Left for Dead – Chapter 5

"Right. Fuelling system, checked. Navigational circuits, checked. Gotta have those working, or we could end up anywhere. Wouldn't want to do that now, would we? Anyway, there was something else. Something, something…um –"

"Did we do the right thing?"

Clara watches as he halts suddenly. The Doctor's eyes flicker to her. Clara's sitting on the TARDIS steps, arms folded and her eyes facing the floor. For a while, he's not sure what she's referring to. It becomes clear when she carries on speaking.

"Was it right for Alex to be taken to UNIT?"

He attempts to speak. At first, the only thing he can do is glance at Clara. A look of sorrow passes in his eyes.

"They'll look after her," the Doctor says.

"It might not be enough," Clara responds, "Alex was distraught. Whatever those things did to her, they…they've damaged her psychologically. Doctor, that girl is nine years old. She may have lost her parents too, not just Gray."

What Clara says, leaves him thinking. He recalls how it felt to fail. To be swept over by despair, understanding Gray wasn't so lucky, in addition to Alex being afraid of him. The Time Lord lowers his eyes and does no more than pace round the control room. Clara's eyes fix on the Doctor. He does that thing again – pretending everything's okay when it really isn't.

"Doctor, hey." She stands up and paces towards him. "You did what you could to keep us safe."

"It wasn't enough, Clara."

She places her hand on the Doctor's shoulder. He lowers his head and meets her eyes.

"You tried your best. That's the only thing you could do," she tells him, "You're a good person and I'm sorry Alex's scared of you."

He instantly hugs her. Clara finds herself on tiptoes as she keeps her balance.

"She won't be able to forgive me. It's too much for her to let go."

"Alex needs time, maybe months…or years. Eventually she'll come round. When she's better, she'll find it easier to understand."

Clara hopes she's right.

XXXX

"How are you planning to locate the Doctor?"

Hartigan's eyes dart towards Gray.

"I don't know. I've been trying for years. He doesn't seem to match up to anything," she admits. Her spine jitters the second Gray's fist tightens. She allows herself to mask her fear and continues speaking, without the trace of quivering. "If there's a chance…"

"Of what?" Gray faces her sharply.

"If your brother knows the Doctor, perhaps we could find out if he knows where he is."

She pulls out her gun and her fingers trace the trigger. Gray's dark eyes bore onto her.

"Who gave you that?"

"Long story," Hartigan answers, "But I'll tell you this. I was given the gun in case…in case I needed to protect myself." She resists the urge to slam her foot against the back of her heel. "I think it won't be a bad idea to spare a bullet for the Doctor."

"The day he found me and my friend, there was a woman with him," Gray explains, "My friend told me the woman and the Doctor would help us. But that was a long time ago."

This puts and edge on Hartigan's senses. She tightens her coat as she tries not to shiver.

"Who was the woman and your friend?"

"Her name was Alex."

"Did he –"

"She." Gray corrects her abruptly. "She said the woman's name was Clara."

Hartigan's speechless. She tucks the gun back in her pocket and brings herself to break the silence.

"What about your brother?"

"He goes by 'Jack' now and I've commanded my associate, John, to blow up the city."

His words leave her motionless. In the distance, she can almost distinguish the sound of explosions and the cries of the city. It makes her wonder why she's come this far. But her coldness for the Doctor keeps her going. She's pulled from her thoughts as Gray speaks again.

"I'll get him to face me. Jack won't be prepared for what's happening. That'll make it more satisfying for me."

Hartigan doesn't know how to respond. Instead, she says, "If Jack doesn't know where the Doctor is, then I'll keep trying to find him. I won't give up."

Captain Hartigan's vengeance appeals to him greatly. In his eyes, Hartigan's emotionless and calculating. It impresses him and that's something he doesn't deny.

Moments after, he activates the VM. Within seconds, Gray and Hartigan appear on a field. There's no more than trees, surrounding the area.

"Where the hell are we?" Hartigan hisses.

"Hold on a second." Gray's eyes shift to the people close in front. Hartigan catches a glimpse a man in red being punched in the face, while she stands beside Gray. They catch fragments of what the men are saying.

"Take us back now!"

…"We have to be this far…escape the trigger signal."

"What?"

…"First generation detonator."

"You're a walking bomb!"

"Surveillance…monitor my every move…he has me doing everything I'm told…you thought I'd want to blow up your stupid city."

The one called John glances at Gray and catches sight of Hartigan. With his vengeance masked, Gray paces over.

"Jack?"

Hartigan and John can do no more than watch, as the scene unfolds.

"Gray?"

"I never stopped believing. I always knew we'd find each other again."

Gray embraces Jack. Hartigan swallows, her eyes fixing on them. A flicker of comfort passes in Jack's eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry's not good enough."

Gray pulls out a knife and without hesitation, he stabs his brother. Jack gasps, falling, his arm reaching up. He rocks on the ground, clutching the knife; his breaths ragged. John and Hartigan watch in pity. Jack's eyes fix on Hartigan. She almost stumbles back. It's been a long time since she's seen his face. Her surroundings become less hazy as Gray addresses her and John, his voice demanding.

"Get a shovel – both of you."

A/N: Oh, Gray. Why did this happen? BTW I'll update ASAP. Reviews are welcome.