* A/N I do not own Doctor Who or any of its characters; I only own my own OC. Story contains spoilers for the show.
Teresa regained consciousness s she was thrust out of her time travel, landing who knew where, and she immediately wished she hadn't. She could hear someone shouting in surprise, but she couldn't focus as she screamed in silent agony. Every fiber of her body felt like it was on fire as the regeneration took over.
It was as though every cell was bursting into oblivion, and yet growing out anew, and she couldn't even breathe as the pain wracked her body. She could feel the physical changes tearing through her and she finally threw her head back, releasing the last of her regeneration energy and blasting it into the air as her first regeneration finally completed. Or, she thought it was the air.
There was an enormous explosion, and as she finally regained her bearings somewhat, she saw vaguely that her regeneration energy had blasted the side of a cliff. She thought she saw a vague outline of the hole she'd presumably created, but she couldn't really focus on it as she found something far more interesting.
Terry wiggled her fingers and held her tiny hands in front of her face, examining them. They were almost dainty and child-like, so small compared to her longer hands from before. Her head also felt much lighter, and she couldn't feel her hair brushing her shoulders anymore, although she could feel it tickling the back of her neck. She was still mostly dazed as she tried to catalogue the changes to her body, when there was a very rude interruption.
"Who are you?" An older man dressed in a khaki uniform asked incredulously, staring down at the young woman who'd appeared in a burst of golden energy and blasted the hole through the cliff before his men could denote the explosives. She stared at him uncomprehendingly, and the man shivered a little at the suddenly intense expression on the woman's face.
"Who are you?" She shot back, her voice husky and full.
He stared as Terry blinked rapidly and then asked again: "Who are you? You? Who?"
She began to ramble, feeling slightly confused but at the same time excited at her changed voice. "Potato. Potato. Tomato. Tomato. Banana. B-"
"Yes, alright." The man snapped, interrupting her again. "Answer my question, who-?"
He was cut off as Terry abruptly shot up, and leaned up on her toes so that her face was close to his as her eyes narrowed angrily at him. He backed away a little in alarm as she snapped back: "Stop interrupting me, you're distracting! Oh, I'm sorry."
She was suddenly back flat down on her feet, looking contrite as she moaned: "That was rude, am I rude too now? Oh, this is all the Doctor's influence isn't it?"
The man stared at her, his mouth slightly open in shock. As she continued to grumble under her breath, he finally found his voice again and asked: "So, you, you know the Doctor then?"
"Oh, yes, of course." She replied blithely. She then focused again on the man and she mused: "And I know you, don't I? Father Octavian."
He started in surprise but she didn't notice as she continued cheerfully: "Oh, this must be the angels, isn't it? Oh, wait, you haven't gotten there yet, have you. Sorry, spoilers."
"What…?" Father Octavian asked, flabbergasted, and Terry said easily: "Well, you're still here so it hasn't happened yet. Oh wait, I think that's another spoiler… which, is also a spoiler. Sorry, rambling, bloody hell I can certainly talk now, can't I? Definitely the Doctor's influence." She sighed.
Octavian stared at her, completely bewildered, when suddenly they heard the Doctor call in surprise and delight: "Terry!"
Terry beamed, turning around to face the Doctor as he ran over. He'd just reached out to hug her when she suddenly frowned and he pulled back quickly in alarm.
"What is it? What's wrong?" He asked, and Terry snapped: "You. You're what's bloody wrong!"
The Doctor blinked, looking slightly hurt, but she didn't notice as she pointed an accusing finger up at him and she snapped: "Why are you so tall now? What did you eat? I don't remember you suddenly growing."
The Doctor frowned before his eyes lit up in understanding, and he glanced down at her entire frame, taking in the now over-sized clothes and the blood staining her back. The Doctor smiled a little, his eyes softening as he asked her: "Terry… have you just regenerated?"
"Yeah, why?" She asked impatiently, and then the penny dropped. Her mouth fell open in horror, and the Doctor's face became very amused as he watched her gape wordlessly for a moment.
"Terry!" Another voice called, and the Doctor glanced back in irritation as River hurried over looking delighted. She was brought to an abrupt halt when Terry took one look in her direction and burst into despondent wails.
"No. No! Do not tell me I got short!" She wailed, burying her head into her hands. The Doctor was looking completely amused while River blinked in shock. Amy came out of the trailer as well, and spotting the familiar woman, the redhead also came over.
"Terry?" She asked in confusion, wondering why the woman was crying into her hands.
Terry lifted her head to look at Amy, before she yelled accusingly: "I'm short!"
Amy stared, River looked torn between amusement and concern, while the Doctor was outright laughing. Terry whirled on him furiously and she snarled: "It's not funny!"
He immediately tried to look contrite, but was failing miserably and Terry narrowed her eyes at him.
"It's not!" She insisted. "I was 5 ft. 6, and now I'm as bloody short as Clara!"
"Who's Clara?" Amy asked as the Doctor also looked confused, but Terry was still ranting as she shook slightly: "And I won't have it! I refuse to be so short I don't even reach your chin!"
She pointed accusingly at the Doctor, who was shaking with suppressed laughter.
"And stop laughing!" Terry complained, making him guffaw again and River snort.
Amy was also fighting a smile, although she still looked confused, and Terry snapped at them all angrily: "Some friends you are! This isn't funny!"
"Alright, sweetie." River said soothingly, reaching out a hand and patting the other woman's shoulder reassuringly.
Terry glared, disliking that River had to reach down to her, while River asked curiously: "Terry? Sweetie, it's not that bad."
Terry pouted, but River's hand suddenly tightened on Terry's shoulder, and she frowned. River asked slowly, concern starting to seep into her voice: "Why are you shaking?"
"Oh, it's nothing. " Terry answered easily as her head began to spin as well. "Just the regeneration; I think I'm going to faint."
And with that, her eyes rolled back and she promptly fainted. Luckily, River had been holding her, and it slowed her descent as the others froze momentarily in shock. The Doctor was the quickest to react, darting forward and catching the now 5 ft. 2 woman. He scooped her up in his arms easily, carrying her and lifting her head up so that he could place his forehead against hers.
"Is she alright?" River asked, and the Doctor nodded.
"She's fine. It's just the post regeneration cycle." He sighed as he removed his forehead from Terry's, looking down at her tenderly.
Amy felt a spike of jealousy, which she tried to quench down, as the Doctor gazed down at the unconscious Time Lady in his arms, before he looked up as Father Octavian said uncertainly: "Er, Sir? The Maze…"
The Doctor glanced at the hole in the cliff, and he nodded at the other man as he ordered: "Right, let's get moving! I'll carry her," he nodded down at Terry, "so lead on. Good man! Oh, and can someone fetch a change of clothes for my angel?"
Terry slowly regained consciousness, blinking slowly as her eyes regained their focus.
"Angel?" The Doctor murmured as he felt her stir, and she stared at him as he peered at her worriedly while her eyes came to focus on his.
"Doctor?" Terry asked tiredly, and he reassured: "Don't worry, I've got you."
"Where are we?" Terry asked in confusion as she blinked, twisting her head to peer at her surroundings. It was dimly lit, and the Doctor's body blocked most of her view as he carried her, but she realized they were in a giant cavern of sorts, climbing up a path along the sides of the stonewalls.
"The Maze of the Dead." The Doctor explained. "It-"
"Aplans." Terry realized as she saw the statues they were passing and the Doctor nodded.
"So, you know this one?" He questioned, and Terry nodded as she replied thoughtfully: "The angels…"
"Angels?" The Doctor repeated curiously, immediately picking up on the plural, and Terry almost winced.
"Don't ask." She advised, and the Doctor raised a brow but wisely let the subject drop for the moment. Terry meanwhile frowned in thought- should she point out the obvious? Or wait? What did she normally do again? Stupid to ask- she was a new her. Or a different her. Both?
Terry's head buzzed as question after question popped into her head. She wasn't sure if it was a Time Lord thing, if it was a post-regeneration thing, or if it was just this regeneration, but thoughts seemed to shoot through her mind continuously and her mouth wanted to spit all of it out. Except that was dangerous with her foreknowledge- wasn't it?
Yes, it was. Except when her foreknowledge was faulty for some reason, like with the Master, and the Valiant, and-
"Oh! Martha!" Terry said suddenly and worriedly as she remembered the companion, and the Doctor glanced down at her as he smiled.
"She was fine." He confirmed and Terry let out a sigh of relief.
"And... and the Master?" She asked hesitantly.
The Doctor's face immediately shut down, and Terry knew. She'd heard that gun shot right before she passed out and disappeared from the Valiant. Her actions to stop the Master's death had been in vain then...
"Martha left after the Valiant though." The Doctor said, dropping the subject on the Master. "Said she didn't ever want to see you die like that again."
"Oh, right… and I've heard I go brunette next." Terry commented, also sensing the Doctor wanted to change subject. "Which means I won't be ginger either."
The Doctor chuckled at her dejected tone, making her wrinkle her nose at him.
"You seem rather chipper considering you know you'll die and become someone new again." River observed as she came up to them.
"River." The Doctor said severely, but Terry simply smiled as she answered easily: "Well, it's nicer knowing I'll still be around after I 'die'."
River had to smile, before she added: "And I didn't get to say this earlier, but it's good to see you again, Sweetie. I missed you."
"I miss you too, River." Terry replied sincerely. "Or is it, I missed you? Will miss you? Oh, bloody hell, I have a gob." Terry complained, and both the Doctor and River smiled indulgently.
"It's fine, Sweetie." River reassured while the Doctor chimed in: "It's cute."
"It is not cute." Terry disagreed. "I sound like you, now."
"Yes, you do." River agreed, while the Doctor wondered: "And that's bad?"
"Well, no, but you're hard to handle on your own." Terry pointed out. "Now it's like having two of you."
"No, it's like having the Doctor and his angel." The Doctor corrected smugly. "Much better, in my opinion."
"Of course you'd say that." Terry sighed before she added: "And Doctor, I'm feeling fine now."
"Oh, good." He answered easily. "I was worried for a while, just because I know this is your first regeneration and it can all be a little overwhelming."
"Right." Terry said impatiently. "But it's all settled down now, so you can let me down now." She hinted.
The Doctor blinked before glancing down at her as though he'd just remembered he was still carrying her. He quickly let her down and it was only as Terry stood on her feet that she realized someone had changed her clothes while she had been out cold.
She was now wearing a silvery-grey dress, cinched at the waist by a thin belt, and dark brown leggings underneath. The outfit was completed by a tan leather jacket and a pair of combat boots that she noted with distaste were flat. Surprising, since she used to hate heels. Otherwise, she really liked her new look, and she wondered as she looked back up: "Who changed me?"
"I did." River replied, looking smug as she saw the approving gleam in the other woman's eyes. "Thought you'd like it."
"I do." Terry replied with a nod of agreement. "Not so sure about the shoes though."
"I thought you wouldn't like them." River admitted. "But the Doctor, and I had to agree, worried that it was a bit early for heels since you're probably going to find it hard to walk straight for a while."
"I'm fine." Terry insisted. Of course, it was at that timing that she almost walked off the edge of the cliff, having been walking in a diagonal line instead of a straight one without realizing.
The Doctor, however, had been watching her carefully, and he was quick to pull her back and to safety in his arms.
"You were saying?" River teased, but Terry was distracted as she glanced at the Doctor, pausing to examine him intently and with a small frown.
"What is it?" He asked, and Terry said seriously: "You know, I take back what I said before- I don't like that tweed jacket. Where's the leather one Nine used to wear? I like that."
"When did you ever say that?" The Doctor asked confused and a little annoyed as River burst out laughing. "And what's wrong with the tweed?"
"It's tweed, and goes a little too well with the bow-tie." Terry replied flatly. "And I said it… oh. I think I only thought it in my head. Said I liked all your outfits except the leather, but I've changed my mind. Like the leather, not the tweed."
"I like the tweed!" The Doctor argued while River laughed in the background. "And bow-ties are cool."
"No, they aren't." Terry scoffed.
"Yes, they are." The Doctor retorted.
"No, they aren't."
"Yes, they-"
"All right!" River interrupted, breaking up the argument quickly as the soldiers in their entourage glanced over curiously. "That's enough, children."
"'Children'?" The Doctor repeated indignantly while Terry argued: "I am twenty, thank you very much."
"And he's 907- still a child." River replied, making the Doctor frown while Terry pouted.
"Now, come on." River added as she began walking once more. "We've actually got work to do- we can continue this later."
"Fine, later." Terry agreed, which effectively shut the Doctor up. River sent him a smug smile, making him roll his eyes while Terry walked blithely along, glancing around curiously. The Doctor stayed close, ensuring her safety as she walked, but she was slowly getting the hang of her body and her stumbles grew less and less frequent.
Her steps became slower however as she remembered the seriousness of the situation, particularly about what was to come. She frowned, struggling internally once more, when Amy caught up with them at last, complaining: "Are we there yet? It's a hell of a climb."
"The Maze is on six levels, representing the ascent of the soul." River explained. "Only two levels to go."
"Wow, I must've been out for ages." Terry commented, surprised by the progress they'd made.
"Not really, you were only out a few hours at most, and you actually woke up quicker than I thought you would." The Doctor answered, and Terry glanced at him thoughtfully.
"I suppose… and I guess it is better than being hit over the head by a cricket bat." She teased lightly, making the Doctor grin mischievously while River smiled and Amy wince.
They lapsed into a brief moment of silence, before Amy asked curiously as she glanced up at the ceiling: "Isn't there a chance this lot's just going to collapse? There's a whole ship up there."
"Incredible builders, the Aplans." Terry replied absently, before she made a face- she'd stolen River's line. She really needed to refocus and be careful about what she said- her regeneration was making her blurt out things left and right.
"Had dinner with their Chief Architect once." The Doctor mused cheerfully, oblivious to Terry's thoughts. "Two heads are better than one."
"What, you mean you helped him?" Amy asked confusedly, and Terry shook her head while the Doctor explained: "No, I mean he had two heads."
Amy stopped walking, staring, but the Doctor ignored her reaction as he called back to River: "That book, the very end, what did it say?"
"Hang on." River called as she stopped to open her bag, rummaging inside for the book about the Angels.
"Read it to me." The Doctor called, and River retorted: "Stop being so bossy."
"Ask her nicely." Terry told the Doctor, who rolled his eyes but re-phrased a little petulantly: "Please read it."
River smirked, sending Terry a wink which she acknowledged with a grin, before she read aloud: "'What if we had ideas that could think for themselves? What if one day our dreams no longer needed us? When these things occur and are held to be true, the time will be upon us. The time of Angels'."
*A/N Bet you guys weren't expecting it so soon! :) Hope you enjoy this next book in the Storm series~