A/N: Hey guys, sorry it's been so long. I've only just got out of hospital so haven't really be able to update. Again, I'm sorry for the wait and that this is a shorter chapter than normal.

Kari was sitting by herself in the library. She just needed a break from everyone and everything, so that she could sort things out in her mind. Only it was never that easy, and she just couldn't get anything straight in her head.

She kept thinking about the way things should have been, without her in the Doctor's life. There had been so many changes, all leading up to one giant fact. That the Doctor was with her, not Rose, and not River. It was something she was struggling to get her head around, and she just couldn't stop thinking about it.

"Hey, I thought I'd find you in here." The Doctor's voice floated into the room. Kari looked up and saw him standing a little distance in front of her. "Kari, what's wrong?"

"With everything I have seen, everything I know, I never saw this coming." She mumbled as the Doctor sat down next to her.

"Saw what?"

"This. Us, right here, right now. I never saw it, I never expected it. And… I don't know how to accept it." Kari told him truthfully. "I know so much about you. I know your past and I know your future, but I just never saw myself there. How can any of this even be real?"

"Kari, you need to talk to me about all of this. You're not making any sense, and I'm pretty used to some crazy things coming from your mouth." The Doctor said to her, taking a tight hold of one of her hands.

"So, in the future you tell me something that you said you should have told me a long time ago. And then you give me this ring." She told him, twisting the ring around on her finger a little. "I am just so confused here. I don't even know how long I've been jumping around for, but you've always known me."

The Doctor let out a sigh. He should have seen that coming. Kari had asked him questions, and he had avoided giving her a straight answer. "In the future, my future, I tell you that I love you. And I do, Kari. You have been in my life for as long as I can remember, and you are the person who has always been there for me. I have wanted to tell you for a long time how much you mean to me, but you already knew."

"Yeah, but that was future me, after this point in time. Before then, you just kept secrets from me." Kari pointed out. Her head was still in such a mess, and she didn't know how to sort it all out.

"I know, and I'm sorry. I really am sorry. I knew that I told you in the future, and I had to wait until the time. I still have to wait until that time." He pointed out.

"This is all just so messed up." Kari whispered, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "How can this even be real? How can you say that you love me? I'm no one, I'm nothing special. You deserve so much more than someone like me."

"Because you are brilliant. You are my fantastic, brilliant, beautiful Kari. And nothing will ever change that. It's hard for me not to love you." He told her, kissing the top of her head.

She let out a sigh, knowing that no matter what she said the Doctor would find something to say against it. "But it's not right for you to love me. I mean, come on, we never meet in the right order, I just randomly appear in your life. Can't really say that would be helpful for a stable relationship."

"Kari, I have known you for over 900 years. It doesn't matter that we never meet in the right order. All that matters to me, right now, is that you know the truth." The Doctor told her softly. He was worried about her, very worried. He knew that she had only just found out, but he didn't know how he had told her.

"My head is so messed up. I don't know if I can handle all of this. I mean…" Kari trailed off, knowing that he hadn't found out how they first met yet. How she turned from human to Time Lord. "One day, you'll understand why."

"I'm sure I will."

"I just don't know how to deal with all of this." She really was lost. It was bad enough when her life was turned upside down for the first time, but now it was all just happening again.

"Kari, look at me." The Doctor asked her quietly. "Just look at me." She slowly lifted her gaze and looked at him. "How do you feel?" He asked her. "About… me."

She thought back to when she was with Jack, and how he had asked her if she loved the Doctor. She hadn't been able to give him a straight answer, because she did, but knew that she shouldn't. Everyone loves the Doctor, in one way or another. Before she had met him, Kari had always wondered what the Doctor was really like, and if he really was as lovable as they made him out to be on the show. And he was.

At first she had just been glad to get to know him, to be a part of his exciting life. And then she started to genuinely fall for him, even though she was trying to stop herself. She had told herself that it was just the fan part of her scream out, but it really wasn't. She had been so please to escape her mundane life, it had just been so exciting, as well as terrifying.

"Kari?" The Doctor called, seeing she had drifted off into her own little world.

She quickly shook her head, bringing herself back to the reality she was living in. "Sorry… I just…" Kari saw the concerned look on his face, and she knew she had to give him some kind of an answer. "When I first met you, I was happy. I liked you, but you were a friend. And I loved you like a friend." She told him.

"And what about now?" He asked her curiously.

"Now… I don't know. I like you more than I did before, more than I ever should have allowed myself." Kari told him, still gazing into his ancient eyes. "You know, when I told Jack, he out right asked me. And I couldn't answer him."

"Why not?" Kari was sure she could see hurt in the Doctor's eyes. Clearly this wasn't how he had seen things going.

"Because I was scared. So many people love you, but very few receive the same love from you in return." She admitted.

"Kari…"

"No, Doctor. Please, let me speak." He nodded at her, letting her continue talking. "There are too many things that I easily accepted. I'm not going to do that any more. You can't expect to tell me that you love me, and then have me falling at your feet. That is not how it works."

"I know, Kari. And I never expected that to happen. And I know that this isn't something you're going to just accept." The Doctor told her.

"Then give me a straight answer, Doctor. What exactly does this ring mean? And I swear, if you come out with 'whatever you want it to mean' then I will hit you." Kari warned him. She just wanted some answers, and the truth. She was so sick of being messed around all the time, so sick of not knowing.

"I know what I want it to mean, but I know you're not ready for that. So right now, at this moment in time, this is a promise ring. I promise you, Kari, that I will always be here for you. No matter what happens." The Doctor told her, gripping her hand a little tighter. "You mean more to me than anything else in the universe."

"Yeah, well you… you are my universe, Theta." Kari whispered, letting her gaze finally fall. "You have been since the day we met. Well, sort of."

"Spoilers?" The Doctor asked, tugging at her hand, and trying to get her to smile.

"Yeah, spoilers." She replied, trying her hardest not to smile at him. But it was hard, and she wanted to smile.

"You know, I like it when you call me Theta." He said, giving her a little nudge. "Kari, you need to start talking to me more, and telling me how you're feeling."

"Well right now, I'm tried, and fed up, and feeling completely exhausted. I'm mentally and emotionally drained. I feel like I could sleep for a week after having cried for a few hours." She told him honestly.

"Why do you want to cry?" The Doctor asked her, pulling her a little closer to him.

"Because I can't cope. People cry if they're hurt, or upset. But I feel like crying just because I can't cope with anything at the moment. I don't want attention, I just want to release all this… frustration." Kari said, trying to keep herself together. If she was completely honest with herself, she was ready to break down and cry there and then.

"Then do it. Kari, if you want to cry then cry. I promise you I will be here, every single time. I will always be here for you." The Doctor told her, making sure to pull her even closer towards him. She was now completely wrapped up in his arms, and without realising it, she let a few tears slip down her cheeks.

"I just don't know if I can do this anymore. This isn't my life. None of this is. I don't deserve to have someone like you in my life." Kari told him, holding back a sob as she did. "The whole of time and space, and you're stuck with me."

"And I wouldn't want to be stuck with anyone else." The Doctor assured her, holding her tightly.

Kari couldn't help but let out a chuckle as she tried to pull herself together. She knew that she was just being over dramatic, that it was nowhere near as bad as she thought things were. She just couldn't help the way she was feeling sometimes.

"So, what do you want to do now?" The Doctor asked her, feeling her relax a little in his arms.

"Sleep?" She suggested. "Been a while since I had any of that. I think. You know, I don't even remember anymore."

"Right." The Doctor said, getting up from where they were sitting and taking Kari with him. "Bath and then bed for you." He announced. "Amy is showing Rory around, so I doubt we'll see much more of them till they have slept as well."

He started to lead her to her bedroom, his arm still wrapped around her. "You know, I really like Rory. He's pretty awesome." Kari told him as they walked.

"How many times have you met him then?" The Doctor asked curiously.

"Uh, twice? But I know everything there is to know about him, and Amy. I think those two make a pretty good couple as well."

The Doctor smiled at her. "Good luck to him. Amy is a handful, we both know that."

A small laugh escaped from Kari's lips. "Oh Doctor, you have no idea how much of a handful she really is."

"Spoilers?" He asked her, stopping as they reached her door.

"Yup, spoilers. Now, I'm going to have a bath and completely pass out. I have one request." Kari said, looking up at him.

"And what's that?"

"Please don't do anything to wake me up. I don't want to have to be woken up because you've decided to fix something that wasn't broken. Or because you decided to go off somewhere because you were bored and someone has to come and save you." She said, letting out a sigh. She felt like she could sleep for a week, she just wanted to sleep without having something wake her up.

The Doctor pouted at her a little. "I don't go around fixing things that aren't broken." He protested, earning a rather shaky corridor. "Oh, okay. Fine, I will behave."

"Thank you. Just for one night, honestly. Then you can go and do whatever you want to do."

He pulled her closer towards him and wrapped his arms tightly around her. "Anything for my Kari." He said, kissing the top of her head. "I hope you sleep well."

"Thanks, so do I." She mumbled, quite happy to just nestle her head into his chest. But he pulled away and she knew that moment was over. "Night, Doctor." She called, opening the door to her room. She gave him one last smile before closing it and heading into the bathroom, where she planned on have a very long soak.

The moment she opened the door she saw that the tub was already filled and the bubbles were slipping down the side. "Thank you, sexy. What would I do without you as well?" She said, stripping off her clothes and dipping a foot into the water.

It was nice and hot, and she gently lowered herself in, letting the water roll over the sides. She didn't care about the water on the floor, because it dried up almost instantly in the TARDIS. Kari just let her mind wander, not thinking about anything or worrying over what was going to happen next. She just wanted to be free of everything for a while.

The Doctor stuck to his word and didn't wake her, or do anything that could disturb her. When Kari finally decided to wake up, she felt much better than when she had gone to sleep. She was more relaxed, and her mind was clear from everything she had been worrying about.

She didn't leave her room straight away. She pulled out her laptop and quickly typed up the episodes that had passed. She didn't bother to go into detail, because right now, she just didn't want to think about it all.

It wasn't long until she was done and decided to get herself dressed and head out of her room. As she was in such a good mood, she decided to pick out a knee length TARDIS blue summer dress, with silver embroidery around the hem. After grabbing a matching pair of Converses, she strolled out of the room and to the kitchen.

Kari couldn't help but smile when she saw a mug of fresh, steaming tea sitting on the table waiting for her. "Once again, thank you sexy." She called, sitting down and taking a sip. She was actually surprised that she was still in the same place, and hadn't been pulled somewhere else already.

She sat back in the chair, closing her eyes and just listening to the hum of the ship. It always helped her to relax, that familiar noise that she never thought could possibly be real.

"Hello? Can anyone hear me? Hello?" An unknown voiced echoed through her mind. "Please, someone help me. Hello?"

Kari's eyes flew open and she looked around the room. There was no one there, and she knew it wasn't the Doctor calling her. But she could have sworn she had just heard a voice.

"Help me. Please." The voice called again.

This time she jumped out of the chair, knocking it to the floor. Her hearts were pounding in her chest. There had only ever been two people speaking to her that way, and she knew it was neither of them. "I can hear you." She called back, closing her eyes and trying to work out the source of the voice.

"Please, help me. You have to help me." The voice cried to her.

That was when something clicked, and Kari realised it was a child crying out for help. "What's happened? Why do you need help?"

For a moment, Kari didn't think they were going to answer her, but she then heard the voice once more. "They're going to kill me. They killed my family and now they're going to kill me. Please, help me." There was panic in the child's voice, and Kari knew that she needed to do something.

She wasted no time in charging out of the kitchen and towards the main console, going as fast as she could. She spotted the Doctor, Amy and Rory hanging around chatting, but she ignored them and the strange looks they were giving her. "Tell me where you are."

The trio watched her in confusion as she rushed around the console. "Kari, is everything okay?" The Doctor asked, trying to catch up with her.

"Help is coming. I promise." Kari called to the voice, pulling down the lever and sending them off into the vortex. "You didn't hear it, did you?" She asked him as she held onto the console tightly.

"Hear what? Kari what's going on?" There was worry etched across his face now.

She just looked at him, a serious expression on her face. "Someone needs help. We're going to help them."

Amy and the Doctor just shared a strange look. "Um, Kari? Who needs our help?" Amy asked her, holding onto the railings next to Rory.

"Just… someone, okay?" Kari called, just as all the shaking and noise stopped. "Okay, let's go and help."

"Kari, do you want to explain what's going on now?" The Doctor asked her, grabbing hold of her hand as she went to walk past him.

"I… heard a voice. Someone calling for help, in my mind." She admitted. "It was a child."

That was all the Doctor needed to hear to understand why she had acted in such a way to get them somewhere. "Well? What are we waiting for? Let's go and help." He said, beaming away at her. He was actually proud that she had just done what she thought was right.

The pair of them strolled over to the doors, hand in hand. "Come along, Ponds." The Doctor called, pulling the door open and letting Kari step out first.

Kari stood there, her eyes wide as she looked at their surroundings. "What happened?" She whispered, looking at the charred trees and the ash covered ground. It was clear that something had happened, something terrible.

"I don't know." The Doctor told her, looking around for himself. "This is wrong, this is very wrong."

"So, can someone explain to us exactly what we are doing here?" Amy asked, stepping out of the blue box with Rory behind her.

Kari turned and looked at the couple. "I had a… telepathic message. A child, crying out for help. You should know by now, Amy, that the Doctor and I could never just ignore a crying child."

Amy nodded, understanding exactly what she saw saying. "Okay, so what's the plan?" Amy wondered, grabbing hold of Rory's arm a little.

Kari let out a sigh. "I have a terrible feeling we need to follow the trail of destruction." She told them, her eyes scanning the area some more. She couldn't help but feel a little uneasy, like they were being watched. It probably didn't help that this was something she knew nothing about.

The four of them walked in silence, following a muddy trail lined with blackened trees. Even the ground had been burnt. "So, I'm guessing this is bad, yeah?" Amy said, noticing how quiet both Kari and the Doctor were being. "Usually you'd be explaining where we are, what the place is like, and giving us a full history lesson."

"This planet has always been peaceful, and green. Now everything is just… black." The Doctor said, a frown forming on his face.

"It looks like a war zone." Kari whispered, feeling very uncomfortable. She just couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, that there was something lurking in the background.

"I think maybe it is." The Doctor told her, squeezing her hand. "And that really isn't good."

"Oh, well isn't that lovely." Amy grumbled as they carried on walking. "Do we even know where we are going?"

The Doctor just looked at Kari, hoping she would know the way. "We're going that way." She said, pointing ahead of them and at what looked like a building surrounded by mist. "That's where we need to be."

"Kari, are you sure about this?" The Doctor asked her, making the group stop.

"Honestly? No. I have no idea what we are walking into and I have no idea what has happened." She admitted to him.

"But you always know what's happened, or is going to happen." Amy said, starting to sound a little worried herself.

"This isn't one of those times. Right now, we're going in blind. The one thing I do know is that someone needs help, and we're going to help them."

The Doctor just smiled at her. "We're on Karleon, home to one of the most magnificent and peaceful creatures this side of the galaxy." He told them all. "They are creatures of nature, they abhor violence, they respect every living thing in the universe."

"So someone took advantage of that, and decided to attack them?" Kari asked, as they started walking once more. The child knew they were there, that help was coming.

"But why?" He pondered, examining the damage as they passed it. Even he couldn't make any sense of what had happened.

"I guess there's only one way to find out." Kari was starting to feel even more anxious now. She never thought she would hate not knowing what was going to happen, but right now she did. She couldn't help but feel a little scared as well.

A/N: I'll say it one more time, I'm sorry for the long time since I last updated. I couldn't really do much in the hospital without the internet.

So, the group are off on their own little adventure that Kari knows absolutely nothing about. What could possibly go wrong?

Thank you to everyone who has stuck with the story, even with my terrible updating recently. I'm trying to get better, honest. I finish Uni until September soon, so things should get better.

Pippa.