A/N: This took me forever and a day. Hope you enjoy it. OA stands for 'Original Adventure', if you were wondering.

Edited: 1/20/2018

Edited: 12/31/2022

As soon as the TARDIS settled, Elm's head snapped toward the Doctor. "Where are we?

"Wrong question."

"What do you mean wrong-" she cut herself off with a gasp, slapping a hand over her mouth. "No way."

The Doctor leaned against the console with a smug grin. "What?"

"No way," Elm repeated, letting out a short laugh. The young woman leaned toward the Doctor, bright green eyes lit with excitement. "Did we travel in time?"

"Correct." The Doctor's grin broadened. "So, what's the question?"

"When are we?"

Spinning around to look at the console's screen, the Doctor tapped a button. "April of 1912, England. She's not giving me exact coordinates but-" before he could continue explaining, Elm ran for the door. "Oi! You can't go running out!"

She paused and turned to look at him. "At all? What's the point of time travel if you can't, you know, travel? Are there rules that I should be following?"

"No, nothing like that, but no self-respecting woman from 1912 would be caught dead in trousers. You could cause a scandal."

"Not that I'm not a fan of dressing up, but I don't have any clothes from 1912," Elm argued, backtracking from the door. "I don't have any clothes on me at all, actually."

The Doctor scratched his chin. "Well, seeing as we're stuck here until the TARDIS decides we're not, I suppose you can use my wardrobe." He pointed toward a hall that went further into the ship. "Straight that way, take two lefts and a right."

"How will I know what's period-appropriate?"

"The Earth section is divided by century, then decade," the Doctor explained, waving Elm off. "Go on then. And hurry up!"

Elm snorted but did as she was told, jogging down the hall. It was futuristic and sleek, with smooth metal plating acting as floors and walls. Occasionally she would pass a door, but most of them didn't stand out. She skidded to a stop, though, when she passed a very particular door. It was wooden, standing out from the sliver of metal. The most unusual thing about it was a name, her name, printed in bold golden lettering at eye level. She reached out to touch the door, but it disappeared before she could. A doorway leading into a spacious wardrobe replaced it. Elm's jaw dropped. "Whoa."

OoOoOoO

"Are you a hoarder?" Elm questioned as she re-entered the console room. While in the wardrobe she changed into a simple green period dress and coat. Dressing up gave her a familiar joy, though she didn't linger on the memories long. "Your wardrobe is a mall."

"You live and travel as long as I have, you pick up a few things," the Doctor said in answer. He offered her his arm, "Shall we?"

Elm looped her arm through his and reached out to open the door, but paused before she touched it. "There aren't any special time-travel rules I should know about, are there?"

The Doctor shrugged and opened the door himself. "Not really. The only real rule is you don't mess with fixed events, but the odds of coming across one of those are slim to none. The TARDIS avoids them on her own."

While the Doctor continued rattling on, Elm looked around in awe. They landed on the edge of a back alley that let out near a port, and a large crowd of people was forming before them. While most of the people had fancy coats, hats, and canes, there was a large portion that wore simpler clothes. It was morning, and the mist from the sea hadn't yet dissipated. The people murmured and pointed, drawing her attention to an approaching vessel. It was a large shadow of a ship that came into focus the longer Elm stared. The young woman's mouth went dry when she was finally able to make out the words painted on the side of the gigantic hull. "Doctor?"

"Impressed yet? 1912 wasn't the most exciting year, granted, but there were a few interesting things such as-"

"The maiden voyage of the Titanic?"

The Doctor's eye's refocused on Elm. "What?"

"Look there!" she shouted, pointing at the large ship. Its smokestacks poured gray pollution into the sky, forming clouds. The crowd began clapping as it got closer. "Is that really the Titanic? It's one thing to hear about how big it was, but to actually see it with my own eyes is-"

Before Elm could finish she got pulled away, the Doctor's once loose grip on her arm tightening. He tugged her back to the TARDIS, muttering all the way. "Why this day of all days?" He dug a key out of his pocket and stuck it into the lock, but it wouldn't turn. Banging a hand on the door, he shouted. "What, so you're locking me out now too? Let me in! You know there's nothing I can do!"

"Doctor?" Elm questioned, watching him argue with his box. "What's going on? Why aren't we exploring?"

"You wouldn't understand," the angry man muttered, giving the blue box one last kick.

"Try me."

With a growl, the Doctor re-grabbed Elm's arm and pulled her to the mouth of the ally. "You see all these people?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, 1,503 of them are going to die in four days, and I can't do a single thing about it," the Doctor said. He released her and clenched his fists. "Know why? Think of all the safety features boats have in your time. Radio control, the Ice Patrol, and lifeboats stocked according to passenger count. The Titanic was a lesson learned for humanity. Thousands of future lives saved at the cost of 1,503." He sighed, looking away. "I suppose it's good to learn this early on, but some things just can't be changed."

"But that's-" her voice broke, "That's so-" Never had Elm felt the weight of knowledge so heavily. Being there and knowing made her hands feel dirty. Bloody. And if she felt like that, she couldn't imagine how it felt for the Doctor. "No wonder you avoid fixed points. This is… terrible."

The Doctor said nothing, but his silence and sad eyes spoke volumes. Giving the crowd one last, long look, he turned around. "Let's wait by the TARDIS. She'll have to let us in eventually."

"Doctor," Elm reached out to stop him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "We can't just leave and do nothing."

He turned toward her, eyes burning. "I just explained exactly why we have to do nothing, Elm Smith, and if you can't accept that, then maybe you aren't cut out for this."

"I'm not suggesting we start shouting about the sinking of an unsinkable ship," Elm responded, her voice sharp. "But you can't stand here and tell me that all of those people have to die like they're some blood sacrifice to Time. There has to be something Doctor. Anything. History gets the number wrong all the time-"

"Wait," the Doctor interrupted. "Repeat that."

"What? History gets the number wrong all the time?"

"That's it!" he exclaimed. Seizing Elm by the forearms, he lifted the shorter woman into the air and spun her around. He set her down with a laugh and sprinted toward the TARDIS. Dazed and dizzy, the young woman had to get her balance back before following. She found the TARDIS doors open wide, having been thrown open in the Doctor's excitement. Said man was standing at the console, jabbing buttons and muttering. "There has to be someone. Someone so insignificant that-" He laughed sharply. "Got you."

Elm approached him on soft feet. "What? What have you got?"

He turned toward her, a mad grin on his face. "How good are you at acting?"

Elm grinned. "I've dabbled."

OoOoOoO

Taking a breath for confidence, Elm rushed toward her target. "Sir!" she exclaimed. A man and a woman stood side by side, overseeing four young children. They were all dressed modestly. "Sir, you must help me."

The man spun around to look at her, alarmed. "Are you alright Miss?"

"No. Well yes, but no," Elm responded quickly. "Are you Mr. and Mrs. Daniels of Southampton?"

"Yes."

"The charity family?"

"We do occasionally help the less fortunate in life, yes," Mr. Daniels said. Elm got the idea that he said that a lot. "With whom am I speaking?"

She brightened and leaned forward in earnest. "Elm Smith, sir. It's an honor to meet you."

"And you, Miss. Smith. Now then, what exactly is the matter?" Mr. Daniels inquired.

Mrs. Daniels gave her a concerned look. "Are you in need of help, dear?"

"As much as I appreciate your concern, both of you," Elm began, "The trouble I'm in is entirely of my own doing. Would you be willing to listen to me?"

"Of course. Let us separate from these crowds. Come along children." Mr. Daniels led Elm and his family over to the edge of the port. After giving his children some strict guidelines for play, he turned his attention back to Elm. "Now then, how can we help you?"

Flushing, Elm gave a small smile. "Well, it's rather embarrassing. I'm not from around here."

"I noticed. Your accent is particular," Mrs. Daniels replied. "Where are you from then, dear?"

"America." Elm tugged on her left ear, disguising the action as a nervous tick. "You see, a few years ago I ran away to marry an Englishman."

"There you are, love," the Doctor's voice came from right behind her. He had changed his jeans and jacket to a fitted suit that helped him blend in. He gave her a small smile when she turned to greet him. "Are these the Daniels?"

"Yes. Sorry for running off," Elm said with a sheepish smile. After a moment of hesitation, she gave him a tiny peck on the cheek before turning back to the Daniels. "Speaking of, this is my husband, Doctor John Smith."

Mr. Daniels and the Doctor shook hands. "A pleasure to meet you, Dr. Smith."

The Doctor smiled. "The pleasure is mine."

"Darling," Elm began, drawing the word out longer than necessary. "I was just telling the Daniels about our situation. Would you mind taking over? It is… too hard for me to speak of."

"Of course, love," the Doctor said. Squaring himself, he placed a hand on Elm's shoulder before turning to the Daniels. "Ever since she married me, Elm hasn't had the chance to visit her family. We've been traveling, and it wouldn't have worked out. Just the other day she received word that her mother has contracted pneumonia. She hasn't got much time left."

Mrs. Daniels gasped and leaned against her husband for stability. "Oh, that is terrible. Absolutely terrible. I am so sorry dear."

"I have come to terms with it," Elm said with a sniffle. "But therein lies the problem. You see, we were going to take the Titanic to New York and then take a train the rest of the way. It's the best chance I have of ever seeing-" she wiped her eyes. "Of seeing my mother again."

The Doctor shifted and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Unfortunately, we were away when tickets were being sold and missed our chance to buy them."

Mr. Daniels frowned. "Dr. Smith. I do not see how we can assist you in this matter, and if you are suggesting what I think you are-"

"We'll pay you 120 pounds per ticket," Elm burst. "That'll more than reimburse you for the trouble, shouldn't it? Please, Mr. Daniels, Mrs. Daniels."

The couple exchanged glances and gave her apologetic looks. "As generous as that is," Mr. Daniels began, "We still have our four children, who all have tickets. Perhaps you can look for a different couple? One without children?"

"You misunderstand," the Doctor interrupted. "We mean to say that we'll buy all six of your tickets for 120 pounds each. 720 pounds in total." At the incredulous looks on the couple's faces, the Doctor continued. "We can go higher if you wish. You can understand how important this is to us."

"But, why?" Mrs. Daniels murmured. Her eyes grew misty as she watched the Doctor produce from his pocket the pouch he brought with him. "Surely there are cheaper solutions."

"Money is not an issue here," Elm responded. "We've heard stories about your family, and all that you've done. We've also heard that relocating was more of a necessity than a want. In thanks, all you have to do is continue helping people. Please."

"Now then," the Doctor began, holding up the pouch. "Do we have a deal?"

OoOoOoO

Back in the TARDIS, the Doctor checked the console monitor for the results of their efforts. As he did, Elm sipped a coffee she grabbed on her way to change into more comfortable clothes. It was a strong brew, which she was grateful for. She couldn't remember a time when she was more tired physically and emotionally.

"The Daniels go on to open a house for the poor and became community figures," the Doctor said as he scanned an article. "Their descendants opened one of the first battered women shelters." A moment passed and the Doctor laughed. "And look at this. They still have that picture."

"What?" Elm approached the console to see the picture the Daniels insisted on taking with them. Elm and the Doctor stood right next to the family with their arms linked. She read the caption below the picture. "Family friends Dr. and Mrs. Smith." She smiled. "That's nice, though I'm surprised they weren't more suspicious."

The Doctor shrugged. "We had a solid story. Though, I was surprised at how good you were at lying."

"I took theater in school whenever it was available to me," Elm explained. After taking a long sip of her coffee, she remembered something. "Doctor, something odd happened to me when I was on my way to the wardrobe."

"Bad odd?" the Doctor asked, fiddling with some switches.

"No, just odd," Elm said. "See, I took the directions you gave me but, instead of the wardrobe, there was this door. It looked like your average old wooden door but it had my name painted on it."

The Doctor paused and said after a moment. "Interesting."

"Good interesting or bad interesting?"

"Just interesting," the Doctor straightened and stuck his sonic back into his pocket. "It was your room, couldn't you tell?"

Her brows drew together. "How can I have a room already?"

"The TARDIS knew you were coming aboard before we met. You've probably had a room for a long while already."

Elm opened her mouth, closed it, and then opened it again. "Wait, what?"

Before the Doctor could answer, there was a loud grinding noise from somewhere deep within the ship. The tube in the center of the console lit up like it was jump-started, and they were off.

The Doctor gripped at what he could and began jamming buttons. "Where are you taking us now?"

Meanwhile, Elm landed heavily in the bolted chair, somehow without spilling her drink. "Is it normally this rough?" she shouted above the wheezing time ship.

The Doctor shook his head. "No. I don't know what's gotten into her."

As it landed, the TARDIS almost seemed to tip on its side for a moment before settling with a bang. Elm downed the last bit of her coffee and turned toward the alien man. "Alright then, Doctor, when are we now?"

"1963, America," he hit the side of the monitor. "The exact coordinates are so jumbled right now, I can't make them out."

Elm yawned before setting her cup down and heading toward the door. "Let's go, then. No one will complain about my outfit, will they? I don't have the energy to change right now."

The Doctor examined her argyle sweater and slacks and shrugged. "You're fine."

The air was hot and dry outside the TARDIS, and a cheering crowd could be heard in the distance. Elm headed toward the noise, and waded through the crowd, trying to figure out what was happening. As she searched for some sort of sign, a tiny body collided with hers. A little boy, who couldn't have been more than five, looked up at her with big brown eyes. He, like most of the crowd, was wearing red, white, and blue. In his hand, he held a tiny American flag.

Seeing his distressed face, she crouched down to be at eye level with him. "Are you alright? What's your name?"

"Tommy," he answered with a large sniffle. "I can't find my Mommy and Daddy."

Elm softened and reached out a hand. "Well we can't have that, can we? Here, take my hand, and we can look for them together-" she paused when a familiar voice cut through the crowd.

"Elm! Elm where are you!? We've got to-"

Three sharp bangs transformed the crowd's cheering into screaming in an instant. Startled, Elm grabbed Tommy and pulled him into her as a fourth shot rang out. As she wrapped herself around him, she felt something sharp graze her shoulder and winced.

All at once, the shooting stopped.

"Elm!" the Doctor shouted, rushing forward to pull the young woman up. She allowed the movement without objection, though would not release Tommy. She felt as if the world was moving in slow motion, and white noise filled her head. A sharp tug on her injured arm snapped her out of her shock. "Come on, we've got to get to the TARDIS."

Despite the Doctor's urging, Elm shook him off and crouched down next to the now-crying Tommy. Shushing him with a soft voice, she pointed toward the crowd. "Do you see your parents?"

Tommy didn't have to answer as two adults, a man and a woman, came rushing forward. "Tommy!" The mother wrapped herself around him so much that Elm could hardly see the child. "Thank God you're okay."

"I'll call the paramedics over here," the man added, eyeing her injury. She pressed a hand against it and winced.

"Don't worry, I'm a doctor," the Doctor assured before taking Elm's arm. "Let's go."

Elm followed silently as the Doctor pulled her into the TARDIS and through to the med bay. He lifted her onto a sterile white cot and asked her to take off her sweater. She followed his directions without argument, revealing a tank top underneath. As the Doctor began to dress her wound, applying a sweet-smelling paste, Elm felt tears rise to her eyes.

"Sorry, it doesn't hurt all that bad. I-" she shuddered. "The sound."

"It's alright."

The conversation lulled as the Doctor got out bandages.

"I'm sorry for that," Elm mumbled.

"You don't need to apologize for being shaken," the Doctor said, being as gentle as possible as he wrapped her shoulder. He couldn't meet her eyes. "I can bring you home as soon as I figure out what's wrong with the TARDIS."

Elm's head shot up. "Home? You want to bring me home?"

"Don't you want to be brought home?"

"No!" Elm exclaimed, jostling her arm on accident. Hissing in pain, she settled again. "I mean, if you're still okay with me being here I'm happy for the chance."

"This won't be the last time you'll see someone die," the Doctor warned as he helped her down from the medical table. "Or get injured yourself, for that matter. I try to keep my companions as safe as possible, but-"

"I understand. The Titanic was a hard lesson," Elm fiddled with her bandages as the pain faded to a dull throbbing. "And what just happened was an even harder one, but I'm fine. A little cry and maybe a hug and I'll be good to go."

The Doctor gave her a skeptical look. "Are you sure?"

"Of course! Here, I'll prove it to you," Elm said. Without hesitation she reached forward and grabbed his waist, pulling him into a hug. She wasn't sure if he would reciprocate as his hands lay stiff at his sides. After a moment he gave in to it, allowing his arms to rest on her shoulders. Elm took the opportunity to breathe and ground herself with the Doctor as her tether. It took a long moment, though the panic did indeed leave her. She loosened her arms once she was ready, and the Doctor took a step back.

"So, the assassination of President Kennedy? Not the best vacation destination."

He gave her a stern look and turned to leave with a sigh. "If you're able to make wisecracks, you're fine. Go change your shirt."

"Sure thing doc."

OoOoOoO

"So the TARDIS has a problem," Elm began, hopping up onto the railing behind the console chair. "The only problem is, I can't see any connection between JFK and the Titanic. Besides the fact that they're instances of terrible death that affected millions."

The Doctor snapped his fingers. "But that's it!"

"What's it?"

"They're fixed points," he explained before frowning. "That may be the connection, but why? The TARDIS always avoids fixed points if she can help it."

"Has anything changed recently?" Elm questioned, swinging her legs. She let out a loud yawn as she spoke next. "Maybe she's sick?"

The Doctor's eyes widened in realization. "You're tired."

"Obviously. I dunno how time passes in the TARDIS, but I haven't slept since getting my face squeezed by that plastic hand. Do those things have proper names by the way? The dummies?"

"They're called Autons," the Doctor answered without thought. He ran to the display to check something as he spoke and frowned at what he saw.

"Everything alright?" Elm asked.

"Like you, she's running low on fuel," the Doctor began, jamming a few buttons. "One quick trip to the rift and we can-"

The TARDIS jerking to the side cut him off. Emergency lights began flashing as the Doctor tried to get control of his machine. While he was able to hold onto the console, Elm was having a much worse time as she was flung off the railing onto the floor. As soon as the TARDIS settled she pulled herself up with a groan.

"1883. Sumatra," the Doctor announced at once, taking out his sonic and running to the TARDIS doors. Throwing them open, he froze in the doorway. "Elm?"

She stood to join the Doctor. "What's going on?"

The Doctor didn't bother turning around. "Come here and hold up your hands."

"Why?"

"Just do it," the Doctor snapped, stepping out of the TARDIS fully. Elm followed with hesitation, doing as he instructed. The barrel of a gun greeted her.

"Do as I say or you will be shot."

OoOoOoO

The heavy metal door to the brig slammed shut. Elm and the Doctor were in cells next to each other, separated by floor-to-ceiling bars. Their things were taken from them by the Captain and stored in a chest in the room, just out of reach.

Elm followed the movements of the Captain and his security officers as they left. Slumping onto the cot behind her, she let out a sigh and closed her eyes. The surface was rough and uncomfortable, but she found herself relaxing anyway. From her place on the cot, she turned her head to watch the Doctor, who was tapping on the metal bars. "You are way too comfortable with this situation. I'm getting the feeling it happens a lot."

"More often than I'd like," the Doctor admitted, finally giving up and collapsing on his cot. "Hide your TARDIS key somewhere they won't look. It would make us look worse if they found out that she's bigger on the inside."

"How does it get any worse than witchcraft in 1883?" Elm questioned. "And I don't have a TARDIS key."

The alien man fished a key out of his small jean pocket and passed it to her. Elm scrutinized it under the dim firelight and to her, it looked like an ordinary Yale key. Figuring the Doctor had no reason to lie, she stuffed it into the safest place she could think of, her bra. The Doctor spoke as she hid the precious item. "Usually, I wait longer to give you a key, but after 3 fixed points I guess you've earned it."

"Three? No offense Doc but JFK plus Titanic equals 2."

"Do you have any idea where we are right now?"

Elm shook her head a negative. "History wasn't my focus in school, and the American school system is not very thorough with world events."

"Ever heard of Krakatoa?"

"No. It sounds like a volcano."

"Exactly."

The young woman sat up with a start. "There's an active volcano around here?"

"If only," the Doctor chuckled under his breath. "One of the most deadly volcanic eruptions of your modern history is about to occur."

"Oh."

OoOoOoO

The crew seemed content to let their prisoners rot, as the duo did not get any visitors for the rest of the day. From what Elm overheard from the occasional guard, the passengers were exploring the town. To quell her mounting irritation at their situation, she slept through most of it.

She awoke when a loud, almost sonic, boom rocked the ship, sending her off the cot and onto the floor. The floor jarred her shoulder, which made her groan in pain before standing to grip the bars of her little cell. "That'd be the volcano I assume."

"Yep," the Doctor replied, standing as well. Loud footsteps bumbled down toward the door before it was thrown open. Captain Lindemann entered the room pointing an accusing finger.

"You two," the Captain began. "Confess your sins and tell us what you have done to the mountain."

The Doctor gave an easy grin. "I'm guessing the top blew off?"

Captain Lindemann didn't seem to appreciate his easy-going nature. "I knew it. What magic is this?"

"It's not magic," Elm piped in, gaining their attention. "It's a volcano. Didn't you see it?"

One of the crewmen looked excited and nodded. "It looked like natural fireworks. I have never seen the likes of them before."

"Quiet Dekker," Captain Lindemann growled before turning back to his prisoners. "If you two will not confess we will have to wait until we return home for a trial. Perhaps you can still be saved from your sin."

With an angry turn, the Captain stormed out of the brig, leaving the Doctor and Elm alone once again.

"What should we be expecting," Elm questioned. She was now sitting up on her cot with her legs crossed. "With the volcano, not the witch trial. I know what to expect from the witch trial."

The Doctor seemed to be fiddling with the lock on his cell. "If that was the initial eruption, then it should be around noon right now. The following four explosions should happen tomorrow morning, and the tsunami will follow."

"The tsunami?" Elm exclaimed. "You never said anything about a tsunami!"

"You didn't ask."

The young woman groaned and fell back on the cot, muttering to herself. "Tsunamis and volcanoes, what next?"

"Oi! It's not my fault! I offered to take you home," the Doctor snapped, earning a glare from Elm.

She grumbled to herself. "I wish I had a novel with me."

"How would a novel help?" the Doctor asked.

"I need to refocus," Elm explained. "Books are good for taking a step back and separating yourself from the problem. Fresh eyes are always helpful. Also, I'm bored."

The man hummed in thought. "I haven't thought of reading in a while. Maybe I'll take it up again."

"Nothing is better than a good book," Elm agreed. The hollow feeling in her stomach intensified and she groaned. "Or a good meal. I'm starving."

The Doctor rolled his eyes. "Well, why didn't you just say so?" Sticking his hand into his pocket, he pulled out a cube package and tossed it to her. "There you go. Now can we please get back to the escape plan?"

Elm stared at the Doctor in shock as she unwrapped and bit into the cubed meal. "Pizza?" she muttered. The furious tapping of the Doctor's fingers on the bars refocused her. "I thought they searched you. What have you got in your pockets?"

"Three guesses?" the Doctor said with a grin before digging his hands around. "Let's see. A few more cube rations. Some dehydrated water containers. A rubber ducky. A hammer. Two, no, three pens-"

"You are the most well-prepared person I have ever met," Elm said, looking at him in mild shock. "And it's one more thing pointing toward you being a hoarder. How did they miss all that?"

With a grin, the Doctor poked the tiny pocket on his jeans. "They never expect the tiny pockets."

"How do you even-"

"Dimensional pockets. The same tech as the TARDIS, just on a small scale."

"But, how?" Elm exclaimed.

The Doctor shrugged before knocking on the wood behind him. "Not the time. If only we had something to pry these nails off-"

Elm stopped. The Doctor stopped. Grinning, he pulled the hammer out of his tiny pocket as slowly as possible as if to emphasize the movement. Elm laughed out loud at the sight, shattering the light bulb moment.

"Oh, will you shut it? We've got a plan to make."

OoOoOoO

It wasn't meant to be.

Elm mourned their brilliant escape plan as she was escorted, hands bound, by two of the crew. It involved the rubber ducky, the hammer, and a reliance on the good humor of their captors. It would have been brilliant. There wasn't the time, it seemed, as she was led into the captain's quarters. Captain Lindemann sat behind a large desk, looking resigned and unhappy to see her. She shared the sentiment.

"What is your name, witch?"

"Elm Smith and I am not a witch," she said as calmly as she could under the circumstances. Her bound hands made her shoulder pull in painful ways.

The man quirked a brow. "If you are not a witch, explain your sudden appearance on my ship."

"To be honest, it's a little hard to explain-"

"Do not waste my time, girl," the man growled, slamming his hand on the desk. "You are here because one of my crew has taken pity on you. He believes someone such as yourself could not be involved in the demonic arts."

Understanding washed over Elm as she observed the Captain. Someone like her indeed. Twisting her shoulder to deliberately cause herself pain, tears sprang to her eyes. "I-I'm sorry, Captain."

His eyes softened as he gestured to his men to untie her. She rubbed her wrists and willed the tears to keep flowing.

"Tell me what happened, Miss. Smith, and perhaps I can help you."

"I-I married that man," Elm began, twisting their previous tall tale. "But I did not know that he dabbled in magic until it was too late. I do not understand how I came to be on your ship, sir, and I apologize for any trouble it has caused you. I-I'm just scared."

She held her breath, waiting for the Captain's reaction, which she saw as going either one way or the other. The man sighed. "I see. What an unfortunate situation."

"P-please take pity, kind sir. I can convince him to leave, just allow us access to his… magic blue box and we will bother you no longer."

"No, no of course not!" And with that, Elm's hopes of an easy escape were dashed away. "I cannot in good conscience leave a young woman with a man like that! No, you will accompany us until we return to our homeland and there we will see what can be done. Dekker!" The young man who seemed so excited earlier re-entered the room, looking nervous. "It appears your hunch was correct. Please escort her to your wife to be looked after."

"Yes, sir."

"Yes, sir," Elm echoed, biting her tongue. "Thank you for your… generosity."

OoOoOoO

"I could never repay you, Mrs. Smit," Elm said through gritted teeth.

The woman pulled the corset tighter. "Of course dear. We couldn't have you running around in men's clothes, now could we?"

"Well I won't be running around much in these," Elm let slip. Her shoulder ached under the pressure. "Can you loosen it, please? My shoulder is injured and the pressure is painful."

"Of course, dear, I should have realized," Mrs. Smit said with a gasp. She let the corset out a bit, giving Elm room to breathe, before tying it off. It was awkward to be dressed by someone else, but Elm let the woman have her fun. Mrs. Smit pulled a silky blue dress over her head once the corset was tied. It was loose on the slip of a woman. "I'm sorry if it's ill-fitting."

"It's fine. Thank you for your help," Elm said with a smile. In her hand, she gripped the TARDIS key and once the woman turned away, she stuffed it down the front of her dress.

"Now for your hair," Mrs. Smit pushed her into a chair and huffed. "It's so short, and where did these curls come from?"

Elm chuckled at the dismayed expression on the woman's face. "I've always had them, I think. You can't contain them, trust me, I've tried."

"They're lovely. That warlock must have made you cut them though, you poor dear." Elm didn't bother correcting the woman as she began messing around with her hair. "Let me at least put some oil in them, to get rid of the frizz."

"Thank you," she repeated. The oil made her nose itch, but she allowed it without complaint before standing from her seat. "Speaking of the warlock, maybe I could speak to him? To get some answers."

Mrs. Smit shook her head and looped her arm with Elm's. "You shouldn't. Leave that to the men." She began dragging the young woman to the deck, where most of the passengers were. "For now, let us join the others! This village we are in is lovely, and we could go for a stroll!"

Captain Lindemann approached Elm as soon as he spotted her, a kind smile on his face. "I am glad to see you well, young miss."

She cleared her throat. "Thank you, Captain."

"Well, Miss. Smith, let me reassure you that you are safe while on my ship," the Captain said with a bow. "You ladies enjoy yourselves."

"We will, thank you, Captain," Mrs. Smit replied with a curtsy. With a graceful step used to the rocking of the boat, the woman led Elm to a group of passengers standing near the edge. A younger woman in a bright pink dress approached her first.

"Miss. Smith! I'm glad to see you've recovered!"

Elm recalled the young woman who led her to Mrs. Smit in the first place. She was married to the man who vouched for her. "It is all thanks to your husband. He is the one who got me out of that cell."

Mrs. Dekker lit up. "He is so insightful! Now that you've changed, it is obvious you are no witch!"

Approaching the railing, Elm let out a sigh. The ocean was so clear and beautiful that she could almost forget their impending doom. As a wave rocked the ship, her eyes traveled upward and tracked a cloud of smoke to a large mountain on the horizon. The boat shuttered as if in warning as four massive explosions made the Earth tremble.

The soft waves that lapped at the hull grew larger as crew and passengers both panicked at the sight. Mrs. Dekker stumbled backward toward the rail after a particularly rough wave. She would have tumbled over, if not for Elm grabbing her arm. Debris flew out of the mountain and smoke hung thick in the air, disrupting the weather. A storm began to form as the two smaller mountains next to the volcano sunk into the sea.

As the storm reached the ship, the Captain ordered all passengers to return to their rooms. The crew attempted to guide the hysterical passengers to safety, and that was when Elm broke off. Making sure no one was following, she backed into the brig, closing the door behind her. Luckily, whoever was on guard duty had returned to the deck to help, so it was empty besides the Doctor.

He stood when she entered. "Where did you go?"

"I may have convinced them you're a warlock," Elm explained as she opened the crate that held their things. "Oh, and you tricked me into marrying you."

"Oi, why do I have to be the bad guy?" he asked, offended.

She shrugged as her hand grabbed the sonic screwdriver. "I thought I might be able to convince them to just let us go."

"A fat lot of good that did."

"I had to come up with it on the fly, okay? There are much bigger problems at hand anyway," she passed him the device and watched as he got himself free. "The volcano exploded and there are some pretty scary waves forming."

The Doctor approached the crate and grabbed his jacket, which they stripped him of on arrival. "Let's get going then. The TARDIS is one room over, and I doubt they'll notice us."

"We can't just leave!" Elm exclaimed, blocking the door. "What about the passengers and the crew?"

"Elm, this isn't a port in Southampton. This is being on board the Titanic as it's sinking. We're right in the thick of it this time."

Gritting her teeth, Elm crossed her arms. "I came along to learn and experience, not to run away like a coward at the fight sign of danger."

"You mean that?"

"Yes."

"You'll go down with this ship even if it means your death?"

Elm rolled her eyes. "Yes, I already said-"

"Well come on then," the Doctor exclaimed, grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the stairs. "There's no time to sit around babbling like ninnies."

OoOoOoO

They reached the deck within moments and Elm gasped at its state. A thick watery mud coated the deck at least a foot deep, and the sky had gone dark. Ash fall replaced the rain, coating everything that wasn't already muddy. The Doctor immediately approached the Captain. "Captain."

The Captain spun around and glared at the Doctor. "This isn't the time, warlock. We are facing desolation." He then turned toward the soaked and muddied Elm. "Miss. Smith, I must insist you join the others below deck."

"It looks like you could use all the help you can get, sir," Elm said. The crew was scrambling around dumping buckets of mud over the side of the ship. She grabbed an empty one. "It's not my dress anyway."

She pulled up her sleeves and began scooping, the motion jolting her shoulder. Gritting her teeth, she kept at it, filling her bucket and throwing the muck overboard. Besides the Captain, who was speaking to the Doctor, no one seemed to notice nor care about her presence. The slippers Mrs. Smit gave her had zero to no traction and slipped off her feet by her second bucket full. The Doctor joined her by her sixth, by which time she was covered in mud, sweat, and ash.

"I've convinced the Captain that I couldn't do any more harm," the Doctor said with a snort. "You look ridiculous."

Elm managed a breathy laugh. "Start scooping, magician, or I'll tell the Captain you're trying to seduce me."

"I should let you," the Doctor said as he got a bucket of his own. "Sitting on that ratty old cot is better than this."

"I miss that cot."

The Doctor laughed as he watched Elm slip into the mud again, only to slip himself and nearly fall overboard. Humor was easy to find in the beginning, but as time passed it became harder and harder to smile. Between the sweat, the mud, and the ash, Elm hardly felt human anymore.

The Captain finally called for a break once it seemed all the mud was gone, and Elm collapsed onto the ground. She leaned with her back against the edge of the ship and her sore legs sprawled out with little care. Beside her, the Doctor sat as well, a contemplative look on his face.

Eventually, the cooks came up from the hull with water flasks and passed them out to all the tired crew. Many were sitting like Elm and the Doctor, splitting water flasks between themselves. Little conversation was exchanged.

Captain Lindemann approached them as Elm gulped down as much as she could. The Doctor seemed to be content with his dehydrated water, a substance which she wasn't sure about yet.

"While I am usually averse to those who dabble in magic," the Captain began. "Can you divine anything from this situation, warlock?"

The Doctor stood with a grunt and squinted into the distance as another wave hit the ship. "Finally decided to ask, have you? Well, the waves are only going to get worse from here. I think it is in our best interest to sail toward them so as to not get swallowed."

Affronted by the Doctor's lack of respect, Captain Lindemann chose not to respond. Instead, he turned to Elm. "I am not so sure about you anymore, Miss. Smith. You claim to be under duress but are far too comfortable with this man for that to be true. Just what are you, if not a witch?"

"Tired and hungry," Elm said in answer. With a shake of his head, the Captain marched off to the helm to deliver new orders. Once he was out of earshot, the young woman turned toward the Doctor. "What now, Doc?"

"We wait."

OoOoOoO

Between sweeping ash and scooping mud, Elm found herself looking out over the sea. She could hardly see two feet in front of herself, but she could make out the thrashing ocean below. What was once a beautiful and clear sea had gone dark, whether with the storm or the ash she did not know. It was beginning to grow more difficult to breathe.

"Mr. Dekker," she began, approaching the man who had helped her before. He looked startled at her approach.

"Is there something I can do for you, Miss. Smith?" he asked. His gaze kept jumping from her to the Doctor, whose silhouette could be seen next to the Captain.

"Is there any cloth below deck I could use to cover my nose and mouth?" As if triggered by her words, a cough broke free from her chest. Clearing her throat, she rasped. "The ash is making it hard to breathe."

He furrowed his brows in thought. "I'm sure at least a few of the passengers brought handkerchiefs. I can ask my wife to look around."

"Thank you," Elm said gratefully. Before he could leave, she took his hand and shook it firmly. "And, Mr. Dekker, just in case the worst comes, I just wanted to express my gratitude for advocating for me. It means the world to me."

The man flushed up to his ears and scurried back into the hull. Elm smiled at his retreating form before getting back to work. The ash wouldn't remove itself. She was sweeping for some time before Mr. Dekker came back, a sturdy handkerchief in hand. She opened her mouth to thank him but was cut off by a startled shout that came somewhere to her right.

More shouts followed.

"A great wave is approaching!"

"Secure yourselves!"

"Make sure all the passengers are at the bottom of the ship!"

Elm rushed toward a mast, grabbed a rope, and tied it around her hand multiple times. Through the ash-fall, she could see the Doctor grabbing hold of some netting. They exchanged looks.

"Brace!"

Silence descended on the crew as the wave approached with surreal swiftness. It was a wall of water taller than her apartment building. Elm swallowed thickly.

The front of the ship lifted into the air and continued rising as they climbed the wave. Someone behind her shouted as the vessel almost became vertical. Anything that wasn't secured began to slide. And then, all at once, it was over. The ship leapt into the air as it met the crest, and settled once again.

Elm spun around and watched through squinted eyes as the tsunami met the shore.

The silence was broken by a call from the Captain. "Get this ash off the deck!"

Picking up a broom, she was about to do just that when the Doctor grabbed her hand. He shushed her objections as he pulled her deeper into the ship.

"They're out of danger for now and should be able to get back to the Netherlands on their own," the Doctor said. He fiddled with his sonic to unlock the storage room. Within sat the TARDIS, and for some reason the sight of the ship made Elm relax.

"Wait," she interrupted. "They're from the Netherlands? Why are they speaking English?"

The Doctor hummed. "That's the TARDIS's translation matrix. Automatically translates according to where you are. They weren't speaking English; you were speaking Dutch."

"God, I love your ship," Elm sighed, rubbing a hand on the wooden door.

"Are you two leaving?"

Elm jumped with a start and spun around. Mr. Dekker stood in the doorway, looking nervous.

"Are you gonna stop us?" the Doctor asked.

Mr. Dekker's eyes widened. "N-no, sir. I just-" he paused and collected himself. "I just wanted to thank you. For helping us."

"No thanks needed. We were just passing through," the Doctor replied, unlocking the TARDIS.

"Well, still, thank you. I think I might've misjudged you, and I apologize for that," the young man wrung his hands. "Would you mind if I drew you?"

"What?"

Mr. Dekker bit his lip. "Well, in my free time I like to draw, so I thought-"

"That'd be fine, Mr. Dekker," Elm answered. Humming, she tilted her head. "You know, I never got your first name, or your wife's."

"Oh, I'm Levi, and my wife is Eliene," he said. He gave them a quick grin before turning around. "I'd best be going. I have a feeling I don't want to see what happens next."

"Goodbye, Mr. Dekker," Elm called after him. Grinning at his retreating form, she got into the TARDIS and sighed in relief. "Oh, it's so nice to see you again, you beautiful ship you."

The Doctor laughed and punched in the dematerialization sequence. "She is a sight for sore eyes, isn't she?"

She nodded in answer before leaning against a rail. "Please tell me we can take a break now, Doc."

"Don't call me Doc," he began, flipping another few switches. While the ride was rough, it was much better than before. "And yes. I've figured out what was wrong. She was low on energy and was acting up to let me know."

"She ran out of gas?"

"Sort of. The TARDIS runs on Artron energy, and recently she's been through a bit of a trauma. She must be running low because of that, so a quick stop at a time rift and she'll be ready to go," the Doctor explained.

"And what are time rifts?"

The Doctor made a vague gesture. "They're sort of like cracks in space-time. Weak spots. Energy leaks through and the TARDIS can absorb it."

Elm took a seat in the console chair. "So like a space gas station."

"Sure."

"And where would this space gas station be?" she questioned. "Some special planet?"

"Cardiff actually."

"Cardiff?"

"Cardiff," the Doctor repeated.

Elm wobbled to her feet. "Great. A rest stop then. Do you have a shower?"

"There should be one in your room. Head down the hall and take two lefts and you'll find it," the Doctor said. After checking the monitor, he started toward the hall as well. "Go ahead and sleep too. I know how you apes love to sleep."

"How dare we rest," Elm responded sarcastically. "See you in a few hours then. Get some rest too, if you need rest that is. Goodnight, or sweet dreams I guess."

"Go take a shower, you smell like an ashtray."

"Thanks."

OoOoOoO

The Doctor was wrong for once, it seemed, as her door was only a few steps down the hall. She opened the door cautiously and peeked through before entering completely. A happy laugh escaped her.

The color scheme of the space was reminiscent of fall, with dark reds, browns, and yellows. The bed was big enough for four people, with an overabundance of pillows and blankets to choose from. Mounted on the walls were shelves upon shelves, empty and ready to be filled. There were also two doors; one that led directly into the wardrobe and one that led to a bathroom.

Despite the tempting option of a bath, Elm decided to take advantage of the shower. Sitting in the gunk that covered her did not sound appealing.

On the wall, there was a little chute with a picture of a washing machine on it. Taking a wild guess, Elm dumped her soiled clothes down it where they disappeared without a trace. She only just remembered the key the Doctor gave her, and set it on the bathroom counter for safekeeping. With gentle hands, she unwrapped her shoulder and was happy to see it almost completely healed. Futuristic space medicine was great.

Once completely bare, she took great pleasure in rinsing off all the mud and ash. The hot water soothed her sore body, and she emerged feeling like a human again.

Steam filled the bathroom as she stepped out of the shower. Large towels were sitting on a rack, and she took two to dry herself off. She finished quickly and entered her room again to find pajamas laid out on the bed.

"Thank you?" Elm said, looking around. Finding no reason not to change, she put the clothes on and lay down.

Sleep claimed her quickly.

OoOoOoO

Elm woke with a foggy head and stumbled to her bathroom. While she brushed her teeth, something dangling from a hook caught her attention. It was the TARDIS key, strung onto a metal chain. It was attached with a clip to allow for easy removal. Giggling and groggy, she slipped it on and stumbled out of her door. The key was oddly warm and comforting.

The smell of coffee led her down the hall and to the left, where a door clearly labeled kitchen was. A pot of warm coffee and an assortment of creams, sweeteners, and additions made her eyes widen.

"I think I love you, TARDIS," she muttered to herself. She filled a cup to the brim and sipped as she looked through the cabinets. There wasn't much she recognized, but there was something that sort of looked like bread. There was also something that sort of looked like cheese. Not knowing what she was doing, she melted the cheese onto the bread in what looked like a toaster oven.

It turned out pretty well.

As she settled into a chair to eat, the Doctor entered the room. "I thought you might have died."

"Your ship is an angel," Elm breathed, thoroughly relaxed. "Amazing. Fantastic. I love her."

The Doctor snorted but didn't argue. "So, how about a relaxation planet for our next trip? Somewhere off Earth at least."

"Maybe," Elm responded, taking a large bite out of her cheesy toast. "I dunno."

"We could go into the future too," the Doctor seemed to be mostly talking to himself. "New New York? Everyone loves New York."

"There was something. I'm forgetting something," she mumbled, absentmindedly finishing her breakfast.

"Forward, backward, all of time and space."

Elm sat straight up. "Time machine! This is a time machine!"

The Doctor started and raised a brow. "Yes. I thought we went over this already."

"No, no, you don't understand! This is a time machine!" Elm shouted, jumping up from the nook and gulping down the rest of her coffee. "I know exactly where we need to go."

She raced out of the kitchen and into the console room, her bare feet thudding on the grated floor. The Doctor followed behind. "Really?"

"Yeah. Just a few seconds after we left Rose and Mickey," she said, bouncing up and down. "If you can get it that close."

The Doctor slumped, a pained expression crossing his face. He nodded. "Yeah. Of course. With what you just went through, of course, you want to go home." The materialization was easy with a refueled TARDIS, and they landed within moments.

Elm didn't even notice the Doctor was sulking. Racing toward the door, she pulled it open and paused, to the Doctor's surprise. "Rose! It travels in time!"

In stunned silence, the Doctor watched as Rose raced inside. The girls hugged each other quickly before turning toward him.

With a sheepish smile, Elm laughed. "I hope the invitation is still open."

A mad grin spread across the Doctor's face. "Alright then, Rose Tyler. Forwards or backward?"

E/N: Yes, this chapter was based on what that conspiracy theorist told Rose. The last story about Krakatoa is actually real. Look up 'Loudon, Captain Lindemann' if you're curious. Anywho, I hope you enjoyed it!