A/N Hello. I know exciting, I'm back already. Just a heads up, there will be curse words. Jamie/Guardian is a potty mouth in general.

Disclaimer: If I did own Doctor Who, Donna wouldn't have had her memories erased and she would have married the Doctor to make ginger Time Babies. Just sayin'.

Operation: Doctor-Donna has been slow going. I mean I see the looks I get when I hold hands with Donna, especially when I put my arms around her waist and whisper something in her ear that makes her laugh. He looks like kicked a puppy and then set on fire. Yeah, I know. Gruesome.

There was even one time he invited himself to a "date" with just Donna and I. Man, did he have it bad, he kept trying to vie for Donna's attention. Though she didn't know what to do, so it looked like she wanted to spend more time with me, when in reality she was panicking and was asking for advice. Of course, the Doctor was giving me a strained smile the whole time. I can see through that you dumbass!

What is it with so many emotionally crippled Time Lords? No wonder the Master was so angry with the Doctor, no real outlet other than world domination, which did get pretty old after a few centuries. I think I was more of the socially rounded ones… well at least I think I do.

There are times when I get so frustrated, and I try to confront him about his feelings but he just waves it off, I just want to punch the idiot. Ugh… What can you do?

I know, Doctor-Donna sounds bad, but I think I know how to save her. I just need them, the Doctor and Donna, to get motivated...in a bed...

By the way, what the hell is taking that woman so long?

"Donna!" I shouted through her door. "I really don't want to be walking in the corridors when the idiot is driving!"

"Hold your horses Jamie!" she shouted back and opened the door to reveal her form. The Doctor is so lucky I only look at Donna as my little sister, if it were anyone else I'm just saying he might not be able to find us for days. "Well, don't just stand there. How do I look?"

"A. My name's not really Jamie, it's Guardian and B. More cleavage—" she cut me off.

"Oi! Now see here buster—" she snapped and swatted my arm. We began walking towards the control room.

"Ay! Before you go on some random tangent, how I'm some Space Pervert, whatever the hell that is, I was going to say that you should have had shown more cleavage. But I don't think giving the man cardiac arrest would be such a good idea," I pointedly voiced.

"Oh," she said quietly looking down.

I sighed. "Yeah, oh. I really do have good intentions," I remarked. "Weren't you listening when I first met you two? I did say there will be compliments, but I'm not that creepy."

"Yeah, yeah," she linked arms with me, still walking. "Okay, just promise me you'll be there."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "Be there? For what exactly?"

"For if he gets up the courage to ask me on a proper date," she said as if it was obvious.

I abruptly stopped us both and turned, looking flabbergasted.

"Wha—wha—what?" I cried incredulously. "Why would be with you on your date? There's only supposed to be two people involved!"

"Well, I thought the Doctor was there last time, you should be there too," she responded meekly.

"Donna look at me," I ordered lightly and waited till she did. "When, not if, when he does, you'll be fine. You won't need me."

She tried to protest. "But nothing, Donna. I swear you'll be fine. Trust me. No running from monsters or exploding things. Just another peaceful evening. Plus, the TARDIS likes you."

"Really?" she asked

"Yes, really! And I can drive her properly because I actually passed the driving test unlike the Doctor. He's lucky the TARDIS helps him fly. Anyway, you'll be fine."

"Promise?"

"Promise. Cross my hearts, hope to regenerate," I motioned over my left then my right heart. "Okay?"

"Okay."

"Good, now that's settled. Let's get this party on the road."

We arrived at the control room, with the Doctor at the ready. He has a moment of disappointment etched on his face when we walked in arms linked, then poof! As if it never happened. That bastard better appreciate what I'm trying to do for him. Yes, I admit it's an ass-backwards way of doing it, but it's the only way to actually get him to admit it.

On Gallifrey, it took almost two goddamn centuries for him to admit his feelings for his late wife. I am NOT having that happen to Donna. Easy or the hard way, either way, it will happen.

The room was jostling its occupants and my lunch is deciding to want a repeat.

"Doctor, do you even know what you're doing?" Donna shouted over the noise. "Jamie—Guardian—Timeboy, whatever! Says you never passed the driving test!"

"Yeah, well—you shut up," he pointed at me playfully. I put my hands up in defense grinning. Finally, he's less angst-ridden, good.

"Set the controls to random! Mystery tour," the room finally settles. The Doctor then points behind Donna. "Outside that door could be any planet, anywhere, anywhen in the whole wide—" the Doctor paused movements and looked at Donna who is making a face. "—are you all right?"

"Terrified. I mean, history's one thing, but an alien planet..." she said in awe.

I bumped my hips with hers, grinning. "We could always take you home."

"Yeah, don't laugh at me, Guardian," she bumped me back.

"Who's laughing? I'm not. Certainly not that madman," I pointed to the Doctor who was nodding vigorously. "It's like a rollercoaster approaching the first hill. All the emotions running through your system: Fear. Excitement. The wonder—he and I get that!"

Her eyes widen. "Seriously? After all this time?"

"Yeah! Why do you think we keep going?" I responded giddily.

She walks to the door while the Doctor and I put on our coat. "Oh! All right, then, the three of us! This is barmy! I was born in Chiswick. I've only ever done package holidays. Now I'm here. This is—I mean, it's—I dunno. It's all so—I don't even know what the word is!" she rambled quickly and ran outside with me right at her heels

As we got outside in snow capped scenery, I nearly bump into her as she stops abruptly. "Oh, I've got the word: Freezing," she deadpanned.

"How 'bout: I might never be able to have children? Oh no, wait. That's whole sentence… Nope—yours was fine Donna," I rambled and wrapped my arms around her, trying to warm her up.

"Aren't you cold?" she asked shivering.

I had my suit from the day before except a purple fitted dress shirt and a black bow-tie on with a Sherlockian trench coat and scarf.

"Nah, not really," I answered. "Plus I can regulate my body temperature either way to accommodate for the situation."

"Really?"

I nodded and took off my coat. "Here take my coat for now. I'll get something for you in the wardrobe. Be right back, 'kay? Don't let him take you anywhere yet."

She nods and the Doctor then pops out just as I enter the TARDIS again.

"Where are you—" he was about to ask.

"Just getting Donna a coat from the wardrobe," I said over my shoulder.

"Okay, Sweetie. Can you get me a jacket from the wardrobe for Donna?" I asked the TARDIS.

'You still haven't gotten them together?' she asked. A big fluffy coat appears in my hands.

"What? It's not like I haven't been trying. They're both so frustrating. I can tell they're both in love. But apparently, it makes them extremely blind and deaf."

'You really should hurry it up. Before the psycho bint comes back.'

"Ah. About that… When a person rips open a TARDIS' heart—does that mean that—you know?" I asked delicately.

'Yes,' she spat with all the anger behind her voice. 'The "thing" abused me. She r-ra—r…'

"You don't have to finish that sentence," I remarked softly. "I would've been itching to throw her in supernova. So, why didn't you? Why did you let the Doctor give up one of his lives to her?"

'I tried. Believe me, I tried to make him see her for what she really is. But he was so blind and really needed someone after the Time War. I couldn't take that away.'

"Is that why you made him find Donna a second time?" I smiled softly.

'Yes, I knew he needed someone to stop him and not just enable his bad habits. To be there, when you can't in that way.'

"Wow, you love him that much don't you?"

'Always have, always will. My Thief.'

"So do I have anyone in the future?"

"Oi Timeboy! Hurry up in there!" Donna shouted from outside, interrupting the conversation.

"Oi Earthgirl! Breath!" I shouted back. "Just give me a minute!"

Sighing I looked down at the coat. "Because right now, I feel so alone. Yes, I have the Doctor and Donna. But I don't have anyone to share something with. A love."

I started walking back to the door. 'Just keep you eyes open Guardian. You might miss an opportunity.'

"Yeah, except I already opened someone else's… Always the martyr…" I trailed off in despondency. I came back outside. "Hey, you. Here." I handed her the coat and she gave me back mine.

"Thanks," she smiled.

"Better?" I asked smiling.

"Lovely," she said beaming right back.

"Comfy?" I nudged her and she took my arm walking towards the Doctor.

"Yep."

"Can you hear anything inside that?" the Doctor piped in.

"Pardon?" Donna playfully pretended not to hear the Doctor. We sidled up to him.

"Right. I was saying, citizen of the Earth—" the Doctor tries.

At that moment a rocket flies overhead, he really loved being long winded. Donna just gasped in awe.

"A rocket. Blimey, a real, proper rocket. Now that's what I call a spaceship," she commented and lightly slapped me on the arm.

"Hey! Then what a do you called the TARDIS?" I retorted.

She snorted, as if it was some joke. "A box."

"Oi, don't mock the TARDIS," I said in defense.

"Yeah, she doesn't like to be called a box," the Doctor agreed.

"Yeah, well, the Doctor's got a box—that guy's got a Ferrari," she reasoned and pulled me ahead. "Come on, let's see where it's going."

"Donna, you don't need to pull my arm out the socket!" I cried.

"Well, keep up then," she mocked me.

I narrow my eyes in mock indignation and stuck my tongue out at her. She just laughs my antics.

Donna and I were gleefully skipping around the frozen planet while the Doctor had more of a subdued pace.

Suddenly I heard an ethereal song and I making Donna jerk to a stop.

"Timeboy what's your problem?" she snapped.

"Hush! Hold on—can you hear that?" I said looking for its source. "Donna, please take your hood down." The Doctor finally caught up with us and I looked towards him. "Doctor?"

"Yes, I hear it too," he mused also looking around in bewilderment.

Donna lowered her hood. "What?"

"That noise—it's like a song," I said, then I noticed a body half buried in snow. "Over there!"

Both the Doctor and I rounded to the Ood, checking it over.

"What is it?" Donna said finally catching up to us.

"An Ood… He's called an Ood," I said distractedly still checking for a pulse.

"But its face..." she protested.

"Donna, please not now," I pleaded, then corrected. "The Ood's a 'he' not an 'it.' Please just give us hand."

She kneeled next to me from the Doctor. "Sorry," she mumbled softly.

"Doctor, I can't find a pulse," I shifted the stethoscope where there should've been a heart beating. "Do Oods have hearts?"

"I don't know. Donna, talk to him. Keep him going," the Doctor ordered also trying to find the cause or heart beat.

She leaned closer to the Ood. "It's all right. We've got you. Um...what's your name?"

"Designated Ood Delta 50," said Ood Delta 50.

She tried to speak into the translator ball.

"No, no, no, no. Just talk normally," I corrected.

"Sorry. Oh, God—" she sobbed. "—this is the Doctor and the Guardian. Just what you need—a doctor and a guardian angel. Couldn't be better, eh?"

A guardian angel? Really? Wow, haven't heard that in a while, I thought.

"He's been shot," I spat in disgust. Those bastards.

"The circle—" Ood Delta 50 tried to speak.

"No, don't try to talk," Donna cooed.

"The circle must be broken," Ood Delta 50 persisted.

"The circle? What do you mean? Delta 50, what circle? Delta 50? What circle?" the Doctor asked worriedly.

The Ood woke up with red eyes and growled like a rabid dog. But as quickly as it sat up, it fell dead.

"He's gone," Donna spoke soberly.

After that, I didn't pay attention to what was going on around me, other than a few short answers to placate Donna when she asked if anything was wrong and she held my hand to pull me along.

"Doctor?" I asked suddenly.

He turned to me. "Hmm… Yes, Guardian?"

"I was wondering if I could borrow your psychic paper."

"I don't see why not," he said handing me the parcel. "Here you go. And why the sudden interest?"

"We're going to need it pretty soon," I said running up the small incline pulling Donna along. We looked down at the factory. "Ah! Civilization! Come on, vamanos! … No, never saying that again…"

"Sorry, sorry! We're late! Don't mind us! Hello. The guards let us through," I quickly rambled after halting in front of PR lady.

"And you would be—" the PR lady asked.

"Dr. James Noble and this is my lovely wife Donna. Along with our colleague Dr. John Smith," I said smiling brightly and holding up the psychic paper.

Donna was stunned for a few seconds, while the Doctor was positively seething, before she picked up where I left off, "Representing the Noble Corporation, PLC Limited, Intergalactic."

"Must have fallen off my list. My apologies, it won't happen again. Now then, Dr. Noble, Mrs. Noble, Dr. Smith, if you'd like to come with me," she said with practiced sincerity. "Here is your information pack. Vouchers are inside," handing the packet to me. "The executive suites are nice and warm."

Suddenly an alarm blares around the factory. Everyone looks around worriedly.

"Ooh, what's that? Sounds like an alarm," the Doctor said a tad bit too excitedly.

"Oh, it's just a… siren, for the end of the work shift. Now then, this way, quick as you can!" PR lady said ushering us inside.

Once inside we listened to the PR lady drone on about the Ood and just selling the whole 'we are family' persona. I probably wasn't listening as intently as I should have, because Donna pretty much had to slap my arm.

"Oi!" I protested.

"Well, pay attention then," she hissed under her breath. "And what was that me being your wife back there? Want to explain that to me, Sunshine?"

"Well, I thought since we were quote unquote dating, so might as well be having fun with it," I hissed back.

"What about the whole 'wooing' the Doctor? What about that bit?" she snapped.

"Donna, he's been boring holes into me ever since I said it. If you're so gung-ho about the Doctor, why don't you snog him already? God knows I'm done with him glaring at me. I don't even think of you like that, I only love you like a sister."

"Well, next time give me a heads up or else I'll have your guts for garters," she threatened.

I grinned and nudged her. "Now, what would be the fun in that?"

She swatted my arm. "You're daft!"

"Ah, got it," the Doctor announce a little too loud after noticing Donna and I have been our own little world. "The Ood-Sphere. I've been to this solar system before-years ago. Ages. Close to the planet Sense-Sphere. Let's widen it out...the year 4126. That is the Second Great and Bountiful Human Empire."

"4126? It's 4126? I'm in 4126?" Donna said in awe and slightly bouncing in place.

"So, Donna. I wonder what year it is," I pondered mockingly. "Is it—umm—what was that again?"

She punched on the arm playfully. "4126, you numpty."

"It's good, isn't it?" the Doctor asked, probably a little too loudly again. The other representatives were looking at us weirdly. Smile and wave, boys, just smile and wave.

Ugh, Doctor… Inconspicuous was never your style. Then again, so was having a nice relaxing day at the beach without some sort of crises or end of days kind of dilemma.

"…galaxies? Don't the Ood get a say in this?" she asked. What were they talking about?

"Umm—Doctor. What she on about?" I whispered.

He scowled at me. Da hell? Come at me bro… "Weren't you listening?" he hissed.

I put my hands defensively. "I was trying to remember why the quote unquote circle must be broken, this was one of the episodes," I slightly lied. What? It was.

He was still sort of glaring but conceded and sighed. "She asked if the Ood have a say in their servitude."

"Oh, right," I answered softly.

"Um...sorry, but…" Donna tapped the 1st Ood. "Hello. Tell me, are you all like this?"

"I do not understand, miss," the Ood replied in their standard monotone.

"Why do you say, "miss?" she asked aggressively. "Do I look single?"

"Oi! What am I?" I asked mocked offended. "Chopped liver?"

"No, you're just—you," she replied grinning weakly.

I narrowed my eyes. "Oh, that makes me feel all so warm inside Miss Donna Noble." I stuck my tongue out.

"Back to the point," the Doctor said exasperatedly.

"Yeah," she and I grinned sheepishly. Donna continued. "What I mean is, are there any free Ood? Are there any Ood running wild somewhere like wildebeest?"

"All Ood are born to serve. Otherwise we would die," the Ood said in a very confused regurgitation of information.

"You can't have started like that. Before the humans—" the Ood's head noticeably jerks. "—what were you like?"

"The circle," the Ood responded with a non-sequitur.

"What do you mean? What circle?" the Doctor asked his eyes narrowing in thought.

"The circ—the circle—is—" the Ood stammered fruitlessly.

"Ladies and gentlemen. All Ood to hospitality stations, please," the PR lady announced.

"I've had enough of the schmoozing," the Doctor paused taking off his glasses. "Do you fancy going off the beaten track?"

"A Rough Guide to the Ood-Sphere? Works for me," Donna then turned to me. "How 'bout you Timeboy?"

"Yeah, sure," I answered in a non-committal tone.

"Yeah," the Doctor said boring holes into my head, yet again. What the hell did I do now?

We went around the complex, seeing the atrocities of the human race at the one of its basest levels. Sometimes I wonder how it was different from the 21st century. I guess, the Doctor also had the same line of thought and Donna being herself, didn't think too kindly on that.

"Is that why you travel round with a human at your side?" she snapped indignantly. "It's not so you can show them the wonders of the universe, it's so you can take cheap shots."

"Sorry," the Doctor said sheepishly.

Then she rounded to me but asked softly. "And why are you so quite lately?"

"What? I can't keep to myself now?" I countered defensively, maybe harshly than I should have. I just wanted to get out of this place as quickly as possible.

"Whoa, there Guardian," putting my hand in hers and rubbing my knuckles comfortingly. "I was just asking no need to bite my head off."

I sighed. "Sorry, I just trying to remember why 'the circle must be broken.'" I gritted and rubbed temples.

"What do you mean?" she asked looking at me worriedly.

"Donna, you were right about the Ood not being born with those 'things' attached to them," I explained, then laughed bitterly. "Not only were they not born with them, something else was removed, their hindbrain. The Ood are born with a secondary brain. Like the amygdala in humans, it processes memory and emotion. You get rid of that, you wouldn't be Donna anymore. You'd be like an Ood. A processed Ood."

"They what?" the Doctor spat.

"I know, just gets better and better," I agreed.

Just then the alarm started to go off.

"That's us, come on!" I shouted and grabbed Donna but was pulled back, though the Doctor just kept going in the other direction.

"Doctor! There's a door!" she shouted after him.

"Donna, it's no use. Plus I think we're going to find us some angry guards," I sighed in defeat.

"What?" Donna snapped.

"Don't move!" one of the guards commanded.

"Oh."

"Yep."

Those guards roughly manhandled both us and tossed into one of the partly stocked Ood containers.

"Can you help me?" she asked the Ood. But unfortunately, it had the red-eyes "Oh, no you don't."

We both made ourselves as small as possible onto the wall.

"Donna," I said softly, but still eying the Oods warily. "I'm going to need you to calm down. The Doctor will be back with us shortly."

"Calm?" she shrieked. "They're going to murder us!"

"Well, actually murder the company accomplices," I tried.

"That's not any better, Timeboy!"

"Oi! At least I was trying to see the glass half full."

"Whatever!" she conceding.

The Ood were advancing at alarming rate.

"You lot! Stay where you are, that's an order! I said stay!" she commanded. "Doctor! Doctor!"

"Donna…" I warned.

"I know, I know," she responded wearily. "Can he just hurry it up?!"

I was now, getting slightly panicky. They were advancing and we're still inside.

"Okay, Donna. I think I now understand why you're so anxious to get out," I squeaked. "Doctor! Doctor you arrogant prick, get us out!"

"Doctor, get us out! Doctor, get us out of here!" she shouted and pleaded.

The doors cargo doors finally opened. Oh thank God. I think I was about piss myself a little bit.

"Doctor!" Donna and I both shouted in unison and launched ourselves at the Doctor.

"There we go, safe and sound," he chirped happily.

"Never mind about us, what about them?" Donna said and turned around with panic.

Just as the guards began shooting the Ood, we bolted from the warehouse floors and out into one of the alleyways to catch our breath.

"If the people back on Earth knew what was going on here…" Donna began to say to the PR woman that gave us the registration packets.

"Donna, don't. Don't waste your breath on this warped little bitch," I said in an eerily calm voice and step forward. "Now Solana, I'm only going to say this once. Where's Dr. Ryder," she points at the map shakily. "Thank you. Now go, before I kill you myself."

She shouted for the guards, as ran away from her.

And off we went, again. Finally stopping at one of the warehouses sonicking our way in.

"Oh, can you hear it? I didn't need the map. I should've listened!" the Doctor announced aggravated and sonicked the door shut.

"Does that mean we're locked in?" Donna asked incredulously.

He ignored the question and continued on. "Listen. Listen, listen, listen, listen," the Doctor ordered as we began to walk around the complex.

"Oh, my head," the Doctor grimaced as we descended the steps. "Guardian?"

"Yeah, Doc. I know," I said clenching my teeth.

"And don't call me Doc. It's Doctor," he corrected.

"What is it?" Donna asked.

"Can't you hear it? The singing?" he asked Donna.

"Doctor, Donna can't. She's not a telepath," I gritted out. The lower went down the stairs, the more intense the ethereal song became.

"They look different to the others," she stated softly looking at the natural-born Ood.

"Like the Guardian said before. They weren't born with those translator balls attached to them," the Doctor explained. We squatted in front of them. "That's their song."

"I can't hear it."

"Do you want to?" I asked softly.

She looked towards me. "Yeah."

"It's the song of captivity," I warned her. "It's not going to be pretty."

"Let me hear it," she insisted.

"Face me," I commanded and opened the barriers. "Open your mind. That's it. Hear it, Donna… Hear the music."

She gasped and began to cry from the song's despair.

"Take it away," she begged after only a moment.

"Are you sure?" I asked softly.

"I can't bear it," she confessed as I took it away. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," as I looked on to the Ood.

"But you two can still hear it," she stated matter-of-factly.

"All the time," I sighed and nodded. "Doctor, can we go inside?"

He sonicked the cage open.

"They're breaking in!" Donna exclaimed.

"Ah, let 'em," he spat. "What are you holding? Friend. Doctor, Donna, Guardian, friend. Look at me. Let me see," the Ood slowly show their hindbrain. "That's it. That's it, go on. Go on."

"Is that—?" Donna breathed.

"It's a brain. As I said before, those bastards did that to the other Ood," I spat angrily. I took a calming breath and continued. "A helpless race against humanity. I'm so sorry Donna, but it's not all fun and games out here."

"So the company...cuts off their brains," she sneered in disgust.

"And stitches on the translator," I finished shaking in anger.

"Like a lobotomy. And I thought it would be so wonderful out here," she spat, shaken. "I want to go home."

The Doctor looked at her in alarm, but she didn't notice.

The guards are have finally broken through with Halpen. I grabbed the Doctor's sonic screwdriver and locked us in the cage with the Ood.

"What you gonna do, then? Arrest me? Lock me up? Throw me in a cage? Well, you're too late! Hah!" I goaded Halpen.

We were cuffed to the poles in Halpen's office. "Why don't you just come out and say it? FOTO activists," Halpen sneered at us.

"If that's what Friends of the Ood are trying to prove, then yes," the Doctor shouted.

"The Ood were nothing without us—just animals roaming around on the ice," Halpen challenged in perceived superiority.

"And who are you a lion tamer? They're people too!" I snapped. "You have no right to coerce them into slavery!"

"They welcomed it! It's not as if they put up a fight," he mocked with an infuriating smirk.

"You idiot!" Donna brilliantly exclaimed. "They're born with their brain in their hands, don't you see? That makes them peaceful! They've got to be because a creature like that would have to trust anyone it meets."

"Nice one," the Doctor complimented.

"Thank you," she acknowledged.

"Aww, no other insults? I'm disappointed," I said with mock disappointment.

"Sorry… next megalomaniac. I'll do it just for you," she said in mock cheeriness.

Halpen ignored the comments. "The system's worked for 200 years. All we've got is a rogue batch. But the infection is about to be sterilized. Mr. Kess, how do we stand?"

"Canisters primed, sir. As soon as the core heats up, the gas is released. Give it 200 marks," Kess responded into the communicator. "And counting."

"You're going to gas them?!" the Doctor asked indignantly.

"Kill the livestock, the classic foot-in-mouth solution. Still works," he gloated.

The alarms began to blare.

"What the hell?" Halpen cried in confusion and left the office with Ryder and Ood Sigma.

Halpen, Ryder, Ood Sigma came back from outside.

"Change of plan," Halpen announced to his accomplices.

"No reports of trouble off-world, sir. It's still contained to the Ood-Sphere," Ryder informed.

"Then we've got a public duty to stop it before it spreads," he ordered.

"What's going on?" I shouted.

"Everything you wanted, Dr. Noble," he spat. "No doubt there'll be a full police investigation once this place has been sterilized so I can't risk a bullet to the head," he smirked suddenly. "I'll leave you to the mercies of the Ood."

The three move leave, but I stop Halpen in his tracks.

"But, Mr. Halpen, there's something else, isn't there? Something we haven't seen," I stalled.

"What do you mean?" Donna asked.

"The creature couldn't survive with a separate forebrain and hindbrain, they'd be at war with themselves. There's got to be something else, a third element," I explained to her. "Am I right?"

"Again, so clever," he mocked.

"It's got to be connected to the red-eye. What is it?" I nearly shouted.

"It won't exist for very much longer," he spat. "Enjoy your Ood."

They exited just as a small horde of Ood with red eyes come through, advancing on us.

"Well, do something, Doctor! You're the one with all the tricks! You must've met Houdini!" Donna snapped.

"These are really good handcuffs!" the Doctor defended.

"Oh, I'm glad of that. At least we've got quality!" Donna shrieked.

"Donna, take a chill pill," I reassured her. "We'll get out of this, I promise."

"We better, or I'll haunt you!" she threatened.

"You make it as if you haunting me is bad thing," I grinned. "I rather enjoy your company, Madame."

"As I you, my good Sir," she grinned back.

"Oi! We have more pressing matters other than haunting in the afterlife!" the Doctor snapped at us.

"Right…" I agreed, Donna and I looking back at the increasingly creepy Oods.

Our voices began overlapping as we cried out 'Doctor, Donna, Guardian, friends!' and 'The circle must be broken.' Until, finally the eyes went back to normal.

"Doctor. Donna. Guardian. Friends," the Ood agreed in that weird monotone.

"That's me! Us!" Donna chirped.

"Oh, thank Rassilon," I breathed in relief.

"Yes, that's us! Friends! Oh, yes!" the Doctor shouted in happiness and relief.

You know that running thing, it seems I won't need the gym for a few centuries after this.

An explosion rocks us to the ground, the smoke moved to reveal Ood Sigma.

"Oh, hello Ood Sigma. How's life treating you?" I chirped.

"It's been better, Guardian," he replied.

"What the—? Oh, of course. You would know my name," I said resignation. "So, off to warehouse 15 then?"

With a nod, we were off to see a giant brain. It's much more interesting than it sounds, seriously. It's not like you see that at Ikea, though I wouldn't be surprised if they sold those, maybe in plush form. Probably should be listening instead of talking inside my head.

"The Ood brain. Now it all makes sense. That's the missing link. The third element, binding them together. Forebrain, hindbrain and this. The telepathic centre. It's a shared mind...connecting all the Ood in song," the Doctor explained as we looked over the railing to the Ood brain.

"Cargo. I can always go into cargo," Halpen's voice said, a gun raised at us. "I've got the rockets, I've got the sheds. Smaller business. Much more manageable without livestock."

"He's mined the area," Dr. Ryder explained in a stiff tone.

"You're gonna kill it," Donna gasped.

He pointed to the giant brain. "They found that thing centuries ago beneath the northern glacier," Halpen informed us.

"Donna, those pylons," I whispered.

"In a circle. 'The circle must be broken,'" she continued.

"Dampening the telepathic field, stopping the Ood from connecting for 200 years," the Doctor finished.

"And you, Ood Sigma, you brought them here. I expected better," Halpen said in mock disappointment.

"My place is at your side, sir," Ood Sigma replied.

"Still subservient. Good Oo—" Halpen tried to say but he was having trouble.

"If that barrier thing's in place, how come the Ood started breaking out?" Donna asked.

"Maybe it's taken centuries to adapt. The subconscious reaching out," the Doctor theorized.

"Dr. Ryder, you have something to add to the class, don't you?" I said in a calm voice.

"How did you—?" Ryder questioned.

"Just explain it, doctor."

"Right. See, the process was too slow, it had to be accelerated. You should never have given me access to the controls, Mr. Halpen. I lowered the barrier to its minimum. Friends of the Ood, sir," he paused. "It's taken me ten years to infiltrate the company. And I succeeded."

"Yes. Yes, you did," Halpen replied. Then tried to throw him over the railing into the Ood brain, but I moved faster pushed the man towards the Doctor.

"You tried to...murdered him," Donna spat. I pulled her and Ryder behind the Doctor and I.

"Very observant, Ginger. Now then, can't say I've ever shot anyone before...can't say I'm gonna like it, but, uh, it's not exactly a normal day, is it? Still…" Halpen mocked.

"Would you like a drink, sir?" Ood Sigma offered.

"I think hair loss is the least of my problems right now, thanks," Halpen laughed.

"Please have a drink, sir," Ood Sigma insisted while standing in Halpen's way.

"If-if you're gonna stand in their way, I'll shoot you too," Halpen threatened weakly.

"Please have a drink, sir," Ood Sigma persisted.

"Have-have you...poisoned me?" Halpen asked incredulous.

"Halpen, you really should have been paying closer attention to who you let into your circle. Sigma didn't poison you, no," I sneered. "He was much more cruel, in a way."

"What is that stuff?" the Doctor asked.

"Ood-graft suspended in a biological compound," I stated. "Am I correct, Sigma?"

"Correct, sir," he confirmed.

"What the hell does that mean?" Halpen asked panicking as he was looking very ill.

A dawning epiphany showing on his face. "Oh…dear," the Doctor said realizing what that meant.

"Yep," I said popping the 'p' with a smirked.

"Tell me!" Halpen begged

"The funny thing about the subconscious. Takes all sorts of shapes. It came out in the red-eye as revenge. It came out in the rabid Ood as anger. And then there was patience," I explained with a dark laugh. "All that intelligence and mercy focused on Ood Sigma. How's the hair loss, Mr. Halpen?"

"What have you done?" Halpen demanded Ood Sigma.

"Oh, they've been preparing you for a very long time. And now you're standing next to the Ood brain," the Doctor continued. "Mr. Halpen, can you hear it? Listen."

Halpen looks panicked and doubles over to begin to transform into an Ood. Halpen removes the human skin to show the new Ood underneath.

"They—they turned him into an Ood?" Donna gasped in horror.

"Oh yes," the Doctor confirmed.

"He's an Ood," Donna stating the obvious.

"We've noticed," the Doctor replied.

Ood Halpen then coughs up his secondary brain.

"Oh, I'm not having calamari for a while. Or any kind of seafood for that matter, " I breathed.

"He has become Ood-kind and we will take care of him," Ood Sigma stated to us.

"It's weird, being with you two. I can't tell what's right and what's wrong anymore," Donna realized.

"It's better that way. People who know for certain tend to be like Mr. Halpen," the Doctor reassured and ran towards the detonation pack to unarm it. "Oh! That's better. And
now... Ood Sigma, will you allow Dr. Ryder the honour?"

The man had been quiet and was startled from his thoughts. "Yes?" Ryder asked in confusion as stood next to the Doctor.

"It is yours, Dr. Ryder," Ood Sigma confirmed.

"What?" he asked confused then, finally catching on. "Oh. Oh!" moving into action.

"Oh yes! Stifled for over 200 years but not anymore. The circle is broken. The Ood can sing!" the Doctor exclaimed while Ryder shut off the electrical pylons.

The ethereal song is now much louder.

"I can hear it!" Donna gasped in happiness.

The three of us come back near the TARDIS with the Ood and Dr. Ryder following.

"The message has gone out. That song resonated across the galaxies. Everyone heard it. Everyone knows. The rockets are bringing them back. The Ood are coming home," the Doctor stated.

"We thank you, Doctor-Donna-Guardian, friends of Ood-kind. And what of you now? Will you stay? There is room in the song for you," Ood Sigma asked.

"Oh—I've—I've sorta got a song of my own, thanks," the Doctor tried.

"I think your song must end soon," Ood Sigma prophesied ominously and then turned to me. "As is yours Guardian."

"Aww, what? That's just not fair. I like this me," I grumbled.

"Ignore him. Meaning?" the Doctor asked with a fond roll of his eyes.

"Every song must end," Ood Sigma replied in an ethereal.

"Yeah," the Doctor said spooked. "Um, what about you, Donna? Do you still want to go home?"

"No. Definitely not," Donna answered firmly.

"How 'bout you, Guardian? Will you stay?" the Doctor asked hesitantly.

"And what? Have you get all the fun? Nah, I'll stay here with my best friends," I smiled.

"Then we'll be off," the Doctor said to Sigma.

"Take this song with you," Ood Sigma offered.

"We will," Donna accepted and held my hand. I took the Doctor's, who was surprised at first, but took it gladly.

"Always," the Doctor acknowledged.

"And know this, Doctor-Donna-Guardian, you will never be forgotten. Our children will sing of the Doctor-Donna-Guardian, and our children's children, and the wind and the ice and the snow will carry your names forever," Ood Sigma promised as we entered the TARDIS to anywhere and anywhen.

Well, that went okay... As for the next chapter, it will finally get the Doctor and Donna to that special place where we can all sing campfire songs and eat Girl Scout cookies or Jammie Dodgers or Jelly Babies or any confection you prefer. So review please. And it would also be nice to have some ideas from you guys on how/why it happens. Till the next time.

Avengers, Assemble! *cough,cough* Sorry, wrong fic... Allons-y!

~HuonParticlesAreHarmless