A/N: Hi! This is a story written by me, Lauren, and my friend Audrey, who also uses this account. This is my first time uploading anything on this website, so if you have any ways I could make this story better, please comment and let me know! Currently this story is just a one chapter trail run, but let me know if you like it and I'll try to continue it (after finals though, haha). This is not a Doctor/OC story, although there might be a different pairing later...I haven't decided yet.

Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who. I only own Marie, Luke, and Marie's mom.

With that said, let the story begin!

The heart monitor is all I hear.

I'm going to die in less than a year. My cancer has resurfaced.

I numbly turn my head, my eyes finding the mirror that was mounted on the cream-colored wall to my right. What I see is nothing like my usual self. I wouldn't have recognized the reflection, had it not mimicked my exact moves . Transparent skin, eyes bloodshot and weary. A beanie covers my head, the ends of my red hair poking out in it's short pixie cut. My locks had just started to grow back from the last round of chemotherapy. A large-fitting hospital gown covers me, barely clinging onto my bony shoulders.

No matter what the doctors say, I know that there is no chance I will survive this time. I don't want to go through the hell that was chemotherapy again. I want to spend my last days on this planet with my family and friends.

The sounds emitting from my surrounding start to return, and I realize the doctor is calling my name.

"Marie? Marie, I realize you've just had a big shock, but we need to discuss treatment options."

My mom is sitting in the corner, perched on the edge of an uncomfortable looking plastic chair, constantly wiping the beads of tears that streamed down her cheeks.

The memory of my last chemotherapy treatment resurfaced, and I unintentionally cringed. I was utterly miserable and felt like I'd entered hell. My beautiful long, fiery red hair fell out in clumps. I constantly threw up and saw no need to eat or dress. Yet, my mom always seemed to be there for me. She would plump my pillows, spoon feed me, dress me like I was still a baby, and even help me to the toilet. You name it, mom was there. She never speaks of it, but I know that if I felt like I was in hell, mom must have felt like she was in the special part reserved for Satan, not being able to help her child. I don't want her to go through that ever again.

"Marie?" Doctor Bloom inquires again, a busy eyebrow arched.

My eyes find him and I manage to gasp out one word. I haven't spoken in days, so the sound of my raspy voice almost made me jump.

"No."

The doctor's eyes widen and he hastily says, "But surely you want to at least attempt to-"

"No," I cut him off, my voice slightly clearer, though it still sounds like someone grinding an ax against a stone. "I know my chances and I would rather spend that time with family and die as peacefully as possible."

Mom's tears have finally subsided and she speaks up. "Marie, are you sure?"

My dark brown eyes meet her steely blue ones. "Positive."

Mom and Doctor Bloom leave the room to sign forms. I slouch back against the metal headboard, trying to process what I had just agreed to.

A knocking on the door wrenched me from my pity party. A man is standing there, dressed quite strangely in my opinion. He wears a tweed jacket, brown slacks and a red bowtie. I even see red suspenders peeking out from under his jacket. He looked like a child who had raided his grandpa's wardrobe.

"Hello! I'm the Doctor." he exclaimed. A bright smile adorned his face. Yes, definitely a child at heart.

I stared at his strange appearance for a few more seconds before finally responding. "Hello. Do I know you? I think you might have the wrong room. Doctor Bloom is my doctor."

"No, not a doctor, the Doctor. Actually, I'm not looking for anyone in particular. Well, I am, but not a person. Unless you know someone named aliens or trouble or people trying to take over the world." He rambled.

I blinked. "Uh, I know the way back to the psychiatric ward from here, if you need help finding it…"

He brightened. "Okay! You can be my escort. Maybe we can find trouble there."

"Right." I mutter under my breath.

I push the itchy cotton sheet off of my frail legs and set my feet on the floor, using the bed to push myself up. The Doctor watches me carefully with the same look everyone gives me. Like I'm going to break.

"Need help?" He asks nonchalantly.

"I'm fine." I mutter. I can walk just fine, thank you very much. For now, anyway.

I get to the door and look both ways down the hall. Mom will have a heart attack if she finds me missing. Thankfully the paperwork should take a while.

I crept down the hall, the Doctor right on my heels. To his credit, he is good at sneaking around. We dodge nurses and doctors that barely notice us, rushing past to help others sick and wounded.

I nearly walk right past room 531 before I remember.

"Wait." I tell the Doctor. He nearly runs into me when I stop. I poke my head in the door.

A 10 year old cancer patient named Luke sits on the bed. He is my only friend here. Every day I thank whatever God may exist out there that his chemotherapy treatments are working and one day he will go home and live out the rest of his life. Maybe he'll travel, see the world. All the things I wish for desperately on every star and know will never happen for me.

If there is a heaven up there and I somehow make it there, I plan on being Luke's guardian angel.

"Luke?" I call softly. He looks up at me. I can tell he's been crying. I sit down next to him on the bed.

I dig in my pocket and find the lollipop I had planned to give him today. I handed the strawberry flavored candy to him and his entire face brightens like the sun and the stars have combined.

I give him a hug and plant a soft kiss on his head.

I leave without another word.

The Doctor stood at the doorway, looking at me with a melancholy smile on his face. I glanced at him and turned the corner, walking ahead. I heard his footsteps resume after a second or two. He caught up with my slow pace quickly and walked beside me.

"So, why are you here?" The Doctor says, obviously attempting to make small talk.

"You're in the cancer ward. Why do you think?" I say bluntly.

His face falls a bit and I am suddenly reminded of Luke.

I sigh softly. "I'm sorry, that was rude."

Our footsteps echo on the tile in the hall.

"I guess I've just gotten out of practice with talking to people." I add quietly.

"Me too, I suppose." The Doctor said. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye and I knew.

"Lost someone?" I say simply.

"Two someones. The best people I've ever known." He mutters. He looks up for a moment, blinking away tears. I turn my glance away, respecting his privacy.

"How did you know?" He says finally.

I gesture around the hall. "We're in a hospital. I see broken people everywhere, and most of them aren't the patients. It's the families."

"Well, you're right. I lost my family."

I spend a few minutes trying to figure out how to reply to that when the Doctor changes the subject.

"If you could get out of here, not be sick, what would you do with your life?" He asks curiously, granting me a smile.

"I would travel. I've always wanted to see as much of the world as possible. But being so sick, I rarely even leave the hospital." I sigh. Then a grin comes onto my face as an old memory finds me.

"What?" The Doctor asks.

"I just remembered. Sometimes Luke and I used to try to sneak out of the hospital. We always got caught, except once. It was raining like crazy outside, which meant the hospital was busy with car accident victims who couldn't see in the rain. Luke and I snuck up onto the roof with an umbrella and danced the rain."

I shake the memory off. "It's one of my favorite memories." I say rather awkwardly. "We always planned to beat our cancers and explore the world together. Maybe he'll still get to. Just not with me."

I look down to the ground. "I still feel guilty for leaving him all alone when my cancer got worse and I started getting more chemotherapy. He visited me whenever he could and I barely acknowledged his presence. He was my light in a sea of darkness."

I suddenly realize that because I had gotten so caught up in my storytelling, I have been aimlessly leading the Doctor absolutely nowhere. I stop in the middle of the hall.

"I'm sorry, I forgot I was taking you to the psychiatric ward. Do you still want to go there?"

The Doctor shakes his head. "No. I think I've figured out why the TARDIS brought me here. You. I can take you on the adventure of a lifetime, if you want to come." He grins widely before setting off at a run. "Follow me!" He calls.

"TARDIS? Adventure of a lifetime? Huh?" I shook my head, trying to make sense of what the Doctor had said.

One phrase stood out to me that i couldn't refuse. Adventure of a lifetime….

"Wait up!" I yelled, walking as fast as my weak legs would take me.