(TenII and his Mistress)

Sophia woke in her bed, sunlight showing through the edges of the heavy curtains. She wondered two things, one: when had she gotten into her bed? And two: why had she slept so late? She remembered coming back to her room after her bath, but she had sat in her chair, watching her charge sleep. Her mother used to tell her a lot could be learned about a man by watching him in such a way. Sophia had learned that her charge was troubled and, perhaps, in need of more help than she first thought. Nightmares plagued the man's sleep, he didn't need to speak for her to figure that much out. His silent screams and tears and tortured expressions told her all she needed to know. She turned in the bed, pulling the sheets back, hoping to find him hiding somewhere in the comfortable sanctuary. She couldn't help the pang of disappointment at not finding him there.

She flopped onto her back on the mattress. It was probably for the best that he wasn't still there, anyway. Pulling herself out of bed, Sophia changed into a clean dress of midnight blue silk that had silver beads sewn into it, making it look like stars against the night sky. She made her way to the kitchen to find both her father and her charge sitting at the breakfast table.

"Good morning, father. Has he eaten yet?" She asks.

"Good morning, love. Aye, he's been given something to eat."

His eyes lit up when he turned to see her standing beside her father, mouth agape then closed with an audible click of his teeth. His eyes turned sad as he took in the dress she had chosen, reminding him of the stars he would never see again. Not the way he used to.

She stepped up to her charge, bent down until they were face to face and she noted the sad look in his eyes. She cursed her empathy and maternal nature, fighting the urge to wrap him up in her arms and kiss his unshed tears from his eyes.

The man before her, for his part, fought his own urges. To reach for her and pull her into his lap…or worse… He realized that the fact that her father stood right there was probably the only thing keeping him in check. He cursed his weak human body and its needs, wants, desires.

Memories he was certain weren't his own flash in his mind. They belonged to his creator/father/brother. Memories of him with his lover, holding her hand and running, making love to her against the wall of his ship, on a space station on an impossible planet, again against his ship and in her bed in her mother's flat. Of losing her and finding her again.

"I think…you and I are going to conduct a bit of an experiment." Her voice broke through his borrowed memories.

Her father chuckled behind her. "I have a few more things to take care of for tomorrow. Are you going to be alright handling this one by yourself?"

Sophia eyed her charge up and down. "Yeah, he won't hurt me. I'll be fine."

With that, Sebastian left the house to return to the market while Sophia quietly prepared herself for the mental challenges she was about to put the two of them through. She took several deep, even breaths, relaxing both her mind and body. When she was ready, she hooked a finger under his chin and bade him look at her.

"Before I officially start this, there's one question I need you to answer first. Just nod yes or no. Are you alright with a telepath in your head?"

His eyes went wide in surprise, but nodded his head yes and Sophia let out a sigh of relief. She relaxed and then focused on her charge. He tentatively took her hands and guided them to his temple when he felt her mind brush against his. Then brought his own to hers, but stopped short, giving her a questioning look.

"You're a touch telepath?" she asked. He nodded and she leaned her head toward his hands in permission. Gently, he placed his fingers on her temple, resting his thumbs on her cheekbones. Sophia mirrored his touch.

"We won't need to stay like this. After the link is made, it'll get stronger the more we use it.

'First question: what's your name?'

'The Doctor. Or just Doctor, your choice.'

'Doctor? That's it?'

'Yes. Don't I get some kind of reward?'

'Maybe.'

Sophia picked up the bowl and held it towards him, he took out a piece of fruit and ate it.

'Second question: What species are you?'

More memories flashed through his mind, these perhaps, were his, of his creation. A bright golden light poured into a cylinder containing a hand, his creator's hand. Then, a pink and yellow human had touched it by accident. Rose. Her name was Rose. She was his brother's (twin, really) lover. There was a part of him that thought of her as 'mother', just has he partly thought of his twin as 'father'. In some ways it was difficult not to. Without both of them, he wouldn't exist. Yet…they were the same man, after all. He really couldn't help feeling the same way about Rose as his twin, could he?

That left him with some questions he needed to answer. The first being at once the hardest and the easiest: Would he try to get back to his own universe? It was likely he couldn't, not unless this universe had its own version of Gallifrey and Time Lords, and not without a TARDIS. And even if he could get back, would he? Would he disrupt what had likely been a very happy reunion between his other self and Rose? If he knew, well…himself, the other him would just be a git and try to shove him and Rose somewhere and then try to avoid Earth as much as possible so he wouldn't be tempted to see her, rather than make any attempts to make it work with the three of them. The other him still needed Rose. Lastly: could this new version of himself love someone other than Rose? He looked at the woman standing before him. There was an undeniable physical attraction between them. But he was certain that was just the human part of him. Is that what it come down to? No, not quite. She was good and kind. The similarities between Sophia and Rose were more than just physical. Beautiful inside and out, without a doubt. And when she had traced over his scars, her touch had been so warm it felt like living flame and left him feeling cold when she pulled her hand away.

'Human?'

"Do you not know?'

'It's…complicated.'

'Try me.'

Sophia felt a wave of emotion wash over her, lust and need and desire and...something more. Or something that could become more. His eyes flicked over her body again.

'I'm…half-human.'

'So am I. My father is human, like everyone else on this rock. My mother…she came from Estone and was from a telepathic race.'

'My…mother is human, my father's the telepath. It's weird, thinking of them as mother and father…I wasn't 'born', I was created. Biological Metacrisis, me. Sometimes, I think brother would be a more appropriate description. We're the same man…were the same man, until my creation.'

Sophia offered the bowl again and he took another bit of fruit from it, watching her intently.

'What'…she swallowed thick, her breathing going a bit shallow, 'what species is your father…brother?'

'Um'…he pulled at his left ear, deciding whether or not to answer her. 'You said, was. When you spoke of your mother and brother, you used past tense.' A distraction. Yes, good.

Sophia took one of the grapes and popped it into her own mouth and the Metacrisis Doctor suddenly regretted the idea of trying to distract her, giving her an indignant look and pouting. Sophia pushed aside the thought of sinking her teeth into his protruding lower lip only to soothe it by sucking it into her own mouth. But the smirk slowly crossing his lips told her she hadn't pushed it away fast enough.

'Perhaps that's enough for now. There are things I need to do before tomorrow. You feel up to maintaining a charade with me? It's very likely that our 'guests' will assume that you are in fact a slave. Specifically, mine, given to me by my father for my Coming of Age ceremony.'

'What do I have to do?'

'Not a lot, really. Mostly, stand next to me, look cute and pretend to adore me. Keep an ear out for anything that might catch your interest, if you like. And you don't have to worry about anyone else invading your thoughts. Like I said, you and I are the only telepaths around.'

As Sophia pushed the bowl back toward the Doctor, he gave her a heated look through hooded eyes.

'Who said I'd be pretending?'

She cleared her throat and turned to leave the room.

'I'll leave you to your own devices. I'll be in my mother's sewing room, likely for most of the day.' She tapped her temple. 'Reach for me if you need anything.'

Sophia reached the sewing room and went straight to where her brother's old clothes were stored, searching for something for her Doctor to wear tomorrow. 'Her Doctor', she laughed humorlessly to herself. She again had to remind herself he wasn't hers to claim. But was it so wrong that she wanted to? To claim him, to love him, make him happy, to…erm…do things to him. It had felt so right when she had touched his bare skin yesterday. But would it really be worth it, as her mother claimed? Would her stay with her, or would he leave her as soon as he was able?

'Not mine.' She turned back to the trunk of clothes, remembering the pleased look on his face when he had come out of her bedroom dressed in the blue silk pajama pants yesterday and started to pull out everything blue she could find.

'What's not yours?' The Metacrisis' thoughts came through and sounded as if he were standing right behind her. Sophia reached back instinctively to take his hand, but only met empty air. Another pang of disappointment washed over her.

'Nothing.' She let out a frustrated growl as she pulled up a blue silk shirt, eyeing it carefully. It looked just as it did when she had first made it. She'd made it for her brother as a gift for when he returned home, only she had never seen him again, his death just as much a mystery as her mother's. Sophia felt the sting of tears behind her eyes and let out a sob at remembering the loss of them both.

'Are you alright?' The Doctor could feel frustration flood his mind, mingled with a deep sadness. 'Talk to me, please?' Was she…crying? He moved quickly down the hall, searching every room until he found her. 'Sophia, please don't shut me out.'

Sophia sat on her knees, bent over herself, clutching a shirt in one hand. She covered her mouth with the other, trying to muffle the sounds of her sobs. Kneeling on the floor next to her, the Doctor gathered Sophia up in his arms and pulled her to his chest.

'What's wrong, my Angel?'

"Thinking too much?" Sophia sighed. "Sorry. Thinking about my mother and brother. My father and I still don't know how or why they died. My mother died after I was born, and my brother, only a few months after his Coming of Age. It's like…someone's trying to get rid of us. My family."

'Are you worried something might happen tomorrow?'

"Yes."

He began to rock her back and forth, running his fingers through her hair in comfort. 'Hush, now. I'll do everything in my power to protect you and your father. I owe you both for saving me.' A part of her wanted to argue, but she just rested her head against his shoulder, letting him comfort her. After some time, she disentangled from him and turned back to the clothes she had been going through and he joined her.

As he searched through the trunk of clothes, the Doctor found a deep red shirt like the blue one Sophia had pulled out. Among the blue articles he found a pair of trousers and a brocade jacket with red. Sophia nodded approvingly.

"I'll get these washed and hung out to dry, then get us some lunch before getting to work on cleaning up the house. Do me a favor?" He nodded. "At the bottom of the trunk should be a box with a pair of boots and some boot wax. Polish them up?" He flashed a grin and dug through the trunk, pulling out the box when he found it. Opening the box revealed a pair of knee-high black leather boots as well as the wax and an old rag to use for polishing.

After washing and hanging the clothes out to dry, Sophia returned to the kitchen. She took out some meat to slice and cheese, which she cut into cubes, a round loaf of sweet bread and a small variety of fruit. The Doctor joined her a few minutes later, washing the wax from his hands as best he could. He sat at the table just as Sophia filled two plates with food and took a seat at the table next to her.

As they ate, their eyes would occasionally meet, causing their cheeks to turn pink. Sometimes images would slip through their link, causing pink to turn red. But the Metacrisis could tell the Sophia was holding back more. Whatever was happening between them, she was fighting it. Perhaps he should take the hint and leave it be, but something inside him wouldn't let him. She didn't have to be his lover if she really didn't want to, but he felt he needed her. Like his other self needed his companions, needed Rose. Someone to keep him in check. Someone's hand to hold. And if she wanted something more later, he didn't think he would deny her. How could he?

She had become his Angel, savior, goddess …

Sophia cleared the table when they were done and began her house work. With the Metacrisis' help, it went much faster, giving her time to figure out her own outfit for tomorrow. The talked a bit about their lives, Sophia more so, as the Metacrisis hadn't lived long. But he told her about his short time on her Earth. Sophia's concern and anger at the pain he suffered in that time was evident in her eyes and voice as she spoke. Sebastian returned home during their cleaning and watched with amusement as they stole looks at each other when one thought the other wasn't looking. But Sebastian was worried too, for the same reasons as Sophia.

When dinner came, they remained silent. Sebastian realized, not for the first time, he disliked that Sophia had picked up her mother's telepathic ability. The idea that the two were probably carrying on a conversation without his having any clue drove him more than a bit mad. But he said nothing, just continued to watch them exchange a few heated looks. After they had eaten, Sebastian gave the two one last look, then went to his office.

.Sophia took some sliced strawberries out of the ice box, placing them in a bowl, setting it between them. She started to sit back down in her own chair, but the Metacrisis calmly pulled Sophia up out of her chair, sat down and pulled her back down onto his lap.

"What are you doing?!" Sophia squeaked, trying to suppress a giggle.

'Repaying you for this morning,' he answered, wriggling his eyebrows at her. 'Close your eyes.'

"And what did I do this morning that needs repaying?" she raised an eyebrow, but acquiesced.

'You cared enough to ask questions. And you asked them kindly, with no ill intent.' He picked up a strawberry and touched it to her lips.

'I was scared and alone, and you stayed with me, watched over me.' Taking a strawberry slice, now he traced the curve of her lower lip with the fruit. She took the slice of fruit, and the tips of his fingers, into her mouth, sucking lightly. The Doctor laced his fingers in Sophia's hair, brushing it away from her ear, which he now noticed came to a point like an elf's. He leaned his head in, as if to whisper to her.

'You saved me, broke my chains. And I owe you some explanations. I want you to know who I am, my Angel.' He took another piece of fruit and held it between his teeth, bringing it close to Sophia and looked at her with lust filled eyes. She took the fruit from his mouth into her own, sucking on his lower lip gently before pulling back to respond.

"Save your explanations and your strength, Sati." Sophia covered her mouth with both hands and stood up, backing away from the Metacrisis. "I'm sorry! I didn't…" She shook her head slowly, eyes closed tight. She wanted to tell him she didn't mean to call him that, but she knew it would be a lie. Their game had gone too far. "I should not have called you that." 'Not mine.'

'You mean me, don't you?' He approached her, reaching his hand out to cup her cheek. 'Sophia, my Angel, do you…Tell me what you want. '

"Doesn't matter what I want." Sophia swallowed the lump in her throat and the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. "After tomorrow, my father will put his focus into locating a ship to take you home, and you'll leave me." She turned away from him to hide the pain in her eyes. Looking at him suddenly hurt. "Listen to me…I must sound ridiculous to you. It's been a day. One faughing day since my father brought you here and I'm ready to just…" She threw her arm out, vaguely pointing in the direction of her bedroom. "I sound ridiculous to me!"

The Doctor spun Sophia around to look at him again, cupping her face in both his hands. 'I can't…go home. I'm trapped here now. Even if there's a version of my home in this universe, it still isn't my home. If I'm stuck here, I can't think of anyone else in this universe I'd rather be stuck with.' He shook his head slightly as if to clear it. 'Now who sounds ridiculous?'

Flashes of his creator's memories flood his mind. 'Stuck with you? That's not so bad.'

"Maybe we both do." She couldn't help the small smile that spread across her lips. "But I'm worried. I said you have nothing to fear from me or my father, and from us, you don't. But there are others, as I said, that might try to hurt you, just to get to us. As much as I want you here with me, I want you safe more. Even if it hurts."

He tried to argue, but she wouldn't hear it. After dinner, Sophia drew a bath for the Doctor, then busied herself with washing the dishes from dinner. With their link, she didn't need to stand in the room, and thought it best if she didn't anyway. It was far too tempting to join him. She didn't hear him come back into the kitchen when he had finished, nearly jumping when he touched her arm.

'Sorry, I…Can…can I kiss you?' He took her hands in his, looking at her with hopeful eyes. She looked up at him for a long moment, somewhat surprised that he actually asked her. The Metacrisis took her long silence to mean she would not permit his kiss and started to back away, letting go of her hands. But at the last second, Sophia pulled him back towards her, resting her hands on his chest, feeling the lithe muscles beneath his skin. She lifted her head toward him, her lips parted slightly, and lost herself in the feel of him.

'Yes. Please, Sati.' He lowered his lips to hers in a tender, if chaste caress. They locked eyes when they broke apart and came together again in a more intense kiss. Tongues, teeth and lips clashed; imperfect, passionate and needy. She moaned her pleasure into his mouth as her fingernails scraped lightly over his chest, catching his nipples and making him arc into her. His hands gripped her hips and lifted her onto the counter, easing himself between her legs. They broke apart again, panting as she laced her fingers of both hands into his hair, pulling his head down to press her forehead to his.

'Slowly, Sati. We should take this slowly.' The Metacrisis nodded his agreement to wait and kissed her on her forehead and again on her lips before helping her down off the counter. If he thought she would have let him, he would have kissed her over her left breast, above her heart.

Mind, body, soul/heart

'Good night, my Angel.' He turned and headed for the bedroom she had been allowing him to sleep in and she watched him go. Sophia finished up the dishes and took her own bath before turning in herself, taking her spot on the chair next to the bed as she had the night before. The Doctor was already asleep when she settled in, almost asleep herself when she saw him move suddenly in his sleep. She knew his nightmares returned through their link, hearing him scream, begging for it to stop in her mind.

Sophia tentatively climbed into the bed beside him, wrapping an arm around his waist and pulling him to her. Almost instantly he calmed, turning toward her and throwing an arm around her. His dreams calming and falling into a more peaceful sleep as she brushed his hair back away from his face. She kissed his temple tenderly. It wouldn't hurt if she stayed, just to make sure the nightmares didn't return.

'Ier varna sii, Sati. Amin sinome .' She prayed to her goddess and her mother's spirit that she would be allowed to keep him at her side.