Chapter Eleven: One Giant Leap for Her Mind

Miranda was aware of the intense pain shooting through her body but was for the most part unable to process what was happening. There was blood- so much blood. The smell hung in her nostrils, making her feel nauseous. She could feel it trickle down her frame and pool around her, soaking into the sheets. The warmth of it made her feel quite cold in comparison. She was shaking violently, using what energy she had in her weakened state. Why couldn't she stop shaking?

Her vision was unfocused. Everything was blurred and dark. She was dizzy, trying to make out shapes then gave up. Miranda couldn't think straight. She didn't quite recall what had happened or why she felt so terrible. All she knew was that she was tired, very tired. She needed to sleep. Yes, that was it. Sleep, that's all that mattered. She had to go to sleep.

Miranda's eyes were shut although she didn't remember closing them. Had they always been closed? It didn't matter anyway. She felt herself drifting off, barely aware of her bodily discomfort. She felt oddly content but as she lay there, her peaceful state began to crumble. She could still smell blood, actually, now she could taste it. There was also a dull noise in her ears, preventing her from slipping into an unconscious bliss.

At first she thought it was her heartbeat but she realized it was a voice. It was distant and incoherent. Who was talking? No, the person was shouting. Who was shouting then? She wanted to know. The voice sounded like it was much closer, the words becoming somewhat clearer. Who was it? The voice was distinctly male but she was too tired to try and place it.

"Miranda."

The voice sounded strained as if they had been shouting too much. There was also a sense of urgency in the tone as well as desperation. Why?

"You have to fight this, Miranda," he said in his tense voice, "Please fight, Miranda. You can't give up."

She didn't understand. Fight what? How could she fight anything when she was so exhausted? The idea seemed absurd to her. There was a long sigh from the man, exasperated and fraught.

"Miranda, you're not gone, not yet. You still have a heartbeat. I know you can hear me. Trust me, Miranda. Listen to me."

It sounded familiar, his voice. She knew it from somewhere but was still too lightheaded to make sense of it and attach a name or a face. Who was talking to her? She wanted to know but her weary state stopped her from taking any means to find out.

"Please look at me," he pleaded, his voice starting to crack.

She tried but her eyelids seemed to be made of lead. It was near impossible for her to even fathom moving them and seeing anything but the darkness cover they brought.

"Miranda," the voice said again, this time just above a whisper.

Why was his voice so familiar? And why did he sound so miserable? She drew in a long breath, filling her lungs with cool air. It was then that she felt the stab of pain in her chest from expanding her cavity and the taste of blood was now too strong to ignore.

"Open your eyes."

Miranda frowned, or perhaps she wanted to frown but was too drained to do so. Regardless, the request by this familiar voice urged her desire to comply. Just open your eyes, she told herself, just open your eyes. Then by some force, Miranda found that her eyes were open although she didn't recall doing so; they just were. Her vision swirled, blending the colors of the room into a dull grey. And then suddenly the world rushed upon her as if for the first time.

At once, there was a whoop of joy and also a disgruntled hiss. Miranda gazed at the figure to her right and the image gradually came into focus. Her Nightmare Man stood looking down at her, his face conveying the utmost displeasure. She felt afraid for a moment before the person to her left caught her attention.

"I knew you could do it!" the Doctor beamed. Too quickly did his smile drop and was replaced with a look of seriousness. "You have to do exactly as I say, Miranda," he said solemnly, "There isn't much time left. You need to believe in yourself, completely and without a doubt. Not a single doubt. You can save your life if you do."

Miranda started to shake her head then stopped when it made her lightheaded. Her eyes wondered down to her bloodied body, suddenly aware of the massive damage done. "Oh," she gasped, her voice leaving her as shock overwhelmed her.

"No, no, don't look. Look at me instead," the Doctor ordered, "Focus on me."

Miranda looked at him, clearly afraid and shaken. The Doctor tried to seem confident for her; he didn't need her knowing that he was afraid as well.

"It's ok, Miranda. You're going to be okay," he reassured her.

"Oh, don't lie to her," the Valeyard scolded, "You and I both know she's finished. Any moment now…"

The Doctor ignored him and continued to speak to Miranda, "Remember what I told you before? This is your mind, you control it. None of this is real."

"I-it h-hurts," she whispered.

"Then stop it," the Doctor told her, "You can stop it, only you can. Will it away. Believe it never happened."

A stray tear rolled down Miranda's cheek as she gazed at the Doctor hopelessly. "I can't."

"Just try! Please, Miranda. You have to try!"

"Oh, leave her be," the Valeyard frowned. He casually stroked a strand of Miranda's hair from her face. "Just let her die in peace. Doesn't she deserve that?"

The Doctor was about to throw a retort at the Valeyard when a deafening beep filled the room. The heart monitor was flat-lining.

"NOO! Miranda!" the Doctor yelled, staring at her, horrified.

She wasn't moving or breathing, her eyes open in a dead stare. The Valeyard grinned at the Doctor's distress. "This is just beautiful," he said to himself, "Better than I could've hoped for, actually... Just a few more minutes of useless brain activity and then its official. Then this little game can start over again. Aren't you excited, Doctor?"

The Doctor stared at Miranda's still face. A fierce sadness and anger enveloped him. He put a hand to her face, only to have it go through. She had been an innocent. She had trusted him and it got her killed. His fingers curled into a fist and he set his jaw.

The Valeyard laughed, "Is something the matter, Doctor? You seem upset."

The Doctor tore his gaze from Miranda and glared at the Valeyard who smirked. "Another death on your hands. What's the score? Or do you not bother to keep count anymore?"

Beep.

The pair froze.

Beep.

The Time Lords looked from the heart monitor to Miranda. The Doctor's brows were furrowed in concern, barely allowing hope to arise in his chest. Miranda blinked. Then gasped.

"It's not possible…" the Valeyard muttered quietly.

"That's right," the Doctor beamed, "Impossible Miranda Cole!"

"Doc- Doctor?" Miranda said confused, "What's happening?"

"You're doing it. You're healing yourself. Your mind in its last efforts was able to take control. Your last thoughts," the Doctor breathed, "Now just follow through. Finish healing yourself."

"How?"

"Focus on how you were, uninjured. Pretend that's how you still are! If you believe it, your mind will make it so!"

"How's that even possible?" she asked.

"It's not!" the Doctor exclaimed, smiling, "But you can do it!"

Miranda had to urge to smack him but shut her eyes instead. She tried remembering herself before she was mortally wounded. There wasn't a pain in her chest anymore, or she might've just blocked it out. She kept her eyes shut, focusing on her mangled arm and then her carved up back. Slowly the pain started to diminish until it was gone. Was she just fooling herself or-

"You can open your eyes," the Doctor said softly.

When Miranda did so, she was shocked to find herself unmarred, the blood completely gone as if it hadn't been spilled. It… worked?

"This isn't supposed to happen," the Valeyard murmured.

"Get rid of the restraints," the Doctor told her.

Miranda focused on one wrist, trying to move the tourniquet.

"No, no, don't try to untie it. You're not a psychic," the Doctor grimaced, "Just get rid of it altogether. Simply believe that you aren't tied up."

Miranda pursed her lips and shut her eyes again. There are no restraints, she said to herself, you're not tied up. Eyes still closed, she tried to move her arm but was halted by the tourniquet. She mentally cursed.

"Just focus," she head the Doctor say.

"This can't happen," the Valeyard said, his voice louder than before.

"Well, it is happening," the Doctor replied, "Deal with it."

This time when Miranda moved her arm, it wasn't held back. She opened her eyes to find the restraints completely gone. A smile nearly graced her lips but she thought better and got off the bed, standing next to the Doctor.

"Now what?" she asked, nervously, eying the Valeyard.

"Now you make him go away," the Doctor replied evenly.

The Valeyard smirked, while slowly walking towards them. "I don't think so," he said coolly, "My Little Miranda doesn't have what it takes. She's so scared… So helpless… So weak."

He effortlessly flung the hospital bed out of his way with a wave of his hand. Miranda jumped as it crashed and clattered against the wall near her.

"This is still my world, Miranda Cole!" the Valeyard shouted, "I control everything here!"

Miranda stood by the Doctor, looking both scared and uncertain as the Valeyard angrily advanced towards her. The Doctor gave her a sidelong glance, silently communicating what he had said before. She squared her jaw and glared at the Valeyard, something clicking her demeanor.

"Not anymore." she growled at him, "This is my mind and I'm taking it back!"

The Valeyard looked livid. "You insolent little-"

"Get out of my head!" Miranda cried.

"You're never to interrupt me, Little Miranda!" he growled in reply, "Here's a reason why!"

The Valeyard lunged at her, his fist drawn back. In that instant Miranda squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the impact. There was a thud and a hiss of pain.

Miranda's vision was blocked for a moment until she stepped to the side, realizing the Valeyard's arm had been through her head. The Valeyard took a step back, his eyes wide with alarm. Miranda saw the Valeyard's bloody knuckles and the smear of blood on the wall behind her. They both seemed to be in shock while the Doctor had a smug air about him.

"Who has the control now?" the Doctor asked the Valeyard.

The surprised cleared from the Valeyard's features and was replaced with one of rage. In his blind fury, the Valeyard didn't think to use his knife. He rushed at Miranda again, this time intending to strangle her. His hands went through her neck despite his best attempt and concentration.

"No!" he roared, punching the wall through her.

The Valeyard leered at Miranda with an intense hatred in his eyes. Before she would have felt scared beyond thought but now, it was different. She couldn't sense him even though he was inches from her. It was like he wasn't even there. Miranda simply stared at him. The Valeyard took a few paces back as he tried to regain his composure.

"You ungrateful little bitch," the Valeyard spat, "You owe me everything. Do you think your feeble body woke from that coma on your own? If I hadn't jolted your mind into consciousness, you'd be dead."

Miranda narrowed her eyes. "You… you woke me up? Why?"

The Valeyard raised his lip at her despite being pleased with diverting her attention. "Why do you think your parents were crying? Because they were happy to see you awake? Please! Your senses may have been dead to the outside world but I could make use of them, namely hearing." He grinned. "Want to know why they were crying, Little Miranda?"

"Miranda, ignore him," the Doctor warned, "He's only trying to distract you."

Miranda continued to gaze at her Nightmare Man. "Why…?"

The Doctor looked apprehensively between the two. He didn't like how the Valeyard was manipulating the situation. The Valeyard gave her a cocky smirk. "Full sentences, Little Miranda," he pouted.

Miranda quickly wiped a tear from her eye. "Why were they crying..?"

The Valeyard raised his head slightly to look down his nose. "Mummy and Daddy had decided having a vegetable for a daughter was too much to bear."

"What are you saying…?" she asked quietly.

"How else can I say it? They were going to euthanize you. Stop your suffering. Put you down. End your life. They were going to kill you, Little Miranda."

Miranda shook her head slowly, a hand covering her mouth. "No."

"Yes," he pouted, "Sad but true."

The Doctor had had enough of this and stepped between them, his back to the Valeyard. "Miranda, you're letting him gain control. Don't listen to him. None of that matters right now. All that matters is destroying him. You have to focus."

Miranda blinked and nodded, angry at herself. The Doctor stepped aside so that Miranda could face the Valeyard again. Her expression matched his own, furious and cold.

"This ends now," she said softly, "The last nightmare you'll ever plague."

"You've been spineless all these years; nothing has changed, Little Miranda. Stop this little act, "the Valeyard frowned.

Miranda shut her eyes, concentrating hard.

A worried look crossed the Valeyard's face. "What are you doing?" he barked, "Stop this. Stop this right now!"

Miranda ignored him.

"If you stop I'll… I'll pretend this never happened. We can start over! Just… Stop this! Miranda Co-"

Her eyes snapped open to see the Valeyard lose his balance and stumble to the wall for support. "My… my hearts. They're… What have you done…?" he rasped.

Miranda regarded him coldly, "Having a heart's too much of a burden, especially two. I think you'd be better off with none at all."

The Valeyard snarled at her then glanced away, his features softening. "Good girl," he said, looking back at her, "Ripping my hearts out… I taught you well."

The Doctor spoke to Miranda, "That won't do it. He doesn't technically have a body. That's causing him pain but you need to destroy his mental link. Drive him from your mind."

Miranda shut her eyes, unsure exactly of how to go about finding the link. No, she thought, stopping herself, I'm doing it wrong. Don't worry about the how, just do it. Will him away... Will him away...

It happened all of a sudden. Miranda collapsed to the floor, unconscious, as the Valeyard let out a cry of surprise. He stared straight ahead, mouth agape. He lifted a hand to find it transparent. His link was dissolved. He was vanishing. The Valeyard sneered at the Doctor's confident expression.

"You and your damned meddling… Still, you haven't won though, Doctor," the Valeyard rasped.

The Doctor furrowed his brow. "Enough," he said quietly, "It's over."

The Valeyard managed to grin, "Oh, not really. You might've stopped my fun but you're too late to save Little Miranda."

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Oh, give it up! You can't hurt her anymore."

The Valeyard clutched his chest and doubled over, coughing. He looked up at the Doctor and gave him a bloodied toothy grin. "Don't look so proud. You might have saved her life, by doing next to nothing, might I add, but I killed her ages ago… I broke her, Doctor. I broke her heart and soul," he chuckled then added, "Shame I won't get to see you try and pick up the pieces. I'm sure it'd be most amusing."

The Doctor regarded the fading Valeyard with a cold expression. "Miranda's stronger than you give her credit for."

The Valeyard chuckled, the act seemingly causing him pain but he managed a smirk nonetheless. "You can't keep her off rooftops indefinitely," he drawled, "Little Miranda will always be mine."

He lurched forward violently, coughing up blood, but kept from falling to his knees. The Valeyard straightened indignantly and glared at the Doctor with mad wide eyes. "I'll never be gone! Neither of you can truly escape me!" he hissed in a burning tone, "Don't think for one moment that she'll ever see you!"

The Valeyard bared his teeth in an animalistic snarl and roared like a dying lion, "It will be MY face she sees when she looks at you, Doctor! IT WILL BE MY FACE!"

His last words echoed through the hospital room as his image burst in an array of shattered atoms, his mad gleaming eyes the last bit to go. Every last piece and fragment of his body quickly disappeared from Miranda's mind. The Valeyard was gone.

The Shadow People who had been silent and unmoving the entire time, finally decided to act. Slowly, they creeped down from their high standing, slinking down the walls and into the floor like crude oil, unblinking white eyes locked onto Miranda. The Doctor waited till they fully disappeared before going to her side. He gave her a small smile and went to touch her forehead, severing his mental link with her.

"Miranda. It's time to wake up."

AN: After editing this chapter, I decided to split it up. It used to be twice as long! So now, the second part is an epilogue. I think it flows better this way… Let me know what you think of the Valeyard's demise! :]