The Doctor insisted on rest for the equivalent of a few days in the TARDIS. Jay found she enjoyed the time immensely and caught up nicely on her sleep while simultaneously getting herself used to not having Martha around and exploring the ship she called home. She found a few rooms she'd never seen during her time with Martha and had even spent a few days in the closet, "shopping" in some manner.

When she was lonely, Jay found she'd usually find the Doctor tinkering around with something in the control room, in the library, or just wandering. Occasionally, he'd disappear and she'd be unable to find him at all, but it was only once or twice that he'd done that. They'd share meals, whenever the Doctor declared it time, and Jay found herself learning to cook, although after nearly setting the entire kitchen on fire, the Doctor told her cooking was off limits and took over.

It was after one particular incident in which Jay found herself eyeing the stove suspiciously during a meal with a nasty burn from spattered oil on her arm that the Doctor declared, "We're going somewhere."

"We are?" She looked up in surprise. "Where?"

He thought it over, tapping his fingers in thought on the table. Jay grimaced, ignoring the unintentional pattern by sheer willpower. The Doctor still noticed and stopped. "What do you know of the Middle Ages?"


Rather than dressing in one of the time-appropriate dresses the TARDIS provided when she was getting ready to leave, Jay chose to remain in her favored attire although she threw a jacket over top the T-shirt. She was nearly bouncing off the walls when she got to the control room, where the Doctor waited, leaning against the control console. "I did it!" she announced.

"You did what?" he questioned, amused as he spun around and began to shift the controls, preparing them for travel.

"I tied my own shoes!" she grinned widely, showing him her foot with a tied on shoe. The Doctor laughed, finding her excitement contagious. He was delighted that she was excited to get back to what they were actually quite bad at: simply traveling and nothing more.

The Doctor didn't warn her before flipping the lever and Jay staggered when the TARDIS began to move, latching onto the railing behind her. He was beaming away as he studied the screen he had spun around to see, making sure that they were going exactly where he wanted them to go. He'd ended up in places he didn't want to go and knew better than to trust the TARDIS to do what he wanted without ensuring it.

When the TARDIS touched down, he spun away from the console. "The Middle Ages!" he informed her, striding for the doors. She followed close behind, pausing to let him swing on his trenchcoat. He tucked his sonic screwdriver securely into his suit jacket, humming. He threw the TARDIS doors open and stepped out. "A period of feudalism! Marked by three periods of time: Early, High, and Late!"

"Feudalism?" Jay muttered, trying to remember where she'd heard the terms as she stepped out after him. She was immediately greeted by fresh air that she eagerly breathed in, peering out over the beautiful landscape before her. It was incredibly green, and in the near distance, she could see what looked like a small village. Even further off was a black smudge that she curiously peered at but didn't question. Perhaps it was a hill or mountain?

The Doctor locked the TARDIS doors behind them and set off at a brisk walk, hands pushed into his pockets. Jay bustled after him, head cocked. "This is beautiful," Jay said as they began walking through some trees. The trees were lush, the weather surprisingly warmer than Jay had thought it would be.

"It is," the Doctor agreed, swinging his legs with ease over a log that had fallen. He paused to wait for Jay, who clambered somewhat ungracefully over the side, and then the pair were off again. They continued like this for some time, simply enjoying the sights. The Doctor rambled on as they did so, explaining random facts about the Middle Ages to her. Jay listened half-heartedly, focused more on the scenery around her. It was shockingly warm, she thought, the closer they got to the village. The Doctor was guiding them in its direction, eager to show her what they were like.

Jay shed her jacket and tucked it over her arm, listening to the rustle of grass beneath their feet. When they reached the edge of the forest, Jay suddenly paused, furrowing her brow. "You'll be able to find the TARDIS again, right?"

"Of course," he said, looking insulted with the accusation that he might not be able to. "When have I not found my ship?" Jay gave him a pointed look. "That was one time - one time," he said with a huff, pouting at her. "And it was Martha's fault, she had my sonic-"

"You're the pilot," Jay pointed out, hiding a teasing smile. "Aren't you supposed to know everything, Doctor? I mean, you've told me that I don't need to question you because you know everything."

He pointed at her warningly and then marched down the hill they'd crested, heading straight for the village. Jay found herself giggling, following. Her laughter faded as they approached the village and were greeted by the sounds and sights of busy people, hard at work. Jay inhaled the smells, wincing a little at some of them.

It was as she was studying the people of the village coming and going, trading services or riding past on horses, that she first heard the strangest of sounds. Jay perked up when she heard a soft song on the air, the notes a beautiful low tenor, just barely audible but still there. She snapped her head around, seeking it, but found nothing when she looked for a source. Rather than asking the Doctor about it, she kept quiet, not wanting to create a commotion about something that didn't seem malicious.

She'd noticed that, over her time aboard the Valiant. She didn't hear many things, but when she did, she'd been able to get a handle on whether they were bad or good. The TARDIS's song and that that filled the air, similar to that of the TARDIS, when Jack had been "killed" was filled with light and warmth. The constant drumming in the Master's head had possessed the low undertones of violence and hatred.

This song...it was kind, but sad.

She narrowed her eyes and made a mental note to see if she could track it down as they wandered the village.

"Let's get something to eat," the Doctor said cheerfully, gripping her elbow gently and tugging her towards what appeared to be some kind of bakery. "Not much other than break, it looks like, but that's fine. We can run back to the TARDIS, grab something to put on it…"

"Why the hell would we run all the way back to the TARDIS to grab something to put on bread?" Jay demanded, amused that he thought she'd go all the way back just because she liked jam. She still nearly skipped along beside him, excited by the idea of trying something new to eat. It was one of her favorite things to do, no matter where they went. New food was always fun.

That plan was quickly put to a rather rude halt.

"No," a man who was rather intimidating snarled when they stepped into his bakery. He rushed over, shoving them rather harshly right back out the door and slamming the door shut behind them. The loud sound dragged the attention of several other people over and Jay was stunned by the sheer amount of hatred that was suddenly directed towards them.

"What'd we do?" she demanded, looking to the Doctor as his brows lifted in curiosity. "Did we violate some kind of...unspoken rule?"

"I don't know," he mused. "Maybe it's our dress." He looked down at his suit, frowning. "Normally they don't care about my suit...maybe it's your shoes," he commented.

"I'm wearing the same type of shoes as you," Jay said dryly, holding her foot out near his so that he could see.

"Ah, so you are," he mused and then whirled away, hands pushed into his pockets. "Well, no point in dwelling on it. Let's go speak with someone and see what there's to do around here. Maybe they'll teach us about their farming techniques."

Jay silently thought that this was turning out to be a rather boring adventure, but didn't say so to the Doctor, only smiling faintly at him and letting him lead the way as she normally did. He led the way through the village, trying to find them something new to do. Each attempt became quite similar to the bakery; people bustled away in terror or hatred, refusing to acknowledge them. The only one that didn't run was a friendly dog, who Jay knelt to greet with a warm smile, trying to pretend she didn't hear that sad song growing louder the longer they were there or the eyes that she suddenly felt were watching them.

"Something's going on here," the Doctor declared as he folded his arms, frowning at the dog Jay was petting. She scratched its ears and the dog leaned into it, wagging its tail. "They take one look at us and run."

"They should, to be fair," she pointed out as she stood and shooed the dog on its way. It wagged its tail one more time and then ran off. "Look at us. Look at you, you're like a magnet for trouble."

He pouted and then shook his head. "Something else. This isn't normal, no matter when I go." He made a face and rubbed the back of his neck. "And is it just me, or is it really warm?" The Doctor glanced to the open blue skies. "Especially for this time of year."

"What time of year is that?" Jay asked. "Also, there's someone watching us. Have been for a while."

"I know, been waiting to see what they do," he agreed before adding, "Maybe...February? March? Far too early in the year to be dealing with this much heat. Especially in this time." He frowned. "The Middle Ages had a moment of good crops in the High period, but there was a small Ice Age of sorts." He launched into a rant about such matters that Jay was lost about in seconds, rambling as he leaned against the wall of the home nearest to him. Jay focused more on what he was doing as he spoke. He'd pushed a hand deep into his pocket, fishing out his sonic screwdriver.

He pulled it out, fidgeting with it as he said, nodding his head casually to the left to indicate that he wanted her to go that way, "Let's explore and see what we can find about this heat, shall we?"

"Sounds good to me," Jay agreed, her lips quirking in amusement. "Meet back here?"

"Ten minutes," he agreed and then was spinning around to walk away. Jay wondered where he was going exactly although she went where he'd told her, rounding the back corner of the house in mere moments.

Jay realized what he'd been doing when something slammed into her, knocking her down and driving the breath from her chest. There was a squeal as the child rebounded off of her and fell just as hard as she did. The Doctor practically appeared above her to help stop the child from scrambling to her feet and bolting.

"Alright?" he asked Jay as she grumbled, climbing to her feet.

"I'm fine," she reassured, and then studied the young girl. Jay was shocked when she looked up and stared her down with vivid purple eyes. She appeared human otherwise, but Jay knew immediately that she wasn't. The length of her neck was a little longer than the average human's, too.

"Don't hurt me," the girl begged, shivering violently. She couldn't have been older than twelve or thirteen, Jay thought as the Doctor swept his sonic screwdriver through the air to scan her.

"We're not going to hurt you," Jay soothed, offering her a warm smile. "Why were you watching us though?"

"You're newcomers, and you're dressed funny." She wrinkled her nose. "You're weird. I had to make sure I didn't need to call my papa."

Jay's brows lifted in curiosity. "And who's your papa?" she asked, a little nervous. She could hear a softer version of the song that swelled in waves coming from the girl, and it gave her the feeling that her papa might be the one with the louder version. She exchanged a quick look with the Doctor, who looked just as interested as she did in the matter. Especially when the girl jabbed a finger in the direction of the black smudge in the distance.

"Don't you know? Everyone knows who my papa is," she said accusingly.

"We're new here," the Doctor said quickly. "We just got to the area recently. Why don't you enlighten us? And what's your name?"

"Ysmay," she said immediately, blinking her pretty eyes at the Doctor with interest. Her delicate nostrils flared as she studied him. "You're like me and my papa. You're from another planet, aren't you?"

"Yes," he confirmed, not seeing the point of lying about the matter. "Why don't you tell us about your papa? And why you're here on this planet?" He eyed the girl thoughtfully. He wasn't sure about Ysmay's father, but...the girl herself seemed harmless thus far. Jay certainly seemed to think so as she offered a hand to her.

"And why you and your papa are so sad," Jay added in, smiling kindly. The girl looked shocked that she'd known and even the Doctor frowned, curious. She smiled faintly at him. "I hear it." His interest grew and he straightened, studying her closely. "Like the TARDIS. There's this song, and it's...horrible, it's so sad."

Ysmay stared at Jay in awe. "You hear my papa's song?" she whispered. "He sings it, every night...I help him."

The Doctor frowned lightly at Jay, worried. The last time she'd heard such things, they'd been on the Valiant. He folded his arms, impatient. A few times now, his question had been avoided, but he asked it again. "What happened? Why are you here?"

Ysmay opened her mouth to explain, but was cut off by a scream. "The demon! The demon's here!" Jay giggled at the look on the Doctor's face when he turned to look at the woman who'd screamed. Her face was full of fear, her finger pointed at Ysmay. Jay swept her behind her protectively, although it didn't do much good when people swept around the other side. Jay swore softly under her breath; they were surrounded by village members.

"I knew it!" the baker they'd tried to buy bread from earlier snarled as he joined the group, glaring at the Doctor. "He and that witch tried to come and buy my wares."

Jay winced. That was nicer than some of the other things she'd been called in her lifetime, but still. She kept herself protectively between Ysmay and the villagers, aware that the Doctor had shifted closer to them both with a suspicious look on his face. "Doctor," she hissed.

Ysmay ducked around Jay, surprising her. Her gaze was icy as she said to those who'd gathered, their eyes blazing with hatred, "Don't forget what Papa did the last time you tried something."

Immediately, hatred turned to fear. A few people lumbered away, and those who remained looked furiously at the girl before the baker snapped, "Get out of our village and go steal food somewhere else, demon," before heading back to his bakery.

Jay furrowed her brow as Ysmay's cold expression melted into one of distress. She was a bit on the thin side, Jay thought, touching her shoulder. "Are you hungry?" she said, and Ysmay shyly nodded. She glanced to the Doctor, who was frowning at nothing in particular, likely trying to piece the puzzle together without all of the information. "Why don't we go back to our ship and grab something to eat, and you can tell the Doctor and I about what's happening here?"
Ysmay shook her head. "Thank you, but I have to go home. Papa's expecting me." She smiled at the pair with surprisingly sharp teeth. "Farewell." And then she was sprinting off, heading in the direction of that odd black smudge.

The Doctor watched her go thoughtfully and Jay glanced to him. "What do we do?" she asked, folding her arms. "Do we follow her?"

The Doctor debated for a few moments before shaking his head. "We'll figure out what the people here were on about. I want to know why they called her a demon."

"Her differing appearance might have had something to do with it," Jay said wryly. "Do you not know what planet she's from?"

"It's ringing a bell," he admitted. "I can't remember everything, you know." She smirked a little and he sent her a warning look. "Shush," he hushed before she could say anything regarding the matter. "Don't even start, you." He spun around, eyeing the direction that Ysmay had gone.

"Suggestion!" Jay said suddenly, nudging him with her elbow. "I stay here and figure out what's going on with the 'demons' and stuff while you go and follow Ysmay with the TARDIS. You can come pick me up when you're done."

The Doctor contemplated this and then nodded slowly. "I don't like splitting up, but that'll be more productive...any incoming attacks?" he suddenly requested, searching his pockets.

"Nope. Not for some time," Jay confirmed, positive about the matter. She blinked when he tossed her his sonic screwdriver. "Why are you giving me this? Shouldn't you take that with you?"

"Two settings," he said, ignoring her questions while simultaneously answering them. He leaned in, grabbing her fingers to show her what to do. She paid close attention, knowing that she was being taught two new settings on the sonic screwdriver. There were very few that he full out taught her and she was excited to learn new ones. "One for summoning the TARDIS right to you if there's an emergency, and only if it's a very bad emergency," he said warningly. "The second one is for when you're done. It'll send a signal to the TARDIS, and she'll let me know."

"Okay," Jay agreed, taking the sonic screwdriver. She repeated information back to him at his request, and then tucked it safely away. "I'll see you soon?"

"See you soon," he agreed, winking and clicking his teeth playfully before striding off. Jay watched him leave, hands pushed contently into his pockets and a spring in his step. She shook her head and wiped a hand over the back of her sweat-dampened neck, frowning. It was extraordinarily warm now, she realized, warmer than it had been earlier.

Shrugging, Jay shooed off her thoughts and went to investigate.


As a proclaimed witch, investigating turned out to be harder than she'd planned. No one would truly talk to her, either ignoring her or threatening her if she didn't turn and walk the other way the second she opened her mouth. Jay found herself annoyed beyond belief the fifth time it happened.

Finally, she approached a house on the outskirts. It was incredibly run down, patched up rather roughly. Jay sighed and knocked on the wooden door, waiting for someone to answer. If this didn't work, she'd signal to the Doctor. A few hours had gone by anyways, and she was sure he would have found something by this point.

After a moment, someone opened the door. Jay immediately pushed a smile to her face, tucking her hands behind her back as the startled man, forty or so years of age, blinked at her in surprise. A priest, or something similar, Jay expected, eyeing the clothes he wore. "May I help you?" he asked warily.

"Maybe," Jay responded, giving him her sweetest smile. "I'm passing through town with my friend, and we got caught up with the supposed demon that's running around you village." Something flickered through his gaze at that. She noted it and continued. "I was wondering if there was any information you could give me about who she is? What she's doing here? Perhaps we can help you out."

The man studied her closely before finally stepping back, waving for her to come inside. "Please, come in. I doubt there's much you can do, but I'm more than willing to tell you what I know, my dear. My name is Allister. You are?"

Jay smiled as she stepped inside, relieved. Finally. Some level of success. She peered curiously around the small village home, taking in the variety of historical items that were likely worth some serious money in the future. She didn't care about such matters, but she wondered what the historians of Martha's era would think if they were in her position. "Jay. My name's Jay. A pleasure to meet you, Allister."

He smiled broadly in response. "Likewise, my dear." He gestured to a chair. "Perhaps you'd like something to eat? You look famished."

"That'd be great." She politely smiled as she settled into the chair he'd pointed to. She ran a finger through her sweat-dampened blonde hair, wondering how the Doctor's end of things was currently going. Undoubtedly more successful than her, although she expected there was likely some amount of trouble involved...he could never avoid trouble.

"So you met the demon child?" Allister questioned as he took up a seat nearby, pushing a bowl of some type of broth towards her. Jay didn't hesitate to take it up in her hands, careful not to actually take a bite of it. She'd learned the hard way more than once not to trust people right away.

"Yes. She said her name was Ysmay." Jay pretended to take a bite, careful to not actually swallow, and then set the bowl aside, her gaze meeting Allister's. He looked pleasant enough. "I wanted to know more about her - both my friend and I did," she added. "We saw that your village didn't care much for her and were interested in helping to rid you of her."

Allister nodded slowly. "Help ridding our town of she and her father would be helpful," he admitted. He gestured to the door, as if Ysmay stood on the other side. "Tell me, my dear, what did you see about her?"

"Nothing much, just that she clearly wasn't from around here," Jay replied, although she couldn't say she belonged there either. "And she mentioned that her father had done something to hurt the village previously?"

"We used to have a blacksmith in town," he agreed. "The man struck the demon child and was destroyed by the child's father when it descended upon us. Several others were killed in the attack, including a boy I had taken in upon the death of his parents."

"I'm sorry to hear about that," she said sympathetically. Jay offered a kind smile. "Continue? Or better yet, start from the beginning. When did they first arrive?"
Allister nodded and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and drawing his face into a grim expression. "Yes, of course. Well," he said with a heavy sigh, shaking his head, "they appeared during the colder season. We weren't doing well, of course, as crops were unable to successfully grow over the span of the warmer days. And then...there was this shooting star, and the next day, the pair showed up in the village, injured and burned. A woman of our village took pity on them when they showed up injured on she and her husband's doorstep and took care of them both.

"The creatures grew rather attached to her, and she to them." Allister shook his head again, looking distressed. "We should have realized how much so they'd grown attached to her...you see, the father of the demon child extended an offer of marriage to the woman a few weeks later. She rejected his offers and in his rage, he killed her husband and fled to the home of the local royalty."

"That way, right?" Jay asked, pointing in the direction the black smudge had been. He nodded.

"Yes," he confirmed. "Alongside the murder of the woman's husband, he forced her along with him. We sent some men from the village to retrieve her, but...they didn't return." A brief, but dark look crossed over Allister's features. "We've not heard of her wellbeing since she was taken from us."

Jay folded her arms thoughtfully, tapping her fingers thoughtfully along her arm. Her blue eyes were sharp with thought as she considered what to say and do before finally saying, "I have a friend...he'd be more than willing to help you out. In fact, he's gone to investigate the demons now." She rose to her feet, smiling gently. Her fingers pushed into her pockets, seeking the sonic screwdriver. "I'll let him know what you've told me when he gets back-"

Allister's eyes flashed with alarm. "You mean he's gone to the castle? Your friend will not return. No one has."

"You don't know my friend." Jay spoke confidently and calmly, finding the sonic screwdriver in her back pocket. She fiddled with it as best as she could without letting Allister see it. She was already a supposed witch. She didn't need anyone seeing her supposed magical wand. "He'll figure everything out, don't you worry."

Allister said, "Well, why don't you wait for him here? It's safer than staying out past the dark...odd things happen here at night." Jay signaled the Doctor as she spoke, wisely nodding her head.

"That would be fantastic, thank you, Allister," she said in response, offering him a warm smile. Jay tucked the sonic screwdriver safely back into her pocket and then clasped her hands in front of her. "And thank you for the meal, by the way, I appreciate it." She gestured to the barely touched broth that Allister had given her - something that the man had taken notice of, if the look on his face was anything to go by.

Something suddenly wasn't feeling too right, and Jay pressed her mouth into a hard line, studying Allister's face closely. She narrowed her eyes a little before forcing the smile back to her mouth. "Just so I have my story straight, and to make sure I have everything correct...there was a shooting star in the sky, two demons showed up, ruined a woman's life, said woman's husband was killed and she was taken, and now you guys have to live in constant fear of the demons?"

"That's correct, yes," he said.

"I'll relay it to my friend," she promised and then took a deep breath. Something felt incredibly off, but she wasn't going to react too badly just yet. It might set something off. She fidgeted with her fingers before stating with false cheer,"Would you be willing to part with some water while we wait?"

"Of course, my dear, of course." Allister's eyes never left her and for a moment, just a split moment, Jay considered reaching for the sonic screwdriver again.


The TARDIS materialized with the familiar rasping sound in the shadows of the castle that had only hours before been a smudge of black on the horizon. The Doctor flashed his ship a fond smile, briefly brushing his fingers over the blue wood of the outside as he left, closing and locking the door behind him. He wasn't sure what Ysmay and her father were, but he was confident that he didn't want them getting into the TARDIS.

The Doctor turned on his heel and confidently strode away from the time machine, studying the front of the castle. His eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he considered how to get inside, and he ran his hands through his spiked hair.

"This is going to be a problem," he murmured under his breath and began to pace alongside the building, taking notes as he went. Large, old, gray. Very, very gray. He much preferred the blue of his home. It wasn't very different from what most buildings of such caliber looked like in the time period…

So what on earth had happened to the residents? What had killed or chased them away?

Ysmay and her father, undoubtedly, but what were they? He should have known, it was tugging at the back of his mind - and it was driving him crazy. He needed to get a move on, however, he decided. It had been hours in terms of how long he'd left Jay in the village, and he wasn't entirely sure he felt too comfortable doing so in a village that had declared her a witch.

Something was going to happen, it was their luck. He shouldn't have left her there, should have made her come with him. He was going to regret having left her there, the Doctor could feel it. But she'd not yet signaled his TARDIS as far as he knew.

He picked up a slow jog, following the side of the castle until he came across a decently low opening. A window, he thought with relief. With ease, he hoisted himself through and hit the stone ground within the room he'd jumped into. A kitchen of sorts, although long since abandoned. He studied the area carefully, and then ducked out of it.

It was warm, he thought. Not just warm. Hot. Really hot. He followed a corridor, tugging at his collar with a frown. He remembered the Jagrafess. He hoped it wasn't anything like the Jagrafess. Ysmay had seemed friendly enough, though, so he wasn't sure that it would be like that…

He followed the heat rather than trying to get away from it, ignoring the sweat that dampened his forehead. Up and up a few flights of stairs, not losing his breath despite continuing at a jog. Eventually, he emerged into a corridor. All of the stone was scraped up, as if something had been dragged back and forth across it. His looked around, finding that it only led straight ahead. Slowing from a jog, he studied it carefully and then walked onward until he came to a heavy wooden door.

"Wood," he muttered in disgust and then pushed open the door.

He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting when he'd done so, but this most certainly wasn't it. The Doctor studied his surroundings closely, astonished by what he'd come across: a bedroom. Decorated beautifully despite the ruin and abandonment of the rest of the castle, kept in careful check. White, gray, and soft pink tones to make it warm, the bright sun washing in from the single window, surprisingly large for the stone castle. The building had been meant for defense.

And settled into the massive mattress at the center of it all was a woman. The Doctor locked onto her immediately, scanning her intently. She was asleep, perfectly content, without an ounce of fear or worry on her face. A smile even curled across her lips. Long blonde hair was spread around her face in waves, seeming silver in the moonlight coming from the window.

Interest fluttered across the Doctor's face as he made his way closer. He dug in his pocket and fished out his glasses, perching them on his nose as he leaned over the woman in the bed. Unharmed, completely fine, healthy even, he thought, tipping his head a little. Fascinating. And human. What was going on here that hadn't been mentioned?

A snarl suddenly caught the Doctor's attention. He spun around, whipping his glasses from his nose. Shock flashed through his face. "That's not something I could say I've ever seen," he breathed, and the creature bellowed, washing the room in flames.


The sharp stab in her head dragged her awake and Jay's eyes snapped open. A soft curse left her mouth when she realized she saw only darkness, and for a moment, she worried that she'd gone blind. Another sharp pain made her gag, and she quickly rolled onto her stomach, blearily blinking until her mind had cleared. Finally, she pushed herself upright, looking around.

"Where-" She cut herself off, confused on what she'd been doing. She remembered sitting there, chatting with Allister about a variety of things. She'd claimed to come from another country, which was technically true, and had insisted that he explain the daily life and what it was like in this old village.

And then...nothing.

Jay frowned, scrambling through her memories to try and figure everything out. She'd been talking with Allister, hoping the Doctor would be back soon, and there'd been the discomfort over a few discrete questions she'd managed to slip in. Jay took a deep breath. Worrying wouldn't help. She'd keep herself calm and focus. Chatting...waiting...and water.

The water.

She pushed her hands over her eyes, furious with herself. What the hell had she been thinking, drinking water that had been given to her in a town of people who'd called her a witch. How stupid could she be?

Worrying about it would do no good.

First things first...she had the sonic screwdriver. She could summon the TARDIS to her, the Doctor had promised. She dug in her pockets, wishing she could see in the dark. She was amazed when she found the sonic screwdriver, impressed that they'd not taken it from her before throwing her her in this prison of sorts.

She felt for the buttons, and then paused, frustrated when she realized that she couldn't even remember what the setting had been. It was fuzzy in her brain. Which one was it? She remembered the ones before that day, but even then...that entire day was somewhat fuzzy now. She wanted to throw the sonic screwdriver in her frustration, but didn't dare.

If she lost that device, the Doctor would be anything but pleased.

Jay took another deep breath. She'd dealt with far worse. She'd seen the Master, and the Daleks, and the creature who'd poisoned her.

She could deal with a bunch of humans.

Jay climbed to her feet, feeling around with care. She felt nothing under her shoes and stooped to run her fingers over the floor, her other hand holding the sonic screwdriver tight. What felt like hay scratched at her fingers. Likely a shed of some sorts, she decided upon feeling the walls. A shed for certain.

Okay, she could break out. She'd broken out of plenty of places before with the Doctor. She tightened her grip on the sonic screwdriver and then closed her eyes in frustration. Not only could she not remember that setting, but she could certainly remember that it wouldn't do her any good with a wooden shed.

She pressed her mouth together into a hard line.

She was going to ensure that the Doctor fixed that damn device when she found him again.

Jay found the door and tried to push at it. It didn't budge. She pushed harder, and then slammed her shoulder into it, again, and again, and then a final time. The door finally buckled beneath the force. The clasp holding it shut broke and she stumbled out into the night, swearing as she rubbed her bruised shoulder. She put the sonic back in her pocket and started forward, weaving towards the back of the village to avoid being spotted by anyone who might be out and about. Her fingers and wrists tingled. She shook out her hands, stilling as she something.

A song, just like she'd heard earlier. Sad, with a low deep voice soaring out. She listened intently to it, her heart aching for whoever was singing it.

She turned until she faced the direction it was coming from. There. Jay studied the space before her. Nothing but darkness and a shockingly warm night.

Jay rubbed her wrist and then started forward. The Doctor would have explored and tried to figure out what was going on. So she'd do the same. He'd show up eventually. Wherever there was trouble...there was the Doctor.


The Doctor stared in awe at the creature who'd shoved its massive head through the doorway, its massive jaws parted. Flames licked at sharp teeth and lips. A silly grin had appeared on his face despite the agitation the creature was showing. It pushed itself further in, large body somehow seeming to shrink down so that it could fit into the room. Before the Doctor knew it, a man had taken its place, with a tall, slender neck and vivid violet eyes. Pale, pale skin that practically glowed when bathed by the moonlight. Flames continued to curl around his face as he glared viciously at the Doctor.

"Who are you?" he challenged, voice a low rumble.

The Doctor was in awe. "A Ganapri," he murmured, smiling to himself, not the least bit bothered that the alien was threatening him. "A Ganapri, here on Earth...you're a rare one, and with a hatchling..."

His eyes flashed. "What have you done with Ysmay?" Another snarl left his mouth and the Ganapri took a slow step forward, baring his sharp teeth. "What have you done with her?"

"She's fine, last I checked," the Doctor said hastily, holding his hands up in surrender. "We met earlier, I haven't seen her since. Tell me what's going on, why you're here. I'm the Doctor. I don't know what's going on, but tell me. I can help."

His nostrils flared as he continued to glare for a few moments, and then warily, the Ganapri said, "Dayton. She named me Dayton." His chin jerked towards the sleeping woman on the bed.

"And she is?" the Doctor asked, turning to look at the young woman sleeping soundly. He reached for his sonic screwdriver only to realize with a grimace that he didn't have it; Jay did.

Dayton stepped past him, his face filling with sorrow, a soft hum leaving his mouth. The Doctor glanced at him, remembering what Jay had said earlier. "There's this song, and it's...horrible, it's so sad." He understood then. The Ganapri were a musical species, fond of song and dance. The planet had disappeared eventually, for reasons even he didn't understand. He'd not known that a few had escaped to the stars...he was grateful for it though. The Ganapri were a peaceful species.

"Aurore," he said simply, looking down at the woman mournfully. "Her name is Aurore."

"Aurore," the Doctor echoed, tongue curling around the name. "What happened to Aurore? Why is she sleeping like this?" Any normal human would have awoken by now. She looked to be in a coma of sorts.

Dayton snarled again, furious now. He affectionately smoothed Aurore's hair away from her face, gently kissing her forehead before straightening. He turned to face the Doctor warily, studying closely. "Our ship crashed. I found the village to the south, and she was the only one who would help us...her husband was cruel to her. I tried to help, but the village disapproved." A scowl appeared on his face. "They hurt her. I don't know what they did, but the priest in the village hurt her, and she won't wake up."

The Doctor again wished he'd brought Jay and his sonic along with him rather than leaving them behind. Gently, he stepped closer, leaning over Aurore. She didn't stir an inch, merely breathed in and out evenly. "What happened exactly?" he asked, debating if he could move her to the TARDIS to use the equipment there.

"Ysmay and I left one day to hunt," he said, voice hoarse with pain. "We are Ganapri. We eat far more than the humans could produce, so we did what we could to help once we were healed. When we came back, we found her husband and the priest standing over her. I killed her husband and took her here, to safety. It had been abandoned, rundown. It was safe."

"Ysmay threatened that you'd hurt them as you had when she was harmed once," the Doctor said carefully.

"I burned a few homes to the ground," he said, barking out a laugh. A few died. They would gladly do the same to me."

The Doctor considered this as he checked the young woman's vitals, just as Martha had shown he and Jay how to do. She was fine, simply sleeping...and he had no idea how to help her. He wanted his sonic screwdriver to scan her with. It was likely something undetectable without a proper scan.

He didn't blame Dayton for his actions. He'd seen the guilt on his features when he'd spoken. Not of the husband's death, but of the others. He'd not intended to hurt anyone, merely to frighten them from harming he and his hatchling.

Who was apparently missing.

"Hold on, did Ysmay not make it here?" he said, frowning. The girl had left hours ago, she should have made it back.

"No," he murmured, lifting his hard eyes. "No, she didn't."

"I'll find her, and my friend," the Doctor promised, really not liking that he'd left Jay behind. "And then I'll come back, with my ship, and I'll figure out how to help Aurore. Is that alright?"

"You," Dayton said, gaze not leaving him, "what are you, to be helping the Ganapri? You appear like the humans, yet you most clearly are not."

The Doctor grinned, pushing his hands into his pockets as he began backing towards the doorway. "Time Lord," he said simply, and then spun around on his heel and ran.


Jay pressed her back to the tree, trying to push back her harsh breathing in order to stay quiet as she heard a horse trot past, its rider shouting over his shoulder. She dug her fingers into the bark, scowling as her heart missed a beat in her chest. There would be no attack, not anytime soon, she knew. But still.

She clenched her jaw, reaching for the sonic screwdriver again, seeking comfort from it. She smiled faintly as she tightened her hand around it. Jay gave it a few moments and then bolted in the direction of the song she'd listened to so often in the recent times. She ran as hard as her legs could carry her.

She couldn't outrun horses, however, and she grunted when someone suddenly cantered past, throwing themselves at her, not caring when they're horse vanished into the night. A scowl decorated her face as she fought to free herself. She shoved desperately at the baker from earlier, who glared back down at her, his face full of brutal delight.

"You're no witch," he spat, and Jay glared back as saliva struck her face. "You're as demonic as the other two. You and that man you were with." He glared down at her angrily. "I ought to kill you here and now. Your soul is as good as lost anyways." His hands latched onto her neck, and Jay fought harder.

Before he could so much as squeeze, however, he was slammed into by another form. A small creature with flashing teeth and vicious purple eyes tore into him, latching its jaws onto his arm and shredding through flesh with ease. The baker fell away, screaming, and the moment the creature released him, he ran.

Jay's eyes flashed as the creature turned on her. She could barely see it in the darkness, but she was sure she knew who it was. "Ysmay," she breathed.

The form changed before Jay's eyes. Ysmay wiped the baker's blood from her mouth, shivering. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, thank you," she murmured, hugging her gently. "Thank you." She tightened her arms briefly around the girl, tasting blood in her mouth from where she'd bitten her tongue. She climbed to her feet, pulling Ysmay up, too. "Come on, let's get out of here. Something tells me that this isn't a good place to be."

"That man with you," Ysmay said as they strode forward, hand in hand. She stumbled over something, and Jay caught her, making sure that they didn't have to stop for any reason. "Where is he?"

"He went to the castle, to investigate what you were talking about. Your papa is there, isn't he?"

"Yes," Ysmay said anxiously. "I hope Papa doesn't hurt him."

"Me, too," Jay agreed. She squeezed Ysmay's hand silently, worried. She recalled what Allister had told her and shook her head to herself. She didn't know what Ysmay's father was like regarding how dangerous and violence he was, but Jay was sure that Ysmay at the very least was innocent. She'd talk to the Doctor when he came back around.

They walked for sometime, Ysmay guiding them past any searching villagers until finally, Jay declared, "I can't see! We need to stop. One of us is going to get hurt wandering around like this. We'll wait for morning to come, and then we'll keep going. Is that okay?"

Ysmay looked unhappy with this decision, but said nothing but a small, "Okay."

They found a small hollow underneath a half-dead tree, curling up there, and Jay soothed the anxious girl with a gentle hand. She'd be alright, she thought, brushing her fingers through Ysmay's soft hair. Ysmay seemed to purr, her eyes fluttering shut. Within moments, she was asleep. "Poor girl," Jay murmured, listening to the sad song that suddenly drifted through the air, much louder than it had been. They were closer to the castle, which was good. They'd definitely reach it tomorrow.

Hopefully, the Doctor was around.


"They're never where I tell them to be," the Doctor grumbled, striding swiftly around the console of the TARDIS. He'd done a quick check for Jay after landing his TARDIS in the village. He'd almost gone out to look himself, but shouting from outside had put a quick stop to that. It seemed as if trouble had arisen, unsurprising with their luck.

From the commotion out and about, he was fairly confident that Jay wasn't in the village. He didn't know what had happened, but it wasn't looking to be very good. The TARDIS hummed, and the Doctor threw the center console a half-hearted glare. "Yes, yes, I know you don't like when we lose people, but I'm working on it." Another sound filled the air, and he rolled his eyes, spinning the screen around to look.

"I told you," he grumbled. "I'm working on it."

He studied the screen after typing in a few commands. "There," he murmured after searching for any sign of his sonic. He locked onto it and then grinned. He whirled around the console, flipping switches and pressing buttons. Finally, he pulled a lever that sent the TARDIS into motion, taking a strong grip and bracing himself to avoid being thrown to the ground when she shuddered unhappily.

It seemed to take far longer than he would have liked, but at last the TARDIS landed. He checked the screen a final time and then strode off for the doors. He'd barely gotten there before there was someone knocking sharply. He threw the door open without hesitation, and grinned when he was met by a messy Jay and shivering Ysmay. "There you are," she cheered. "Wasn't sure when you'd show back up, Doctor."

He tried to give her a stern look. "I told you to use the sonic. What's the point of giving it to you if you don't use it when I tell you to? And what on earth are you doing all the way out here, Jay?" the Doctor scolded, fighting a hint of a smile.

She responded with a cheeky wink. "Helping little girls," she said, fondly putting a hand on Ysmay's head, "getting drugged and thrown in a shed. You know, the usual likes."

"You were drugged?" the Doctor questioned, suddenly frowning.

"Yes, I'm not entirely sure by what, but it was by Allister." She glanced to Ysmay. "The-"

"Priest!" Ysmay said, horrified. "He hurt-" She cut off hastily, clamping her mouth shut, and the Doctor gave her a kind look as he knelt down to her level, his features softening. She searched his face with wide frightened violet eyes.

When he spoke, his voice was kind. "Ysmay," he said softly, smiling, "it's alright. I know about the priest, and what happened. I met your papa. Dayton. He told me what happened."

"I heard a different version from the priest," Jay offered, not unkindly. Ysmay looked to her with despair, but Jay stroked her hair in a soothing manner until she settled. The Doctor glanced up to her, waiting. "Long story short, her father - Dayton, you called him. He got angry when a woman wouldn't marry him, kidnapped her, murdered some people, and ran off."

"That's not true!" the small girl cried, furious. "He lied! He's a liar!"

"I'd say, he locked me in a shed after drugging me."
"Sh, sh, sh," the Doctor soothed. He waited until she'd calmed before stating, "I know about Aurore, Ysmay, and I'm going to help you all, okay? Come on." He ushered her into the TARDIS, and then the Doctor turned on Jay, giving a look of concern. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? Any lingering effects from the drug? I want to get you checked out, see what they used."

"I feel fine, Doctor," she reassured, stepping inside. She gave him a pat on the arm, her blue eyes shimmering with warmth. "No side-effects. I was only out for a few hours. Maybe two hours after you left to last night some time."

He nodded, pushing her into the TARDIS with a hand on the small of her back. "In, then, in, in, in. I promised to have Aurore looked at. Something's not right. I could really use Martha about now."

"We could call her," she said hopefully, loving when she had an excuse to call her friend. They'd chatted a few times since after the Titanic, and she'd most certainly enjoyed every minute of it.

"Ah, I'll do some scans first," the Doctor decided instead. "If we can't figure it out, I'll call her." He pointed her and Ysmay to the captain's seat, and Jay mouthed "bossy" before willingly doing what he'd said. She helped Ysmay onto the seat and then settled in herself. "Oh!" she said suddenly, climbing back to her feet, and the Doctor glanced back.

"Here," she said cheerfully, tossing his sonic screwdriver to him. He caught it nimbly.

"Thanks." The Doctor flashed her a grin and then went to work on steering the TARDIS back to the castle, fully intending to land it in the room that held Aurore. He whirled this way and that, ordering Ysmay to hold tight and for Jay to keep an eye on her. Ysmay gaped around at the ship, in awe of it, and the Doctor hid a smile as he continued what he was doing.

The TARDIS began to move, and Jay expertly braced herself, keeping a very close eye on her new-found young companion. The Doctor spoke rapidly as he worked at the TARDIS console, his eyes darting this way and that. "Ganapri, Jay! They're Ganapri! I thought they were extinct, but there's apparently a few running around the universe!" He flashed Jay a delighted grin. "Their planet vanished, and even I don't know why, but here they are! Quite peaceful creatures, the Ganapri, very musical."

"That's why I've been hearing the song," Jay murmured to herself, smiling warmly when the TARDIS hummed her own song in Jay's head. Jay patted the captain's seat affectionately and then looked up when the Doctor cried, "Hah!" and leapt for the doors as the TARDIS landed. Jay helped Ysmay up and nudged her after him as he disappeared outside, already wielding his sonic screwdriver.

Jay followed after him, gesturing for Ysmay to wait as a cry of, "You just left, Doctor!" filled her ears in a low, gravelly voice. She snapped her head around to find a startled older male version of Ysmay standing beside a bed. Violet eyes sparked warily at the sight of her, body tensing, but the Doctor caught on quickly and fixed the situation before it could begin.

"Jay, Dayton. Dayton, my friend Jay. And look! There's little Ysmay!" He gestured for Ysmay to come out before leaning over Aurore, the sonic screwdriver buzzing in his hand, and Ysmay squealed for her father as she flew past Jay.

Dayton knelt and caught her in a tight hug, scolding her gently. "Where have you been," he murmured, "you were told not to go near the village again, little one."

"I know, Papa," she murmured, hugging him back, "I'm sorry, I wanted something to eat." She pointed to Jay, smiling brightly at her father with her small, pointed teeth. "I helped Jay, though. It was worth it."

"She most certainly did," Jay agreed, stepping up to the side of the bed the woman laid in. "Is this the woman who was attacked by Allister? The priest," she added to the Doctor, who nodded in understanding. Dayton's face darkened at the mention of him.

"How was Aurore hurt?" the Doctor demanded, changing the setting on his sonic screwdriver. "You said you didn't know how they did it, yes?"

"Yes." Dayton straightened, allowing his daughter to latch onto his leg as he watched the Doctor closely. The Doctor skimmed his sonic down the length of her throat. "I didn't arrive until it was too late."

"Jayden," the Doctor said sharply, and she scowled a little at his use of her full name. "Tell me, do you know what that priest - what Allister used to drug you?"

"Water," she said immediately, although she couldn't say she knew what they'd put in the drink. "I don't remember much else. Some things are kind of fuzzy. I remembered the story, but things closer to the time I passed out are more fuzzy than the rest. I can't remember if there was anything weird about the taste."

The Doctor spun around, facing her and she jerked back a little in alarm. She sputtered as he skimmed her expression with his eyes. "May I?" he said gesturing to her, and she looked at him in confusion, not sure what he wanted. Nevertheless, trusting him, Jay nodded. He put the sonic screwdriver between his teeth and rested his fingers gently over her temples.

She jolted a little, caught by surprise, but just as quickly, he was pulling away, equally as startled. "Doctor?" she questioned, and he quickly plastered a friendly smile onto his face as he pulled the sonic screwdriver from between his teeth. "Doctor, what was-"

"It's alright," he reassured, hastily turning away. His smile vanished the second he wasn't looking at her, and he focused entirely on Aurore. "I think this can be fixed. He might have used the same mixture on them both."

"Doctor!" Jay said sharply but he ignored her, continuing as if she'd not spoken at all.

"I just need to do a quick scan to make sure," the Doctor said, looking to Dayton. "Could you bring her to my TARDIS? I have a medical bay, we can check to make sure."

"You can help her?" Ysmay said hopefully, eyes widening with hope, and the Doctor nodded, raking his hand through his hair.

"Of course," he said, "I always help. Don't I always help, Jay?"

"You make a mess of things more often than not, to be honest, but you try," she sighed before adding, "Go ahead and get Aurore, I'll hold the door to the TARDIS open…" She glanced over her shoulder at the Doctor, frowning.

Someone was keeping secrets, and she couldn't say she liked it.

It didn't take much to get Aurore into the TARDIS. The young woman was easily carried by Dayton, who acted as if she weighed nothing as he did so. Jay kept out of the way, holding both doors open as best as she could. The Doctor took one for her when Dayton and Ysmay slipped in and Dayton faltered as he studied the ship curiously, but was quickly distracted when the Doctor ushered him down the corridor.

Jay stayed behind rather than following, patting the TARDIS doors after shutting and locking them, just to be safe. The TARDIS hummed her approval, her song swelling in Jay's head. "Thanks," she murmured, shaking out her wrists. After a moment of simply clearing her head, wondering just what the Doctor wasn't telling her, Jay took a deep breath and took off at a jog, figuring it was probably for the best that she stuck with everyone else for the time being.

The TARDIS guided her to where she needed to go with a series of cheerful hums, although Jay knew she could have found it without her help. She liked the TARDIS's determination anyways. By the time she'd finally gotten to the infirmary, the Doctor was already using one of the contraptions to scan Aurore. Dayton and Ysmay silently hovered nearby, Dayton's sharp eyes watching the Doctor's every move.

Jay ducked in silently, not saying a word. The Doctor was muttering under his breath as he worked over Aurore, who'd been placed on a table, still sound asleep. Jay thought it was a little freaky, to be honest, but pushed past it.

"So," she said at last, and wasn't at all insulted when no one looked her way, "Doctor. What's wrong with her?"

"Herbs," he said without looking up, "and something extra mixed in. Something someone shouldn't have had access to. They disguised it with herbs though." He glanced over at Jay, frowning. "You don't remember any of the taste?"

"No," Jay said, thinking back. She smacked her lips a little, as if trying to gather any of the tastes back into her mouth with no luck. She squawked, however, when the Doctor suddenly lunged forward, grabbing her chin, a cotton swab in hand. "Doctor, what the hell!"

"Stick out your tongue, and go 'ah!'" he ordered, showing her what he meant by doing precisely that. Jay pouted, but stuck her tongue out for him to swab. The Doctor swiftly did it, not at all concerned by her discomfort as he spun back around.

A few minutes later, the Doctor gave a cry of triumph. "Ah-ha! I've got it! Some poppy mixed with chamomile and valerian, as well as a hint of something poisonous...not enough to kill, enough to knock out for a good long while, combined with a potion someone really should not have known how to make."

"Great, so I've been poisoned again," Jay hissed grouchily, and it earned her a soft snort from the Doctor.

"You'll be fine," he told Jay, shuffling through the cabinets nearest him. He withdrew something alongside a syringe. Jay instinctively cringed away from the syringe, and Dayton began to grow agitated.

Dayton stepped forward as the Doctor set to work on filling the syringe with something Jay didn't recognize. "Doctor," he rumbled, "what is that?" His eyes flashed when the Doctor ignored him, stepping forward to inject Aurore with it. "Doctor." Flames curled around his lips furiously.

Without looking up, the Doctor spoke, working carefully. "Don't worry, this will wake her up. A cure for most poisons, particularly the common ones. I want to know where Allister got that poison, it shouldn't have been possible."

"Why?" Jay asked as he finished. "What is it?"

"Alien," the Doctor said. He withdrew and waved Dayton forward. "She should be awake in a few minutes if I'm right. If I wasn't, no harm will come to her. You have my word. Jay, with me," he ordered, briskly striding past her and out into the corridor. She followed him closely, frowning.

She caught his sleeve as they entered the control room, her eyes narrowed. "Doctor, what did you do earlier?"

"Not now," he said firmly, ducking around for the screen. He spun it around and went to work, typing into the console. The Doctor and Jay peered at it. "There," he murmured after a few minutes, and she looked over his shoulder at what he pointed out. "See that? I scanned for other life forms besides humans and I only counted three."

"Right," Jay said, keeping up with what he was doing. "You, Ysmay, and Dayton, right?"

The Doctor only hesitated for a heartbeat before nodding. "Yes, right, the three of us. But look." He touched the monitor. "There's a fourth."

"Another? There's another alien here?" Jay threw her hands up, annoyed. "We really can't go anywhere without aliens popping up and causing trouble."

He chuckled. "I'll take you somewhere with no people next," he promised, doubting that anything would show up in such a place. The Doctor typed away a bit more, and then said, "He's not a Ganapri, and he's very clearly not one of me…It might not even be him. It could be a piece of technology he found, simple as that."

"Is he like me?" Jay mused drily, snickering at herself. The Doctor didn't laugh, seeming to ignore her joke altogether as he looked closer. "So what is he?"

"A Zygon?" The Doctor squinted even further. "I don't know. Won't know until we go and see him in person actually...did you see anything, anything that would distinguish it?"

"No," she said apologetically. "I'm sorry, Doctor."

"Oh, that's alright, we'll figure it out." He rocked back on his heels, pushing his hands through his hair again. "Come on, I want to check it out. We'll leave the Ganapri and Aurore here. Give her the chance to recover. We'll investigate Allister, and then, when that's done, we'll take the Ganapri and Aurore somewhere safe, where they can live in peace."

Jay was quiet for a few moments before she asid, "Okay, let's get a move on then." She looked to him, meeting his eyes. "I don't know what they're side of the story is, but it's clear to me that they deserve to get a break from the cruelty they've been shown. As a human, alongside Aurore, I want Dayton and Ysmay to see that not all of us are like that. That we're not all that cruel and evil. That some of us know kindness and show it to those who deserve it."

The Doctor looked distinctly proud of her for that comment, and quickly kissed her forehead. "Well said, Jay," he praised and then spun around. "Now, let's get going."


It didn't take long for the trio to be returned to the room they'd occupied for months. Jay wondered how Aurore hadn't starved, although the Doctor pointed out there were ways of keeping her going when you knew alien technology. Jay had accepted that and moved on quickly.

"This way," she said, clasping her hand in his as they always did and guiding him towards Allister's house. She kept a wary eye out, knowing that neither of them were very well-liked at all by the village. They wove through the outskirts with ease, Jay knowing precisely where she was going. Allister's place was an easy one to know. It was the far reaches, away.

She wondered why that was.

"There," Jay said suddenly, pointing when they found it. "That's the house."

He squeezed her hand before dropping it. "Stay close," the Doctor said and Jay nodded, gesturing for him to go ahead. She had no desire to get too close to the priest after being drugged by the guy.

The Doctor stopped at the door to the building and knocked. One knock, however, had the door creaking open. The Doctor and Jay exchanged wary looks before stepping through. The house had been wrecked, Jay realized, and she pressed her mouth into a hard line when she stepped around the very table she'd sat at. The Doctor pulled out his sonic screwdriver to scan the area with, and adjusted the settings as Jay said softly, "Someone ransacked this place, Doctor."

"Looks that way," he agreed. The buzzing of the sonic filled their ears. He turned around, frowning. "This way." He walked right back out and Jay hurried after him into the warm air. "The warmth," he said grimly, "it wasn't from the Ganapri."

"I would have thought it was," Jay said, confused. She could hear raised voices, nearing the further they went. "The castle they were in was warm-"

"Yes, but that's they're living space. The Ganapri cannot possibly produce such heat on their own. Their ships, however...they said they crashed. What if they didn't crash? What if they were forced down?"

Jay stared at him in surprise. "You think Allister had something to do with the crash? He has to be human then...right?"

"Not human," the Doctor said, stopping in the shadows of a hut as they reached the commotion. He and Jay stared grimly at the scene before them. "A cyborg."

"Like Bannakaffalatta," Jay breathed, staring at the metal beneath the priest's torn tunic. He was standing desperately before the crowd, a metal device clasped desperately in his hands.

"I'm one of you!" he was crying, and Jay wondered how the village had found out. "Look, I stole this from the demons! Our crops were failing, and-"

An outroar broke out. Several villagers shouted in response to his words, and Jay very quickly got the meaning of it: he was not considered one of them now, not with that metal keeping him alive. She grasped the Doctor's sleeve. "We should help him," she whispered.

"He drugged you with enough to kill you," the Doctor mused, studying her out of the corner of his eye with interest. "Why would you want us to help him?"

She knew the words were not meant to be cruel, merely calculating with regards to how she responded. "Is that what you were upset with earlier?" she demanded. "Did he really put that much in? How am I alive then?"

He picked up her wrist, tapping the blackened veins that criss-crossed a portion of her skin. "This. It's deadly, but...it burned out the poison, I believe."

"Good, for once, then," Jay muttered before bumping him gently with her shoulder. "Help him. They're literally going to burn him alive, Doctor." She gestured to the several torches that had seemed to appear in the mob's hands. "Please, Doctor. He's got to have a reason."

The Doctor searched her gaze before nodding his agreement, approval once more glinting in his eyes. "Alright, you're the witch, so you stay here."

Jay rolled her eyes. "Call me that again, and I'll hex you," she muttered, wiggling her fingers, and the Doctor flashed a grin before striding off to interfere. She remained where she was, anxiously leaning against the side of the building and watching. It took a few moments for the crowd to catch on, and Allister's face paled when he saw the Doctor purposely striding towards him.

"You!" cried the baker who'd nearly strangled her. Jay glared at him from where she stood. "You were with the demon and witch! You're a demon as well!"

"Time Lord," the Doctor corrected, and the wary Allister's eyes snapped to him, anxious. Jay briefly wondered if he knew what Time Lords were. Not every alien they'd come across knew. Jay bit her lip as he continued, speaking calmly to the villagers, "Now look, there's no need for further violence-"

"Demon." The word echoed through the crowd, and Jay could practically feel the violence preparing to rear its ugly head.

"Time Lord." The Doctor repeated it confidently and continued. "Again, think this through. You're not murderers. Just….scared. Scared of this man, and the...witchcraft he holds." He glanced back at Jay who rolled her eyes in amusement. Like she'd know how to speak with these people. "Let me take him. We're leaving. Let me and the others take him with us, and no demons or witches will ever bother you again."

There was no point in denying demons or witches for now, the Doctor decided. Excluding his determination for the "Time Lord" bit. He held his hands out calmingly. "Let me get him and the demons out of your hair."

The baker stepped forward, fists curled angrily, but he was put to a stop by a simple hand on his shoulder. A wary old woman had stepped forward. "And what of my Aurore?" she demanded. "What of my granddaughter?"

That was unexpected. The Doctor had forgotten of the family the human woman might have there.

"Alive." Jay spoke before she realized what she was doing, moving forward to join the Doctor. He kept a close eye on her some recoiled away. The baker curled a lip at her. "She's alive and well, and safe," she added kindly to the worried woman. "And...from what it looks like, she'll be happy and taken care of. Whether you think she's fallen to demons or whatever...she'll be happy."

The old woman studied them, and others watched her. A leader of some sorts, the Doctor guessed, patting Jay's shoulder silently. She bumped him again, pleased that she'd helped. Finally the old woman said, "She will not return?" She paused. "Will she be hurt again?"

"Madame," a man murmured, but she silenced him, staring at the pair expectantly.

"No," the Doctor told her, "I'm sure she won't. As Jay said. She'll be happy, from what we've seen." He'd not seen much of Dayton, had yet to meet the woman while she was awake, but...there had been a deep affection in Dayton for the woman, a kindness towards her. Ysmay had loved her, as he'd loved his own family so long ago.

Aurore would undoubtedly be happy.

"Then punish this man accordingly," the woman said, and ordered her fellow villagers aside. Allister fled to join the pair, and Jay sneered a little at him. Coward. "Ensure that this does not happen again here, strange man."

The Doctor smiled at her, finding that he liked her. "You have my word." Not that he'd be able to stop anything he knew nothing about, but he could try. He gave a final nod and turned away, losing his smile immediately. He didn't like Allister. Anyone who'd tried to murder one of his companions, one of his friends, was someone who deserved to be dropped off in a black hole.

But Jay had asked for mercy, and he wasn't that kind of man.

So they'd figure something else out, he supposed.


Rather than going straight back for the Ganapri and Aurore, the Doctor dealt with Allister first. He came back into the TARDIS, where Jay waited, wiping his hands, and Jay, perched on the captain's seat, cocked her head. "Well?"

The TARDIS door closed behind him, and the Doctor flashed Jay a smile. "The people of this planet are fair, and will judge him for his crimes. I know them from a while back, and they trust my word. He'll be punished and sent back out into the universe somewhere.

"Good. I should have punched him." Jay hopped to her feet, gesturing to the device he'd abandoned. "What is that?"

The Doctor began to direct the TARDIS as he spoke, not bothering to look up as he explained. "It's what created the heat. He was horrible to the Ganapri, to Aurore. But he did care for that village. He created a bubble in which crops would thrive. He controlled the weather as he saw fit. By this time tomorrow, that village will likely be buried in snow."

"I hope they survive," Jay murmured.

"They will. Humanity thrives in all conditions, somehow."

When they'd rejoined Dayton, Aurore, and Ysmay, the three were waiting for them. The pretty blonde woman stood, leaning against Dayton to keep her balance, bleary hazel eyes confused, but warm nonetheless when Dayton introduced them to her and her to them.

"Thank you," Aurore said in a husky voice, "for all that you've done." She smiled faintly at Jay, who winked playfully, bouncing on the balls of her feet and shook out her arms. "Dayton tells me that you are from the stars as well."

"Well," Jay started, but the Doctor merely nodded. "Yes," he told her. "We travel through the stars...would you like a lift to somewhere else? All three of you?"

Ysmay's eyes widened. "You'd do that?" the girl whispered, clutching at Aurore's skirts. Dayton's sharp eye watched over them both, as if concerned that both would disappear. Aurore, smiled down at her, touching her head as Jay had a few times.

"Of course," the Doctor said, giving her a warm look. There was a soft look in his eyes that he usually reserved for children, and it made Jay smile. "You and your family will have a safe home. I promise."

"Thank you," Aurore said, tears rising in her eyes. "Thank you."


"Will they be happy here?" Jay asked softly, watching as Aurore guided a laughing Ysmay into a beautiful meadow of wheat so gold, it made Jay's hair look dull. She and the Doctor hung back as Dayton followed the two with the first true smile either had seen him wear. Both leaned against the TARDIS, side-by-side.

"Oh, I should think so," he murmured, wrinkling his brow a little. "This planet is inhabited by a peaceful species that'll eventually find them. They've been known to take in a stray person or two."

"I hope they're happy here," Jay said as if he'd not spoken, giving him a taste of his own medicine. She tapped a finger against her arm after folding them across her chest tightly. "They deserve it, and Aurore deserves some time to recuperate. I'd need to recuperate after that." She tapped her finger again, thoughtful.

The Doctor glanced at her, and then back after the disappearing group. They watched in silence for a few minutes before he suddenly seemed to bounce, turning around. "Well," he said, tongue curling around the world. "Let's go, shall we? Places to see, people to meet-"

"Trouble to get into," Jay finished with a shake of her head, sighing softly. "Alright, but seriously. I want a peaceful trip this time. If there's trouble, we walk the other way."

Not.

Jay knew without a doubt that such a thing wouldn't happen, and the TARDIS agreed with a hum as she shut the door behind her.


Sorry about the wait! Hope everyone liked this chapter! I thought to do a Sleeping Beauty twist, and like how this turned out. :)

Next...either "Planet of the Dead" or Donna!

Thanks to reviewers (bored411, Catlorde, lautaro94, Miriam Who, and Lil'Sparrow7!) and those who favorited and followed! I appreciate it more than you know!