A ray of hope?
Jack turned slowly, knowing who he would find...well physically, as to whom, that was a different matter.
Play it carefully, he thought.
"Hide and seek, not in the mood for kid's games," he, sounding more casual that he felt.
"Oh Captain, my game is far from a child's game."
Jack chanced a step forward and the Doctor raised an arm. He was expecting the sonic, but what he got was a side-arm.
"Interesting things guns, aren't they? Funny how they focus the mind...well your mind. But, it would be a waste of my time shooting you."
The gun going off and the bullet that kicked dust up at his feet made him flinch.
"Focused are we now, Captain? Like I said, my games are much more deadly. Now, tell the good Major and your little sheep to move away, I do so hate eavesdroppers."
Jack spoke into his com and the sound of many feet filled the air for a few minutes, then there was quiet.
"That's better," the Doctor said and sat down on the rock, looking like he was relaxing, just soaking up the sun.
Jack knew better and didn't let his own guard down.
"Now we can talk like civilised people...well I'm civilised anyway."
Jack didn't rise to the obvious barb, not just because he knew it would be exactly what this Doctor would want, but he could hear the chatter in his com; the others were making their move.
He had to try and distract the Doctor. "That depends on who I'm talking to."
"Oh, I'm hurt. I obviously didn't make a big enough impression, well that will change. Have you forgotten already...such a shame, I always thought it was rather Victorious."
Jack frowned and then blinked...no, not him.
It was then that the others made their move.
The soft hiss of what must have been a tranquiliser gun was all it needed to alert Victorious and with the speed of a being that could move between the ticks of a clock he was off the rock and was running.
"Dammit!" Jack yelled and went in pursuit.
He could hear the others behind him and they were no longer being subtle. He caught the order "Shoot to wound"...big mistake as the cries of several UNIT soldiers attested.
"Everybody stop!" the UNIT Commander's voice rang out then he was drowned about by Victorious.
"Wise decision, unless you want a bloodbath, but just to make sure I'll be taking Miss Jones as insurance."
Jack paled and spoke urgently into his com. "Martha?"
There was only static as a reply.
"No, no, no," Jack said and as he said it, the sound of a helicopter broke the silence and everyone looked up as it hovered over then, dust and foliage blowing wildly.
It descended until everyone ducked, expect Jack.
He could just about see the frightened face of Martha and the scowl of Victorious with the side-arm held to the pilot's head.
Once again Victorious' voice came over the com. "I'm so disappointed, but then what should I expect of half-wit tree climbers."
Then the sound of the helicopter faded and left them standing in the swirling dust and the injured.
Martha had stayed behind with several UNIT soldiers, fully aware that the Doctor could double back; in fact she was certain he would, if he was the devious maleficent that his darker side was.
The soldiers with her suddenly tensed and moved towards the parked vehicles and she jumped when they opened fire.
There was silence after the repeat of the weapons had faded and then the group of soldiers and those that were still inside the rig cried out and there was the sound of people falling to the floor.
All except Martha and her blood ran cold at what that meant and its meaning stepped out from behind one of the vehicles and smiled at her.
"Martha Jones, a pleasure to make your acquaintance again."
Now she was sitting in a helicopter looking out at the faces of the UNIT forces and Jack.
"Time to go," she heard the Doctor say to the pilot and she felt the helicopter rise again, taking her away from the safety of UNIT and Jack and to an uncertain future.
They'd been flying for what seemed an eternity when she heard the Doctor take in a sudden breath and she dared a glance.
His eyes were closed and he was rubbing at his temple and he looked like he was in pain.
"Land this thing...now," he snarled and still managed to press the gun to the pilot's head.
It landed with a thump and the Doctor snarled. "Get out!" at the pilot.
As the pilot ran from under the blades the Doctor suddenly arched his back and fell backwards.
Martha still didn't move, unsure of what was going on and then she saw...the Doctor was seizing.
Her medical training came to the fore...he may be psychotic but he was still the Doctor, somewhere inside his mind.
She took of her jacket, knelt down and was about place it under his head, when he stopped seizing and let out a small whimper.
He opened his eyes and Martha could see that they were unfocused and he was very confused.
She chanced moving closer...his eyes became a little more focused and he looked at her.
She held her breath...was this the Doctor, her Doctor?
"Doctor?"
"Martha...what?" he said, his words slurred.
She smiled...it sounded like her Doctor. "You've had a seizure."
"Seizure?"
He looked round him. "Where am I?"
She smiled again. "It'll come back to you."
"Oh," he looked at Martha and she saw his eyes become unfocused again, then his eyes rolled back and he began fitting again.
It was a least a minute and a half before he stopped seizing and she was about to move him into the recovery position when his hand shot our and grabbed her arm.
This time the eyes that looked at her were hard and cold.
A long distance away a monitor beeped, which made a person in a lab coat look up.
The person picked up a phone. "Sir, he's waking up."
