Can't Love You {Sequel to "Not Sherlock Holmes"}

Chapter Nine

Benedict's POV

I open my eyes, and I'm not dead.

How can I not be dead?

I try to sit up, but my shoulder screams in pain.

Okay, so my bullet wounds are still here.

Where am I?

I'm lying on a comfortable pad, but there's no pillow. I look around me, but everything looks foreign; strange.

"Hello?" I croak weakly. A head pops up from around the corner, and the face smiles.

"Ahh, you're awake! Excellent, I don't know what I would have done if you'd gotten yourself killed." He's standing in full view now, and his body is scrawny and lanky, and his brown hair flops around on his head. He places his hands on his hips and scowls. "You know, that was real stupid of you, tryin' to get yourself killed, there."

"I wasn't trying..."

"Of course you weren't trying! Few people try." He gives me the most exasperated look then goes back about his business. "Now I've got to figure out where to drop you back off so that you can go save the day, and then I can get back to Amelia..."

"Excuse me, who are you?" I ask as I sit up, wincing as my leg begins to hurt, as well. The man turns to me.

"That's right. I know you, but you don't know me. You're my past, I'm your future. It's all very confusing really... I'm the Doctor."

"And where am I?" As I converse with the man, I can feel my strength returning to me. "What is this place?"

"Ahh, yes, this is the TARDIS. She's my space ship."

"A space ship?"

"Yes, yes, don't act so surprised. You've sent humans to the moon by now. Space ship; no big deal." The Doctor gestures around him. "She doesn't look so good right now. I just regenerated, and things are sort of going haywire, but the TARDIS took me to you just as you decided to go drown yourself..."

"I wasn't drowning myself..."

"... So I saved your life because you, sir, are going to save the world. I need you alive." He smiles at me.

"I'm sorry, uhh, Doctor. This is quite a lot to take in..." I wonder if this is just a crazy dream. Or maybe I'm dead. "You're speaking like you travel time, and... well, things. And lots of other insane... things. And now you're saying that I'm going to save the world. I really honestly have to say that I think you have the wrong person." The Doctor rolls his eyes.

"Okay, listen, I don't have much time, REALLY. I've got to drop you off. But listen: I'll come back. I'll help you. But you have to pay attention: those were not natural disasters. The earthquakes, the floods, the ice..."

"Ice?"

"Yes, ice. They were all caused by something. Well, someone. There's a race of aliens called the Lumaros that reside in the center of the earth. They appear to be human, but they aren't. They have extraterrestrial abilities, meaning they have what you humans call 'super powers'." The Doctor rolls his sleeves up.

"I don't understand..." I say, not really registering, still mostly in shock.

"I know you don't. You won't now. But you will soon. Trust me. It will make sense when you get back on earth. But you..." He jabs a finger into my chest. "You're going to do great things. So stop trying to get yourself killed."

I give up arguing with the man. I can't think. My brain is mush.

"This is your stop!" he says as he pulls a few levers, and the TARDIS creaks around us. "Come on, lemme help you."

The Doctor assists me in standing, but somehow, in the last few minutes, I've found the strength to do it on my own. He opens the door and I stumble out.

"That's a good man!" he exclaims, clapping happily. "Remember: aliens, Lumaros, you're gonna save the world, and I'm gonna help." And with that, he closes the door. A wheezing sound follows as the TARDIS begins to fade, and then it's gone.

The first thing I notice is that I'm standing on solid ground, and it isn't wet.

Have the waters receded that quickly?

Suddenly, I begin to panic. I must have been gone for weeks if the ground is already dry.

The second thing I notice is that it's freezing. I'm only wearing a button-up and black dress pants, both of which are torn and disgusting now. I hug myself and rub my arms, trying to warm myself. My breath comes out in a small cloud in front of me.

The third thing I notice is the voices.

"Hey, did you hear that? Over here!" The sounds of footsteps crunching ice make their way towards me.

"Over here! Help!" I call. A young girl appears through the trees first, guns blazing. She looks like she's maybe only 14, and her face is fierce.

"Found someone! Somebody needs to give me permission to shoot him!" My eyebrows shoot up.

"Shoot me? I need help!" The girl cocks her head, but her expression remains aggressive.

"Well excuse me if I'm suspicious." I put my hands up in surrender. A man runs through shortly after. He looks vaguely familiar.

"Hey, Maggie, lower the gun, it's okay," the man says soothingly. There's something about his voice...

"Ian?" I whisper. The man looks at me, and recognition colors his expression. He clamps his mouth shut though, and says nothing.

"I thought I told you two to wait for me!" a female voice calls from the trees, and I recognize it immediately.

"Veronica..." I can barely hear myself. She enters the clearing, and I drink in the sight of her.

Her brown hair is loose and wild, as are her brilliant green eyes. However, where she was soft the last time I saw her, there's something about her that seems hard, now. Something feels off, something looks wrong, though.

"Oh my..." she breathes, looking at me.

"Veronica, it's so good to see you!" I say, happy, laughing, relieved.

She closes the gap between us in less than 3 strides, and she slaps me hard across the face. Her eyes are angry.

"What are you doing here?!" she yells. I take a few steps back.

"I'm, just... I'm..." I stammer.

"What are you... Just stay away from me." Without another word, she stomps out of the clearing and back into the woods. Her footsteps echo throughout the forest.

"What did I do?" I ask Ian, and then I realize what's different about him. He looks... older.

"You've been gone for 10 years."

(AN: I really honestly have no idea how this chapter is going to be received. I am like, on pins and needles, okay? FREAKING OUT. So yeah, thought I'd let you know.)