Jay couldn't cry out – air was ripped from her lungs. A pain, one in which she had never felt before was in her chest. She was falling on her back and from her mouth she could see strands of blood emitting in the air. Her vision blurred, hands becoming cold and soon everything turned black.

The Doctor was the first to see. He was finished being punched by both Axe and Marie when he looked up.

"There she is! Finally!" His smile did not last. He instantly knew something was wrong. "Duchess!" He cried, watching in horror as the last Time Lady slowly floated down to the pit they had fallen in.

"Lady?" Axe whispered, hands clutched and shaking under his chin. Jay floated down, head bent back and eyes wide open. She hair swirled around and blood was on her favourite jumper. The Doctor reached out and caught her, and sobbed.

"No, no please no."

"What happened?" Marie asked, eyes in shock. The Doctor shook his head.

"The pain, in pain in her chest- I should have listened-" He put an ear to her chest, and a terrible silence was heard. "Only one-" He could barely make sentences. "Only the one working, a fall like that- One heart wasn't enough-"

"Lady!" Axe cried out and touched her hand, grasping it. Jay's skin was turning white.

"Regenerate, you dummy." The Doctor said quietly. "Regenerate!" He cried. "You giant stupid head!"

Their voices had attracted attention. Soon, they were surrounded by creatures with scalelike skin and huge eyes. The Doctor, Axe and Marie barely noticed them. They held small ray guns with their wet webbed hands Their eyes were silts and gills lifted up and down.

"Come with us." One of them said, in a voice that resembled someone speaking underwater. "Now!" They didn't even react. The fish men grabbed the Doctor, Axe and Marie. They suddenly realised and shouted in confusion. One of them ripped Jay from the Doctor's arms.

"Give her back! Give her back right now!" The Doctor screamed as Jay was torn from him. He kicked and punched. "You have no idea what state she is in! Please! She's dying!" The fish man holding her examined Jay.

"The female is dead. There is no reason for her to be with you."

"No!" Axe yelled, tears running down his cheeks.

"No, no! Please wait, she's a Time Lady! We regenerate! Please wait!" The Doctor tried to reason, but was soon being taken away. Jay remained cold and lifeless. "Please!" The Doctor lost sight of her, and cried.

"Is the female dead?" One of the men asked. The one holding her nodded.

"Yes. She must have from impact. Expected for a weak body."

"Where should we place her?"

The man paused, then decided. "She is female, and their bodies are treated with respect. Place her on the altar until arrangements can be made."

"Please, let me go! She needs me!" The Doctor continued pleading. They were falling on deaf ears.

"Quiet. That is not priority as of now. Trespassing is, especially from humans."

"But I'm not! Neither is she."

"We aren't as well." Axe added, trying to hide the fact in case it turned against them.

"Why are you here, then?"

For the first time, the Doctor remained silent. The others did too. They were taken into a huge room under the rock, with torches of fire giving light and warmth. The room wasn't empty, small rocks scattered here and there, as well as openings used as doors. A platform carved in rock as well as seats. The three were placed in circles marked in the dirt. Marie wrinkled her nose.

"Circles in the dirt can't hold us." She was about to step forward when the Doctor stopped her.

"I wouldn't. They may look like dirt circles but we are trapped in an invisible cone. Dirt is simply identifying where they are."

"Great." Axe folded his arms. "We're trapped in dirt circles while Jay is out there dying!"

"Or dead." Marie said quietly. Soon, the others emerged, carrying Jay with them. She was even colder.

"Lady!"

"Duchess!"

They placed her on an altar in the middle of the room. The Doctor groaned as he saw a dirt circle around it. They arranged her to look like she was sleeping, and left.

"Don't move." One of them said.

"Oh, ha ha." Axe scowled, everyone knowing they couldn't possibly. As soon as they left, Axe called out to Jay. "Jay, can you hear us!" She didn't move. "Wake up!"

"Or better yet, regenerate!" The Doctor yelled. "Please, you cannot die on me! You're the last one and I'll be damned if I let you go! Come on! I couldn't bear it." He said the last bit quietly. "Please. You have so much more to do. We have so much more to do."

The Doctor hung his head in defeat and pounded his fist against the cone, no mark being made. Marie turned away. But Axe didn't stop staring at her, waiting, wishing for a miracle.

At first it was dull, like reflection in water, a glimmer of light upon Jay's face. But it became brighter and golden streams of light was circling Jay. Axe cried out in joy, the Doctor hearing and grinned.

"Yes! That's what I'm talking about! You're brilliant, Duchess! Simply brilliant!"

Jay was glowing like sunshine after a storm. Her skin was radiant and her eyes were wide open. And the Doctor, and only the Doctor, could see the tiny smile upon her lips. A canon of light shined from her face and outstretched hands and her back arched.

Axe was amazed, he couldn't look away. Neither could Marie, whose smile was one of awe. Suddenly, all the light was absorbed back in Jay and the room felt like it went pitch black. Then, in the silence and dark, a laugh was heard.

"Wow! Haven't felt like since I was at the Academy. I feel like I could punch a dalek! Damn! That's what I'm taking about!" The voice echoed in the cave and the Axe nearly cried. "What are you lazy guys doing, sitting in dirt circles? Come on!"

"Duchess! Glad to have you back!"

Jay laughed energetically. "Glad to be back, Doc!"

"Don't do that." The Doctor frowned.

"Axe, you cutie-pie! Missed you like the deserts miss the rain!"

"And me?" Marie asked, hopeful.

"Marie! Wouldn't be the same without you." Marie smiled with pride. The lighting grew brighter and the Doctor could see Jay clearly now. And was very surprised.

She was still the same. White hair, big smile and sparkling eyes. Blood still on her jumper.

"Duchess! You regenerated!"

She nodded. "Indeed I did!"

"But your face-"

"I did have higher qualifications at Time Lord Academy. When I'm able, I can keep my face. Why did you think I was unconscious for all that time? Concentrating like hell."

"Good thing too." Axe grinned. "I quite like this one."

"Always a charmer." Jay smiled back.

"But they declared you dead. Those fish guys." Marie asked.

Jay shrugged. "I'm not one of them. Technically, I could still be dead."

"Now, where are we?"

"Underground. I think by habitants of Aquantus too. Prisoners."

Jay pulled out her pistol from her holster she kept under the lumpy jumper. "Wouldn't be a adventure with you without being held capture." She peered over the altar and observed the ring. "Right." She reached out and touched the cone. It was hard against her hand, feeling thick as well. "Okay." She used her army knife to fiddle with it and then pointed the pistol at the cone. She fired and the sound of shattering glass was heard. Jay winced and then blew the top of the gun. "Easy peasy, lemon squeezy." However, when she reached out again, the cone had been replaced. "Well that's not fair."

"Told you the pistol was useless."

She quickly defended it. "You're being useless right now."

"Clam down, we'll wait for then to return." Axe said. "Meanwhile, I think it's best if you remain dead, Jay." She nodded.

"Good idea, might get me out of here." She laid back down, closed her eyes and then stuck out her tongue.

"Over selling it!" Axe laughed and Jay popped it back in. A few seconds later, the Doctor asked a question.

"Duchess, why was only one heart working?" Jay opened her eyes and sighed. "Is that why you tried taking Shhirhatha?"

"When Axe and I encountered the Lonely Assassins, I became a lightening rod for time energy-"

"You weren't!"

"-In order to crumble them. It worked, but my heart was damaged. It hurt so much and then just stopped working. I didn't want anyone to know. So, when I saw the pit, I knew my remaining heart wouldn't make it."

"Then why did you jump?" Axe asked, hurt he wasn't told. The Doctor was hurt more.

"Because I'm a Time Lady. I'll regenerate."

"Even if it meant not being you? Also, having us to see you like that? Dead?" Axe was biting his words.

Jay nodded. "It was the only way to heal my hearts. I couldn't keep living with one, like you. It's just not practical."

"Well glad that's out in the open." The Doctor nodded. The footsteps of fish men were heard and Jay quickly laid back on the altar.

"We heard voices!" one of them announced.

"And?" Axe said. "We're not allowed to speak now?"

"Silence!"

"I guess not." Marie whispered.

"We all know who you are. Humans and a Time Lord. The humans will come with us. The Time Lord will remain here."

"And what about her?" The Doctor pointed to the altar.

"You will be allowed to mourn your mate." The Doctor could almost hear Jay groan. He couldn't help but grin.

"Yes. My mate."

"She will be buried with respect. Time Lords are highly regarded here."

Axe frowned. "But not humans?"

"Humans are thieves!" They shrieked. "Lying and horrible thieves."

"What did they steal?" Marie asked.

"Water!" Axe and Marie were confused.

"Why?"

"Because the humans are stupid, running out of their own. Our water does not contain salt, so it was highly valuable to them. So they took it, and captured some of our own as trophies!" More cries were heard from the men. "We spit on humans!"

"Harsh." Axe muttered under his breath.

"We do not wish to speak more of vermin. Now, come with us." Axe and Marie's cones disappeared and they grabbed and taken away. The Doctor's was also turned off and he ran up to Jay. When all the fish men had gone, the Doctor addressed her.

He grinned childishly. "Hello, mate."

"Shut up." Jay frowned and whispered. "Plan?"

"Ask them to let me take your body. Take to TARDIS and then form bigger plan."

"Great. Reckon you can carry my 75kg body?" The Doctor smiled and turned his head when a fish man returned.

He blubbered. "Oh! My beautiful mate! I will mourn you forever!"

"Wrap it up. She will be burned now and you may take the ashes."

"Um, how about an alternative." The Doctor asked. "Cremating isn't really my style, can I just take her to my ship and leave?" The fish man considered.

"Yes, for our quarrel is not with you. But please do it quickly." He turned off Jay's dirt circle so the Doctor could pick her up, then carried her in his arms. Jay couldn't help but smile small as she felt his warmth. He escorted them to the pit which they fell. The fish man pressed a few buttons that sat on a wristband and the Doctor felt a surge of wing bringing him up.

"Oh, that's brilliant! Air brings you down, air brings you up!"

"Before the humans we would ride the currents." The Doctor felt sorry for them. But the air was distracting and he couldn't stop smiling. His black hair was wild and his white and blue striped scarf whipped around his neck. Soon, his feet were lifted and an incredibly current swept him up towards the surface.

"Okay, you can put me down now." Jay and the Doctor had reached the surface, but the Doctor hadn't dropped her yet.

"Hm? Oh right." He extended his hands and Jay rolled onto the floor.

"Gently. Seriously." She brushed herself up and examined her jumper. "Oh, great! This was my favourite." Jay sighed and touched it with her fingers.

The Doctor walked up to the phone booth. "Bleach it."

"No. I like the colour, bleach will kill it." Jay frowned and walked inside after him. She headed for the console and took out her pistol. Jay was fiddling with it while the Doctor paced back and forth.

He grinned. "Want to leave them?" He titled his head. Jay instantly frowned. "Joking. Now, what do you think?" Jay put her pistol back.

"Well, lay out the situation. Helps."

"Fish men not exactly best buddies with humans. Humans take water. Kills marine life and threaten fish men. Axe and Marie stuck with fish men."

"Right. That's all?" She raised an eyebrow while the Doctor smiled. "We could easily just sneak in and then leave with the TARDIS. But I have a feeling that would be irresponsible."

"How so?" The Doctor leaned on the console, Jay next to him. She reached up and took off his goggles, putting them on and looking around.

"We'll be leaving the fish men with no water or defences against future human attacks." He grabbed them back and sat them back on his head.

"I see! Even if we give them water, humans will come back. If we give them defences, there is still no water!"

Jay scratched her chin. "How about this, I tackle the water problem, and you the defences?"

The Doctor smiled. "Perfect! But we have to hurry, I don't think they'll want Axe and Marie hanging around for a while." Jay nodded.

"True. Also." Jay gave him a hard punch to the shoulder.

"Ow!" He cried out, feeling his shoulder and frowning. "What was that for?"

"That was for giant stupid head! You don't think I have ears?"

"You were dead!" He said in defense.

"No excuse! You praise me, especially in death." She said it with a fierce expression, but then broke into laugher, putting her hand on the Doctor's shoulder. He smiled and laughed as well.

"If they've left us, and gone somewhere a million light years away to do Time Lord stuff, I am going to be so annoyed." Marie frowned as the fish men fitted metal handcuffs on her.

"Me too." Axe replied, and winced when tight cuffs were placed on him. They were attached to a chain that the fish men pulled behind them. "But they won't. Jay has never left me." Marie smiled.

"Of course she wouldn't. Why would she to do that to someone she loves?" Axe frowned.

"Jay doesn't love me, just really likes me. Like, trust me with her life and junk." He added weakly.

"No." Marie grinned as they headed deeper underground. "There's something there. Girls can sense that stuff."

"Can you sense that Jay actually likes the Doctor?" he pointed out, a little hurt in his own comment. Marie considered.

"Never thought of it."

"What about you?" Axe asked, Marie stiffening and pretending not to understand the question.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean- ow!" Axe hit his head on the lowering roof, which didn't affect the fish men due to their knowledge of them. "I mean, do you like the Doctor?"

Marie licked her lips. "Well, I mean who wouldn't? A wonderful man like that, able to take you to the stars and beyond? Saves worlds, lives forever."

"So you do?"

Marie smiled. "A little. But it's more of respect than love."

"Quiet prisoners!"

"We can't chat?"

"No chatting!"

Marie pouted. "You guys are such squares."

"We are not squares. We are life forms!" Marie rolled her eyes. Axe snorted.

"'Squares'?"

"Hey! Quite hip actually."

"When were you born?"

"70s."

"Oh."

"Not that old!" Marie laughed. Axe smiled. The fish men led them to another huge room where lab equipment was scattered about, with strange looking machines and decives. They strapped Axe and Marie down to operating tables.

"Right. This is usually the part where Jay's burst in and saves me." There was a chilling silence as a fish man in a smock washed his hands. "okay, now I'm freaking out."

"Doctor!" Marie cried out, head trying to lift up.

"Shush."

"Shush yourself!" Axe retorted, squirming. "If they did leave…" He muttered something under his breath.

"Quick to give up, aren't you?" Marie smiled, then shortened it when the fish men inserted purple coloured liquid into a syringe.

"You're right, Jay has never failed me. So don't make this a first!" he cried out as a fish man came closer with a needle identical to Marie's. The needle came close to her as well. They both cried out but was interrupted.

"Hey-ho! What's all this then?" The Doctor cheerfully shouted, bursting into the room. Jay was next to him, army knife in hand, looking smugly.

"Starting the party without us. Rude!" They walked closer, Axe and Marie thankful that the fish men hand discarded the needles to approach the Doctor and Jay. "Hello." Jay smiled at the slimey creature.

"Can we talk?" The Doctor asked, the fish men shaking his head. He frowned. "That's no good!"

"Indeed. In fact, we don't even need to talk to you, we have this guy." Behind them another fish man entered, wearing long black robes. The Doctor soniced Axe and Marie's straps and they instantly came off. They jumped off the tables and raced to Jay and the Doctor. "Turns out, he is far more important than you, so, bye!" The fish men in smocks groaned and mumbled, turning away when the fish man in robes told them too. He then beckoned the group to follow him to a corner of the room.

"Greetings." The fish man said. "Septus."

"Hey." Axe said awkwardly.

Septus nodded. The Doctor and Jay were enthusiastic. "Oh right." Jay suddenly remembered. "We have found a solution to everything."

Axe raised an eyebrow. "Really? That was quick." The Doctor nodded.

"Two geniuses, really what can't we do?"

Jay laughed. "Anyway, we solved the water problem and the human problem."

"Thanks." Marie curled her lip. Septus nodded again.

"The Gallifreyans have most generously offered to build a weather machine, which will command to skies to rain. I don't believe there will be plenty, but enough. Also, a device to hide our planet from human technology, so we will be invisible."

"Brilliant, isn't it?" The Doctor boasted, swelling with pride.

"Yes, how long will such a contraption take to build?"

The Doctor and Jay looked at each other. Jay clicked her tongue. "Day or two?" Septus was pleased.

"Perfect. Then you can leave. We have ecosystems to rebuild."

"Of course."

"Question," Axe interrupted, "But what were you going to do with us?" Septus titled his head.

"Why, harvest your organs of course." He said casually. Marie instantly put her hands to her stomach, Axe swallowing.

"Thank you so much for bursting in."

"Anything to kept your organs inside you." Jay winked. "Let's start working!"