Author's Note: Hello everyone! Hope this chapter finds you all well. Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer:I do not own Doctor Who or Pirates of the Caribbean. They are owned by their respective creators.

Chapter Four

I was running. I was running faster than I had ever before, dodging tree roots and debris. I couldn't see who was coming after me. I just knew that I needed to run. I stopped looking behind me and continued forward. I knew that I was running fast, but it felt like I wasn't moving at all. I looked behind me again, but there was nothing hindering me from moving forward. So why wasn't I moving?

What the hell?

I looked forward and stopped running. The scenery had changed. I was in a hospital of some kind, although it looked more like it was a prison. I heard a banging behind me and started to run down the corridor. As I ran, bloodied and bruised hands tried to grab at me, nearly succeeding a few times.

What is happening?

The further I got down the corridor, the more I noticed that the hands became more grotesque. Even further down and some of them had begun to transform into tentacles.

Another banging directed my attention away from the hands and tentacles to a door straight ahead of me. At first it was dark, and I couldn't really make out what was there. But seconds later, I could make out a faint light coming from within.

I stupidly stopped running, distracted by what I was seeing.

The light grew brighter the closer I got to the door, which I realized was a cell door. The banging continued, growing louder by the second. I should have turned around and ran away, but I found that I couldn't. The light flashed, almost like a pulse, and I was able to make out markings on the door.

E.T.?

The banging grew more erratic, as if someone was trying to break out. I moved closer to the door, hand extended.

Maybe they need help.

I almost had my hand around the knob when the door burst open suddenly, light rushing around me and flooding the corridor. It was blinding, so I shielded my eyes as best as I could. It continued to pulsate, but never dimmed. When I thought I could bear to stare ahead, I uncovered my eyes. Standing in the light was a figure, the silhouette appearing to belong to a woman.

Who-?

Before I could get a closer look to identify the woman, something grabbed me by the ankle and proceeded to pull me down. I screamed, clawing at the ground to try and escape. I was being dragged away from the figure, who I saw was reaching out. I tried to take her hand, but it was too late. I was dragged further away and so fast that even running wouldn't have helped. Mistakenly, I turned my head to get a good look at whatever was taking me away.

I was greeted with more tentacles and rows upon rows of knife-sharp teeth.

All I could do was scream.

I screamed, waking up in a cold sweat. I was having a hard time breathing and could hear my heart pounding in my ears. I looked all around me, fearing that there were tentacles waiting to grab at me again, but there was nothing. I pulled my knees up to my chest and started to cry.

It was just a nightmare, I tried to reassure myself. It was just a nightmare.

The sudden bursting of the door broke me from my inner mantra, scaring me. I pulled my legs even closer to myself, if possible, and scooted towards the window, thinking that would help keep whatever just invaded my room at bay.

Instead of tentacles or undecipherable figures, I was met with the concerned looks of both Jack and Gibbs. "Xanthe?" came the concern-laden inquiry.

I started crying harder.

I was too busy trying to ground myself from what I could only guess was a panic attack that I didn't know what they were saying or what they were doing. I could barely register the arms that pulled me into a reassuring embrace as I tried to even my breathing.

It was just a nightmare. It was just a nightmare.

I heard slight mumbling, but I couldn't make anything out. Then I felt myself move. I jerked my head around and saw that Jack was beginning to gently rock me.

"You're alright, love," I heard him whisper.

"Xanthe?!" I heard the frantic exclamation.

I turned my head towards the sound. "D-Doctor?" My voice was barely more than a hoarse whisper.

The Doctor bounded into the cabin, kneeling at my bedside. I stared at him as he frantically looked me over, most likely trying to make sure that I hadn't been injured. His brow was twisted in worry, but his eyes were dripping with relief. "What happened?" he asked.

"We heard her scream, and then found her crying and holding onto herself," I heard Jack explain. "She was shaking a lot more than she is now, mate."

The Doctor nodded. "Keep doing what you're doing."

It was just a nightmare. Just a nightmare.

The Doctor grabbed a hold of my hand. "Xanthe," he started. "Can you hear me?"

I nodded.

"Listen to me, because this is important. I need you to focus."

I nodded my understanding, even though I had no idea why he needed me to focus. All I kept thinking of was that dream. "Just a dream," I whispered. "Just a dream."

"Keep your focus on my voice," the Doctor urged. "What was the last movie you watched?"

I didn't understand what he was asking me. Why does he want to know that? I had a nightmare. I didn't watch a movie. I just shook my head.

"Xanthe, what movie was it?"

Does he think that it has to do with my nightmare? I wondered, continuing to ignore the question. My mind was racing, my heart still pounding.

"Listen to the Doctor, love," I heard Jack advise.

I nodded, closing my eyes. Think. What movie did I just recently watch?

"What movie did you watch?"

"The Hobbit," I finally answered. "I-I re-watched The Hobbit on DVD."

"Good." The Doctor gave me a small smile. "What is your favorite part?"

"The beginning when Thorin and the other dwarves are singing."

"What are the dwarves' names?"

I tried to name them by appearance. "Dwalin, Balin, Fili, Kili, Ori, Nori, Dori, Bifur, Bofur, Óin, Glóin, Bombur, and Thorin." I took breaks in between names to breathe, but I named all thirteen dwarves.

"That's right," the Doctor validated. "Keep focusing on your breathing."

I did as he instructed, taking deep breaths. I kept doing this until slowly, but surely, my heart rate went down, and my breathing had become normal. I glanced at the Doctor as I took another deep breath.

"Are you ok?"

"Y-yeah," I managed. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'll be fine."

No one around me looked convinced. I didn't blame them. I was still trying to convince myself. I took the cup of water Gibbs handed me and took tentative sips. "Thank you."

"Yer welcome, lass."

I continued drinking my water, becoming hyper aware that all three men were watching me. The attention was starting to make me uncomfortable. I finished my water and coughed, clearing my throat.

"Drink slowly," the Doctor instructed, mistaking my simple cough for choking.

"I think I'm going to get some air," I interrupted before he could say anything else. I pulled myself away from Jack and rushed out of the door. I had to shield my eyes once outside. Despite light coming in from the window of the side cabin, it was darker inside compared to outside. Blindingly so.

Why is everything trying to blind me? I wondered.

I gulped in the fresh sea air and smiled. I had started to feel better when the others were helping me, but I could feel relief as the tension in my shoulders melted away as I stood in the warm rays of the sun. I opened my eyes, blinking a few times to adjust to the light, and gazed around me. The crew were busy with their duties, some of them chattering away as they did so. I walked around the deck, enjoying the breeze and ocean view while staying out of the crew's way. I especially avoided Leech, who never bothered to hide that he was eying me.

Like a choice cut of prime meat.

I shuddered at the thought. I had already hated him as a character. If the way I felt last night when he grabbed me was any indication, I would hate him even more.

So much for not judging people.

Eventually, I made my way to the helm and resigned myself to leaning against the railing and keeping an eye on the horizon. I knew there was someone in the crow's nest doing the job already, but one couldn't be too careful. It gave me a good opportunity to contemplate recent events.

First, a previous regeneration of the Doctor shows up in my backyard. I was trying to wrap my head around that fact since it didn't make much sense to me. Maybe there was a reason for it…. a reason I would need to uncover.

Then there was the story about Gibbs' niece Chelsea. I knew she was never mentioned in the movies, yet a part of me knew Gibbs wasn't lying. Chelsea's name, her circumstances-they were familiar to me...too familiar.

I know I've heard that story before now, but where?

Finally, as if to keep on the topic of familiarity, my mind wandered to my nightmare. If I hadn't known better, I would have thought it a scene taken directly from Alice: Madness Returns. While it had similarities to the game, the tentacles were not red and there was no Queen of Hearts attached to them. They bore more of a resemblance to the Kraken. I could see why I would have a nightmare about them. That was a part of this movie that I was not looking forward to witnessing firsthand.

It felt so real, like it was happening to me. And who is E.T.?

My mind wandered to the woman that was surrounded by the pulsating light. I was sure that she was the one who had been banging on the cell door, trying to escape. She didn't seem dangerous. She was genuinely trying to save me from getting pulled away from the tentacles. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered who she was.

Maybe she is E.T.?

I sighed and pushed myself away from the railing. There were just too many questions that I had and no answers to go with them. I headed down the stairs and to the only place I thought I'd be able to find those answers. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the TARDIS door and walked inside.

It was time that I talked to the Doctor.

"No!" I heard him growl as he started banging on another part of the console.

I grimaced. "Still can't get her to budge, I take it?"

The Doctor looked away from what he was doing and toward me. "She's being stubborn. I'll give her that."

I smiled. "Equally as stubborn as you."

"Oi!

I giggled, unable to help myself. "Anything that I can help with?"

"Not unless you happen to know why she doesn't want to leave," came the reply.

I gave him a sad smile. "I'm afraid that I can't help you there. I thought that maybe it was because she wanted me to tell you the truth before we'd be able to leave, but that doesn't seem to be the case." At that, there was an apologetic hum from the TARDIS. I looked around at her and smiled. "It's ok."

I glanced back at the Doctor, who was regarding me with a curious expression.

"What?"

"Nothing," he deflected quickly.

I gave him a knowing look. "No, what?"

"What's ok?"

"Oh. Well, I was just telling the TARDIS that it's ok."

"It's anything but ok," the Doctor countered. "There are Autons heading for London and I need to figure out what they are doing and stop them if necessary."

"She said that she's sorry," I noted on his ship's behalf.

"Sorry isn't gonna...wait. What did you just say?"

"That the TARDIS is sorry?"

He had become very curious now. "How do you know that?"

I shrugged. "Well, she didn't exactly say it, but the way she hummed gave off the feeling of an apology." When his eyes went wide, I gave him a confused look. "What's wrong? Did I say something funny?"

The Doctor didn't say anything to me. He pulled one of the chairs closer to the console and then pulled me into it. "Sit tight."

I did as I was told but grew very worried. The Doctor pulled a familiar screen in front of me and began another scan. After a moment, I plucked up the courage to ask, "Is everything alright?"

"Any migraines?" the Doctor inquired, ignoring my question.

"No, no migraines." He was focused, so I knew better than to interrupt this time, especially if it had to do with me.

The light at the top of the screen lit up, signaling that the scan was complete.

"Interesting," he muttered. He then proceeded to take a hold of one of my fingers and then pricked it with a small needle.

"Ow!" I hissed.

"Sorry," the Doctor apologized. He placed the needle into the scanner and waited.

"What are you doing?" I inquired. At this point, I was more curious than worried.

"Checking something," was his response. He glanced away from the screen. "Have you experienced anything like this before?"

I shook my head. "I've only interacted with the TARDIS like that when you showed up yesterday." As an afterthought, I added, "Two centuries or so in the future in another universe."

"I'll bet that is hard to get used to."

"Yeah," I agreed. "It's not like I do this every day, like you get to do. This is only my second time in the TARDIS."

The Doctor looked bewildered at my statement. "But I thought-"

"Nope. I only know the things I do because I watched the television show. I'm pretty far ahead, so you'll get no spoilers from me."

At that statement, his centuries-old eyes flashed with sadness. "Right. Nearly forgot that I don't exist in your universe."

I tried to reassure him. "Nah, you do...in the hearts of a lot of fans. And the actor who portrayed you."

The Time Lord looked like he was going to say something else but was interrupted by the scanner beeping. His attention turned to the screen, he smiled. "Ah ha!"

"'Ah ha' what?" I questioned. I rose from my seat and stood beside him.

"Just as I thought," he began. "The TARDIS is trying to communicate with you."

"As in, more than she has tried to?"

"Exactly! Because of your interaction with her after that rough landing, and the fact that what makes up the Heart of the TARDIS is inside you; she is able to communicate with you in whatever capacity she can."

I thought about his conclusion, drawing one of my own. "It's almost like she's trying to communicate with the part of me that is her." Looking away from the screen and then to the Doctor, I asked, "But I thought that no one was supposed to be able to survive that kind of exposure to the Heart?" There were two situations where the Heart was mentioned in Doctor Who, and it was both of those situations that made me pose my question.

"Under normal circumstances, but your situation isn't what I would call normal."

I could feel my brow furrow in contemplation at the Doctor's words. While it was true that my circumstances were anything but normal, both Margaret Blaine and Rose had both survived their encounters with the Heart of the TARDIS.

Granted, The Doctor took all that energy from Rose and the regenerated, I mused. And the TARDIS sensed that Margaret wanted a second chance at life and turned her back into an egg, but that still counts as surviving. Not that the Doctor could know that yet.

"So, you think that me being from a parallel universe constitutes the reason why I survived my encounter?"

"It's the only conclusion I can come up with at the moment," he said. "This is new ground I've never tread before."

I nodded. "I concur. This is all new to me, too, after all. I can't exactly claim to be able to travel through time and space all by my lonesome."

The Doctor's face grew grim. "This isn't without it's risks. I hope you realize that."

I sighed. "I do. You kind of made that clear when all of this started. Although, I suppose that there are more risks to think of now."

He became confused. "Like what?"

"Like creating an anomaly or something like that," I explained. "Changing a life-altering event. It may be safe to assume that whatever I do know from all of the movies and TV shows that I watch, or the books that I've read, are fixed points in history, and do what I can to make sure that I don't jeopardize anything."

"That's a sound plan."

"I thought so." I put a reassuring hand on the Doctor's shoulder. "Hey, I really am sorry about all of this. I wish it hadn't fallen on you."

His reply was a reassuring smile. "Just promise me no more lying."

"I promise no more lying, as long as it is within my ability to do so."

The Doctor quirked an eyebrow.

"What? Don't look at me like that. I told you, no spoilers!"

"So, this is where you've been hiding?"

I turned away from staring out over the railing of the crow's nest and saw that Jack had joined me. He was carrying two bottles with him.

"Nah, I wouldn't say that," I answered. "I've been either trying to help around the ship or trying to stay out of the crew's way and attempting to mend my friendship with the Doctor. I asked Gibbs if there was anything that I could do to help after dinner, and he told me to relieve Marty. So that is exactly what I did."

Jack handed me one of the bottles. "Keeping yourself busy, then, is it?"

I tentatively accepted the bottle, carefully uncorking it. "Yeah, at least trying. I feel pretty useless right now."

He took a swig of the contents of his bottle, which I assumed to be rum. "Useless how?"

"Oh, come on," I muttered. "I don't know the first thing about running a ship. Like, how to properly tie up rigging or mend sails...anything like that. The most help I can be is staying out of the way or mopping or being in the galley." I took a whiff of the beverage in my hand and nearly coughed at the smell. It was strong. "And even cleaning seems to be a challenge for me."

"That can't be true, love."

I coughed. "Oh, trust me. You should see my room back home. It's a disaster, no matter how much I try to keep it clean." I stared at the bottle of rum, both excited and terrified to try it for the first time.

Jack chuckled. "You intendin' to drink that?"

"To be honest, I can't decide."

"Never had rum before?"

"Not really. There was this one time that I had a mojito, but there was very little rum in it. Straight rum, though?" I shook my head and took another whiff. "Can't say that we are well acquainted."

"Won't know until you try it, love."

I glanced at him before I continued to stare at my bottle. I was excited to try it straight for the first time but was terrified that I was going to hate it. Taking a deep breath and then letting it out, I put my lips to the tip of the bottle and took a swig. I fought the spit take that was surely to happen and managed to gulp it down. I then proceeded to get into a coughing fit.

"Oh my God!" I managed in between coughs. "It burns!"

I could feel Jack's hand on my back as he was trying to help me stop coughing. He went from patting my back to slowly rubbing it as my fit subsided and I could breathe again. "Shouldn't drink so much at one time," he warned.

"Yeah," I breathed out. "That one was on me." Looking down at my shirt, I added, "Quite literally."

"I could find you something else," Jack offered.

I shook my head. "I'm fine. Besides the initial burn and the fact that it is really strong, it's not bad."

I heard him chuckle as I took a smaller, much slower swig of rum. I stared back out toward the horizon, taking in the sight of the cloudless night sky and the way the moonlight hit the surface of the waves as they crested. It was breathtaking.

"I wish I could see this all the time," I breathed out.

"Don't get many views like this, do you love?"

"Nope. I live too far inland for me to be able to even come close to something like this. And even then, there's the worry of too much light."

"Come again?"

I glanced over at Jack and decided to elaborate in the best way I could so that he could understand. I explained to him a little on how light pollution worked, at least in a way that was relevant to what we were talking about. He seemed to be following well. If he wasn't understanding what I was saying, he didn't say anything.

"That sounds bloody awful," was his response.

"Yeah, it kind of is. Really makes me wish that I could live somewhere that didn't have that issue. I would love to just go outside at night and stare up at the stars." I gazed up at the sky and took a deep breath. "I've got to say. I'm pretty jealous of you pirates."

Jack gave me a concerned look. "How so, love?"

"Well, besides having to worry about the law, you're free to go wherever you want. You don't have to worry about not being able to see the night sky. You only have to go on land when you need to get provisions. You can do whatever you want."

"Aye, there's truth to that. But you are forgetting something, love."

My brow furrowed in confusion. "What's that?"

"Freedom to uncover the hidden treasures of the world. Savvy?"

I hummed my understanding. I glimpsed down at the bottle in my hands. "I suppose that won't matter much if you can't get out of your debt with Jones."

There was a moment of silence between us. Finally, Jack cleared his throat. "So you know about that."

I gave him a sad smile. "I know more than you think."

"And what do you know that you think that I don't know, eh?"

I shook my head, giggling a bit. "Sorry, Jack. I can't tell you."

"Not even a hint?"

"Nope!"

Jack feigned hurt. "You wound me, love." He tried to convince me again. "You can trust ol' Jack."

I sighed. "It's not that I don't trust you, Jack. It's just…"

Concern flashed in the pirate captain's eyes. "Just what, love?"

I don't trust myself.

"Why is that I wonder?"

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks as I realized that I had said that out loud. Embarrassed, I decided that I needed to lay off the rum. I started to put the cork back in it when the wind picked up. My lack of hair tie caused my dirty-blonde tresses to be blown all around my face, out of my face, and every direction in between. Struggling to do such a simple task in my slightly tipsy state, I looked up at Jack as I handed him back the bottle with the cork. "I think that I am done for now."

"Rum getting to you?"

"Maybe...just a little bit. It's also getting late and I should get to bed." As I said this, I began walking to the opposite side of the crow's nest so I could go to my cabin. I, however, didn't notice that my shoe had become untie and managed to trip on it and nearly fell over the railing.

"Eep!" I screeched.

I felt strong hands grab ahold of me before I tipped over. I steadied myself as I waited for the world to stop spinning.

"Easy does it, love."

"T-thank you," I sputtered out, and then made the worst mistake I could have made in that moment.

I made eye contact with Captain Jack Sparrow.

It was as if time had stopped. I couldn't tear myself away from his gaze, not even to tie my stupid shoelace. I was completely entranced by his chocolatey stare. It made me think about the last time I had really gotten a good look at him. Minus the posters of him hanging on the walls in my room, it had been about a year, when we were saying goodbye to each other.

Seeing him in person was a preferable experience; rich, coffee-colored dreads that draped down past his shoulders, framing sun-kissed skin that was evenly covered with matching facial hair and held back by a sea-worn burgundy bandana. I knew I would never be able to watch the movies the same way again.

I gulped at the thought.

The wind picked up once more, blowing my hair around my face. Out of the blue, Jack gingerly moved a few locks of my curls behind ear, his fingers lingering on the nape of my neck. My breath hitched as a pleasant shiver coursed through me, causing me to close my eyes for the briefest of moments.

Oh, dear God.

A moment was all it took. When I opened my eyes, I noticed that Jack had gotten closer, his eyes darkening slowly while gazing at my lips longingly.

Abort! Abort!

Luckily, another gust of wind blew through, causing me to shiver from the cold and my teeth to chatter.

THANK GOD!

"You're shaking, love," Jack observed as he backed away slightly. He didn't let me go though, and instead began rubbing my arms to help me get warm.

"Y-y-y-yeah," I managed. "I s-s-should p-p-probably head back inside.

He nodded and then proceeded to help me down the ratline. I was still considerably inebriated, so hand-eye coordination was out of the question. When we finally made it down to the deck, I took a moment to tie my shoe. Once done, I turned to notice that Jack was ordering a crew member to grab a spyglass and to head up as my replacement. I seized the opportunity to carefully make my way...at least as carefully as I could manage in my state.

I could have sworn that I had heard someone call me, but I ignored it, deeming that reaching my cabin was more important. I stumbled through the captain's cabin and then into mine, holding onto the door frame to steady myself. When the world stopped spinning, I closed my cabin door, locked it, and then walked over to my bed. I clambered in and surrounded myself with what blankets I had, not even bothering to take off my shoes.

Within moments, I drifted off into a deep sleep.