A/N: I am so, so, SO sorry for not updating in so long. This chapter gave me a real hard time, and the words just weren't flowing like they're supposed to. Hopefully, you enjoy the double feature! Comment responses in endnotes, you guys are awesome. Thanks bunches.

Alternate Title: Can the Doctor dance? Are you my mummy?

"One two three, one two three."

In one of the many rooms of the TARDIS, Elm led Rose in a simple waltz. Soft, slow music filled the otherwise empty room.

"You're doing great, Rose," Elm said in a soft voice so as not to distract.

Rose's smile was toothy. "Thanks, I-" she lost her concentration and stepped right on Elm's boot covered foot. She frowned and looked down at her feet to correct them. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Elm replied. "It's part of the learning process. You could loosen up a bit, though. Remember, all you've got to do is stick to the beat and follow my lead."

"Right, right, yeah," Rose said with a nod. She was still looking down.

"Eyes on mine."

"Bugger."

"What're you two doing?"

The Doctor's voice destroyed the peace of the room. Rose immediately went to stop, though Elm pulled her to keep going.

"Ignore him, consider it a test," she advised before looking over Rose's shoulder at the man. "What's it look like we're doing, Doc?"

"Dancing."

"Great observation skills you've got there," Elm teased.

Rose giggled and stumbled over her feet.

He rolled his eyes. "Why're you dancing?"

"It just occurred to me," Rose began, finally getting her rhythm back, "that this is a time machine and someday we might end up at a ball. And then, I thought, 'What if I get asked to dance?'"

"So she asked me to teach her," Elm filled in. "You're doing a great job, by the way. I think the distraction is helping."

Rose's smile widened. "Thanks."

The Doctor's eyes zeroed in on Elm. "How do you know how to dance, then?"

"Theater," she replied with a smile. "The first production I was in had a dance scene so a couple of the other newbies and I had to learn. Speaking of, want to cut in Doc?"

"What? Why?" Rose whined. "I was just getting used to it."

"Dancing with different leads will help with your adaptability," Elm explained. "No one dances the same."

"As nice as that sounds, I think I'll have to decline," the Doctor said as he crossed his arms. "I don't dance."

Rose stopped in her tracks. "What, at all?"

"Don't tell me you don't know how," Elm exclaimed.

"Of course I know how," the Doctor replied with a scowl. "I'm just not one for the activity."

"What, never?" Elm pushed.

The Doctor opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by the blaring of an alarm. The lights flashed red overhead.

"What's that?" Rose questioned over the noise.

The Doctor's face was grim. "Nothing good."

OoOoOoO

The TARDIS shuddered as the Doctor flipped yet another switch on the console. Elm stumbled at the motion and gripped both a stumbling Rose and the railing to keep from falling.

"What's the emergency?" Rose asked, looking at the image the Doctor had pulled up on the monitor. It showed a cylindrical pod-looking thing racing through the vortex.

The Doctor didn't stop moving as he spoke. "Mauve."

"Mauve?" the girls asked at once. They exchanged a look.

"The universally recognized color for danger," the Doctor replied as if it were obvious. "Mauve."

Rose's brow lifted. "What happened to red?"

The Doctor laughed. "That's just humans. For everyone else, red's camp. All those red alerts, all that dancing," he laughed again before looking back toward the monitor. "The thing's got a basic flight computer. I've hacked in, slaved the TARDIS. Where it goes, we go."

"And that's safe?" Rose questioned.

"Totally."

The TARDIS jerked so hard it sent everyone to the floor. Rose crashed into Elm who narrowly avoided hitting her head on the console as she fell. They got back up as quick as they could.

"Okay, reasonably," the Doctor corrected. "Should have said reasonably there." He checked the monitor again before jamming a few controls. "No, no no! It's jumping time tracks!"

"How's it doing that?" Elm exclaimed.

"No clue."

"Well, what is it?" Rose asked.

"No idea."

She let out a frustrated noise. "Then why are we chasing it?!"

The Doctor's face turned serious. "It's mauve, dangerous, and about thirty seconds from the center of London." He hit the materialization lever.

Elm glanced at Rose before following the Doctor in his rush out of the TARDIS, grabbing her coat from the rack as she went. Outside was London, obviously a few decades in her past. Night had already fallen and that, combined with the dreary weather, made for empty streets. Nearby both light and jazzy music streamed through an open door.

The three were quiet for a moment before Elm spoke up. "Why is it always Earth?"

"You lot are trouble magnets," the Doctor said in answer. Taking out his sonic, he scanned the area. "Whatever that thing was, it must've come down close to here. Within a mile at least. Couldn't have been more than a few weeks ago." He frowned. "Maybe a month."

"A month?" Rose exclaimed. "But we were right behind it!"

"It was jumping time tracks all over the place!" the Doctor defended. "We're bound to be a little bit out. Do you want to drive?"

Elm glanced back at the TARDIS. "Actually…"

"No."

"You offered!" Elm retorted. "Just one short lesson?"

"Absolutely not."

"A quick jump to the moon and back."

"No," the Doctor repeated. "No one drives the TARDIS besides me, and there will be no attempts, got it?"

She let out a disappointed sigh. "Spoilsport."

Rose looked between the two of them with a half smile before speaking. "What's the plan? You gonna scan for alien tech or something?"

"Rose, it hit the middle of London with a very loud bang," the Doctor said slowly. "I'm going to ask." He took out his psychic paper and held it up. She went to grab it, but he moved it out of the way before she could. "Oi remember the last time you took this? Sticky fingers."

"Fine," Rose relented, leaning forward to read it. "Doctor John Smith, Ministry of Asteroids."

"Don't you ever get sick of using my name?" Elm questioned. "Why not change it up a bit. Be John Johnson, John Jones, I dunno, something other than John Smith."

"I've always been John Smith," he defended. "I'm not changing it now."

Rose grinned and shrugged at Elm. "Old dogs."

The Doctor scowled as Elm burst laughing. "C'mon, no more dawdling," he said, grabbing Elm's hand and pulling her toward the nearby door. "Don't fall behind Rose!"

The door led to a jazzy nightclub filled with well-dressed people. Most of the patrons were seated at tables, though some were up slow dancing in front of the stage. On stage was a jazz band along with a woman, a singer, who's voice mixed with the music in a way that soothed the nerves.

"Oh, that's nice," Elm hummed, swinging the Doctor's arm to the music. She eyed the dancers contemplatively.

The Doctor looked at her from the corner of his eye. "What is it?"

Elm startled out of her daze. "What?"

"You've got a look," he explained with a vague wave of his free hand. "What're you thinking about?"

"I thought we were investigating."

The Doctor shrugged. "We've got time before the show ends."

She looked back toward the crowd. "Just a bit nostalgic, I guess. It's been a while since…"

When she didn't elaborate, the Doctor nudged her. "Since what?"

"Since I've danced," she explained. Her mind drifted as she spoke. "It sort of reminds me of someone. I guess he'd be an ex, but we parted amicably so it feels weird calling him that. Anyways, he's the one who taught me to dance." She sighed. "Moss Lewis, man, he was a great dancer."

The Doctor let out a short laugh. "Moss?"

Elm chuckled as well. "Terrible name, I know. He hated it. Had everyone call him Mo, which wasn't much better." Her chuckles tapered off and she resumed her longing stare at the dance floor.

There was a beat of music filled silence before the Doctor spoke.

"Tell you what, once we've got this sorted, I'll take you to a show," the Doctor promised. The band on stage was just finishing their act and bowing for the crowd. "Something small, like this."

"Will you dance then, Doc?"

He, already halfway to the stage, didn't respond. Elm didn't expect him to. She sat in one of the available chairs, curious to see how he'd go about getting information.

The Doctor fumbled with the mic for a moment before clearing his throat. "Excuse me." The patrons, oblivious to the new person, continued to chat among themselves. "Excuse me, could I have everybody's attention for just a mo? I'll be very quick." Finally, the room quieted, and all eyes focused on the Doctor. He straightened under the scrutiny. "Hello! Might seem like a stupid question, but has anything fallen from the sky recently?"

Elm expected skepticism. Perhaps mockery or confusion. What she didn't expect, was laughter.

What began as a few scattered chuckles spread to the whole room, and soon everybody was laughing.

She didn't get the joke and neither did the Doctor. He cleared his throat again. "Sorry, have I said something funny?" The laughter was starting up again. "There's this thing I need to find, and it would've fallen from the sky a couple of days ago." As he spoke, a loud siren started up. The sound was familiar to Elm, though she couldn't place where she'd heard it before. "Would've landed near here?" The Doctor tried keeping the audience's attention as they stood to leave, filing out through another door. "It must've made a very loud-" he was interrupted by a nearby explosion that shook the very foundation of the building. Elm jumped with a start and looked dubiously at the dust falling from the ceiling. The Doctor sighed. "Bang."

A man in uniform approached Elm and gestured toward the door everyone was streaming to. "Best hurry. Hitler doesn't dally."

Hitler. Explosions. London. Elm let out a sigh at their luck.

The Doctor, who was off the stage by then, grabbed her hand and began dragging her out of the building. Elm shouted back to the man as they left. "Sorry, in a bit of a rush. Be safe!"

"Of course things couldn't be easy," the Doctor muttered to himself as they exited the club and made their way back to the TARDIS. "Rose!"

Elm blinked and just then realized Rose hadn't been with them. She also wasn't waiting outside.

Worried for her friend, she ran up to the TARDIS, opened the door, and called inside. "Rosie?"

There wasn't a response. The Doctor sighed.

"You know, one day, just one day, I'm going to meet someone who gets the whole don't wander off thing."

"Hey!" Elm exclaimed. "I don't wander off!"

"No," the Doctor amended. "When I tell you to stay put, you follow after."

"Well, I don't want to miss anything, n-"

A phone rang. The bickering stopped. Elm and the Doctor made eye contact.

"Is that…"

"It is."

The phone rang again. Not just any phone, though. The TARDIS's phone.

The Doctor opened the panel to reveal said ringing device. "How can you be ringing?"

"Isn't that your phone?" Elm questioned. "I'm sure I'm not the only one in the universe with your number."

"No, but it's broke. A wire snapped the other day, and I haven't gotten around to fixing it," the Doctor explained, eyes still fixed on the device. "What's that about, ringing?"

He scanned it with his sonic and made to pick it up when a voice startled both of them.

"Don't. It's not for you."

Standing near the entrance of the alley was a young woman. Judging by her looks, she couldn't have been older than 16, though her eyes were harder than a teens should be.

The Doctor didn't move his hand but paused. "How do you know that?"

"Cos I do," she retorted. "And I'm telling you, don't answer it."

The phone rang again, drawing the time traveler's attention back to it. By the time they looked back at the girl, she was gone.

The Doctor picked up the phone. "Hello? This is the Doctor speaking," he paused before adding, "How can I help you?" Elm couldn't hear what was said, but the Doctor's smile dropped. "Who is this? Who's speaking?"

"What is it, Doc?" Elm questioned. He motioned for her to come closer and stooped slightly to share the phone.

The voice on the line made her heart skip a beat.

"Are you my mummy?"

It sounded like a young boy.

"How did you ring here?" the Doctor demanded.

"Mummy?" the voice dragged out the word in a sing-song fashion. "Mummy?"

"This phone shouldn't work, how-" the Doctor began, but stopped when the dial tone sounded. He put the phone back on the hook and stared at it for a long moment.

Something hit one of the garbage bins, and the sound echoed through the alley.

Heart racing and fear spiking, the noise was the last straw for Elm. She ran away, a reluctant Doctor dragged behind her.

He stopped her once they reached the safety of the street. "Oi! What's got you all worked up?"

"You're kidding me," Elm nearly screeched. "A creepy child's voice through a phone that shouldn't ring?"

"Elm-"

"A girl warning us that the call's not for us?!" she added.

The Doctor snapped his fingers. "That girl, she knows something." He glanced around, scanned the area with his sonic, and began dragging Elm toward a nearby neighborhood.

"Doc-"

"She probably went home to shelter, but can't have gotten far," he spoke over her. "Quit loitering."

Elm bit her lip and shifted to grab the Doctor's hand. Its familiar warmth was enough to calm her fear.

For the time being.

OoOoOoO

"The planes are coming! Into the shelter and none of your nonsense. Move it!"

The voice of an angry woman made the time travelers slow to a stop. The Doctor climbed atop a nearby bin before offering a helping hand to Elm. Over a garden wall they peered and watched as a family shuffled into an air raid shelter.

"Arthur, will you hurry up!" the woman shouted.

A man came out of the house, carrying a plate of food with him. "Middle of dinner, every night. Blooming Germans!"

"The planes, Arthur, I can hear them!"

The man shook his fist at the sky. "Don't you eat?!"

"Oh, keep your voice down. It's an air raid, not like anyone can hear you. Get. In."

Continuing to grumble to himself, the man complied. The shelter's door closed behind him.

Moments after, a shadow appeared at the other end of the yard. It was the girl from before. She crawled under a hole in the fence and crept past the shelter before entering the house.

"Well," the Doctor said after a beat. "That's a puzzle." He climbed fully onto the wall and glanced down at Elm. "Coming?"

Elm scrambled to catch up as he jumped down to the ground below. They entered through the back door and hid in the living room as the girl made preparations. After setting more dishes on the food-laden table, she unlocked the door and let out a sharp whistle. It must've been a signal of some sort as children began filing into the home.

They came in groups of no more than three, their ages ranging from teens to toddlers. They were all obviously homeless, though had enough manners to stack their hats and coats by the door.

Elm watched as the original girl began serving them all food. "I thought all the children were evacuated? What are they still doing here?" she murmured.

"Only one way to find out," the Doctor replied in a hum. He stepped into the dining room and cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the entire table. "Say, there enough for us?"

Immediately, the children panicked. Some made to stand. Others dove under the table. A few of the older ones looked like they were rearing to fight. The girl spoke before any of them did anything drastic. "It's all right. Back to your seats," she commanded. "They shouldn't be here either."

"Excuse me," Elm said before taking one of the empty seats. The Doctor took the other open chair across from her. "I'm Elm. He's the Doctor."

"And I'm Nancy," the girl responded curtly before continuing to pass around plates of meat. Elm and the Doctor were not left out of the feast.

"So," the Doctor began after taking a bite of food, "you lot. What's the story?"

"What do you mean?" one of the older boys questioned.

"You're homeless, right? Living rough?"

A younger girl leaned forward. "You a copper?"

"What's a copper got to do with you?" he scoffed. "Arrest you for starving?" The children found that hilarious. "I make it 1941, you lot should be in the country by now."

"I was evacuated," one boy volunteered. "Sent me to a farm."

"Then why are you here?" Elm questioned. "At least on a farm you've got a bed."

The child looked down. "There was a man there."

"Same with me," another child said. "Went to my mum, but she just sent me back to-" he shook his head. "'s better on the streets, anyway. Better food."

"Yeah!" one of the youngest boys agreed. "Nancy gets the best food for us."

The Doctor looked to Nancy with new eyes. "So, that's what you do. Soon as the sirens go, you find a big-fat family meal. Bingo! Feeding frenzy for the homeless kids of London. Puddings for all, so long as the bombs don't get you."

"Something wrong with that?" Nancy asked, a defiant look in her eye.

"It's brilliant!" the Doctor exclaimed. "Not sure if it's Marxism in action or a West End musical."

"Definitely a musical," Elm replied.

The group ate in quiet for a moment before Nancy finally snapped. "Why'd you follow me? What do you want?"

"I want," the Doctor began, "to know why a phone that shouldn't ring, rang. You seem to be the one to ask."

"I did you a favor. I told you not to-"

"I think we're off on the wrong foot," Elm cut in. "This isn't an interrogation, but we do need information. Firstly, on my friend. She went missing around where we first met Nancy. She's blonde and was wearing a Union Jack shirt. Anyone see her?"

The children shook their heads.

"Another thing we've been looking for," the Doctor said as he took a paper and pen out of his pocket. On it, he sketched the craft they had chased through the vortex. "Would've fallen from the sky about a month ago, but wouldn't have exploded."

As the paper was passed around the table, Elm noticed a few of the older children give Nancy curious looks. The girl herself looked disturbed.

Before any of them could speak, there was a knock on the door.

And then a voice.

"Mummy, are you in there?"

All the children gasped, and Elm felt goosebumps rise on her arms.

"Mummy?"

The Doctor got up from his chair and moved to the window. He gestured for Elm to do the same. A child no older than four was standing outside. He wore a gas mask.

"Are you there, mummy?"

"Who was the last one in?" Nancy demanded in a whisper. The children immediately pointed at the time travelers, but she shook her head. "They came round back, who came in the front?"

A younger child rose his hand. "Me."

"Did you close the door?"

The child looked away and shifted.

"Did you close the door?" Nancy repeated.

"Mummy?"

When the child didn't answer, Nancy jumped to her feet and ran to said door. Elm followed and watched as she slammed it shut and bolted it.

The door handle jiggled.

"Mummy? Mummy?"

"What's this, then?" the Doctor exclaimed. "It's not easy being the only child left out you know."

"It's not exactly a child."

"Mummy?"

Nancy returned to the dining room and clapped her hands together. "Right, everybody out. Cross the back garden and go under the fence." When no one moved, her voice rose to a shout. "Now! Go! Move!"

The table jumped to action. Children grabbed coats and stuffed food into their pockets before running out the back door in the groups they came in. Nancy helped one of the younger girls with her coat before shoving her in the direction of one of the older children.

"Mummy? Please let me in, mummy. Please let me in."

The Doctor pulled Elm near to the door, just in time to see a hand reach through the letterbox.

A plate shattered on the door, making the limb retract. Elm looked over her shoulder at Nancy, who was frantically shaking her head. "You mustn't let him touch you!"

"Why?" she questioned.

"Mummy."

"Yeah, what happens then?" the Doctor added.

"He'll make you like him," Nancy explained while shoving her own coat on.

The Doctor stared at her. "And what's he like?"

"I've got to go."

"Nancy," the Doctor snapped. "What's he like?"

Choking on a breath, she burst. "He's empty!" The phone rang, and she pointed at it. "It's him. He can make the phones ring, just like that police box."

The Doctor picked it up, but Nancy snatched it away and slammed it back on the hook.

"Mummy. Let me in mummy."

Elm started when a radio clicked on right next to her. The dial turned on its own before a familiar voice came through the speaker.

"Mummy, mummy, mummy."

Nancy shook her head and began backing up. "You stay if you want to."

Something clicked, and Elm jumped out of the way to avoid a hand stuck through the letterbox. The child was moving it around, trying to grab something.

"Mummy, let me in. Please let me in."

Elm glanced back toward Nancy, but she was already gone.

The Doctor leaned down to look through the mailslot. "Your mummy isn't here," he said softly. As he spoke, he reached out and grasped Elm's hand.

"Are you my mummy?"

He shook his head. "No mummies here. Nobody's here but us chickens."

"I'm scared."

"What happened to you?" Elm questioned.

"Please let me in, mummy. I'm scared of the bombs."

Elm squeezed her eyes shut and let out a sigh before looking toward the Doctor. She gave him a short nod.

"Okay," the Doctor began. "I'm opening the door now."

The boy retracted his hand and, with careful movements, the Doctor unbolted and opened the door.

There was no one there.

Elm sank to the floor and buried her hands in her hair. "Can't just leave it alone, can we?"

"Nope."

OoOoOoO

Finding Nancy again was a cinch with a bit of sleuthing and bribery (most of the children hadn't wandered far, and the Doctor had sweets). Her hideout was hard to spot if you weren't looking for it, but they caught up just in time to see her stashing some food away.

When she spotted them walking up to her, she straightened.

"How'd you follow me?"

"I'm good at following, me," the Doctor said with a grin. He tapped the side of his nose. "Got the nose for it."

She squinted him before smirking. "Do you have the ears for it too?"

Elm cackled, and the Doctor's grin dropped. "What're you trying to say?"

"Goodnight Mister, Miss," she said with an amused smile. She made to leave, but Elm stopped her in her tracks.

"Nancy," she called. "I know it's tough and really scary, but we're just trying to help."

"There's something chasing you and the other kids. Looks like a boy, but isn't," the Doctor said, voice low. "Started about a month ago, right? That's when the thing I'm looking for landed." When Nancy flinched, the Doctor narrowed his eyes. "You know what I'm talking about, don't you?"

Nancy looked away and let out a breath. She spoke softly and slowly. "There was a bomb. A bomb that wasn't a bomb. Fell at the other end of the Limehouse Green Station."

The Doctor nodded. "Take us there."

"There are soldiers guarding it," Nancy exclaimed, "and barbed wire. You'll never get through."

"Try me."

"You really want to know what's going on?" Nancy asked. She pursed her lips at the pointed silence that followed. "Fine. There's someone you need to talk to first."

Elm tilted her head. "Who?"

"The doctor."

"The doctor?" she questioned. "Doctor who?"

Nancy shrugged. "Don't remember his name. C'mon, I've got other things to do tonight."

OoOoOoO

Nancy seemed to know the Limehouse Green Station by heart as she led them to the other end of it it. The area was as described. Armed guards walked the perimeter, which was lined with a barbed wire fence. In the middle of it all was a big, tarp-covered object.

"That's it," Nancy pointed at the tarp. "The fence went up overnight. That building," she pointed at the large building behind the guarded area. "That's the hospital. That's where the doctor is."

The Doctor used some futuristic binoculars to scope out the scene and let Elm give them a try when he was done. The hospital looked devoid of life.

"Thank you for taking us here Nancy," Elm said when she was done.

Nancy shrugged. "Wasn't that far out of my way. Just make sure to talk to the doctor before you try getting at the bomb."

"Why?"

"Then maybe you won't want to see it," she replied. Turning around, she made to head back when the Doctor spoke up.

"Where're you going?"

"There was a lot of food in that house," Nancy said in explanation. "It should be safe enough now."

"Before you go, can I ask you a question?" the Doctor asked. "Who'd you lose?"

Nancy blinked and took a step back. "What?"

"The way you look after all those kids, you lost somebody, didn't you? You're doing all this to make up for it."

"Jamie," Nancy said after a second. "My little brother. One night I went out looking for food, the same night that thing fell. Told him not to follow me but he-he didn't like being on his own."

The Doctor gave her a long look before letting out a laugh. "Amazing."

Nancy glared at him. "What is?"

"Right now, not far, the German war machine is rolling across Europe. Country after country, falling like dominos. And yet, you lot, you damp little island, refused. A mouse in front of a lion." He shook his head. "Dunno what you do to Hitler, but you scare the hell out of me."

Nancy was taken aback and just stared at the odd man.

The Doctor laughed again. "Off you go, do what you've got to do. Save the world."

Without another word, he grabbed Elm's hand and began leading her toward the hospital. When she looked back, Nancy was gone.

OoOoOoO

Getting into the hospital was easy as the only thing guarding it was a padlock and some gates. The Doctor took care of those with his sonic, and the duo were soon making their way through the dark building. Elm stuck close.

As she saw through the binoculars, it was practically empty. No staff to greet them. No loitering family members waiting around. No one besides patients upon patients, all laying in bed. All wearing gas masks.

"Who do you suppose this doctor is," the Doctor questioned after they had peeked into yet another full ward.

Elm bit her lip. "I'm more wondering where the other doctors are. And the nurses."

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye before opening yet another set of doors. "Only one way to find out."

They walked in together.

Like every other ward, this one was filled with patients. None stirred as they walked in.

"They're so still," Elm murmured. She took a step toward one.

"You'll find them everywhere. Every bed. Every ward. Hundreds of them."

The voice came from a man. A very old, very tired man in a doctor's coat. He was sat in a chair, a walking cane held in one hand.

"We saw," the Doctor replied. "Why're they wearing gas masks?"

"They're not. Who are you?"

"I'm-" the Doctor cut himself off. "Are you the doctor?"

"Nancy sent us," Elm added.

The man looked them over. "Doctor Constantine is my name. You must have been asking about the bomb."

"Yes."

Doctor Constantine sighed. "What do you know about it?"

"Nothing," the Doctor answered. "What do you know?"

"Only what it's done," he replied, gesturing around the room.

"All these people?" Elm exclaimed. "In this whole hospital? There's no way it-it wasn't even supposed to explode."

"It didn't," Doctor Constantine said with a chuckle. That chuckle soon turned into a harsh cough.

The Doctor scanned him with his sonic. "You're very sick."

"Dying, I should think." He coughed again. "Just haven't had the time to lie down and do it yet. Are you a doctor?"

"Of sorts."

Fascinated, Elm reached out to one of the patients. A sharp voice stopped her.

"Young lady, I would advise against touching them," Doctor Constantine scolded. He looked toward the Doctor. "Have you examined any of them yet?"

"No," he replied, looking around the room. "Which one?"

"Anyone."

The Doctor narrowed his eyes but approached the patient Elm stood by. He scanned them with his sonic. "Massive head trauma, mostly to the left. Partial collapse of the chest cavity, mostly to the right. Scarring to the back of the hand and the gas mask seems to be fused to the flesh, but I can't see burns."

Doctor Constantine nodded. "Examine another one."

The Doctor did as he was told and straightened immediately. "That's not possible."

"Another."

He examined two more. "This isn't possible."

"What is it?" Elm questioned.

"They've all got the same injuries," the Doctor exclaimed. "Exactly the same." He looked at Constantine. "How did this happen? When?"

"When the bomb dropped, there was just one victim."

"Dead?"

Constantine let out another cough. "At first. Dreadful injuries. By morning every doctor and nurse who touched him had those exact same injuries. By the morning after that, every patient in the ward. Within a week, the entire hospital. Physical injuries as plague."

"What, and they all died?" Elm asked.

"That's the other thing," Doctor Constantine began. "They're not dead." He grabbed his cane and hit it against a nearby wastebasket.

All the patients sat up.

Elm started and made to run, but the Doctor put a hand on her shoulder before she could. Constantine chuckled.

"It's all right. They're harmless, just sort of sit there. No heartbeat, no life signs of any kind. They just don't die."

After a moment of silence, all the patients laid back down.

"And they've been left here?" the Doctor demanded. His face was flushed with fury. "Nobody's doing anything?"

Constantine hummed. "I try to make them comfortable. What else is there?"

"The bomb site is crawling with people, and you're the only one looking after the victims?" Elm questioned. "All day, every day, just you?"

Doctor Constantine's eyes hardened. "Before this war, I was a father and a grandfather. Now I am neither, but I'm still a doctor."

"I know the feeling," the Doctor replied. There was a new respect in his eyes for the old man.

A ragged cough racked Constantine's frame. "I suspect the plan is to blow up the hospital and blame it on the Germans." His coughing grew worse as he continued, breaking up his words.

Elm took a step forward. "Are you-"

"Stay back!" he warned. "Listen to me and stay back. There have been isolated cases all over London. Top-" he took a ragged breath, "top floor. Room 802. Patient Zero's room. You-you must find Nancy."

"Nancy?" the Doctor questioned.

"What's she got to do with this?" Elm asked.

"It was her brother. She knows more than-than she's saying. She won't tell me but-mum-my?"

Elm's brow furrowed. "What?"

"Mummy," Doctor Constantine drew out the word and seemed to be struggling to breathe. "Are you my mummy?"

"Elm?" the Doctor began. "Get back from him."

"What?"

"Now, Elm," he snapped.

She did as he bid, but was still confused. "Doctor, what-?"

Constantine gagged and Elm watched in horror as the nose end of a gas mask grew from his mouth. His face warped and stretched, eyes turning to googles, skin turning to plastic until it was completely covered by the mask. He slumped in his chair.

Elm reached out and grabbed the Doctor's hand, gripping it tight. With his free hand, the Doctor scanned the old man.

"Same as the rest," he concluded. Without looking away from the man, he continued to speak. "Elm?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't touch them."

"Okay."

An unfamiliar voice startled the two. "Hello?" It was masculine. "Doctor Spock?"

"Elm?" another voice called. It was Rose.

The Doctor sighed. "I'll check it out. You stay here and if anything changes, shout."

"Alright," Elm agreed. She reluctantly released the Doctor and clenched her hands into fists. Her whole body was shaking.

Then, there was a hand on her shoulder. It was the Doctor. He had a soft look on his face. "We're going to sort this out."

All she could do was nod.

OoOoOoO

Instead of the Doctor or Rose, and unfamiliar man stepped into the room. He was conventionally attractive, with a square jaw, styled black hair and baby blue eyes. His smile was charming, and his voice light as he introduced himself.

"Captain Jack Harkness, and you must be Elm."

Elm attempted a smile. "Nice to meet you."

"Doesn't seem nice," Captain Jack responded. He glanced around the room. "What's going on here?"

"Not sure yet," the Doctor said as he entered the room with Rose in tow.

Rose.

Elm immediately raced to and embraced her friend. "Where'd you go? I was worried."

"I got swept up by a barrage balloon. Captain Jack saved me."

Separating from her friend, Elm looked her over for injury but found none. She looked to Jack with a smile. "Thank you."

"For helping her?" Jack gestured to Rose with a smirk. "My pleasure."

"Sorry for interrupting, trying to save the world," the Doctor cut in. "What kind of Chula ship landed here?"

"What?" Jack and Elm questioned at the same time.

"A warship, he said," Rose replied. "He stole it and put it somewhere out there. Said a bomb's gonna fall on it unless we make an offer."

The Doctor glared at Jack, who was scanning the patients with a device on his wrist. "What kind of warship?"

"Doesn't matter," he replied, near shouting. "It's got nothing to do with this."

"This," the Doctor exclaimed as he gestured around the room. "Started at the bomb site. It's got everything to do with it. Now, what kind of warship-"

"An ambulance!" Jack shouted.

"An ambulance?" Elm questioned.

"Look," he pressed a button on his wrist device. From it came a holographic image of the craft. "That's what you chased through the Time Vortex. I wanted to kid you it was valuable, but it's space junk. Empty. I saw you and threw the bait."

Rose narrowed her eyes. "Bait?"

Jack ignored her. "I wanted to sell it to you and destroy it before you found me out."

"You said it was a warship!" Rose exclaimed.

"Ambulances are in wars."

Elm tilted her head to the side. "You were trying to con us."

"Yeah, I'm a conman. Thought you were Time Agents," he looked at Rose. "You're not though, are you?"

Rose shifted. "Just a couple more freelancers, us."

"Oh," Jack groaned and rolled his eyes. "Should've known."

Ignoring the bickering, Elm looked at the Doctor. "This has to be related to that child."

"And Nancy," the Doctor added. "What I don't understand is the point. Human DNA is being rewritten, but why?"

"Mummy."

All the patients in the ward sat up.

"Mummy. Mummy."

Elm and Rose shifted closer to the Doctor. Jack was quick to do the same.

"What's happening?" Rose questioned.

The Doctor shook his head. "I don't know."

"Mummy."

The patients were beginning to stand. The four time travelers attempted to edge toward the door.

"Don't let them touch you," the Doctor warned.

"It spreads through touch," Elm explained.

"Help me, mummy."

Before they could reach the door, the patients had them surrounded and up against the wall. Elm grabbed Rose's hand and pulled her back.

"Now would be a good time for something clever, Doc," Elm said, voice high and panicked.

The Doctor looked around the room, eyes wide. He then straightened his shoulders and cleared his throat. "Go to your room."

Jack scoffed. "That's your solution?"

Ignoring Jack, the Doctor continued speaking in a stern voice. "Go to your room. I mean it. I'm very, very cross with you. Go to your room! Now!"

The patients, at this point, were stopped in their tracks. Then, one by one, they hung their heads and moved back to their beds. It was only when they were all still that Elm allowed herself to breathe.

"It worked?" Rose questioned.

"Oi, be glad it did," the Doctor retorted. "Those would have been terrible last words."

"Who would've known, we'd all be dead," Elm replied with a shrug.

Rose glanced around the room. "Why're they all wearing gas masks?"

Elm shivered. "They're not."

"Those masks are flesh and bone," Jack explained as he scanned them with his device. "This wasn't supposed to happen."

"Enlighten me then," the Doctor said with a scolding look. "What was supposed to happen?"

Jack rolled his eyes. "I toss a bit of harmless space junk in front of some time agents. They chase it through the vortex to me. I convince them it's valuable and have them pay half up front. A German bomb destroys it, oh no. I buy the agent drinks and we discuss luck. A perfect, self-cleaning con where I get the money and the agency doesn't even know they've been had."

"Yeah," the Doctor scoffed. "Perfect."

"I've done this dozens of times. The London Blitz is great for self-cleaners. Pompeii's nice if you want to make a vacation out of it. Gotta watch the clock for volcano day though," Jack let out a laugh. He stopped laughing when he saw the Doctor's glare. "Sensing some disapproval."

"Take a look around the room. This is what your harmless space junk did."

"It was a burnt out medical transporter," Jack said slowly. "Empty."

The Doctor opened his mouth to snap something back, but Elm spoke up before he could. "Doctor Constantine said patient zero had a room here. What was the number again, Doc?"

It was an obvious distraction, but the Doctor didn't argue with it. "802, top floor."

"I even programmed the flight computer so it wouldn't land on anything living," Jack insisted. "I don't know what's happening here, but believe me, I had nothing to do with it."

"I'll tell you what's happening," the Doctor began, getting into Jack's face. "It's volcano day. Now, if you want to help, follow us. If not, bugger off."

He didn't linger, instead taking off into the hall and toward the staircase.

Rose immediately turned to Jack and jabbed a finger into his chest. "You lied to me."

"You lied to me," Jack retorted.

Narrowing her eyes, Rose gave him a once over and bit her lip. "You're lucky you're cute. Now come on, I don't wanna miss anything else." She and Elm left the room and headed for the staircase. Jack trailed behind. "What's patient zero?"

"The person who contracted the disease first," Elm explained. She went on to describe their meeting with Nancy, the homeless children, and the child looking for his mother. "Doctor Constantine said patient zero was Nancy's brother."

Rose sighed. "Poor boy."

"It couldn't have been that junk," Jack tried to convince them. "I told you. I made sure that-"

"Doesn't matter what you did," Elm cut him off. "We just need to figure out what's going on and stop it. If you're going to help us, you can start by at least trying to get along with the Doctor."

"Why do you keep calling him that? Doctor?" Jack questioned.

Elm glanced at him, confused. "'cause that's his name?"

"Oh, yeah, lied about that bit too," Rose chuckled nervously. "Sorry."

"Have you got a blaster?"

The sudden voice of the Doctor startled the trio as they rounded the corner on the eighth floor. He was standing in front of a large, locked metal door.

"Sure!" Jack responded in a chippy voice. He took it out with flare, earning an appreciative look from Rose. "Want me to get the door open?"

The Doctor gestured for him to go ahead before turning to Rose. "This is where the first person was taken."

"Elm caught us up," she responded before glancing at the door. "What's wrong with your sonic?"

"Nothing."

Elm watched in fascination as Jack's gun vaporized the lock, leaving a neat square of space where it used to be. The door swung open with a creak.

"I expected a lot more bang," Elm commented. "That was very neat."

"Sonic blaster, 51st century," the Doctor explained. "Trust me, the first models had a lot more bang," he looked to Jack. "Weapon factories of Villengard?"

Jack grinned and showed it off. "You've been to the factories?"

"Once."

He shrugged and put his blaster away. "Well, they're gone now. Destroyed. The main reactor went critical and vaporized the lot."

The Doctor smirked. "Like I said. Once." He opened the door wider for Elm and Rose to step through. "There's a banana grove there now. I like bananas. Bananas are good."

Elm made a face. "But they're so mushy."

"Gentle on the teeth," the Doctor retorted.

"Apples are much better. Got a nice crunch," she went on. "My family owns a small apple grove. They were great for climbing when I was a kid. Plus, you know the saying; An apple a day keeps the…'" she paused.

"Please, go on," the Doctor goaded.

Elm shuffled into the room without response.

The room was, in a word, a mess. Filing cabinets and hospital equipment were torn up and strewn around. Glass from the shattered observation window crunched under Elm's shoes as she walked farther in. The room the patient stayed in was tiny, consisting only of a chair, a desk, and a bed. The door that led to it hung by only one hinge. A stuffed bear sat slumped over on the ground, alongside-

"Children's drawings," Elm murmured. Stepping into the space, she picked one up. It portrayed a woman. In fact, all of the drawings portrayed a woman, each drawn a different way. "He doesn't know what she looks like."

"Do you know where you are?" It was Doctor Constantine's voice. Elm jumped and noticed the Doctor had turned on a recorded tape.

"Are you my mummy?"

She shivered. "That voice."

The Doctor hummed.

"Are you aware of what's around you? Can you see?"

"Are you my mummy?"

"What do you want? Do you-"

"I want my mummy," the child interrupted. "Are you my mummy? I want my mummy! Mummy? Mummy?"

"It's always 'Are you my mummy'," Rose said softly. "Like he doesn't know. Why doesn't he know?"

"Are you there, mummy? Mummy?"

The Doctor began pacing.

"Doctor?" Rose questioned.

"Can't you sense it?"

"This thing had to have been powerful. Angry," Jack tried.

The Doctor shook his head. "Yes, but there's more to it. Coming out of the walls. Can you feel it?"

"Mummy?"

"Feel what, Doctor?" Rose asked.

Meanwhile, Elm looked back to the pictures that covered the walls. A heavy weight settled in her chest.

"Funny little human brains," the Doctor let out a sarcastic laugh. "How do you get around in those things?"

Rose sighed. "When he's stressed, he likes to insult species."

Elm closed her eyes tight. "He's scared."

"I am no-" the Doctor began.

"Not you," she interrupted. "The boy. Remember, he was scared of the bombs. If this child was Nancy's brother, he didn't like being alone, either. He's tiny, with explosions happening around him and no idea who or where his mum is. Of course he's terrified. And for kids, scared is one step away from angry."

The Doctor nodded along with what she was saying and picked up when she was done. "There are children living rough around bomb sites. They come out during air raids looking for food."

"Mummy, please?"

"Suppose they were there when this thing landed?"

Jack cut in. "It was harmless-"

"Yeah, you keep saying that. Harmless. Suppose it wasn't and one of those kids, one of those lost and scared kids, was affected. Altered."

"Altered how?"

"I'm here, mummy!"

"It's afraid. Terribly afraid and powerful. It doesn't know it yet, but it will. And I-" he barked out a laugh. "I just sent it to its room."

"I'm here. Can't you see me?"

"Doctor?" Rose began, fear creeping into her voice. "Doctor, what's that clicking?"

Elm heard it then, a clicking sound that had become background noise.

The Doctor laughed again. "End of tape. It ran out about thirty seconds ago."

"I'm here, now. Can't you see me?"

"I sent it to its room," the Doctor repeated as he turned around. "This is its room."

Elm spun around and in the center of the tiny, sad room, stood the child.

"Mummy?"

Jack's hand went to his side. "Okay, on my signal, make for the door."

"Don't shoot him!" Elm exclaimed.

Ignoring the distraught woman, Jack shouted, "Now!" and pulled a banana from his holster.

The Doctor, meanwhile, had Jack's blaster in hand and shot a square hole in the wall. "Go, go!" he urged, fleeing himself. Once they were all safe in the hallway, he turned to Jack. "Don't drop that!"

"Why not?" Jack shouted, tucking the banana into his pocket.

The Doctor smirked. "Good source of potassium."

Jack scoffed and snatched his blaster back. "Give me that," he pointed it at the hole and, suddenly, the wall was back to normal.

"How…" Elm glanced at Jack's blaster.

"Digital rewind," he explained before looking at the Doctor. "Nice switch."

The Doctor shrugged. "It's from the groves of Villengard. Thought it was appropriate."

"There's really a banana grove in the heart of Villengard. And you did that?"

"Bananas are good."

A sudden bang came from where the hole once was, and the wall began to crack.

Rose squeaked. "Doctor!"

Elm looked down the halls for an escape but found patients coming at them from both directions.

"Mummy," the patients chanted. "Mummy. Mummy."

"It's keeping us here till it can get at us," the Doctor said as the wall continued to crack.

Jack's eyes kept looking all over the place. "It's controlling them?"

"It is them," the Doctor explained. "It's every living thing in this hospital."

"And it wants to make us like it too," Elm said. "Just like Nancy told us."

The wall cracked further.

"Okay," Jack held up his blaster. "This can function as a sonic blaster, a sonic cannon and as a triple-enfolded sonic disruptor." He looked to the Doctor. "Doc, what you got?"

"I've got a sonic, er…" he glanced away. "Never mind."

"What?"

The wall began to crumble.

"It's sonic, okay? Let's leave it at that."

"Disruptor? Canon? What?"

Elm sighed. "Doc, just tell him."

"Men," Rose muttered.

"It's sonic. Totally sonic," the Doctor insisted.

"Sonic what?"

The wall broke down completely as the Doctor finally admitted. "Screwdriver!"

"What?"

Rose grabbed the blaster and pointed it at the floor. "Going down!"

And suddenly they were falling. It wasn't that far of a drop, but Elm wasn't prepared for it. She hit the ground feet first, landing on her ankle wrong, before falling to her hands and knees. On the way down her hand scraped against something, cutting it enough to bleed.

"Everyone alright?" Rose questioned as Jack sealed the hole in the ceiling. There was hardly any light in this new room, the only source being the windows.

"In one piece," Elm spoke up with a wince.

The Doctor's irritated voice came from her left. "Could've used a warning."

"Oh, the gratitude."

Jack was already on his feet and offered a hand to help Elm up. She accepted it and kept hold of his forearm as he turned to the Doctor. "Who has a sonic screwdriver?"

"I do," the Doctor snarked.

"Lights," Rose muttered, walking to the wall and feeling around. "There's got to be a light switch."

"Who looks at a screwdriver and thinks, this could be a little more sonic?"

"You've never been bored?" the Doctor questioned. "Never had a long night and a lot of cabinets to put up?"

Elm laughed. "You, putting up cabinets."

He gave her a quick once over before asking, "What's so funny about that?"

"Domestics," Elm replied.

The Doctor grimaced, an expressed Elm saw as the lights flickered on overhead.

They were stood in the center of a ward full of patients. Patients who were getting out of bed.

"Mummy?"

"You on your feet yet?" Jack questioned, eyes on the approaching individuals.

"Yeah," she replied. "Might be a bit slow, but I'll manage."

"Over here!" Rose called. She was across the room next to a door. "It's locked."

Jack moved to help Elm, but the Doctor beat him to it. With a swift movement, he got his arm around her waist and dragged her to Rose. She appreciated his help, as her ankle still hurt.

"Well?" Rose asked, gesturing to the door.

Pointing his blaster at the lock, Jack pulled the trigger.

Nothing happened.

"Damn!" he hit the side of it. "It's the special features. They drain the battery."

The patients were closing in. "Mummy. Mummy."

Rose squinted at him. "Battery? That's so lame!"

"Doc," Elm elbowed the man, who was stood next to her. "Now's a good time for a screwdriver!"

It took him a moment to realize what she was saying, as if the thought hadn't occurred to him. "Right," he said. He took out his sonic and opened the door. They all rushed in, ready to run, only to find themselves in a storeroom. It had a radio, some chairs, and other odds and ends. The Doctor locked the door behind them.

"At least the Doctor's sonic doesn't run out of battery!" Rose exclaimed.

"I was going to send for a new one," Jack defended. He shot the Doctor a glare. "But someone had to go and blow up the factory."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Oh, I know the feeling. The first day I met him, he blew my job up."

"What now?" Elm questioned, glancing around the room.

"The door will hold for a bit," the Doctor replied.

"The door? The wall didn't stop it!" Jack exclaimed.

"Well, it's got to find us first. We've got time," the Doctor replied. "C'mon, we're not done yet. Assets!"

"I've got a banana and, in a pinch, you could put up some shelves."

Elm shuffled to the window and peered outside. "Window's barred, and we're on the seventh floor, so that's a bust."

Rose looked up. "Doubt we could fit through the vents."

A moment of silence passed.

"The assets conversation went in a flash, didn't it?" Jack snarked.

They all exchanged glances as the situation set in. They were trapped.

"So," the Doctor spoke up. "Where'd you pick this one," he gestured to Rose, "up?"

Rose sighed. "Doctor."

Jack grinned. "She was hanging from a barrage balloon. I had an invisible spaceship. I never stood a chance." His eyes widened minutely, and he began messing with the device on his wrist.

"Okay," the Doctor said as he began to pace. "One, we've gotta get out of here. Two, we can't get out of here. Have I missed anything?"

Elm and Rose watched as Jack disappeared. They exchanged a look.

Rose was the one who spoke up. "Yeah, Jack's gone."

"Teleport, you think?" Elm questioned. "He was messing with that thing on his wrist."

"Probably," Rose huffed. "Why is it always the great looking ones who do that?"

"I'm making an effort not to be insulted," the Doctor grumbled.

"I mean, men."

"Thanks, that really helped."

The radio crackled to life, startling them out of their conversation.

"Rose? Doctor? Elm? Can you hear me?" It was Jack.

"Loud and clear," Elm replied, leaning closer to the radio. "Where'd you go?"

"Back to my ship. Sorry I couldn't take you. It's security-keyed to my molecular structure."

Rose stared at the radio intently. "Are you able to do that to us?"

"I'm working on it, hang in there."

"How are you speaking to us?" the Doctor questioned, using his sonic to scan the radio. "This is a period typical device. You shouldn't be able to connect to it."

"Om-Com. I can call anything with a speaker grill."

Elm's eyes widened and looked to the Doctor. "Doc, that's just like the child."

"I know. What a coincidence."

"Wait, the child can do this too?" Rose asked incredulously.

The radio crackled. "And I can hear you," a voice very much not Jack's said. "Coming to find you."

"Doctor, are you hearing this?" Jack asked, voice overtaking the child.

"Coming to find you, mummy."

"Unfortunately," the Doctor replied.

"I'll try to block out the signal. Least I can do."

"Mummy. Mummy. Coming to find you!"

"Remember this one, Rose?" Jack questioned. A song began playing through the radio, completely blocking out the child's voice. It was Moonlight Serenade.

Rose hummed and sat in one of the chairs. "Our song."

"Your song?" Elm asked. "What exactly were you two doing all that time alone?"

"It was very romantic," Rose said with a sigh. "He had champagne and after a glass we danced in front of Big Ben. On top of his spaceship! It was wonderful, even with the air raid."

Elm smiled at the happy expression on Rose's face. "Glad to hear you put my dancing lessons to good use."

While they spoke, the Doctor approached the window and began scanning it with his sonic.

"Once he comes back, you should ask him for a dance," Rose replied. The Doctor snorted at her words and she leveled a glare at him. "What? What're you even doing, Doctor?"

"Trying to set a resonation pattern in the concrete, loosen the bars."

"You don't think he's coming back, do you?" Rose accused.

"Wouldn't bet my life."

"Give him some credit, Doc," Elm spoke up. "The song's still playing, so he can't be gone."

Rose continued to glare at him. "Why don't you trust him?"

"Why do you?"

"He saved my life," she countered. "Bloke wise, that's up there with flossing."

"I don't know whether to be insulted or flattered," Jack responded. Except he wasn't speaking through the radio. He was sitting in a big plush seat in his ship, a ship they had been teleported to in the midst of an argument. The sudden shift in environment had them confused for a moment.

That confusion was soon replaced by awe when Elm's hand and ankle began tingling. A yellow glow had overtaken all the hurts on her body and within a minute she was pain-free. "Wow." She brought her hand to her face. Her cut was healed. "Double wow. What was that?"

The Doctor had his sonic out in an instant and was scanning her. "Yeah, what was that?"

"That'll be Captain Jack's nanobots," Rose said with a cheeky grin. She sat down on a small bed. "I had rope burn earlier and he fixed me right up. You feeling better now, Elm?"

Elm rolled her ankle and bounced on her toes. "Much."

"Nanobots?" the Doctor questioned. His eyes widened. "Nanogenes! This is a Chula ship!"

"Yeah, just like the medical transporter," Jack replied. "Only this one is actually dangerous."

Elm looked between the two. "What are nanogenes?"

"Sub-atomic robots. There are millions of them in here, the standard for a Chula ship. They activate when the bulk head's sealed, check you for damage and fix any physical flaws." He turned to Jack. "Take us to the crash site. I need to see your space junk."

Jack nodded. "As soon as I get the nav-com back online. Make yourselves comfortable."

Rose laid back on the bed with a sigh, eyes closed. The Doctor began pacing in the corner, most likely brooding about whatever epiphany he had. With her friends occupied, Elm decided to poke around.

She approached Jack and looked over the dash. It was covered in buttons. "Is that the steering?" she questioned, pointing at a sort of wheel right in front of him.

"Yep," he replied, leaning back in his seat. "Its got thrusters on all sides, so I can steer that way too."

"Cool," she said with a grin. "How's it powered?"

"Molten energy core, somewhere around there," he pointed downward. "The Chula make some of the best ships in the system. I've only got to refuel about once a year."

Elm nodded long with wide eyes. "How'd you travel in time, though? Do the Chula have time travel technology or is that sort of thing just standard in your time?"

Jack let out a laugh. "Aren't you full of questions? Why don't you sit down here," he patted the armrest of his seat, "and I'll tell you all about it."

"He's an ex-time agent," the Doctor interrupted. "I'd guess he stole some of their technology when he left."

Rose sat up on the bed. "That reminds me, why's an ex-time agent trying to con time agents?"

Jack pressed a button to turn his seat around, and Elm leaned herself against one of the walls.

"If it makes me sound any better, it's not for the money."

Rose quirked a brow. "For what, then?"

"Woke up one day, when I was still working for them," Jack began, eyes distant. "Two years of memories, of my life, gone. I'd like them back."

"They stole your memories?"

"No idea what I did in that time," he responded. "The Doc doesn't trust me. For all I know, he's right not to." He took a breath. His ship beeped. He grinned. "And we're a go." He turned his seat around. "Crash site?"

OoOoOoO

With Jack's teleport, getting back to the Limehouse Green Station was easy. Getting into the bomb site, however, was a different story. The front gate was guarded by a number of soldiers, all with guns. The time travelers hid in the shadows of the railroad station while coming up with a plan.

"Hey, they've got Algy on duty!" Jack whispered. "It must be important."

"Jack, you know him?" Elm questioned. "Maybe you could distract him."

Rose looked affronted. "Oi wouldn't that be my job?"

"Elm's right, I should probably be the one to distract him," Jack said. He straightened and unbuttoned his coat so that it was open. "I've spent a lot of time with him while here. You're not his type."

Elm stared at Jack for a long moment before letting out a quiet laugh. "That's not exactly what I was implying, but that works too."

Jack winked and made for the man. Rose watched intently, so intently that she started when the Doctor put a hand on her shoulder.

"Relax, he's a 51st-century guy. He's just a bit more… flexible."

Rose didn't turn her stare away. "How flexible?"

The Doctor shrugged. "Well, by that time, you lot have spread out across half the galaxy."

"Meaning?"

"So many species, so little time."

Before Rose could make a reply, the man Jack was talking to collapsed. This attracted the attention of nearby guards, who raced to the scene. The time travelers disregarded them.

"Stay back!" the Doctor shouted. The man's face was transforming before their eyes.

Jack shooed the guards away as well. "You men stay back!"

The Doctor scanned the man with his sonic. "The effect is airborne."

As he spoke, the air raid siren started up again.

"It's only been around for what, a month? A little less? That's an extremely quick acceleration," Elm pointed out.

"Wait, so if it's in the air, what's keeping us safe?" Rose questioned.

"Nothing."

Rose winced. "And didn't you say a bomb was going to land here?"

Jack nodded. "Tonight."

While they spoke, the Doctor took out his psychic paper and said something to the nearby guards. They backed away. "That's the least of our worries if the contaminants airborne now."

"What do you mean, Doc?" Elm questioned.

"If we can't fix this then that," he pointed at the transformed man, "is the future of the human race. Does anyone else hear singing?"

They all listened for a moment and, in a nearby tent, someone was singing a lullaby. The Doctor led them there, and Elm was surprised to see Nancy. The girl was handcuffed to a table, singing a transformed guard to sleep. The Doctor used his sonic to free her before leading her out into the open.

"You alright?" Elm questioned.

Nancy looked shaken. "As I can be." She looked at the Doctor. "You got in."

"Told you we could," the Doctor retorted. "Now, let's take a look at that space junk."

The bomb itself was unguarded and exactly as they had seen it earlier; covered in a tarp and buried in the ground. The emptiness of the area did nothing for Elm's nerves. She helped Jack and the Doctor uncover it. Despite the fact that she knew what it looked like, Elm was a little underwhelmed.

"See," Jack gestured to the object. "Just an ambulance."

Nancy looked at them like they were crazy. "That's an ambulance?"

"Space ambulance," Elm replied.

Rose put an arm around Nancy. "It's a bit hard to explain, but it's from another world."

Jack traced a hand over some of the dents marring its surface. "They've been trying to get in."

"Of course they have. They think it's Hitler's latest secret weapon," the Doctor pointed out. As he spoke, Jack opened a panel to reveal a keypad. He began typing on it. "What're you doing?"

"Showing you that-" before Jack could finish, the access panel sparked and an alarm started up. He jumped back. "That didn't happen last time."

"It hadn't crashed last time," the Doctor replied. "There'll be emergency protocols."

A loud crash drew their attention up the hill. The doors to the hospital had burst open, releasing all of its patients. There were at least a hundred of them, if not more, and they were heading straight for the bomb site.

"Doctor!" Rose exclaimed.

"Captain, Elm, secure the gate!" the Doctor shouted.

Elm nodded, ready to go.

"Why?" Jack questioned.

"Just do it!" he commanded.

"Come on," Elm said as she grabbed Jack and dragged him to the gate. "We've got to make sure the patients can't get to us."

"If they can break through a wall, they can break through the gates."

"It'll stall them, at least," Elm retorted as she grabbed one side of the gate to slide it in place.

Jack looked from her to the patients before nodding and grabbing the other side. They slid the gate together, and Jack snapped the big metal lock that was dangling from it in place.

"I hope the Doc has a plan," he commented as he began dragging a crate in front of the gate to block it. Elm helped.

"He usually does."

"You trust him," Jack observed.

Elm glanced at the alien man. He was doing something to the ambulance. "We've been through things together. Life-threatening, world ending things like this. He saves us, Rose and I save him."

"Must be nice, having people like that," Jack said. His voice was quiet. "Even when I was in the Time Agency my team-" he paused. "Let's just say we weren't the closest of friends."

Elm nodded and gave him a sly smile. "He doesn't hate you, you know."

Jack blinked. "What?"

"You two have been bickering, but it's been mostly friendly. Plus, he hasn't told you to leave yet," Elm explained. "And even if he did hate you, Rose likes you, and I'm starting to see why. He's a bit of a pushover, you see."

For a moment, Jack was quiet. They were finished securing the gates and were just standing there, in the moonlight. "What are you implying?"

"I'm not implying anything," Elm replied. "I'm saying that if you're tired of being a conman, or want to take a break, well," she grinned. "Our ship is bigger than it looks."

"You two done chatting yet?" the Doctor shouted to them. "Get over here!"

Elm laughed. "Let's go, then."

Jack didn't respond, allowing her to lead him back to the ship.

"Nice you could finally join me," the Doctor said sarcastically. "I've disabled the alarms. Try entering the code again."

Jack looked from the Doctor to Elm before doing just that. The hatch on the ambulance snapped open, revealing an empty shell.

"It's empty," Jack said, letting out a breath.

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "What do you expect in a Chula medical transporter? Bandages? Cough drops?" While he spoke, Rose and Nancy rejoined them. He turned to them. "Rose? What do you think?"

She looked at him blankly. "I don't know."

"Yes, you do. Elm," he glanced her way a moment and held up a hand. "Should know too."

Rose grinned. "Nanogenes!"

The Doctor clicked his fingers and looked to Jack. "It wasn't empty, Captain. There were enough nanogenes in there to rebuild a species."

The realization hit Jack like a brick, and he staggered. "Oh, God."

"Getting it now, are we?"

"What is Doc?" Elm questioned. "I thought nanogenes are supposed to heal things."

"Picture this; the ship crashes, the nanogenes escape. Billions upon billions of them. And they're ready, primed for war. But what they find first is a dead child, probably killed earlier that night, wearing a gas mask."

"Are you saying that the child, they…" Elm trailed off, looking toward the patients.

"They brought him back to life?" Rose finished for her.

The Doctor shrugged. "What's life? Life's easy. Nothing to a nanogene. One problem, though. These nanogenes, they've never seen a human before. Dunno what they're supposed to look like. All they've got to go on is one little body, and there's not a lot left. But they carry on. Do their best. Then they fly off, work to be done. Because now, now they think they know what people should look like. And they won't stop. Not in London. Not in Europe. The entire human race is going to be torn down and rebuilt in the image of a terrified child."

"I-" Jack stuttered. "I didn't know."

The Doctor shook his head and began working on the ambulance again. "Maybe there's something here, but I don't know. I don't see any way out of this short of a miracle."

The patients were gathering around the fence, surrounding them.

"Mummy. Mummy."

Rose looked from them to the ambulance. "It's bringing the gas mask people here, isn't it?"

The Doctor nodded. "The ship thinks it's under attack, so it's calling the troops. This is a battle ambulance, Rose. The nanogenes don't just fix you up, they get you ready for the front line."

"Why don't they attack?" Jack questioned.

"They're waiting for their commander."

"The child?"

"Jamie," Nancy snapped. "Not the child. His name's Jamie."

A bomb dropped nearby, shaking the ground. Rose looked up. "How long 'til the bomb falls?"

"Soon," Jack replied.

"What's the matter, Captain?" the Doctor asked. "Bit close to the volcano for you?"

Another bomb fell close by, and Jack looked around. "Doctor, we've got minutes."

"You can teleport us out," Rose suggested.

"Not you guys," Jack replied, messing with his watch. "It'll take too long to program."

The Doctor shrugged. "It's volcano day. Do what you've got to do."

"Jack," Rose said, staring the man down.

The conman looked from Rose to Elm. He disappeared.

"This is all my fault," Nancy murmured.

"No," the Doctor denied.

"It is," Nancy insisted, getting choked up. "It's all my fault. He's just a little boy who wants his mummy."

"How-" the Doctor began, but the chanting of the patients cut him off. Nancy sniffled.

"Mummy. Mummy. Mummy."

"Nancy how old are you?" the Doctor questioned, looking from her to the patients. "Twenty? Twenty-one? Older than you look." Nancy avoided eye contact. "And how about five years ago? Fifteen? Sixteen? Old enough to give birth, anyway. Jamie, he's not your brother, is he? A teenaged, single mother in 1941. Of course you lied. Even to him. Never can be too safe."

The child pushed open the gate, single-handedly breaking the lock and shoving the crates away. He was approaching them, with the patients following. "Are you my mummy?"

The Doctor looked from him to Nancy. "He's going to keep asking. He's never going to stop."

Jamie approached them, head tilted to the side. "Mummy?"

"Trust me, Nancy, and tell him."

Nancy took a stabilizing breath.

"Are you my mummy?"

"Yes," she choked out. Tears ran down her face. "Yes, I am your mummy."

"Mummy?"

"I'm here."

"Are you my mummy?"

"Yes, Jamie. It's me. I'm here."

"Mummy?"

Nancy looked to the Doctor.

"There's not enough of him left," he murmured. "He doesn't understand."

Nearly sobbing at this point, Nancy fell to her knees and grabbed her child in a hug. "I am your mummy. I will always be your mummy. I am so, so sorry Jamie."

Elm grabbed Rose's hand on reflex as more bombs dropped nearby.

Nanogenes filled the air with warm light, surrounding Nancy and Jamie.

Rose gasped. "What's happening? Doctor, what-"

The Doctor hushed her. "Come on, please. You clever little nanogenes. Figure it out! The mother! She's the mother. It's got to be enough."

"What's happening?" Rose questioned.

"It recognizes the same DNA," the Doctor said in awe. The nanogenes dispersed, allowing the Doctor access. He reached for the gas mask covering Jamie's face. "Come on. Give me a day like this. Just one."

The mask came off.

Sweeping the little boy into his arms, the Doctor laughed. "Welcome back!"

"Wait, so since Nancy's his mother, they recognized they made a mistake?" Elm asked with a wide grin. "That's brilliant."

"Mother knows best!" the Doctor declared as he handed Jamie to Nancy. The young woman hugged her son close.

"Doctor, the bomb," Rose reminded.

The Doctor shrugged. "Taken care of."

"How?"

"Psychology."

Rose looked up and gaped. "Jack?!"

Elm looked as well and laughed out loud when she saw Jack. He was sat astride the bomb, mid-air in a tractor beam.

"Doctor!" he called down.

"Good lad!"

"The bomb's already commenced detonation. It's in stasis, but it won't last long."

"Change of plan!" the Doctor called back. "Don't need it. Can you get rid of it, safe as you can?"

Jack didn't say anything for a long moment. Then, he spoke. "Elm?"

"Yes?" she asked.

"Thank you for the offer. Earlier. And Rose?"

"Yeah?"

"Goodbye."

Jack, along with the bomb and his ship, vanished. The Doctor, meanwhile, was messing with the nanogenes.

"What're you doing?" Elm questioned.

"Software patch. Gotta email the upgrade," he explained. He flicked his wrist, and off the nanogenes went, surrounding and fixing all the patients.

She looked from him to the patients. "So everyone's okay?"

"Everyone lives," he declared, grin so wide his face was overtaken by it. "Just this once, everybody lives!"

Among the first fixed was a familiar man, walking without need of a cane.

"Doctor Constantine!" Elm called.

The Doctor greeted the man with a handshake. "The doctor who never left his patients. The world doesn't want to get by without you just yet, and I don't blame it. Look around, these are your patients, all better now."

Constantine nodded. "So it seems. They also seem to be standing around in a disused railway station. Is there any particular reason for that?"

"Well, you know, cutbacks," the Doctor replied with a wave of his hand. "Listen, whatever was wrong with them in the past, you're probably going to find they're cured. Just tell them what a great doctor you are. Don't make a big thing, okay?"

Doctor Constantine looked as if he wanted to argue, but was distracted by one of his patients approaching him. He sent the time travelers a cordial nod before walking off.

"Right, right, all tied up neat and good. And once everyone's clear," the Doctor used his sonic on the ambulance. "I've set this to self-destruct. History says there was an explosion. Who am I to argue with history?"

Rose laughed. "Usually the first in line."

The Doctor was too happy to get grumpy at Rose's snark. "Now, back to the TARDIS."

OoOoOoO

The walk back to the time ship was short and, soon, they were back inside the bigger-on-the-inside beauty. It hummed under Elm's fingers as she placed a hand on the console, and she sighed at the sensation.

"Nanogenes will clean up the rest of their mess and switch off, as I told them to," the Doctor rambled. "Nancy and Jamie will go to Constantine for help. All things considered, fantastic!"

"All wrapped up in a neat bow, 'cept one thing," Elm said as she sat on the console seat.

He spun to face her. "What? What'd I miss?"

"What about Jack?" Rose questioned.

The Doctor made a face and waved a hand in the air. Light on his feet, he flipped a few switches on the console. The time ship hummed and wheezed with movement.

And then, music turned on.

It was Moonlight Serenade.

"Rose, get the doors," the Doctor called before turning to Elm. "I owe you a dance."

"But Jack-" Elm started. Before she could finish her thought, the Doctor pulled her into a simple waltz. "Doc, as happy I am to dance with you, what about Jack?"

"Glad to see I was missed," a familiar voice said. Elm looked over the Doctor's shoulder and, standing in the entrance of the TARDIS, was Captain Jack Harkness. He was hugging Rose and nodded at the Doctor. "Nice ship. You were right, Elm, it's much bigger on the inside."

"Shut the door, will you?" the Doctor called out. "Yours is about to blow up and there'll be a draft."

Jack was quick to do so, and the Doctor adjusted the console with a hand.

Moonlight Serenade soon ended, the waltzing music replaced by an upbeat swing. Elm held a hand to the Doctor. "Can you swing, Doc?"

"Can I swing?" the Doctor questioned. He grabbed Elm's hand and spun her around.

Jack, who had been dancing with Rose, brought himself and his partner closer and winked at the Doctor. "Switch?"

Elm grinned, spun out of the Doctor's arms and grabbed Rose. She led her friend in a simple swing dance. "Thanks."

"Not exactly what I meant," Jack replied before stepping up to the Doctor. "But this works too."

Rose laughed, and the Doctor didn't object beyond a slight scowl.

OoOoOoO

The Doctor was the first to leave the makeshift dance floor, saying something about having to fix the phone. Next down was Rose, who wanted a soak in the tub. That left Elm and Jack, who danced for a few songs before being ready to tuck in for the night. The music turned off automatically.

"So, am I bunking with you?" Jack questioned with a wink.

Elm chuckled. "As nice as that would be, I think the TARDIS would be offended if you didn't make use of your room."

"My room?"

She didn't bother to respond, instead leading them down the hall. She had been walking aimlessly when she spotted a familiar door next to a new one. Her door, of course, was wooden. The new one was metal. It was a gleaming, silver metal door held together by welded steel and bolts. 'Captain Jack Harkness' was painted in royal blue paint at eye level.

Jack was clearly impressed.

"You gonna go in?" Elm questioned.

"When did the Doc have time to set this up?" Jack asked, hand moving to trace his name.

Elm shrugged. "As I said, the TARDIS made it for you. Not the Doctor." She yawned. "I'm beat. You gonna be alright on your own?"

"Yeah," Jack said after a moment. "I think so."

E/N: Thank you so much for reading! This is a monster of a chapter, and hopefully you enjoyed it. If you feel so inclined, leave a comment with your feelings, thoughts or questions! I love interacting with you guys, and your comments provide motivational boosts in low moments.

Only four more chapters 'til the Parting of Ways!

Comment Responses:

Purplestan: No prob, thanks for leaving so many reviews. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! And yeah, Elm's been through a lot.

KatietheEggie: Thank you!

m on ch. 3: I hadn't thought of that, but Boe adding the Doctor to the guest list would make sense. Thanks for sharing the idea and the comment!

m on ch. 4: Wow, yeah, that would be a bit pointed, lol. Good point tho.

Wtfstarftw10 on ch. 10: Thank you!

Wtfstarftw10 on ch. 6: I, too, am looking forward to writing Amy and fleshing out her character.

Faery66: Your wish is my command!

Altiria-Aty: ;) I'm glad you like Elm! Thank you!

TheEmpressOfWhoAskedYou: Thank you so much, your comment made my day. I hope this chapter delivered!

ShuTheDragon: Sorry for the wait, hope the chapter delivered.