Fate is Not The Boss of Me

by TheGirlWhoImagined

And my day had started out so normal too. Had I just stayed in bed it probably would have remained that way, but then again I was never one to listen to reason. My name is Echo and this is where my life gets wonky. OC/Doctor BTW Echo looks like the image on the left of course with curlier hair. RE-EDITED.

10. The Lazurus Experiment

Disclaimer: I don't own doctor who. This amazing show belongs to BBC not me. But I do own my oc and promise to try to make the doctor who characters act as they are portrayed in the show.

[BTW there are probably going to be some grammatical errors or misspelling since I rushed as this was taking me too long. Sorry]

(If you want to see what Echo's outfit looks like there are links on my profile :)

Midnight Angel414: Sorry for the wait, I've been caught up with my own original work that it's taken me to long to get back her so sorry :) And thanks for being so religious about reviewing, especially since this one seems to be declining in review O.O I know Le Gasp!

BlackMoonWhiteSky: thx for the review. And I liked lionel to but for plot purposes he had to die or else she'd never explode! I tried thinking of a believable way but that one seemed to be the best option :( sorry.

SarcasticRaven: My sherlock Fic will be updated next :) so keep an eye out for that. and thanks for checking out my other stuff :D

---

Inside the TARDIS there was a magical place filled with winding staircases that seemingly lead to forever, with levels and levels of floors, millions of books on everything imaginable and little quiet hideaways scattered here n' here. And in those cozy little places one could read a good novel with no interruptions. They were as unique as snowflakes, no two were the same. Each one was seemingly hidden that you might accidentally miss them upon first glance, especially as some involved secret doors and walls that could only be accessed by pulling out a certain book or stepping on a certain panel. It was a lot like traveling through a mystery house or an Agatha Christie novel. And one would call this mystical place the library. A world in it's own right.

Which was where I found myself, stowed away in a niche behind a bookcase, reading a text the Doctor had handed me. And, by handed, I meant he practically thrust it into my arms as he speed walked past me in the hall earlier. I only understood why he ran off when I caught sight of the tittle, Puberty to Adulthood: A Timelords Body. I almost dropped the book, but after the somewhat shock and embarrassment had subsided curiosity took hold. I mean I wasn't really a timelord, I just have the potential to become one from what the Doctor had explained, though my biology was essentially the same as his. Meaning it should follow the same path and guidelines as one. Which was why I wondered what that might entail exactly since the Doctor had skipped most of that topic. It was a little to embarrassing on both ends to go through it all during our long chat.

Some of the subject matter was very, lets say, interesting. Especially since from what I'd gathered about timelord culture was very full of pomp and pageantry. A race that often believed themselves to be above the other species and their rituals, kind of hoity toity. Which was why one chapter came to a huge surprise. Lets just say the Karma sutra had nothing on timelord ingenuity. So as I sat there blushing furiously at the visual instructions, the TARDIS suddenly began to quake. Looking up I shut the book just as a few old black and white picture frames fell off the victorian wall, shattering onto the floor. With a sigh I grabbed my original bag, having since change from the earlier ordeal, and pushed the door open, leaving my comfy hideaway in search of answers. Like for one were we crashing or was the Doctor just messing around with the TARDIS's console systems again, like he did on our second day idle in the vortex. A few days reprieve or rest was something he felt I needed, but apparently it was something he couldn't manage himself very well. The man just couldn't sit still for very long as Martha and I both learned from the past five days.

So having sensed my need for answers the TARDIS kindly rearranged the library. I knew this because as I turned a corner the exit was right on my immediate left, not where I had originally entered it. I patted a shelf as I walked by. "Thanks. You wouldn't happen to be able to get me closer to the console room would you," I asked the sentient machine not really expecting a reply. From behind the door I head a familiar wheezing noise grow closer as I opened it. Strolling into the corridor I found myself relatively close to my destination and gave a thumbs up to the beautiful blue creature, glad for her help. "Thanks again."

Stumbling into the room as it jolted violently, the Doctor was pulling levers and twisting knobs as he navigated through the time vortex. Martha, who was dressed and ready for the day, clung to the console just as the machine came to a halt. Bouncing away from the controls the Doctor smiled, "There we go…perfect landing, which isn't easy in such a tight spot. Oh Echo you're just in time!"

Martha waved in hello before she looked over towards the doors, "You should be used to tight spots by now. Where are we?"

"The end of the line."

Martha radiated excitement as she took off for the entrance. Only to pause for a second and looked back at the Doctor, who didn't appear as excited as he usually was when we traveled to somewhere new. In fact he kind of seemed solemn, "No place like it."

Martha must have sensed it as well, because for a moment she hesitated, waiting for reassurance. He nodded the go ahead so she ripped open the doors with glee, racing out. The Doctor gave me a cheeky look before following suit after her and I quickly trailed behind, curious to see where we'd ended up.

Apparently he'd brought us to someone's messy bedroom, though I supposes I wasn't one to talk, at least I could see this persons floor. Martha turned on the Doctor with confusion, slightly upset, "Home. You took me home?"

Shoving his hands into his trouser pockets he smiled, "In fact, the morning after we left, so you've only been gone about 12 hours. No time at all, really."

Walking over to her mantle piece he'd started examining her photo's and knickknack's, nosing through her personal effects. And as what was to be expected he'd hurt Martha's feelings. After all, if he was doing what I think he was doing, it was kind of cold. "But all the stuff we've done—Shakespeare, New New York, old New York, Halloween," she asked, implying that we'd had gone through to much to just have it end as it was. Ever the oblivious one, he ignored her attempt at trying to make him see that he couldn't just leave. That or he just didn't want to see it as there was too much pain in goodbyes. "Yep, all in one night—relatively speaking. Everything should be just as it was. Books, CDs," he stated looking around spotting a pair of pink underwear upon a drying rack and picked it up with a finger, "laundry."

Her eyes bugged as she quickly snatched the item and shoved it out of sight, mortified. "So, back were you were, as promised," The Doctor sighed as he folded his arms behind his back. Martha blinked up at him, "This is it?"

He shifted uncomfortable as he inhaled deeply, "Yeah, Echo and I should probably…um…"

Leading up to finishing his train of thought her home phone started ringing cutting him off. The answering machine suddenly picked up, "Hi! I'm out! Leave a message!"

"I'm sorry," Martha apologized. The machine beeped and an older woman's voice called out, "Martha, are you there? Pick it up, will you?"

The woman in question rolled her eyes and smiled, "It's Mum. I'll wait."

Her mother's voice scoffed on the other end, almost as if she knew, "All right then, pretend that you're out if you like," both Martha and the Doctor smiled at that, "I was only calling to say that your sister's on TV. On the news of all things. Just thought you might be interested."

Apparently she was extremely interested as she quickly bolted across the room to pick up her TV remote, clicking the device on. We all moved over, curious, to watch the screen as an old man appeared on a podium talking at a press conference. The young woman standing off to the side of him I presumed was Martha's sister. The old man leaned into the mike, "The details are top secret-"

"How could Tish end up on the news," Martha wondered aloud as she pressed the remote to her mouth. "Tonight, I will demonstrate a device," The old man continued. "She's got a new job. PR for some research lab," she informed only halfway listening to the TV. The old man held up a finger, "…with the push of a single button, I will change what it means to be human."

The crowd of reporters instantly buzzed with questions, with shouts of professor, trying to garner his attention. The man's statement had certainly peeked my interest, but before I could hear anything else Martha suddenly switched off the device and returned her attention to the Doctor. "Sorry. You were saying we should-?"

"Yes, yes, we should...One trip is what we said."

Martha swallowed and leaned to the side, looking up at the man sadly, her eyes begging him to reconsider, "Yeah. I suppose things just kind of…escalated."

He looked down leaning an arm against the TARDIS and smiled jokingly, "Mmm. Seems to happen to me a lot."

"Thank you. For everything."

"It was my pleasure," He smiled fondly before disappearing into the TARDIS, leaving the door open, I was assuming, for me to follow. "And you," she said pulling me into a hug before I could slip away, "If you ever need anything, anything at all, you call alright?"

Feeling a bit emotional, as I was horrible with goodbyes and would do just about anything to make sure I could avoid them, I nodded, "Sure."

She pulled away letting me go. I hesitate in the thresh hold, "Maybe I can...maybe I can get him to...reconsider."

She shook her head and smiled wanly, "It's all right, really. I'll be fine, I promise."

I wasn't to sure about that. She looked about ready to break down trying to maintain a brave face, but some people like to be left alone with their hurt, sometimes the comfort just made thing worse. So I left, not wanting to delay any longer and drag it out, not wanting to give her false hope. The minute I shut the door behind me the Doctor started up the TARDIS, rushing around the controls till we were safely idle once more in the vortex. He slouched over the console as if weighed down by the years of his long life.

I fidgeted with my shoulder strap, "Can we go back?"

He looked up as if he'd forgotten I was there and shook his head, "No. No we can't. Sometimes the best thing for everyone, the only way to save them, is to say goodbye."

I could only frown at that. And I could see the wisdom in the statement, but it wasn't as if Martha didn't know what she was getting herself into, and I believed he had already past the time for goodbyes. If he had wanted to do that he shouldn't have brought her along in the first place. Besides, she was never just some onetime thing. Even I could tell he was purposely extending the trip, looking for any excuse he could get. "Doctor, please, you've missed something important-"

"I didn't miss any...thing-oh. Oh," he exclaimed as he pointed a finger in my direction, "you're right I did make a mistake! Oh stupid me! I'm getting to old. How could I not have seen it!"

Winding up a rotor and dinging a bell he pulled a few pins and twirled a few handles setting us back on a return trip. Pulling down a lever the TARDIS came to a quick halt as he raced for the door. He popped his head out, "No, I'm sorry. Did he say he was going to change what it means to be human?"

---

Inside the TARDIS a battle of wills was taking place, one of epic proportions. And the world-nay, the universe depended upon the outcome! Okay, not really, but it was still a pretty big ordeal. Crossing my arms I stared angrily at the clothes rack set before me. So we meet again! It shouldn't have been so frustrating, but the darn TARDIS wasn't giving me much choice as it locked the door and refused to let me leave. A knock resounded from behind me. "Echo we need to get going, the Doctors starting to get a bit antsy."

"It's not my fault. The TARDIS keeps picking my clothes and she refuses to give me anything else to work with!"

"You'll just have to put it on or we're going to be late."

"But it's...I don't like it!"

"Oh come on it can't be that bad," Martha cooed. Easy for her to say she didn't have to wear it. "I'll look awful. Can't I just go with what I have on now? I can say it's some sort of fashion statement on the wealth-"

"Echo!"

I threw my hands up into the air, "Alright, fine! I'll put the stupid thing on!"

Grumbling under my breath about pushy TARDIS's and equally pushy friends I chucked my coat halfway across the room taking my shirt with it. As I discarded my jeans I took one last glare at the outfit set before me and quickly pulled it on. The strapless teal dress, that stopped just above my knee, cut and pleated it's way up to my right hip where it joined with a long strip of fringe that almost covered that leg. I then, much to my dismay and jubilation, exchanged my yellow kicks for a pair of golden strapy heeled sandals. I was happy for the freedom of open toes but high heels never sat well with me. I only had to fall down one staircase to know they were not the shoe for me. After that I pulled on a chunky gold bracelet for decoration.

Then a machine, that looked like the space age equivalent of one of those large dryers they stuck your head under when you visited the hair dressers, blinked at me from across the room. It was odd to say the least, but I assumed the TARDIS wanted me to do something with it. I looked up at the sentient ceiling quizzically, "What? Do you want me to stick my head into that thing?!"

The ceiling lights flickered briefly and I narrowed my eyes at them. "Was that a yes?"

Again they blinked and sighing in defeat—TARDIS two, me zero—sat down in the questionable contraption. I should have known asking for a closer distance to the console room would involve tit for tat. Immediately suction took place and a flash of light, that sounded similar to a disposable camera, blinded me for a few moments. With a click the head piece released and moved off to the side.

As I stood up I noted a slight breeze on the back of my neck so I turned to the mirror by the door. It became clear that my hair style had been altered. Instead I found my usual mess of curls pinned up to the side with a decorative gold clip attached to a large creme colored rose designed with some crystal dangly bits. "Echo!"

Letting out a moan of aggravation I wrenched the door open, finding it now unlocked, with a pout, "What!?"

Martha's mouth lay open for a second before she rolled her eyes with a smile and latched onto my arm. "If this is what awful looks like I'd hate to see what amazing is, cause then I just might have to slap you. Still contemplating wether or not to do it right now."

With a squeak I clutched my cheek in an attempt to protect it. "Why would you do that!"

Pulling me down the corridor she snorted, "Because if you look awful then by comparison on a good day I must look like shit. So watch it."

"I didn't mean it like that!"

"I know, and that's why I didn't slap yah," she teased and bumped her shoulder into mine. Her laughter at my horrified expression traveled down the corridor into the console room. So, having heard us approach, the Doctor yelled us along, "Shake a leg you two! Don't want to miss all the good stuff, do you?"

"Hold your horses there mister. I just had a disagreement on outfits with the TARDIS, she won by the way, so take up my tardiness with her. Besides you can't really be late with a time machine now can you! Unless of course you're a bad driver," I playfully taunted with a toothy grin. Ready to quip back with his usual affronted 'oi' he spun around, index finger raised. Only his 'oi' melded into a different word. "O-wow. You look…," his adams apple bobbed as he thought of what to say next, voice pitching ever so slightly, "Lovely."

Martha's grip tightened on my arm, not that she noticed, as the man forgetfully ignored her presence. I was guessing she hadn't received the same response when she'd left the dressing room. After a good long stare on his part, an uncomfortably naked feeling on mine as dresses made me incredibly self conscious, our mutual other friend cleared her throat to garner attention. Finally, realizing there was another person in the room, he looked over to Martha and sputtered to amend his earlier response, "You're both lovely. Very lovely. Right, so now that we've gotten all that lovely out of the way Miss Jones, Miss Adler I believe we have a party to crash."

Spinning on foot he promptly marched out the TARDIS grabbing the tux coat hanging from a coral pillar along the way. Frowning, slightly put off, Martha sighed. "You alright," I asked. Slipping her arm from out of mine she headed for the door. "Lovely," she grumbled, "Just Lovely."

Crap, had I just stepped in it. Was she upset with me or the Doctor? I rather hoped it was the latter, as I prided myself on not getting caught up in someone else's melodrama. And to be honest, where Martha was concerned, she seemed to created it every time the Doctor's oblivious nature didn't fit in with her romantic inclinations. Ah, but then again, to be hopelessly in love. I wasn't sure if I envied that or pitied it. Although, there was one thing I was sure of, I counted my self lucky having never experienced it. From what I'd seen, it tended to make everyone stupid. "Echo?!"

Stepping back into the present I looked up at Martha holding the door. "Yep coming! Sorry."

Sheepishly I slipped past her as she shook her head. I couldn't tell if she was still upset or not. Wobbling out onto the sidewalk, it appeared the Doctor had thankfully parked us relatively near the big fancy shindig. A large marbled building, with a few glass stories added in the middle of the structure, stood before us. Lazurus Laboratories. Down to the right a little ways guests could be seen entering through the front. It even had valet parking and red carpets! It was a little rich for my tastes, so already I felt out of place. Hell, the swankiest party I'd ever been to involved laser tag, video games and copious amounts of junk food and soda. Sadly, that had not taken place when I was nine...more like a few month ago. What could I say, all my friends, including myself, were big kids at heart. Oh, the function was going to be incredibly uncomfortable. I hoped there was no dancing, I really hated dancing. Maybe things would pick up when stuff started going horribly awry. Not that I was hoping for the worst, mind I don't want anyone getting hurt, or end up dying, but a hostage situation probably wouldn't make the event any worse that it was going to be. That was all I was saying. Nothing alien, just good old normal white collar crime. The 'give me your jewels and money kind'. Wow, I was an awful person hoping for a crime to be committed so a party ended before it started.

And speaking of party, I hastily clip clopped after my two compatriots as best I could in my current foot ware, as they strolled along side each other; closing in on the marbled steps. Just as I caught up behind them the Doctor, fussing with his cuffs, made a grim prediction, "Oh, black tie. Whenever I wear this, something bad always happens."

"It's not the outfit, that's just you," Martha smirked, "Anyway, I think it suits you. In a James Bond kind of way."

The Doctor, fussing with his bow tie next, gave her an indignant look, "James Bond?"

But then, after a second of internal deliberation, he cocked his head to the side. "Really," He asked with smug satisfaction. I could feel his ego boost without even having to look at him. Martha must have caught it as well as she chuckled softly to herself. Boys and their James Bond movies. Give me a good old heist movie any day. Not that I didn't like the Bond franchise, I've just always wanted to be part of a really cool ocean's eleven type heist.

Walking up the steps Martha handed a man checking invitations her ID. "Martha Jones plus two. I believe my sister left notice with the front desk."

---

I officially hated fancy parties. I mean they were stuffy, filled with rules of etiquette—like not taking off your shoes even if your feet hurt for one—, full of back handed compliments, petty attitudes, they were boring, they have lecherous old men, they were boring, had no seats, only served champagne for a beverage, oh and they were boring! Now it wasn't for lack of trying on my part. I tried to mingle, but as I said lecherous old men, back handed compliments and petty attitudes, so I could safely say I gave it the old college try. The upside? They had really good snacks. It's why, when a server passed with a tray, I had quickly snagged a hand full and I wasn't the only one. The Doctor grabbed a couple and smiled happily. "Oh, look, they've got nibbles! I love nibbles!"

I tried to say 'me too', but a mouth full of the stuff made it a little difficult, so I settled on a grin when it hadn't worked out. His face lit up in that particular special way that always seemed to make my heart swell, that goofy grin that I think he only reserved for his companions. The one that always made me smile back just as goofy.

"Hello!"

Just then the young woman from the TV came over to join us and Martha turned towards her voice with excitement. "Tish!"

She flung her arms out and engulfed her sister into a large hug. I believe with all the things that had happened with the Doctor, Martha might have come to miss her family. Near death experiences tended to do that. As they pulled apart her sister gave her a once over of approval, "You look great. So, what do you think? Impressive, isn't it?"

"Very," Martha nodded as she looked around. Her sister, not skipping a beat, gave her a playful jibe, "And two nights out in a row for you—that's dangerously close to a social life."

"If I keep this up," she played along, "I'll end up in all the gossip columns."

"You might, actually. Keep an eye out for photographers. And Mum—she's coming too, even dragging Leo along with her."

"Leo in a black tie? That I must see," Martha smirked looking forward to teasing her brother. I could feel the family bond as I watched them interact with one another and it made me a little home sick for my own surrogate family back in 2012. Sensing my emotion the Doctor slipped his hand into mine and gave it a gentle reassuring squeeze before retracting it when Tish noticed the two of us.

Martha realizing this made introductions, "This is, uh, the Doctor and Echo Adler."

Shifting his food to the other hand the Doctor grabbed Tish's outstretched arm and shook it, "Hello."

"Hi," I waved from his side. She quirked a surprised brow and turned to her sister, "Are they with you?"

"Yeah," Martha answered. This time Tish's smile was slightly forced as it almost slipped. She eyed the two of us warily, "But their not on the list. How did they get in?"

"They're my plus two," she postured not appreciating her sisters tone. Like it was odd for her to bring friends. Cutting in the Doctor spoke up, "So, this Lazarus, he's your boss?"

The sister spun her head towards him, "Professor Lazarus, yes. I'm part of his executive staff."

"She's in the PR department," Martha corrected. Quick like lightning Tish rectified her statement, "I'm head of the PR department, actually."

Martha gaped, surprised by that tidbit of news, apparently a bit out of the family loop, "You're joking."

The sister smiled proudly, "I put this whole thing together."

"So do you know what the professor's going to be doing tonight? That looks like it might be a sonic microfield manipulator," the Doctor asked about the large white octagonal tube in the middle of the room, eager for answers. I was a little curious about that myself, since there was a lot of technical equipment hooked up to it and that always led to trouble where he was concerned. Tish rolled her eyes, "He's a science geek. I should've known. Gotta get back to work now. I'll catch up with you later."

Walking off she melded into the crowd as Martha watched her slip away. It was then the Doctor turned to her in confusion, "Science geek? What does that mean?"

She took a moment to think of a nice translation of what her sister might've implied, "That your obsessively enthusiastic about it."

He smiled happily about the 'compliment' and turned to look at Tish's retreating form, "Oh, nice."

I stifled a laugh and Martha silently shushed me from behind him. I playfully mimed that my lips were locked on that subject. What he didn't know right? Tugging on the Doctors sleeve I gestured to the rooms main attraction, "Do you want to go take a closer look?"

"Might as well, that's what we came here to do after all. I'm curious to see what it's used for," the Doctor replied. "Or how it's going to change what it means to be human," Martha added. I hummed in agreement and approached the white machine, making sure to keep an arms length as not to upset the security watching the room. Didn't need to start any trouble.

As my scientific repertoire wasn't as extensive as the Doctors I was pretty much clueless as to what I was examining. For all I knew it could just be a really big, really expensive, tanning booth. Though the Doctor seemed to find it interesting enough as he folded his hands behind his back, something I noticed he did a lot when he found a new puzzle to solve. Martha, on the other hand, appeared just as lost as I was to the science before us. It was reassuring to know I wasn't the only one.

Suddenly a woman's voice called from behind. "Martha!"

She turned around in shock and immediately dashed over to the middle aged woman dressed in a beautiful gold sparkled sequence gown. "Mum!"

Like she hadn't seen her mother in forever, she squeezed her into a bone crushing hug. I was guessing it was something she didn't do often as her mother looked pleasantly amazed, "Oh. All right, what's the occasion?"

Martha pulled back with a smile, "What do you mean? I'm just pleased to see you, that's all."

Her mother gazed at her fondly cupping a hand to her face, "You saw me last night."

"I know. I just…missed you," she stated, her voice wavered over her words. Quickly to dispel the uncomfortable atmosphere she turned to her brother to change the subject, "You're looking good, Leo."

He scoffed at that, "Yeah. Well, if anyone asks me to fetch 'em a drink, I'll swing for 'em."

"You disappeared last night," her mother interjected with worry. I guessed Martha wasn't usually that affectionate, not that I was saying she was a mean person, but I took it she normally would have teased her brother and not have hugged her mother. That and the moment that had just occurred probably raised flags with the mother, her maternal instincts picking up on the unspoken, making her ask the question. Martha looked caught and tried to think of an answer, "I...just went home."

The mom glanced over at the Doctor picking up on his proximity to her daughter, "On your own?"

Following her gaze Martha quickly tried to remedy her suspicion, "This is a friend of mine, the Doctor."

"Doctor what," she asked. "No, it's just the Doctor," Martha answered, "We've been doing some work together."

Leo grabbed his hand and shook it, "You alright mate?"

"Yeah," the Doctor replied before shaking the mothers hand, "Lovely to meet you, Mrs Jones. Heard a lot about you."

"Have you? What have you heard, then," the woman asked, sizing him up to see if he was suitable for her daughter. How did I know that? It was all in the subtext and by subtext I meant she crossed her arms and was giving him the evil eye. The Doctor didn't look like he was expecting her to say that though, "Oh, you know, that you're Martha's mother and…um… No, actually, that's…that's about it. We haven't had much time to chat, you know, been busy."

Now that last sentence piqued her attention. "Busy? Doing what, exactly?"

"Oh…you know…stuff," he said trying to come up with a credible lie that she'd buy. He didn't appear to be doing quite well and, noticing this, Martha tried to divert her mothers attention away from him. Unfortunately that meant throwing it onto me. "Right. Um mum, this is my other friend Echo Adler."

Seeing what Martha was trying to accomplish I let loose one of my best dazzling smiles and shook her hand, "Hello, nice to meet you."

Her eyes widened slightly at my accent. "An American? Are you a doctor as well," she asked. "Ah, no sorry, Artist actually. And I'm sorry it's sort of my fault they've been so busy. As you can tell I'm in a new environment and they've been helping me adjust. Martha's been really great."

I decided to use loose terms that could translate into what ever lie Martha's mother would believe, since I kept things pretty un-descriptive she'd fill in the blanks with what ever her mind would accept. A little thing I picked up in high school to get out of gym class or trouble with authoritative figures. I guessed you could say it was my version of psychic paper. And thankfully, it seemed to work as appeared to find the lie an acceptable answer, but still she persisted in asking questions. I was guessing she was a mama bear, meaning a bit over protective. "And how did you two meet exactly?"

"At the hospital. A friend of mine got sick so I sat with them," I smoothly answered. Again loosely based on the truth. Before she could barrage me with anything more, in order to extinguish her worry, someone tapped upon a champagne flute. Hooray for small miracles. The room then instantly died down and gathered around the machine, the focal point of the room.

The older man from television came over to address the guests as he trotted to stand before the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Professor Richard Lazarus and tonight I'm going to perform a miracle. It is, I believe, the most important advance since Rutherford split the atom, the biggest leap since Armstrong stood on the moon. Tonight, you will watch and wonder. Tomorrow, you'll awake to a world which will be changed forever."

As cameras flashed and people watched silently in anticipation he opened the door and stepped into the machine, locking himself in. Maybe I was right, maybe it was a tanning booth. I mean why else would you go into it? Suddenly the machine let out a loud noise as it exuded a blinding light. Which only supported my absurd theory till I could spot blue electrical arcs circling the middle chamber as the four pillars around it began to spin and then rotate like a carrousel. So not a tanning booth.

Of course, as could always be predicted when accompanying the Doctor anywhere, something went wrong. A loud warning alarm started sounding off as the machine grew even more frantic in it's rotating rhythm. The Doctor turned to watch the technicians as they frantically pressed buttons, "Somethings wrong. It's overloading."

The control systems in the corner soon sparked and smoked as he rushed forwards. Jumping over the platform he began fixing whatever had went awry. Briefly, over the panic, and the sound, I could hear some woman yelling about getting him away from the controls. An order I was glad that nobody followed through with when he pulled out a cord, averting the meltdown. As the machine died down, coming to a stop, Martha and I sprang forth to open the door just as the Doctor raced over in urgency, "Get it open!"

And so we did, prying it open, freeing a plume of smoke and nothing else. For a moment we came to the possibility that the Doctor may have been to late in ceasing the overload. That Lazurus might not have made it. Of course, that moment passed, when a pair of hands grasped the door frame and a figure started to emerge from the chamber. A collective gasp made it's way throughout the room as the smoke cleared and Lazurus himself resurfaced. Yet, he appeared to have changed. Where once an old wrinkled man had entered now left a significantly younger one, forty years or so shaved off his life. Now while the rest of us were amazed at the feat the Doctor stood by horrified.

The younger Lazurus touched his face in glee and stumbled away from the machine, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Richard Lazarus. I am 76 years old and I am reborn!"

The room erupted with claps and cheers of enthusiasm as those of the press began taking pictures. Which soon segued into photo ops with the attendees. And, as if nothing had happened at all, everyone began returning to mingling with each other, eager to talk about how they'd be next in line for the proceedure.

Seeing his window of opportunity, since no one was really paying attention any more, the Doctor took a closer look at the machine. Meanwhile, us females stared at the newly rejuvenated man in disbelief. Martha folded her arms across her chest in suspicion, "It can't be the same guy. It's impossible. It must be a trick."

"Oh, it's not a trick. I wish it were," the Doctor grimly sighed. Not something that gave Martha or I much comfort. "What just happened, then?"

"He just changed what it means to be human."

"And I don't think it's for the better," I theorized. After all it'd create such a huge complicated rift between classes, the rich would live for ever while the poor die with only the time they were allotted. I could already see the impending chaos and conflict that could arise from that. I wondered if that man really thought his idea through or did his fear of death blind him from the possibilities. Who knew? The only thing I was positive of was that it would end badly.

An older woman suddenly exclaiming 'Richard' caught my attention, and I realized that the man I'd been staring at had since moved. I really needed to stop getting stuck in my own head. He was instead shoveling down snack after snack from a plater into his mouth like a man that hadn't eaten in days. It's why we had finally approached him. After all, the sudden hunger seemed odd, but then again I supposed that if I just de-aged forty something years I'd be starving to.

"Energy deficit. Always happens with this kind of process," the Doctor explained.

"You speak as if you see this every day, Mr—," Lazurus halted waiting for the other man to finish his sentence. "Doctor. And, well, no, not every day, but I have some experience in this kind of transformation."

The professor didn't look very convinced and scoffed. "That's not possible."

Always one to rise to the challenge and prove his intelligence the Doctor smiled. "Using hypersonic sound waves to create a state of resonance. That's—that's inspired."

The man appeared mildly impressed. "You understand the theory, then."

"Enough to know that you couldn't possibly have allowed for all the variables."

"No experiment is entirely without risk," Lazurus brushed him off as he ate another snack. He didn't seem to care much about the serious nature at hand. So the Doctor frowned, "That thing nearly exploded. You might as well have stepped into a blender."

The old woman, who I recognized as the owner of the earlier voice, sneered at his statement. "You're not qualified to comment."

The Doctor turned to her in disbelief, "If I hadn't stopped it, it would have exploded."

"Then I thank you, Doctor. But that's a simple engineering issue. What happened inside the capsule was exactly what was supposed to happen. No more, no less," the professor thanked and assured. "You've no way of knowing that until you've run proper tests," Martha piped up, a little concerned about his nonchalant attitude. The blonde man just laughed, "Look at me! You can see what happened. I'm all the proof you need."

"This device will be properly certified before we start to operate commercially," the older woman stated, as if that would assuage any complaints. Something that I had known was coming, after all if it could be exploited it would be exploited. Consequences be damned. "Commercially?! You are joking," Martha scoffed, "That'll cause chaos."

"It'll cause the collapse of Western civilization," I grimly added. Lazurus chuckled lightly at my comment and smiled mockingly. "Not chaos. Not collapse. Change. A chance for humanity to evolve, to improve."

"This isn't about improving," the Doctor corrected, "It's about you and your customers living a little longer."

"Not a little longer, Doctor. A lot longer. Perhaps indefinitely," He smiled smugly. Having had enough the older woman beckoned Lazurus, "Richard, we have things to discuss. Upstairs."

I'm sure she was eager to calculate her cut of the soon to be profits. She didn't wait for a response and strode off. Putting down the plate of food he turned to the Doctor, "Goodbye, Doctor. In a few years, you'll look back and laugh at how wrong you were."

However, before he left, he offered his hand to Martha who, for etiquette sake, grabbed it. Except when she tried to shake it he turned her hand over and drew it to his mouth for a kiss. I was extremely glad when he promptly left and didn't offer the same gesture to me. He was to irksome and thus I didn't think my face would've been able to fake a smile like Martha. The Doctor watched him leave worriedly, "Ooh, he's out of his depth. No idea of the damage he might have done."

"So what do we do now," she asked. He just shrugged and shoved his hands into his coat pockets, "Now…well, this building must be full of laboratories. I say we do our own tests."

Martha smiled and waved her hand near his face, "Lucky I've just collected a DNA sample then, isn't it?"

"Oh, Martha Jones, you're a star," the Doctor smiled with pride. I didn't think I had ever seen Martha looked more pleased from a compliment, "Well then, what are we waiting for?"

He grinned, but it promptly fell when he glanced over at me. He gestured Martha on, "You go ahead I'll catch up. Promise."

She looked between the both of us in confusion, but did as he asked. He waited till she was just out of earshot before rounding on me. Except he never got the chance to speak as I beat him to it. I knew the moment his smile fell what he was going to say and I couldn't believe him. "You can't seriously be about to tell me to wait behind. You're just running tests, it's not as if we're running straight into some suicidal danger."

"Echo-" he tried to plead. "Don't. Don't you dare," I warned. "Please," he begged latching onto my shoulders and forcing me to look up at him, "I thought I was fine, but I find I'm not yet comfortable with throwing you into harms way. Remember we made a deal. I need this. Please. I can't lose anyone else."

He may have whispered the last part but I still picked it up. Great, make me feel like the asshat. "That's not fair. To play that card…," I sighed disheartened, "fine. Just this once I'll humor you but you try it again and I'll give you hell. You can't just bring me along sometimes, you can't pick and chose. Life doesn't work like that. You have to take the good with the bad. It wouldn't be called life if you didn't."

His eyes widened for a split second before softening, "Has anyone ever told you that for such a young person you have an old wisdom about you."

"Yep," I smiled, "but don't tell anyone. You'll ruin my irresponsible youthful image."

Ah, and there it was. That goofy grin of his again popping up and making me feel all warm inside. How anyone can say no to him when he gave you a look like that was beyond me. He bopped my nose affectionately, "Promise. Now don't go wandering off and stay out of trouble."

"I'm not the one who has a problem staying out of trouble buddy."

---

Waiting sucked. I never could stand it if I didn't have something to entertain myself with. And seeing as both members of my party were no longer present I was shit out of luck in that department. It was why I'd taken to age old game of people watching from the side lines in a last ditch effort to keep my sanity.

So, there I was leaning against one of the walls with a champagne flute in hand making up backstories and conversations for every person in sight. I knew it was sad but I had to occupy myself with something. As I made up fake backstory number 16 for 'Mr. Tailcoats', an older gent who'd made a living selling porcelain elephants, I had accidentally took a sip of my champagne forgetting what it was. Instantly my face scrunched up in disgust and I spit the offending liquid back into the cup. Ugh! Quickly looking for a place to get rid of the stuff I spotted a potted ficus near by and casually took two steps over, making sure to keep an eye on the crowd, and dumped the alcohol out. When a server walked past with a tray I placed the glass onto it without anyone noticing. No one any the wiser.

Yet, I suppose that wasn't entirely true. Ever since the Doctor had left it was like a set of eyes was constantly watching me, following my movements, but every time I searched for them I couldn't find a single person looking my way. It was getting ridiculous. I was starting to feel idiotic and paranoid until I finally caught them looking across the room. Dark, hungry, and calculating. He was impeccably dressed, tight black suit and tie, trim blonde hair, not a spot on him. The kind of guy most would call attractive. The kind most wished to marry. Not me though, never could see myself taking the plunge so to speak. Though I did see myself adopting a house full of kids, the reasoning for that being quite obvious.

Shifting uncomfortably under his deep gaze, I contemplated wether or not to go and find the Doctor when a loud bark of laughter to my right captured my attention for only a heartbeat. I supposed that was all tall, dark, and stalker needed to make his disappearing act into the crowd, because when I looked back he was gone. Great, that there was something to worry about. Something I wasn't about to stick around for. After all, a hasty retreat back to the TARDIS was in order. Once safely inside I'd shoot Martha a text so they'd know where I'd run off to. Needn't worry them.

Keeping that in mind I circled round the party goers and made my way over to the exit. Except, just as I past the threshold, at the outline of gossip and chatter, a thought occurred to me. How exactly was I going to get into the TARDIS? It wasn't as if I had a key or anything. Didn't really think this through I supposed. Letting out a groan of frustration I lazily went to turn back and rejoin the party. After all, where else could I hide? In the ladies? Actually…"Man troubles?"

Almost inducing a double heart attack at the sudden presence, I stumbled over my own feet to face my male inquirer. And, as luck would have it, my intimidating 'admirer' had come for a chat. Great, and I had effectively cut my self off from the rest of the group. Even though I could see them I didn't know what kind of man he was, what if the guy had a laser weapon or a syringe filled with some top secret experimental drug that-...I've been spending way to much time with the Doctor if that was the first place I jumped to when confronted with a suspicious person. I needed to get a grip and keep calm. Exploding would not be wise. Mentally shaking off the panic, as not to worry my timelord friend or cause harm, I answered, "I don't know, do you have man troubles?"

That's right throw his question back at his face, lets see what that would do. Hopefully cause him to leave and not kill me? He paused for two shakes and I could have almost sworn his eyes were laughing at me. But the moment soon past and a predatory smirk overtook his features. "Oo, love a girl with a bit of spunk," he purred jiggling his shoulders back and fourth. Okie dokie then. I quietly laughed uncomfortably and rubbed the back of my neck. "Right. I should probably-"

"I'm sorry am I boring you," he interjected in a more sinister tone. His face scrunched into an indignant sneer. The instant change in demeanor definitely raised the alarm and I found a shiver of fear run up my spine. This was not the attitude of a stable person. Definitely had to get out of there without pissing him off. "It's not like-"

"It's not like what," he growled cutting me off, "like you're running away," he took a step forward and thus instinctively I took one back, "like you're blowing me off!?"

He took a few more steps and so I retreated a few more, this continued on, almost like some sort of twisted tango. "That's very rude, not very becoming of a Lady," he stepped forward and I stepped back, "and you've gone and hurt my feelings," he frowned taking one more step forward. It was then I realized, as I took one more step back, that in my panic, I'd run out of room to maneuver as my back hit the wall. It seemed I'd forgotten my surroundings. The unstable man however, had not, and let loose the most wicked of grins. "But I suppose I'll forgive you. After all you're just so hard to stay mad at. It's not exactly your fault, all you've know is him."

"Listen, I think you may have me confused with someone else," I cautiously corrected putting my hands up between us as a barrier. My attempt at making sure he got no closer. Not that it worked. He just grabbed hold of them and played with the ring on my finger, watching as he rolling it back and fourth. His eyes slightly narrowed at the item as if he found it offensive and thus he gripped my fingers harshly. Wincing I tried to pry them free but his hold was like a vice. However, the pain wasn't the only thing urging me to get away. It was strange, but the moment he touched my skin a weird sensation jolted to my brain. An odd tingling took up in the back of my mind. His eyes quickly shot up to mine, "Oh, I think not Miss Adler."

I gasped, "How do you…"

A throat clearing eliminated any answer I might have received. Annoyance flashed across his pale features as he canted his head towards the interloper. Four men dressed in black suits stood behind him, arms folded behind their backs in military fashion. All of them well muscled and quite threatening save one. The most normal looking chose to address him, "Mr. Saxon, the two party crashers are on there way back to the main hall. As you predicted the old fool boggled it, but we've collected the files. If you wish to avoid the coming festivities we'll need to escort you off the premises now."

Mr. Saxon sighed and rolled his eyes sarcastically at me, as if secretly amused, "If we must. I got everything I needed here anyways."

The last statement felt as if it were directed solely towards me. That malevolent twinkle to his eye left me cold as he slipped his hands from mine, leaving. Of course not before parting a cryptic message, "You'll be seeing me later, red. It won't be long now. Not long at all. And remember dear, what comes next could have been avoid had you just told the truth."

I watched him leave in confusion pretty sure I'd just been threatened. But had no design as to why. What the hell was he going on about. Not only did that man give me the heebie jeebies but his hot and cold bipolar demeanor left me feeling very strung out. That was the strangest most terrifying conversation I'd ever had and I didn't exactly know what had just transpired, but whatever had I didn't believe played in my favor.

It wasn't until I could no longer see him and his 'secret service' did I wander back to the party. Suddenly a glass of champagne didn't seem so bad. So I grabbed one as it passed by. Unfortunately second time around tasted just as awful as the first and I spit it back into the flute. I kept trying champagne why?! Of course, I had to find some way of getting 'rid' of the evidence again, when an opportunity presented itself. In a sudden instant the lights had shut off, followed by an alarm. A computer automated voice called out over the intercom, "Security one."

A slight panic of voices overtook the crowd as they speculated about what was happening. Blowing out a puff of air I checked to see if anyone was paying attention. Nobody was so, taking advantage of the situation, I threw the glass over my shoulder to smash against a wall somewhere. What!? It was just going to get smashed at some point during the fray anyhow. After all it was how things proceeded when following the Doctor. The security system was just a precursor, a warning. A luxury I wasn't often given. So, as if it were the most normal thing in the world I leaned against a table and slipped one strapless shoe off and then the other. Wiggling my naked toes against the cold marbled floor and prepared myself for the upcoming running by hopping from one foot to the other. Only wished I hadn't consumed so many snacks. Damned things were going to weigh me down.

Then, as if on cue, the Doctor came racing into the room, his eyes frantically scanning the area. I felt his relief when they past my vicinity. Then Martha, and surprisingly her sister Tish, came trailing in after him. How they ran in heels I'd never know. "Tish! Is there another way out of here," the Doctor asked wasting no time. I took that to mean danger was heading our way. She pointed to the left, "There's an exit in the corner, but it'll be locked now."

Shoving his hand into his inner tux pocket he pulled out the sonic screwdriver and tossed it to Martha, "Martha, setting 54. Hurry."

She nodded and quickly dashed off, her sister following on her heels. I would have gone with them but I wanted to ask the Doctor what was going on. I knew there was trouble, I just didn't know the details. Funny how he left for twenty minutes and suddenly there was urgent peril. Before I could get the lowdown however he jumped onto the platform before Lazurus's machine and tried to address the crowd, "Listen to me! You people are in serious danger! You need to get out of here right now!"

Some pretentious woman scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous. The biggest danger here is choking on an olive."

As if the universe was trying to prove her wrong, a huge scorpion with the face of a human came shattering through the glass partition on the balcony floor. He looked like a character straight out of the resident evil games Hunter was so fond of. I myself was more of a silent hill fan but I didn't think the scorpion cared. Chaos quickly ensued as people screamed and ran for cover. "Or that. That would do it," I added to no one in particular. Before I could process it people were pushing each other out of the way towards the exit, survival the only thing on their minds. Even more so when the creature jumped from above to our floor, throwing tables across the room as it made it's way over to the screaming crowd. Some guy in his haste to escape shoved my side and sent me sprawling to the ground. Without a handhold to grab for balance I fell down hard on my back. I laid still for a second, wincing. Something I probably shouldn't have done because when I opened my eyes next a big old scorpion leg was about to smash down on my head. "Oh shit," I exclaimed rolling out of its path. Lucky he was to busy smashing things to notice me.

A hand quickly grabbed my arm and wrenched me off the floor back onto my feet. I twisted my head to the side to see the Doctor and smiled, "Hello, fancy meeting you here."

Unfortunately he was a bit busy in protector mode to play along, "Echo-."

I interrupted by waving him off, "I know, I know. Evacuate with the rest."

He shot me an appreciative half smile before jumping into action as the big beast loomed towards the woman who had mocked him earlier. "No! Get away from her!"

Backing off as requested I made my way for the exit like everyone else when I spotted Martha's family watching on in frozen horror. I couldn't very well just have left them behind, I wouldn't be a very good friend if I had, so I raced over to help. Only stopping when the woman on the other side of the room screamed, just in time to witness a most awful scene. The scorpion lifted its tail up unhitching the two prongs on its tip, releasing a smaller fleshier forked tail. The forked tail violently dove into her chest cavity devouring her juices, literally sucking her dry. Draining her life force. When she was nothing left but a mummified husk in beautiful clothing it callously threw her away. Her shell of a form fell to the ground with a sickening crunch.

I didn't linger long on the scene, I couldn't afford to. Still, my stomach roiled in turmoil for the poor woman, she may have been a fool but she needn't be a dead one. Unfortunately I had to carelessly shove those feelings aside, Martha's family took precedent at the moment and neither of them seemed to be able to unglue themselves from the floor Leo had fallen to. Running over I knelt down and shook the older woman's bare shoulder. "Martha's mom we have to move, come on. Hurry, grab an arm and I'll grab the other," I ordered trying to pull Leo off the floor. But neither budged, to frozen with fear to move as the creature opened it's gaping maw in a screeching growl. I could feel the pitch in panic from the Doctor as he realized where I stood. "Lazarus! Leave them alone!"

The creature spun towards his furious shout, circling him as if calculating an attack. It was at that time that Martha made an appearance and rushed over to Leo, managing where I failed to gain her mothers attention. "Martha," she called out with relief, touching her child's face to reassure herself she was ok. Instead of answering her mother Martha shifted her attention to her injured brother, "C'mon, stay with me."

Gently shoving me aside she replaced my hands and lifted her brother up with the help of her mother, dragging him from the room. However, before I followed suit I noticed a group of attendee's hiding behind a table, the only people left in the room. Their fear trapping them. As the Doctor kept the attention of the beast solely focused on himself, by insulting it, I rushed over to the unfortunate party goers. "Hey! Get up you ninnies, right this instant! You need to evacuate with the rest, do it now while the creatures distracted. GO!" I commanded. None moved. Five terrified faces stared back at me so afraid I didn't think they comprehended anything said. Taking a page out of the Doctors play book I grabbed the closest one by the shoulders and tried that whole 'peer into their very soul' look he always used. "Listen, I know you're all scared, but if you don't move there's nothing to say that things not going to come this way. And I can tell you this, it won't be for a chat. Its big, its mean, and its hungry so I suggest you do as I say and follow me to the lobby. Is that understood? Nod your heads if you understand."

Each quickly shook their heads up and down in chaotic unison. "Good, then move," I motioned them forward. Crouching low to the floor the well dressed group made their way across to the hall, advancing in the direction Martha had dragged her family. Just before I passed through the threshold I took one last fleeting glance back at the Doctor. Part of me wished to defy his order and stay to help, but I knew it was counterintuitive. I'd most likely become a distraction and only make things worse, so begrudgingly I left. Despite my own reservations.

Once fully in the hallway I caught up with Martha and company and motioned the other five to carry on without me. They didn't even try and talk me out it.

Martha held her brothers head between her hands, examining the response of his irises. "What's the Doctor doing," Tish asked her sister, peering back from once we'd come. "He's trying to buy us some time. Let's not waste it. Leo, look at me. Let me see your eyes," the doctor in training commanded, confirming something, she turned to her mother, "He's got a concussion. You'll need to help him downstairs."

Martha walked over to an ice bucket filled with champagne bottles and grabbed a hand full of the cubes with a napkin, extending it to her mother. "This'll keep the swelling down. Go! I'll be right behind you! Tish, move! We need to get out of here!"

She pushed her younger sister forward as she took up the rear in a protective formation. Something I'd have done if I was in her shoes. But I could tell from the slight shake in her hand that the misadventure hit a nerve, scaring her more than she'd have liked. Remarkably she kept her composure. "Martha," I lightly pronounced from beside her. She jolted, so busy with worry I wasn't surprised she'd forgotten I existed. A guilty look crossed her features as she realized that, "Sorry-"

"Don't worry about it," I interrupted, "their your family. I understand."

She nodded her head with a sigh of relief, "Thanks."

---

Things were relatively quiet as we trekked down the hall. Not a word was spoken as we slowly progressed with the injured Leo. Everyone took the small uninterrupted silence to filter through the things that weighed heavy on their minds. Most trying to swallow witnessing a giant scorpion suck a woman dry like a juice box. I knew it was something I wouldn't be able to get out of my mind for a while. Things might've remained quiet till we reached the entrance had Martha's curiosity not taken over. "Echo," she murmured in a hushed tone, trying not to alert the others. "Mm," I responded. "I realize now's not the time to be discussing this but why'd the Doctor insist you stay behind? What exactly's going on between the two of you. I know you said it's nothing but..."

There it was, doubt. Her own insecurity showing up again. I didn't know how she got it into her head that the Doctor and I were an item, since we'd only known each other for a short while, but I'd obviously not explained it properly since last she brought it up. Sighing I pinched the bridge of my nose, "Your right it really isn't. But since I know it'll just keep pestering you till you've gone mad I'll explain. It's for the same reason you're personally evacuating you're own family. He's afraid. And even though I find it incredibly infuriating, as I can take care of myself and have been doing so for most my life, I have to see it from his point of view. If only for a while."

Surprisingly she didn't get defensive or shoot a nasty look like I had expected to my tight response. Instead she quirked her head to the side, "And what's that?"

"Think of it like this, his home is gone, the only thing left of it is his beloved TARDIS. So then, one day he stumbled upon me and found out 'hey I'm not the only one left. I'm not completely alone. No longer the last.' Except that comes with it's own problems. He knows what it's like to be the last and he doesn't want to go back to that, but his life is full of danger. And that danger could possible make his worst fear a reality once more. It would be paralyzing. Distracting. So even though I'm not happy about the current arrangement I'll stay behind. Just don't expect me to be quiet about it."

"What about you," she asked. I furrowed my brow in confusion, "What about me?"

"How do you feel about your um," she cast a quick glance to her mother noticing her strain an ear, "new found heritage."

"Oh," I smiled half heartedly, this was the first time anyone other than Lionel had asked how I felt on the matter, "to be honest. Sometimes I feel like I'm drowning. It's kind of confusing and a tad daunting. So I don't know exactly what to do with it. I just-I just don't try and over think it. I know it's not very healthy, but I don't think I'll ever fully process any of it."

"Well," she patted my shoulder, "like I said, ever need an ear I'm there."

"Thanks."

As we neared the staircase to the lobby the loud panicked screams of a large crowd could be heard once more. Tish quickly rushed ahead and disappeared down the stairs. It was at that time that Leo, who appeared on the mend, became fully aware and ran after his sister. "Leo," his mother called after him, briskly following. Martha and I raced after the group, my feet slapping against the cold marbled floor. As we hustled down to the lobby, the crowd pushed and shoved each other against the thick glass doors, Tish turned at our arrival with alarm. "We can't get out! We're trapped!"

"There must be an override switch," Martha yelled over the noise, "Where's the security desk? Tish!"

"There," she pointed to the opposite wall. Martha dashed over, sliding across the desk into the office. She stopped at the security screens hesitantly unsure of where to go before walking over to the switch board. Pulling up the screwdriver she buzzed the panel and, with a shock, the light returned and the doors popped open. People burst through them like a school of frighten tuna rushing into the street. Martha laughed in triumph as I gave her a high five over the desk. Her mother however ruined the small happy moment, "Martha lets go."

Her face fell at the authoritative tone, "Alright mum."

Sliding back across the counter she hesitantly obeyed, but lingered as the entrance neared—unsure of what to do next. I knew what she was thinking before she even said it. I was thinking the same thing myself, only I had made a promise. I never broke them. But she had made no such deal. Bumping my shoulder into Martha's to gain her attention I motioned back to where we'd come from, "Go. Who knows what kind of trouble he'll get into left to his own devices."

She tried to hold back a smile. "Only the best kind," she answered before announcing her intention to her family, "I've got to go back."

Her mother instantly turned around, face scrunched in anger, "You can't! You saw what that thing did. It'll kill you."

Martha shook her head, putting her foot down, "I don't care. I have to go."

Stalking forward like a lioness prowling towards prey a look of recognition crossed the mothers features as she stood before her daughter flabbergasted, grabbing hold of her arms to keep her there, "It's that Doctor, isn't it? That's what's happened to you. That's why you've changed."

Tish slinked over, "He was buying us time, Martha. Time for you to get out, too."

"I'm not leaving him," Martha firmly reiterated, letting go of her mums hand to race back up the stairs. "Martha," her mother shrieked after her. Tish grabbed the dazed woman's hand and led her from the building. However, I waited till I could no longer hear my friends hurried footsteps, wishing like hell to accompany her, but knew better than to follow through with that thought. If the Doctor couldn't trust that I'd follow the agreement than he'd never let me out of the TARDIS. So begrudgingly, I left to wait outside with the rest of the crowd on the marbled steps outside. Martha's mother and bother sat on the them while Tish tapped her foot standing before the two. The sister crossed her arms, "She'll be all right. The Doctor and her, they'll look out for each other."

Feeling like it was a family moment, I moved away in search of a quiet spot to wait for the return of my friends. I took to leaning against one of the large pillars and watched the events around me. People were hugging, crying and soothing each other, some even taking advantage of the tragedy for there five minutes of fame with the reporters that had attended. An ambulance rolled up and paramedics jumped out to assist those with injuries or hyperventilating from the trauma. The police would be arriving any minute then. Scanning the area I caught sight of the group of five talking with some of the reporters, their pictures being taken.

A blinding flash scorched my vision that I had to rub my eyes as a man started asking questions. "Ah, hello miss. Can you tell me about the incident inside Lazurus laboratories? Were you scared? Were you frightened? Who did you come with?"

Pointedly gazing at him through blurred sight I tried to move his camera away from out of my face, "No comment. Find someone else to interview I'm sure they'd be more than willing."

" Ah, you're American, how exotic. A lovely woman such as your self would most surely make the front page, all I need is a quote, please just a few question-"

"I believe Miss Saxon said no," interrupted a familiar voice from behind me. I quickly turned to confirm, with much dread, that it was none other than the right hand man of the odd fellow from before. He gave the reported an evil glare and he promptly skittered off, not before taking one last picture though. "My last name isn't Saxon," I corrected with unease. If he was there, than the real Saxon must be near by. Now there was a confrontation I didn't want to get involved in.

The oily man thinly smiled, "Of course, but throw the name around and reporters are more inclined to listen. They have great respect for Mr. Saxon, he is after all, a great man. Now if you'll excuse me I have things to attend to."

As he started walking away I held him up, grabbing hold of his arm. "Why'd you help me? What exactly is Mr. Saxon's game here? I-"

"I'm sorry but I'm in a hurry. So, if you must know where you're involved he's quite concerned. You are his Lady after all."

There it was, some inside joke, the presence of some secret I wasn't privy to that involved me, one that Mr. Saxon and all his cronies seemed to be apprised of. It was very annoying. Quickly dislodging himself from my grip he briskly descended the steps and I moved to chase after. There was something hinky going on and since it seemed to revolve around me I believed I was entitled to some answers. Unfortunately, I never got very far as a strong hand clamped onto my shoulder and spun me round. It was then I came face to face with a very angry mama bear.

"You, you came with that Doctor didn't you," Martha's mother accused as if I were Ted Bundy's lawyer. "I'm sorry, did I do something wrong," I inquired, confused at her sudden hostility. She jabbed a finger in my face, "I don't know how you got involved with 'im, and your not my responsibility, but you keep my Martha out of it."

"Again, I really don't know what you're talking about."

"I know what kind of man he is! I have a reliable source. If your mother knew what he's done she'd not let you tramp around with 'im. So here's some advice, leave 'im before you end up as just another on a long list of the dead. My Martha won't end up there, I'll make sure of it. She's got a respectable career ahead of her as a proper Doctor, I'll not have 'im or you ruining that."

I didn't know what issue to address first, or what exactly she thought she knew, but I was to stunned at her seething rant to really respond. No one had ever had such an open hostility towards me before. What was it with the Jones family?! And speaking of Jones, Tish walked over hearing her mothers raised voice and placed a calming hand on her shoulder, "Mum calm down. What are you shouting for."

The woman turned round close to hysterics. "What if-What if Martha- What if she's-," the mother trailed off as soon as the doors opened. For one brief second, crippling terror spread across her features as the paramedics rolled out a stretcher, an unmoving body being escorted from out of the building. But soon it was clearly Lazurus as the press vultures swarmed, taking pictures of the dead man as security fended them away. She let go of the breath she'd been holding, realizing with a shudder of relief, that it wasn't her daughter. She watched them load the body into the ambulance in numbed silence. "She's here. Oh, she's all right," Tish announced rushing up the last few steps to pull her sister into a hug.

The Doctor looked over at us smiling as Martha's mother strode over, "Ah, Mrs Jones, we still haven't finished our chat."

I waved my hands back and fourth in a gesture that definitely said don't do it, Run! Unfortunately he wasn't very good with charades. "Doctor I wouldn't," a slap rang out cutting my sentence short. The Doctor held his face, eyes wide with shock, the same look we all wore. "Keep away from my daughter," she growled shoving a finger into his chest. Martha shouted appalled, "Mum, what are you doing?"

"All their mothers, every time," he whined under his breath, trying to rub the soreness away. "He is dangerous! I've been told things."

Carefully avoiding the angry woman I leaned towards the Doctor, speaking in hushed tones, "I did try to warn you. But better you than me, had you not shone up when you did I think she was going to release the wrath of mom on me from association. So please, what ever you do, don't leave me alone with her."

He looked down at me, "Yeah sorry about that…"

"Look around you! Nothing but death and destruction," Mrs. Jones emphasized leaning down to grab her daughter shoulders. I could feel the Doctor stiffen from beside me at the last few words spoken. I gripped his hand in silent comfort, returning his earlier favor. Without looking he gently squeezed them in thanks. "This isn't his fault. He saved us, all of us," Martha shouted pushing her mothers arms off her. Leo sensing the rising tension spoke up with a sarcastic quip to ease things, "It was Tish who invited everyone to this thing in the first place. I'd say, technically, it's her fault.

Said sister rolled her eyes and jabbed him in the abdomen with her elbow, not wanting to be the object of her mother's fury. He winced with a short laugh and clutched his side. Before anymore words could be spoken in misplaced anger a loud crash resounded from up the street. Everyone turned towards it. The Doctor just took one last look at the overprotective mother and dragged me along, racing down the street. A few heartbeats later Martha wasn't far behind, her sister eventually pulling up the rear.

A few blocks ahead lay the earlier ambulance halfway up on the side walk, lights blaring—cascading sickly orange ghosts all over the marbled Victorian architecture and casting strange intense shadows over the Doctor's face. The nearer to the vehicle, the clearer the picture was painted. The double doors were left thrust open, medical supplies thrown about haphazardly and the prior paramedics: dried husks with faces etched in terror. The stretcher between them empty. We stumbled to a stop in front of the scene and the Doctor dropped his hand to pull out his sonic. He frowned at the sight, "Lazarus, back from the dead. Should've known, really."

"So were going biblical now," I quipped, trying to lighten a dark mood, watching as he carefully scanned the area. All I got was a quick restrained smile out of him, but I'd seen the corner of his lips quirk up; even if it was for a millisecond. Martha and her sister finally caught up, the later slightly huffing with exertion. The doctor in training paused on the gurney, "Where's he gone?"

The sonic pitched slightly as it pointed towards a cathedral on a parallel street. Peering up at the tall spires in the distance the Doctor answered, "That way. The church."

A flash of recognition crossed Tish's face as she gasped, "Cathedral. It's Southwark Cathedral. He told me."

The Doctor trudged off towards the building, sonic raised, face as grim as a reaper. I wondered if I was allowed to follow, if he had expected I stay behind with the dead, or if he'd just forgotten about my presence all together or had he now accepted that danger couldn't be avoided and was taking me along. I didn't presume to know, but then again, I wasn't in the Doctors head so I could only hypothesize and never truly be right. So, taking the initiative, I followed the motley crew to what I was sure would be an assured death; if the Doctor couldn't think of a plan that was. He always had one, even if most of the time they were just spur of the moment. It was why, even though we were head towards something terrifying, I wasn't altogether worried. Of course, I'd probably change my tune once face to face with the life force drinking scorpion man. I long to be a totally BAMF and could just go up to things like that and be like, Ha, you think you're something, I've seen tougher SOB's in my mother's knitting circle. The likely hood of my attitude ever living up to those aspirations were zilch though. My motto was more of general cowardice with moments of insane crazy bravery. Some of which I was about to put to use.

---

The old large wooden cathedral doors were left slightly ajar, it's thick heavy frame cracked by some intense force. The Doctor entered first, sonic poised for action as the blue end beeped as we drew nearer into the darkened nave. Martha squinted into the pitch black, "Do you think he's in here?"

"Where would you go if you were looking for sanctuary," he stated, eyes darting from shadow to shadow. Moving up the middle of the empty cathedral, pews casted in darkness from the little bits of moon light that managed to shine through the stained glass windows up high, there was a stillness in the air. As if the very building itself held its breath waiting, waiting for it's sanctity to come shattering with a violence.

Treading lightly to the space behind the altar, to where gothic architecture weaved roman designs in the name of god, Lazurus sat hunched in pain, gasping with shuddering breaths—wrapped in a red blanket stocked only by paramedics, naked as the day he was born. He appeared pathetic and sad as if fallen from grace, the church a seemingly appropriate back drop for the act. There would be no more life for him, not if he couldn't see reason; he'd never see his money again, never experiment in his laboratory and he'd most likely never be willingly let out into the world again. Not after what he'd done. How far he had fallen from his prestigious lifestyle, and all with the press of a button. If only he had listened. If only he hadn't killed those people.

He looked up hearing our approach, his attention solely diverted to the Doctor, who, put away his device, "I came here before. A lifetime ago. I thought I was going to die then. In fact, I was sure of it. I sat there, just a child…the sound of planes and bombs outside."

The Doctor circled around him, curbing to a stop in front of the man, "The Blitz."

"You've read about it," Lazurus stated with sad eyes, in a way that said he couldn't actually understand.

"I was there."

Lazurus scoffed, shaking his head, "You're too young."

"So are you," the Doctor cleverly remarked. Lazurus smiled and laughed but threw his head back with a noise of pain. Bones breaking and reshaping through flesh reverberated into the high cathedral ceilings, sickening to the ear. But Lazurus fought off his mutation, keeping the transformation at bay, refusing to give in till all that was needed to be said has been said. "In the morning the fires had died, but I was still alive. I swore I'd never face death like that again."

He leaned down to catch his breath as the Doctor circled around him, examining the bell tower above. I could see a plan form behind those clever caramel eyes and factoring my location I moved to the other side of the altar away from the staircase, clearing a path in which he could run unhindered. "So defenseless," the former professor restrained a spasm, "I would arm myself, fight back, defeat it."

"That's what you were trying to do today."

"That's what I did today," the man stubbornly corrected. The Doctors face contorted with anger at Lazurus's apathetic attitude, "What about the other people who died?!"

"They were nothing. I changed the course of history," he arrogant stated, raising his head, puffing out his chest in undeserved pride—so disillusioned in his grandeur that he believed his life more important.

"Any of them might have done too," the Doctor reasoned, still pacing around him, "You think history's only made with equations? Facing death is part of being human. You can't change that."

Lazurus sneered, his face turning ugly at the comment, "No, Doctor. Avoiding death. That's being human. It's our strongest impulse, to cling to life with every fiber of being. I'm doing what everyone before me has tried to do. I've simply been more…successful."

As his last words rang out a choir of his shouts echoed into the darkness and his body once more seized with debilitating convulsions. "Look at yourself," the Doctor pointed as the man receded into a ball, "You're mutating! You've no control over it! You call that a success?"

"I call it progress," a particular large crack reverberated thru the room and he attempted to breath through it, "I'm more now than I was. More than just an ordinary human."

"There's no such thing as an ordinary human," the Doctor smiled affectionally at the term, one I was guessing he'd heard from many a person before. And I had to agree with him, no one was ordinary, boring yes, ordinary no. He whispered something to Martha as he passed, both eyeing the bell tower. As he made his way to my direction Lazurus looked back up, "You're so sentimental, Doctor. Maybe you are older than you look."

"I'm old enough to know that a longer life isn't always a better one. In the end, you just get tired. Tired of the struggle. Tired of losing everyone that matters to you. Tried of watching everything turn to dust," He came to squat at eye level with the other man, "If you live long enough, Lazarus, the only certainty left is that you end up alone."

Martha eyed me from across the room and so I met her gaze. Her mouth formed a silent 'O' as she finally realized the truth of my words, the real connection between the Doctor and I. That what fueled his preferential behavior wasn't out of romance but loneliness. Out of all the people he could travel with, out of all the people he could pick up, I was the most likely to live as long as him; ensure he'd never be lonely again. Finally it clicked.

"That's a price worth paying."

I swiveled my attention to Lazurus. "Is it," the Doctor countered, standing up as the man seized again, finally making the full circle over to me. He leaned down close to my ear. "How well do you play the piano," he asked in a hushed tone. I rolled my shoulders. "I can play happy birthday, jingle bells, lime in the coconut and moves like jagger but that's as far as my musical repertoire goes," I whispered, listing each song with a finger. "Any requests?"

"I will feed soon," Lazurus notified, stopping our conspiratorial conversation.

"I'm not gonna let that happen," the Doctor asserted with a glum certainty.

"You've not been able to stop me thus far."

Martha, who'd been just a spectator till then, positioned herself before the stone stairwell. "Leave him, Lazarus! He's old and bitter," she timidly inferred, "Thought you had a taste for fresher meat."

The Doctor step forward, "Martha, no."

Snarling Lazurus lunged forward, the scorpion body beginning to manifest as his body reshaped and reformed with the cracks and sickening twists of flesh. Martha jumped and spun around on heel, racing towards the winding staircase. Her sister ran up next to her. "What are you doing," Martha asked with raised squeaky voice.

Tish gave her an are-you-retarded look, "Keeping you out of trouble!"

Martha vaulted through the black wooden door, "Doctor the tower!"

He rushed across the main antechamber, the nave, to stand helplessly in the middle, hands twisting in knots as he followed the odd sounds and panicked voices of the Jones sister's from above. I hurried over with cold naked feet to assist in searching the archways above for any sign of the two girls. "Where are they," he growled between frustrated breaths, "Martha?!"

Her head peeked out of the architecture, expression frantic and pulse heaving. I point out her location, "Doctor, over there!"

She waved for his attention calling out, "Doctor!"

"Take him to the top," he commanded, voice traveling up the vaulted ceiling, "the very top of the bell tower, d'you hear me?!"

She nodded her head, paraphrasing so he saw she understood, "Up to the top!"

In an instant she disappeared behind the gallery above. Wasting no time he rushed past in the direction towards the west wall, "Echo!"

"Right. Coming," I called out covering the rear. Leaping forward he wrenched a highly decorated mahogany door open, jumping two steps at a time till he reached the hidden organ loft—sliding into the pew. I fell in next to him, assessing ever knob and key wondering where to start. Thankfully, the Doctor had that covered and extracted his sonic out of his coat, using his mouth, biting down on the blue bit, and extended a secret extension. He smirked smugly holding up the device for me to see, "Hypersonic sound waves. Inspired."

He then rammed the blue head into an unfilled slot pressing the button on the screwdriver. Quick as he could he then started pulling out knobs, high and low on the board set before us. I leaned over his shoulder as he worked, "So which do you prefer, lime in the coconut or moves like jagger?"

The Doctors lips quirked in that devil may care way, the one that always create a dreamy look in Martha's eyes, as his hand hover over the keys. "How 'bout we let me doing the playing," he grinned wiggling his fingers, "Have I not mentioned? Magic fingers."

Martha's scream rang throughout the nave and his grin slipped into determination. Interlocking his hands to crack out all the kinks he then sent them crashing down onto the ivory teeth bellow, "I hope it's good acoustic in here."

A loud crescendo of notes blared as he rapidly began to play, air shot thru the metal pipes almost vibrating the very air as his playing picked up with even more speed. His whole performance was almost like dance as he pulled knobs, stepped upon the rows of pedals underneath, cascaded fingers across the board and his whole body moved with the mechanics. Going faster and faster, increasing in speed as he went. Except the faster he went the more frustrated he appeared, screams traveled down from the bell tower, informing him that his plan wasn't having the desired effect. He motioned to his sonic screwdriver, "We need to turn this up to 11."

I pulled out the device and turned to him in confusion, "How do I do that?!"

"Just point and think," he yelled over the music. Squeezing my eyes shut I pointed the sonic at the organ, the words eleven and loud repeating in my mind like a mantra. The pipes belted out a thunderous ear-splitting tune. It took everything I had not to cover my ears from the pain. Yet, despite the deafening sound, the Doctor continued unhindered if not slightly wincing. Suddenly a large boom smacked against the floor, reverberating through the room. With a screech the Doctor abandoned the keys and leaned over the banister to see what had fallen. Peering over his shoulder I could spot Lazurus's naked form sprawled upon the ground amid remnants of broken wooden bits.

I hesitantly grabbed the hem of his coat making him glance back, sensing the rush of cold fright, "You don't think he might have…"

The sudden possibility flittered into his mind and he rushed to lean over the banister to shout up, "Martha?!"

Silence. Not a sound save our breaths, nothing moved in the stark stillness. Both us strained, hoping, for an odd sound to filter down. An eerie moment passed before an answer finally came. "I'm okay! We're both okay!"

We both sighed in relief and I rested my head into the small of the Doctors back. Removing my self, after I realized what I'd done, I shook it off and squeezed myself in next to the Doctor to lean over the banister. Calling up, "What! Were you pausing for dramatic effect!"

Choked laughter danced down, a tone between hysteric and camaraderie. "Just keeping things interesting!"

The Doctor untangled himself from the tight space and descended the stair case with haste. That time, as the moment of life and death had passed, I glided after at a more leisurely pace—my feet beginning to ache a bit in protest. As I made my way down, the light of day began to twinkle through the stained glass nativities, the rising sun announcing the arrival of safety.

Over by the re-aged, original, Lazurus, the Doctor bent down to close his eyes. Showing, once again, that he was in fact, a good man. Something I wished Mrs. Jones could have witnessed to finally put that bad egg business to rest. He stood back up upon the sound of heeled feet, the broadcasted arrival of the two sisters and approached them. Martha flung her arms wide open and he reciprocated the action bringing her into a friendly hug, he pulled away with a proud smile. She stared up at him with admiration, "I didn't know you could play?"

"Oh, well, you know, if you hang around with Beethoven, you're bound to pick a few things up."

"Hmm, especially about playing loud," she joked. His face contorted in feigned confusion, "Sorry?"

Rocking back and fourth Martha chuckled at his corny joke, something I heard one did often when they loved a guy. Laugh at his bad jokes. A reaction that wasn't missed by the sister as she smiled happily for her sibling. Of course it was a moment slightly dampened by the mention of the forbidden word of the day. "Well," the Doctor announced, "it's about time we all headed home. Probably shouldn't stick around for the authorities. Too many questions."

Martha's happy look almost slipped at the word home, however she kept her composer, never wavering in her enthusiasm. "Yeah. Probably. Don't think they'd quite believe the truth anyway."

"Alright," Tish cleared her throat to interrupt, "anyways I should probably get back to mum and Leo, to check on things. They're sort of my ride back anyway and I don't want to have to take the tube, as of right now I'm currently unemployed and have most likely tanked my career."

"Sorry about that, I know how you liked your new job."

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure I'll find something. I always do," the younger sister smiled.

"Well we'll walk back with you half way," Martha added, hooking her arm with Tish. She appeared surprised by the action but then smiled as the headed out of the church. It was at that precise moment that the Doctor noticed something. "Echo?"

"Hmm?"

He peered into my big blues with the most serious look I'd ever seen him wear. So I intern did the same. "Where are your shoes?"

I looked to my naked feet and wiggled my toes against the stone, moving dirt and sand around between them. Returning my attention I couldn't help but let out a belt of laughter. One that was promptly followed.

---

The millisecond we were back in the TARDIS I immediately raced for the wardrobe, desperate to shed the cocktail dress. So desperate I didn't even wait till I was thru the doors to shuck the article of clothing off. Even the shaky TARDIS landing couldn't stop my quest to undress. I released the clip and shook out my hair scanning the racks for something snugly. My duck PJ bottoms proudly hung from one of the nearby level. Hastily I grabbed them, not at all perturbed by the fact that that wasn't where I had left them, and shoved the thing on with a sigh at their incredible comfy fibers. It was in that moment of comfiness that I spotted it. The long sleeve, button up, duck covered top that paired with the bottoms. In barely restrained glee I ripped the item down and threw it on. Finally, I had a matching set!

Almost skipping out the room down the hall, I stared at the top with a smile and wandered back into the console room unknowingly. "Going to bed?"

I jumped at the intrusion and stared up at the Doctor who typed on the old styled typewriter. "No. I don't really feel all that tired. I just thought I'd slip into something comfy and laze around for a bit, if that's alright with you," I asked, slumping down into the jump seat, kicking my feet over the armrest. He smiled, "That sounds fine. I think Martha needs a rest anyway. You'll find as your biology acclimates you won't require as much rest as you once did, but humans still need to sleep practically the whole day way. I've actually just made her a bedroom so-"

I jolted up with surprise, "You mean she's staying."

"Yep," he said, popping his 'p', as he leaned against the console. I pumped my fist into the air and fell back into the seat, "Yes!"

He lightly laughed before returning to the typewriter. "You know since I'm over here I might as well see about your room. Though I have a strong feeling she's already made it. She'll do that when she gets excited 'bout someone. It means she likes you."

"Well, that's comforting. It wouldn't be so great if she didn't," I smiled slouching further into the pleather. Out of habit I played with the ring on my finger, except, after a while, I came to a strange realization that I was using the wrong hand. It was then I noticed something quite peculiar and terrifying. Something that had been lost ages ago. "How the hell did you get there," I uttered in quiet disbelief. There, on my index finger, sat the missing twin to the ring on my other hand. They weren't anything special really. Although they both had beautiful symmetrical designs and most likely were custom made—as I never had found a replacement for the one that had been misplaced—they weren't exactly valuable. Just a childish sentimentality I never could get rid of. And yet, there it was, sitting on my finger after all those years. A chill washed over me as I stared at it, trying to conjure up how it could have possibly gotten there. Unfortunately, only one person had play around with my fingers that day. Something that didn't settle well.

"Any problems after we split?"

I looked up to the Doctor as he fiddled with a dial on the console, hesitating in an answer. I was torn on wether or not to tell him about my strange encounter with the man from the party, about his cryptic threat, about the ring that shouldn't be on my finger. But if I did, if I divulged that information, told him the truth, he may never take me on an adventure again. His fear of loneliness wouldn't let him risk it. So I decided, against better judgement, to keep it to myself. Hide it away in the back of my mind and wait for an appropriate opportunity. Or, should the man never show up again, forget the whole incident all together. And thus I lied.

I smiled playfully on the jump seat, laying sideways upon the furniture, "Naw, just the usual ever encroaching madness brought on by intense debilitating boredom. In my non-medical artistic opinion I'd prescribe taking me with you next time or I might end up, in my crazied delirium, a state senator who moon lights as an archeologist."

He froze, his face creating the funniest look I had ever seen him make, as if the whole idea appalled him. "A politician and an archeologist?! Are you blackmailing me?"

Grinning I sat up, trying to appear innocent, "Well if you insist."

A split second latter and I was rewarded with that goofy boyish smile of his. "With demands like that how could I win."

"So you mean it," I asked hopefully, sitting up straight, "I won't be stranded on the sidelines anymore?"

He pulled at his ear, "I-I-," he paused as he searched my hopeful expression, his shoulders slackened with defeat, "Yes. Cause you're right. I can't pick and chose. I'll just have to find some way to cope-"

In my intense feeling of happiness—something I wouldn't realize I did till later—I rushed forward and hugged the man, barely concealing my joyful laughter. A moment later his arms wrapped around my back and he rested his chin upon my head. As we lightly rocked back and fourth he persisted with one more question. "Are you sure nothing happened at the party after we left?"

As my head rested on his chest and I stared at the coral pillars, face falling, he couldn't see the expression I wore. I pretended, with years of practiced falsehood, to sound as if I were smiling. "Of course."

---

Dun Dun Dun O.O was that the master? what was he doing there? why'd he giver her the ring? What's he up to beside you know, world domination? And how will this three's company relationship end? Well, none of you will figure that out till the gripping conclusion, or aka a few more chapter, so stay tuned :D P.s. I'd loved to hear your theories :D

Next chapter: 42