Disclaimer: I don't own doctor who. This amazing show belongs to BBC not me. But I do own my oc and promise to try to make the doctor who characters act as they are portrayed in the show.

555LordBacon666: You're in luck I just finished the next chapter; thanks for the review. But do you have a big white van? cause you know what they say, [insert musical score here] always trust a stranger in a big white van! Anywho, I can't spoil things and tell you if you're wrong or right but you deductions will be proved or disproved in a few chaps :D

KatieTheBaka: it is now updated sorry for the wait. I have valid excuses :)

ElfinCleona: You are right but I won't tell you which part; I'll let it be a surprise :D

hangwan000: Long overdue update sorry. thanks so much for your review :P

a hobbit: Your hopes have been answered, lol :)

SarcasticRaven: It's nice to know I'm not the only one who uses the word wicked :D

Midnight Angel414: Oh the rings are going to tie in immensely in the series as I've been doing alot of who research and have found some pretty interesting facts on timelords [there referenced from classic-who]. And don't worry I love rambles, they make me smile. Just like your reviews :)

Fulminata: Thanks. I make a few little references about her growing attraction even if she doesn't know she has them :D

[The reason it took me so long to update is that I had to do a total re-haul of my story and edit the crap out of it, lots of spelling mistakes, and a few holes to fill. I'll be editing each chapter I post from now on before I post the next so it doesn't take me this long to post. I'll be doing the same with my Sherlock fiction before the next update.]

Everything had changed, as much I supposed it could have, since we were both permanent figures upon the SS TARDIS. Martha and I had been with the Doctor about a week, traveling all over creation having the usual adventures; though thankfully they were nothing too threatening or world ending, no deaths involved, but still involved quite a lot of running. Needless to say they had been fun.

Then, there was the fact that some more of my timelord traits had come in. Lets just say I had yet to visit my bedroom that existed somewhere in the deep recesses of the TARDIS and that I could hold my breath pretty darn long. Freaked me out when my second heart had started pumping for the first time. Of course, the Doctor being the Doctor, wanted to celebrate; brought us to a nice party where we had gotten into trouble, per usual. Things had been going great, save for one thing. And it was something entirely of my own design.

Where ever we went I was always looking over my shoulder. As if I were waiting for some force to ruin everything. Though what I was waiting for I had no idea. For some reason or other I couldn't quite shake the irrational feeling. Unfortunately, even Martha had noticed.

"So what happened," she quietly asked across the kitchen table, delicately sipping a cup of tea.

"What do you mean," I asked appearing nonplussed, playing with my bowl of fruity pebbles, "Nothing happened, I'm just eating with you see."

"You know what I mean, ever since the party you've been actin' squirrelly."

"Oh, that! Well, how was I supposed to know that the Regent Prince of the Entrian Empire of the Kalax system was proposing. It was just a hand shake! You heard what he said, there was no place in the galaxy that I could hide from his throbbing roddual. Which thank god meant heart. For a second I had thought he was talking about his pe-"

Abruptly she interrupted the rant with narrowed eyes. "That's not what I was talking about and you know it. Now stop avoiding the question. I swear it must be some timelord thing."

I shrugged her off, spooning another mouthful of the rainbow of fruity goodness. "I really have no idea what you're talking about."

"Ever since the party at Lazurus Laboratories you've been jumpy."

I swallowed calmly and pushed my bowl away, further across the table, and interwove my hands underneath my chin, resting it upon them. Casually I peered over at her, "I'm just cautious, that's all. Everywhere we go there's bound to be trouble I'm just preparing myself for the inevitable."

Martha shook her head, not believing a word, and set down her cup, "No. That's not it. I think something happened, something you're not telling us. Something you'd very much like to share with someone and it's eating you alive, I can tell. My mate Jenny was the same way, jumping at every shadow and noise. Come to find out, when she finally couldn't hold it in any longer, that her abusive Ex had found out where her new flat was and had made threats. She didn't want to say anything, as not to worry anyone, because it was her own drama and thus she should take care of it herself."

Before Martha had a chance to continue I quickly cut in as she paused for breath, "While I hope that everything ended OK with Jenny I have to ask if there is a point to this story."

She huffed and rolled her eyes, "Yes there is. The point is, had she just said something and asked for help, should could have saved herself all the worrying and sleepless nights. She could have gotten back to normal life and had fun like the rest of us. So I'm asking you. Did anything happen when we left you by yourself at the party?"

Oh, when had she gotten so perceptive. Maybe I was just being too transparent and she somehow picked up on my hidden worry. Regardless of how she had come to her conclusion she was right about one thing, I was dying to tell someone about the man at the party. Yet, I had my reasons for remaining quiet on the topic. With a sigh I got up, taking my bowl with me to place in the sink on the green marbled counter top. I still found it odd that the TARDIS had such a normal non-alien kitchen inside, though it was a different one from the one I had used last time. Apparently there were several, all with different interior styles, this one was more British country side. Drumming my fingers on the counter I spun around to answer her. "Nothing happened," I assured, before making a vague inference that contradicted my statement, "but if say something had, figuratively of course, I wouldn't speak of it because I wouldn't wish for certain parties to become privy to certain details and make a big deal out of nothing and lock me away in a tower somewhere. But, like I said, it's nothing."

"What's nothing?"

The Doctor, hands in his blue pin striped suit, stood in the doorway; having snuck up like a proverbial ninja just at the end of our conversation. At least I had hoped. So as my brain was momentarily fried at how to respond I hastily turned to Martha for some form of explanation, hoping she wouldn't enlighten him of her earlier suspicions. Seeing my panic she spoke up, "Umm, us. We're doing nothing. We had just been wondering when our next adventure would be was all."

"Oh, what coincidence then," he smiled, "I was just coming to collect you two. Stumbled across the missing diary of Sir Francis Drake in the library. I must have collected it at some point and forgotten about it, then the TARDIS must have archived it for me...anyway his last entry seemed pretty odd, just cut off randomly. Raving about a strange window, or a crack, into another realm that was eating away at the sea. It was dated right about the time he took his six months to travel the Mediterranean, something that should have only taken him, as quite the experienced navigator, only two. Thought we might pop in, check it out, and solve one of histories many mysteries. So how 'bout it?"

Eager to distance myself from a possible headache, one I was sure Martha was keen on inducing since I didn't see her letting go of our earlier topic for long, I jumped at the idea of a distracting adventure. "Sounds like it could be interesting, I'm game."

Martha stood up and smiled excitedly, "Do you think they'll be pirates?"

The TARDIS was quiet save it's normal humming as it flew idly through the time vortex; the console room for once wasn't bouncing around over every time slip. Before the Doctor had plotted the appropriate course he swiveled his attention back to the two of us, snapping his fingers together. "That's right, almost forgot, if you ladies could please hand over your mobiles for a quick tick, I can give them a much needed upgrade. After our last encounter," his eyes pivoted over accusingly in my direction for a second, "I realized it could have come in handy if you two could call the other. Especially if we end up getting split up. Again."

With a huff I pulled out my cell from my bag and plopped it into his waiting outstretched palm. Folding my arms over my chest I rolled my eyes. "Not my fault," I reiterated for the umpteenth time, "Besides, it was my celebration. If I want to ruin it by mistaking a royal proposal for a simple normal greeting then by all means I'm allowed to. It's not my fault someone didn't warn me about certain cultural differences."

Extracting his sonic out of his coat the Doctor began buzzing the touch screen of the I-phone. Briefly he looked over and shook his head, "I didn't have too. The book I gave you two days ago should have covered it. Did you not finish it?"

"Finish it!? Doctor that wasn't a book! That, was a tome, and it was only volume one," I practically shouted, waving my hands exasperated in the air, "It was the complete webster's dictionary of alien customs, by the time I was a few pages into that monstrous sucker I was ready to throw it into an incinerator at how dry it was."

"So you didn't finish it?"

"Technically...no," I begrudgingly concurred before a small smile worked it's way onto my face, "But you have to agree it's much more fun learning first hand."

A cheeky smirk cut across his features as he finished whatever jiggery pokery he had been trying to accomplish with my phone. "Just next time try not to get engaged."

"I make no such promises," I shrugged, waving a finger around my face, "I can't help it that I'm so irresistible. But fret not, I promised Martha the next prince was all hers."

The Doctor handed back my phone trying not to smile as he grabbed Martha's. She chuckled next to me, gently jabbing my ribs with her elbow, "Let's just hope the next one doesn't have antlers sprouting out of his head."

"Ah, really? I thought they were very distinguished looking," I grinned, peering down at my cell's screen. Universal roaming activated blipped across, alerting me of the new perk. I let out an Ooh of appreciation and then decided to test out the new upgrade by belting out a text. Pulling up my contacts I began composing a quick message to the one person who'd slap me if I didn't update them of my current status of continued existence, Hey, Alibear! Just sending you a text from inside the time vortex. Got engaged to some prince, not my fault, just though you should know. Explain later. I checked the message before pressing send with a short laugh. Even more so when I got an immediate response of WTF!? I didn't bother replying. I decided I'd let her chew on that for a while for my own amusement, eventually I'd call to explain, but letting her imagination run wild was much more entertaining. I knew she'd be re-reading it over and over again wondering wether or not it was some joke.

"There we go! Universal Roaming. Never have to worry about a signal again," the Doctor announced, throwing Martha her phone as he twirled around the console pressing buttons and pulling levers as he went. She stared at the device in her hand with awed disbelief, "No way! But it's...too mad! You're telling me I can call anyone, anywhere in Space and Time on my mobile?!"

"Long as you know the area code. Frequent Fliers' privilege," he smiled fondly across the controls at the two of us, "Go on. Try it."

Just as Martha began to dial we instantly hit some form of turbulence, the suddenness knocked us all off our feet. A loud resounding alarm blared through the room as the screen before the Doctor beeped for attention. Pulling himself over, he clung onto the rim of the console, reading the prompt. Shouting over the noise he used his foot to hold a switch on the controls, "Distress signal! Locking on!"

Another violent shake of the time machine sent those of us who had tried to collect themselves off the floor back onto it, smacking into the metallic grating. As the room stopped moving the Doctor popped back up, his head poking over the console, "Turbulence. Sorry."

Hastily jumping up, he rushed towards the blue doors, bursting through them, "Come on Martha, Adler! Let's take a look!"

Groaning I got off the floor and followed after him, wondering out loud, "What about Sir Francis-Holy crap it's sweltering in here!"

A hot thick gust of steam sprayed across me as I stepped out of the doors into a red lit metallic boiler room. "Whoa," the Doctor commented examining the pipes, "Now that is hot!"

I had to agree enthusiastically. Which was why I had set my bag on the floor to rip off my red jacket in the blink of an eye, throwing it back into the TARDIS and barely missing Martha as she stepped out. "Ugh! It's like a sauna in here," she remarked, following suit and stripping out of her own jacket as well.

The Doctor leaned over to examine a few more of the pipes before standing up straight having worked something out. "Venting systems. Working at full pelt. Trying to cool down… Uh, where-ever it is we are," he mused before spotting a heavy door, "Well! If you can't stand the heat…"

Pushing the big thing open with a loud metallic scraping he poked his head out to check the surroundings first. Seeing that it was clear he opened it further to the rest of us. Quickly collecting my bag I followed after, eager to leave. As I entered the grungy metal hallway there was definitely a difference in temperature, it was much cooler than our previous room, though it was still balls hot and so sweat started accumulating on my brow. Of course, before I had a chance to take in our new location three people bolted towards us, each sweaty and dirty, yelling at our presence. "Oi you three," one of the men, the older one, shouted. The woman in the middle rushed forward, "Get out of there!"

As we stepped away from the door, a little confused at their urgency, the man who had shouted first pointed to one of his friends, "Seal that door! Now!"

Pulling out a large wrench the other man twisted the bolts on the door, working them tighter and tighter, sealing it. Something that wasn't very good considering our ride was in there. The woman, sweat dripping down her oil smudged face, bosom heaving underneath her black tank top, glared at us with suspicion. "Who are you? What are you doing on my ship?"

Before we could answer, the earlier, younger, man eyed us slightly freaked, "Are you police?"

"Why would we be police" the Doctor asked, his question striking a cord. It was out of place, an odd thing to ask so out of the blue. I would have thought how'd you get in here would have been their first one. Martha quickly piped up, trying to rid the room of suspicion, a little upset by their welcome, "We got your distress signal."

"If this is a ship, why can't I hear any engines," the Doctor inquired, addressing the woman. Losing a little of her earlier steam she answered, "It went dead four minutes ago."

"So maybe," one of the men growled at her, "we should stop chatting and get to engineering, Captain."

Before she could retort an alarm began to blare as a computer automated voice spoke over the sound system, "Secure closure active."

The female Captain's eyes widen as she twirled around, sending her blonde hair flying around her, "What!?"

"This ships gone mad," the young man stated quietly as he ran a hand down his grungy face. Suddenly another person came racing down the corridor, a woman, jumping through a door just as it slammed closed behind her. Speeding towards us she took one glance back at the door before angrily gazing at the group out of breath, "Who activated secure closure? I nearly got locked into area 27."

Just as she said that another bulk head slammed shut, locking down the area after her. Noticing the new faces she posed a normal, if not a bit agitated, question, "Who are you?"

The Doctor, about to answer took a friendly step forward right as Martha beat him to it, "He's the Doctor, that's Echo and I'm Martha. Hello."

As the last words quietly left her she moved forward, almost in a trance, towards an opening in the metal plating that caught her attention. An orangey light shined through it, draping her in its glow as she looked out the glass. Alarm and panic overtook her features morbidly piquing my curiosity. Just what was she viewing that plastered that look on her face.

The computer animated voice rang out once again with an alert, "Impact projection: 42 minutes."

My brows scrunched up in confusion, "Wait!? What does it mean impact?"

The female captain gazed at the two of us with grim assurance, "We'll get out of this. I promise."

Martha shakily called out by the small golden window, moving closer towards it, "Doctor…"

Hearing the fear in her voice I made my way over to see what had her so freaked. The second I peered out that tiny hole I was quickly on the same page. There, through the glass, was the vast void of space; only it was swallowed by the large overpowering star we were slowly hurtling towards. Angry wisps of orange and yellows licked up towards us, as if it were hands trying to pull us into the fires. Something that explained the massive spike of heat. I gulped, worriedly calling our designated driver over, "Doctor."

"Forty-two minutes 'til what," he asked from behind us, still not hearing his name. Realizing he wasn't listening Martha shouted over more urgently, "Doctor! Look..."

Hearing the trembling fear taper off her command he ran over to join us by the view. The captain finally enlightened him of our current predicament just as he gazed out the glass. "Forty–two minutes until we crash into the sun."

He stared at that gaseous tumultuous giant for only a moment before making a mental assessment. Not one to waste time the Doctor raced over to the captain and, a little to roughly, gripped her arms with slight panic, "How many crew members on board?"

"Seven, including us."

"We transport cargo across the galaxy. Everything's automated. We just keep the ship…," the middle aged man explained, the reason why there were so few. Looking at each of them the Doctor quickly raced back from where we'd came, trying to pry the door open, "Call the others, I'll get you out!"

The crew members immediately panicked and chased after him in horror. "What's he doing?!"

The captain shouted, "Doctor don't!"

Except it was too late, for whatever reason they didn't want him to open that door it soon became apparent as a he was flung backwards with a shout by a burst of steam. The room, so hot, was like a pressure cooker and so the force of it rushing out knocked him to the ground. Martha quickly moved to his aid, helping him back up as a woman wearing gloves and a welders helmet sprinted to fasten the door. The Doctor yelled in protest, "But my ship's in there!"

One of the men, the younger one, looked at him quizzically, "In the vent chamber?"

He turned to the captain, "It's our lifeboat!"

"It's lava," the older male corrected, crossing his arms. The female crew member took off her helmet and walked over to the dial on the wall, examining the readings. She almost whistled at what she saw, "The temperature's going mad in there! Up 3000 degrees in ten seconds, and still rising."

"Channelling the air," the young male crew member explained, "The closer we get to the sun, the hotter that room's gonna get."

Martha sucked in a hot breath of air and turned to the Doctor with contempt, "We're stuck here."

"So," he drawled out, "We fix the engines, we steer the ship away from the Sun! Simple! Engineering down here, is it?!"

"Yes," the captain breathed just as he pushed past her to gallop down a corridor on our left. Begrudgingly, as everything was way to hot, everyone trailed after him careful of the piles of small containers lining the sides. The computer informed us once more, in a calm voice, of our impending deadline, "Impact in 40.26."

The Doctor raced down a set of stairs and disappeared into the engine room bellow. The rest of us trampled down after him walking into quite the mess. The metallic room was in chaotic disarray; wires, springs and titanium tubing hung limply and broken from the ceiling. Pipes lay cracked and smashed spewing fourth hot bursts of steam blanketing the rusting machinery in a film of condensation and glass from shattered casings crunched underfoot.

"Blimey," the Doctor remarked examining the state of the equipment, "Do you always leave things in such a mess?"

"Oh my god!" The female captain exclaimed examining the state of her engine room. The older male shipmate shouted with frustrated disbelief, "What the hell happened?!"

"Oh," the younger male commented, approaching the machine in the middle of the room, the main component," it's wrecked."

"Pretty efficiently too," the Doctor added inspecting one of the engines, "Someone knew what they were doing."

Moving away from the machinery he wandered over to a computer terminal attached to one of the wrecked panels and began throwing up screens; searching through their database. He pulled on his sleek black specs in preparation to do a bit of digging. The captain, to busy to care about his curiosity, looked around the room, "Where's Korwin? Has anyone heard from him or Ashton?"

"No," the older male answered, holding up a flashlight as he began looking at what systems to repair. Martha's voice shook lightly as things were definitely starting to appear pear shaped, "You mean someone did this on purpose?!"

"We'll it definitely didn't happen by itself," I frowned as a spring shot across the room from built pressure. The captain marched over to a communication device on the wall and pressed the speaker, "Korwin? Ashton? Where are you?"

She received no answer, just silence, and the other female watched unnerved by the lack of response. The captain pressed the intercom once more, "Korwin, can you answer?!"

Met with only more silence she pushed away from the speaker in frightened frustration, "Where the hell is he? He should be up here!"

No one answered the woman as she began to pace, each to busy starting repairs on the wreckage. The Doctor smiled as a new window appeared on the computer screen of an odd solar system, "Oh! We're in the Torajji system! Lovely! You're a long way from home, Martha, Adler. Half a universe away."

Martha scoffed sarcastically, "Yeah. Feels it."

"You just take us to all the nicest places don't you," I remarked jokingly, wiping a bit a sweat off my brow. I hated hot places. Never could stand them, when it became to hot you could only take off so many clothes to cool down before it was socially unacceptable. Unlike with the cold, where you just kept adding more, granted you'd look strange but no one would comment. It's why I grabbed a scrunchie out of my bag and pulled my hair into a large messy bun, alleviating some of the heat.

The Doctor, either not picking up on the sarcasm or dismissing it, left the terminal and approached the floundering captain. Leaning a hand against a ladder he homed in with some questions that had been bothering him, "And, you're still using energy scoops for fusion? Hasn't that been outlawed yet?"

The young male crew member stepped down that ladder, carrying a bunch of equipment on his back, just at the end of the question and shifted rather guiltily, eyeing his captain with a pointed gaze. Quickly dismissing the question she gave an excuse. "We're due to upgrade next docking," she informed matter-of-factly, walking away from the conversation before barking out orders, "Scannell, engine report!"

The older male, or Scannell, hurried over to the computer terminal the Doctor had previously been messing with. Everyone anxiously peered over his shoulder as he mucked around with the keys, pulling up readings and windows. The machine beeped several times as he agitatedly tried to type in an input. "No response."

Pushing away from the computer he ran back over to the wrecked engine as the captain gasped a scared What!? The woman in her disbelief began fiddling with the screen herself, only to receive the same error noise. Martha and I turned to each other with slight worry, nothing anyone had been saying so far had sounded reassuring. Scannell grabbed a bulky flashlight on his way and grabbed some of the protruding exposed wires, examining each of them with grim knowledge, "They're burnt out. The controls are wrecked. I can't get them back online."

"Oh come on," the Doctor exclaimed a bit irked by their defeatist attitudes as he pulled of his specs, "Auxiliary engines! Every craft's got auxiliaries!"

"We don't have access from here," the captain rolled her eyes and defensively leaned her hands on her hips, "The auxiliary controls are in the front of the ship."

"Yeah, with 29 password sealed doors between us and them. You'll never get there in time," Scannell piped in. Martha looked at him slightly put out, "Can't you override the doors?"

"No. Sealed closure means what it says. They're all deadlock sealed."

The Doctor winced as the plan that had begun to form in his noggin crumbled at the word deadlocked, "So a sonic screwdriver's no use…"

Scannell shook his head shrugging with a fatalistic attitude, "Nothing's any use. We've got no engines, no time, and no chance."

The Doctor furrowed his brows with exasperation. "Oh, listen to you! Defeated before you've even started! Where's your Dunkirk spirit," he turned to the captain, "Who's got the door passwords?"

The young male crew-mate interrupted his superior before she could speak, the only person that seemed to have retained a glimmer of hope amongst his peers, "They're randomly generated. Reckon I know most of 'em. Sorry. Riley Vashti."

"Then what're you waiting for Riley Vashti, get on it," the Doctor ordered, taking command of the situation. "Well, it's a two-person job," Riley answered before running over to a shelf, retrieving a big metal clamp and a large bagpack, "One, it takes to answer the questions, and the other to carry this."

He turned to his captain with a joking grin, "The oldest and cheapest security system around, eh captain?"

She cocked her head to the side, jaw gritting slightly at the jab before throwing one right back, "Reliable and simple, just like you, eh Riley?"

He shrugged the bagpack onto his back, "Try and be helpful, get abuse. Nice!"

"I'll help you. Make myself useful," Martha piped up, grabbing the large clamp from him. I went to offer my assistance as well but noticed the look the Doctor shot me the moment he felt my shift in emotion and thought better of it. It was clear he was still a bit wary of letting me out of his sights, unless of course we were on the TARDIS, then I could managed to be alone for quite some time before he popped his face around. Still, it was a bit annoying to have him so underfoot all the time, where ever we went, but I kept that tidbit of information to myself. He might have been able to feel it, but he'd never know what my frustration was aimed or caused by.

Riley shot Martha a flirtatious grin before starting to lead her away, "It's remotely controlled by computer panel. That's why it needs two."

"Oi," the Doctor called out seriously, causing her to turn back at his tone, "Be careful."

Probably reading a little too much into the meaning of his motive Martha smiled back wistfully, "You too."

Not wasting anymore time she raced after Riley who disappeared back up the stairs, shooting me a quick wave goodbye as she past. Suddenly a male voice called out over the intercom panel, sending a ping in alert, "McDonnell? It's Ashton."

The captain, McDonnell, hastily rushed over to press the receiver, "Where are you? Is Korwin with you?"

"Get up to the med-centre NOW!" He ordered with dead seriousness, casting an already urgent atmosphere on the situation at the lack of why. The other two crew members turned to each other with a growing panic. Quickly McDonnell raced away from the intercom back up those metal stairs shouting orders as she went, "Erina, Scannell, I want those engines up and running when I get back. Do you hear me!"

Not one to be left out of the important stuff, the Doctor chased after her, "Come on' Echo!"

Knowing my cue I trampled back up the metal steps, passing Martha and Riley who were setting up outside the engine room, getting ready to open the first bulkhead. Speedily turning we leapt up another set of stairs as the computer automated voice called out once more, "Impact in 34.31."

I could hear the male screams of agony before we reached to the Med-bay, reverberating down the hall in tortured pain. His shouts for relief echoed down the corridor, "Argh! Stop it!"

A panicked female voice tried to placate him, "Korwin! It's Abi! Open your eyes, I need to take a look at you!"

As we ran through a sheet of plastic covering, into the red and orange room, a man thrashed about wildly on an MRI bed as another man and woman in maroon scrubs stood over him, trying to restrain him as he spasmed and convulsed. McDonnell sprinted over at his sounds of torment, "Korwin! What's happened?! Is he OK?!"

Korwin seized in hysterics, crying and screaming all at once, "Oh God! Help me! It's burning me!"

The Doctor walked over to the edge of the bed, examining the man for injuries but, like me, saw none. "How long's he been like this," he asked. Abi attempted to keep him still to give him medical care but he struggled to much for her to get any leverage, "Ashton just brought him in."

"What's wrong with him," I asked worriedly, each scream rippled across my mind in empathy for the man. The physician shook her head, "I don't know. I can't get a good look at him because we're tryin' to keep 'im restrained."

Seeing they had their hands full the Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver and stuck it near the man's face to gather a reading. McDonnell panicked, "What are you doing?!"

"Sonic impulse," he off handedly answered. She rushed next to Korwins side, pushing past Ashton, and attempted to block him, not that it stopped him, "Don't be so stupid, that's my husband!"

Ashton growled from beside her, "And he's just sabotaged our ship!"

"What?!"

Turning around she gazed at him wide eyed and in disbelief before returning her attention to her husband, rubbing a comforting hand across his forehead. "He went mad," Ashton bit out, "He set the ship to secure closure, then he set the heat pulse to melt the controls."

She continued to stare at her husband, deep emotions beginning to well in her eyes, "No way! He wouldn't do that!"

"I saw it happen, Captain," Ashton snarled, trying to keep the other man's legs from flailing around and kicking him in the face. It was at that moment the Doctor finished his scans and retracted his device. "Korwin," he asked, "Korwin, open your eyes for me for a second."

"I can't!" The man screamed through the pain, his face contorting in agony. The Doctor looked down at him and spoke with a gentle tone, "Yeah, course you can. Go on."

"Don't make me look at you! Please!" He whimpered, appearing about ready to cry. Except while everyone just saw a man in pain, one who appeared to be the saboteur, I saw a scared man, a terrified man. So I had to know. Why was he so afraid? "Why," I asked, "What are you afraid will happen Korwin. Why don't you want to open them?"

"I-I'll, if I-if I-if I open-," Korwin tried to answer, stumbling over the pain to speak, almost manic with trying to get the words out before he screamed once more. Moving down the bed the Doctor, finally having had enough, picked up a red gun, that looked similar to an air gun, off a medical tray. "Alright, alright, alright. Just relax," he held the instrument up to Abi, "Sedative?"

She nodded her head, "Yes."

Pressing the device up to his exposed neck the Doctor administered the sedative as Korwin shouted from the injection. Then, as the blue liquid disappeared beneath his skin, he let out one final cry before becoming still, all limbs falling limp at the side. Placing the gun back on the tray the Doctor crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the bed as he watched the sleeping man.

"What's wrong with him," the captain asked, gazing at her husband helplessly. "Rising body temperature, unusual energy readings…," the Doctor informed trailing off into thought before pointing to the MRI machine, "Stasis chamber. I do love a good stasis chamber. Keep him sedated in there. Regulate the body temperature."

Abi, the ships medic, eyed at him with uncertainty but did as he suggested and walked over to a panel on the machine, typing in some inputs. "And, just for fun," he added, "run a bio-scan and tissue profile on a metabolic detail."

She canted her head back from what she was doing with exasperation, "Just doing them now."

"Oh, you're good. Anyone else presenting these symptoms?"

"Not so far," she shook her head looking down at her patient. The Doctor sighed, "Well, that's something."

McDonnell, finally having had enough, turned to the two medical professionals with frustration, "Will someone tell me what is the matter with him?!"

Now there was I question I myself had wanted answered. That animalistic panic that had shone earlier in his eyes had me worried that we'd stumbled across something more than just a crashing ship. "Some sort of infection. We'll know more after the test results," the Doctor answered, then ordered the captain about, "Now, Allons-y, back downstairs. Ay! See about those engines. Go."

I groaned at the word infection. Great the daft man had brought us to an outbreak, there had better be no space zombies. I don't do zombies, especially in space, unless it was a video game, as I didn't wish to end up as the undead. With my luck I'd be the first to contract what ever disease we'd found ourselves wallowing around in, I had a weak constitution as a child so I always ended up with the seasons cold. Something I'm sure that had to do with my mangled biology due to whatever whammy my father had inflicted upon me as a toddler. Now there was a topic I had yet to bring up to the Doctor; the fact I remembered a few small tidbits of my short timelord childhood. Shifting I watched him order Ashton and McDonnell out of the room, wondering if I should bring the subject to his attention at some point. Or, should it be yet another thing I kept to myself.

"Ay! Go," the timelord commanded of the lingering captain. She took one last tentative glance back towards her still husband and slipped out the doorway. Before I had a chance to registered what was going on he gripped my hand and pulled me along out to the hallway, "Call us if there's news! Any questions?"

Scoffing Abi called out after us, "Yeah. Who are you?"

Twirling us around he popped his head back into the room, past the plastic curtains, to get the last word, "I'm the Doctor!"

And with that we raced back towards the engine room, our hurried steps jumping down the corridor as we went. Glancing back the Doctor shot me a worried look, "Are you all right?"

"Of course," I stated keeping up with him more easily than I used to, "why wouldn't I be."

"You still haven't learned to properly erect emotional barriers," he informed before sending me one of his more trademark soul peering gazes and pressed on, "So I'll ask again. Are you all right?"

I swallowed looking caught. My mind raced for a lie that he'd believe but I had a feeling he wouldn't be so easily fooled like the last time so I opted for another solution. Diversion. "Doctor do you really think now is the time."

He regarded me carefully, wondering wether or not what was bothering me was to important to dismiss so easily. "Fine, but we will talk about this later."

I sat dejectedly on a metal crate, elbows resting on my knees and head resting on my hands, watching the crew fuss around with the mechanics of the engine room. I would have been more useful if I had gone with Riley and Martha, but someone had to be all attached-to-the-hip. Which left me with nothing to do but sweat since I knew nothing about spaceship mechanics. Hell, watching everyone work was making me sweat in that unmanageable heat. The Doctor was even dripping a bit as he walked over to the intercom, having left monkeying around with a broken control panel to check on everyones progress. "Abi, how's Korwin doing? Any results from the bio-scan?"

The ships physician's answered back over the speaker, "He's under heavy sedation. I'm just trying to make sense of this data. Give me a couple of minutes and I'll let you know."

Letting go of the call button he walked back over to the wreckage before, as he never was one to wait the long way, he rushed back to the intercom and phoned our friend. "Martha? Riley? How're you doing?"

Martha's voice called out over the speaker with an update, "Area twenty-nine, at the door to twenty-eight!"

Throwing on his sexy specs, the Doctor pulled up some ship readings on the screen attached to the panel in the wall. He frowned at the readout of the failing heat shields, "You've gotta move faster!"

Martha scoffed, shouting back, "We're doing our best!"

Leaving the device on he moved back over to the engines, lending Scannell a helping hand. Riley's voice blared from the speaker as he read out loud some question, "Find the next number in the sequence: 313, 331, 367… what?"

Martha's shaky voice addressed him, "You said the crew knew all the answers."

"The crew's changed since we set the questions," Riley admitted. "You're joking…," I heard her groan over the com. The Doctor, who had been listening intently to their conversation, rushed back over towards the intercom, pressing the call button, "379!"

"What?!" Martha exclaimed. He rolled his eyes, "It's a sequence of happy primes. 379."

"Happy what?"

"Just enter it!" he shouted with frustration. "Are you sure," Riley asked doubtfully, "We only get one chance!"

He glared at the screen before belting out in that fast paced way he was prone to do when annoyed having to explain things down to people. "Any number which reduces to one when you take the sum of the square of its digits and you continue iterating until it yields one is a happy number. Any number that doesn't, isn't. A happy prime is a number which is both happy and prime, now type it in!"

He turned to McDonnell as she descended the ladder next to him, "I dunno, talk about dumbing down! Don't they teach recreational mathematics any more?"

His eyes passed over me and I shrugged, the effort seemed much more strenuous than I thought it would be in the stifling air, "I wouldn't know, didn't pay attention in math, to busy doodling all over the handouts. Not that I failed. I received A's in all my classes, I just never tried, math especially."

"We're through!" Martha called out, cutting off any comment the Doctor may have had on my earlier one.

"Keep moving. Fast as you can," he ordered before removing his glasses and quietly added with a sensitive tone, "And, Martha, be careful. There may be something else on board this ship."

I could hear her sarcasm radiating through the speaker, "Any time you wanna unnerve me, feel free!"

"Will do, thanks."

Switching off the com he wandered back over to the engine, but not before leaning down as he past to give me a similar message, "That goes double for you. Don't be wandering off by yourself. There's more going on here than a broken ship falling into the sun."

"Aye aye captain," I remarked trying to smile, only to have it produce more of a wincing effect. It was to damn hot to do anything more. He patted my head affectionately before returning to work, leaving me once more to feel useless but at the same time thankful for not having to move. The computer announced our impending doom once again, it was beginning to grow in annoyance the further it informed us that fact, "Impact in 30. 50."

I heard the Doctor groan in frustration as he began pulling pieces and wires from the engine with speed, scraping things that were unsalvageable the minute he spotted them. He pulled up a mass of red wires holding plug outlets and gazed at each of the crew members, "We need a backup in case they don't reach the auxiliary engines in time. Come on! Think! Resources, what have we got?!"

They stared at him mid task, not sure of how to respond. Thankfully for them they didn't need to as Martha called over the intercom again. "Doctor?"

"What is it now!?"

"Who had the most number ones, Elvis, or the Beatles. That's pre-download," she asked. I wondered who had come up with some of those questions as I could see the crew wracking their brains over the numbers. Confidently the Doctor quickly replied. "Elvis. No! The Beatles! No! Wait! Um… um…," he smacked the back of his head as he tried to recall the information stuck in his brain only, like an overheating computer, his mind was running to frazzled to due the rising heat, "Argh! What was that remix? Um… I don't know! I am a bit busy!"

"Fine," she grumbled, "I'll ask someone else! Echo do you know?"

"I'm pretty sure it's Elvis, my mom was a huge fan," I shrugged, leaning against the metal frame of the room. I felt like I was cooking in an oven.

"Alright. Thanks."

"Now, where was I," the Doctor mused, "Here comes the sun. No, resources. So, the power's still working, the generator's going. If we can harness that.. ah!"

"Use the generator to jump-start the ship," McDonnell finished for him, having worked it out. He shot a finger in her direction, "Exactly! At the very least, it'll buy us some more time."

"That…," she quirked her head to the side, "is brilliant."

"I know! See! Tiny glimmer of hope," he smiled using his high voice to lighten the mood causing the crew to smile back. Knowing there was a way out of the dire situation they all seemed to be fairing better, well all except one. "If it works," Scannell added pessimistically.

The captain shot him a cynical look, "Oh, believe me. You're gonna make it work."

Sending the Doctor a nasty glance Scannell walked away to find parts dejectedly. Ashton and the timelord smiled, staring at McDonnell with open admiration.

"That told him!" The Doctor grinned while the countdown uttered its minute to minute update. "Impact in 29.46."

Alright that stupid computer had to go. If I was going to die I didn't need an update about it every minute to remind me. "Doctor," I called out as he galloped past me to grab some couplings and wires. "Later Adler. I'm a bit busy at the present."

"But could you just-," I started asking for him to shut the countdown off but he thrust a bunch of wires into my arms, effectively cutting me off. "Here," he said before handing me a pair of pliers as well, "Strip these wires would you, at both ends, and don't cut the metal."

"Alright, but-"

"We're going to need them soon, so as fast as you can," he added racing off towards the other end of the room to grab some filaments to bind to the engine's carburetor. I sighed seeing I wasn't going to get his full attention and began stripping the wires, at least I finally had something useful to contribute to the situation. Using the pliers I stripped the rubber bits off with relative ease, leaving an inch and a half of metal exposed for them to bind together. When I was about halfway finished with the tangled pile Abi from med-bay called out over the intercom, her voice wavered with fear and the whole crew halted their progress to listen intently. "Doctor, these readings are starting to scare me."

He stood up from the engine, "What d'you mean?"

"Well, Korwin's body's changing! His whole biological make-up, it…it's impossible."

The line went silent for a second and everyone looked towards the speaker, eagerly waiting for her to elaborate. Except, when she had crackled back over the intercom, her voice came out in a panicked shout, "This is med-centre. Urgent assistance requested. Urgent assistance!"

Dread and shock washed over the Doctor as he twirled on foot and pelted for the stairs shouting as he careened up the steps. "Stay here! Keep working! You to Echo!"

"You're doing it again!" I shouted after him as McDonnell sprinted behind him. His voice trailed down to the room, moving father away, "I know."

Abi's voice rang out over the speakers again even louder, "Urgent assistance!"

Erina rushed over to the intercom just as Scannell followed after his captain, "Abi. They're on their way."

The line stayed open to the med bay so we could still hear Abi as she spoke to Korwin, trying to reason with him. "What's happening to you?"

A deep voice answered back, one that only slightly resembled the man she was addressing, "Burn with me."

An electric shock of fear slithered up my spine at the deep timber. "Burn with me," he reiterated. Helplessly we listened in the quiet of the engine room, no one moved or breathed as Abi, so frightened, tried to reason with her patient. "K... Korwin, you're sick…"

"Burn. With. Me!"

Suddenly screaming blared over the intercoms, loud and long before it, in one swift motion, cut off. I stared wide eyed at the speaker, waiting and praying for some sign that she was ok. All three of us paused in the silence, our imagination only painting grim outcomes of Abi's fate. But no assurances came. The only sound was that of our labored breathing as the computer rang out once again, "Impact in 27.06."

Ashton was the first to speak up, "Right. Erina get back to task. We need to get this ship up and running, pronto. We can't worry about Abi right now, I'm sure she's going to be alright. And you," he turned towards me, "Keep striping those wires. Once you're done you can hand me tools as I need them."

I nodded my head and got back to work, shucking the wires of plastic much faster than I had been doing so before. We needed to get off this ship. I had no idea what was happening but like the crew had been saying, this ship had gone mad. "Erina, can you go and grab me an extra piston," Ashton asked as he tightened some bolts on the side of the engine. With a huff she ran over to some shelving and looked up and down till she spotted what she was searching for. Racing back over she handed him the item before she went back to binding couplings together on the other side of the engine.

"Erina," he called again, "Can you get me a laser spanner, a torch, and drill."

Growling under her breath, grumbling about bossy old prat, she got up to search through the shelves once again. With a huff she wiped some sweat off her brow before leaning a hand against her hip, "I don't see any over here."

"Well, go check up top will yah!? They should be in the storage cupboards and while you're out there if you could grab some extra parts that would be most helpful."

Her nostrils flared as her hands squeezed into fists, but she bit her tongue and did as she was told, disappearing up the steps. "Hey," he turned towards me and so I looked up from what I was doing, "I need some help getting one of the main components onto the dolly so if you could come over and give me a hand."

Setting the pliers onto the crate and placing the pile of wires next to them I moved to the other side of the room to Ashton. Bending down together we hefted the small, yet heavy, engine chaise onto the bed so he could roll it over. Dusting myself off I walked back over to my perch. Grabbing the pliers and a wire I started finished up with the last of my pile just as McDonnell came over the Com system. "Everybody listen to me! Something has infected Korwin. We think…," she paused before amending her last words, "He killed Abi Lerner. None of you must go anywhere near him, is that clear?"

Ashton made his way over to the intercom, "Understood captain."

Pressing a button on the wall panel he changed the channel, "Erina? Get back here with that equipment."

She didn't reply, not that I thought she would, I didn't think she like Ashton all that much. Though it was to be expected that people would grate on each others nerve more as the heat would make anyone irritable. He scoffed as he turned it off, "Don't know why I bother. She doesn't listen. And you," he pointed, "since you're done go and grab that tool box on the upper tier for me and be careful climbing down the ladder."

Gazing up through the grates I spotted a rectangular red metal box laying halfway off the walkway. "You mean that red one there."

"Yes. Now get a move on."

"Alright, alright. I was just making sure," I waved my hands in surrender as I turned towards the ladder. Gripping a metal bar I began hefting myself up the ladder, the computer calling out in the background, "Impact in 24.51."

"Hey sparky, have you got that crank shaft yet!?" Ashton yelled from down bellow, working underneath the engine. My new monicker due to fact that I accidentally electrocuted myself helping him install a part. Stopping my search I popped my head over the railing, "You know if you guys had organized things better up here I wouldn't have such a hard time finding it in the pile of junk you have accumulating in your small storage area."

"Just hurry up and find it."

"Well it'd be a lot easier if you stopped interrupting me," I shot back moving parts around loudly. I didn't worry about getting cut in my frantic pursuit as I had recently acquired a pair of thick working gloves from my new boss. "Oi, don't you be giving me lip kid. I was just starting to like you."

I smirked as I moved a big box out of the way, scraping it against the metal. He was a funny sort, once you got past the crotchety old man facade. Martha's voice rang out over the intercom, "Doctor, we're through to area 17."

"Keep going," his voice called out through the speaker, "you've got to get to area one and reboot those engines."

I casted a quick glance down towards the intercom bellow before returning to my task. As I opened up a bit more space I spotted a crank shaft glinting in the artificial light between a 3 foot gyro and a pile of tangled titanium cables. Snatching the odd shaped thing I called out in triumph, "I found it!"

"Great, now bring it down," he paused as a few loud bangs resounded through the room, "Oh good. You got those tools Erina? Cause I...woah!"

My face scrunched in confusion at his sudden change in tone so I quickly popped back to the side railing, "Ashton are you-"

I froze, eyes stretched in terror at the sight before me. A man wearing a welders helmet held Ashton up by the lapel's, his feet slightly dangling underneath him. "Korwin… it's me. We're mates!"

"They are getting too far," the deep gravely voice distorted from the helmet, "We must share the light."

Briefly I could hear the Doctor's worried voice call my name out over the intercom, having must felt my fear by then, but all noise just seemed to fade away as time itself slowed down around me. In reality nothing had changed, it was just my own perceptions, and I was aware of that, except something then seemed to snap. Instantly my hand wrapped around a large wrench laying on a control panel and I slid down the ladder just as Ashton let out a scream of pain, his face beginning to smolder and smoke. Raising the large tool in the air I ran across the room and swung at Korwin to try and separate them. To save him. Only it all seemed to be in vain. I hit the helmet and it didn't even seem to phase him.

Korwin dropped Ashton, who clutched at his eyes in agony screaming as he stumbled away; bumping and knocking things over as he fumbled up the stairs case. I stared in shock before raising the wrench once more only Korwin's hand shot out and grabbed it. His head slowly turned towards me as my breath came in short fast bursts, my hearts pumping double time as my core temperature almost seemed to triplicate. A pressure started to build in my head and I knew then I was in trouble, and it wasn't because of the infected Korwin.

As my vision swam he began lifting the black visor up, all the while my insides felt like a pressure cooker about to explode. The pain, similar to the one I had felt in the mirror world bubbled up. Oh, god. I was going to explode again, and in the engine room, that be suicide to the ship. Somewhere I could hear the Doctor's frantic voice calling out, trying to calm me down. And right as Korwin was about to fully open his visor he stopped midway and re-closed it. It was then time he traced a hand near my face, catching the golden particles beginning to float away from me, the autron energy building, begging for release while I struggled to keep it in. "Mmmmmmm," Korwin's deep distorted voice growled as played with the golden energy, "a light burns in you."

"Listen," I managed to grit out between painful burst, "why are you doing this?"

"They stole it."

"Stole what," I asked. He just stared, hand paused in mid-action, his head canting to the side. As silence ticked away, I attempted to imagine a tranquil space inside my mind, managing by some miracle to gain some control and work my way back to a safe level of emotion; something the Doctor had briefly taught me for a just in case scenario. Instantly, as the dancing light started to die down around me, Korwin tightened his grip on the wrench.

"No!" he shouted, pushing me back while swinging the tool out of my grip. As it flung up, with a swift force, it managed to catch my jaw as I stumbled backward. Before I knew it, careening towards the floor, I fell into darkness.

Everything smelt of cooked flesh and burnt rubber as fires crackled and sparks flew over head. For a moment I had thought we were breaking apart in the sun, that the ship had been lost, but as my eyes blearily opened scanning the wreckage around me I realized I was not where I had been. I emitted a strangled cry, yet hadn't remembered producing the action. It was as small hands tugged and fumbled with the strap trapping me that I figured out where I was and that I was only an observer.

As the world, leaning slightly on its side, focused around me so to did the mutilated corpses amid the destroyed TARDIS, their lifeless eyes watching me, their slackened burnt faces frozen in their last moments. Wires dangerously hanging down sparked precariously over water as fires burned in and around the console; a klaxon bell screeched out its strangled cry, trying to drive me out with the smoke. The clip finally released and I fell forward to the floor, my hands landing onto broken glass. I screamed, padding them away from the object that caused the pain and stumbled upright, crying for someone to make the hurt better. But no one came.

Waddling around I wailed for help, knowing that someone was supposed to fix hurts when they happened. That someone was supposed to hold me, hug me, make the bad stuff go away, but I couldn't find them. I didn't know where they were. I couldn't remember who they were. Snot and hot tears trailed freely down my face as I hiccuped and cried calling out to that nameless thing. Yet nothing answered.

I moved around bodies in search of that thing, when I saw a light shining through the door. I cried quieter and hiccuped, wiping away the tears and snot into an awful mess and made for the brightness. I ran from the darkness of that room as fast as my small legs could carry me. For a moment, as the light engulfed me, I had entertained the idea that the thing I was searching for must be out in the light, away from the scary dark; but as I fell forward, into the white and the cold, I found myself even more alone. The wetness and the white stuff stung my skin, biting against it and rubbed it raw.

I stood up, painting the snow with droplets of red, as I stumbled forward once more. I cried hard into the freezing powder as it nipped at me, stealing and sucking away my earlier warmth with greedy mouths. My wailing echoed into the silence as the white floated down from the sky, collecting in the barren maple trees, their branches like awaiting hands clawing for the falling bits. I didn't like that new place. It was worse than the last. I was more alone in that void of endless white than in the fiery darkness. I turned to go back, back to the place that I had known, that was slipping from my mind like sand through my toes. But as I twirled around, that red box had began to shrink and compact, running away from me into itself; being sucked into some hole.

With a cry I rushed forward tripping over my numb feet, trying to grab the only place I knew. But it went away. Disappeared right before my eyes, imploding upon itself, leaving me behind. With a shuttering wail I laid face down in the snow, sobs wracked my small frame as I called out once again for that nameless thing. Apologizing for what ever bad thing I had done to make it go away, to deserve it's anger. I figured if I had said it enough times they'd come back. No one ever did.

As I laid there, till my teeth stopped chattering and I could no longer feel my body, the sobs started to subside, but the tears never stopped falling even as they left red frozen paths down my cheeks. Why hadn't they come back? Why had they left me? Was I a bad girl? I wiped at the tears calling once more for that nameless thing to come and save me, to pick me up and make me better. But no one ever came and I didn't know why. Didn't they love me?

Picking myself off the ground I called out to them, my cry echoing back to mock me. Whimpering, I waded through the snow. I wept once more, attempting to wipe the snot freezing on my face away, "I sowy. Pweas. I sowy."

My eye's shot open as a few tears slipped across my face. A worried McDonnell and Scannell popped into view as I quickly wiped the offending liquid away. "Are you alright," the captain asked reaching an arm down to help me onto my feet. As I stood up, wobbling for a moment as I regained balance I answered, only to grab my jaw in pain soon after, "Yeah. I just-ah! OoOoO got knock in the jaw good by Korwin. He's infected Ashton."

"Oh god," she uttered with a shuttered breath. Scannell moved away from the scene and began scanning the engine. "I'm sorry," I apologized, "I tried to save him but Korwin was to strong...anyway are we any closer to averting impact."

"No," Scannell growled, "Someone's hacked into the systems. I can't reroute the generators! There's no way I'm gonna be able to jump-start this ship!"

With a kick of rage he swiftly hit the machine and stormed off towards the stairs, "Who the hell did that?!"

The captain shook her head and with a deep breath tried to remain calm. Something I myself was trying to do, but failed when she looked behind me in shock and fear. Quickly twirling around Korwin strode out of the smoke, so, backing up, I attempted to pull McDonnell with me but she refused to budge. "McDonnell, we need to leave," I growled lowly at her so only she could hear, "He's not the man you used to know."

She shook her head as her eyes began to gloss over as she took a step back, "No. Korwin? What are you? Why are you killing my crew?!"

He glided after us, moving his hand to lift his visor up, but was stopped by his wife's next sentence. "How could you do this? What have you done to my husband?!"

When he stopped so did she. He tipped his head to the side watching her. A glimmer of hope shined in McDonnell's eyes. "You recognize me. Korwin! You know me," she stated, whispering the last bit with emotion, tearing up as his hand fell away from his helmet, "It's Kath! Your wife!"

"My wife?" Korwins distorted voice asked, as if he was trying to remember something from long ago. "That's right," she almost cried, "You're still in there! I'm your wife!"

I almost cried myself at the love welling up in her voice. Sometimes, I loathed to admit, but I was a sucker for a love story. Even if I didn't think it was something for me. Unfortunately the moment was soon shattered. Korwin took a step forward, "It's your fault."

The captains face fell at his accusation, her hope disappearing. Quickly I began pulling her back as he started advancing forward once again. She appeared distraught, gazing at him with disbelief, "What do you mean, it's my fault?"

"It's your fault," he reiterated, "Now burn with me!"

Stopping he pulled a hand to his visor, almost able to flip the lid when a jet of frost engulfed him in a stream of it's vapors. Korwin screamed at the cold. Turning around I spotted Scannell spinning a pressure gauge to release the opening above the infected man. "What are you doing?!" the captain shouted at him. Spinning the wheel as fast as he could, Scannell refused to look away, needing to make sure he finished the job for reassurance, "Freezing him! Ice vents!"

"You'll kill him!"

The captain made to run for her husband, to push him out of the way when Scannell quickly yelled at me, "Grab her!"

"I'm so sorry," I apologized wrenching her back and away from the vent. She struggled and writhed against my grip, "NO, let me go! Please. I have to save him."

Crying out the last part she slid to the ground as Korwin fell to his knees and stopped screaming, before careening forward, smashing to the floor. I could barely look at her, just kept apologizing, over and over again. Though they felt more like hollow assurances, knowing nothing would ever make her feel better. With a few shutter sobs she took a deep breath and stood up, wiping away the evidence from her face as she quickly collected herself.

The Doctor's voice rang out over the intercom, "McDonnell! Ashton's heading in your direction! He's been infected, just like Korwin!"

Scannell walked over to the com unit and press the call button, "We know. Korwin's dead, Doctor."

"And is…" he tapered off. The engineer cast a glance in my direction, "She's fine. She's down here with us."

"Echo," he called out. I moved over to the com as Scannell pushed over to the side to give me some room, "Yes, Doctor."

"Don't ever do that to me again."

I smiled ruefully as I leaned my head against the wall, "Trust me. I wasn't planning to."

The room was eerily quiet as McDonnell knelt down next to her dead husband, sniffling as she took off his mask to gaze at his face, pushing the welders helmet away with contempt. The computer rang out, rudely interrupting her moment, "Impact in 17.05."

I shifted guiltily, I knew we needed to move and start fixing the ship, but she had just lost her husband and I had played apart in that death. I didn't feel right to rush her. Fortunately, that was not the case for her crew-mate. Scannell cautiously approached her and crouched down across from her, over her dead husband, "What did he mean, your fault?"

She didn't answer, to alone in her own world to be bothered with his question as she stroked Korwin's face lovingly. Except before she could make contact he swatted her hand away, "What are you doing? Don't touch him, he's infected. You don't know how it spreads."

McDonnell snapped out of her thoughts and jerked her head up, glaring at him with a dark look. "You murdered him," she shouted before shifting her accusing eyes towards me, "And you helped!"

Swallowing I quickly looked away, even if it was to save her life I still felt guilty, "I'm sorry."

She snarled, "I don't want your words!"

"He was about to kill you!" Scannell argued. She shook her head, "He recognized me!"

"You heard the Doctor. It…it isn't Korwin anymore."

"The Doctor doesn't know! None of us knows!"

"So what are you gonna do? Stay there until we burn?! Cause without you…none of us stand a chance of getting out of here."

McDonnell appeared surprised by his confession, that he had that much faith and respect for her. I felt like I was intruding on a moment as they stared at each other in silent camaraderie. Though the mood was soon shattered and the Doctor's voice barked orders over the intercom. "Scannell! Echo! I need a spacesuit in area 17, now!"

His face scrunched in confusion as he slowly stood up, "What for?"

"Just get down here!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. I could feel his panic and anger as he lost control of his barrier for a moment. All those heightened emotions swirling and raging towards me were caused by one thing, he was scared. What ever he needed the suit for didn't bode well. Something terrible had happened. Instantly his walls came crashing down, violently booting me out that it gave me a splitting head ache. I grasped my head in pain, squeezing my eyes shut till it lessened.

"Well, go on! Do what he says!" McDonnell weakly ordered. He peered back at her worriedly, "Ashton's still out there."

Something hard gleamed in her eyes, "I'll deal with him."

Scannell hesitantly moved away, watching the captain as she nodded him along. He turned back towards me, "Well come on. We better hurry."

Taking my hand away from my head with a wince I gave McDonnell one last look of apology before running after the engineer. I only hoped the dread forming in the pit of my stomach wasn't a prelude to whatever horrible situation that had the Doctor terrified.

The minute I laid eyes on him and then the unopened bulkhead, the clamp and computer unit laying haphazardly on the floor, I knew something was wrong. His jaw was set into a hard line as he leaned his hands against a door and stared out it's small window. Sucking in a sharp breath of air I asked the only question that popped into my mind. "Where's Martha?"

Quickly he looked over, having not heard us arrive, to busy fuming in his thoughts. His eyes instantly honed in on the big welt in the beginnings of forming on my jaw, his mind instantly took in my appearance and fit the puzzle pieces together. "He hit you."

It was more of a statement than a question as he walked over and glared hard at the injury, lightly running his fingers over it. I winced at the action and so he retracted his hand. "I'll be fine," I brushed him off, "though I probably won't be able to talk in a few minutes when it finally swells, but that's not important. You didn't answer my question. Where is she?"

He canted his head back towards the hatch and gazed hard at it. "I'll get her back," he returned his attention to me and placed his hands on my shoulders, "I promise you. I will save her."

I gazed confused and fearfully at him, not understand what he meant, but his tone said it all. She was why he was so scared. Before I could ask what had happened Scannell spoke up, "They're out there!? In the escape pod!? Are they insane, that'll shoot straight into the sun. You can't save them now!"

The Doctor misdirected his rage toward the other man, who shiver at the storm brewing in his eyes. Glowering at him as he ripped the orange suit away from Scannell, "I will save them!"

Shoving his legs into the jumpsuit he slipped into the arms and zipped it up before grabbing the metal torso containing his air supply, pulling it over his head to clip it firmly in place. Grabbing the thick black boots and gloves from the engineer he slid them on, sealing them up tight, strapping everything on. I looked away holding fast to the strap on my bag. Having must felt my anxiousness and fear the Doctor gripped my hand, pulling it away from it's spot. "I'm going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine, I promise."

"Everything is going to be fine, I promise," The man with the steel eyes swore as he leaned closer to my face. A sad smile crossed his features as he placed his hand to my temples right as an explosion ripped behind him rocking the room. Screaming and gunfire echoed from the battle field outside the TARDIS while fire continued to rain down from above. He opened his mouth to go on. I flinched as the memory popped up unbidden and disappeared before he could finish the rest of his sentence. The Doctor could see the confusion and sadness welling up in my eyes but there were more pressing matter to attend to than my past wounds.

"I can't let you do this," the other man interjected. "You're wasting your breath Scannell," the Doctor frowned, strapping in the harness over his suit, "You're not gonna stop me."

"You wanna open an airlock, in flight, on a ship spinning into the sun. No-one can survive that!"

"Oh, just you watch."

"You open that airlock, it's suicide. This close to the sun, the shields will barely protect you." The man argued, trying to get him to reconsider. Unfortunately once the Doctor had made up his mind there wasn't much one could do to dissuade him, especially when it came to those he cared for. "If I can breach the magnetic lock on the ship's exterior, it should re-magnetize the pod. Now, while I'm out there, you have got to get the rest of those doors open. We need those auxiliary engines."

"Doctor, will you listen! They're too far away, it's too late!"

Grabbing the helmet the Doctor shook his head, "I'm not gonna lose her."

Completing his outfit, and strapping the headpiece firmly to his air supply, he walked over to the airlock which slid open at his approach. With an intense determined step he disappeared into the room, the door sealing shut behind him. The computer alerted us of his progress, "Decompression, initiating."

It then sent out another warning, "Impact in 12.55."

I stared at where the Doctor had vanished to, hoping he would keep his promise. People had always let me down before. Smacking my shoulder, and thrusting me out of my head, Scannell motioned for me to move over to the bulkhead. "Grab that clamp and stick it onto the door."

I hesitated before getting my head into the game, "O-of course. Right."

Scurrying forward I scooped the clamp off the ground and fastened it to the bulkhead with a loud bolt. Picking up the computer box a question flashed across the screen. He read it out loud. "What has roots as nobody sees, is taller than trees, up, up it goes and yet never grows?"

Scannell stared at the computer dubiously, "Seriously! A riddle!? Who put this in here!?"

"A mountain," I quickly answered. He regarded me with doubt, "really?"

I smiled, "Yep! It's from The Hobbit. I'm guessing someone on your crew was a Tolkien fan."

"Apparently so are you since you know the answer," he quipped, snorting as he input the response. The machine beeped as the door loudly slid open as the computer called out with an update, "Impact in 11.15. Heat shield failing. At ten percent."

Jumping up Scannell quickly moved to the next corridor, pulling me along by the line attached to the clamp. Fastening it the next door he quickly answered the next question, not bothering to even speak it out loud. I was guessing it was one of his. Instead for running straight to the next bulkhead he moved over to an intercom panel and pressed one of the call buttons, "Doctor! How're you doing?"

A second later his struggling voice belted out of the speaker, "I can't! I can't reach! I don't know how much longer I can last!"

Scannell hit the button again, "Come on! Don't give up now!"

"You can do it Doctor," I insisted, "If anyone can it's you!"

It was at that time McDonnell appeared, heaving as she scanned us from head to toe. "Well go on," she said, grabbing the clamp out of my hand, "we need to keep moving. So no more standing around."

"Since you only need two I'm going to go wait for the Doctor by the air lock, call if you need help," I informed running back from where we had been. No one protested, not that it would've stopped me. Sprinting down the corridor and over to the small window I watched as the pod slowly made it's way back to the ship. Letting me know the Doctor had succeeded. The man himself struggled to pull himself back into the hatch as he fell to the safety of the floor. Though he was still exposed to the vacuum of space, I knew he'd be fine as he had plenty of air, except something seemed off. I couldn't figure out what it was but something was wrong. The hatch re-closed behind him as the pod traveled closer. I jumped back as the airlock opened and he stumbled back in, falling face first into the floor as he shucked the helmet off.

"Doctor are you alright?" I asked rushing down to his side, placing a hand on his back. He flinched and pushed forward before falling back down, writhing in pain, "No! Don't!"

I followed after him, eyes scanning his suit for some injury or tear but spotted nothing that explained his agony. Except, a terrible thought had popped into my head, He's infected, but how? I stared in panic. How was I to fix him, I wasn't some genius, hell he was and even he didn't know how to stop it. The computer, like always, rang out un-wanted, "Impact in 8. 57. Airlock re-compression completed."

"Doctor! Doctor!" Martha called out excitedly entering the corridor. Upon noticing him on his hands and knees her face fell and she rushed over next to me. "Are you OK?"

She flipped him onto his back to reveal his face scrunched in agony and eyes squeezed shut. He convulsed in pain and shuffled back, his eyes opened and light shot fourth, "Stay away from me!"

Everybody jumped up and backed away just as McDonnell appeared next to Riley, leaning on her knees as she attempted to catch her breath, "What's happened?"

"He's infected." I stated weakly. Watching him with growing worry that I would find myself with another broken promise. One that I couldn't live with.

"It's your fault, Captain McDonnell!" He growled in pain, still retaining his own voice, somehow keeping the infection at bay. The captain flinched in shock but hastily regained her composure and addressed her crew-mate, somehow staying on point, "Riley! Get down to area 10 and help Scannell with the doors. Go!"

Looking back and fourth between the situations he made a decision and nodded his head, following her order. Backing up to the wall the Doctor gripped the pipe next to him, screwing his eyes shut as he shouted at the captain between bursts of pain. "You mined that sun! Stripped its surface for cheap fuel! You should have scanned for life!"

She shook her head, "I don't understand."

"Doctor, what are you talking about?!" Martha shouted exasperatedly, wondering what the hell was going on. He cried out trying to fight off the pain and remain in control, "That sun is alive! A living organism! They scooped out its heart, used it for fuel, and now it's screaming!"

I swallowed as something clicked in my head. "It said they had stole it," I murmured to myself.

"What?!" Martha exclaimed. I turned to her surprised she had hear me. "Korwin," I admitted, "I had asked him why he was killing people and sabotaging the ship, but I don't think it was him answering. It must have been the sun."

"What do you mean?" McDonnell asked panicking at the concept, "How can a sun be alive? Why's he saying that?! Why are you so quick to believe him? Why didn't you tell me about Korwin!"

"Because it's living in me," the Doctor growled, moving his head back and fourth, riling against the force trying to overtake him. The captain backed away, bringing her hands to her mouth as she finally got why her husband had blamed her, at what she had done, "Oh my god…"

"Humans!" the Doctor shouted with contempt, screaming the last part in torment and suffering, "You grab whatever's nearest and bleed it dry! Gah! You should have scanned!"

"It takes too long! We'd be caught! Fusion scoops are illegal."

He convulsed, falling to the side. "Gahhh! Ah! You've got to freeze me, quickly!"

"What!?" Martha and I had shouted in disbelief at the same time. Quickly moving forward she took hold of his arm, righting him. "Stasis chamber! You gotta keep me…below minus 200. Freeze it out of me!"

He screamed cutting off the next part of his sentence. Martha turned to glare at the captain in disgust, about ready to tell her off when the Doctor cried out. "It'll use me to kill you if you don't! The closer we get to the sun, the stronger it gahh," he wailed in agony as it tried to overcome him, "gets! Med-centre! Quickly! Quickly!"

Martha tried hefting him as she screamed an order at the captain, "Help me!"

Jolting forward she grabbed his free arm and carted him up. "Echo grab his legs, we'll be able to move fast if you do," Martha stated. Jumping into action I grab both his feet and we all carried him forward. Running awkwardly down the hallway as he moaned in pain. The computer, ever so helpful, called out, "Impact in, 7.30."

As we approached the med-center the Doctor seemed to be fairing worse. He screamed and writhed just as we broke through the plastic sheeting of the room. Quickly, and with urgency, we hefted him over to the stasis bed but Martha let go to rush over to grab the instruction manual on a medical tray. Gently I brought his legs back to the ground as he hunched over, managing to stand as McDonnell held him. Reaching out with his free hand he blindly searched for our medical friend, "Martha, where are you?!"

"It's alright! I'm here," she assured him, hastily scurrying back to his side, "It's me! Here I am! Stasis chamber, minus 200, yeah?"

Quickly helping him up, we lifted him onto the bed. McDonnell shouted at us, trying to be the voice of reason, "No, you don't know how this equipment works! You'll kill him! Nobody can survive those temperatures!"

Martha grunted as she flipped him over onto his back, "He's not human! If he says he can survive, then he can."

"Let me help you then!" she begged on the other side of the bed. Martha, full of quiet anger, glared her away, "You've done enough damage."

Flipping through the black lamented pages of instructions she scanned over the information, quickly looking up how to operate the machinery. All the while I held fast to one of the Doctor's hands with both of mine, the only thing I could think of to comfort him as he wormed around in pain. He shook as he squeezed back, latching on as if my grip were a life line.

"Ten seconds. That's all I'll be able to take. No more," he screamed as another bout of pain wracked his body, "Ah, gah-ah! Martha!"

"Yeah?"

He started choking on his own spit as he cried out in pain. Shaking his head back and fourth he seized and shouted. "It's burning me up. I can't control it. If you don't get rid of it," his voice lowered darkly, as if the other entity was slipping through, "I could kill you. I could kill you all."

Before we had time to worry about him having lost the fight with the sun he broke free of it's influence with a holler of torment. His face scrunched up even further as he squeezed my hand harder. Genuinely frightened, he sounded almost childlike as he cried, "I'm scared! I'm so scared!"

"Just…," Martha stuttered, at a loss for words, never having seen him like that, "stay calm. You saved me, now I return the favor. Just…just believe in me."

"It's gonna be OK Doctor," I murmured gently bringing his hand to my mouth, placing a comforting kiss upon it as I tried not to cry, "We're right here," I choked out, "Martha's going to fix this."

"It's bloody killing me!" he shouted gripping my hand even harder causing me to wince, though I dare not take it from him even as it screamed at me to do so, "Then what'll happen?!"

Martha rubbed his shoulder soothingly. "That's enough! I've got you. We've got you," she corrected. His barriers finally shattered as he couldn't keep them up anymore, battling with another sentience inside him took to much for him to keep it up. I could feel his cold terror and panic engulf me, his pain almost choking me at how strong it was.

"There's this process. This…this thing…that happens…if I'm about to die," he tried to inform her, spit flying with his words as he tried to stay above the pain. Moving closer I placed my other hand on his arm, rubbing my thumb back and fourth over it, "You're not going to have to worry about that because everything's going to be fine. Do you hear me? Everything's going to be fine."

"Shhh…," Martha cooed softly, "quiet now. Cause that is not gonna happen. You ready?"

"Cht-No! Gah." he whimpered. Upset she moved off to the side, hands poised around the joysticks on the controls. Peering down at my hand she shot me a quick look. I nodded understanding. "Doctor," I chimed gently, "I'm sorry, but you're going to have to let go of my hand. Martha's about to send you in, but I'll be right outside."

He shook his head back and fourth with a childlike whine, "No."

That one little word almost had me to tears. He was so scared, but I had to let go. I stared down at him conflicted, not wanting to make him go through it alone, but if he didn't let go she couldn't push him in. "Doctor, I really really am sorry but you have too. We can't put you in if you don't. I promise you, I'll be right here."

With a tormented cry he pried his fingers away from mine with great effort. The second he did so Martha pushed the stick forward, sending him through. When he was fully in the tube she moved over to the control panel and typed in a couple numbers on the pad. With a loud hum the machine sprung to life and the worst sound I ever heard in all my years squeezed hard at my hearts. Helplessly I had to listen, leaning against the machine for support against the onslaught of heightened emotions stabbing me like a knife to the gut emanating out of him, as he screamed. It was loud and continuos, growing in strength the colder the temperature dropped in the stasis chamber. He writhed and seized as frost began accumulating on his skin, growing like fast moss across his face. I squeezed my eyes shut to keep from crying with a shuddering sob at his frantic terror and magnified pain that kept flashing across my mind. It took all I had not to stop the process. Except something went wrong.

The machine suddenly powered down the minute it hit minus seventy degrees. My eyes shot open with shock as the Doctor whimpered from inside the chamber. The ice crystals cracked as he moved with a shout, "No! Martha you can't stop it! Not yet!"

She gasped staring confused at the black screen, empty of it's earlier reading. "What's happened?!"

"Power's been cut in engineering," the captain deduced, turning towards the door.

"But who's down there?!" Martha exasperated with an angry hand gesture. My eyes widened as I looked at McDonnell. Only one person was down there and they were supposed to be dead. Her eyes shifted to mine, telling me she knew full well the answer having worked it out, "Leave it to me."

Rushing out of the room before I could protest, she quickly sped down the corridor, the plastic sheeting flapping back and fourth at her departure. The Doctor bellowed out another cry of pain, screaming and riling against the heat returning inside him. The computer, ever so diligent, spoke in the background, "Impact in 4.47."

Martha, not willing to give up and admit defeat, fiddled with the controls, trying on her own to get it up and running again. Except without power it was a useless effort. She kicked the machine in frustration as she gazed at the Doctor. Inside she noticed the ice quickly evaporating. Returning back to the keyboard she attempted to type and override the power system, only she wasn't a hacker so it produced no results. "Come on," she shouted abuse at the controls, "You're defrosting."

"Martha! Echo! Listen," he called out from inside the chamber as we cluttered around the entrance, all evidence of frost no longer evident on his face, "I've only got a moment. You've gotta go!"

"No way!" she shouted. "I won't," I quickly protested. I had made a promise. He wouldn't be alone. No one should be alone when they're scared and hurting.

"Get to the front!" he argued, "Vent the engines! Sun particles in the fuel! Get rid of them!"

"I am not leaving you!" Martha insisted. I shook my head in agreement, "Me neither."

"Gah," he shouted, arching off the bed in agony, "You've got to! Give back what they took!"

"Doctor!" she shouted in panic, looking on helpless as she watched his body thrash and struggle with an unseen firestorm. He screamed at a particular nasty inner assault, "Please! Go!"

She hesitated wanting to move forward, conflicted on how to proceed, but eventually surrender to his will. Turning on foot she race out the door, "I'll be back for you!"

"Impact in 4.08."

I didn't follow after her. I always kept my promises. The Doctor shifted around in the tube breathing heavily through the pain. "Echo!"

"Yes," I answered, leaning tiredly against then machine. Twisting around in the tube, he flipped himself around and spilled out onto the floor, "You have to leave to. You have to leave before I kill you!"

"You won't! Korwin didn't and neither will you."

"Why," he cried in another bout of pain as he attempted to stand, "why didn't heeee-"

With another stab of agony he fell forward, only that time, due our proximity, he took me down with him. With a smack I landed on my back as he fell on top of me, his hands gripping my arms tightly as he tried to curl in on himself with a scream, his head hid in the crook of my neck. His sweat dripped onto my exposed nape as I tried to articulate my next sentence. Somewhere in the back of my mind our closeness unnerved and made me uncomfortable, as a strange new feeling tried to make its presence known. Though it never fully surfaced as the computer called out reminding me that time was limited, "Impact in 3.43."

Quickly hypothesizing why I went mostly unscathed I stuttered out an answer, "I-I was burning with autron energy. It must have thought I was either family or already infected."

"But you're not now!" he cried attempting to push himself back up only to fail, "There's no guarantee it'll work a second time!"

"And there's no guarantee it won't!" I argued, vehemently trying to stay with him, not wanting to be that person that left when things hit the fan. "Please, please," he begged, crying into my shoulder, "You have to leave me!"

I stood firmly behind my decision and defiantly shook my head with a hard, "No."

"Then I'm sorry."

I furrowed my brows in confusion, "What do you mea-"

I realized it before I felt it. His hand slipped across my bare skin with a tingling sensation, over the divot on my left shoulder, hovering, for only a moment, on a nerve cluster. Had I not read that biology book I wouldn't have known what he was attempting to do, that timelords were extremely vulnerable in that spot. A hard blow there could disable them, knocking them into unconsciousness or worse if pressure was applied to long. My eyes widened, and before I had the chance to push him away he jabbed down hard onto it. And, once again, with a fleeting shout, I discovered myself engulfed into darkness.

I found myself back in the overpowering land of white. It's harsh cold biting at my toes could no longer be felt as my skin crack, and, as in some cases, colored the snow with red as it opened the flesh like a macabre flower in bloom. My tears, since frozen to my face, had stopped as my cries and whimpers had went unheard. Though they had long since died as I no longer had any voice left in which to cry with. Just sad noiseless sobbing.

I stumbled along a large path, having wandered from the forest in search of caretakers, eyes unfocused ahead of me as my breaths became shorter and shorter, laboring to blow puffs of white into the sharp air. My eyes began to droop trying to convince me to sleep, that a little rest would be good. The white fluff pushed to the side appeared so inviting. Enticing me to take a nap. And I was so tired.

My legs, that had since become numb, tripped over each other and I fell hard and fast to the ground. I tried to cry, to wail in pain, but I could only manage silent shuttering sobs. My hands, that tried to grasp the snow, could no longer work, to cold to bend or open fully. My breath started slowing down, my eyes fluttered uselessly to stay open as sleep tried to overtake me. I was dying and my younger self knew that. Knew that if I gave into sleep I'd never wake up. But I was to tired to fight it any longer.

So as my vision began to tunnel, moving father and farther away, a voice worriedly called out as hurried high heeled boot's skid into view. Suddenly, I found myself flying, only to discover, as hot warmth stung and caressed my skin, that I had been picked up. My eyes struggled to stay open as the owner of the heat peered down at me, their golden ringlet of curls framed their face like the sun, the curls like rays that gleamed as the light briefly broke through the storm. Her face contorted in sorrow and a familiar knowledge, as if she knew, knew things that had happened, that would happen, as if she may have known me personally flashed across her green eyes. But How? A rueful smile made it's way across her features as if she had heard the unspoken question. "Spoilers sweetie."

With a shuttering breath I blinked awake to an odd ceiling in an unfamiliar place. A red flowy fish stared down at me with a couple of his more colorful friends joining him. I eyed them dubiously, "Why is the ceiling an aquarium?"

"I'm guessing the TARDIS thought you'd like it. It's your bedroom after all."

I jolted upright quickly, sending the navy silk comforter falling off my shoulders and pooling around my lap as I sat up. My mind raced, to busy to notice my change of clothes or anything else for that matter. The Doctor sat on the other side of the room, arms resting languidly on the antique Victorian chair as he stared blankly, across from the large circular bed I found myself in. I glared at his impassive face, "You rat bastard. You knocked me out!"

"And you didn't listen!" he hollered right back, jumping out of his chair. His emotions were well hidden beneath his usual wall, stopping me from ascertaining anything other than he was upset, though something seemed off. He was almost eager, yet hesitant. But at that moment I couldn't have cared less. Keeping my voice tight and even I quipped right back, "And neither did you."

He stalked forward to the edge of the bed, a tick forming in his jaw as he ground out a response, "When I give you an order you follow it. You don't disregard it!"

"And you're not always right," I clipped, leaning up on my knees to gain some height advantage. There was a nagging feeling poking in the back of my head trying to gain my attention but I was to angry to pay it any due diligence. His sharp eyes cut across me, boring deep into my soul, and for a moment I briefly reconsidered forming an apology and surrendering. That was until he opened his big fat mouth. "And you're a child who's trying to pass as an adult thinking they have all the answers, throwing themselves needlessly in harms way when no one asked them to! One who hides behind secrets because they think it makes them strong to fix things on their own when in fact asking for help is what makes a strong person!"

"Oh screw you!" I screamed, pointing violently at him, "How dare you yell at me for doing things you do as well! You keep secrets all the time, am I not entitled to a few of my own!"

"Not when you're on my ship!" he bellowed out, his hands balling into tight fists at his side. I scoffed loudly, "Oh, you are SUCH a hypocrite!"

"And your a child," he brusquely stated. I rolled my eyes and laughed hollowly. "Oh, is that all you have, I mean you've been around for how long and you haven't learned how to better.…fight….you should be very-you're not really trying very hard….meaning," a look of realization crossed my face as I took in his awkwardly forced stance, "Oh my god! You're purposely badgered me! You jerk!"

"I assure you, I am indeed very cross with you-"

"Don't bullshit me," I cut him off, folding my arms across my chest reprimandingly, "I know when some one's trying to get a rise out of me I just don't know why your doing it, but you better stop it."

He faltered, trying to keep up the ruse and the angry mask plastered across his face going but the jig was already up. Glaring at him through squinted eyes I continued on. "I mean, you're good. You certainly knew all the right buttons to push, I'll give you that. You're the only other person beside Ali that can so easily get under my…." I trailed off before frowning when a thought flitted across my mind. Quickly I moved to pat my pockets when I finally noticed the new clothes. A long white and blue striped buttoned gown stared back up at me teasingly. I looked back up at the Doctor, "I'm in a night gown. Where are my clothes?"

He stuttered, his act shattering as he flustered at the implications he thought were racing through my head, "D-don't worry, I didn't-Martha's the one who changed you. I didn't see anything."

I blinked, "I hadn't even considered that, but glad to know you wouldn't take advantage of my unconscious state. No, I was getting on about the fact that my phone is no longer with me and since it's recent update….," I snapped my fingers together, "Oh! Oh! You called her didn't you! Oh, come on! Now my friends are conspiring against me with each other. Is there no such thing as privacy anymore!"

He tugged at his ear knowing what he did had been wrong, but he didn't apologize for it. Clearing his throat he rubbed his neck, "Weelll, I didn't call her so much as pick up. And after a nice chat she gave me some advice on how to…"

"On how to what?" I asked raising an eyebrow, daring him to finish that sentence. He wiggled an exasperated hand at me, "On how to handle you."

I ran a hand down my face, "Oh god, she didn't give you the manual did she."

"You came with a manual?"

"No, I didn't come with a manual," I petulantly mocked, rolling my eyes with a pout, "Don't be stupid. Ali made one as a gag that ended up going to far and don't even think about asking for it. I'm all but sure I've destroyed every copy."

Seeing a calculating look cross his features, no doubt figuring out a way to get a hold of one of those manuals, I quickly shifted gears and moved to my original concern and interrupt his thought process. "But let's not focus on that. No. Why go to such theatrics any way."

"It may have come up in conversation with your best friend that you were being secretive and she suggest on how to get a straight answer as the direct approach won't necessarily work with you."

With a groan I fell back into the comfy mattress, bouncing a bit as it settled from the action. "Of course. Why is everybody being so nosy today. First Martha, now you-"

"So even Martha noticed your change in behavior?"

I jolted back into a sitting position, "What change in behavior!? I'm the same as I always am!"

"Now you and I both know that's not true. I haven't said anything because I thought you'd eventually bring it up yourself but clearly I was wrong there. When I asked if you were alright after the party at Lazurus Laboratories I knew something was bothering you and ever since you've been very jumpy. So what happened? Did someone threaten you?"

By some miracle I managed not to flinch and reveal my cards, thankfully I had been prepared for that question as living with him I'd surmised at some point he'd ask it. My continued adventuring depended upon my act of deceit. I scoffed crossing my arms, "No."

His face darkened slightly at his next question, "Did someone hurt you?"

Again I answered exasperatedly, "No. Now can we stop. Nothing is wrong with me!"

Apparently stop wasn't a word in his repertoire as he continued on, disregarding my statement. His intense gaze never wavered as he watched my every reaction, felt my every emotion; using it as an invasive cheat sheet. "Are you having a-a….lady issue?"

"Oh my god, what is this twenty question?! No, nothing happened to me. I'm not having a," I pulled up the air quotations, "Lady issue. And I if were I'd not discus them with you. That's what the library is for."

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Well what is it then!? Why have you been acting off!? Did you remember something or-"

I accidentally froze as he hit the one of the proverbial nails on the head, one I didn't think he'd ever ask, and my thoughts went completely still. He sucked in a breath of air as our stupid biology betrayed me once again and he felt my panic. "You did, didn't you? Oh, Echo," his face melted into a gentle sympathy, "why didn't you say something sooner?"

Grabbing the comforter I pulled it over my head and hid underneath it, "Nnope. No. Not going there because there's nothing to say. I didn't remember anything. Now goodnight."

"Echo," he called out softly, as I heard him draw closer. Wiggling more to the middle of the bed I shooed him off, "Go away. I said goodnight."

"Echo."

"No, just leave me alone. I'm going to bed."

The mattress dipped and I held my breath, willing him to leave the room as I pulled the silk tighter around me. To just let things be. Unfortunately he gave no such reprieve. "Talk to me."

"No."

Like a petulant child I shuffled away towards the other side bringing the blanket with me. The only barrier between him and me. Only he wouldn't allow that. With a swift movement he wrenched the item away but I managed to quickly catch the end of it. Hastily, I tried to wrestle it from him but he was hard fast to not let go, so I stood up to gain leverage. "Let go of the blankets old man!"

Like a battle of tug O' war he pulled back almost sending me careening forward, "Echo we need to talk about this."

"No. We. Don't," I clenched between teeth yanking the blanket back towards me, only he stood up and grabbed purchase of the comforter just in time. I growled in frustration. Trying to step back I used all my weight to retrieve my cover, "You just want to talk about it! We don't need to TALK about anything."

"Why are you so stubborn! Just talk to me!"

"No! Never!" I shouted, desperate to run away from the conversation and hide. Though why I didn't just run out the door never seemed to cross my mind at the time.

"Echo!"

"Nno!"

Using the same trick I used at all the wellness days, I was forced to attend at high school, I slackened my pull on the blanket, letting him stumble back a bit in attempting to adjust, before ripping it quickly back to me in that small moment of weakness. In an instant he lost his footing, which had the unintended consequence of sending me flying back onto the bed, his lean body following me down, trapping me underneath him. A bit out of breath from the tussle, I gazed up at him, his eyes leaving me no where to run as his face hovered so close to mine. And he wasn't about to move anytime soon either. "Please Echo, this isn't something you should keep to yourself. You can't run from your past. Trust me I know this more than anyone."

He stared down imploringly, the years of personal hardship and pain shinning through, and I swallowed in defeat, one day I'd learn how to say no to that look but it wouldn't be that day. "….I remember how I ended up on the side of the road as a toddler. How I was found in a blizzard."

For a moment his eyes widened in shock as his brow furrowed in a mixture of pity and empathy, reading the hidden subtext, "The time war...I'm sorry I shouldn't have…"

"Pried, intruded, insisted," I offered up for the end of his sentence, "because you got eager for the company of another timelord? Or a like timelord to be more accurate."

Appearing guilty and uncomfortable all at the same time he leaned up to sit, only he hadn't realized he moved into a straddling position. Something I myself was choosing to forget. He ran a hand down his face with a heavy sigh, "I'm sorry."

"You should be, but I understand you're motive," I stated before trying to lighten a tense atmosphere, "Though I will get Ali and you back for conspiring. Granted in a funny unexpected way."

He smirked, a twinkle of mirth dancing behind those chocolate orbs, before the focused in on my face. He traced a line over my previous injury as he frowned with concern. "How is your jaw feeling?"

"I was going to ask about that, I'm surprised it's not swollen to hell. It actually feels quite fine."

"That would be the Talurean Vaxel weed," he prattled off, "Turn it into a paste and it can heal most things in minutes. Well, except for missing body parts. For that there's this really fascinating worm that-"

"Ahem!"

Quickly shooting our heads to the open doorway Martha stood in the archway, arms crossed over her chest. She looked about ready to blow a fuse, though she hid it well. Her accusing eyes fell to me then shifted over to him, "So what is this? The equivalent of Timelord foreplay?"

Seeing an opportunity to get back at at-least one of my friends, and hopefully clear up the situation with the other, I sent Martha a wink and an eyebrow wiggle. Hoping she took the hint. "Yes it is Martha, help! He's trying to ravish me."

"W-what!? No I'm not!" he turned to Martha standing in the doorway as he jumped back onto his hind quarters and stumbled backward; appalled by the accusation, "I'm not! Really!? I don't know why she-I'm not."

If I were Martha I'd probably be offended by his immediate disgust, but I wasn't most women. I didn't really see the point in getting upset over something so trivial as guys. Though his response did seem to eradicate her earlier anger as she reviewed the scene a second time and noticed, to her relief, that she mistook the atmosphere. Her eyes flicked over to me and I mouthed for her to play along. She tried not to smile and returned to her upset look, though it was mostly for show. "Really because she is in her nightie."

"Yeah Doctor, I'm in my nightie," I agreed, poking fun. He sputtered in disbelief not knowing how to handle the situation; after all he thought the whole no female seduction was made quite clear at the beginning of the trip. Flustering at the accusation of impropriety he defended himself, "Wh-you-Martha you're the one who dressed her!"

"But you're in her bed," she countered. I nodded my head at the fact, "This is also true."

He growled in frustration and mussed up his hair rubbing his hands through it, "Yes, but there's an honest explanation for that-"

"And you were on top of her in a pretty compromising position," Martha added with light taunt. I ooed with a playful jibe of my own to really send it home, "She does make a point. Huh! Is this what you do? Bring innocent unsuspecting ladies into your TARDIS so you can have your way with them. Oh Doctor you rake!"

"What!?" his voice pitched as his mouth floundered, "I-I would never-I don't-oh stop it you two! I'll be having none of this, I made my self quite clear on this subject at the beginning of our trip."

I smiled at his angry flustering and for a moment the word adorable danced across my mind till I quickly trashed the thought. I'd be having none of that. "Alright, I think he's had enough," I patted his knee affectionately before I slid off the mattress, "Next time stop doesn't mean go."

"What!?"

I raised a delicate eyebrow to his shrill query. "I told you I'd get you back, weren't you listening? I never exactly put a time table on it."

Without waiting for a response I speed walked out of my room, I'd have to appreciate and explore it later, and hooked my elbow with Martha's; dragging her along. I took a quick look behind to see if we were being followed, but found the hallway behind us had changed; bringing us to a new locale. I do love a nifty TARDIS. Martha chuckled next to me. "Did you see his face! Oh, it was priceless."

"I did," I smiled, giving her a playful bump of my hip, "and thank you for playing along and saving me."

Her eyes snapped to me with a wicked glint to her eye as she tried not to laugh, "Who said I was playing."

Blinking a few times at the jest I broke into a cheshire cat grin. "You are so bad."

NEXT EPISODE: Will either be In the Red or The Angle's have the Phone Box.

Which ever I'm more inclined to write when I finish a chapter or two of my Sherlock fanfic :D The Reason I'm skipping Human nature is because Echo would get them all killed, one she can't chameleon arch because of her current condition and two they would smell her if they didn't; so conclusion they'd all die. In my mind Blink seemed to be an ambiguous episode that could have happened at anytime, after Martha was a permanent fixture upon the TARDIS, so I will be going with that first before the big things I have in store that will be going down in two or three chapters. :)