I am so sorry for how long this took to update but i'm back at university again and suddenly i have all this work to do. It's so hard, i'm in my final year so i have to put uni work first. But i will try and write and update when i can. Thanks to the reviews, favs and follows.
I hope you like this chapter, would love to hear your thoughts on what do you think the Doctor, Clara and Lauren will react or do in the next chapter. Lauren's having some problems and of course many secrets ;)
Sorry if there is any spelling mistakes.
Chapter 18 I'm In Trouble Now
Lauren watched as the mummy growled at her one more time before vanishing in front of her eyes.
"It's gone. You took it away from me," Lauren said amazed, her heart swelled at the thought he cared enough for her to do so.
"Yes, it's gone for you. But not for me. Cos now it thinks I'm you," the Doctor said throwing the scanner onto the table. "Start the clock." He orders. The Doctor hears the mummy growl as it appears for him, he turns at the sound, "Hello," he whispers. The mummy reaches for him.
The Doctor runs up towards the mummy just stopping short out of arms reach of it. "I'm so pleased to finally see you. I'm the Doctor and I will be your victim this evening," he grins manically. "Are you my mummy?" He quotes backing slowly away step by step now as the mummy lurches for him, step, by step. "But you can't hurt me until my time is up. I think. So are there magic words? Is there a way to stop you in your tracks?" He waved his hands around as he mused aloud trying to work out the riddle or secret to stopping the creature.
The Doctor turned suddenly, glancing back at Lauren as an image came into his head; he felt impressions and feelings attached to this image, a piece of thought information crossed his consciousness. "Oh, Theodore is your twin brother, it hurts you to think of him," the Doctor blurted out to a stunned Lauren before turning back to the mummy. "There's something visible under the bandages."
The Doctor brushed passed Lauren, Clara and Maisie as he went to look back at the scroll comparing the markings. "So much going on in your head Lauren," he said pausing briefly frowning at her, surprised by the wave of emotions and the feeling of a heavy burden resting in his mind. Another flutter of thought passed his consciousness. "You were right by the way, she did deliberately split you and Theodore up." The Doctor stated.
Lauren didn't reply. She just stood frozen staring at him in shock as he looked at the scroll. Clara glanced between the Doctor and Lauren, half confused, half curious over what he just revealed of her friend. Lauren, still frozen to the spot tried to comprehend his words. Well, she knew what he meant, she was trying to comprehend the fact he knew of it now thanks to that stupid scanner.
Lauren had completely forgotten that aspect because she didn't think the mummy would have appeared for her and the Doctor wouldn't have used the scanner on her instead.
Was he seeing her memories? Oh god what if he sees the knowledge she holds of him! What if he sees images of the show and everything he shouldn't know!
"Markings like the ones on the scroll," the Doctor worked out, moving past them back to the approaching mummy but paused briefly again to Lauren, "Oh, and your parents. So sorry." The Doctor apologized to her before turning his attention back to the problem at hand. "A tattered piece of cloth attached to a length of wood that you will kill for."
"Thirty seconds." Perkins announced.
The Doctor began putting the pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle, "That doesn't sound like a scroll. That sounds like a flag!" He realized, pointing back to the scroll, "And if that sounds like a flag, if this is a flag, that means that you are a soldier, wounded in a forgotten war thousands of years ago," he whispered.
The Doctor was running out of space to walk away from, backing himself into the counter as the mummy closed in on him. "But they've worked on you, haven't they, son? They've filled you full of kit. State of the art phase camouflage, personal teleporter."
"Ten seconds," Perkins called urgently to him.
The Doctor was now backed against the counter as the mummy reached both arms out for him. The Doctor slightly panicked kept talking, "And all that tech inside you, it just won't let you die, will it? It won't let the war end. It just won't let you stop until the war is over." The mummy's hands closed around the Doctor's head, "We surrender!" the Doctor shouted.
"Zero," Perkins said.
Silence. Everyone in the room seemed to hold their breath as the Doctor stared wide eyed at something they couldn't see, then, suddenly,
Maisie gasps and points, "I can see the mummy!"
The mummy steps back from the Doctor and lowered its arms.
"It's okay," Lauren said seeing the creature again.
Clara nodded in agreement, "Yeah. It's okay. I think we all can."
"Do I start the clock?" Perkins asks uncertainly.
"No," replied the Doctor softly watching as the mummy shakily rises it's arm to salute him, it appears to be hard for it to do so.
In that moment Lauren felt sorry of it, the mummy, whom ever he was before they took him and filled him with tech was really as much a victim as everybody else on board the train.
"The clock has stopped. You're relieved, soldier," the Doctor commanded and the mummy who gratefully lowers it's arm with a sound akin to a sigh, disintegrates before their eyes into a pile of dust and old bandages.
Perkins let out a relieved sigh, "He's not the only one." He said while the Doctor picks up a piece of tech from the remains of the mummy.
"We were fighting that?" Clara asked disbelievingly.
"So was he," the Doctor replied studying the piece of tech in his hand.
"Listen, what I said – "
"Save it," the Doctor cut Clara off moving passed them to the table, "We're not out of the woods yet. Well, Gus, I think we solved your little puzzle. Ancient soldier being driven by malfunctioning tech."
'Thank you so much for your efforts. They are greatly appreciated. Unfortunately, survivors of this exercise are not required.' Gus stated.
The Doctor sitting on the table stool sonics the tech then grabs another tool and tweaks with the device; he isn't surprised by Gus's revelation. "Ah, well, there's a shocker," he states sarcastically.
Lauren started gasping as it became harder to breathe. Clara and all the other passengers start to clutch at their throats, gasping.
'Air will now be removed from the entire train. We hope you have enjoyed your journey on the Orient Express,' Gus called cheerfully.
Clara was struggling to stand, she braced herself on the edge of the table the Doctor worked on, he seemingly unaffected by the lack of oxygen compared to everyone else. "I take it you know a way out?" Clara choked out, swaying on her feet.
Perkins and Maisie fall to the floor struggling to hold on, Lauren gasping, staggered to the table leaning heavy next to where the Doctor was sitting.
"My enemy's enemy is my friend. Especially when he has a built in teleporter," the Doctor explain.
Perkins and Maisie had passed out on the floor. Clara became more unsteady, "Great! So use it!" She croaked.
"A little more work," the Doctor said busy fiddling with the teleporter.
"Hurry up!" Lauren wheezed feeling her grip slip from the table and her vision start to go black. Her lungs burned for oxygen, there was a painful buzzing in her ears as everything went dark and she knew nothing anymore.
"Doctor!" Clara called.
"Couple of minutes. Max. I'll give you a shout," the Doctor called back unfazed before Clara hits the floor with a thud.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lauren felt the cool sensation of a salty breeze around her and naturally pulled the blanket closer. It took several more lazily seconds for her to notice the cold, hard rock her head was using as a pillow and the other warm body beside her. Lauren opened her eyes and jerked her head up feeling fuzzy. The warm body beside her was also starting to stir awake; Lauren glanced to see that it was Clara, also wrapped in a blanket and both of them lying on another one covering the pebbled ground.
They were lying on a beach. Lauren could see from the corner of her eye a city on her left, the sound of hover cars flying in the distance. Clara was fully awake now and looked to Lauren with the same confused face she had. Last thing she remembered was struggling to breathe and passing out on a train now they appeared to be on a beach. The girls turned to the sound of the waves and a stick scratching on sand, the Doctor stood before them drawing Gallefreyan type symbols into the sand; poking small rocks and pebbles out of the way. He was back to wearing his usual trademark outfit. A slight shame Lauren must admit having loved his tux.
"Oh hello, again," the Doctor looked up now seeing they were awake at last. "Sleep well?"
"Weren't we just on a train?" Clara asked taking in her surroundings.
"Oh, that was ages ago." The Doctor dismissed continuing to poke at the sand with his stick.
Clara and Lauren looked at each other, "And?" They asked at the same time.
"And what?" the Doctor replied. Clara and Lauren just gave him a look which prompted him to explain. "Oh, and we got off the train." He said still drawing in the sand before quickly adding, "Oh, well, the teleporter worked eventually. Beamed everyone into the TARDIS. No casualties, just a bevy of sleeping beauties. I tried hacking Gus from the TARDIS, find out who set this all up. He really didn't like that. Set off some fail-safe thing. Blew up the train." He finished.
"Blew up the train?" Clara exclaimed, shocked. Lauren blew out a whistle expressing her shock, she totally forgot that part after passing out.
"Blew up the train," the Doctor repeated rising his arms in the air then bringing them back to his sides. He looked up at them again. "But we got away. Then I dropped everyone off at the nearest civilized planet, which happened to be here." The Doctor nodded to the tall, sliver, futuristic buildings of the city before them. It reminded Lauren of the city of New Earth, although the sky here was a pinkish colour. "You two seemed happy asleep so I just left yous."
Clara pulled the blanket closer to her chest, "So you saved everyone," she stated softly.
"No, I just saved you girls and I let everyone else suffocate. Ha, ha, ha," the Doctor feigned an evil laugh, standing with his stick and gazing to his right.
"Hmm," Clara hummed, a small amused smirk on her lips. Lauren laughed softly.
"Yeah, this is just my cover story." The Doctor joked.
"So, when you lied to Maisie, when you lied to me about Lauren –"
"I couldn't risk Gus finding out my plan and stopping me," the Doctor explained to Clara.
Although Lauren didn't believe a word of it. The Doctor didn't have a plan, it was why he brought Maisie out in the first place so he could hope it was her. It was a spur of the moment plan that worked.
"So you were pretending to be heartless," Clara said hoping it was true.
The Doctor looked down at his feet for a moment, his shoulders slumped. He took several steps closer to them now looking down upon their small forms that he wrapped in those blankets against the cold air they undoubtedly felt especially in their dresses. He decided then to be honest with Clara, with the both of them. "Would you like to think that about me?" he asked her quietly.
Clara lowered her gaze. Lauren on the other hand didn't shy away from eye contact. "Would that make it easier?" the Doctor asked and Clara looked up at him again but didn't answer him, neither did Lauren. They waited in silence for him to continue. "I didn't know if I could save you," the Doctor told Lauren honesty. "I couldn't save Quell, I couldn't save Moorhouse." The Doctor sighed and gently sat down beside Lauren and Clara on the rocks still holding onto the stick. He was so much bigger than they were, even when sitting down his tall form made them look dwarfed in comparison.
The Doctor chose his next words carefully. "I was being selfish. I did want Maisie to be next. I lied to you Clara, and to Maisie because I wanted it to be true. And I suppose, if Lauren was going to die then I thought you should see her rather than be trapped somewhere not knowing your friend breathed her last," he looked sadly at Clara. "I mean…I thought it would have been kinder for you, and Lauren be with each other, at least then Clara you would have known what happened instead of wondering what did happen and if I could have done more to save her or the others."
Lauren and Clara didn't say anything. They glanced at each other before Lauren offered her hand which Clara grasped tightly. It was reassurance, a life line saying 'yes I'm still here'. Maybe the Doctor was right. It would have been hard and painful on them but if she were to die, she wanted to be with the Doctor and Clara when it happened. It would have been harder perhaps on Clara if she wasn't there and she in theory died, no last goodbye or anything, Clara wouldn't have gotten proper closure because she stupidly got herself trapped.
The Doctor broke the silence that developed between them, "There was a good chance that you'd die too," he stated looking down at Lauren beside him then to Clara. "Normally, what I did was…at which point I would have just moved onto the next, and the next, until I beat it. Sometimes the only choices you have are bad ones. But you still have to choose," the Doctor whispered looking out at the waves. He let those words sink in.
The three of them watched the waves and the sun slowly set for a while, the salty air was getting a bit chiller. The Doctor was back to contemplating but the silence was a comfortable one, the view was nice and it felt like a break between everything; they didn't need to worry about things yet, if Clara still wants to leave or not, just in this small moment they could step back and breathe. Lauren loved watching the flying cars whiz around the city.
After a few minutes the Doctor stood up, "Ready?" he asked them. It was time to leave, the air was cold now and Clara needed to be dropped back to her flat, no use in delaying the inevitable.
Lauren stood up and was hit with the wave of cold salty air biting at her legs and feet, she regretted being bare foot in this moment, the rocks were so cold the feeling was almost painful. Lauren shivered, Clara wasn't fairing any better. The Doctor began to track his way back to the TARDIS and Lauren groaned loudly in protest at seeing the TARDIS be a fair bit away. The Doctor stopped and turned to look back as Lauren huffed and Clara took the other blanket they were lying on and wrapped it over her shoulders giving her extra heat.
"That's not fair!" Lauren whined to Clara. "And I'm bare foot, at least you have shoes! And all those rocks, Doctor you couldn't of parked closer?"
The Doctor sighed and made his way back to them and without warning he placed his arms, one on her back and the other under her knees and with ease picked her up bridal style. He held her securely to him. Lauren yelped in surprise, hands gripping the lapels of his jacket as he began to walk back to the TARDIS carrying her.
"Can you manage Clara?" he called over, eyeing her shoes, why do companions pick the worst shoes to travel in?
"I can manage, I'm a grown woman who can walk on her own two feet," Clara said determinedly keeping pace with the Doctor. She swore under her breath when she stumbled as a rock slide from under her left shoe. The Doctor ignored Clara's choice of word and hoisted Lauren a little higher to his chest.
"You know this is the closet willing personal contact you've displayed," Lauren happily commented to the brooding Time Lord.
The Time Lord in question flicked his gaze to her for a second before keeping his eye on the TARDIS coming in closer. "How do you think you two ended up lying in blankets on the beach in the first place?"
"Yes, I know you carried us here but this time I'm not unconscious to not appreciate it," Lauren replied making the most of the moment to bury her head further to his chest were she heard the steady beating of his hearts.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Perkins was the only one left of the rest of the passengers in the TARDIS, the Doctor having allowed him to stay and look at the inner workings of the time machine on the lower level under the time rotor. The Doctor had taken a great liking to Perkins, Lauren had too. He was funny and smart and had impressed the Doctor enough for him to even consider the idea of having him as a companion on his ship. Lauren was fully aware of the Doctor's desire to ask Perkins to travel with him as he made his way down the stairs of the lower level. She and Clara lingered by the railings by the door as the two men conversed.
"Er, it's er, quite a vehicle you have here Doctor. I won't pretend to understand half of it," Perkins admired gently closing the hatch. "Having said that, I did notice you've got a couple of drive stacks need replacing."
The Doctor leaned on the railings of the stairs smiling down at Perkins, "Oh, you did, did you?" he grinned, glad that the other man noticed as he climbed up a few steps.
Perkins followed him up, "Yeah. You should get someone in. And a job like that takes forever," Perkins explained.
The Doctor wasn't surprised by Perkins remark instead he seemed even happier. "Really? Well, I suppose, whoever I did get in, it might just be easier to have them stay on board for a while. I don't suppose you'd know of anyone?" the Doctor hinted at the other man.
Perkins stood still for a moment, taking in the Doctor's hopeful expression before casting his gaze down. He carefully considered the Doctor's real offer, fully aware what he was really asking him of and what it would mean. In the end it wasn't for him, he realized with a sigh. He respected the Doctor a great deal though he doubt he could really keep up with him or Lauren. "No. Sorry, Doctor, but I don't think I do. That job could, er, change a man," Perkins replied sadly.
The Doctor tried to hide his disappointment. He accepted Perkins answer. "Yes, it does." He agreed. "Frequently." He darted back up the stairs to the console. "Well, I won't keep you. Goodbye, Perkins. Good to meet you." The Doctor said sincerely, shaking Perkins's hand.
"You too, Doctor. And, er, good luck," Perkins smiled releasing his hand. Perkins made his way out but stopped when he reached Lauren.
"Goodbye Perkins. It really was lovely to meet you," Lauren said shaking his hand. It was refreshing to see the Doctor offer a man the chance to travel with him and not a young woman like he normally does, it was just a shame he said no.
"Likewise Lauren. Do keep a firm eye on him," Perkins laughed before leaning in and whispering, "Tell you what, underneath it all, he, er, cares a lot."
Lauren laughed. "I know."
Perkins tips his cap to Clara on his way out, the door closes quietly.
"Do you love it?" Clara asks the Doctor when the door had shut.
"Love what?" the Doctor asked standing by the other side of the rotor.
"I know it's scary and difficult, but do you love being the man making the impossible choice?"
"Why would I?" the Doctor countered, not looking up as he piloted the ship.
"Because it's what you do, all day, every day." Clara reasoned to him.
The Doctor shrugged, "It's my life," he said simply, pressing several buttons, the TARDIS made a whirring sound.
"Doesn't have to be. Is it like…" Clara began but trailed off, clearly hesitant on voicing something.
The Doctor looked at her curiously and moved around the console so he had a better view of her, they could look each other in the eye. "Like what?" the Doctor prompted her.
"An addiction?" Clara managed to say the thing that was nagging her. She was very aware that she was changing her mind, she didn't want to leave the Doctor or Lauren. Clara realized she didn't want the boring life or boring adventures for that matter but the fun, dangerous run for your life adventures. The life of the Doctor, to be by his side. Was this an addiction? She thought to herself.
"You can't really tell if something's an addiction till you try and give it up," the Doctor replied casually, displacing any tension Clara had.
Clara smiled softly, "And you never have," she said quietly.
"Let me know how it goes," the Doctor said trying to keep a nonchalant expression.
The atmosphere around the trio was broken when the phone in Clara's hand rings. Clara looks at the caller ID and makes her way up to the gallery to answer it. "Hey, Danny. How are you?"
Lauren moves to stand beside the Doctor at the console. He glances down at her, offering a quick, tight smile to her. Lauren smiled in return before focusing her attention on Clara chatting to Danny.
"Yep. Mission accomplished. Listen, I can't talk now but I'll see you soon and, er, I love you," Clara said although when she said the words 'I love you' her gaze was directly focused on the Doctor. Some people may not have seen any significance in that but Lauren did, saying those words to Danny but looking at the Doctor may suggest it wasn't Danny she was really saying that too. Even Jenna Coleman herself confirmed Clara was saying I love you to the Doctor in this scene.
Lauren nudged the Doctor and leaned up to whisper in his ear, "She was looking at you when she said those three words."
The Doctor who was making himself preoccupied by the console frowned in confusion, he eyed Lauren suspiciously wondering what she was up to, glancing at Clara as she finished the phone call. He cleared his throat. "Was that Danny? What did he want?"
Lauren watched as Clara was about to lie to them. She had changed her mind and didn't want to tell Danny because he wouldn't approve of her change of heart and she didn't want to tell the Doctor the truth because lying was easier for them. Clara took a deep breath in before a smile lit up her face, "He's fine with it." She made her way, bouncing down the steps to them at the console.
The Doctor frowned in confusion, he waved a hand to his head indicating his confusion, "Sorry, I – "
"Danny. He's fine with the idea of me, Lauren and you knocking about. It was his idea that we stop but, he's decided he doesn't mind and neither do I. Oh, to hell with the last hurrah. Let's keep going." Clara lied but beamed happily at the pair and it was hard for Lauren to not smile in return.
Let it slide for now Lauren thought, enjoy the moment you have time after to question Clara's lying habits. Just look how happy the Doctor looks for a change.
The Doctor couldn't help himself, he was openly relieved and happy and smiling at Clara; clearly delighted in the sudden change of mind. "That's a big change of heart," he said but not complaining.
"Yeah, they happen," Clara shrugged, fondly looking at the buttons and levers.
"Seriously?" the Doctor grinned at her, surprised but joyous. Lauren caught his infectious delight.
"Look, as long as you get me home safe and on time, everything is great. I am so sorry. I've had a wobble. It's a big wobble, but it's fine. Forget about it. Now, shut up and give me some planets."
The Doctor immediately turned to business mode to the two of them, "Well, I'm glad that you said that, because you know that one that's made entirely of shrubs." He turned back to Clara and asks her directly, "Are you sure about this?"
"Are you? Have you ever been sure?" she asks instead, still smiling.
The Doctor looks between Clara and Lauren before whispering fondly, "No."
He takes hold of a lever and Clara does the same opposite him.
Clara smirks, "Then what are you waiting for? Let's go."
They pull the levers together and the ship groans and shifts and flies into the vortex.
"Woo!" Lauren cheered. "Go team!"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lauren and Clara had immediately went to get changed into more practical clothes after the TARDIS had landed on the planet made entirely of shrubs. And that wasn't a lie it really was. Clara was beaming the whole way out of the doors and taking in the wondrous view. Lauren had never seen so much green and colourful foliage in her life. The planet was calm and peaceful, there didn't seem to be any civilized lifeforms and structures for miles. Well, at least according to the Doctor the nearest is miles away and that only depended on what century they landed in currently which the Doctor said they were in the right one.
The trio were walking along for an hour trying to find the nearest village that according to the Doctor was in the direction they were going in deep into the shrubby, vines, thick trees and thorn flowers. Clara and Lauren were already getting bored of their nature trek, the Doctor was trying to navigate via his sonic screwdriver but it kept picking up confusing signals.
"We've landed in the wrong century haven't we?" Lauren groaned at him feeling her feet ache and stomach protest for food.
"No we haven't. I've checked we're definitely in the right century for the primitive natives to be around." The Doctor said continuing to make his way through, acting as if he knew where he was going.
"If that's the case maybe we're lost," Clara said trailing behind them.
The Doctor turned to her, "We are not lost," he grumbled starting to feel fed up himself but he wasn't going to give up, they will continue forward until he is proven right in his calculations.
"So where exactly are we going?" Lauren questioned him.
The Doctor pointed, "That way," he said still walking forward but checking his sonic every minute and hitting it against his palm.
Lauren sighed, "And for how much further will we have to go that way?" she complained, it was obvious he have no clue where he was going for a while now but still kept up a pretense to Clara and her.
"Not much further. We should be reaching a giveaway path soon."
A half hour passed and still no sign of a nearby village, or anything for that matter. All there was, was shrubs, thick vines, and more strange alien colourful shrubs. After almost two hours of being lost – sorry – not lost according to the Doctor, the novelty of colourful alien looking shrubs, plants and wildlife, well the few wildlife Lauren had actually heard or seen had worn off ages ago.
"Right, I'm positive we've passed the same green shrubs with red flowers and blue thrones twice already," Clara protested coming to a huffing dead stop. She crossed her arms looking stern. "We are lost!" She said to the Doctor.
The Doctor looked confused at his sonic and let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't understand it should be around here." The Doctor pointed to the ground, "Look at the ground, it's made into a path, and look there are trinkets hung on the trees by the natives," he pointed to the beaded trinkets hung by long rope down the braches of the trees that Lauren and Clara did not noticed before.
It was an eerie sight. Some trinkets hung like loose spiders webs, others dangled and swung in the light breeze.
"Well, maybe your facts are wrong," Clara commented. "You said earlier there are different villages maybe not in this area."
The Doctor scoffed, "Unlikely." Clara shot him a look, he tried to explain, "But it should be here. The sonic has been picking up various lifeforms but nothing is here."
"But there's barely been any wildlife or other lifeforms since we've been here," Lauren observed now slowly starting to realize something may have been wrong the whole time.
"Exactly," the Doctor breathed. "Listen!" he whispered to the two of them.
There was silence.
"I hear nothing," Clara said starting to feel weird. She looked around at the shrubs and long tangles of vines beside her.
"Exactly," Lauren whispered back. "What happened to the wildlife?"
"Left." The Doctor said seriously, eyes darting between the two. "Same with the villagers."
"Why would they move the village?" Clara asked. She jerked her head back, she swore she could have heard a faint slivering sound.
"If the place becomes unsuitable, uninhabitable, maybe no wildlife no food, or…if the place becomes dangerous to them," the Doctor listed reasons suddenly realising if the small village did pack up and leave then this place really did become unsuitable and potentially dangerous to them.
The Doctor looked back at the trinkets, they held a meaning. "The trinkets are a clue," he said. "They hang trinkets for various reasons. Fertility, fortune, ritual, omens, curses, or…warnings," just as the Doctor said that Clara let out a scream behind them.
At the sound of the scream Lauren and the Doctor whipped their heads back but Clara was gone. "Clara!" the Doctor shouted staring in shock at the spot Clara stood seconds before.
Then, Lauren saw a flash of green, something cold and thick wrapped itself around her ankles. She had barely time to react before something pulled the ground from under her feet, she felt the air whoosh around her and she was suddenly dragged away and then upwards into the air. Faintly she heard the Doctor shout her name, she quickly caught a look down at him and saw green vines grab him before something was sprayed into her face and everything went black.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lauren jolted awake and the world was swaying and spinning. She felt pressure in her head as if it was going to burst with all the blood flow gathering there. Lauren tried to open her eyes and suppress the desire to vomit, the world didn't look right and everything was still swaying. As she became more aware of her body she felt something wet over herself, flexing her fingers she discovered it was some sort of sticky green goo.
"Nice of you to finally join us," came a thick Scottish accent beside her.
Lauren looked over to see the Doctor hanging upside down tied by the ankles like she was. Clara hanging next to him, both were covered in the same green goo, both set of arms dangling limp in the air. Lauren lifted her head up to look at her feet, the green vines were wrapped around her ankles tightly. She awkwardly tried to look down to the ground and realized to her horror they were suspended quite high from the ground. Lauren gasped and immediately began to panic. She hated heights, was terrified of them, she flailed her arms causing herself to sway and spin which only escalated her fear and panic.
"Calm down!" the Doctor said reaching his arms out to grab Lauren to keep her still until she hit him on the nose in her flailing. He groaned and rubbed his sore nose then used his other hand to keep a grip on Lauren's upper arm. She was still gasping for breath as panic flooded her system and he really hoped she wasn't going to end up making herself have a panic attack. "Look at me! Look! Calm breaths," the Doctor tried his best to soothe her fear. "Don't look down just focus on us."
Lauren took a gulp of air and calmed slightly, her breathing was still a tad fast and she had a death grip on the lapel of the Doctor's jacket which she wasn't letting go any time soon. But she avoided having a panic attack. Lauren just wanted to get down and plant her feet on solid ground and be the right way up.
"You okay?" Clara asked her. She had a much more chilled demeanour to the whole situation but the crease in her brow and the twitch of her mouth suggested she was fed up already and wanted to escape.
"Err, my head is pounding with all the blood rushing to it," Lauren replied shakily.
"That's the least of your worries," the Doctor said without any consideration to his scared companion.
"What happened? Why did the vines attack us?" Clara asked trying to look at him but was slowly spinning around and had to wait until she did a circle back round to face the Doctor again.
"They're alive. Think of them like tentacles," the Doctor answered now trying to search his pockets, abet, awkwardly.
"Tentacles?!" Lauren said pulling a face.
"I said the sonic picked up lots of lifeforms, turns out nearly all the shrubs and other plants in this area are ever so slightly sentient." The Doctor explained.
"Sentient?" Clara echoed him.
"And ever so slightly carnivorous," the Doctor quickly blurted out.
"What?!" Lauren gasped feeling panic start to seep in again.
"Ever so slightly carnivorous?!" Clara yelped accusingly at him.
"OK. They're carnivorous. And Sentient. And very hungry." The Doctor confessed to them still trying to find anything of use in his pockets, he had dropped the sonic as he was grabbed by the vines. "On the bright side at least we've figured out why the villagers moved and the lack of wildlife in this part."
"Oh great I'm glad I know that! They want to eat us. Eaten by a plant how ironic thanks Doctor," Clara whined at him.
"I think of it as less ironic more poetic," the Doctor mumbled.
"That is not helping," Lauren glared at him still clutching the lapel of his jacket so hard he much be feeling her nails dig into him. If he did he didn't say anything.
"Why didn't you warn us that the shrubs were people eating?" Clara demanded.
"I forgot. I thought it was only the shrubs in the south of the planet that were. I can't remember everything Clara!"
"Oh, so now you admit your facts can be wrong!" Clara glared at him and the Doctor just pouted. "What's with the green goo?" she then asked grimacing at the feeling of it everywhere on her and in her hair.
The Doctor didn't reply immediately, he appeared to hesitate, "It's to help digest us. They sprayed us with knock out chemicals and the goo slowly numbs our muscles and dissolves us."
"EWWW!" Both Lauren and Clara voiced their disgust and then panic.
"OK. How to we escape from the vines?" Lauren asked.
Clara tried to prey the vines but the action caused them to tighten around her ankles and more to sliver out and grab hold to her wrists, effectively immobilizing her.
"Like I said, sentient," the Doctor told Clara as she yelped and fussed in the tight clutches of the vines.
"Okay do you have a plan of escape?" Clara asked trying in vain to free herself.
"Thinking," the Doctor replied curtly as he grunted, straining to reach far enough into his pocket. Several items fell out from his pocket and hit the ground a few feet below them joining the sonic screwdriver, though thankfully most were junk and not what he was actually looking for.
"Ideally one that doesn't involve your screwdriver," Clara said dismayed noticing the lack of sonic screwdriver aid.
"Again, thinking," the Doctor grunted back to her.
"So we have no plan?" Lauren said starting to feel unwell with all the blood in her head. If he didn't think of something soon they would be plant dinner.
"The plan is thinking," the Doctor snapped as the search of his pockets for something useful were futile.
Just as Clara was about to make a remark to that the Doctor suddenly gave a crooked smile full of teeth and manic.
"Oh hold it!" Clara warned the Doctor at seeing his manic grin. "Please tell me that doesn't mean what I think it means?" she asked uncertainly.
"Clara, Lauren. I have an idea, but you might not like it," the Doctor said.
"I knew it," Clara sighed. "Let's just get on with it shall we?" she said resigned.
The Doctor wiggled is eyebrows in excitement, ready for action.
No matter how much of a pain and burden foreknowledge was, she was lost without it Lauren realized as she desperately tried to wonder what the heck the Doctor was currently thinking of doing.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After finally escaping and getting off the planet all three of them quickly had showers to get rid of the numbing, dissolving goo. Lauren didn't come out of her room much afterwards. The adventure was over with, Clara had decided to stay on board the TARDIS for a couple of nights and Lauren wanted some alone time.
It was when everything had settled did Lauren start to worry again. Everything felt like it was catching up with her now in the quite of her room.
She feared a confrontation coming. The Doctor still wanted answers from her and she didn't want to find out what exactly he seen or felt in her head from using the scanner to trick the mummy away from her. Clara tried to talk to her not long ago, whether she just planned on friendly chat Lauren didn't know or find out. She politely said she was tired and locked herself in her room. Turns out Clara's room was in the same corridor hers was.
Lauren didn't want to take the risk of Clara asking questions about her family or her past that have also come to her attention after the mummy incident. As well as the fact Clara would most likely question what problems or emotional issues she was facing that caused the mummy to appear for her in the first place. Or maybe she was just over thinking the whole thing and Clara really did just want some friendly talk. The Doctor on the other hand was a different issue. She wasn't over thinking that or being paranoid, he was slowly working things out about her and if he kept going he surely would make her reveal her secret.
She was avoiding the Doctor as much as possible. Of course she will have to speak to him again but now was the time not to in her mind. Lauren realized she might be starting to have a breakdown with her paranoid state of mind. A day had passed until she seen them again when she walked to the console room and the Doctor and Clara were there. Clara was talking about where she wanted to go next and the Doctor was scribbling calculations on his blackboard. Lauren looked to the Doctor who was now paused in his works, chalk poised in his hand. He wasn't looking at her, still facing the blackboard but the small incline movement of his head in her direction showed he was acknowledging her presence. Clara meanwhile rolled around on the wheeled chair still chatting, now though about the book in her hand.
When she heard the Doctor make his way down the steps from the upper level, Lauren, in a split second decision just turned without a word and bolted down the corridor. She could feel both of them staring at her quickly retreating form in confusion. Lauren didn't know why she just did that. She honestly didn't know. It wasn't exactly subtle behaviour if she was panicking every time she was in the same room as the Doctor. She didn't realize she was breathing heavily.
She heard the Doctor and Clara whisper fanatically to each other as she left. That only set her more on edge.
Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid!
Lauren mentally repeated to herself finding now she brought herself to the library.
It was okay during the shrub adventure. Being on an adventure the Doctor wouldn't question her then and Clara was back so he was too overjoyed to care in that moment. Lauren just kept thinking back and wondering what the Doctor potentially seen or felt from inside her head.
Was it all in vain? She thought angrily. If the Doctor has worked out she knows more things than she should know then those people on the Orient Express died for nothing. She let them die because the plot required it, because the Doctor couldn't find out her secret. But it looked like regardless of what she did or indeed what she will do next he will demand answers.
Maybe instead she should confront him. If she made the first move to ask him what did he see in her head maybe she had a chance to control the conversation. Appear less suspicious rather than hiding.
Oh god, was she really this useless? She's already failing hard at keeping her secret.
It was then as if something snapped in her.
Lauren in her sudden anger at her careless nature picked up a book and threw it across the room. It seemed that this action opened the flood gates as Lauren picked up another book and threw that too across the room.
She was now so angry, raging at herself. Guilty and sad and feeling too much in one moment. All her pent up emotions. She picked up a heavier golden cased book and began ripping pages out.
What am I supposed to do with my knowledge?
She ripped a page and chucked it into the flames of the grand mantle fireplace beside the soft armchairs and sofa.
I don't know how to use it, what can I change or what can I not?!
Another page into the flames…
What I'm I meant to do?!
I just want to see Theodore again
What is the point of me being here?!
People died and I let them and for nothing!
What will the Doctor do when he finds out what I know?
With a scream Lauren flung the whole book into the flames. She was panting now, until the excursion started to fade and her anger subsided into a hollow feeling in her chest. She never felt so fucking useless and ashamed with herself in all her life. She didn't know what she was doing, what she was meant to do, why she was in the Whoniverse, why her? She just missed her brother, her parents, her friends, and her simple life. They probably thought she was dead or kidnapped. But it was a life she would have traded to travel with the Doctor if she had a willing choice and she hated herself for thinking it.
Lauren turned from watching the book burn and she felt her heart stop. The Doctor was standing leaning against the door of the library watching her. It was clear he had seen the whole thing. Lauren looked to the books she threw and the ripped scattered pages she didn't throw to into the fire lying on the floor in a mess. The evidences of her breakdown.
Shit! The first thought that came it into her head. She was totally in trouble now.