DISCLAIMER: I Don't Own Doctor Who.

Right, I apologise, I need my sorry buttocks kicked for not updating more often. I really wanted too, but I'm going back to school this week and had a holiday last week and...
and you probably just want me to shut up and tell the story.
Here goes....

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When she opened her eyes she was aware that somebody's strong, steadying hand was pressed against her cold, clammy forehead. The bile was clinging to her throat and her chest heaved and convulsed as she took deep gasps of air. Charlotte was stood above her, pale and trembling, and, as she turned her head she realised that the hands that were supporting her skull were The Doctor's, strong and reassuring, her head and shoulders were in his lap. "Hello." She croaked, attempting a smile that looked more like a tear.

"Scarlett! Are you alright?"

"I'm.... I'm .... I'm going to be sick!" She scrambled to her feet and stumbled out into the night, the cold like a welcome shower. As she stood, doubled over, retching and sobbing, The Doctor held her hair back for her, and when she'd finished passed her a glass of water.

She stood in the moonlight, a paper doll.

"How are you?" He asked, tentatively putting his arm around her. "I'm so, so sorry. I had no idea that it would be like that. I thought it would be a lot, lot easier. I would never have asked you to do that if I had known." He was so earnest, so caring.

Scarlett sniffed and put a shaking hand to her forehead. "It hurt so much, I thought I was going to break with it. It was, it was more than me." She buried her face into his chest and cried weakly for a minute or two whilst The Doctor stroked her hair and murmured quiet, comforting words in a language she didn't understand, but they soothed her all the same, a wonderful calm and ease flooding through her as she leaned against the reassurance of his unreality. When she stopped and looked up at him, he kissed the top of her head, causing her to blush and smile.

"Thankyou." He said quietly. "You saved Charlotte Bronte. I couldn't have done better myself!" He lifted the teenager into the air and swung her round. "You, Scarlett Redmond, are brilliant!" She squealed with euphoria, and soon Charlotte had joined them, gazing at the Timelord and the schoolgirl with wonder.

"Who are you?"

The Doctor set Scarlett back on her feet and smiled at the authoress. "We're friends."

***

It was time to go home. It wasn't agreed upon, wasn't discussed, but when, over breakfast, The Doctor announced to the Bronte's that it was time for them to leave, Scarlett felt no surprise, only sadness. She was putting her school uniform back on when Charlotte came into her bedroom, helping her find her blazer.

"Thankyou. I'm not sure what you and your friend did, but thankyou." Charlotte hugged her very tightly and pressed something into her palm. "This is to remember us by." It was a very delicate silver bracelet, the one that Charlotte herself had been wearing.

"Thankyou..." Scarlett breathed, and, with sudden inspiration, pushed up her sleeve to reveal her own jewellery, a beaded bracelet of silver and turquoise that her Mother had bought her from a Native American woman in Arizona. "Have this. To remember us." She helped her fasten the clasp. "Charlotte, never forget that you can do anything you want. Never forget that you have the capability to inspire thousands of people across the world, never forget that. And never let your sisters forget it."

***

"I suppose you're going to take me home." Scarlett was back in the TARDIS, looking like she was about to cry.

"I think I have to. Your 15, you have parents and friends and a school, you're only a child." He looked at her, and grinned. "But you weren't half brilliant, in fact, if you were a few years older, I wouldn't take you home if you didn't want me to."

She was grateful for that as the TARDIS flew her from the most perfect time she'd ever had back to suburbia. She was just sniffing back her tears when they landed with a bump and a rock, and she reluctantly stepped out into the sunshine. He had landed round one of the alleyways people in her neighbourhood put their wheelie bins so they didn't mar the landscape. It was a neat little spot – no-one ever went down there during the day so the TARDIS wouldn't be discovered.

"My house is just round the corner from here." She said dully, gesturing vaguely. The Doctor nodded and followed her, interested to see the place he had heard in her mind as being so terrible.

It was a very still, quiet summer's day. The sky was as blue as a forget-me-not, with one perfect powder-puff cloud. It was too perfect, too trusting. Someone had left their car window down and the radio on whilst they nipped into one of the houses, probably for a mobile phone or a forgotten laptop.

"This is the BBC news at 4'0'Clock on the 4th of July, 2008."

"The 4th of July, I'm sure it was only June when we left." Scarlett stood, frowning, chewing her lower lip in confusion.

"It is the 6th day since Warwickshire schoolgirl Scarlett Redmond went missing from her hometown. She disappeared during her school lunch break, when friends say that she told them she was going back to school, and walked along the High Street at about 2 O'clock. Scotland Yard have become involved in the case since CCTV footage of the square showed a man who is currently being called a 'person of interest' by top government organisations. Police ask anyone with any information to contact them immediately, as the girls welfare is feared for." The BBC accent on the radio moved on to another news item, but Scarlett stood rooted to the spot, staring in horror at the car.

"Did he just say that I have been missing for 6 days? 6!!!" She screeched at The Doctor, beginning to pace up and down. "My Mum, oh my God, my Mum, she'll be a wreck! I have to get home, I'm going to have to explain it to them, we're going to have to explain it to them." She looked at The Doctor in desperation, her fear at her Mother's worry and anger and the sheer thought of having to explain her absence making her look quite ill.

"Don't worry." He soothed, patting her arm reassuringly. "Don't worry. We'll explain it to them together, no-one's going to be angry with you."

Scarlett looked up at him, irritaited. "Oh! What do you know! Once she realises I'm alive she'll murder me."

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A bit bitty, I know, but it's got to the closing chapters of the story, and I needed a chapter like that. I tried different ways to make it work but, this was kinda the only way.

So, did you like it? I hope so, and I hope I'll be able to update tomorrow.

Happy Reading!