Winnie Is Not Okay

1.9

Winnie sat between the Doctor and Rose as everyone had gathered around a table in the living room. She was already holding their hands, just as the Doctor held Gwyneth's hand on the other side and Rose sneered at Mister Sneed's hand but did hold it now. Charles Dickens was rather appalled as Gwyneth explained.

"This is how Madam Mortlock summons those from the Land of Mists, down in Bute Town. Come, we must all join hands", she held her hand open on the table for Charles Dickens to take.

He crossed his arms and shook his head, "I can't take part in this."

"Humbug?", the Doctor teased him, "Come on, open mind."

"This is precisely the sort of cheap mummery I strive to unmask. Seances? Nothing but luminous tambourines and a squeeze box concealed between the knees. This girl knows nothing."

"You sound like my grandad when I tell him there are medications against his ailments", Winnie snorted at her way of explaining vaccines in the nineteenth century.

"Now, don't antagonise her", the Doctor played over Winnie's statement, "I love a happy medium."

The Doctor grinned at his companions and Rose whispered, "I can't believe you just said that."

He sighed and looked back at Charles Dickens, "Come on, we might need you."

Charles Dickens regarded him carefully but took Gwyneth's and Mr Sneed's hands.

"Good man", the Doctor smiled, "Now, Gwyneth, reach out."

Gwyneth closed her eyes, "Speak to us. Are you there? Spirits, come. Speak to us that we may relieve your burden."

The were blue wisps and quiet voices as if they were questioning if it was safe to come out.

"Can you hear that?", Rose asked quietly.

"Nothing can happen", Charles Dickens insisted, "This is sheer folly."

"Look at her", Rose told him and nodded at Gwyneth.

"I see them", Gwyneth said, "I feel them."

The whispers got louder and the blue tendrils got brighter as they now floated in a swirl above the table.

"What's it saying?", Rose asked.

"They can't get through the rift", the Doctor said and turned to Gwyneth, "Gwyneth, it's not controlling you, you're controlling it. Now, look deep. Allow them through."

"I can't", she cried.

"Yes, you can. Just believe it. I have faith in you, Gwyneth. Make the link."

"Yes", the blue entities looked more like people than ever before as they appeared around Gwyneth. Three of them standing like a council behind her while Gwyneth sat straight, like their vessel.

"Great God", Mr Sneed breathed out, "Spirits from the other side."

"Of the universe", Winnie muttered to the Doctor. He smiled down at her proudly.

The blue entities sounded like children and Gwyneth chorused with them, "Pity us. Pity the Gelth. There is so little time. Help us."

Winnie frowned but the Doctor was totally engaged, "What do you want us to do?"

"The rift. Take the girl to the rift. Make the bridge."

"What for?"

"We are so very few. The last of our kind. We face extinction."

"Why, what happened?" - As if he didn't know. But Winnie wasn't feeling so good about the way the Gelth were conveying themselves. Sounded a lot like Al when she had told him she couldn't be with someone who had been with her Mum before.