Daniel had to admit, sitting with Torchwood's only trained xenopsychologist was proving more of a challenge than he anticipated. The woman sitting across from him wore black half rimmed glasses and her greying hair up in a bun like some mid twentieth century librarian. The tiny little woman didn't even come to his armpit, couldn't possibly weigh more than seven stones and yet she challenged him. She eyed him like a cat studying how to catch a bird on the wing. He tried to glance over at the notepad lying in her lap already filled with notes, but she artfully managed to keep the bloody thing concealed. They spent the first fifteen minutes staring at each other, each silently daring the other to speak first. He won.

"So, technically you are a displaced alien too afraid to tell the woman you love what you are. The stories I always heard about the Doctor paint him brave and indomitable. Did the cloning accident make you a coward?"

Daniel blanched, his jaw twitched in rage, but he managed a cold smile as he rose from his chair to stalk wordlessly to the door.

"Is that what you want to teach the little boy, how to run?"

The knuckles of his hand blanched white under the pressure of his grip. His chest burned from with the need to suck in air. Words were stuck in his throat. He wanted to snap the neck of the little woman sitting in a bloody club chair concealing notes about him. How dare she accuse him of being a coward? Stupid humans, they were all stupid little apes who had no right to question him. Well, not all of them were stupid. Nora wasn't stupid, but this woman certainly was. She was a self-righteous, over educated human who dared to confront him.

"First of all," he growled, "I'm not a clone. I'm not. Technically speaking, I have two parents. My brain is entirely time lord, my DNA is half human and half Gallifreyan, and I have all the memories of both my progenitors tucked in my head. I. Am not. A coward."

"You're afraid to talk to me."

"I just don't see the need to spread my woes around that's all." He turned back to face her without taking his hand from the door eyeing her disdainfully.

"No, you prefer to wake up in the middle of the night and stalk the house, scaring your partner."

"I'm quiet."

"Really, so running outside starkers with four inches of snow on the ground is your idea of quiet."

He glared at her "That was an anomaly."

"That's one way to put it," she countered. "Are you going or staying. It doesn't matter to me, I have the afternoon blocked."

"I'm not staying here to be insulted by some little human ape." He let go of the knob.

"I didn't insult you. I challenged you. Let's change tracks then. When is the last time you practised keeping your shields in place?"

"What shields?"

"Daniel, please. This is getting us nowhere. I'm not here to treat you like a lab rat. I genuinely would like to help you solve the problem. If you want to keep this up, I can play games all day. Make up your mind, stay or go. My orders are to help you whether you like it or not. The faster you cooperate, the faster you go home."

"I'm not getting out of here unless I do, am I?"

"Nope. She flashed a broad smile. "There are guards on the other side of the door who will escort you to Infirmary."

"That's not fair."

"I know, but it's what your partner wants and you signed her power of attorney. She cares about you, even if you don't."

Daniel's tongue pushed against his cheek. Nora's image flashed in front of him followed immediately of the Doctor standing painfully alone bringing out a heavy sigh. The thought of winding up the same way sickened him.

"Let's start with this. I know that no one tested your psi abilities when you were first -" She started again.

"Created, not born, biologic metacrisis. Entirely unique in not one but two universes," he snapped.

"Right, your scans indicate a great deal of activity in your temporal lobe. I have a feeling your psi rating is off the charts."

"It is," he replied with a forced smile.

"Do you want to know what I think? I think that you have neglected the art of keeping your mental shields tuned. I think that for as much as the records say you are not your father, you have the same slightly over bearing, superior attitude that he showed. I think that you didn't think it was necessary because after all, we're just human and what human could possibly hurt you. What do you think? Is it possible that part of your problem is a failure to properly compartmentalize all those memories and tune out the anxieties of people surrounding you?"

The smile Daniel flashed looked more like a grimace than a grin. "I did all that right after. I spent a whole day in meditation."

"A whole day, nine months ago, okay. That certainly must have been enough," she muttered. "Moving on, when is the last time that you took his memories out for a spin and tried to deal with his guilt? When is the last time you thought about telling Nora - that's her name isn't it?"

"Yeah." The promise that he made to Nora forced him to walk back to his chair.

"When is the last time you tried to tell her about you?" She asked when he sat back down.

"All the time, everyday, but..."

"If you are planning to spend your life with her, you need to decide not just how but how much of the truth you tell. She deserves that don't you think."

"She'll leave. Rose left and she knew me."

"Why?"

"Because she loved him more, I guess."

"Must have hurt?"

Daniel sniffed hard, "I am not sitting here talking about this stuff."

"Daniel, no one can march through life alone all the time. Emotionally, that is what you are trying to do. I'm suggesting that if you want to get some of this under control, you let me help you practise compartmentalising your memories and we talk through some of the less pleasant memories of the day you were born, not created, but born. And find a way to tell her who you are - really are."

"I can't tell her, I can't," he whispered, his fear plainly evident. He really should just alter Nora's mind then the problem would go away.

"Tell me. How did it make you feel when Rose rejected you?"

Daniel wanted to slide into an abyss. None of this had anything to do with his dreams. He'd buried this and moved on. When he finally made eye contact, she looked impassive. He didn't know why his mouth opened or why the words that came, tumbled out. "I have every single memory, felt every single emotion that he did for over nine hundred years. He never had the guts to tell her that he loved her, because he didn't want to watch her grow old. I did and I told her but she walked away because I didn't have two hearts. How do you think it made me feel? Being angry or hurt doesn't change the decision she made and I've moved on. She moved on. None of this has a thing to do with my - dreams, and I'm not talking about Rose any more." He shifted under her calm, steady gaze and glared.

Doctor Hettinger smiled. "Are you a touch telepath?"

"What - yes."

"Thought so. You will be surprised to know that I am fairly high on that psi scale myself. Why don't we sit here and just practise keeping me out of your head. Let's see how strong your telepathic skills really are. We have two weeks to work on the rest. Maybe I can help you come up with a way tell Nora so you don't lose her. You might know, you aren't the only alien I've helped adjust to the recent events that got them stranded here. In fact, I should form a support group."

o0o

The sun had already set when Marcus pulled his car out of Torchwood's gate. The entire afternoon left Daniel completely exhausted. He leaned against the car seat his eyes closed against the headache sitting behind his right eye. He was grateful the doctor kept quiet after tellng him, itake a nap while I drive/I He really wasn't in the mood to chat after a grinding two and half hours with that tiny little woman. She'd forced him to throw up shield after shield, slamming mental doors shut as she probed his psyche testing his defences. The only human who'd ever bested his defences came in an 18th century dress. In the end, he had to admit that psychiatrist was far above the average human with a knack for telepathy.

Daniel listened with interest when the psychiatrist confessed that her own abilities came only after the amazing experience of holding telepathic conversations with a being called a Vshak. They'd found the almost ethereal alien in an Irish bog at about the same time that the Cybermen disappeared through the void. Daniel smiled. He knew the Vshak well, at least the Doctor did. The pale blue shape shifters were the only species capable of surpassing the telepathic skills of Time Lords. He wondered what the gentle alien saw in Hettinger because it was massively unusual for them to enhance a lesser species psychic abilities. Daniel wished the visitor was still around. He wouldn't mind a little help from their equally renowned abilities to heal.

They drove through the early evening in silence, the distance just enough to give Daniel time to gather his wits. There was no doubt in that by now, for as much as Nora would worry Robbie would be frantic. Headache or not, Daniel needed to get his act together in order to reassure the boy. He had a feeling what with him sleeping in a strange bed without Finn at his feet that wibbly box might get a work out tonight. Marcus cleared his throat in an obvious attempt to get his attention forcing Daniel to crack one eye open to get his bearings. Daniel flashed a concerned look at Marcus when the car slowed and the turn indicator click on. They were still a good five minutes from the estate.

"What?" he asked when Marcus pulled over.

"Before we get there, I have two questions. One, on a scale of one to ten, how bad's the headache and two, what are you going to do about Nora?"

"Answer, one, six - six point five, and two, none of your business."

"Daniel, I'm not trying to pry, I just think you need to be fair to her."

The muscles of Daniel's jaw twitched. "You think I'm not being fair? I will tell her, but not now. I promised Hettinger I would see her everyday at the mansion except tomorrow and Noillag Day. I'm not running, I haven't booked a one way ticket on a barrage balloon somewhere and I'm not heading for the nearest alien invasion to see how good I still am. I will keep that promise because I love Nora and Robbie."

"You do, don't you?" Marcus glanced out the window and then looked back at Daniel. "I have kept my mouth shut over this for the last few months. What I am going to see is not as a doctor, yours or anyone else's. The first time I met Rose, Pete had just cobbled together Torchwood. She'd done something that I thought impossible. She'd made a time jump from one universe to another hunting the Doctor. She was a mess. Something had attacked her leaving her with a concussion, three broken ribs and a fractured clavicle. She was rattling on about a war with children. I thought she was suffering from the effects of the concussion. Pete told me no, what she was talking about was real."

"Marcus -"

"Shut up, Daniel. For the last five years, all she talked about was finding a way back to him. Then you showed up, and I thought, she's finally going to be happy. You were as lovesick as she was when she first showed up, it had to work. I just had to get you healthy and you'd both go adventuring. But it didn't work. When you started this thing with Nora, I really thought it was a rebound thing and eventually you and Rose would still get it together, I was wrong and I'm sorry, but don't screw this up. Find a way Daniel, for both your sakes." Marcus restarted the engine, but hesitated. "That's it; I am now back to being your doctor. Am I still invited to your ceremony?"

"Yeah, of course you are. I won't screw it up Marcus. If I'm right, he's sick. How he's managing to hold off regenerating, I don't know. But when it's over, the dreams will just go back to being dreams. Can we go now?" He nodded down the road.

Marcus nodded and pulled back on the road. Daniel knew he the man still cast concerned glanced at him, but he ignored the look. He had better things to worry about than Marcus' concerns. The smile that flashed across Daniel's face came as natural as breathing when he saw the lights surrounding the Tyler Estate. Nora was just three quarters of a mile from the gate. Worries about what to say or how to say it vanished taking the discomfort of his headache with it. His hand was on the door handle before Marcus even pulled the car to a stop. He flashed a grateful smile to Marcus and bounded out the door leaving Marcus to follow. He still couldn't get over a butler opening the door for him. It just felt wrong.

"Good evening Mr Barrow, the family is in the lounge"

"Sorry, but what is your name?" Daniel asked whilst the man helped him chivvy from his Mac before turning to Marcus.

"Harris, sir," he answered with a thick Irish accent.

"Mr Harris, do you like being a butler?"

"I am a house manager, sir and yes, I enjoy the service. It harkens back to the old times doesn't it?"

"The old times, yes I guess it does. Do you know where my partner and son are?"

"Master Robert is upstairs in the playroom with Master Anthony, sir. And as I said, the others are in the lounge. Doctor Jones, may I take your coat and medical bag sir?" He turned to Marcus.

"Thanks, Mr Harris, don't mind Daniel, he is a liberal," Marcus teased.

"Daniel?" Nora stepped from the lounge then flew to his arms.

He buried his face in her neck not caring if anyone watched him hug her as close as possible. He was vaguely aware of Marcus and the butler leaving them alone in the hallway. Daniel shifted his face from her neck to claim her mouth. "I missed you," he murmured when they broke both breathless. "All I have thought about all day is coming here and seeing you. Can we go to the guest house, I need to hold and cuddle you. And I want to talk about some stuff."

She stroked his face. "We can't. Robbie wasn't comfortable staying here without us, Tony was all excited about having a sleep over, so Mum and dad took the guest house, and we have their room. I know you wanted to stay there but he is stressed just being here."

He flashed a tired smile. "Sacrifices of a parent huh," he whispered.

She studied his face, "Are you alright, do you need a lie-down? You look worn out."

"Um, I'm fine, I just need you."

Nora grimaced then pulled back from him. "Don't do that. We promised each other not to lie to each other anymore, remember. If I recall, no flames will occur."

"No, they won't. And yes, I probably could use a kip. Two hours with that woman turned out worse than dealing with Ned." Without thought, he reached to rub his temple.

"Daniel, Marcus said you passed your tests, but you have a headache."

"Um, yeah, I do, but I need to talk to you about something then I'll have a lie-down. Can we go up? I want say hi to Robbie. The butler called him Master Robert, how cute is that." He took her hand pulling her toward the staircase trying hard to ignore the stab of pain in his chest. A sense of dread struck as he pulled himself up the steps toward Robbie. The need to see him propelled Daniel's steps upward oblivious to Nora's increasing worry ignoring the pain now shooting through every muscle of his body. His legs stopped, unable to lift his foot to the next riser, his lungs wouldn't let him take his next breath. He half turned to face her in obvious pain his terror etched in every line of his face. His eyes squeezed shut against the sudden flash behind his lids. Instinct forced him to push Nora away as he pulled himself up two steps. His brain raced with all the things that could be wrong, but only one shined above the rest. He was undergoing an impossible change. It was that or he was dying. He tried to form a cohesive thought, to make Nora understand.

"Daniel? You're scaring me; I'm getting Marcus."

"No, no ... wait ... don't ... leave me," he stuttered in pain filled gasps. If he just grasped the banister with both hands tight enough, he could stop it. He leaned over groaning loudly in agony. "No, no, not here. I ... can't ... do ... this." He forced his eyes open to look over his shoulder to see her terror filled eyes. "I lied. I didn't mean too, I didn't," he stuttered, "He's not my brother, he's me and he's dying. I-I love you and everything -" he lurched against the wave of pain exploding in his chest. Sweat poured off him. He barely heard Nora screaming Marcus' name. "Everything, I told you after the beach is true. J-just - god, no..." His body jerked from the spasms coursing through his muscles. "Th-this ... can't be. Tell Ro -"

Daniel's eyes flashed gold for less than a millisecond as the artron energy in his cells exploded. He lurched, catching his foot as the seizure struck, tearing through him sending him crashing against Nora. Grappling with his contorting body, she screamed for help as she tried to stop his fall. The sounds of profanity echoed in the large hallway as the entire household came running. Daniel arched away jerking out of her arms pitching back against the banister then forward snapping his ankle as he began flopping down the marble stairs

"Fuck!" The word came from both men as Marcus and Pete pushed past Jackie and Adela to stop Daniel from hitting the bottom steps. Marcus wrapped his arms around Daniel, using his body to cushion the unconscious man as he continued to seize.

"Shite, Marcus, his head," Pete cursed as Marcus' shirt quickly smeared with bright red blood.

"Daddy!" Robbie's high pitched scream cut through the hearts of every adult snapping their eyes upward to see Robbie starting down the stairs toward his mum. The sound of his voice tore Nora's attention away from the horror of Daniel sending her up the stairs to grab her son. Tony stood transfixed hardly aware of his mother or a maid racing for the kitchen stairs. The two women took the stairs up to the long hallway running to help Nora shuttle the boys away from the upper landing. Two small voices filled the hallway with their wails. Jackie made no effort to be gentle as she snatched Tony up, shoved him into the arms of the maid, and followed suit with Robbie, expertly grabbing the kicking, screaming child from his stunned mother. "Go," she said pushing the maid ahead to the play room.

"Keep them in here," Jackie snarled to the two maids pulling the door shut to secure the hysterical boys and Nora in the playroom. "Don't let them out until Daniel is safely secured. Mr Harris?"

The stunned butler snapped to military attention. "Yes Ma'am."

"Get to the guest house and get the McGregor's. Nora will need her parents," Jackie ordered as she raced out of habit for the main stairs in time to see her daughter walk into chaos. "Rose, call the evac team!"

o0o

Daniel turned around the windowless white room looking for the door out. He ran his hands along the smooth, white walls hunting for evidence of a hinge or even a crack in the wall that would show him the way out. He had no idea how he'd shown up in this room in the first place. The air lacked any hints, as it was scent free thanks to an obvious well functioning air exchange system purifying the air. He edged down the wall, surprised that this place didn't frighten him. It was just as an analytical problem that he found interesting. He moved on, wondering why the light in the all white room didn't hurt his eyes.

"You can look all you want, but you can't get out - at least not yet."

Daniel turned toward the centre of the room. "I know that voice, where you are?"

"I'm right here, space boy," the faceless voice responded. "You always were a bit of a dunce weren't you, skinny man?"

"Donna? You can't be here," he asked in confusion.

"Not Donna, I'm just using your memory for a connection." The voice replied. Then she was there, dressed exactly as he remembered. From the red hair swinging around her face to the well proportioned body covered by a dark blue jumper and trousers, this was his mum. The sound of his own laughter surprised him; she had no feet. It was something that he couldn't dismiss.

"Why don't you have - you know - feet?"

"Why, I'm not dancing."

"Who are you?" The question came without confusion or rancour, just curiosity.

"I'll give you hint. What was tiny, bumpy and wrapped in brown?"

"My TARDIS, you're my TARDIS, how?"

"Well, from what I understand, my mother's Time Lord is regenerating. His energy is tearing her apart and their combined energies are hitting us. Gotta say, your office is a mess, but I'm big now."

"Am I dying?" Daniel asked with disinterest.

"No, but we can see. Look down at the window."

Daniel looked down, "Wow, is that me? They all look upset. Where's Nora?" he asked straining to see her.

Donna's avatar floated over. "Yup, that's you. With all that jerking, the Time Lord really must be tearing my mum up," she mused. "Don't know where your companion, is though."

They both watched slightly bemused by the seizure's sudden stop, just as new people dressed in black burst through a door. Daniel watched amazed by the actions of the people who stripped the now still body's shirt, attaching two pads to its chest then applying paddles that made the body jerk. It sort of hurt. He rubbed his nose when a man pushed a tube in the body's nose. "Are you sure, he isn't dying?"

"Nah, but I have to say, you will hurt when you wake up."

"Can you see timelines?" he asked looking up at the avatar.

"A little, can't tell you much except to say, you will heal fairly quickly, without any problems and you will stay with the little one and his mum until you don't"

"What does that mean?"

"I could say spoilers. Ooh, I think, I'm done. Sorry about your office. You're gonna sleep now. Bye."

"Wait," Daniel called her back, panicked for the first time. "Are you my mum?"

"Spoilers."

o0o

Marcus took the steps two at time to reach Nora who now stood with her parents and Jackie. "He's not dead, I know that's what you're thinking but he's not. His heart stopped, but it's back. Nora, you are his medical power of attorney now, if it stops again what do you want me to do?"

Nora pushed away from her mother and met Marcus' eyes with a cold direct glare. "You do what ever it takes to save my Daniel's life. I am coming with you to make sure you do!"

"You can't," his answer came so soft it was little more than a whisper. "I have a full resuss team on board. So there is no room for you. Pete and Jackie will bring you right behind. I am not letting that skinny git die, I promise." He turned to join his team.

Nora watched the medics load Daniel on a stretcher, connect the tube in his nose to a small respirator and then cover him with a foil blanket. She took three steps down the staircase to watch the love of her life disappear through the door. Rose walked up to meet her with tears silently sliding down her face. Nora's voice was clear and firm. "You will tell me what Daniel is and when he is well, I am taking him home. After that, I never want to see you or this house again." She glanced at Pete standing with blood smeared across his hands and pants. "Take me to Daniel, she ordered. "Mother." She looked over her shoulder at her parents, "Take care of Robbie, tell him I've gone with his dad to hospital." She marched down the steps, stepped over the mess left behind by the medics, swallowing a sob at Daniel's blood and mess as she grabbed her Mac from the butler to go outside. Five minutes later the sound of Pete's helicopter became a back drop to Rose's ringing mobile.