A/N: Bwahaha. Chapter 11 for Doctor 11. I am just so darn good. ;P. Kat's POV. Hey, here's a thought. If you review I might post/update sooner. Just a thought. Do with it what you will.
Many, many thanks to: the always reviewer MandaPanda89, and my two new reviewers- Cetacea of Time and drkseeker233. You reminded me why I love to write this. You are awesome. Also to all those who read and favorite and etc.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except Kat, the plot of this story, and a muffin (a very good muffin that I am willing to share with all reviewers). The song Arms by Christina Perri is not mine, nor is Doctor Who.
Chapter 11: Unexpected Acquaintances.
"Doctor!" I called desperately. My family was home now, and the TARDIS had taken us to 2006, at the site of a large arson. Or so they said. The extraterrestrial part of the situation was quite obvious. An entire forest plus a large building, all burst into flames. Witnesses saw the entire area- two acres- burst into flames in perfect, horrifying harmony. Not only were people and animals turned into ash, but every single living organism had been evaporated. The flames came, and left, in a matter of seconds. So, of course, we had to come. And he had to leave me in the middle of it. Idiot. I had been walking for ages now, and was now in the small town next to the crime scene. Not only was I all alone, but I was freezing. I was unprepared to say the least. Short shorts, a lacy spaghetti strap shirt. A few more minutes and I would have to go inside and stop searching,
"Where is that man?" I grumbled. I heard voices, low and urgent, and smiled. It had to be him. I dashed around the corner, not even glancing at who was there,
"You know Doctor, for someone so old and on his tenth life you would think that you would have thought before running off," I said with a laugh. I looked up and blushed. Three people, a man in a bowtie and tweed, a normal looking bloke, and a young red head stared at me in amazement.
"Oh!" I cried, letting my blush spread around my cheeks, "I'm so sorry. I thought you were my friend. Tall, skinny as a stick, hair like a porcupine, hundred miles a minute talking?"
They continued to stare at me. I shifted uncomfortably, biting my lip and twisting my hair nervously,
"Were you in the middle of something?" my eyes flickered amongst the three, "I can go."
The man in the bowtie stepped forward suddenly, his eyes locked on me,
"No!" he exclaimed. Startled, I stepped back, reaching for a hand that was not there. The red head saw this and smiled at me sadly. The bowtie man relaxed,
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to scare you. You… you're not interrupting," he reassured me. I smiled at him.
"I'm Kat, by the way, Katherina McCreen," I held out a hand, "And you are?"
The man in the bowtie was still smiling, sadly now,
"John, John Smith and this is Amy and Rory," he shook my hand, as if it was a bittersweet exchange. I laughed aloud,
"My friend," I explained my outburst, "My friend he uses that name a lot."
Amy whispered something to John, who nodded tensely. I frowned at them. There was something… recognizable about them. As if I knew them, as if…
"KAT!" came a familiar call. The Doctor, "KAT I NEED YOU!"
I sighed happily, smiling affectionately,
"COMING DOCTOR!" I yelled back, relieved to hear his voice. I turned to the three, who all looked sad and curious. "My friend," I said, "That's him. Left me alone, walking about for two hours!" I laughed again, "Anyways, it was really nice to meet you."
I dashed off, turning corners. He stood, facing away from me, calling my name. I leaned against a wall, nonchalant,
"Looking for someone?" I wondered aloud. He turned, his face filled with happiness. I ran at him, feeling his arms around me.
You put your arms around me and I know its easier for you to let me go.
You put your arms around me and I'm home.
I buried my face in his shoulder, glad to be back,
"You left me! Two hours!" I cried. He held me closer,
"I know and I'm sorry."
Out of the corner of my eye I saw the three mysterious people watching. The man in the bowtie looked wistful, and the red head grabbed his hand reassuringly. I broke away from his embrace,
"Now, what have you find out?" I asked. The Doctor's eyes glinted,
"You told me that when you met me I nearly killed you with what you called Fire Beasts," he started. I put a finger on his lips,
"You called it a Fire Beast," I corrected him, "And then you kissed me."
He shrugged, obviously tense on the subject,
"Well… Yes…" he said, nervously. The red headed girl called Amy squealed, only silenced by a stern look from John. The Doctor turned, frowning as if he were confused by their very being here,
"And they are?" he asked me, eyebrows raised. I cocked my head and let out a bewildered giggle,
"I have absolutely no idea."
The Doctor turned back to me, lacing his fingers with mine,
"I suppose we should run then," he suggested with a wild smile. I half ran, half skipped, the widest smile on my face. It was times like these that I savored, when it was being together, saving the world and running. Simple. No rules, no boundaries, nothing. We skidded along the turns and finally ended up at the barren wasteland that was once a building and forest. The Doctor quickly scanned the area, placing a small phone in my hands,
"Right, beneath this area is a small crypt. I need you to go into it," he told me. I frowned,
"Why, exactly?"
"To see if there are any living things of course," he said, making me feel rather stupid.
"Why would there be living things in a crypt?" I asked. He gave me a pleading look,
"Just!" he ran his hand through his hair, "There would be rats and mice and spiders. If I'm right- and I'm always right," he bragged, subtle as ever, "They will all have been turned to dust. I need to know the extent of these Fire Beast's powers."
"And if you're wrong?" I wondered, hands on my hips, "Hmm?"
"Then you'll be waist deep in dead bodies and rats now GO!" he exclaimed. I rolled my eyes, flipping the phone between my hands, and wandered off into the crypt.
The day was ending, the sky a violet black that made shadows seem real. I walked cautiously into the crypt. I opened the phone, using it as a flash light. Empty. Completely. I shivered. Creepy. Not a single living thing was visible. No flies, no spiders, no bones... He was right. Again. I would never hear the end of this. I rolled my eyes, striding back to the door to the crypt. It was... closed. Confusion rained over me like a storm. I was sure I had left it open... I tried to push it open, fear pulsing through me.
"Doctor?" I whispered, my voice breaking, "It isn't funny." No response came, just a hint of movement. I swallowed deeply, pushing down the paralyzing horror. I spoke louder now, "Ha ha, very funny Doctor," I said with a laugh, my voice shrill, "Now open the door!" More movement. I felt trapped, a deer in headlights, "DOCTOR!" I began to scream, hitting the door desperately, "DOCTOR LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT! DOCTOR!"
A swift hand covered my mouth, barely muffling my screams of terror. I heard the sharp click of a gun being loaded, cold, hard metal pressed to my head. I felt sick to my stomach, and kicked wildly, harder and harder, clawing at the hand. Then there came a voice,
"Who are you and what is your relation to the Doctor." Male, late twenties... American? Oh that was bad, very bad. Americans had that tendency to shoot things, and it made me (to say the least) stay very, very still. A hand reached out and flipped on a light switch. The light temporarily blinded me, and I winced against the attacking lights. I heard a chuckle... But it wasn't malicious, it was a genuine laugh. I choked as the hand was removed from my mouth, knowing fine well that screaming would do not good,
"Kat-" I coughed out, "Katherina McCreen... Companion to the Doctor."
The American, who I could see more clearly now, shook his head,
"No kid, relation to the Doctor," he said. I opened and closed my mouth, unsure of what to say,
"I.. Why... Well... I suppose... I have no idea," I admitted with a small laugh. The American laughed with me, dropping his gun and throwing another at me. I caught it, fumbling as I did so.
"Join the club," the American said with a snort, "Come along bonnie Kat."
As stunned as I was, I was sensible enough to see through that joke. I crossed my arms, careful not to fire the gun and glared at the man with all the anger I had left,
"I'M IRISH!" I screamed, reaching out and slapping the man. He rubbed his cheek, still smiling, and pushed open the door,
"Really?" the man commented, smiling at me flirtatiously and batting his eyes, "Well then, come on Miss Celtic Kat!"
Grabbing my hand in a way that made me wistful for my- not my, the- Doctor's hand, he pulled us out of the crypt. I fell onto the ground, grumbling some very choice words and causing the American to laugh even harder. My eyes flickered to the side; the three people were here. Why? I pushed the thought from my mind, concentrating on the mysterious Yankee Doodle.
"Who in the name of all things holy are you?" I demanded to know, planting my feet in the ground. He glanced at them and gave me an appraising look,
"You're not going to move until you know aren't you," he observed. I shook my head, thrusting my chin up,
"Nope!"
He sighed, rolling his eyes,
"Well then. So sorry about this... well sort of," he said, lifting me over his shoulder. I let out a cry, beating my fists against his back,
"PUT ME DOWN YOU LITTLE-" I exclaimed, cut off by a distant cry. I stopped, listening for the voice. A smug smile crossed my face,
"Oh now you'll let me go," I chuckled, relaxing against the man's shoulder. Out of the corners dashed the Doctor, holding out his sonic like a weapon. He couldn't see the man's face, and raised it to the American's head angrily,
"Put. Her. Down," he commanded, fury swarming around him. The American, his head still covered by a hood, laughed, releasing me. I stumbled slightly, thankful as the Doctor's arms came around me. I buried my face in his shoulder, my pulse slowing,
"Took you long enough," I mumbled into his arm.
"Just be glad what I did worked," he replied, a smile in his voice. I felt his arm raise and I let go of him, standing tall and proud.
"Who are you, and why in the name of Rassilion did you give the girl you kidnapped a gun?" he asked. I glanced down at my hand, dropping the weapon like it was on fire. A blush began to spread around my cheeks. I could have defended myself. Now I seemed like a desperate mouse. Crap. The man lifted his hood. He was a handsome man, no, more than handsome, absolutely gorgeous. The Doctor's eyes widened and he let out a disgruntled sigh,
"I should have known," he sighed, rolling his eyes for good measure. I glanced back and forth between the two men, thoroughly confused,
"Hold on, sorry, who is he?" I asked, pointing at the American.
"Captain Jack Harkness. Used to travel with me," he revealed. I frowned, cocking my head,
"He used to travel with you?"
Jack flashed us a smile,
"That's right sweetheart," he chimed, obviously enjoying my discomfort, "How you doing Doc?"
The Doctor ran a hand through his hair,
"Fine until you showed up," my close friend said, smiling back, "Nice to see you again Jack."
Jack tipped an imaginary hat mockingly, swooping my hand and planting a kiss on it,
"Lovely to meet you're new companion, Queen Kat," he flirted unblushingly. Warmth crept inside me. Okay, so I liked him. Just a little. Maybe. I giggled,
"Nice to meet you as well Captain," I teased. Jack opened his mouth in a mock gasp,
"Ooooo. Captain. I like that," he said with a wink. The Doctor rolled his eyes again,
"It would be really useful if you would drop her hand and stop flirting with her," he reprimanded Jack. Jack dropped my hand and gave the Doctor a salute,
"What brings you and the lovely lady here?" Jack wondered. The Doctor shoved his hands in his pockets, glancing around,
"This," he told Jack vaguely. Jack raised his eyebrows. I rolled my eyes. Idiot. I stepped forward, smiling,
"Basically the entire area burst into flames, causing all living things to die. Some one," I jerked my thumb towards the Doctor, "Got curious."
Jack let out a loud chuckle, lowering his eyes from the horizon to me again,
"Oh, I like her," Jack stressed, kissing my hand again, "I think I'll call you Moss, Miss Kat." The Doctor's jaw tightened,
"And why would that be Captain?" the Doctor managed to say through gritted teeth. The dashing American gave the Doctor a 'seriously?' look, but managed to state his reasons clearly,
"One, because she sticks to you like Moss, two because it's a cute name for a wonderful girl and three..." Jack shrugged, his smile firmly planted on his face, "Well I don't know."
The Doctor cleared his throat, murmuring something none of us could hear,
"Jack, please try to refrain yourself from flirting with every tree, Moss and human out there," the Doctor said, sarcasm lacing his voice. I frowned, my mind reeling. Was he... Jealous? As if answering, the man in the bow tie- John- nodded quickly. That was certainly odd... I shoved the idea out of my mind again, skipping jovially over to the crimes scene. I spread my hands out and danced about, glad for the distraction,
"So WHAT are we to do about this?" I yelled to the two men. Jack began to walk- no, more like SASHAY- over, the Doctor following him. A familiar thumping began in my head. One two three four. One two three four. I reached out, my good mood forgotten, and touched my head. Pain roared through it, and I doubled over, head near my knees. Faint voices cried out, but my brain would only process the pain. Searing heat and those four beats. Onetwothreefour. Onetwothreefour. Burning burning, so hot, so cold. Onetwothreefour. Cold hands draped over me, gently pulling me, holding me. Words were coming out of my mouth, some mine some unrecognizable,
"Max, come home, Max, come home. She shall never survive the final blows. Ninety seven percent, an A, good for the daughter of royalty, eh? Never again. It burns, so bright, so hot, so dark, so cold. The everlasting darkness. Doctor. Doctor. Doctor. Help-hurts-I- can't... Doctordoctordoctor. Young, very young. You killed her, you did this. Why not? Can't you love me? The walls they crack, heal them, seal them. Marrisa, always about perfect Marissa. Falling, falling. I'm sorry, alright, I'm sorry. Losing her will kill you all. MAX! MAX! NOT MAX PLEASE NO! End it, end it. Doctor, help, Doctor I need you, it hurts, everything hurts. BURN!"
With the last strange words I collapsed, makeup smeared up and down my hand, my hands over my face. A hand brushed mine, slowly, gently pulling it from my face. I shivered, shuddering. Faces blurred and clashed as the tears fell out. I let myself go limp, propped up by someone else. Voices murmured me to sleep, and all the world faded behind me.
A/N:…. I don't know why I do this to my characters. But I do. It will get better Kat, don't worry. OH IS THAT A PREVIEW I SEE?
"That's for us to know," the Doctor began, lacing his fingers with mine.
"And you to find out!" I practically sang, fighting giggles.
Jack scowled at the two of us,
"You two are so darn cute," he growled, "and it's REALLY annoying."
So yeah, she lives. Reviews are always welcome! I open my email and it's like Christmas all over again. Or Chanukah or Kwanza. So basically a really happy time.