Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who, but I do own Charlene (The Protector) and any other characters I make up!

Author's Note: Now up to 207 reviews! Keep them coming!

Charlene's outfit for the party and the rest of this episode is on my polyvore :)

'Something was definitely wrong with that man.' Charlene thought to herself as she along with the Doctor and Martha watched Professor Lazarus stuff his face with a tray of hors d'oeurus that he took from a nearby waiter. Lady Thaw, who was the old woman who told her and the Doctor to get away from the machine, watched him as well with an aghast look on her face.

"We need to talk to him," Martha said quietly to Char and the Doctor.

"I was thinking the exact same thing," Charlene told her new friend just as quietly. She went to take a step forward, but the Doctor grabbed onto her arm.

"Need to wait for the right moment," he explained before she could ask why he had stopped her.

"Right."

"Richard!" Lady Thaw exclaimed with the aghast look still on her face.

Professor Lazarus ignored her, muttering, "I'm famished."

"Now," The Doctor muttered and they all went over to Lazarus with the Doctor commenting, "Energy deficit."

Lazarus stopped eating and turned to look at the Doctor, Charlene, and Martha.

"Always happens with this kind of process," The Doctor added.

"You speak as if you see this every day, Mr. –"

"Doctor," The Doctor said, shaking Mr. Lazarus' hand. "And well, no, not every day."

"But he knows just enough to know what can happen in this kind of transformation, and the same goes for me," Charlene spoke up, getting Lazarus' gaze to turn to her. "Charlene Tyler," she told him, seeing the question of who she was in his eyes.

"Well, Charlene Tyler," Lazarus drawled out. "That's not possible."

Charlene smirked, "Really? So it's not using a hypernetic sound waves …"

"To create a state of resonance," The Doctor finished off, flashing a proud look towards Charlene before saying as he looked back at Professor Lazarus, who looked at both of them surprised, "That's – that's inspired."

"Very inspired," Charlene agreed with a very fake smile. She already didn't like this guy. He seemed too smug.

"You two understand the theory, then."

"Enough to know that you couldn't possibly have allowed for all the variables," The Doctor said seriously.

"No experiment is without risk," Lazarus preached.

"Really? What gave you that idea?" Charlene rolled her eyes. "That thing nearly exploded like popcorn inside a microwave."

"You're not qualified to comment," Lady Thaw said snootily. "Neither of you are." She added, looking at both Charlene and the Doctor, who narrowed his eyes slightly at Lady Thaw.

"If we hadn't stopped it, it would have exploded," he reminded her.

"Then I thank you, Doctor, Charlene," Lazarus thanked with an overdone smile. He fixed his bowtie with an air of ignorance, "But that's a simple engineering issue. What happened inside that capsule was exactly what was supposed to happen. No more, no less."

"You have no way of knowing that until you've run proper tests," Martha said, the doctor in her showing. Something Charlene smiled at her for.

Lazarus laughed, practically waving Martha off. "Look at me! You can see what happened. I'm all the proof you need."

"The device will properly be certified before we can operate commercially," Lady Thaw stated proudly.

"Commercially?!" Martha looked at Lady Thaw like she was crazy and she probably was, "You're joking that'll cause chaos."

"Not chaos, change," Lazarus corrected her. "A chance for humanity to evolve, to improve."

The Doctor scoffed. "This isn't about improving," he said, staring at Lazarus hard. "It's about you and your customers living a little longer."

"Not a little longer, Doctor. A lot longer. Perhaps indefinitely."

Charlene and the Doctor shared disgusted looks with one another as Lady Thaw spoke, turning to Lazarus.

"Richard, we have things to discuss," she said to him. "Upstairs." This was said rather pointedly. She walked away and Lazarus began to follow her, but not before saying to the Doctor,

"Goodbye, Doctor. In a few years, you'll look back and see how wrong you were." Lazarus reached for Charlene's hand and she pulled back with a glare. Same with the Doctor, who tugged her to his side, arm wrapped possessively and protectively around her. Smirking, Lazarus grabbed Martha's hand and kissed the back of it quickly before walking away.

The Doctor watched him with his arm tightening around Charlene's waist. "Ooh, he's out of his depth," he said. "No idea of the damage he might have done."

Charlene nodded in agreement as Martha spoke up, staring after Lazarus as well.

"So, what do we do now?" she asked.

"Now …" The Doctor looked around as he continued, "Well, this building must be full of laboratories. I say we do our own tests."

"Yeah, but we need DNA," Charlene said, and Martha held up the hand that Lazarus kissed her at with a smirk.

"Lucky, I've collected a DNA sample then, is it?"

Charlene grinned at her. "Oh, Martha Jones…"

"You're a star/brilliant." She and the Doctor said at the same time.

Martha beamed as they headed off.

It wasn't that much longer until they were staring at the results of the DNA test. The Doctor was at the computer while Charlene and Martha stood on either side of him.

"Amazing," he commented.

Charlene nodded in agreement, "I'll say."

"What?" Martha looked at the two Time Lords curiously.

"Lazarus' DNA."

Martha frowned, returning her gaze to the DNA molecule, "I can't see anything different."

"Look at it!" The Doctor pointed.

And she watched as the image flickered and her eyes widened. "Oh my God!" she exclaimed quietly. "Did that just change? It can't have!"

"But it did," The Doctor said.

"It's impossible," Martha breathed out.

"Yeah, but that's what happens when you travel with him," Charlene commented with a grin. "Always seeing the impossible."

"But seeing two things that are impossible is a rarity," The Doctor added before grinning back at Charlene. "Don't you love it when that happens, though?"

"Oh I do, definitely." Charlene nodded in agreement, still grinning.

"That means Lazarus has changed his own molecular patterns," Martha stated with a frown.

"Hypersonic sounds waves to destabilize the cell structure then a mutagenic program to manipulate the coding in the protein strands," The Doctor explained.

"Basically though, he hacked his own genes and instructed them to rejuvenate," Charlene said, simplifying what her boyfriend said for Martha's benefit.

"But they're still mutating now."

"'Cause he missed something," The Doctor told Martha. "Something in his DNA has been activated and won't let him stabilize. Something that's trying to change him."

"Change him into what?"

"Something not good," Charlene answered with a serious look on her face. "But we need to find out what exactly."

"That woman said they were going upstairs," Martha reminded the Doctor and Charlene.

"Let's go!" The Doctor was the first to walk off with Martha and Charlene close behind.

"This is his office, all right," Martha said, looking around the spacious area once the Doctor turned on the lights.

"So, where is he?" The Doctor questioned as he looked around for Lazarus.

"I don't see him anywhere." Charlene sighed, "Maybe we should try back at the re…" She trailed off, seeing something that was sticking out from behind the desk in the corner of her eye. "Ception." She breathed out once her eyes completely took what she saw in. It was a pair of skeletal bones – wearing high heels. A bad feeling filled her stomach as she figured out who this was…

Lady Thaw.

Charlene hurried over there with Martha and the Doctor behind her. Martha gasped at the remains of Lady Thaw.

"Is that Lady Thaw?" she asked.

Charlene nodded grimly while the Doctor bent down next to the remains.

"Used to be," he answered Martha's question instead of nodding like Charlene. "Now it's just a shell. Had all of the energy drained out. Like squeezing the juice out of an orange."

Charlene shuddered at the image.

"Lazarus," Martha guessed.

"Could be."

"So he's changed already?"

"Not necessarily," The Doctor said with a shake of his head. "You saw the DNA. It was fluctuating. The process must demand energy. This might not have been enough."

"It's very likely he'll do it again then," Charlene said softly as the Doctor and Martha looked at her. She looked back at them, "We need to go to reception and find him before it does.

They nodded in agreement and with that, they ran back to the lifts and just as they disappeared into theirs and the doors closed, Professor Lazarus and Tish Jones came out of theirs.

Getting back to the reception area, Martha couldn't see Professor Lazarus anywhere. She held back a groan. How did they keep missing him?

"I can't see him," Martha told the Doctor and Charlene.

"He can't be far," The Doctor took a hold of Charlene's hand, "Keep looking," he told Martha before he walked on with Charlene in toe.

Before she could go look further, Leo came up to her and he took in the stressed out look on her face. "Hey, are you all right, Martha?" He didn't wait for an answer as an amused look crossed his face, "I think Mum wants to talk to you."

Martha almost groaned in exsasperation. She didn't have time for family drama right now.

"Have you seen Lazarus anywhere?" Martha asked, thinking her brother might have saw him.

"Yeah. He was getting cozy with Tish a couple of minutes ago."

What?! It was then that the Doctor and Charlene joined them just as Francine did seconds later. Martha finally mustered up a reply.

"With Tish?!" she screeched.

"Ah, Doctor," Francine started but he ignored her as he demanded of Leo,

"Where did he go?"

"Upstairs I think, why?"

"Doctor—"Francine didn't get to finish because the Doctor rushed past her, bumping into her shoulder causing her to spill her drink.

"Sorry!" Charlene called to her apologetically as she ran after her boyfriend.

"I'm speaking to you!" Francine shouted after the Doctor annoyed.

Martha went to follow the Doctor and Charlene but stopped to hiss at Francine, "Mum, not now!" She took off after her friends and she managed to catch up to them. They went back to Lazarus' office.

"Where are they?" Martha asked herself. She wanted to get to her sister before something bad happened to her which no doubt would if they didn't find them soon.

The Doctor took out his sonic, "Fluctuating DNA will give off an energy signature. I might be able to pick it up."

By the time he had got it, Charlene already did as she got out her sonic before the Doctor ever did.

"Found him," she said and the Doctor pouted at her.

"Oi, I was going to do that."

"You can't be the hero all the time, Doctor." Charlene winked and he pouted some more and opened his mouth to retort but Martha interrupted,

"Where is he?"

Charlene nodded up and Martha followed and saw that her sonic was pointed at the ceiling. She frowned.

"But this is the top floor!" But a moment later, she figured it out, "The roof!" She ran for the stairs, the Doctor and Charlene following her.

And sure enough, they were up there with Lazarus was speaking to Tish. Martha went to say something but a squeeze on her hand stopped her. She looked towards Charlene, who had squeezed her hand, and the blonde mouthed to her, 'Not now.' So she stayed silent.

"I find that nothing's ever like you expect," Lazarus told Tish. "There's always something to surprise you. 'Between the idea and the reality, between the motion and the act…'"

The Doctor spoke up and finished up the poem, "'Falls the shadow.'"

Lazarus turned to see them standing there but didn't look surprised to see them. Tish was, however.

"So the mysterious Doctor knows his Eliot," Lazarus said nonchalantly. "I'm impressed."

"Martha, what are you doing here?" Tish asked confused.

Martha waved her over, "Tish, get away from him."

A stubborn look crossed her sister's face. Of all the times to be stubborn Martha thought with a groan.

"What? Don't tell me what to do," Tish said stubbornly.

"You know, you don't seem like the type for poetry, Lazarus," Charlene said casually.

"Yeah, or even have the time for it," The Doctor added. "With you defying the laws of nature and all."

"Your right, Doctor. One lifetime's been too short for me to do everything I'd like. How much more would I get done in two or three or four?"

"Doesn't work like that," The Doctor told him wisely but seriously. "Some people live more in 20 years than others do in 80. It's not the time that matters. It's the person."

"But if it's the right person, what a gift."

"Or what a curse," The Doctor said, his eyes showing off all that he had seen, all he had lost in the centuries he had lived. "Look at what you've done to yourself."

Lazarus glared at him, "And who are you to judge me?"

"Over here, Tish," Martha told her sister, leaning forward as her eyes flashed with seriousness.

Tish stormed over to her and gave her a glare that made Martha flinch internally. "You have to spoil everything don't you? Every time I find someone, you have to go and find fault."

"Tish, he's a monster!" Martha exclaimed.

"I know the age thing's a bit freaky but it works for Catherine Zeta-Jones."

"Tish, you might want to turn around," Charlene said cautiously. As soon as that left her mouth, there was loud growling coming from behind Tish.

She slowly turned her head and her eyes widened at the sight of the monster that all of them were seeing for the first time. It was a mix between a human skeleton and a scorpion. It reared up, growling.

"Run!" The Doctor shouted.

Martha grabbed her sister's hand and the Doctor grabbed Charlene's and together, they raced inside. Charlene was able to get her sonic out first and she locked the doors. Getting to the lifts, Martha slammed a hand on the call button to get the lift to come to them.

"Are you okay?" she asked her sister quickly.

Tish looked horrified and disgusted at the same time, "I was going to snog him."

"Good thing, you didn't then!" Charlene said, tapping her foot impatiently. The lift was taking far too long.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang coming from the doors that Charlene had locked. Lazarus was trying to get inside. Sirens went off and a computerized warning came over the PDA.

"Security breach. Security breach. Security breach."

"What's happening?" Martha asked Tish.

"Uh, an intrusion. It triggers a security lockdown. Kills most of the power. Stops the lifts. Seals the exits."

"He must be breaking through that door," The Doctor said.

Charlene looked like she was biting back a sarcastic comment, but she held it back as she told the Doctor, Martha, and Tish, "We're going to have to use the stairs. It's the only way. Go!" She pushed everyone forward towards the direction of the stairs. They didn't need to be told twice as they started to run down the stiars. As they did this, there was a loud crash and Martha knew what this meant.

"He's inside!"

"Haven't go much time!" The Doctor said loudly as they continued to run down the stairs and Martha hoped that they were able to the reception area in time.

Charlene, the Doctor, Martha, and Tish made it back to the reception area with everyone not knowing what was going on. Looking around at all the innocent people here, Charlene knew that they had to warn everyone and get them out of here before Lazarus got to them. But first they needed another way to get out of here. The Doctor had the same thought process as he turned to Tish.

"Tish! Is there another way out of here?"

"There's an exit in the corner, but it'll be locked now."

The Doctor took out his sonic and tossed it to Martha, who caught it, "Martha, setting 54. Hurry."

She nodded quickly and ran as fast as she could. The Doctor turned to Charlene.

"Go with her, and make sure she gets those doors open," he told her.

"Got it." Charlene chased after Martha as the Doctor jumped on the platform with Lazarus' machine.

"Listen to me!" he shouted to everyone in the reception area. "You people are in serious danger! You need to get out of here right now!"

"Don't be ridiculous." A blonde woman scoffed, stepping forward. "The biggest danger here is choking on an olive."

Glass shattered and flew everywhere as Lazarus burst through and appeared on the landing above before leaping down to the reception, roaring.

"We have to get those doors open!" Charlene exclaimed over the chaos that was happening as everyone ran for the exits. "Setting 53, Martha!" She showed her where it was as the sound of Leo's voice sounded.

"Mum, look out!"

There was a loud crash and Francine's horrified voice cried out,

"Leo!"

Martha got the doors open and she along with Charlene told everyone to come over there, "Over here! This way! Everyone downstairs! Hurry up!"

From where she was, Charlene could see the Doctor, who looked horrified as Lazarus closed in on the woman who didn't believe him and sucked her dry causing her now skeletal body to fall to the floor.

She quickly scanned for Francine and Leo, finding them beside each other as Leo came to. Lazarus was beginning to approach them.

"No! Leave them alone!" Charlene shouted as she raced forward with Martha and Tish at her tail. As she helped Martha with Leo and took him and Francine to safety, the Doctor distracted Lazarus.

"What's the point if you can't control it?!" he yelled at him and Lazarus stopped. "The mutation's too strong. Killing those people won't help you. You're a fool, a vain old man who thought he could defy Nature. Only Nature got her own back, didn't she?! You're a joke, Lazarus! A footnote in the history of failure!"

Lazarus roared insulted and started after the Doctor, who ran away from the reception hall.

"Doctor!" Charlene called, her voice echoing through the reception hall. But he was already long gone and she huffed. He better not do anything stupid… oh who was she kidding, of course he would. Charlene turned to Martha, who was examining Leo.

"What's the Doctor doing?" Tish asked.

"He's buying us time," Charlene answered, crossing her arms as the other Jones sister looked at her. "Or at least trying to. But if anyone can distract Lazarus, it's that boyfriend of mine. So we better not waste it."

Martha grabbed Leo's face in her hands. "Leo, look at me. Let me see your eyes." He did and after checking them out, she looked at Francine. "He's got concession. You'll need to help him downstairs." She went over to an ice bucket and put some ice in a napkin, giving it to Francine, "This'll keep the swelling down. Go! I'll be right behind you."

Martha's mother nodded and helped Leo.

"Tish, move! We need to get out of here!" Martha pushed her sister gently and after sharing a look with Charlene, they followed. All the guests were already downstairs and Charlene pushed her way through. She tried to get the doors opened but they wouldn't budge.

"We can't get out!" Tish said, stating the obvious as she and Martha appeared behind Charlene. "We're trapped!"

Quickly thinking, Charlene turned to Tish. "Is there an override switch? Where's the security desk?" She didn't answer, looking scared, and Charlene put her hands on Tish's shoulder, "Look, I know you're scared but you have to stay with me." At her shaky nod, she moved her hands away from Tish's shoulders and reappeared her question, "Where's the security desk?"

Tish pointed in the direction of it, "There."

With a nod, Charlene ran over to the desk with Martha right behind her. She slid over the top of the desk and easily landed on her feet. Charlene checked the panel layout and Martha watched as she used the sonic. The lights turned on and Charlene grinned.

"Let there be light!" she exclaimed excitedly as she looked at Martha, who was grinning as well and her grin widened. She slid over the desk again and went back over to the doors and this time was able to push them open and everyone rushed outside with Charlene pushing the ones that were going too slow. Once everyone was out, she ran outside too and shut the doors behind her.

Charlene had to get back to the Doctor, though, even if he had told her to go with Martha to keep her out of the situation. She promised that she would always be there for the Doctor and she wasn't going to break that promise anytime soon.

"Martha, you stay with your family, I'm going to go after him," Charlene told Martha once she was over to her, Leo, Tish, and Francine.

"Well, I'm going too," Martha said, standing up. "I'm not going to let you two deal with Lazarus all by yourself."

"Martha!" Francine looked at her daughter with wide eyes.

"I know you want to, but you have to stay here," Charlene pressed. "You'll be safer. And the Doctor and I will be fine, don't worry about us. We have dealt with much harder situations than this one. So stay here." Without giving her time to protest, she raced back inside.

TBC...

In...

The Last Part of the Lazarus Experiement...