Author's notes: Haha! The final part has finally come. Terrible though I am, this is sort of a spring board for any other stories I might take on. So, while it does put our beloved Ace and Doctor back into what ever might be called 'normal' for them, it also, is a little bit of an AU now. Or perhaps, I am leading up to what ever happened to Ace.

We shall see.

Thank you for the reviews, suggestions and over-all encouragement.

Enjoy, the end of Reversion.

Reversion part 14

Ace's eyes fluttered, whether opening or closing, she couldn't tell for a moment. Everything was dark. It was as if she'd been dropped in ink. But, the air was fresh. She took a long breath, was that roses?

She was tempted to drift back to the nothing she'd been inhabiting. But, she couldn't seem to muster the tiredness. Rather, she was clear headed, and her senses were beginning to panic. No sight. No sound. Just that gentle scent.

Feelings? Ace realized her cheek was resting on something. Something that was velvety and soft. She'd never been one for cushy fabrics. But, this was a rather nice change from where she'd been last. Covered with dust and flopped beside a wall.

Something was holding her up. Keeping her from feeling the floor. She squirmed a little. Trying to make out what was entwining her waist as well. Her fingers found themselves resting draped over the shoulders and touching someone's back.

"Hello?" She said tentatively, her voice a little burred from sleep. A thrumming began, and there was a light beginning to glow.

The ceiling then appeared. Crystals. Their muted edges seemed to emanate a magenta haze. No, it was more of a slate colour. But regardless of the colour, the light was so dim, she could not quite actually see beyond.

"How're you feeling, Ace?" The voice rang around her, whereas her voice had been dulled.

"Professor?" She called, beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic. The darkness on either side, pressing inward as if she was giftwrapped in paper made from moonless nights.

"You'll have to stay calm, stay quiet and just relax a few more minutes. We'll be down in no time at all!" He seemed a little too chipper about this. Ace hazarded a glance down.

She was floating.

A floor was visible, but only just. The same pastel lights were the size of a pop bottle, far, far, below her. "Oi! What is this!?" She began to drop rapidly, she was being held tighter, even as she squirmed to get away.

"Ace! Why don't you ever listen?" This time, she heard the voice next to her ear, and she could hear him breathing. Had he been breathing before? She took a moment of comfort that he was holding her.

"We on a lift or somethin'?"

"…Oh, no, not quite. Curiosity does tend to kill the bull and destroy the Barber shop..." He quipped swiftly, seeming to be unawares at the rather mangled metaphor. As well the fact, it was hardly comforting, regardless of what it meant. Or, if it meant something ominous, Ace was too baffled to think it through properly. So, over all Ace had to assume it was unimportant.

"You alright then? I mean, you were well out of sorts last I'd seen you. "

"Of course. I always pull through, given enough time." His voice was still rather trilling, as if everything they'd dealt with recently, was easily pushed aside and forgotten.

Ace went on, enjoying the closeness of his company. Rather, it was like having a memento returned to you. Sort of. Yes. Like something you could close your eyes and just be content to know it was safe.

"-And you?" His voice came again, and Ace smirked, even though he wouldn't be able to make it out.

"I'm fine… Oi... How'd that pan out? I'd might as well've been through a toaster oven!" Ace did a body check, as far as she could tell, there was only a dull throbbing, if any pain could be complained of. She had some clean white clothes on, she let herself worry a moment as to how that had happened.

"A new Zero Room, Ace! Used for removing any outside influences, and letting one heal naturally. And, naturally, the gravity is only relative." He purred the last word and let her have a few moments for that to sink in.

"Not a lift then?"

"Not quite."

"Ah." Ace attempted to sound as though being completely unsupported in the Doctor's arms, And then slowly falling to the ground was normal. Then again, she supposed 'normal' was a relative term here. Just like gravity…apparently.

"How long we been in here?"

"Ace. Time in the TARDIS is relative as well. I think I've mentioned that before."

She was really coming to hate that term. And it wasn't because of bad experiences at reunions. Not that she hadn't had plenty of those. But, the Doctor was dodging questions with it. "No, I'm not fallin' for that. We were running about like rats to get to the Cloister room! There was definitely time then!"

"Yes. Well, that was different altogether."

"Come off it! How long?"

"You didn't wake up at first, so I brought you in here. Funny thing, really. Rather pleasant. Oh, about 18 hours, or, there abouts…"

Ace leaned a little away from him, checking for the floor again, but, her bare feet suddenly hit the smooth crystal. She winced, trying to understand how it was she was suddenly on the ground. Looking upwards, she noticed it was a tube of blackness with light on either end. And it smelled a lot like one of those flower shops in Perivale that closed up during the winter.

The lights grew a little brighter, she could make out his shape a bit better. It was back to it's rather sweet-conniving planes and his clothing was of a much darker breed then before. Black jacket and hints of maroon, Ace could have squinted if she dared to look closer. As it was, she pulled back a little.

He released her, and his eyebrows rose. "We can rest a bit longer, if you like."

"I'm fine, I already said! You then? You seem completely-"

"Hmm, yes. Well, I've always been something of a quick healer." He cut her off with a sweep of his hand. Ace could make out his glittering blue eyes, regardless of the fact they were still in deep shadows.

"This place is kind of gives me the creeps." Another sniff of the perfumed air, and she shook her head.

The span of silence was something Ace had not anticipated. He looked at her, looked at the floor, and then finally, spoke. "Ace, I think it would be best if I found someplace quiet for you. I can pick you up in a week after you've had some time-" The lilt to his voice was a bit stronger then usual, as if trying to ease his words by disguising them in an accent. His eyes were stormy, churning with emotions that Ace couldn't identify because of his suddenly expressionless face. His words meant more then what he was saying.

She did see it now. Something in him had changed. He was just a little closer to being not only the chess player, but, the one whom invented the rules. It was that edge in his gaze, she'd seen it before. But, it seemed so much brighter now.

Ace pushed him, a churning her in her gut. Fear boiled into words. "What!? You're not ditching me on some toe-rag planet! You got it!? You just try, Professor!" She was snarling now, her jaw aching to reveal the pointed teeth. She refused it, and was spurred by only her own anger. Her hands were grasping his new maroon vest, just below his shoulders.

He wanted to get rid of her. He thought there was something she'd be too weak to handle. "After all I went through, and you try to drop me off? You think I'm gonna let you just toss me somewhere and smile and wave as you leave?"

Maybe, something had changed in her too. "No matter what new game we're playin' at…" She paused, and swallowed hard. Gently pressing her head into the soft fabric of his newly acquired wardrobe again as she took a few deep breaths. Calming herself from the blood lust that was part of her, that had urged her fright into anger "…I'm not letting you go it alone. You got that?"

His hug was something Ace hadn't expected. Or even realized she'd missed rather terribly. Tight and no funny business, it was a rare treat to receive one, and Ace soaked in the moment.

He'd never have come back for her, if she'd agreed. She knew deep down, that was the way he lived. Like he'd done with Mel, letting her go when the time seemed right. He was trying to make Ace another Mel, or…Jo…or…whatever other names he'd thrown around lately.

He wanted her safe. But, she wanted to be here with him. At home, in their TARDIS. So long as it wasn't trying to kill them.

"How is she?" Ace piped up from the midst of the hug. Hoping to squelch the disappointment at the realization, he'd expected her to take up his offer. She didn't want to think about that. She wasn't really too worried about the TARDIS. But, it was probably polite to ask. Regardless if she still was bitter at it as an entity.

"Hmm? Oh, yes…we'll both be fine once we get used to some of the-" He looked uncomfortable a moment, as if expecting Ace to have noticed something. She wriggled out of the hug and scanned him up and down swiftly. He looked just about the same as ever, save that new outfit. "-changes and challenges your DNA presents" He shuddered, to draw himself back from some far recess of his mind. Tapping his lip with his finger, he appeared to be making do without his brolly.

"Fancy some tea?" He said rather suddenly, and offered his arm, appearing to brush aside his worries. Ace followed his example, refusing to dwell on what was coming someday. The day when she'd have to leave, and he'd continue on without her. When she'd just be another name in his mind to call out. She curled in close beside him, forcing his arm to fall over her shoulders.

"Nothing else on my planner. I got the time."

"Hmm, do you indeed?" He tweaked her nose again, his fingers warmer then she'd expected. A door hissed open from the darkness, revealing Victorian-gothic decorated halls. Torches flickering with their own life on darkly stained wood.

Her eyes took in their newly furnished home. It was quite a leap from the last set up. She tested her toes hesitantly on the ground, finding it heated pleasantly, and very smooth. As if generations had walked the same path, and worn the wood. There were webs in the corners, and some ivy trailing the walls. It was almost like the house in Perivale that she'd burned down. The same mysterious corners, and secrets.

But, it was not frightening. This whole place, seemed older, or better yet, it seemed more mature.

The Doctor whispered, surprising her from her scrutiny of the new walls and flooring. His thumb was tracing her shoulder in a rather distracted manner, a secretive smile lingering on his lips. "…Do you indeed?"

I do believe that's all folks! For this story anyway.

I am very grateful for alerts to any grammatical errors, or so on.

Thank you for reading, and for any reviews given!

~W.W.M.~