"It's so easy," Angel commented, frowning, as she looked at the suit, really looked at it, "To forget that they were human once."

The Doctor looked up at her, realizing this was the closure she needed to deal with her mother's death, to see the human beneath the metal…she had been so focused for so long on seeing them as unfeeling machines, this was what she needed to remind her they were human, they COULD still feel, they just...couldn't...

And then it dawned on him.

"The emotional inhibitor," he blinked, "If we could find the code behind it, the cancellation code, then feed it throughout the system into every Cyberman's head..." Mrs. Moore and Angel looked at him, "They'd realize what they are..."

"And what happens then?" Mrs. Moore asked.

"I think it would kill them. Could we do that?"

Angel started to shake her head slightly, no, she didn't think she could, not now that she knew the human was still in there somewhere.

"We've got to," Mrs. Moore reasoned, "Before they kill everyone else," the Doctor looked down, not wanting that to be the final and only choice, "There's no choice, Doctor. It's got to be done."

Angel winced, her hand going to her head as Mrs. Moore stood…

When Angel suddenly reached out and pulled her back down, the woman nearly falling over the Cyberman till she was between the Doctor and Angel.

They looked up in shock to see a Cyberman right behind where Mrs. Moore had been standing, its hand out and ready to electrocute her. They scrambled to their feet as more Cybers arrived.

"Sensors detect a binary vascular system," a Cyberman scanned them, not bothering to scan Mrs. Moore too, just lumping her in with them, "You are an unknown upgrade. You will all be taken for analysis," the Cybers started to march off, the Doctor, Angel, and Mrs. Moore with them, the Cybers before and behind them leaving them little choice in the matter.

"What happened just then?" the Doctor asked Angel quietly, taking her hand. He'd seen her wince, seen the genuine pain on her face when it had happened. He was worried for her, because this hadn't been the first time it had happened and it just seemed to be getting worse.

"It was like this…sharp pain," Angel replied, shaking her head, really not knowing how else to describe it, "Like I was shocked and…for that moment I got one of my feelings…"

The Doctor nodded slowly, thinking, "Maybe you really are precognitive," he suggested, whenever they talked about it Angel would insist it was just an aftereffect from a lifetime spent around TARDISes, that she was just more sensitive to the future, "Maybe the TARDIS allowed you to tap into it more, filtered your ability for you. Without it, your mind is trying to adapt on its own?"

Angel frowned, it made a sort of sense…but they really had little time to speculate, this was not the right time or place to worry about that.

~8~

Jake went over to Mickey, who was standing by a panel that read 'Transmitter Controls' in large letters, "The transmitter controls are sealed behind here," Mickey explained, "We need like, an oxyacetylene or something."

"Oh, no I forgot to bring it with me," Jake replied sarcastically.

"Well, then what do we do?"

"We'll crash the zeppelin."

"With us inside it?"

"We could set it to automatic and then just leg it! Let's have a look," he walked over to the controls, tapping on the keyboard and shaking his head, "It's locked. There's gotta be an override..."

Mickey shoved him out of the way, "Let me have a go. I'm good with computers, trust me," he tapped a few keys as Jake watched.

He smiled to himself, he'd never taken charge like that before, shoved someone out of the way to do what he could, what he knew he could. He shook his head a bit, Angel was a good influence on him, always pushing him to think for himself and stand up for his brilliance.

So focused were they on watching the screen, that neither of them noticed the red light start flashing behind the Cyberman.

Chapter Text

The Doctor, Angel, and Mrs. Moore were led into the main control room of Battersea to see Rose and Pete both there as well, "We've been captured, but don't worry, Rose and Pete are still out there, they can rescue us," the Doctor began sarcastically.

Angel frowned, "No they can't," she remarked before whispering to him, "They're right there," she pointed, "They've been captured too."

He chuckled and shook his head fondly at her, "Oh well then," he smiled, "Never mind."

"Rose?" Angel looked at her, seeing a devastated look on her face as she made her way over to the girl, putting a hand on her shoulder, "Are you ok?"

"Yeah," she nodded sadly, sniffling, tears in her eyes, "But they got Jackie."

"I'm so sorry," Angel breathed, pulling her into a tight hug, she could relate better than anyone there what it was like to lose your mother to the Cybers, "So sorry."

Rose nodded into her shoulder, clutching her just as tight. Angel didn't know, but she'd heard her, heard what the Time Lady had admitted to the Doctor about which enemies had been responsible for her mother's death. She could barely stand it at the moment and she knew her REAL mother was still alive, still fine, just in a different world. Angel truly had lost her only mother.

"We were too late," Pete sighed, "Lumic killed her."

"Then where is he?" the Doctor shouted, growing angry at the turn of events, not only had the Cybers of their world taken his Mate's mother from her but the Cybers of THIS world had taken his companion's parallel mother as well, "The famous Mr. Lumic? Don't we get the chance to meet our Lord and Master?"

"He has been upgraded," a Cyberman stated.

"So he's just like you?" Angel eyed it as she moved to stand beside Rose, her arm around the girl's shoulders, unwilling to remove the comfort she could offer. When her mother had died, she and her sister had needed each other more than ever to get through it. And while it hadn't been the Jackie of Rose's world that had been converted, a fate, she admitted, was much worse than death, she knew it affected the girl just as much.

"He is superior. The Lumic Unit has been designated Cyber-Controller."

They all turned as a wall slid open and Lumic, no the Cyber-Controller, was rolled through, sitting on a rather advanced throne-like chair, wires and tubes sticking out of him.

"Oh my God," Mrs. Moore gasped at the sight.

"This is the Age of Steel and I am its Creator," the Lumic-bot stated.

~8~

"Almost there," Mickey muttered, tapping away on the computer.

"Not bad work," Jake nodded approvingly, when the sound of metal shifting caught his attention. He spun around to see what they thought was just the Cyberman display actually stepping towards them, "It's moving!" they dashed out of the way as it reached for them, "You said it was dead!"

"Yeah," Mickey nodded, "But he's still a steel robot," Jake pointed a gun at it as Mickey pushed his hand down, thinking farther into the consequences of using the gun in there. One wrong move, one stray bullet and the walls would be punctured, they couldn't risk losing the integrity of the structure even a bit. He pulled Jake away as it swung at them.

"Don't let it hit ya!" Mickey shouted before his eyes widened, "Don't get hit…" he breathed, recalling Angel's words, "Oh my pilot is brilliant!" he cheered, before focusing on the Cyber, "Hey, Cyberman, over here!" he called, leading the robot towards the transmitter controls, "Come on, you brainless lump of metal," the metal man stomped towards him as Mickey egged him on, "Come and have a go!" the Cyberman raised its fist, ready to strike as Mickey ducked out of the way at the last second.

The Cyberman punched through the transmitter, causing it to explode and electrocute the Cyberman at the same time.

~8~

The ear-pods on the dazed people slowly deactivated, the people waking up with horror, seeing what was happening around them, what they were about to walk into.

"Oh no!" a woman shouted before they all started screaming and running out of the factory.

~8~

"The transmitter's down!" Mickey cheered as he and Jake hugged excitedly.

Mickey beamed, hoping that, wherever Angel was, she was as proud of him as he was of himself.

~8~

Humans raced out of the power station, knocking the Cybermen out of the way.

~8~

The small group in the control room heard the screams as the Cybers looked around.

"That's my companion!" Angel cheered, so proud, "Good work Mickey!"

"Mr. Lumic, I think that's a vote for freewill," the Doctor winked at the Lumic-bot.

"I have factories waiting on seven continents," the Lumic-bot replied, "If the ear-pods have failed, then Cybermen will take humanity by force. London has fallen. So shall the world."

~8~

"Hold on, I've logged on to Cyber-Control," Mickey said, managing to get the picture up on the monitor of Lumic's control room, seeing the Doctor, Angel, Rose, Pete, and Mrs. Moore standing there, "They're alive! Rose and Angel and the Doctor, there they are!"

"Never mind them," Jake frowned, though pleased to see Mrs. Moore was alright, "What the hell is THAT thing?" he pointed at the Lumic-bot.

"Shh," Mickey tapped a few more keys, "Has this thing got sound?"

~8~

Angel frowned, closing her eyes for a moment as the small zing of pain struck her mind, though less jarring than the pain that had let her save Mrs. Moore. The Doctor glanced at her as she looked up at the small security camera in the corner of the room, he followed her gaze, smiling.

"I will bring peace to the world," the Lumic-bot stated, "Everlasting peace, and unity, and uniformity."

"And imagination?" the Doctor asked, returning his attention to the metal man, "What about that? The one thing that lead you here. Imagination, you're killing it dead!"

"What is your name?"

"I'm the Doctor."

"A redundant title. Doctors need not exist. Cybermen never sicken."

Angel shook her head, "What if you get a virus?"

The Doctor smirked at the dual meaning behind her words, virus as in a computer virus or as a human illness, "And that's just it!" the Doctor took a step towards the robot, as enthusiastic as he always got when talking about humans, "That's exactly the point!" he sighed, "Oh, Lumic, you're a clever man...I'd call you a genius except I'm in the room. But everything you've invented, you did to fight your sickness. And that's brilliant. That is SO human. But once you get rid of sickness and mortality, then what's there to strive for? Eh? The Cybermen won't advance. You'll just stop! You'll stay like this forever. A metal Earth with metal men and metal thoughts. Lacking the one thing that makes this planet so ALIVE. PEOPLE. Ordinary, stupid, brilliant people."

"You are proud of your emotions?"

"Oh, yes."

"Then tell me, Doctor, have you known grief, and rage, and pain?"

"Yes. Yes, I have."

"And they hurt?"

"Oh yes."

"I could set you free. Would you not want that? A life without pain?"

"You might as well kill me."

"Then I take that option."

"But you can't!" Angel stepped forward, angry at how little the man cared for life, "As a CYBER-Controller you don't control him or anything else with a heartbeat and soul!"

"You have no means of stopping me. I have an army. A species of my own."

The Doctor sighed, shaking his head, exasperated, "You just don't get it, do you? An army's NOTHING. 'Cos those ordinary people, they're the key."

"It only takes one person to change the world," Angel agreed passionately. She had see it herself both in a positive and negative light. Positive in how Nancy, with her love for her son, had saved the world from the nanogenes, negative like when Rose, by saving her father, had doomed the world to the Reapers.

~8~

Mickey nodded at what the Doctor and Angel were saying, "Some ordinary man or woman...some idiot..." he jolted at that, staring at the Doctor as the man continued, "All it takes is for him to find, say, the right numbers...say, the right codes...say, for example, the code behind the emotional inhibitor. The code right in front of him. 'Cos even an idiot knows how to use computers these days," his mouth fell open, realizing what the Doctor as talking about, "Knows how to get past firewalls and passwords...knows how to find something encrypted in the Lumic Family Database, under...what was it, Pete? Binary what?"

"Binary 9," Pete said louder than typically necessary, but catching onto the Doctor's plan as had Mrs. Moore given her smile.

"Binary 9," Mickey whispered, starting to type quickly as the code appeared on the monitor.

"An IDIOT could find that code," the Doctor continued, "The cancellation code. And he'd keep on typing. Keep on fighting," he looked pointedly at the camera, "Anything to save his friends...save his pilot," he added, sending a wink to Angel, knowing how close she and Mickey had gotten, how protective they were of each other.

~8~

"Your words are irrelevant," the Lumic-bot cut in.

"I know," Angel agreed, "He talks far too much. Though, I do love listening to him."

The Doctor beamed at that, nodding, "That's my problem. Lucky I got you that cheap tariff, Rose. For all our long chats. On your PHONE," he sent a meaningful glance at the camera again.

The humans started to chuckle at how obvious he was being, though the Cybers didn't seem to quite get it. There was that lack of creativity and imagination the Doctor had just mentioned.

~8~

"The phone..." Mickey breathed, pulling out his mobile and putting in the code.

~8~

"You will be deleted," the Lumic-bot ordered.

"Yes, delete, control, hash, all those lovely buttons," the Doctor continued, "Then of course, my particular favorite..." he pointed at the resident techy.

"Send!" Mrs. Moore cheered with a laugh.

~8~

And Mickey pressed send.

~8~

"And let's not forget how you seduced all those ordinary people in the first place," the Doctor said as Rose's phone pinged, "By making every bit of technology compatible with everything else..." he strolled over to a particular computer.

"It's for you," Rose chucked him her phone.

"Like this," the Doctor said, shoving it into a port.

The Cybers grabbed their heads, moaning in pain as the cancellation code flashed on every single computer.

~8~

Mickey and Jake jumped up and down in delight, "Yes!"

~8~

The Cybermen all over the factory started falling down, twitching, crying out, clutching their heads. One caught sight of itself in a piece of metal in the control room and whimpered, touching its face and reflection.

"I'm sorry," the Doctor breathed, watching the Cyberman as others fell to their knees, heads exploding.

"What have you done?!" the Lumic-bot roared.

"I gave them back their souls," the Doctor glared at him, "They can see what you've done, Lumic! And it's killing them!" he reached out and grabbed Angel's hand as they all ran from the room.

"Delete!" the Lumic-bot commanded after them, "Delete! Delete!"

They ignored him, running through the factory as small explosions erupted all over the place. They opened a door to see dying Cybermen behind it, the Doctor slamming it shut, "There's no way out!"

Angel shook her head, "There's always a way out."

He turned to her, putting his hands on her shoulders, "Where?"

She looked into his eyes, starting to blink quite a lot before wincing as a zing hit her, "The roof!" she shouted, grabbing his hand and leading him off this time, the humans following.

~8~

Jake started turning the wheel of the zeppelin when Mickey rounded on him, "What're you doing?"

"We've gotta get away," Jake told him, "If that factory blows up, this balloon's gonna ignite!"

"Take it back!"

"Mickey, they've had it!"

"I said TAKE IT BACK!" he shoved Jake away and took the wheel, took a stand, "We're not leaving them behind," he turned it back towards the factory, Jake trying to get at it again but Mickey shoved him harder, "There's no way we're leaving them behind!" he was not about to leave Rose or the Doctor behind, especially not Angel, not after all she'd done for him. The zeppelin shook as a small explosion happened beneath it. Mickey tossed his mobile at Jake, "Hold it!" Jake held it up by Mickey's ear, "Rose?"

~8~

"Rose, can you hear me?" Mickey shouted as Rose answered her phone mid-run, "Head for the roof!"

"Already on our way!" Rose told him, before calling to the group, "It's Mickey! He says 'head for the roof' too!"

The four of them followed Angel as she ran up the nearest stairs, trying to avoid the explosions and the flames till they made their way to the roof.

"There!" Angel pointed to a small ladder that would lead to a higher section of the roof.

They ran for it, Rose getting up it first, leaping down onto the roof, followed by Angel, Mrs. Moore, the Doctor, and Pete.

"Mickey, where'd you learn to fly that thing?!" Rose called into the phone when they caught sight of the zeppelin.

"Playstation," Mickey replied, "Just hold on, Rose. I'm coming to get you."

They ran forwards, flinching as random explosions shot up around them.

~8~

"You can't go any lower!" Jake shouted, trying to take the wheel.

"I've got to!" Mickey took it back.

"You're gonna crush them!"

Mickey looked at him, realizing he was telling the truth, "There's got to be something. There's GOT to be," he turned, smiling as he saw their way out, "Oh, YES!" he rushed over to a lever pulling it, opening a hatch and releasing a rope ladder to the roof.

~8~

The group ran to the ladder, "You've got to be kidding," the Doctor mumbled, "Angel, Rose, get up!" he shouted, helping the two women climb up it first, "Mrs. Moore you next!" as soon as the women were up he and Pete grabbed on as well.

~8~

"Hold on tight, we're going up!" Mickey shouted, grabbing a comm., "Welcome to Mickey's Airlines. Please enjoy your flight. Woo!" he laughed, spinning the wheel.

~8~

The small group clung to the rope ladder as the zeppelin rose up and away, "We did it!" Rose cheered, "We did it!"

"I told you my companion was brilliant," Angel smiled down at the Doctor as he just rolled his eyes with a smile on his face.

But then the ladder suddenly jerked.

They looked down to see the Lumic-bot hanging onto the bottom, making his way up.

"Pete!" the Doctor shouted, pulling out the sonic, "Take this!" he dropped it down to Pete, "Use it! Hold the button down! Press it against the rope, just do it!"

"Jackie Tyler, this is for her!" Pete pressed the button, holding the sonic to the rope as the Lumic-bot climbed closer and closer. And then the rope snapped, dropping the Lumic-bot down to the heat.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" it screamed as it fell into the flames below, the group on the ladder struggling just to hold on as the zeppelin carried them away.

~8~

The Doctor and Angel walked into the dark TARDIS, Angel carefully carrying the power cell. She placed it in a slot and the TARDIS sprang to life, the lights coming back on, the familiar hum filling it. They beamed widely as they turned to hug each other, relieved.

"Welcome back old girl," Angel cheered, reaching out to stroke the rotor gently.

~8~

Rose and Pete stood outside the TARDIS, waiting for the Time Lords to finish whatever it was they were doing within, "So, what happens inside that thing, then?" Pete nodded towards it.

"Do you wanna see?" Rose asked quickly.

"No, I don't think so. But you three, you know, all that stuff about different worlds...who are you?"

"It's like YOU say. Imagine there are different worlds. Parallel worlds. Worlds with another Pete Tyler...Jackie Tyler's still alive...and their daughter..." she said it carefully, looking into his eyes.

Pete's eyes widened in realization, "I've gotta go…"

"But if you just look inside..."

"No, I can't," he stepped back, "There's all those Lumic factories out there. All those Cybermen still in storage. Someone's got to tell the authorities what happened. Carry on the fight..."

"Rose?" the Doctor called as he and Angel stepped out of the TARDIS and jogged over to them.

"The cell's only good for five minutes of power..." Angel said, "We've really gotta go."

"They could show ya..." Rose turned back to Pete.

"Thank you," Pete shook his head, "For everything."

Rose looked at him, tears in her eyes, pleading, "Dad."

"Don't," Pete said forcefully, "Just…just don't," he turned, walking away just as Mickey, Mrs. Moore, and Jake ran over, Mickey holding the Doctor's suit.

"Here it is!" Mickey grinned, "I found it. Not a crease."

"My suit!" the Doctor cheered, "Good man!" Angel cleared her throat, "Oh alright fine, brilliant!"

Mickey beamed.

"Mrs. Price," Angel turned to her, the woman gasping a bit at the use of her real name after so long, it felt good, "Lumic's gone, you're safe now. You, your husband, and your children. Say hello for me?"

Mrs. Moore smiled, tears in her eyes, a grateful look on her face as she nodded, just so happy she could finally return home.

"Off we go, then!" the Doctor smiled.

"Uh...thing is, I'm staying," Mickey told them softly, squaring himself for what he was sure would be a fight.

"You're doing what?" the Doctor turned to him, startled, as Angel just smiled sadly.

She had seen it from the moment Rita opened the door. If she'd had the chance to be with her mother again, she would have jumped at the chance and not let anyone take it from her. Well...that wasn't quite true anymore. Months ago it would have, she would have given up anything for that. But now...now, she just...couldn't. Now she had the Doctor and she just...she couldn't imagine her life, her remaining lives without him. All children knew that, one day, their parents would pass on, but all people, no matter the species, lived in the hope that they themselves would pass on with their loves beside them, peacefully and at the same time so as not to be without them. She had lived on after her mother passed, continued, endured, survived, and proven to herself that whe could go on without her.

She knew, she could feel it in her bones, in her soul, not needing any of her 'feelings' or 'sensations' to know it was true, that she couldn't live on past the Doctor. If she lost him, she wouldn't have it in her to go on. She loved him too much to even want to think of the possibility of living a life without him in it. Not ever.

"You can't," Rose looked at him, upset, clearly not expecting that.

"It sort of balances out, 'cos this world lost its Ricky," Mickey said, his voice trembling as he had to say goodbye not only to the girl he had loved but to another woman who had become one of his best friends in such a short time, "But there's me. And there's work to be done with all those Cybers still out there."

"But you can't stay," Rose shook her head and turned to the Doctor and Angel, "He can't, can he?"

"He could, if he wanted to," Angel answered, before looking at Mickey, "Is this what you really want Mickey?" she asked, an understanding in her eyes, she had seen why he wanted to stay, the woman he wanted to stay for.

"My Gran's here," he breathed, so thankful that she wasn't pushing him to leave with them or truly questioning his decision, merely making sure he was ready to handle it, handle the consequences that would come with this decision. He'd never had anyone just believe in what he was doing, not trying to change him, she let him do what he wished and supported him, "She's still alive," he looked at Rose, "My old Gran, remember her?"

Rose nodded, sniffling, as she tried to blink back her tears, "Yeah."

"She NEEDS me."

"What about me? What if I need you?"

"Yeah, but Rose...you don't," he tried to smile at her, "You've got the Doctor and Angel looking out for you, and who better to do it eh? We had something a long time ago, but...not anymore."

"Well…we'll come back," Rose looked at the Doctor and Angel hopefully, only to see their grim expressions, "We can travel anywhere, come and see you, yeah?"

"We can't," the Doctor shook his head, "I told you, travel between parallel worlds is impossible. We only got here by accident. We…we fell through a crack in time. When we leave...we've got to close it. We can't ever return."

Mickey nodded, sucking in a breath as the true ramifications hit him, before holding his hand out to the Doctor, "Doctor."

"Take Rose's phone," the Doctor said, shaking Mickey's hand, "It's got the code. Get it out there. Stop those factories," Mickey nodded in promise, "And good luck. Mickey the Idiot," he slapped Mickey's cheek playfully.

"Watch it!" Mickey laughed.

Angel turned to Mickey, pulling him into a tight hug, "You were the best companion I have ever had," she told him softly, not letting go, meaning every single word of it.

"I'm the ONLY companion you've ever had," he countered playfully, hugging her just as tight, knowing this would very well be the last time he ever got to see her. He'd miss her, truly, he would. So much.

"Exactly," she pulled away, smiling at him, her hands still on his shoulders as she just looked at him, a warmth and pride in her eyes that touched his very soul, "You were my first, and therefore, you will always be my favorite."

He beamed at that, nodding, proud, "Goodbye Angel, my pilot."

"Goodbye Mickey, my companion," she said before turning and taking the Doctor's hand as they walked back to the TARDIS to give Mickey and Rose a moment of privacy.

The Doctor squeezed her hand, feeling her start to shake, seeing the tears that had appeared in her eyes as soon as she'd turned around. She was upset, of course she was, to lose her very first companion so soon after getting him, but...she knew this was something Mickey needed to do to truly be happy and she would not begrudge him that. She wouldn't let him see her cry, because that would make him feel awful about choosing to stay and she wanted him to go into this new adventure feeling strong and confident, with no regrets.

So, she walked towards the TARDIS, trying to seem strong, for Mickey, but that didn't stop the Doctor from pulling her right into his arms as soon as the doors closed behind them and she started to cry, her legs actually falling from beneath her as she sunk to the console room floor, the Doctor going down with her, holding her tightly, whispering soothing words in her ear, his hearts breaking for her. He hadn't ever wanted her to experience this pain, the pain of losing a companion, especially not her first, though, he supposed, he had to take comfort in the fact that Mickey was alive and simply choosing to leave instead of having been hurt or, worse yet, killed. Had Mickey been lost instead of Rickey, that would have devastated her and he couldn't bear that.

~8~

Rose waited till the Time Lords stepped into the box before she handed her phone to Mickey as he slid it in his pocket, "Thanks," he smiled at her, "We've had a laugh though, haven't we?" Rose nodded, tearful, "Seen it all, been there and back...who would have thought, me and you off the old estate, flying through the stars?"

"All those years just sitting there...imagining what we'd do one day..." her voice broke, "We never saw this, did we?"

Mickey pulled her into a tight hug, "Go on, you'll miss your flight."

Rose hugged him tighter, burying her face in his shoulder. When she pulled away she couldn't look at him for fear of breaking down as she turned and headed back to the TARDIS, sobbing. When she reached the doorway, she turned and looked back at him one more time, before going inside, where an equally tearful Angel pulled her into a hug, both women crying for the loss of someone so important to both of them, the Doctor working on getting the TARDIS back home so he could comfort them more.

"Jake, Mrs. Moore, you wanna watch this," Mickey told them as they stood, watching the TARDIS slowly disappear.

"What…the hell?" Jake asked, incredulous, as Mrs. Moore gasped.

"That's the Doctor and the Angel...in the TARDIS...with Rose Tyler," Mickey smiled.

~8~

Jackie was standing by the kitchen sink, refilling the kettle up as she'd just made tea, when she heard the TARDIS materialize in her sitting room. She quickly rushed out to see Rose open the doors and look at her, "You're alive..." Rose gasped as Jackie raised her eyebrows, "Oh, mum. You're alive."

She flung her arms around her mother, startling Jackie slightly, "Well, I was the last time I looked..." Jackie murmured, hugging her back. The Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS with Angel, both just watching the moment, "What is it? What's happened, sweetheart?" Rose just shook her head, her hold tightening. Jackie looked at the duo, concerned, especially when she saw Angel was equally as upset, tears in the girl's eyes as well, "What's wrong? Where did you go?"

"Far away," the Doctor replied, "That was... far away."

"Where's Mickey?"

"He's home," Angel breathed, blinking back her tears as the Doctor put an arm around her as well, the girl lasting only a moment before the tears overtook her and the Doctor pulled her completely into his arms, "He's gone," she said quietly to him, crying, as Jackie led Rose into the kitchen for the tea she'd made, "I...I can't believe he's gone..."

"Shh," the Doctor rubbed her back, tears appearing in his eyes at seeing her so hurt and upset, "He's safe," he reminded her, "He's home, he's with family," he smiled, feeling pride for the young man, "He's saving the world, defending the Earth," he pulled back a bit and cupped her cheek, "Can't beat that eh?"

She sniffled, "No," she breathed, shaking her head.

"And it's all because of you," he told her softly, stroking her cheek, wiping her tears away with the pad of his thumb, "He's come so far Angel, grown so much, and it's because of you."

"No it's not," she countered lightly, though she was smiling a bit, "He's just naturally brilliant."

He laughed at that, "Maybe, but you saw that first. And you made him see it as well. You made ME see it."

"And now the world will see it too," she determined.

"Oh yes."

Her smile faded, "It still hurts though," she murmured, trying not to start crying again.

He nodded sadly, "And it always will," he admitted, recalling his own pain when he thought back on previous companions, "It will always hurt to lose them, but..." he started to smile, "You just have to remember how brilliant they were and how proud you are of the people they became."

"SO proud," she smiled.

"Me too," he nodded, hugging her tightly once more.

Mickey Smith was certainly a remarkable man, he could see it now, a very remarkable man and...he truly couldn't picture a better man to be Angel's first companion.

He would most definitely be a tough act to follow.

~8~

Mickey and Jake got back inside the van after having dropped off Mrs. Moore at her home, where they'd witnessed a tearful reunion of mother and children, of wife and husband, "I know it's not easy with my face looking exactly like Ricky," Mickey turned to Jake, determined, "But I'm a different man. I'm not replacing him. But we can remember him by fighting in his name," Jake nodded, smiling, "With all those Cyber-Factories out there, do you think they'll be one in Paris?"

He wanted to see it again. His very first official adventure as Angel's companion had involved Paris. What better way to kick off his first official adventure in the parallel world than with Paris as well?

Jake nodded, "Yeah."

"Then, let's go and liberate Paris."

"What, you and me? In a van?"

"Nothing wrong with a van," Mickey smirked, "I once helped saved the Universe with a big yellow truck."

Jake grinned and started the engine, driving off into the night, ready to fight the good fight, one that Mickey knew would make Angel proud, one that he knew would make him proud of himself.

She gave him the strength and now he could stand on his own.

Chapter Text

Mr. Magpie, owner of Magpie's Electrical, sat at a desk one night, trying...and failing...to balance his accounts.

"Orchestrations were arranged by Sir Rodney Fenning, and Dame Eve English is a member of the Kings Lynn Players," a woman stated on a program running on one of his TVs behind him, "So tune in again next week for more from the 'What's My Line' team. And that brings us to the end of programming for today. So, from all of us here at Alexandra Palace, a very good night."

Magpie sat up and sighed as the program ended, "Two hundred pounds overdrawn," he muttered as 'God Save the Queen' played in the background. He tore out a page from his ledger and tossed it away, "I need a miracle."

~8~

Young Tommy Connolly sat on the sofa of his sitting room, his Gran on an armchair by the wall while his mother sewed by the window, "He's a caution, that one!" his mother laughed, listening to the radio, "He does make me laugh."

"Oh, our Lord and Master," Gran remarked with a smile as Tommy's father entered.

"Rita, I'm off," he called to his wife as he straightened his tie and checked the war medals on his chest.

"Dad…" Tommy looked up to him, lifting his pamphlet of 'Radio Enthusiasts' to him, an advert for a TV on it.

"Oh how many times, son? We'll see!"

"But everyone's getting a telly, dad! Even Mr. Gallagher. And the Bells at number 67."

"Well, perhaps we'll get one for the coronation," his father reasoned as Tommy grinned, "If you're lucky!" he pointed a finger at his son as his wife turned and smiled, "We'll see," he ruffled his son's hair before turning to his wife, "Don't wait up," he stepped out of the room, leaving the women and his son to their discussions.

"I heard they rot your brains," Gran told Tommy in reference to the TV, "Rot them into soup, and your brain comes pouring out of your ears. That's what television does."

~8~

Magpie slept, face down at the counter, right on top of his ledger, when a bright red bolt of electricity struck his TV aerial, one of the TVs behind him blinking on, the woman from the program on the screen once more, "Mr. Magpie," the woman called, "Oh Mr. Magpie!"

Magpie stirred, blinking blearily as he sat up, "Eh?"

"Yoo hoo! Can you hear me, Magpie?"

"Yes…" he began suspiciously, turning to see the woman smiling at him, "I must be dreaming..."

"Oh no, this isn't a dream."

"I'm going doolally then."

"Not at all, sweetheart. Now, are you sitting comfortably? Good. Then we'll begin."

Three bolts of red electricity flashed out from the television onto his face, the woman laughing while Magpie shouted in agony, his face being pulled towards the screen.

~8~

Rose stepped out of the TARDIS, dressed in a pair of hot pink, high heeled shoes, black stockings, and a bright pink poofy skirt. She fixed her jean jacket and brushed a piece of hair behind her ear, just smoothing out her 50s outfit as she looked around, "I thought we'd be going for the Vegas era, you know, the white flares and the..." she growled, smirking in thought, "Chest hair."

The Doctor stuck his head out of the TARDIS doors, his hair gelled back in a teddy-boy style, "You are kidding, aren't you? You wanna see Elvis, you go in the late 50s! The time before burgers," he disappeared back inside, "When they called him 'the Pelvis' and he still had a waist," Rose just laughed, "What's more, you see him in style!"

A moment later the Doctor rode out of the TARDIS on a blue late-50s moped, followed by Angel on another one. Rose laughed in amusement as the Doctor stopped, wearing big sunglasses and a white helmet. Angel pulled her own light blue helmet off to look at him as well. She had gone a slightly different route than Rose in terms of dress, deciding on a light blue 50s 'housewife' theme. She had a three-quarter sleeved dress on that seemed like a robe in the front but only until the empire waist, a white belt, and a flowing skirt that went down to her knees. She had white heels on and white gloves as well as a pearl necklace to complete the look, her hair up in a French twist instead of simply clipped back as it normally was.

"You goin' my way, doll?" the Doctor asked Angel, winking at her as he put on an Elvis accent.

She was just...stunning, in her outfit of choice. She really had taken to her promise to dress for the times, even got Rose to agree to it for this trip. They'd disappeared into the TARDIS an hour ago and hadn't emerged till only moments ago. He thought Rose's outfit suited her, 50s with a hint of spunk, but Angel's...his hearts stopped when he saw her. It was just...so her. Modest, yet flattering, simple yet fashionable, typical yet unique. He had to admit his hearts gave a rather strong thump when they started working again at the thought she'd dressed the part of a housewife, emphasis on the wife. Her appearance gave the impression that she was a respectable woman, and taken, not as flirty as Rose's. He appreciated that because then all the world, without even realizing it, would know she was his.

He'd actually surprised himself at the force of that thought. She was HIS. He was HERS. And that was the way it was meant to be. No one in the Universe would change that, he wouldn't let them, he would never let anyone hurt her, he loved her too much to see her harmed. And he'd blinked, realizing something. With all the mess with the Cybers and then Mickey's departure...he hadn't told Angel what he'd been meaning to say after they'd met Reinette, that he loved her. He was certain she knew already, but...he wanted to SAY it, to hear her say it in return. He'd smiled and decided that he would see if he could get Elvis to sing 'And I Love You So' for them and, right at the end, tell Angel that he loved her. That would be PERFECT! He was practically buzzing to get out there and find the man.

She laughed, gesturing to the moped, "Wouldn't go anywhere else," she smiled, making him beam and blow a kiss to her.

"What about you?" he turned to Rose who was smiling softly at them, happy to see Angel smiling again.

Mickey's departure had hurt them both badly though, she suspected, none of them more than Angel. She had truly grown attached to her companion, loved him in her own way as a pilot always did their companion, and missed him terribly already. She supposed it also didn't help that, while Angel had lost her companion, the Doctor hadn't lost his and the Time Lady was forced to see him still with his companion while hers was lost to another world. Not that Angel would EVER wish that on the Doctor or anyone. Still, she tried her best to make the Time Lady feel better, sticking more with her on the last few adventures, reminding her that even though Mickey was gone, she still had her and that it didn't matter whether or not she was Angel's companion, she was still the girl's friend. The same as it had been when Mickey had been Angel's companion but Angel had remained her friend.

"Is there any other way to go, daddy-o?" Rose asked, putting on a pair of pink sunglasses, "Straight from the fridge, man!"

Angel laughed, putting on her helmet again as the Doctor tossed Rose a light pink one of her own, "I couldn't understand a word of that," she told Rose, "Must be speaking the lingo eh?"

Rose nodded, "Yeah well...me, mum, Cliff Richard movies every Bank Holiday Monday," she added, sitting behind the Doctor on his moped.

"Ah, Cliff!" the Doctor nodded, "I knew your mother'd be a Cliff fan."

"Nope," Angel shook her head, "Still no idea who he is," before she blinked and smiled, "Can we go meet him after we see Elvis?!"

The Doctor laughed and nodded, "Anything for you," he smiled at her, making Angel blush and Rose 'aww.'

He beamed happily at that, pleased with himself for getting that out of her. He knew Angel missed Mickey as well and he was doing all he could to cheer her up, whatever she asked, he'd do, no matter what. But...it was more than that though, that feeling had originated long before Mickey the Companion had even been an idea in Angel's mind. He truly would do anything for her.

They both drove off down the street, keeping equal distance alongside each other, "Where we off to?" Rose shouted over the engines.

"Ed Sullivan TV Studios. Elvis did 'Hound Dog' on one of the shows, there were loads of complaints. Bit of luck, we'll just catch it."

"And that'll be TV studios in, what, New York?"

"That's the one!"

Suddenly a red London double-decker bus drove past them at the end of the street. The Doctor stopped and looked around to see strings of Union Flags hanging everywhere.

"Digging that New York vibe!" Rose laughed.

"Well...this COULD still be New York. I mean this looks very New York to me...sort of...a um..."

"A Londony New York?" Angel raised an eyebrow at him, amused.

"What are all the flags for?" Rose asked, eyeing them.

~8~

Tommy and his parents sat in their sitting room, watching their new television far less enthused than they ought to have been as 'Muffin the Mule' began to play.

"Smashing!" Mr. Connolly stood up, "Smashing, innit? You'd have thought they was in the room with ya, eh? Fair do's Tommy, you had a point! New television! There, that should cheer you up a bit, Rita. Give us a smile, then, eh?"

"I can't," she whispered sadly, "Nothing's the same anymore, not with her…"

"Stop going on about it!"

"But her face, Eddie!" Rita looked at him, heartbroken, "What happened to her? That awful face..."

"I said stop it!"

There was a series of taps coming from the room above and they all looked up.

"She's awake..." Rita breathed, glancing at her son, "I think she's hungry..."

~8~

Magpie threw open the doors of his van as two errand boys pulled a television out and carried it into a house as the owner of said house looked on, pleased, "There you go, sir, all wired up for the great occasion," Magpie smiled.

The Doctor and Angel walked over, arm-in-arm, as Rose walked with them, "The great occasion?" the Doctor called, sliding his arm from around Angel's waist to her hand, "What d'you mean?"

"Where've you been living, out in the Colonies? Coronation, of course."

"What coronation's that, then?"

"What d'you mean?" Magpie laughed, "THE coronation."

"The Queen's," Rose hissed at him, "Queen Elizabeth!"

"Oh!" the Doctor's eyebrows shot up, "Oh, is this 1953?!"

"June the 1st," Angel muttered to be exact.

The Doctor glanced over to see her staring intently at Magpie who had noticed as well and fidgeted under her gaze.

"Something wrong deary?" the man asked, laughing a bit, "Something on my face?"

"No," she shook her head, frowning, "Nothing…there's nothing there…"

The Doctor frowned, something about her words seemed off, like she wasn't just commenting about the appearance of his face but his actual face. Though, while his attention was focused on Angel, hers was on Magpie as he visibly stiffened at her words, his eyes wide.

"Look at all the TV aerials..." Rose cut in, looking around, "Looks like everyone's got one. That's weird, my Nan said tellies were so rare they all had to pile into one house."

"Not round here, love," Magpie smiled, thankful for the change of topic, breathing a little easier, "Magpie's Marvelous Tellies, only five quid a box."

The Doctor looked around at the house, thinking, before suddenly smiling, "Oh but this is a BRILLIANT year! Classic!" he turned to Angel, beaming as he took both her hands in his, squeezing them in excitement, "Technicolor," he kissed her left hand, "Everest climbed," and then her right, "Everything off the ration!" and then pulled her closer to kiss her completely, positively grinning as he pulled away, "The nation throwing off the shadows of war and looking forward to a happier, brighter future!"

Rose and Angel laughed at that...when someone screamed.

"Someone help me, please!" a woman called, rushing out of her house, "Ted!" they looked over to see a man with a blanket over his head being pushed into the back of a police car by two large, official looking men, "Leave him alone, it's my husband!"

"What's going on?" the Doctor asked as they ran over.

"Oi, what are you doing?!" Tommy shouted, running out of his house as well at the noise.

"Police business, now get out of the way, sir!" the head of the police stated before getting into his car.

"Who did they take, do you know him?" Rose asked the boy.

"Must be Mr. Gallagher..." Tommy remarked as the car drove off, "It's happening all over the place. They're turning into monsters..."

"Tommy!" Eddie shouted, striding out of the house, "Not one word!" Angel frowned, eyeing the man closely as Rose and the Doctor looked between him and his son, "Get inside now!"

"Sorry, I'd better do as he says..." Tommy muttered, before turning and heading in.

The Doctor put his sunglasses on again and ran to his moped, kicking it into life, "All aboard!"

Rose and Angel ran over, Rose hopping on behind him as Angel started up her own, both of them driving off after the black car as it sped around a corner.

~8~

"Operation Market Stall, go, go, go!" the officer called into a radio.

A metal gate opened at the end of the street, allowing the black car through and closing behind it as two men pushed a wooden market barrow in front of it and started sweeping.

~8~

The Doctor and Angel rounded the corner, coming to a stop at the sight of the sweepers, "Lost 'em!" the Doctor muttered, "How'd they get away from us?" he looked over at Angel to see her standing up from her moped, frowning at the wall with a look on her face that clearly told him something was wrong. Not to mention he could feel the faint buzzing of her mind trying to work out whatever feeling she was getting at the moment.

Their mental link was actually starting to come along a little more. He'd managed to get a sense of her mind, a faint pressure in his own when she tried to connect to it. He'd even managed to get a few words past her mental defenses and to her mind, sometimes even full sentences. However, she was still having a little trouble doing the same with him. She was getting closer though, he could just tell, she'd get it soon, they just needed that first connection and then they'd be able to work on strengthening it, letting it grow. He couldn't wait!

"Surprised they didn't turn back and arrest you for reckless driving," Rose commented, "Have you actually PASSED your test?!"

Angel blinked and turned to Rose, almost incredulous, "Have you seen him fly the TARDIS?"

The answer to that was quite obvious to all: no, he had not.

Rose laughed, "Can I ride back with you instead?" she asked Angel, poking the Doctor playfully.

"Men in black?" the Doctor shook his head, ignoring them, "Vanishing police cars? This is Churchill's England, not Stalin's Russia!"

"Oh!" Angel gasped, turning to the Doctor with a wide, eager look in her eyes, "Can we meet Winston Churchill?" she pleaded, "Please! You've met him yes? You could introduce us all!"

He laughed and nodded, "You're making quite the list," he remarked.

She smiled, "Well...I've never really been interested in learning about things other than TARDISes before," she reached out and took his hand, "Till you," she told him, "You make everything much more interesting," he started to smile, "Usually more dangerous than they should be," she added, making him pout, "But much more fun. And I'm never scared," she admitted.

He blinked, "No?"

"No," she shook her head, smiling softly at him as she squeezed his hand, "I feel safe with you. I know you'll protect me. You'll look out for me, like I'll look out for you."

He smiled a that, "That we will."

"Monsters, that boy said..." Rose murmured, her gaze still on the sweepers, not having noticed their moment as she tried to work out herself what was going on, "Maybe we should go and ask the neighbors."

"Brilliant idea Rose," Angel nodded.

"That's what I like about you," the Doctor smiled, "The domestic approach."

"Thank you…" Rose grinned, before something of the Doctor's words dawned on her, "Hold on, was that an insult?"

~8~

Magpie stood before a number of televisions in his shop, staring at the one in the middle, "I've finished it, as you instructed..." he said, laying a device that appeared to be a cross between a portable radio and a TV onto it.

"That's awfully good of you, Mr. Magpie," the woman appeared on screen.

"So you'll go soon? Leave me?"

"Oh, we'll see! If you're a very good boy."

"Please..." he grabbed his face, "You're burning me...inside...behind my eyes, it hurts! Even my memories hurt! I just want things back like they used to be!"

"Oh, but this world of yours is busy, busy, busy! Forging ahead into a brand new age, you can never go back! That's your tragedy. But now, the time is almost ripe, Magpie. Cometh the hour, cometh the man," she laughed coyly, "Or lady..."

~8~

Tommy approached the bottom of the stairs to the second floor nervously, climbing them as quietly as he could till he reached the top. He paused when the banging started again, glancing down at the shadows under the door of a room, "Gran?" he called, stepping closer with a key in his hand, "Gran, it's me. It's Tommy. I'm gonna come in, Gran. Stand back...just don't...I'm sorry, but I've gotta come in."

"What d'you think you're doing?" his father demanded, appearing behind him.

Tommy spun around, "We've gotta try and help her dad!"

"Gimme that key!" he demanded but Tommy didn't move, "I said give me that key, right now," Tommy slowly walked towards him and held out the key. He snatched it and pocketed it, glaring at his son, "Don't think I'm finished with you," he threatened, grabbing him by the scruff of his neck and pulling him down the stairs where his wife stood up from the sofa, "All the warnings I've given you, and every time, EVERY time, you disobey me!"

"We can't just lock her away!"

"Excuse me sunshine, I am talking! And you can forget that college nonsense. You're going to come and work alongside me, get your hands dirty for once!"

"Oh Lord!" Rita moaned as a bang sounded upstairs, "Won't she ever stop?!"

The bang continued again and again as Rita seemed near tears.

"There there, Rita, my sweet," Eddie stepped up to her, putting a hand on her shoulder, "Business as usual. Now let's get these up all over the house," he gestured to a string of Union Flags, "In honor of her Majesty!"

"But Eddie, what if she's dying?" she whispered.

"I AM TALKING!" he exploded. The room fell silent and Eddie calmed, "That's better. A little bit of hush..."

And then the doorbell rang.

Eddie tensed and strode to the front landing, opening the door to see the Doctor, Rose, and Angel standing there, grinning at him, "HI!" they said in chorus.

"Who are you, then?" Eddie eyed them suspiciously as Tommy appeared behind him.

"Let's see then, judging by the look of you, family man, nice house, decent wage, fought in the war, therefore, we represent Queen and Country!" the Doctor held up the psychic paper with a flourish, "Just doing a little check of her Majesty's forthcoming subjects for the great day. Don't mind if we come in? Nah, didn't think you did, thank you!" he shoved past Eddie and into the sitting room, Angel and Rose following, though Angel paused to cast a quick glance at the staircase, "Not bad, very nice! Very well kept! I'd like to congratulate you, Mrs..."

"Connolly," Rita replied, timid.

"Hello," Angel shook her head from the staircase and moved over to the woman, shaking her hand, "Nice to meet you."

Rita smiled a bit at the polite woman, shaking her hand as well.

"Now then Rita, I can handle this," Eddie joined them in the room as well, Rita's smile falling, "This gentleman's a proper representative!" the Doctor gave Rita a wink as Rose sat herself on the arm of the sofa, Angel stepping away from the woman and just looking around the room, "Don't mind the wife, she rattles on a bit."

"Well, maybe she should rattle on a bit more," the Doctor suggested as Tommy and Eddie both looked shocked, he just continued, "I'm not convinced you're doing your patriotic duty," he glanced over at the flags lying in a box, "Nice flags. Why are they not flying?"

"There we are Rita," Eddie glanced at his wife, "I told you, get them up, Queen and Country!"

The Doctor looked skeptical as Rita started, "I'm sorry…"

"Get it done! Do it now."

"Hold on a minute," the Doctor began.

"Like the gentleman says…"

"Hold on a minute. You've got hands, Mr. Connolly. Two big hands! Why is that your wife's job?" he asked, feeling slightly disgusted by the man's attitude. Angel, for lack of a better Earth term, was as good as his wife and he would never ever treat her the way this man was treating his wife, expecting her to just do all the house work, not even pausing to think to help, ordering her about, yelling at her. He actually felt a bit ill thinking on that, he respected Angel, loved her, too much to just assume something like that.

Marriage was a partnership in every sense of the word.

And this man, he eyed Eddie, this man was treating it more like an ownership, like he owned his wife, like his wife owed him something.

It wasn't right.

"It's housework, innit?"

"And that's a woman's job?"

"Course it is!"

"Mr. Connolly, what gender is the Queen?"

"She's a female."

"And are you suggesting the Queen does the housework?" he smirked, shooting a wink at Angel, making her blush a bit at his implication, that she was his queen.

Angel looked away, trying to lessen her blush, and over at Tommy who started smiling as the Doctor got the better of his father.

"No!" Eddie shook his head, "Not at all!"

The Doctor handed him the flags, "Then get busy."

"Right, yes sir," Eddie took the flags, feigning enthusiasm as he went to put them up, "You'll be proud of us, sir! We'll have Union Jacks left, right, and center!"

Rose got up, hands on her hips, as she faced the man, "'Scuse me, Mr. Connolly, hang on a minute! Union Jacks?"

"Yes, that's right, isn't it?" Eddie looked back at her.

"That's the Union Flag. It's the Union Jack only when it's flown at sea."

Tommy's smile grew into a full blown grin as Angel winked at him when even Rose got the better of his father.

"Oh...oh, I'm sorry, I do apologize!" Eddie muttered.

"Well, don't get it wrong again, there's a good man," Rose nodded, "Now get to it!"

Eddie quickly turned back to the flags as Rose smirked at the Doctor and Angel. The Doctor moved over to the sofa, sitting on the side closest to the wall as Rose sat on the other side, Angel walking to sit on the arm of it beside the Doctor, "Right then!" the Doctor smiled, "Nice and comfy, at Her Majesty's leisure!" he leaned over to Rose, "Union Flag?"

"Mum went out with a sailor," Rose remarked.

"Oh ho ho ho," he smirked, "I bet she did!" he looked back at the room, "Anyway, I'm the Doctor, this is Angel," he wound his arm around her waist, "And this is Rose."

"And you are?" Angel turned to Tommy with a smile.

She knew exactly what it was like to have someone having a conversation in front of you but not include you in it. Her father and her sister would often be the same way, forgetting she was there or just not asking her opinion anyway. It hadn't really bothered her, most of the time they'd talk about things she had no interest in, like politics or some other such topic. The only time she really forced her way into a conversation was when they'd discuss TARDISes because that was not something she would just sit by and let them make decisions about, not her TARDISes. It always felt like her father and sister seemed to forget the boxes were living creatures, with souls of their own, so she took it upon herself to rise to their defense when the situation called for it.

"Tommy," Tommy replied, a bit surprised to be included in an adult conversation.

"Nice to meet you as well Tommy," Angel nodded.

"You too," Tommy smiled.

The Doctor and Rose scooted further apart to make room for him to sit with them as the Doctor called, "Well, sit yourself down, Tommy," Angel gestured to the other chair by the wall for Rita to sit as well as they all turned to the television, save Angel who was eyeing Rita intently, "Have a look at this. I love telly, don't you?"

"Yeah, I think it's brilliant!" Tommy grinned.

"Good man," the Doctor nodded as they watched the program, "Keep working Mr. C!"

"Mrs. Connolly," Angel called quietly, leaning forward, putting a hand on Rita's arm in comfort, "Tell us what's wrong."

"Did you say you were a doctor?" Rita looked up at the Doctor.

"Yes I am," the Doctor nodded.

"Can you help her? Oh please, can you help her, Doctor?"

"Now then Rita, I don't think the gentleman needs to know..." Eddie spoke up, overhearing them.

"No, the gentleman does!" the Doctor argued.

Rita suddenly burst into tears. Rose got up and moved to her side, sitting on the left armrest, wrapping and arm around her to comfort her as Angel moved off her own armrest to kneel beside the woman, putting a hand on the woman's shoulder, rubbing it, "We can't help you if you don't tell us what's wrong," Angel whispered softly, placing her other hand on Rita's, squeezing it, the Doctor smiling softly as he watched her.

"I'm sorry," Rose added encouragingly as Rita shook her head helplessly, "Come on, come on..."

"Hold on a minute!" Eddie yelled, "Queen and Country's one thing, but this is my house!" he looked at the flags he was holding before throwing them to the side, "What the…what the hell am I doing? Now you listen here, Doctor!" he strode forward to stand before the Doctor, "You may have fancy qualifications, but what goes on under my roof is my business!"

"All the people are being bundled into…" the Doctor began scathingly.

"I am talking!"

The Doctor stood, "And I'm not listening!" he screamed in the man's face, furious, "Now you, Mr. Connolly, are staring into a deep, dark PIT of trouble if you don't let us help," Eddie stepped back, clearly shaken as both Tommy and Rita looked scared of him, not sure what to do, "So I'm ordering you, SIR, to tell me what's going on!"

Eddie floundered, trying to think of a reply, when the banging sounded upstairs once more. Everyone looked up at that.

"She won't stop," Eddie breathed.

"She never stops, does she?" Angel asked, eyeing the man carefully.

"We started hearing stories," Tommy began to explain hesitantly, "All round the place. People who've...changed. Families keeping it secret 'cos they were scared. The police started finding out. We don't know how, no one does. They just...turn up, come to the door and take 'em. Any time of the day or night."

"Show me," the Doctor said.

Tommy nodded, standing and walking out of the room, the Doctor following as Rose headed out with Rita, Eddie as well. Angel got to the bottom of the stairs...when she hesitated, turning back and walking into the sitting room, looking at the TV warily as though waiting for something.

~8~

Tommy led them down a corridor, towards a door at the end, opening it and peeking around cautiously, "Gran? It's Tommy," he opened it wider, allowing the Doctor and the others to see the darkened room, a silhouette of his grandmother standing by the window, "'S'alright Gran, I've brought help," he stepped in more and turned on a light to reveal his grandmother, standing there, with no face at all, all the features gone, the skin just smoothed over.

Chapter Text

Rose gasped at the sight of the faceless woman as the Doctor stared, brow furrowed, stepping forward and peering at the blank face, "Her face is completely gone," he murmured, pulling out the sonic to scan her, "Scarcely an electrical impulse left. Almost complete neural shutdown, she's ticking over, like her brain has been..." he let out a breath, "Wiped clean."

"What're we gonna do, Doctor?" Tommy asked, frantic, as the Doctor put the sonic away, "We can't even feed her!"

"Doctor!" Angel's shout came from downstairs as there was a crash of people forcing their way in.

"We've got company..." Rose muttered.

"It's them, they've come for her!" Rita cried, scared.

"What was she doing before this happened?" the Doctor asked hurriedly, turning to Tommy and Rita, Eddie waiting in the hallway at the top of the stairs, "Where was she?" Rita hesitated, distracted, as the police clambered up the steps, "Tell me, quickly, think!"

"I can't think!" Tommy shook his head, "She doesn't leave the house! She was just…"

A large, burly man and an officer strode into the room, heading right for Tommy's Gran.

"Hold on a minute!" the Doctor stepped in front of them, "There are three important, brilliant, and complicated reasons why you should listen to me. One…"

The burly man just punched the Doctor across the face, knocking him out.

"Doctor!" Rose shouted, kneeling beside him, trying to wake him as the man threw a blanket over Tommy's Gran and ushered her down the stairs.

"Leave her alone!" Rita cried, trying to stop them, but the men just shoved past her, "Mum!" she rushed down the stairs after them.

"Doctor!" Rose slapped his cheeks as Tommy ran out after his mother, desperate to get him up, "Doctor!"

"Don't hurt her!" Rita shouted as the men reached the car, only to have her husband block the door.

"Back inside Rita!" Eddie pushed her back.

"She's my mother!"

"Back inside now, I said!"

~8~

Rose slapped the Doctor's cheek once more and he suddenly jolted up, "Ah, hell of a right hook!" he shook his head, "Have to watch out for that!" he stood quickly and bolted down the stairs, passing the sitting room where Angel had jumped back from the TV, staring at it with wide eyes as red electricity crackled around it, unobserved by anyone else save Rose as she stopped in the doorway to call to Angel.

"Don't fight it, back inside!" Eddie was shouting, trying to move Rita and Tommy back in.

The Doctor just ran out to his moped, "Rose, come on! Angel let's go!"

"Get back inside!"

"Angel…" Rose gasped, making her way into the room slowly, her eyes wide as she too saw the red electricity shoot back into the TV suddenly, "What was that?"

"But dad, they took her!" Tommy continued to argue and struggle with his father.

"Go back inside, don't fight it..." his father ushered him.

"Rose, Angel, we're gonna lose them again!" the Doctor shouted as he fastened his helmet on.

Angel ignored him, moving closer to the TV, "Help me move this," Rose dashed forward, helping her shove the TV away from the wall.

"Dad, they took her!" Tommy squirmed, "That was Gran and they took her!"

"Come on, back inside now," Eddie tried again.

The Doctor waited only a moment longer, before taking off in pursuit of the car, trusting that Angel would lead herself and Rose to him later.

"There…" Angel breathed as they spotted the red bolts buzzing along the wires in the back of the TV, right over the label reading 'Magpie Electricals.'

Tommy, Rita, and Eddie entered the room once more, "How did they find her?" Tommy frowned, "Who told 'em?"

"You two!" Eddie snapped, noticing the women still there, his booming voice making them jump, "Get the hell out of my house!"

"We're going, we're done!" Rose yelled as she and Angel stood up.

"It really was very nice to meet you Tommy," Angel smiled at him and Rita, "And you, Mrs. Connolly," before frowning at Mr. Connolly, "You...not so much. I don't like you."

Eddie gaped, offended, about to explode when Rose spoke up as well.

"And as for you, Mr. Connolly," Rose stepped right up to him, getting in the way of his glaring look at Angel, "Only an idiot hangs the Union Flag upside down. Shame on you!" she grinned cheekily at the man before grabbing Angel's hand and pulling her out of the house. Both girls ran to Angel's moped, getting on and heading off to find Magpie's shop.

~8~

The black police car swerved around the same bend as before, heading through its secret gates as the same wagon and sweepers stepped out. The Doctor pulled up, eyeing it, realizing what had happened, realizing that there was no way the sweepers would be out at that time of night, sweeping the same area, it wasn't that dirty, "Oh, very good!" he nodded appreciatively, "Very good!"

He quickly rode his moped around the side of the building, parking it and walking around till he reached a small gate at the side. He flashed the sonic over it, breaking the lock and entering. He paused, seeing two police officers locking up some cage doors. He waited only a few moments after they left before walking over to the cage to see a group of people standing there with no faces, unclenching and clenching their fists, Tommy's Gran standing in the middle of them. He stepped into the cage and they all started shuffling towards him, surrounding him, when a bright light beamed on behind him. He turned around and squinted through the wires of the cage, seeing a policeman standing in front of a car's headlights.

"Stay where you are!" the head officer shouted.

~8~

Rose and Angel cautiously entered Magpie's shop to see the man adjusting a TV set on the counter, well, Rose saw him, Angel's attention however had been pulled to a series of TVs set up just behind the man.

"Oh, I…I'm sorry," Magpie said nervously, looking up when he noticed them, "I'm afraid you're too late. I was just about to lock the door."

"Yeah?" Rose asked, shutting the door anyway, "Well, we wanna buy a telly."

"Come back tomorrow," he looked down at the TV, "Please."

"You'll be closed, won't ya?"

"What?" he looked at her, confused.

"For the big day? The coronation..."

"Yes, yes, of course. The big day. I'm sure you'll find somewhere to watch it. Please go."

"Seems to me half of London's got a television, since you're practically giving them away."

"I have my reasons."

"And what are they?" Rose eyed him suspiciously.

"Better question," Angel breathed, staring at a television in the middle of the screens, "What are they?"

Before he could answer in confusion, the very same TV that Angel was looking at turned itself on and the woman from the program appeared, "Hungry!" she called, "Hungry!"

Rose spun around to look at it, "What's that?"

Angel frowned, stepping just a bit closer to the program, eyeing it.

"It's just a television," Magpie tried to wave her off, "One of these modern programs. Now, I really do think you should leave! Right now!"

"Not until you've answered our questions," Rose shook her head, turning back to him, "How come your televisions are so cheap?"

"It's my patriotic duty. Seems only right that as many folk as possible get to watch the coronation. We may be losing the Empire but we can still be proud! Twenty million people they reckon'll be watching! Imagine that!" Rose smiled, not convinced, as Magpie grew more urgent, "And twenty million people can't be wrong, eh? So why don't you get yourself back home and get up, bright and early, for the big day?"

"Nah, we're not leaving 'til we've seen everything."

"I need to close."

"Mr. Magpie something happened to the people who bought your TVs," Angel pulled her gaze away from the program that had seemed to be watching her, "Ordinary people with their faces stolen and the only new thing in their houses is a television. Your television," she eyed the man intently, stepping over to him, away from the TV that really did seem to be watching her, and over to his side, resting a hand on his arm, "We can help you but you need to tell us what's happening first."

He sighed, shaking his head as he got up and walked past her, staring out the window of the door to his shop a moment, "I knew this would happen," he muttered, "I knew I'd be found out," before he locked the door.

"Alright, then, it's just you and us..." Rose began cautiously, tensing, locking them in...that was never a good sign, "You gonna come clean, then? What's really in it for you?"

"For me? Perhaps some peace."

"From what?"

"From HER," Angel breathed, looking at the program once more, seeing that it really WAS watching her, watching them all.

Rose frowned, "That's just a woman on the telly, that's just a program."

"It's more than that," she took a step towards it, "She's alive."

"What a pretty, little, clever girl," the program grinned.

"Oh, my God," Rose gasped, moving right over to the TV to inspect it, "Is she talking to us?"

"Yes," the woman nodded, "I'm talking to you, little one. Unseasonably chilly for the time of year, don't you think?"

"Rose don't get too close," Angel warned, eyeing the program, "What are you?"

"I'm the Wire. And I'm hungrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyy!" the program bared her teeth and red bolts of electricity shot out, straight at Rose…

Until Angel reacted, pushing her out of the way.

Rose hit the ground, hard, looking up in horror as the bolt hit Angel instead, sucking at her face.

"Oh my God!" Rose shouted, pushing herself up.

"Rose run!" Angel's voice strained to call out, her hands clutching at her face as though to stop the Wire.

"Just think of that audience tomorrow," Magpie frowned, tears actually appearing in his eyes as he watched the girl's fate unfold, "All sitting down to watch the coronation. Twenty million people. Things will never be the same again," his voice broke, "I'm sorry. So sorry."

"Run…" Angel whispered to Rose, her body starting to stiffen, "Go!"

Rose looked torn, before dashing past Magpie, knocking him to the side so she could unlock the door and run out. She wouldn't be able to help Angel if she got caught too but she wasn't about to abandon her either so she ducked into a small alley just outside the shop to wait and watch.

~8~

"Start from the beginning," the head officer stood over the Doctor, who sat on the other side of his desk, glaring down at him, "Tell me everything you know."

"Well...for starters..." the Doctor began seriously, "I know you can't wrap your hand around your elbow and make your fingers meet."

He had to smile at that, that was probably something Angel would have done, she was starting to rub off on him...much like he had her apparently, he'd never seen her so eager to learn about things as now. He suspected though, that it might also be her way of coping with Mickey's departure, she'd fixed dozens of things in the TARDIS and probably just needed something else to focus on too.

"Don't get clever with me! You were there today at Florizel Street, and now breaking into this establishment. Now, you're connected with this. Make no mistake."

"Well, the thing IS, Detective Inspector Bishop…"

"How do you know my name?"

"It's...written inside your collar," the Doctor nodded at the man's neck as he adjusted his collar, "Bless your mum. But, I can't help thinking, Detective Inspector, you're not exactly doing much detective inspecting. Are you?"

"I'm doing everything in my power…"

"All you're doing is grabbing those faceless people and hiding them as fast as you can. Don't tell me, orders from above, hmm? Coronation day...the eyes of the world are on London Town...so any sort of problem just gets swept out of sight," he twisted himself from side to side a little on the chair, completely relaxed, as Bishop started to look irritated.

"The nation has an image to maintain."

"Doesn't it drive you mad? Doing nothing? Don't you wanna get out there and investigate?"

"Course I do. But..." he plopped down, "With all the crowds expected, we haven't got the manpower. Even if we did...this is...beyond anything we've ever seen," he shook his head, "I just don't know anymore. Twenty years on the force..." the Doctor leaned forward, listening, "...I don't even know where to start. We haven't the faintest clue what's going on."

"Well...that could change."

"How?"

The Doctor stood up and looked down at Bishop with a smile, "Start from the beginning. Tell me everything you know."

~8~

A black car pulled up to the police warehouse, two men getting out and pulling a woman out of the backseat, a blanket over her head, as another woman got out in tears, struggling in the second man's grip.

~8~

The Doctor and Bishop stood by a large map speckled with dots of the locations the faceless people had been found in, "We started finding them about a month ago," Bishop was explaining, "Persons left sans visage. Heads just...blank."

"Is there any sort of pattern?" the Doctor frowned, flipping/reading through a file.

"Yes, spreading out from North London. All over the city. Men, women, kids, grannies...the only REAL lead is there's been quite a large number in…"

"Florizel Street."

Just then there was the sound of someone struggling just outside the door to the office.

"No!" the Doctor heard Rose shouting, "Let me go! I need to help her!"

There was a knock at the door, "Found another one, sir," a policeman said, opening the door. He half-shoved, half-pulled Rose into the room.

"Rose?" the Doctor's brow furrowed, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Rose started crying, "She saved me…I couldn't help her, I tried but…"

"Rose what's going on?" the Doctor asked, a feeling of dread creeping up in him, his hearts starting to race, ice water feeling like it was flowing through his veins, "Rose...where's Angel?"

Just then another police officer led a woman in, covered in a blanket but a familiar light blue skirt and white shoes peeked out from under it.

"Oh, er, good man, Crabtree," Bishop said, "Here we are, Doctor..."

The Doctor just let the files fall out of his hand and to the floor in his shock, striding over to the blanket, not wanting to believe it...

"Take a good look. See what you can deduce."

Crabtree lifted the blanket off to reveal Angel standing there, sans face.

The Doctor's eyes widened in horror as he ran the rest of the way to her, "Angel..." he breathed, reaching out to cup her face, his eyes darting back and forth as he tried to pick up some sort of sensation from her, anything…but there was nothing…the brain was wiped clean.

His hearts stopped. The brain was wiped clean. There was nothing there. Nothing at all. Whatever it was that was happening had taken everything that Angel had. Her beautiful smile, her warm eyes, her laugh, her mind, her soul...it had left her an empty shell of the incredible woman she was. He stroked her cheek softly, his hearts constraining painfully as he felt the too-smooth skin.

This couldn't be happening, it just couldn't, not to Angel.

He couldn't lose her.

How could this have happened? She should have sensed it coming, avoided it...and then Rose's words drifted back to him, Angel had saved her. Whatever it was that had taken Angel's face had intended to take Rose's but Angel, true to herself, had gotten in the way.

"Do you know her?" Bishop asked, watching the man's reaction.

"Know her?" he shook his head, "She's my Mate…" he stared at her, tears filling his eyes as the voices of Bishop and Crabtree faded out, he even found himself deaf to Rose trying to explain what had happened. Everything, all their words, were meaningless.

Everything was meaningless.

In that single moment he could feel his entire world crashing down around him, wiped out like Angel's face had been. It wasn't that her features were gone, no he wasn't that petty, though he could admit she was beautiful to him. It was that everything that made her Angel had been taken away. Everything he loved about her. She was gone, just her body remaining, and it hurt. It hurt so much. He felt like he couldn't breathe. He needed to get her back, he had to, she was his life, his entire world, he needed her more than he could possibly express.

"They found her in the street, apparently," Crabtree's voice managed to cut through, "Over at Master Square, this one trying to lead her somewhere, wouldn't leave her side."

"That's unusual," Bishop agreed, "That's the first one out in the open. Heaven help us if something happens in public tomorrow for the big day, we'll have Torchwood on our back, make no mistake."

The Doctor blinked out of his heartbroken gaze as Crabtree's words finally registered, "They did what?" he interrupted, coldly.

He could feel it. The anger rising, the fury, the determination to save her, to find whatever it was that had taken her from him and make it pay a thousand times over, make it suffer. He would get her back if it was the last thing he ever did and it didn't matter to him who or what got in his way, he would save her. She was his Mate and he would protect her to his last breath. Heaven help anyone who harmed her because the fury of a Time Lord could be a terrible thing to witness, and the devastation of one's Mate coming to harm could spark a fire within them, unleash the oncoming storm.

It was as they said, devastation often left chaos in its wake.

"I'm sorry?" Bishop looked at him, taking a step back at the coldness in the man's voice.

"They left her where?" the Doctor nearly growled.

"Just...in the street," Rose answered quietly, sensing his mounting anger, "She told me to run, but I didn't, I waited outside and she was just tossed out and…"

"Into the street," he breathed heavily, "They left her in the street. They took her face and just chucked her out and left her in the street. And as a result, that makes things...simple. Very, very simple. Do you know why?" he tore his gaze away from Angel's face, pulling his glasses off, an expression that would send most men running for their lives on his face.

"No..." Bishop said slowly, actually backing away from the fuming man.

"Because NOW, Detective Inspector Bishop!" the Doctor shouted, furious beyond anything he had ever felt, "There is no power in this Universe that can stop me. Rose look after her," he nodded at her before turning and rushing out of the room, "Come on!"

~8~

The Doctor and Bishop burst out of the gates and into the dawn.

"The big day dawns..." Bishop breathed.

The Doctor didn't reply, just stalked off, leaving Bishop little option but to run after him. He hadn't listened to Rose, hadn't been able to hear much of anything, and he was not about to waste time turning around and running back in. So he rushed off to the only person he could think might know what was going on...

~8~

A small boy fiddled with the television in the Connolly house, a little girl slapping his hand away as the room crowded with people, friends and family all come to watch the coronation.

Eddie strode through the front door, closing it behind him as Rita approached, "You've had your fun with your little Doctor..." he threatened her, "But now you're left with me, Rita. So you'll behave yourself. And smile."

Too scared to do anything but obey, Rita fixed a smile on her face as they entered the crowded sitting room.

"Here we go, everyone!" Eddie cheered, "Here we go! Grub's up, grub's up, tuck in, take a sandwich," he glanced at the TV to see the first footage of the coronation playing, "Oh, here we go, here we go, it's started! Take your places, sit down, sit down."

"Rita, love!" a woman remarked as they all sat down, "Just LOOK at that tellybox then, eh? Innit MARVELLOUS? The picture's so clear!"

"Here, Beth, I says to Rita, I says, 'You didn't need to get your hair done special, love! The Queen won't be able to see you!'" Betty and Eddie shared a laugh at that.

Rita, though clearly not impressed, smiled politely anyway, while Tommy just looked affronted at the joke.

"Where's your old mum, then? She can't go missing it!"

"Sorry, um..." Rita glanced at Eddie, "Mum can't make it down."

"Ah, bless her. Maybe we could pop up and see her later."

"Maybe you could," Tommy agreed, pointedly looking at his father, "It's a good idea. What do you think, dad? Maybe Aunty Betty could go and see Gran later?"

Eddie fumed at him silently, till Betty turned to him, and then he was all smiles, "Oh, he loves his Gran, this one. Proper little mummy's boy all round!"

"Oh, you know what they say about THEM," Betty laughed, "Eddie you want to beat that out of him."

Eddie laughed as well, "That's exactly what I'm gonna do," he threw a threatening look at Tommy, when the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it," Tommy jumped up and went to answer as everyone else watched the TV. He opened it to see a silently fuming Doctor standing there with a rather startled and slightly frightened looking Bishop.

"Tommy, talk to me," the Doctor said seriously, but trying to be calm so as not to frighten the boy into not helping, as Tommy stepped out of the door, closing it behind him.

It was difficult though, every instinct of his was telling him to find the thing that hurt Angel, force it to fix her, and then tear it to pieces. His entire being was screaming at him to tear down each and every obstacle to save her, to do whatever it took for that to happen. It was alarming, or it should have been, to him for him to feel that way, it was so unlike him. But this was Angel. Everything was different when it came to her.

Nothing else in the world mattered, not the Earth, not the humans, not even Rose if it meant Angel would be safe.

It was the Mating instinct, he knew. Somewhere in the back of his mind he recognized the fact but he didn't care. It was the natural drive of a male Time Lord to protect their Mate once the process began. Forging the mental link was only the first step, each and every step would pull them closer and closer, tie them to each other more and more. That drive, that fierce determination, to protect her would only get stronger as the Mating process continued. Their mental bond...to allow another person to even touch your mind, they would become a part of you, so much so that to be cut off from them would leave you feeling empty. Their presence in your mind would become so prominent, so reassuring, that you'd feel the lack of it that much more and you'd do anything to get it back, to get them back.

"I need to know exactly what happened inside your house," he ground out, struggling to keep from exploding at something.

His Mate was in danger and he was standing there talking to a human, albeit a human that could help, but still, every moment spent talking was another wasted.

Eddie suddenly opened the door and rounded on Tommy, "What the blazes do you think you're doing?"

"I wanna help, dad," Tommy replied.

"Mr. Connolly..." the Doctor said warningly, not about to let anyone get in the way of him saving Angel. If the man didn't let Tommy talk...well...he could scarcely be held responsible for his actions.

"Shut your face, you...whoever you are, we can handle this ourselves," Eddie glared at him, the Doctor stiffening, about ready to punch the man when he turned back to his son, "Listen you, little twerp. You're hardly out of the bloomin' cradle, so I don't expect you to understand. But I've got a position to maintain. People round here respect me. It MATTERS what people THINK."

The Doctor's fists clenched, his hearts racing so fast he was sure they would beat out of his chest. He could hear them pounding in his ears, his breathing coming in labored as he began to shake. His mind was racing but all he could hear was Help Angel. Save her. Save his Mate. Help AngelSave herSave his Mate. HelpAngelsavehersavehisMate. Over and over and over in his mind, growing stronger with every beat of his hearts...

He needed to DO something!

But Tommy did it first.

"Is that why you did it, dad?" Tommy replied, taking a stand to his father. He could tell that something had to have happened. The Doctor was angry, he was scared, and he was driven to find out what was going on. At best, he could guess that one of those girls he'd been with must have also been taken, spurring the man into action. And he wanted to help. If it could save the girls then maybe it could save his Gran and all the other people who had been taken too.

"What d'you mean? Did what?"

"You ratted on Gran. How else would the police know where to look? Unless some coward told them..."

"How DARE you?! You think I fought a war just so a mouthy little scum like you could call me a coward?"

"You don't get it, do you? You fought AGAINST fascism, remember? People telling you how to live, who you could be friends with, who you could fall in love with, who could live and who had to die. Don't you get it? You were fighting so that little twerps like me could DO what we want. SAY what we want. Now you've become just like them. You've been informing on everyone, haven't you? Even Gran. All to protect your precious reputation."

"Eddie...is that true?" Rita asked, having come out to check on them.

The Doctor's fists clenched even more as more humans came to talk, a clock ticking away in the back of his mind reminding him of how much time had passed, how long Angel had been without her face for. Even a second was too long.

"I did it for US, Rita!" he defended, "She was FILTHY. A filthy, disgusting THING."

"She's my mother. All the others, you informed on all the people in our street, our friends…"

"I had to. I did the right thing..."

"The right thing for us...or for you, Eddie?" Rita asked before turning to Tommy, "You go, Tommy. You go with the Doctor and do some good. Get away from this house. It's poison. We had a ruddy monster under this roof, alright, but it weren't my mother!"

Close to tears, Rita turned back inside and slammed the door in Eddie's face.

"Tommy?" the Doctor motioned for him to join them, needing to move, needing to do something active.

~8~

Rita took a breath before heading back into the crowded sitting room, "What was all that, then?" Betty looked up at her.

"That was..." she sat down, "That was the sound of something ending. And about time too. Everyone alright?" she looked around as the crowd nodded, "Smashing. Nothing's gonna spoil our big day, is it?"

They all turned back to the TV as the Queen's carriage rolled through.

~8~

The Doctor walked swiftly down the street, Tommy and Bishop rushing to keep up with his long strides, "Tommy, tell me about that night," the Doctor urged, "The night she changed. Tell me everything."

"She was just watching the telly," Tommy shook his head.

The Doctor stopped, looking up at the TV aerials, "Rose said it. She guessed it straight away and Angel...there was NOTHING there!" he ran a hand through his hair, thinking of what Angel had said about Magpie's face, "She KNEW he was up to something. Of COURSE she did. His face...and all these aerials in one little street..." he spun to Tommy, pointing at the aerials, just needing one more piece of confirmation, "How come?"

"Bloke up the road, Mr. Magpie, he's selling them cheap..."

Tommy had barely finished when the Doctor took off down the road.

"Is he, now?" Bishop looked at Tommy.

"Come on!" the Doctor shouted.

Chapter Text

The Doctor smashed his fist through the glass of Magpie's shop door, unlocking it and bursting in, not even noticing the cuts and grazes appearing on his knuckles from the shards of glass, they didn't matter, the only thing that mattered was getting Angel back.

"Hey, you can't do…" Bishop chastised before trailing off when the Doctor turned a murderous glare on him, "Never mind."

The Doctor turned back to the shop, striding into the room and up to the counter, "Shop?!" he shouted, pressing the bell on the counter over and over with his fist, "If you're here, come out! Face me! MAGPIE?!"

"Maybe he's out?" Tommy offered, trying to calm the man who seemed so almost...out of it...with rage.

The Doctor just tensed, looking around the shop, "Looks like it..." he muttered darkly at the fact he wouldn't get to wring the man's neck at the current moment. But then he realized, if Magpie wasn't there, then he couldn't stop them from searching the place. He ran behind the desk and riffled through some drawers, half-tearing one out and throwing it on the floor at the sight of just papers. There had to be SOMETHING there!

And then he found it.

He pulled one more drawer open to see some sort of portable radio/TV device and grabbed it, "This isn't right," he murmured, thinking it might have something to do with what happened to Angel, "This is very much not right," he licked it, much to the surprise of Tommy and Bishop, "Tastes like iron. Bakelite!" he placed it down on the counter and pulled the sonic from his pocket, needing more information, needing to know exactly what it was for, if it could help him save Angel, "Put together with human hands, but the design itself..." he scanned it quickly, the sonic whirring softly, "Interesting..." he frowned, "Simple."

It was...odd...to not feel the usual excitement he often did whenever he found something new just begging to be explored and studied. He should have been tickled to find such technology in the current time, examining the genius behind it, but he couldn't muster it. Not when it might very well be the thing that had harmed Angel. No. Right now all he wanted to do was tear the place apart till he found a way to reverse what had happened.

"That's incredible," Bishop looked at it, "It's like a television, but portable. A portable television!"

The Doctor lifted the sonic, pointing it around the room, following the trace he'd picked up from the portable device, as the wall of televisions turned on to static, "It's not the only power source in this room...come on," he grumbled, stepping closer to the TVs, "Show me where you are..."

As the sonic flashed across them, the static on the tellies faded to reveal a different face on each of the screens, all looking terrified, all crying out for help. Men, women, children, all of them, he'd guess, with bodies out there that had no faces.

"Gran?" Tommy gasped, spotting his grandmother, confirming the Doctor's theory.

The Doctor walked past the screens, only to stop at the last column, his gaze trained on a screen in the bottom right corner, Angel's face. She was looking right up at him, as though knowing he would be standing there looking down at her. She was mouthing, 'Doctor! Be careful! Keep back!' over and over.

He knelt before the screen, reaching out to touch it, a sad, intense look on his face as his finger stroked Angel's cheek. Guilt rose up in him as he looked at her face. He hadn't told her. He hadn't told her he loved her as Madame de Pompadour had instructed him to. He was going to, but then Mickey left and she'd been heartbroken, it was always difficult losing a companion, even more so when said companion was your very first. He'd tried to take her mind off it with a score of adventures, only ended up taking his mind off of telling her as well, so distracted by trying to cheer her up. Really, he'd only wanted to see her smile again, he should have realized that telling her he loved her probably would have put the biggest grin on her face. And, he supposed, somewhere in the back of his mind, he also didn't want to take advantage of her either while she was still upset.

And now…if he didn't save her, she would never know.

And that killed him.

"I'm on my way," he promised her, placing a kiss on his finger and pressing it to her screen, "I'll save you."

"What do you think you're doing?" Magpie called, entering from the back of the shop, stopping short at the sight of the three people...of the police officer...standing before him.

The Doctor rounded on him, his soft gaze from looking at Angel transformed into a dark and dangerous one that promised retribution, "I want my Mate restored and I think that's beyond a little backstreet electrician so tell me," he glared at the older man, leaning in closer in threat, "Who's really in charge here?"

Magpie flinched at the anger directed at him when a screen flickered to reveal the Wire, "Yoo hoo! I think that must be me," the Doctor turned to her, just a little surprised but even more angry, an alien, of course, "Ooh, this one's smart as paint."

"Is she talking to us?" Bishop asked as they approached the screen.

"Sorry gentlemen," Magpie frowned, "I'm...I'm afraid you've brought this on yourselves. May I introduce you to my new...friend."

"Jolly nice to meet you," she waved.

"Oh my God, it's her, that woman off the telly," Bishop's eyes widened.

"No, it's just using her image," the Doctor shook his head, disgusted.

He supposed he could be thankful for that at least, that whoever she was had chosen some random woman to communicate with them. Had she selected using the features of those she'd taken he very much doubted there would be a television left for her to communicate through. If the creature had dared use Angel's image, use her face against him...he truly didn't know what he'd do but he knew it wouldn't be good.

"What...what are you?" Tommy asked.

"I'm the Wire," she replied, "And I will gobble you up, pretty boy. Every last morsel. And, when I have feasted, I shall regain the corporeal body, which my fellow-kind denied me."

Bishop gaped as the screen became colored, "Good Lord, color television!"

"So your own people tried to stop you?" the Doctor glared at the screen, though he was growing a bit irritated with Bishop. Here he was, trying to save his Mate, and the human just kept going on about the TV?

"They executed me," she corrected, "But I escaped, in this form, and fled across the stars."

"And now you're trapped in the television," he smirked as she faded to gray once more.

"Not for much longer."

"Is this what got my Gran?" Tommy looked at the Doctor.

"Yes, Tommy," he nodded, his gaze hardening the longer he eyed the woman, "It feeds off the electrical activity of the brain, but it gorges itself like a great overfed pig. Taking people's faces, their essences, it stuffs itself."

And she had taken Angel.

For that alone he would show her no mercy.

"And you let her do it, Magpie?" Bishop turned to him, alarmed.

"I had to!" Magpie cried, "She allowed me my face! She's promised to release me at the time of manifestation."

"What does that mean?" Tommy frowned.

"The appointed time, my crowning glory," she hinted with a wink.

"Doctor, the coronation!" Bishop exclaimed.

"For the first time in history, millions gathered around a television set," the Doctor approached her, gloating just a bit, "But you're not strong enough yet, are you? You can't do it all from here. That's why you need this!" he held up the portable TV, "You need something more powerful! This will turn a big transmitter into a big receiver."

"What a clever thing you are!" she smirked, as though knowing just what to say to truly get to him, "Just like that girl was. Oh, but not clever enough was she? She couldn't escape me," she laughed as the Doctor's face darkened, "Oh but she was tasty," the Doctor's fists clenched, "But why fret about it? Why not just relax? Kick off your shoes and enjoy the coronation. Believe me, you'll be glued to the screen."

Beams of red electricity shot out of her TV and latched onto their faces, sucking them in.

"Doctor!" Tommy and Bishop cried.

"Hungry!" the Wire groaned, "Hungry! The Wire is hungry! Ah!" the red beams concentrated on the Doctor, "This one is as tasty as the girl. Oh! I'll have lashings of him! Delicious! Ah!"

The Doctor strained to reach his hand into his pocket, pulling out the sonic.

"Armed!" she gasped, "He's armed and clever! Withdraw! Withdraw!" the lights dropped them to the floor, retracting, "The box, Magpie! The box!" Magpie ran forward and grabbed the portable TV the Doctor had dropped, holding it up, "Hold tight..." she jumped through a beam of red light, into the box, "Conduct me to my victory, Magpie," Magpie dashed out of the shop, running to his van, placing the Wire on the steering wheel as he drove off, "Hungry! Hungry! Feed me!"

~8~

"So lovely!" Betty breathed as they watched the coronation proceed.

"Beautiful!" Rita nodded, "Makes you forget all your troubles. Everyone alright for pop?"

~8~

The Doctor groaned as he pushed himself up to see Tommy and Bishop on the ground, Bishop though without a face, "Tommy, wake up!" he shoved Tommy just a bit, "Tommy! Come on!"

"What happened?" Tommy rubbed his head, getting up...till the Doctor grabbed his arm and hefted him up himself.

"Where's Magpie? Where's the Wire? Where did they go?!" the Doctor nearly growled as he looked around before they both ran outside to see Magpie had fled.

"We don't even know where to start looking, it's too late."

"It's never too late," he muttered, "It can't be. Too late means I've failed. Too late means Angel's gone. And she can't be gone because I will NEVER fail her," he spun around, "The Wire's got a big plan...so it'll need..." he unclenched his fists, trying to think, trying to think of anything besides what it would mean if he failed, he had to focus, but it was so...hard, "It's got to harness half the population...millions and millions of people...and where are we?"

"Muswell Hill."

"Muswell Hill...Muswell Hill!" the Doctor spun around again, "Which means..." and then he spotted it, "Alexandra Palace, biggest TV transmitter in North London! That's why they chose this place! Tommy..."

"What are you going to do?"

"You're gonna help me stop her!" the Doctor shouted, dashing back into the shop, "Come on!"

~8~

The Wire chuckled malevolently as the van drove on through the streets.

~8~

"Is this what you want?" Tommy held up a small bulb to the Doctor as they gathered equipment in Magpie's shop.

"Perfect!" the Doctor nodded, handing the pile of items to Tommy, "Right, I need one more thing."

~8~

Magpie winced as he drove on.

~8~

"Got it, let's go!" the Doctor shouted as he and Tommy ran out onto the streets, loaded with equipment.

~8~

Magpie stopped his van, grabbing the portable TV and jumping out. He ran up a flight of metal stairs to the transmitter near the Palace.

~8~

Tommy and the Doctor ran down the street towards the Palace, the Doctor putting together some sort of device as Tommy carried the rest of the equipment.

~8~

Magpie climbed up the transmitter with a huge effort, sweating. He stopped, looking down at the Wire, "I can't do this! Please...please don't make me!"

"The time is at hand," she shouted, "Feed me! Feed me!"

~8~

"There!" Tommy yelled as they reached the Palace, pointing up at Magpie, already climbing a pylon.

"Come on!" the Doctor called as they ran past an official guard.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" the guard shouted, "Where do you think…" the Doctor just flashed him the psychic paper, "Oh! I'm sorry sir! Shouldn't you be at the coronation?"

"They're saving me a seat!" he yelled as they ran around a corner.

"Who did he think you were?" Tommy asked.

The Doctor looked at the paper, "King of Belgium," he dashed into the control room of the Palace, gathering all the leftover equipment he needed, setting Tommy up in front of a video machine and a television screen, "Keep it switched on. Don't let anyone stop you, Tommy. Everything depends on it. I'm counting on you," he squeezed Tommy's shoulders, "Angel's counting on you. Your Gran. You understand?" Tommy nodded and the Doctor sprinted out of the room, back around the corner, past the official, and up the stairs, trailing a stream of magnetic recording tape behind him from a reel around his waist.

"You'll get yourself killed up there!" the guard shouted as he began to climb the pylon after Magpie, "Your Majesty!"

~8~

Magpie just reached the main plugs as the Wire cried, "Feed me!"

He plugged his TV into the main current, the Wire laughing triumphantly.

~8~

All across the country TV aerials emitted sparks, shooting red beams out to all the TVs of people watching the coronation, pulling them in, the Connollys included.

~8~

"Oh!" the Wire moaned, "Feast! Feast…ing! The Wire...is feasting."

"It's too late!" Magpie shouted at the Doctor, as the sound of people screaming reached them, "It's too late for all of us!"

"I shall consume you...Doctor!" the Wire shrieked, blasting him in the face with the red energy.

He cried out in pain, turning away a moment before glaring up at them, not about to let something like that stop him, he had a mission, he was going to save is Mate and nothing would keep him from doing that, especially not a spark of electricity, "I won't let you do this, Magpie!"

"Help me Doctor!" he pleaded, "It burns! It took my face, my soul!"

"You cannot stop the Wire," she gloated, "Soon I shall become manifest," she blasted the Doctor again but he hung on.

"No more of this! You promised me peace!"

"And peace you shall have," she agreed, striking Magpie with the energy, vaporizing him, laughing as he screamed.

The Doctor reached out to touch the portable TV but was stung by red sparks, "Waste of energy. You've overextended yourself now by sending that blast at Magpie," he picked up the TV, ignoring the zap to his foot, "Nice try," he smirked darkly, "Rubber soles!" he inserted a switch into the TV.

~8~

Tommy jumped back as the machine the Doctor had made sparked and broke.

~8~

The Wire laughed, "Oh dear! Has our little plan gone horribly wrong, Doctor?"

The Doctor stared at the TV, stunned, his hearts breaking.

No...it couldn't have...

Angel...

~8~

Tommy turned and grabbed a replacement bulb, plugging it back into the machine and starting her up.

~8~

The Doctor watched as the light beams retracted from the pylons, right back into the portable TV, the Wire twitched and twisted in pain. He pulled out his sonic, flashing it at the TV, the Wire starting to scream as the energy struck her instead, "Folding the electrical impulses back," he told her, watching with a dark satisfaction as the alien suffered, as he made her suffer, "You feel what THEY felt!"

She deserved it, tenfold.

~8~

The Connolly family felt their faces, shocked, disoriented, but unharmed.

~8~

Tommy grinned, realizing the plan was working.

~8~

"It's closed down, I'm afraid," the Doctor shouted to the Wire, "And no epilogue!"

With one last shriek the Wire's television switched off, the Doctor smiling in victory at it.

~8~

"Rose?" Angel frowned, shaking her head, blinking, a bit disoriented.

Rose gasped as she looked at Angel to see her features restored, "Angel!" she cheered, hugging the woman tightly.

"What happened?" Angel pulled back, "Where are we? Where's the Wire?"

Rose's eyes widened as she remembered, "Come on!" she shouted, pulling her out of the room. They ran down the stairs of the station to see the people in the cage feeling their faces, restored as well, Rose beaming, the Doctor had done it!

~8~

Tommy watched the coronation from one of the screens when the Doctor stepped into the room, "What have I missed?" he asked.

"Doctor!" Tommy gasped, spinning around, already able to see a lighter quality to the man's countenance, "What happened?"

"Sorted. Electrical creature, TV technology, clever alien life form, that's me by the way. I turned the receiver back into a transmitter and I trapped the Wire in here," he pulled out a home video from the machine he'd made, "I just invented the home video 30 years earlier. Betamax," he glanced at the TV, "Oh look! God save the Queen, eh?" he smiled a moment before shaking his head, "Now, let's go find my Queen."

Tommy smiled lightly at that, he could see how much the Doctor loved and respected Angel. He could only hope that, one day, he'd meet a girl he felt the same about, that he'd be able to treat her the way she deserved to be treated, like a Queen, like his father ought to have treated his mother.

~8~

The Connolly family watched the coronation ceremony ending, beaming in pride as their new monarch took the throne.

~8~

Tommy and the Doctor moved briskly down the street where the Connollys lived to see people milling around, reuniting with their loved ones, "Gran!" Tommy called before running over to his grandmother, hugging her tightly.

"Look, it's my grandson!" his Gran beamed, "Oh son!"

The Doctor looked around, spotting Rose's blonde hair first, the small smile on his face blooming into a full blown beam as he saw Angel standing there beside her, face returned. She looked over and her face just lit up at seeing him. He ran to her, scooping her into his arms as he spun her around, hugging her tightly. Rose laughing at the sight, clasping her hands together and pressing them to her mouth, tears in her eyes, so happy everything had worked out. The Doctor set Angel back on the ground, but kept her in his arms, holding her close, burying his face in her neck as she did the same, a smile blooming on his face as he felt her smile into his neck. He took a deep breath, taking in her lovely scent, finally able to breathe again now that she was back and in his arms once more. A few moments later though they pulled apart, the Doctor's hands trailing down her arms to take hold of her own.

Angel looked down, blushing at the intense look he was sending her as he stared at her face, as though trying to memorize it. She frowned suddenly, pulling his right hand to her and taking it in both of hers, there were cuts all over it! She lightly ran a finger along one of the nastier cuts causing him to wince. She looked up at him, concerned, "What happened?"

He should have expected this. Of course this would be her reaction. HER face had been stolen, SHE'D been attacked, and there she was asking if HE was alright.

"I um…" he shifted a bit, now able to remember his actions. It was all such a blur when it was happening, he couldn't really feel much except a fierce anger and desperation, couldn't really think straight except for the mantra that he had to save Angel playing over in his mind, but now, looking back on it with a clearer mind he could see everything he'd done, how he'd acted, "I punched in a window to break into a shop."

She frowned, shaking her head, "Didn't you have the sonic on you?"

"…um…" he blinked, realizing that he HAD had the sonic right in his pocket at the time, "Didn't really think to use it," he admitted. He'd been so worried, so afraid, so angry, he hadn't thought, at all, he just wanted to get into the shop and save her as quickly as he could.

She reached out and cupped his cheek in one hand, turning his head to face her, "Next time, use the sonic. I don't care what's happened to me, I don't want you hurt because of it, ok?" he nodded and she smiled, kissing him on the cheek, "Just take the time to think, I know you'll save me. I trust you," he practically beamed at that, when she lifted his hand and placed a soft kiss upon his knuckles, "Feel better?"

"What?" he laughed.

She frowned, "Isn't that what Earth mothers do when their child gets hurt? They kiss it to make it better...or did I get that wrong again?"

"No," he smiled, touched, "No, that's right. But, uh, I'm not your child though."

"And I'm not your mother," she shrugged, "But the kiss can still help yeah?"

"Oh yes," he nodded, cupping her face in his hands, "Though I think a slightly different kiss might work better," he whispered, pulling her closer, kissing her deeply, relishing in the fact that he could, that she was fine and safe and with him once more. He was panting when he pulled back, his cheeks a bit pink, realizing they were technically standing in the middle of hundreds of people, but beaming widely despite that, before pulling her into his arms for one more hug, gesturing Rose over to join them, making it a group hug.

~8~

Rita stood facing Eddie in their now deserted sitting room, holding a battered suitcase, "This was never your house," she told him, "It's in my mother's name. And on her behalf I'm telling you...out," she placed the suitcase between them on the floor.

Eddie slumped in defeat and picked it up to leave.

~8~

50s music played as people on the street danced and talked amongst themselves. The Doctor, with his arm firmly around Angel's waist, still keeping her close, strolled past with her and Rose, looking at the tables covered in pastries, cakes, drinks, everything.

"We could go down the mall, join in with the crowd," Rose offered.

"Nah, that's just pomp and circumstance," the Doctor munched on a small Victoria sponge, Angel with a cookie in her own hand, "This is history right here."

"The domestic approach," Angel smiled at her, nudging her.

They all shared a laugh as Rose hesitated asking the next question, knowing it must be a touchy subject as it had just happened, "Will it...that thing...is it trapped for good, on video?"

"Hope so," the Doctor remarked, his face darkening for a moment before Angel squeezed him round the middle, reminding him she was there, that he'd saved her. He smiled down at her, dropping a kiss onto her hair, before turning to Rose, "Just to be on the safe side though, I'll use my unrivaled knowledge of trans-temporal extirpation methods to neutralize the residual electronic pattern."

"You…what?" Rose asked, even Angel looked confused.

"I'm going to tape over it."

"Just leave it to me, I'm always doing that," Rose laughed.

"Tell you what Tommy," the Doctor said, stopping by where the boy was leaning against a table, "You can have my scooter. Little present. Best...um...keep it in the garage for a few years though, eh?"

Tommy smiled...when he caught sight of his father stepping out of the house, suitcase in hand, "Good riddance."

They glanced over to see Eddie walking away, "Is that it then, Tommy? New monarch, new age, new world, no room for a man like Eddie Connolly."

"That's right. He deserves it."

Rose and Angel exchanged a look, both of them sensing the unconditional love he still had for his father beneath his words, "Tommy, go after him," Rose nudged him.

"What for?" he looked at her.

"He's your dad," Angel said, as though it explained everything. And it really did, his father was family, it didn't matter if he was the best dad on Earth or the worst, he was the man who gave the boy life. She admitted, she didn't have the best relationship with her father, but she made it work, she tried, and, near the end, it had almost been like he'd finally seen her as a daughter. Tommy had the chance to build a new relationship with his father and, who knew, it might end up being one that would make both better men.

"He's an idiot."

"Course he is," Rose nodded, "Like Angel said, he's your dad. But you're clever. Clever enough to save the world so don't stop there. Go on!" she and Angel smiled at him as Rose nudged him once more, Angel nodding encouragingly.

Tommy nodded, running off to join his father, walking side-by-side as he took the suitcase from him.

They watched fondly from a distance before the Doctor handed Rose and Angel a glass of orange juice, the three of them clinking their glasses together, smiling.

~8~

Angel watched the Doctor as he stood at the console from her spot on the captain's chair, "Rose told me," she said softly.

"About?" he asked, not turning around, focused on something.

"What happened," she continued, eyeing him, "How you reacted when they took me to the station," she watched him stiffen, "It's alright Doctor," she got up and moved over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder, wanting to comfort him, thinking his uncharacteristic silence was a result of regret for how he'd acted around and treated the humans, "It was a natural reaction, especially for you," she rubbed his arm, "Males ARE typically more volatile when their Mate's are in danger, it's why females are more calm, to temper their anger and..."

"It's not that," he cut in softly, "I don't regret how I acted. At the time, given the situation, it was justified," he reasoned, "I'm not..." he sighed, trying to find the words, "That's not what's on my mind..."

"Then what's wrong?" Angel frowned, confused, before she smiled, "Oh, that sounded strange not coming from you directed at me," she laughed a bit, trying to cheer him. She should have known it was something more than just the humans, he was currently attempting to fix something on the TARDIS console this time, and she knew, from her own experience, it was something she could do, and often did, when something was truly bothering her.

He turned and just smiled at her, just eyeing her a long moment, before reaching out a hand. She took it, stepping towards him as he pulled her to him gently. He reached out his other hand, lightly tracing her face, "I love you," he said softly.

Her eyes widened, of all the things she expected, that was not what she thought he was going to say.

"I'm sorry I didn't say it sooner. That's what's wrong. That I waited so long to say it, to tell you. But…after today…coming so close to…" he broke off, unable and unwilling to think about that, about how close he'd come to losing her to the Wire, "I just wanted you to know."

She nodded slightly, looking down at his right hand, the knuckles already scarred over, lifting it to her lips to drop a kiss on it, the intention behind this kiss FAR different than when the wounds had been fresh, the sentiment much more felt. She closed her eyes in serious concentration. He frowned, watching her seem to struggle with something, before he felt it, that tickle in his mind, that small pulse he felt when she tried to touch his mind...but stronger. She tugged the hand she was still holding and pulled him towards her, resting her forehead against his own for help, needing just a little more contact to break through...

'...I...love you...too...' he heard whispered across his mind, quiet though it was, it was still there.

He beamed at her, laughing with joy. That was the first time she'd been able to connect to his mind and actually speak. They'd been working on the mental bond for weeks now and could sense each other's minds, but not thoughts, not words, or at least he couldn't from her. He pulled her towards him, peppering her face with kisses, making her laugh her beautiful laugh before truly giving her a proper kiss, pulling away quite a few moments later to just hug her tightly, his hearts swelling at the fact that her first words to him through their bond was that she loved him as well.

Chapter Text

The TARDIS groaned and wheezed as she landed, almost finding it a difficult thing to do. The Doctor, Angel, and Rose stepped past the doors and looked up at it, "I dunno what's wrong with her, she's sort of..." the Doctor began, "Queasy. Indigestion."

"It's like she didn't want to land," Angel agreed, stroking the corner of the old box, "She really doesn't want us to be here…" she tilted her head, eyeing the box, "What's wrong girl? Why don't you want us here?" she asked the box, as though it could actually respond.

Well, the Doctor supposed, it sort of could. TARDISes were alive, they had a matrix, a psychic connection to its pilots, and Angel had always been more intuitive when it came to the old box. She always knew what was wrong with the TARDIS, where to go to fix it, if the box was damaged, if it was angry, if it was happy...though HE knew if it was angry too...the doors tended to snap shut on him whenever the TARDIS seemed cross with him. But Angel was talking like the box would actually speak to her. But, then again, he truly didn't doubt that she might actually get an answer from the TARDIS, just...more of a 'feeling' than an actual verbal answer. The TARDIS wasn't THAT psychic.

"Well if you think there's gonna be trouble," Rose started, serious, "We could always get back inside and go somewhere else..." she and the Doctor started laughing, as though the very idea were absurd, what was the point of an adventure if they just turned around whenever one presented itself?

However, they quieted soon enough when they saw Angel wasn't joining in.

"This isn't a good place," Angel remarked quietly, still eyeing the TARDIS.

"Why?" the Doctor frowned.

"It just feels…" Angel shook her head, trying to find the words. She looked over her shoulder at the Doctor, "Dark."

The Doctor nodded, considering that, before taking her hand, squeezing it in promise, "Well, we'll look around for a bit, and if something happens, we'll head out first thing, yeah?"

Angel looked at him, she really didn't like that idea. There was a terrible knot forming in the pit of her stomach that was starting to make her as queasy as the TARDIS. She didn't like a thing about this place and they hadn't even stepped out of the room they'd landed in. She didn't like the walls, the ground, the room, the dim lighting, she especially didn't like how the TARDIS didn't like it either. She always got a sense that the TARDISes protected their pilots from things not even they could see, and if the TARDIS didn't want to be there, it must mean there was something there she was trying to protect them from. She knew though, that that meant danger was lurking somewhere and that the Doctor was loathe to give up adventures of any sort, especially dangerous ones. He just loved being the hero, helping others out of danger, and she loved that about him, that he cared so much for others.

And...Rose was nodding as well so it was 2 against 1.

The Doctor looked around, "I think...we've landed inside a cupboard! Here we go!" he led Angel over to the door before dropping her hand to push it open, a corridor of some sort of base beyond.

"Open Door 15," a speaker stated.

Angel stared up at a rumbling noise overhead, frowning, before her gaze was pulled to a door at the end of the hall.

"Some sort of base...moon-base, sea-base, space-base...they build these things out of kits."

"Glad we're indoors, sounds like a storm out there..." Rose remarked, looking up at the thunderous noise outside as well.

"Open Door 16."

They looked over to see Angel opening another door and headed over to her, stepping through to yet another corridor.

"Human design, you've got a thing about kits," the Doctor continued, "This place was put together like a flat-pack wardrobe, only bigger. And easier."

"Open Door 17."

They stepped through one more door and into a canteen, "Oh, it's a sanctuary base!" the Doctor moved into the middle of the room as Rose shut the door behind them.

"Close Door 17."

"Deep space exploration. We've gone way out. And listen to that, underneath..." he pointed down at the ground where a faint hum resounded, "Someone's drilling."

"Welcome to Hell," Rose said, looking at the wall behind the Doctor.

"Oh, it's not THAT bad!"

"No," Angel shook her head, frowning as she pointed, "I think she meant over there."

The Doctor turned around to see 'Welcome to Hell' written on the wall with ancient symbols sketched underneath, "Hold on..." he frowned, walking over to it, "What does that say?" he peered at it closely but the writing was still incomprehensible.

"It's not translating," Angel remarked, surprised.

That was never a good sign when the TARDIS didn't know something. Which, of course, only made her more on edge and nervous, wondering whether the writing was just too old to be translated, which, if that was the case, meant an even larger danger was hiding than she previously thought, or the TARDIS just refused to translate it because of what was written, if it was a threat or something...evil. She knew the TARDIS could pick and choose what to translate. She knew the old box would never translate Gallifreyan, the language of their people being far too sacred for other species to hear, not to mention the language didn't need to be translated as the only ones who would speak it were her and the Doctor, and they just went with English around the humans. But she also knew that the TARDIS sometimes didn't translate Judoon either. Though THAT was mostly because the words were so short and halted that they were more like individual words than a sentence, which made it difficult to translate the verb tenses and other things of that nature. And the Judoon had translation technology of their own and would adapt to the language spoken most prominently around them.

But this language...just looking at it...she wasn't sure. She couldn't even say she hoped it was one over the other. If it was too old, then the danger was greater. If the TARDIS was refusing to translate it in an effort to protect them from something...then they would be left at a disadvantage of not knowing what's coming. She could only say that she hoped desperately it wasn't BOTH.

"But I thought the TARDIS translated everything, writing as well," Rose shook her head, "We should see English."

"Exactly," the Doctor nodded.

"If that's not working, then it means..." Angel reached out and touched one of the symbols. She knew the TARDIS would NEVER leave them in such a situation as to be unprepared, which meant she COULDN'T translate the language, which meant... "This writing is old. Very old."

"Impossibly old," the Doctor stood and moved to another door, "We should find out who's in charge," he turned the wheel to the door, "We've gone beyond the reach of the TARDIS's knowledge. Not a good move. And if someone's lucky enough…"

"Open Door 19."

The door opened and the trio gasped, seeing a horde of pale aliens there, with egg-shaped heads and tentacles standing on the other side.

"Right!" the Doctor nodded, trying to shake off his surprise, "Hello! Sorry! Uh...I was just saying, uh...nice base!"

"We must feed," the aliens said in chorus.

"You're gonna what?"

"We must feed."

"Yeah," Rose backed away, "I think they mean us."

They quickly stepped back as the aliens advanced, "We must feed," they turned and ran for the door they'd come through but it opened and more aliens came through, "We must feed. We must feed. We must feed," and then another door opened and more aliens entered, trapping them, "We must feed. We must feed. We must feed."

The Doctor pulled out his sonic and aimed it at the aliens threateningly, tugging Angel behind him to protect her, as Rose picked up a chair to arm herself with.

Angel frowned, eyeing the aliens curiously from around the Doctor's arm. Something about them...it wasn't quite...right...

"We must feed. We must feed. We must feed. We must feed. We must feed. We must feed. We must feed."

"Get back!" the Doctor glared at the aliens, feeling the flare of protectiveness surge through him at the thought his Mate might be in danger.

"Doctor…" Angel cut in, stepping to his side, "They mean no harm…" she frowned, casting another glance at the aliens, "At least for now."

"We must feed," one of the aliens said, shaking a white orb that was glowing in its hand, "You. If you are hungry."

The Doctor blinked, "Sorry?"

"We apologize. Electromagnetics have interfered with our speech systems."

The Doctor nodded before turning to Angel, speaking quietly, "You said 'for now,' you think they'll be trouble later?"

"I think we should keep an eye on them," was all she said, neither confirming nor retracting her statement.

"Would you like some refreshments?" the alien asked as Rose put down her chair.

"Um..." the Doctor trailed.

"Open Door 18."

Another door opened and an older man came through, two others holding guns on either side of him. He stopped suddenly, spotting the three of them, "What the hell...how did..." he strode towards them, stunned, before holding up a wrist communicator, "Captain...you're not going to believe this. We've got PEOPLE. Out of nowhere. I mean, real people. I mean three...living...people. Just standing here, right in front of me."

The trio glanced at each other, a bit confused as to why he was making such a big deal about it.

"Don't be stupid, that's impossible," another man replied through the comm..

"I suggest telling THEM that."

"But you're a sort of space base, you must have visitors now and then," Rose shook her head, "It can't be that impossible."

"You're telling me you don't know where you are?"

"No idea," the Doctor beamed, "More fun that way."

Angel shifted at that though, it wasn't always true, not knowing something. Well, with the Doctor's adventures it seemed to be, he loved learning new things as he went. But in other contexts, like her 'feelings,' it was another story. It could be quite frustrating to get one and not KNOW what it really meant. Having a vague sense of something but not a complete idea could get rather irritating after a while and...sometimes...it left her feeling guilty when someone else got hurt and she knew, if she had understood her feelings, that it never would have happened.

Like with Magpie.

She had known something was wrong, off about him, about his face, about his tellies. If she had just understood what she'd been feeling, she never would have taken Rose to his shop, the Wire never would have attacked and stolen her face, she would have been able to go WITH the Doctor to face the man and alien. Maybe, she would have even been able to save the man who was just an unfortunate victim of an alien attack. Magpie was quite unlike the Editor of Satellite 5 as the Editor had willingly helped the alien harm the humans, almost gleefully, whereas Magpie had been forced and tormented into doing the Wire's bidding. No one deserved a fate like that and she would have given anything to have been able to help the man. But she HADN'T understood her feelings, she'd led Rose into danger, gotten her face stolen, terrified the Doctor, and been unable to do ANYTHING to really help.

And that killed her.

The Doctor didn't like endings. She didn't like death, especially ones that could be prevented.

"Stand by, everyone," a young woman came over the comm. now, pulling Angel back to the present, "Buckle down. We have incoming. And it's a big one. Quake Point 5 on its way."

The base started to shake and groan when the man rushed over to a door, opening it, "Through here!" he shouted, "Now. Quickly, come on!" a siren sounded as the trio ran after him through the door with the two other guards, "Now!" they ran down another hall as it shook and smoke rose from the floor, "Move it! Come on! Come on, come on!" Rose screamed as she nearly fell, Angel grabbing her to keep her steady as they ran, "Move it, come on! Quickly! Move it!"

They hurried down the corridor and through another door into what looked like a control room where the crew was busy at work. Two men and a woman looked up when the three walked in, gaping, "Oh, my GOD," a black man breathed, "You meant it."

"People!" a young woman exclaimed, "Look at that! Real people!"

"That's us," the Doctor grinned, putting an arm around Angel's waist and squeezing her in mini-celebration, "Hooray!"

"Yeah, definitely real," Rose nodded, "My name's Rose...Rose Tyler, and...and this is Angel and the Doctor."

"Nice to meet you," Angel offered.

"Come on..." a young Indian man made his way over to them, "The oxygen must be offline. We're hallucinating. They can't be..." he poked Angel's shoulder, making her sway back on her heels a bit, his eyes widening, seeing she was solid, "No. They're real!"

"Come ON, we're in the middle of an alert!" the black man called, impatient, "Danny, strap up, the quake's coming in! Impact in thirty seconds!" he gestured to a computer screen where the time started to count down, "Sorry, you three, whoever you are. Just...hold on. Tight."

"To what?" Angel asked.

"Anything. I don't care. Just hold on."

So Angel turned and held onto the Doctor, making him laugh and smile.

"Ood, are we fixed?"

The Doctor turned Angel, bracing them against the railing behind them, Angel getting the idea and grabbing onto it instead as Rose took hold of the one across from them.

"Your kindness in this emergency is much appreciated," one of the tentacled aliens said.

"What's this planet called, anyway?" the Doctor looked over at the crew.

"Now, don't be stupid," a middle aged woman shook her head, "It hasn't got a name. How could it have a name?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow at her, "You really don't know, do you?"

"And...IMPACT!" the black man shouted.

The entire base shook violently, the crew, the Doctor, Angel, and Rose all hanging on as much as they could. It was a rather brief quake though, only lasted a few seconds.

The Doctor stood, "Oh, well, that wasn't so bad…"

Angel grabbed him, pulling him back to the railing a second before the base shook again, even worse than before. They all held on for dear life as small explosions blasted through the room, sparks flying, everyone thrown about till it finally stilled.

"Ok, that's it," the black man reported as the older man ran forward with a fire extinguisher, "Everyone alright? Speak to me. Ida?"

"Yeah, yeah!" the middle aged woman replied.

"Danny?"

"Fine," the Indian man held up a hand.

"Toby?"

"Yeah, fine," a young man pulled himself up from the floor.

"Scooti?"

"No damage," the young woman announced.

"Jefferson?"

"Check!" the older man with the fire extinguisher shouted.

"We're fine, thanks," the Doctor cut in, checking on Angel and Rose, "Fine, yeah, don't worry about us."

"The surface caved in," the black man turned to the crew, ignoring the Doctor's remarks as he brought up graphics on the computer to show them, "I deflected it onto storage 5 through 8. We've lost them completely. Toby, go and check the rocket link."

"That's not my department," Toby replied.

"Just do as I say, yeah?"

Angel frowned, watching as Toby left the room, irritated, shivering a bit as he made his way past them. Something about him felt off, ominous even.

"Oxygen holding," Ida called, "Internal gravity 56.6. We should be ok."

"Never mind the earthquake," Rose looked around as the rumbling and thunderous noise she'd heard in the corridor grew louder, "That's...that's one hell of a storm. What is that, a hurricane?"

"You'd need an atmosphere for a hurricane," Scooti looked up, "There's no air out there. It's a complete vacuum."

"Then what's shaking the roof?"

"You're not joking," Ida eyed them, stunned, "You really don't know?"

"Why do they keep asking us that?" Angel asked the Doctor quietly, confused, wondering if that was another typical human mannerism that she'd not picked up on yet.

He could only shrug.

"Well, introductions. FYI, as they said in the olden days. I'm Ida Scott, science officer," she pointed at the black man, "Zachary Cross Flane, acting Captain, sir...you've met Mr. Jefferson, he's head of security. Danny Bartock. Ethics committee."

"Not as boring as it sounds," Danny defended as the trio smiled.

"And that man who just left, that was Toby Zed, archaeology, and this..." Ida smiled at Scooti, putting her hands on the young woman's shoulders, "...is Scooti Manista. Trainee maintenance."

"…she's so young," Angel breathed sadly, staring at Scooti.

The Doctor looked at her, concerned, the way she had said it…it almost sounded like the girl was going to die or something.

Scooti just smiled at them, not having heard Angel's comment.

Ida walked over to a lever on the wall, "And this...this is home," she pulled it down and whirring started.

"Brace yourselves," Zach told them, "The sight of it sends some people mad."

A reddish light started to shine down upon them as a domed window opened above, revealing a black hole.

The Doctor and Angel stood, amazed, slightly bewildered, and even more alarmed at the sight, as Rose's mouth dropped open in shock, watching light get sucked into it, "That's a black hole," Rose gasped.

"But that's impossible," the Doctor shook his head.

"I did warn you," Zach smirked.

"We're...standing right under a black hole," Angel repeated.

"We're in orbit," Ida corrected.

"But we can't be..." the Doctor frowned.

"You can see for yourself. We're in orbit."

"But we CAN'T be."

"This lump of rock is suspended in perpetual geostationary orbit around that black hole without falling in. Discuss."

"And that's bad, yeah?" Rose looked at them.

"That doesn't even begin to cover it..." Angel breathed, actually shaking a little.

She'd...she'd always had a bit of a fear of the dark. The things that lurked in it, the things you couldn't see...nightmares often lurked in the dark. Those little sounds and shadows that always seemed more sinister when you couldn't see their source. She couldn't begin to count the number of times she'd fall asleep in whatever TARDIS she was working in on Gallifrey, just because the day would fly by and she wouldn't want to walk back in the dark. The TARDIS console rooms always had a warm, comforting glow. And that was just it...she was mostly uneasy with the dark because it was just...there was just no light. Black holes...well, she'd always felt uneasy learning about them, to her, they were just the epitome of the dark, black, all encompasing, inescapable...void of everything warm and full of life and light.

"A black hole's a dead star," the Doctor turned to Rose, though taking Angel's hand, feeling her tremors beside him, wanting to comfort her, "It collapses in on itself, in and in and in until the matter's so dense and tight it starts to pull everything else in too. Nothing in the Universe can escape it. Light, gravity...time...everything just gets pulled inside...and crushed," he moved his arm around Angel instead, knowing his words hadn't helped but knowing it wouldn't be fair to Rose not to know the true magnitude of what was happening.

He turned and pressed a kiss to the side of Angel's head, nuzzling his nose against her temple softly, before resting his forehead to her head, feeling her shakes lessen, though she was still tense.

"So, they can't be in orbit," Rose reasoned, "We should be pulled right in."

"We should be dead," Angel stated quietly, still staring at the black hole.

This whole thing, this whole planet...it was driving her mad. It was like her feelings and sensations were heightened, like everything in her was telling her to get them away, all of them, but...she didn't know why. She knew the humans wouldn't listen to her without proof, they seemed to be a scientific bunch, they wouldn't believe the word of a 'psychic' and they wouldn't leave just because she said they should. And Rose wouldn't leave without her fellow humans, and she wouldn't let the Doctor leave without Rose though she knew, if he truly could sense the danger like she could, he'd have pulled HEr away to get HER safe even if it meant leaving Rose behind, because it was instinct. So...for now...she kept quiet, not wanting to frighten Rose, not wanting to alarm the Doctor, not wanting the humans to scoff at her and later ignore her or the Doctor. She was just...stuck.

And that black hole, staring down at her...it made her stomach shift uneasily, it was wrong.

It was all wrong.

"And yet...here we are," Ida looked up, "Beyond the laws of physics. Welcome onboard."

"But if there's no atmosphere out there, what's that?" Rose pointed at a cloud moving towards the hole.

"Stars breaking up...gas clouds...we have whole solar systems being ripped apart above our heads before falling into that thing."

"So, a bit worse than a storm, then."

"Just a bit."

"Just a bit, yeah," Rose scoffed as the base shook once more.

~8~

Toby stepped out into one of the corridors, a pile of scrolls tucked under his arm.

"Toby…" a deep voice whispered.

He looked around, puzzled, not seeing anyone, when the lights flickered and went out, coming back on a moment later.

"Who's that?" he called, looking around, "Danny?" he waited a moment longer, before shaking his head and heading down the corridor, stepping back into the control room where the crew, the Doctor, Angel, and Rose were gathered around the control panel.

"Close Door 1."

Angel looked up at the door closing to see Toby walk in, "You alright?" she asked, eyeing him.

"Fine," he said quickly before turning to Zach, "The rocket link's fine."

Zach pressed a button on the controls and a hologram of the black hole appeared before them, the Doctor whipping on his glasses as Zach began to explain, "That's the black hole, officially designated K37 Gen 5."

"In the scriptures of the Falltino, this planet is called 'Kroptor,'" Ida added, "The bitter pill. And the black hole is supposed to be a mighty demon. It was tricked into devouring the planet, only to spit it out. Because it was poison."

"The bitter pill," Rose grinned, "I like that."

"We are so far out," Angel remarked as they looked at the diagram. She frowned, listening to Ida just then...that black hole...she couldn't help but feel like it really WAS a demon, it just...it wasn't RIGHT. It wasn't natural. It wasn't a normal black hole. There was just...something MORE to it...she could tell...

"Lost in the drifts of the Universe," the Doctor agreed turning to Zach, "How did you even GET here?!"

"We flew in," Zach explained, "You see..." he brought up another hologram of the planet, a gravity field funnelling out of it, "This planet's generating a gravity field. We don't know how, we've no idea, but...it's kept in constant balance against the black hole. And the field extends out there," he pointed, "As a funnel. A distinct...gravity funnel, reaching out into clear space. That was our way in."

"You flew down that thing?" Rose smiled, "Like a rollercoaster."

"By rights, the ship should've been torn apart. We lost the Captain...which is what put me in charge..."

"You're doing a good job," Ida told him comfortingly.

"Yeah. Well, needs must."

"But...what if the funnel closes?" Angel frowned, a sense of dread filling her at the notion.

"Then there's no way out," Danny nodded.

"We had fun speculating about that," Scooti rolled her eyes.

"Oh, yeah, that's the word," Danny bumped her on the head with one of Toby's scrolls, "'Fun.'"

"But that field would take phenomenal amounts of power!" the Doctor continued, completely stumped, "I mean...not just big, but off the scale! Can I..." he gestured at the controls.

"Sure," Ida handed him a calculator, "Help yourself."

Angel stepped over to the Doctor, linking her arm through his as she stood beside him as he worked away on the calculator, curious to see the calculations he'd use even if she probably wouldn't understand half of them, while Rose just wandered, looking around.

"Your refreshment," one of the aliens said, stepping up to her and handing her a small cup.

"Oh yeah, thanks," she took it, "Thank you. I'm sorry, what was your name?"

"We have no titles. We are as one."

He turned and left as Rose looked at Danny, "Um, what are they called?" she gestured to the alien.

"Oh, come on," Danny laughed, "Where've you been living? Everyone's got one!"

"Well, not me, so what are they?"

"They're the Ood."

"The Ood?"

"The Ood."

"Well that's...ood."

"Very ood!" he laughed, "But handy. They work the mine shafts. All the drilling and stuff. Supervision and maintenance! They're born for it. Basic slave race."

"You've got slaves?"

"Don't start, she's like one of that lot," Scooti commented, smiling, "Friends of the Ood."

"Well maybe I am, yeah," Rose said, more than a bit annoyed, and slightly disgusted at the thought that humans in the future, some of them having been slaves, would have slaves, "Since when do humans need slaves?"

"But the Ood offer themselves," Danny continued, "If you DON'T give them orders, they just pine away and die."

One of the Ood approached Rose and she eyed it closely, "Seriously? You like being ordered about?"

"It is all we crave," the Ood nodded.

"Why's that then?"

"We have nothing else in life."

"Yeah, well, I used to think like that. A long time ago."

"There we go!" the Doctor called, handing the calculator to Angel to see his work, "D'you see? To generate that gravity field, and the funnel, you'd need a power source with an inverted self-extrapolating reflex of six to the power of six every six seconds."

"That's a lot of sixes," Rose frowned, joining them back by the control panel.

Angel frowned and eyed the crew...there were six of them, not counting the guards. Scooti, Ida, Zach, Jefferson, Toby, and Danny...and for some reason that fact made the knot in her stomach twist even more, especially when she looked at Scooti, the youngest of the six, and Jefferson, the oldest.

"And it's impossible."

"It took us two years to work that out!" Zach gaped at him.

"I'm very good," the Doctor replied.

"But...that's why we're here," Ida nodded, "This power source is ten miles below through solid rock. Point Zero. We're drilling down to try and find it."

"It's giving off readings of over ninety stats on the Blazen Scale," Zach agreed.

"We could revolutionize modern science."

"We could use it to fuel the Empire," Jefferson nodded.

"Or start a war," the Doctor pulled off his specs.

"I'd go with fuel the Empire," Angel tried to smile, trying to ignore the pit in her stomach for now...but...she just couldn't help but feel like something bad had either happened or was going to happen...or both...lots of bad things actually.

She swallowed hard, she really didn't like this planet.

"It's buried beneath us," Toby remarked, "In the darkness, waiting."

"What's your job?" Rose chuckled at him, not seeming to notice Angel's mounting discomfort, "Chief...dramatist?"

The Doctor smirked.

"Well, whatever it is down there is not a natural phenomena. And this, er, planet once supported life. Eons ago, before the Human Race had even learned to walk."

"That stuff on the wall, the symbols," Angel eyed him, "YOU did that?"

He nodded, "I copied it from fragments we found on earth by the drilling, but I can't translate it."

"No, neither could Angel or I," the Doctor muttered, "And that's saying something."

"Well, for you," Angel remarked, managing a little smile.

"There was some form of civilization," Toby explained, "They buried something. Now it's reaching out. Calling us in."

The Doctor beamed at them, "And you came."

"Well, how could we not?" Ida countered.

"So, when it comes right down to it, why did you come here?" the Doctor asked as Zach switched off the hologram, "Why did you do that? Why? I'll tell you why. Because it was THERE. Brilliant."

"Um, Zach?" Angel looked at the man, cutting off the Doctor slightly.

"That's me," he smiled.

"You might want to stand still," she smiled, before nodding at the Doctor, "Cos this one's gonna hug you."

"Is that alright?" the Doctor asked, ignoring the stares of the others.

"I s'pose so," Zach said slowly.

The Doctor edged towards him, "Here we go. Coming in," he threw his arms around Zach, hugging him, beaming, "Ah, human beings, you are amazing! Ha!" he pulled back as Rose and Angel chuckled, "Thank you."

"Not at all."

"But apart from that, you're completely mad. You should pack your bags and get back in that ship and fly for your lives."

"You can talk!" Ida laughed, "And how the hell did YOU get here?"

"Oh, I've got this um...this..." the Doctor trailed off, not quite sure what to say, "It's hard to explain, it just sort of...appears."

"We can show you," Rose added, "We parked down the corridor from um...oh, what's it called? Uh, Habitation Area..."

"Three," Angel recalled.

"Three," Rose nodded, "Three."

"Do you mean storage six?" Zach frowned.

"Uh, it was a bit of a cupboard, yeah," the Doctor nodded cheerfully, till something dawned on him, "Storage six, but you said...you said...you said storage five to eight!"

"Oh my God," Angel breathed and, without another word, took off out of the room with the Doctor, Rose following them, realizing that storage six had been lost, destroyed in the quake...and with it, the TARDIS that they'd parked inside it.

Chapter Text

"What is it?" Rose called as they bound down the hall, the Time Lords frantic, "What's wrong?"

"Open Door 19."

The Doctor dashed across the canteen.

"Close Door 19."

He spun the wheel, trying to open the door back to the other corridor, "Stupid doors, come ON!" it swung open and he was out again.

"Open Door 17."

They rushed down the corridor, opening another door.

"Open Door 16."

"Doctor!" Angel called, "It won't work..."

But the Doctor shoved against the next one regardless, frantically pushing the button to open it but it wasn't working.

"Door 15 out of commission."

"Can't be, can't be!" he exclaimed.

"What's wrong?!" Rose cried, finally catching up to them, "What is it?" she watched as the Doctor opened a small round window in the door and looked through it, "Doctor, the TARDIS is in there. What's happened?"

"The TARDIS is gone," the Doctor backed away from the window, devastated.

"Door 15 out of commission."

"The earthquake...this section collapsed."

Rose stared at him, puzzled, "But it's gotta be out there somewhere," she peered out the window, only to see the rocky, barren landscape.

"Look down," the Doctor commented and she did, only to see a canyon, "It's lost. Gone. Probably destroyed..."

"No," Angel shook her head, "No, she isn't. She's still alive."

The Doctor looked at her, wide eyed, he'd assumed the box had been destroyed in the quake, it was a LONG way down and that quake had been violent to say the least, "What?"

"I don't feel like when we fell through the Vortex," she replied, looking at him, "The TARDIS may be trapped down there, but she's still intact, she's still alive. And if she's still alive...we just have to find her."

~8~

The Doctor, Angel, and Rose were back in the control room, the Doctor pleading with Zach, "The ground gave way. My TARDIS must've fallen down right into the heart of the planet. But you've got robot drills heading the same way."

"We can't divert the drilling," Zach shook his head, turning away.

The Doctor stared at him a moment before moving after him, "But we NEED my ship. It's all we've got. Literally the only thing Angel and I have left."

"Please," Angel tried, "You've no idea how important she is."

"Look, WE'VE only got the resources to drill ONE central shaft down to the power source, and that's it," Zach huffed, "No diversions, no distractions, NO EXCEPTIONS. Your machine is lost. All I can do is offer you a lift if we ever get to leave this place, and that...is the end of it."

He walked away, Ida approaching the Doctor, who looked completely helpless, Angel holding his hand in comfort, "I'll uh, put you on the duty roster. We need someone in the laundry," she turned and followed Zach out of the room.

"Open Door 1."

The Doctor squeezed Angel's hand as the three of them looked at each other, the Ood leaving the room.

"Close Door 1."

The Doctor turned and leaned against the control panel with Angel and Rose, "I've trapped you here," the Doctor said quietly to Rose.

"No," Rose shook her head, "Don't worry about me," the base shook, "Ok, we're on a planet that shouldn't exist, under a black hole, and no way out," they looked at her, "Yeah, I've changed my mind. Start worrying about me."

Angel stepped forward and pulled Rose into a comforting hug, looking at the Doctor over the blonde's shoulder in concern.

He could only look down, hopeless. This was all his fault. If he'd just listened to Angel when she'd said it wasn't a good place, taken in how little she wanted to stay there, and truly turned and left, none of this would have happened, the TARDIS would still be there with them and they wouldn't be trapped.

"Come on," Angel pulled away, "You know what you need?" she gave Rose a small smile, her hands resting on Rose's shoulders, wanting her to feel better despite the fact that she herself was rather on edge about all this, "A cookie."

Rose laughed, smiling at how random that was but also how Angel it was, that girl loved her cookies, "What?"

"Yeah," she nodded, "A nice, warm cookie. Or a banana," she added, before pausing to consider her words, "Well...bananas are good, but cookies can do wonders. Yeah, cookies it is. Think they might have some?"

Rose shook her head but kept smiling, "Oh they've GOT to," she agreed playfully, "Can't have a dangerous expedition to a black hole without cookies!"

"Then let's go get some," Angel nodded, not seeming to sense Rose wasn't really being serious, "Come on," she turned Rose around on the spot and nudged her on.

Rose laughed and headed for the door, the Time Lords behind her.

The Doctor stepped to Angel's side, taking her hand, knowing she wasn't really as ok with the situation as she was trying to seem for Rose, "I'm sorry," he told her softly so Rose wouldn't hear, "I should have listened to you, we should have turned back. The TARDIS is lost because of me."

She squeezed his hand, "I'm not happy to be here," she admitted, "I don't like this planet. Everything in me is telling me to get away from it. And I have a feeling the TARDIS is going to be cross with you about this," she nudged him, "But...I AM happy to be with you," she added, "Even if we're on an impossible planet on the verge of falling into a black hole. I...I can bear that, as long as I'm with you."

He smiled at her, lifting her hand to kiss the back of it, "Just as I can if I'm with you. And then some."

"Good," she nodded, "Then we'll always be with each other."

"Always," he promised, leaning over to kiss her as well. He loved how she could always make him feel a bit better about a situation just by being there, just by smiling at him. It was like she always knew just what to say to cheer him up. And it wasn't because of any 'feeling' telling her what to say but just who she was inside. She was just such a caring soul, with such a warm and loving heart that she just couldn't stand it to see anyone else upset. She was remarkable.

"Though next time," she murmured, pulling away, "Don't argue with the psychic."

He laughed, smiling fully now, "I promise."

"Good."

~8~

"Entering night shift," the computer announced that night, "Your chosen track for transition is Ravel's 'Bolero.'"

The song began to play over the speakers as the Ood worked around the base. Jefferson, wandered amongst them, watching Scooti at work on the planet's surface, "All finished," she called into the wrist comm. of her spacesuit, "Heading back inside."

She started back as Danny ticked off the Ood on a clipboard as they filed past him, "Ood 7 Gamma 10. Ood 7 Gamma 11. Ood 7 Gamma 12..."

~8~

Toby smiled softly as the music carried into his room where he was examining fragments of the ancient writing beneath a microscope. The music cut off sharply and there was a sound of buzzing electricity. He looked up, startled, but dismissed it, getting back to work.

"Toby..." the same voice as before hissed to him.

He jerked up, looking around sharply, searching the room with his eyes. A moment later he shook his head and turned back to the scrolls.

"I can see you…"

"Danny, is that you?" Toby asked, irritated, "It's…it's not funny, alright?"

There was no reply.

He got up and strode out the door, "Dan?" he opened it, peering down the hall to see it deserted, "I'm…I'm trying to work, Daniel," he hesitated, disturbed, "Look, if…if that's you, then can you just stop it..." the lights flickered again. He dashed back into his room when a low groan echoed through it. He glanced around, up and down the corridor, but it was still deserted.

The sound stopped.

~8~

The Doctor sat by the ancient text in the canteen area, staring at it with his brow furrowed as Angel just wandered around the room, pausing a moment and looking at a table of papers, before heading over to it to look at what they were, when Rose got up to go to where the Ood were serving food, Scooti getting served at the moment.

No cookies unfortunately.

"Danny, check the temperature of Ood Habitation," Zach called over the speaker, "It seems to be rising."

Danny stood and walked off, past Angel as she moved back to the Doctor's side, when Scooti noticed Rose standing a few feet away by the Ood hatch, "Help yourself," she gestured at the tray, "Just don't have the green. Or the blue."

She laughed and headed back to her table where she was going over a few reports as Rose picked up her tray and stepped up to the Ood, "Uh, bit of that, thanks," she pointed.

The Ood spooned some sloppy blue goop onto her tray, "Would you like sauce with that?"

"I'll have a go, yeah," she nodded, watching as the Ood shook some sauce onto her tray, "I did that job once. I was a...a dinner lady! Not that I'm calling you a lady. Although, I dunno," she eyed it closely, "You might be. Do you actually get paid, though? Do they give you money?"

"The Beast and his armies shall rise from the Pit to make war against God."

"...I'm sorry?"

"Apologies," the Ood said after shaking its orb, "I said, 'I hope you enjoy your meal.'"

"Yeah…" she replied, watching it carefully, recalling Angel's warning to keep an eye on the Ood, before turning and joining them back by the wall, already feeling safer to be away from the Ood and nearer to them.

~8~

Zach worked away in the control room, eyeing the hologram of the drill, "Drill head now at Point 16," the computer announced as Zach tapped some keys, "Drill head speed increasing."

"Keep pressure at 60," Zach instructed as he stood up and walked over to another set of controls.

While his back was turned, an image of a horned beast replaced the hologram of the planet, roaring quietly.

Zach spun around, having spotted it out of the corner of his eye, but it was gone.

~8~

Danny turned a wheel to open another door.

"Close Door 3," the computer announced.

"I've CLOSED Door 3," Danny rolled his eyes.

"He is awake."

"What did you say?"

"Close Door 3."

Danny peered through a small window on the door, confused.

~8~

Toby sat in his dead silent room, still examining the fragments of the text.

"Toby..." the voice hissed.

He started to turn when...

"Don't turn around."

He closed his eyes, feeling like he was being watched, "Dan..." he began fearfully, "That's not Dan."

"Don't look at me," the voice hissed as he started to turn around again.

"Who…who are you?" Toby froze.

"I have so many names."

"If…if I could…"

"If you look at me, you will die."

"But who are you?"

"I'm behind you, Toby. I'm right behind you."

Toby's head jerked again, taking enormous effort not to turn.

"Don't look…don't look at me."

Toby trembled.

"One look and you will die."

Toby stiffened, feeling it approaching.

"I'm reaching out, Toby. I'm so close. Don't turn around. Oh, I can touch you..."

It was too much, Toby suddenly spun around and stopped.

The voice was gone and the room was empty.

He breathed a sigh of relief, turning back to his work only to see something on his hands through his gloves. He turned them over, putting down the broken fragments and pulling them off to see his hands were covered with the ancient symbols as though tattooed into his skin. He stood up in shock, staring at them. He picked up a mirror from the desk and looked at his face, now covered in the symbols as well, his eyes red. He threw the mirror back down onto the desk, his whole body arching as though in pain as he fell to the floor.

~8~

The lights in the canteen flickered as Angel shivered, the Doctor immediately putting his arm around her.

"Zach, have we got a problem?" Ida called into the comm. on her wrist.

"No more than usual," Zach replied, "Got the Scarlet System burning up, it might be worth a look."

Ida looked over at the Doctor and Angel, who sat close to each other on one side of a table, Rose across from them, "You might wanna see this. Moment in history," she walked over to a lever and pulled it, the ceiling opening to reveal the black hole overhead, the room filling with red light, "There. On the edge," she pointed to a stream of scarlet light gently spinning towards the hole, "That red cloud...that used to be the Scarlet System. Home to the Peluchi...a mighty civilization spanning a billion years...disappearing. Forever. Their planets and suns consumed."

The Doctor felt someone take his hand and looked over to see Angel staring up at the system with a sad expression on her face, clearly thinking about their home and the similarities it held to the Peluchi. And while she held no blame for the Doctor, he knew she missed their world as did he, just the little things about it, the sky, the grass, the trees...and they were both missing it even more so now that they were cut off from the TARDIS, the last thing besides each other that they had of their home planet.

"Ladies and gentlemen...we have witnessed its passing," Ida breathed, moved, about to pull the lever again.

"Er, no, could you leave it open?" the Doctor asked, "Just for a bit. I won't go mad, I promise."

"How would you know?"

"He went mad a long time ago," Angel joked.

Ida nodded, leaving the controls and turning to Scooti, "Scooti, check the lockdown," Scooti got up and headed out, "Jefferson, sign off the airlock seals for me," Jefferson nodded and followed Ida out, leaving the Doctor, Angel, and Rose alone.

"Open Door 18."

"I've seen films and things," Rose remarked, watching the black hole, "Yeah, they say black holes are like gateways to another Universe."

"Close Door 18."

"Not that one," Angel remarked, eyeing it, her stomach twisting again, "It just...eats."

"Long way from home..." Rose sighed.

"Go that way," the Doctor pointed at the hole, a little to the side of it, "Turn right, keep going for um...about 500 years...then you'll reach the Earth."

Rose pulled her phone out, turning it on, "No signal. That's the first time we've gone out of range. Mind you, even if I could...what would I tell her? Can you build another TARDIS?"

"They were grown, not built," Angel corrected softly, "With Gallifrey gone..." she shook her head, "I mean, we COULD grow another TARDIS if we had a chunk of TARDIS coral, but that would take thousands of years..."

"Well, it could be worse," Rose tried to keep it light as their list of escapes and options dwindled, "This lot said they'd give us a lift."

"And then what?" the Doctor looked at her.

"I dunno...find a planet...get a job...live a life, same as the rest of the Universe."

"Pfft..." he shook his head, thinking about it, "I'd have to settle down. In a house or something, a proper house with...with...with...with DOORS and things. Carpets! Me! Living in a house!" Rose smiled, "Now that...that is terrifying."

"You'd have to get a mortgage," Rose teased.

"...no," he gaped, horrified.

"Oh yes."

"Now you know how Sarah Jane felt," Angel nudged him, smiling.

"I am dying," he determined, "That's it. I am dying, it is all over."

"What about me?" Rose cut in, "I'd have to get one too," she laughed, "We could get the same one! We'd all be flatmates!"

"Aren't we that now?" Angel laughed, looking at the Doctor, "The TARDIS has carpets and doors. And, if she wanted, and the Chameleon Circuit wasn't broken, she could take the shape of a house..."

"Well, THAT," he nodded, "Wouldn't be quite so bad. Best house in the Universe."

They fell silent for a few moments, their thoughts reminded of the lost TARDIS, before the Doctor sighed, "I promised Jackie I'd always take you back home."

"Everyone leaves home in the end," Rose waved him off.

"Maybe, but you've got a home to go back to Rose," Angel told her lightly, reaching out to touch Rose's hand, squeezing it, "You've no idea how lucky you are to have that."

The Doctor nodded, "And no one leaves home to end up stuck here."

"Yeah, but stuck with you two," Roes smiled, "That's not so bad."

"Yeah?" Angel smiled at her.

"Yes," she said sincerely, "It's fantastic actually."

Angel and the Doctor smiled, pleased that Rose enjoyed their company so much.

Rose's phone rang, she smiled, thinking their luck had changed for the better, and answered it, only to hear, 'He is awake' on the other end. Shocked, she quickly threw the phone to the floor.

~8~

Toby jerked awake, a murderous look in his red eyes.

~8~

The trio clambered down the stairs to see Danny in the Ood Habitation room, "Evening!" the Doctor called.

"Only us!" Rose smiled.

"The mysterious trio," Danny commented working at his computer, "How are you, then? Settling in?"

"Yeah, sorry, straight to business," the Doctor cut in, "The Ood, how do they communicate? I mean, with each other," he glanced down at the Ood sitting in an area, much like an animal pen, below.

Danny shrugged, "Oh, just empaths. There's a low level telepathic field connecting them. Not that that does THEM much good. They're basically a herd race. Like cattle."

"The...telepathic field, would it be able to pick up psychic messages?" Angel wondered.

"'Cos I was having dinner, and one of the Ood said something...well, odd," Rose agreed.

"Oh," Danny rolled his eyes, "An odd Ood."

"And then I got something else on my er..." Rose glanced at the Doctor and Angel, "Communicator thing."

"Oh, be fair," Danny scoffed, "We've got whole star systems burning up around us. There's all sorts of stray transmissions. Probably nothing," the Doctor and Rose stared at him, not convinced, as Angel glanced at the computer Danny was just at, "Look...if there was something wrong, it would show. We monitor the telepathic field. It's the only way to look after them. They're so stupid, they don't even tell us when they're ill."

"Monitor the field, that's this thing?" the Doctor glanced at the screen as well, seeing it read 'Basic 5.'

"Yeah. But like I said, it's low level telepathy. They only register Basic 5."