Author's note: Yes, just one. Not plural...

I am going to start including little hints of things. Be aware, plot threads are beginning to weave together! Watch for them! And have fun!

Watch for the 'Chat with the TARDIS' here... THAT was fun to write...

Reversion part 10

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The Doctor had battled for his sanity before, he'd been brain washed, his body controlled and possessed. But, this was different, it was a betrayal by an old, dear, friend, at the same time, being jerked about like a marionette. Forced to watch actions unfold from his own body, but, no control on them.

The TARDIS was pouring into him, trying to break him from his retreat into his own mind. He'd flawlessly slipped between himself and the TARDIS's power since this regeneration. Only once Ace attacked him, was he shaken enough to try to break the contact, yet, after his contact with her, he was left feeling hollow.

But, this was only going to last so long. He could feel the pressure building in his skull. He attempted to bring his own will to the forefront, he might be out for the physical battle, but, perhaps some old-fashioned talking would help.

Here was to vain hopes!

He concentrated on the enhanced bond and reached for contact.

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Panning out suddenly, the landscape of how own mind. Oily, dull colours made up the hazed form of a Gallifreyian wood.

'Hello…ah, so you do see fit to meet with me! Lovely to see you in this little nightmare you fashioned for us...Must be the romantic deep down, Eh?'

-This is our connection, the form of it is your own doing. I tried reaching you at first during your sleep, but, it was too erratic. Then, during waking hours, and you began to panic. You knew that I would have to take your well being into my own care-

The TARDIS was approaching, freeing him enough to hold the conversation. Long white hair was pouring down her translucent shoulders, swirling about and covering her genderless body. She had black eyes, golden pupils, long white lashes, and a face that held the grace and dignity of the most regal Time Ladies. The only flaw, if you could dare to call it that, was the distinctive seal of Rassilon, twirling across her entire face as if a canvas.

'…You're going to kill me, you know.'

-That is the point. You must be reconnected, only during regeneration are your symbiotic nuclei filled with enough Artron energy to correct the deviation in our-

'Don't patronize me! I most certainly can grasp the idea behind these violations!'

-Violations involve incorrect behavior and negligence. That meaning can only be placed upon you-

No movement came from her mouth, even as the high Gallifreyian language encompassed him in a 'homey' warmth. The Doctor crossed closer, stepping as near as he felt was wise at the moment. The oil-colours danced wildly.

'What do you mean?'

She stepped back, the colours around them taking on a golden hue, before becoming coldly tinged. Her diminutive figure almost transparent, she seemed to be drawing off his own energy, and making the landscape bleed into her own emotion.

-You cannot correct the error you have made. I am repairing you-

'Repairing me? Repairing me? You think that you can just…'

-As you repair me, I am in turn, correcting your faulty behaviour-

'I am not a machine, you can't just begin to meddle about my innards, and expect me to be thankful!'

The Doctor felt drained, his concentration to keep them separated was becoming increasingly difficult. She was growing more and more ephemeral, and drawing closer. He had to break through to her…

- I do not require thanks. You were responsible for this, but, I do not expect you to understand my logic. I am protecting you. Although, I know you no longer trust my motivation. Of course, I do not require thanks or trust in this restoration-

'You and I both know that my brain cannot host the amount of information and control you're putting into it. You're going to burn me out!'

- And like a damaged circuit, you shall be replaced-

Her tone as steel, she moved forward with confidence. He found himself bound to the place where he was 'standing'. She wrapped her fingers around the hair on his head and seemed to be toying with it, although, what this conjured image was reflecting... He didn't want to think about.

'Another regeneration?! This could have lasting damage on my internal structure…'

-You forced me into action. Do not play the victim; you were meddling in affairs that were not for even you to take part in. You brought this to pass-

'At least tell me my crime, before you go about ordering my death. You at least owe me that!'

-No. I do not owe you anything of the sort, Doctor. Once we are reconnected, you will understand-

'And what do you plan to do when I am out of regenerations? Hmm? Welllll, we'll be in a deep pit then, won't we?'

Finger nails were slowly moving across his scalp now. She was regaining her dominance, he wanted to fight her, but, she was the one in control. For now. He could feel the calculative fingers beginning to delve deeper.

-If that occurs, I am prepared to be sure we can cause no further harm-

'…Self destruction!?'

-You assume that is the only choice. You do not yet understand me. It will not come to be. I will succeed.-

'...Ace?'

-A diversion that earlier had been thought merely that. One that required removal. But, I sense she has a purpose yet. Because of your devotion to her safety, things shall continue as planned-

'Ah, so you admit to a mistake? Oh, that must put you down on the level of us little people.'

- Please, remain calm Doctor. You must await the next regeneration. The information strand will be ready for departure once the energy has built sufficiently-

'I most certainly will not wait to have my body violated again! You expect me to sit and wait for your abuse of power to begin?!'

The 'world' around them was melting. Pools of tinted liquid splashed downwards like running ink. Her caramel and ebony eyes were holding his gaze now, and she emanated sorrow, shaking him to the core.

-I do know you better then that- Her lips pressed against the edge of his ear, and his name rang in his ears. -... I expect you to WAKE UP-

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Ace was at a stand still, there was nothing she could do, this man was too large for her to carry. Dragging might even be useless, she wouldn't get far. He had been unconscious for at least ten minutes…maybe five. But, it felt like forever.

She let out a loud snort of annoyance. What should she do now?! He was dead weight, and she couldn't risk leaving him. Both for his sake and her own! The TARDIS would see it as a chance to knock either of them off again…

There was a deep, grinding moan that emanated from the ship, and then, the Doctor mimicked the noise. She leaned down close to him, and patted his face. "Come on… you have to get better…"

What if he didn't though?

How could she deal with a possessed Doctor and an insane TARDIS? He moaned a little deeper this time, and the lights flickered.

The sun-like brilliance flashed to darkness and back.

Ace took his shoulders and shook him. "Doctor, something's happening!" A popping noise echoed down the hall, as if the shattering of a glass bowl.

She winced as her legs reminded her of the contusions and burnt skin. But, she crawled closer to him.

This day just kept getting better.

He took in a sudden gasp of air, his eyes vacant. He reached out, and found her shoulder, squeezing it with force.

Ace pulled back, but, his hand was gripping in a vice-like grip. "Professor?" She took a deep breath through her nose. Cheetah sliding in, offering it's assessment. She could smell his scent was laced with fear and his body's systems were being pushed to the max.

His huge eyes looked down at her. "It is imperative we leave. We aren't going get to the Cloister room. Everything is going to be alright, we just have to wait…we must wait for the TARDIS to fix it." He lapsed back into the other language, and Ace grabbed his arm, trying to drag him to his feet.

She took a deep breath, "You don't mean that, come on." He stumbled to his feet, unfocused eyes wide. His skin was incredibly cold to the touch, Ace noticed his lips were a strange shade of blue. The glaring lights showed off how pallid his skin was becoming.

Ace patted his arm gently, leading him back down the tunnel-ish hall.

He continued holding tightly to her, his eyes were unblinking, Ace saw tears forming in the corners, trying to bring moisture. She stood on her tip-toes, running her fingers below his eyebrows, to his eyelids, the pressure making them slowly close. She lowered until she was flat footed and watched them slowly open again.

He took a deep, agonizing breath, his voice reverberating in his chest. Ace winced at the sound, what ever the TARDIS was doing…it looked a heck of a lot like she was killing him.

Ace had no idea how many more lives the Doctor had, and this one had hardly a chance to exist! And hour, maybe less…did that mean that she had less time with each then?

The light was starting to really grind on her nerves, and the fact that the Doctor was little more then a puppet, that wasn't sitting well either.

"Oi! You stupid heap of junk! What is it you're playing at?! You and your *%# abuse?!" She growled, kicking at the wall.

"Quietly, quietly! No need to shout…" The Doctor said softly, his syrupy voice was hoarse, his hand releasing her and falling over his chest. Scrambling fingers across his shirt, as if to ease a cramp besetting him.

"Any better?" Ace tried to sound nonchalant. But, the fact that his eyes were rolling back into his head, kept her from feeling any form of comfort. "…Professor, can you hear me?"

"No. Why do you ask?" His voice was slurred, his eyes fluttered open.

"The lights, Doctor, they're getting brighter. Somethin' bad's going to happen."

He weaved, his pupils dilated despite the intense illumination around them. "-You must no longer interfere! Your dragging him about is only draining my energy and keeping me from my full attentiveness to the remedying of the situation."

Ace was hardly listening to the chastising, she was instead trying to support the Doctor, who had crumpled as if his body was asleep, while his mouth was being used.

"You're killing him!" Ace screamed, she put her hand to his face, it was cold and greying. She moved on, putting her hands over his hearts, feeling their palpitation beneath her fingers. Heart failure?

"Put him through this hell to make it so you can chat to him again?!" She wrapped her arms around him, feeling protective, as if she had some hope of keeping him from the pain.

She snarled, slamming a burned fist across the metal walls, her anger resonating as her voice grew in intensity. "You stupid, bloody machine! You've got some high and mighty reasoning for all this?! Look, you've gotta see what you're doing to him! All that brilliant Time-Lord-ian technology and you honestly can't see this is wrong?!"

The lights were blinding, Ace couldn't keep her eyes open. She fell back to the floor, every ache and pain from her skin making itself known. The Doctor's body was still and cold, Ace traced her way to his arms. Pulling herself as close to him as she could. Burying her face into his thick hair, trying to block out the light.

Frustration burst from her small abused frame. She set free every expletive she knew and hit her fist against his chest. "I don't know how to save you."

Ace mumbled into the curly hair, knowing it was pointless to be crying. But, she couldn't resist letting herself mourn the seemingly hopeless situation. Even if she'd had all the Nitro she could handle, it wouldn't do any good. So, what was there for her to do?

"Doctor, I can handle fighting Daleks, blowing up vampires, battling candy coated cheerleaders with guns, but, what do I do with this?"

She felt for the heart beats again, and felt them slowing. She'd never held someone as they died…She'd lost close friends though. This was not the same, she could hear his breaths become shallower, and feel the sluggish heart beats.

The lights that had penetrated even her closed eyes, flickered out. Ace shuddered at the change, a tingling sensation coursing through her. The Doctor trembled, his hearts stopping.

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Author's notes: I am really enjoying this, but, regretably, I didn't have much time for 4th Doctor. He had to pass on rather quickly. 100 Points for those who have read thus far.(These points are absolutely useless, outside the context of me liking to give them. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside) =D