Beeps and the hiss of oxygen. The weight of the oxygen tube on her face. Kate Stewart's eyes fluttered open, her eyes finally catching up with the rest of her senses. Through the gap in the hospital door, Kate could make out the UNIT soldier standing guard.

'Oh good, you're awake,' the familiar voice from the chair beside her bed.

Kate turned her head to see her scientific mentor, Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, sitting beside her. 'Liz,' her voice sounded like gravel to her own ears. She coughed, and Liz reached out, taking the water glass from the table and held it up so Kate take a small sip. 'Thanks.'

'You gave me a fright when I heard the plane went down. Imagine my surprise getting a call that you were here.'

'How? Cybermen ripped the side off the plane. Thought I was dead.'

'They found you in a graveyard.'

Kate took another sip of water. 'We were at 35,000 feet. I shouldn't have survived. But something happened and I had the weirdest dreams.' Kate sighed and closed her eyes. 'I could've sworn Dad was there.'

It was Liz's turn to sigh. She'd heard the stories and made plenty of her own assumptions. 'In times of stress, you know as well as I do that people can hear strange things.'

Kate turned so she could see Liz's face. 'I don't want to think—"

'Then don't, Kate. It's not worth it.' Liz reached out and took Kate's hand. 'I hear your father's voice all the time. People we love are never that far away.'

'This is different. Last thing I knew, I was standing in the plane with the Doctor and the Master. Then I was falling through freezing cold air. I felt something grab me, and I swore I heard "Relax, Tiger".'

Liz gasped as she watched the tears trickle down Kate's cheek. 'I don't know what happened up there. But we're scientists, and we can't assume anything without proof. We both know what your father always said.'

Kate nodded. 'Science leads.' She shifted so she could sit more upright. 'I have to get back to work. Make sure the Cybermen are dealt with. Take care of notifying the families, all the other clean up and paperwork.'

'Kate, relax. The Cybermen are gone. The Doctor made sure of that. Anything else can wait until you're rested.' Liz stood up and walked to the door. 'Your children should be here soon. Spend some time with them. They'll want your reassurances that you're all right.'

Kate reached up and ran her hand over her eyes. 'I don't know if I am all right.'

'You will be, my dear. We all will be.'

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