A/N: I know my updates have been really sporadic. Some chapters are much easier to write than others, depending on what's in each chapter.

I also wanted to clarify something. For those of you who may be reading AnaDona's story, which I took inspiration from to start this story, she has something happening that I had originally planned a long time ago. I don't want you guys to think I am copying her because I'm sure she's been planning this for a while. However, I've already story set everything up for it to happen in a similar way in my story. So I'd like to continue with my original story plan if that's okay with you guys.

As soon as the machine appeared on the table, it started to fade away again. I put one arm around the Doctor's shoulder and leaned against him a little.

"What happened?" Jo asked, standing up to run around the room in search of the machine. "Did it just disappear?"

The Doctor stood up, grabbing my elbow and helping me to my feet. "Well, we couldn't have tempted its appetite," he told us."

"Why not?"

"Well, I imagine it detected a higher concentration of evil in Mailer. There's something to be said for a pure mind, after all, eh, Jo?"

I smiled a little and let myself relax, knowing that I was safe with the Doctor and Jo. I felt so glad that I wasn't in the Master's control anymore and that he couldn't experiment on me like he had planned.

Jo glanced back at the Doctor and I. "Look, I think we'd better get out of here before it gets back," she suggested.

"Yes, all right, Jo!" Jo took off running out of the room and the Doctor called after her. "Jo! Wait a minute. Wait!"

I took a half step forward to follow her and the Doctor came up behind me, grabbing my hand and holding onto it very tightly. He stayed beside me as we walked out of the Process Theatre. Jo had stopped just outside of the doors because, to our great surprise, Barnham had left his bed in the prison hospital and started wandering around.

"Barnham!" Jo exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

He smiled fondly at Jo and said, "Well, I was looking for you. I heard this noise and -"

"It's all right. We're going to try and escape."

Barnham was obviously confused by Jo's comment. "I don't understand."

The Doctor put a hand on Jo's shoulder. "Look, we've got to stop the Master from launching that missile." He smiled kindly at Barnham and nodded encouragingly at him. "Now come on, Barnham, you come with us."

"Come on," Jo urged her friend. I could see by the way he looked at her that Barnham really liked Jo and I thought it was very sweet. "Quickly! Come on!"

I found that my strength was returning bit by bit as we walked, much to my surprise. Both the Doctor and Jo noticed my increase in energy and were glad to discover that I was recovering from my blood loss and near death experience so quickly.

"Am I going to be alright?" I asked the Doctor when Barnham initiated a conversation with Jo.

He smiled and nodded once. "Yes, I think so. You were able to rest and recuperate, so you should be perfectly fine within a day."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, I promise. As soon as we return home, I will personally check your blood levels and anything else that you want me to."

I smiled and ducked my head a little to hide my blush. "Sorry, it's just... I'm still sort of getting used to being able to heal from these near death experiences," I mumbled with a laugh, trying to keep the mood light despite the topic. "It's a little terrifying."

The Doctor looked like he was about to say something, but he stopped himself and merely smiled. He took hold of my hand and brought it to his lips. I blushed a little and looked down, letting my hair fall across my face to hide the red tint of my skin.

"Doctor, where are we going?" Jo asked behind us.

The Time Lord pulled my hand away from his lips and brought our joined hands down to hang between us. "Across the prison," he said. "I want as much distance between us and the prisoners as possible. Once we get across the courtyard, we can get to the governor's office and call for help or maybe even escape."

"We're goin' awfully slow," Barnham commented.

I nodded. "Yeah, we are. Doctor-"

"I'm not letting you strain yourself," he said firmly.

"Oh, I'll be fine. I'm a big, strong girl." I paused and shook my head. "Actually, no I'm not. But I can pretend to be so we can go faster."

"Can you handle that?" Jo wondered.

"Oh, sure. I mean, we don't really have a choice. If we want out, then we should probably go a little faster."

The Doctor looked back at Jo, then to me again. He started to protest and ask that we go even slower for my sake, but I assured him that I was already healing at such a quick rate that I could handle a faster pace of travel. Secretly, I was genuinely touched by his concern and did actually want to slow down. But I knew we didn't have that option if we wanted to escape and if it was my fault that my friends were recaptured and put in danger again, I knew I would never forgive myself.

Once we had quickened our pace, we managed to get to the courtyard in half the time it would have at our previous pace. The room we came across was a small, well furnished room with a door that opened into the prison courtyard. The Doctor dropped my hand and looked around before any of us entered.

"Well, there doesn't seem to be anybody about," he said. "Let's take a look outside. You wait here for a minute," he instructed Barnham.

Jo, the Doctor, and I stepped through the back door that led into the courtyard and looked around. Overhead was a helicopter with the UNIT logo on the side. I felt relief surge through my veins as I stared up at the helicopter. I knew Alistair was inside it and that he could see us, so I started jumping on the balls of my feet and waving. Jo copied my movements and the Doctor waved enthusiastically, his cape flying behind him in the wind created by the helicopter.

Sudennly, a man's voice started behind us. "All right, you three. Inside!"

I turned around with a gasp and reached for the Doctor's hand when I saw the man pointing a rifle at us. He moved the gun to point at Jo, who was standing on the Doctor's right hand side.

"Alright, move!" the man ordered.

Barnham took a step forward, glancing from Jo to the man. "Don't hurt them."

The man shook his head. "Leave off, Barnham. I said move, you three."

Barnham took a step forward and grabbed the man's rifle with both of his hands. He tried to rip the gun out of the prisoner's hands and was able to after just a few moments of struggling between them. "I said don't hurt them," Barnham growled protectively as he closed his hands around the man's throat.

The prisoner shook his head. "No, no, Barnham," he croaked.

"Let him go," the Doctor shouted. "Let him go!"

"Barnham!" I tried, putting a hand on his shoulder. "George, stop it! You're killing him!"

The Doctor stepped forward and delivered a swift Venusian karate move to the back of Barnham's neck. He released the prisoner and stared at the Doctor in surprise. I could tell that he was confused and hurt and I quickly stepped forward to put a hand on his arm.

"Come on, let's get out of here," the Doctor urged.

We started for the door to leave when two other prisoners appeared in the entrance with guns in their hands. Barnham looked behind him at Jo, confusion written clearly across his face. She smiled reassuringly, although I could tell that she was easily as scared as I was.

"Alright," said one of the prisoners. "Hands where I can see them."

The Doctor sighed and lifted his hands so they were level with his eyes. Jo and I copied his movements in resignation. Barnham stayed still and didn't say anything, only continued to look confused.

"Alright, search those two," the first prisoner said to the second.

The second prisoner stepped past the Doctor with his gun trained on Jo. He started searching her for any weapons and when he didn't find any, he turned to me and patted down my waist and legs. I shied away from his hands and grimaced a little. I hated the feeling of a stranger's hands on any part of my body, let alone a deadly and angry prisoner who looked like he would enjoy shooting me.

The two prisoners led us across the prison courtyard and up to the second level into the governor's office. Mailer was waiting for us in the governor's chair and as I entered the room, I felt a chill run up my spine. The different machines that the Master had used to analyze me and take my blood were gone and I assumed that he had taken them to where he was planning on hiding UNIT's missile.

Mailer was on the phone as the Doctor sat down at the chair across the governor's desk from him. "What the hell do you mean, we loused things up?" Mailer demanded into the phone. "You got your missile, didn't you?"

A pause.

"Look, mate, I don't care how busy you are. I want you back. That machine of yours has broken out. It's wandering around the prison. It's killed Lenny Vosper. It's nearly killed me!" He stopped to let the Master speak and over a few seconds I could see Mailer getting angrier. "Now listen. My mob's not staying on here while that thing's on the loose. They'll start running and I'll be running with them."

Another long pause. I could just make out the Master's voice on the other end of the line.

"Maybe. But just remember-"

From what I could remember, the Master was probably threatening Mailer.

"If I get caught, so do you. They'll want to know where that missile is and I might just tell them. Now think about it!" A short pause and then Mailer smiled. "That's more like it."

After he hung up, Mailer folded his hands in his lap and stared at us across the table with a smirk. "Where did you find them?" he asked one of the prisoners.

"Outside B wing, waving to a helicopter."

Mailer's smirk dropped instantly and he sat up a little straighter in his chair. "You what? Did it see them?"

The prisoner shrugged. "Nah, I don't think so. Anyway, it's cleared off now."

Mailer then pointed a finger. I turned and saw Barnham standing by the two prisoners that had escorted us. "Get that zombie out of here," Mailer ordered. "Get rid of him!" Once Barnham and the two prisoners had left, Mailer looed back at us. "I don't know what we're going to do about you."

The Doctor pressed his lips together for a moment, then asked, "Look, Mailer, what-"

"Back off," Mailer snapped.

"Mailer, why are you helping the Master?"

"Helping who?"

Realizing that the Master was still using his disguise, the Doctor corrected himself. "Er, Keller or whatever he calls himself."

Mailer smiled. "Simple. I'm helping him because he's helping me."

"Oh? What's he promised you?" the Doctor asked.

"Money, pardon, ticket to anywhere I like."

The Doctor scoffed. "Do you really think he's going to keep those promises?"

"Why not?"

"He doesn't care whether you live or die," Jo said. "He's just using you."

Mailer only shrugged. "So he's using me, I'm using him. You make me a better offer?"

"Let us go and I'll do the best I can for you," the Doctor said as he rested a hand on the desk, leaning forward slightly.

"Well, if that's the best you can do, Doc, it really ain't good enough. Now, wheel 'em out."

One of the prisoners had already returned and he nodded in response to Mailer's order. He pulled a gun out and pointed it at Jo. "Right," he said, "come on."

Mailer shoved me inside, laughing when I tripped and fell on my stomach. The Doctor ran in and knelt beside me as I pushed myself off the ground. He put an arm around my waist and pulled me to him as Jo stumbled in after us. Turning in the Doctor's arms, I pushed my glasses back up my nose and stared at Mailer in fear.

He pointed to me and smiled. "And you, girl. You'll be in trouble."

Then Mailer slammed the door of the cell shut and stormed off, leaving two men as our guards. The Doctor brushed my hair away from my face and gazed down at me in concern. I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Do you think the Master will hook me up to all those machines again?" I wondered.

"I don't know. If he does, I'll stop him."

I pulled back slightly and shook my head. "No you won't. He'll kill you or Jo if you do."

"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you," the Doctor finally mumbled after a few moments. "I swore that I would always keep you safe no matter the cost and I failed."

"No you didn't. You saved me."

He shook his head. "I let him hurt you-"

"You didn't let him do anything, Doctor. This is all my fault because I didn't... I let him kidnap me and I didn't try to escape. I was too scared about what he would do to you, to me... You were the brave one," I said with a smile. "You came here and tried to save me, despite the fact that you could have been killed. You put your life before mine and I-"

"So did you, you know." The Doctor put a hand under my chin and made me look up at him. "You knew he would kill Jo and I and the rest of UNIT if you didn't go with him. You saved our lives."

"I prolonged them. When he gets control of that missile and he gets my powers-"

"He will never have your powers, Diana." The Doctor smiled reassuringly and leaned down to press a kiss to my forehead. "Ever. He can research them as much as he wants, experiment with your blood, but he will never gain your powers. You are the sole being in this universe who has them because you are special."

"But I don't want to be special," I murmured. "Not anymore. If this is what it does to me and the people I love, then I don't want it."

Jo put a hand on my shoulder. "Diana, it's going to be alright. You'll see," she finally said.

"Yes, listen to Jo," the Doctor said with a smile. "We're all going to look after one another and when we get back home, we can all sleep and heal and everything will be just fine. You'll see."

I could feel another onslaught of tears start to gather in my eyes and I shook my head, trying to keep the tears from falling. I quickly buried my face in the Doctor's chest and wrapped my arms around his waist.

"Oh, Diana, it's going to be alright," he whispered into my hair.

"I'm so scared. Doctor... Theta, I'm so, so scared."

He sighed and started running a hand through my hair like he had earlier. "I know, my dear."

"He liked it," I sobbed. "When I was begging him and crying and afraid, he liked it. He laughed. It was sick and I... God, I don't want to go through that again."

"You don't have to. I promise. I'll make sure he never comes near you again."

I shook my head and squeezed my eyes shut. "How do I do it? How do I be brave? I don't... I don't know how. I don't want you to be disappointed in me because I can't be brave and not crack, but I can't. I really, really can't and... I'm sorry."

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" I asked as Jo laid out the checkers board and pieces on the table. "Won't the Master get angry?"

The Doctor sighed and watched his assistant for a moment before replying. "I don't know, Diana. But either way, it's good to try."

"I think it's a great idea," Jo said pleasantly. "He needs to know that he can't just bully us around. If we show him that he doesn't scare us, then he has one less tool to use against us."

"Sit next to me, my dear," the Doctor said with a smile.

He had moved his chair so that it was next to the bed and Jo had placed the table right in front of the foot of the bed. There was just enough room for me to place my legs under the table next to the Doctor's.

I felt my cheeks turn warm and red and I nodded. "Okay," I said softly.

Suddenly feeling very self-conscious, I started fidgeting with my shirt as I sat down on the bed and crossed my legs at the ankles. The Doctor sat down in his chair and casually reached for my legs as I started to slide them under the table, pulling them up to rest on his thighs. I squeaked a little in surprise, but let him move my legs until they rested comfortably on top of his.

"If we appear to be casual," the Doctor whispered upon noticing my confused expression, "then our gesture will be more effective."

"Well, then let's start our game," Jo suggested.

Watching the two play checkers was more entertaining than I originally thought it would be and it helped me take my mind off of everything that had happened that day. Jo often made cute facial expressions when the Doctor would make a good move or if she made a move that she was particularly proud of. I noticed that she had a habit of twisting the ring on her left thumb when she thought over a move and that the Doctor had a habit of chewing slightly on his lower lip when he pondered over his moves.

"Any trouble?" I heard Mailer ask outside of the cell a few minutes after the game started.

"No," one of the guards answered. "But one of the girls was cryin' earlier."

Then I heard the Master speak and I felt a chill run up my spine. "All right. Open up, Fuller," he ordered.

The Master stepped into the cell with Mailer directly behind him. I glanced up from my seat beside the Doctor and then looked back at the game, pretending to be bored by the Master's appearance.

"Doctor, I-"

"Shush, shush, shush, shush," the Doctor mumbled absently as he took one of Jo's pieces. "There."

The Master sighed in exasperation. "Doctor, I-"

"Shush," Jo instructed as she quickly took all of the Doctor's remaining pieces. "There," she said proudly.

The Doctor was obviously disappointed and embarrassed by losing the game and he sat back in his chair. His lower lip stuck out slightly in a pout and he awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Yes, well, the trouble with this game is that it's too simple. In any case, I'm more used to playing three dimensional chess."

"All right, I've allowed you your little gesture," the Master growled. "Now perhaps we can talk seriously."

The Doctor stood up form his chair and ran a hand through his hair. "I suppose you're going to ask me to control that machine of yours again."

"I am."

"Yes, well, I can't. I've told you before. Nobody can."

"You underestimate yourself, Doctor," the Master said with a smile. "You are perfectly capable of controlling it. For a time, at least."

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "Well, even if I could, why should I help you?"

"To save lives. Several people have died already."

"Yeah," the Doctor scoffed. "Most of them hard cases that were helping you."

"Very well, then. To save one life."

"My own?"

Remaining silent, the Master glanced over at Jo and smirked. Jo looked alarmed for a moment, but she bravely swallowed her fear and said,

"Don't listen to him, Doctor. He's just bluffing."

"Am I? Unless the Doctor does what I ask, Miss Grant, Mailer will shoot you here and now."

I took a step forward, my arms held out before me in a gesture of nonviolence. "Master," I starter slowly, my voice wavering slightly. "Just stop and think about this. If you kill Jo or anyone else here, what good will that do?"

"I get to watch the Doctor spiral into guilt and depression for what he's caused and kill innocent people. It's all very beneficial."

"But then neither the Doctor nor I will help you."

"I don't need your help. I'll take it if I have to."

I shook my head. "Then the Doctor still won't help you. But." I paused and tried quickly to think of something to make the Master reconsider. If I could change his mind earlier in his life, I could prevent so many terrible things from happening.

"But?" the Master echoed.

"Well..." What can I say? How can I keep Jo and the Doctor safe? "You could... consider... taking me and leaving Earth altogether."

"Diana, no!" the Doctor shouted.

"Would you?" I asked. "Please. Just... You can take me and I won't fight you, I won't try to keep you from taking my powers. I'll even help you if I can and when you think my usefulness is run out..., then you can kill me," I said slowly, feelings tears of fear and worry start to form in my eyes.

The Doctor put his hand on my shoulder and pulled me back towards him. He put his other hand under my chin and forced me to look him in the eyes. "Diana, don't bargain with him. Think about what you're saying!"

"But you have to swear to me that you will leave Earth," I firmly told the Master as I gazed into the Doctor's eyes. "Go conquer any other planet with my powers, but leave Earth. Leave the Doctor."

"Diana, no," the Doctor pleaded. "He'll kill you."

"But you'll be safe," I whispered. I smiled and put my hand on his cheek. "That's all that matters."

The Master, after watching us in silence, made a disgusted sound. "You are so obviously in love," he growled. "It seems, my dear Doctor, that you have found your equal in her. And it is absolutely revolting."

"What does it matter to you?" I snapped, turning away from the Doctor to glare at the Master. "You don't even know what it means to love someone. All you do is hate and kill. No one is ever going to love you if you won't let anyone in."

"I suggest you hold your tongue," the Master said.

"Being evil doesn't give you anything. It won't make you happy or give you a friend or a family." I smiled hopefully and took a step towards the Time Lord. "You and the Doctor can work together. You can travel the universe again and remember the beauty of the stars instead of trying to destroy them."

"I don't want any of that."

"I know what you do want, what you fear." I kept smiling, hoping to soften the Master's heart. I slowly reached forward and took his hand in mine, intertwining our fingers and then gently squeezed his hand. "You want respect. I know who you want it from and I can help you. I want to help you. You can leave all of your guilt and all the bad things you've done behind. It's what's in here that matters," I breathed as I placed my free hand above his right heart.

The Master stared at me in silence, his eyes rapidly flying across my face. I thought for a moment that he might consider my offer and I smiled a little. Then he snapped himself out of his trance and took a half step backwards. His eyes suddenly turned dark and he grabbed my wrist and ripped it away from his chest.

"Do not touch me," he snarled.

"Master," I started softly, trying not to let my voice waver too much, "just think about it. You could be free to be yourself and just travel the universe without a single worry or care. People wouldn't hate you, they'd love you. Wouldn't you rather have that?"

"I don't want your help or your pity," he spat, shoving me backwards.

I tripped and fell with my arms flailing in the air. The Doctor threw his arms around my waist and quickly pulled me against his torso. He glared at the Master, but didn't say a single word. Jo stood slightly behind us and watched us all in shocked silence.

"Take pity on me on more time and I swear by Rassilon, Diana Scott, I will snap your neck without a second thought."

I lowered my gaze and stared at the Master's shoes for a second. I sighed and closed my eyes, feeling like I had just let down the Doctor and everyone else on the planet.

"Now, Doctor," the Master began, "must I kill Miss Grant or will you help me?"

Opening my eyes, I looked over my shoulder and gazed up into the Doctor's eyes. He glanced at me and I saw in his eyes that he wanted to anything other than help his opponent. "Well," he started slowly, his arms still around my waist, "it's only a theory, but I think there may be one way to inhibit that machine's power of movement."

The Master smiled. "And now is your chance to put that theory to the test."

"Well, where's the thing now? Still wandering about?"

Mailer shook his head. "Gone back to the process chamber."

"Temporarily glutted, no doubt," the Master said with a deadly smirk.

The Doctor, still trying to change his old friend's mind, said, "Well, I shall need a lot of equipment, you know."

"Oh, Stangmoor Prison's a very progressive place. The entire contents of the workshop's at your disposal."

"All right, I'll give it a try." The Doctor glanced back at Jo and then looked back at me.

"Good. All right, Fuller. Let us out, will you?" the Master asked. Jo and I started forward after the Doctor and were stopped. "No, Miss Grant, Miss Scott. You will stay here as a guarantee of the Doctor's good behavior. After you, Doctor."

He looked at Mailer and raised an eyebrow. "Satisfied, Mailer?" he asked before leaving.

"Doctor?" I called as the cell door slammed shut. "Theta, be careful! Be careful, please."

"I will, my dear," he promised on the other side of the door.

"Shut up and come with me," the Master ordered harshly.

"Wait!" I pressed myself against the door and took a deep breath. "Master, please-"

A hand slammed against the door and I jumped back with a gasp. "Be quiet in there!" Mailer snapped.

Jo put a hand on my shoulder and pulled me away from the door. I grabbed her hand and stared emptily at the cell door. Despite the fact that I knew the Master would help the Doctor and they would both survive their attempt to immobilize the machine, I couldn't help but be worried for both of them.

"Diana, why don't you lie down?" Jo suggested. "I know you've been through a lot."

"I'm fine," I answered with a wave of my hand.

"Really, though. Aren't you exhausted? I mean, I'm sure the Doctor would want you to sit down and get some of your strength back."

"Of course I'm exhausted, but I... All I can think about is if they'll be okay. I know they will be, but I can't stop worrying. That machine is absolutely wicked."

Jo gently placed an arm around my waist and walked me over to the small prison bed. "Please, Diana," she begged in a soft voice, "at least sit. Just for a few moments."

"But-"

"You can even sleep if you want. I'll wake you up when the Doctor comes back. I promise." When I hesitated to answer, Jo sat down next to me on the bed and put a hand on my knee. "You need the rest, anyway. Get your strength back and when the Doctor comes back, I promise that I'll wake you."

I sighed. "I don't want to."

"He'd want you to. And even if he didn't, it really wouldn't matter. You know you need to rest. After losing so much blood..."

"I guess... But I don't know if I can really sleep."

"Just close your eyes for a bit... Please?"

Jo shook my shoulders and practically dragged me out of the bed when I opened my eyes. A little confused and momentarily disoriented, I rubbed my eyes behind my glasses and yawned. The cell door flew open and the Doctor stumbled in through the doorway.

Almost instantly, my grogginess faded away and I felt concern flood through my veins. I rushed forward and put my hands on his chest to support him as he stumbled forward a few more steps. I brought my right hand up to his cheek and kept my left hand on his chest.

"Doctor?" I whispered worriedly.

"Are you all right, Doctor?" Jo asked behind me.

He nodded weakly. "Yes, thank you, Jo. I'm fine, I'm fine."

I shook my head. "No, you need to lie down," I said. "You're exhausted."

He nodded again after a short pause. "I am. Physically and mentally."

"Lie down. Rest," I told him. "Please. God knows you need it."

Jo agreed with me and asked the Doctor to listen to me. He considered our requests and made his decision within a few seconds. "Alright. I will," he answered with a faint smile.

I stayed right behind him as he walked across the cell and then helped him onto the bed when he reached it. Jo stood behind me, holding a cup and a pitcher of water she had come across. She poured a glass of water and handed it to the Doctor. He took it gratefully and drank the entire thing within seconds.

"Hey, how about some food?" Jo wondered. "Do you think they'd let us have any?"

The Doctor shook his head. "I doubt it. Not after what happened last time."

"Last time?" I echoed.

Jo sighed. "We used our breakfast to knock out our guards earlier," she explained. Then she put a hand over her stomach and made a sad sound. "I've had nothing to eat all day. I'm starving."

The Doctor tapped his fingertips against his cup and hummed absently. "Huh. Did I ever tell you about the time I was in the Tower of London?"

Jo and I shook our heads and answered simultaneously, "No."

He looked up at us with raised eyebrows. "No?"

I smiled and shook my head. "No."

"Oh." The Doctor smiled a little and glanced down at his cup again. "Well, I shared a cell with a very strange chap called Raleigh," he started.

"Raleigh?" Jo repeated incredulously.

The Doctor nodded with a partial smirk on his face. "Yeah, Sir Walter Raleigh."

Jo nodded once. "Oh," she said in a small voice.

"He got into some trouble with Queen Elizabeth. Elizabeth the first, that is. He kept going on about this new vegetable of his he'd discovered, you see, called the potato."

"You're joking," I interrupted.

"No, I'm not."

"Well, then you're bragging."

"I know." He winked at me and continued with his story. "One day he sat down and pointed a finger at me and said-"

The cell door suddenly flew open and the Master stepped in with a gun in his hand. I grabbed the Doctor's arm in shock and recoiled a little when the Master took a step towards me. He pointed the gun at the Doctor and smiled. "I hope you don't mind if I take your wife," he said.

"As it so happens, I do," the Doctor countered.

"And I have a gun. Do reconsider."

I stood up from my spot on the bed beside the Doctor and held my arms out in compliance. "I'll go without a fight, Master," I whispered. "You don't have to shoot anyone."

He took a step forward and grabbed my elbow, pulling me towards him with enough strength to make me run into his chest. I put my free hand on his shoulder to keep from falling over. The Master then pulled on my arm so that I stumbled to the side.

"Master, just let her go," the Doctor tried, worry and fear clear on his face. "Take your revenge on me, but don't involve her."

The Master cocked his gun and smiled. "I do hate to disappoint you, my dear Doctor, but I'm afraid I have to leave now. I am sorry if you never see your wife again."

As the Master started to pull me out of the cell, I started to panic. "Theta? Theta, please!" I cried in fear as I tried to fight the Master and stay in the cell. What if I never saw him again? What if the Master's plan succeeded and I lost the Doctor and all my friends? Those thoughts terrified me and I fought harder against the Master. "Doctor!"

"Be quiet," the Master hissed as he slammed he cell door shut behind me.

Another prisoner the Master had helped to free was waiting outside for us and he grabbed my forearm as soon as he saw me. He pulled both of my arms behind my back and handcuffed them together. Then he shoved me forward towards the Master.

"She's all yours, Keller," the prisoner said.

"Thank you. I want you to continue to guard this cell. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Master, please-"

He harshly gripped my upper arm and pulled me closer to him so that his face hovered inches over mine. "Be silent," he spat.

"Please," I begged.

"I will gag you if I must. Now move."

I stumbled forward and tried to look back at the cell, wanting to have another look at the Doctor because I was afraid that I might never see him again.

When the Master and I reached the prison courtyard, his black car and driver were waiting for us. I was shoved roughly into the back seat and the Master quickly buckled the seat belt over my waist and chest. Then he walked around to the other side of the car and got in. As soon as the car started and began to roll across the drawbridge, the Master pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and started to twist it around his fist.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice shaking slightly.

"Blindfolding you. I can't have you knowing too much, now can I?" the Master said with a devilish smirk.

"You're insane."

I tried to pull away from the Master when he reached for my shoulder and even attempted biting his hand when he got too close. He lightly smacked me against the cheek for my efforts, then grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him.

"I won't be so gentle the next time. So I suggest you stay still."

"Fine," I finally snapped, feeling my chin and lower lip tremble. "Blindfold me. See if I care."

When he tied the fabric around my head, the Master was far from gentle about it. He tied the knot extremely tight and chuckled when some of my hair caught in the knot. I pulled my head back when he finished and turned away from him, not caring that I couldn't see anything other than sunlight shining through the material.

"Pick up the pace, driver," the Time Lord ordered.

I felt the car speed up and hunched over in my seat, letting my chin fall to my chest. My lips began to quiver even more than before and I felt my chin shaking with the effort of holding back my tears. I was ashamed of myself for not being braver or fighting back, and I was disappointed with myself for not being able to keep the tears at bay.

I knew the Master could hear me sniffling and breathing heavily and prayed that he wouldn't say anything to me about it. I just want this to all go away, I thought sadly. I want to be with the Doctor and Jo and Alistair... And I want my mom. And my grandma. They'd know how to make me feel better.

"I thought you should know," the Master began after about ten minutes of silence, "that if you don't fight me, it will all be over quicker for you."

"What?" I asked with a scratchy voice and a sniffle.

"When I continue my experiments on you. The less you fight me, the quicker I can put you out of your misery."

"Go to Hell," I spat. "The Doctor's going to get rescued and when he does, he will come after you and he'll save me. You won't be able to do anything about it."

"Don't be so sure."

I managed to curl my lips upward into an arrogant smile. "I know everything about his future and yours. I think I, of all people, would know what I'm talking about, Koschei."

I could sense the Master turn his head almost instantly and I could feel his eyes on me. "What did you call me?" he murmured in a dangerous voice.

"You heard me. I know enough about you, Master. So believe me when I say that the Doctor will find a way to rescue me and stop you."

I could hear the Master breathing heavily and I guessed that he was angry that I knew his name and refused to tell him how. I kept the information to myself, knowing that it could very well keep me alive.

I felt the car stop and sat up from my position leaning against the window. The Master unbuckled my seat belt and then untied my blindfold. I shied away from him as he slowly folded the handkerchief and ran a hand through my hair.

Looking through the window, I saw a large airplane hangar and the UNIT missile just outside it. The Master, who had already gotten out of the car, opened my door. He grabbed me by the elbow and yanked me out of the car. I tripped over my feet as I all but fell out of the car and tried to grab the Master's arm to keep my balance. He caught me by the arm and waited until I regained my balance to release me.

"Come on," he growled. "I don't have all day."

He shoved me forward and kept his gun trained on me. There were a small group of men standing around the missile, waiting patiently for the Master's instructions. We stopped at the foot of the missile and the Master nodded at some of the men. The missile slowly started to tilt back so its point was aimed up into the sky.

"Very good." The Master looked back at me and raised an eyebrow. "Into the hangar."

I silently obeyed his order and walked forward into the hangar. The men stayed grouped around the missile while the Master and I walked across the hangar. At the opposite end of the building was a door and a small metal sign that read "office".

The Master opened the door for me and gestured with his right arm for me to walk inside. "After you, my dear."

As soon as we entered the office, the Master pushed me forward towards a chair. I glared at him and started to protest the way he was treating me when he pushed me again and I fell into the chair with a grunt. He pulled out the keys to my handcuffs and unlocked them, then quickly recuffed them after twining the chain around one of the poles in the back of the chair.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I demanded. "That hurts!"

The Master took out his handkerchief and twisted it around his fist again. I started to protest being blindfolded when he suddenly wrapped the handkerchief around my face at the level of my mouth. Realizing that he was trying to gag me, I shrieked and pulled back.

"No, stop! Stop! Mast- mmph!"

"Be silent," the Master hissed as he finished tying the knot in the gag.

Then, with an amused smile, he walked past my chair and around the table I was sitting in front of. He sat down at the black, cushioned chair and picked up the phone that was sitting on the table. He dialed a long number and then leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs and letting out a pleased sigh.

"Ah, hello?" There was a brief pause. "Er, who?" the Master asked in confusion. After a few moments, the Master nodded. "I see. Er, would the Doctor be there by any chance?"

After another brief pause, the Master smiled. "Er, just say it's an old friend." He waited another couple of seconds. I could tell when the Doctor answered the phone because the Master's face lit up with mischievousness and a little bit of evil intent. "Oh, Doctor, do I gather that the tables have turned somewhat at Stangmoor?" the Master asked, a smirk displayed on his face.

"I most certainly do." The Master chuckled after a few moments of silence. "Exactly! And then later when this planet is in ruins, I shall take over."

Another pause.

"Of course with her powers."

I glared angrily at the Master and strained against the handcuffs. I bit into my gag and shook my head in an attempt to move it.

"Am I, Doctor? What?" After a moment, the Master smiled. "Are you offering me a deal?"

"That's very generous of you." Still smiling, the Master glanced across the table at me. "Perhaps you'd like to hear Diana's voice, Doctor?"

"Where is she?" the Doctor said loud enough that I could hear him. "Is she alright? Have you hurt her?"

The Master set the phone down and the Doctor continued to ask about my wellbeing, his voice loud enough to be heard across the desk. The Master stood and untied the gag, leaning in so his mouth brushed against my ear. "Care to say a few words, my dear?"

"Doctor?" I asked softly, my voice cracking.

The Doctor's voice was even louder than before. "Diana? Diana, are you hurt? What has he done to you?"

The Master picked up the phone and placed it against my left ear. His fingers brushed against my cheek as he moved the receiver closer to my mouth.

"Hi," I breathed with a half smile.

"Oh, Rassilon. Diana, I thought-... Has he hurt you?"

I shook my head slightly. "No, I'm... I'm fine. Are you okay? And Jo and Alistair? What about Mike and Benton?"

"Never mind about them. What about you? Are you hurt at all?"

"Doctor, I'm fine. Really."

"Please..." He paused and when he spoke again, I could hear his voice straining. He sounded close to losing his control and it brought tears to my eyes. "Could you..." He laughed a little and then continued. "My name... Diana-"

"Theta," I said with a sad smile. "It's going to be okay."

"I think that's quite enough," the Master suddenly interrupted.

"What? No!" I tried to trap the phone between my neck and my cheek, but the Master pulled it away. "Doctor!"

I could faintly hear the Doctor trying to bargain with the Master as the latter sat down. He played absently with my gag and smiled coldly at me when I made eye contact with him. His smile faded and he seemed to be considering something as the Doctor spoke to him.

"Right!" he exclaimed after a minute. "But you will bring that circuit to me here at the hanger. You and you alone. At the first sign of treachery, the first sign of interference from your UNIT friends, and I launch the missile immediately."

He hung up immediately afterwards. I jumped when he slammed the phone down and wondered if he was angry and if he would take it out on me.

"You are going to tell me exactly what you know about me and if you don't, I will torture you and you will wish that you had never been born." The Master looked up from the desk and made eye contact with a cold and chilling smile. "Do I make myself clear?"

"If I tell you, then... y-you'll kill me... Won't you?" I asked fearfully.

"Perhaps."

I felt my eyes well up with tears and I quickly bowed my head so he wouldn't see. "Killing me won't... won't help you, Master. Please, I... Don't kill me." I looked up and asked desperately, "I'll do anything."

"Tell me what you know," he insisted.

"But-"

"Tell me!" He stood up and gently smoothed the wrinkles from his suit. "What do you know about me, about the Doctor? About Gallifrey?"

I shook my head. "Not a lot. I mean, a little bit but not a lot. I know mostly about the Doctor, but not as much about you or Gallifrey." I swallowed nervously and lowered my head. "I-I know that you and the Doctor went to school together on Gallifrey."

"And what else?" he asked through his teeth.

"I don't know that much about your past!" I insisted. "It's more your future than anything else. The only thing I know about your time on Gallifrey is everything I've already said."

"And the Doctor? What do you know about his past on Gallifrey?"

"Just that he had a family. A wife and at least one kid and a granddaughter. That's all, I swear." I shook my head frantically and tried to think of as much information as possible to keep the Master from getting angrier. "I-I don't even know his real name."

The Master raised an eyebrow. "But you're married to him."

I shook my head again. "Not yet. In his timeline, yes, we're married. But for me, right now, I'm not. I haven't even been on a proper date with him. I mean, sort of, but... Look, I don't know his name or much of what he did on Gallifrey. I don't know when he first met me or why he fell in love with me, of all people. I know his future and I know yours and I know only a little bit about what happened on Gallifrey." I paused and took a shaky breath, slowly glancing up from the desk to look into the Master's eyes. "Alright? I've told you what you wanted to know."

The Master smiled and walked over to me, kneeling beside my chair and staring up at me with fascination. "Why did you not tell him that you weren't married?"

"I didn't want to hurt him," I answered softly. "He was so happy to see me after thinking that he'd lost me for good and I didn't want to take that joy away from him."

"How touching," the Time Lord remarked sarcastically.

I scoffed and turned my head away, sad and frustrated tears starting to well up in my eyes. "You asked," I mumbled.

"So you're not married to him, but you let him kiss you as if you were?"

"What does it matter to you? You'll just make fun of me."

"Oh, no, my dear. I'm just terribly curious."

My tears dried up almost instantly. I swiftly turned so that I was glaring at the Master and he was staring amusedly at me. "Well you can take your curiosity and shove it-"

"Ah." The Master placed a hand under my jaw and slowly traced my mouth with his thumb, the leather of his glove dragging across my skin in an uncomfortable manner. "Let's be polite, my dear. Hmm?"

"Just leave me alone."

He smiled, his white teeth standing out against the darker color of his skin. "I just might," he answered smoothly as he stood up and brushed imaginary lint from his chest. "Please, be comfortable while I'm gone. I may be a while."

I watched the Master leave and forced myself to hold back a stream of curses directed at the Time Lord.

The Master returned half an hour later, a pleased smile on his face. He uncuffed my hands from around the back of the chair and pulled me to my feet. I stayed silent as he recuffed my hands in front of my waist.

"Your husband- Oh, do forgive me. Your friend is about to arrive," the Master said as he locked the handcuffs around my wrists.

"I told you he'd come."

"Yes, but he didn't come for you, my dear."

I bit down on my bottom lip and exhaled through my nose. "I know. I... never said he did."

"Oh, but you wanted him to, didn't you? Come just for you."

"He came for the missile so he can save the Earth, you clot. I'm just something extra."

The Master smiled. "It's a shame you lied to him," he commented. "He trusts you and you took advantage of that."

"I didn't want to hurt him," I snapped.

"Yes, how very noble of you."

I yanked my hands away from his and set my jaw. "Can we go yet? I assume you'd like to get this over with."

The Master took hold of my elbow and guided me out of the room. We walked across the hangar and stopped a few yards outside of the open doors where the UNIT missile was aimed and ready to launch. The wind was blowing cold and strong, whipping my hair across my face and making my scarf flutter around my neck. I was thankful that I had worn a leather jacket or else I knew I would have been freezing.

Coming down the road that led to the hangar was a black car that I remembered being called a Black Maria. The car stopped about ten yards away from the Master and I and when it was parked, the Doctor stepped out and approached us.

The Master held up his gun, which had previously been pointed at my back, and aimed it at the Doctor. "Very strange form of transport, Doctor. I hope you're not going to try anything silly," the Master said with a half smile.

The Doctor shook his head. "No, of course not. No, it's just that Bessie had broken down."

"Bessie?" the Master repeated incredulously.

"You know, Bessie?" the Doctor raised his arms and mimed driving a car.

The Master gasped in realization. "Oh, yes!" he said with a half smile. "But I think I should warn you that my-" he copied the Doctor's mime of driving "-is aimed and ready to fire. I just have to press the requisite button."

"That's very clever." The doctor stuck his hands in his pants pockets and walked past to the missile, causing the Master to turn his back on the car so he could keep an eye on his fellow Time Lord. "My word, you have done well."

The Master sighed and rolled his eyes. "Shall we get on with it? Did you bring the circuit with you?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes. Here."

"May I examine it, please?"

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "How do I know that you won't take the circuit and fire the missile anyway?" he asked suspiciously.

"I'm afraid you don't. You'll just have to trust me this once."

"No, I don't think so."

The Master brought his gun up to press against my temple. "And now?" he asked smugly.

Behind us, Jo suddenly cried out, "Now, Doctor!"
With the Master distracted by Jo, the Doctor kicked the gun out of the Master's hand. Then he grabbed me by the elbow and pulled me after him into the hangar with Jo and Barnham behind us.

Jo pulled a small radio out of her jacket. "Hello, Brigadier? Jo Grant here. Over."

Alistair's voice came through a little scratchy, but I had never been so pleased to hear his voice before. "Hello, Miss Grant. We read you. Over."

"Doctor working on missile circuit and Diana rescued," Jo said. "Stand by for abort instructions. Over."

"Well done, Miss Grant."

Whilst the Doctor worked on a control panel, Jo was pointing his sonic screwdriver at my handcuffs and was eventually able to unlock them. I pushed them off with disgust and let them fall to the floor with a loud clang.

Outside of the hangar, I could hear a helicopter coming in to land. As soon as the noise of the helicopter started to increase, the Doctor yelped and grabbed my hand as he ran out of the hangar. Jo and Barnham struggled to keep up with us and I nearly tripped three times.

"Right, Jo!" the Doctor shouted over the helicopter.

Jo yelled into her radio, "We're on our way! Over and out!"

"Come on!"

We ran past the Master, who was lying on the floor and writhing in pain. The machine he had created was sitting beside him and despite every horrible thing he had done to me, I still felt pity for him. Barnham stopped and approached the Master, which distracted the machine.

I watched as the Master leapt to his feet and jumped into a van parked a few yards away. Horrified, I remembered that Barnham died because of his help and so I pulled myself free of the Doctor's grip and ran towards Barnham.

"George, move!" I shouted. "Master! Please, stop!" Barnham gazed in shock at the van as the Master started the ignition. "No!"

Barnham had started to run away when he realized the Master's intention, but his legs were caught my the van's wheels and crushed. I ran to his side and pulled his head into my lap.

"George, please," I sobbed. "Oh, God. What has he done to you? George. Hey, you're going to be okay. We'll get you some help."

He groaned in pain and his eyes rolled back in his head. He screamed and started thrashing back and forth and I sat there, running my hands through his hair because I didn't know how to help him.

The Doctor ran to my side and pulled me to my feet. "Get in the helicopter!" he shouted.

"But Barnham-"

"I'll take care of him! Go!"

Still in shock, I ran back to Jo and jumped into the helicopter. She crawled in after me and we waited as the Doctor dragged Barnham to his feet and into the helicopter. Barnham was sandwiched between Jo and the Doctor, who was forced to half-stand and half-sit in the cramped sitting area. Barnham continued to moan in pain and his cries brought me to tears.

The helicopter took off and I felt a surge of nausea in the pit of my stomach. Jo cuddled against Barnham as much as she could and whispered comfortingly in his ear. I stared at the hangar as we ascended higher and higher into the air.

Then the hangar and missile suddenly exploded into a mass of fire and metal. I gasped and stared in terrified awe at the strangely beautiful sight of the explosion.

"Oh my God," I breathed as my eyes rolled back into my head and I slumped back against the seat.

A/N: Is there a specific episode/serial/Doctor anyone would like to see next? I'm open to suggestions.