DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by the BBC. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. This is a femslash story. If you don't like that sort of thing, you won't like this.

3. For story notes, see Part 1.

PART 21

Yaz opened the door and peeked inside. She probably should be doing this, but her police training - not to mention a healthy dose of guilt - made her do so. There on the medibay bed, was Amy Pond, sitting upright, head down. "Hey," said Yaz tentatively. "Mind if I come in?"

The 62-year-old looked up and furrowed her brow at her visitor. Clearly, she was surprised at who it was. "Yaz, right?"

The officer stepped inside and nodded. Amy had not technically said no. "That's right. Yasmin Khan - Yaz to my friends."

"So... should I call you Yasmin?"

Yaz shook her head. "'Course not. I mean, I know we don't really know eachother, but we have a mutual friend."

"Ah, right." Amy left her gaze and returned to looking at her lap. "Did h... she send you into check on me?"

"No," Yaz replied, once again put off by this woman's attitude. But she pushed it aside, determined to make an effort. "I'm a police officer. I was just coming to see if you were alright. Do you need anything?"

The Scot chuckled, but it was completely without mirth. "Howabout the last 36 years back?"

At that, Yaz sighed. Any resentment she had towards this woman, any jealousy she felt at Amy's familiarity with the Doctor - too much familiarity for Yaz's liking - diminished as she dwelt on this poor woman's situation. Robbed of decades of her life, a life she was seemingly supposed to have with the woman she loved.

Yaz could relate to that. Not the robbed part, but the need to be with her soulmate. Though obviously, the Doctor was not Yaz's soulmate. That required the Time Lady to feel the same way...

Before she could get bogged down in pathetic pining, Yaz strode on. "I'm sorry, I can't begin to imagine what you've been through." She cautiously sat down next to Amy, who fortunately made no attempt to stop her. The '70s bartender was probably too exausted to do so: it was partially why she was in the medibay right now. Clearly, the events of today, not to mention the apparent truth of Mels, was too much - she needed to rest.

"No, you can't," Amy said bluntly. "I don't know how long you've been doing this, how long you've been with the Doctor, but whatever you've done, it's nothing compared to what happened to me. I lost everything. My fiancee, my home, my family - everything. A complete and utter psychopath took everything that mattered to me. She took Clara."

Yaz remained silent, deciding not to mention the fact Team TARDIS had been through the wars also: it would not matter to Amy. Yaz doubted the landlady was the selfish, heartless type, but she had 36 years to mourn for what she lost. And obviously, she never got over it.

Of course, that was completely understandable. Though Yaz never had the opportunity to be confronted with such things in her short time on the force - settling parking disputes was hardly comparable - she certainly read up on people and families losing loved ones during her training. Then she finally experienced it - to a certain extent - with Prem.

"And now it seems I was never even supposed to," continued Amy wistfully. "This girl... this Mels... "

"We don't know for sure that she is who she says she is," said Yaz. She did not mean to sound cruel, but could not help being more practical.

"She is," the Scot insisted. "I know it. I can feel it."

Biting her lip, Yaz decided not to challenge her, at least directly. "Well, we can be sure of one thing - the Doctor will sort everything out. She'll fix this."

At that, Amy scoffed. "Should've sorted it out at the time."

Yaz blinked. "She told you - her memories of you and Clara were erased. She would've come for you if she could. I know it."

Amy looked at her. "How long have you travelled with hi... her?"

"Nearly a year," Yaz replied. "Why?"

The landlady raised a brow. "I was with him for five years - three of them with Clara also. You'll see - the Doctor has limits."

"I know she has limits," Yaz said, raising her voice ever-so. "I've seen her fail. I've seen her beat herself up for not being able to save everyone - even those who don't deserve it. But she always does her best."

"Not always," said Amy. "More than once he asked Clara and me if he was a 'good man'. I've seen him at his worst. You think you've seen the Doctor make hard decisions? I've seen him be outright cruel."

"The Doctor's not cruel!" Yaz barely kept her tone. "She always does everythin' she can to help everyone. She's amazin' - perfect! And she's my best friend."

Amy was silent for a brief moment. "You say that like you're the first."

Yaz clenched her jaw. "No, I'm under no delusions. I know there were many before me, and even if I didn't, I can see howmuch she cares for you. Which is why I can't understand how you can say such things about her. Why are you only thinking the worst of her now?"

"I've had decades think nice thoughts about the Doctor," said Amy bitterly. "Got abit harder to stay charitable once I entered decade four."

Yaz had no response to that. Instead, she stood up before she could let her anger get the better of her. Of course, it was mixed in with self-hate: she was understanding of this poor woman's plight, but just could not listen to anyone saying bad things about the woman she loved. "I'm sorry, I think I should go." She strode back to the door, but was stopped by Amy's exasperated voice.

"No, look - I'm sorry." Yaz turned to see the '70s bartender get off the bed to her feet. "It's just... "

Suddenly a loud, pained scream came from several rooms away, and both women's eyes bulged. "That was the Doctor!" Yaz cried, and she and Amy ran out the medibay towards the source of the noise. On the way, they met up with Ryan and Graham, who clearly heard the scream too.

"That was... !" Ryan gasped.

"I know!" Yaz simply huffed, before all four reached the console room. The sight meeting them filled Yaz's heart with terror.

The woman she cherished was on the floor, holding her head in agony, with Mels in a similar position a few feet opposite.

Instantly the policewoman dashed down to her Doctor, landing on her knees to tend to her. Meanwhile, Amy did the same for Mels. "Doctor, what happened?!" Yaz choked. "Are you alright?"

A deep groan escaped the Time Lady. "Knew it was too soon t'do touch-telepathy again... " She took a gulp of air as Yaz almost pawed at her. "But it's true... " She looked directly at Mels, who was being tended to by Amy.

"What's that, Doctor?" Ryan asked.

The Doctor stared wide-eyed. "Everything she said is true... "

TO BE CONTINUED