Professor Hayden lunged across the room at Verity, knocking her to the floor.
"You stupid woman!" He screamed at her cowering form. "Every time I let you out of my sight you set me back. And you two."
The Professor swung around to his two henchmen. "I told you to kill that man. You left him for dead and now they have all escaped."
The smaller man, Darius, stepped forward. "I shot him. I put my gun to his forehead and I shot him. Nathaniel watched me do it and we left him in the basement."
"Well, obviously he is neither dead nor in the basement." The Professor bellowed at them, his face red with rage.
His expression changed, as only an insane mans can, and he sat down at his desk calmly. "At least the tracking chip is still in place. It was more accurate then I anticipated and my only consolation is that we will have them back soon."
While he activated the chips program and it began its search for Honey, Verity pulled herself from the floor and straightened her clothing. Steeling herself she stepped up to the desk and addressed Professor Delano.
"Hayden, I'm leaving. I won't do this for you any more. When I joined you I did so believing that you were helpless. A stranded old man, searching for a way home. Everything you have ever told me has been a lie. You abused an innocent young woman, ordered the death of man, who was guilty of nothing except being a stranger, and were preparing to do unspeakable things to the Doctor." Like everyone the Doctor encountered, Verity wasted no time in speaking of him with familiarity. "You are a sick and twisted man and I will no longer be part of this. Goodbye."
The Professor did not even look at Verity until she pounded a fist on his desk and screamed, "Why wont you look at me damn it?! I've been your partner for nearly 10 years. I have done despicable things thinking that I was only doing what was right and now you won't even look me in the eyes."
Now, the Professor slowly turned his head, casting a hard and icy look upon Verity. At first she held his gaze but soon she faltered and her eyes fell to the ground.
"What makes you think that you were anything but a tool to me, woman? You were foolish and malleable enough for to use for my own purposes. You served as an excellent guide on how to act on this planet among you primitive and ignorant creatures. But let me assure you that I could have used any witless woman to achieve my goals."
Tears welled in Verity's eyes and she dug her fingernails in her palm to stop their flow. She knew now that escape from this place was not going to be as easy as she'd thought. She'd assumed that the Professor's affection for her would keep her safe but now everything was changing right in front of her.
"Please, just let me leave. I won't tell anyone what's going on here. I won't try to stop you. I just want to go home."
His cruel laugh echoed through the room again and for the first time Verity felt the fear that so many others must have felt at that sound.
"I'm afraid you'll not be leaving here tonight, Verity. Boys, take her away and make sure that she at least will not escape."
Verity spun around the face the two men. She knew them both so well. They were not the smartest lads on the planet but surely they would not allow her to be treated in such a way. She begged and pleaded but they still took her by the arms and dragged her from the room while she wept. Hysteria over took her as they lead her towards one of the many cells lining the hall. She screamed and babbled incoherently but the men took no heed.
They were not rough or unkind but placed her gently in the largest room, thinking that its couch, TV and comfortable bed would sooth her. As they left the room, closing and locking the door firmly, they gave each other dubious looks and returned to the Professor's office.
Professor Delano was behind his desk looking pleased with himself.
"Now that we have removed the excess of estrogen from the room let us discuss how you are going to retrieve our quarry this time. It would seem that they have a teleporter. Oh, don't look so shocked. How can anything come as a surprise knowing what you do? As I was saying, they have managed to move a good distance from here but we will follow them."
The men's PDAs buzzed in their hip clasps as the Professor sent them the information they needed to find the Doctor and Honey. As the reviewed the coordinates the Professor picked up his phone and dialled. He spoke softly for a moment and then hung up.
"A helicopter will be waiting for you at the private helipad outside the city. You have clearance to fly north but only for the next 24 hours. Heaven help you if you do not return with them within that time."
--
While the Professor sat patiently in his warm and comfortable office the Doctor, Honey and Jack were huddled around their smouldering fire. The night was cool and Honey wished she had packed more supplies. She and Jack were sharing both blankets while the Doctor, who seemed quite comfortable, leaned back against a rock with his feet practically in the coals.
They had eaten a small meal of apples and granola bars and were hungry for more but the Doctor felt that they were safest staying put for the time being. Honey had threatened and cajoled and teased but she could not get a single word out of the Doctor about what he had learned from the Professor.
The stars were bright above them, unblemished by the ambient lights of any city, and the wildlife chirped, cried and howled in the darkness around them. Several times they had heard the haunting call of a loon close by and Honey was awed by the magic of this place. Despite her curiosity she understood the Doctor's unwillingness to disturb the beauty of the night.
Honey guessed it was drawing close to midnight. She knew that Jack wasn't likely to sleep and the Doctor definitely wouldn't. Adding that to curiosity made the odds of Honey sleeping slim to none.
"Doctor?"
"Yup?" He replied quickly though he appeared to be in his own world.
"I really feel as if we should be doing something. They found us so quickly last time whose to say they wont do the same now?"
Honey's words hung in the air between them. The Doctor had not taken his eyes from the flames that danced around the logs. He face grew more concerned and Honey wished she had not said anything to disturb his peaceful musings.
At last he spoke. "You're right. There is something we should do but you're not going to like it and I didn't want to be the one to suggest it and make you feel like you have to do it."
"Hey, now that's a sign that he really likes you." Jack nudged her gently. "Sometimes I wonder if he likes me at all. He's always suggesting fatal tasks for me."
"I'm not even going to dignify that with an answer." The Doctor turned his nose up, looking properly slightly.
As much as they bantered and insulted each other, Honey knew that the Doctor and Jack were fast friends and would never intentionally hurt one another. She also knew that they were tag teaming her into forgetting what had started the conversation.
"Hey, if it means not going back to that warren of dank concrete tunnels, I'll do just about anything."
Pulling his shoes away from the fire the Doctor shuffled on his knees to where Honey and Jack sat. Settling back on his feet he looked Honey in the eyes.
"I wasn't joking when I said I thought it was something you might not want to do and after I tell you I will completely understand if you say no. I'll think of another way to stop them finding us."
Honey couldn't think of what the Doctor could possibly be referring to that she would be so unwilling to attempt. "It can't be worse than being strapped to a bed, hungry and needing to pee."
Jack laughed. "I can think of much better things to do while strapped to a bed!"
Honey elbowed him hard in the ribs.
"Sorry! I was just trying to lighten the mood. It freaks me out when he gets this serious."
Looking back to the Doctor, Honey raised her eyebrows at him questioningly.
"The microchip in your shoulder has to go. I thought I'd muddled with it enough that they wouldn't be able to track us but he's too clever for that. If he's got the kind of sway I suspect he does then he'll follow us where ever we go."
Honey now understood why the Doctor was loath to bring up the problem. The point of the dart she had been shot with had been nearly an inch long. The chip would be buried at least that deep in her upper arm. Removing it was not going to be pleasant.
"Doctor, you had a heart stopped for me. Jack died for me. You both left your universe behind for me. The least I can do is endure a little bit of discomfort."
Her words were brave but as Honey lay on her stomach with her head pillowed on Jack's thigh she clenched her teeth in fear. Her pain threshold was very low and something as minor as a knocked shin could set her crying. But she didn't tell the Doctor that as he dug about in his coat pockets, procrastinating.
He found what he was looking for and couldn't delay any longer. In his hand he held a pair of thin, delicate tweezers and a sharp looking blade.
"I knew I had a first aid kit in there somewhere. So much junk collects over the years. Really should turn the whole works inside out for a bit of fresh air."
"You're going to clean those things right?" Honey eyes widened as the Doctor rambled about his pack-rat pockets.
"Oh, of course. What do you take me for, some kind of quack? Mind you, I do like ducks." He gave Honey a quirky but not particularly reassuring smile.
"They're from the 66th century. Self cleaning." Jack explained to dispel her fear.
"So they can make themselves clean but they don't come with a touch of anesthesia?"
"That's a very good point. You'd think someone would have thought of that by then. Are we ready?" The Doctor asked testing the edge of the blade on his thumb.
"As I'll ever be." Honey wrapped on hand around Jack's knee and groped for his hand with the other. She turned her head away as the Doctor leaned forward with the tiny blade in hand. She flinched as the blade touched her skin but the pain was surprisingly little.
"Just a little cut." The Doctor told her. If this was it then she could certainly bear it. What came next made her gasp sharply. It felt like the Doctor had picked up a stick from the embers and stabbed her with it. She squeezed her eyes shut and dug her fingers into Jack's leg and hand. Thankfully he didn't react and merely stroked her hair soothingly.
The Doctor often needed reminding of when he was being rude or insensitive. If he was lost in thought or proving himself right he tended to become slightly oblivious to other peoples feelings. This was one of those times.
"Boy, that thing is really in there. Keeps slipping out of my grasp. How ya doin' there, Honey, ma girl?" He added as an after thought when he saw the look Jack was shooting his way.
Honey didn't answer and the Doctor stopped his chatter and focused. At long last he sat up straight and cried out triumphantly. He set his tweezers down on a thin metal tray also from his first aid kit. Honey relaxed as he carefully wiped away a trickle of blood and covered the tiny cut with a band-aid.
"I don't like you." She said sulkily as she sat up and pulled her hoodie back up over her shoulders.
"Course you do! Here, have a popsicle." He held out a bright yellow piece of ice on stick. "It's banana."
"Where did you get that?" Honey asked as she took the sticky treat from the Doctor.
"Pocket are great." Was all he said before picking up his tray and walking to the other side of the fire and back to his rock.
Jack put an arm around Honey, for the first time in a totally innocent way, and told her she should get some sleep. He balled up the second blanket as a pillow and draped his great coat over her for a blanket.
Her fear and worry much displaced, it wasn't long before the soft sounds of the night and the peaceful crackle of the fire lulled Honey to sleep. She didn't hear Jack and the Doctor talking quietly at the edge of the firelight.
"Stay here and keep her safe." The Doctor said gravely.
"Where are you going?"
"I got this thing out just in time. They were on to us the second we left and they'll likely be here within the hour."
"That doesn't tell me where you're going? Off into the wilderness somewhere? Somehow I don't see you a wander round in the forest kind of guy."
The Doctor looked affronted. "I'll have you know that I was a level 5 camper when I was a kid. Just not big on the bugs. Antennae and multiple triple jointed legs just give me the willies."
Jack rolled his eyes. "I thought so."
"Want me to tell Honey you're scared of Stormtroopers? I thought not. Now just be quiet and keep the fire low. I'm going to have a word with our friends when they land whatever it is their flying and I'm hoping to be far away from here for that chat."
Jack embraced the Doctor in a quick hug. "Be careful, Doctor."
"If I'm not back by morning… just wait longer."
And with that he was off into the inky blackness of the forest with only a flashlight and his sonic screwdriver.