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thepeakmoment · 7 years

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More Returns

Here's a superb podcast on Peaks. May 30 is the most recent episode. A great listen. Counter Esperanto Podcast: Tangents About Twin Peaks: 10th Secret: The Return

On Tue, Jun 13, 2017 at 1:53 PM, Dom wrote: I'll check it out tonight.

So my Diane prediction was on the fucking money.

I got another theory I'm working on.

Who's the mysterious billionaire? I heard some people say it may be Audrey Horne. I heard some people say it is Jack (John Justice Wheeler). I heard some people say it is Phillip Jeffries or Evil Cooper.

Put on your tinfoil hat for this one. The Billionaire is Leo Johnson. He lived through his spider ordeal. Then he took everything that Windom left behind (notes, computer files, other assorted Windom things) and built a criminal empire. I find it very hard to believe that the fucking casting director's son who was in the 1st two seasons and the fucking movie is NOT in this one.

The secret history of twin peaks tells us what happens to a bunch of characters like Leo. For instance Hank dies in prison. But not one word in the book about Leo? I got to believe that he lives and he’s not just a slobbering fool any more. I know this is probably not going to happen. But that's my theory.

I cannot imagine Leo is a rich billionaire — how did he make his money? A theory that makes sense I’ve heard on EW TP podcast that it could be BOB-Cooper attempting to catch Good Cooper if he ever left the Lodge. But really, I have no idea… not as of end of P7.

I like how Lynch-Frost are using all official Twin Peaks releases as canon to draw the narrative from — Laura’s Diary, FWWM, Missing Pieces of blu-ray edition, as well as many classic episode threads.

And like Erik, I KNOW, that Sheriff Harry S. Truman will make an appearance in this season. I feel it in my bones.

It’s looking grim for Harry — or rather, it sounds grim from Frank saying to Harry, “beat this thing.” But actually I can see Ontkean coming out of retirement to have a role toward the end of the series. I also (want to) believe Josie returning … maybe she’s the billionaire, but why would she make such a contraption mounted to the side of building?

On Sun, Jun 25, 2017 at 2:26 AM, Erik wrote: Good Morning Gents. Grab a cup a joe and settle down a minute. I got some backed up information for yous … << Starts Tape Recorder…. >>

Spot on is right Mr Domi. You got that Diane was Laura Dern AND that she drinks at the Pub we went to. I even want to say she is seated in the area of the bar that we were sitting at that night. Glad it wasn't raining when we went, "FUCK Gene Kelly, You mother fucker!!" LOL I love Albert, he is my favorite this season. (Location: Max Von's Bar = Casey's Irish Pub, 619 South Grand, LA)

So Episode 7 should have shut up all those whiner's and complainer's of Ep 6. There was a lot of hate on the internet, and even in our FB Group, about that episode. I was ok with it. I did not like the scene with the kid getting hit by the truck, but the scene ended with the Fat Trout Telephone pole, so I'm ok with it.

"Lynch has gotten flak for the male gaze in his work, but the problems go a lot deeper than lingering shots on female anatomy.…” Laura Hudson in Vulture.

Also in EP 6 we finally got two major new pieces of music from Angelo, not his best work, but still great to hear. The overall lack of his music is my biggest complaint this season in case I didn't make that clear.

When Johnny Jewel's Windswept first appeared, I thought that was Badalamenti finally debuting new music. I was definitely disappointed it was not Angelo, no disrespect to Johnny. But I agree with you Erik about no AB original score. That music is what made classic Peaks so memorable. I don’t get why Lynch is using such popular music. There really wan’t any such tracks in FWWM, it was Angelo’s music and further cemented Peaks as evergreen. Lynch is acting like Scorcese in the epic cinematic story… and he doesn’t need to. Marty did not have a Badalamenti in his arsenal. Lynch does. Please use him.

EP 7...There's a body alright.. is definitely the shit. Now we are cooking. Jerry!!!! Come out of it man... Lets get Ben and Jerry back in action, not disfunction. The diary pages, Annie's message from FWWM, Leland hiding pages, DIANE from hell! ... Bringing it all back home.

There’s a dark undercurrent with Diane and Cooper. All signs are indicating something very bad happened to Diane. I think BOB-Cooper raped her.

I wonder where Frank Truman was at the time of Laura's murder? He says he remembers Leland, her father, did it, but is not really familiar with the case. BUT why the heck is Frank not asking "So what is "the Lodge" you keep talking about?” Hawk?

The way Hawk talks so knowledgable about both Lodges and the way Frank does not question or disbelieve him, then it must be common knowledge among the indigenous culture. Wonder if Frank is a Bookhouse Boy?

Ancient Doc Hayward, kinda sad, but he was still funny. Did you catch his Skype name? MiddleburyDoc... Warren Frost was actually living in VT right? They probably actually did just Skype him and screen capture it…lol

I caught that right away about Warren Frost’s Skype handle. And no doubt, Frost stayed in Vermont to do his scene. That just recorded the screen.… I do miss Briggs. Yet he died long before Lynch-Frost’s three-year tenure writing the new story, they had plenty of time to work the presence of him into the story.

Briggsy.. Oh Major Briggs. how we miss thee. Should be interesting how this plays out. And When the hell are we going to go back to I bet the road where Andy is waiting to meet the Truck owner is up there at Frankln Canyon Pond.

The Dog Leg.... WTF? Is Joe McCluskey the guy that rigged the car and Mr C Killed earlier on? I do think the Psycho Little guy with the Ice Pick and Gun is kinda silly. Over the top for no reason. Oh well.… It's kinda silly also that no one has taken Dougie to the Doctor. Everyone just plays along. we have to suspend disbelief I guess.

OMG enough with the guy sweeping at the Roadhosue. Is this all the extra time he told Shotime he needed more money for to tell the story properly? lol and more music used in hundreds of shows and commercials. I love Booker T and the MGs don't get me wrong, but ... UGH I miss you Angelo... Also... Kinda weird to see Jean Michel... Did Jacque Renault have a twin brother? lol Mr. C and Ray getting out of Prison.. Bad stuff gonna happen. I think they might have used San Bernadino County Jail for this locaton. The Cell block Cooper is located on looks familar. I will compare some screen grabs from my Locaton and Publicity Photos we took for Beyond Scared Straight at that jail.

And beause they needed to pad the ending to get to the alloted running time... Back to the RR Diner for the end scene, and yet another over-used stock song they probably had to pay more to use than what they paid Angelo for everything. Plus, I liked that song better when they used it in the X-files episode “Home" but No, I'm not bitter.

General notes: Glad Naomi Watts has such a big part. She really owns her scenes. Wish Jennifer Jason Leigh was more present but Mr C just left Jail for somewhere... It's slightly brilliant how Lynch (but probably Frost came up with it) still has made Harry a character in the show. even if only on the phone and never even heard. I feel like Harry is there kinda. Also brilliant... Robert Forrester.... wow. Wish he was in the original or the movie. Not sure how I feel with Dern as Diane. I'll go with it and see what happens.

Outstanding questions for me....(cause I haven't been reading blogs or listening to podcasts)

What is up with all the Arthurian Legend references? Dougie lives on Lancalot Court, down the street from the Merlin Market. Janey-E meets for the ransom drop on the corner of Gueneivere and Merlin. And of course, Glastonbury Grove... Pete Martel: "King Arthur's burried in England!"

Why is it when Dougie puts his thumb up or his hand out to shake, he turns his body 180 degrees?

What is up with the creepy guy (from Mulholland Diner scene) in the Vegas Office? I can't seem to catch his meaning in the story line.

What is up with Cooper's Room Key from the Great Northern? If has finally made it back to Ben Horne...Soooo?

One last question... Did Lynch quit smoking? He made two references to people (Gordon Cole even) quitting. Did we ever even see Cole smoke in the series or movie? weird for him to say he quit when the character never smoked on camera. "You think about that Tammy."

On Jun 25, 2017, at 4:29 PM, Dom wrote: I think Frank Truman was a police officer in Seattle during Laura's investigation if I remember the book correctly. But I think that a "Sheriff Truman" has been in power for over 60 consecutive years now between the 2 brothers and their father. It sort of like there must always be a Stark in Winterfell.

To my knowledge that was the first time ever we have heard name Joe McCluskey. I have no clue who that is. But I have a feeling we will learn.

Yea, I don’t recollect Joe McCluskey. Gotta watch again to see if he first appears or is mentioned earlier.

I think Ike the Spike is either from the black lodge or an agent of the black lodge. Remember he smelled "funny" per the little girl.

Spike did look a little monstery, his teeth especially.

I actually loved that scene of the sweeping. I could just imagine everyone watching was freaking out and I enjoyed that. And I thought that Walter did some great acting while on the phone as Jean-Michel. "He owes me for two!"

That ending scene from the RR diner was weird as shit. Its either the worst continuity error of all time or something truly weird happened there. Completely different set of people dining there after David Lynch's son runs in and asks if anyone has seen Billy.

Lynch did not quit smoking. He, like Harry Dean are lifers.

Both Laura Dern and Naomi Watts are killing their roles. Both doing a fantastic job. I just cannot wait to see them come face to face over Dougie.

And MacLachlan! All his Cooper iterations are really well done. I love that BOB-Cooper character. Can’t wait to see what trouble he kicks up now!

My new tin foil theory is that we may be dealing with 2 Twin Peaks. Twins of each other if you will. I'm still working this one out. Different versions of the same town in different universes a part of a greater multiverse?

Did you notice Andy was wearing a rolex? Kind of weird.

…And he was supposed to meet the guy at 4:30. Is that one of the numbers from ????? ?

The guy from the Vegas office is working directly for Phillip Jeffries or whoever is pretending to be him IMO.

Don’t overlook the black soot guy walking in the hallway toward the female FBI agent in the morgue. I think it’s related to the guy next to Bill Hastings cell.…

Lots of Arthurian Legend stuff from way back when. I never got that. But its seems to be very important. I would love to go to Merlin's Market.

During the end credits from the last episode buried in the music is Windham Earle's theme mixed into the background too!!!!!

I might try headphones for tonight’s part to see exactly what sounds I miss. I know there’s a lot of low audible noise and rumbling that I don’t hear when our apartment is 86º and the fan is going.…

On Jun 25, 2017, at 8:10 PM, Dom wrote: Some last minute thoughts...

Yeah I agree about MacLachlan is killing it and should win an Emmy for best actor. Black soot guy is awesome and its the same dude for sure from the jail cell. Some people seem to think we have seen him a third time as a homeless man outside of Vegas at the Rachera Rosa is whatever it is called. I don't think that we did. I will need to re-watch that again. Another tin foil hat theory. On those three pages from Laura's diary she refers to knowing who it is and that its not Bob. At least everyone thinks she is referencing Leland. That is probably most right. However I am thinking that she is referring to an evil more powerful and sadistic than even Bob.Like whatever came out of the glass box and mutilated those younglings.

On Jun 25, 2017, at 8:17 PM, Erik wrote: > "Yea, I don’t recollect Joe McCluskey."

I am thinking if the guy in the diner eating food non-stop the whole scene with Ray and the chick Mr C shot in the head. Just before he kills her, he tells her "i killed joe, and the she freaks out, knowing the gig is up. The previous scene the eating guy "joe" does something to a car in storage and then cooper like squeezes his face for a whole minute. Could be McCluskey?

> "Lynch did not quit smoking."

Well, its mighty fine of him to send a non smoking message to all the youths. Considering Cole does not smoke, it is a conscious message.

> "All his Cooper iterations are really well done."

Yes, Kyle will def get an Emmy nomination. Dern and Watts will also I predict.

> “RR diner was weird as shit. Its either the worst continuity error of all time or something truly weird happened there.”

There are no accidents on a Lynch set. If an error occurs and he likes it he will use it. So who knows why he did it. On the same level as the windows flashing code on the FBI jet. He is throwing out decoys i feel.

> “then it (the Lodge) must be common knowledge among the indigenous culture.”

Then why the heck is Truman not like "well lets go up there" nor does Hawk tell him he was up in those woods when Log Lady last called.

> “Don’t overlook the black soot guy walking in the hallway”

Nope, I did not mention him cause i consider it another decoy. Kinda like the shambling being behind the diner in Mulholland Drive...never came up again. i am sure he will play a part at some point.

But i did forget to mention the playing card Mr. C showed the girl in the hotel bed before he shoots her. Aliens? Very well could be.

Have a good viewing. The damn internet saying EP 8 is extra noteworthy. Could it be Phillip Jeffries? Windom Earl? More Leland and Laura? (I actually doubt we will see either of them again). Audrey? Big Ed? They got plenty of options.

Cheers! ~G

Sent from the Black Lodge.

#twin peaks: the return #commentary #showtime

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saiilorstars · 4 years

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-- My trio of Doctor Who OCs --

Minerva "Kaeya" Souza, the Clever Girl -- "She was always eager to learn more about things. It was as if her brain just craved more information. Anything she could learn, she usually did." (Next Stop, Everywhere)

Renata "Gala" Cartwright, the Golden Soul -- "She had the best hearts on Gallifrey. Renata, you have a golden soul." (The Beginning of Everything)

Avalon Reynolds, the Fairy Tale Girl -- "Fourteen years ago, I once told a man who dropped from the sky that I loved fairy tales but that I only loved the modern ones. He said I should go back & read the classics because he was sure I would love them. He was so right. They're incredible." (Stars Dance)

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saiilorstars · 4 years

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Next Stop Everywhere

Fandom: Doctor Who

Pairing: Female OC x 10th Doctor

(OC Face claim: Victoria Camacho)

// Story Masterlist //

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Chapter 8: A Friend

Chapter summary: An alien masquerading as a friend nearly finishes off the world, just another casual trip for our travelling trio!

Author’s Note: Now before anyone comments on it, Rose using the name "Minerva" is done on purpose. It will be discussed in the next chapter!

"You would not believe the assignment I have," I groaned as I entered the apartment, "Oh..." I stopped when I saw the Doctor, Rose and Jackie sitting at the couch, "You're back again? Weird, you were just here last week," I threw my school bag on the floor,"I haven't even ate whatever the stuff was Mickey brought me. I don't care what he says, it doesn't look edible. Where is Mickey anyways?" I looked around, "Eating?" They remained quiet. "I just asked a question? Did he go home for clothes or...?" I waited but still I received no answered. I took a moment and studied their faces. "Wh-what happened?" My heart started picking up. "Doctor, don't tell me he's dead-"

"He's not," he assured, standing up, "He's perfectly fine and alive. In fact, I'd say he's pretty happy."

"Then where is he?" I asked, swallowing hard with a nerve-wrecking feel.

He sighed, reaching inside his coat and taking out an envelope. He handed it to me without a word. I looked at the envelope and him for a moment before taking it, knowing however happy Mickey apparently was, I wouldn't be.

Dear Minnie,

You're probably the only regret I have of staying here because I won't be able to say goodbye to you in person. I'll never give you a hug and a proper goodbye. And for that, I'm really sorry, please forgive me. I'll admit, this idea started out as an impulse but...then it became important for me to go through with it, because I really wanted to.

I'm in a parallel universe and I don't believe we'll ever talk to each other again, much less see each other. I am staying here by choice, and that's because I don't believe I have anything else in your world. Besides you, I'm pretty much on my own. Here, I have my grandmother whom I loved so much and had to bury in your world. But in this world, my new home, I still have her. And I know you'll understand me because of Isadora. If she had died in your world but you had the chance to stay in a world where she was alive, you would do it, right?

I know you'll be fine because you're with them. You're with Jackie and Rose and the Doctor. They'll take care of you or you'll take care of them. You don't need me. Just last week we spoke about Isadora and the rest, and my advice still stands. Talk to everyone, beginning with Rose and the Doctor. Tell them how you feel then go for the rest. Talk to them. I'm sure it'll do you good. I know it will.

Good bye my Minnie. I guess this Mickey has to find you in this world too. Wonder what you're like here? I hope you're not as stubborn too! Please take care of yourself, just like you always have. I'll miss you.

Love,

Mickey Smith.

I looked up, my tears hurriedly strolling down my face. I shook my head, as if denying this would help anyone.

The Doctor sighed, "Joy I'm so sorry-"

"No. That's not true...this isn't true," I started sniffling loudly, "Please tell me it's not! He can't be gone!"

"He chose to stay."

"Noo..." my voice cracked, "He just left...he was supposed to come back!"

"Joy we're really sorry," Rose stood up, "If he could've he would've returned to say goodbye but parallel universes are impossible to travel through."

"So I'm never gonna see him anymore? Possibly my best friend and he's gone now. Forever!" I threw the letter down and rushed to Rose's room, slamming the door and bursting into sobs.

The only person who knew every last detail about me was gone. And he'd never come back. If I thought I was alone before now it's really true. I wouldn't be able to talk to anyone now. Jackie was a fine woman, but she was like a mother. I needed a friend.

My best friend was gone. What would I do now?

~0~

"Joy, can I come in?" the Doctor was knocking on the door. With no answer, he slowly opened it. "I don't...I don't really have words for you..." he admitted, slowly approaching me by the bed and sitting down, "I wish I could comfort you but...there's nothing I could do to make you feel better and I'm sorry."

"Did he have fun?" I asked, keeping my head rested on a pillow. "Did you bring him to fantastic places?"

"Yeah, we had amazing times," he quickly said, sensing that'd make me feel knowing Mickey had had fun, "You saw how excited he was when we were going to leave."

I smiled, remembering it all, "Yeah..."

He sighed, "I'm sorry, Joy. I know how hard it is to say good bye to people you care about."

I looked at him, sitting up, "Thank you for bringing me the letter."

He smiled, handing me the letter I had thrown earlier. He took my hand, gripping it as he stared deeply into my eyes, even startling me with the sudden intense. "Joy, whenever you need me, you just call and I swear to you I will come. If it's four a.m and you need me, call and I will be here by 4:01. Do you understand?"

I blinked, replaying his words to make sure I had heard right, "But...why do you say that?"

"Huh?" He frowned, clearly not expecting that as a response.

But I mean really, after nearly a year of knowing him he'd never told me anything like that, much less given me that intense stare. "It's just out of character that's all..."

He sighed, seeming to struggle with something, "Before we left Mickey he said some words to me..."

My heart skipped a beat, my eyes wide as the thought of Mickey spilling everything to the Doctor came to mind. What if he had? No, no...the Doctor would have said something already...right?

"Joy, perhaps, I haven't been around very much but...you know I consider you my friend, right?"

I swallowed hard, gathering my courage for what would come next, "Doctor, what did Mickey tell you?"

He shook his head, faintly smiling, " It's not important. All you should know is that I'll be here when you need me. You and Rose are the two most important people in my life. My glimpse of happiness, I call both of you."

" You've never called me that..." I said quietly, looking down at my lap.

"...no, I guess I haven't," he said after a moment, as if realizing it as well. Good. "But you listen to me, Joy Souza, I care about you, I always have."

"R-Really?" My eyes watered up, never hearing so kind words from him like that.

"Oh Joy," he scooted closer, taking me into a hug.

I cried for Mickey and for his touching words. I supposed Mickey hadn't told him everything just something that'd get the Doctor's mind working towards the grand realization.

"And, sorry for being nosy but, we went through your bag and I happened to have found an assignment..." he began, pausing as I looked up, "...how about I help you with that?"

I knew exactly where he was going with this. A dim smile spread on my face, already accepting the offer. Right now, I just needed to get out of here.

~/~

"London 2012!" I exclaimed, walking excitedly down the streets, "30th Olympia!" I twirled around.

"Careful, you'll fall," the Doctor warned, "Tell us again why you wear heels to school?"

"Huh?" I immediately looked down and realized I was still in my school uniform, "Oh c'mon," I turned around to them, "You didn't even give me a chance to change."

"Well when I said 30th Olympia you didn't exactly give me the chance to tell you," he countered.

Rose laughed, "I like it. Wish they were that fashionable back when I was there."

"Hm," I crossed my arms, "I don't like this."

"Oh you look fine. We're in an amazing time, Joy," the Doctor walked up, "Forget about it."

"Yeah, you're in the brink of the Olympics," Rose joined us, linking arms.

"Exactly, I'm in London and in the middle of the streets during the Olympics...in my school uniform," I frowned.

"Oh just focus on your article will you?" The Doctor linked arms as well. "Make this the best damn article you've ever written."

Rose chuckled, "I still don't understand why'd you join the journalist club."

"Sarah Jane," I admitted, "She talks so much about it I figured I'd give it a try. And plus, this academy's got a well rounded club for it."

"No more public school?" She raised an eye brow.

"After the Krillitanes I said no. And thanks to the Doctor for pulling some strings, I got into an even better school."

"Least I could after blowing up your old one," he swayed his head.

"And I'm almost caught up now. I should be graduating by the end of the year."

"We'll be there front row," Rose nodded.

"You better be. I already reserved seats for you two and Jackie and Mick-" I stopped, my smile vanishing.

The two stared sadly at me, "You know, you're name's Joy, live up to it," the Doctor poked my arm.

"Yeah..."

"You know, fun fact, I was here for the last Olympics they had in London; Wembley 1948. I loved it so much," he began his rambles and I knew he was telling us this just so that I'd keep distracted.

Rose suddenly let go of my arm and stayed behind, looking at something. The Doctor didn't seem to notice as he continued leading us ahead.

"Now what was his name...?" He thought, "Mark...? John?...Maybe Mark? Legs like pipe cleaners but strong as a whippet."

I chuckled, "That's a good way to remember someone. I dread to think how you'll remember me," And truthfully I did. Would he even remember me?

"The annoying, clever girl who challenges me on everything I do and say," he teased.

I smiled, proudly, not accepting the tease, "Well, I don't know how clever I am but I do challenge you because you're wrong sometimes. And, if we're being descriptive, I'll remember you as the daft, ridiculous alien."

He stopped walking and thought about it for a moment, making me snigger at his expressions. "You don't really think I'm ridiculous, right?" He frowned.

'What if I do?" I crossed my arms, deciding to tease him for the moment.

"I wouldn't like it..." His gaze fell to the ground.

I slightly ducked and caught his gaze, "I also think you're a kind, funny man."

He smiled softly as I stood straight again, "Yeah?"

I nodded, "Yes."

"Well," he swayed his head as he pretended to think again, "That's okay I guess."

"Doctor? Minerva?" Rose cut in, and we glanced over to find her not so pleased.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

I could have sworn she gave me a quick glare before reverting to a smile. "I just thought you should come and see this." She gestured to a paper on the wall as we approached her.

There was a flyer of missing children, with no leads on either case.

"What's taking them?" I asked, still reading through the information.

"Snatching children from a thoroughly ordinary street like this. Why's it so cold...?" the Doctor looked around, "Is something reducing the temperature...?""

"It says they all went missing this week. Why would a person do something like this?"

"What makes you think it's a person?" The Doctor challenged.

A door opened, not far from us, and a woman was seen throwing out her recycling bag in front of her house. I noticed she was giving looks all around, like she was afraid. She quickly returned back in her house and shut the door.

"It's got the whole street wise scared," I remarked, "What could get-" But I saw the Doctor had already left and Rose right behind him.

I rolled my eyes, "Kind, funny and forgetful man," I mumbled as I hurried to catch them.

We stopped by a front yard with a mini-soccer goal on it. The Doctor stuck out his hand in front himself then knelt down and moved his hand around the grass.

It seemed strange to me and so it prompted for me to ask about it, "What are you-"

"Sh," He held up a finger.

I rolled my eyes and looked around. I noticed Rose was helping some people move a car on the street.

The Doctor giggling brought my attention back to him. "Tickles!" He exclaimed.

I made a face, "What are you-"

"What's your game?" A man suddenly approached us, not very happily.

Must be his house...

The Doctor struggled to come up with an answer as he got up from the grass, "My...um...Snakes and Ladders? Quite good at...Squash. Reasonable," the man only grew more irritated and the Doctor more nervous, "I'm...being facetious, aren't I?"

I nodded, "Annoyingly."

"What the hell do you think you're doing on my property?" The angry man advanced towards the Doctor.

"Woah, there," I cut in between the two, "We should calm down."

"Move aside, girl," he put a hand on my arm.

"Try anything and you'll have to learn how to eat with your feet," I snapped, pushing his hand away.

"We're police officers!" The Doctor pulled me back, "And I've got a badge and...and a car."

"This one is an officer?" The man looked at me.

"She's in training!" The Doctor flashed his psychic paper to the man. "It was either that or hair dresser."

"I still could make you look like a fashion disaster," I remarked, trying to follow with the lie.

"What are you two doing?" Rose joined us with a few other people.

"Are you officers?" A woman beside her asked.

"The police have knocked on every door but there's no clues or leads," came another neighbor.

"Look, kids run off sometimes, alright?" The man snapped, "That's what they do-"

"Dale Hixon in your garden, playing with your Tommy and then..." one of the women began, "Right in front of me he vanished. Like he was never there to begin with! There's no need to look ant further than this street. It's right here amongst us."

The Doctor looked from one to another, not quite following, "Why don't we-"

"Why don't we start with him?" A new woman pointed at one of the men with us. "There's been all sorts like him in this street, day and night!"

The accused man looked indignant at such an idea, "I'm fixing things up for the Olympics!"

"Taking an awful long time about it," snapped the man from the garden.

"I'm of the opinion that all we've gotta do is just-" the Doctor tried again but the arguments continued.

"What you just said is slander!"

"I don't care! It just makes sense!"

"I really think we need to just-" the Doctor tried once more but in vain.

"I want an apology from her!" The man pointed to the woman.

"Stop picking on him!" another woman yelled, "And stop pretending none of this is real!"

"EVERYONE SHUT UP!" I screamed, making them all flinch, "Shut the hell up already!"

"Fingers on lips!" the Doctor yelled over me, "Now!" He placed his finger on his lips and prompted for all of us to do the same. Everyone slowly obeyed, even myself.

I sighed, "I feel like I'm a second gra-"

"Sh!" He gestured with his finger.

"But-"

"SH!"

I only made a small noise again before he did the same again. Eventually, he won and I was shut.

"Alright, in the last six days, three of your children have been stolen," the Doctor began, "Snatched out of thin air?"

"Erm...can I...?" One of the woman slowly removed her finger from her lips. When the Doctor nodded she went right ahead. "Look around you, this was a safe street 'til it came. It's not a person. I'll say it if no one else will. Maybe you're coppers or maybe you're not but I don't care. Can you please help us?"

And that was all we needed to hear before we quickly agreed.

The Doctor sent everyone home until further notice while he, Rose and I remained on the crabby man's front yard.

"Sorry you can't write your article," Rose said as the Doctor sniffed his way around the yard.

I shrugged, "It's alright."

"Now Joy, we'll help you with that article right after this," the Doctor called.

"Don't worry, I can always search it up on the internet...like a normal student would do."

It wasn't so much for the assignment I had joined the pair for the trip. I knew that if I was at home with Jackie, all I'd do was sulk over Mickey...like he was dead. And he wasn't. He was breathing and happy. I couldn't sulk over that. Yet, I miss him so much. I needed a distraction...

"Too bad you're not, though," the Doctor looked up. I mock glared. He stood straight and inhaled deeply, "Do you smell that? In the air?"

Rose and I sniffed the air and there was indeed something different in it.

"It smells like metal," I remarked.

The Doctor pointed, nodding. He walked past us towards the alleyway again, "So, Danny Edwards cycled in one end but never came out the other, " he explained and suddenly stopped walking, "There it is again!" He exclaimed, showing us the back of his hand, "Look at the hairs on the back of my manly hairy hand."

"There's that smell again," I made a face as I looked around, "Like a burnt fuse plug..."

"There's a residual energy in the spots where the kids vanishes. Whatever it was, it uses an awful lot of power to do this."

We continued walking down the streets. The Doctor started going ahead of Rose and I.

Rose suddenly turned for a cat. "Aren't you a beautiful boy?" She cooed, reaching down for it.

"Thanks! I'm experimenting with back-combing," The Doctor was quick to respond.

I giggled when he noticed Rose had meant the cat.

"Look Joy," Rose returned with the car in arms. I sneezed. "Isn't he beautiful?" I sneezed and I covered my mouth to sneeze again. "Are you okay?" She asked and the cat jumped off her arms.

"Yes-" I sneezed again.

Rose followed the cat towards a cardboard box, "Come here!"

I sneezed and sneezed, even making the Doctor turn. "Joy, what's the matter?" He walked over to me. He placed a hand over my shoulder but my continuous sneezing eventually shook it off.

"Doctor!" Rose called with an urgent tone.

I sneezed one final time again. The Doctor was in a struggle between who he should take care of first. With a hand, I motioned for him to go to Rose.

"Hold on, Joy," he said before running to Rose.

It's not like I needed him anyways; I was quite used to being on my own. And besides, I knew exactly things hadn't changed. I was on the trip for the assignment and distraction, not to be noticed...though it wouldn't hurt as usual.

I looked up to the sky and took a deep breath multiple times, "Stupid cats," I muttered. I could hear the Doctor rambling on to Rose about some iron residue but I couldn't make out the rest. My eyes felt watery and I knew it wouldn't stop unless I had my pills.

Too bad I was kind of far away from home.

"Alright, now what's wrong with you?" the Doctor returned.

"I'm fine now," I said with a scratchy voice.

"Are you sick?"

"It'll pass," I coughed, "Can we just get out of this spot, please? That would be a major help."

He nodded and led us down the street, "I sent Rose looking."

"What for?" I asked, rubbing my eyes.

"For anything, really. I don't know what we're dealing with."

"You know, that metal smell is kind of familiar..." I looked at him, "It's at the tip of my tongue but I can't say it."

"It'll come to you later. Are you feeling better now?"

I nodded, "Yeah, like I said, it'll pass. Although a glass of water could be some good use...and maybe a good distraction."

He chuckled, "I'm good at that!"

"I bet you are," I smiled, going ahead of him, "I think I'm smelling that scent again."

"I was talking to Rose about these little cakes, you know, cause I thought I saw some in the last street," he started to ramble as I sneezed more, "Did you ever hear have one of those little cakes with the crunchy ball bearings on top?"

I sneezed, and felt the scent getting stronger, "Actually..."

"No, but do you know those things?" He continued rambling and didn't listen. This was probably the first time he was talking to me about something he liked. That didn't happen too often. "Nobody else in this entire galaxy's ever even bothered to make edible ball bearings. Genius."

"Yes, but, I think-"

We heard a yell from our blonde companion and so we quickly rushed to go and help her. The Doctor arrived first and when I saw what she was being attacked by, I had to stop and process it.

"Stay still!" the Doctor instructed as he pointed his screwdriver at a ball of scribble. The ball stopped and dropped onto Rose's hands. "Are you okay?" He pulled her up.

"Yeah, cheers," Rose mumbled.

As they hugged, I stood watching with very much intrigue what Rose was holding in her hand. When they pulled back I quickly joined them and took the scribble ball from her.

"Hey!" She frowned but I ignored it and turned the ball over.

"I'll give you a fiver if you can tell me what the hell it is," the Doctor pointed, "Cause I haven't got the foggiest."

"Well, I can tell you you've just killed it," Rose shrugged.

"It was never living. Just animated by energy."

"And I assume it's the same one taking these people?" I asked, my eyes fixated on the ball.

"Correct."

"It's weird," I tilted my head, "I can tell you that this is familiar to me. But I don't know why," I looked up to them.

"Get out of here, you can't think it's familiar," Rose pointed at it, "It's not possible."

"I'm telling you!" I insisted, "It's like...I can't put my finger on it."

"You might be clever but not that much," she mumbled, making my eyes snap at her.

Had she really just said that? That was...rude. And I didn't see Cassandra anywhere which meant she wasn't possessed...

"Well, let's take this into the TARDIS then," the Doctor grabbed the ball and started walking, leaving us behind to have a sort of stare down.

"What?" She asked.

"You tell me," I said, my eyes half-wide as I turned away from her and followed the Doctor.

~0~

As the Doctor analyzed the ball, my mind racked itself for the word I was looking for to identify the similarity I had thought of between it.

"Get out of here!" the Doctor exclaimed as he read from the console's scanner.

"What it say?" Rose asked as he grabbed the ball again.

"Joy, by any chance, does this answer the word you were looking for?" He took out a pencil from his pocket and actually erased a part of the ball.

"Graphite!" I yelled immediately, pointing. "Same thing as a pencil!" I laughed excitedly and clapped my hands. "That's what I wanted to say!"

"You had it way before any of us," the Doctor smiled, handing me the ball to examine, "Maybe you should lead the trips."

"I would," I quickly approved the idea, "And I'll start by saying why make a scribble to attack people if that person or thing has enough power to create something much bigger and stronger? Thoughts, Doctor?" I glanced at him and smirked as he thought. Even Rose was thinking, although she still didn't seem happy and it was kind of getting to me honestly.

"I..." the Doctor said, clearly not having the answer, "Well..."

"It's like a child's drawing," I continued, turning the ball over, "When I made mistakes I'd scribble the heck out of the paper. I still do, actually."

"The girl," Rose suddenly said, her eyes widening.

"What girl?"

"Something about her gave me the creeps...even her own Mum looked scared of her," Rose continued, but to herself more than answering me.

"I don't know what has me more," the Doctor shook his head, "The fact that you figured this out before me," he pointed at me, "Or that you're actually deducting," he glanced to Rose.

"Actually, it's the fact I've done this more than once to you already," I leaned closer to him, smiling sweetly as he frowned at the revelation.

~0~

"Are you sure she'll let us in?" Rose asked as we approached the house of the little girl we had as suspect.

"Why wouldn't she?" the Doctor replied.

"Three strange people wanting to see someone's little girl? Yeah, I'd let them in," I said before knocking on the door.

For the first time, there was no response. The Doctor went ahead and knocked again, slightly louder than I had. A woman suddenly opened up.

"Hello! I'm the Doctor and this is Rose and Joy! Can we see your daughter?"

"No, you can't," the mother replied.

"Okay. Bye," the Doctor surprised me as he turned around and started walking away.

"...Why?" the mother suddenly questioned. The Doctor stopped and turned around. "Why do you want to see Chloe?"

"There's something interesting going on in this street and I just thought...well, we thought, she might like to give us a hand."

"Sorry to bother you," Rose caught on and began backing away.

"Yeah, we'll just let you get on with things...on your own. Bye again!" the Doctor waved.

"Wait!" the mother called, "Can you help her?" She looked so desperate now.

"Yes, I can."

"I'm Trish," the mother greeted as she brought us into the living room, "My daughter, Chloe, stays in her room most of the time. I try talking to her, but it's like speaking to a brick wall. She gives me nothing and just asks to be left alone."

"What about her dad?" I questioned.

"Died a year ago."

"I'm sorry," I said quickly said.

"You wouldn't be if you'd known him."

"Well let's go and say hi!" Rose exclaimed.

"I should check on her first..." Trish was hesitant, already backing for the staircase behind her, "She might be asleep."

"Why are you afraid of her?" the Doctor asked.

"I want you to know before you see her that she's really a great kid. Really, she is."

"I'm sure she is."

"She's never been in trouble at school and you should see her report from last year. All A's and B's."

"Can I use your loo?" Rose stood up. Trish nodded and Rose went off, giving us a slight nod as she walked for the stairs.

"She's in the choir!" Trish continued. "And she's singing in an old folks home. I just want you to know all these things because right now, she's not herself."

I heard some noises in the kitchen which drew me to go. I poked my head inside and saw a little girl by the fridge, which I assumed to be Chloe, "Hello," I waved. She turned around and drank from her glass. "I'm Joy Souza."

"I'm Chloe Webber."

"How are you doing?" I took a step forwards.

"I'm busy. I'm making something."

"I heard you draw some really neat things," I continued, hoping to make small talk, "You know, I draw too. I'd love to see your work...maybe even share ideas?"

"Joy?" the Doctor walked in with Trish.

"Just making a friend," I pointed to Chloe.

"Oh, hello there," he turned to her, "I'm the Doctor."

"Chloe Webber. I'm making something so I must go."

"Wait!" I exclaimed, "If you're drawing something, you wanna show us? We could give you pointers or something...?"

"They don't stop moaning," She suddenly said, looking straight ahead.

"Chloe..." Trish called.

"I try to help them but they don't stop moaning."

"Who don't?" the Doctor asked.

"We can be together," Chloe whispered.

"Sweetheart," Trish walked to her.

"Don't touch me Mum," Chloe snapped, making Trish freeze in her spot, "I'm busy," she spat then walked out.

"But I really wanted to see your drawings!" I called, rushing after her. "C'mon, Chloe!

"Doctor!" I heard Rose call from upstairs.

"Uh oh," I glanced back, "Doctor, Rose needs your help and fast!"

Like light speed, the Doctor went up the stairs with I, Chloe and Trish behind. We entered Chloe's bedroom and saw Rose staring to the closet.

"I'm coming to hurt you!" a roaring voice from the closet yelled.

The Doctor quickly shut the closet doors and turned to us.

"What was that?" I pointed.

"A drawing," Rose answered, "The face of a man."

"What face?" Trish went to reopen the doors.

"No!" Rose quickly barricaded the doors with her body, "Best not."

"What have you been drawing?" Trish demanded from Chloe.

"I drew him yesterday," Chloe replied, not seeming to be bothered by any of this.

"Who?"

"Dad."

Trish frowned, "But he's gone now. With all the lovely things in the world, why him?"

"I dream about him, staring at me."

"I thought we were putting him behind us. What's the matter with you?"

"We need to stay together."

Trish sighed, "Yes we do."

"No. Not you. Us," Chloe corrected, "We need to stay together and then it'll be alright."

"Trish, the drawings," Rose gestured to the wall covered with them, "Have you seen what drawings she can do?"

"Who gave you permission to come into her room? Get out of my house," Trish ordered, seeming angry.

"Tell us about the drawings, Chloe," the Doctor turned to us.

"I don't wanna hear any more of this."

"But that drawing of her dad," Rose insisted, "I heard a voice. He spoke."

"He's dead!" Trish snapped, "And those are kids pictures. Now get out!"

"Chloe has power. And she's using it to take children away. She's snatching them."

"Get out."

"Have you seen those drawings move?"

"I haven't seen anything."

"Yes you have," the Doctor slowly walked up to us, "Out of the corner of your eye."

"No," Trish stared him dead in the eye.

"You've dismissed it, because what choice do you have when you see something you can't possible explain? And if anyone mentions it, you get angry so it's never spoken of, ever ag-"

"She's a child," Trish reasoned.

"And you're terrified of her. But there's no one to turn to because who's gonna believe the things you see out of the corner of your eye? No one. Except me."

"Stop it!" I exclaimed, causing them to look at me. I knew my eyes were watery but I shook my head, hoping to get rid of them quick. "I don't like arguments in front of a child, okay? So either quit this and let us help, or take this down stairs away from Chloe," everyone remained quiet. I looked around, taking in a deep breath. "Now get out."

"Excuse me?" Trish raised an eye brow.

I glanced at her, my watery eyes making her shift uncomfortably. "I'm just gonna talk with her."

She sighed and nodded. My two companions however, did not seem very pleased.

"Joy, I don't think you do this," the Doctor said as Trish was walking out of the room.

"You don't get it. Neither does Rose. Only I do," I said quietly, rubbing one of my eyes.

"What's there to get?"

"Just go downstairs. I know what I'm doing," I snapped and gestured for the door. Chloe looked at me as the three walked out of the room. When Rose closed the door behind them I let out a big sigh. "Chloe..."

She walked towards her bed and sat down, "You're alone."

"I get it. I really do," I walked up to her, reaching for her desk chair and bringing it in front of her, "I know what it's like being afraid of a parent," I smiled faintly, holding up two fingers, "Try two," she stared at me with no response, "Mine never hit me though, I don't know about you..."

"I'm alone," She said, "But we can be together."

"Like...you don't have any friends?" I tried, "Because, I know how that I feels too. I don't really have much friends either...and the ones that I have right now, they don't even know my name," I sighed, "I had one best friend though, and he knew so me well, but..." I looked away, "He's gone now...so I feel alone again. Is that how you feel? Plain alone?"

"You are alone," she said, coldly, "Your people are gone."

'Yeah..." I faintly smiled, "...I have a lost some."

"We can be together."

"Yes, we can. Everyone can be," I agreed, "But, you have to tell me what's going on. I may not be much of a help but...one of the people I'm with...he can help you."

She pulled her legs up and crossed them. I believed that would be all I'd get out from her. Although I don't think I got much to start with. The door opened and I glanced to see the three coming back in.

"What did you do?" Trish quickly demanded.

"Nothing," I replied quietly, "Just talked."

"I think it's my turn," the Doctor walked to us.

I stood up and brought Chloe's desk chair back to her desk. I looked back and saw him placing his fingers on Chloe's temples. A few seconds later, she fell back on her bed with her eyes shut.

"I can't let him do this," Trish began walking to us.

I joined her and moved her back to where Rose was, "It's okay, just trust him."

"Now we can talk," the Doctor stood straight.

"I want Chloe. Wake her up. I want Chloe," Chloe was whispering but I didn't think it was her that was speaking.

"Who are you?" the Doctor asked.

"I want Chloe Webber!"

"What've you done?" Trish cried, frantically.

"What is it?" Rose asked.

"I'm speaking to you," the Doctor continued, walking around the bed, "The entity that is using this human child. I request parlez in compliance with the Shadow Proclamation."

"I don't care about shadows or parlez," snapped 'Chloe.'

"So what do you care about?" the Doctor asked.

"I want my friends."

"You're lonely, I know. Identify yourself."

"I am one of many. I travel with my brothers and sister. We take an endless journey. A thousand of your lifetimes. But now I am alone and I hate it. It's not fair and I hate it!"

"Name yourself!" the Doctor ordered.

"Isolus."

"Oh..." the Doctor breathed, "You're Isolus. Of course."

"Our journey began in the Deep Realms when we were a family," 'Chloe' began drawing on a paper beside her but not needing to open her eyes for it obviously.

"What's that?" I asked.

"The Isolus Mother, drifting in deep space. You see, she jettisons millions of fledgling spores; her children. The Isolus are empathic beings of intense emotion, but when they're cast off from their mother, their empathic link, their need for each other, is what sustains. They need to be together. They can't be alone." the Doctor looked to the drawing.

"Our journey is long," 'Chloe' continued.

"The Isolus children travel inside pods individually. They rid the heat and energy of solar tides. It takes thousands and thousands of years for them to grow up."

"Thousands of years just floating through space?" I raised an eye brow, "Don't they get bored?"

"We play," 'Chloe' answered my question.

"You just...play?"

"While they travel, they play games. They use their ionic power to literally create make-believe worlds in which to play."

"In flight entertainment," Rose remarked.

"Helps keep them happy. While they're happy, they can feed off each others love. Without it, they're lost."

"So they need love to survive," I smiled.

"One more thing we have in common," 'Chloe' spoke.

My smile faded, "Okay..."

"Why did you come to earth?" the Doctor inquired.

"We were too close," 'Chloe' began drawing on a new paper.

"That's a solar flare from your sun. Would've made a tidal wave of solar energy that scattered the Isolus pods," the Doctor studied the drawing.

"Only I fell to Earth. My brothers and sisters are left up there and I cannot reach them. So alone."

"Your pod crashed...where is it?" the Doctor asked.

"My pod was drawn to heat..." 'Chloe' answered, "And I was drawn to Chloe Webber. She was like me. Alone. She needed me and I her."

The Doctor stroked Chloe's head, "You empathized with her. You wanted to be with her because she was alone like you."

"I want my family. It's not fair."

"I understand," the Doctor nodded, "You wanna make a family but you can't stay in this child. It's wrong. You can't steal anymore friends for yourself."

"I am alone."

A sound from the wardrobe made us turn around, "I'm coming to hurt you," that same voice roared, "I'm coming."

"Trish, how do you calm her?" the Doctor asked rapidly as Chloe began jerking about. "When she has nightmares, what do you do?"

"I...I..." Trish hurried to her daughter, "I sing to her!"

"Then start singing!"

"Chloe...I'm coming," Chloe's dad warned, "Chloe...Chloe..."

Trish began singing to Chloe but the banging on the closet wouldn't stop. Slowly, it began to dissolve. Trish became in tears as she hugged her daughter. "He came to her because she was lonely..."

When everything became calm we left Chloe in her room, fast asleep. We walked downstairs to the living room where Trish began picking up every pencil lying about.

"I thought it was over..." She said, picking up a few pencils from the floor, "When Chloe's dad crashed the car, I thought we were free."

"Did you talk to her about it?" I asked.

"I didn't want to," Trish looked down.

"Trish, that's why Chloe feels so alone," I said, walking to where she stood, "If there's no one to speak to...you feel alone," I looked down, "No one to hear what you feel..."

"Her and the Isolus...two lonely kids who need each other. It's so desperate to be loved. It's used to a pretty big family," the Doctor said.

"So it's gonna keep pulling kids in," Rose shook her head.

I felt sad for the little creature. Maybe in a way, we were the same. But just like I got my help, so would it.

"We need to find that pod," I announced.

"But it crashed," Rose said, "Isn't it destroyed?"

"It's been sucking in all the heat it can," the Doctor reminded, "Hopefully that should keep it in a fit state to launch."

"Then let's go!" I exclaimed, rushing for the doors.

"It must be close. It should have a weak energy signature that the TARDIS can trace. Once we find it, we can stop the Isolus," the Doctor looked around the streets, "Let's get to work!" he rushed off.

"C'mon, Rose!" I pulled her away as she had gotten distracted with something.

We caught up with the Doctor and entered the TARDIS. As he worked, Rose and I fiddled around the console, not really having any other purpose for the moment. But, while she stood across from me around the console, I kept trying to think of a reason as to why she was suddenly so different around me. But I couldn't think of anything! I don't consider myself a white dove but I hadn't been rude or anything...

"You know, Joy, I'm impressed you knew the Isolus was lonely before it even said anything," the Doctor said as he worked, bringing me out of my thoughts, "Almost like you knew what it felt."

"Funny..." I said quietly, ignoring his eyes that were on me and silently questioning the reason.

"I knew it was lonely too. But, that's normal. I know what it's like to travel a long way on your own. But...you?"

"Well...that's...that's just coincidence."

"Is it?" he eyed me as he walked to the chair beside the console. Rose joined him and helped him with whatever he was building in his hands.

"Yes..."

"You know what I find very interesting?"

"What?"

"The way you ordered us out of Chloe's room like you owned the place. Impressed, don't get me wrong. But the way you looked at us...like we were doing something ungodly."

'I just don't like arguments in front of children."

""Did you have that around as a kid?" He asked.

"...no," I said quietly, "I've seen it but...no."

He didn't believe me, that was obvious but he let the subject go, "Well, hopefully with this thing, we can get the Isolus back home."

"If you ask me it sounds more like a tantrum," Rose shook her head.

"You were a kid, Rose." I reminded, faintly smiling.

"Yes! And I know what kids can be like. Right little...terrors."

The Doctor stood up and walked to the console, "Gum, please," he held out his hand to Rose.

She spit her gum into his hand which he then used on the device. "I've got cousins, and they can't have their on way. That's being part of a family."

"What about trying to understand them?" the Doctor asked, sticking the gum into the device.

"Easy for you to say," Rose walked to the chair, "You don't have kids."

"I was a dad once," he replied absently.

Rose dropped to the seat, eyes wide. "What did you say?"

I admit, I had to stop and process that one too. Of course, it didn't bother me as much as it did to Rose. I moved beside him and peered down at the device.

"I think we're here!" the Doctor exclaimed, "Now then, this Isolus doesn't want to conquer or destroy the world."

"It's just lonely and wants to get back home," I smiled.

"There's a lot of things you need to get across this universe," He continued, "Warp drive...wormhole refactors..."

I looked around and realized the idiot had missed a blinking, flashing screen. I pointed to it but he kept rambling on.

"You know the thing you need most of all? You need a hand to hold," he glanced over and saw my hand which he took into his with a big smile.

I giggled and pointed to the screen, "No, I meant look over there, you idiot."

"Oh..." He looked down to the screen, "It's the pod!"

"Is it in the street?"

"Yes!" he grabbed the device and ran to the doors.

I looked back at Rose, going to tell her we should follow but instead found her directly glaring at me. She stood up and marched up to me, thinking she'd probably do something but then pushed past me towards the doors. I turned around and watched her leave. I sighed and threw my head back, looking up to the ceiling, "You're alive," I gestured to the TARDIS, 'Can you tell me what I did?" There was a faint wheezing sound, causing me to chuckle, "Now if only I could understand you," I headed for the doors.

"So it's about two inches across. Dull grey, like a gulls egg. Very light," the Doctor was explaining when I had caught up.

"So the pods travel from sun to sun using heat?" I questioned, moving ahead of him. "And that's why it was attracted to a heated part around here?"

"Wouldn't that mean the pod needed just heat then?" Rose added, closely following me for some reason.

There was a crash behind and when we turned we saw the Doctor's device broken into pieces on the ground. What's worse, the Doctor had vanished!

"Doctor?" Rose called.

"Rose," I tugged on her arm, my finger pointing to the now-vanished TARDIS ahead.

"Oh no..." she whispered, "Brat tantrum," she muttered then dashed to the Webber's home.

We pounded on the door like our lives depended on it. Trish opened but didn't get a word out before Rose pushed past her to the stairs.

"It's okay! I've taken all the pencils off her!" Trish called after her.

"I don't think you did," I said, following Rose.

Rose burst into Chloe's room and ran to her desk, snatching Chloe's newest drawing.

"Leave me alone!" the Isolus now demanded, "I want to be with Chloe Webber! I love Chloe Webber!"

"You have to bring him back!" I exclaimed.

"No."

Rose let the paper go and grabbed Chloe's shoulders, "Don't you realize what you've done!?" She yelled, "He was the only one who could help you, now bring him back!"

"I love Chloe Webber."

"I know," Rose sighed, "I know..." She looked down to the paper and picked it up, "Doctor, if you can hear me, I'm gonna get you out of there. I'll find the pod," she looked up at us, "Don't leave her alone. I'm gonna go find the pod." she rushed out.

I sighed, looking at Chloe, "He was gonna help you."

"I could draw your people. Make you be together again."

"Can you just stop?" My voice broke, "No matter what you say or do will bring back my best friend or my family. Everyone's mad at me and I don't want to see them. So please, have pity on me and just stop," I walked out as well, close to tears again.

I sniffled quietly, wanting so bad to be alone myself. But I had to go and help Rose. I walked out and saw her speaking to one of the road workers. She was picking at the newly fixed pavement so I knew she was finding the pod.

"I found it!" She exclaimed, looking up, "Joy I found it!" I smiled as she rushed back, "Look," she held up her hands.

"That's great! C'mon!" I pulled her back inside.

"Trish! We've found it!" Rose exclaimed, "I don't know what to do with it but maybe the Isolus will just hop on board." Trish sat on the couch. "Hang on, I said not to leave her alone!" Rose's eyes widened.

My God. Em...what's going on here?

The TV suddenly became audible to our ears.

The worker Rose had taken the axe from came marching into the house. "I don't care if you've got Snow White and the Seven Dwarves buried under there, you don't go digging up-"

"Shut up Kel, and look!" Rose yelled and pointed at the TV.

The crowd has vanish! They're gone...everyone. Thousands of people have just gone. Uh...right in front of my eyes. But this is impossible!

"That stadium won't be enough," I shook my head, "The Isolus has four billion brothers and sisters. We're in trouble."

"Chloe!" Rose yelled, running for the stairs, "Chloe!"

We rushed up and found the door unable to open. "Chloe open up!" I pounded on the door. "We have your ship! We can send you home!"

"Chloe!?" Trish joined in.

"Back up you two," Rose instructed then with her axe, crashed down the door. She stuck her hand in the hole of the door and opened it for us.

As soon as we got inside, Chloe's 'Dad' was yelling from the closet. Chloe was busy drawing what looked like the planet on her wall!

"We've gotta stop her!" I pointed.

"If you stop Chloe Webber I will let him out," the Isolus warned as the closet doors rattled, "I cannot be alone. It's not fair."

"Look!" Rose held out her hands with the pod, "I've got your pod!"

"The pod is dead."

"It only needs heat!"

"It needs more than heat."

"It needs love," I whispered, "Doesn't it?"

Because when someone is or feels alone...all you need is love to remind you that you are never alone. Platonic or not, you need it.

"I don't..." Rose looked around, desperately, "I don't know..."

"But I do," I snatched the pod from her hands, "Because I understand," I looked at everyone for a moment. "And while I'm gone, you might want to check the drawings."

"Why?" Rose asked.

"Because I think they just moved," I nodded then rushed out. I looked around the street and saw a crowd at the end. "The torch was the symbol of hope, fortitude, courage...and love," I recited Sarah Jane's story, recalling the short story she had given to me as an example before taking the school's assignment, 'And that's exactly what I'm looking for." I smiled, dashing towards the crowd. I pushed myself towards the front of the crowd but was stopped by a policeman. "I've gotta get closer!"

"No way," he shook his head.

I groaned, "Moron!" He gave me a dirty look but I didn't care. The pod chirped in my hands and so I backed out from the crowd and turned my back on them. "You felt it, didn't you?" I asked it, bringing it closer to my mouth. "I understand you. Believe me. And here's my help: Feel the love," I whispered then threw the pod into the air. When I saw it rush to the torch, I jumped up and down in excitement. "Yes!"

One by one I saw all the children that had gone missing materialize on the street.

"Now then, where would that alien be?" I looked around, remembering where he had disappeared but not finding him. "But everything came back to life...all the drawings..." I started blinking rapidly with realization, "Hold up..." I turned around, "Everything came to life. Oh my god..." I ran back to the Webber's home as the thought of the closet returned to my head. I arrived but found the door shut. "Rose! Trish! Chloe!" I pounded on the door.

"The door is stuck!" Rose shouted, pounding on the door. "Where's the Doctor?"

"Uh..." I looked around, "He's not here..."

"WHAT?"

"Not important right now, sorry," I looked for another way in. I could hear Chloe's dad advancing to them.

"Help us!" Trish yelled, "Please!"

"It's not real!" I yelled, "Rose, tell them it's not real! It's just because they're so afraid of him! Rose!"

And she did. I could hear but I could also hear Chloe's Dad and he sounded much closer. Suddenly, I heard singing...? They were singing!

"Keep singing!" I yelled.

Boy I could really use Rose's axe right now.

When everything died down, the door finally opened and out came Rose.

"Are you okay?" I asked but her only answer was a silent nod.

She walked past me and into the streets, to which I assume she would be looking for the Doctor in. While we didn't work together, we had both went looking for the Doctor only to come up with nothing. We returned to the Webber's in defeat, hoping he'd be there instead.

"Nothing?" Trish asked when we returned.

I shook my head and took a seat on the couch, "Kinda hoping he'd turn up here..."

She smiled and turned the television on where the Olympics were being broadcasting again. Everyone had returned to the stadium and it was as if nothing had happened.

"Eighty thousand people, so where's the Doctor?" Rose whispered, "I need him."

I looked at her and saw she was almost going to cry, only adding to the tension we felt.

"Chloe?" I sighed, turning to her, "You think I can borrow a pen and a paper? I have to do some school work," she stood up and went for the things.

The torch bearer seems to be in a bit of trouble. We did see a flash of lightening earlier which seemed to strike him...um, maybe he's injured...he's definitely in trouble.

Definitely. He just collapsed.

Chloe returned with a pen and a journal. I smiled, taking it into my hands, "Thank you," I looked back to the TV as I placed the journal on my lap, "Guess I better get started."

Does this mean that Olympic Dream is dead?

"Joy, look," Chloe pointed. I looked up and saw the Doctor on the TV screen running with the torch in hand,"It's him!"

There's a mystery man, he's picked up the flame...we've no idea who he is...he's carrying the flame, yes! He's carrying the flame and no one wants to stop him!"

It's more than a flame now, Bob. It's more than heat and light.

"It's hope, courage and love," I smiled and looked down, beginning to write.

~0~

It was night by the time I had finished the article. The people were out in the streets, celebrating, including Rose who had been dragged out by Trish and Chloe. Once I had properly finished, I left the Webber's house and hurried into the streets to go find the TARDIS and type it up. Of course, at the whiff of a dessert, I had to stop and find its source. I found a table and saw it was filled with small cupcakes.

"Oh..." I said, taking a deep inhalation of their scents.

"You can have one," a woman said, coming up behind the table.

"Don't mind if I do," I grinned and took one of them off the table. I turned and began walking again, getting ready to take a big bite out of my dessert when I saw the Doctor across the street. "Hey!" I called, making him turn around. "You are in so much trouble you ridiculous alien!"

"Annoying, clever girl," he strolled right up.

I mock-glared for a minute before holding out my cupcake, "I might be those things but I listen to you."

Hopefully he'd start doing it as well...

He became ecstatic with it and took it right off my hand, "Top banana!"

I nodded, "Yup!" He took a big bite out of it, causing me to chuckle, "Do you like it?"

"Mm. I can't stress this enough. Ball bearings you can eat - masterpiece!" He exclaimed.

"Ridiculous, banana-loving alien."

"You have got to stop that," he mock glared and took another bite.

"Stop what?" I asked innocently.

"That," he pointed.

"I have done nothing except bring you your cupcake, so quiet." I said, pointing right back.

"What's that?" He looked down to my paper I held.

"It's my article," I waved the paper, "See?"

He took it from me and read it, "This is brilliant!"

I chuckled, "You think so? I wrote it in the heap of the moment!"

"You're an excellent writer, Joy!"

"Thanks, I dabble, I dabble."

"Do you also dabble in saving the world?"

"What?" I raised an eye brow.

"I know what you did. Once again, I owe you a thanks," he smiled.

"Thank you for bringing me here. Believe it or not, it actually did help me," I said quietly, "I hope Mickey lives a good life."

He nodded, "And he hopes the same for you," I swallowed, my eyes slightly becoming teary, "Oh, none of that," he pulled me for a hug which I immediately retreated to.

It reminded me of our last hug before he had taken Mickey along. He never did ask me what made me cry. But for that one split moment, I didn't think he was doing it to ignore me...he did it to avoid more pain. For once, he thought of me and did something to help. It wasn't the kind of help where he saves my life, but one that a friend would do...

"I'm gonna miss him," I sniffled and pulled back, "But I know he's going to be so happy and that makes me happy." I saw Rose coming up from across the street and looking directly at us. Wanting no problems, I backed away from him.

"What are you doing?" He frowned.

"Um...Rose," I pointed past him, "She's been kinda worried."

"Oh..." He glanced over his shoulder and she immediately smiled.

"I'm gonna go back to the TARDIS," I announced, "Have fun."

"Oh, Joy, wait," he grabbed my arm and pulled me back, "It's a night for celebration."

I looked at him then at Rose who's smile was faltering. Finally donning on me, I smiled, "I think I'll be better in the TARDIS," he didn't seem convinced as I released myself from his grasp, "I'll just wait over there," I turned around and walked towards the direction Rose was coming from, ignoring her glares, "Oh, Joy, you're such an idiot," I said to myself as I walked farther away.

She was jealous.

~0~

I was just about to open the TARDIS doors when Chloe came around and leaned against it with a smile, "Hey!"

I smiled and desisted from the doors, "Hello, feeling better now?"

She nodded, "I remember what you said back there...in my room."

"I said a lot of things, Chloe. Gonna have to be more specific."

"You said you were alone...like me."

It took a lot in me not to stop smiling for her sake, "But you're not. You're gonna make friends and be the great little girl you are!"

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"You said you didn't have friends."

"Well, I have two," I corrected, but then I remembered Rose and thought I should reconsider the amount now.

"But they don't know you."

I sighed, "Maybe one day they will..."

"What's your name?"

"Joy."

"No, I want to be your friend. What's your name?" She grabbed my hand and looked up at me.

I smiled softly, touched by her gesture, "...Minerva."

She smiled back and gave my hand a small squeeze, "Thank you, Minerva."

#10th doctor #doctor who #10th doctor imagines #dw imagines #ocappreciation #ocapp #10th doctor x oc #10th doctor x original female character #doctor who fics #doctor who fic #rose tyler #noblecrescentedit #oc: Joy Souza #oc: Minerva Souza #fic: next stop eveywhere

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saiilorstars · 4 years

Text

The Beginning of Everything

Fandom: Doctor Who

Pairing: Female OC x 10th Doctor

(OC Face claim: Marjorie de Sousa)

// Story Masterlist //

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Ch. 7: Partners in Crime

Chapter Summary: Renata struggles traveling with the Doctor after Martha's departure. She tries to follow the Doctor through his crazy ways of helping people but she just can't help but point out how many rules they break! And the Doctor doesn’t make it any easier when he tries to argue with her.

"It's crazy-"

"Of course humans wouldn't be able to detect any-"

"-what you're saying-"

"-extraterrestrial signals but I have the-"

"-I mean what's the point of-"

"-TARDIS constantly checking for anything strange and there it was," the Doctor pushed the monitor so that it was in front of Renata. "Adipose Industries. Bunch of conspiracy theories-"

"Doctor, the humans are always looking for crazy theories-"

"Well it happens that these are not so far off. We really should just pop in and check to make sure everything is alright."

There was a clear 'why' written across Renata's face. "What is your obsession with planet Earth?" That was one question she'd been asking ever since she met the Doctor on Gallifrey. Up to now, she suspected there wasn't a clear answer.

The Doctor just smiled at her question. "Renee, I really think we need to check it out. Just a couple of investigation scenes and-"

"Which will involve us breaking in and lying to officials - no, no way!" Renata turned away from the monitor, intending on going into the corridors so that she wouldn't have to listen to anymore of the nonsense.

"Oh we're not going to be doing anything bad!" the Doctor reached forwards and grabbed her arm.

"Really?" Renata pulled her arm and crossed them. "What does your little plan entail, exactly?"

"Just, you know, bit of the pyschic paper and-"

Renata stopped him with a hand in his face. "Psychic paper? You mean that little portable lying booklet?"

"That's...a strange name to give it but...sure," the Doctor nodded his head.

"And in that little paper we're going to lie and say we're some other people to get ourselves into the Adipose headquarters?"

"Um...yes," the Doctor had to contain himself under Renata's scolding face. To him, honestly, it was both funny and a bit scary how serious she got sometimes. He'd come to learn that it was often.

"Do you hear yourself?" Renata raised her hands in front of her, making it clear she wanted no part in this plan. "You're going to go in that building, interrupt business and for what? Conspiracy theories?"

"Renee, I'm going," the Doctor left it clear, turning for the console and preparing the controls to land on Earth. "Question is, will you be coming to make sure I don't get into trouble or will you be here."

Renata's eyebrows raised almost increduliously. "Am I to be your babysitter?"

"Well, no, but you seem so determined to give yourself that role…"

"Doctor!" Renata huffed.

"Well, you are!" the Time Lord turned around to defend himself before she decided to smack him on the back.

"We've been at this for a month-" Renata gestured between them, "-and you can't seriously understand that I am against the lying and breaking in?"

"You didn't have trouble in 1913," the Doctor mumbled under his breath.

Renata's eyes widened. "I was doing that to fit in! Not to break in all silly-nilly!" A small smile began spreading across the Doctor's face. "Why are you smiling?" Renata crossed her arms, expecting there to be some joke she hadn't caught like usual.

"You said silly-nilly, but somehow I'm the one that uses childish words."

Renata air-strangled him but brought her balled hands to her mouth. "Sometimes I just can't with you!"

"So you've said in this past month," the Doctor said all proudly which only irritated Renata even more.

One month she had been in the TARDIS with the Doctor after Martha left them, and somehow she hadn't strangled the Doctor into his next incarnation. Yes, the Doctor had done everything in his power to make sure she felt welcomed in the TARDIS - which she truly did. And yes, he was never purposely rude to her and he was always attentive to what she needed or where she wanted to go. But that didn't stop him from frustrating her with his childish antics and constant rule breaking and running.

Renata honestly wondered how he had made it this far without regenerating again.

Every day he had somewhere new he wanted to go and almost every time there was something he just needed to help and save which would then bring along danger and a lot of running. When they weren't travelling, the Doctor was 'fixing' the console and causing things to break. He was a fast talker when he was excited and thus had Renata's ears nearly fall off when they were together discussing things of home or some experiences they've had.

It truly felt like they were those young Time Lords again still messing around in her foundation.

Renata tried pushing those feelings away, every day, but being so close didn't help. Now there she was...bickering away with him...and remembering everything she'd fought for so long to forget.

"Renata, c'mon, it'll be fun," the Doctor smiled incredibly wide and held out a hand for her, wiggling his fingers.

She hated herself. She truly did. Renata took her hand, ignoring the Doctor's face momentarily go smug, and let him bring her back to the console.

~ 0 ~

A couple of hours later, the two embarked on a journey for Adipose Industries. As the two walked along a busy street, Renata continuously looked around like they were already going to get caught. The wind blew much of her blonde hair on her face, making it more difficult for her to keep a 'look out'.

"I see it," she said to the Doctor once she caught sight of the large building meant to serve as headquarters for the company. "But there's plenty of security check, I'm sure."

"Good thing we're going through the back," the Doctor pulled her to the left to go along the building towards its back.

Renata's head did a double-take in the process. "The back? What? Like actual thieves?"

The Doctor preferred not to get into a whole argument on the technicalities of what they were doing. Renata grew even more self-conscious as they arrived to a fire exit.

"What are you doing?" she nearly hissed when she saw him pulling out his sonic screwdriver.

"Getting us in," he motioned as he flicked on the sonic.

"Oh my God, we're actually breaking in - ah," she put a hand over her chest and looked around, properly frightened.

The Doctor hid his amused smile in his work. It was actually rather adorable the way she got so worked up over things he did so normally. When the door opened, they crossed into a set of solitary corridors. All the noise came from their quick strides.

"Doctor," Renata had another near attack when she saw a security guard walking opposite of them. Her arm curled around his on instinct.

Without conflict, he just pulled out the psychic paper and flashed it at the security as they passed on by. "John Smith, Renata Cartwright, Health and Safety."

"How do you do that so calmly?" Renata whispered to him despite leaving the security guard well behind.

"Do what?" the Doctor repeated rather cluelessly.

"Great," Renta unwinded her arm from his and sighed, "You don't even realize you do it anymore."

After making it to the higher levels, they discovered that there was to be a private lecture from the very head of the company herself.

"You don't think they'd notice two unregistered people waltzing into the lecture room?" Renata had to ask as she followed behind the Doctor in a hallway.

"That's why we're not going there, clearly."

"What?" Renata stopped, dumbfounded. "Then where are we going?"

"Projector room, c'mon!"

Renata slowly continued to follow. "But...how are we getting in?"

~ 0 ~

"Health and Safety. Film department," the Doctor once more showed his psychic paper to a man working the computers in the projection room set right above the lecture room.

Renata shook her head behind the Doctor.

They were able to see the head, a blonde woman with glasses who went by 'Miss Foster', describe the components and process of her company's products to the small audience. "Adipose Industries. The 21st century way to lose weight. No exercise, no diet, no pain. Just lifelong freedom from fat. The Holy Grail of the modern age. And here it is. You just take one capsule, one capsule, once a day, for three weeks. And the fat, as they say…the fat just walks away."

Renata couldn't help scoff as she listened. "Do all the humans have an obsession with thinness?"

Beside her, the Doctor nudged her to be careful with her words. He motioned to the man working the computers who was giving Renata a curious look for her statement.

"U-uh," Renata flustered and looked at the window again. "I meant...the lot of humanity."

The Doctor gave a discreet shake of his head, fairly amused. Renata was one woman who did not know how to travel. That was novelty.

~ 0 ~

"Don't you think we're playing our luck here?" Renata walked right beside the Doctor through an aisle of small cubicles.

The Doctor had a bright idea to go to one of the employees and pick up a couple more information.

"Just relax, Renee," the Doctor wondered if he would ever get tired of telling that to her. Because everytime they traveleld somewhere, it was the same thing. She was overly nervous about getting caught.

They came into the cubicle of a young, dark-skinned woman who was in the middle of a call with a customer.

"John Smith, Renata Cartwright, Health and Safety. Don't mind us," the Doctor whispered so as not to interrupt her phone call. He let Renata take a seat first then took the one next to her.

Soon as she was done, the Doctor got straight to questioning. It truly amazed Renata how well he did it. There was no faltering, no stuttering, not a trace of nervousness in his face.

"If you could just give us a list of some of your customers we'll be on our way," the Doctor finished it off with a big nice smile.

The employee, Clare, seemed more than happy to oblige.

"That's the printer there?" the Doctor stood up for a moment, unknowingly giving Renata a hearts attack thinking he might get caught by Miss Foster. She'd only been in the room 15 minutes ago, what's stopping her from coming back?

"By the plant, yeah," Clare nodded.

"Brilliant," the Doctor beamed but Renata yanked him down to his seat again. Soon as her hand let go of his arm, he sprung right back on his feet. "Has it got paper?"

"Yeah, Jimbo keeps it stocked," Clare found him amusing.

Renata did not. She grasped the Doctor's arm and pulled him down with all her might. "Sit down!" she hissed. She then smiled at Clare. "Anyway, if you could print that off. We'll be on our way. Thanks."

The employee typed on her computer for a moment before giving them the 'ok' nod. Renata stood up followed by the Doctor but stopped when she heard the Doctor ask, "Oh, what's that?"

Renata turned around to see Clare giving him a piece of paper.

"My telephone number," the woman answered his question.

Renata raised her eyebrows.

The Doctor looked between the paper and Clare. "What for?"

There came a smirk across Clare's face. "Health and Safety. You be health, I'll be safety."

The Doctor stammered for an excuse. Renata...did not.

"I am going to report you!" she threatened the woman as she snatched the paper from the Doctor and slammed it on Clare's desk.

"What-"

"You can expect a call from your superiors tonight!" Renata grabbed the Doctor by the arm and yanked him out of the cubicle.

Honestly, she thought. Where was that human's professionalism!?

~0~

Night time fell and instead of going back to the TARDIS like Renata believed, the Doctor dragged her to continue investigating. This time they were set to pose as employees of Adipose Industries who made house visits. As the Doctor flashed his psychic paper to a lucky customer they were visiting, Renata rolled her eyes on the side and began to count the many times he'd done something like this and gotten away with it.

She couldn't count that high without losing her place.

Now sitting in the customer's, Roger's, living room, they listened to him how the pills had worked for him in so little time.

"I've been on the pills two weeks now, I've lost fourteen kilos!" he finished excitedly.

"That's the same amount every day?" asked the Doctor.

"One kilo exactly. You wake up, and it's disappeared overnight. Well, technically speaking, it's gone by ten past one in the morning."

Renata's brows knitted together. "I-I'm sorry...how...how is that?"

"That's when I get woken up," Roger answered in a matter of fact tone. "Might as well weigh myself at the same time."

"U-um…" Renata glanced at the Doctor to see if he was as confused as she was.

He was. "Could you...could you tell us more about that please?"

"Ten minutes past one, every night, bang on the dot without fail, the burglar alarm goes off. I've had experts in, I've had it replaced, I've even phoned Watchdog. But no, ten past one in the morning, off it goes."

"But with no burglars?" Renata asked to be sure.

"Nothing. I've given up looking."

The Doctor still did not falter. "Tell me Roger, have you got a cat flap?"

Renata made a face at that but nonetheless she followed the plan. Roger showed them to the cat flap on his front door, more than happy to show another person in case this one actually figured it out. "It was there when I bought the house. Never bothered with it. I'm not a cat person."

The Doctor had already begun screening it with his sonic. "No, I've met cat people. You are nothing like them," he murmured.

He's met cat people. Renata inwardly sighed. Of course he's met cat people.

"It's that what it is then? Cats getting inside the house?" Roger frowned.

"Well, thing about cat flaps is that they don't just let things in, they let things out as well…" the Doctor said slowly, still coming up with ideas to follow.

"Like what?"

"The fat just walks away..." The Doctor pushed himself back on his feet and turned to Roger with an excessive smile. "Well, thanks for your help. Tell you what, maybe you could lay off the pills for a week or so."

"Probably forever," Renata added. "You could just try the regular eat healthy and exercise thing..."

The Doctor stiffened when he heard a small 'bleep' from inside his jacket. "Ooh, we gotta go, sorry."

"What-"

The Doctor hurriedly opened the door brought Renata along with him. He reached inside his jacket to pull out a device he'd hand made earlier that day.

"When did you make that!?" Renata gave a face at the device, fearing it would explode like the last thing he made.

"This morning! Now hurry!" He let go of her completely and picked up his pace. Renata was also not good at running.

Groaning, Renata did her best to keep up.

She managed to catch up when he made a stop by the corner of one street. He banged a hand on his device, ignoring Renata's sarcastic 'that'll make it work' then ran off again.

"What are we looking for!?" Renata panted when they stopped again.

Not answering, the Doctor held up the device for a better signal. He waved it around then lowered it to check the readings. When it dinged, he beamed and ran again.

"Oh my God," Renata groaned and chased after him. They were nearly ran over by a rushing van in the process. However, soon as it passed by, the Doctor turned in the same direction to follow it...apparently, the signal was coming from it.

He finally came to a stop at an intersection and was disappointed to find the signal gone.

~ 0 ~

Much later would find the Doctor examining one of the golden capsules of the Adipose company. He was looking at it through a magnifying glass, far interested in its components. "Ohh, fascinating!" he gawked. "Seems to be a bio-flip digital stitch, specifically for…"

"Are we still on that?" Renata's voice stopped him in the middle of his discovery. He glanced back to find her leaning against the corridor's threshold.

"Well, uh, I was…" the Doctor motioned the magnifying glass still in his hand then lowered it.

"Still investigating," Renata finished for him, giving a small shake of her head. "Honestly Doctor, don't you ever get tired of fixing everyone's problems?"

Because she had asked in a simple, curious manner, the Doctor entertained it. "What do you mean?"

Renata shrugged her shoulders as she came off the threshold. "I mean just what I said. You always go and find a problem - like Sto's government and a broken water pipe - that you have to fix. Last week it was some planet's default engineering settings and today it's…" she had come up to him in the while of her explanation and took the Doctor's magnifying glass from, "...Adipose," she looked at him through the magnifying glass, her brown eyes enlarging from the glass.

"Are you asking me why I help people?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow, finding the question too far even for her uptightness. Because yes, it only took a month to realize that Renata was uptight.

Knowing how that sounded, Renata ventured to clarify herself. "I don't mean that you shouldn't help people I just…" she thought about it for a second, "...isn't there the Shadow Proclamation to help with cases like these? They are the police and it should be up to them how things get fixed. I don't see why you have to keep doing it."

"The Shadow Proclamation is never that good," the Doctor gave a roll of his eyes, clear dislike for the place. "And I like helping. I can do it, don't see why I shouldn't."

"Yeah, I can see that you like to," Renata chuckled.

"And I can see that you not so much." And the Doctor truly appreciated how Renata was doing her best to keep up with him in his shenanigans.

"I do! You have no idea how much I love to help people, but...when I did it...it was with...our people."

"You don't like to help the humans, then?"

"I do, if I have the chance then...sure," Renata nodded, but it was easy to tell that she wasn't all that into the idea. "But in the end...they're just humans to me. For so long they were only a means to hide myself from the rest of our kind. I miss helping my kind, you know? People I can share my ideas with, my perspectives, my everything. People that would understand me."

The Doctor tilted his head, a faint smile writing itself across his lips. "Renee, what did you used to do back on Gallifrey?"

The question set Renata into nervous state. "U-uh...l-like my...my job?"

"Yeah," the Doctor didn't catch any of her nervousness, too curious imagining her in different positions. "Cos you're all uptight and-"

"Hey," Renata pointed at him but he went on.

"-strict on rules so...I would think of you as one of the teachers at the academy."

Renata blinked, for a moment in disbelief. "You think I was a teacher?"

"Well," he straightened up. "Were you?"

"No," Renata shook her head. "I wasn't."

"Then, what were you?"

Renata stared at him for a minute, the ongoing battle within her taking a bit more than she thought. It wasn't like she hadn't thought about telling the Doctor more about herself - in fact, she already had. Bits and pieces had been exchanged between the two about their past lives on Gallifrey but Renata was always careful not to disclose too much about herself that would risk her identity with the Doctor.

"I...was…" her eyes flickered to the side, "...I worked at a foundation."

Technically, she wasn't lying.

Those were the rules she set herself for. Loopholes.

"You did?" the Doctor became even more curious.

"Mhm. I worked with all sorts of people in need. Children who weren't quite ready for the academy came for some lessons. People who just needed help, whether emotional or physically but didn't have the resources were always welcomed to stop by," Renata looked into the distant, remembering more and more about her foundation. She missed it so much. She missed her workers, her kids, her friends…

"Renata?" the Doctor gently shook her arm to get her out of her thoughts.

She realized she'd let herself think far too much and released an awkward breath, smiling in a flushed manner. "Sorry," she waved a hand at her face.

"No, it's okay," the Doctor softly said, reaching for her waving hand. He liked seeing her remember their home due to the fact she hadn't disclosed much about herself on Gallifrey. He had made it his mission not to get overexcited and push Renata to tell her stories when she wasn't ready. To say, she hadn't even said whose family she was from. But still, the Doctor was forcing himself to be patient.

"Do you want some dinner?" Renata was the one to pull him out of his thoughts this time. With a warm smile on her face, she took his hand. "It's all set up like usual."

The Doctor smiled, forgetting his investigation from then on till the next morning. Renata made it a custom that they were to have dinner every night like normal people. She made pretty damn good meals.

"C'mon," Renata said quietly, still smiling as the two headed for the corridors.

~ 0 ~

The next day, Renata was not the least bit surprised to have the Doctor practically pounding on her bedroom door shouting for her to wake up because they had to go back to Adipose Industries. Swooshing herself out of bed, she got ready and came out of her room...and then smacked the Doctor on the chest and stalked for the console.

"I hate mornings!" was the only explanation the Doctor got for being hit.

They left the TARDIS in an alleyway close to the Adipose Industries building and once more used the fire exit to gain entrance. The Doctor led the way down the same empty corridor but this time stopped midway and turned to a storage closet.

"What...are you doing?" Renata blinked as he opened the door to the small room.

"We need to hide, c'mon," the Doctor didn't wait around for her to warm to the idea and pushed her inside first. As he sonicked the door shut, Renata raved with her back to him.

"Are you mad!? This is wrong!" her hands waved above her head. "First of all, we're bound to get caught! Second of all, it's just wrong!"

The manner in which Renata had said her last statement made the Doctor turn around questionably. "Why? What's wrong?"

In her moment, Renata whirled around to face him and bumped into him because he was literally standing right in front of her. Her eyes blinked rapidly trying not to overthink it. Meanwhile, the Doctor was still demanding to know why she was so freaked out.

"Renata? Why did you say it like that?" his eyebrows knitted together in the manner they always did when he was confused.

Renata slowly looked up to meet his gaze and soon wished she hadn't. She found that she was vulnerable to his long look no matter how she felt at the moment. It threatened to give her identity up.

"Renata?" the Doctor finally broke through her thoughts which, admittedly, were making her face warm. "Well?"

"...it's just inappropriate…" Renata quietly said, turning away and walking the most she could inside the small room which turned out to be seven small steps.

The Doctor scoffed, giving a sway of his head. "Really? But it's not to live inside a TARDIS with me?" the moment turned sideways with alarmed eyes the Doctor regretted his response. "N-n-n-n-n-no! Forget I said that!" and he rushed up, but because of the small room he nearly rammed into her.

"Doctor! Just stop!" cried the blonde, swatting him away with her hands.

With a big sigh, the Doctor listened and retreated to the door. He took a seat on the floor, back up against the door. He watched Renata look for a spot of her own until she settled for a small box positioned over another.

"Renee…?"

"Hmm?" Renata wearily glanced over to the Doctor, hoping that whatever came out of his mouth would not send them into another round of bickering.

"On Gallifrey...were you part of...high society? Before you married off, of course."

"Why would you think that?"

The Doctor made a gesture at her. "Just...just the way you act...the way you think. It has all the...makings of a high class Time Lady."

Renata looked down, her fingers fiddling with each other. "And you hate that," she recalled from oh-so-long ago.

The Doctor wasn't about to lie and say he was best friends with that part of their people. "I mean, they weren't particularly the best people for me to spend time with."

"So then why do you tolerate me and my...uptightness?" came Renata's honest question. She knew she was not the ideal companion and she doubted she ever would be.

A warm smile spread across the Doctor's face. "Because I like you of course - you and everything I know about you so far. You're not like the others of your class and I'm happy. Otherwise it would have been a real shame for such a pretty woman with big hearts to go to waste."

Renata's face softened. "Doctor…"

"You working at a foundation just proves it," the Doctor shrugged. "By the way, I've been meaning to ask.. " he cleared his throat, suddenly nervous, "The foundation...did it...did it happen to be…the Auxilium Foundation?" It was like Renata's whole world just stopped. The Doctor was too delved into his own memories to notice it. "There was only a couple foundations and...and you seem the sort to want to help Gallifreyans despite what Time Lord society thought. Was it?"

Renata couldn't bring herself to lie more, at least not in that moment. It was too many memories, too many fond memories she couldn't get rid of. "Yeah…" she passed a hand down her hair, secretly shooting him a glance. "How do you know about it?"

The Doctor released a breath, a dreamy one actually that sped up Renata's hearts in the second."Oh, I, um...I knew someone there…"

"You need to see it, Zuriah. I bet the pictures don't do Earth justice!"

Zuriah laughed softly while the Doctor rambled onto her about what he'd learned of Earth that morning. She shook her head at him and moved on around the empty tables, soon to be filled up with their daily visitors, to set up some of the materials. "Now I know why you probably failed some of your coursework in the Academy. Did you ever stop talking in those classes?"

The Doctor sent an unamused glare her way. "I'll have you know I have my moments of silence."

The scoff Zuriah gave in return was one of clear disbelief. "Just help me out here, please?" she motioned with her hands to the mess of toys on the ground. "Some new recruiters' kids found my stash of toys and didn't exactly learn the rule of 'put it away'."

The Doctor rolled his eyes but got up to help. "So, do you think you could somehow incorporate this planet in your activities?"

Zuriah waved him off. "I don't know. We haven't done the schedule for next week. Perhaps..."

"Oh c'mon! You know you'd love to!" the Doctor hurriedly threw some toys into the bin she'd set up. He followed her around the tables, rambling on about the benefits her people would get if she incorporated Earth into activities.

"Look, Doctor, maybe we could - AH!" she had stepped on a toy and slipped backwards. Her basket went flying in the air along with the materials. She herself would've fallen to the floor if the Doctor hadn't caught her.

"Hm, didn't take you for the klutz," the Doctor smirked at her. Zuriah looked up, her face flushed when she realized their closeness. The Doctor felt it too, but he didn't think about telling her of it. Although he did take notice of how many freckles were over Zuriah's face...they were lovely...

Renata was utterly stunned to see such a soft look on the Doctor's face. He was clearly remembering something...

"Zuriah, that was the, uh..." the Doctor shook his head out of the memory but no matter how much he tried, the freckled-face ginger still smiled at him. It'd been so long since he thought about her...

~0~

After a full day passed, the Doctor finally declared it was time to leave and investigate. Since they had fallen into bits and pieces of conversation after the foundation topic, Renata was itching to get out of there. She was afraid that the Doctor would begin to ask questions about 'Zuriah' which was her before she picked her graduating name.

You can't hide it forever, Renata. The same sentence passed her mind over and over but somehow she still couldn't act.

"Where exactly are we headed now?" Renata inquired once they were striding down the dark corridors.

"Up to the office of course," the Doctor flashed a smile that warned it wasn't technically literal.

Renata would have questioned further had it not been for him pulling her into a hasty walk. They found the staircase and went up...and up...and up…

Of course he meant the roof. Renata actually blamed herself for not seeing this earlier.

The Doctor went straight for the edge and sonicked the cables holding…

"What are you doing?" Renata slowly approached the edge, eyes glued onto the Doctor who was in the process climbing into a window cleaner's cradle.

"Getting a look at the office, what else?" the Doctor shrugged then motioned with a hand for her to join him. Instantly, Renata incredulously blinked. "Don't give me that look! C'mon!"

Nervously, Renata inched closer to the edge and took one look down to the high view. "Um...is this a bad time to tell you...I have a fear of heights…"

"Not surprised," the Doctor said. He then reached over and grabbed her arm, pulling her slowly. "But for another time!"

"Doctor…" Renata struggled to let the Doctor bring her into the window's cradle.

"In you go," the Doctor slipped his other arm around her waist to get her into the cradle.

As soon as Renata felt the cradle wiggling a bit she gasped and latched onto the Doctor for dear life. "We're going to die! We're going to die! We're going to die!" she cried with eyes shut.

There was a fierce determination in the Doctor not to laugh. But he was still thankful that she couldn't see his face right now.

"This is it! This is where you finally kill me!" and because the Doctor didn't know who Renata was, he thought she was just talking about their short time together...when in reality Renata was remembering all the adventures their younger selves took because of him.

"Calm down, it's not moving," the Doctor peeled her off him and aimed the sonic at the controls. Renata gasped again when the cradle descended. "And duck!" he ordered when they were nearing Miss Foster's office.

"You're gonna get us caught," Renata whispered.

The Doctor ignored her and poked his head just slightly above the cradle to peer into the office. He saw a young dark-skinned woman being tied to a chair by body guards while Miss Foster watched. Unknowingly, an old friend was also watching from the other side of the office, right in front of its door.

"What's going on?" Renata curiously asked, still not taking the risk by peering herself.

"Can't hear much," the Doctor mumbled. He could see Miss Foster showing her prisoner a capsule.

"Well, it is a window-"

"Donna!?"

Renata made a face and looked up to find the Doctor, stunned, staring ahead. "What? What is it?"

'Donna?' she watched the Doctor mouth.

What she didn't know was that across the office stood the Doctor's old friend, Donna Noble who was also stunned to see him there.

"DOCTOR!' she excitedly mimed back, her face right in front of the door's porthole.

'But... what? Wha... What?!'

Renata tried following along but the Doctor was just opening and closing his mouth to her.

'OH MY GOD!' Donna continued miming happily.

'But... how?'

'It's me!' Donna pointed her thumbs at herself, as if the Doctor hadn't yet made the connection it was in fact her.

'Well, I can see that!' the Doctor gestured his eyes then pointed at Donna. Beside him, Renata was still hopelessly lost. She was not risking herself to see who it was.

'Oh this is brilliant!' Donna would have laughed if she could.

The Doctor, on the other hand, was perturbed. 'But what are you doing there?'

'I was looking for you!' Donna pointed at him.

'What for?!'

Now Donna, being Donna, did her best to mimic what she was saying which went along the lines of…

'I, came here, trouble, read about it, internet, I thought, trouble = you! And this place is weird! Pills! So I hid. Back there. Crept along. Heard this lot. Looked. You! Cos they…' But when she happened to jerk a thumb to her right she found that Miss Foster, along with the tied-up woman and her body guards, were staring at her.

The Doctor too had caught it.

"Are we interrupting you?" MIss Foster loudly, sarcastically called to Donna.

'Run!' the Doctor urgently mimed for Donna then aimed the sonic ahead to lock the door of the office and give Donna time to run. Without notice, he waved the sonic above and pulled the cradle above.

"DOCTOR!" Renata nearly cried when the cradle shot up.

"Sorry! Sorry!" the Doctor hopped out of the cradle fast and turned to help her out.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on!? Besides probably getting caught - like I told you!"

"Old friend of mine-" the Doctor grunted as he pulled her out, "-in a bit of trouble! Hurry!"

They ran back for the door that laid the staircase. Despite Renata asking questions of who this 'friend' was the Doctor didn't answer many as he was focused on helping Donna out before she was hurt. They came down another set of staircase where they bumped into a redhead. Donna had encased the Doctor in a big hug, ecstatic with finding him. Renata's eyes just flickered from one to the next.

"Oh my God! I don't believe it!" Donna laughed but suddenly stopped to give the Doctor a look over. "You've even got the same suit! Don't you ever change?" The Doctor sarcastically rolled his eyes. "Yeah thanks Donna, not right now."

"Well…" Donna finally noticed that the Doctor was not alone. "Hey-" but that was all she could say to Renata before the Doctor saw the guards and pulled them both up the stairs.

"Doctor! There are guards!" Renata had looked below to see several guards coming after them.

"Yes, I've noticed!"

Donna was too cheery to be affected by the guards coming for them. As they made it back to the roof she explained the events that led her to the building. "Cos I thought, how do I find the Doctor? And then I just thought, look for trouble and then he'll turn up! So I looked everywhere, you name it - UFOs, sightings, crop circles, sea monsters. I looked, I found them all…"

During this, the Doctor had started working on the cradle controls with his sonic. Renata had half a mind to scold him for even thinking about using the damn thing! But she was quick to discover Donna had a rambling mouth much like the Doctor.

"...like that stuff about the bees disappearing, I thought, I bet he's connected. Cos the thing is, Doctor, I believe it all now. You opened my eyes. All those amazing things out there, I believe them all. Well, apart from that replica of the Titanic flying over Buckingham Palace on Christmas Day, I mean that's gotta be a hoax!"

"What d'you mean the bees are disappearing?" the Doctor picked the sentence up by random.

"I don't know. That's what it says on the internet!"

"Doctor!" Renata helplessly watched the Doctor get back into the cradle, and was even more astonished to see Donna so easily getting in as well. "Aren't you even going to question why you're getting in?" she demanded from the ginger.

"I figure it was to escape?" Donna glanced at the Doctor but quickly looked back to Renata. "I'm sorry, what's your n-"

"Renata, get in!" the Doctor urgently said.

"What for!?" Renata argued. "They'll just bring us up again! I'm not here to go up and down like a stupid amusement park ride!"

"No no no, cos I've locked the controls with a sonic cage. I'm the only one who can control it," he promised. "Not unless she's got a sonic device of her own. Which is very unlikely."

The door burst open again and out came Miss Foster.

"RENATA!"

Flinching, Renata clambered into the window cradle. Soon as she was in, the Doctor made it go down.

"How are we getting out!?" the blonde held onto the railing as they went down and down, but suddenly they started going dangerously FAST faster.

The Doctor managed to stop it with the sonic but the force knocked all three down for a moment. Being the first one to get up, he aimed the sonic at the window. Up above, Miss Foster ordered to the building to be deadlocked.

The Doctor retracted the sonic. "Can't get it open!"

"Well, smash it then!" Donna had grabbed a large spanner from the floor and used all her might to shatter the window.

Renata helplessly looked from Donna to the Doctor, wondering how much worse it could get. Her answer came in the form of sparks and smoke from the cradle. "She's cutting the cable!" she shrieked after looking up and seeing Miss Foster aiming some sort of laser pen at the cables. At her words the Doctor and Donna instinctively grabbed on but Renata hadn't had the time and so when the cable broke and the cradle lurched to the side, she was flung back screaming.

"RENATA!" the Doctor wanted to go in after her but calmed after seeing her feet dangling under them.

She'd manage to get ahold of the broken cable and was currently, and dangerously, swaying back and forth. "DOCTOR!"

"Hold on!" the Doctor tried reaching for the cable sustaining her to pull her back up but he just couldn't.

"Doctor!" went Donna this time who was staring up, seeing Miss Foster about to break the last cable.

Angrily, the Doctor aimed the sonic above just at the right moment to make it spark and fall out of the woman's hand. He caught the second sonic and climbed up the cable to another window. He managed to get it open and ordered Donna to follow him.

"I'm not gonna fall am I!?" Donna asked for the blonde below who was crying out in terror.

"Get in! Get in!" the Doctor didn't want to waste time answering obvious questions. His hearts was racing unbelievably fast as he thought of Renata so close to danger (and because of him).

Meanwhile, Renata was crying out to be helped. Her eyes were stinging with tears and from the hard wind hitting her from every direction. She was sure her hands were slipping from the cable and that at any moment she would fall and splat on the ground like the television showed.

Oh God I was wrong - this is how he finally kills me! And yet Renata felt not an ounce of anger with the Doctor. It was just so like him to get near danger, like a taunt, and then get away from it like nothing. It was actually one of the things that attracted her after getting to know his ways. Her hearts pounded like never before yet it was not a new sensation for her.

"AH!" she screamed all over again when she felt hands on her ankles. "LET ME GO! LET ME GO!"

"Renata, it's me!" the Doctor managed to cut through her screams. "I've got you! Stop kicking!" He slowly pulled her down and into the office he and Donna coordinated would be the room of the next window down. "There we go! I've got you!"

"Oh my God! I thought I was going to die!" Renata clung to him with teary eyes. "Oh you stupid, stupid man!"

The Doctor soothed her with a hand on her back and regretted he couldn't do more at that moment on account of still being on the run from Miss Foster. "We have to go, I'm sorry," he pulled away and felt a pang of guilt seeing her tear-stained face.

He took her and Donna out of the room but not before untying the journalist in the office and telling her to go home. They only made it to the call center because Miss Foster and her guards were already waiting for them.

"Well then," Miss Foster pulled off her glasses and raised her head at the trio, "at last."

"Hello," Donna nervously laughed, the thrill of the chase still clouding bits of her.

The Doctor was just the Doctor who said 'hello' to everyone. "Nice to meet you, I'm the Doctor."

"And I'm Donna!"

Renata crossed her arms, deciding the Foster didn't need her name.

"Partners in crime," Foster concluded, eyeing Renata who seemed to falter every now and then from her brave stance. "And evidently off-worlders, judging by your sonic technology."

"Oh yes, I've still got your sonic pen. Nice, I like it," the Doctor raised the sonic pen to give another look. "Sleek, it's kinda sleek." He let Renata and Donna give it a glance as well, but Renata lowered it down.

"I don't think it should matter the form of the thing that nearly killed me."

The Doctor winced and retracted the pen from Renata. "Now-" he looked at Foster, " if you were to sign your real name that would be...?"

"Matron Cofelia of the Five-Straighten Classabindi Nursery Fleet. Intergalactic Class."

"A wet nurse?" Renata gawked for a second. "What...and you're using humans as surrogates?"

Foster gave a curt nod. "I've been employed by the Adiposian First Family to foster a new generation after their breeding planet was lost."

"But who gave you the right to use humans as cows for your reproduction methods!? It's against Shadow Proclamation rules!"

Beside Renata, the Doctor silently laughed that she would ignore a planet being lost because of 'rules'. "How do you mean lose a planet?"

"Oh, politics are none of my concern. I'm just here to take care of the children on behalf of the parents," Foster made a gesture, shrugging her shoulders.

"What, like an outer space super-nanny?" Donna crinkled her nose.

"Yes, if you like."

"So... so those little things they're, they're made out of fat yeah, but that woman, Stacy Campbell, there was nothing left of her." Donna still couldn't shake off that horrible feeling of seeing a nice woman like Stacey disappear into little white blobs of...fat?

"Oh, in a crisis the Adipose can convert bone and hair and internal organs. Makes them a little bit sick, poor things."

"What about poor Stacey!?" Donna incredulously returned.

"Enough," Renata's sharp edged voice cut through the womens' conversation, and the hand she had for Donna was, frankly, irritating the ginger. "Seeding a level 5 planet is against galactic law - you should know that!" she said to Foster who merely raised her eyebrows.

"Are you threatening me?"

The Doctor then put an arm in front of Renata. "We're trying to help you, Matron. This is your one chance; cos if you don't call this off, then we'll have to stop you."

Foster smirked. "I hardly think you can stop bullets." And just as she said it, her guards flanking her took aim.

Alarmed, Renata stepped back.

"No, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, one more thing, before... dying…" the Doctor settled for the blunt word. "Do you know what happens if you hold two identical sonic devices against each other?" he once again gestured to his sonic and Foster's sonic pen.

"...no?" Foster doubtfully answered.

"Nor me, lets find out!" the Doctor happily pointed both sonic objects at each other, activating them at the same time. A high-screeching rang in the room, causing everyone to squirm uncomfortably and a glass pane behind to shatter.

"Come on!" Donna was the one to pull both aliens out of there.

In the process, the Doctor took the lead and ran them down an empty corridor, stopping by a door of a cupboard.

"No more cupboards!" Renata nearly pleaded. Small spaces meant more talking and more talking meant more chances to risk her identity.

"Not quite," the Doctor opened the door and started throwing out the storage's supplies.

"You can't just throw those things out!" Renata said, scandalized as he created a wad of mess on the floor. "Those are some employee's utensils!"

"Another time, Renata!" the Doctor rolled his eyes, this time a smidge of honest annoyance for her lack of priorities.

"Renata?" Donna repeated the name, looking a bit confused as she studied Renata head to toe. "So you're not Rose, then?"

Recalling the name, Renata scowled. "No I am not! Why would you think that?"

"Dunno…" Donna shrugged, "...blonde...and stuff."

"I'm not her," Renata's eyes briefly glanced at the Doctor and saw him working. There was glowing green machinery built into the wall.

"Well, I'm Donna Noble by the way," the ginger held a hand to Renata, realizing that they hadn't been introduced properly.

"Renata," Renata shook Donna's hand. She looked over at the green panel and frowned. "Okay, what's this for?"

"It's the inducer. For the Adipose. It's wired up the whole building...I...I'll need some time," the Doctor paused, running a hand through his big hair.

"Then get to it," Renata made a motion. "I'm not sure if I can distract but...but I can certainly try." The Doctor made a face at the prospect of that idea. "I can to you know," the blonde insisted now more than ever.

"Okay."

Renata bubbled with instant anger. "Listen to me you idiot," she began sharply, "I nearly fell off a window's cradle because of you!"

"Which I will make up for later, I promise!"

"That's not the point!" Renata's voice cracked and she took it a sign to calm down. With a sigh, she put a hand on her forehead and took a moment for herself. "Sorry," she said a minute later, truthfully.

"I get it, I do," the Doctor didn't stop his work but gave her an honest face. "You're making an effort and I do see it and appreciate it." Renata lowered her hand from her face and smiled.

Donna silently studied the two aliens in front of her, a bit curious of what they were and just who was Renata overall. Renata crossed gazes with her and realized she had yet to ask something important.

"How do you two know each other?" her finger pointed from Donna to the Doctor.

"I met him on my wedding day - the big starship in the sky at Christmas?" Donna waited for Renata to remember. "That was us."

Renata blinked as something donned. "It was you who drained the Thames!" she turned on the Doctor with an accusing finger. The Master had never clarified the happenings of that evening, but then again she wasn't exactly in the mood to be talking to the Master during that period.

"It was such a crazy day," Donna continued. "In the beginning, I thought he kidnapped me actually," Donna had a small laugh.

"You too!?" Renata incredulously asked of the Doctor. "What, did you throw her over your shoulders too?"

"No, I didn't!" the Doctor defensively said.

Renata huffed. "Well, that's unfair."

"What do you mean?" Donna fit in the pieces together quick. "Did he do that to you?" Renata nodded and gestured being thrown over a shoulder. "Doctor," a great smirk took over Donna's face as her eyes landed on the Doctor, "I didn't know you were that sort of man."

The Doctor looked mortified at her assumption. Renata face palmed. "I meant a thief!" she exclaimed.

"I was not a thief!" the Doctor stopped for a minute to argue. "You-" he pointed a finger at her, "-were being stubborn!"

Renata's eyes blinked rapidly and her mouth parted slightly. "M-me? You're saying it was my fault? What part of 'you threw me over your shoulder and brought me into the TARDIS' did you forget about?" The Doctor said no more but his scrunched face said the words alright.

Donna burst into laughter, making the argument stop. "I'm sorry, but...what?" she couldn't believe what she was hearing honestly. The Doctor had actually slung the poor woman over his shoulder and forced her into the TARDIS? No, hold on, the woman had to be forced in the first place? Who wouldn't want to travel the stars!?

Grumbling, the Doctor returned to work.

"It's really not that funny," Renata crossed her arms and muttered. "Least Martha didn't laugh."

"Martha?" Donna repeated. "Was that a friend at the time?"

"Yeah. My only human friend who I still keep in contact with," Renata thoughtfully said, since Joan was dead and she had left the family in 1959.

"Is she here? In the TARDIS?"

"No," the Doctor said then. "She was brilliant... but... I destroyed half her life."

Renata's annoyance was gone the moment she saw his guilt-ridden face. "You did not," she softly said then looked at the surprised Donna. "Martha decided it was time for her to go back home. But she's fine. She's good."

"Oh," Donna nodded then thought for another moment. "What about Rose?"

"Still lost," the Doctor mumbled, missing Renata purposely looking away. He had yet to tell her anything of Rose and he frankly didn't know when. He actually thought that perhaps Renata would be scandalized to know he had developed an attachment to a human. He was, for a lack of a better word, scared of her reaction.

Renata, on the other hand, thought his lack of explanation arose from the fact she wasn't trusted enough, and that perhaps he didn't see her as a friend at all. By this point, she knew who Rose was. The Master had taken joy rubbing it in her face that the Doctor had exchanged her for a human.

"I thought you were going to travel the world?" the Doctor suddenly remembered it was Donna's grand plan after her failed marriage.

The cheery face on Donna was quick to fade away. "Easier said then done. It's like I had that one day with you and I was gonna change. I was gonna do so much. Then I woke up next morning, same old life. It's like you were never there. And I tried. I did try, I went to Egypt. I was gonna go barefoot and everything. And then it's all bus trips and guidebooks and don't drink the water and two weeks later you're back home. It's nothing like being with you. I must have been mad turning down that offer."

"What offer?" the Doctor failed to recall.

"To come with you." But now Donna was a bit nervous that since Renata seemed to be on board maybe the Doctor was good on companions.

"You didn't want to go into the TARDIS at first?" Renata was a smidge more impressed with the woman. Usually, every human jumped at the chance to get into the TARDIS.

"I didn't understand," Donna tried to explain herself. "I was...I was all emotional...and-and...just…"

Renata swayed her head till she met the Doctor. "I mean...I wouldn't mind, honestly."

The Doctor was surprised to hear such easy acceptance from her. "Really?"

"Yeah, maybe we would bicker less," Renata recalled that was her excuse for when Astrid Peth had asked to come with them. It was true, as much as she loved the Doctor - and boy did she - there were moments where she just needed a break...or at least someone to stop her from strangling him. She was sure that the feeling was mutual.

"Oh yes!" Donna cheered.

'Inducer activated.'

Renata peered into the cupboard to see the green machinery. "What's it doing now?"

"She's started the program," the Doctor groaned.

'Inducer transmitting.'

"And...what does that mean?" Renata now stared wide-eyed at the machinery.

"Up to now the customers have only been losing weight but the Matron has gone up to emergency pathogenesis."

"Oh no." Renata glanced at the end of the corridor where they could see doors. She was sure that outside swarms of little Adipose were going to be gathering real soon pathogenesis.

"That's when they convert…" Donna, too, remembered.

"But that's skeletons, organs, everything!" Renata exclaimed. "A million people are gonna die!"

"Gotta cancel the signal!" the Doctor took out the golden capsule they'd gotten the previous day and pulled one of its end to reveal a chip inside. "This contains the primary signal. If I can switch it off the fat goes back to being just fat." He hooked up the capsule to the machine hoping to God he was right.

'Inducer increasing.'

The Doctor panicked. "No no no no no, she's doubled it, I need... Haven't got time! It's too far, I can't override it! They're all gonna die!"

"Can we do anything?" Renata asked, Donna nodding her head in agreement.

"Sorry, this is way beyond you - and I mean no disrespect but I have to double the base pulse, I can't…"

"Doctor, tell us what do you need," Donna sternly cut him off. Rambling was no good to anyone.

"I need a second capsule to boost the override, but I've only got the one. I can't save them!"

Donna blinked, remembering something very important. She reached inside her pocket to take out a second gold capsule. Renata laughed when the Doctor froze in shock.

"Here!" Donna waved it in front of his face till he snapped out of his stupor. He nabbed it and hooked it into the green machinery, making all its lights shut down.

A couple seconds, a loud horn filled the place.

"What the hell was that?" Donna frantically looked around.

"I suppose it would be...the nursery ship," Renata said.

"But when you say nursery you don't mean a creche in Notting Hill?"

"Nursery ship," Renata repeated.

'Incoming signal.' the machinery had come back to life for a minute and began with a voice that spoke a different language.

"Hadn't we better go and stop them?" Donna made a gesture for them to leave.

"Hang on, instructions from the Adiposian First Family," the Doctor put a finger on his lips to listen in. "She's wired up the tower block to convert it into a levitation post!"

"But now she's the one in trouble," Renata said soon after she heard.

The Doctor didn't waste a chance and hurried back for the roof. Renata and Donna ran after him. When they got up all they saw were blue beams levitating thousands of Adipose babies into the large nursery ship in the sky.

Most of them were smiling and waving at the trio.

"What you gonna do then? Blow them up?" Donna curiously asked the Doctor beside her.

"They're just children," the Doctor made a face for a brief moment. "They can't help where they come from." Besides, something told him that if anyone threatened those children they would come across a raging Time Lady. God help those fools.

"Doctor, there she is!" Renata called as soon as she spotted Foster coming up in one of the blue beams.

The Doctor ran up to the edge with Donna. "Matron Cofelia, listen to me!"

Foster stopped right at their lever. "Oh, I don't think so, Doctor. And if I never see you again, it will be too soon."

"Oh, why does no one ever listen? I'm trying to help! Just get across to the roof. Can you shift the levitation beam?"

"What, so that you can arrest me?" Foster's eyes briefly flickered to Renata.

"No, you're going to want to listen," Renata promised. "Because the families you worked for know that it was a crime to breed on Earth. So what's the one thing they want to get rid of? Their accomplice!"

"I'm far more than that. I'm nanny to all these children."

"Exactly!" the Doctor frantically waved a hand. "Mum and Dad have got the kids now, they don't need the nanny anymore!"

And just then, the blue beam sustaining Foster disappeared and she fell all the way down screaming. Donna hid her face in the Doctor's shoulder and Renata covered her mouth.

Sometime later, when the police arrived to the site, the Doctor and Renata, along with Donna, exited the building. The Doctor chucked the sonic pen into the nearest trash bin.

"Oi, you three!" the journalist the Doctor had thought followed his instructions to go home was coming up to them...tied to a chair again.

"Didn't you let her go?" Renata whispered to the Doctor, blinking rapidly.

"I did," the Doctor defensively replied.

"You're just mad. Do you hear me?" the journalist cried. "Mad! And I'm gonna report you... for madness!"

Donna silently watched the woman leave, barely able to hold her laugh back as she said, "You see, some people just can't take it."

"No," agreed the Doctor.

"But some people can. So, then - TARDIS!" she excitedly said and grabbed the two aliens by the arms, pulling them away.

They headed back to the alleyway where the TARDIS had been left...and apparently Donna's car as well.

"That's my car! That is like destiny!" Donna laughed. "And I've been ready for this." She rushed up to the car's trunk and opened it to reveal a series of suitcases. I packed ages ago, just in case. Cos I thought, hot weather, cold weather, no weather…" she pulled out the top luggage and loaded them into the arms of the Doctor, who was too stunned to say a word at the moment. "...he goes anywhere, I've gotta be prepared." She then loaded more into Renata's arms.

"You've got a... a... hatbox?!" the Doctor found his words after Donna loaded him with one last box.

"Planet of the Hats, I'm ready!" Donna declared and shut the trunk of her car, excitedly heading for the TARDIS. "Do I need injections though, do I? Like when you go to Cambodia, is there any of that? Cos my friend Veena went to Bahrain, and-"

Renata suddenly began to laugh hard, making Donna stop just outside the TARDIS doors. Even the Doctor was oddly staring down at the Time Lady. Donna eyebrows furrowed together, thinking Renata was laughing at her.

"Oi! What's so funny!?"

"This!" Renata motioned with her arms to the luggage and then the situation in general. "You're so funny! I love you!"

The Doctor gaped. "Wow…" he had never seen such a reaction from Renata, so lively and happy…

Renata walked up to the TARDIS, sobering slowly from her laugh. "I like you, I do. Doctor, can we take her?"

"I'm not a dog," Donna made a face. But it did feel better to know Renata wouldn't mind if she came along with them.

"It's really fine with me," the Doctor admitted, staying right where he was. "It's just...it's a funny old life, in the TARDIS."

Donna knew that sort of tone well. It came when one was fired or the casualness from her mother. "You don't want me."

"I'm not saying that-"

"But you asked me," Donna frowned, glancing at Renata for some help.

"Doctor, it really is okay with me," Renata shrugged. "It's your TARDIS. You can bring whoever you want." She wished he would make up his mind faster because Donna's luggage was getting heavier by the second.

"I wouldn't mind either. In fact, I would love it," the Doctor clarified, letting the luggage in his arm drop to the floor. "It's just...the last time, with Martha, it... it got complicated. And that was all my fault. I would want nothing more than a mate-"

"You just want to mate?" Renata blinked, eyes impossibly wide. Beside her, Donna was losing it believing in what Renata heard.

"You're not mating with me, sunshine!" Donna shouted.

The Doctor had a hard time keeping up with both women who'd heard horribly wrong. "Renata! I didn't say that-"

But Renata was trying to control herself after her first outburst. "No, no, that's fine. What you want to do in your TARDIS is your business-"

"What - no!" the Doctor once more tried to cut in but then came Donna.

"He better find someone else cos I'm not into that sort of alien thing, no sir!"

"STOP!" the Doctor finally cut over both of them. "I said a mate! Nothing more!" he frantically waved his hands.

"...oh," Renata looked away, embarrassed yet relieved.

The same applied to Donna. "Well just as well, because I'm not having any of that nonsense. I mean you're just a long streak of... nothing," she motioned to the Doctor who took it with an unamused face. "You know, alien nothing." She then passed a casual glance at Renata and shrugged. "You could probably find yourself someone quick. Kind of curvy."

Renata laughed.

"There we are, then. OK," the Doctor was glad to have things clarified and corrected.

"I can come?" Donna anxiously asked.

"Yeah. Course you can, yeah."

"I'd love it!"

"Great," Renata pushed the TARDIS door open to begin bringing Donna's things.

"Car keys!" Donna suddenly remembered, gasping.

"What?"

"I've still got my mum's car keys! I won't be a minute!" she held a finger to them and ran away.

Renata started to laugh again as she returned. She stopped at the doorway and smiled. "I think I'm gonna like her. She's so...spunky."

"Yeah, she is," the Doctor agreed and left his part of luggage inside.

"And you know," Renata stopped him just outside after he came out, "It really is your TARDIS - even though you stole that too," she mumbled and the Doctor rolled his eyes, "So you can bring anyone in without having to consult me. And...do whatever you want inside."

"Yeah…" the Doctor sucked in a large breath, "...no thanks."

Renata couldn't help the stupid smile that quickly set on her face. She forced it away as best as possible. "I-I mean...it's it's your choice…"

"Renee," the Doctor tilted his head, close to laughing at the subject they were somehow talking about again.

"I'm only saying! I respect rules and...and in here-" Renata gestured to the inside of the TARDIS, "-they're whatever you want-"

"Renee! C'mon," the Doctor laughed. "None of that please. We should focus on the fact we're having a new guest in the TARDIS who I am sure is going to love your dinners."

Renata smiled. "You think so?"

"Oh yeah! Who wouldn't?" the Doctor reached for her hand and brought her inside the TARDIS.

A couple minutes later, Donna came rushing in, happy than ever. "Off we go, then!"

"Here it is, the TARDIS. It's bigger on the inside than it is on the outside…"

"Oh, I know that bit," Donna interrupted the Doctor's favorite bit. "Although frankly, you could turn the heat up."

"So, whole wide universe, where do you want to go?"

"Oh, I know exactly the place," Donna smiled widely with just one spot in her mind. "Two and a half miles, that way!" she jerked a thumb to her left.

Although confused, the Doctor and Renata obeyed. It became clear where they were headed when they saw a street lined with similar houses. Donna hurried to the doors, to get them opened. It was almost an instant when she saw her grandfather looking up into the sky through his prized telescope. She waved ecstatically below. Renata and the Doctor waved from behind, although neither was sure if the grandfather would see them. Still, it didn't hurt to be nice.

Afterwards, when all was calm, Renata started for the corridors. "I'm just going to get dinner started. Donna, allergic to anything?"

"N-no…" replied the finger, fairly confused. "Though if it's alien meals then I wouldn't know would I…?"

Renata chuckled. "Fair enough." She disappeared soon after.

Curious, Donna looked to the Doctor who seemed quite at home. "Uh...since when do you do dinners? Last time I asked you disappeared into the night."

The Doctor smiled and looked up from the console after setting them in the time vortex for a peaceful night. "Oh that's just Renata. She does that every night. Sort of our tradition actually."

"Sorry, I never asked...are you and her…?" Donna gave a meaningful tilt of her head.

"No!" the Doctor quickly clarified before word made it to Renata. "No, we're not! Actually," he moved around the console, "Renata is one of my people. She's a Time Lady. Last one."

Donna didn't know what happened to the Doctor's home but she assumed it was not good. It was incredibly good to see that the Doctor was not alone anymore.

#10th doctor x oc #ocappreciation #ocapp #dw imagines #10th doctor imagines #doctor who #10th doctor #noblecrescentedit #oc: Renata Cartwright #donna noble #10th doctor x original female character #10th Doctor imagine #dw fanfics #doctor who fanfics #fic: the beginning of everything

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saiilorstars · 4 years

Text

Stinging

One Shot//Companion to The Beginning of Everything

**Fandom: **Doctor Who

Pairing: Female OC x 10th Doctor

(OC Face claim: Marjorie de Sousa)

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A/N: This literally happened because I got stung by a bee today at work and I would’ve really liked for there to be a Doctor around. I don’t even know if best actually affect Time Lords but we’re going to say they do in this world!

Summary: A serene trip turns ugly when a foul little creature makes its presence known.

"This is all lovely but don't you think we should allow Donna a chance to rest?" Renata's concern did nothing to persuade the Doctor to gather up their newest companion and return to the TARDIS.

"No, she's just fine," he reassured Renata and watched Donna walk up to a small bridge connecting the beautiful garden they were visiting.

"She hasn't slept in 2 days," Renata pointed out. "Correct me if I'm wrong but humans need to sleep everyday."

"Quite right, but you see when people first come aboard the TARDIS, they sort of run on the adrenaline for a few days. Even if I _did _tell Donna to take a nap, she wouldn't do it."

"But she really needs to sleep. It's not healthy. Her mind isn't as alert as she would be if she was getting a night's rest."

"Which is why I specifically chose this calm retreat for today," the Doctor gestured to the serene garden around them.

Renata could commend the Doctor for his subtle thinking. _He's done this so many times, _she reminded herself. He knew what he was doing when it came to the companions, _she _did not. "I'm sorry," she apologized a few minutes later.

The Doctor didn't seem very upset. He was smiling like he usually did. "I know how these first days go, Ren. I didn't want to bring Donna somewhere that could turn out to be dangerous. Actually, I think this is the perfect place to inspire Donna to take some rest. Wouldn't you agree?"

Renata only had to look around for two seconds before nodding her head. The garden was part of a luxurious retreat for people in need of serenity for whatever reason. There was no technology allowed for the visitors. Not even a television. The retreat was a nine-story building where the first five floors were dedicated to a treatment for the soul. The rest of the four floors were the guests' bedrooms. The only reason the Doctor's TARDIS had been accepted was because apparently, they owed him.

He had helped save the place at one point, Renata learned. She wasn't remotely surprised.

She honestly loved the garden. It was huge. It seemed almost endless. The grass was a mushy green that just begged for visitors to take off their shoes and let their feet feel the ground. Renata was tempted but that was just inappropriate (she firmly believed it). There were various areas that allowed visitors to have their own mini-gardens to tend to.

"Yeah, you're right. This place is lovely," Renata sighed with content. If only all their trips could be like this...

The Doctor would've died of boredom, she was sure. With a smile, she headed for the bridge that Donna had stopped by.

"Those fishes look like ghosts," Donna remarked when the Time Lady came to a stop beside her. Renata peered over the bridge to see white translucent fishes gliding through the water. Donna suddenly gasped, making Renata think something had happened in the one minute she'd gazed into the lake. "Do they have ghost fishes in space!?"

Renata's face fell flat at the question. She turned her head to the Doctor, making a gesture behind her. The Doctor had to laugh.

"Yeah, those questions happen too," he said, making Donna wonder if they were having some sort of freaky alien conversation in their heads. The Doctor did mention he had that ability and since he had it, Donna was sure that Renata had it as well.

"Donna," Renata turned to the ginger, "There are no such thing as 'ghost fishes'."

"Well," Donna folded her arms, huffing in embarrassment. "How was I supposed to know? I'm brand new at this!"

Renata playfully rolled her eyes. That was fair.

"So Donna, how do you like this place?" the Doctor moved to stand on Donna's other side, leaving her in the middle of the Time Lords.

"It's really nice," Donna nodded, forgetting all about her momentary mistake. "Although the whole 'no cellphones' thing could be revisited."

"The whole point of this place is for people to disconnect," the Doctor reminded her. "Sometime that's what everybody needs."

"Yeah, you ever disconnect from the world?"

Renata startled them with a snort. "What do you think happens when he starts rambling on to himself? Completely forgets anyone else is in the room."

Donna laughed. "Right!"

The Doctor shot Renata a mock-glare that the Time Lady didn't notice. She was busy watching the ghost fishes swim. "I like to talk a lot. Sue me."

"If I did sue you it wouldn't be for your mouth, it'd be for the ridiculous situations you get me into."

"Ah!" he groaned and looked away in exasperation.

"Don't start you two," Donna pointed two playing fingers at them. It was ridiculous how they could start bickering over the smallest of things...but it was also kind of funny sometimes.

"I didn't say anything -- AH!" Renata's hand slapped her right shoulder so hard that it made both Donna and the Doctor flinch. "What the hell was that!?"

"Did she just curse?" Donna blinked at the Time Lady, completely oblivious to Renata's clear distress over her shoulder. "I didn't know she did that!"

The Doctor had sprung into action and rushed to Renata's side. "What happened? Let me see!" Renata's hand was already moving off her shoulder when he pushed it away himself. "Oh..." There was a small orange bug sitting on her shoulder -- a part of its bottom stabbing her skin.

"Oh? What is that?" Renata gritted her teeth at the nasty creature.

"Uh, well...it's, um...sort of the equivalent of a bee..."

"A bee!? You mean those annoying buzzing yellow things Earth has!?"

"Uh, yes, that would be the one."

"This place has bees?" Donna started spinning around searching for more of the creatures in case they also wanted to sting.

"Doctor, this hurts! And why the hell is it orange!?" Renata wanted to pry the bee off her but the Doctor had shoved her hand away again.

"Y-y-you can't just yank it out, Ren!"

"It's stabbing me!" she snapped. "I think I can yank it out of I want to!"

"Well, yes, but, but--" he pointed a finger at her face, though he quickly pulled it away when she fixated a rather dark glare on him, "This isn't just a regular Earth bee. We need to get this out the right way or it might just release more poison into your system."

"Poison!?" Donna gasped in horror. "Is she going to be alright?"

"Ah, yes, completely harmless if we just take the bee out," the Doctor turned Renata around and started leading her off the bridge. "Not _yank _it out," he shot her a warning look for those hands of hers to stay on her sides. "Usually when a native bee here stings it'll just release a minor level of poison that just passes a few hours later."

"Yeah but it hurts," Renata complained and wanted so badly to rub her shoulder. "Like...it really hurts."

"I know, I know, I'll get it out. I promise," the Doctor quickened their pace to get to the TARDIS. "Donna, you can stay out here if you'd like."

"No way!" the ginger called behind them. She was literally right behind them. "I'm not getting stung by alien bees! I think I'll just visit a garden inside the TARDIS."

"Have it your way," the Doctor said distractedly. He wasn't paying attention to her because Renata was starting to whimper the more she continued to look at the bee still embedded in her skin. "You'll be fine," he took her hand and soothingly ran his fingers over the back of it.

"I should just let you know I'm kind of afraid of bugs. That could be it too," she confessed with a wrinkled nose. Her head turned in the opposite direction after catching the bee's wings still fluttering.

"I promise you that you'll be fine," the Doctor said just as they reached the TARDIS. He brought them inside and after taking them off the retreat, he took Renata for the medbay.

Donna had gone off to the garden she talked about but the Doctor might have caught her yawning.

"Just my luck, I get stung by a stupid bee!" Renata huffed when she was able to sit down on the medical bed. "And it hurts so much! Why does it hurt so much!?"

"This is a different type of bee than the ones you got used to on Earth," the Doctor came over with a few tools that Renata wasn't precisely fond of. "It's body is a bit denser than Earth bees."

"Just get it out, please," Renata's hand reached for her shoulder but the Doctor caught it before she could touch it. "Sorry..."

The Doctor smiled softly at her. "Don't worry about it. Just relax, okay? I got you." Renata felt herself flush with that look of his. Of course he had her. I'm completely under your charm, that's what you got, she silently thought.

"Okay, now this is a fairly simple procedure but it might pinch a little," the Doctor warned her as he neared her shoulder with a tool that resembled a tweezer.

"What-what are you going to do?" she eyed the tool wearily.

"Just going to take the bee out."

"Is it going to try and fly afterwards!?"

"Nah, just like Earth bees once I get this one it's just going to die without its stinger."

"Good," Renata pouted, an action she hardly did which was why the Doctor was so amused with her for a second. She stopped being that proper Time Lady to be a scared girl. It was quite a sight.

"Right, just, uh...I don't know, close your eyes if you'd like?" he watched her nod and nervously shut her eyes. "You'll be fine," he whispered encouragingly. He put one of his hands on the edge of her shoulder while his other hand went for the bloody bee. He felt her body flinch when the tweezer started pulling the bee out. It was actually a bit of a bigger bee, much to her luck, but he wouldn't tell her that. "You're doing good, Ren," he told her.

"It hurts..." her face scrunched harder.

"I know, just hang on for another minute." He purposely rubbed her shoulder with his free hand, hoping to soothe her until the bee was completely out. "There you are," he grinned, not that Renata saw it considering she still had her eyes shut. "It's all out! I even got the stinger in one go!"

But Renata still wouldn't open her eyes.

"Renée, you can open your eyes now. I've got the bee."

It was still a struggle to open her eyes completely so she just cracked one open. She yelped when she saw that he was still holding the bee in his tweezer. "Get it away from me!" she swatted her hands in front of him.

The Doctor chuckled. "Alright, alright." He turned away and took the bee with him.

Renata checked her shoulder and saw there was an ugly red blotch marking her skin now. There was a slight swelling in the middle, making it more prominent with its whiter shade. And then she saw the hole it left behind. Granted it was tiny but it was still a hole in her skin.

"Renée?" the Doctor saw the tears filling her eyes. "What's the matter?"

"Would it be too childish to say it still hurts?"

"Oh Renata, you're fine," the Doctor would've chuckled had she not been so scared. Instead, he took her into a soft hug.

"You must think I'm ridiculous, huh?" Renata sniffed. She hadn't really hugged him but she would never mind getting a hug from him. He still hugged like his first incarnation. "Time Lady gets taken down a by a stupid bee."

"I think we all have our fears," the Doctor said, completely calm. He rubbed her back and might have dropped a kiss to the top of her hair. She blushed and for that matter she kept the hug going for a bit longer until it faded. "Now how's about I clean it up and then we do some dinner?"

"Okay," she sniffed and pulled away.

He picked up an old fashion wet cloth and gently dabbed the affected skin. "It did swell a bit but nothing an ice pack can't take care of."

"Just my luck," she sighed.

"You're going to be fine," he promised her yet again. He traded the wet cloth for an ice pack that he then pressed against her skin. Renata flinched at the contact of the coldness but she allowed it to stay on her skin until it started soothing the bump. "There we go!" the Doctor brought one of Renata's hand to keep the ice pack in place. "Leave that on for about 15 minutes and we're back in business!"

Renata looked at him with a growing smile until it became a small laugh. "Thank you, Doctor. How much do I owe you?"

"One dinner," he laughed with her.

"Right, I'll get on that then," she moved to get off the bed but he gently held her arm to keep her sitting.

"No, no, I meant have one dinner with me," he clarified and though Renata knew he meant just one of their regular dinners they had each night, she still blushed. "But I'm helping you make it," he warned. "After all, you've got an injured shoulder."

"Please," she scoffed. "I'm being a big baby, that's what. Thanks for sticking through, though."

"Always," he gave her another hug and after a few moments he told her they would never go back to that retreat again.

She didn't like bees, so he would make sure to keep them far away from her.

#10th doctor #doctor who #dw imagines #ocappreciation #ocapp #tenth doctor #10th doctor imagines #10th doctor x oc #10th doctor x original female character #doctor who fics #doctor who imagines #donna noble #noblecrescentedit #oc: Renata Cartwright

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saiilorstars · 4 years

Text

Next Stop Everywhere

Fandom: Doctor Who

Pairing: Female OC x 10th Doctor

(OC Face claim: Victoria Camacho)

// Story Masterlist //

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Chapter 7: The Clever Student

Chapter summary: The Doctor and Rose return to Earth at the request of Mickey because it seems like their Joy might be in trouble...

"Minnie, when will you be done?" Mickey sat across from me on the kitchen table.

I scribbled down on my journal, "When I'll be done, obviously."

"But you've been doing homework all day. Why not take a break?"

"There is no time for breaks," I looked into my book, "I must learn."

"All day? Even Jackie's a little worried over you," he stood up and walked over to me, "Let's take a break," he tugged on my arm.

"I said no!" I jerked my arm back, standing up and gathering my books. "And no means no," I walked past him to Rose's room, "I have to learn. I have to learn. I have to learn."

3'rd POV.

Mickey, holding a phone to his ear, looked around the Tyler's apartment in case Joy were to walk out from Rose's room.

"Hello?" he heard the familiar voice answer.

"Rose?" He walked into the kitchen, still glancing back just in case. "Put him on. It's urgent."

There was a slight wait on the other line before finally, the Doctor came on. "Hello?"

"Doctor, you might want to come around," Mickey looked straight ahead, "For once, I need you to take notice of her. It's Joy."

Joy's POV.

"Dammit Mickey," I muttered as I rushed down the school hallways, "Made me late for a stupid sandwich," I burst through my class doors, "Sorry for being late!"

"I'll have to speak to you about that, then," a familiar voice replied.

My eyes shot up, "Doctor?"

"Teacher," he pointed to my empty seat, "I assume you sit there?"

I looked at him for a moment and nodded, "Yeah..."

"Well, hurry up!" He smiled like an idiot then turned to the board. He had scribbled the word 'Physics' everywhere. "Did I say Physics?"

"Yes," I said serious, plopping down on my seat, "What's the lesson for today?"

"I was in the middle of asking a question, Miss Souza. Two identical strips of nylon are charged with static electricity and hung from a string so they can swing freely. What would happen if they were brought near each other?"

Super easy, I thought, but he picked Milo instead. "What's your name?"

"Milo."

"Milo! Off you go!"

"They'd repel each other because they have the same charge," he answered.

"Correctamundo! A word I have never used before and hopefully never will again," the Doctor leaned back on his desk, "Question two, open for anyone, I coil up a thin piece of micro wire and place it in a glass of water. Then I turn on the electricity and measure to see if the water's temperature is affected. My question is: How do I measure the electrical power going into the coil?"

"Measure the current and PDs in an ampmeter and a voltmeter," I answered, catching his eye.

"One for Miss Souza," he nodded, "True or False: The greater dampening of the system, the quicker it loses energy to its surroundings."

"False."

"What is a non-coding DNA?" He started moving up to my desk.

"DNA that doesn't code for a protein."

"65,983 time 5?"

"329,915."

"How do you travel faster than light?" He frowned, as if this was just wrong.

I tilted my head, staring right up at him, "By opening a quantum tunnel with an FTL factor of 36.7 recurring."

I awaited for another question but it never came.

I supposed the warm up was over.

~0~

French fries. That's what I wanted. French fries.

I grabbed a tray for lunch and went along the line, getting small portions of what ever they served. I blinked when I saw Rose behind, acting like a dinner lady. She stared but didn't say anything and I didn't make the effort either. I went along the rest of the line then sat at an empty table.

"Joycelin?" Darien came by. He was a friend from one of my basic classes, "Hello," he sat down across from me.

I smiled, "Hello."

"I heard you might be advancing to the higher classes again. Good job, Souza."

"Thanks," I bit down on a fry, "I do my best."

"I was thinking we'd celebrate. Mary and I want to invite you for some smoothies," he leaned forwards, "How about it?"

"No thanks, I've got to study. Have fun."

"C'mon," he reached for my hand, "We really want to take you out. Please?"

I stared into his blue eyes, "I don't know..."

"I'll pay for a double?"

In the end, I nodded, "Okay...but I have to be back to finish my study."

"Alright!"

"Fry?"

He shook his head, "Nah."

"Miss Souza, can I have a word with you?" the Doctor came by the table, acting properly for the first time.

"No," I replied.

"Miss Souza, it's important," he insisted, becoming serious.

"I'll see you later then," Darien stood up and walked off.

"Joy," the Doctor sat down, "What's going on?"

"You tell me," I shrugged, "I'm in school and you're posing as my Physics teacher."

"You're in school?" he raised an eye brow, "Why didn't I know this?"

"Because you never asked?" I snapped, looking away with irritation.

"I'm sorry," he said, realizing his fault...one of many, "I guess...I just never thought to ask."

"Yeah," I muttered, "What are you doing here? It's been months since you and Rose came by."

"I got a call..."

"You gets calls? Who would call you?"

"Does school make you meaner or...?"

I bit on another fry, "I get cranky when I don't eat, when I'm made late and an alien is posing as my teacher."

"Hm," he reached for my tray and grabbed a french fry. When he bit down, it didn't look like he liked it, "They taste somewhat...strange."

"They taste just fine. At my old school they served mystery meat. Do you know what that is?" He shook his head. "Neither do I," I grabbed another fry.

"Joy, those questions earlier...how did you know the answers?"

"I just did. You always say I'm clever. Why wouldn't I know them?"

"Well because..."

"Because you think I'm stupid," I spat, standing up.

"What!? No!" he jumped up to his feet.

"It's alright, I'm learning, and I'll keep learning to know new things and be as clever as you are!"

"Joy what's wrong with you?" he asked, sounding helpless.

"Miss Souza," Mr. Wagner, one of the teachers, walked up to us, "Milo has failed me. You will join my class now."

I smiled, "Thank you."

"Follow me," he gestured then walked.

"Joy, don't go," the Doctor grabbed my arm.

I glanced back, "Doctor, I have to go work now," I took my arm and followed Mr. Wagner.

As we walked down the hallway, we bumped into Mr. Finch and a brunette woman.

"Miss Souza?" Mr. Finch asked, "How well do you think the improvement to the school lunch was?"

"Good," I nodded, looking at the woman since I figured the question had been asked for her, "Very good. You should try the french fries."

"American," Mr. Finch explained, "She means chips."

"Yes, quite aware," the woman nodded, her eyes fixed on me, "What's your name?"

"Joy."

"And...do you feel like you're working too hard?"

"No. I'm working too little."

"But are you-"

"Excuse me, but we do have to go to class now," Mr. Wagner said.

I nodded, "See you around," I walked off.

~0~

"Joy, I've made your favorite," Jackie was placing plates of pasta on the table, "Do you think Rose and the Doctor will be eating with us?"

"Not sure," I said, reading a book.

"Mickey!" She called, "Mickey! Come and eat!"

Mickey walked out from the kitchen with a laptop in hand.

"Can I use my computer now?" I asked, "I need to do homework."

He stared as he placed the laptop on the living room table. The doors opened and in came Rose and the Doctor.

"Well, we've got a few things," the Doctor shut the door.

"So did I," Mickey said.

I looked up and found both staring at me. "What?" I asked, irritated with the silent stares. The Doctor walked up and snatched my book. "Hey!" I reached out but he raised the book up.

"It's for your good," he nodded.

"You're using your height against me," I frowned, "That's for homework."

"You can do homework later. Now go and eat."

"I'm not hungry."

"Joycelin, go and eat."

"Oh, you learned my full name now?" I snapped, "When the hell did that happen!?"

"I told him," Mickey stepped up.

"Huh, right, because that's the only way," I muttered, crossing my arms and looking down.

"Minnie," Mickey grabbed my hand, "Please, come and eat. You're not yourself and..."

"I don't need it!"

"Has she been acting like this for long?" Rose frowned, looking me over.

"I'd watch it Rose Tyler," I warned, "I just have to learn. I gotta learn."

"Then you should eat," Mickey walked me to the table, "Because you can't learn with an empty stomach. It's pasta, your favorite meal."

I sighed and sat down, looking at my plate with disgust. They didn't understand. I needed to learn and learn...I just needed to.

"I think we need to talk," the Doctor said, slowly sitting across with Rose beside him.

I didn't reply anymore, my eyes falling on my lap. I felt weird now...woozy. The feeling of learning seemed to decrease, but then my guilt started rising. The guilt that had started building up even more since I received the call.

I reached for the glass beside my plate, my arm trembling and spilling some of the drink. "I...I don't feel so good," I let go of the glass, startling everyone as it shattered on the floor.

"Joy!" Jackie exclaimed as I leaned back on my chair, nearly falling to the side. "Get her to the couch!"

Mickey and the Doctor helped me from my seat to the couch.

"Everything's..." I looked around, swallowing hard, "Everything's so...weird."

"What do you feel?" the Doctor questioned, "Tell me?"

"I look at things..." I took in a shaky deep breath, "And I know things...I'm not stupid, Doctor. I'm really not."

"Of course you're not," he put a hand over my shoulder, "But you realize now that there's something wrong with you? All that knowledge you know...you can't know. It's beyond human education."

I nodded, "Okay..."

There was a knock on the door and Jackie rushed to get it open. "Hello, Darien."

Mickey went by Jackie, "Sorry mate, Joy's sick. Think you can reschedule that date?"

I shut my eyes, "I'm a mess."

"We're going to figure this out." the Doctor assured, "Just watch us."

~0~

"I still say you should've stayed home," Mickey said. We walked along the school hallways in the plain dark. "You should rest."

"I'm fine now," I looked around, "Besides, if these people are doing something to my brain then I wanna know what it is."

"Well, we'll make sure to stop them."

"Good, because I don't know how long I'll last in a good condition. Tonight, I feel fine, but tomorrow is gonna be another day," I stopped by my phyisics class and opened the door, "Come in."

"What are we doing here?" Mickey asked.

"Well, this is where I suddenly become a know it all," I walked down the tables, "So this is the place where I should start looking."

The Doctor, Rose, Mickey, and I had snuck into the school via TARDIS to find out what exactly was going on with the students' sudden knowledge acceleration. I had practically forced the Doctor to take me with them. According to them, I should be in bed and resting. No way! Some aliens were messing with my head and I'd like a word with them. We all split up, and Mickey and I had gone to the physic's class, since that's where I seemed to know more than I should.

Mickey walked to the cupboards, "Maybe there's something in here," he opened them and out came dead rats inside pouches. I jumped when he shrieked.

"Mickey!" I rushed to him, "It's okay, they're only rats," I held one of the pouches up but that made him yell again. I giggled, very amused by his girlish yell. "Are you quite done now?"

The Doctor, Rose and a woman burst through door.

"It's okay!" I quickly exclaimed. "Just an accident." I waved one of the pouches.

"I was investigating..." Mickey said as the Doctor took one of the pouches from the floor, "I opened the cupboard and..."

"And you decided to scream," the Doctor stood up.

"It took me by surprise!"

"Like a little girl?" the Doctor raised an eye brow.

"It was dark!" Mickey snapped, "I was covered in rats!"

"Nine, maybe ten years old," the Doctor swayed his head, mocking poor Mickey, "I'm seeing pigtails, frilly skirt."

"Oi," I threw the pouch in my hand to the Doctor, "Stop it," I bit my down my chuckle. I walked up to the two, "He said it was dark and it was."

"Can we focus?" Rose snapped her fingers, "Does anyone notice anything strange about this? Rats in school?"

I shrugged, "Maybe we were gonna do a dissection soon."

"You're the student I spoke to earlier today," the woman I had forgotten for a moment spoke up. That's when I recognized her as the brunette from earlier. She seemed confused as she stared at me. "But you lied. I went through the student records. You're name's Min-"

"Hold on there," I raised my hands, stopping her before she said anything she wasn't supposed to, "Who are you?"

"Sarah Jane Smith," she held out her hand which I shook, "Journalist and old companion of his," she gestured to the Doctor.

"Really?" I asked, looking between the two, "Oh it's like a little reunion!"

"Can we focus?" Rose said, angry if I should add. "Rats in school?"

"Obviously they use them in Biology lessons," Sarah Jane shrugged, "They dissect them. Or, maybe you haven't reached that bit yet. How old are you?"

"Excuse me, no one dissects rats in school anymore. They haven't done that for years. Where are you from, the dark ages?" Rose glared.

My eyes widened slightly and I took steps away from the two. Clearly, they weren't getting along. I suspected it'd have something to do with Rose's jealousy that seemed to just pour from her glares and snaps.

"I think we should move on," I suggested.

"Agreed," the Doctor quickly rushed out of the room.

I don't think I've ever seen him run that fast. When we caught up with him, he had masked his fear of the women with a questionnaire for me.

"Joy, how long have you been going to this school?"

"About a year now."

"And how long has been Mr. Finch been here?"

"About a few months. Not a lot. But the changes he's made...Wow," I nodded, "Really good. I'm getting perfect scores now."

"And when have you ever gotten perfect scores?"

I frowned, "I told you I wasn't stupid, Doctor."

"I know, but c'mon, perfect scores every time?"

"...it's happened only these last couple of months," I admitted quietly, knowing very well I couldn't very well be THAT smart.

"Alright then, we should check his office," the Doctor nodded then turned to a new hallway.

"I don't mean to be rude or anything, but who exactly are you?" Rose asked Sarah Jane.

"Sarah Jane Smith. I said this already," she snapped.

"Do you mind if I call you Sarah?" I asked, making the two glance back, hoping it distract then from an oncoming arguement, "I've always liked that name."

She nodded, smiling warmly, "Sure."

"The Doctor's never mentioned you," Rose spat, making the argument return.

"Oh, I must have!" the Doctor put in a word, "Sarah Jane! Mention her all the time!"

"Hm, hold on..." Rose paused, "Oh wait, nope. Never did."

"Not even once?" Sarah Jane frowned, "He didn't mention me once?"

"Did he, Joy?" Rose glanced at me.

Instantly, I grew nervous. I wanted no part in this argument. "Well, I don't-"

"Look at that, she says no," Rose walked ahead of us all. Sarah Jane followed her, ready to continue this.

"The hostility is at its peak," I stared after them, frowning. I hadn't liked the way Rose pinned me in between them and much less how she answered for me, fueling Sarah Jane's irritation.

"Ho ho!" Mickey placed a hand over the Doctor's shoulder, "The missus and the ex. Welcome to every man's worst nightmare!"

That blew me. Mickey walked ahead as well.

"Mickey!" I exclaimed, "Wait-"

"Joy, stop them," the Doctor pulled me back, "I don't even know what's going on, just stop them."

I stared and saw he was genuinly scared. "That's what happens when you get around," I muttered, a teasing smile plastered on my face.

"What?" He demanded.

"Nothiiiing..." I walked ahead.

"Why do you keep doing that!?"

"Doing what?"

"Acting all mysterious and leaving me with a sense of a fault?"

I turned around, crossing my arms, "And have you realized the fault?"

He frowned, looking indignant of even having a fault, "No."

"Hm, well then I uses there's nothing to talk about here," I turned and continued walking, "And if you wanna end the ongoing feud between the women, I suggest you start by talking to Rose. Sarah Jane seems like a nice woman who shouldn't have to deal with a teenager's jealous remarks."

~0~

We arrived at Mr. Finch's office and the Doctor began sonicing the door. "Maybe those rats were food."

"Food for what?" I asked.

He opened the door and peered inside, "Joy, I think you might want to stay on the good side of your teachers."

"What? Why?" I pushed him aside and looked inside. I gasped when I saw...Bats? "What the-"

Mickey pulled me back, "No way are you coming back here!"

We immediately rushed out of the school into the parking lot.

"But those were teachers!" Rose exclaimed, "You have bats for teachers!" She looked at me.

"When Finch arrived, he brought with him seven new teachers, four dinner ladies and a nurse. Thirteen. Thirteen big, bat people," the Doctor shook his head, "I need the TARDIS. I've got to analyze that oil from the kitchen."

"You found oil?" I asked.

"I think I might be able to help with that," Sarah Jane started leading the Doctor towards her car, I assumed, "I've got something to show you!"

We followed them and joined them just as Sarah Jane was opening the trunk of her car. There was a tin dog inside which looked pretty lifeless.

"K9!" the Doctor exclaimed happily, "Rose Tyler, Mickey Smith, Joy Souza, I'd like you to meet K9," he gestured to the tin dog, "Well, K9 Mark III to be precise."

"Looks kind of disco..." I remarked.

"Oi!" the Doctor frowned, "In the year 5000 this was cutting edge!"

"Okay... but why is he lifeless?"

"Yeah, why is he?" the Doctor tilted his head.

"One day he just...stopped," Sarah Jane sighed.

"Why didn't you repair him?" I asked.

"It's not like getting parts for a mini-metro! Beside, the technology inside him could rewrite human science. I couldn't show him to anyone," she shrugged, gazing upon her tin dog sadly.

"Ooh, what's the nasty lady done to you? Eh?" the Doctor spoke ridiculously.

'Wow,' I mouthed.

"No offence but could ypu two just stop petting for a minute?" Rose snapped, "Never mind the tin dog! We're busy!"

I entered the Chip shop with a hot coffee in hand. The Doctor and Sarah Jane were sitting at a table working on their tin dog.

"You're not gonna be sleeping tonight," the Doctor warned as he worked.

"Haven't done so anyways," I walked past them and sat down with Rose and Mickey.

I hadn't been able to sleep since Finch had arrived and now I suspected it had to do with his new curriculum.

"No chips?" Mickey gestured to the ones Rose was practically shoving down her throat.

"Noo thanks..." I said slowly, "Are you alright Rose?"

"Fine. Just fine," she looked down and saw she was out of fries, "I need more chips," she stood up and walked towards the counter.

I sighed, "Mickey, I know this isn't any of my business but...what you said back at school...the one with 'the missus and the ex'...do you...do you realize what..." he began nodding his head. "But Mickey-"

"It's time to face reality, Joy," he shrugged, "It's not doing me well."

"I'm sorry," I frowned, "I really wish things hadn't turned out like that."

"Trick is, you haven't fallen in love yet," he sighed.

"Did you fall in love?" I frowned. If he had then it must be painful letting it all go, especially since neither had openly ended their relationship.

"No," he answered, a wave of relief washing over me, "I was talking about her. Minnie, for future references, don't fall in love."

I smiled, "I'm not going there. I want to travel."

"Like?"

"Well, London's definitely out. Maybe France? I'm still saving some money though. I want to finish school."

"Two more years," he reminded me of that lovely fact.

"If I hadn't fallen back so much with those six months, I would have a year left..." I frowned.

"Got more chips," Rose returned to her seat.

"You might want to slow down," I suggested very quietly, not wanting to upset her even more than she already was.

"Yeah," she said absently. She continued shoving them into her mouth. Mickey reached for some but she smacked his hand. "Get your own."

"Guess I will..." he made a face, standing up, "Be back."

"Rose," I reached for her box of fries.

"Am I pretty?" She blurted.

"What?" I blinked.

"Am I important?"

"Wait-"

"Will I be forgotten too?"

"Rose, slow down." I raised a hand, stopping any more ridiculous questions from being asked, "Here, maybe you should take this," I handed her my coffee and took away her fries.

She smiled dimly, "Sorry."

"No, don't worry," I reached for a french fry, "And to answer you questions: Yes...except for the last one. You're very pretty, you're very important and will never be forgotten."

"But, what if he won't even remember my name anymore?"

"Trust me, he'll remember you," I assured, "It's not like you're using a different name or anything..."

"Yeah..." She glanced at me, "Joy, there's this question that's been bugging me ever since you last came with us on the TARDIS."

"Shoot," I took another french fry.

"Who's Minerva?"

I coughed, choking on my fry. "Uh...I told you, a sister."

"But..."

"Rose, it's not important. It's really not."

"But it's not the first time I hear it. And besides, Mickey keeps calling you-"

"It's not important," I repeated, staring dead in her eyes.

She nodded and didn't say more, understanding the topic was off limits. Truth fully, she wasn't the person I wanted to tell my story to. At least not the first anyways.

"Rose, bring me the oil!" the Doctor called.

"Boss is calling," she muttered and took the oil to them.

I shook my head and followed, Mickey joining just as we heard K9 actually speaking!

"Confirmation of analysis: Krillitane Oil."

"They're Krillitanes," the Doctor's eyes widened.

"And that's bad?" I asked.

"Think of how bad things could possibly be and add another suitcase full of bad," the Doctor breathed, "It's very bad."

"Well, what are they?" Sarah asked.

"Composite race. Just like your culture is a mixture of traditions from all sorts of countries-people you've invaded or have been invaded by, you've got bits. The Krillitanes are the same. An amalgam of the races they've conquered. They take physical aspects of them. They cherry-pick the best bits from the people they destroy. That's why I didn't recognize them. The last time I saw them, they looked just like us except they had really long necks."

"Oh my god they're after us," I said quietly, placing a hand of my cheek, a bigger realization hitting me in the face, "After me."

"I will not let them get you," the Doctor assured, "No one."

"But they're already doing it! And I can't even feel it!"

"We'll stop them," he promised, serious, "I'm not letting my friends get hurt, do you hear me?"

"I need air," I muttered and walked out.

I thought being clever was supposed to get me out of trouble, not in.

A few minutes later, they walked out, Sarah Jane holding K9 and Mickey beside her. He walked over to me and held out his phone.

"What?" I asked.

"It's for you."

"If it's her, I don't really feel-"

"It's not," he smiled, "I think you'll like this one."

I looked from the phone and him, suspicious at his smile. It wasn't mom, that much I knew. I took the phone and walked a little to the side, just as Rose and the Doctor were exiting the shop.

"Hello?" I quietly answered.

"Minerva? Is that you?"

I gasped, throwing the phone on the ground. The wind made my hair cover my face for a moment and I thanked it for covering my terrified expression. I bit my lip, debating rashly whether I should grab the cellphone or not.

I started sniffling; I couldn't.

I just couldn't.

"Minnie?" Mickey called, "What's the matter?"

Everyone looking at me now only made me feel worse.

"I've disappointed her..." I muttered, feeling the same despair I had the last time she called, "I want to go home!"

"Joy, what's the matter?" Sarah stepped forwards.

"Don't," I shook my head, stopping anyone else from getting closer, "I want to go home now," I covered my face with my hands and let out a shaky breath, "I disappointed her. I've disappointed her."

~0~

"I've got to get class now," I quickly opened the door to Sarah's car and got out.

"Joy you're not seriously thinking of going back to their classes?" Sarah asked as she got out of her car as well.

"You should stay here, Rose suggested.

"I've got to go," I shook my head.

"Joy, please stay," the Doctor said, "I am asking you-"

"I can't, you can't understand. Any of you," I hurried into the school. "I have to learn. I have to learn. I have to learn," I mumbled as I walked down the hallways. I had a class already and I couldn't focus anymore. I needed something but I couldn't tell what it was.

"Hey Joy!" Darien joined up with me, holding a box of fries, "Want some?" I nodded, grabbing a handful of them and shoving them down my mouth. "Are you okay?" he looked me over, "You seem a bit frantic..."

"Haven't slept."

"I came by last night and Mrs. Tyler said you were sick."

"Sorry about that. I wasn't feeling well and-"

"No explanations needed," he raised a hand, "We can reschedule."

I smiled, "Thanks."

"Did you understand the physics homework? I'm an idiot when it comes to that."

I scoffed, "It's easy, Darien. A kindergartner could do it."

"We can't all be geniuses."

I smiled triumphantly, "I've learned a lot."

"Miss Souza?" Mr. Wagner walked up to us, "You are needed in the computer class. A new assignment has been created."

"Have to run," I said to Darien then walked to my class.

All pupils to class immediately. And would all member of staff congregate in the staff room.

Break never finishes this early. The students began bombarding me throughout the hallways. I had to hurry up and get into my own.

"Miss Souza, where have you been?" approached me once more, "Your class awaits," he led me into a computer lab where everyone had already taken their seats. I was brought up to the front of the class and sat down in front of the computer.

"Take your places," Mr. Wagner instructed.

"I have to learn," I whispered to myself. I was going to place my headphones on but I didn't. I started looking around and saw everyone typing at light speed. "What's going on?" I whispered, my eyes landing on the large screen at the front of the class.

"Why aren't you working?" Mr. Wagner demanded, walking over to my seat.

"I...I..." I looked around, my heart picking up each second, "I don't...what's going on?" I demanded, weakly.

"Souza," Mr. Finch entered the room. He stopped when he saw I wasn't working like the rest. "What the hell is going on? Why isn't she working?"

"I don't know," Wagner replied, fast, "She just isn't "

"Alright then, makes this easier," Finch grabbed my arm and yanked me out of the room.

"Where are you taking me?" I struggled to get free. "Let me go!"

"You are needed," He said, simply.

"It's Joy!" Sarah Jane exclaimed as we entered as new classroom.

"She may not be a child but she has the soul and brain that we need to conquer this universe. Always yearning to learn and learn. With the Paradigm solved, reality becomes clay in our hands. We can shape the universe and improve it." Finch said, grasping my arm tighter.

"Let her go!" The Doctor ordered. "Right now."

"I'm gonna need her, sadly for you. See, she's gonna help us crack this equation."

"The whole of creation with the face of Mr. Finch? Call me old fashioned, but I like things as they are," he stepped up, "I want her here, now."

"But think about it, Doctor, with a good leader..." Mr. Finch trailed off.

"What, by someone like you?"

"No...someone like you."

I saw the Doctor become quiet and thoughtful.

"The Paradigm gives us power, but you could give us wisdom. Become a God. At my side. Imagine what you could do? Think of civilizations you could save. Perganon, Monsoon, Assinta...your own people, Doctor. Standing tall. The Time Lords...reborn."

I knew nothing of the Doctor's past or his own kind but I could see his own yearn for them. "You can't be serious?"

"With this girl right here, a simple human, we can make the universe ours. You can save them," Finch continued, "And all your friends could be with you, throughout eternity. Young...fresh...never wither, never age...never die. Even this one could survive it all," he pulled me forwards, "So many goodbyes. How lonely you must be, Doctor. Join us."

"I could save everyone..." the Doctor began thinking even more.

"Yes."

"I could stop the war..." the Doctor whispered, looking to the side.

"Exactly, think about it? This one human could bring your entire people back. Every one of your friends could be back. All your friends would stay..."

The Doctor was seriously considering it and for a split second, I believed he'd give in and let them use me. "Doctor...are you mad?" I snapped angrily, "You'd let them take me?"

He seemed guilty once he had fully considered the idea. But he wouldn't say 'no' and that only angered me more.

"No, Doctor," Sarah stepped up, "The universe has to move forward. Pain and loss, they define us as much as happiness or love. Whether it's a world or a relationship...everything has its time and everything ends."

"Out!" the Doctor grabbed a chair and threw it towards a screen.

Sarah Jane grabbed my hand and pulled me away. "I'm gonna kill him!" I yelled.

"Try to understand," she said, calmly.

I rolled my eyes. How dare he consider such a thing? Was I so low on his list that he'd think of using me for his own benefits?

We ran inside the lab room and shut the door.

"Wait a minute; the oil," the Doctor smiled, "Krillitane life forms can't handle the oil! They've changed the physiology so often, event heir own oil is toxic to them! How much was there in the kitchens?"

"Barrels," Rose shrugged.

A pounding on the door begun, causing us to jump in place.

"We need to get to the kitchen. Mickey-"

"What now, hold the coats?" Mickey snapped.

"Get the children unplugged."

"Quickly, before he considers using them too," I snarled.

The Doctor frowned, "Joy-"

"No time to speak, Doctor," I said, moving for the fire alarm, "Gotta save people," I pulled down the lever and sounded the alarms.

We ran out into the hallways while the Krilliantines wailed in pain. Mickey and I ran towards the computer classes.

"Minnie, I'm pretty stupid and very not clever," Mickey said, looking around the room, "Any ideas?"

I looked around and saw many wires along the wall. It led to a socket with a plug inside. "The socket!" I pointed, running over, "We need to unplug it," I started pulling at it.

"I'm not the tin dog!" He exclaimed and ran beside me, helping me pull.

"What?" I glanced, amused at this sudden statement, "You are most certainly NOT a tin dog."

We pulled the plug and made sparks fly out from the socket and the computers turn off.

"Everyone get out now!" Mickey ordered the children.

Quickly, I jumped to my feet, "We did it!" I laughed.

"Minnie!" Mickey hugged me, "We did it!"

"Come on, we have to go!" I pulled us into the hallways.

All the children were crowding at the main entrance, trying to run outside.

"Guys!" I yelled, "Hurry up! Let's go!"

One by one, we got them all out.

"Is that everyone?" Mickey looked around.

"I think so," I nodded, "Now let's go!" We ran outside, pushing the other children as far away from the school as possible.

I saw Rose running towards us and the Doctor with Sarah Jane not too far behind. The school exploded and all the children burst into cheers.

"School is lovely, kids," I teased, beginning to laugh, "Should be so sad..."

"Rose!" Mickey exclaimed, giving her hug.

"You two are alright?" Rose pulled back, glancing at me.

I nodded. She smiled and gave me a hug.

"Joy?" the Doctor called.

I rolled my eyes, "I'm here, not used."

He walked up with Sarah beside him, "I'm sorry...really."

I looked at Sarah and she nodded. I sighed, "Why would you ever consider that? I know I'm not important but..."

"I'm very sorry, I let myself think about it and..." he sighed, staring down sadly, "I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry."

"What happened that could've made you ever consider it?" I asked, and his face immediately fell, "Got it, bad. Very bad."

"Please, forgive me."

"Am I that unimportant to you?" I frowned, the questioning burning inside my head for such a long time now.

"You are absolutely important!"

"Then why don't you show it?" My voice broke, the small pieces of frustration I had suppressed for so long beginning to spill. I wanted to yell and tell him to finally take a god-damn notice of me...but if I did, he'd only be sorry because I told him and not because he had realized it on his own. I didn't want that kind of apology, I didn't need that.

"Joy, you're important," he began but I rolled my eyes and looked away, "And you shouldn't depend on someone to show it because you know you are."

Oh I hated when he used words like that. Now, I just seemed desperate to get his attention.

"I know I'm important," I clarified, "But sometimes the actions that people take make you doubt it. Sometimes, Doctor, it doesn't hurt to be acknowledged."

He nodded, "Fair enough."

I knew he wouldn't understand anytime soon. Once again, I decided to just let it go...

Being angry wouldn't help me or anyone else. I had many things to be angry about and thinking of this particular situation made it seem so little in comparison to the others. Plus, looking at the Doctor's face made me see he truly was sorry.

And so I gave into his sad face, heaving a sigh, "Well, I probably should have listened too. If I had, I wouldn't have gotten myself into that situation. I should've stayed back here."

"Forgiven then?"

I nodded, "If I'm forgiven too."

He smiled and gave me a hug. Sarah Jane laughed, "There we go! Glad you're all good now!"

We pulled apart and smiled.

"Why'd you change all of a sudden?" The Doctor suddenly asked, becoming serious, "Since last night I noticed you were acting strange. Is something bothering you?"

I stared up, smiling dimly, "It doesn't matter."

~0~

I watched Sarah Jane enter the TARDIS with wide eyes. It was amusing how she was looking around; I understood now why the Doctor liked the bit of 'It's bigger on the inside'. If our faces looked even remotely like Sarah's, I'd love it too.

"Do you like it?" the Doctor asked her.

She turned around, "Yeah! I preferred it as it was but uh...yeah." She smiled.

"I love it," Rose smiled.

"Hey, you two?" Sarah looked at Rose and I. "What's 47 times 369?"

"17,343," I answered as Rose said, "No idea."

We looked at each other and laughed.

"She's just clever," Rose pointed at me.

Sarah smiled, "I see. You'll make a fine companion if you keep it up like that. I bet it ticks him off," she looked at the Doctor.

He looked away, rubbing the side of his neck.

"Anything you'd like to say, Doctor?" I raised an eye brow.

"Me? No...no..." he shrugged his shoulders, "No..."

"I believed so."

"But actually," he said, glancing to Sarah, "We were about to head off, but...you could come with us."

Sarah smiled but shook her head, "No...I don't think I can do this anymore," she replied quietly, "Besides, I've got a much bigger adventure ahead! Time I stopped waiting for you and found a life of my own!"

"Can I come?" Mickey suddenly asked.

We all turned to him, shocked. I noticed Rose wasn't that happy at the question.

"Not with you, I mean," he quickly clarified, "With you," he gestured to the Doctor, "Because, I'm not the tin dog and I wanna see what's out there."

"Oh go on, Doctor," Sarah nudged him, "Sarah Jane Smith. A Mickey Smith. You need a Smith on board!"

"Okay then, I could with a laugh," the Doctor shrugged.

Mickey glanced to Rose, "Rose, is that okay?"

"No, great. Why not?" She looked away.

I stared, slightly irritated at her response and attitude. "Well, I think it's great!"

"Well I better go," Sarah pointed, "Joy? Do you mind a minute?" I shrugged and followed her out the door.

"Anything you need?" I asked, stepping out into the park.

"Actually, that's what I'd like to know," she turned to face me, "The Doctor tells me you actually live here. Why?"

"Well..." I shrugged, "I don't..."

"Is it because of him and Rose?"

I looked up and nodded, "I don't hate it but...I don't want to be a third wheel. I feel uncomfortable because I know she flirts with him."

"Yes, but between you and me, I think it's a one way street," she leaned closer, her voice hushing down. "He's not there to her dismay."

I shrugged, "Well, the point stands, I don't wanna be there. He...he doesn't even notice me."

She sighed, "Yeah, I sort of took notice of that."

"It's not fun and I don't have the necessity to be there when clearly I'm not wanted."

"Oh but hold on, who said he doesn't want you?"

"Listen, you're not there, I know he-"

"He may not tell you, but he does need you. And, he does notice you, not a lot I'll admit, but he does. He talked wonders of you last night."

"He does?" I asked curiously, slightly perking up at the idea of him actually talking about me. "He did?"

"Mhm," she nodded, "You're in his mind, sweetie."

"It doesn't seem like it..."

She looked at me a moment, studying my face, "Honey, how old are you?"

I looked around, "It's not really-"

"Joy?"

I looked back to her, "17."

"Where are your parents?"

I looked down "...America."

"He doesn't know, does he?"

I shook my head, "He hasn't even gotten to know me. It's been a year for me and he still doesn't even know my name."

"Ah, now I get that too," she nodded, crossing her arms, "I knew I wasn't mistaken. I saw your record in school. Why the change of name?"

"...to escape people."

She tilted her head, alarmed, "What-what kind of people?"

I sighed, seeing no point in hiding it from her, "My own family."

"And he doesn't know about this?"

"Nope," I popped the 'p', "Not a clue. He doesn't bother to ask."

It seemed like her maternal instincts were kicking in by the look she was giving me. "Joy, if there's anything you ever need, please come to me. You can always count on me."

I smiled, "Thank you."

"And...I know I'm in no place to tell you this, but I will anyways. Try to be a bit more lenient with the Doctor. I know you don't know each other properly and I just want to tell you that he's been through a lot. A really painful past haunts him."

That took me by surprise. I was gonna ask what exactly it was but she spoke again.

"Can I give you some advice?" She asked and nodded. "Tell him how you feel. It's not fair being the ignored one. He should get to know you because I can tell you're wonderful and full of life...and very clever."

I chuckled lightly, "Thanks, Sarah."

"I'm serious," she grabbed my hand, "Because one day...he may not come back and he wouldn't even know what kind of friend he left behind."

I smiled softly, "Thank you," I hugged her.

"You know where to find me now," she pulled back, "You can always count on me."

"Thank you so much," I repeated again. The woman had known me for about two days and already she was acting better than my own mother. "You know something, Sarah Jane? You'd make a really good mother."

"Oh," she laughed, embarrassed.

"I mean it," I gave her another hug, "You'd be perfect."

I heard the TARDIS doors opening and looked back to find the Doctor. "Better leave," I said to Sarah then walked past him into the TARDIS. I entered and saw Rose and Mickey on very distinct parts of the console room.

"Minnie?" Mickey came up to me, "You don't mind me coming along, do you?"

"No, of course not! I think it's high time you see what's out there! It's incredible!" I exclaimed.

"I know what I said at Christmas but..."

I raised a hand, stopping him, "You don't need to apologize. I will be just fine here. Honestly, I think you deserve to see what's out there. The universe is just...magnificent."

He smiled for a moment then grew serious, "You're not coming, are you?"

I shook my head, "No."

"But you could keep me company."

"I'll leave that to those two. I think it's your turn now. The Doctor is no where near realizing how much he's ignoring me and I don't plan on telling him."

"You know that I get how hurt you are," he began and I nodded, "But sometimes I feel like this is more of a pride thing."

"Honestly, at times, it is. But for the most part, I just want to be noticed, you know. I'd like to know that I matter and that he sees I'm here and it's not just Rose he's traveling with."

"So come with us. Together, we'll make him see it."

I shook my head, "No. Apart from that, I think you and Rose need some time together as well. I really think you should both talk about your relationship. If Rose has feelings for the Doctor then the least she could do is have the guts to tell you it's over. And as for you, it's time to move on and say everything you feel to get your closing."

He smiled, "Such a mature young woman."

I laughed, "Oh shut up! I mean it!"

And I did. I believed Rose needed to sort herself out and for that, Mickey had to do something as well. I didn't want to be anywhere near that, honestly. Rose was a very emotional person at times and I felt like the farther away I was, the best. In one of those, she could get to me and make me tell her and the Doctor how I felt and that would only add to the problems.

Wow, all four of us were such a mess...

~0~

"There you are!" Jackie greeted us all with hugs.

"Came for some clothes!" Rose exclaimed.

"Go on. Anyone want a drink?"

"Actually, I've got to go and grab some clothes too," Mickey pointed back to the door, "Be back!" he rushed out.

"Is he...?" Jackie looked at the Doctor and I, "Is he really going?"

The Doctor nodded, "Surprised me."

"It is," Jackie nodded.

"I'll meet you all here in about 30 minutes," the Doctor said, reaching for the door knob, "I know how humans are with their clothes."

"You don't want anything?"

"No thanks," He said before walking out.

I walked to the couch and reached for my laptop.

"And what about you?"

"What about me?" I focused on my screen.

"Are you going with them?"

I sighed, staring into my screen but not typing anymore. Jackie walked over to the couch and took a seat across from me.

"Mickey told me who called," I looked down, slightly shaking my head, "How do you feel?"

"...I can't...it's...it's worse," I whispered, looking up, "Her voice...it sounded sweet...just like always."

"So then why didn't you take the call?"

"Because I can't," I gritted my teeth, "I just can't."

"You're so angry with yourself, Joy. It's not healthy."

"It's guilt," I corrected, "I'm guilty."

"But I don't even think she's angry with you."

"She has to be," I closed my laptop, "I know she'll never forgive me. I can't speak to her."

"I think you're being completely unfair to yourself."

I swallowed a lump in my throat, "I'm horrible," I shook my head.

"No you're not. If anything, you're absolutely wonderful! You've progressed so much in just a year!"

"You know, I think what affected me more than the other students was the fact that the Krillitanes' stupid toxins mixed up with my intense guilt and just...exploded. I'm guilty, Jackie. And she'll never forgive me unless I prove to her how intelligent I am and how much good I've done."

"Don't say that," she scolded lightly, "You've done very good. If I had a granddaughter like you, I'd be very proud."

"Thanks, Jackie," I opened my laptop again, wiping a loose tear off my face.

"I'll be in the room if you need me again, okay?"

I nodded. I knew I shouldn't do this but I felt the urge. I started watching videos of mine. The ones that showed the happy times I had in the past. No one would be back for a little while. Maybe it would help me...or not.

As I watched the videos, I started sniffling and feeling the tears stream down. I had only intended to watch just one but it became one after the other. I missed the pair so much and seeing how happy we were in the past made me miss it even more. I had to have my hand over my mouth to muffle down the sobs. I heard the door open so I made an effort to move fast and hide my little episode that was going on.

"Joy, are you okay?" the Doctor walked over to me.

I shut down my laptop and wiped my tears off, "Yup. Just fine. Rose said she was almost done and..." I stood up but he pushed me back down.

"What's really going on?" he looked down.

"It's not important," I looked away, "Really."

'Really? So the puffy, red eyes, the red face, and the tears means 'fine' for you?"

"Doctor, there's no point. It's just a girl thing."

"Oh, that was a low excuse," he sat down beside me, "And you know it. I'd like to help you-"

"But you can't," I snapped, "And I'm sorry you saw me like this but there's nothing left to do. Only I can fix it," I stood up, "And trust me, I'm working on it. So go and take Rose and Mickey somewhere fantastic please."

"You're not going are you?"

"I can't."

"Why?"

"Because my job and my school work can't be put off anymore. I'm growing up and I need some steady cash. I can't work if I don't have a degree," I quickly said, having practiced that line ever since the last time he and Rose had stopped by and insisted I accompany them on the TARDIS. Technically, it was true. I did have to think about the future. And while I did that, he'd have time to figure things out.

"I'm sorry I didn't know about your school. I don't know why I never asked," he sighed, "I guess...it just never occurred to me."

"Well, you should know I'm 17 then," I crossed my arms, too irritated with his ignorance to tell him 'it was okay', "One new fun fact."

"Joy, I'm really sorry."

"Yeah," I mumbled, "Anything else?"

"Huh?" He frowned, confused.

I sighed, still not there yet I see. "Never mind. Just take Mickey somewhere nice. Maybe to a new planet...or ...I don't know, just make it great."

He stared, "When you want to tell me, I'll be here. Just a note."

I let my 'serious' act drop, taken aback on his insistence on my earlier cries, "I...I don't need it."

"Is that something you keep telling yourself?"

"Huh?"

"You don't need help? You don't need my help? Or Mickey's? Jackie's?"

"Doctor...stop it," I stepped back, my emotions threatening to resurface again.

"It is, isn't it?" He stood up and took a step forwards. "You think it's fine and you'll fix it on your own? What do you have to fix, Joy? What have you done?"

"I didn't do anything!" I half-shouted, my eyes watering up as I recalled the last time I had said those words.

My mother blamed me...and I defended myself. Because, I hadn't done anything bad. It was her fault.

"Joy," he stepped closer, "It's alright. Whatever it is, I'm sure we can help you."

I shook my head, beginning to sniffle again, "No, it's too late for that. I'll work to fix what matters."

"And what matters to you?"

I looked up at him, swallowing hard as I forced with all my will to keep my tears inside. "F-forget about it..."

"No, don't give me that," he said softly, "What matters to you?"

"Just forget about it!" I exclaimed before bursting into sobs.

He let it go and pulled me for a hug, a tight and secure one. It was his fault I started crying again. I was quite used to keeping all my family issues inside, save for when Jackie or Mickey practically forced me to spill. I didn't want to say anything because I wanted the Doctor to know me first and not my family. I didn't want that look of pity or that shocked look people gave me in the beginning when I was too naive to realize I shouldn't talk about my past. But for the moment, he didn't seem to care what it was that made me cry so much. He just stood there, letting me stain his coat with tears while offering me one of the best hugs I had ever received.

~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~

Author's Note:

Oh! And a heads up, the next two chapters will be switched up. I tend not to follow the episode line-up at times because that's just not how I imagine it.

#10th doctor x oc #noblecrescentedit #oc: Minerva Souza #oc: Joy Souza #fic: next stop eveywhere #10th doctor imagines #10th doctor x original female character #doctor who imagines #doctor who #10th doctor #rose tyler

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saiilorstars · 4 years

Text

Next Stop, Everywhere

Fandom: Doctor Who

Pairing: Female OC x 10th Doctor

(OC Face claim: Victoria Camacho)

// Story Masterlist //

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Chapter 6: New, New Beginning

Chapter summary: The Doctor take Joy and Rose on their first trip after his regeneration. Of course, the Doctor never imagined a hospital would full of terrors, including the return of an old enemy who’s taken to inhabiting the bodies of his friends.

"It's the year five billion and twenty three. We're in the galaxy M87 and this is...New Earth," the Doctor announced once we had a beautiful view of a new planet in front of us.

"New Earth," I whispered, my eyes frantically gazing from one thing to another, "Oh my god..." I walked a few feet ahead, "This is amazing," I looked up to the flying vehicles above us.

"This is amazing," Rose remarked, "I'll never get used to this. Never. Different ground beneath my feet!"

A sweet scent, but a familiar one, caught my nose. I began sniffing and looked down. "I know that smell," I bent down.

"A different sky!" Rose continued, "And...what's that smell?"

"Apple grass," I answered, standing straight and turning back with a smile, "Sweet apple scent."

She didn't believe me and glanced to the Doctor. "Apple grass," He confirmed, nodding his head.

My smile grew sweet, "I knew it!"

"Don't you always?"

I shrugged, "I've yet to be wrong, so..."

"Oh, I love this!" Rose brought back his attention. "Can I just say..." She glanced to him, a great and big smile plastered on her face, "Travelling with you...I love it."

"That's not the only thing she loves," I rolled my eyes, turning away from them.

Usually, there'd be some company from Mickey but I realized it was just me now. I had tried really hard to get him to come but he said no even though I had begged and pleaded. He believed, apparently, that with the least possible number of people the Doctor took on, the more noticed I'd get. Between you and me, that sounded pretty sad. But I will admit that in the short while I'd entered the TARDIS, I had been noticed a little more by the Doctor. However, his attention seemed to wander back to Rose whenever she made a comment.

So here I am, as the third wheel again, with the Doctor and Rose.

While the Doctor and Rose laid on his coat on the grass, I went towards a funny building. I didn't stray too much of course, but I was drawn to it. All the flying cards going above would drive back and forth but nothing would stop by this building. It seemed odd...

"I bet my life's savings there's something wrong with you," I pointed to the building, as if it would make a comeback. I thought I heard something behind but when I glanced back I just saw grass. Still, I looked around but there was nothing. "And I'm never wrong..." I crossed my arms, glancing at the building again.

"What do you think?" the Doctor called as he and Rose joined me.

"Do you want to know the city's name?" Rose asked, looking rather amused.

"New New York," I replied nonchalantly, ending her source of amusement.

"How?" She almost frowned I dare say.

"Because she's clever," the Doctor pointed at me with a grin.

"Or, and I'm just saying," I looked up to the flying vehicles, "Someone shouted it from above," I smiled. The Doctor shook his head. "What? That wasn't my fault."

"We have a hospital to visit," He announced, pointing to the building behind me.

"What? What for?"

"He was summoned," Rose replied.

"By who?"

"Psychic paper. Shall we?" He extended his hand to me.

I looked between him and Rose. "Um...no," I turned around and started for the hospital.

"Joy?" He called but I kept walking, biting on my smile.

"Let's go Doctor!" I said, innocently, seeing it was bothering him.

~0~

We walked into the reception area of the hospital where cats were walking around. And they were dressed like nuns!

"Woah..." I blinked.

"There's no shop!" I heard the Doctor's whine. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "I like the little shop!"

"I thought this far in the future, they'd have cured everything," Rose said.

"That's impossible," I turned around, "You can't possibly cure everything."

"She's right," the Doctor nodded, "The human race moved on and so did the viruses. It's an ongoing war."

Another cat walked by, causing me to stare with a goofy smile on my face,"Neat..."

"They're cats," Rose pointed, shocked as they went along.

I followed a few cats walking by, going back and forth...I wanted a close up!

"Now don't stare," the Doctor told Rose, "And Joy, don't follow them."

My smile would not erase, "I can't help it. They're actual walking and talking cats," I tilted my head, "Cool."

"Well, at least you're taking it somewhat better," He muttered, "Rose! Think of what you look to them all...pink and yellow."

I followed another cat...

"JOY!" He yelled, scolding me as well.

"Sorry," I quickly turned back for them.

"Look, that's where I'd put the shop!" He pointed behind Rose. "Right there!"

I rolled my eyes, "What's with you and shops?" I followed after him.

"I like the shops," He said, defensively.

"You're allowed to point here and there but I can't do what I want?"

He walked into what looked like an elevator, "Uh, yes."

"So then why can't I follow them?" I started for another cat.

"Get back in here!" He snapped, pulling me into the elevator.

I frowned, "You know, these are the first kind I'm not allergic too. Let me have some fun."

"Ward 26!" he yelled, "What was that?" he looked down.

I sighed, "Nothing important, I guess."

" Hold on! Hold on!" We saw Rose rushing to join us but the doors closed too early.

"Oh, too late, we're going up!" the Doctor exclaimed.

"It's alright, there's another lift!"

"Ward 26!" the Doctor shouted down, "And watch out for the disinfectant!"

"The what?" I looked around, slightly afraid.

"Watch out for what?" Rose called back.

"The disinfectant!"

Commence stage one- disinfection.

There goes one of my ears. "Doctor, what exactly do you mean by-" I gasped loudly when an icy-cold water hit my face. "Crap, that's cold!" I shouted, blocking the remaining water from making contact with my face.

The Doctor remained perfectly calm about this and only smoothed out his hair.

When the water finally stopped, a freaking powder puffed into my face. I coughed out and fluttered my eyes open. "This...is-"

And the final straw happened: Strong wind smacked me upfront. All my hair stuck to my arms and face as the wind blew.

When the doors finally opened, I dashed out, "What the hell was that?" I demanded, pulling strands of hair off my face.

The Doctor smiled, "Procedure, nothing to worry about."

"It's stupid!" I snapped, removing the strands off my arms.

"Mind you, I'd say it's pretty good if it got all that hair of yours dried up in less than a minute," he gestured to my long, very-much-dried, hair.

I mock glared, "I'm sorry, would you like me to get it cut short for the next time?"

"C'mon," he pulled me towards another one of those cats, "And can you not follow more cats?"

"I don't know..."

"Hello," he greeted the cat.

"I am Sister Jatt."

"You have a name?" I blurted, receiving a thump on the arm by the Doctor, "Ow," I frowned, rubbing my arm.

"Sh," he put a finger to his lips.

I rolled my eyes and looked away. It seemed the only attention I received from him was reprimands. I'd rather not get noticed then!

The cat led us into Ward 26, where the Doctor, apparently, needed to go. Right now, the Doctor kept rambling on about the stupid shop again.

"Doctor, it's a hospital," I reminded, "No time for that."

"She is right," Sister Jatt nodded, "The hospital is a place of healing."

He frowned, "A shop does wonders for people, Joy."

We stopped in front of man who was fairly large and laid on a bed. It seemed his skin was turning into stone.

"Excuse me!" the lady beside him exclaimed, "Members of the public may only gaze upon the Duke of Manhattan with written permission from the Senate of New New York."

"That's Petrifold Regression, right?" the Doctor asked the man.

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

"Any statements made by the Duke of Manhattan may not be made public without official clearance," Again, the lady spoke.

"Frau Clovis!" the Duke gasped. She rushed to hold his hand. "I'm so weak!"

Frau Clovis glanced to us, angrily, "Sister Jatt! A little privacy please!"

"He'll be up and about in no time," Sister Jatt led us away.

"I doubt it. Petrifold Regression? He's turning to stone," the Doctor shook his head, "A cure for that won't be around for another...what? Thousand years?"

"Have faith in the sisterhood. Is there no one here you recognize?" She gestured to the dozens of patients. The Doctor looked around but didn't say anything. "It's rather unusual to visit without knowing the patient."

"No, I've found him..." the Doctor said, distracted all of a sudden, "Joy," he held out his hand for me.

Confused, I took it. I figured out his distraction when he led us to the Face of Boe. "Isn't he..." I pointed, "From the..."

Another cat stayed by our familiar patient. Sister Jatt nodded to her, "Novice Hame, can I leave these two visitors in your care?"

She nodded, "Yes."

"Oh, I think our friend got lost," the Doctor stopped Jatt before she left, "Rose Tyler. Could you ask at reception?"

"Certainly," Jatt said then left.

"I'm afraid the Face of Boe's asleep," Novice Hame said, "That's all he tends to do these days. Are you friends?"

"We met just once on Platform One," the Doctor answered, "What's wrong with him?"

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

"Of what?" I quickly asked, looking with horror at the poor face.

"Old age," She looked to him, "The one thing we can't cure. He's thousands of years old. Some people say millions. Although that's impossible."

"How do you know?" I challenged, a teasing smile growing on my face. "The universe can be very mysterious."

"I'm here," the Doctor knelt before the Face of Boe, "I look a bit different but it's me...it's the Doctor."

I sighed, watching the two have a strange conversation. I turned for the great, glass window beside us. I walked closer to it, staring out into the city. It did looked wonderful.

"You're not from around here, are you?" Novice Hame asked me.

I glanced back, "Is it that obvious?"

She smiled, nodding, "You've got that curiosity gleam in your eyes. The city is very big and full of wonders."

"I can bet," I stared out, smiling at the thoughts of the city.

"Joy, I'm terribly sorry," the Doctor stood up, "I meant to bring you somewhere incredible to thank you but..."

"What are you talking about?" I raised an eye brow, "This is incredible."

He didn't seem to believe me, "But it's-"

I stepped closer, "New planet. New aliens. Talking cats," I said in a hushed tone so Novice Hame wouldn't hear, "Oh yeah, this is incredible."

"But a hospital?" He raised an eye brow, clearly disbelieving my statement.

"Well, I've dabbled a little in the med-department. Short internship, don't ask me how I got it," I shook my head, chuckling at the memory of that day, "I get to learn more!"

"Keep that brain building up," He smiled and I nodded, "Good."

"You two are strange," Novice Hame remarked with amusement, "And you know the Face of Boe?"

"Is it hard to believe?" I asked, curious.

She smiled, "No..."

"Are we the only visitors?" the Doctor looked around.

"The rest of Boe-kind became extinct. He's the only one left. Legend says that the Face of Boe has watched the universe grow old."

"That must be a pretty cool job," I smiled.

"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."

"What does that mean?" the Doctor asked.

"It's just a story," Novice Hame shrugged.

"Could be true," I suggested, "Tell us the ending?"

Novice Hame smiled dimly, "Well, it's said he'll talk to the wanderers. To the man without a home guided by his moon spirit."

"Now there's something intriguing, don't you think Doctor?" I perked up, unlike him who just remained silent.

~0~

As I walked around the room of patients, the Doctor went to give Rose a call. I know he said not to follow anymore cats but it was impossible! I was highly allergic to cats and to not be sneezing like crazy.

My staring was cut off by a loud laughter. I looked around and found it belonged to The Duke from earlier. The Doctor was still talking so I went ahead and walked to the Duke's bed.

"Hello," I waved sheepishly.

He and his friend, Frau Clovis, were holding champagne glasses. "Little pink thing!" He exclaimed, "Look at me!"

"You're cured?" I raised an eye brow, confused.

"Indeed. Have a glass!"

Frau Clovis handed me a glass of champagne. "Any friendship expressed by the Duke of Manhattan doesn't constitute a form of legal contract."

I nodded and took the glass, "Cheers..." I said, slowly raising the glass.

"No you don't," the Doctor took my glass and handed it back to Clovis, "You're not allowed to drink."

"Who says?" I raised an eyebrow, knowing for a fact he didn't even know my age.

"I do," he declared, raising the glass high up thanks to his newly-acquired height, "It's all just a bunch of toxins."

"Oh, now you care," I muttered, rolling my eyes and turning back to the patient.

"What did you say?"

"And it's the man!" cried the Duke, ending out short fight, "You two are my good luck charms! Come in! Don't be shy!"

The Doctor smiled, tugging on his ear. He didn't seem all too happy about this new found recovery.

"Winch me up!" the Duke ordered. With a press of a button on a remote, the bed lurches forwards. "Look at me! No sign of infection!"

"Champagne, sir?" the waiter asked the Doctor.

"No thanks," the Doctor answered, handing him back my glass, "You had Petrifold Regression, right?"

"That being the operative word! Past tense! Completely cured!" the Duke rejoiced.

"But that's impossible," the Doctor said, refusing to show any joy.

"How was he cured?" I asked, curious, "I thought you said it would take another 1000 years for the cure to arise?"

"That was the idea. What's in that solution?" He walked to the pouch of blue liquid.

"A simple remedy," a new, older cat approached us.

"Then tell me what it is."

"I'm sorry, patient confidentiality. I don't believe we've met. My name is Matron Casp."

"I'm the Doctor."

"I'm Joy," I waved, sensing the growing tension between the two.

"Matron Casp!" Sister Jatt hurried towards us, "You're needed in intensive care!"

"If you would excuse me," Matron Casp nodded, "Have a good day."

"That was a bit odd," I said afterwards.

"Yeah..." the Doctor stared after Matron Casp.

He took out his glasses again and began examining each patient that had been miraculously cured.

I followed after him, "Still gonna wear those?"

"Aha," He nodded, carefully looking into one of the pouches, "Can you go see if Rose is close by? I'm beginning to get worried."

"Sure," I turned for the entrance. I was midway there when she finally came out from an elevator, "There you are!" I hurried to meet her. "The Doctor's been asking for you."

"Has he?" She asked, her voice oddly pitchy. "Well, better go tell him I'm here. Out of my way," She pushed past me.

I blinked, making a face, "Okay...?"

I looked back and saw the Doctor take her to one of the patients and explain the situation. I couldn't make it out but something wasn't right with her. Her voice was all...annoying. And, as ignored as I am sometimes, she was never rude to me.

"I need to see how they do this," the Doctor walked towards me.

"Look for a terminal," I crossed my arms, "Don't they usually keep all that info in?"

"Yes!" He pointed, excitedly, "Because, if they've got the best medicine in the world...then why's it such a secret?"

"I can't Adam and Eve it," Rose said, coming to join us.

Both the Doctor and I looked to her, confused. "What's...what's with the voice?" the Doctor was the first to ask.

"Oh, I don't know..." She smiled, and wickedly I dare say, "Just larking about New Earth...new me."

"Who says larking?" I whispered to myself. "Rose, are you-"

She held a finger to me, her smile gone and replaced by a mean glare, "Shut up."

"Excuse me?" I stepped up, the Doctor having to grab my arm and restrain me.

"Why don't you go and look for that terminal?" She looked me over like I was some poor, primitive thing.

"Doctor, you better knock some sense into her before I do," I snapped, shaking his hand off my arm.

Before I did anything rash, I walked for the elevators. What the hell had gotten into her? By chance, I happened to have found one of those terminals on the way.

"Doctor?" I called, "I think I found a-"

"Oi, what did I say?" Rose interrupted me. "Be quiet. We're a bit busy."

"What?" I snapped my head at her, "Rose!"

"Mmm, aren't you just..." She ignored me and stepped closer to the Doctor.

Without warning, she pulled his face to hers, slamming his lips against hers.

My eyes widened, and oddly enough, I found myself feeling sort of...mad? "Hmph!" I turned away.

"T-terminals this way..." I heard Rose say after what seemed like an eternity.

She walked off in the direction I had found the terminal in. I looked back to the Doctor and saw he was just staring after her, completely dazed. This was exactly why I didn't want to travel with them. I'd be even more cast off, and frankly if this was going to be Rose's new attitude she'd be better off with me far away from her before I'd hurt her.

The Doctor smoothed his hair back into place, "Woah...still got it," he walked a few steps then realized I still stood here, "Oh...Joy..."

"Hmph...no, please, don't mind me," I raised my hands, "I'm just gonna go follow more cats..." I spat, rolling my eyes. I walked towards the terminal and had to stop when I realized my attitude. What had just happened? I was angry, but exactly what of?

"Joy?" The Doctor caught up a few minutes later. "What's wrong?"

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stop thinking of what had happened. "Nothing. Completely fine. Let's go."

"But-"

"I said let's go," and I continued to walk.

~0~

"Nope, nothing odd," the Doctor concluded after reviewing the patients' details on the terminal.

"It's missing something else," I said, looking at the screen, "I heard something about Inten-"

"The cats," Rose cut me off, "They talked about Intensive Care. Where is it?"

I frowned. That was what I was going to say. She wasn't making this easier for me.

"You're right, well done," the Doctor nodded and got to work.

That was my being right, and my congratulations.

"Why would they hide a whole department?" Rose continued, "It's gotta be there somewhere. Search the sub-frame."

"What if it's locked?" The Doctor asked.

"Try the installation protocol."

"Yeah, course. Sorry," he used the screwdriver and somehow made the wall reveal a secret corridor.

Rose walked straight into it. I blinked incredulously; this was not the trip I expected...

We found ourselves gazing up on rows and rows and rows of green doors. The Doctor walked ahead and opened one of the doors with the screwdriver.

I gasped when a man that was covered in boils and surrounded with smoke stared at us. "Oh my god..." I clasped my hand over my mouth.

"What's wrong with him?" Rose asked, disgusted.

"I'm sorry," the Doctor breathed, slowly closing the door, "I'm so sorry."

I noticed Rose holding her nose while the Doctor went to the next door. "Rose?"

She glanced at me, looking me over, "What?"

I rolled my eyes, "Never mind," I pushed past her, "What kind of disease is it?" I stared at the woman behind the new opened door.

"All of them," the Doctor spat, "Every single disease in the galaxy, they've been infected with everything."

"Oh my god..." I said sadly, "I...I don't know what to say..."

"What about us?" Rose questioned, "Are we safe?"

"The air's sterile just don't touch them," the Doctor closed the door.

"How many patients are there?"

"They're not patients," the Doctor walked over to the railing, gazing upon the millions of doors.

"But they're sick."

"They were born sick," he snapped, "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," I walked along the doors, "How horrible."

"Why don't they just die?" Rose inquired.

"Plague carriers," the Doctor answered, "Last to go."

"It's for the greater cause," Novice Hame approached us.

"How could you agree to such a thing?" I rejoined them, "How?"

"The Sisterhood has sworn to help."

"By killing?" the Doctor shouted angrily.

"But they're not people. They're specially grown. They have no proper existence."

"What's the turnover?" the Doctor neared her, "Thousand a day? Thousand the next? Thousand the next? How many thousand? For how many years? How many?"

"Mankind needed us," Novice Hame remained calm, "They came to this planet with so many illnesses. We couldn't cope. We tried everything, believe me. All the results were just too slow."

"So you created a farm," I said, disgusted, "Say what you say, these are people." I pointed, to the doors, "Locked up and forced to carry every disease? This isn't a hospital."

"They're flesh," Novice Hame insisted, "That's all they are."

"No, they're alive," the Doctor corrected.

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

"I'd rather die," I declared, "Knowing that someone else was going to pay the price for my health? I'd rather die and I'm sure these people would agree. No one's live is worth over another's. No one."

"But who are you to decide that?" She raised an eye brow.

"Human, thank you very much," I spat, proudly, "I may not have any special skills or powers but I've got a secret weapon: a higher authority, the Doctor."

"Really?" He glanced at me, genuinely surprised.

I smiled, forgetting my former irritation with him, "You know it."

Even ignored, even reprimanded, I knew he'd always have my back. I knew I was still on the same level with Rose in that department.

"Yes. And if you don't like me then that's too bad because I'm as high as the authority gets," the Doctor stepped up.

"Um, excuse me," Rose pushed me to the side again, "Just to confirm this...none of the humans in the city actually know about this?"

Novice Hame shook her head, "No, we thought it best not-"

"Hold on," the Doctor cut in, "I can understand the bodies. I can understand your vows. But one thing I can't understand, what have you done to Rose?"

"I don't know what you mean..." Novice blinked.

"I am being very calm about this," the Doctor continued, "And the only reason I'm being so very, very calm is that the brain is a delicate thing. Whatever you've done to Rose's head, I want it reversed. NOW."

"We haven't done anything," Novice Hame insisted.

"You have," I nodded, finally finding the world at sense again, "She's incredibly rude now and I wanna knock her out..and I never wanna knock out Rose."

I decided to let go of Rose's attitude during the Doctor's regeneration for the better. She was just hurt the Doctor had left her, even though technically he hadn't. So she lashed out on whoever was close...me. Though I had let it go, it didn't mean I wouldn't knock her out if she did it again...fully conscious however.

"I am not," the blonde snapped.

"Yes, you are," I turned to her, "You've been fairly rude to me and I'm biting my own hand to keep me from knocking you out!"

"Darling, it's not my fault I'm so much better than you."

"Then again...why restrain myself if she's not," I balled up a fist.

"See? Another thing," the Doctor pointed, grabbing and keeping a tight restraint on me, "They never argue. And, Rose would care about these people dying. What have you done?"

"Oh alright, clever clogs," Rose rolled her eyes. She pushed me away and pulled the Doctor back to face her. "Smarty pants," she pulled out his tie, "Lady killer," she leaned closer.

"I'm gonna kill her," I said, bluntly.

"I knew something was going on in this hospital but I needed this body and your mind to find out what," Rose gestured to herself.

"Who are you?" the Doctor asked.

She smirked, leaning to his ear and whispered, "The Last Human."

"Oh god, the piece of scrap?" I raised an eye brow. She glared at me, but I didn't care. Instead, I let out a short laugh. "Ha! You're not Rose! The world makes sense again!"

"You annoying little brat," she spat, walking up to me, "Do you know how idiotic you are? I don't care how clever they say you are, you're nothing but a little-"

"Oi, leave her alone," the Doctor cut in, stepping between us, "You got a problem, it's with me."

"Go in and save the little girl, why don't you?" She whipped out a tube of perfume and sprayed it to his face. He fell to the ground, unconscious.

"Doctor!" I dropped beside him, "What did you do?" I looked up to Cassandra.

"Free sample?" She smiled sweetly then sprayed that thing on me as well.

~0~

I woke to yelling and yelling. I realized my arms had been forced to a rail with a type of wire.

"What's going on?" I woke up my senses.

"Oh, you've woken up," Cassandra pretended to pout, "I sprayed double."

"Where's the Doctor?" I looked around.

"Right here," she patted one of the cell doors, "Ready to become infected as well."

There was pounding on the other side of the door, "CASSANDRA!"

"Let him go," I reached out for the door.

"Uh, no?" She rolled her eyes, "Stupid one inside, clever one outside."

I paused to think about that. Obviously, I wasn't as smart as the Doctor, but I decided to mess with her for a moment.

"Wait, shouldn't it be the other way around? Clever one inside, stupid one outside?"

I watched in amusement as she realized her mistake.

"Shut up!" She exclaimed.

"Cassandra, just let Rose go!" The Doctor yelled again, "Please!"

"Oh, I will," assured Cassandra, "As soon as I've found someone younger and...less common, I'll junk her with the waste," She patted the door again, "It's showtime!"

"Cassandra," I called, "...Go into me."

She raised an eye brow, suddenly confused. I couldn't believe I was doing this...

"Go into me and leave Rose alone. I'm younger..." I swallowed hard, forcing myself up against the rail, "And...I'm richer," by the sudden gleam in her eye, I knew I had caught her attention, "I swear to god I am richer. I will give you my credit cards-they're old Earth cards with money in it basically-but you just let Rose be and come into-"

"Is that a deal?" She smiled wickedly.

I took in a deep breath and nodded, "A deal. And I always keep my end of it. Will you?"

"Definitely."

Next thing I knew, I was gasping for air, my head feeling like it would explode!

"Oh, younger body..." Cassandra remarked, placing my hands on my hips.

"Get your hands off me!" I snapped.

"How are you speaking? I'm in control!"

"...I'm clever."

"Very, I can see through your brain..." she paused, and I actually felt her own mind creeping into mine, seeing thoughts and feelings, "I can see everything. Oh...you're so lost, aren't you?"

"Quit talking Crap. I'm letting the Doctor go," I forced myself to walk a few steps. I noticed Rose was on the ground, unconscious. "Rose! Is she alright?"

"Yeah, fine. She's weak."

"Oi, that's a friend."

She scoffed, "Okay..."

"What are you doing?" Matron Casp demanded.

We turned and saw her and Jatt standing before us.

Cassandra took control of my speaking skills, "Straight to the point whiskers. I want money."

"The sisterhood is a charity. We don't give money. We only accept."

"The humans across the water pay you a fortune for all this and that's exactly what I need," she stepped us closer, "Perhaps a yacht would be nice too. In return for which, I shall tell the city nothing of this. Deal?"

"I'm afraid not," Casp declined. Jatt pressed a button from a remote.

"I advice you to really think about it."

"No need. I decline."

Cassandra frowned, she became restless in our body. "I will tell them!" She pointed, "And you can't stop me! Not exactly Nuns with guns. You're not even armed."

"We have claws. Much more effective," Casp showed us her paw with sharp and filed nails.

When she hissed I managed to make my body jump. Cassandra, remained still with no emotions to show. "Nice try." She spat and turned us to a strangely patterned man.

"Chip! Plan B!" He pulled down a lever, making every door of every cell open.

"What have you done?" The Doctor demanded as he rushed out the door. He looked down to Rose who was just waking up. "Where's Cassandra?" He helped Rose stand. "Where is she?" Rose shook her head, still groggy. "Joy?"

Cassandra shrugged my shoulders and made sure I wouldn't speak. She turned us around and ran off somewhere.

"Joy!" The Doctor yelled after me.

"Oh, you don't like that. Do you?" Cassandra asked. "That's not who you are..."

She was giving me the ability to speak again and so I took it, "Shut up."

"Min-"

"Shut up, piece of scrap!" I yelled.

"Why don't you say something?"

"Where are we going?" I demanded. "And who the hell is him?"

We ran down the stairs, with the strange Nan behind us.

"Oh, that's Chip, don't mind him. He's harmless," Cassandra waved him off.

"Joy! Hold on!" The Doctor continued to yell after us.

"He just won't give up!" Cassandra frowned.

"He's my friend. You think he won't question why I'm not speaking and running away from them?"

"Are you sure he's a friend? I see he's been awfully rude..."

"Not to be mean," I said instantly, dead serious, "His mind is just...occupied with something else."

The Doctor and Rose caught up with us at the cellar while we tried working the elevators.

"It's not gonna work!" I yelled.

But Cassandra kept working, "Shut up!"

"It's a Quarantine! Nothing's moving!"

She groaned, letting our hands drop everything, "Would you be quiet?"

"No, I will not be quiet."

"Cassandra?" the Doctor stepped forwards.

We turned around, both fairly annoyed at each other.

"Do you mind? I'm having an argument with a pessimistic brat," Cassandra crossed our arms.

"You took Joy's body?" His eyes widened with horror, "N-n-n-n-n-no. You get out of there, right now!"

"Sorry, but she made a deal," Cassandra smiled wickedly, "And a deal is a deal."

"Joy?" He frantically looked into my eyes, "Can you speak? Are you okay?"

The flesh got into the cellar and advanced towards us. "Gotta run," Cassandra waved a hand and dashed off.

"She's getting away!" Rose yelled, running after us.

"Mistress!" I heard Chip call.

"Oh no, he's gonna be infected!" I tried stopping but my feet wouldn't budge.

I wasn't in control anymore.

We ran into a new room where Cassandra pretty much knew her way around. I assumed this was her hiding place. We rushed to another door and opened it only to find more flesh.

"We're trapped!" We turned back around, "What are we gonna do?"

"Who's saying that? Joy or Cassandra?" Rose asked.

"You are going to leave that body," the Doctor angrily marched up to us, "That psychograft is banned on every civilized planet!" He pointed to a contraption across from us. "You're compressing Joy to death!"

"Finally you take some importance of her," She crossed our arms.

"What?" He asked, indignantly, "What does that even mean?"

Even if I wanted to speak, there wasn't much I could say at this point.

Cassandra leaned forwards, a big smirk plastered on her face, "You know, I may be evil but I'd never do what you're doing, Doctor. That's just cold."

He blinked, stepping back as he studied me from head to toe. I thought maybe he'd capture something Cassandra had said but I was severely disappointed by his next words. "Cassandra, get out! I don't care where the hell you go, but you get out of my friend RIGHT NOW!"

"I can't go anywhere else," Cassandra shook her head, "My original's skin is dead."

"That's not our problem," Rose stepped up, "You need to get out of her. It's horrible what you're doing!"

"Give her back," the Doctor said, dead quiet, pointing his screwdriver at us, "And I mean now."

I saw what she was gonna do next but I had no way to stop her. "You asked for it," she said.

I felt myself become free from her control. I stumbled a little, almost falling back and rubbed the side of my head. "Oh wow, my head..."

"Uh...Joy?" Rose quietly said. I glanced to her and saw she was looking at the Doctor.

"Oh my," the Doctor's eyes looked around, "This is...different."

"Cassandra?" I raised an eye brow, "Don't you dare..."

"Goodness me, I'm a man. Yum! So many parts! And hardly used..." the Doctor wiggled around like crazy.

"Oh my god..." I stared, utterly stupefied.

"Cassandra you get out of there!" Rose demanded.

"Two hearts! Oh baby! I'm beating out a samba!" Cassandra/He continued about with radical movements.

"Get out of him!" I yelled angrily.

"What do we do?" Rose ran a hand through her hair.

"Ooh, he's slim," Cassandra/He ran a hand down his body, "And a little bit foxy!" Cassandra/He glanced to us, "You've thought so too," he started walking up to Rose, "I've been inside your head..." Rose became slightly pinker, embarrassed, "You've been looking..." he leaned down to her, "And you like it!" I chuckled lightly, looking away. "Minerva, I saw you gave him a look too...something's going on in that little head of yours and you don't even know it."

I snapped my head back to him, "Hey!"

"Who's that?" Rose looked between us, confused.

"Sister," I spat, fairly angry with Casandra. Rose was going to continue her questioning but the doors burst open. "They've gotten in!"

"What the hell would the Doctor do?" Cassandra/The Doctor shouted.

"He'd get us out of here," I snapped, glaring, "Too bad he's not around!"

"There's a ladder!" Rose pointed, "C'mon!"

Cassandra/The Doctor shoved past us and got to the ladder first. "Out of my way!"

Rose climbed after him then I. We climbed up but saw there was no other way around.

We would be stuck...

"Cassandra, if you'd get out of the Doctor's body, he can think of something!" Rose yelled.

"Yap, yap, yap," Cassandra/The Doctor swayed his head, "Got, it was tedious inside your head. Hormone City."

I rolled my eyes, "We're gonna die if-" I yelled when something grabbed my ankle. I looked down and saw Matron Casp. "Get off me!" I kicked her head.

"All our good work! All that healing!" She cried.

"Get off!"

"Go and play with a ball of string," Cassandra/The Doctor muttered.

I kicked Casp's arm down and finally got free. And just in time because one of the flesh grabbed her ankle, making her break out in boils. She yelled in pain then fell off the ladder.

"They're coming!" I cried as the flesh advanced on us. "Cassandra!"

We moved up and up but when we finally reached the top, the doors sealed shut.

"Now what do we do?" Cassandra/The Doctor looked down.

"Use the screwdriver!" I yelled, looking down to see how far the flesh were off.

"You mean this thing?" She pulled it out.

"USE IT!" I yelled angrily.

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

"Because he's smart," Rose snapped, "The Doctor can open it! You'll have to come back to me!"

"No way," Cassandra/The Doctor shook his head, "Hormone City?"

"It's either that or die."

"Hold on tight," Cassandra then leaped into Rose again, "Chavtastic again. Open it!" She demanded from the Doctor.

"Not til you get out of her!" the Doctor pointed his screwdriver at her.

"We need the Doctor."

"I order you to leave her!" the Doctor shouted, "NOW."

I looked down and saw the flesh were much nearer now. "Doctor...might want to hurry," my voice trembled.

"And don't you dare jump into Joy," he added, "Now get out."

"I'm gonna regret this," her little cloud rushed down past me to one of the flesh, "Oh sweet Lord, I look disgusting," she frowned.

The Doctor then opened the elevator and jumped in. He pulled in Rose then me. When my feet hit the new floor, I felt something inside of me again and I gasped, nearly stumbling back.

"A deal's a deal, brat!" Cassandra said...with my mouth.

"That was your last warning, Cassandra!" the Doctor shut the door and turned to us, "Get out!"

"A deal's a deal, Doctor. Let her be a woman of her word," She scoffed, "If she's considered one yet."

If she wasn't in my body, I would've smacked her. The Doctor had no choice but to leave her within me for the moment. We returned to Ward 26 where we were greeted with hostility from the other patients who hadn't been infected just yet.

"We're clean!" the Doctor held up his hands, "Look, look! We're all clean! See?"

"If we had been infected, we would've been dead," I said, rolling my eyes. And yes, that one was me.

"What's the status?" the Doctor looked around.

"I think we're the only ones left," Frau Clovis said, sighing, "And I've been trying to override the quarantine," she raised her contraption in hand.

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

"I'm not dying in here!"

"We can't let a single particle of disease get out!" the Doctor raised his voice, "Ten million people in that city would be at risk! Turn that thing off!"

"Not if it gets me out," Clovis gritted her teeth.

I walked up to her, quietly snatched her contraption and threw it to the ground, stomping on it repeatedly with my foot.

"Cassandra!" Rose exclaimed.

"No, no...I'm pretty sure that one was Joy," the Doctor calmly said.

I smiled sweetly to Clovis then returned to my spot. "If I'm going to die, it will not be in vain."

"You will not die," the Doctor said, "Get me intravenous solutions for every single disease! Move it!"

"No need to shout," I muttered to him then rushed off to get what was needed.

As we gathered the ingredients, Rose was helping the Doctor tie a rope around his body.

"How's that? Will that do?" he asked as I handed him the last of the pouches.

"What are you going to do?" Rose questioned.

"Oh Rose, be a little smarter," Cassandra snapped.

"That one wasn't Joy!" I quickly said afterward but Rose still glared.

The Doctor had moved to the elevator doors, opening them up with the sonic.

"The lifts aren't working!" Cassandra exclaimed.

The Doctor looked down on the shaft, "They aren't moving which is entirely different," he looked back at us then walked to Rose and whispered something in her ear. The two looked to Cassandra and I for a moment then Rose nodded and took steps back. "You're coming with me," he grasped my arm, "And I apologize Joy."

"What are you doing?" Cassandra demanded.

"I can't leave you in a room full of City officials and powerful patients, now can I?"

"That's a bit rude, don't yah think?"

"Joy knows what I mean," he rolled his eyes.

"Does she? Does she really?"

He looked into my eyes, "Why isn't Joy speaking anymore?"

"Because, I'm in control now. No more Joy."

He stared for a moment, silent and dead serious, "I refuse."

If I could smile, I would have...

~0~

"Now you listen up," the Doctor exclaimed, "I'm dealing with a much less clever girl now so I'll dumb it down," Cassandra frowned, "When I say so, take hold of this lever," he gestured to it.

"But there's still a quarantine down there!" Cassandra cried, "We can't-"

"I said hold the lever!"

As he went into the elevator to do his work, Cassandra and I remained on top, silent...at least for a moment.

"Why do you travel with him? He barely acknowledges you."

Because he's a friend, I thought.

"That's not a friend," she scoffed, "And yes, I hear your thoughts."

You can't live forever, Cassandra, especially in this body. You'll die even quicker in me.

"Please, you've lived twice as much. I think I'll be fine."

I'm young.

"Okay..."

"Pull the lever!" the Doctor shouted.

Cassandra did the task on command.

Commence stage one: Disinfection.

I knew exactly what would happen; he's saved them once more.

"Pass it on!" the Doctor shouted happily, "C'mon!"

"Pass on what?" Cassandra demanded, confused.

You idiot.

"Shut it, brat," she spat. The Doctor pulled us into the elevator. "What did they pass on?" She asked him."Did you kill them?"

"That's how you do things," he walked out into the reception.

He's cured them.

"He cured them?" Cassandra repeated.

"I'm assuming Joy figured that out," he stared at the flesh and smiled, "I'm the Doctor and I cured them!"

My mouth opened but only noises came out. Cassandra shut it and frowned, "No! I'm in control. Remember that deal."

~0~

"The Face of Boe!" the Doctor rushed over to our old friend. Rose and I followed behind him. "You were supposed to be dying!" the Doctor smiled.

It was true, he did seem just healthy as in the Platform.

There are better things to do today. Dying can wait.

"Oh I hate telepathy," Cassandra rolled her eyes.

"Sh!" Rose snapped.

I have grown tired with the universe, Doctor, but you have taught me to look at it anew.

"There are legends you know," the Doctor knelt down before the Face of Boe, "Says you're millions of years old."

That would be impossible.

"You know, I got the impression...there was something you want to tell me..." the Doctor said quietly.

A great secret.

"So the legend says."

It can wait.

"Oh does it have to?" the Doctor pouted.

We shall meet again, Doctor, for the third time...for the last time...and the truth shall be told. Until that day...

And like that, he teleported away. A few seconds after, he stood up and turned around. "And now for you,' he pointed at Cassandra and I.

"Everything's happy. Everything's fine...just leave me," Cassandra stood straight, "She made a deal."

"I could care less what she did. What I'm saying, is leave that body," he stepped closer, "You have lived long enough."

"So has she!"

"Don't," he shook his head, "Get out now."

"I don't want to die!" Cassandra started crying.

I forced my mouth open, making a few attempts to speak myself.

"She wants to talk," Rose said, "Cassandra!"

"No," Cassandra gritted her teeth, "I don't want to die."

"Mistress!" Chip ran forth, "I kept myself safe! For you, mistress."

Her thoughts began racing through my mind and I felt so sorry for Chip.

"Cassandra, don't you dare," the Doctor warned, sensing her plan before it was even finished, "He's got a life of his own."

"But it's a volunteer," she said, eyeing the patterend man, "And so I shall take it!"

Before I could attempt to stop her, she leaped out of me and into Chip. I gasped for air again as I fell back, feeling quite free now.

"Oh!" the Doctor caught me just in time, "You alright?"

I blinked, "Y-yeah..." I swallowed hard and forced my eyes to wake up. I felt my legs give out once again and down I went.

"Woah!" the Doctor helped me once more, "You just want to hit that floor, don't you?"

I shook my head, all my thoughts and senses finally returning to normal. I looked up and smiled, "Hello," I waved.

He smiled back, "Hello."

I couldn't stop smiling, and I was a little confused to feel my face become warmer. Was I blushing? Oh my god...I was!

"You refused?" I questioned quietly, recalling his words.

"I don't give up on you. It'd be shameful if I did," he answered, his smile softening, "I'd be ashamed if I hadn't learned anything."

I raised an eyebrow, a little setback by his choice of words...a very familiar choice of words.

Rose coughed from the side and I realized she wanted us apart. I quickly removed myself from the Doctor's arms and cleared my throat. "Hi Rose," I waved, hoping my blush was gone. She faintly smiled and waved back.

"Oh sweet Lord, I'm a walking doodle," Cassandra said from Chip's body.

"Cassandra, that's not fair," I frowned.

"You made a deal with me," she marched herself to me, "And you lied!"

"I know what I said-"

"Then why didn't you keep it?"

"Why did you try killing us?" I countered, "I didn't lie, by the way, but I'm sure as hell not re-offering that deal."

She opened her mouth but instead fell forwards. I quickly helped her up, "Are you okay?"

"I think...I think I'm dying," she gasped lightly, "But...but I think that's okay."

The Doctor and Rose joined and helped support her. "I can take you to the city," the Doctor offered.

"No, everything's new on this planet," Cassandra looked around, "No place for Chip and me anymore. I think you're right Doctor, it's time to die."

"There's one last thing I can do, though," the Doctor announced, "C'mon."

We were brought into the TARDIS. At first, I didn't understand what the Doctor was trying to do. But then I saw the new surroundings and recognized a specific blonde woman; Cassandra. I smiled, content, and let his plan go into action. I can't say I was glad to see death right in front of me, but it was a part of life. I wouldn't escape from it anywhere. I watched Cassandra at her beginning and very last moments all in one. After that, I ordered the Doctor to take me right home.

~0~

"I'm really sorry Joy," the Doctor opened the doors of the TARDIS.

I felt the fresh air of my dear planet greet my face when I stepped out. I turned around and smiled, "Don't be. It was pretty fun."

"I was supposed to take you into the city. Thank you properly for-"

"I didn't want it," I reminded, "I was pretty happy. I've been an intern for a hospital once and seeing how an alien one worked is a very good opportunity to learn more."

He smiled softly, "Always trying to learn."

I nodded, "Life's pretty short for me so I better make the most of it. Say bye to Rose for me, will you?" I hugged him, "Thanks for taking me on board."

"You're more than welcome to stay with us and you know it," he quickly offered.

I pulled back and shook my head, "Now more than ever I need to stay."

For both my life's sake and theirs. I would not be a third wheel...

I saw he was slightly hurt and made me feel bad, "You know, I've got a job now. A real and proper one..."

"Yeah..."

"And I actually got another raise," I continued, hoping he'd see it wasn't his fault I didn't want to stay...even when a good chunk of it was. "I think maybe by the year's end I'll have enough to finally move out. And I'm even ahead on my sch-"

"I guess I'll see you later then," he looked up, "Because you know I will come back."

I didn't even take offence he had cut me off again. He always did that. "Yes, I'll come on board once in a while. Just like always."

He nodded, hugging me, "Take care then, Joy."

"You too," I said, pulling back. He turned for the box, opening its doors and moving to go inside. "Doctor, wait!"

He glanced back, confused yet obedient. "You...your words earlier...in the hospital," I became nervous for some reason but I had to know, "You talked about being ashamed if you hadn't learned, those...those were-"

"Your words," he finished, smiling as I nodded fast.

"How did you...I mean, you were asleep..."

"It's a bit fuzzy," he began to explain and so I became silent, ready to listen, "I remember some parts now. Your voice happened to come into mind a lot for some reason, though..."

"I talk a lot..." I admitted, making a face that made him laugh.

"You do, but that's a good thing!" He exclaimed, trying to make it seem like it really was fine. "But the thing that stuck most in my head was you not giving up on me. And...I don't know, but you sounded really upset for the most part of the day. What were you upset with?"

I swallowed hard, knowing this could be my chance to finally let everything out and make him realize his mistake. "Um..."

"I get you were upset with Rose, but I felt like there was something more," he eyed me while I tried gathering some words, "Just know that while part of that day is fuzzy, I will remember it sooner or later."

"...you will?" I raised an eyebrow, my heart beating faster when he nodded.

"Yes, so if there's anything on your mind...you should probably tell me now."

I contemplated on my choice, and realized when it'd be the perfect moment...the day he remembered my words and put them all into place. Then he'd figure it out and then I'd confirm them. But it'd all lay with him.

"Joy?"

"No," I spoke up, almost authoritative, "I will not tell you anything."

"What?" He frowned.

"It'll come back to you sooner or later," I shrugged, trying to play it off as something nonchalant.

"What will?"

"That'd be for you to figure out."

"Joy, why don't you just tell me?" He seemed to be getting agitated. "I know you and there's something-"

I'm sorry but I just had to scoff at that, only increasing his annoyance. "Doctor, I think you should just go."

"What's going on!?"

"You'll find out, or realize one day," I opened the doors of the TARDIS for him, "See you around."

He was fairly irritated but muttered a low 'bye' and walked inside the box. As the TARDIS de-materialized, I couldn't help feel that there should've been more insistence on why I refused to tell him anything. But I figured he just didn't care enough to continue questioning me. Still, I had to admit it did feel pretty nice to learn that he had heard me on Christmas and made him thoughtful on why I was so upset. Who knew, maybe that 'soon' was much sooner that I thought it'd be.

But for now, there might be a 'new' Doctor, but it sure as hell didn't seem like it just yet.

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saiilorstars · 4 years

Text

Next Stop, Everywhere

Fandom: Doctor Who

Pairing: Female OC x 10th Doctor

(OC Face claim: Victoria Camacho)

// Story Masterlist //

Chapter 5: A Christmas To Die For

Chapter summary: The next time Joy sees the Doctor, he’s crashing his TARDIS into the street and he’s not who he was before. It’s only when Rose explains to her and the others what happened that Joy (as well as Jackie and Mickey) can believe the Doctor has returned.

~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~

"Jackie!" I rushed inside to get rid of the cold prickling through my skin. I shut the doors behind me. "Guess what!? I got the raise!"

She hopped off the small stairs by the Christmas tree and rushed to hug me, "Oh, that's fantastic!"

We hugged and squealed in delight.

"She said yes because I had made quite the progress in some of their biggest experiments," I explained, laughing, "She might be a prune to people but to me she's been quite right."

"It's a Christmas miracle then!" she gestured to the newly decorated tree.

"Yes!" I went around it, "You did a good job. It's lovely! Oh, and Santa came!" I looked down to the presents underneath.

"Yes, he did," Jackie smiled, "And I think there's a present for you and Rose."

I glanced at her, smiling, "Thank you."

She opened her arms and I gave her another hug. As we did, we heard a sort of...wheezing sound? We both pulled back and remained quiet as the noise became more and more audible. Without a warning, not that it was needed, we dashed out of the apartment and down the stairs. On the street, we met up with Mickey.

"The TARDIS!" he exclaimed, pointing.

I nodded happily, "I know! They're back!"

"But...but where are they?" Jackie looked around.

All three began spinning around, frantically looking for the box of wonders. Suddenly, we saw it...crashing down against the sides of the buildings. Jackie screamed and held onto Mickey. I spun round and round, trying to keep up with the radical box. It crashed down in front of us, but finally came to a complete halt.

As soon as it did, a head peered out with a wide open grin. "Here we are!" it was a man, "London! Earth! The Solar System! We did it!" He stepped out in the Doctor's clothes.

I blinked, my mouth hanging open. Mickey and Jackie were right beside me, both silent like I was.

The strange man turned to us, as if just realizing we were there. "Joy! Jackie! Mickey!" he exclaimed, "Blimey! No, no, no, no, hold on," he stumbled backwards, "Wait there, I've got something to say. There was something I had to tell you," he paused, "What was it? Hold on...hold on..." he walked up and grouped us into a hug, "Now hold on, shush, shush, shush, shush, shush...OH!"

Us three jumped back in alarm. He, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to everything...and very excited for some reason. I glanced back at the TARDIS, wondering who the hell this was. Was there a third box? A third man with the a box like this? Oh, the Doctor just had to explain this to me now. He'd simply refuse to talk about the possible dual ownership of the boxes.

"I know!" The man grabbed my hand and pulled me against him, leaving me wide-eyed as I blinked, "Especially you. I haven't seen you in a long time! Blimey! Now... what was it I had to say? Ah yes, Merry Christmas!"

And then, he collapsed right in front of me...and right on me.

I stumbled back with this great, strange man on me, "Uh...a little help?" I tried pulling him to his feet.

Mickey and Jackie quickly pulled him off me and set him on the ground. Rose came out of the TARDIS and ran to us.

"What happened? Is he alright?" she asked.

"Rose, where the hell is the Doctor?" I demanded, "And who the hell is this?"

"That's the Doctor," she answered quietly, "Right there," she pointed.

I looked down to the strange man on the ground, "What?" I looked him over, "That is not my stupid alien with big ears."

"It is," She nodded, "Can can you help me get him up please?"

~0~

"I still say we should bring him to the hospital," Jackie remarked as Rose put a stethoscope to the 'Doctor's' chest.

"We can't. They'd lock him up and dissect him," Rose answered, "Oh good, both are working."

"What do you mean both?" I asked, confused.

"He's got two hearts."

"Two?"

"Yeah, don't you know?" she looked up.

I crossed my arms, severely irritated I had not been informed of this massive 'secret', "No..."

"Oh..." she removed the stethoscope from herself, "Must have slipped his mind."

Somehow, I doubt having two hearts could be easy to forget...

"But...this is him?" I pointed to the man on the bed, "This is the Doctor?" She nodded. "Rose..." my voice cracked, "What?"

"I'm sorry, but I just don't know," she stood up, frustrated, "If you can find out, by all means do it," she walked past me, "I need some air."

Jackie glanced at me, hopeful that I'd let her go off with her daughter. Like she even had to ask? "Just go," I sighed, looking back to the Doctor. She followed her out while I remained in the room.

I stared at him...terrified, but sad at the same time. Slowly, I walked round the room, my eyes always fixated on him. I took Rose's seat and stared and stared.

"You lied," I whispered, looking him up and down with such sadness, "You didn't come back. We didn't get to talk. But I should have known right? It's you and Rose...Joy's just the tag-along."

Suddenly, he opened his mouth and out came golden dust. I leaned back on my chair, eyes wide with shock.

"Rose?" I said, but really quiet. I figured I should go and get her, seeing as she knew him much better than I. I stood up from the chair and rushed out. I was going to bust into the kitchen but I saw Rose had red, puffy eyes. Quickly, I remained against the wall.

"The thing is, Mum...I thought I knew him..." Rose was saying, almost to tears I should add, "I thought me and him were..." I looked to the side, somewhat sad. "And then he goes and does this..." She sniffled.

"You fell in love, you idiot," I muttered then walked back to the Doctor, staring harshly at him, "I told you not to..." I walked up to him, "And don't you dare say I didn't because I did. You fell in love with her."

And even though I hadn't told him word for word of his growing feelings for Rose, I had made subtle comments when Rose made calls home and the Doctor had been passed on to me. But he was just such an...idiot? Oblivious? I don't know...

"Joy?" Rose's voice startled me.

I quickly turned around, "Sorry, yeah?"

"Do you mind staying here and um, watching him?" she pointed, "Mickey and I wanted to, um..."

Understanding, I nodded, "Go ahead. I'll stay here..."

She smiled, 'Thanks. My Mum's here too."

I nodded again. "Thanks..."

She walked out.

I sighed and turned back to the Doctor, "What's worse, she fell in love with you too."

~0~

"Are you really reading on Christmas?" Jackie came in with a tray of tea, "Come on and let's finish the tree."

"It's okay," I shook my head, taking one cup of tea, "I think I should stay here, and um, babysit."

"You know," she leaned by the doorway, "I don't think it's fair how he treats you."

I smiled, looking confused, "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," She nodded, "Honey, he doesn't even know you and much less what happened to you after he just dropped you off."

"I asked him to," I reminded quietly, not wanting the full blame to fall on him.

"Don't make any excuses," she scolded lightly, "My own daughter takes part in this and the only reason I don't say anything is because you've asked me not to. Why won't you just say something?"

I sighed, glancing at the sleeping alien, "He's just been...preoccupied. But he'll see what he's doing soon. Maybe this version of him won't be so oblivious."

"New version?" She raised an eyebrow.

I nodded, "I was reading on the Internet earlier and I managed to hack into UNIT where this man," I gestured to the alien, "Apparently worked in. Well, still works anyways...never quite resigned," I eyed him again, "And apparently, he has the ability to change his whole body to avoid death."

"That's bloody insane!"

"...that's...that's brilliant," I corrected softly, taking in the new features of the Doctor quickly, "I mean, for his species anyways. Humans wouldn't be able to control that kind of power; always cheat death. But he could, he's always noble and...generous. He'd never take advantage of that power."

"Well, let me know when he knows your name, alright?" She scoffed, shaking her head. "And why'd you even read about him?"

"Because I wanted to know how he did it," I explained, "And now I wanna know why he had to do it. Why was he going to die?"

"Oh Joy, this is what I'm talking about. He doesn't deserve your kindness."

"Jackie don't say that," I scolded, dead serious, "This man has saved my life countless times. He deserves that and more."

"What kind of hero saves the world out of habit yet continously hurts his friend?"

I sighed and moved my chair closer to the Doctor, "But he'll see what he's doing sooner or later."

"You have such hope..." she sighed, Well, when he wakes up, you give him a slap across that new face of his and get that soon sooner...and maybe give him that cup of tea too," She pointed to the tray on the table.

I chuckled, "Jackie Tyler..." I shook my head. My laugh was cut short by another wisp of golden dust coming out from the Doctor's mouth. "You're still weird." I declared then sighed. "But you'll realize soon enough what you're doing to me. I'm sure you will. You'll realize it all on your own then apologize. And I'll forgive you...I will forgive you in a heartbeat because I know you're not mean. And, I know you don't think I'm not important, I hope."

I admitted to myself that the reason I didn't want to tell the Doctor of his hurtful attitude towards me was because I wanted to see just how much his focus on Rose was. I wanted to see how far I'd be cast away on account of his feelings for the blonde. As hurtful as it was, I wanted to see if he cared for me like he cared for her, on a platonic level though. He'd never turn twice at me anyways. But I wanted to see if I was on his list of important people, right there with Rose.

~0~

I continued reading my book until I heard commotion coming from the living room. It sounded like Rose and Mickey were back.

A few minutes later, there were yells. I jumped up from my seat when the three entered the room in a rush. "What's going on?" I demanded, but received no answer.

Jackie and Mickey slid a wardrobe piece in front of the door. Rose rushed over and pushed me out of the way. "Doctor, wake up!" she shook him gently, "Doctor please..."

There was commotion on the other side of the door. Mickey and Jackie leaned against the furniture piece. Rose took out the Doctor's screwdriver from his jacket and placed it in his hand, but in vain. Suddenly, our Christmas tree burst through the doors, sending Mickey and Jackie to the ground.

"I'm gonna get killed by a Christmas tree!" Jackie cried.

Rose leaned down to the Doctor's ear, "Help me," she whispered.

I was much surprised to see him actually wake up and sit up. He pointed the screwdriver at the tree and made it explode.

"Remote control, but who's controlling it?" he got out of the bed.

I couldn't stop staring. I was just...dumbfounded. Maybe stupefied?

We followed him out to the balcony where he looked out to see three plastic Santas below, staring up at him.

"It's them," Mickey pointed, "What are they?"

"Shush!" Rose exclaimed.

The Doctor pointed the screwdriver at them and slowly they gathered up and disappeared.

"Can someone explain to me what the hell just happened?" I looked around, "Rose?"

"Pilot Fish," the Doctor said, coldly.

"Excuse me?"

"They were just Pilot Fish." He began coughing and suddenly, pushed himself against the wall in pain. We all hurried beside him.

"What's wrong?" Rose asked.

"You woke me up too soon," He answered in between his panting, "I'm still regenerating. I'm bursting with energy."

"Aren't you always?" I blurted. He looked at me with an amused smile.

He let out more golden dust from his mouth. "You see? The Pilot Fish could smell it from a million miles away. So they eliminate the defense, that'd be you lot, and they carry me off. They could run their batteries on me for a couple of year-" he groaned, forcing himself forwards. "My head!" he gritted his teeth, "I'm having a neuron imlosion. I need-"

"Yes, what do you need!?" cried Jackie frantically.

"I need-"

"Tell me!" Jackie said, "Say it, c'mon now!"

"I need-"

"Pain killers?"

"I need-"

"Do you need aspirin?"

"I-"

But Jackie would not let him finish.

"Codein? Paracetamol? Oh I don't know, Pepto Bismol?"

"I need-"

"Liquid paraffin? Vitamin C? D? E?"

"I need-"

"Is it food?" Jackie insisted. I sighed; it was only a matter of time before he snapped. "Or how about a nice bowl of soup?"

"I need you to shut up!" The Doctor exclaimed.

She frowned, "Well, you haven't changed that much."

He forced himself up against the wall, "We haven't got much time. If there's Pilot Fish then-" he took out an apple from his robe, "Why's there an apple in my dressing gown?"

"That's Howard's," I pointed.

"Who the hell is Howard?" he snapped. I looked to Jackie, letting her have that one. "Is he your boyfriend?" he asked.

I snapped my head at him, "What? No! I'm only-"

He suddenly shouted in pain again, collapsing to the ground. "Brain...collapsing..." Rose quickly rushed over to him, trying to help him back up. "The Pilot Fish..." he told her, "It means...that something...something..." he paused and took a deep breath, "Something's coming," He collapsed into Rose's lap.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. For the first time in my life, I admitted I needed someone's help. Too bad that this one time that I actually needed it, he was horribly sick.

~0~

We brought the Doctor back to bed and helped him, or Rose, I should say, helped him. Mickey passed by with the laptop, nodding to us then continued his way to the living room.

"Rose..." I stepped up, "If you want, I could help-"

"It's okay, I've got it," she cut me off.

"Right, but um, I actually know my way around the nurse fiel-"

"Look, I said I've got it," She glanced at me, slightly irritated.

I tried to keep myself contain as usual.

She was hurting. She was hurting. She was hurting.

I needed to remember that because otherwise I might pop. With a sigh, I turned on my heels then walked into the living room.

"Didn't go so well?" Mickey asked from his seat.

"Not really."

"I still say you should say something."

I took a seat beside him on the couch, "For what? To play the guilt card?"

"No, to let them know how you feel? You know you exist, right?"

I nodded, "I do."

"Well, let them know."

I smiled and shook my head, "Maybe later..."

~0~

"I found it," Mickey announced as Rose came out of the Doctor's room. She and Jackie crowded beside us. "They're scavengers like the Doctor said. Harmless. They're tiny but the point here is...the little fish swim alongside the big fish."

"You mean like sharks?" I asked.

He nodded, "Always on the point, Minnie." I smiled. "So, what the Doctor means is, we had them...now we get that," the shark on the screen snapped.

"Something is coming..." Rose repeated. The TV in front of us suddenly went static. "How close?"

"There's no way of telling but the Pilot Fish don't swim far from their daddy," Mickey said.

"So it's close?"

"Funny sort of rocks," Jackie looked to the TV.

"That's not rocks..." Rose shook her head.

"Coming live from the depths of space on Christmas morning."

An alien appeared on the TV screen, roaring out loud.

"I think it's here," I nodded slowly, my eyes fixated on the screen.

"What do we do now?" Mickey asked.

"Access UNIT," I ordered, "Access the accounts or files or something. But we have to know what's up there."

"How am I supposed to do that?" Mickey glanced at me.

"Because you can?" I raised an eye brow, "Because I did. Now do it."

"How do you know about UNIT?" Rose asked me while Mickey worked.

"The Doctor and I had some kind of a conversation," I shrugged, "You don't have the Doctor, resort to UNIT."

We waited for Mickey to access what I had ordered and when he did, we quickly looked into the laptop screen once again.

"There's a ship," he began, "It's big, it's fast, and it's on its way."

"It's coming for the Doctor," Rose whispered, sadly.

Four aliens of the same type that had been on the TV, appeared on screen. It was talking, no doubt, but what it was saying? Who knew.

"I don't understand what they're saying," Rose frowned, "The TARDIS translates alien languages inside my head all the time. Wherever I am."

"So why isn't it doing it now?" Mickey asked.

"...must be the Doctor." I said, quietly.

"Yeah," Rose agreed, nodding her head, "It's like he's part of the circuit, and he's..." her gaze fell to the ground, "He's broken."

~0~

Mickey continued doing his research and Rose was by the Doctor's side. Me? I only watched. Rose wouldn't let me help, and I know she didn't mean bad but it was getting annoying. I just wanted to help!

In the end, I did end up asleep on the ground. I was clever, but I couldn't do anything...

I was awakened by the sound of television. I fluttered my eyes opened and saw none of them were in the room anymore except for the Doctor and I. I stood up and walked out into the living room.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"We're done," Mickey looked at me, "No one to save us now."

I didn't get it at first, but then I saw Rose holding back her tears. Things had gotten worse overnight. I rubbed my face and groaned.

"I refuse," I spat, making them turn to me.

"What are you saying?" Rose asked, "They're asking for the Doctor and he's not here. We're just humans, we can't do it."

"I may be human and I may be non-special, but I refuse to hand over my life," I snapped, growing angry, probably more since it had been suppressed since she and the newest Doctor had arrived, "You've traveled with the Doctor much longer than I have. Shame on you for giving up! You don't do that, Rose. Ever. You don't ever give up," I turned back for the room and stared at the Doctor, "He taught us, and you should feel ashamed you didn't learn."

While Rose remained with her mother, crying and crying, I remained with the Doctor. I didn't believe I was quite ready to rejoin them. It was just so bothersome that she traveled much more with the Doctor and she didn't learn anything!

Suddenly, the windows smashed into pieces. I jumped up from my seat and looked around. I peered out through the broken window and saw a spaceship flying in the sky.

"Rose?" I called, deciding to let go of my annoyance for a moment. A few seconds later she ran inside.

"We're carrying him," she and I both said.

~0~

"So how exactly do you fly this thing?" Mickey walked around the console.

"No idea," Rose shook her head.

Jackie and I were setting the Doctor against the wall. "But he taught you," I reminded. I took the food Jackie had brought along with us.

"But it's been like...wiped out of my brain," She leaned against the console, "Is there a chance you know?"

I scoffed, "Please..." I set down a thermal canister beside us, "Might as well sit down for tea because we're not going anywhere."

"Solution to everything," Jackie nodded, "Now hold on, I'll go get the rest of it," she walked out.

Mickey went along the console, stopping in front of the computer screen. "How does this thing work? It picks up TV, maybe we could see what's going on out there. Maybe we've surrendered."

"I don't know, it sort of tunes itself," Rose snapped.

Mickey started pressing the buttons around it. There was a bleeping sound becoming audible for all to hear. "Maybe it's a distress signal," He suggested.

"Fat lot of good that's gonna do," Rose continued with her attitude.

"Misery all the time now?" I glanced at her, "Don't."

"Yes," she snapped, even throwing me a glare.

"May I suggest you go see what's taking Jackie so long?" I asked, gritting my teeth.

I understood she was hurting but that did not mean she could be rude to the rest of us. Now, I was not the fighting type but if she kept pressing my buttons, she'd get hurt very soon.

"I will," Rose muttered and walked to the doors. As soon as she opened them, she screamed!

"What the hell!?" I turned to her but saw she was pulled back.

I was going to dart for the door but Mickey shook his finger to me and rushed after her. When he did, I heard Rose yell to him. The doors became shut with a loud thud. I jumped up and rushed to them, going to open them but heard unfamiliar sounds from the other side. I realized I should stay inside and try to help from here. I ran back to the screen and tried playing something that would tell me where we were. I heard the familiar roars from the aliens. I looked to the doors, shocked.

We weren't on earth anymore.

"Oh we can't be..." I mumbled, stumbling back. My foot kicked the tea thermus and spilled it around the Doctor. "Oh, crap," I bent down but then sighed, "You know what," I stood up again, "What does it matter if you smell like tea? It'll be a step up from Howard's robe," I walked around the console.

"Think, think, think," I said out-loud, taking steps towards the doors then backwards repeatedly. "Joy, you don't give up. That's one good thing you got from your mother: you're stubborn. You're hot-headed. And you refuse," I nodded to myself, "And I refuse to die." A steaming noise made me turn around. I gasped when I saw the steam engulfing the Doctor's head. "Oh my god!" I clasped my hand over my mouth.

He inhaled deeply then let out more golden dust.

I looked around the console as it began lighting up. "Just like the desert..." I remembered the steam coming from the TARDIS. The screen even came to life and soon I heard Rose's and the alien's voices. I turned to it, forgetting about the Doctor momentarily. "How on earth did we move?" I muttered to myself. "Really?" I stopped, standing straight, "I'm in the middle of an alien invasion, in an alien spaceship, next to an unconscious alien, and that's my question?"

A tap on my shoulder made me scream and turn around. My eyes widened when I saw the Doctor standing right in front of me. My eyes flickered from him to the place he had just been on the ground, wondering how the hell he had managed to move so quietly.

"But...you...but..." I pointed between him and the ground. He remained silent as I continued my stuttering. "I don't...Rose..." I pointed back to the doors.

He tilted his head, staring intently, "I never noticed your eyes before."

And for some reason, they were wide as could be. I was both nervous, terrified, and just shocked. How am I supposed to be calm about this? Was there a way?

He carefully stared into my eyes, as if trying to figure something out, "Their color...are they...Jade?" He stepped closer.

"Uh...yes?" I moved to back away but remembered I was already against the console and therefore remained in place, swallowing hard at our sudden closeness.

He half-smiled, "I like them..."

"Th-thank you," my nervousness would not die down, "There's an alien invasion out there, just so you know. If you wanna stop it...that-that would be great."

"Oh, yes!" He looked up, realizing, "Let's go!" He grabbed my hand and yanked me towards the door.

"Woah!" I was brought to the doors in a snap.

"Don't just stand there, we've got visitors!" He exclaimed, noticing my abrupt stop.

I blinked, stepping back, "I'm scared," I said the first thing to come to mind.

"Hm, take a moment, then," He opened the door and walked out.

I watched after him, completely awestruck. This version seemed more...odd? I don't even know how to explain it. He seemed less worried of personal boundaries and more studious. I took a moment to gather myself then rushed out. I bumped into one of the aliens, causing me to yelp.

"Minnie!" Mickey exclaimed. I rushed over to them, keeping my head down.

One of the aliens tried attacking the Doctor with a staff. The Doctor simply snatched it and snapped it over his knee then threw it to the floor. "You just can't get the staff," He wagged a finger, "Now just wait, I'm busy," he turned to us.

"Mickey! Hello!" he exclaimed, giving a handshake. "Good to be back," he moved onto me, "Minnie?" He raised an eye brow, "We'll discuss that later. But thank you for leaving that tea on the ground. I won't be smelling like it just so you know..." He strolled off to Harriet Jones. "And Harriet Jones MP for Flydale North! Blimey, it's like 'This is your Life!" He moved to Rose. "And you, I've got a serious question to ask." Rose nodded, ready for such a thing. "Am. I...Ginger?"

I looked down, shaking my head. And he seemed just as stupid as the last version.

"No, you're just sort of brown..." Rose answered quietly, mimicking his new, big hair.

"Aw," he looked away, pouting, "I wanted to be ginger. I've never been ginger!" He turned back to her with a violent, pointing finger, "And you, Rose Tyler, fat lot of good you were- you gave up on me-oh," he paused, "That was rude. That's sort of man I am now? Rude," he thought about it, "Rude and not ginger."

"I'm sorry who is this?" Harriet asked, done with the man's rambles.

"I'm the Doctor," he turned.

"But what happened to my Doctor? Or is it a title that's just passed on?"

"I'm him. I'm literally him," he walked up to her, "Same man, new face. Well...new everything."

"But you can't be..."

"Harriet Jones, we were trapped in Downing Street and the only thing that scared you was the thought of your mother being on her own."

And with that, she stood dumbfounded. "Oh my god...it is you."

"Did you win the election?" he asked, smiling.

"Landslide majority."

"If I might interrupt!" the invading alien yelled.

"Yes, sorry big fella," the Doctor turned to them,

"Who exactly are you?"

"That's the question."

"I demand to know who you are!" the alien roared.

"I DON'T KNOW!" the Doctor imitated his roaring yell, "See, there's the thing," he continued calmly again, "I'm the Doctor but beyond that I...I just don't know. I literally do not know who I am. It's all untested," He started walking around, looking at each of us, "Am I funny? Am I sarcastic?" He stopped by Rose, "Sexy?" He winked then continued on his way.

"Forgot to ask if he was more deranged..." I said without thinking and earned a snicker from Mickey. I saw the Doctor throw me a glance. I quickly looked away, biting my own laugh down.

"Right old misery?" He continued his speech, "Life and soul? Right-handed? Left handed? A gambler? A fighter? A coward? A traitor? A liar? A nervous wreck? I mean, judging by the evidence, I've certainly got a gob," his smile turned wickedly insane when he saw the big red button at the top of stairs, "A great big threatening button!" He exclaimed, running up the stairs, "A great big threatening button which must not be pressed under any circumstances. Am I right?" He looked around. "Let me guess, it's some sort of control matrix? Hold on, what's feeding it?" He bent down and pulled open a door under the button. "And what have we got here? Blood?" He dipped his finger in a red liquid. "Yup, definitely human blood. A-Positive. With just a dash of iron. Blood control! Haven't seen blood control for years! You're controlling all the A-Positives! Which leaves us with a great big stinking problem...cause I really don't know who I am. I don't know when to stop. So if I see a Great Big Threatening Button Which Should Never Ever Be Pressed...then I just wanna do this," he pressed the button with all his might.

"No!" Rose and Harriet cried.

"You killed them!" A man yelled.

"What do you think, big fella?" the Doctor calmly turned to the alien, not at all worried by his action, "Are they dead?"

"We allow them to live," the alien announced.

"Allow?" the Doctor scoffed, "You've no choice! I mean, that's all blood control is! Cheap bit of voodoo! Scare the pants off you but that's as far as it goes. It's like hypnosis. You can hypnotize someone to walk like a chicken or sing like Elvis but you can't hypnotize them to death. Survival instinct's too strong."

"Blood control was just one form of conquest. I can summon the armada and take this world by force."

"You could do that, of course you could. Look at these people," the Doctor gestured to us, "These human beings. Consider their potential. From the day they arrive on the planet and blinking step into the sun. There is more..."

As he continued speaking, I started thinking of those words he was saying, sounding awfully familiar. Finally, it donned on me what they were. I cleared my throat, "Uh...Doctor?"

He quit talking and glanced back, "Joy? A little busy here," he gestured to the aliens.

"Yeah, sorry, but um...that's the Lion King," I pointed.

He blinked, "Is it?" I nodded, "Oh..." He turned back to the aliens, "Always right, this one," he shook his head, "Well, the point still stands. Leave them alone!"

"Or what?" the alien sneered.

"Or..." the Doctor grabbed a sword from one of the aliens around then rushed down the stairs, "I challenge you," he raised the sword in the air. The aliens began laughing at him, "Oh, that struck a chord, am I right that the sanctified rules of combat still apply?"

"You stand as this world's champion?" the alien walked down the stairs calmly and held out his sword.

The Doctor shrugged of his robe and chucked it to Rose. "Thank you. I've no idea who I am but you just summed me up. So, you accept my challenge? Or are you just a cranak pel casacree salvak?"

The alien hissed angrily, "For the planet?"

"For the planet."

And so they began their fight. I had to admit, I didn't like the idea of the Doctor with a sword. He was clumsy, that much I knew. And that was all I needed to become nervous. What if this version was even clumsier than before?

In one of those, the Doctor was thrown aside. He ignored the laugh from the alien and stood back up. He led the alien back up the stairs. "Bit of fresh air?" He asked before hitting a button and making a door open.

We quickly followed the two outside the ship. The alien was able to slightly get the Doctor on his nose. The Doctor groaned and shook his head. He saw Rose coming to him and quickly stopped her.

"Don't! Invalidate the challenge and he wins the planet," he warned.

"Rose, get back here," I quickly ordered, "I like my planet and I wanna keep it."

The pair clashed swords and the Doctor was sent back to the ground. The alien neared him and slashed at the Doctor's wrist. I gasped when his lower arm fell below. It was actually cut off.

"You cut my hand off!" the Doctor exclaimed.

"Yah! Sycorax!"

The Doctor got on his feet, "And now I know what sort of man I am. I'm lucky. Cause quite by chance, I'm still within the first fifteen hours of my regeneration cycle. Which means I've got just enough residual cellular energy...to do this," He held up what used to be his full arm and allowed us to see it regrow. He had his full arm back!

"Witchcraft," the Sycorax spat.

"Time Lord," the Doctor declared, dead serious.

"Doctor!" Rose cried and threw him a new sword.

"Oh, so I'm still the Doctor, then?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rose smiled, "No arguments from me!"

"Wanna know the best bit? This new hand..." he acquired a Texan accent, "It's a fightin' hand!" He ran to the Sycorax and clashed swords. He took opportunity and jabbed the sword into the alien's stomach. He repeated it twice more and sent it to the ground. "I win."

"Then kill me..." the Sycorax struggled to speak.

"I'll spare your life if you'll take this champion's command: leave this planet and never return. What do you say?"

"Yes."

The Doctor pointed the sword to the stomach of the alien, "Swear on the blood of your species."

"I swear."

"There we are, then!" he exclaimed, "Cheers big fella!" He let the sword go.

Harriet clapped, "Bravo!"

Rose rushed to him, "That says it all. Bravo!" She helped him into the robe again.

"Yeah, not bad for a man in his jim-jams," I chuckled as Mickey and I approached them.

"Hold on, what have I got in here?" He took out a satsuma from his pocket.

I smiled, "Howard."

"Quite the friend," he nodded. He gestured for us to start leaving.

"He's Jackie's friend," I corrected before he got any crazy ideas.

Mickey and I went ahead, with Harriet beside us. We weren't even midway through when I saw the satsuma hit a switch on the wall. The ground began to crumble and when we turned around we saw the alien the Doctor had fought tumble down.

"No second chances. I'm that sort of a man," the Doctor said coldly.

When the spaceship finally left the planet, we erupted in cheers. I watched Mickey and Rose hug and yell happily. Jackie and I hugged and laughed. The Doctor neared Harriet and started talking, although I couldn't exactly hear them.

"Minnie!" Mickey yelled, opening his arms for me. I rushed to give him a hug. "We did it!"

"Yeah we did!" I pulled back.

"So, are you gonna tell them now?" he asked in a quieter tone.

"It's Christmas," I reminded, "It's not important and you know it."

"It's not good to keep it in."

"But it's fine."

"Minnie Souza, don't you lie."

"Oh, stop it," I pushed him.

He chuckled, "Merry Christmas!"

Jackie and Rose called the Doctor forwards. I noticed a man coming up to Harriet and saying something quietly. I took a few steps forwards and heard just in time.

"It's a message from Torchwood. They say they're ready," he said to Harriet.

I blinked, "Wait, Torchwood-"

"Tell them to fire!" Harriet ordered.

"No!" I exclaimed, but it was too late.

"Fire at will," the man instructed through his earpiece.

I looked up and saw a beam of green light shooting up. Three more of them fired to become one massive attack. A few moments later, the crashing of the ship was heard.

"That was murder!" The Doctor marched towards Harriet.

"That was defense," Harriet corrected, "It's adapted from alien technology. A shop that fell to earth over ten years ago!"

"But they were leaving!"

"You said it yourself, it'd go back to the stars and tell the others about Earth," Harriet sighed, "I'm sorry, Doctor, but you're not here all the time. They were murdered. They died right in front of me while you were sleeping. We have to defend ourselves."

The Doctor looked her over with disgust, "Britain's Golden Age."

"It comes with a price."

"I gave them the wrong warning. I should've told them to run as fast as they can. Run and hide because the monsters are coming: the human race."

I had to admit, I took offense to that. But he was so angry I didn't dare make a remark.

"Those are the people I represent," Harriet stood calm, "I did it on their behalf."

"On their behalf?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow. He glanced at me and suddenly yanked me towards them. "Joy, would you have want this?"

"What?" I blinked, too rattled from his yank to understand.

"You're part of the people she represents. Would. You. Have. Wanted. This?" He gritted his teeth.

"N-no," I answered, looking between him and Harriet. I was a little scared by the way he was looking at me. "I don't believe it was necessary. They were leaving."

"But they would have killed you," Harriet reminded.

"We don't know that," I said, bluntly, "And we never will."

She wasn't at all happy with my response. "Hm, that's one little girl, not the entire population."

I frowned, "Oi, I'm not a little girl."

"Harriet Jones don't test me," the Doctor shook his head, "I'm a new man and I could bring down your government with a single word."

Harriet smiled warmly, "You're the most remarkable man I've ever met but I don't think you're quite capable of that."

"You're right...it'd only take six," He looked down at her.

"I highly doubt it."

"Six."

"Now stop it."

The Doctor stared for a few seconds before walking around her to the man who had given the orders. He whispered something in his ear then stood straight with a dim smile. He walked past them towards the rest. I looked between him and the now-alarmed Harriet Jones.

"Doctor, what did you say!?" She cried, "Doctor! What did you say!?"

But the Doctor continued walking without a word back.

"I'm sorry," Harriet said, much quieter now.

Gazing upon her like this made me feel pity. I rushed to catch up with the Doctor. "That was a bit rash don't you think? What did you say?" He looked down at me with a serious look. "Sorry I asked," I muttered and walked ahead.

~0~

"I still don't get why you eat turkey on Christmas," I chuckled as Mickey carved a turkey in the kitchen.

"I still don't get why you won't eat it," he imitated me, earning a whack from me.

"What did you eat back home?" Jackie asked, taking out glasses from the cupboard.

"Well...nothing really," I shrugged, "Whatever my parents brought on the way from work."

"Nothing?" Mickey raised an eye brow, "You're joking?"

I smiled, "Well...my grandma, she used to help bake these delicious snicker doodles on Christmas day."

"Why didn't you say so? I could've brought the mix!" Jackie exclaimed.

"It doesn't matter."

She tilted her head, wagging a finger at me, "You need to quit saying those words."

"Sorry," I said as she walked out.

Rose walked in and joined us, "How's the turkey coming along?"

"Want a slice?" Mickey held up a piece for her. She swatted his hand away. "Don't worry, this one's for Minnie," he glanced at me.

Rose smiled, confused, "Why do you..." She pointed between us, "...call her M-""

"Joy?" Jackie walked in, holding her cellphone in hand, "There's someone on the line..."

"Who?" I asked, almost not believing. It was Christmas!

"Work," she said serious.

"You found a job again?" Rose asked. I nodded. "Congrats!"

"Thanks," I glanced to Jackie, "But..."

"She doesn't sound too happy..." Jackie warned.

I sighed, "I'll be outside." I took her phone and walked for the door. "Hello?"

Her piercing yell made me hold out the phone. I walked out and leaned against the rail. "If you could calm down..."

But she kept yelling.

I became angry as well. My patience was running thin from today's events and the last thing I needed was a woman yelling at me over the phone.

"I don't have to explain my beliefs to you. That's not part of the job description. And pardon my language, but I am off the clock, who the hell do you think you are calling me on an Off Day otherwise known as Christmas to demand an explanation of my opinions? Quite frankly, I think she messed up and she's paying the price. You follow orders and so do I when I'm on the clock. And if you want to talk about my job on Monday, then by all means. But for now, Merry Christmas and a happy new year." I hung up and groaned in frustration. I took a moment to process what had just happened. I stood straight and sighed. "I think I just lost my job."

"Something the matter?" The Doctor's voice startled me.

Wearily, I glanced over. My eyes half-widened when I took in his new wardrobe. I looked him over, up and down, down and up...

"Joy?" He called again, slightly confused.

I blinked, "Oh..." I looked away, realizing my long stare and blushing.

"Are you okay?" He stepped closer.

"Uh...yeah, yeah," I kept looking away, "You changed..."

"Huh? Oh yes, yes! Do I look fine?"

I forced myself to give him a quick glance, "Just fine..."

That pleased him, according to a grin he now wore. "Did you say something about a job?"

"Um...yeah, I got a new job," I said, not so convinced after what I had just told the boss.

"You did? Oh that's great!"

I smiled, slowly able to look at him once more. "Yeah, it's great actually. Everything's actually great right now..." My smile grew bigger. It was as if I wanted to say everything fast because he was actually paying attention and I was afraid I'd quickly lose it.

"Is it?"

I nodded, "Yeah! I think I'll finally be able to save some money again. Hopefully..."

"Oh, that's great!" He hugged me. Taken aback, I lightly patted his back. "I also wanted to thank you..."

"For what?"

"Not giving up."

I stared, still not getting it.

"I heard what you told Rose while I was, uh..."

"Taking a nap?"

He playfully rolled his eyes, "Yes, taking a nap."

I smiled softly, "Well, I meant every last word of it. You taught us giving up should never be an option. I don't ever give up."

"No you do not," he agreed.

I chuckled while he smiled and stared in silence. What?" I asked, smiling nervously as a minute of silence had passed by and he hadn't stop.

His smile deepened, "Your eyes are really beautiful."

"Oh," I felt my face warm up, "Thank you..."

"Jade, right?"

I nodded.

"I've traveled for years and I've seen green eyes all the time, but that shade of Jade? You're the first."

"Well, I'm honored to be the first," I joked, not finding anything else I could say. "Jade is a difficult green shade to have," I moved for the door, as my face would not cool down. "Shall we go inside?"

"Yeah," he followed me in.

When we entered the house, everyone was already sat by the table with the food set in front of them.

"Minnie! I've got a cracker!" Mickey waved.

I smiled, walking to the seat between him and Jackie, "I've never used one."

"What?" He asked, genuinely shocked. "What kind of Christmas do you celebrate?"

I chuckled, "I already told you."

"Next Christmas, I'm buying the snicker doodle mix," Jackie announced.

"You don't have to," I shook my head.

"Oh, please, I can see right away that you would love to have one at this moment."

I smiled, sheepishly, "Well, my grandma always made them at Christmas and they were so irresistibly delicious I always devoured them. It became a tradition, actually. Each Christmas she'd bake those snicker doodles and sometimes I'd help her. But I always ate the left over batter afterwards."

"Rose used to do the same thing with chocolate chip cookies," Jackie threw her a glance.

Rose shrugged, nonchalantly, "They were good."

I placed Jackie's cellphone on the table and passed it to her, "Thanks."

"Doctor," Rose waved her own Christmas cracker.

He had taken the seat beside her and was more than ready to try it. Both pulled and even though the Doctor won, he gave it to her.

"This one's yours," He chuckled as he handed the pink party hat to her.

"Minnie, now you try one," Mickey held out a new one for us.

"Okay, but it better not be loud," I grabbed onto the cracker.

"1...2...3!" Mickey yelled and we pulled the cracker.

I yelped, shutting my eyes for a moment. "I told you!" I whacked Mickey's arm.

"In any case, you won," He held out the paper hat.

"I hate pink," I muttered, "Give me a red one instead," I took the hat and put it on, chuckling, "You better bow down."

"Look, it's Harriet Jones!" Rose pointed.

We turned back and saw the prime minister on the television. I noticed the Doctor placing on new, black and thick-rimmed glasses.

"Since when do you wear glasses?" I asked.

"Sh!" He fixed his gaze on the TV.

I rolled my eyes.

Prime Minister, is it true you're no longer fit to be in position?

Poor Harriet was being bombarded with so many reporters and their questions.

No. Now, can we talk about other things.

Harriet looked distressed as she tried keeping up.

Is is true you're unfit for office?

Look, there is nothing wrong with my health! I don't know where these stories are coming from! And a vote of no confidence... is completely unjustified.

Jackie's cellphone went off in the midst of the commotion. Harriet could barely keep up. I truly felt sorry for her.

"What did you do?" I turned back to the Doctor.

He looked at me through those new glasses, emotionless. I grew irritated with his silent answers, if they could be considered answers. I was going to repeat the question when Jackie tugged on my arm.

"Joy, it's for you," she said, holding out the phone,

"If it's them again tell them I'm-"

"No," she shook her head. I noticed by her reserved attitude that it was someone completely different.

"Who is it then?"

She looked around before answering. She shook her head, "Here..."

I wouldn't take the phone. "I want to know who it is."

"Joy...it's your..." she bit her lip. I gestured I was waiting for her to finish. "Honey, just take it." She grabbed my hand and placed the phone.

I looked at her, strangely. I raised the phone to my ear, "Hello?"

"Sweetie, thank god you're alright!"

My eyes widened and I threw the phone to the table.

"Minnie what is it!?" Mickey quickly reached for me.

My eyes frantically looked around the table while my brain registered the voice on the phone.

"Is she alright?" I heard Rose question.

"Joy, who was it?" the Doctor asked.

"No one important," I whispered.

"Honey," Jackie reached for the phone, "Take the call."

I shook my head, "No."

"But it sounded like she was worried. Take the call. It's Christmas."

I looked to her, biting my anger down. "No."

She sighed. Mickey reached for the phone and scooted closer, "Minnie, take the call. It'll do good for both of you," I remained silent and didn't move. He sighed, "You're being stubborn. Don't be stubborn on Christmas. Take the call."

I stared at the phone, my eyes threatening to spill tears. For that matter, I took the phone and stood up, "I'll be outside," I announced quietly and went out.

With a trembling arm, I raised the cell phone to my ear again. "H-hello?"

"Joycelyn, is that you?"

I laughed, sarcastically, "Huh, you dare ask? What are you doing? What time is it? Isn't it pretty early over there? And the most important question of all, how did you get this number?"

"We're 8 hours behind, not a day. And...an important man helped. "

'Right..." I muttered, rolling my eyes, "...and who the hell is the man?"

"I just wanted to call. Your father and I were worried sick over you. Are you alright? Were you hurt?"

"If you're referring to the alien attack, then you can rest assure I am fine. You can go back to work," I looked out into the view from the rail.

"Why don't you come back? We'd love to have you again."

"Which one of you would I be seeing?"

"Don't snap young lady. I'm your-"

"Yeah, my mother," I rolled my eyes, "I know."

She sighed, "What's the necessity of you living in a girl's bedroom with people you don't even know? You have your perfectly, large room here with everything you could possibly want."

"I do know them. They know me better than anyone else. And I stay because for once, I'm actually steady with a job. I haven't traveled anymore because I found a place I actually love. You wouldn't believe it, Mom. I found this job that is just perfect and all I do is-"

"Why work? There's no need for you. Come back, you're just a little-"

"If this is why you called, then we can end it here," I said, coldly, "It's not the night for it."

She sighed again and for a moment, I believed she hung up on me. It wouldn't be the first time. "...Merry Christmas, sweetie. I love you."

I shut my eyes and sniffed very deeply, "...Merry Christmas, Mom."

I can't believe she called. That was a Christmas miracle. I loved her, I really did , but...

I placed a hand over my mouth to muffle my sobbing. Something white caught my eye and made me look up. It was snowing. Slowly, I lowered my hand and walked forth to the railing. It had begun snowing and people were already hurrying outside.

Maybe this was a sweet gesture from the stars to make me stop my sobs. I hurried down the stairs, but not before yelling for the others. I hopped onto the mushy, white ground. I laughed in delight as the snow started hitting my face and wetting my hair. I held out my hand and caught snow.

"Got you!" Mickey jumped on me from behind.

I yelled shortly then laughed, "Not cool!" I turned around, frowning.

"So, how'd it go?" he gestured to the phone in my hand.

I sighed, "She was worried. The aliens freaked her out. For the first time, she gave a crap about her last child."

"And the only," he corrected, "Therefore, of course she'd call."

"Yeah, but it didn't get us through a breakthrough. She wants me to come back and be what I used to be. Never." I crossed my arms. I noticed the Doctor and Rose coming forth with Jackie a few feet behind. I looked up to the sky and saw what looked like meteors falling through. "Look!" I pointed, "Meteors!"

"They're not meteors," the Doctor corrected, oddly (for him anyways) quiet.

"What is it?" Rose asked curiously, also looking up.

"This isn't snow. It's ash."

"Not so beautiful anymore..." she muttered.

"This is a brand new planet Earth. No denying the existence of aliens now- everyone saw it," the Doctor looked up, "Everything's new."

"Oh...and what about you?" Rose asked, suddenly growing quieter as well. "What are you gonna do next?" She maintained her look on Mickey and I, like she was avoiding him.

"Well...back in the TARDIS...same old life," the Doctor answer, not very spirited if you asked me.

"On...on your own?" Rose bit her nail.

"Why, don't you wanna come?" He looked down to her.

"Well...yeah..." she finally looked at him, nervously.

"Really? I just thought...'cause I changed..."

"Well I thought...'cause you changed...you might not want me anymore," Rose dimly smiled.

"Oh I'd love you to come!" He finally showed some excitement.

"Okay!"

Mickey and I glanced at each other, amused, then rolled our eyes. I walked over to Jackie and held out her phone. "Thank you."

She smiled warmly, "How'd it go?"

I sighed, looking around, "You know...mother calls, mother says a few things, mother hangs up." I paused, "Joy remains Joy."

She tilted her head, "It sounded like she was really worried."

"Yeah, I don't doubt that. But I don't think she wants me home for that reason; to be safe. And I can't go back like that."

"Be honest with yourself, do you ever plan on going home?"

The thought of it sent a short tremble through my body. I shook my head, forcing very hard to keep all my tears inside my eyes. "No..."

She tilted her head, "Not on Christmas you don't," She wiped a tear off my cheek.

I smiled, "You know what?" I looked at her and Mickey, "I'm gonna show you how I celebrated Christmas once upon a time!"

They glanced at each other, surprised. They gave each other a nod then turned to me with smiles.

"Really?" Mickey raised an eye brow.

I nodded, "Well, the way grandma and I celebrated it anyways. I'm thinking," I put a finger to my cheek as I thought, taking a step back, "A really good movie. Oh! Like the Breakfast Club! With some hot chocolate!"

"Should I run and get the snicker doodle mix then?" Jackie pointed, "I'm sure there's one store open around here."

I laughed and shook my head, not wanting her to go through the trouble. I looked at her and Mickey for a good moment and sighed with content. I thought Christmas this year would be a joke and plain bad but I was so wrong. Never did I believe in my years of traveling that I'd ever spend Christmas with people I could call family.

"Joy?" the Doctor called, cutting my thoughts short. I turned around to him and Rose. "I want you to come with us," he stepped forwards.

"Where?" I raised an eye brow.

"Anywhere," He shrugged, "Still haven't figured that part out yet. But I'd like you to come with us," he gestured to Rose.

"Why?" I asked, wearily. The thought of being a third wheel made me so tired. I didn't want to be a third wheel...

"It's my thank you," he stuffed his hands in his pockets, "Because if it wasn't for your cleverness and your clumsiness, everyone would have probably died tonight."

"It wasn't me," I said flatly, "Rose brought you here and Jackie made the tea."

"Joy," he walked up to me and looked down with a new serious face, "Please. Let me thank you."

I looked up, remaining silent. I knew it drove him crazy which is probably why I took a little longer. A little pay back here and there wouldn't hurt anyone. "Okay..."

He smiled brightly, and hugged me, "Brilliant! We'll have fun, that much I promise!"

I chuckled, "With you it's bound to happen some way or another."

I would only travel one trip. No more. I still didn't want to be a third wheel. I guess I was also hoping he'd actually acknowledge my existence since this was a trip to thank me.

#noblecrescentedit #10th doctor x oc #oc: Joy Souza #oc: Minerva Souza #10th doctor imagines #doctor who imagines #10th doctor x original female character #doctor who #10th doctor #rose tyler #mickey smith

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