Dancing Across Time (Book Two of The Bad Wolf Chronicles)

Interlude: What Is This Feeling?

Saleen made a face and tossed a book to Jessie. "I like the musical a whole lot better."

Jessie caught it, surprised at the title. "Wicked?"

"Oh, yeah. That book? Pfft, nothing like the musical at all!"

"Is that good or bad?" Jessie asked.

"Trust me, it's bad," Saleen snorted. "You wouldn't like it."

"Wicked," the Doctor said as he walked in, dusting his hands off like he'd just done something. "Broadway musical like a prologue to the Wizard of Oz. Starred Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth as Elphaba and Glinda, whose original name was Galinda." He shuddered. "Book was horrible."

"I thought you liked books!" Jessie protested.

The Doctor shrugged. "Depends. The musical was much less . . . " He coughed. "Er . . . "

"Graphic?" Saleen suggested.

The Doctor nodded quickly. "That. Yes. Much less graphic."

Jessie squeaked and tossed the book away, making Saleen laugh. "OK, so I'm not reading that any time soon."

Saleen perked up and looked at the Doctor. "Can we go see it?"

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "What, Wicked?"

"Yeah, but the first time it was ever performed? The original Wicked?"

The Doctor nodded. "What's a time machine for?"

Saleen grinned happily, and Jessie felt another tug in her gut. "Great! But . . . I'll let you choose where we go first."

The Doctor quirked an eyebrow. "Alrighty then." He pointed at the two of them. "You two do what you need to do before we go on our first adventure."

"Sleep," Jessie said. "I need it bad."

Saleen nodded. "Saving schools from Krillitane aren't really something I do every day."

The Doctor nodded. "Sleep how much you like, and then we're off into the wild blue yonder!" He made a face. "Urgh. Air Force. I like the Marine Corps better."

Jessie snickered as the Doctor left, then blinked when Saleen promptly turned to her. "All right, spill it."

Jessie blinked again. "What?"

Saleen shook her head. "Oh, come on, Jessie, you're my best friend. I know you. Something's bugging you."

Jessie sighed. "Why did you want to come?"

Saleen blinked. "What?"

"Why did you want to come?" Jessie echoed, folding her arms. "The first time the Doctor offered, you didn't want to. And now, he doesn't even ask, and you just volunteer yourself for it."

"I asked if you wanted me to come, and you said why not," Saleen pointed out, and then her eyes widened. "Oh my God, you're jealous."

"What?" Jessie shrieked.

Saleen burst out laughing. "Oh my God, you so are!"

"No I'm not!" Jessie sputtered.

Saleen tried to talk through her laughter. "God, Jessie, I'm not trying to steal the Doctor!"

Jessie stared at her, feeling something lighter take the place of the heaviness in her stomach. "You aren't?" she squeaked, cursing herself that her voice sounded too high.

Saleen grinned. "Never!" She burst out laughing. "It's just like in Wicked, when you never really know the feeling of something, and when you realize what it is, it doesn't end up lasting long."

Jessie grinned. "What is this feeling, so sudden and new?"

Saleen grinned back. "I felt the moment I laid eyes on you."

"My pulse is rushing."

"My head is reeling."

"My face is flushing."

"What is this feeling?" they sang together. "Fervid as a flame . . . does it have a name? Yes."

Saleen grinned. "Jealousy!"

Jessie let her head fall back. "God, I feel awful now."

Saleen patted her arm. "He's all yours, girl. And he always will be, if the way he's so protective of you is anything to go by. Now go get some sleep. Odin knows how much we both need it."

Jessie was still grinning when she fell asleep later.

***

I figured I'd grace FitzSimmons and May with a gif. :) I think they deserve it.

The Wicked recording of "What Is This Feeling?" is off to the side. And yes, I have heard how, ah . . . graphic the book version is. I've only seen the musical, so if I got anything wrong, just let me know.

Up next comes The Girl in the Fireplace!