sadhappygirl: Thank you so much! Me neither, haha! Yes, I like Grem living much better, too. I'm glad you liked him. I like him, too. Wow, just thank you! I haven't yet made a decision about what my next story will be, or even if I plan to write one. I'd like to, though, for sure. It was my pleasure and thank you so much!

Nos: Haha, wow thank you! I spent hours trying to figure out how to put together that last battle (I couldn't figure out how to kill Akdevor, haha) and it finally clicked. I'm so pleased you liked it!

Jack later told the Doctor what the freed Legion had described to him about what had happened in their minds. They all talked of the torment and pain, but then they spoke of a storm. When Jack questioned them about it, they'd said that a mighty, raging storm had entered their minds, with more beauty and power than anything they had ever seen or heard of. They described its power with awe-struck expressions, like they'd just stared into the heart of the sun, of it destroying the darkness within them in a rage of lighting and thunder and rain, rolling through like a whirlwind of might and brilliance.

"The Oncoming Storm," Jack had said.

The Doctor nodded wordlessly, making Jack give him an odd look. If he had been expecting the Doctor to boast or affirm what they had seen, he had been mistaken. In all honesty, he didn't know what people saw when he entered their minds and it didn't really matter to him. They were freed now and that was all that mattered.

The canine Legions had all died; every single one of them dead in the crates in heaps of leather, bone, teeth and white eyes that looked as though a lantern behind them had been shut off. Martha asked him why they had not survived, and he told her it was like the Cybermen. When they'd realized what they were now, what had been taken from them, they couldn't cope, the loss too much to bear. So they died. He had been afraid of that, but had hoped at least a few would live. Unlike Grem, the brief clarity the Doctor had given them to what they had become was too much. Of course, had they just held on, they would have forgotten all about it. Akdevor had created within them a new, fairly primitive species that had only retained a shadow of their former selves.

But this wasn't entirely the case for Grem. He was the only canine Legion that had survived, the only one capable of reviving his former self on his own- if only in short, sudden bursts- and would have likely proved to be the most intelligent of all of them. The Doctor speculated it was because of what he had been, but then he may have just had more will to live and carry on than the others did. Whatever the reason, he recovered from Akdevor's last attack on him quickly and was up and roaming around the shadows of the cargo ship within an hour, watching as the Doctor, Martha and Jack tried to organize everyone onboard.

Most everyone there was now homeless; either because Akdevor had destroyed their planet or because all of their family had died already. As Legion, they had lived beyond their normal capacities, perserved within as though frozen, now looking like they hadn't aged a day in the hundred years they had been captives to Akdevor.

The best the Doctor could offer them were rides to either their home world's or wherever else they wanted to go. To those who wanted it, he also offered to block their memories of the whole ordeal, or however much they wanted gone. To his great surprise, only a handful accepted his offer. The others wanted counseling and it eventually became clear to the Doctor that he was not going to be able to get everyone what they needed by himself.

So he'd dropped them off with the with the Shadow Proclamation, who took control of the situation quickly and efficiently, arranging transports, counseling and help to reintegrate into society again. Unfortunately he was forced to deal a lot with the Judoon, whom he didn't particularly like.

During this transaction, the Doctor had hidden Grem in the TARDIS, knowing that if the Judoon saw him, they would likely kill him on the spot, as they had seen the dead bodies of the other Legion and were appalled and disgusted by it- or at least as much as a Judoon can be. They would find a reason to kill him, no matter what the Doctor said to them.

And of course the Judoon had questioned the Doctor tirelessly about everything. They asked what had become of Akdevor, the planet, how the canine Legion had died, and endless more. The Doctor was vague in his answers, not really in the mood to go into detail and also trying to avoid questions that should arouse suspicion against him. He doubted they would be understanding or sympathetic to the fact that Akdevor had also attacked him, since they didn't trust him enough as it was and would more likely try to detain him.

After a day, the Doctor finally managed to get the Judoon to let them leave. Amara had asked to go with him, and he allowed her onboard happily. He owed her that, at least.

"Do you want me to block them?" he asked her as he prepared to depart from the Judoon base. "The memories?"

To his surprise, she shook her head. "No. I want to remember. I want... I want to grow from it... do you understand what I mean?"

He nodded, not pressing her further. He looked up as Martha led Grem into the room. She'd covered him in a blanket to protect him from the lights. He heard him sniff.

"We are leaving," Grem said.

"Yep."

"What will you do with me?"

The Doctor turned to him, leaning against the console. "Whatever you'd like. Anywhere you want to go, Grem. Anytime, anyplace. I'm sorry, but I can't take you back to your kind. But other than that, its your choice."

Grem lowered his head in thought.

"Of course, we'll have to find someone to look after you; make sure you don't get into any trouble," he teased with a kind smile.

"Grass."

"Sorry?"

"Grass. Take me to grass... soft grass."

The Doctor smiled. "Earth it is. I can probably find you a caretaker there. But when to take you, that's the question," the Doctor said thoughtfully, running a hand through his hair. "I think sometime in the eighteen hundreds might be best. Less crowded, then."

"Doctor?" Amara said.

He looked at her.

"I'll take care of him."

Martha, Jack and the Doctor all looked at her in surprise.

"I thought you didn't like him," Jack asked.

"Only because I didn't trust him, but he's more than proved himself. Besides, I'm one of very few people who can sympathize with what he's gone through. And since I have no family left, I don't want to be alone."

The Doctor smiled at her gratefully and then looked at Grem. "Is that alright with you, Grem?"

Grem huffed.

"It's settled, then. Where would you two like to go?"

"The eighteen hundreds sounded nice," Amara said, walking over to Grem and giving him a gentle pat, which he appeared to appreciate. "I could get us a little place out in the country. That way Grem could roam around without being disturbed."

The Doctor grinned. "Sounds lovely. I can arrange for a human to live with you, if you'd like. I think it would save you a lot of trouble."

Amara nodded her approval.

The Doctor made the arrangements, getting in contact with a woman he'd met several hundred years ago during one of his eighteenth century exploits named Sandra Thompson. She was ecstatic about the idea, which pleased the Doctor, though he wanted to introduce her to Grem first. As he had hoped, she was more than friendly to Grem. She was a little shocked with his appearance of course, but she remained composed and the Doctor smiled proudly at her.

He then set about getting them a cottage several miles out of the way of neighbors and prying eyes, calling in favors until everything was ready.

He brought them in the night, so Grem could look around without being scalded and blinded by the sun. He opened the TARDIS doors, showing Grem his new, grassy home.

Grem stepped out cautiously, head looking from side to side and sniffing the air. He walked around, his clawed fingers kneading the ground beneath him and then went stalking off toward a small cluster of trees.

The Doctor stepped out of the TARDIS, hands in the pockets of his long tan coat. Martha, Jack, Amara and Sandra came after him.

Sandra took Amara by the arm, smiling brightly at her. "Come on. I'll give you the tour." The two set off for the house, talking to one another companionably.

The Doctor looked at them and then watched as Grem ran around the fields with lightning-quick speed, for no reason at all and the Doctor felt an overwhelming joy fill him as he saw Grem enjoying himself, leaping and snapping at fireflies and clambering up trees as he explored his new home.

Martha and Jack walked up on either side of him, also watching Grem with amused smiles.

"He looks like he's going to be alright," Martha commented happily.

"Looks like he's having the time of his life," Jack corrected with a chuckle, watching as Grem swallowed a firefly, its light visible through the thin, leathery hide of his stomach.

"He'll be well cared for here," the Doctor agreed. "And so will Amara. Sandra is very sweet and she'll take good care of the both of them."

"She was very nice," Martha agreed. "Will Grem ever be... the same, I guess?"

The Doctor sighed. "No. Even if his mind heals, which is unlikely, his body has been changed on a genetic and molecular level. He'll always look like that."

"So there's nothing you can do?" Jack asked.

The Doctor shook his head. "Not without the risk of killing him. And since he's saved my life twice now, I don't think I'd be comfortable chancing it."

Martha nodded understandingly, watching with a smile as Grem stalked around the fields with predatory grace, sniffing at everything within his reach and clawing at bugs or other harmless things that startled him.

The Doctor glanced at Martha and gave her a cheery grin. "Well, I guess that leaves you two."

"What do you mean?"

The Doctor paused a moment. "Do you want to go home?"

Martha balked at him. "Of course not! There's still so much to do!"

"I'm with her," Jack added. "Besides, you still need us. You're hopeless by yourself."

"Me? Never," the Doctor said in mock objection. "I'm fit as a fiddle. That's how the saying goes, isn't it? Can't remember... may be mixing it up, but that happens to the best of us. Anyway, where to next? How about that relaxing place you were talking about, Martha? A beach, maybe?"

Martha smiled. "That sounds lovely. I really, really, sunny beach with no devils and no monsters."

The Doctor winced at her. "I can't garauntee the no-monsters bit, but I can get us a lovely, sunny beach paradise. What do you say?"

"Perfect," Martha said.

"Alright, then, better say your goodbyes."

Martha nodded and ran off after Grem (which was difficult considering how fast he could move) and eventually caught up with him.

Grem turned his attention away from the interesting sights of the field and looked up at Martha. "The grass is soft," he said.

"It is. It's very nice," she agreed with a smile. "You're going to be very happy here."

Grem eyed her, the glow of his white eyes seeming to dim. "I will not see you again."

Martha frowned sadly at him. "I'll come visit every chance I get."

Grem looked at her and for a moment that flicker of ancient knowledge was visible, but was gone before it could be said it was there. Martha pet his head and he made a gutteral noise of approval.

She smiled. "I'll miss you. And... thank you for everything."

Grem fidgeted uncomfortably, his expression scowling and she smiled at him in understanding, knowing that he was unable to express what he felt. She knew what he meant and eased his frustration by petting him again. He nudged her hand, sniffing her as though to memorize her scent. He looked at her, trying very hard to convey his gratitude, then appearing distracted by something, he turned and walked slowly off.

Jack meanwhile had gone over to Amara and Sandra, who were just leaving the house again.

The Doctor watched them and looked down at Grem, who had silently walked up to him. "Thank you," the Doctor said to him. "For saving me and my friends. I owe you."

Grem nodded. "And I you."

"I'll come and visit. Every year at the least, to help you heal."

"I thank you, Time Lord," Grem said.

The Doctor smiled brightly at him. "Oh, look at that. You're already starting to recover a bit."

Grem looked at him and then nudged him with his head in a gesture of affection. Then he returned to Martha, nudging her repeatedly. She patted him a few times and then kissed him on the head. Then she said her goodbyes to Amara and Sandra before returning to the Doctor.

Jack walked over to Grem, said a short, but grateful goodbye and walked back over to them.

Martha looked at the Doctor. "You alright?"

"I'm always alright," he said, then returned her gaze. "You?"

She nodded.

The Doctor waved goodbye to Amara and Sandra, then took Martha's hand. "Come on. Let's go." The three of them walked into the TARDIS and the Doctor bounded over to the console, throwing off his coat and draping it between one of the coral pillars. "Alright!" he said, clapping his hands and then started working the controls. "Beaches, beaches, here we come."

The three grabbed hold of the console as the TARDIS buzzed and whirred, the glass in the engine pumping up and down in a steady, comforting rhythm as the blue box slowly faded in and out until it was gone.

I'm sad it's over. Once again I find myself disatisfied with the ending, but hopefully you guys are not. I had such a good time writing this fic and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

I've been wondering for the past several days if I was going to write another story, but haven't made up my mind yet. I was considering an 11 and 10.5 Doctors story I've had in my head for a few weeks, but again, I'm undecided. If anyone is willing to give me some feedback (both on the story and a potential new story) I would be very grateful.

Thank you so much everybody for the comments, favorites and alerts. The support really inspired me to write quickly and as best as I could. Hope it was worth the read. :)