A/N: We're going to meet one of my favorite characters in this chapter. You'll probably figure out who it is right away, but I'll just leave you all in suspense for now. Mwah hahaha. I also apologize in advance for any spelling errors.

The Doctor rested his forearm against the wall beside my head, a smirk on his face and his head leaning over mine. "You had a good time?"

I smiled and nodded. I could feel my cheeks turn slightly red as the Time Lord gazed affectionately at me. "The best time of my life," I answered shyly. "I don't think I've ever been quite so happy."

He exhaled with a chuckle, then lowered his head and gently kissed me on the lips. I stood on my toes and put my arms around the Doctor's neck, pulling him closer. His right hand moved to my cheek and he rubbed his thumb very slowly and carefully across my skin. My stomach erupted once more into a flurry of butterflies and excitement.

When he pulled back, I smiled and looked down at my feet. "Thank you for everything, Doctor."

"Theta," he reminded me. "Theta. Please."

"What happens when I call you that and you're not in this incarnation? What if I call you Theta in your first incarnation?"

The Doctor smiled and kissed me again, giving me reassurance that calmed my nerves. "I can promise that I won't mind."

"Only if you're sure."

"I am."

I nodded and pecked the Doctor on the cheek, still feeling shy about expressing my growing feelings for him. "Then thank you, Theta, for an incredible day. You're the first person to ever do something for me at all on this particular day and I can't even begin to tell you how much this has meant to me. I won't ever forget any of this."

"Nor I."

He gave me one final kiss in farewell, then let me walk into my bedroom. I closed the door behind me and let out an elated sigh. Maybe I can't be with Ten or Eleven, or any of the others, I thought to myself, but maybe I can be with Six. He cares about me and I certainly care about him.The TARDIS dimmed the lights in my room as I walked towards my bed, shedding my jacket and jeans and replacing them with my pajama bottoms. My lips curled in my biggest smile as I crawled under my covers. I patted my hand against the wall behind my headboard and laughed softly.

"Goodnight, old girl. Thank you for the music." The ship hummed pleasantly in response. "Keep him safe while I'm sleeping."

I woke on my own the next day, but stayed under the covers and stared at the ceiling for a few minutes. I finally managed to bring myself out of bed and dress for what I assumed would be another adventure filled day with the Doctor.

As I was on my way to the console room, I felt a strange sensation start in the pit of my stomach. My forehead started to ache and I quickly pressed my hands against the ache in an attempt to soothe it. Instead, the sensation intensified until it was nearly unbearable. I doubled over and closed my eyes, keeping my hands against my temples and trying to block out the pain.

Almost instantly, the pain in my head and stomach stopped and I was able to open my eyes again. Fear gripped my heart when I stood and realized that I was no longer in the TARDIS. I turned and frantically looked around at my surroundings. A fierce wind tore at my jacket and hair and blew dirt into my eyes. I shielded my eyes with my right hand and lightly brushed the dirt away from my glasses with my other hand.

The sound of sirens startled me and I quickly tried to discern the direction they were coming from so I could request help. I noticed then that I was only a few yards away from a dirt road and ran forward. I stopped at the edge of the road and looked both ways. On my right was a black car driving towards me at a very fast speed. I waved my arms frantically and jumped up and down on my toes. The car sped past me without faltering and I coughed when a large cloud of dust blew into my face.

The source of the sirens was coming closer and I ran out into the middle of the road, despite the danger that I knew I was putting myself in, and waved my arms as two cars raced towards me. The front car, which I recognized as a police car, honked and immediately slowed down, then stopped just a yard in front of me. The passenger car door opened and a very familiar man stepped out of the car.

"Alistair!" I cried in relief.

"Diana, what the devil are you doing out here?"

I rushed forward and put my arms around his waist as the second car, which I just noticed belonged to UNIT, raced past us. Alistair pulled my arms away and looked down at me, his brows drawn together in concern. He repeated his question and quickly looked over my head and neck for any wounds.

"I just appeared here," I told the Brigadier. "I was in the TARDIS and then-... Where am I? Who was in that car?"

The Brigadier pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. "I'm afraid that you may have just caused the Master to escape. Again."

"Again?" I asked incredulously. "Alistair, did I help the Master escape another time?"

He waved his hand dismissively, then opened the back door of the police car. "Get in the car, Diana. Please."

I nodded silently and quickly got inside the car. Alistair slammed the door shut behind me and then got back in his seat. He turned to the driver and nodded. "Back to UNIT HQ, man. And quickly." He picked up a radio from somewhere near the steering wheel and started to talk into it. "Greyhound One to Greyhound Three. Do you read me? Over."

"Greyhound Three to Greyhound One," Mike yates responded. "I read you. What is it, Brigadier? Over."

"I've got Miss Scott with me, Yates. Are you still on the Master's tail? Over."

"Yes, sir. But Benton and I think that he's got some sort of rocket on his car. He keeps playing with us, sir. He slows down and just when we're close enough to get him, he speeds up and shoots down the road. What should we do, sir? Over."

Alistair turned in his seat and looked back at me. "Any ideas, Diana?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No. He might have what the Doctor has on Bessie, but I don't know how to fix it."

"Is there any way you can contact the Doctor?"

"No, I- Wait. Yes. I do." I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and called the contact named 'TARDIS', then waited for the Doctor to answer my call.

"Just wait a moment, Yates," Alistair instructed into the radio. "Keep up with him. Over."

The Doctor finally answered the phone, casually answering with a lazy hello and a yawn. "Theta, I need your help!"

"Diana? What-? Where are you? Are you alright?"

"Never mind that! Benton and Yates are chasing the Master and they can't keep up with him. I think the Master might have some sort of device on his car that can boost his speed, like you have on Bessie. Is there anything you can do to help?"

"Hand me over to Lethbridge-Stewart, my dear."

I handed my phone to Alistair and waited expectantly. After a few long minutes, he passed the phone back to me and sighed. He called into the radio, "Yates? The Doctor's on his way to help you. Over."

"I don't think he can catch up to either of us, Brigadier."

Alistair and I jumped when the sound of an explosion sounded through the radio. I leaned forward and put my head close to the Brigadier's. He looked at me, then called for Yates over the radio.

"Alistair?" I asked softly.

"Yates? Mike! Mike, can you hear me? This is Lethbridge-Stewart! Do you read me? Benton? Yates? Do you read me? Over."

"Will they be alright?"

Alistair looked back at me and pressed his lips together. We shared a silent expression of worry, then leaned back in our seats. The Brigadier ordered the driver to go faster and then radioed for extra men to drive out to search for Yates and Benton.

"The have suffered only minor injuries, Brigadier," Doctor Henderson explained. "They should be fully healed within a week, so long as they stay here and heal."

"Yes, thank you, Doctor," Alistair answered with a nod and a polite smile.

I leaned over Benton's sleeping form and placed a hand on his cheek. Alistair cleared his throat and smiled at me when I looked up, a worried and surprised expression on my face. "Come on, Diana. We should be going."

"But what about John and Mike?"

"The doctor said they would be fine. I need to get you back to UNIT HQ before your Doctor starts worrying."

I blushed and smiled, looking back down at John's face. "He's not my Doctor. Just... my friend." I kissed John on the cheek, then Mike before looking back at Alistair and nodding. "Let's go. And before you leave me alone at HQ, I need to ask you something."

The Brigadier gestured to the chair across from him. "Sit, please. What is it you want to ask?"

I sat and crossed my leg at the ankles. "Well... I've been thinking about this for a short time and I don't know if its really a good idea or not considering the fact that I never stay in one place for very long, but... I want a job."

"With UNIT?"

I shook my head. "No. Anywhere, really. I'm not the military type. But I just want to have something sort of normal in my life. I'm eighteen now, so I can get a job. Or is it different in Britain? I don't really know."

"I can get you a job easily, Diana. It's no problem. What would you prefer? A part-time job?"

"I think so. I've never had a job before." I smiled nervously and ran a hand through my hair with a sigh. "But, I really want this. I want to make a living on my own instead of relying on my friends to loan me money. I think it would be good for me. And... Well, when I appeared earlier without the Doctor, I was a little scared. I didn't have anyone around to care of me... Do you know what I mean?"

Alistair nodded and smiled reassuringly. "Yes, I understand."

"If I can have a job, maybe if I appear on Earth again without the Doctor, I'll be able to take care of myself and not worry about... whether or not I'll be able to fid you or the Doctor. That doesn't sound stupid, does it? I mean, it sounds reasonable?"

"It does sound reasonable." Alistair ran a hand across his jaw and smiled. "I'll see what I can do. I assume you'd like something related to music or literature. Am I right?"

"That'd be great, Alistair."

"Then consider it done. I'll stop by the lab tomorrow afternoon and tell you what I've found."

"Thank you," I said honestly.

"You're more than welcome."

On my way back to the lab, I decided not tell the Doctor about my decision and instead opted to surprise him the next day. I was excited that Alistair could get me work and was eager to start.

I stepped into the TARDIS, gently patting the door as I walked in. A pleasant hum had started in my chest and worked its way out of my mouth. The Doctor looked up from the console and smiled at me. In a fashion completely unlike myself, I gave him a quick yet brave peck on the cheek and continued walking past him.

"My, you're in a cheery mood," he commented with a grin.

"Yes, I am."

"What is it that's made you so pleased?"

I looked over my shoulder and shook my head with a smile. "I'm not telling you. It's a surprise."

The Doctor smiled and approached me, grabbing my hand before I could leave. He leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek when I looked up at him in silent questioning. I blushed and looked away with a smile.

"I'm glad to see you safe and sound in the TARDIS again."

"I'm glad just to be here," I replied softly. "And I'm glad that you're okay. I was worried earlier."

The Doctor smiled warmly and started to lean in again, when my phone started ringing. I felt my face flush completely and quickly turned away to hide my embarrassment and disappointment. I answered the phone with a shy "Hello".

There was the sound of a person's light breathing on the other end, but no voice answered me. I repeated myself, then hung up when the person refused to answer. I stuffed the phone into my back pocket and looked back at the Doctor.

"Sorry," I told him shyly. "Must've been a wrong number."

To my great surprise, the Doctor reached a hand out to cup my cheek and pulled me into a brief kiss. I'm kissing Three. One of my favorite incarnations and he's kissing me! I let out a pleased sound and put my hands on his chest. But the Doctor pulled back before either of us could bring the kiss any farther along.

"Goodnight, my dear," he said sweetly.

I squeaked and nodded with a smile. "Night."

I woke up to a loud knock on my bedroom door. I quickly sat up, pulling the blankets over my shoulders. "Doctor?" I asked slowly.

"The Brigadier's here, Diana. He says he has something important to tell you."

I jumped out of bed and hurried to the door. The Doctor had changed back into his normal outfit and was waiting for me just outside the door. He smiled and pulled his hands out of his pockets. "How are you?"

"I'm good."

"Did you sleep well?"

I nodded with a smile. "Yeah. Was I asleep for a while?"

"Well, it's nearly half past one now," he said. "But it's no matter. Lethbridge-Stewart's waiting for you."

I grabbed the Doctor's hand and grinned excitedly. "This is my surprise for you, Theta! I can't wait to hear what Alistair has to say!"

"My dear girl, what are you going on about?"

"I didn't tell you about this because I wanted to surprise you!" I exclaimed as I ran down the corridor, dragging the Doctor along behind me. "But now we have one less thing to worry about!"

"Diana, what are you talking about?"

I flipped the lever that opened the TARDIS doors as I ran past the console, laughing and jumping in excitement. "I'm an adult, Theta, and now I can take care of myself. Isn't it great? You don't have to constantly look after me and worry about me because I'm going to have a job!"

"What?"

I stepped out of the ship and into the lab, my fingers still tightly intertwined with the Doctor's. Alistair was standing by the lab table and holding a small stack of papers in his hands. He turned and raised a questioning eyebrow upon seeing the Doctor and I breathing heavily, but shook his head and nodded once at both of us.

"Diana, I've contacted a few different places already- Oh, yes. You'd like to know what they are, I suppose." I smiled and nodded silently; Alistair smiled in return and looked down at the first paper in his small stack. "Well, the local library, they remember you very well and said they would be interested in hiring you. There's a small music store you could work at. They sell instruments and music books and all sorts of similar things. I'm sure you would enjoy yourself there."

"Absolutely not," the Doctor suddenly snapped.

I looked back at him in confusion. "Theta?"

He glared at me and shook his head slowly. "This is out of the question, Diana."

"Uh, are you okay?"

"I will not let you get a job! Do you have any idea how much danger you'd be putting yourself in? What if the Autons were to attack again, or the Master found out where you were working? You could be killed!" I started to pull my hand out of the Doctor's, but he quickly grabbed me by the wrist and tugged me closer to him. "I won't let you put yourself in danger."

Anger and frustration bubbled up inside my chest. I set my jaw and harshly ripped my arm from the Time Lord's grasp. "You're not in charge of me, Doctor. This is my life and I'll d whatever I want with it. And that includes getting a job so I can support myself."

"I can support you."

"Yes you can. Until something like yesterday happens. I was in the TARDIS with you, I was safe. Then I left and I ended up in the middle of a field in England. I didn't know where I was or when I was. The only thing I did know was that you weren't with me and I was scared to death. It was a matter of luck that Alistair was driving after the Master and happened to see me. That's all."

"Diana-"

"What if I ended up somewhere and I didn't know anybody? What if it was five years into the future and I didn't have anything except the clothes on my back? What would I do then? Psychic paper can only take me so far and if there's an official record in the government that I exist and have a job, then I can manage to support myself until I can find you again."

"Might I suggest then," Alistair interjected gently, "that you take a job with UNIT? I know you don't exactly enjoy the military, but perhaps we can find you a job as an assistant or a secretary?"

I looked over at the Brigadier and smiled. "That might be best."

But the Doctor shook his head again. "No. I will not allow it."

"Who put you in charge of my life?" I asked harshly, turning back to face the Doctor with a hard glare. "I'm trying to take care of myself here."

"Diana, it's not safe for you to leave the TARDIS, let alone UNIT HQ. The Master's escaped and we don't know where he is. If he kidnaps you-"

"Then I'll kick him where it really hurts. I can take care of myself."

"No! You can't!" He grabbed me by my biceps and jolted me, his eyes staring into mine as he protested. "Diana, you can't. You're not invincible! You might be strong willed and intelligent, but so is the Master. He's a Time Lord! He's one of the most dangerous Time Lords and he's after both of us. If you get a job, there will be records and he'll find those records and find you. I can't let that happen!"

I shoved the Doctor's hands aside and took a step back. "First of all, don't ever do that to me again. Don't toss me around like I'm a toy instead of a person! Second, this is my life, not yours. When I want your input, I'll bloody ask for it! Third, I'm trying to set up my future so that if we're separated, I'll be able to have a life instead of becoming homeless in the middle of a country I don't even know! Please tell me that makes sense to your stupid brain."

"Diana, your future is with me."

"Is it?" I hissed. "Well, news flash, Mister All-Powerful Time Lord. Not anymore. I'm getting a job, with or without your approval because I don't actually need your permission."

"Won't you just listen to me?"

"No, because you're acting like you're in charge of my life. You're not! If you're actually that concerned about me, maybe you could teach me your stupid Venusian karate. Then I could kick your ass and the Master's."

"Perhaps I should leave," Alistair mumbled when the Doctor and I fell silent.

"Yes, perhaps you should," the Doctor snapped.

"No." I looked over at Alistair and smiled as warmly as I could manage. "I'd like to talk to you about a position in UNIT, Alistair. I'm sure there's something available."

The Brigadier looked over at the Doctor and then back at me. "Diana, maybe this should wait-"

"Why? I know what I want. A job. You probably have something for me to do here. Why should I wait?"

"Perhaps you'd like to discuss with your h-"

"He's not my anything, Brigadier. My friends don't control me. I control myself." I started for the lab doors and motioned for the Brigadier to follow me. "Now let's talk."

The Doctor called after me, but I ignored him. I could feel my blood boiling and my heart pounding angrily in my chest. My hands were balled into fists at my sides as I waked along the hallway with Alistair at my side.

Who the hell does he think he is? I asked myself. I can take care of myself. I don't need him to dictate my every waking moment like I'm a helpless child. Arrogant prick.

"Diana," Alistair started cautiously, "I think that perhaps you should consider waiting. I don't want you and the Doctor to fight or something like this. I'm sure you can both come to an agreement."

"I don't have to agree with anyone except my employer. The Doctor isn't in charge of me."

"But he's your-"

"Alistair, I already told you! The Doctor isn't anything to me. He was my friend, but right now I'm very angry at him. He can wait."

"Diana, I really do think that you should wait."

I stopped walking and looked up at Alistair. "You know, my real father never would have tried to keep me from living my own life. No matter our differences, I know that he wouldn't have sided with an arrogant, pompous, self-obsessed Time Lord who likes to lord his presence over all us unintelligent Earthlings instead of trying to help his own daughter make a living for herself. So I guess I don't a friend or a father here."

The Brigadier shook his head. "Diana, now you're just being childish."

"Am I? Well, who even cares? I'm not even in charge of my own life around here."

"The Doctor's only trying to look after you. The events of two days ago with the Master frightened him."

"I wasn't even here two days ago! Look, just leave me alone. Both of you. Don't come after me and don't talk to me."

"Diana-"

I held my hand up as I started to walk away. "I don't want to hear it, Alistair."

Stealing Bessie had been both exhilarating and dangerous, but I felt it was worth the anger the Doctor would unleash on me when I eventually returned. I drove myself over to Liz's flat and was pleased when she let me in. She listened while I explained everything that had happened to me in the last month and a half, and was just as angry as I was to hear that the Doctor had all but forbidden me from getting a job.

She told me that the university she was working at needed a secretary and recommended that I interview. Liz disliked the idea of a secretary, but knew that it could be the only job I would have for a long time. She wrote down the name and phone number of the person I would have to contact, then encouraged me to visit him before the end of the day.

It was on my way to the university that I found myself regretting my decision to steal Bessie. The same black car that Alistair, Benton, and Yates had been chasing suddenly appeared on the road in front of me. I slammed on the brakes before I could crash into the back bumper of the car. I grabbed the horn on the side of the steering wheel and let out my anger on it.

I stopped when the driver's door opened and a man dressed in all black stepped out. My heart stopped and caught in my throat when I recognized his face and the characteristic beard covering his lower jaw. Frantically, I tried to put Bessie in reverse and step on the gas. But the Master pulled out what I assumed to be a sonic device and pointed it at the car. Bessie froze and the engine died, leaving me sitting without a way of escape.

I opened the door and jumped out, running as fast as I could manage the moment my feet touched the asphalt. I could hear the Master's footsteps pounding on the ground behind me and pushed myself to run faster, stepping from the road onto the sidewalk to avoid the high speed cars. The wind whipped at my face and hair, but I ignored it and the fear swirling in the pit of my stomach.

"There's no use trying to escape me," the Master called after me. "I shall capture you now or when you collapse from exhaustion. It makes no difference to me."

I looked over my shoulder and saw him mere feet behind me, an evil and wicked smirk on his face. I shrieked and tried to take a larger stride, but stumbled and fell to my feet. I landed hard on the sidewalk and rolled onto my side as the pain of the impact radiated throughout my body. The Master knelt beside me and gently brushed the back of his gloved hand along my cheek.

"Get away from me," I spat.

He harshly gripped me by the throat and held the long, cylindrical device underneath my chin. "Now, now, my dear. Let's not make a scene. Come quietly and I shan't harm you."

"What do you want with me this time? You still want to steal my powers so you can rule the universe? Whatever those powers are, you crazy maniac."

"Powers? What powers?"

I paled and swallowed nervously. People had started to gather around us and stare, their whispered voices mixing together. The Master looked up at them and then back at me, his smirk returning and growing larger.

"Come, my dear," he said loudly, making sure that the people watching us could hear him. "I can't have you fainting again. You might hurt yourself."

"No, get off of me!" I snapped, grabbing his wrist and pushing the strange object in his hand away from me.

The Master put his left arm under my knees and wrapped his right arm around my back, then stood and lifted me into the air. I shrieked again and kicked my legs wildly in an attempt to make him drop me. He only tightened his arms around me and started to carry me back to his car.

"My daughter is feeling very sick," the Master announced to those watching us. "She's quite delusional, I'm afraid. She ran away from her doctor in a fit of anger. But, not to worry. She will be taken care of and well looked after."

"No, no! Put me down! I hate you!"

The Master put his mouth close to my ear and whispered, "Keep quiet or I shall dispose of your precious Doctor and your dear Brigadier. And you wouldn't want that, would you?"

I strained against the handcuffs that pinned my arms behind my back, but knew it was a useless attempt. The wooden chair I had been bound to was strong enough not to break under my struggles. The Master stared silently at me, a cigar smoking between his fingers and his legs crossed. I shook my head and let out a groan of frustration.

"Just let me go, damn it!"

"I can't do that, Miss Scott. You know I can't."

"Look, I'm not who you think I am."

The Master chuckled and ran a hand along his lower jaw. "I think you are. In fact, I know you are. It's no good lying to me, my dear. I shall find out the truth one way or another."

"But I am telling you the truth! Master, please just listen to me. I'm not lying! The person that you encountered a few days ago was a future me, not this me."

"No human can travel through time," the Master scoffed. "Not even the Doctor could help you for he too is stranded on this pathetic planet."

"The Doctor isn't the one who makes me travel through time. I don't know what it is! I don't even know how to control it! Please, you have to believe me."

"I don't believe you. You are trying to make me trust you and then release you. I can assure you that will not happen. The only way you will escape is under my control. Do you understand me?"

I sighed and bowed my head slightly. "Look, I don't know anything. I don't know what you could possibly gain by kidnapping me."

The Master laughed and stood up, straightening his coat as he did so. His eyes locked onto mine and shone with a hint of malice and humor that frightened me. "You know where the Doctor is and he trusts you. With you under my power, the Doctor will soon be trapped like a mouse in my paws."

"Yeah, well curiosity killed the cat," I retorted. "And the Doctor's not an idiot. He'll know something's wrong."

"Will he?" He smiled and took a few slow steps towards me, dropping his cigar on the floor in the process and stepping on it to snuff it out. "Should you fail to respond to me or to fail in your task, I can simply dispose of you and lure the Doctor in myself."

I yanked my the chain of my handcuffs against the wooden braces behind my back and grimaced when the metal handcuffs dug into the skin of my wrists. The Master laughed and knelt in front of me, his left hand cupping my chin and forcing me to look up into his eyes. I froze and stared into the Time Lord's eyes in fear.

"Listen very carefully to me," he said in a firm voice. "I shall take my revenge on you, the Doctor, and all of those blundering fools at UNIT. If I have to kill you, then I shall do so without a moment's hesitation. You are a pathetic human hardly worthy of being trampled under my feet."

Hatred, disgust, and fear welled up in my chest and I spat in the Master's face. He recoiled and wiped the substance from his face, then brought the back of his hand down on my cheek. My face whipped to the side after the blow had been dealt and I stayed frozen in shock in that position. Then the Master harshly gripped my chin again and forced me to look at him.

"You will obey me," he said through his teeth. "You will obey me. I am your Master and you will obey me."

"No! No, I won't let you hypnotize me!"

"Listen to my voice and accept it, Diana Scott. I am your Master. Obey me. Obey me, your Master."

I tried to close my eyes, but found that the Master's voice had already started to work on me. I frantically searched my mind for something to use against the Time Lord and cried out when I remembered Jo's way of protecting herself. "M-Mary had a little lamb whose fleece was white as snow," I said haltingly, fighting against the Master as he continued to speak, "and e-everywhere that Mary went t-the lamb was sure to go... A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, now I know my ABC's, next time won't you sing with me?"

"Obey me! I am your Master! Listen to me and accept it. Obey me!"

I shook my head as the Master tightened his grip on my chin. "No, please! H-Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a... a great fall. All the kings horse and all the kings men-"

"Obey me! You will obey me!"

I paused as my mind started to swirl. "Obey?" I asked slowly.

"Yes. Obey me, Diana Scott. Obey your Master."

"Obey... my Master?"

"Yes. Obey me."

I shook my head again. "No," I protested weakly. "No. This isn't right."

"Obey me," the Master repeated in a firm, yet gentle voice. "Obey me and you can protect the Doctor."

"The Doctor?" I repeated. "The Doctor? I can protect the Doctor?"

"Yes. Obey me and you will protect the Doctor."

"Obey you. Obey you, my... Master."

"Yes, that's it." The Master ran his hand along my cheek and chuckled. "Obey me."

"I will obey you," I answered in an empty voice as my mind seemed to go blank. "I will obey you, Master."

"Good girl." The Master reached behind me and unlocked my handcuffs, then pulled me to my feet. He put one arm around my waist and pulled me forward. "Now tell me. Who are you?"

"I am Diana Scott."

"Where do you come from?"

"A parallel or alternate universe."

The Master nodded. "How did you meet the Doctor? Which incarnation was he in? Where were you?"

"I met the Doctor on Space Station One in the year five billion. He was in his ninth incarnation and was travelling with Rose Tyler. I fell asleep that night in my home universe and woke up in this universe, speaking to the Face of Boe."

"The Face of Boe?" the Master repeated. "Hm. Interesting. And how long have you been with the Doctor?"

"I have been with the Doctor for almost three months."

"And how old are you?"

I paused, my mouth opening and closing as my mind tried to find an answer. "Answer... Answer unknown."

"Unknown?"

"Answer unknown," I repeated. "I thought I was eighteen, but... There is a presence in my mind that tells me I am not... I don't understand."

"Never mind, never mind. You mentioned that I wanted your powers. What are these powers?"

"I don't know. The Doctor told you that no one, not even I, can control my powers. But no one has ever told me what they are."

The Master thought in silence for a moment before speaking again. "You are human?"

"Yes."

"Is there anything that has happened to you that would normally kill any other human?"

I nodded slightly. "Yes. Yes, I can travel through the time vortex without a TARDIS and not die. I have been shot by an Auton and was not killed, but badly injured."

"What other non-human abilities do you possess? Do you have foresight or telepathy?"

"I can travel through time and space, but cannot control when or where I travel to and from."

The Master let out a breath and smiled. "Ah. I see. That makes sense."

"I know your future," I added in an emotionless voice.

"What? How?"

"I know your future," I repeated. "I know the Doctor's future. I know Jo Grant and Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart's future. I know the future of the TARDIS."

"How do you know all this? Tell me!"

I paused for a moment before answering his request. "The life of the Doctor was chronicled as television show in my home universe. For fifty years, the people of the Earth have followed his life and his adventures. I watched the show and know the majority of the events that are destined to take place."

The Master pushed me into his chair and rushed past me in excitement. He ran a hand through his hair and laughed. "This is too marvelous to be true!" he exclaimed. "Not only does the Doctor marry a human, but he marries a human with knowledge of his future. I knew there had to be a reason why he would join himself to her in such a way! Why, this all makes sense! If I can just harness her abilities, I can make my TARDIS work again without the Doctor. Oh, Doctor, just you wait for my revenge."

Then the Time Lord looked back at me. He placed his hands on either side of me and leaned his face over mine. "Look at me, Diana." I tilted my head back and stared into his eyes. "Listen to my instructions. I will release you and you will go to UNIT headquarters. There you will find the Doctor and take him back here. If he refuses, you will incapacitate him and bring him here anyway. Do you understand?"

I nodded once. "Yes, Master. I understand."

"Once you leave this building, you will forget what has transpired and fulfill your instructions. Now go."

"Diana, where have you been?" the Doctor exclaimed, running his hands across my face. "I was worried sick! The Brigadier told me that you'd run off and then we found Bessie missing. Liz phoned and said that you'd gone to the university, but no one reported seeing you or the car. And then Bessie was found in the middle of a road without a driver. Diana, what happened?"

"I'm fine," I said honestly, smiling a little.

"I'm sorry for how I was earlier. I realize how upset you must be. But Diana, darling, I just want to protect you. Can't you understand that?"

"Yes, I can. Now come with me."

"What? Diana, we're not done talking. I want to make sure that you're not still mad and if you are, let's talk about it."

"Why would I still be mad?"

"Because I told you that I wouldn't let you have a job." The Doctor raised an eyebrow and gently put a hand against my cheek. "Are you feeling alright? You don't seem yourself."

"I'm fine, Theta. Now come with me. I want to take you somewhere."

"Wait." The Doctor gently cupped my face in his hands and looked down at me. "Your eyes. What's happened to them? You're not blinking."

"Angels," I said quickly. "Now come on. Don't make me hurt you."

"Hurt me? Diana, what's gotten into you?"

I grabbed the Doctor's wrists and pulled them away from my face, then pushed him backwards. "I must bring you. I must! I must bring you, Doctor!"

He held his hands up with his palms facing me. "Yes, of course, my dear. Whatever you say."

The overwhelming need to complete my task drove me forward in a blind rage. I grabbed at his throat and pushed him to the ground, falling with him and landing with my legs on either side of his waist. The Doctor grabbed my wrists and easily pulled my hands away from his neck, then flipped us both over so that he was above me. I fought against his grip and tried to get my hands around his neck again.

"Diana, listen to me. It's the Doctor. It's Theta. Calm down."

"No! No, I must! I must bring the Doctor!"

"Hush now," he said soothingly. "It's alright. Listen to me. Listen to my voice. It's Theta. It's your Doctor."

"I must... I must! I must bring the Doctor," I said weakly. "Please, I must..."

My arms went limp in the Doctor's hands and I stopped struggling. I knew I couldn't hurt the Doctor when he was so much stronger than me, so my brain went into a sort of coma. I remained conscious, but couldn't move without instruction.

The Doctor sighed and ran a hand along the side of my face. "Diana, please listen to me. It's the Doctor. You remember me, don't you? Theta. You were mad at me, remember?"

"Doctor?" I asked softly as the haze over my mind started to clear.

"Yes," he answered with a relieved smile. "It's me. I'm here."

"Theta!" I cried, throwing my arms around his neck and pulling him down so that he was laying on top of me. "I'm so glad to see you!"

"You are?" he asked.

"Yes! Wait... No, I'm not. Get off!" I pushed him off of me and sat up, glaring down at the Time Lord. "What on Earth were you doing to me?"

"Nothing! I was trying to take you out of your trance and keep you from killing me at the same time."

I awkwardly got to my feet and watched as the Doctor did the same. He smiled nervously at me, but the smile faded when I narrowed my eyes and glared at him. "I'm still mad at you," I said.

"I know." The Doctor pressed his lips together as he thought for a few moments. "Diana, I'm sorry for what was said, but we need to discuss it later."

"No, we need to discuss it now."

"Diana, you were hypnotized. I need to know who it was and why so I can find them, although I suspect that I already know."

Before I could answer, a scream ripped through the walls. I recognized it a the voice of Jo Grant and ran through the lab doors with the Doctor close behind. We crashed into the Brigadier's office, where I was sure I had heard the scream come from, and found the room empty. The window had been opened and the papers on Alistair's desk had fallen onto the floor in a terrible mess.

"Alistair," I breathed. "Jo. Oh God, they're gone."

The Doctor grabbed my by the arm and turned me around to face him. "Was it the Master? Did he hypnotize you?"

"What?"

"Diana, this is important!"

I searched my mind for any memories that could help and gasped when I remembered my kidnapping. I grabbed at the Doctor's shoulders as my knees wobbled and I felt my head start to spin. "Yes," I murmured. "It was him. It was the Master."

The Doctor released my arm and grabbed my hand instead, pulling me along with him. He stopped the two soldiers that had appeared just outside the door and told them to keep the entirety of UNIT HQ on alert and well guarded, then ran off with me behind him. He ran out to the main parking lot where dozens of UNIT jeeps and trucks were kept.

"Do you remember where the Master took you?" the Doctor asked as we jumped into one of the jeeps.

"I think so. But I'm not sure."

"Just do your best, Diana."

The Doctor drove us to where I had first seen the Master and pointed to Bessie, who had been pushed to the side of the road and out of the way of traffic. He asked if I could remember anything and I was able to give him directions that led to the abandoned factory the Master had taken me to.

"Are you sure this is it?"

"I'm doing the best I can," I snapped. "There's only so much I can remember when I've been hypnotized."

"Don't get mad at me," the Doctor replied. "I am just trying to make sure that we are in the right place."

"We are!"

"Fine!"

I shoved my door open and jumped out of the car, then slammed it shut behind me. The Doctor copied my actions and walked around the car to take hold of my hand. I quickly pulled away and gave him an angry glare.

"Don't," I said firmly.

"Diana, I only-"

"Let's just go in, take care of the Master, rescue Jo and Alistair, and get the hell back to UNIT HQ."

I started forward up the steps into the abandoned factory when the doors suddenly opened. The Master rushed through the doors and grabbed my arm, pulling me against him and pressing something against my neck. I looked back to see the Doctor frozen halfway up the steps with his hands in the air.

"One false step, Doctor," the Master began with a chuckle, "and she dies. You know I'm not jesting."

"What do you want, Master?"

"Why, my dear Doctor, are you really so naïve? Once you are out of the way, my path to universal domination will be so perfectly easy to walk. And with your precious wife in my power and her abilities mine to command, I will be undefeated."

"I'm not his wife, you git," I snapped.

"Shut up," the Master hissed in my ear. "Now, Doctor. If you could step forward? I have reserved a room for the two of you to stay until I am ready to dispose of you properly."

The Doctor started up the stairs again, walking slowly past the Master and I. He looked at me and I could see in his eyes that he was worried for my safety. I smiled weakly at him and encouraged him to go in front of us with a slight nod of my head.

"Now then, Doctor. You're going to enter the first room you see on your right. Then you will stand in one corner of the room whilst I lock the door behind you."

"And Diana?"

"What harm can be done by placing the two of you in the same room? You will be dead within the hour, Doctor. As will the Brigadier and Miss Grant."

"What have you done to them?" I asked harshly, struggling against the Master's grip. "What did you do them? Have you hurt them?"

"Go forward, Doctor," the Master urged. "Miss Grant may or may not be unconscious and your friend the Brigadier may possibly be injured. But there is nothing either of you can do."

I grimaced and fought against the Master. "If you kill either one of them-"

"Listen to me, Diana Scott." The Master dug his device harder into my throat, making me cry out in pain. "One more word from you, and I dispose of you with or without gaining your abilities."

"If you had just listened to me-"

"Oh, because all of your ideas are good ones?"

The Doctor sighed and ran a hand through his gray and white hair. He shook his head and dragged his hand down the front of his face. "Diana, I just meant that I want to protect you. I knew that if you tried to leave, the Master would come after you."

"So this is all my fault, is it?"

"No! For the sake of all that is good, Diana, will you shut up and listen to me? I didn't forbid you from getting a job because I don't want you to be able to support yourself. Rassilon, I want the exact opposite."

"Then why can't you trust me to take care of myself?" I asked.

"Well, you've already let yourself get kidnapped and hypnotized-"

"I 'let' him kidnap me because he said that he would kill you and Alistair if I tried anything. Do you really think I wanted to let that happen?" The Doctor's mouth fell open in understanding. "I might've been mad at you, and I still am, but I would never do anything that might prompt him to hurt you."

"But I've already been close to losing you twice," the Doctor insisted.

"I was trying to protect you! If you can't appreciate that, then-"

"Diana, of course I appreciate that. But losing you would be the worst thing I will ever have to bear. If you sacrifice yourself for me, what reason do I have to go on?"

"Don't act like I'm your one and only reason for living, Doctor. There's Jo and Liz and Alistair and Ian and Barbara and Susan and Jamie. And there's all the companions you'll have in the future. We all love you, Doctor, me and your companions and I know that each and every one of us would gladly sacrifice ourselves for you. I am one amongst many who love and adore you." I grabbed his hands and gently ran my thumbs over the back of his hands. "I think we're both trying to say the same thing and going about it the wrong way."

"I think you're right."

I pulled the Doctor into a hug and sighed into his hair. "I'm still mad at you, you know," I told him. "And I am waiting for when I know you're going to realize how overprotective you're being. Until then, I am going to have a job and there's nothing you can do to convince me otherwise."

"Diana-"

"Don't say another word." I pulled back and gestured to the door. "I really hope you have some idea of how to get out of here."

The Doctor scratched the back of his neck and looked down at the floor. "Well... Diana, my dear, I don't think you're going to like this."

When the Master came to our room and unlocked the door, I mentally prepared myself for what I would have to do. The Master ordered that the Doctor stand in the corner farthest from him and that I stand in the doorway. He placed the handcuffs on me again and made sure they were tight enough to hurt me if I moved my hands too much.

"Now move slowly away from the wall, Doctor. I can't have you making a rescue attempt on Miss Scott."

He escorted the Doctor and I through the abandoned factory and stopped us when we reached a large, darkened room. In one corner of the room was what I assumed was the Master's TARDIS disguised as a ruined bookcase and in the middle were four chairs. Jo and Alistair were handcuffed to two of the chairs and the other two were empty.

The Doctor rushed to Jo's side first, checking her head and narrowing his eyes dangerously. He looked back up at the Master and said, "She's wounded."

"Yes, I know," the Master responded. "Now step away from her."

"At least let me tend to her wound."

"No."

"Master, let me help her!"

The Master thought for a moment before nodding. I watched the Doctor search through his pockets and hoped that he would try to free both Jo and Alistair while the Master was busy with me. The Master pushed me forward to one of the other chairs and shoved me down onto the one farthest from the others. He pulled out the key to my handcuffs and unlocked them, then started to pull my arms to the back of the chair.

I knew that would be my only chance to escape. Before the Master could close the handcuffs around my wrists again, I kicked him in the knees. He fell onto his side with a groan and the key slid out of his hands. The Doctor had already unlocked Jo with his sonic screwdriver and had moved onto Alistair.

I leaned forward and grabbed for the key to my handcuffs when the Master grabbed me by the neck. I buried my hand in his hair and pulled his head back, making him loosen his grip and allowing me to pull back. Then I kneed the Master in the stomach and reached past his head for the key. I closed the open cuff around the Master's right wrist, unlocked the other cuff around my wrist and then closed it around the Time Lord's other arm.

"Are you alright?" the Doctor asked.

I nodded and stood up, keeping my eyes trained on the Master in case he tried to attack either of us. "Yeah. Fine. How are they?"

"Jo's just sleeping for now and Lethbridge-Stewart seems to be between consciousness and unconsciousness."

I hurried over to Alistair's side and ran my hand over his face. Guilt stung in my heart when I remembered what I had said to him earlier that day and I prayed that he would be alright so I could apologize. The Doctor stood next to me and put a hand on my shoulder.

"He'll be fine, Diana. He just needs rest."

He looked back at Alistair and put a hand against his temple. I started to move past him to check on Jo when something flew over my head and tightened against my throat. I gasped and stumbled backwards, grabbing at the handcuff chain around my neck. The Doctor turned back to me and grabbed for my hand, but stopped when the Master tightened the chain even more and I choked.

"Stay well back," the Master warned.

"Doctor," I choked. "Theta. Please."

The Master chuckled and pulled me against his chest. "Try and find us once we're travelling through the vortex, Doctor."

I let him drag me through the doorway of his TARDIS when I bent forward and used my knees to propel the Master over my back and onto the floor. He fell on his back and I heard his bones crack and pop upon contact with the ground. Then I grabbed him by his wrist and dragged him into his TARIDS.

"I've got powers, huh?" I grunted as I dragged the Time Lord in behind me. "Well, let's see if I can't put them to use."

I placed my hands on the TARDIS console and tried to find the dematerialization lever. I grabbed it and started to pull on it when a golden glow similar to the few other times that I had started to leave wrapped around my arms. The Master's TARDIS let out a wheeze and stared to dematerialize, despite the fact that its dematerialization circuit was missing.

"Diana!" the Doctor called from outside the ship. "What are you doing?"

I shoved the Master to the ground as I ran past him and pushed open the TARDIS doors, jumping out and landing on my stomach just as the ship finished dematerializing and finally disappeared. The Doctor ran to my side and put a hand over mine. He pulled me to my feet as I started to fade away.

"Diana, are you-"

"I'm fine. Just take care of Jo and Alistair." I smiled and waved goodbye to him. "And don't forget to tell my new boss that I might be late to work tomorrow."

I just really love Roger Delgado. If I didn't have a thing for the Doctor, then I would be all over that man. XD

Anywho, hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! I would appreciate some nice reviews/comments from the greatest readers in the world.