Welp, you all can thank the members of the Discord for an update on this. Hope you all enjoy, though I skipped a lot near the end there, and now I've got to figure out what I'm gonna do about the Library...

"What are we supposed to be looking for anyway?" Donna complained, trying a door and finding it locked.

"An open room would be a start," I muttered, rubbing my arms slightly.

Should've brought a coat. I'm still getting chills even though I've put on a couple of pounds. I sighed lightly, glancing around another hallway as Donna check yet another locked room only for a voice to make us both jump.

"You won't find anything in there."

It was the butler, having caught us snooping. I swallowed thickly, trying to calm my racing hearts at the scare as Donna took charge. It was one of the things I loved about her, especially given my current lack of confidence. She was quick to take charge and rarely took "no" for an answer. The butler was already unlocking the door, much to his displeasure as Donna questioned him about it.

"Many years ago, when my father was butler to the family, Lady Eddison returned from India with malaria. She locked herself in this room for six months until she recovered. Since then, the room has remained undisturbed," he explained, letting us into the room. "There's nothing in here."

"How long has it been empty?" I asked, hoping to contribute something though I was on edge already with my eyes locked on the covered window nearby.

"Forty years."

"Why would she seal it off?" Donna wondered out loud, before turning to the butler as he continued to wait in the doorway. "All right, we need to investigate. You just butle off."

He closed the door and left as she turned to me.

"All right. What do you think then?"

I winced. "Donna, I can't tell you the answer. That's not how my knowing the future works."

She rolled her eyes. "I know that, you dunce. Doesn't mean you can't give me a hint though. You know, a nudge in the right direction. That's not breaking any rules, is it?"

I sighed, thinking about if there was something I could point out or mention before I spotted a teddy bear on the foot of the bed. I walked over and picked it up, brushing some dust off the toy and eyeing its button eyes.

"Forty years it's been closed."

"Yeah, according to the butler, anyway," she hummed, looking around before turning to me as I held up the toy.

"Forty years but there's a child's toy."

Donna frowned before it clicked and she sucked in a gasp. "You don't think… No. You're joking!"

"It… It doesn't answer everything, but…" I shrugged, replacing the bear only to hear a buzzing.

"1926, they've still got bees. Oh, what a noise. All right, busy bee, I'll let you out."

"No!" I called out, grabbing her by the wrist and making her frown.

"What's got you all upset then? It's just a bee. You allergic?"

"It's not just a bee," I breathed, eyes on the window where I could just barely see the wasp through the slight crack in the curtain.

It saw me too, apparently and I hauled Donna towards the door as it broke through the window.

"Doctor!" I shouted, struggling to keep the giant wasp in sight, get the door open, and keep hold of Donna as she gasped in shock.

"That's impossible."

"No, that's an alien," I countered, yanking the door open, pushing her through, and slamming it shut as the Doctor and Agatha hurried up the stairs behind us.

I tried to catch my breath, eyes focused on the stinger of the wasp that had been punched through the door, narrowly missing my leg in the process. I took a shaky step back as Donna grabbed the Doctor by the coat.

"Giant wasp," she breathed.

"What do you mean, a giant wasp?"

"I mean, a wasp that's giant!" She snapped, making Agatha roll her eyes and relax.

"It's only a silly little insect."

"N-Not silly," I managed, clearing my throat and gesturing to the stinger in the door. "Not little."

The Doctor's eyes caught onto mine, seeing the seriousness and nodding as he opened the door. "Let me see."

The wasp was gone though and he hummed as I caught Agatha's hand before she could try and touch the detached stinger.

"Don't. Could be poisonous."

The Doctor hurried over too, taking a pen from his coat and using that to grab a sample of the liquid oozing out of it and tuck it into a test tube he had on hand. "Giant wasp. Well, tons of amorphous insectivorous lifeforms, but none in this galactic vector."

Agatha looked at him quizically and I nudged him with a pointed look. He simply offered me a cheeky smile that made me pinch the bridge of my nose in exasperation as Agatha eyed him.

"I think I understood some of those words. Enough to know that you're completely potty."

"He is. Trust me," I agreed as Donna glanced at the stinger again.

"Lost its sting, though. That makes it defenseless."

"It's a wasp, not a bee," I countered. "I doubt that will stop it."

The Doctor nodded. "A creature that size? Got to be able to grow a new one."

"Can we return to sanity?" Agatha challenged. "There are no such things as giant wasps."

"Exactly," the Doctor agreed… sort of. "So, the question is, what's it doing here?"

There was a scream then, and I felt my hearts skip. I forgot… God, how could I forget? The Doctor, Donna, and Agatha rushed out to the courtyard after the sound, but I grimaced and remained behind on the stairs. I couldn't do another body. I couldn't even think after the first one and knowing that this one was even more easily avoidable didn't help my guilty conscience. It's not my fault. None of it is. This is how things have to be. I grimaced and leaned against the railing, bringing a hand to my head. But couldn't she have been saved? She was too old to have children. She couldn't possibly mess up time that much, could she…? No… No, she would have told us about the hidden child. We would've found out too early, and then what? Everything could've gone wrong. I did what was right. These deaths aren't going to be my fault.

"God, why couldn't it just be that easy?" I breathed as the Doctor rushed past with Donna.

"Hey, this makes a change. There's a monster, and we're chasing it," Donna scoffed, as Agatha struggled with the thought.

"It can't be a monster. It's a trick. They do it with mirrors."

I didn't want to go after them and instead settled on the stairs with my head in my hands. This is supposed to be my pick of adventure and I'm stuck wishing I was back on the Tardis again. I almost want an adventure I don't know about but would that be better or worse for me? Why'd it have to be one with so many deaths? This isn't even the worse of it! I've got the Vashta Nerada after this! A hand settled on my shoulder and I jumped to my feet, nearly tripping backward of the stairs if the Doctor hadn't grabbed me.

"Whoa, there. Careful. You okay?" He asked, grabbing me around the waist and turning me away from the edge of the stairs before releasing me.

"F-Fine, sorry," I muttered, a little flushed both from being as close as we had been and from embarrassment at my overreaction.

He frowned lightly, reaching out and lightly tapping the back of my hand before I pulled away. "You don't feel fine," he commented. "You've been stressed all day. You need to relax, Kris."

"I would love to relax," I bit out, closing my eyes in regret at my spiteful tone and rubbing my face in frustration. "God, I wish I could. I know that none of this is my fault. I know that a-and I can tell myself that as many times as you want me to, but I-I just can't help it. I know all these things, everything that's going to happen and there's nothing I can do. I can't save anyone. I can't help anyone. So, sorry if I feel a bit uptight right now. I-I don't know what you want me to do."

"I know… I know and I'm sorry, Kris. I'm sorry you have to deal with this," he said sympathetically, reaching out but hesitating and begrudgingly lowering his hand. "You can go back to the Tardis if you want. I don't mind. It's okay to take a break if this is too much."

I shook my head. "No. No, because what if… No. No, what-ifs. It's going to get worse," I explained, looking at him sadly. "There are going to be adventures far worse than this. If I go back now—"

"I won't blame you," he cut me off, urging me to leave, almost. "Kris, you've got a lot to deal with. A lot you've already dealt with and you're only just getting back on your feet. So, yes, there might be worse things coming up, but right now this is hard on you and I would completely understand you taking a step back for your own mental health. I won't scold you for that. I can't. If stepping away helps you for later, then you do it. It's okay to not do something you feel uncomfortable about."

He's giving me an out. The biggest out I could possibly have. I could walk away from this right now and just go back to the Tardis and sleep or read… but could I do that? I wouldn't be able to do anything on the Tardis but worry. Just my existence here will have changed things. Something worse could happen that no one is prepared for. It's up to me to ensure that this timeline goes right. That nothing happens to screw up things for the Doctor later and… and I'd be leaving him to deal with this on his own. Sure, he'll have Donna, but is Donna blaming herself for these deaths like we are? What if Donna doesn't figure out what he needs when he gets poisoned? What sort of person would I be if I left them now just because I was guilty of something not even my fault?

"Kris?"

I took a deep breath and let it out before gathering my courage and facing him more confidently. "I… I won't leave."

"You're certain?" He asked, giving me another chance to go, but I nodded, reaching out myself and lightly touching the back of his hand as I tried to press some of my courage back to him.

He cracked a small smile before taking my hand and giving it a squeeze, sending reassurance back and letting me know I'd still managed to pass along some of my uneasiness in the process.

"We're gathering everyone in the drawing-room," he informed me, letting my hand go but starting to lead me back. "If there's anything you need me to do—"

I shook my head. "No… No, it's okay. I think I'm okay for now."

He nodded, but still gave me a soft smile. "Well, I'm here if you need me."

Thanks…

The Doctor was relieved that Kris had chosen to stick around. Yes, he'd offered the choice to go back to the Tardis but he'd been hoping that she wouldn't. Her retreating back to the Tardis would just mean she wasn't ready for going back out into adventures yet. It would mean she'd taken a bit step back in her progress and he'd have to work harder to get her more relaxed. He didn't want her holing herself away out of fear of what she knew. Yes, it must be hard for her to know all of this, but he could see her working through it, understanding it, and using it. She'd shown as much in the last few adventures. He remembered her saving Jenny without causing any trouble and felt a smile creep onto his face again before remembering how he'd acted once she'd told him.

A flush came over his cheeks and he swallowed thickly, willing his hearts to stop fluttering at the remembrance. He'd just reacted on his joy, that's all. She'd done something amazing while thinking of him and it just made him happy… He couldn't do another Rose. He didn't want to take that step only to have it torn from him again. But would it be? He wondered, glancing at Kris in the mirror above the fireplace as she settled into a chair in the sitting room waiting for Donna and Agatha's return.

She's changing into something new. If she's becoming like a Time Lord—and even if she's not—she could have a longer life span. I'd need to run a few tests and see, but she's… she seems comfortable staying with me so far. She doesn't have anywhere else to go and I wouldn't stop her if she wanted to leave… He knew that was a lie, given how desperately he'd felt the urge to stop her before, but wanted to believe that if she was truly miserable in his presence that he'd let her go. He shook his head slightly. No. The point is, I still shouldn't. I need to focus on her getting better first. She's not in the right state of mind to even consider something like that and I… I'm not ready yet either.

"Are you… worried?"

He turned around with a curious tilt of his head. "Hm?"

Kris fidgetted lightly, reaching up to rub the back of her neck and glancing away. "Sorry, it's just… you looked like you were thinking about something. I assumed it's because of what I said about… about things getting worse than this."

"Oh. Well…"

He had to think about it for a second. The thought of his future holding worse troubles than this was frightening. However, it was the future. He wasn't overly concerned because he liked to live in the present. Worrying about what will be and what could be just wasn't something he did because he knew how those sorts of things could weigh on the mind. Kris incidentally informing him about his potential terrible future did bother him. She hadn't been wrong yet. But he felt that if it truly was something so terrible, she wouldn't stay with him.

He cracked a grin, surprising her a bit though he could feel a bit of suspicion she hadn't held back. "I'll worry about it when we get there. No point in getting frantic over it now. And I was just thinking about us."

The suspicion grew and she seemed to shrink back in the chair. "Us?"

"Don't worry about it," he hummed, knowing she would but still reassuring her as best he could without having to say what had actually been on his mind. "It's not really important right now. We just need to focus on making sure you're doing okay and getting through this mess."

She still looked uneasy about things but couldn't question him any further as Donna and Agatha burst in with a box.

"Doctor, look what we found in the bushes," Donna smirked and they huddled together to look it over as the butler poked his head in.

"Could I get anyone some refreshments?"

Everyone ordered something except Kris and the Doctor waved at the butler.

"Something for her too."

"I'm not—"

"You could do with something to drink, Kris," he pressed. "Just to take your mind off things."

Kris hesitated but went quiet as the butler left and they turned their attention back to the box the women set on the table. Upon opening it, the Doctor hummed at the various tools and picks packed carefully within.

"Ooh, someone came here tooled up. The sort of stuff a thief would use."

"The Unicorn. He's here," Agatha remarked, making the DOctor hum.

"The Unicorn and the wasp."

"Why he?"

They turned to Kris, who shrank a little under the attention.

"Sorry, it's just… why can't the Unicorn be a woman?"

Is that a hint? The Doctor wondered though Agatha was the one to respond.

"Statistics show it's far more likely for a criminal to be male than female."

"But there are plenty of women criminals," Kris countered, slightly more confident as she went on. "Assuming it's a man would cut out half the world's population as potential suspects without any proof, which isn't right. Assuming it's a man also means no one would suspect it's a woman, so a woman would be able to get away with it longer too. We shouldn't count anyone out based on their gender. Facts should be what sways us one way or the other, right?"

Agatha eyed her before cracking a smile. "Well, then. Seems I've been properly scolded."

Kris flushed in embarrassment, hastily waving her hands. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to offend."

"Offended? Please. The only thing I'm offended about is my own arrogance in assuming such a thing. I, of all people, should understand that anyone can be a criminal if they so desire."

The Doctor chuckled as Kris hid her face in mortification at having argued with Agatha, just as the butler returned.

"Your drinks, ladies, Doctor."

"Very good, Greeves," the Doctor thanked, accepting the drinks as he left and Donna spoke up.

"How about the science stuff? What did you find?"

The Doctor had dipped back to the Tardis with Kris earlier to check on the liquid he'd collected from the stinger of the wasp. He had to be quick, so he didn't get much information, but it certainly would help to know what the creature was.

"Vespiform sting. Vespiforms have got hives in the Silfrax galaxy," he replied, raising a brow at Kris when she grimaced and set her barely-touched drink down.

"Again, you talk like Edward Lear," Agatha commented, taking mental notes on his odd behavior but he didn't mind.

Historic people always thought he was mad for what he said when they just didn't know any better. Dropping odd comments wasn't enough to change history though, so he rarely bothered to keep a lid on it. That, or I forget like I did with Victoria back with that werewolf. It's easier just to sound crazy rather than getting banished for lying about it.

"But for some reason, this one's behaving like a character in one of your books," he remembered, thinking back to how the murders had been.

"Come on, Agatha," Donna encouraged. "What would Miss Marple do? She'd have overheard something vital by now because the murderer thinks she's just a harmless old lady."

"Clever idea," Agatha noted, having not heard of such a thing as the Doctor rolled his eyes at the slip-up. "Miss Marple? Who writes those?"

Donna winced. "Um… copyright Donna Noble. Add it to the list," she said to cover for herself.

"D-Doctor?"

"Okay, we could split the copyright," Donna continued, only for the Doctor to frown as he turned to Kris.

"Kris? What's wrong?"

She was pale and had a hand wrapped around her stomach. The sudden feeling of fear hit him in the face then as she looked at him and dropped her hold on her emotions.

"I-I… I forgot s-s-something," she breathed, doubling over suddenly and bringing a hand to her mouth.

The Doctor was up and out of his seat in a second, hanging onto her as she threatened to fall out of her chair and leaned heavily on him. "Kris? Kris, what's wrong? Forgot what?"

"P-Poison," she choked out as he took her pulse to find her hearts racing and her breathing ragged.

"Poison?" Agatha questioned, grabbing the glass she'd barely drank and her eyes going wide. "Bitter almonds. It's cyanide. Sparkling Cyanide."

The Doctor cursed, grabbing her and picking her up before rushing into the kitchen. I won't make it to the Tardis in time. I have to hope she's enough like me that this will work. He dropped her into a chair and grabbed Davenport.

"Ginger beer! I need ginger beer!"

"I beg your pardon?"

He growled in annoyance before rushing to the foods sitting on shelves and in cupboards, desperately searching until he found a bottle and rushed back to Kris, pressing it to her shaking hands.

"Drink it. Quickly."

She looked as though she wouldn't but managed to bring it up and did her best to chug it down as he went in search of the next thing.

"I'm an expert in poisons. Doctor, there's no cure. It's fatal!" Agatha called out to him, but he was hardly listening.

"Not for me," he bit out, checking labels frantically. "And Kris is different. She's changing. Not fully human. If she's just enough like me, then I should be able to help. I won't let her…" He grit his teeth, unable to even think of Kris dying as he turned to them for help. "I can stimulate the inhibited enzymes into reversal. Protein. I need protein."

"Walnuts?" Donna offered and he nodded, taking the jar from her and giving it to Kris.

"As many as you can," he instructed her as she blinked hard and seemed to sway. "Donna, help her. Keep her upright and eating."

Donna nodded, heading over and bracing Kris as she tried to help the woman keep eating the walnuts as the Doctor grabbed the next item she would need.

"Salt… salt… I need something salty."

"What about this?" Agatha offered, making him frown.

"What is it?"

"Anchovies."

He took the jar and tossed it to Donna who barely caught it and switched out the walnuts Kris had nearly dropped.

"Doctor! She can't even sit upright!" Donna called and he dropped what he was digging through before heading over, patting Kris's cheeks and barely getting her to focus on him for a second.

"Kris. Kris, is it helping? I need to know if it's helping because if it's not…" He didn't want to consider it.

He absolutely would carry her all the way to the Tardis if he had to. He was hoping she was just different enough that she wouldn't need that. That she was getting better because if he couldn't get her to the Tardis in time before, it would be far too late to try now. Kris's head tipped forward to rest on the crook of his neck and he felt fear roll through him. His hearts plummeted and his throat went tight. Just when he was about to stand and haul her out of her chair, there was the smallest tingle in the back of his mind. It was weak, barely there and almost unnoticeable, but it was something. The tiniest feeling of hope.

It's working. He lifted her head up off him once more and dagged a thumb under her eye where a tear had fallen. Her eyes flickered open, unfocused, but with that sliver of hope still blazing and that was all he needed. He leaned in and kissed her, pressing his mind up against hers and hoping this would be enough of a shock to her system that it would kick in to detoxify the poison. Then, for a moment, he thought she responded, kissed him back before they pulled apart and she coughed. A cloud of smoke came from her mouth as she choked, and he pat her back as she doubled over and leaned against him. Then she relaxed and just stayed there as he held her and caught his own breath.

"Is she…"

He nodded to Donna, getting a sigh of relief from her as well. "Just different enough."

Sat at the dining table, exhausted and stomach still churning uneasily, but much better than before. The Doctor had gone to get something to help with the aftereffects of the poisoning from the Tardis but then seated me in the dining room as dinner was prepared and staying right by my side the entire time. He got up only once to drop into the kitchen to tell them instructions for tonight's soup and to personally prepare a glass of water for me.

"You're sure you're okay?" He pressed, having asked me this repeatedly since what happened.

"Yes. I-I'm not feeling the greatest but… but I don't want to just leave." I want to see this through.

He nodded, a soft smile edging onto his face as dishes were getting set up and the butler went to start summoning people. "You just forgot you were going to be poisoned?" He asked, and I winced.

"No. No, it doesn't work like that. I… I only know your future and what was shown in this show. I don't know anything about me. I don't know how I will affect things."

"But you said you forgot. Was someone else…"

I gave him a look and he pointed to himself in surprise.

"Me?"

I nodded. "I don't know why. Maybe you were just being nosey and they'd had enough. You would've been fine though. Same thing you did for me you did for yourself." Why did it work for me though? There's no way I'm becoming a Time Lord. Things just… They don't work like that, right?

He wrinkled his nose then. "Who would've kissed me?"

My lip twitched up in amusement. "Donna."

"Ugh. Oh, yeah, no. That I could've done without," he complained as Donna and Agatha were the first to drop back in. "Why'd you stop drinking though? Cyanide's a bit hard to notice."

I winced, glancing away. "It was alcohol. Charlotte has a… a history. I've been trying to restrain myself all day, though I suppose it's a good thing it was. I might've drunk more than a sip if it was just lemonade." Though the thought of drinking more of it was a real struggle anyway.

The Doctor hummed as the others in the house came in steadily until the table was filled and the soup and drinks were poured. A piece of bread was handed over and set on my plate and I glanced at the Doctor who nodded towards the food. He wanted me eating, it seemed, though my body was not thrilled at the thought after being poisoned. Begrudgingly, I soaked a bit of bread in the soup and forced myself to eat it as the Doctor tucked a napkin in his shirt and tried some soup himself. After a few moments of everyone starting to eat, he set his spoon back down and spoke.

"A terrible day for all of us. The Professor struck down, Miss Chandrakala taken cruelly from us, and yet we still take dinner."

"We are British, Doctor. What else must we do?" Lady Eddison remarked, sipping her wine.

"And then someone tried to poison my close friend here," the Doctor added, nodding towards me. "Any one of you had the chance to put cyanide in her drink. But it rather gave me an idea."

"And what would that be?"

"Well, poison. Drink up," he smirked, sipping his soup once more as everyone suddenly paused and eyed the soup they'd been enjoying until now. "I've laced the soup with pepper," he clarified, earning confused and annoyed looks.

"Ah, I thought it was jolly spicy," Curbishley remarked, wholeheartedly enjoying his as the Doctor explained.

"But the active ingredient of pepper is piperine, traditionally used as an insecticide. So, anyone got the shivers?"

Lightning struck somewhere outside and thunder rumbled as a window slammed open, blowing out the candles and the power went out. The group at the table started to panic and even I was tense as the Doctor called out.

"Listen, listen, listen!"

A buzzing could be heard and Lady Eddison muttered under her breath as she tried to look around in the dark.

"No… It can't be."

Lightning flared again and Agatha stood as everyone began to panic once more.

"Show yourself, demon!"

"Nobody move!" The Doctor tried to warn but people were moving away from the table quickly in search of a way out. "No, don't! Stay where you are!"

The noise of everything and my own uneasiness about the scenario had me out of my own seat and attempting to flee as well. I tripped over something though, hitting the ground hard and grimacing at the stinging of my palms only for someone else to then trip over me. Roger spat out a curse and I rolled onto my back only to see a flare of light headed my way. My eyes went wide and instinct kicked in, twisting me and throwing my foot out where it hit something solid as there was a thud of something hitting the wooden floor.

The lights flickered back on and the Doctor burst back into the room from where he'd tucked away with Agatha, Donna, and the butler holding a sword. The wasp was gone though, leaving a number of frightened people standing around.

"My jewelry. The Firestone, it's gone. Stolen," Lady Eddison remarked, touching her neck where the precious stone was missing.

"Roger?" Davenport called as said man grunted and sat up near me, lifting a hand and summoning Davenport to his side as the Doctor hurried to mine.

"Kris!"

I was staring in shock at Roger though, my mind screaming how wrong this was. He's supposed to be… H-He was supposed to have… How? I-I didn't… I couldn't have… My arm was grabbed and I was turned to the Doctor who looked me over, eyeing my palms with a hint of concern at the cuts from the broken glass before seeing something I hadn't noticed. A large blade was stabbed into the floor right beside me, where my chest would've been if I hadn't twisted last minute.

Soon enough though, orders were being barked out by the butler to get things cleaned and by the Doctor as he herded the guests back to their rooms for the moment. I was hauled up onto my feet as well and led into the drawing room where Agatha were going to wait until the Doctor and Donna returned for a discussion over what happened. I was still in shock though, trying to figure out what it was that had just happened because someone was alive who shouldn't be and the only unknown in the equation was me. But I didn't try to save him. I just couldn't stay in there any longer. Is that how this is going to be? Will I not even be able to go on adventures because just my presence could save someone? If the Doctor trusts me to keep the timeline going the way it should, would there come a point where I have to kill someone because they shouldn't be alive?

"—is… Kris? Hey," the Doctor called, grabbing my hand and prying it off my arm carefully. "Kris, slow deep breaths. Okay? Try to match your breathing to mine."

He took deep breaths and kept my hand pressed to his chest so I could feel them since the buzzing in my ears had yet to fade. I hadn't realized the panic I was putting myself in by thinking this over to the extent that I was. It took a while before I had calmed enough to satisfy the Doctor who was obviously confused by what had caused it.

"What's going on, Kris?" He asked, keeping his voice low and calm as he snapped open a medkit to work on the cuts on my palms.

"H-He alive," I breathed, pressing my head to the back of my other hand. "God, how? H-How could I have fucked up this badly?"

"Kris, you need to walk me through this. I'm not sure what's going on."

"Roger," I muttered, trying to explain though also very much concerned about how he will react. "He… He's supposed to be dead, but he's not."

The Doctor froze for a moment before continuing on my hand. "You saved him?"

"No!" I shouted, wincing and shrinking back down as Agatha watched quietly from nearby—not close enough to hear our conversation until I shouted. "No. I-I wouldn't. I can't."

There was a wave of reassurance that came over me and I settled down a bit, knowing it was the Doctor trying to get me to relax.

"Just explain what should've happened and what changed," he said, finishing with my hand and moving onto the other.

"I… Roger was supposed to have gotten stabbed. I couldn't stay in there. It was just…" I winced, suddenly feeling stupid for having tried to rush out when the Doctor had stayed calm the whole time.

"It's fine, Kris. Everything went a bit hectic."

"I still should've stayed. I tried to run out and I tripped. Roger tripped over me, so he didn't…"

"So, it's not your fault."

"But if I wasn't there—"

"Kris," he said seriously, dropping my other bandaged hand. "Just because you were there doesn't make it your fault."

"But I'm supposed to keep the timeline—"

"That's not your responsibility."

I bristled. "Isn't it? I know how things are supposed to go! If my presence is changing things then I have to fix them, don't I!"

He frowned. "So, what? Are you going to kill him then?"

I cringed, shrinking in on myself as he went on.

"Things happen, Kris. Accidents happen. It's not up to you to fix everything that ends up going wrong. If this is something big, then I will do everything I can to help fix it. Is this one of those situations?"

"I-I don't—"

"Kris, take a moment and think it over."

"But you said people living who shouldn't be can cause paradoxes."

He sighed. "Yes, I did. However, there can be exceptions."

"But—"

"Kris."

I pursed my lips and tried to understand what he was telling me, what he was trying to get me to figure out. It doesn't make sense. He wants me to leave time alone. He wants me to let "exceptions" go. I don't… I paused then, thinking about what made Roger the exception when I realized something. Roger likes Davenport… Someone even said they won't expect any kids running around because they love each other… He's an exception because his living doesn't change the fact that the line ends with him. I-It still could, of course. He could adopt or sign off on someone else taking over, but… that might well have happened without him. I looked over at the Doctor who was smiling now, seeing the conclusion I'd come to.

"See? Not every small mistake will grow to destroy the universe," he mused, giving my leg a squeeze. "And you don't need to think all these decisions will be on you. You've got me to help you figure it all out."

"But if it does end up being bad—"

"Then, we'll figure it out when it happens. No point in worrying about the what-ifs and… and no point in trying to hole yourself away because you're scared of the changes that your presence will make."

I flushed, growing sheepish that he'd realized the thoughts my mind had gone to, and he stood and gave my shoulder a pat. I twisted my fingers as he moved towards the fireplace in thought before Donna returned from her own questioning and we got to work trying to figure it all out and connect the dots. I mostly stayed quiet. I knew all the answers and all the secrets, so there would be no real point in speaking up as they worked it out. I was actually rather tired now, given all the excitement and panic had faded, leaving me worn out, mentally drained, and just wanting the whole thing done and over with.

It was one of the problems with knowing the future. You lose some of that fun you would usually get out of seeing and experiencing something new. I enjoyed Doctor Who to the point that I would rewatch episodes again and again, but eventually you start wanting new ones. New adventures and troubles and aliens. So, as much as I enjoyed a good murder mystery and Agatha Christie, I will admit I started to drift off as everyone was gathered and their secrets revealed.

I jerked upright at the sound of a buzzing, but the wasp was already flying out the door after the Doctor, Donna, and Agatha.

"Shit," I cursed, rushing after them and making it outside, but they'd already grabbed a car and drove off. "Goddammit. Why? Why did my body pick that moment to go to sleep?"

I stood in the drive uneasily, fidgeting on my feet and pacing as I chewed my bottom lip. No. No, I shouldn't worry. Time is in flux so it's probably better that I'm not there. Agatha Christie could seriously get hurt or worse if just my presence—I winced at the thought, scolding myself.

"No. No, the Doctor's right. I… I can't be thinking like that or I might as well…"

I remembered before when I'd honestly considered just walking out into space without a thought and felt a little sheepish about it now. It hadn't been that long ago but I had gotten better already with the Doctor's help. My knowledge of the future was my main concern now, given how dangerous it was to use it to change things as well as what would happen if people found out. I need to be more careful about talking about it in front of people…

My changing was still in the back of my mind but I felt better about it now. It was inevitable that I was becoming something different and while there were things I didn't like about that… I've gotten closer to the Doctor. I flushed, sitting down on the planter and dropping my face in my hands. Stop! Stop it! You can't like him. You can't. There are so many others who are supposed to… Not even that. I'm changing, but I'm still human. I might not live as long as him. That kiss before—neither of them—were anything… right? He was just proud of me saving Jenny a-and then he was giving me a shock for the detoxing. That's all it was. Even Eleven just goes around kissing people. It doesn't mean anything.

I groaned into my hands before someone cleared their throat. I jumped, startled to see the butler awkwardly standing nearby with a large coat draped over his arms.

"It is a bit nippy. Would you like a coat?"

I hadn't realized the chill until he mentioned it and begrudgingly accepted the coat he helped me into with a muttered thanks.

"It is much warmer inside, though I understand your need to wait for your companions to return. I could summon you when they do if you like while you warm by the fire."

I shook my head, curling into the coat and looking down the drive. "No, I… I'm okay." I turned to him. "Thank you, though. For the coat."

He bowed his head. "Then, thank your companions for me, for taking care of the troubles that have occurred in this house. I will bring you a warm drink to battle the chill."

"A-Ah, no alcohol please…"

He nodded and went back into the house, leaving me to sigh and breath a hot breath into my chilled fingers. Try not to take too long, Doc.

The Doctor stopped the car on the drive and picked the unconscious Agatha out of the other seat, heading for the Tardis when he spotted a bundled-up Kris dozing on a planter. He placed Agatha down on the jumpseat and left Donna with her before heading over to Kris. He smiled fondly, brushing a bit of hair away from her face before scooping her up as well. Upon entering the Tardis, Donna shot him a smug look that he rolled his eyes at.

"Shush you."

"I didn't say anything," she chirped, though he could practically feel how she continued to smirk at him as he went to put Kris in her room.

Once there, he took the borrowed coat off and removed her shoes before tucking her in just as her eyes cracked open.

"Sleep some more," he hummed, covering her eyes. "We're gonna drop Agatha off at the Hotel. You haven't been sleeping well anyway, so take advantage of it."

She grumbled, making him crack a smile before he lifted his hand and made sure she'd fallen back asleep. He lightly touched her temple, pressing some good feelings towards her to help her not have any nightmares, before heading out. Let's hope the next trip won't be as rough on her.