Times Change

AN: Thank-you to animemonkey13 and Kie1993 for their reviews on chapter twenty-four (Still can't believe I'm this far along)

AN2: Another tiny time jump at the start of this chapter

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Doctor Who or Torchwood.

Chapter 25-

I step through the light a mere second after The Doctor and plant my foot on, anything but, firm ground. Resisting the urge to groan at the sight of, yet another, moor, I step further into the world and glance around.

The early morning sunlight penetrates the light fog that hangs in the air. This warms my face and is one of the reasons that I'm not overly sure that we are in the right place. I glance around quickly, shading my eyes against the haze of the light reflecting from the, now clearly, sky.

"Doctor?" I jog to catch up with him.

He turns suddenly, talking with his hands—

"Yes, Adelaide. We are in the right place." He turns, looking out over the horizon before mumbling, "Wales isn't all rain."

I laugh lightly, "Sorry."

He tries to stay serious but I catch him grinning from the corner of my eye. I follow his gaze, out and into the skyline before asking—

"Where is the TARDIS from here?"

He shields his eyes; covering his brow with his left hand before pointing down a steep hill.

"That way, keep walking for about an hour and a half and you'll be there."

It's been a while since I've seen him this cheerful. His reaction to The Master's death had scared me and, although I don't like him bottling up his emotions, I'm glad that 'The Doctor' is back. Taking a deep breath of fresh air, I turn back to the rift, the yellow-type cloud seems to be dissipating and Jack and Gwen still aren't through.

"Will it close with them on the other side?" I ask worriedly.

He follows my gaze and shrugs slightly, "Only if they're slow."

I raise my eyebrows and roll my eyes at this comment before Gwen's voice drifts through the air from behind me—

"We're back?"

I turn and grin, just in time to see the rift closing behind the two of them. Briefly, I wonder as to whether the right Jack has come through. This thought is, however is blown from my mind as I see something emerge from the trees to my right. I try to gather my nerve as the Rakoli emerges from the shadow of the canopy. I get hold of The Doctor's wrist, it is supposed to be in order to inform him of the new arrival but instead, I find myself gripping his sleeve in fear. What could it possibly want now?

"Doctor?" My voice wavers as I gesture towards the creature, it now walks lazily towards us.

"Been a while." The Doctor mutters.

I don't tell him that I've seen it so much more regularly than anyone else.

The four of us have grouped in the middle of the clearing, Jack is beside as he lays an arm around my waist, pinning me to my spot as The Doctor walks forward, meeting the Rakoli in the middle.

"Hello again, Doctor." It speaks, hands clasped together and resting them near its stomach.

It turns slightly, adjusting its position and looks over The Doctor's shoulder.

"Hello, Adelaide." It smiles unpleasantly, showing saliva covered, yellow teeth.

Jack's grip tightens around me as he pulls a gun from his pocket, gripping it tightly. The Doctor raises a hand from behind him, indicating for Jack to calm down. The Rakoli speaks next, clearly patronising the American to my left—

"There will be no need for that, I can assure you. I am merely here for my payment." If it could, it would have raised a clichéd, evil-looking eyebrow as it turned back to the Timelord in front of him.

"Payment?" The Doctor questions.

The Rakoli hols out its hand, palm facing the sky, it curls its bony fingers in a beckoning motion.

"I was promised the diamond."

The Doctor visibly tenses as I blurt out—

"I'm sorry?" I swallow a nervous laugh.

It tuts, "Now, now, child. This is grown up business."

"You're not getting it." I say, my nerve finally back.

The Rakoli places a finger on its lips, hushing me.

"Doctor? The Diamond." It orders, voice quiet, "Please."

I place my gaze on the Time lord's hand, he grips the red stone tightly as he says—

"No." He speaks slowly, his voice low in anger.

The next thing I know, I am grasped from behind. A cool and slightly damp hand comes to rest on my throat. The smell that reeks from the skin is appalling.

This really can't end well.

Jack has his gun pointing in my direction, at the Rakoli behind me. I stay as still as possible as it sighs—

"I didn't want to take it by force, Doctor. I am not usually a violent being."

Gwen scoffs, "Yeah, well what's with all the bodies about, then?"

I feel it shrug behind me.

"They were merely to lure you here. I can assure you, the journey of which you have been on, was not my idea. The payment however…"

The grip tightens around my throat as my breathing becomes all the more constricted. I try to choke but clearly fail as its nail dig deeper and deeper into the delicate skin of my neck; I can feel it drawing blood now. The dull thud of my heart beat fills my ears as I become drowsy.

"She's going, Doctor." It mocks, its voice close to my ear.

It twists it neck to study my face, "Not long now."

The sing song voice that it puts on is highly un-nerving.

"Let her go!" The demand comes from Jack as he readies his pistol.

"What would you want with a Siethian Diamond?" The Doctor asks quickly.

"They are worth a lot on my planet; selling one can tide one over for centuries." It clearly gets impatient with waiting as it tightens its grip quickly and suddenly, I make a strange strangled sound as I whimper. The Rakoli's voice becomes louder, more authoritive, "I'll take it whether I kill her or not, you know that!" It pauses for a couple of seconds before seeming to understand something, "Oh," it starts slowly, "Oh, but this is what he does, isn't it, Adelaide?" My head is tilted the side as my vision begins to blur and my knees weaken, "He'll put anyone in danger if it means that he gets to live on and explore the wonders of the universe. Why not add you to the long list?"

That second, a gunshot sounds through the air. The Rakoli freezes for a second before falling backwards. My knees give up and I fall to the dirt, trying to regain my senses. The Doctor kneels before me quickly; he studies the bruises that are surely forming on my neck.

"For a minute I thought-" I start but my voice scratches painfully at my throat, I begin to cough again and he hushes me gently.

"I'm sorry." He says gently before adding, "Don't try to talk."

I nod in agreement and stay silent; what just happened running through my head at a hundred miles an hour. One main thought passes constantly;

Thank god Jack is a good aim.

I wasn't actually planning on bringing back that horrid Rakoli but it just flowed. Honestly, it's as though I have no control over what my fingers are typing.

Anyway, hoped you enjoyed and, as always, reviews are more than welcome.