Oswin couldn't believe it. Finally the Doctor had arrived. But it wasn't her Doctor. It was an earlier version of him. She had seen him before but he had never really met her yet.

But it didn't matter to her right in this moment. The Doctor was there and behind him she could see the glow of the lights of the TARDIS in the dim-lighted corridor. That was all that mattered to her.

She just stared at him. His hair wasn't floppy but short and messy; his old brown eyes looked at her in curiosity. She remembered that she owed him an answer.

"Oh, I'm Oswin. Oswin Oswald, junior entertainment manager and this is the Alaska."

"Nice to meet you, Oswin!" he smiled at her and her heart raced in excitement.

She smiled back. "You came in the right moment, Doctor. As always." He looked puzzled. "Why is that?" he asked.

"There's something wrong here. I think it's in the engines room."

"Oh, yeah?" The Doctor paused for a second and stood completely still. Then he grinned and nodded at Oswin.

"I think that, too. And I guess it's over there?" He pointed to the metal door with the warning triangle and the 'no access' sign.

"Yep. You're a clever boy," Oswin said but the Doctor had already dashed away.

She rolled her eyes and followed. She had to pass the TARDIS and stood in front of it for a moment in sentimental thoughts touching the blue wooden doors that so often wouldn't have opened for her. The whirring sound of the sonic screwdriver pulled her out and she joined the Doctor at the door. He just had soniced it open. "Let's find out what's in there," he said in a low but excited voice and grinned like a child on Christmas.

They entered the machine room and were welcomed by loud rattling and thudding sounds and hot steam that came out of the pipes that led along the walls and the ceiling. The condensation of the cooling water was dripping from the ceiling. Other than this Oswin couldn't hear any strange noises. They walked further inside, Oswin right on the Doctors heels. Suddenly she dropped dead pulling at the Doctors sleeve; he turned and followed the terrified look on her face. There behind a huge tank two feet in leather boots looked out. It was a young man lying on the floor in a blood stain. His throat was cut. Oswin clapped her hand over her mouth. It wasn't exactly clean cut but literally ripped apart.

"That's… that's Terry, one of the engineers. He was probably checking if anything's in order down here."

The Doctor knelt down beside the body and did a few scans with his sonic with no result. He looked at her "I'm sorry," he said with a sorrowful and sad expression. Oswin closed her eyes for a moment.

"What is going on here?" she asked. "What killed him?"

"I don't know…yet." He got up to his feet and put a hand on Oswins shoulder squeezing it gently. "Come on let's find out."

While they walked further the humming and rattling of the main engine became louder with every step.

"Stay with me," the Doctor said. Oswin laughed out quietly. "I'm not the one to wander off, trust me."

He looked at her a little irritated. "Good."

Suddenly he raised his hand in alarm. "Did you hear that?"

She nodded. Over the engine noises she could hear something else. Something she had heard before. It was like a muffled knocking. "Oh, no," the Doctor breathed and a lump formed in his throat. That sound wasn't a good sign. He scanned their surroundings but couldn't find anything. Oswin went carefully behind him. Then she noticed something on the floor. It was a big stain but it was not like all the other oil and water stains on the floor. It was bigger and still fluid. She squatted down to get a closer look. It was dark red and thick. Blood, she thought, but not human.

"Doctor!" she called. "Over here!" He rushed towards her and scanned it with the sonic. "What is it?" Oswin asked. His eyes became wide his expression terrified. "Something bad." "What?" Oswin squeaked. "Weevil blood," the Doctor said, looking attentively around.

"Weevils are dangerous creatures that hunt and kill humans. But how got a free Weevil here on the ship? We have to be very careful. Watch out, it can attack rapidly and tear your throat apart like it did with poor Terry." Oswin gulped and nodded.

Slowly and quietly they went on following the Weevil blood stains, Oswin clung to the Doctors arm. She was a bit scared but she would never admit it. They weren't far from the main engine when they found an iron cage which doors were broken and open. "What the hell?"

"Doctor what is happening here?" Oswin asked. "That I'm asking you. Why is a blood thirsty weevil caged in here? Well, obviously was caged here. Now it's free. It's wounded but it can still attack us right now."

"I don't know! Why would somebody do that?" She looked around, listening carefully. The doctor was busy scanning with his sonic again, observing the cage and the ground.

Then it happened in a second. Oswin let out a high pitched scream. "Doctor!" He turned around and she jumped at him, knocking him to the ground. The weevil roared and Oswin and the Doctor stared at it in shock. Its mouth was bloody and the eyes glowing red. It howled again, going for another attack. They looked at each other.

"Oswin…!"

"Let me guess: RUN!" The Doctor nodded and just as they were about to get to their feet again there was a bang and the beast froze for a moment before it let out a moan and collapsed to the ground.

Oswin sighed and looked at the Doctor. He gave her a nod that he was alright and they looked up. A man with a gun stood behind the dead Weevil. "Harvey!" Oswin got to her feet and ran to him. "Thank God! But what are you doing here?"

"I saw first Commander Harris and then you coming down here. Then I heard strange noises so I thought I have a look and found the door open." Oswin frowned. "Commander Harris?"

"Yeah, he must be here somewhere. By the way, who is this?" Harvey gestured to the Doctor who had joined them now. "I'm the Doctor." He said. "Thank you for helping us." "How do you…?" Oswin interrupted him.

"We can discuss that later. I have the feeling that …"

She stopped mid-sentence and Harvey turned as there was a dry laughter.

"Commander!" Harvey put up his gun at Harris.

"Oi!" The Doctor jumped into motion and to Harvey's side. He put a hand on his arm. The Doctor looked seriously at him. "I don't think that's necessary."

"Oh, I think it is," the Commander snarled and pulled his own gun from its holder.

"Oh, no, please not," the Doctor pleaded.

Oswin took a step forward between the two parties.

"Guys, stop. Listen to him. Commander, what the hell is going on? What is a bloody Weevil doing here on board?"

"That's a good question, actually," the Doctor agreed.

Harvey had lowered his gun but Harris didn't.

"Well, I stole it. Back on earth. There was this guy who caught it and I stole it. "

"But why did you?" Oswin asked.

"Because I want to sell it to a collector. I know someone who would pay me a nice prize for it." "Oh that's stupid. You put us all in danger for the money." The doctor hissed.

"I'll call the Captain!" Oswin reached for the communicator on her belt and Harris pointed his gun at her. She froze. "No, you won't."

The Doctor raised his hand, armed with his sonic.

"Put the gun down," he said firmly.

"Or what?" Harris laughed.

"One."

Harris laughed again holding the gun at the Doctor now.

"Two." The Doctor still pointed the Sonic screwdriver at him.

Harris didn't move.

"Three."

The sonic whirred and then there was a bang, sparks flew and Harris dropped the gun. It fell down and the Commander held his hand in pain.

"I warned you," the Doctor shrugged.

Oswin got her communicator and called the bridge.

"Captain. This is Oswin. We have some trouble down here in the engines room." The Doctor and Harvey held the Commander until two securities and the Captain came. "What's this about?" the Captain asked. "What are you all doing down here? And who is he?" he pointed at the Doctor.

Oswin explained it to him and they got Harris arrested. They would drop him of at the next space station where he would get into the next shuttle back to earth and into prison.

When they have commander Harris locked away the captain turned to the Doctor. "Now I'd like to know who you are and what you are doing here on my ship?"

The Doctor smiled friendly at him.

"I'm the Doctor and I landed accidently here. Actually, I was heading for the Ood Sphere but my ship well she's not always very reliable." He scratched the back of his head. "I'm sorry to interfere but when I landed here I met the lovely Oswin here and she told me that something is wrong so I thought since I'm already here maybe I could help."

"It's alright, Captain. He's ok. And he really helped us."

"Then I shall thank you, Doctor."

"Oh it's nothing. Dear Oswin should take the credits. She saved me from the Weevil."

"Is that so? Then I thank you too. I have to do some paperwork to do. Oswin? I see you and Harvey later in the common room?"

Oswin nodded and the Captain left. The Doctor looked at her and frowned. She looked troubled.

„You alright?"

Oswin smiled. „Yes. That's it then? You take a leave. Where are you going?"

„Uhm, maybe I try another shot at the Ood Sphere," he shrugged and looked down at her.

„Well, then, good luck and thank you Doctor."

„Oh, you're most welcome Oswin Oswald."

The Doctor went to the TARDIS and snapped his fingers. Oswin rolled her eyes again. "Stop showing off, Doctor." They laughed and then looked at each other for a moment. Then Oswin breathed: "I'll miss you."

"One more thing, Oswin."

"Yeah?"

"It may sound weird but just tell me this: Have we met before?"

Oswin hesitated, eyes pinned to the ground.

"Uhm, well actually no but I've seen you before but erm, it's complicated and a bit impossible."

The Doctor nodded. „Spoilers, I guess."

Oswin looked up at him with a grin. „Well, yes that's the word you use."

"Ok, then I bet I see you around."

"Yes, see you, Doctor."

He stepped into the TARDIS but suddenly Oswin followed and stopped him "Wait!"

He turned around. „What?"

"Doctor. It's just…don't travel alone. Promise me. Oh and I just want to say: Run. Run you clever boy and remember me."

„I will I promise," the Doctor said, then turned and closed the door. Oswin stepped back as the TARDIS dematerialized. She closed her eyes and sighed. He was gone. He was gone and she was alive. She saved him and was still alive. Most of her echoes died saving the Doctor. But she didn't wonder much about it she had other problems now. First she had to face the captain later and explain to him why she was down in the engines room in the first place. Second thing was she had to deal with her feelings. Now that she had met the Doctor again her hope raised that it wouldn't be the last time. But it was even harder to wait now. That was all she could think about when she made her way back upstairs to the common room.

Oswin returned from the common room where she was congratulated by the entire crew after the captain had told that she was the one who was responsible that Harris could be arrested. Then she went back to her room and looked around. What now? Was that it? There she was again. The Doctor came and now he was gone again and she was still here. She stood by the window and watched the stars. Where he might be somewhere out there she wondered. She wished she could be with him. But she knew she couldn't. She was just an echo of herself. Maybe she would meet him again sometime, save him again and maybe dying in the act. She wasn't sad of the thought of dying for him but she felt sorry for him because he would have to lose her again. Suddenly she heard a cough and jumped around startled. It was dark in her room and she had to blink to adjust her vision to the bright light that now came from the hall outside into her room. Someone stood in the open door. First it was just a silhouette but she recognised it. She stepped closer.

"Doctor." She said with light surprise in her voice.

"What are you still doing here?"

"I was thinking a little and came to the conclusion that you were right with what you said."

"What did I say?"

"What you said about me and traveling alone."

"Oh." Oswin didn't know what to expect but her heartbeat increased in speed.

"You were right. I shouldn't travel alone. So you want to come with me then? Seeing the stars?"

He held out his hand for her. With a bright smile on her face she took it gladly and fell into his arms. It felt like returning home after a long time. She was in the place where she belonged. It felt different because it was a different Doctor but it still felt so right.

Oswin gave the Alaska one last look before she followed the Doctor into the TARDIS.

"Wow, it looks nice." She hadn't seen this custom of the interior yet.

"So you also know about the…" he waved around with his hand in a cycle. "The bigger on the inside stuff. Yeah, I know, time lord technology."

The Doctor nodded in respect. She was brilliant. But who was she?

Oswin leaned against the bars, arms crossed over her chest. "So, where or when are we going?

The Doctor walked around the panel. "Well, I think the Oods can wait. Where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere."

With him anywhere was fine, she thought.

He put in some coordinates, pushed some buttons and pulled the lever and the TARDIS took off. Destination anywhere in time and space. Oswin was extremely excited when she opened the door. Where had the Doctor taken her this time? She was sure it was somewhere awesome.

tbc

btw if anyone is wondering the for the Doctor's timeline it's right before "The End of Time", Oswin is pre-Asylum of The Daleks" and Clara and Eleven are post "The Name of The Doctor".