Eventually Serena made it home in one piece even though the whole entire time she felt watched or followed whether she was or not. Her heart could be heard racing in her ears the whole way it seemed. It was as if the adrenaline rush she got pushed her home better than she had previously. It sure had pushed that whole bad day from her mind for a while.

The moment she got inside Serena locked the door behind her, she then let her bag slide off her shoulders onto the floor as she let the door be her momentary respite to catch her breath. It wasn't easy hoofing it back to the house after all. Now all she wanted was to rest, maybe take a soaking bath, and call it an early evening. Was that so much to ask for from the universe, just one simple little thing. The moment she was able to, she moved herself away from the door and towards the kitchen to start herself a pot of tea. Tea always helped, that or coffee. Nighttime relaxing though was best with the prior.

She started the pot, preparing the water to make some warm chai tea. Once that was started, she made her way to the bathroom to start a bath for herself. Tea and tub, a perfect combo to end a really blah Monday. It was probably why she liked the comic strip Garfield so much and loved cats. Garfield hated Mondays and well cats were just lazy dozy, cuddly, adorable fluff balls. While waiting for both bath and bliss to prepare, she went to her little make shift office den area to check her mail before hitting the hay. Her den area was littered with fandom stuff. From posters of star wars and star trek, to bobbles of Supernatural, Sherlock, and more. Models of space ships and action figures sat on shelves above her computer desk including a model of the Enterprise, the Millennium Falcon, a tie fighter, AT-AT, action figures of Obi Wan, R2-D2, Vader, Gandalf, Kirk, Spock, McCoy, as well as some of the different incarnations of a very familiar time lord plus a collectors model of the TARDIS, and much more.

It had been quite obvious that to any friend who did visit her home, would find themselves having nerd thrown up all over them. Every person had to have their hobbies though, hers just happened to be being a closet nerd that never shared it with most anyone but those closest to her. Was she a hard core crazy super fan, hell no! Not even in the remotest sense. She enjoyed a fandom passionately, but not to the point she'd make a mess of herself in public over it. Nerdy she was, crazy she was not. She sadly looked at her collection.

Why can't I be like you guys? Sure you've all probably have had bad days, heck bad years even, but at least what you lot do…er…have done…is worth at least something. Me on the other hand….what have I got to show for myself….what have I done….what am I worth, she sadly mused. She closed her likes like it was some ritual she did and went back and forth along the rows of figures pointing at them as if choosing at random and finally stopped, taking one of the figures off the shelf.

Before she opened her eyes, she felt the smooth figure in her hands, its curves, its edges. She could tell just by touch alone who it was. It made her smile just ever so slightly. She then opened her eyes and stared at it. Ironically it being one of the Doctor's incarnations. Not that she took a particular strong interest in that character, but she did envy the companions a bit in that show. Their lives so enriched, yes of course in danger all the time, but still enriched by someone coming along, sweeping them off their human feet, and taking them on wild adventures into the unknown, but not because it would be to just show off the universe, it was so the guide, the Doctor, could share something special, something more…intimate with them.

She often wished she could have had a friend like that. Most the people she knew, they were friends, but she never had anyone who would just give her a chance, a time of day to prove herself to be more than just a girl with an eye condition that needed some sort of kiddy gloves with because they thought her to be weak, fragile, or incapable of doing anything amazing. She was smart and creative. She knew this, deep down inside herself, but what stung her most was no one else really could.

Tilting her head to the side to gauge in the figures features, her heart began to feel like a leaded weight. As far as her mind considered who was she honestly kidding? She was nobody, a dead weight on society, and that was to be her role and place for the rest of her life. Secluded and alone, no matter how hard she tried to be free. Serena didn't want to be alone forever, she yearned for something, anything to give her that chance. She just hoped that, that dream wouldn't come too late one these days.

"Help me find your strength….." she stated, sighing a bit with a choked back sob.

She ran a thumb along the statues face and up past the hairline a few times like the way one would rub a worry stone for sake of easing one's mind or a rabbits foot in hopes of good luck to come ones way before she put the figure back up on the shelf. She then murmured, "I really could use a friend right now."

Life for Serena had been hard from the day she was born, but thoughts progressively only got worse over the years. Bullies in school, lack of support from home, no friends really to speak of. The whole nine yards, it left her an empty emotional scar just waiting for the end to come and seek her out. The only thing that seemed to kept her afloat it seemed was the fictional friends she had on T.V. or at least that was what she believed anyway. Sure she had a few friends, real friends growing up, but most of those friends had moved away after high school, and none of them seemed to keep in touch. Her parents had thought it was best Serena went to college, make a life for herself, be like everyone else and do all the things the rest of the rat race was doing. Like getting a job, getting married, having kids; the typical white picket fence Pleasantville life pretty much. Then of course there was her brother Ashton. Out of anyone he'd probably been the only rock she had been able to lean upon over the years. However, even then her brother was lofty and became distant eventually, having ran off from home the moment he could, leaving her alone to deal with their parents since.

The college thing she had been cool with, she did have dreams after all, some honest good ones. It was just all rest that bothered her, the pressure of everything else that made the good stuff seem just so moot some days. Why did she have to be like everyone else? Why did the things she didn't like being, have to feel, or be so different and unwelcome that she had to do because it was supposedly the right thing to do, but the things she wanted to be different about she couldn't because it didn't fit in with the social norm. It was a tough load to handle and a part of her just wanted to get away for a while to sort it all out.

She finally turned on her computer, her magnifier coming up quite quickly after the main screen booted up. Serena proceeded to check her mail. There was nothing of importance luckily, and there were no messages from any online people she knew either. All was quiet and she supposed it was just better that way, at least this night anyway. Content on at least that note, she turned off the computer and went back to her bath water and tea.

The moment both were ready she make sure one was turned off so it wouldn't overflow and the other turned off so she wouldn't burn the house down. Quickly she made her Chai and vanished her way into the bathroom for a relaxing soak, and relax she did. Serena drank down her tea and even almost fell asleep right there in the tub. She had zone for at least an hour before realizing the water was now cold and she was pruned. However what was most disturbing was the sounds she thought she heard outside the bathroom walls.

At first it was one thud, then another, then the rustling of metal on metal could be heard. There had been someone in the house! The question though was how? Carefully Serena quietly got out and grabbed a towel to quickly dry with. Putting on comfy clothes afterwards that she conveniently kept in the bathroom every night, since she was not about to go outside the bathroom in only her birthday suit and just a towel. She grabbed her brush out of the drawer not only to use to eventually brush her hair hopefully with but also to possibly use as a blunt end weapon to take on the person who broke in.

Quietly she opened the door, listening to the sounds as she wandered out, brush raised at the ready just in case. Her steps were quiet, slow, and steady. Honestly she was a ninja, even her brother would say so. Serena could tell exactly where the sound was coming from too, the kitchen. Whoever they were, they shouldn't have broken in, seeing as she was well trained in some martial arts. Not quite a black belt, but she could land a person on their backside if given the right chance or if all else failed, kick them where it counted so she could ran far enough away to call for help.

The moment she got to the corner of the kitchen she, whipped silently around its corner, but before she could completely beat her intruder down, she ended up tripping over something that had been left in the middle of the floor that wasn't there before she was pretty sure. The one thing that could be noted was that both she and the person who broke in, screamed like Timon and Pumba from the lion king by the way the sound reverberated.

After a few moments the two finally stopped and she realized who it was that had broken in. It wasn't just some random intruder, it was someone familiar to her.

"Ashton!" she squeaked in a high voice filled with shock.

"Yea…." he began, then added with a hint of teasing sarcasm. "Nah, I'm Santa Clause, Merry Christmas and a happy bah humbug to you too."

"What are you doing here?!"

"Wait why do you have a brush in your hand like you were about ready to attack? What were you planning on doing with it, prettify me to death?"

"No I was just…..never mind! You didn't answer my question. What are you doing here? Answer me or so help me I will rain this brush down on you worse than the fight to Mordor!"

"Okay okay, geez, you don't have to get all snarly at me princess." Ashton scoffed a bit and then flinched only just a little when the air of the brush went right near him and hit him in the shoulder. "Ow! What was that for?"

"Answers….now." she snarled a bit more impatiently.

"Well I was looking for your best stuff to drink, but alas you have none." he stated.

"That's cause the good stuff is usually too expensive." she grumbled.

"Plus I was hungry, can't help it if I got the munchies." he stated nonchalantly.

"How did you even get in?" Serena ask, actually confused.

"Well I would have used the hide a key, but you didn't have one." Ash said with a shrug. "So instead I just picked the lock. Ow! Did you really have to hit me with that again?!"

"Yes!" she stated immediately after. "You could have called, texted, sent a letter, hell even a postage card saying 'Hey I'm coming your way can I stop by?'. No instead you had to break into my house, rummage through my things, leave whatever it is you brought in here on my floor!"

"It's my bag and-" he started.

"I don't care if it's the rocks from your head! You could have….you could have at least tried…."

"I…." he began but the stopped as he could tell just by hearing her voice and breathing alone that she was in distress over the matter. "I'm sorry."

Her brother looked down ashamed a bit. Seeing her sister upset really brought him back to reality a bit. It seemed awkward, but a part of him instinctively wanted to go and hug her just a bit to try and make her feel at least a little better for intruding on her night. So he did wander over to her and pulled her into his arms. She resisted at first, but her brother though younger than her, was now a days much taller and a bit stronger than her, so he was able to gently keep her from pulling away long enough to get her to settle down and hug her properly. Eventually after a few moments of estranged silence together he said, "I should probably just go right?"

"No." she said into his shoulder, feeling a bit more relaxed. The bath and tea now was a waste, but she could make at least some more tea before bed. She didn't hate her brother, she was just mad at him. The thing she didn't want to fully admit to, was that now that he was there, she wanted him to stay.

"You sure, I mean I did kinda just barge in and that." he admitted.

"No." she shook her head and finally pulled away from Ash. "You can stay."

"Really?" he stated feeling a little better himself. "I can make it up to you."

"How?" she asked.

"Hold on, let me check my pockets." he rummaged and found what looked like a candy in his pocket. "Ah hah here we go. How about this?"

"No thanks." she said shaking her head and then thought for a moment.

"Mkay, whatever." he stated and put it away. "So, how long are we lookin' at? Just tonight? Just a few days? A few weeks?"

"I think I know how you can pay me." Serena offered.

"Oh?" he looked intrigued.

"Can you clean?" she mused a small smirk crossed her face.

"Yea, if need be. Of course I can, I'm OCD about remember."

"Cook?"

"Maybe, though the last time I tried…" he thought about it and then decided better against it. "Never mind forget I said that."

"Well I think as long as you can help keep things clean, maybe cook a meal or two with supervision, maybe do laundry and garbage once in a while, oh and no lighting up in this house, you can stay here as long as needed I guess. Why do you need a place to stay anyway?"

"Damn, well you're no fun. The BF kicked me to the curb and we'll just leave it at that." he lightly grumped a blah tone.

"BF….right." she didn't sound completely convinced.

"So things didn't go completely to plan as I hoped." he admitted.

"Clearly." she stated dryly as she put the brush down on the table and walked into the kitchen to make some more tea for herself. "Want some tea, I'm making another pots worth, seeing as the last one was scared out of me by you."

"Uh, sure. I guess.' he answered a little unsure if he wanted to drink tea. "Can I at least have something to eat with it? Still got the munchies ya know."

"Fine, I'll make you a sandwich." she gave in. "Just…go put your stuff in the spare room so I, nor yourself, kill ourselves on it…again."

"Maybe you again, but me, nah I'm Daredevil." he teased. "Besides I didn't want to put it anywhere else just in case. Wanted to make sure I could re find it."

"Uh huh, you couldn't at least have put it more up against the wall or under the table or something?" Serena gave a skeptical look.

"Sorry?" he offered. "I'll go move it. Don't get your royal undies in a bunch."

Before he could possibly get smacked with his sisters brush again, Ash went and took his stuff to the spare room across from hers. The room had a small twin in it and drawers. The thing looked barely used, which wasn't surprising in the slightest. He set his things down on the bed with a whamp sound and looked around the semi tiny space before giving a shrug of approval before heading back out to the kitchen.

"You know, I was wondering. Why don't you have indicators for stuff? I couldn't find anything in this kitchen." he stated as he entered.

"Because I don't need them." she gave, emphasizing on need by extending it.

"I hear you talking, but all I hear is wah wah wah…internalized ableism….blah blah blah….I sound just like mom and dad. I really just want to be like everybody else." Ash said in an almost mocking tone, a hand flapping up and down in a fashion like a pair of lips talking. He was so wrapped up in his tease though that he didn't notice her swiftly grab the brush again and smack him with it. "Ow! Come on! I'm fragile!"

"Then stop giving me hell." she stated. "You know I'd really like to use this for its designated purposes rather than swat you with it right."

"Meh, meh, meh, meh, meh, meh, meh…" he mocked again, laughing as she tried to swat him again but this time he caught her wrist and turned her into him and began to tickle her until she let go of the brush.

"Damn you Ashton!" she laughed herself as she wiggled free. "Brat."

"Hah! I'm now the lord of the brush! One brush to rule them all!" he stated waving it in the air, pulling it away from her as she tried to jump and get it. "Nope!"

"Ashton!" she whined.

"Never!" he retorted.

"Give…me….my…brush!" she continued to try and reach for it. Ash turned to try and get away, but Serena tackled him from behind and they stumbled, both giggling into the living room. Eventually both fell over on the couch and continued to wrestle before Serena finally gave in out of tiredness.

"Give?" Ash asked with a grin.

"Yeah….give." she stated with a sigh as she laid a head on her brothers chest. "Eh, I missed you jerk."

"Mmm, I missed you to …bitch." he said honestly poking her nose then handed the brush back. "Here."

Serena took the brush and laid it on the coffee table, she was too comfortable at the moment to move or brush her hair for that matter. She could feel Ash's hand begin to run through her hair, which started to make her more relaxed and sort of sleepy. She was still going to have her second cup of tea though, but just a few minutes snuggling her younger brother wouldn't kill her. For a while they just lounged there in silence.

"You know I love you. Really I'm not trying to nag you or be mean. I'm not mom and dad you know. But sooner or later you're going have to face this. I mean, I get it, it sucks, but it's not just going to go away no matter how much either of us want it to some days. You just got to keep your head up and keep moving. I really am sorry I didn't stay. I just, I needed to find myself, who I was my own way. You can understand right?"

"Yeah." she nodded and hugged him, it was hard, but she'd try for him. "Where did you go?"

"To Cali." he stated with a shrug. "Almost made it onto one of them talent shows, The Voice. Would have probably made it all the way too…..though thinking about it now...I probably shouldn't have went on stage all tripped out."

"I can't believe you did that." she stated with a small laugh as she scolded him, burying her face into his chest, embarrassed for him.

"Yeah, not my most shining moment I supposed." he mused, running a hand through her hair again. "But now that I am here, I promise I will do my best to try and change my ways. And I won't try and abandon you again. Okay?"

"Okay." She booped his nose finally back and grinned before finally getting the strength to tear herself away from her brother long enough to go get herself and her brother a cup of tea. She had already made the sandwich so she brought both out eventually and put a cup and plate down in front of Ash. She then sat down next to him and curled up into his side as she clung to her own cup of tea. She decided for them to sit and watch something for a little while, while they drank tea and cuddled.

Later on that night both clambered into their respective beds. Ash dozed off right away, she could hear his light snoring coming muffled through the wall. She on the other hand found herself drifting off into what she thought was going to be a dreamless sleep and for a while it was, but as midnight rolled around, she began to toss and turn. The dreams and nightmares having returned to haunt her once more with vivid images of things she could not quite understand…yet.

Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Doctor Who or its canon. Only the original characters and original content are mine.

Special Thanks: I should have probably put this in in the first chapter but oh well. I want to give a special thanks to my roommates who have pushed me through the edits and inspiration for my writings, including this one. This story is to honor you guys.

A/N: Don't worry folks the 12th Doctor will be appearing fairly soon! Within at least the next chapter or so. I'm sure everone's curious as to what the thing was from chapter one that happened and what they are, we'll find out here soon enough! I hope this chapter is as much a sort of feel good chapter as i thought it was. I felt like there needed to be an uplift before all the fun crazy happens. Plus I love to try and prove my own characters wrong, silly head canon I know. But I'm sure we all have to have that one person out there we find ourselves wanting to lean on for support in our lives. Please read and review!