It's the first in a set of brand new adventures with the Doctor and to begin, they head to New Earth. The only problem is that an old enemy is waiting and plans to use Willow as an advantage. However, she's not the only problem waiting for them in a sinister hospital.

***

Willow and Rose held two large rucksacks on their backs, holding whatever they needed for their journeys throughout time and space. Once reaching the TARDIS, Mickey and Jackie stood there waiting for them. "Have you got everything?" Jackie asked, hugging Rose tightly.

"We've got everything, don't worry." Rose insisted, separating from her mother.

Jackie then embraced her niece, saying goodbye. "Be careful."

"See you, Jackie." She said, grinning. "And don't worry, I'll look after Rose."

"I love you both." She sighed, watching Rose wander over to Mickey.

"Love you, love you," Rose commented, drifting away slightly. She gave one last kiss to Mickey as Willow slipped in front of her.

It was strange seeing that Rose and Mickey were still together. Ever since Willow had met the Doctor, Mickey had seemed to be competing for Rose's affection. However, he didn't need to since the Doctor had his eyes set on someone else. Mickey muttered to his girlfriend. "Love you."

Although, Rose only returned with an awkward smirk. "Bye."

The girls took each other's hands, walking inside. The door shut behind them, startling the Doctor who gazed upon them. He smiled in joy at the pair, ready to set off. They set down their stuff as Rose undid her bun. She was wearing a tight-suited blue jacket over an ombre blouse that Willow thought didn't suit her at all. Willow, on the other hand, was wearing a red dress with a black jacket over the top. The jacket had nothing of importance in as she had pockets in her dress.

They both jumped up to the console, feeling the TARDIS dematerialising into the time vortex. "So where are we going?" Willow queried in excitement.

"Further than we've ever gone before." He stated to the girls, pulling and knocking on knobs and buttons, making the TARDIS go to where he wanted to go.

***

After a while, the TARDIS finally landed with a soft thump, surprising Willow. The Doctor grabbed his long brown jacket, pulling on the seams. Eventually, he dragged the doors open, revealing the bright morning light on the other side. The girls edged closer to the exit, peering out. Above them, in the sky, were flying cars zooming around the area. Rose's jaw dropped at the sight of it, while Willow observed her surroundings. "It's the year five billion and twenty-three. We're in the galaxy M87 and this? This is New Earth."

The grass beneath them was pure green, seemingly artificial. Across the river and its banks, there lied a beautiful city that stretched up to the sky. Everything was so clear. No pollution or fumes. You could really see the sky. "That's just. That's just..."

"Not bad." The Doctor smiled, looking around. "Not bad at all."

"That's amazing." Willow murmured in awe, ending her sentence. "I'll never get used to this. Never. Different ground beneath my feet, a different sky."

"What's that smell?" Rose queried, her nose stuck into the air.

"Apple grass."

Both girls glared at him. "Apple grass."

Willow guffawed as the Doctor confirmed the fact. "Yeah, yeah."

"It's beautiful." She turned to him, linking her arm with his. "Oh, I love this. Can I just say, travelling with you, I love it."

"Me too." He took her hand, running off. "Come on."

They took off sprinting across the "apple grass", leaving Rose behind. "Oi! Don't forget about me!"

***

A humanoid figure, with sepia markings across his body, watched intensely through the eye of a metal spider creature using an electronic crystal ball. There he saw the Doctor, Rose and Willow wandering along the grass. His eyes widened at the scans he saw. "Human! The girls are pure-blood human!" He tapped a few buttons, muttering under his breath. "Closer, closer."

***

The Doctor had now taken off his coat, laying it down on the grass for the group to sit on. They gazed across the water and up at the city's skyline. It was too beautiful for words. "So, the year five billion, the sun expands, the Earth gets roasted."

"That was our first trip," Rose commented, remembering their first time travelling together. Willow, however, could not as she wasn't there at the time. It did upset her that she wasn't there, but at least she had now.

The Doctor nodded, grinning. "We had chips. 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 then find this place. Same size as the Earth, same air, same orbit. Lovely. Call goes out, the humans move in.

Willow sat, thinking about the vibrant city. "What's the city called?"

"New New York." He answered.

"Oh, come on!" Rose responded in disbelief.

"It is!" He insisted. "It's the city of New New York. Strictly speaking, it's the fifteenth New York since the original, so that makes it New New New New New New New New New New New New New New York." Willow laughed, amazed and delighted by the Doctor's words. "What?"

It was hard to think that this was the same man she thought kidnapped Rose a year ago. Willow stared into his eyes. "You're so different."

"New New Doctor." The Doctor joked, not realising that the spider creature was incredibly close to them.

***

"Impossible. I recognize that blonde child. Her face. Show me her face!" A woman shouted to the male, wanting to see the identity of the familiar girl.

"Closer, closer." He commanded.

"Face! Face! Face!"

***

Rose rolled over to her front, trying to stand. "Can we go and visit New New York, so good they named it twice?"

The pair crawled up from the ground, the Doctor taking his long coat and putting it back on. Nevertheless, he was staring towards another building instead of the city. "Well, I thought we might go there first."

Willow rotated her head towards an elegant pair of curved skyscrapers which sat on their side of the river. There was a painting of a green crescent moon on the side. "Why, what is it?"

"Some sort of hospital. Green moon on the side. That's the universal symbol for hospitals." He fiddled through one of his pockets, pulling out his psychic paper. "I got this. A message on the psychic paper."

He opened it up in front of them, showing a written note that said 'Ward 26 - Please Come'. The Doctor thought for a moment. "Someone wants to see me."

"How'd you get a message on psychic paper?" She asked, intrigued.

The Doctor shrugged, explaining. "Well, in a sense,  it's like a phone really. Anyone can communicate with me through it, Willow."

"That's vague, isn't it?"

Rose pursed, understanding that it was either something interesting or something dangerous. "And I thought we were just sight-seeing. Come on then, cousin. Let's go and buy some grapes." The girls chuckled as their arms intertwined. They started to stroll over to the hospital in a sense of glee and nerve, unknowingly being watched.

***

Cassandra, a flat piece of skin with blue eyes and bright red lips, gasped at the sight of one of her attempted murderers. "Rose Tyler! I knew it. That dirty blonde assassin. Who is the other girl?"

"The man called her Willow and Rose seemed to use the word 'cousin', mistress." Chip, her slave, responded.

"Well, I would rather take the blonde but this Willow seems different. I think she will be more useful to me." She added.

"They're coming here, mistress."

She grinned at her luck, talking in a sing-song voice. "This is beyond coincidence. This is destiny. At last, I can be revenged on that little-"

***

"Bit rich coming from you," Rose mentioned after the Doctor told them about how he found hospitals too strange for his tastes.

"I can't help it. I don't like hospitals. They give me the creeps." He commented as they walked inside. 

Over a tannoy, a voice spoke as the trio went into the waiting area. "The Pleasure Gardens will now take visitors carrying green or blue identification cards for the next fifteen minutes. Visitors are reminded that cuttings from the gardens are not permitted."

"Very smart. Not exactly the NHS." Willow said, gazing around the expansive space. 

The Doctor frowned, attempting to locate something. "No shop. I like the little shop."

"I thought this far in the future, they'd have cured everything?" Rose suggested, before glaring at the nurses.

"The human race moves on, but so do the viruses. It's an ongoing war." Both Willow and the Doctor noticed Rose's stares in bewilderment.

The two observed as her jaw dropped upon seeing one of the nurses' faces; they were cats. After the nurse brushed past her, she threw a finger up at them, pointing. "They're cats."

"Now, don't stare. Think about what you look like to them, all pink and yellow." Rose edged closer to him as Willow was still distracted by the beauty of the hospital. "That's where I'd put the shop. Right there."

Rose hurried after him, managing to squeeze into the same lift as him, without Willow. "Ward 26, thanks!"

Once, Willow finally snapped out of her trance, she noticed her friends inside the lift. "Hold on! Hold on!" However, it was too late as the doors slammed shut in front of her.

The Doctor yelled from above. "Oh, too late. We're going up!"

She huffed, dismayed until her eyes landed on another lift. "It's all right, there's another lift!"

"Ward 26!" He commented. "And watch out for the disinfectant!"

Nonetheless, they were too high, only allowing Willow to hear part of the warning. "Watch out for what?" She questioned, on the ball.

"The disinfectant!"

"The what?" 

"The disin-" He started, before rolling his eyes. "Oh, you'll find out."

Inside the lift, Rose glared at the Doctor, confused by what he meant by "disinfection". Meanwhile, on the floor where Willow was, the doors to the second lift slid open. Shyly and nervously, she crept inside, stuttering her words. "Er, Ward 26, thanks."

Although, she did not take notice that her lift was going down rather than up. In the first lift, they were given the signal of disinfection. "Commence stage one disinfection." Rose shrieked as spouts of water shot out of the walls and onto the pair. The Doctor didn't seem to mind, treating it more like a shower. In the second lift, the speaker gave Willow the signal before shooting out bouts of water. She gasped in shock at the unexpected sponging.

The next stage was drying them off with periods of air vented through. The Doctor thoroughly enjoyed the session as Rose subsequently gained the hang of it. Also, Willow was glad she didn't have to walk into a hospital ward, seeming like she had been out in heavy rainfall. 

The couple came out of the lift, marching forward into Ward 26, while Willow was stuck many floors beneath them. She falteringly stepped out into a rubbish-strewn corridor that didn't appear to be in use. Willow raised her eyebrows, searching for the Doctor and Rose. They wouldn't just leave her somewhere, would they?

"The human child is clean." An Irish voice spoke, causing Willow to jump slightly.

She anxiously moved over some debris, while questioning the strange man. "Er, I'm looking for Ward 26?"

Upon further inspection, Willow could see that he had peculiar markings and patterns across his body. He wore a black hat on his head and white scrubs. "This way, Willow."

She widened her eyes, realising that he said her name. Willow was freaked out enough, but now she knew that someone had led her down here on purpose. Dropping down for a moment, she picked up a metal bar that was lying on the floor. If she was in danger, she would need something to protect herself with.

***

Over a tannoy, a voice spoke as the Doctor and Rose were being escorted through Ward 26 by a veiled nurse. "Please report to reception."

"Nice place." He commented, secretly grimacing. "No shop, downstairs. I'd have a shop. Not a big one. Just a shop, so people can shop."

The nurse removed her veil, startling Rose for a second. "The hospital is a place of healing."

The Doctor shrugged. "A shop does some people the world of good. Not me. Other people."

"People aren't interested in the hospital shop unless they want something to eat or read," Rose informed him. "But not many hospitals have them."

"The Sisters of Plentitude take a lifelong vow to help, and to mend." They continued, coming across an open cubicle where a relatively large man was turning to stone.

A young woman was tending to his needs until recognising that they were being watched. "Excuse me! Members of the public may only gaze upon the Duke of Manhattan with written permission from the Senate of New New York."

"Duke?" Rose pointed out, surprised with the title.

"That's Petrifold Regression, right?" He asked.

She turned to him. "What's that?"

"He's turning to stone." The Doctor whispered.

"I'm dying, sir." The Duke sighed. "A lifetime of charity and abstinence, and it ends like this."

The woman deathly glared at them. "Any statements made by the Duke of Manhattan may not be made public without official clearance."

"Frau Clovis!" He yelled in pain, causing the woman to abruptly comfort him. "I'm so weak."

Clovis gazed back at the group. "Sister Jatt. A little privacy, please."

Jatt nodded, yanking the curtain over the cubicle, blocking the pair's view. "He'll be up and about in no time."

"I doubt it. 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." He solemnly quipped.

"Have faith in the Sisterhood." She responded, studying the ward. "But is there no one here you recognise? It's rather unusual to visit without knowing the patient."

The Doctor glimpsed around for a moment before his eyes landed on a familiar face. "No, I think I've found him."

Rose didn't understand what he meant until her eyes caught what the Doctor saw. It was the Face of Boe. His large face was asleep in a massive container by a window that showed a beautiful view of the city. They wandered over as Sister Jatt approached another cat-nurse. "Novice Hame, if I can leave this lady and gentleman in your care?"

"Oh, I think my cousin got lost. Willow Hughes. Could you ask at the reception?" Rose questioned Jatt as she was leaving.

"Certainly, miss." 

Novice Hame glanced up at the couple, sharing a sweet smile. She was very attractive for a cat person, however. "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 told her, examining him. "What's wrong with him?"

"I'm so sorry. I thought you knew." She solemnly asserted. "The Face of Boe is dying."

Rose frowned, saddened by the fact. "Of what?"

"Old age. The one thing we can't cure. He's thousands of years old. Some people say millions, although that's impossible." Hame admitted, laughing to herself under her breath.

"Oh, I don't know. I like impossible." He lowered his body towards the floor, caressing the glass that surrounded him. "We're here. I look a bit different, but it's me, It's the Doctor." The Doctor said to a sleeping Boe.

***

Meanwhile, Willow proceeded to follow the strange man down the corridor. Although, after some time, she lost his trail but still chose to trust her instincts. Eventually, Willow noticed a room, with long strands of clear plastic for a door, lit up. With discernment in her mind, she hesitantly entered the room. Her eyes observed an old reel to reel projector, showing a film of a party. It appeared to be showcasing a beautiful woman with long blonde hair, blue eyes and a long sapphire dress. Willow smiled at the thought of people keeping the memories of the past alive.

"Like what you see?" A female voice spoke from behind. She sharply veered round, meeting the people who were behind this. The patterned man hid in the background while, in the foreground, a thin piece of stretched skin was hung on metal. The way you could notice that it was female was from cherry coated lips. "Oh, I'm so sorry for startling you. I haven't seen many people these days."

Willow gasped, fearful after realising who this was. "You're Cassandra."

"The one and the only!"

She yanked the metal bar up to her face, making sure that she would be protected. "Don't come near me! Rose told me what you tried to do to her. To everyone on that ship! So, don't come any closer!"

Cassandra rolled her eyes. "What do you think I'm going to do? Flap you to death?"

She glanced over at the shrouding man, knowing that he was probably her slave. "Yeah, but what about Gollum?"

"Oh, that's just Chip. He's my pet." She responded.

"I worship the mistress." He harshly exclaimed.

Willow was taken aback by his enthusiasm. "Ok, then..."

"Moisturise me, moisturise me." Cassandra spat as Chip grabbed a squeeze bottle, pointing it up at her skin and sprayed it all over her. "He's not even a proper life form. He's a force grown clone. I modelled him on my favourite pattern. But he's so faithful. Chip sees to my physical needs."

"I hope that means food." She grimaced. "How comes you're still alive? Rose saw you die."

"After she murdered me!" The skin claimed with a sneer.

"That was your own fault." 

Chip admired his mistress for a moment. "The brain of my mistress survived. And her pretty blue eyes were salvaged from the bin."

"What about the skin?" Her memories of Rose telling her about her first trip with the Doctor continued. "She saw you being ripped apart!"

"That piece of skin was taken from the front of my body. This piece is the back." She solemnly informed.

A giggle erupted from Willow's throat realising what Cassandra had meant. "Right! So you're talking out of your a-"

"Ask not."

"The mistress was lucky to survive. Chip secreted m'lady into the hospital." He said, using the third person. 

She nodded, understanding why they were both down here. "So they don't know you're here?"

"Chip steals medicine. Helps m'lady. Soothes her, strokes her." His hand caressed her from behind, causing Willow to cringe.

"You can stop right there, Chip!" 

He gave her a stern look before Cassandra conversed again. "But I'm so alone, hidden down here. The Last Human in existence."

"Oh, come on! They've called this planet New Earth." Willow protested.

"A vegetable patch."

"And there are millions of humans out there. Millions of them."

"Mutant stock."

"They evolved, Cassandra. They just evolved, like they should." She argued, denying Cassandra's claims. "You stayed still. You got yourself all pickled and preserved, and what good did it do you?" 

She peered up at the projected film, beaming away. "Oh, I remember that night. 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." She commented, referring to the amounts of surgeries she's had.

"But I've not been idle, Willow, tucked away underneath this hospital. I've been listening. The Sisters are hiding something." Cassandra murmured.

She frowned, crossing her arms. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, these cats have secrets. Hush, let me whisper. Come close." She squinted, beckoning Willow to join her.

Her teeth dug deep into her lips, understanding that Cassandra wasn't the best person to be around. She had to get out of there, quickly. Slyly, but still, at a fast pace, Willow started to back away.  "Look, err... I need to get back to my friends. They're probably... wondering where I am-"

Abruptly, she was bound by electrical energy on both arms that held her still. "Chip, activate the psychograft," Cassandra ordered, prompting her servant to proceed with their plan.

"Let me go!" Willow screamed as streams of light came over her from a contraption. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"The lady's moving on. It's goodbye trampoline, and hello ginger!" She exclaimed before Willow glimpsed Cassandra fading into a whoosh of red energy. It was drawn towards her, barging into her cell.

There was nothing she could do as the energy forced itself down Willow's throat and into her body, taking control. As soon as it was over, Willow collapsed, dropping the metal bar to the floor. Chip hurried over, wondering what had happened to his mistress. Her body jolted, scaring Chip a little. "Mistress?"

"Moisturise me." Cass-Willow groaned in a posher accent. Chip ran over to the squeeze bottle, ready to spray her. 

However, Cassandra properly looked at her new body through Willow's eyes, apprehending that it had worked. "How bizarre. Arms, fingers," Her hand ran through Willow's ginger locks in glee. "Hair! Let me see! Let me see!"

She jumped up, heading towards the nearest mirror she had. Cassandra gazed at herself in disgust. "Oh my God. I'm a Londoner!"

***

Rose sat by the window with Novice Hame, while the Doctor prepared two cups of water. He walked over, handing one to his friend and the other to the novice. She shone a little grin. "That's very kind. There's no need."

"You're the one working." He replied.

Hame shrugged. "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?" Rose queried.

"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. 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 one like himself."

Last of his kind? Like the Doctor. "What does that mean?"

"It's just a story." She chuckled.

"Tell me the rest."

She sighed, explaining. "It's said he'll talk to a wanderer. To the man without a home. The lonely god."

The Doctor frowned, understanding that the legends were referring to a man quite like himself.

***

Cassandra proceeded to judge Willow's body, picking everything that was wrong with her. "Look at me. From class to... whatever this is! Although," She opened her cleavage more and studied her buttocks. "Oh, curves. Oh, baby, it's like living inside a bouncy castle!"

"The mistress is beautiful." Chip stated.

"Absolutement!" She exclaimed, glancing back at him. However, something caught her sight. "Oh, but look."

The equipment that once kept the flat Cassandra alive had now been fried and the brain was dead. They wandered over to the area. "Oh, the brain lead expired. My old mistress is gone."

"But safe and sound in here." Cass-Willow tapped her head in excitement.

"But what of the Willow child's mind?" Chip questioned.

She shrugged."Oh, tucked away. I can just about access the surface memory. She's-"

Cassandra gasped whilst having a realisation. "Gosh, she's with the Doctor. A man. He's the Doctor. The same Doctor with a new face. That hypocrite!" She yelled, heading back over to the mirror. "I must get the name of his surgeon. I could do with a little work. Although nice rear bumper. Hmm..."

Unexpectedly, she started to feel a vibration in one of her pockets and heard a strange ringing noise. "Oh, it seems to be ringing. Is it meant to ring?"

"A primitive communications device." He said as she took it out.

Anxiously, she pressed one of the buttons, hearing the Doctor's voice. "Willow, where are you?"

She opened her mouth to whisper as Cassandra pulled the phone up to her ear. "How does she speak?"

"Old Earth Cockney." He muttered.

Cassandra gulped, beginning to articulate. "Er, wotcha?"

"Where've you been? How long does it take to get to Ward 26?" He asked.

"I'm on my way, governor." She stated. "I shall proceed up the apples and-"

I don't even sound like that, bitch.

Cassandra gasped in pain for a moment, putting a hand up to her head. "You ok?" The Doctor queried, sounding a little fearful.

"Fine!" She snapped.

She could hear him grinning from the other side. "You'll never guess. I'm with the Face of Boe."

"Ah, right." Cassandra rolled her eyes, understanding he was here too. "That big old boat race."

Never even met him before.

"I'd better go. See you in a minute." He hung up on her, obviously distracted.

He's smart, you know. He'll know that I'm not myself and so will Rose!

Cassandra heard Willow say inside her mind, she wickedly grinned at herself through the mirror. "Well, aren't you strong? Not for long though."

***

"I'd better go. See you in a minute." He told Willow, before slotting the phone back into place and wandering over to the cubicle where the Duke of Manhatten was. 

The Duke laughed and cheered in joy as the Doctor gazed back at the, no longer turning to stone, Duke. "Didn't think I was going to make it." He commented to his acquaintances, just noticing the Doctor stroll by. "It's that man again! He's my good luck charm. Come in! Don't be shy." He invited the Doctor inside, happy as could be.

Rose also walked over, curious to what was happening and likewise understood that the Duke was now healthy. Frau Clovis addressed them. "Any friendship expressed by the Duke of Manhattan does not constitute a form of legal contract."

"Winch me up. Up!" He commanded, allowing his bed to be lifted slightly. "Look at me. No sign of infection."

"Champagne, sir?" A waiter questioned.

He shook his head. "No, thanks." 

Rose humbly reached out for one. "I'll have one."

"You had Petrifold Regression, right?"

"That being the operative word. Past tense. Completely cured." The Duke affirmed.

"But that's impossible." 

"Primitive species would accuse us of magic," One of the cat nurses had managed to sneak up from behind them. "But it's merely the tender application of science."

Rose gazed at her in shock, remembering what the Doctor had said earlier. "How on Earth did you cure him?"

"How on New Earth, you might say." She responded.

The Doctor observed one of the solutions that the Duke had. "What's in that solution?"

"A simple remedy." She answered.

"Then tell me what it is." He demanded.

The nurse was appalled by his requests. "I'm sorry. Patient confidentiality." She verified with a snarl. "I don't believe we've met. My name is Matron Casp."

"I'm the Doctor and this is Rose." He pointed at the blonde standing next to him, however, she did not seem to care in the slightest.

She snarled once more, sounding a little threatening. "I think you'll find that we're the doctors here."

Sister Jatt, the nurse who escorted the Doctor and Rose through Ward 26, returned. "Matron Casp, you're needed in Intensive Care."

Casp nodded, discussing with the pair again. "If you would excuse me."

They marched off, the Doctor watching them with a suspicious glare. Rose finished her glass of champagne, placing it down on a nearby table. "So, what happened to Willow?"

His tone changed dramatically upon hearing her name. "I think they've done something to her."

Rose's mouth hung open, starting to worry. "What?"

"On the phone, she sounded... different. She knew who the Face of Boe was." He told her.

She chuckled. "Yeah, because I told her."

"Did you say he was a 'big old boat race'?" He queried as Rose thought to herself. "I believe that the lift may have sent her to a more dangerous place."

"Like what?"

"I'm not quite sure."

***

In the basement, Cassandra was prepping for her venture out into the hospital to investigate. Chip proceeded to warn her about the man she wanted to use. "This Doctor man is dangerous."

She flicked her ginger hair, making herself look more presentable. "Dangerous and clever. 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." Cassandra asserted, strolling over. "Perfume?"

He handed her a small vial, which she tucked into her cleavage. Cassandra made some final checks before storming out of her temporary home and into the light. The Doctor and Rose would give her the perfect advantage for her plan.

***

Without Chip by her side, Cassandra made her way up to Ward 26, ready for anything. The Doctor was checking every solution in the ward, wanting to know what was in them. Rose perceived Willow stepping out of the lift and so she alerted the Doctor, who immediately raced over to her. "There you are. Come and look at this patient." He pulled her over to one cubicle where a red-skinned man was floating in mid-air. "Marconi's Disease. 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 yanked her over to another patient who was white-skinned and was attached to thousands of red tubes. "Pallidome Pancrosis. Kills you in ten minutes, and he's fine." The Doctor waved at him, not meaning to offend him before sauntering over to another area; the girls followed behind. "I need to find a terminal. I've got to see how they do this. Because if they've got the best medicine in the world, then why is it such a secret?"

"I can't Adam and Eve it," Cassandra spoke, back in her original posh tone.

Rose and the Doctor squinted, both facing her in curiosity. "What's, what's. what's with the voice?"

She regarded his question, whilst also eyeing his body. "Oh, I don't know. Just larking about. New Earth, new me."

"Well, I can talk. New New Doctor." He said, referring to his joke from earlier.

"Mmm, aren't you just." At which point, Cassandra pulled him in for a kiss that was long and hard. Rose merely stood on her spot, frozen in shock at what "Willow" had decided to do. The Doctor, nonetheless, didn't wish to break up this moment at all. Eventually, she pushed herself off him, gasping for breath. "Terminal's this way. Phwoar!"

She waltzed off towards a terminal, while Rose and the Doctor remained, dumbfounded. The Doctor slicked back his hair, taking a breath. "Yep, still got it." Rose rolled her eyes at him before taking off after her as the Doctor trailed behind. 

Soon enough, they were investigating a computer terminal by a lift. The Doctor scanned it intensely, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. "Nope, nothing odd. Surgery, post-op, nano-dentistry. No sign of a shop. They should have a shop."

"No, it's missing something else. When I was downstairs, those Nurse Cat Nuns were talking about Intensive Care. Where is it?" She searched around the computer.

He gulped, slightly curious about what else happened downstairs but he wanted answers from the cats themselves. "You're right. Well done."

"Why would they hide a whole department? It's got to be there somewhere. Search the sub-frame." She suggested.

The Doctor glared at her, as did Rose. They knew Willow and this didn't sound like her at all. How would she know what a sub-frame is? He squinted at her. "What if the sub-frame's locked?"

"Try the installation protocol," Cass-Willow stated in a garish manner.

He gave Rose a look of uncertainty that she too shared. "Yeah. Of course. Sorry. Hold on." Pulling out his sonic screwdriver, he scanned the interface. Subsequently, the walls next to them slid open, revealing a dimly lit corridor that led somewhere that wasn't on the hospital map. "Intensive Care. Certainly looks intensive."

Nevertheless, Cassandra grinned with delight upon their discovery, leading the trio down the corridor. 

***

They strolled down an old-fashioned staircase with the Doctor and Rose unknowingly accompanying Cassandra. Upon reaching "Intensive Care", they found that the whole place was lined with green cells, thousands of them. The Doctor decided to randomly yank one open, exposing a sickly man with several boils and black veins running down his body. Rose held a hand up to her mouth, while Cassandra gagged in repugnance. "That's disgusting. What's wrong with him?" She queried without a care in the world.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." The Doctor said before closing the door on him. He moved onto the next, once again pulling it open.

This time, an extremely infected young woman was strung up within. Rose's face contorted into an expression of pure dread at the sight of her. "What disease is that?"

"All of them. Every single disease in the galaxy. They've been infected with everything." The Doctor replied, without showing any sadness or anger on his face.

"What about us? Are we safe?" Cassandra anxiously inquired, only caring for her own well-being.

"The air's sterile. Just don't touch them." He implied, shutting the door on the woman whose eyes cried out for help.

"How many patients are there?" Rose wondered, looking around at the tomb-esque ward.

The Doctor clenched onto a barrier, remarking every cell in the building. "They're not patients."

"But they're sick."

"They were born sick. 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."

The young blonde was repulsed, comprehending that the Sisters had been killing over and over again for the benefit of New Earth. "That's horrible."

"Why don't they just die?" Cassandra coldly questioned, displaying no sympathy. Rose stared at her in horror. She knew this wasn't her cousin at all.

"Plague carriers. The last to go."

"It's for the greater cause." A female voice spoke from behind. It was Novice Hame, who had abandoned her patient and followed them into Intensive Care. 

The Doctor faced her with hatred in his eyes, storming up to her. "Novice Hame, When you took your vows, did you agree to this?"

"The Sisterhood has sworn to help." She apprised.

"What, by killing?" He harshly spoke, his voice turning into a yell.

"But they're not real people. They're specially grown. They have no proper existence." Hame stated, trying to make them understand.

"What's the turnover, hmm? Thousand a day? Thousand the next? Thousand the next?" His voice grew from a sharp whisper to an enraged shout. "How many thousands? For how many years? How many!"

She gulped, still talking. "Mankind needed us. 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."

"These people are alive!" Rose protested, thinking about the sad glimmer in their eyes.

"But think of those Humans out there, healthy and happy, because of us."

"If they live because of this, then life is worthless." He argued.

Hame straightened up, snapping back. "But who are you to decide that?"

"I'm the Doctor. 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 me."

Cass-Willow shifted forwards, addressing Hame. "Just to confirm. None of the humans in the city actually know about this?"

"We thought it best not."

The Doctor couldn't stand this, knowing something had happened to Willow and that the hospital could be to blame. She would care. She always did care. Why now would she be acting so callous, unless it wasn't her? "Hold on. I can understand the bodies. I can understand your vows. One thing I can't understand. What have you done to Willow?"

Cassandra snapped up at him, realising he knew something was off with Willow. She bit her lip in vexation as Hame questioned his accusations. "I don't know what you mean."

Told you so.

"And I'm being very, very calm. You want to be aware of that. Very, very calm. And the only reason I'm being so very, very calm is that the brain is a delicate thing. Whatever you've done to Willow's head, I want it reversed." He demanded.

However, she was still unsure and continued to argue. "We haven't done anything."

"I'm perfectly fine." She gave a normal grin, trying to set his suspicions aside.

"These people are dying, and Willow would care." 

What you gonna do now? I'd recommend getting out of my head as quickly as possible.

Suddenly, she dropped the facade of being Willow, giving up on fooling the Doctor. "Oh, all right, clever clogs." He spun around as Cassandra commenced pulling on his tie. "Smartypants. Lady-killer."

His eyes showed concern, like a dog. "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 smirked.

"Who are you?" 

Cassandra moved up to his ear, whispering. "The last human."

The Doctor jumped back. "Cassandra?" Rose was too taken aback by the revelation, remembering how she had tried to kill her.

She tucked a hand down her cleavage, taking out the vial. "Wake up and smell the perfume." Cassandra squirted it up his nose, causing him to collapse. Willow's cousin couldn't do anything to stop her as she too was knocked out by the perfume.

Novice Hame comforted them in bewilderment of what had just occurred. "You've hurt them. I don't understand. I'll have to fetch Matron."

"You do that because I want to see her." She ordered. "Now, run along. Sound the alarm!"

Cassandra spotted a power cable, swiftly yanking on it to set off the alarms. The sirens buzzed around her as Hame ran off to find the other Sisters. She crossed her arms in delight at her glorious triumph.

***

The Doctor and Rose woke up in one of the cells, clinging onto each other. Outside, Cassandra was now joined by Chip to execute the second part of their plan. "Let me out! Let me out!" The Doctor yelled from inside.

"Aren't you lucky there was a spare? Standing room only." Cass-Willow said on the other side of the glass.

"You've stolen Willow's body!" 

She simply ignored his complaints. "Over the years, I've thought of a thousand ways to kill you both. 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 got about three minutes left. Enjoy your last time together."

Rose was next to argue with her. "Just let Willow go, Cassandra."

"I will!" Cassandra stated, leaning on the glass. "As soon as I've found someone younger, and less common, then I'll junk her with the waste. Now hushaby. It's showtime."

"Anything we can do to help?" Sister Jatt spoke, alarming Cassandra and Chip.

Both Matron Casp and Sister Jatt were standing before them with no intent to harm them, at first. "Straight to the point, Whiskers." She quipped, insulting them. "I want money."

Casp disregarded her wish in a sense of dismay. "The Sisterhood is a charity. 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." Cassandra licked her lips, thinking of anything else she'd enjoy. "Oh, and perhaps a yacht. In return for which, I shall tell the city nothing of your institutional murder. Is that a deal?"

"I'm afraid not." 

She gritted her teeth, irritated. "I'd really advise you to think about this."

"Oh, there's no need. I have to decline." Casp stated.

"I'll tell them, and you've no way of stopping me." Cassandra threatened. "You're not exactly Nuns with Guns. You're not even armed."

"Who needs arms when we have claws?" He held up her arm, unsheathing her sharp golden claws.

That didn't work out, did it?

"Well, nice try." Her head turned over her shoulder, staring directly at her slave. "Chip? Plan B."

He nodded, pulling a large lever and causing all of the doors on that level to open. The Doctor and Rose emerged from their cell with no sign of infection. Although, the dazed and diseased people from the other cells also wandered out. "What've you done?" The Doctor yelled to Cassandra as she began walking off.

She turned back with a sly smile. "Gave the system a shot of adrenaline, just to wake them up. See you!" Cassandra and Chip then ran off, attempting to make a quick getaway.

The Doctor grabbed Rose's hand after calling out to the Sisters. "Don't touch them! Whatever you do, don't touch!"

They ran after the two but, soon after, every cell started to spark in the locks. They were being freed. Every diseased person was being freed. Cass-Willow howled in terror, realising what was going on. The four found themselves by a stairwell, where thousands of sick flesh were surrounding them. "Oh, my God." She muttered.

"What the hell have you done?" Rose screamed at her possessed cousin.

"It wasn't me." She defensively snapped.

"One touch and you get every disease in the world, and I want that body safe, Cassandra." The Doctor told her whilst searching for his best options. "We've got to go down."

Cassandra gazed around at the sickly humans, gagging slightly. "But there's thousands of them!"

"Run! Down! Down! Go down!" The Doctor shouted, causing Cassandra to whimper a little as they all ran down the stairs. "Keep going! Go down!"

Cassandra ran to the nearest lift they could find, trying to call it down. "No, the lifts have closed down. That's the quarantine. Nothing's moving." 

Luckily, she recognised this part as it was near her temporary place of stay. "This way!" She started to lead the Doctor and Rose away to her lair, unknowingly cutting Chip off from the group.

More people approached them, hunting Chip down. However, the Doctor noticed. "Someone will touch him."

"Leave him! He's just a clone thing. He's only got a half-life." She yelled, trying to pry him away. "Come on!"

"Mistress!"

"I'm sorry, I can't let her escape." The Doctor shouted to him.

"My Mistress!"

They made their way down to the basement where Cassandra was trying to open an exit. Nevertheless, once she forced it to be accessible, on the other side was a crowd of ill people who immediately reached for her. She screamed before slamming the door on them. "We're trapped! What am I going to do?"

"Well, for starters, you're going to leave that body." Cassandra rolled her eyes, playfully bouncing down. "That psychograft is banned on every civilised planet. You're compressing Willow to death."

"But I've got nowhere to go. My original skin's dead." Her hair swished as she faced him.

"Not my problem. You can float as atoms in the air. Now, get out." He pointed the sonic screwdriver at her, threatening Cassandra. "Give her back to me."

"You asked for it." She growled, taking a deep breath before releasing a puff of red energy out of Willow's body. It floated around for a bit until reaching the Doctor and throwing itself inside of him. Willow stumbled, finally gaining control of her body again. Rose held her, unknowing of where Cassandra had gone. "Blimey, my head. Where'd she go?"

"Oh, my. This is different." A feminine styled voice erupted from the Doctor as Willow and Rose gawked at him.

"Cassandra?" Rose questioned.

"Goodness me, I'm a man. Yum. So many parts." She felt his body intensely, clearly enjoying her time in his body. "And hardly used. Oh, oh, two hearts! Oh, baby, I'm beating out a samba!"

"Get out of him!" Willow demanded, comprehending that they would both be lost without the Doctor.

"Oo, he's slim, and a little bit foxy." Cassandra licked his lips, glaring at Willow. "You've thought so too. I've been inside your head." Willow felt herself blush as the Cass-Doctor edged closer to her. "You've been looking. You like it."

Abruptly, the diseased people burst out of the door, heavily breathing and crying out for someone to hold them. "What do we do? What would he do? The Doctor, what the hell would he do?!"

Willow searched their surroundings with the hope of finding some escapism. Eventually, her eyes landed on a ladder that led somewhere. "Ladder. We've got to get up."

Cassandra pushed both girls out of the way, heading up. "Out of the way, ginger!"

"Oi!" Willow called out, letting Rose chase after her. She took a final look at the diseased, before climbing up. "If you get out of the Doctor's body, he can think of something."

"Yap, yap, yap!" She jested, doing an impersonation of Willow. "God, it was tedious inside your head."

"We're going to die if-" Before she could finish, something clasped her ankle. Willow sharply looked down, finding that it was Matron Casp. "Get off!"

The cat hissed at her. "All our good work. All that healing. The good name of the Sisterhood. You have destroyed everything."

"Go and play with a ball of string!" Cassandra wickedly wisecracked in an uncaring manner.

Willow tried to plead with her. "It wasn't me! I never wanted this to happen!"

However, Casp did not listen. "Everywhere, disease. This is the human world. Sickness!"

Unexpectedly, Matron Casp started to yelp in pain as ugly blistered boils emerged on her face. Soon enough, she lost her grip and fell down the seemingly everlasting shaft. "Move!" Rose shouted, alarming them to the fact that the diseased people were getting closer. Cassandra screeched as she, in the Doctor's body, tried to climb faster.

Upon reaching the top of the ladder, they found themselves by doors that led to Ward 26. Cassandra banged on the door, but they did not open. The Cass-Doctor glared back down at the girls. "Now what do we do?"

"Use the sonic screwdriver," Rose suggested.

She reached inside his pocket, taking out the screwdriver and holding it by its end. "You mean this thing?"

"Yes, we mean that thing!" Willow yelled, continuously glancing back at the army of diseased. 

"Well, I don't know how." Cassandra responded. "That Doctor's hidden away all his thoughts."

Willow huffed, knowing what she had to do to save themselves and regretting it. "Cassandra, go back into me. The Doctor can open it. Do it!"

"Hold on tight." The Cass-Doctor said before throwing back his head as the energy left his mouth. Rose moved out of the way, watching as the energy transferred back into Willow.

Cassandra took a breath, taking control of Willow's body again. "Oh, chavtastic again." She sighed, glaring back at the Doctor who was fueled with anger. "Open it!"

"Not till you get out of her." He demanded, pointing the sonic screwdriver at her.

Rose groaned, comprehending that this was going to be difficult. "We need the Doctor!" Cassandra shouted in return.

"I order you to leave her!" He snapped. Cassandra squeezed her face, releasing herself from Willow's body and swapping back to the Doctor's body. Rose lamented, annoyed. They were acting like a married couple. "No matter how difficult the situation, there is no need to shout."

"Cassandra, get out of him!" Willow ordered, panicking at how close they were getting.

"But I can't go into you, he simply refuses. He's so rude." The Cass-Doctor replied.

Willow rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it."

"Go into me then!" Rose screamed but Willow protested.

"No!" She shouted. "Go into her and you'll get one hell of a slap from her mother!"

"Then what do I do?" Cassandra asked blatantly.

She shrugged. "I don't care. Just do something."

Cassandra cringed, gazing down at the diseased people. "Oh, I am so going to regret this." At that moment, the energy fled out of the Doctor and travelled down the ladder.

It flew past Rose and Willow, going into an ill woman. "Oh, sweet Lord. I look disgusting!" Cassandra stated in disgust.

The Doctor grinned, opening the lift doors with the sonic screwdriver. He looked back at Willow who for the first time wasn't Cassandra. "Nice to have you back."

They climbed inside as quickly as they could before Cassandra realised. However, once she saw them escaping, she snarled. "No, you don't!"

Willow watched as the energy escaped from the woman's body as she was being pulled inside the lift. "No!" The Doctor screamed as the energy pushed itself back into Willow's body.

She collapsed as the Doctor shut the doors with the screwdriver. "That was your last warning, Cassandra!"

Cass-Willow stared out at the wall, clearly upset and in shock. "Inside her head. They're so alone. They keep reaching out, just to hold us. All their lives and they've never been touched."

The Doctor's eyes widened a little, hearing Willow more than Cassandra. He offered her a hand to her surprise. In hesitance, Cassandra grasped it and was helped back onto her feet. Afterwards, the Doctor wandered off with the girls following behind.

***

They managed to find their way back up to Ward 26 without being confronted by any of the diseased. Upon walking in, Frau Clovis lunged at them with a metal stand in a frightened rage. They all jumped back slightly, startled by her attempt at an attack. "We're safe! We're safe! We're safe! We're clean! We're clean! Look, look."

"Show me your skin!" She commanded.

The group presented their hands, letting Clovis examine them. "Look, clean. Look, if we'd been touched, we'd be dead." She reluctantly nodded, lowering the stand. "So how's it going up here? What's the status?"

"There's nothing but silence from the other wards. I think we're the only ones left. And I've been trying to override the quarantine." She took out a phone-like device and strolled over to the wide window. "If I can trip a signal over to New New York, they can send a private executive squad."

"You can't do that. If they forced entry, they'd break quarantine." He pointed out.

Frau Clovis bit her lip in anguish. "I am not dying in here."

"We can't let a single particle of disease get out. There are ten million people in that city. They'd all be at risk. Now, turn that off!" He argued.

"Not if it gets me out." She opposed.

"All right, fine. So I have to stop you lot as well. Suits me. Rose, Willow, Novice Hame, everyone!" He called, stopping in front of the Duke. "Excuse me, your Grace. Get me intravenous solutions for every single disease. Move it!"

Everyone started to scatter, grabbing as many drip bags as they could. Each one was a different colour but still could be blended into something new. The Doctor collected a long piece of heavy silk rope and, when given the drip bags, he attached them to the rope. Once all of the bags were hung on his body, he looked back at Cass-Willow. "How's that? Will that do?"

She squinted. "I don't know. Will it do for what?"

He travelled back to the waiting room where Cassandra snogged him, opening a lift and revealing a dark shaft. "The lifts aren't working." She spoke, having followed him with Rose close behind.

"Not moving. Different thing. Here we go." He slipped the sonic screwdriver in between his teeth, backing up before sprinting over to the lift and jumping towards a nearby cable.

Cassandra attempted to stop him. "But you're not going to-" Nevertheless, he was already clinging onto the cable and slipping something on it. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm going down! Come on!" He commented, attaching a round piece of equipment and fixing it to the cable.

She chuckled,  ridiculing him. "Not in a million years."

"I need another pair of hands. What do you think? If you're so desperate to stay alive, why don't you live a little?" He asked without threatening her anymore.

Rose was suddenly pulled away from them by Frau Clovis because of the diseased people unexpectedly entering the room. "Seal the door!" She slammed a side button, closing the access to Ward 26 and trapping Cassandra outside. 

In fear of dying from the approaching diseased, Cassandra prepared herself for a regretful trip. She backed up, screeching as she leapt into the shaft and onto the Doctor. She held on for dear life, afraid of falling. "You're completely mad. I can see why she likes you." She quipped, imperceptibly addressing Willow's small crush on the Doctor.

"Going down!" The wheel he attached to the cable sharply took them down the shaft. Both screamed in fright but also excitement. After that short sequence, the Doctor managed to put on the brake using the screwdriver, giving them a safe landing and a gentle stop on top of the lift. 

Cassandra brushed her hair out of her face, relieved that they were still alive. "Well, that's one way to lose weight."

"Now, listen. When I say so, take hold of that lever." He began taking the drip bags and pouring the contents into a big black bowl that contained the disinfectant.

"There's still a quarantine down there, we can't!" She detested.

"Hold that lever! I'm cooking up a cocktail. I know a bit about medicine myself." He told her, continuously pouring out every drop. "Now, that lever's going to resist. But keep it in position. Hold onto it with everything you've got."

"What about you?" Cassandra asked, clutching the lever as he said.

The Doctor opened a small hatch that led to the inside of the lift. "I've got an appointment. The Doctor is in." He dropped down, swiftly landing. The Doctor wielded the sonic screwdriver in his hand, opening the lift doors and seeing thousands upon thousands of diseased people slumped and saddened. Once hearing the doors open, they all turned to look.  "I'm in here! Come on!"

"Don't tell them!" She seethed.

The diseased wandered aimlessly towards him, reaching out their sickening arms in distress. "Pull that lever!" He yelled as a few people clamoured inside, shuffling like zombies. With unwillingness, Cassandra yanked the lever in her direction. "Come and get me. Come on! I'm in here! Come on! "

When a moderate amount of people were inside, the lift commenced its first act over the tannoy. "Commence stage one disinfection."

"Hurry up! Come on!" He called out to the others. The contents of the disinfectant were poured onto them, showering every person inside. "Come on, come on." They were all sprayed until finally leaving the lift in confusion.

"All they want to do is pass it on. Pass it on!" He shouted, instructing them on what they should do.

"Pass on what? Pass on what?" Cassandra demanded to know.

"Pass it on!" He watched as the newly disinfected humans touched their diseased comrades. 

The sound of hisses and steam emerged off their skin every time they touched someone. It cleared their skin of any infection and disease they once had. The Doctor took Cass-Willow's hand, dragging her down. "What did they pass on? Did you kill them? All of them?" She curiously queried.

"No. That's your way of doing things." He exited the lift, brimming with happiness. "I'm the Doctor, and I cured them." 

Cassandra trailed him, gazing around at the cured. Somewhat glad it was over and that they were free from torment. One of the cured embraced The Doctor with glee. "That's right. Hey, there we go, sweetheart. Go to him. Go on, that's it. That's it." He told her, who excitedly strolled over to another person. "It's a new sub-species, Cassandra. A brand new form of life. New humans! Look at them. Look! Grown by cats, kept in the dark, fed by tubes, but completely, completely alive. You can't deny them, because you helped create them. The human race just keeps on going, keeps on changing. Life will out! Ha!"

You did good, Cassandra.

For once, Cassandra was honestly pleased with herself and their work. Perhaps there was a little bit of good left in there.

***

A little while later, everyone was gathered in Ward 26 as the police lifted the quarantine and entered the building, removing any nurse they could. Novice Hame gave the Doctor a look of sorrow as she was being taken away by the police. The Doctor knew she was a nice person but she let this happen and it was her own fault.

His face lit up, realising who he came to see. "The Face of Boe!"

The trio ran over to the last patient which was an old face inside a capsule, except he was wide awake this time. "You were supposed to be dying."

"There are better things to do today. Dying can wait." He said to them telepathically.

"Oh, I hate telepathy. Just what I need, a head full of big face." Cassandra commented, annoyed.

"Shh!" The Doctor hushed Cassandra's complaints as he knelt to talk to an old friend.

The Face of Boe breathed in heavily. "I have grown tired with the universe, Doctor, but you have taught me to look at it anew."

"There are legends, you know, saying that you're millions of years old." The Doctor informed him.

"There are? That would be impossible." He joked.

"Wouldn't it just." He responded. "I got the impression there was something you wanted to tell me."

It blinked, symbolising an agreement. "A great secret."

"So the legend says."

"It can wait."

The Doctor gasped, surprised and a little apprehensive. "Oh, does it have to?"

"We shall meet again, Doctor, for the third time, for the last time, and the truth shall be told. Until that day..." He stated as he beamed away, leaving the Doctor shocked.

"That is enigmatic. That, that is, that is textbook enigmatic." He noted, pausing as he got back on his feet to deal with another problem. "And now for you."

Cassandra was checking herself over before he approached her. "But everything's happy. Everything's fine. Can't you just leave me?"

"You've lived long enough. Leave that body and end it, Cassandra." He told her.

Although, it was harder than he thought as Cassandra started to cry a little. "I don't want to die."

"No one does."

"Help me!" She pled.

"I can't-"

"Mistress!" An Irish voice exclaimed.

Chip ran up to them, still alive and bouncing. She was almost relieved. "Oh, you're alive."

"I kept myself safe for you, mistress." He familiarised, allowing her to understand.

"A body." She grinned. "And not just that, a volunteer."

"Don't you dare. He's got a life of his own." The Doctor claimed.

"But I worship the mistress." Chip opposed as Cassandra winked at him in a flirtatious manner. "I welcome her."

"You can't, Cassandra, you-" But it was too late as Cassandra already started transferring the energy into Chip's body.

Willow, now free of Cassandra's control, collapsed into the Doctor. "Oh! You all right?" She was almost on her feet yet dropped once again. "Whoa! Okay?"

"Yeah." It was nice to hear her voice again. She gazed into his arms and smiled. "Hello!"

"Oh, sweet Lord. I'm a walking doodle." Cassandra spoke, interrupting the moment.

Willow shuffled over to Rose who squeezed her the moment that she was close. "You can't stay in there. 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, 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. I don't think he's going to last-" Cassandra attempted to quip, nonetheless, she collapsed but was caught by the Doctor.

"Are you all right?" Willow asked.

"I'm fine." She frowned. "I'm dying, but that's fine."

"I can take you to the city." The Doctor acquainted.

"No, you won't. Everything's new on this planet. There's no place for Chip and me any more. You're right, Doctor. It's time to die, and that's good."

"Come on." The Doctor said, helping her walk. "There's one last thing I can do."

***

The TARDIS materialised out of sight at the place Willow once saw on a projector. The last night anyone said Cassandra was beautiful. They strolled out, sticking to the shadows. Rose's hair was now tied up in a bun and Cassandra wore a thick black robe to hide some of Chip's body from view. Outside was the party where young Cassandra was flirting with every man in the room.

Once seeing her younger self, Cassandra beamed and turned back to the Doctor. "Thank you."

"Just go. And don't look back." The Doctor assured her.

Willow placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling. "Good luck."

She nodded, taking a breath before walking towards her. Rose took Willow's hand, anxious about the confrontation. Cass-Chip waltzed up, judged on sight by her "friends". "Excuse me, Lady Cassandra."

The other Cassandra faced Cass-Chip, surprised a little by how she looked in her servant's body. "I'm sorry, I don't need anything right now. I'm fine, thank you."

"No, I just wanted to say you look beautiful." She said.

Cassandra gasped in shock and happiness by Cass-Chip's kindness. "Well, that's very kind, you strange little thing. Thank you very much."

"I mean it. You look so beautiful." 

"Thank you." She affirmed, showing that Cassandra did have an honest heart.

Before Cass-Chip could say anymore, she passed out in front of her younger self. Cassandra was dying. "Oh, my Lord. Are you all right? What is it? What's wrong? Someone get some help! Call a medic or something, quickly!"

All Willow could do was stare as Cassandra was finally at peace. Eventually, the three of them strolled back into the TARDIS, comprehending that her reign of terror was conclusively at an end. 

***

Willow sat in the library, alone and tranquil. Most importantly, she felt free for what seemed like the first time in forever. She remembered everything, including the snog Cassandra did with the Doctor. Though, to be honest, she did enjoy it. However, she needed to focus on reality. She didn't want to get into another relationship that could lead to heartbreak, especially when she knew that the Doctor would continue to live and change over time. 

Instead, when questioned about Cassandra being inside her body, she merely told them that she "couldn't remember much" about the time spent. Although the Doctor never mentioned the kiss to her and she was glad, but a little gutted at the same time.

At least they had that one single moment together.

***

I didn't know how long this was going to be but hey, I made it! 

Today (if you haven't read the message board), I saw John Simm on stage and it was amazing. It was strange but yet, so amazing! The show was amazing as well, but his performance was awesome. I'm glad I got to see it. I guess that's one step closer to meeting the entire Doctor Who cast.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter as it was hard to write.

- Alice ❤