It's been almost two years since the last update. I just ran into an issue with the story I never wanted to run into, but here it happened. I really loved this chapter. I had it in my head for ages, and it sounded all so good – until I started to write it down. I went on and posted it anyway, and then, when writing the ending, it was just crap. No matter what I did, it was crap, and I also just didn't want to skip this chapter and continue without bringing it to an end. And then there's Jack. I really liked the idea of the three of them, but then, practically, it didn't quite work out which was rather frustrating as well. I finally finished that story it, I still don't like it, and it's cut really short, but lately I really felt the motivation to continue writing here, and that's not possible with that unfinished chapter looming over me. So now there's at least some sort of closure, and I picked up a couple of points that are rather important for continuity and character development. (In this and the next 'in between' chapter I'll post shortly) I promise this will not happen again – if I ever write original stories again, I'll at least draft out everything start to finish before starting to post it.

I actually am writing on another original story, but as said, I'll give myself a couple more weeks to get it written down before starting to post it. If it doesn't work out again this time I'll head straight to the next season.

Chapter CXII

Doctor

They had followed the group to their hideout and led Mira to a couch, where she now sat, shivering, wrapped in a thick blanket.

He felt Nashma's gaze on him. She was the leader of the rather large group of – formerly – telepaths that had gathered in this part of the station, outcasts and shunned by the others. He had bombarded her and the others with questions, but he knew just as little as before. They had no idea how they had ended up on this station. When asking her, she had looked at him like any human on earth would have had he asked them how they had ended up on their own homeworld. Still, he had hoped that there was some sort of history that would provide him with an explanation, but there was none. Probably it was too long ago, lost in the depths of time. It wasn't too important either. Of course, there was his curiosity, but then again, most likely there was no big mystery. They either had built that station ages ago, and then probably lost contact with their homeworld, and from there things went downhill. Or they had to flee their homeworld, or-

"I'm so sorry," Nashma said now in her soft, quiet voice.

"Thank you," he replied and then suddenly turned his head, facing her. "For what?"

"You love her," she said, nodding to Mira. Before he had any chance to express his surprise, she continued, "You know, these things are not working for all of us." She lifted her hand. "For me, it doesn't.. I'm still like I was before - a telepath, that is. I am sorry for reading your mind, but it's just to clear, as if your yelling into my ear. I can't help it." She shrugged. "And then there's cases like hers, rarely though, but it happens. You should spend what little time she has left with her. And don't take what she says personally. She will become paranoid and irritable. But you've probably already noticed that." She sighed and added, "If you would excuse me now?"

"It can't be removed," Jack said. "I've asked around. They tried it once with a guy, who was just as bad off as Mira is. They amputated his hand. The shock killed him instantly."

"I had thought so," he said. It had grown into her nervous system. There was no way of removing it as long as it was active.

"So what now?" Jack asked quietly. "You're not just going to watch her die like she says?!"

"No," he replied between gritted teeth. He was going to find out who was behind this and hold them responsible. And they better had very valid, very good reasons for doing all this. "I think there's one central control point for all those devices."

"Then let's go," Jack said. "Shouldn't be too hard to locate with your sonic screwdriver? What are you waiting for?"

Jack shot him an impatient glance, then he followed his eyes which were fixed on Mira.

"She's save here," Jack said quietly.

No, he thought. She wasn't. Her condition was worsening rapidly, and he wasn't sure he would make it in time. But there was one thing he could do. He just hoped it would buy her enough time.


Mira

She had watched them, talking to that Nashma woman. What did he want with her now? She didn't like her. She was all soft, kind and motherly looking with her warm brown eyes, her round face and round hips and big.. chest. Just all that she herself wasn't. And, more importantly, what did Nashma want? Normally she would have been able to figure that out pretty quickly, but not now.

Then, finally, he walked over to her, Jack following him.

"Mira, look. I have a plan. But you have to stay here, and-"

"I'm not staying!" she said. "I'm coming with you. Don't you think you can get rid of me that quickly." She started to unwrap the thick blanket around her, shivering as the cold air hit her. If she only wouldn't feel so incredibly week and tired.

"Why would I want to get rid of you?" he looked at her, honestly puzzled.

Or at least, that's what he was trying to make it look like. Did he fake it? But yes, why was she thinking he wanted to get rid of her? She had no idea. The only thing she knew was that there was a growing feeling of urgency, of fear in her, tightening her throat, keeping her from breathing deeply and her heart beating heavily in her chest. At the same time she was desperately looking for a reason for this feeling. Panic attack, she thought. That's how panic attacks feel.

"I don't know, you tell me!" she said, in lack of any capability for thinking straight.

"Mira, we're not leaving you," Jack now said. "We found out how to deactivate those things. But you have to wait here, it might be dangerous. And your in no condition to defend yourself right now."

"I'm dying anyway," she said, and the fear she could hear in her own voice startled her. So here it was. She had said it. "Won't make any difference if it's here on this couch or with you." She had to get out of here. This whole place was driving her mad. Her knees almost gave way underneath her, but after a short moment she found her balance.

"Mira, what are you doing? Sit down again, please," the Doctor said.

"Why? So you can just leave me here and head off?" she didn't really care much about what he would do. She just needed to get away from here. She aimed for a way past his right side, which would lead her straight to the door – whilst looking past his left, to hopefully confuse him long enough to actually get past him. But it didn't work out in the end. She was slower than she had anticipated, also still struggling with her balance. He merely needed to step in her way and she found herself entangled in his long arms.

"Let go of me!" she yelled, trying to get free. But she was just too weak, and suddenly her vision started to go grey, accompanied by a tingling sensation in her limbs, leaving her hanging weakly in his arms, before she found herself on the couch again.

"Mira, please, I'm just trying to help you," he said softly close to her ear, still holding her.

"I don't want to die here on my own," she whispered and couldn't help starting to sob.

"You're not going to die. But you have to listen to me. Remember what I did when you had that bad migraine? To help you sleep? I can do something similar again, to slow down your metabolism so we're going to have more time. But you have to trust me!"

"What?" She tried to free herself again, but to no avail. "No. No! You're just trying to get away! I'm not-"

"Mira, please, listen. You're not yourself. You must realise that, don't you? I know you, I've been in your head, you're one of the most self reflected people I have ever met. You said it yourself, there's always a part of you being aware of what's going on, even if you're running into your own doom! It's that device in your hand, it's making you paranoid. Please, try to see that and accept that those are not your thoughts."

He had a point, she didn't feel herself. She was scared and on the edge of panic. But paranoid?

"Please, trust me," he said again, softly, close to her ear. "You know me. Probably better than anyone ever has. I'm not going to let you die here alone. You're not going to die. But you have to let me help you. Please. Look a me."

A part of her wanted to trust him – and also knew, that she could. And should. But the rest was just scared and terrified of what would happen to her – and that he would leave her here all alone. But then she remembered the moments they had shared – the first time they had been in each other's minds. Had she just been able to touch his thoughts again now, to find reassurance, certainty... But she couldn't. She was disconnected from everything and everyone, feeling as lonely as she had hardly ever felt before. There was no reassurance, no safety, she realised. No input from the outside that would help her this time. There was only the familiar feeling of his arms around her, his soft voice in her ear and her memories. Nothing to rely on but her own judgement, her own feelings. When she finally looked up and into his face, she felt immediately lost in his eyes, which seemed to draw her in. Then there was nothing but darkness.

~ Some time later ~

As she woke up it took her a moment to work out where she was. The bed felt like her bed in Terrania, in her flat. But something was off. There was a sound filling the air – or was it in her head? A humming sound, permeating her very being.

The TARDIS.

With the realisation of her whereabouts, the memories of her last conscious moments returned. She set up straight, her left hand in front of her face. But there was nothing. Not even a scar or a mark. Nothing.

"Oh, you're awake again!" she heard the Doctor's cheerful voice. He was sitting on an armchair in the corner of her bedroom.

"Yes, I guess I am," she whispered, her eyes wandering between her hand and her surroundings. "How?" she turned her head, looking at him.

"Well, after we found the control centre, the rest was easy," he said in his nonchalant way in which he probably would also announce that he had just saved the whole universe single-handedly. "Disabled those things, used the chaos along the way to go back to the TARDIS – and removed that thing from your hand. Was quite easy once it was deactivated. "

"But.. How did we make it to the TARDIS? I thought there was an explosion..."

"Found a space suit and brought the TARDIS to you. See? Easy, as I said!" He smiled widely.

"But..." she shook her head. "Why?"

"Why? I guess there's no real reason. Other than fun and boredom. I put an end to it."

"Fun?"

"It looks like we found the playground of the Taaknon. A really long lived alien species. And incredibly bored. They just set up one group against the other, back and forth. Though that doesn't quite explain how they ended up on that station in the first place, their leader wasn't very talkative. Might have been him."

"Playground? Sounds more like an arena to me," she said and got out of bed.

"Yup. Anyway, after I couldn't convince them to leave those people alone, I cut their connection. Simple as that." He smiled at her, obviously very pleased with himself.

"And now? Won't they be able to re-establish it? Where are they anyway? And what's going to happen to them now? Do they all have their powers back?"

"Well, they are quite far away. I was very thorough, and they don't seem to have very advanced space travel any more. As for the people – they have to figure out a way to live with each other now I guess. And maybe find a way to preserve their history and knowledge from now on for future generations. I'm optimistic though, I had a lengthy talk with some of their leaders. They're all quite tired of the current situation. And your telepath friends are rather reasonable. Anyway, where to next?" He jumped up and seemingly expected her to follow him.

"Uhm," she said, trying to keep up. "I don't know. Somewhere save. No space station please. Maybe... Earth again? Somewhere in the past?"