FOR THE TIME BEING

"His dark eyes took me in, and I wondered what they would look like if he fell in love."

― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Love of the Last Tycoon

Trepidation coursed through her body as she eyed the corpses with unease. She slipped past the Doctor and the rest, crouching down. Valerie bit her lip hard, shivering under the cool skin of the two dead bodies. The sight of the secretary, the one whose name was never given to her, made her feel sick.

Someone ought to have known his name. She dipped her head in silent respect to the secretary and the Prime Minister. In her head, apologies that should've been said aloud was repeated over and over in a mantra.

Another dead. Another to the growing, growing list it seems.

"What was his name?" The Doctor asked, his face solemn.

"Who?" Harriet asked.

He gestured to the secretary. "This one. The secretary or whatever he was called." He glanced between Harriet and Valerie who looked away, not guilty but remorseful.

"I don't know." Harriet merely shrugged, though anyone can see the obvious guilt in her own weathered face. "I talked to him. I brought him a cup of coffee. I never asked his name."

The Doctor met Valerie's gaze, waiting for her answer quietly. She didn't say anything.

"Sorry," he finally said, his eyes still on her as he talked. "Right, what have we got? Any terminals, anything?"

Rose shook her head. "No, this place is antique," her eyes landed on the Prime Minister, frowning deeply. "What I don't get is, when they killed the Prime Minister, why didn't they use him as a disguise?"

"He's too slim," the Doctor replied. "They're big old beasts. They need to fit inside big humans."

"But the Slitheen are about eight feet. How do they fit inside?"

Valerie stood, deciding that there was no point in their conversation. Her mood simmering down into one of foreboding. The situation at hand was not the greatest. Considering their hand right now, they were at a disadvantage, especially when they're trapped between steeled walls and the Slitheen in the midst.

"Great, fucking great," she muttered, swallowing the bile that rose on her throat. She glanced over at her companions. Harriet was looking over the protocols as Rose and the Doctor chatted idly. Her frown deepened as she headed over to sit next to Harriet.

"Anything?" Harriet shook her head, solemnly.

"No, they only list the people who could help and they're all dead downstairs," Harriet said before she paused and amended, nodding at Valerie. "Except for you."

Valerie blinked in disbelief. "I'm on the list?" She leaned over Harriet's shoulder, skimming through the names before she found hers. Valerie Sargent was italicized and bolded and there was a little asterisk besides her name. She skimmed further. There.

— DOCTOR'S COMPANION.

Her thick eyebrows furrowed deeply in thought, wondering how and when did the British Government catch her name and her status.

Harriet looked at her curiously. "You didn't know?"

"No," was all Valerie said before their conversation was cut short as the Doctor approached them.

"Harriet Jones. I've heard that name before. Harriet Jones. You're not famous for anything, are you?" The Doctor questioned curiously, dark eyes scanning Harriet's face as his mind raked through.

Harriet snorted. "Oh, hardly."

"Rings a bell," the Doctor said. "Harriet Jones?"

"Lifelong backbencher I'm afraid, and a fat lot of use I'm being now," Harriet remarked. "The Protocols are redundant. They list the people who could help and they're all dead downstairs. Except her." She bobbed her head towards Valerie.

The brunette shrugged.

"Hasn't it got, like, defense codes and things?" Rose asked, peeking at the Emergency Protocols over Valerie's shoulder. "Couldn't we just launch a nuclear bomb at them?"

"You're a very violent young woman," Harriet commented, looking at Rose with a horrified look.

"I'm serious. We could."

Valerie snorted, shaking her head. "Doesn't work like that, Rose," she said, crossing her arms idly. "The codes for the Nuclear strikes are kept a secret by the UN and with good reason, too."

"Say that again," the Doctor blurted out, startling her. Valerie had to hold back a flinch from the intensity of their eye-contact as she looked away.

Oh, sorry, I didn't know we were talking again was all she wanted to say but instead the words were; "What?"

"The codes," the Doctor clarified slowly, as though he was talking to a child. "Anything. All of it."

"Er, well," Valerie shifted awkwardly under the Doctor's gaze. She gestured to Harriet. "I think Miss Jones would know more of the subject than I would..."

The Doctor, oddly enough, looked promptly disappointed at that but he nodded, turning to Harriet expectantly.

Harriet straightened, a tad startled. "Well, the British Isles can't gain access to atomic weapons without a Special Resolution from the UN."

Rose scoffed. "Like that's ever stopped them."

"Exactly, given our past record," Harriet agreed. Valerie wondered if something happened in the UK that she didn't know of. "And I voted against that, thank you very much. The codes have been taken out of the government's hands and given to the UN. Is it important?"

"Everything's important," the Doctor told her, listening attentively.

"If we only knew what the Slitheen wanted." She paused, realizing her own words with a little astonishment. "Listen to me. I'm saying Slitheen as if it's normal."

"What do they want, though?" Rose asked.

The Doctor and Valerie shared looks. Then, simultaneously, blinked, just noticing their actions. The Doctor averted his gaze first, pretending as though they've never made any eye contact in the first place.

Valerie frowned, trying hard to ignore the slight sting. "They're just a family, right? So obviously, it's not an invasion, and they're a business too so they're trying to get something from Earth to sell. Like an asset or something, yeah."

"Like what, gold? Oil? Water?" Harriet asked, rattling off options.

The Doctor beamed at her. "You're very good at this," he cast a glance to Valerie's way.

Valerie, not seeing the look he gave her, grumbled under her breath. Where's my appreciation, you dick? Realizing what she just thought, she cringed. She shouldn't be thinking of the Doctor that way, not when he had good reason to be like that. This was early, for him, for her and even for Rose. It was only logical that he would only treat her as a reluctant ally that shares a common enemy. Their interactions, if you could call it that, have been scarce despite being in the same vicinity. The running, the planning and trying to not get killed by giant, green, alien things left no room for conversation.

Harriet blushed. "Thank you."

"Harriet Jones," the Doctor repeated her name again. He was still unable to figure her name out. "Why do I know that name?"

Someone's phone beeped insistently, garnering everyone's attention. Valerie glanced over at Rose who blushed slightly at the interruption.

"Oh, that's me," she said, whipping her phone out.

"But we're sealed off," Harriet pointed out in disbelief. "How did you get a signal?"

Rose nodded at the Doctor. "He zapped it. Super phone."

Harriet's hope rose as the idea came to her. "Then we can phone for help! You must have contacts."

Valerie shook her head, feeling bad at the crushed look on the older woman's face. "Dead downstairs, yeah."

"It's Mickey," Rose declared, her phone close to her ear. The Doctor's face shifted into one of annoyance.

"Oh, tell your stupid boyfriend we're busy," he said bitingly, earning a look from Valerie.

"Don't be a dick," she scolded. She never liked the way the Doctor treated Mickey. Whether because of Rose or anything that Mickey did, the Doctor was unusually antagonistic towards the young man. The Time Lord frowned in distaste but kept his mouth shut surprisingly.

Rose shot him a smug look. "Yeah, well, he's not so stupid after all," she said, holding out her phone screen for all of them to see. There, in the flesh and under the scrutiny of the flash, was a photo of a Slitheen.

"Look at that, 'Doc." Valerie grinned, her and Rose sharing the same, smug look on their face.

"Wipe that smug look off your face." He narrowed his eyes at her, though his words were more of a jest than anything. It was the nicest he said to her since the conference meeting. She can still see the suspicion in them though. Her smile wavered.

Valerie turned away, not wanting him to see that little bit of weakness. She walked around the room, stretching her legs slightly with each stride. Things were starting to get tricky from here and she didn't know what to do. While things should turn out fine, she couldn't help the tiny bit of anxiety that crept through. From the corner of her eye, she can see Rose's face scrunch up in deep concern.

"Is she all right, though?" Her mother, Valerie realized with an indescribable feeling. "Don't put her on, just tell me."

With her eyes turned downcast, she didn't see the Doctor snatching Rose's phone rudely. Her own thoughts were shrouded with mists of nostalgia. Each blink garnered an image of home with the scent of fresh bread wafting her nostrils. Valerie couldn't help but feel the twinges of envy towards the younger girl. Must be nice to be worried over.

"Oh, leave him alone!" Rose scolded loudly, nudging him on the side as Valerie shuffled over to them.

She plopped down on the seat close to them, watching the whole thing open up. She hate to admit it but there really wasn't much she could do. Valerie glanced over, catching Harriet watching the scene with something akin to fascination and little bit of fear. She was no politician or master genius or a hacker but she was a person and the least she could is offer the older woman some comfort.

Even if she was shit at it.

"You alright?" She asked, voice only audible for Harriet to hear.

The older woman blinked, startled by the sudden question. "Oh, yes, I am. Thank you."

Valerie couldn't help the inward relief that flooded her. Thank God. She wasn't the best person to offer comfort.

"Ah, well, uh, that's good." Valerie was about to turn away so she could listen to the Doctor when Harriet spoke up again.

"It's just that —" Oh my god.

"Big Ben—why did the Slitheen go and hit Big Ben?" The Doctor asked aloud, cutting off Harriet in mid-speech.

"You said to gather the experts, to kill them," said Harriet, momentarily forgetting her own worries.

The Doctor crossed his arms. "That lot would've gathered for a weather balloon. You don't need to crash land in the middle of London."

Rose nodded. "The Slitheen are hiding, but then they put the entire planet on Red alert. What would they do that for?" The blonde frowned, her mother scoffing loudly through the phone. "At least I'm trying!"

"Any idea?" The Doctor asked Valerie, noticing that she hadn't offered her input in at all yet.

Valerie blinked. "Oh, uh—"

The speaker crackled, Jackie's voice overlapping the silence. "Well, I've got a question if you don't mind. Since that man walked into our lives, I have been attacked in the streets. I have had creatures from pits of hell in my own living room, and my daughter disappear off the face of the Earth!"

Rose spluttered. "I told you what happened!"

Jackie ignored her, her words solely meant for the Doctor. "I'm talking to him. 'Cos I've seen this life of yours, Doctor."

Valerie felt herself agree on Jackie's words, empathizing with the woman's feelings. Although she wasn't a mother herself nor did she ever had anyone that solely cared her in the recent years, she can understand Jackie's deep concern. Especially with the way things have turned out. The whole adventure called the Doctor's life is certainly not for the faint of the heart.

"And maybe you get off on it, and maybe you think it's all clever and smart, but you tell me." There was pause and a sharp intake of breath. "Just answer me this. Is my daughter safe?"

No.

Valerie thinks of the later episodes, with Ten. Valerie thinks of the danger that comes with the Doctor. Valerie thinks of the Torchwood Estate and the lives taken, and how easily it could've been Rose.

"I'm fine," said Rose. Her mother nor the Doctor, who had gone considerably quiet in the middle of Jackie's speech, paid her any heed.

"Is she safe?" Jackie asked again, her voice cracking. "Will she always be safe? Can you promise me that?"

The brunette grimaced, finding herself watch the Doctor's face cool into indifference. In his dark eyes, she can see his feelings unleash beneath them.

Fear.

Of what?

Valerie dares to glance at Rose.

Losing her.

Even though this was early, so, so, early for the two of them, it was so clear. This was the beginning of the Rose and the Doctor, a tale of something unspoken and never uttered. It's such a hard thing to believe that she's been there with them through all of it.

"Well, what's the answer?"

Mickey's voice cut in, slicing the tension with a hot knife. "We're in."

The dark look on the Doctor's face dissipated as he rattled on instructions for Mickey. "Now then, on the left at the top, there's a tab, an icon. Little concentric circles. Click on that." It escaped no one's notice that he had actively avoided Jackie's question. His silence should be answer enough.

"What is it?" Mickey asked.

"The Slitheen have got a spaceship in the North Sea and it's transmitting that signal. Now hush, let me work out what it's saying."

"He'll have to answer me one day," Jackie said.

"Hush!" Valerie leaned over, listening in to the sound of waves. Though her ears strained to hear, she couldn't decipher much out of it. Not that she could anyway. She's no alien.

"It's some sort of message," the Doctor murmured, brows furrowing in thought.

"What's it say?"

He shrugged. "Don't know. It's on a loop, keeps repeating."

The sound of the doorbell rang loudly through the phone, intercepting the noise. The Doctor scowled, shushing at it while Valerie groaned, raking through her own mind. In a episode so early own, her mind was drawing up the details blank.

"It's beaming out into space, who's it for?" The Doctor mused aloud. His eyes drifted from the phone to Valerie's eyes, his gaze silently questioning. She merely shrugged.

"It's him! It's the thing, it's the Slipeen!" Valerie swore loudly, her shoulders tightening as she shot up from her seat.

"They've found us."

"Mickey, I need that signal!"

Rose stared at the Doctor incredulously. "Never mind the signal, get out! Mum, just get out! Get out!" The young girl's face was scrunched in worry, her eyes darting between the Doctor and Valerie, begging them to do something.

"We can't. It's by the front door." Valerie can hear Mickey's words dipped in trepidation, his voice shaky. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. "Oh, my God, it's unmasking. It's going to kill us."

She stood, the legs of her chair scraping loudly against the floor. She can't bear to sit around, not when Rose's mom and Mickey are on the verge of intimate danger.

"There's got to be some way of stopping them!" Harriet said, snapping at the Doctor. "You two are supposed to be the experts, think of something!"

"I'm trying!"

Gritting her teeth, Valerie glared at Harriet. "As if shouting at us is gonna be any help!" Come on, come on, I know what can kill them. I know what can kill them. I just need to remember!

"—Just run."

THIRD POINT OF VIEW

At the sound of the door splintering, just breaking apart from the force the Slitheen must've put in, Valerie swore loudly. Harriet shot her a look at her use of language, though, she herself was looking more frazzled. Rose was on the verge of tears, only sheer will seems to stop her own breakdown. Meanwhile, the Doctor was pacing around, his mind whirling with species and planets as he searched through the depths of his knowledge. There were too many to name and too many to know and there's not enough time—

He caught Rose's eyes. "That's my mother."

Something in her voice stopped him. The facts and knowledge slowed to a mere hum, as though the vulnerability, the trust in them soothed his whirlwind of thoughts.

"Right, If we're going to find their weakness, we need to find out where they're from. Which planet. So, judging by their basic shape, that narrows it down to five thousand planets within traveling distance. What else do we know about them? Information!"

As Rose and Harriet shot off details and behaviour to him, Valerie's eyes brightened. She knows they fart all of the time because their bodies are compressed considerably in human skins, the release of gas may be a fart but it's something else as well. It smells different. Valerie only knows one planet like that. And while she couldn't just outright say it, for the sake of the plot, she can quicken the process.

"Hold on," she spoke up, silencing them. She couldn't help but stare at the Doctor as she rattled on without breathe, her thoughts from a memory slowly apparating."Big, fat, green and ugly creatures with a hyphenated last name and a terrible habit of farting."

The Doctor's breath hitched, as though catching her thought process. The immense number of planets diminished. "They fart, yes, what does it smell like?"

Valerie's lips twitched. "Bad breath."

"Calcium decay!" The Doctor went around the table, imagining a single planet as he shook Valerie by the shoulders. "Calcium phosphate. Organic calcium. Living calcium. Creatures made of living calcium—"

"—Big, fat, green and ugly with a hyphenated last name—"

Valerie squeaked loudly, startled as she was literarily swept off her feet. "Yes! That narrows it down to one planet. Raxacoricofallapatorius!" The Doctor stilled, nearly dropping her as realization dawned him. His dark eyes took her in, the startling shade of red against her brown cheeks and the strands of hair that stuck to her face. He reached over, brushing away a strand that was too close to her mouth. And no, he had not been staring—

Mickey's voice, although relieved, was dripped in sarcasm. "Oh, yeah, great. We could write 'em a letter." His comment seemed to snap him out of his reverie and the Doctor was glad for it. Promptly, he looked away as though the situation never happened.

Valerie looked lost for words before she shook her head, running towards the phone. She can hear the sound of the door straining heavily. "Kitchen, now!"

Jackie whimpered loudly. "My God, it's going to rip us apart!"

The Doctor nodded. "Calcium, weakened by the compression field. Acetic acid."

"Just like Hannibal!" Harriet said excitedly.

"Just like Hannibal. Mickey, got any vinegar?"

"How should I know?"

"It's your kitchen," the Doctor pointed out.

Rose heaved out a sigh. "Cupboard by the sink, middle shelf."

There was a voice before Jackie's voice sounded through the phone. "Oh, give it here. What do you need?"

"Anything with vinegar!"

Valerie cringed, listening Jackie list off the foods with distaste. She grimaced at Rose, who looked embarrassed (and rightly so). "Wow, Rose."

The Doctor shared the same sentiment. "And you kiss this man?"

Rose blushed. "Oh, shut up!"

Valerie let out a laugh, her breathy laughter breaking the silence. "Hey, no judgement, none at all!"

"Oh, you better!" Rose said, huffing. Then she turned to Harriet curiously. "Hannibal?"

"Hannibal crossed the Alps by dissolving boulders with vinegar." Harriet explained. Rose was a bit curious on how well she knew the show but she merely shrugged.

"Oh. Well, there you go then."

Valerie held up the empty glass to the rest of them in mock toast, plopping down on her seat as they chugged down on their drinks. She propped an elbow on the table, her chin resting on her palm.

"So..." She trailed off, sharing brief glances with her companions. "What now?"

"Listen to this." Mickey spoke up, the phone crackling with movement before a voice resonated through it.

"Our inspectors have searched the sky above our heads and they have found massive weapons of destruction capable of being deployed within forty five seconds."

The Doctor's brows furrowed, baffled. "What?"

"Our technicians can baffle the alien probes, but not for long. We are facing extinction, unless we strike first. The United Kingdom stands directly beneath the belly of the mother ship. I beg of the United Nations, pass an emergency resolution. Give us the access codes." Valerie gaped openly at the phone, mouthing silent swears. What the fuck. "A nuclear strike at the heart of the beast is our only chance of survival because from this moment on it is my solemn duty to inform you planet Earth is at war."

"He's making it up," the Doctor said, scoffing loudly as he went out heading to the door. "There's no weapons up there, there's no threat. He just invented it."

Harriet followed him, her face scrunching up in concern. "Do you think they'll believe him?"

Rose snorted. "They did last time."

"She's right, what other reason they wouldn't have?" Valerie said, crossing her arms casually as she stood at the Doctor's right. "I don't know if you noticed but each and every Slitheen is imitating someone of political power or of great authority. The acting prime minister is the acting prime minister for a reason, he's trusted by the public." For a bunch of ugly green babies, they're really good at strategy.

"That's why the Slitheen went for spectacle," the Doctor mused aloud, nodding. "They want the whole world panicking, because you lot, you get scared, you lash out."

Rose ah'ed in understanding. "They release the defence codes."

"And the Slitheen go nuclear."

"But why?"

The metal doors stuttered, revealing the Slitheens turning around to them expectantly.

The Doctor's face cooled considerably, veiling any sort of emotion except for anger. Cold, hard anger. He pretended not to notice how Valerie seemed to shiver at the sudden change of mood. "You get the codes, release the missiles, but not into space because there's nothing there. You attack every other country on Earth. They retaliate, fight back. World War Three. Whole planet gets nuked."

One of the Slitheen, cloaked in the body of a middle-aged woman stepped forward. Her lips curled into a cunning, devious smile as though the ploy was merely for fun. "And we can sit through it safe in our spaceship waiting in the Thames. Not crashed, just parked. Only two minutes away."

"But you'll destroy the planet, this beautiful place," said Harriet, distressed. "What for?"

"Profit," the Doctor answered promptly. "That's what the signal is beaming into space. An advert."

The woman's eyes twinkled in mischief. "The sale of the century. We reduce the Earth to molten slag, then sell it piece by piece. Radioactive chucks, capable of powering every cut-price star liner and budget cargo ship. There's a recession out there, Doctor. People are buying cheap. This rock becomes raw fuel."

The Doctor's eyes hardened. "At the cost of five billion lives."

It enraged Valerie, at how the woman merely shrugged at the very thought. "Bargain."

"I give you a choice," the Doctor began, his words coating a deadly promise. "Leave this planet or I'll stop you."

"What, you?" The woman scoffed, looking at him up and down. "Trapped in your box?"

"Yes. Me." Despite the disbelieving laughter, the Doctor's face didn't falter. Valerie cast a worry glance at the Time Lord's face, the only sound in the room was the shutters closing.

"I do hope, Doctor," she started, catching his attention at the mere use of his name. For as long as he's known her (which isn't very long but), the times she's ever called him Doctor had been few in number and it reminded him of how much knowledge she held in that tiny, human brain of hers. Knowledge that could save them time. Knowledge that she withheld despite the costs and he hates her for it. "That you're not going to do anything you'll end up regretting."

Her words are ominous and he wonders if they foreshadow something. Her hazel eyes are unreadable and it makes him wonder when did she start becoming so difficult to read. He stared down at her, his words barely audible to the point only she heard it. "Don't count on it."

VALERIE'S POINT OF VIEW

As they listened to the news through Rose's phone, all of them were in their own thoughts, thinking of ways to solve the situation. Sans for the moments of someone throwing an idea in (to which the Doctor would scoff and reject it, much to Valerie's chagrin), the conversations amongst them were null. Valerie leaned back, arms crossed and deep in thought.

She wasn't the smartest person in the room nor was she most creative. If anything, she stood at the same level of knowledge as Rose (and hell, the girl probably knows more than she does at this point). She doesn't posses the universal knowledge and intelligence of the Doctor nor does she have Harriet's political wit. Valerie Sargent is just a barista, working hard for a degree that may prove more trouble than its worth.

Even then, she has to be useful somehow.

"All right, Doctor. I'm not saying I trust you, but there must be something you can do," Jackie said, her voice crackling at the connection.

"If we could ferment the port, we could make acetic acid," Harriet said, more or less to herself rather than to the rest of them.

"Mickey, any luck?" Rose asked, obviously concerned.

There was a sigh, resigned. "There's loads of emergency numbers. They're all on voicemail."

"Voicemail dooms us all." Harriet despaired.

Valerie took the time to look over each and everyone of them, noting the Doctor's expression. Even though his face hasn't wavered since the encounter with the Slitheen, she can see the inner battle in his face. She knew exactly what it meant. Valerie's gaze drifted over to the blonde girl.

Rose groaned. "If we could just get out of here—"

"There is," Valerie said, pointedly ignoring the narrowed look the Doctor is sending her and the message behind it (don't you dare, don't you dare). "There's always a way out and you know that, don't you, 'Doc?"

"What?" Rose shot a glance at the Doctor, silently asking if it was true.

The seething look on his face was answer enough, Valerie decided. "Yes. There's always been a way out."

"Then why don't we use it?" Rose asked, looking at the both of them incredulously. Valerie can hear her thoughts; why didn't you suggest it earlier? why did the Doctor look so angry when Valerie mentioned it? whywhywhy—

The Time Lord was staring at Rose but his words aren't meant for her. "Because I can't guarantee your daughter will be safe."

Valerie grimaced at Jackie's voice, imagining the rage and concern and the battle in them. "Don't you dare. Whatever it is, don't you dare!" Jackie knows all too well of the price and the consequences but damn it all. Anyone, anything but Rose.

The Doctor heaved a sigh, resigned. "That's the thing. If I don't dare, everyone dies."

Rose. Reckless, impulsive, selfless, brave and stupid Rose. "Do it."

"You don't even know what it is," the Doctor said. Valerie pretended to not hear the small crack of his voice. "You'd just let me?"

There was something in Rose's eyes that hit both of them a bit too hard. "Yeah."

"Please." Jackie's voice returned, sounding more desperate than angry. "Doctor. Please. She's my daughter. She's just a kid."

Valerie realized, watching the Doctor and Rose, that this was the sort of scene she didn't belong in. In the heat of their gaze, the devastation in the Doctor's face and the absolute trust in Rose's, it was too private. Neither she nor Harriet nor anyone else belonged here. Not in this moment.

There was something particularly painful about this scene. Valerie checked it off as the pain in Jackie's pleading voice. She's always been the empathetic sort.

"Do you think I don't know that?" Valerie didn't see the way his gaze had darted away from Rose's for a moment, to look at her. "Because this is my life, Jackie. It's not fun, it's not smart, it's just standing up and making a decision because nobody else will."

"Then what're you waiting for?" Rose asked, not quite understanding the situation. The more Valerie looked at Rose, the more she noticed at how oblivious this girl was. She doesn't know how the Doctor felt about her. Valerie wants to grab Rose by the shoulders and shake her hard, wants to scream at her. The Doctor loves you, the Doctor loves you, don't you see?

But she doesn't. Not yet.

"I could save the world," the Doctor breathed, as though it took everything in him to sound the words out. As though the very idea was too painful to voice. It reminded Valerie that she was nothing more than a mere viewer in this reality, in this show. "but lose you."

Valerie cast a glance to Rose's direction, taking in the utter surprise in them. There was something else in her expression, something beyond than what Valerie could comprehend. She wondered if Rose had realized it then.

"Except it's not your decision, Doctor." Harriet's voice was the very knife that cut the tension. The woman whose form had seemed meek at the beginning was firm, something akin to steel. Valerie admired her for it."It's mine."

"And who the hell are you?"

Valerie can understand the spiteful words that Jackie spits out. It was, techniquelly speaking, Harriet's decision. Meaning that it rested on Harriet's shoulders, their lives for the sake of the world. And to a politician, to a woman who sought for the future, the decision was obvious.

"Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North. The only elected representative in this room, chosen by the people for the people." Harriet stared down at the Doctor, as though his towering height was nothing to her. Backbencher my ass, huh, Valerie wants to say but doesn't. "And on behalf of the people, I command you. Do it."

The Doctor looked resigned but Valerie noticed the way his shoulders seem to straighten slightly. Like the weight had lessened. He nodded.

"How do we get out?" Rose asked.

"We don't. We stay here." Valerie handed him the Emergency Protocols, attempting to school her face into a professional one. But she can feel the way her lips quiver and the watering in her eyes. She ignored the Doctor's stare. She was terrified and rightly so but she wouldn't voice it to him. Everyone in this room was at risk (and though she knows that they'll all make it okay, they have to), the fear was still prominent.

The Doctor is already at work, ordering Mickey through Rose's phone. The blonde had planted herself at Valerie's side. Rose's hands were shaking but they were obscured by Valerie's own hands. The older girl rubbed circles on the back of Rose's hands, attempting to calm the trembling.

"What're you doing?" Jackie inquires.

"Hacking into the Royal Navy," Mickey replied. "We're in. Here it is. HMS Taurean, Trafalgar Class submarine, ten miles off the coast of Plymouth."

The Doctor nodded. "Right, we need to select a missile."

"We can't go nuclear. We don't have the defence codes."

"Don't need to," Valerie said. "I'm pretty sure we don't need nuclear to bomb it, just an ordinary missile." As far as she's concerned, nuclear weapons are a bit of an overkill for just a building.

"What's the first category?" The Doctor asked.

"Sub Harpoon, UGM-A4A."

"That's the one. Select. You ready for this?"

Mickey's voice was resolute, hardening. "Yeah."

The Doctor's lips twitched upwards. "Mickey the idiot, the world is in your hands." There was pause, all of them sharing a glance. "Fire."

"Oh, my God."

"How solid are these?" Harriet asked, sharing the same fear that ran deep in Valerie.

"Not solid enough," the Doctor replied solemnly. "Built for short range attack, nothing this big."

Rose's grip on her hand tightened, garnering her attention. "All right, now I'm making the decision. I'm not going to die. We're going to ride this one out. It's like what they say about earthquakes." Rose gestured towards the cupboard, tugging Valerie's hand. "You can survive them by standing under a doorframe. Now, this cupboard's small so it's strong. Come and help me. Come on."

Valerie shared a brief glance with the Doctor before she scurried over to help Harriet and Rose. She felt pride swell up in her chest at watching Rose. For a girl who thought she wasn't worth much because she didn't go to college, she is definitely going places. A voice whispers in Valerie's mind, dark and sinister; But that very bravery is going to be her downfall.

"What's the status?" Valerie asked,shifting the items in her hand as she placed them on the ground.

"It's on radar." Mickey's voice crackled. "Counter defence five-five-six."

The Doctor swore lowly. "Stop them from intercepting it."

"I'm doing it now."

"Good boy."

"Five-five-six neutralised." Mickey declared over the phone. Valerie quickly dropped the items in her hand, nudging Rose and Harriet in front of her with the Doctor just behind her. They all shuffled towards the corner, crammed against each other in all sides.

Valerie swallowed nervously, eyes darting between the Rose and the Doctor. As Fate would've had it, she was squished between the two love birds and it physically pains her to be in between such chemistry. Of fucking course.

Harriet gulped loudly. "Here we go. Nice knowing you three," she said, nodding to them all. It was moments like these that Valerie was very glad for the fact that she isn't alone with the Doctor and Rose. Shaking her head absently, she stares at the ceiling as they all wait for the impending doom. "Hannibal!"

As each second ticked by, the faster her heart seem to beat against her ribcage. Too lost in her own fear, she didn't even realize that she had subconsciously grabbed the Doctor's hand. Valerie paid no heed to the incredulous look the Doctor was shooting at her, muttering half-hearted prayers under her breath and eyes clenched shut.

They were going to make it, she knows that but fear is a very funny thing. Your awareness of it doesn't make it any less terrifying.

KABOOM

As the sound rang in her ears, the cupboard shook roughly, throwing them all over. Valerie shrieked, her back crashing against the other side of the wall. Everything was moving too fast all at once, too much for her to be able to stabilize. The little room continued to shake, as though it was a snow globe in the hands of a child. Then, in one moment, the shaking ceased and all was normal.

"Holy shit." Valerie breathed, letting out an incredulous laugh. "That - that was something." Her legs shook beneath her, her only support being the wall she was leaning against.

Rose giggled. "Don't get Earthquakes in Canada?"

"Not usually, no." Valerie held out a hand towards the blonde girl, having reached her bearings. "Then again, I don't think the UK gets those often either, do they?"

"Not usually, no," said Rose.

Valerie laughed, loud and obnoxious and filled with relieved. She didn't the arms that wrapped itself around her shoulders, instead, she relished the feeling and comfort they brought. Rose's own laughter mingled with hers as they followed the Doctor and Harriet out, amazed, astounded and beyond relieved.

Harriet breathed. "Made in Britain."

The instant they stepped out, armed men rushed towards them. Valerie smiled nervously at one of the familiar faces, the one who had dragged her to this men in the first place. She waved.

"Hello."

"Oh, my god. Are you all right?" One of them asked, borderline horrified and baffled to see that they were just fine.

"Harriet Jones. MP, Flydale North." Harriet, uncaring and not a speck of dirt on her, flashed her ID at them. "I want you to contact UN immediately. Tell the ambassadors the crisis is over. They can step down." When they didn't move, hesistant to follow orders, she narrowed her eyes at them. "Go on, tell the news."

One of them straightened, saluting her before they scurried off. "Yes, ma'am."

"Someone's got a hell of a job sorting this lot out." Harriet let out a noise, horror dawning on her. "Oh, Lord. We haven't even got a Prime Minister."

"Maybe you should have a go," the Doctor said.

Harriet merely laughed, disbelieved. "Me? Huh. I'm only a back-bencher."

Rose smiled. "I'd vote for you."

Valerie hummed, not quite voicing her opinion. Harriet certainly would make a good Prime Minister but in the end, the very knowledge she holds will only be her downfall. Not that she'll stop her from becoming Prime Minister. As far as she's concerned, Harriet Jones, human as she is, is the best candidate.

"Now, don't be silly." Harriet said, shaking her at them. She blinked, catching sight of the other people gathering. She waved at them before scurrying off, calling out. "Look, I'd better go and see if I can help. Hang on! We're safe! The Earth is safe!"

Valerie shuffled awkwardly, unsure of where to stand or sit or do anything really. The Doctor was a little ways away from her, busying himself at the console and pointedly ignoring her presence. While the Time Lord had been pretty civil to her, wary as he is—that tolerance could only go so far. And judging by the tense set of his shoulders and the deep frown on his face, they've reached the end of it.

She stared at him, remembering the kind smile of the Eleventh and inviting grin of the Tenth. The Ninth, distant and cold and too fresh from the War, is a bitter reminder that she doesn't belong.

"What's your problem with me?" She voiced, her words coming out before she could stop it. She crossed her arms, gripping her forearms tight. Her back was straight and she had cooled her face into one she hoped was indifference. She is ready.

For that backlash, that yell, the complete and utter and foreign distrust from the Oncoming Storm.

"My problem with you?" The Doctor's voice is surprisingly calm but there was intone of iciness that sent shivers down her spine. She didn't reply, waiting for him to finish. The Doctor whirled around to face her, every bit of that warrior that single-handedly ended the Great Time War.

"My problem with you is that you know," he began, approaching her. It took everything in her to not take that damned step back. "You know everything about me, my past, my future, and everything in between! You know what happens, the bad, the good, and the deaths that happen! And yet, and yet, you don't do a damn thing! And why? 'Cause you're scared to change the 'future'? Of some fake reality that you're so focused on? That, that is my problem!"

His words ringed out in her mind, a little echo that never seemed to lessen in volume. Suddenly, the Doctor's face morphed into something else. Someone else. This time, there was no dark eyes, no shaven head, no big ears and the heavy-set frown. Instead, where the Doctor's eyes should've been, were a startling pair of blues. Despite the change, it still held the same something the Doctor's held. Her lips trembled, staring at the face of him.

"T-thomas?" When his name left her lips, the Doctor's whole demeanor seem to pause. She didn't notice. All she could was himhimhim.

Then.

Pain.

THE DOCTOR'S POINT OF VIEW

The Doctor couldn't help it but his (righteous) anger subsided at the whiplash look on her face. Valerie's eyes seem to glaze over, the edges of her lashes darkening with tears. Her mouth was agape and her brown skin paling at the sight of him. Although her eyes were staring straight at him (they weren't, they weren't, not him, someone else), the Doctor has a distinct feeling that he is the last thing on her mind right now.

So when she uttered a name, foreign and unknown and in a way that made his hearts pause, the Doctor didn't move. Minutes had passed but the moment of standstill felt like centuries went by. Then, without warning, Valerie's knees shook and she crumpled.

It is instinct, the Doctor tells himself, as his arms reached forward and he caught her by the waist. It's nothing, as her skin, lighter and placid and not quite in the right shade seems to engulf itself in golden embers. It's a natural thing as his hearts clenched and he realizes that she's leaving.

Rose is going to miss her, he thinks and doesn't admit that after this one adventure, he might too.

Then, in his arms, Valerie gasped and the overwhelming brightness obscured him.

Within a blink of an eye, Valerie disappears without a trace.

Another time.

A/N: Well. Uhm. I should probably provide an explaination, considering you guys do deserve it. Uh... Okay, well, after the last chapter I was in the middle of writing this one and I got hit by this onslaught of writer's block. It didn't help that this chapter was REALLY hard to write (and I can't believe it took me like what? Four weeks, I'm so sorry guys) so I did scenes at random intervals and I just finished the last part like just now cause I feel like I needed to post it as soon as I can. ALSO I GOT REALLY INTO NARUTO AGAIN (despite the shit ending, sorry for those who don't watch anime) and I really really love My Hero Academia? I just? So expect some stories from those sooner or later probably later? Anyways uh, so this story-it's pretty shit, grammar errors and bad writing in general but I really hope you guys like it! And lemme know what you think!

REVIEWS:

TPWABW / : Thank you! I'm glad you guys like it!

XBnemesisX: Ah yes, big fat and green creatures. I love them. They fart a lot. Kinda reminds me of my Dad. Er, I know! The Doctor ought to trust her more! But like as you can see from this chapter, he kinda sorta does? but after the events of the first time they met things are kinda murky between them? And aweh, thank you so much for liking Val so much!

I can relate. Work's been such a pain. This week I'm working 6 days in a row? I'm in pain urhg. And Thank you! (I didn't but I appreciate it)

bwburke94: Err, uh, in the show, I guess but this is a story (of a girl who watched Doctor Who since she was a kid I'd hope she knows Martha's name) Sorry if that comes off as rude? Thanks for reviewing!

jessjones: Aweh, thank youuuu! And yes, girl, me too! 12's latest season is one of the best and I can't wait to write it with Val! Thank you so much for the support!

MageVicky: Damn, I hope so dude loool. Thanks for reviewing!

Shona: Oh, I know! It gets worst from here or I think? This one basically starts and ends and has a middle of Val having a mental breakdown? I feel bad but Val has a lot of conflicts with the plot and her past sooo. Aweh, man same! I hope I did him justice for you! And yes, please! DM me whenever you're ready! I wish I contacted you earlier but I didn't know how so. Thanks for reviewing!

. .True.24601: Thank you bb ;; and I have! Although I don't think I went farther than chapter three? There's so many Doctor Who-OC fanfics that some of them start looking the same? I mean, the Wanderer of Time Series is really great and beautifully written and I especially love the plot I'm getting from it (so I'm reading it again soon probaly) but the trope does get tiring (which is why I'm trying really hard to make this one stand out plot wise) Thank you so much for reviewing and I really appreciate it!

Arashi - IV of VI: Baby! Hi! Thank you! I love! And yes, there is! I think I forshadowed in soemwhere in the chapters? Don't count on it though i dont even know LOOl and thank youuu, I'm so glad that you did! Thank you for reviewing bb, your reviews are always appreciated!

twilightvamps: oh, no it's okay! ahaha I was bit confused so and no problem!

KittyCatKate: Oh no worries! I love seeing your reviews though so I'm glad to see it! And yes, considering that she was literarily swept off her feet unto another dimension (and time), I'd imagine that she would sometimes forget and remembering would take a toll. And maybe she will snap, maybe she won't (pretty sure she will? like i love her but my baby is probably losing it whoops) and thank you so much for revieiwng!