"You could have told me you know."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"That girl. I saw the way you looked at her. You know her don't you?"

He took in a shaky breath and nodded, "... I'm so glad she's alright..."

"I don't know why you're coming to school. You nearly passed out yesterday!" Shelley told her.

"And mess up my perfect attendance?" she joked, "Fat chance."

"Does your dad know about this?"

Alisia gave her a sheepish grin, "More or less..."

"You snuck out didn't you?" she laughed.

"Well... I guess... Technically... Yeah..."

"Most people ditch school but here you are sneaking out of the house to go to school. No wonder people think you're weird!" Shelley teased. Alisia looked down, "Come on. You know I didn't mean it that way."

"... Maybe I am a bit weird... Do you think so...?"

She scoffed, "No, you're the most normal, level-headed person I know."

"Thanks..."

"You're welcome! Come on! You missed science yesterday and guess who's subbing? Mr. Smith is an adorably sweet teacher!" Alisia gave her a horrified expression. "Ew! I don't mean like that!"

"Thank god! He's old enough to be our dad!"

The two arrived early for science, Mr. Smith looked up to greet them and his smile faltered, "Are you alright? Shouldn't you be resting?"

Alisia gave him a smile, "I'm fine. I got some sleep last night and I'm feeling all better now!" She could tell he didn't believe her. "I'm okay! Honestly!" she dug through her bag and pulled out a binder, "I even did last night's science homework!"

Shelley smirked, "She forced me to tell her yesterday's homework assignment. Ms. Perfectionist has five awards in science alone."

Alisia blushed. A proud approving smile spread across Mr. Smith's face, "Brilliant! I love to see more science geniuses!" He took the homework from her and graded it on the spot, a grin spread across his face. He grabbed out a pen and marked the paper, "All perfect except for this little mark right here," he pointed to the mark, underneath it he had drawn a red 'T'. "Now see if we were doing..." He popped open a marker and wrote on the board; going way beyond college level science. "Do you understand?"

"Yeah. I think so..." She nodded. "So if I did..." Shelley gaped as the two spoke in what seemed like another language. Alisia felt pure joy and pride and... love...? Continue to radiate out of him the more they interacted and oddly enough an overwhelming sense of warmth built up in her heart.

The bell rang and students began to pour in, "Okay, science nerd back to your seat," Shelley joked.

Alisia watched Mr. Smith closely, he looked so familiar... From his spiky brown hair to his converse shoes, to his strange aura. And this feeling, what is this..? She thought. She felt a strange tugging sensation in the back of her head like something wanted to come inside. She rubbed the base of her neck with her hand as she tried to desensitize herself. He glanced over smiling at her encouragingly, she blushed and smiled back. She didn't know why but in his presence she felt safer and stronger... As her thoughts drifted though she began to clench her fists; an overwhelming feeling of terror welling inside her. A stinging sensation burned through her scalp, penetrating her head, she clenched her teeth and hands as she fought to regain control, but the feeling grew stronger, threatening to rip her apart.

Before she could think she was tearing a page out of her binder and drawing rapidly as if she was possessed. After some time her shoulders relaxed as the sensation tearing through her ebbed into a dull throb. "Alisia?" She jumped, Mr. Smith's face was drawn tight with concern. She swept her gaze across the class frantically as she realized everyone was leaving. Is class over already...? Her eyes returned to Mr. Smith examining her paper; extreme fear and pain radiating from him. She followed his gaze to her paper, she backed away from it when she realized what she'd done, her chair jumping across the floor as she did so. She swallowed hard, her chest tightening into a knot and her head swimming as she tried to fight back tears. His silence sent her into a panic, making her want to run, to escape! After a long moment he reached a trembling hand out to cover the drawing, pulling it from her view, "Shelley, can I speak to her alone for a moment?" Shelley looked at her friend concerned before nodding and leaving. They were alone in the room... She moved to run but broke into tears instead. She jumped when he pulled her into his arms, "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry..."

"... Mummy..."

"... Yes... I know... I'm sorry, Cassie... I'm so sorry..." He stroked her hair.

Cassie; that name rang with familiarity through her head... The woman in the picture called me that... A feeling tugged at her mind forcing her to speak, "Mummy..."

"Shh... I know honey... I know... I am so so sorry." She held her head as pain flashed through again, "Hey, no. It's okay." He put his fingers on her temples, closing his eyes until he felt her limp form sag into him. "You'll be okay. I won't let them hurt you anymore, sweetie."

She awoke in his arms moments later, the aching pain had once again subsided into a dull reminder. "Who are you...? Really...?"

Before he could answer the bell rang once more, "You need to rest. I'll take you to the nurse's office," He paused a moment, "I'll talk to you after school okay?"

"Bu-but my attendance-!"

"You showed up, but you need to rest. It happens to the best of us," She wanted to argue but the stern tone in his voice stopped her, "You need to rest." He carried her bag as they walked to the nurse's office. She looked out the window to the right and saw her classmates playing outside; break time.

A teacher grinned as she walked down the hall towards them, "Mr. Smith," she nodded.

"Ms. Noble."

A smile drifted across his face when he saw her, "Is she your mate?" she found herself asking.

He grinned at her, "Yeah, we're the best of friends."

"That's cool. Shelley's my best mate."

"I'm glad you have loyal friends."

"Well, it's just Shelley... Everyone else thinks I'm weird."

"And what's wrong with that? All the best people are!" he grinned at her.

"I guess so... I don't like it... It's like they can feel it..." She drifted off. She pursed her lips, "Can you keep a secret?"

"Of course."

"... I am different..."

He smirked, "I know. I am too."

"I mean really different... Like different... Different..." she breathed in heavily, "And they can feel it. They can feel how different I am... I know they don't know what it is, but I know they can feel it..."

"You're special, unique in the best of ways. I can feel it and I know it," he beamed at her.

She blushed, "Thanks."

They stopped at a door, "I'll talk to you after school and explain everything. But first you need to rest up. Get some more sleep. And don't forget to eat. I will be checking in with the nurse to make sure you've done both, got it?" he gave her a smirk.

She blushed and nodded before turning to go. She paused and looked back at him, biting her lip a few moments before saying, "It feels like... We've met before... You're more than just my teacher... Aren't you...?"

His face lit up, "Yes. I've been looking for you for so long Cassia..."

There was that name again, Cassia... "You've been looking for me...?"

He pet her hair and held her face in his hands, a few tears slid down his face, "... Ever since you were just a little girl..." his voice shook forcing him to swallow, "I'm so glad you're okay," his voice broke and he hugged her close kissing her hair. She felt his tears land in her hair and was surprised to find that she was crying too, he shushed her softly, "I'm here now. I'm going to keep you safe, okay?" The bell rang again and withdrew from their hug, "Now..." he cleared his throat, "You need to rest. I'll tell you more later. I promise," he smoothed her hair over her ear and kissed her forehead before leading her into the nurse's office.

She nodded before wiping her eyes, "Thanks," she hugged him once more before she took the cot nearest to the window. He smiled at her, she didn't have to be an empath to tell how hesitant he was in leaving but finally he did.

Who is he..? How do I know him...? And what is this... Feeling...? My heart hurts but it feels lighter... Happier... She cuddled into the blankets with a smile.

"Cassie!"

Once again she saw nothing but darkness, "Mummy!"

"Stop! Please! Just let us go!"

There was that same voice again, raspy and filled with cruelty, "Little Nghyon..." Sharp dagger like objects raked across her scalp and neck, "Too young to provide enough sustenance..."

"Please!" her mother begged.

"But here we have two ripe Nghyons. Which shall we feed upon first?"

"Mummy!" she cried.

"Please! She needs me...! You can't take care of her! You don't know what she needs to grow!"

There was a lengthy moment of silence, "That is well," the creature spoke in a gravely language before she heard her mother whimper, "You shall take care of her until she is ripe, then we shall feed upon her," she paused and spoke louder, "We'll gather more to feast upon tonight..." An eerie skittering sound filled the area.

She took in mouthfuls of air before sitting up and rubbing her face, "Another nightmare..." she mumbled. "What is a Nghyon...?" she wondered. She checked the time on her wrist, "I slept that long!?" She pulled the sheet off and slung her bag over her shoulder as she got up. "Ms. Applegould?" No answer. She stepped out into the office and looked around, Deserted. She walked outside into the hallway, once again looking around to see no one. The silence was eerie as the skin prickled on the back of her neck, "Hello?" No answer. She swallowed the lump in her throat, stepping lightly through the hallway, straining her ears to hear beyond her rapidly beating heart. Her first thought was to find Mr. Smith, she didn't know how or why, but he would protect her wouldn't he? She quickly and quietly hurried through the hallways to his classroom her heart beating faster and faster as the silence rang around her. She turned into a new hallway towards room 307 when she froze, "M-Mr. Green?" she backed up a step, "I thought you were out sick..."

His face was paler than usual as it twisted into a crooked smile, "I feel better now. Shouldn't you be getting to your last class?"

"Y-yeah..! I was just about to head over there..."

"I'll walk with you."

She tried to relax her mind as it tried to force herself into brainstem mode; fight, flight, or freeze. A sickening feeling radiated through her as her stomach sunk into dread, she gulped taking a step away from him, "Th-that's okay!" Her body kept telling her to run but she held onto her sanity like a lifeline. "You have a class to teach..."

"Bah! Someone else is teaching today. Walking with you would just postpone me from a mountain of paperwork," he chuckled, "Let's go together." She backed up a few more steps and saw the smile fall from his face.

"You don't talk like Mr. Green..." she jumped as she backed into the wall.

"Pity... I thought I was doing a good job..." Her eyes widened and without even thinking she bolted down the hallway. "It's pointless to run Nghyon! There's no way to escape!" its hissing echoed after her. She blinked, suddenly finding herself down the street from the school. Her breath rasped as she heard her heart beating in her ears. Without any real thought she continued running, but wasn't sure where until her house appeared around the corner. No! No! No! He'll hurt dad! She wanted to stop but didn't know where else to go. She flung open the door, "Alisia! What the- Why are you crying!? What happened!?"

She grabbed onto him, "It's gonna hurt me!"

"What!? What's going on?"

"The creatures from my nightmares!" she wailed.

"Alisia, they don't exist."

"Yes they do! They killed her! They killed my mum!"

He froze. "Alisia..."

"They killed her!"

"I'm... I'm so sorry..." he hugged her tighter. "Don't worry. I'm here now and I won't let anyone hurt you okay?"

"They killed her! They'll kill you too! They want me! They'll never stop looking for me!" she sobbed.

He held her face in his hands, "Alisia. Calm down. You're hyperventilating." Her knees shook as black spots danced in front of her eyes. He caught her and set her down on the couch. "Breathe slowly. Shh... Slowly. Calm down... It's okay..." He put his hand on her face stroking her cheek with his thumb. "I'm going to go lock the doors and windows. Will that make you feel better?"

"Don't leave me!" she whimpered.

"Hey, no. Of course not," He held onto her as they locked the house together, ending in her room. "See? No one can get in now."

"It won't matter..." she whimpered.

"Alisia... Do you remember my promise?"

"What...?"

"The first day we met I promised I would always take care of you, that I would always protect you."

Her heart stopped, "... Y-you're not my dad...?" His words clicked into her head bringing back a wave of painful feelings as she tried to flush out the images.

"Hey of course I am," he paused, "You don't remember your mum and I adopting you when you were seven?" He paused and pet her as he held her close, "I'm not your birth father but I still love you and will always protect you..."

"Bu-but so then...?" her head spun, "... My mum... My birth mum... She-she was with me... They-they took us-they kidnapped us...!" Her eyes blurred with tears.

"I'm so sorry... But I'm here..."

They both jumped when they heard the doorbell. He moved to get up, "No! Don't!" she pulled his shirt.

"It's okay, I'm here." The front door opening echoed up the staircase. Her dad cursed before going over to the corner of her room and retrieving her softball bat.

"No! It'll hurt you!"

"Stay here."

"Cassia!" a voice called from below.

"M-Mr. Smith...?" Hurried footsteps ascended the staircase and the door swung open. "Wait stop!"

"Whoa!" Mr. Smith ducked her dad's swing.

"What the hell are you doing here!?" he readied the bat.

He sputtered for a moment before ignoring him and turning his attention to Alisia, "Are you okay?"

"I said what are you doing here!?" he moved in between them.

"I was coming to check on her!" he gave him a sideways glance before looking back at Alisia, "They didn't touch you did they?" She shook her head.

Her dad looked for her answer before shouting at Mr. Smith, "Why the hell did you break into our house!?"

"I told you, I was checking on her!"

"Y-you don't just break into people's houses!"

"She's in danger. If they find her they'll-," he glanced at her before continuing, "... They can't find her!" he finished as he dug into his pockets and pulled out a wallet before flipping it open. "You're the police?" he scoffed.

"It's blank..." Alisia mumbled.

"I don't believe you."

"Dad," They both looked over to her. "It's okay."

"No it is not!" he roared as he sent another death filled glare at Mr. Smith.

"You're her-," Mr. Smith started but her dad pushed him out the door and down the staircase. She went over to the landing to eavesdrop on them.

"Get out of our house!"

"I'm not leaving!" he said quietly as he leaned close to him. Her dad opened his mouth to speak but he cut him off, "I have been searching for her and her mother ever since they were taken from me and I will not let anyone stand in the way of me protecting my daughter again!"

Her eyes widened, "... Dad...!?" she dropped to her knees. He's... He's my dad... She held her head as a violent memory broke through.

She was running. Finally able to escape... The area before her was lit by the light of a sun shining through the pale glass like moonlight, she rubbed her eyes at just the mild intensity of sunlight before looking behind her into the darkness. "Light..." She stared out the window for some time, soaking up the beauty of it. She jumped and spun around when she heard footsteps. She bristled and tried to hide when a man spotted her and ran towards her, "Cassie!" he pulled her into his arms holding her close, "Oh, Cassie! I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Who...?"

He held her face in his hands and kissed her forehead, "I'm your daddy," He held his forehead to hers.

"You-you looked different before..."

"I regenerated," he kissed her forehead.

"You're in my head..."

"We're connected telepathically, so no matter what happens you'll always know its me and I'll always know its you."

She buried her face in his shoulder and whimpered, "Mummy's gone..."

He hugged her tighter, "I know, Cassia. I'm so sorry..." he picked her up, "We need to go, honey."

She held onto him as tight as she could as he rushed back the way he had come. "Daddy..."

"It's okay. We're gonna be okay."

"I wanna go home..."

"I'm taking you home right now. Don't worry."

Lights turned on around them, stinging her eyes, "It hurts!" she whimpered.

"Close your eyes. It'll be okay."

She buried her face into his shoulder further as she heard skittering around them, "Daddy!"

"I've got you," He started running but the skittering grew louder making her shake violently, "It's okay. I'm here." He stopped abruptly as something hissed in front of him, "I won't allow you to hurt her anymore," he warned.

"We shall feast upon you both," It hissed.

Cassia heard a strange whirring sound, "I won't tell you again."

"And who are you to make such demands?"

"I'm the Doctor."

"Doctor who?"

"I'm the Doctor. A Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey. The only survivor of the last great Time War and destroyer of the Daleks." The whirring noise grew louder, "And you will let us leave."

A cruel raspy laugh echoed from within her, "Ah! I have not feasted upon a Time Lord in many centuries! I hold such a fondness for that delicious blood! Mmm..."

She whimpered, "Daddy..."

"Everything will be alright Cassia," he whispered into her ear.

"The little Nghyon is half Time Lord? Oh, this is good...!"

She could feel her father's hearts beat faster as she spoke, fear rising within him. He suddenly burst into movement; she heard screeching as machines sparked and exploded. There was so much noise around her it hurt! She cried out in fear when she hit the ground, her dad shielding her with his body. She heard him cry out in pain, "Daddy!" She looked up at him, braving the light with her eyes.

"I'm OK-agh!"

"Please! Please don't hurt him! I'll stay, just please!"

"No you will not!" he huffed. "You're coming with me. Where we'll both-," he clenched his jaw, "Be safe..."

She wasn't sure what happened next but found herself being held by one of the hideous monsters who kept her chained in the darkness. She struggled, "Daddy!" several of them had punctured long needle-like appendages into his back holding him into place. She flailed, "Stop! Please!" her foot hit the wall as she reached out to him.

An alarm sounded, mauve lights flashing rapidly as they heard the scrape of metal and an electronic voice, "Bay doors now opening."

Her dad screaming for her was the last thing she saw before the air was sucked from her lungs like a vacuum... So cold... The creatures floated limply around her as they drifted through space. A yellow ball of light hazily crossed into view as her mind slowed and the darkness overtook her.

She gasped for air, "Dad...!" She stood slowly, using the railing for support when something grabbed her from behind and pulled her into her bedroom. She screamed as the smell of rotting flesh burned through her nostrils. She coughed and struggled but the creature wrapped tighter around her. "Daddy!" she screeched moments before they entered the room.

The Doctor held a small metal cylinder in her direction. "Let her go!"

"We shall feast upon you both tonight Time Lord," it hissed.

"I'm warning you."

"Such an idle threat!" It laughed. "You were not able to help her then, nor will you now." It positioned it's needle-like claw to the base of her throat. "But, such a delicious treat is hard to wait for..."

Help me! Her eyes pleaded into the Doctor's own.

He glanced to her right and she followed his gaze, a thought entered her mind, Turn it on! She slammed her hand onto her stereo alarm clock making it blare. She fell to the ground as the creature threw her screeching, "Cover your ears!" he warned as he sonic-ed the machine until the pitch rose higher and higher, the creature wailing more intensely with each note until it exploded into violent chunks of blackish, reddish, purplish goop.

"What the hell is going on!?" her human father asked.

The Doctor knelt beside her, "Are you alright?" he pet her hair gently.

She nodded vigorously as she shook, "I-I remembered-," she swallowed, "You-you tried to save me before but I-I flew out the bay doors...!"

"I'm so sorry," he told her.

"... You're really her birth father...?" he muttered in disbelief.

Her birth father held her hand and kissed it before continuing to pet her hair, "I missed you so much! I've been so worried! So scared I'd never be able to hold you again!" he squeezed her tight, "My baby girl...!" he kissed the top of her head.

"I missed you too."

He kissed her hair before holding her face with his hand and stroking her cheek with his thumb, "I'm sorry. But we have to go, Cassie. It's not safe for you here anymore."

"But-wait-!" her father started.

"I'm sorry."

His mouth gaped before he firmly shut it. "You can keep her safe?"

"What?" Alisia asked alarmed.

"Yes," Mr. Smith confirmed.

"Bu-but-," she started crying, "You wanna get rid of me don't you?"

"No! No of course not! I love you!" He knelt beside them and pet her.

"It's all my fault they died isn't it!? I killed both of my mums...! That's why you want me to leave!"

"That's not true! It wasn't your fault!" he grabbed her face with both hands, "Never once have I blamed you for her death. It was an accident."

"No it wasn't," she shook her head, "I told you! They were there!" She could feel him tense. "It's all my fault!"

"Cassia," she looked at the Doctor, "Both of your mums were trying to protect you but that doesn't mean it was your fault okay? Your birth mum, Lydia... They would have taken her whether you were there or not..."

"I'm sorry," she told her human father.

"I don't blame you. I blame them. Never you. Okay? You're my daughter, I would've done the same to protect you if I was there."

"We'll visit sometime, alright?" he turned to the man, "I'm the Doctor."

"John."

"I'll take of her and everything else. I promise."

"Don't let those things hurt her."

"Never again," he agreed. "Cassia- or- Alisia, pack your things," she did as she was told after giving John one last hug. "Do you have a mobile?" he asked ushering with his hand.

John pulled his out, "Why?"

"I'm giving it an upgrade," he sonic-ed the phone before handing it back, "You can call anywhere in time or space now. Where's Alisia's mobile?"

"She doesn't have one."

"I'll have to get her one so she can call you," He nodded.

"Oh! And I also gave you my number and a few of my friends. Call them if you run into any kind of alien emergency."

"Alien emergency," he forced a chuckle, "Never thought I'd be hearing anyone say that..."

"I'm ready."

They both turned to her, John giving her a bear hug. "I don't want you to leave, but I know you'll be safer with him... Please... Come back soon okay?"

She nodded, tears stinging her eyes. "The TARDIS, my space ship, is also a time machine," the Doctor said, "So we might even be back to visit in a few minutes."

"I'll be waiting," she saw him force a smile through the painful emotions lingering just below the surface.

"I'm sorry."

"Be happy and have fun. But most importantly come back safe okay?" She nodded. "I love you." They said their goodbyes, giving each other one last hug.