Epilogue
"Is this some kind of trick? Why do you want to help him?"
"I have a tender spot in my heart for cripples, bastards and broken things."
Nell Bennet, curled up on her sofa, raised her glass of wine to the television "you're a man after my own heart Tyrion Lannister".
Downing her glass in one gulp, she turned her Game of Thrones DVD off and wandered, slightly tipsy into her bedroom.
She had no need to be drinking she told herself. The Doctor had convinced everyone that in her fragile mental state following Osgood's death, Loki had put a sort of mind control spell over her and the treason charges had been dropped. The Doctor had spoken so convincingly that Nell herself had almost believed him.
However, Nick Fury hadn't been convinced, neither had Kate Stewart, and so she had been fired.
Nell pulled back the curtain in her bedroom and looked out into the empty street. On the rooftop of the building directly opposite her window in the darkness, figure sat perched on the edge watching. Nell gave Sam Wilson a small wave and, to her satisfaction, he raised his left hand up in way of a reply.
Fury was having her watched around the clock, waiting for Loki to come back. Nell knew it was not for her protection, merely to alert S.H.I.E.L.D to his presence. If Loki did come back, she'd be dead before Wilson could even raise the alarm.
Nell closed the curtain again. She didn't mind Wilson, but she certainly wasn't going to let him watch her undress for bed.
Kneeling down beside her bed, Nell pulled out the big box where she had once stored her Black Archive access key and lifted the lid.
Inside were two early 18th century flintlock pistols plus ammunition, a small leather bag of gold coins, a neatly folded navy blue coat and several warrants for her arrest under charges of piracy.
Her life as a pirate, neatly packed away a wooden box.
Nell reached into her hip pocket and pulled out her favoured stiletto blade. She placed it carefully down in the box with her other effects. She felt in a way that she was trying to pack her bad qualities away in the box. She knew it was futile; they'd never truly leave her.
With a small sigh, Nell took out the long navy blue coat. It had been made for a man, but she had tailored it over the years to fit her slight, curved frame. She ran her fingers over the material, it was coarse – worn out by salt spray and bleached by sun, yet it had always seemed as comfortable as a second skin.
The sound of whirring and grinding gears coming from the living room made Nell look up. With a raised eyebrow, she shrugged the coat on, walked into the living room and then into the TARDIS.
The Doctor looked up from the console. He frowned and pointed a finger at Nell "have you been drinking?"
"Just a glass of wine" Nell replied, "or a bottle" she added with a murmur. Years of piracy and rum had made her almost as immune to the effects of alcohol as Captain America.
"So I take it you're not doing so well then?" the Doctor enquired.
"I got fired, thank you for asking".
"And what else?" the Doctor let the question hang in the air.
"I miss him" Nell said softly.
"Alex or Loki?" the Doctor asked.
"Both" Nell replied truthfully. Knowing that she missed the later surprised her somewhat.
The Doctor looked down at the console, "come on then. Let's take a trip".
"No" Nell said firmly.
The Doctor shot her a questioning look.
"I was fine till you came back" Nell told him, "then you landed in my life again, and it all went wrong".
"You're blaming me for your problems?" the Doctor asked her.
"No" Nell replied, "once upon a time you help me Doctor, you brought out the best in me. But now...now I think you bring out the worst in me. I can't be around you".
The Doctor stared at her and said nothing.
"Goodbye Doctor".
Nell turned around and placed her hand on the TARDIS door handle. She pulled. It didn't move. She tugged it again. Nothing.
"Doctor?" she asked still facing the door, "why is the door locked?"
Nell turned around to face the Doctor but he wasn't there. In his place stood Loki, grinning from ear to ear.
"Damn" Nell whispered, "I should have seen that coming".
THE END
That's all folks! I hope you enjoyed my little story, please leave a review if you did, and keep an eye out for my sequel in a few weeks. Bye bye!