Thank you again to one and all your support of my stories makes writing worthwhile. :) :)

I only own my ideas

Warnings: Maybe swearing...just in case lol

ENJOY!

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10 actually carried her to her room after Orion had removed the IV line. Sophie wondered if they'd ever talk, make some definitive decision about how they felt towards each other. She thought she could handle kissing, but she wasn't sure if she was ready for anything more than that. It was true she probably would have had…more; when they had kissed in his room and he wasn't quite dressed. Was that her or the chip telling her what she should do? True she had initiated it, but it was his enthusiasm that had continued it.

Sophie knew that what happened with Udall wasn't her fault. Madeira and Crystal had hammered that fact home. She still felt the shame of it though. It wasn't like it had been some previous loving relationship. Udall had properly attacked her, forced her to look him in the eye as he heartlessly abused her body. She could see the scars, some small and thin others jagged. The largest was the one over her collar bone. The rest were mainly around her waist and a couple on her inner thigh. The thought of those made her shiver with disgust and she finished her shower quickly so she could dress and cover them up.

The sweater was a cowl neck, but still high. It was almost, but not dress length so she wore leggings. She didn't want to think anymore, she could go to her studio, but she didn't want to look at the number of Doctor sketches she'd drawn either. All she felt like painting was a wall of black. So she sat in front of the mural with her knees pulled up and Fox Trot at her side. Her fingers traced the lines of her parents' fur. She still couldn't remember her child hood with them, but she missed Kaelan and Shareen just the same.

"Sophie?"

She looked over, "I thought you were the Doctor."

"Madeira is helping him track down an Image manipulator." Jack answered stepping inside.

"Can it fix this too?" Sophie asked dejectedly yanking down the neck of her sweater to show him the scar. He stopped; a little unsure of how to answer; she released her grip and turned away. "What do you want Jack?"

"See how you were feeling?"

"I don't think you want to be around me right now."

"Why would you say that?" Jack asked crossing his arms. Neither of them hearing as the Doctor slipped in behind him.

"I'm grasping at strings, come any closer and I'll sob all over you."

He chuckled, "may I offer you a friendly shoulder?"

"What if I offer mine instead?" 10 interjected.

"Ah well I know when to respectfully bow out." The Captain relented with a grin at the Time Lord as he started to leave.

"No Jack its fine don-", Sophie pleaded, but he left before she could even finish the argument. She didn't look at 10 and he didn't speak. It felt like eternity stretched between them. His steps sounded loud and hollow like a fate she couldn't escape, drawing ever nearer. Then his arms were around her, pulling her into his lap. She felt a sudden rush of protection and ease. He was singing again; that lullaby about wings of birds and butterflies; how they beat without care, forever changing time. His voice wasn't stellar; you could say he 'couldn't carry a tune in a hand basket.' In this moment however, it sounded perfect.

She tried to speak and he shushed her, kissing her forehead as he rocked back and forth. The Doctor didn't even count the seconds till she broke. Her hand clenched around the lapel of his jacket as she sobbed against his shoulder. 10 held her closer, Idris gave a baleful shudder and the Eunae whined. "That's it…just let it all out." The Time Lord whispered, laying his forehead to hers. For the first time in so long he let himself wonder past just picking himself up and being 'fine'. He actually cried with her. Not huge shuddering sobs like Sophie, but his eyes were definitely wet.

Her tears eventually began to slow and she did feel better, but there was something empty about that feeling as well. "Sorry… I made a mess of your suit." Sophie apologized softly. He chuckled and told her it was fine. The only thing she was sure of was how good it felt to be in his arms. Given a choice, she'd never want to move. She had to ask, but she was afraid. Would it mean losing this? "Why did you save me?" The Felorin didn't look at him, she couldn't.

"Sophie..." The Doctor started then stopped. "How could I not?"

"That's not really an answer Doctor."

"It's not is it?" 10 laughed.

She looked up catching his intense gaze and holding it with a determined stare of her own. "What am I to you; just a companion, a clever girl or your clever girl?" Sophie asked. She reached out and touched his lips. Then she pulled her hand back, "Did those kisses mean anything? Should I forget them and please don't lie to me, not this time."

He swallowed, blinked and she could feel him tense, but her penetrating stare never wavered. The Time Lord knew he owed her the truth especially after what she'd been through. He didn't mean to look so scared or nervous, but what if the truth wasn't what she wanted to hear. How could he tell her he loved her? Now; when she was broken and vulnerable, she needed protection and care, someone to lean on not… Oh god he really wanted to kiss her, she was so close and so beautiful. Fierce, tough as nails despite everything. She never prodded him, but he knew she would wait holding his eyes with hers till he answered. "I don't want you to go. If I tell you what you might not want to hear." The Doctor admitted slowly.

Ok so he didn't want her to leave, that was a good start. It might be selfish of her, but she wanted to hear him say it before she confessed her part. "You want me here as a friend; I can handle that…I can be that." Sophie replied with determination and a dose of resignation.

She had looked away and he cupped her cheek bringing her eyes back to his. "Sophie don't you see? You are more, so much more to me. Yes you are 'my' clever girl and you can remember those kisses, just like this one." The Doctor murmured, leaning down to rest his lips on hers.

The kiss was passion without heat. The longing and desire was there, but neither of them pushed for it. Maybe someday she'd want more, but right now just kissing was enough. She yelped; when he stood and brought them to the couch for more comfort. Her breath came in shaky pants when she broke away. She was fighting to think of what to say when for once in her life her stomach had perfect timing. It rumbled, rather loudly and he raised an eyebrow at her before they both burst out laughing.

~IDoD~

"What is that?" Madeira asked, making a face as the 'goop' in Sophie's pot continued to bubble.

"It's called malt-o-meal, it's like porridge."

"Yeah and she's making me eat it too." The Doctor griped, looking over her shoulder and scanning the pot with his sonic. The sandy colored substance made a particularly big bubble and he jumped back.

"I said you needed to eat 'something', not this particularly. All I told you was if you want something else you needed to make it yourself." Sophie replied turning off the stove. She went to get brown sugar from the pantry and crème from the fridge, lastly she grabbed a banana.

The Doctor perked up, looking intrigued. "Always up for a new adventure and of course you know-"

"Bananas are good?" Sophie giggled, handing him a prepared bowl. Madeira said she would make something else as the Felorin added ingredients to her own dish. The perfecta mentioned that she would need to take a short trip to see her people soon and Sophie nodded.

"Do you have your own way of getting back?" 10 asked; inspecting his first bite as the Felorin joined him at the table. The Perfecta said she'd need to get to her gear, but once she had it she'd have a way.

"It's actually here, hidden in a locker at a subway station. I just haven't taken the time to get it." Madeira informed going to the pantry to grab something to go. "Might as well do it while I'm thinking of it." She added then waived as she walked out of the galley.

The Time Lord was still inspecting the substance in his spoon and she sighed. "Its fine I can make you something else." Sophie relented; reaching for his bowl as she stood.

He smacked her hand and shoved the bite in his mouth. "Thit!" The Doctor ordered around the utensil still between his lips. She took her seat again and gave him a questioning look. He ladled up another bite with a slice of fruit and worked it around in his mouth. "I'm sorry; anything deserves a chance, especially something with my favorite fruit." 10 added solemnly.

"It's just malt-o-meal, not the end of the world if you don't like it." She replied, taking her first bite.

"I know it's just food, but how can I ask anyone to try and be open to new things if I can't do the same with something as simple as earth based porridge?" The Time Lord reasoned.

"I guess that's true… So um I was wondering Alena said I was over 600, if I left when I was young shouldn't I still be young?"

"You adapted somehow… honestly I don't fully understand it myself. I expect, especially with the shift change your aging will normalize, that is return to what it was." The Doctor replied as they continued to eat.

The air in the room felt heavy and stifling so she decided to change the subject. "So The Louvre, sure you're ok with another boring museum?"

To Be Continued…

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HEART Y'ALLS