I told myself I would update every Monday, started off good, but. Oh well. Just one day late. Sorry about that. I've had a crazy week... Anyway, here's the next chapter.

6

Klaus stormed through the front doors, slamming them against the wall as he passed through. The sudden noise made both Damon and Stefan jump and whip their heads towards the commotion. Klaus had a huge scowl on his face and looked ready to kill. He stomped up to Damon and grabbed the front of his shirt. "You never said he could read minds!"

Damon raised his hands in a placating manner. "I'm pretty sure I did actually. What? He beat you up? I told you not to underestimate him."

Klaus threw him across the room, then began to pace in front of the fireplace. "He was able to get in my head. No vampire, besides my siblings, should be able to do that."

"Well, if you forget. He isn't human."

"I'm well aware, how alien he is. He told me all about it." He clenched his fists at his sides and looked to the door. "I'm going to kill him. No one makes a fool of me." Klaus was seething, but Damon thought it was hilarious.

Damon slowly lost control and let out a loud burst of laughter. Stefan stared wide eyed, unbelieving that Damon had the gaul to laugh at Klaus.

"How do you plan on killing him? With everything else being different, what if a regular stake doesn't cut it. I noticed he doesn't need a daylight ring either. And the guys got two hearts! How will that work?"

"I'll just rip the guy's goddamn head off! I'll do it right in front of his little human pet too!" Klaus was screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Okay, okay. We'll get him, Klaus. Stop overreacting." Damon said, rolling his eyes.

Klaus quickly turned toward him and punched him in the face. Damon's head slammed to the side and he then grabbed his cheek.

"Jesus! What was that for?!"

Klaus grabbed Damon's shirt again.

"Leave him alone, Klaus." Stefan spoke up.

Klaus turned to look at Stefan, while still holding onto Damon. He exaggerated his movements as he let go of Damon's shirt. Damon looked annoyed and smoothed out his shirt. Klaus rolled his eyes, and plopped himself on the couch. He had a serious look on his face as he stared forward with his elbows on his knees.

Being back at the Forbes' house was bringing unwanted memories back to the front of his mind. Seeing Donna fall to the floor after he attacked her. Seeing her clutch her neck, terrified of him. He scrunched his eyes shut and looked at his feet as Donna knocked on the door. It took a few minutes before a tired looking Caroline answered the door.

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Doctor, Donna! What are you guys doing here?"

Seeing the Doctor wasn't going to answer, Donna said, "We were hoping you could give us some advice."

Caroline looked between both of them. She took in how the Doctor looked. Awful. His eyes were red and puffy, and he was seriously slouching. He also refused to look either of them in the eye. "Come in, we can talk inside."

Caroline led them to the living room. Her mom was at work so they could talk freely. "So, what do you need?" Caroline put on her best therapy voice and folded her hands in her lap.

Donna looked at the Doctor, he still wasn't looking at either of them. She sighed and spoke. "He is just really struggling with, well you know. His new, uh, problems." She wasn't sure how to explain his situation.

"He's having trouble being a vampire." Caroline said bluntly.

Donna nodded her head slowly. Caroline sighed. "I had a feeling that's what the problem was."

Donna looked to the Doctor and placed her hand on his knee. He flinched at the touch. "Yesterday, he had some more blood. I told him he could have mine. He did, but now he…" Caroline understood where he was coming from. She had killed someone when she changed.

"Doctor, you have no reason to feel bad. Donna allowed you to drink from her. I mean, you haven't even killed anyone, yet. That shows how much control you have over your urges." She smiled, and the Doctor finally looked up. He looked like a dead man walking. Caroline was shocked.

"She's right, Doctor. I was the one to let you drink from me. You stopped and even healed me!" She held up her arm to show there was not even a mark.

"Did he give you some of his blood?" Caroline asked.

"No, he licked the wound and it healed."

Caroline's eyes shot open in shock. "What! That's amazing! I can't do that. See Doctor, you have nothing to worry about."

"You're wrong." The Doctor mumbled. This got Caroline's and Donna's attention. His voice was raspy, like he's been crying.

"Both of you have no idea. It's everything I can to not attack Donna right now. I look at her and just see my next meal." He looked to Donna, who still had her hand on his knee. "I want to drink your blood until there's nothing left. I want to watch the life leave your eyes as the last drop of your blood leaves your body." His eyes were hooded and his hair hung in front of his face. Donna removed her hand from his knee. The Doctor sighed and leaned forward to put his chin in his hands.

Caroline was about to speak, but was cut off when the Doctor began again. "I don't want you dead, Donna. It's this new me. I don't know how to explain it."

Caroline looked to Donna, checking her over. Maybe she wasn't safe around the Doctor for the time being. Then, she looked over at the Doctor. She needed to talk to him alone. If Donna heard much more of the conversation, she worried she would be too scared of her own friend.

"Donna, could you leave us for a bit. I think it would do him better to be away from humans for a little." Caroline suggested.

Donna complied, but turned back around when she got to the doorway. "I'll just be in the kitchen if you need anything." Caroline nodded, "Thanks, Donna."

Once Donna was out of the room, she noticed the Doctor take in a large breath of air. He finally looked up and looked into Caroline's eyes. There was just something about him that made her scared. Her instincts told her he was dangerous. It was similar to the feeling of the originals.

He leaned back into the cushions of the couch. "The smell is just so strong."

"Yes, it is. I'll be honest; that never goes away, but the urge to go after that smell does lessen with time. I can physically have blood in my hands now without even thinking about ripping into them." He winced at that thought. His mind raced through the same images of hurting Donna.

"How long?" he asked.

"What?"

"How long did it take you to 'calm down'. If this lasts much longer, I'm going to end up doing something I can't fix." He was completely serious, but freaked out at the same time.

Caroline slowly grew a smile on her face. "I have an idea." He looked up at her. "You need to get out and let off some steam. That always helps me."

The Doctor looked skeptical, but went along with it. Caroline headed for the door, but suddenly remembered Donna was still there. "Hey, Donna! We're going out for a bit, just make yourself at home."

Before Donna had a chance to say anything, they were both out the door. Donna watched them drive away in Caroline's car from the window. She waved, but the Doctor wasn't even looking.

"So, Doctor. Where are we going?" Caroline asked as she focused on the road.

He stared at her incredulously. "Uh, you're the driver. I thought you were going to take me somewhere."

"I am taking you somewhere. I'm asking you where you want to go." Caroline prodded.

He stared out the window and thought for a couple minutes. Suddenly he began to smile. "How would you like to go off world?" He looked like a maniac staring at her.

"Huh? You'd take me to space?" Caroline was flabbergasted.

"Of course! You're helping me out, by letting me help you. I like showing people new things! That would definitely get my mind off things." He frowned. "Although, I bet we should bring Donna along. She'll be pretty upset with me if we go somewhere without her."

"I know you want her to come, but you need to be away from people for a while. See how much calmer you are without smelling her blood. That's what the problem was."

"Donna isn't a problem."

"That's not what I meant."

He leaned his head against the glass. "I know what you meant."

After a beat, "ALRIGHT! Let's head to the park, we can leave your car there."

Caroline just smiled and turned the car around to head into town.

Once the car was parked, the Doctor jumped out of the car. He waited for Caroline and made a beeline for the TARDIS. Caroline was confused on why they were heading toward the woods, but just kept her mouth shut. Right when she was about to ask where they were going, she noticed a blue police box in a clearing up ahead. The Doctor ran up to it and grabbed the door handle waiting for Caroline. He smiled like a madman, while Caroline looked confused.

"Why is this here?"

"This is my TARDIS!"

Caroline pointed at the box. "This? This is your spaceship," she deadpanned.

"OI! Don't worry, the inside is much better. You'll see." The door opened with a squeak and he slipped inside, shutting the door behind him. Caroline blinked. She was not expecting him to slam the door on her.

"Uh, Doctor."

"Just come in!" He yelled through the door.

Caroline was kind of nervous. She reached up and grabbed the small handle. She pushed it forward and was met with yellow light. Her mouth dropped and her eyes flew open, practically popping from her head.

"Oh…my…God!" Caroline turned around in a circle when she got inside. The place was impossible. It was bigger on the inside.

The Doctor was just leaning against the console with his arms crossed. He had a smug look on his face.

"This place is huge!" Caroline exclaimed. She continued to gape, as she walked back outside and then back inside.

"How is this possible!?"

The Doctor just calmly said, "It's dimensionally transcendental."

"Huh?"

"It's bigger on the inside." He laughed.

She continued to gawk at her surroundings as the Doctor threw off his coat and ran around the console pulling levers and turning dials. He even pulled out a hammer to hit something a few times.

"Do you have any idea what you're doing?"

"Oh, yes!" He smiled that huge grin again. "SOOO, Caroline Forbes. Where do you want to go?"

She pointed at herself. "Me? I don't know! You're the alien!"

"Alright then." He laughed and pulled another lever aggressively. "Allons-y!"

With that the TARDIS began to shake and bob all around, the Doctor grabbed onto the console to brace himself while Caroline quickly joined him. The sound was like nothing she had heard before.

She was freaking out, but seeing him smile and laugh like he was; this must be normal in his ship. It was a completely different Doctor than the one she had talked to at her house. He was definitely in his element inside his ship.

The TARDIS suddenly stopped shaking along with the noise coming from it. The Doctor ran to the door, but paused. "Outside that door is a new world! How exciting is that!? Even I, don't know where we are."

"That's kinda scary, Doctor."

"Weell, that's the exciting bit. This old girl takes me where I need to, when I need to." He motioned to the door. "Ladies first."

Caroline walked toward the door about to push it open, but looked at the Doctor first. He nodded his head, urging her to go on. She complied.

She was met with a cool breeze. A normal human would have shivered, but she didn't get cold anymore because she was a vampire. Two suns sat low on the horizon. One a bright yellow, like on Earth, and the other more orange in color. The light reflected off of the silver trees that were spaced out near a lake in front of her. Her mouth dropped and she froze. The feeling of the Doctor pushing past her knocked her out of her daze.

The Doctor had a similar reaction. The snow capped mountains that surrounded the lake caught his attention first. The two suns made the snow glow like lava. The lake was crystal clear and rainbow colored rocks and stones littered the bottom. He then looked at the trees, they were silver, just like the ones at home. He squinted his eyes. This place is too similar to Gallifrey.

Caroline noticed he was not moving. She nudged him, which made him jump. "AH!"

"Are you okay?" Caroline was a little worried.

"Yeah, uh, sorry. This place just looks very familiar." He ruffled up his hair a little before clapping his hands together.

"Alright! Let's look around." He began to walk off toward the lake. Caroline quickly matched his pace, staying a step or two behind him. The red grass under their feet crunched as they walked toward the lake. It was tall and to Caroline's waist. She reached her hands out running through it as they went. It was soft on her fingertips, and when she pulled her hands back she noticed it also left a red residue. She looked at her pants, but saw nothing.

"Um, Doctor. The grass is staining my hands, but not my pants." She held up her hand to show him. He grabbed her hand and a little device that glowed blue and made an annoying noise when he pointed it at the residue.

"Interesting, it seems like this stuff is attracted to you." He spun around scanning the grass. Checking the readings his eyes widened. "Amazing!"

"What is it?" Caroline asked.

"This grass is using us as pollinators. It's able to distinguish between living and nonliving things! Wow, that is just fantastic." He picked up a piece of the grass to examine it a little closer. He even went so far as to lick the grass.

"Okay, but how does grass know the difference? It's not alive like that. They don't have brains."

"Apparently, this grass does. I bet all the plants can think for themselves. Amazing! These plants," he motioned all around them, "are the humans of this planet!"

"I think you're going to have to explain that a little better."

"Okay, think of it like this. Most planets have some sort of cognitive species. Normally they are the dominant species. Some planets have multiple and they have to share resources. When we landed, the TARDIS picked up billions of life forms, that's why I was so confused at first. Where were all the people? With the relative size of the planet and the number of signatures, we should have seen at least one, right? Well, these plants. These are the life forms! They must have some sort of brain system that allows them to think. They must have taken you as another because you also have higher intelligence."

"Right, so they think I'm grass." she deadpanned.

"More than that! They thought you would be the perfect thing to help them out. You should be honored." He put his screwdriver away, then began again toward the lake.

"Doctor, wait. How can plants have brains? Where would it even be?"

"You humans. C'mon Caroline, they don't have literal brains." He scrunched his face up, not sure how to explain. "Think of how the birds back home just know where to migrate. No one ever tells them, it's some innate sense they are born with. I mean, grown with, for these plants, but you get the idea."

"I guess." It made a little sense, but it was hard for her to wrap her mind around sentient grass. "So is it all plants, or just the grass?"

"Good question. He ran over to a tree and scanned it as well. Checking the readings, nothing. "Nope, just the grass!" He brought his hand to his chin. "Very interesting, how could that have happened?"

They finally made it to the lake. It was quite the sight. The suns were now high in the sky letting the rainbow rocks sparkle in their light. The Doctor sat down and leaned back on his hands admiring the view. Caroline joined him on the ground sitting criss-crossed.

"This place is beautiful. I'm glad we came here. It's nice to get away." He didn't respond, just kept looking at the view.

The Doctor leaned back and placed his hands behind her head and let his legs stretch out before him. Caroline giggled at his actions. They sat there for a while. Caroline was practically asleep, but the Doctor was wide awake. He couldn't get his mind off of Gallifrey. This planet was shockingly similar. It reminded him of home, but then would quickly remember that it was gone. Caroline seemed to be enjoying herself. That was good. Ever since they landed, he had not even thought about blood. Until now anyway. Problem was, he needed to be around people, to help people.

The ground began to shake causing the still lake to ripple and the trees around them to lose some leaves. The silver leaves glittered to the ground, and as soon as it began it stopped. Caroline was now wide awake and the Doctor was on his feet.

He brought out his screwdriver and scanned the area. Seismic activity. These weren't mountains, they were volcanoes!

"We need to go! Those mountains are volcanoes and they're about to explode."

He grabbed her hand and began to run. "But what about life here? All that magma will end up on all this grass." Caroline shouted as they ran back to the TARDIS.

"There's nothing we can do. I can't stop a volcano. I just observe time, I can't mess with it. That's the burden of a Time Lord."

Caroline didn't respond, just kept letting him drag her along. Back in the TARDIS Caroline stood by the door as the Doctor started messing with the console. All of a sudden messages saying 'RUN' appeared all over his screen.

"Woah!" The Doctor tried to see where the messages were coming from. They were coming from the planet itself. How was that possible?

He tried to get the TARDIS to leave, but it would not budge.

"I think they're warning us, Doctor!" Caroline screamed over the sound of the TARDIS.

"You're right! Volcanoes are a natural phenomena, but for some reason it's messing with my systems." He was frantic, because the readings from his sonic were high enough for entire planet destruction.

"Ugh, the seismic activity is messing with the TARDIS systems, we can't get off world."

Just then a huge explosion happened outside and shook the TARDIS. He turned the monitor on to see what was happening outside. Not one, but two of the mountain tops blew up. Smoke was now billowing from the eruption. It was the blackest smoke Caroline has ever seen.

"Oh my God." Caroline was at a loss for words.

"If we don't get out of here in the next couple minutes, we're going to be gone just like everything else. This planet is done for!" He ran around and continued to try and get the TARDIS to leave, but she continued to stall.

"Doctor! What do we do?!" Caroline was just as freaked out as him.

"Shut up, let me think!" He began to quickly pace around the control room and rub his hands through his hair. "Maybe if I time it just right I can use the shock wave to help boost us out of here. Trouble is if I don't time it perfectly then we'll burn up."

"I haven't known you long, Doctor, but I believe in you. I kinda have to." She laughed nervously as she looked back at the screen. Lava was shooting out of the tops of the volcanoes now, which included massive rocks as well. The more the eruption continued, the louder it became.

The Doctor ran to the other side of the controls, "One massive shock wave is about to hit us in 3…2…1!" He screamed at the top of his lungs and pulled the lever down hard to leave. This time, instead of the struggling moaning, the normal sound of the TARDIS taking off made music to their ears.

The Doctor was smiling ear to ear, and Caroline was jumping up and down in excitement. "You did it! You really did it!" She hugged him tight, and he gladly embraced her and laughed like wild.

He let the TARDIS orbit the planet for a bit. They both watched the planet slowly become completely covered in the thick black smoke from the eruptions. Apparently, volcanoes all over the planet erupted at once. Not just the two they were next to.

"So what now?" Caroline asked.

"The planet dies. Nothing will live through that." He looked somber. "A planet very similar to this one didn't make it either, but that was a lifetime ago." He spoke in a whisper, but Caroline could easily hear him with her vampire hearing.

She looked at him, but could tell he didn't want to talk about it. "So, back home then?"

"Yes. One trip is what I promised. Sorry it was such a depressing one."

"It was the planet's time. That's what you said. Now I can tell people I've been on an alien planet with sentient grass. What's cooler than that?" She was smiling, trying to brighten the mood.

"Can't argue with that!" The Doctor pulled the lever again, and off they headed to Mystic Falls.