Lyssa closed her journal with a sigh, setting it down on her desk and crossing over to the window, resting her hands on the sill and gazing unseeing at the fall scenery outside. If she had been paying attention, she likely would have said that it was gorgeous. If she'd had someone there with her, she would have loved to have gone for a walk and explore.
The grass was still bright and green, but hints of the familiar red and orange and gold could be seen dotting leaves on the trees, fading into each other. The sun was slowly edging over the horizon, bathing the fluffy clouds in a beautiful gradient of colors.
And yet she didn't see any of it.
The scenery was beautiful, yes. But the reason she was there to look at the scenery in the first place was... decidedly less beautiful.
xXx
"They're following us!" the Doctor exclaimed in dismay, reading the results from the monitor.
"But... how can they do that? You've got a time machine," Martha protested.
"Stolen technology, they've got a Time Agent's vortex manipulator," he answered grimly. "They can follow us wherever we go, right across the universe..." He paused, a dark look stealing over his features. "They're never going to stop."
"Doctor?" Lyssa said quietly, hesitantly stepping forward and grimacing apologetically when they both flinched and turned to her. "What's going on?"
"Lyssa?" the Doctor stared at her, eyes wide. "When did you get here?" He looked back at the closed doors in sudden worry. "Did they see you? Were you here before we took off?"
"I only just got here," she assured him. "I've been in the TARDIS the whole time, no one should've seen me. But who are you worried about?" Given the insistence of the TARDIS that she have her journal on hand, she assumed it was the start of an episode, and one she would need to remember. And given the urgency of their actions, she really needed to know what was going on.
"There's this group on that planet we just left, they've targeted the Doctor," Martha explained. "Something to do about stealing his lifespan because they don't live for very long. But we escaped so I thought we'd be fine, except now they're somehow following us?" She turned to him with a frown, obviously hoping for answers.
"Those creatures are hunters," the Doctor obliged, opening a hidden compartment below the console and pulling out a small fob watch that made Lyssa stiffen when she saw it. "They can sniff out anyone - and me being a Time Lord; well, I'm unique. They can track me down across the whole of time and space."
Martha laughed humorlessly. "Okay. And the good news is...?"
"They can smell me, but they haven't seen me," the Doctor emphasized, hooking the fob watch up to the console and rapidly typing in commands. "And their life's bound to be running out, so, we hide, wait for them to die."
"But they can track us down, remember?" Martha pointed out. "Where can we hide for however long it takes them to die? What if it's a year? That's just not feasible, Doctor. And why do we have to wait this long at all? Can't you just stop them now?"
"If I stop them now, it'll be a permanent solution. I have to give them a chance," the Doctor muttered, still focused on his work. "And it won't be a year, should only be three months, max. This little thing," he hefted the watch in the air, "is what will make it feasible."
"A... watch?" Martha said slowly, furrowing her brow in confusion.
"Martha, this watch is me," he said seriously. He glanced over at Lyssa, easily reading her expression and tense posture. "You already know what this is, don't you?"
She nodded, silently stepping forward to join Martha.
"Well, I don't," the med student huffed. "I'm completely lost. What do you mean, a watch is you?"
"They can track me because I smell like a Time Lord - only one in the universe, makes for a pretty easy trail," he sighed. "That's why I've got to do it. I have to stop being a Time Lord... and become human."
xXx
Lyssa snapped back to the present, stinging eyes making it clear she'd been staring into the distance for too long. Something was lightly smacking her palms repeatedly, and she glanced down, blinking away the stinging in her eyes.
Her hands had started to tremble again.
She sighed, releasing the sill and stepping away from the window, curling her shaking hands lightly into fists. Turning around, she surveyed the simple contents of her room once more. A neatly made bed, a dresser, her aforementioned desk and wooden chair, a small bookcase only partially filled, a padded chair, and a small table.
It wasn't exactly modern, but it was comfortable enough, and it gave her a private place to hide when she wanted a break from... what was outside those walls, and everything it entailed.
Her eyes landed on her journal and she huffed. "Probably shouldn't leave that in the open," she muttered, crossing over and picking up the little book. She didn't have a lock on the desk, so she kept in in her dresser, tucking it away at the bottom of one of the drawers. Not exactly the most secure location in the world, but she highly doubted anyone would be searching her room - and if they did, no one aside from perhaps Martha would be able to understand it even if they found it.
She caught sight of her reflection in the small provided mirror and grimaced. Her curls were not a fan of the prim and proper hairstyles expected of the time period - or the associated hair care products - and protested both vigorously and often. Thankfully, she had manged to sneak along a packet of strong bobby pins that blended into her hair, and she used most of the packet each day trying to tame her curls.
She probably would have used all of the packet if several of the pins hadn't disappeared into whatever void all bobby pins eventually get sucked into. She never noticed when they disappeared, only found that at the end of the day, when she dug the pins out of her hair, there was less than there should be.
Although she hadn't discounted the possibility that there were several pins still floating around in her hair somewhere, and she just hadn't found them.
Or that her hair wasn't just straight up eating them.
She carefully patted and pinned her hair into place once more as best she could with unsteady fingers, hoping that it would stay for the short while remaining until bedtime when she could take it down. She tugged a few curls to hang lower over her ears, hiding the not exactly commonplace earrings she wore, gifted to her by the Doctor. She didn't want to take them out, but neither did she want to draw attention to them, and so hiding them it was.
The worst part of it was probably constantly suppressing the instinct to tuck her hair behind her ears.
She glanced at the result and sighed, hoping that bedtime would come sooner rather than later. The weight of all her hair piled atop her head each day got heavier as time wore on, typically resulting in a faint headache by the time night fell.
Satisfied with her hair - and not willing to push at it too much lest it all fell apart - she brushed off her white blouse, trying to smooth out the wrinkles that daily use had given it. Her hand stopped at the familiar lump near her neckline, and she rested her fingers atop it before reaching underneath and pulling out her necklace. She kept it hidden each day, the style far from being appropriate for the times, but she refused to take it off, finding comfort in that little bit of familiarity when everything had changed.
And... perhaps she was lying about it, to comfort herself, but she felt that holding the Doctor's last gift to her helped ease her symptoms when they inevitably appeared.
She cupped the jewelry in the palm of her hand, tracing her finger lightly over the cool ice of the snowflake and the dark blue gem in the center before turning her attention to the little charm that dangled next to it. Receiving it had been bittersweet because of all that it signified, but ultimately she treasured it just as much as her first charm, though she wished it had been under better circumstances.
Of course, apparently so did the Doctor.
xXx
"Martha, can we have a minute alone, please?" the Doctor asked, startling Lyssa. He'd been focused on the console for the past ten minutes before abruptly whirling around, startling both girls. "We have just enough of a lead that I have time to do this, but not much. And it needs to happen now."
"Oh. Uh, sure?" Martha agreed, casting a confused look at Lyssa, who shrugged. "I'll just be... in my room, I guess," she shrugged, heading for the door to the hallway. "I'll start packing. Or hope the TARDIS helps me pack, I don't even know where we're going."
"Thank you, Martha," the Doctor said with a small but grateful smile her way. "The TARDIS will show you what you need. Lyssa, you probably won't have time to pack, but the TARDIS should take care of that for you."
"Right. Just... call me when you're done doing... whatever it is you're doing," the med student stated with a raised eyebrow, looking them both up and down with an air of implication.
The Doctor rolled his eyebrows. "Oh, just get moving," he huffed.
Martha smirked, sending a short little wave to Lyssa before leaving them alone in the console room. Quiet descended, the only sound coming from the ever-present hum of the ship. Lyssa shifted awkwardly from foot to foot.
"What was it you needed, Doctor?" she asked hesitantly. "Is there something I'm going to need to do, or something? Some special instructions?"
"Actually, yes," he agreed. "Although those are contingent upon several factors." He stepped up close to her, looking her over carefully and making her flush at the close scrutiny, not nearly ready for such a thing so soon after her last visit with Ten - or the realization that had followed. His gaze stopped on her necklace, lingering on the lone charm dangling there, and she didn't miss the split second of pain that filled his features before his expression returned to normal and his gaze swept over her face.
"Your hair," he murmured, gently lifting a curl with one hand. "Where were you last?" he asked, weaving the lock between his fingers before letting his hand fall to rest in the small space between them, so very close to her hand.
She swallowed hard, struggling to concentrate under the heady feeling of his full attention on her and his unnecessary closeness. "Your future. For a while, actually. Not sure how many months, but it was at least three or four. Last time I was somewhere you'd recognize was..." she paused to think. "Probably Nine. With the gas mask zombies in London."
His gaze sharpened. "You went through one of your changes there. And it's been several months, long enough for it to have settled in. You've adjusted."
She blinked. "Uh... yeah, I guess? I mean, I don't really know what I'd be looking for, but I don't feel sick or anything?"
He hummed. "If you recall, I ran several tests after you'd changed. I told you that you'd no longer appear completely human on any but the most basic tests or those with limited technology."
She nodded, brow furrowed as she tried to follow. "Yeah, why - oh." Her shoulders sagged with realization. "That means I'm not going to appear human to the Family either. I'm going to smell different."
"Probably a bit like me," he admitted. "We both have Time running through us, which means we're both going to be living longer than humans. Either of us would present an appetizing target for them, although obviously they're likely to go after both of us if they find out."
Lyssa's eyes flashed to him. She'd long suspected that she'd be living at least a bit longer than the average human, but this was the first time it'd been absolutely confirmed, even if she still didn't know how long she'd live. But if they could track her...
"Does that mean I'm going to have to use the Chameleon Arch?" she asked, unable to hide her nervousness at the thought. She didn't remember much of the details of this adventure, but one thing she did remember was the Doctor screaming in agony.
The Doctor shook his head immediately. "Your physiology is still too human. You can't use the Chameleon Arch on a human - their systems simply aren't designed to handle the process. If it didn't kill you immediately, it'd drive you mad as your mind burned. And then it'd still kill you."
Lyssa shivered. "Okay, yeah, let's pass on that, then. But... then what do we do, if we can't use the Chameleon Arch?"
He frowned, glancing over at the console, where the fob watch was still hooked up to the console. "I'm landing us in a time period where little to no technology is in use. If the Family follows us there, they'll likely try to blend in, which means they won't use any of their technology until they're certain they're on our trail. That will help keep you safe." He paused. "I've tried to pick a time where neither of you will be overly challenged, but it's likely both of you will face unpleasant situations because of the time period. I'm sorry."
Lyssa scrunched up her nose. "We'll survive, Doctor. That's the important thing. And I am fully willing and able to educate someone if the situation calls for it. Loudly and physically, if need be," she assured him. "And something tells me Martha knows how to take care of herself, too. She's a med student. She knows how to make it hurt without causing permanent damage."
He snorted. "As long as it doesn't create a huge scene - we need to blend in too, remember." He paused again, longer this time. "Keeping them away from technology will be able to help, but they'll still be able to smell you, and if they can smell you, they can find you." He sighed, looking away and rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I wanted to give this to you under better circumstances, but... I guess this will have to do."
She tilted her head at him. "Doctor?"
He sent her a nervous smile, then turned away to the console, crouching down and fiddling with something underneath, out of her line of sight. "It's just something that I added as a precaution, mind you, I knew it would be added at some point, I just didn't think it'd be added - that it'd be necessary - this soon," he started to ramble, keeping his back to her as he worked. "I mean, it'll be more needed later, but this - this will protect you for now," he finished, standing and turning to face her, something cupped in his hands.
She watched him curiously as he approached her, continuing to hide the object as he reached out and took one of her hands in his own, placing the item - which felt something like a small velvet cube - in her palm and cupping his own hand over it.
"I'm giving this to you now, because your safety requires it," he told her seriously, gaze holding her own. "But that in no way diminishes my intentions on creating or in giving this to you, nor how dear you are to me."
Her cheeks heated up, eyes flickering between his, firmly fixed on her, and the small object in her hand that felt physically light and yet heavy with meaning. He withdrew his hand, moving it to gently hold hers and revealing a deep blue jewelry box resting in her palm.
She sucked in a breath, eyes flying to him. He didn't say anything, just patiently watched her, expression carefully neutral as she turned her attention to the little box in her hand. Her fingers trembled as she carefully flipped open the lid, revealing the contents. Just like the other pieces of jewelry he'd given her over the past two years - both of which she'd worn since the day she'd received them - this one lay securely nestled in padding.
Her eyes traced over the little charm, similar in size to her other. It was small and slim, carved either from silver or from some material resembling it. It looked like the traditional shields knights used in the Middle Ages, with three points at the top, an equal distance apart, then straight on the sides until they slowly curved together into a point at the bottom.
A deep red gem sat in the center of the charm, tiny raised lines radiating from it in every direction and intersecting with each other in elaborate loops and swirls until they reached the edge of the shield. Peering closely at the gem, she could just make out the familiar circular symbols engraved into the back of it.
She raised her head to look at him, noticing his tense posture despite his best efforts to hide it. "It's beautiful," she said genuinely with a smile. "I'm guessing that's Circular Gallifreyan?"
He nodded, relaxing at her obvious acceptance of the gift. "Loosely translated, it means, 'Protector and protected.' Because you've protected me so many times - from danger, from others, from myself... and you'll be protecting me now, when I become human. And in turn, I've protected you in the past, and will continue to do so in the future, as long as I'm able. We look out for each other."
He carefully lifted the little charm out of the box, dangling it in the air, the light reflecting off it as it slowly spun about. "I built a... well, what's essentially an unnoticeable shield into this, designed to fit your form. When it's turned on... you'll appear as fully human to all but the most in-depth of scanners. I still wouldn't recommend letting anyone test your blood, but... this should keep the Family from noticing anything different about you."
"So, like an invisible Morphsuit, then," Lyssa guessed. "How does it turn on?"
"I've coded it to only respond to my sonic, to prevent it accidentally or maliciously being turned off, but if you like I could add a way for it to respond to your biological signature?" he offered.
She thought about it for a minute, but shook her head. "Not right now, at least, not when it's so important I don't be found. It'd be too easy for me to accidentally turn it off somehow."
He nodded easily. "Do you -"
"Are you -"
They both started at the same time, stopped, and laughed awkwardly. "You first," he offered with a gesture to her.
"I'm guessing you don't want me to take the necklace off to put the charm on?" she said with a shy smile.
He sucked in a breath through his teeth. "Yeah... that would, that would be appreciated, yes."
"Is that just a thing, then?" she asked. "'Cause like, I can understand future you not liking it - I took it off one time after getting brainwashed, which made you think I was dead, but I'm really hoping that doesn't become a pattern. Please tell me it doesn't." She grimaced at the thought.
He stared at her for a long minute, then abruptly sighed and shook his head. "I don't - fairy-girl, you've got to stop dropping little hints like that," he pleaded, rubbing his temple with one hand. "I've got two hearts, yes, but I need them both."
She reviewed what she'd just said and winced. "Right. Sorry. Didn't realize quite how that'd come across. Uh, if it's any consolation, I obviously survived, and I got the necklace back?" She jingled her snowflake charm with a sheepish smile.
He didn't look convinced, but something on the console beeped and drew his attention. He looked at the readings on the monitor with a frown, then turned back to her. "It's almost done. If you're all right with it, we should attach it now, just in case we end up running out of time later."
She nodded, sobering as the memory of why, exactly, she was getting the new charm returned to her.
He took the empty jewelry box and tucked it in his pocket, then sonicked the charm until the red gem flashed before returning to its normal shade. "It's turned on, and should stay that way until I'm able to turn it off after all this is over," he explained, giving her a slightly nervous smile. "You might notice a slight tingling sensation as I attach it, but after that it should be completely unnoticeable."
He stepped closer until he was mere inches away, though as ever his taller form over her felt only protective, never domineering. She reached to take his hand before he could touch her necklace and he stopped immediately, eyes flying to hers to check if she'd changed her mind, or had some other concern.
She swallowed hard, fighting the urge to curl up in a ball and avoid his gaze as her cheeks heated and she stumbled over how to say what she wanted. "Before you do this, I want you to know that I accept it with your original intentions in mind," she stammered, the urge to flee - to look away from how his eyes softened as she spoke - growing ever stronger.
"I know you're giving it to me now to protect me from this immediate danger, but you created it for me to show how much you care for me. And I - I accept it with that in mind. Thank you, Doctor, for this wonderful gift. For your friendship, and for caring about me," she finished, feeling horribly awkward and ready to melt into a blushing puddle on the floor.
His eyes were suspiciously moist as he lifted her hand up to his mouth and tenderly kissed her knuckles, all the while keeping her trapped with that horrible, wonderful, affectionate gaze. "You are my treasured friend, the one I hold more dear than all else," he swore, releasing her hand to pick up her necklace. "And there is nothing anyone can do to change that. Remember that, if all else changes," he said softly, finally looking away and releasing her from his gaze as he focused on her necklace.
The sonic buzzed for a brief moment before all became silent. He released the necklace and it fell back against her, two faint weights resting lightly against her skin where before there had been only one. A faint tingle like that of static electricity coursed over her before quickly fading like the Doctor had promised. She looked down at the two charms, resting side by side as if they belonged together - as if they had always been together.
"Just like your first charm, it's been sonicked to your necklace," the Doctor said quietly. "So it can't ever be pulled off or lost."
She swallowed hard, rubbing her thumb lightly over the gem in both charms before letting her hand fall and turning her face back up to him with a tremulous smile. "This means so much to me, Doctor. More than you know. I've never had someone care about me like this." She paused, eyes flitting away before she dragged them back to him. "Thank you for... everything."
He swept her up into a tight hug, one hand pulling her to him while the other protectively cupped the back of her head. "No, fairy-girl. Thank you."
xXx
A knock at the door drew her out of her thoughts once more. She turned with a smile, recognizing who was on the other side by the familiar knock. "Come in," she called.
The door opened with a creak as Martha stepped in, her hair pulled into a similar high bun. Her dark brown skirt whirled around her ankles as she moved, revealing the simple black boots she wore beneath. "Hey," the other girl smiled when she saw her. "How are you feeling?"
Lyssa scrunched her nose and held up her shaking hands for answer, and Martha frowned. She quickly moved closer and looked her over clinically, measuring her pulse with a gentle grip on her wrist.
"Any other symptoms?"
She shook her head. "Just this. I feel fine. Just a little frustrated."
"So... like normal, then?" Martha teased as she released her wrist and stepped back, apparently satisfied.
"Pretty much," Lyssa agreed with a huff, crossing her arms. "I miss the TARDIS. There was a spider in my room earlier, and I couldn't reach it, or find anyone to kill it. And now it's gone, and I don't know where it went. There weren't any bugs in the TARDIS."
Martha nodded sagely. "That's definitely the worst thing about this whole bit."
"Well... having proper hair care products would be nice, too," Lyssa admitted after a moment. "I miss showers. And not having to leave my hair up all the time."
"And not having to wear these heavy dresses," Martha added with a roll of her eyes, hefting her skirts in the air then letting them fall and billow out around her. "I swear, I put on an extra ten pounds every morning just with these alone."
"At least we don't have to wear corsets," Lyssa said gratefully. "I'm pretty sure I'd straight up die. Or at least faint dramatically off a cliff because I couldn't breathe."
"As your temporary health professional, I highly recommend you don't ever wear a corset while you're stuck here," the med student stated flatly. "Actually, I recommend you don't wear a corset in general."
Lyssa laughed. "I shall endeavor to restrain myself, difficult though it may be."
Martha nodded primly. "Good. Restraint is good for the soul. It teaches character." She paused, dropping her affected airs. "Although speaking of characters..." she trailed off meaningfully.
Lyssa raised an eyebrow. "Did something happen?" she asked curiously. A thought struck her and she groaned. "Please don't tell me someone made a mess again. I left it in order, I don't want to walk straight into chaos in the morning. Again."
Martha shook her head, smile tugging at her lips. "It's fine, don't worry. After what happened last time I doubt anyone would dare do such a thing. No, I was referring to a specific character in general." She paused. "Although I suppose you could define him as chaos, as well."
Lyssa frowned, suspicion rising. "Are you -"
"Mr. Smith is waiting outside," Martha confirmed with a smirk. "He was wondering if you, perhaps, felt both able and interested in taking a walk today?"
Lyssa immediately flushed and looked away. "I suppose it would do me good to get some fresh air," she said after a moment. "Exercise, and all that."
"Yeah, I bet it'd be good for you to go outside," Martha teased, waggling her eyebrows.
"Stop! You know it's not like that!" Lyssa hissed with a blush, swatting at the older girl, who simply dodged with a laugh. She scrunched her nose and turned away with a huff, pretending to be entirely focused on brushing off her clothes. Knowing it would be chilly, she grabbed her coat from its hook and tugged it on over her blouse, quickly buttoning it up and grabbing a warm hat and gloves as well. "Aren't you going to be cold?" she asked, eyeing Martha's distinct lack of coat over her tan blouse.
"Oh, I'm not going with, I'm just your escort down the stairs," Martha grinned. "I've got my own tasks to do, people to see..." She trailed off meaningfully.
"Really?" Lyssa grinned, delighted. "Who?" she asked as they stepped out into the hallway, shutting her door firmly behind her. "Wait. Is it the young man from town?" she pressed hopefully. "The butcher's helper? You guys have such great chemistry. Please tell me it's him."
"You keep your secrets, and I'll keep mine," Martha stated airily, both tone and expression giving nothing away.
Lyssa subsided with a grumble as they left the women's quarters and descended the stairs, both nodding in greeting at Matron Redfern as they passed her. The older woman smiled politely, a small stack of books held in her arms.
"Miss Devons, Miss Jones. I hope you're feeling better, Miss Devons?" she asked, glancing at Lyssa with concern.
Lyssa smiled. "I'm feeling much better, Matron Redfern, thank you. Martha does an excellent job of restoring me to full health when I feel afflicted." She paused. "I hope you had an enjoyable day?"
"No injuries, serious or otherwise, thankfully," the matron confirmed. "A rare, though welcome, experience."
"Indeed," Lyssa agreed, then paused. "Well, we must be off," she said before things could grow awkward, still not truly comfortable around the older woman despite having known her for several weeks now. "Have a good night, Matron."
"And you both as well," she returned, adjusting her grip on the books and continuing up the stairs.
The two girls remained in a quiet but companionable silence for the rest of the trip, stopping at the door that led outside. "Here's where I stop," Martha announced. "Have fun, and don't do anything I wouldn't do. And be back before midnight," she added, waggling her finger in warning.
Lyssa rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mum," she promised dutifully. "Although you know as well as I that he'll have me back long before dark."
"Never hurts to double-check," the older girl shrugged, turning to leave. "He's just outside. I'll see you later?"
Lyssa smiled. "Yeah. Thanks, Martha," she said genuinely, waving goodbye as the med student disappeared back down the hallway. She took a deep breath as butterflies fluttered in her stomach, adjusting her deep blue skirts and patting her necklace - firmly hidden underneath her blouse once more - then opened the door.
xXx
"Now, the TARDIS will take care of everything," the Doctor explained, fitting the fob watch into the headset that had slowly descended from the ceiling into reach. "Invent a life story for me, find me a setting and integrate me. Can't do the same for you... you'll both just have to improvise. I should have just enough residual awareness to let you in," he told Martha. "I haven't known you for that long. I'll remember you, but not well. I should accept you in whatever setting you two manage to come up with."
He turned to Lyssa, who had been watching him nervously, fiddling with the two charms on her necklace. "I will remember you," he told her. "I've known you for... a very, very long time now. You'll be written into my memories as a significant part of my life, but I don't know who you'll be to me." He paused. "The TARDIS won't do anything drastic, she'll probably give us a relationship similar to what we have now."
Lyssa took a deep breath. "So, close friends, then. Okay. I can do that. Your... human self will still kind of act like you, right?"
He frowned. "I don't know what he'll act like. I've never done this before. Part of me will definitely be different - I'll have the education and most of the morals of whatever period we end up in - but parts of my old self will probably slip through from time to time. Likely some of my morals now, as well, even if it doesn't quite fit in."
"So, what you're saying is you'll still be a quirky nerd?" Martha teased, though she looked a bit too tense to be truly comfortable. "We can handle that."
The Doctor ran a hand through his hair. "There is one thing that's very important," he said seriously, looking at the hanging contraption with a frown. "Whatever the story is, however you end up in it... You cannot contradict it," he stated firmly, turning to look them both in the eye, impressing on them how serious he was. "Don't try to wake me up until it's time, don't pick out flaws in the story until I need to wake up. If I remember too soon, and I'm still human..." He paused. "I'll have a Time Lord consciousness in a human body."
Lyssa gasped, thinking of Donna. "But you won't be able to handle that!"
"My mind will burn," he confirmed grimly. "If I remember too soon and I don't change back, it will kill me. So whatever you do, don't let me remember if it's not time."
"Noted," Lyssa said with wide eyes. "I will absolutely try my hardest not to lead to your untimely demise."
"That would be appreciated," he snorted. "I should gloss over any inaccuracies, any holes in the story, but point out too many and I'll start to remember."
"How will we know what story the TARDIS has given you?" Martha brought up.
He paused. "The gist of it should be apparent right away, just play along until you figure it out." He winced. "I'm sorry I can't help more than that."
The lights in the room flashed once, the ship's hum shifting to a smug tune in their bond. A hidden compartment in the chameleon arch flipped open with a click, revealing a sealed white envelope placed inside.
"That's new," the Doctor muttered, raising an eyebrow. He reached in and pulled it out, flipping it over. "And apparently it's not for me," he said with growing curiosity as he held it out to Lyssa.
She took it with a frown, looking it over. "'For Lyssa Devons and Martha Jones, to be read after the Doctor has used the arch,'" she read aloud. "I don't recognize the handwriting," she added, holding it out for Martha to see, only for her to shake her head in equal lack of recognition.
"It's not mine, either," the Doctor agreed. "Any of mine. Which means someone we don't know now - but who knows what we're about to do - went back in time and placed it here, without any of us knowing. Why don't I know?" he frowned at the ceiling. The ship hummed at him and he scoffed, turning to fiddle with the headset. "Figures."
"But... hold on," Martha frowned. "If you're going to rewrite every single cell, isn't it going to hurt?"
His fingers froze in their work. "Oh, yes," he confirmed grimly. "It'll hurt."
xXx
"Ah, Lyssa!" the man waiting for her outside exclaimed as she stepped out. "How are you feeling?" he asked, hurrying over to her.
She smiled, tugging the door shut behind her. "I'm feeling very well, thank you. And very happy to go out for a walk, so thank you for asking. How was your day?"
John Smith beamed down at her, gently tucking her arm into his. "Better now that you're here," he told her. "I'm glad you're doing well. No spells?" he checked as they set off down the dirt road.
"Not one," she promised. "Martha believes I should be fully recovered in just a few months," she confided. "And getting the fresh air will continue to aid me."
"I am very glad to hear it," he informed her, patting her arm with his free hand. "I was very distressed when I learned you had fallen sick. And so soon after your parents..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "It is truly a blessing you survived, though it has taken so many months for you to recover."
Lyssa bit her lip and looked away, pretending to be gazing at the passing scenery. "Yes. It was... difficult to lose them. But I am very grateful for the presence of Martha and yourself. You have both been so very kind, and I'm certain I could not have done it without you both."
"Of course," he stated, as if there was no other option he could have taken. He slowed to a stop, turning to face her in the road and taking both her hands in his. "I would do anything for you to be happy," he murmured, rubbing his gloved thumbs gently over her hands. "Especially after how happy you made me."
Her cheeks heated despite the biting cold at the deeply affectionate look he gave her. She glanced down at their joined hands. "You... you act as though I was not made equally as happy," she stammered, trying desperately to avoid his gaze.
"And that makes me rejoice to hear it," he responded, voice low and tender as his thumb moved unerringly despite the glove to the tiny lump on her left hand, gently running over the ring that rested beneath. "The only memory to equal that joy is the day you agreed to marry me."
A/N: *Exeunt, pursued by a bear*
*Cackles madly* I had fun writing this.
And it's actually up kind of early! And on a Saturday... I feel like I'm in an alternate universe all of a sudden... We'll see what happens with the next update! :D
Some of you may recall me offering you a choice between red and orange a few chapters back. The top result was red, and that's where the gem color came from. You'll have to wait a bit longer for the results of the other poll. ;)
Fashion is hard! Especially fashion from over a hundred years ago! I did some research, but I apologize if I messed something up! I also found that earrings weren't super common back then, at least for everyday use (especially in a non-formal/party setting), hence why Lyssa hides hers because she doesn't want to take them out. I apologize if I messed that bit up as well, lol.
I always wondered why the Doctor/TARDIS had picked 1913 to hide out in (And couldn't remember if it had ever come up in the show). Like, why not modern times? Or the future? At least somewhere with A/C? So I tried to come up with a reason for it and decided upon what you see here. Technology! (And maybe one or two other reasons ;))
I've been looking forward to writing this adventure for ages. I've seen several different takes on how people approach it, but I don't think I've seen quite the approach I've got planned, so this is going to be very interesting. :D
I also have no idea how long this arc is going to run. Should be less than the de-aging arc, but likely longer than normal. Idk, we'll just have to take it as it comes, I guess!
Special thanks to everyone who's favorited and followed, and shout-out to all my reviewers! You guys are fabulous, and don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise!
Thank you all for reading, and I hope you enjoyed! :)
General Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who, just Lyssa.