A/N: Looks like this whole story is going to be longer than what I expected! I have the next two adventures with the Doctor and Cara all planned out; one of them involves going back in time and the other is going to be an earth story with a visit from an old (alien/bad guy) friend. If anyone has any suggestions for an adventure they'd like me to write involving the Doctor and Cara, just let me know! Thank you, followers and regular guests. Every time I see a new follower it makes me smile.

Chapter Ten: Threats and Promises

Silence fell onto the room. Vladimir was sitting on his bed, head in his hands. The guards were unmoving and perfectly assembled. The Doctor was wearing a blank, emotionless mask yet his mind was whirling at the speed of light. Barson had dropped his vindictive smile upon entry and was now glaring over the Doctor and his companion. Cara, on the other hand, was trying to peek around the Doctor to snatch a glance at what was happening in the silent stand off. She felt a mixture of dread and adrenalines fill her system. What was going to happen now? How would the Doctor talk his way out of this?

"I've heard a lot about you, Oval Barson," the Doctor finally said with a sinister tone. Cara almost shivered at the ferocity. "And I don't particularly like what I hear."

"Doctor, isn't it? You know old Foxin here. On the contraire, I particularly like what I hear about you," Barson said coldly.

Still, the Doctor showed no emotion. "I don't like your plan. So, it will stop," replied the Doctor smoothly.

Barson frowned and shook his head. He took a few steps closer to the Doctor and Cara. "Wrong. This is what's going to happen. I can detect intelligence. That's the only reason why you two are still alive. Same goes for Foxin over there. Most of the people on this planet are just bumbling idiots, so I can't waste talent when I see it walk willingly into my hands. You two will be safe, as long as you agree to help me."

"For some reason your offer doesn't appeal to me," the Doctor said, his tone dangerously low.

"Oh, sweet. You thought you had a choice in the matter," Barson said sarcastically. He snapped his fingers, a sound that rang throughout the air. Two guards moved forwards – but not towards the Doctor, towards Cara instead. The Doctor tried to block their way but they easily pushed him over. Cara struggled as they clasped an arm each and brought her to stand beside Barson.

"Let her go!" the Doctor snarled.

"Um, no. She's going to be useful to me. You see, my first offer was a kind gesture. You will help me, Doctor or your little friend dies. Quite simple. What do you think?"

Barson leaned over and cupped Cara's face, like a relative might make a fuss over a child. "She's such a sweet little thing. How can you say no to those big blue eyes?" Barson said, imitating a sweet voice. Cara tried to move out of his reach but it was no good. The guards had a firm hold on her.

"Don't do it, Doctor!" Cara managed to squeak out.

Barson frowned and let go of her. "A sweet little thing with a big gob, so it seems. Still, such a shame if I kill her," he teased.

"I thought you said you appreciate intelligence? Cara is intelligent, so she can help me. Let her go," argued the Doctor, his eyes alert with an emotion between fear and anger.

"You see, you've proven to be difficult to work with. Why would I let go of my only bargaining piece?" Barson answered.

Cara tried to communicate with the Doctor by using just her eyes. The Doctor wasn't even looking at her. He seemed to have made his decision. "Alright," he agreed with no emotion once again. "Now let her go."

Barson smiled triumphantly. He turned to his guards and said, "Lock her up! Make sure there's a guard with her. No one is allowed to visit her, she isn't allowed out on any circumstances."

The guards holding Cara roughly pulled her to the stairs. She struggled to catch one last glance of the Doctor. He was looking at her, frowning, his eyes alight with anger. Although, very discretely, he gave a small wink in her direction. He has a plan; Cara thought to herself, it'll be okay. The Doctor has a plan.

As the Doctor watched Cara being dragged down the stairs, he took a few threatening steps closer to Barson. "If anything happens to her, anything at all, you'll be sorry you ever met me, Oval Barson," he hissed.

"Impressive. I hope you show as much dedication to the work I give you or that little girl will be having a little accident," murmured Barson, barely louder than a whisper.

"There was a time, long ago, when I wouldn't let threats bother me. That was before I lost everyone I ever cared about. So, I advice you to treat her well. You'll get no warning from me, you'll get no mercy. Just a consequence."

"I look forward to it," Barson smiled. The Doctor glared at him for a fraction of a second longer, taking just enough time to see if any sign of reluctance appeared in the beady black eyes of his enemy. He found none.

That made things simple. Very simple. The Doctor knew exactly what to do.

Cara's arms were aching as she was practically carried into the dungeons. The guards chose a secluded prison cell near the back of the dungeon. It seemed she was the only occupier within the entire prison. She dreaded to think why there weren't any others.

They pushed her through an opaque black metal door. Her cell was pretty bleak on her first glance, the only light coming from the small cut-out square on the door. Even that was covered in bars. One of the guards locked the door with a loud clout! She only heard one pair of footsteps walk away. A guard must have remained outside, Cara realised. It seemed her chance of escape was next to nothing.

Cara gave an exhausted sigh. It was impossible to think of the last time she'd slept. It seemed so long ago, long before she knew about aliens or roamed around alien planets. She slipped down on the floor, her back leaning against the cold metal door. Very suddenly, loneliness hit Cara with such force it almost physically hit her. She realised just how far away she was from those she loved. How far she was from home. What would Flynn say if he could see her now?

Flynn. Her mother. The two people that mattered most in her life. What would they do if this all went wrong, and she never went home? Cara felt sick at the very thought. The tears that sprung to her eyes didn't have a chance to fall. She wiped them away hastily with the back of her hand. Now wasn't a good time to start feeling homesick. Now was the time to start planning.

But she couldn't calm her mind enough to think logically. Flynn's smiling face jumped to her mind. He was wearing the same expression he did every time he teased her. He was her best friend. They told each other everything. How on earth would she be able to tell him this? Cara hadn't known the Doctor long but even so, the two adventures they'd had together seemed like such a big part of her life. Was she the same person as the eighteen year-old girl who had stepped out into the snow this morning?

Cara remembered back to when Flynn had left school to go to university. He was a year older than her, always moving onto the next adventure before her. When she was seventeen and still finishing her A – Levels, Flynn was eighteen and enjoying life as a student. That was the only time Flynn and Cara nearly gave up on their friendship. He was changing too quickly while she was left behind, unable to follow in his footsteps for at least another year.

But they worked things out. Their friendship survived. Experiences can change you, but it's up to both people to make it right again. Could they work through this change? Cara was pretty sure travelling in space was a bigger step than attending university.

As the doubt filled her whole body, Cara forced herself not to think of Flynn at all. She didn't even attempt to worry about what her mother would say if she ever found out. After all, they were not in the prison with her. It was her responsibility to find a way out of here and make it home alive. Yes, it was probably easier for her just to wait for the Doctor to rescue her. But Cara was never one to wait for someone to jump to her rescue. She was determined and very stubborn and one metal door and one thickset guard weren't going to stand in her way. Not until she got herself into more trouble than to begin with, which she couldn't get out of.

One murderous leader of Imaginarium, intent on turning the holiday planet into a planet of warfare, never-mind-the-consequences-and-destruction alien was going to get in her way. After all, Cara really wanted to see the look on the Doctor's face when she rescued him.

If only things were ever that simple.