Chapter 2. His One Loose End.

The Doctor Set danced around the TARDIS consol pushing buttons and pulling levers. Though he always had a certain lyrical movement style his face remained serious, his usual smile of amusement was hidden under heavy eyes. He was going to regret this he knew but there was no way he could leave her like this, the little human empath he had picked up shortly after his run in with Nobel. He just wanted to check on her. Make sure she was okay.

He settled the TARDIS down outside of Sisters of Mercy Hospital hoping that she would be there. His sense of the current Earth time was slightly off as he rubbed his hands together and threw open the TARDIS door. It was dark outside and it appeared he may have overshot the hospital by a few blocks. He wasn't bothered by this fact, looking forward to a walk that would stretch his legs. He took a deep breath jamming his hands in his pockets he started to walk.

His head was jumbled by what he would say or do when he saw her. He honestly didn't know how she would react to him, her previously acidic words hanging in his mind

"I am done with you trying to put me under some microscope. I am only human my empathy doesn't matter, it doesn't make me stronger. You sure as hell don't help me fix this. No you just show me the pain of a whole universe then you just want to fly away from it. Slapping a band aid on the wound but never sticking around to see if you're really the hero you fancy yourself to be. I am done I am going home."

He can still see her walking away from him, fists clenched, heart on her sleeve, her hair tangling as it blew behind her with the speed of her walk. Coming to from his thoughts he suddenly felt the twinge of so many conflicting emotions he was forced to turn around startled.

"You left me.. You left me to die. Did you know that?"

The Doctor was rendered speechless as he looked upon this human girl who had once dared to travel the stars with him. He barely recognized her. She had cut and darkened her hair, lost weight, and her previously bright green eyes had turned a dull blue.

"Left you to die? What?" the doctor said in obvious confusion as he fought to keep his mental blocks in check. Anger, fear, sadness, relief, confusion, all seemed to get stronger as the seconds passed like centuries.

He took a step closer to Elise both speechless and calculating. He tried to catch her eye but she just looked down shoulders shaking as silent sobs overcame her. The doctor saw her legs begin to buckle catching her in two strides he eased her to the ground moving her hair from her face trying to reach her temple to soothe her mind.

He was stopped before he could focus by a mangled scar on her right temple. He began to put the pieces together as he cradled Elise in his arms carrying her to the TARDIS. He whispered his apologies to her like a mantra that would save them both from the mess he was beginning to understand.

7 months previously

"So let me get this straight your over 900 years old… But you still long for a pet human? Have you ever considered a dog?" A healthy looking Elise chided as she sat on the jump seat of the TARDIS thumbing through her anatomy book.

"I actually had a dog once K9. Great pet only needed to be oiled occasional, tune ups every few adventure" He replied looking up from his circuit board, his brown eyes playing over his glasses right above his own wicked grin.

She laughed at him shaking her head "You know occasionally I remember you are so not human. This is one of those times. Are you done yet I would really like to get out. If I study for much longer my brain will turn to jello"

"How does a tropical mall sound? You know there is actually an entire planet called Hawaii? Its dedicated to tourism, shopping and relaxation there are only a few minor differences. The natives are yellow and speak Elizabethan English, the sands are pale lavender, and the ocean is a regulated wave pool." He said as he replaced the circuit board and began to hurl them into the vortex.

"How many times have you said paradise, relaxation and run in about a 20 minute span now?" Elise said grabbing a bar in the TARDIS consol.

"You have no faith in me. I know what I am doing Elise Cray it's everyone else who is confused" He felt her skepticism and could swear he even heard a sarcastic "yeah right" and smiled brightly. His mind had been so lonely since the destruction of his people and planet now this young human was able to reach him in a way he had nearly forgotten. It was almost addictive for him to have even her small amount of communication in his brain.

Laying Elise down on the grating in the TARDIS he sent them into the vortex determined to fix whatever he created.