*Hey guys, chapter 4 time! So this chapter really deals with the development of the Doctor and Oswin's relationship now that the Ponds are out of the picture and I'm trying really to get a sense of Oswin's reintegration into life after the Asylum, which obviously is tricky. I really hope you enjoy it! Anyway, next chapter should be up either on or before Saturday, I'll try to get it up soon as! Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed and favourited! Speak soon! TPD*

"A spa?" Oswin asked incredulously, looking around with crossed arms and a raised eyebrow. "You promise me the whole of time and space and you bring me to a beauty salon and spa? What kind of girly girl do you think I am Chin?"

"I didn't bring us here for you!" he shot back. "How do you think this quiff stays in such perfect condition?" Oswin giggled at this. "Although now that you mention it, you could do with some care to that pasty skin of yours and don't even get me started on those split ends…" Oswin picked at her hair and blushed. "If it bothers you that much, feel free to wait for me in the TARDIS!"

Now that she was here, Oswin had to admit that a massage sounded wonderful. But judging by the smug, daring look on his face, he expected her to give in. Oswin turned on her heels and stalked back to the TARDIS, chin in the air, a smirk on her face as she imagined the look on his. It had been six months since the Asylum, three months since the Doctor had lost the Ponds and he was back to his usual cheery self. At least he pretended to be. She could see in his eyes that he was not the same person. He had a darker edge to him since what Oswin had termed: New York. He was angry more often and a lot less forgiving. He rarely snapped at Oswin, but she supposed that was because she was his lifeline. She worried what he would be like without her there to keep an eye on him. Still, she supposed, he wasn't going to tear the heads of anyone in a glorified hairdressers was he?

Oswin unlocked the TARDIS doors and slipped inside, patting the outside of the box as she stepped inside. The Doctor's habit of treating it like a person was rubbing off on her, she decided and shook herself. It was just a box. She went to shower and tried to relax as the hot water crashed over her. Travelling with the Doctor had been the best six months of her life and she never wanted it to end. But there were times when she felt like his babysitter. She was still getting used to the whole friend thing and she had to keep reminding herself that she had to be nice to him occasionally, especially when he was feeling vulnerable. That was one thing she still didn't like dealing with…vulnerability.

She dressed quickly, going with her camo coloured top and blue jeans. There were times when Oswin Oswald dressed to kill and there were times when Oswin Oswald dressed like she was going killing. This was the latter. She was a lot less adverse to blowing things up than the Doctor was, one of the many things about her that she sensed frustrated him. She tied her hair up into a bun, frowning slightly at the split ends. Whatever, she'd chop them off in a couple of days, when the Doctor had forgotten he'd mentioned it.

Oswin returned to the console room and the Doctor was waiting for her, twirling and spinning in that flamboyantly annoying, yet oddly attractive way that he did. He went to tap her on the nose and she caught his hand in mid-air, her lips twitching upwards. He frowned, for just a moment, before regaining his composure. Oswin released his hand as she saw a flicker in his eyes. A flicker that she didn't like, but didn't want to question.

"How do I look?" he asked with a cheeky grin, giving her a full 360 degree spin before raising out his arms openly, inviting her to compliment him.

"Exactly the same," Oswin replied wearily, allowing herself no more than a hint of a smile at his crestfallen face. "As dapper as ever," she said sweetly. It didn't hurt to compliment him occasionally. Oswin really did like the Doctor and as much as she liked to keep him on edge, she also wanted him to realise that she did care for him.

"Thanks," he replied, unsure of himself. That was one of the perks of being so volatile with him at times. Whenever she did genuinely compliment him, he didn't know how to react. "So, where do you want to go Soufflé Girl?"

"I've told you to stop calling me that," she laughed. She loved it really.

"And I told you to stop calling me Chin or Chin-Boy or any other Chin related names!" he shot back. He was finally getting better at riposting with Oswin, which made it ten times more fun. She didn't feel quite so much like she was kicking a puppy. "But there's not a cat's chance in hell of that happening, is there Soufflé Girl? So, where are we going?"

"I don't know," she replied, willing to let him lead for once. "Somewhere with lots of guns and loud noises. As long as you promise not to jump like a baby again!"

"One time!" the Doctor snapped. "You jump when someone lets off a firecracker behind you and you're branded a baby for life! Fine, Oswin Oswald, you asked for it. Loud noises, lots of guns, World War III it is."

"Studied that in school," Oswin replied lazily. "The Brits won didn't they?"

"Wars aren't just about the outcome," the Doctor replied quietly. "They're about the people. The people who die for the cause. We're going to the British Imperial Command Tent, so you can see for yourself what it's like to play such a part. I'm glad you dressed the part," he added with a small smirk. Oswin looked down at herself and tried to work out if he was insulting her or not.

"Well if I'd known that we were going to see men in uniform," she simmered coyly. "I would have made much more an effort. I love me a man in uniform, they're so…suave and sexy."

"I can be suave," the Doctor shot back, flipping switches as the TARDIS lurched through the vortex. "You'll see."

"Honey, you wouldn't know suave if it danced circles around you and then rapped you on that bloody great chin of yours," Oswin informed him. "Stick to flying, it's what you're good at." The Doctor shot her a look. "Some of the time," she qualified mainly to see his face fall.

The TARDIS landed and Oswin stepped in front of the Doctor to step out first. She stepped into a haze, the air thick with dust and sulphur. There was an explosion about five feet to her left and rapid gunfire sounded. She screamed and threw herself back into the TARDIS as a hail of bullets whizzed past her shoulder.

"What's the matter?" the Doctor asked her, stepping out with a very smug look on his face. "Don't like the loud noises?"

Oswin scowled at him. She had nearly been shot and he was making jokes at her expense? It occurred to her that maybe he wasn't the only one rubbing off on her. Maybe it was happening vice versa. The Doctor took a very deep breath, smelling the air which Oswin had been loath to do, closing her nostrils as much as she could.

"Smell that?" he asked, looking back at her invitingly as Oswin tentatively stepped out into the warzone. "That's the smell of death Oswin Oswald. Get used to it, it clings to you. Once you've diced with death, you can never really get the stench off of you. Travelling with me, it's only a matter of time until the stench of death is clinging to your bones."

His ability to go from hyperactive ten year old to morbid old man in a matter of seconds was terrifying. He had a look on his face, like he'd seen this before. And too much of it. Oswin suddenly felt guilty for being harsh on him and linked arms with him, a subtle but uncharacteristic gesture to let him know that she was there for him. She hated letting her guard down for anyone, but for the Doctor, she was increasingly making an exception. She didn't even mind all that much, it was nice to able to bond with someone after so long in the Asylum, even if she couldn't call what she and the Doctor had quite as bonding. He smiled at her, clearly not expecting the arm link. He nodded in the direction opposite the explosion and they walked arm in arm across the battlefield.

They were on the outskirts of the battle, the Doctor informed her and the battle was the battle of Lyon. Oswin had studied this battle in great detail. The French and German Combined Forces had been pressed back to the borders and to the south by the Anglo-American troops and Lyon had been a slaughter. The Doctor informed her that they were on the British side of the battlefield, where only the odd stray mortar strike or occasional French raiding party penetrated the British lines. Oswin was eager to see the British Command Tent and it was only five minutes of walking through the charred remnants of the city, with its dilapidated buildings and toxic atmosphere before they came upon the Brits Military Mobile Command Unit, or as Oswin had always known it, the MMCU. She had loved studying it as a child and it felt both incredibly weird and exhilarating to be here in person.

The Doctor strolled past the soldiers on the doors to the tent, flashing his psychic paper. He strode right into the MMCU and Oswin allowed herself a gasp. She was in the presence of three of the greatest military minds in British history. They were known as the three Wills, because they were all called William and they constantly changed their names around, so nobody knew which Will was which. Two of them were tall and stocky, one shorter and leaner, one of the taller ones had sandy coloured hair and all three had impressive facial hair. The Doctor could seriously learn from their facial hair, Oswin remarked, but didn't say out loud. They all stared in unison and Oswin bowed respectfully, without even meaning to. The Doctor shook his head.

"I'm General John Smith from the Anglo-American Military Sphere of Control," he spouted. "Most people call me the Doctor, it's all very top secret. This is my assistant, Miss Oswin Oswald. I find good assistants are hard to find, but Miss Oswald's secrecy is highly valued."

"Why am I the assistant?" she muttered in an undertone. "Because I'm a girl?"

"No!" the Doctor seemed incredulous at the idea. "Because it's my psychic paper. But mainly because you were rude about my chin. I have to get payback somehow."

Damn him. Oswin kicked him gently, smiling opaquely at the three Wills, who had varying reactions. Sandy haired Will was smiling, clearly enjoying their dynamic, shorter Will was glaring suspiciously and the other Will was frowning, as if trying to remember if they were supposed to be there.

"Sorry, but can I just say this is an honour?" Oswin blurted. "I mean I'm not normally the fangirling type, but you three are probably the best three man team in military history. Your tactics are legendary and the Franco-German forces never stood a chance!"

"Aha the war isn't won yet my dear," Sandy Will chuckled. "But thanks for the support."

"Can I see you credentials?" Short Will asked angrily. "Why exactly are you here?"

"Oh, no specific reason!" the Doctor chuckled, handing over the psychic paper as the three Wills poured over it. "The AAMSC just wanted me to check in as it were. Nothing to worry about."

All three men stared at him. Other Will's face lit up, Sandy Will's face fell and Short Will pulled out his gun, and moved towards the Doctor, who put his hands up worryingly. Oswin stepped forwards, putting herself between the Doctor and Short Will, holding her hands out in front of her.

"Put the gun down," she said very calmly. "You really thought psychic paper would work on these three? Seriously?"

"Who are you?" Short Will demanded. "What are you here for?"

"Would you relax?" Other Will stepped in, lowering Short Will's gun arm and earning him a look off of his partner. "This is the Doctor. He's a legend, didn't you hear about him at the Academy? Seriously, the Doctor?"

"He's a legend?" Oswin snorted. "Blimey, you lot really need to change your description of legend…"

"He's woven throughout history," Sandy Will took over. "A hero to some, a villain to others, but death and destruction are always there and thereabouts. He's a time traveller, but he never travels alone, does he Miss Oswald?"

"Apparently not!" Oswin replied delicately, relieved that the situation had seemingly calmed down. "Apologies for the intrusion, I asked for guns and loud noises and this one put two and two together and made four. Seriously though, huge fan."

"Spoilers," the Doctor muttered as Oswin blushed. "Yes gentlemen, I'm the Doctor, no I'm not here to interfere with your wonderful murdering, sorry I mean war. Oswin here wanted to see humanity rip itself apart and frankly I can't resist her charm, look at her, she's already wearing camouflage."

"Shut up!" Oswin put her finger to his lips. "So this is just, wow. You three, look at you. I just need to know, for the sake of my humanity, which one of you is which? Because history…you always lie and twist and I just…which one of you is Smith, which is Jones and which is Bramble?"

"I'm Smith." They all said it simultaneously and Oswin's face fell. The Doctor laughed and threw a lazy arm around her shoulders. She let it stay there for a couple of seconds before stepping to the side and he almost fell over. Sandy Will snorted. Short Will was still glaring.

"Anyway, gentlemen," the Doctor laughed. "This has most definitely been an experience and I'm very glad that young Oswin here could meet her heroes but we have to go. Other military encampments to break into and all that," he shook their hands one after the other, even Short Will who was decidedly less enthusiastic than the other two. Then, they left the tent and Oswin punched the Doctor on the arm playfully, earning her his biggest puppy dog look. They made their way back to the TARDIS, and the Doctor was being odd around her.

"What is it?" Oswin sighed, shooting him a questioning look. "You're being weird. Why?"

"Nothing," he said tentatively, but she sensed he was going to tell her anyway, so she slowly raised an eyebrow. "It's just…you would have taken a bullet for me back there."

Oswin found herself going red. She shook her head. "No!" she shot back. "I would have dived out the way if he'd pulled the trigger."

"Liar."

"You're my lift home, I couldn't let you get shot and I knew I was better equipped to stop him pulling the trigger, that's all."

"You're lying to me Oswin Oswald."

"No, I'm not. I don't care for you at all, I swear!"

"Oswin…" his smirk had completely disappeared now and he was smiling delicately at her, as though she was the most precious thing in the world. Nobody had looked at Oswin like that in a very long time, she wasn't sure that she liked it. She smiled back nervously, unsure where this was going. "Thank you." He leaned in and kissed her cheek. This was different, this wasn't the lustful kisses that Oswin was used to. This was emotional, expressing his thanks, but more than that. Oswin felt him pull her into a hug and squirmed awkwardly before hugging him back. As much as she hated hugs, he was bloody good at them, that much she had to admit.

"Any time," she replied in a slightly shaky voice. The Doctor smiled at her again and walked off across the console room. Oswin let out a breath she hadn't even realised she'd been holding. What on earth had just happened?