THE GROUP FOUND THEMSELVES eating pizza around the table in the Tardis galley while they listened to each other's parts in the cluster that was Van Statten's Museum. "So, that's the whole story on my end," Lyla finished her recount of events to her captive audience.
All around her, faces stared back with shocked looks. The Doctor cleared his throat, finally getting his composure back and asked, "What I want to know is how you ended up with the psychic paper?"
Lyla shrugged and said lightly, "Really the Tardis picked out my clothes this morning and she, I guess, knew that I would need the psychic paper." She stretched her arms above her head and yawned, "Well, I'm covered in dry sweat and exhausted. I'll see y'all in the morning." She rose to her feet, dragging her hand across the Doctor's shoulders, her fingers skimming the back of his neck and down the opposite shoulder. Lyla continued walking out and as she passed Rose, she patted her on her shoulder with a mumbled, "Goodnight."
oOoOo
Lyla wandered down the halls of the Tardis the next day, absentmindedly dragging her hand down the walls and across passing doors. As she wandered, she thought, That could have gone horribly wrong so very fast. She sighed as she heard the comfortable humming of the Tardis trying to reassure her. Good thing I have a backbone of steel and know when to use it. And I'm good at lying when the time calls for it. Which seems like all the time now. She heaved a bigger sigh and briefly closed her eyes with a shake of her head. Lyla sent up a silent plea towards the Tardis. All she wanted was a quiet relaxing place that she wouldn't be found in anytime soon, she needed to think and plan.
The Tardis answered her by unlocking the door that she was just passing with a soft click and creak as the door was pushed open slightly. Alright Sexy, let's see what you have for me.
Lyla squeezed in quietly and latched the door behind her. She looked up and saw Gallifrey's Capital City. It shone under the fake setting set, beaming off the glass dome and reflecting across the surrounding lands. The red grass swayed in a slight breeze and the silver leaves sparkled and danced to their own song to the artificial air currents.
Lyla froze. It felt like everything in her body froze. Her breathing, her heart, and most precisely her mind. It took a glare, reflecting off the silver leaves, stabbing in her eye to finally unfreeze her. She gasped painfully, filling depleted lungs with oxygen again. Her heart came next and beating out furiously and at a frightening pace as every muscle clenched in a classic fight-or-flight response. Her brain kickstarted again and was panicking, running in multiple distressing directions. The common theme being, Can't be here. Not allowed. RUN.
She spun around quickly and noticed nothing but open fields behind her leading into a far-off mountain range that was capped in snow and glittering colors shining in the sunlight. Lyla did a complete circle taking in all her surroundings and not a door to be found. TARDIS! Let me out. He is going to be furious. All Lyla received was an amused humming that eventually went quiet. No matter how much Lyla protested, begged, and threatened the ship, no further response came back. Well, in for a penny– in for a pound.
Lyla could not deny that she was curious about the Timelords home world. She looked around her one more time, this time slowly taking in her surroundings and not immediately panicking. She was in awe at the planet. She slowly moved closer to the forest of silver leafed trees. She marveled at the red grass as she walked on. It's beautiful.
As she approached the nearest cluster of trees, she slowly ran her hand down the bark and stared up in awe at the swaying silver leaves above her head. I've never seen something so beautiful. Energy, still present from her adrenaline dump, flowing through her limbs, she allowed herself to laugh and took off in a dead sprint
She sprinted through the trees, hair flowing behind her. Dodging tree limbs, swerving around trees, and jumping over logs, she made her way through the forest.
After some time, all the energy being burned off, she settled against a tree trunk on the outskirts of the forest that had a good view of the towers under the dome. Her brain, finally relaxed from the run, was able to think and plan for the next couple of months and any important adventures.
Satellite 5 is next. Probably later today or even tomorrow. Depends on if they find me in time for an adventure today. What to do about Adam… That's the question. As Lyla thought she closed her eyes, shutting out the view of the Capitol. Her fingers brushed over the wolf bracelet as she planned. Can I save Suki? The bracelet flashed hot and cold like it did in Van Statten's Museum. So, it depends on the situation and what is said. Good, winging it like always, I guess. She hummed thoughtfully, hand falling away from her wrist, Rose's dad is next. Can't do anything about that. It has to play out like the original. Then Jack. Can't wait for Jack! Lyla laughed quietly to herself as she thought of what her and Jack could and would get into. After picking up Jack is… Canary Wharf and Slitheen. I'm gonna need to be the one that gets choked by Margret. Well, Damn. After Canary Wharf… it's an adventure to Japan. I think. Then back to Satellite 5 and Bad Wolf. The Final Act.
oOoOo
Lyla didn't know how long she stayed relaxing against the tree. She doused off and on, curled up against the roots. She woke and sat up with her arms stretched high above her head. She leaned back against the tree again and took in her surroundings again, Weird, nothing has changed. The sun still shone off the Capitols dome and across the field of red grass. There was still a breeze stirring the silver leaves above her head.
It was about an hour later that she heard something different in her surroundings. Lyla looked around only to stop when her eyes landed on the Timelord.
He had a stiff look about him. Arms held stiffly at his sides and his gait was just on the side of stalking towards Lyla. His eyes didn't stray to his surroundings but was laser focused on his seated companion. He came up short of her person and stared as if he could find all her secrets from her very soul with just one intimidating look. He ground out after a handful of seconds into the staring contest between the two, "Been looking for you for hours."
Lyla hummed, finally breaking eye contact to stare back at the gleaming dome, "I asked for a quiet place to think." She dragged her eyes back to the Doctor, there was an air about him that screamed predator. Something was telling her to keep him in her sights, screaming danger in the back of her mind. "Probably my fault I couldn't be found. I think my exact words were 'I need a quiet place to relax that will take a while to find." Lyla forced herself to remain relaxed and to drag her eyes from his again as she did it, "I guess she delivered." She hummed again quietly as the Doctor didn't move a muscle, "You gonna tell me where she brought me or do you want me to guess."
The Doctor twitched at the question and gave a faint huff before grounding out between clenched teeth, "Don't ask a question that you already know the answer to."
Lyla's eyebrows flew upward, "Wow. The sass on you today."
"I just spent hours scouring my ship for you. Be glad I haven't dragged you out of here yet," he fired back with a bite to his words.
Her eyes snapped to his face, and she bared her teeth in a poor imitation of a smile, her accent thick as she challenged him, "I'd like to see you try Sweetheart."
"Don't," he snarled at her.
Lyla rose to her feet, never taking her eyes off of the Timelord and asked, "What the hell is your problem?"
He took a step towards her, "My problem is worrying about one of my companions for hours and end up finding her where she doesn't belong." His reply was stilted and forced through an angry set mouth.
Lyla stood her ground, "Blame your Tardis. She opened the door for me." She sidestepped the Doctor and made her way back through the trees. She called over her shoulder as she passed him, "Don't blame me for something your ship did. I didn't force my way through a locked door."
Before she could get too far, his hand wrapped around her wrist in an iron grip and pulled her to a stop. "I'm not done. You–"
"If you are about to start a fight over something that wasn't even my doing then I don't want to hear it," Lyla interrupted him while trying to jerk her arm out of his grasp. He wasn't hurting her, just making sure she couldn't escape the conversation.
His jaw clenched and unclenched repeatedly as he argued with himself and his Tardis, who was putting in her two cents worth in. He finally heaved a breath and released her wrist and practically snarled at his brown-haired companion, "Fine." He walked briskly past her to head out of the simulated world.
Lyla's nose flared in agitation and quietly followed the Timelord through the trees.
After a couple hundred feet Lyla sighed and looked at the departing trees around her. She ran her hand across a passing tree and whispered, "It is beautiful." The only answer she got was a grunt from the Timelord. She tilted her head and stopped in her tracks.
The Doctor continued walking for a couple more feet before stopping and spinning around to face her. He looked ready for battle as he squared his shoulders and kept his limbs loose and knees bent.
Lyla tilted her head and analyzed him with a thoughtful look. They stared at each other, a couple dozen feet separating the two. Alien vs Human. Who is gonna win this one? Her eyes crinkled as she wrinkled her nose and frowned. She took a step toward the Timelord, and he twitched, like he was aborting a flinch midway. Tense much. Lyla continued on until they were nearly chest to chest. Her head was bent back and tilted to maintain eye contact with him. Hmm. Gonna have to do this fast. Her hand snapped out and clenched around the Doctor's neck. His hand had intercepted her halfway but didn't deter her original aim. His grip was loose around her wrist as she started to stroke softly with her fingertips. His expression never changed throughout the advance and eye contact between the two never broke.
His eyes widened as a wicked smile played across Lyla's face. Oh, you think you're so impressive. She gave a tug down at the same time she rose up on her toes. Her other hand settled on his abdomen for balance as their weight shifted. She pulled his head down and tucked her head into the side of his neck. C'mon relax. There they stayed for several long minutes just breathing each other in. Eventually the Doctor's muscles loosened, and he sagged further into her. That's it.
Lyla breathed and nuzzled into his neck and rose further in her toes to whisper in his ear, "Race ya." As soon as those words left her lips directly into his ear, she lightly bit his earlobe. She felt him seize before she ripped herself from his person and took off through the trees. Catch me if you can. She only had to wait a couple of seconds before she heard the heavy footfalls of the Doctor chasing her.
She twisted and turned between the trees. Her small stature led to being a boon compared to his wide shoulders and taller frame. She could easily evade and fly across the forest floor. Streaks of silver flashing by her. Lyla could just see the end of the forest up ahead of her and she put on a spurt of speed to reach it before her pursuer.
As she crossed that line between a silver tree forest and fields of red grass, she felt hands wrap around her waist. She squealed as she was hoisted up and over. Her abdomen connected painfully with his shoulder as he slowed to a walk. Really… Fireman's carry. She huffed and pushed herself up until he had no other choice but to wrap both arms around her legs to keep her in his grasp. She pressed her torso to the side of his face and wrapped her arms around the top of his head to keep her balance.
"Ok. You caught me. You gonna put me down anytime soon," she questioned him.
He shook his head before replying, "No. You'll just run again or disappear somewhere else on my ship again."
Lyla rolled her eyes and watched the fields of red grass blow in the breeze from her higher vantage point. She relaxed in his hold and accepted the ride back graciously and a small smile on her face. Well that is checking off some kink and turn-on boxes for sure.
After a couple minutes of walking through the red grass they finally came upon the door to leave. He loosened his grip, and she slid down his body slowly. Her arms wrapped around his neck the entire time caused him to bend slightly and deposit her back on the floor. They stared at each other for a long minute before he released her fully and turned to pull the door open and placed his hand on her back to push her through into the hallway.
As they emerged into the hall, he turned back to face her after closing the door with a firm click. He had a smile and reminded her, "Dinner in an hour."
oOoOo