Author's Note: Chapter 9! Yay! Almost in the double digits!

Sorry it's been taking so long to update, life keeps happening! Crazy, right?

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Peace, Love, ALLONS-Y!

Chapter Nine: Side Effects

"What are we after all our dreams, after all our memories?" –The Notebook

Melly

Melly felt her smile fading as her body started to shake uncontrollably. Somewhere in the back of her mind instinct told her it had to do with regeneration side effects.

"Are you okay?" the man in front of her asked, the Doctor. He instinctually lifted the back of his hand to her forehead.

"You're burning up!" he exclaimed, immediately shrugging off his trench coat and wrapping it around her still trembling shoulders.

"Thank…you," Melly managed to spit out through her chattering teeth. The Doctor wrapped his arm around her shoulder to further support her and gently tugged her forward.

"Here, my…house, it isn't far from here, and then we can get you fixed up, okay?" Melly was faintly aware of her legs being propelled forward. However, with each step she felt herself falling further into the oblivious delirium that threatened the corners of her mind. Darkness ws already ebbing its way into the edge of her vision.

"Isn't there…something…about not…going home…with strangers?" Melly asked, managing a weak smile. The pair turned a corner, the Doctor pushing her forward with more urgency now.

"Who says I'm a stranger? I'm the Doctor!"

Hearing his name again, Melly felt the stir of held-back memories once again, like a word on the tip of her tongue. She knew something about this man…she just couldn't remember. All she knew was that it made her feel nauseous.

"Doctor," she whispered, stopping in front of a trash can next to an old, weathered police box. "You might want to step back."

Melly emptied the contents of her stomach- which at the time was nothing. Apparently new stomachs didn't get the old stomach's insides. The feeling was not pleasant, trying to get rid of something that wasn't there. Still, there were worse things in life. A last thought raced through her head before it reeled and went blank. At least I didn't get vomit all over the Doctor's coat.

Melly's eyes fluttered open to a warm colored room with a rather tall ceiling. She groaned as the pain from her empty stomach returned. Still, she was happy to discover that she was tucked into a bed with warm covers. Movement in the corner of her eye caused her to turn her head to the side.

The Doctor sat next to her, beaming. It was a little creepy, but in a sweet way. It was good to know at least someone cared about her. Even if it was this strange man.

"Hello Melly," he said, still grinning from ear to ear.

"Hello Doctor," she smiled back. Something about the man's smile was contagious. "Thank you for helping me out. I don't know what came over me."

"Ah, just a nasty old virus I bet. Probably from wearing those rags. They look like they're meant for a five year old!" Melly couldn't help blushing. She tugged at the corner of her too-small jacket under the covers, shifting uncomfortably. Her clothes were pretty small. The Doctor seemed to notice.

"Tell you what, I have a wardrobe in here, let me take a look at you and make sure nothing bad's happened. Then you can go find some new clothes!"

"Take a look? What do you mean?" But even as Melly asked, the Doctor pulled a stethoscope from out of his pocket and placed the metal, warm from being so close to his body, on her collarbone. Melly froze and watched his hands. She remembered her comment from earlier. He was a stranger, in the Big Apple of all places. Creeps were everywhere.

"Oh don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you," the Doctor said, looking at her startled expression. He seemed to be able to read her mind. "I'm just trying to help. Promise." His eyes pleaded for her trust. She was surprised at how easily this man became attached.

"Why do you have an accent?" she asked suddenly, narrowing her eyes.

"Visiting," he replied absentmindedly, focusing again on her heartbeat.

"And you have a house this big?" she asked, feeling his story was fishy.

"Well, it's not exactly…a house," he replied, confusion flashing over his face. He pulled at a strange silver rod with a blue light on the end and pointed it at her, moving it up and down.

"Hey! What is that?" Melly asked, shrinking away, but he had already stopped pointing at her and was examining the side of it.

"Sonic screwdriver," he whispered, seeming more interested in his little toy than what was happening with her.

"What's wrong? You look worried? Am I terminal or something?" Melly was starting to worry herself. The Doctor looked up, eyebrows furrowed.

"What? Oh, nothing. You're perfectly normal," he replied, making his goofy smile at her again. "Now what do you say we go find you some clothes?"