Symptoms of time travel without a capsule:
1. Nausea
2. Headache
3. Confusion
4. Fatigue
5. Hunger
Although, that last one might have been the result of only eating brownies for dinner and a granola bar for breakfast. Chris wasn't really sure.
But the others? Definitely the time travel.
Chris had woken up in an alleyway disoriented, nauseous, and with a huge headache. It had taken hours for her to be able to move without nearly passing out.
When she was able to move she was surprised to find a brown drawstring bag right next to her. What had been more surprising was the fact that the single pocket was bigger on the inside and organized.
Inside she found a journal, similar to River's except it had her own name on it. There was a necklace, a flashlight, a green knit beanie which was nearly identical to her favorite beanie back home. A little more digging in the bag produce a sandwich, a wristwatch, and a sonic screwdriver that was similar to the 8th Doctor's later in his regeneration. The handle was made out of a dark wood and the gem on top was a dark red that almost looked brown.
Chris spent twenty minutes just looking at the screwdriver. She honestly had no clue how to use it.
The last thing Chris pulled out was a change of clothes with a note attached.
Dear Chris,
This is weird. Writing to myself. Doc said it's the only time I'm allowed to cross into my timeline because the event was already established and not doing so would cause a paradox. First of all, this is not a dream, if you can trust anything then trust yourself. Secondly, just by being here things change, use the show as a suggestion, not a law. Third, try not to fight with 12 so much, he cares, it's just hard for him to show that at times. D- fourth, your friends and family will survive without you, you'll see. It hurts, I know. Fifth, trust the Doctor. He's not as idiotic as he seems and he is nothing like Devon. Their only similarity is that they both have hair.
You'll do fine, trust your instincts, trust the Doc, and most of all:
Have fun, kiddo, it's gonna be a helluva ride.
Chris Wesley
That was weird. That was really, very, extremely weird.
Well, the entire thing was weird and Chris was trying not to panic. She now had proof that this wasn't a dream. She would not feel this shitty if it was. She knew that for sure. Her head was starting to pound again and she felt nauseous. She could feel a panic attack starting and was looking for something to help keep her grounded when she heard a voice at the end of the alley.
"Sunt tibi malum" An older woman said, her voice sounding slightly panicked, and she ran over to Chris.
Are you hurt, is what she's asking. Ego non nocere, I am not hurt.
"Ego non nocere," Chris said, her voice catching at the end. The woman shook her head.
"I do not speak Welsh." She said and Chris couldn't help but smile.
"Ah, sorry. I get confused sometimes." Chris said shyly, "Where am I?"
And why is everything translating?
"Oh, sweetie, are you sure you're okay?" The woman asked again, kneeling by Chris and placing a warm hand on her knee.
The woman was everything Chris thought a mother should be and couldn't help but shake her head. There were tears in her eyes and the woman just pulled her into a hug, which Chris gladly returned.
"Do you live near here?" The woman asked and all Chris could do was shake her head. Now that she had started crying Chris found that she couldn't make herself stop. "Why don't you come to my house and we can get you something to eat."
"Thank you ma'am." Chris said, grabbing her things and walking with the woman.
"Your clothing is very strange." The woman said with a frown.
"My father is a merchant and apparently this is all the rage in Greece." Chris told the woman, fingering the hem of her shirt in embarrassment, "I much prefer my normal clothes."
"What is your name, child?" The woman asked. Chris studied her, she was tall with graying curly hair that was pulled back from her face by an elaborate braid and a head band. The woman was wearing a purple tunic that had a gold clip on the right shoulder.
"Christi." Chris said, she knew that having a masculine name would be confusing and not at all appropriate for the time period she was obviously in. "What may I call you, ma'am?"
"Metella." The woman said and Chris couldn't help but grin, she knew where she was now. "Why do you smile like that?"
"Sorry, but you have such a pretty name." Chris said, blushing a little bit.
"Thank you" Metella said leading Chris further into the maze that was Pompeii.
After working in the house of Caecilius and Metella for a week Chris was starting to worry that The Doctor wasn't going to show up. She'd read fanfiction like this before, where the main character time jumped around The Doctor's timeline. She was worried that it wouldn't end up like that at all, the Doctor wouldn't show up.
She was now positive that whatever the hell was going on it wasn't a dream. She would have woken up already if it was.
What if he did show up and she changed something. Something big. What if the Doctor never went to Mars and because of that he learned his lesson in a much bigger way. What if her never met a companion that saved his life because of her, like when he never met Donna in the alternate universe.
It was when she was thinking this and cleaning the floors in the main room that the Tardis was brought into the house. Chris watched the thing with awe, if the Tardis was here that meant the Doctor had met Donna. But that also meant the Doctor was in Pompeii and that he was going to have to do something he didn't want to.
"Modern art!" Caecilius "Out of the way, that's it. Oh, Christi, I'm a little bit peckish, get me some ants in honey, there's a good girl."
Chris grimaced, not only was the food here unappetizing she regretted telling Metella that her name was Christi. She had figured having a more feminine name would help her fit in better or something, but that was not the case. She just felt weird.
"Ooh, maybe a dormouse?" Caecilius called as Chris went off to the kitchen, before turning to his wife. "What d'you think?"
"You call it modern art." Metella said, "I call it a blooming great waste of space."
Chris came back with the honey covered ants.
"But we're going up in the world, my love." Caecilius said, wrapping an arm around his wife's shoulders. "Lucius Dextrus himself is coming to the house this afternoon. What with that, and our Evelina about to be elevated"
"Oh, don't go on about it, Dad!" Their son, Quintus, interrupted
"If we'd moved to Rome, like I said, she could have been a Vestal Virgin." Metella said
"Someone mention Vestal Virgins?" Quintus asked, giving Chris a wink, to which she glared.
Quintus was alright as far as men he tried to flirt with Chris on occasion but after a quick punch to the gut Quintus had backed off. Though, he still tried despite an extra warning from Metella.
"Quintus, don't be so rude." Metella ordered pushing Quintus towards the altar "You apologise to the household gods!"
"Get off" Quintus whined
"Apologise, right now!" Metella ordered again, "The gods are always watching."
"Positions!" Caecilius yelled as the earth started to shake. Chris quickly maneuvered herself to a doorway and crouched down until the shaking stopped, "There, now you've made the Heavens angry. Just say sorry."
"I tell you, Caecilius, that boy will come to no good." Metella said, "just look at how he treats Christi."
"I don't see why you brought that maid here," Caecilius groaned, "Rhombus was perfectly fine doing his job."
"You know as well as I do that Rhombus was better off in the stables." Metella argued moving over to grab Chris' hands "Christi is good for our daughter and good for our house."
"Thank you ma'am," Chris said with a shy smile, "You are too kind."
"And you are a good actress," Metella said with a raised eyebrow, "Where's that cheeky girl I know"
"She seems to be out, ma'am," Chris said with a grin. "Would you like me to fetch her?"
"Be off with you," Metella said with a laugh, "Go spend time with Evelina, it will do her good."
"Yes'm" Chris said with a bow before taking off to Evelina's room.
She had grown fond of the young girl in the week that she had been there. Evelina had treated her yell and they spent hours talking about everything from what happened that day to what Evelina wanted to do with her life. Chris had even opened up a little about her family, it had been nice.
When she arrived Evelina was crying and against the far wall away from the smoke that she inhaled everyday.
"Sometimes, in the smoke - I see the most terrible things." Evelina said without looking at Chris
"Like what?" Chris asked, kneeling next to Evelina and gently pulling her into a hug. Chris knew what the smoke was doing to Evelina and had tried to get her to stop but the girl had refused.
"A face." Evelina said, burying her face in Chris' neck "A face of stone."
"It'll make sense one day," Chris promised, "I will do all that I can to help you until then, Evy, you know that, don't you?"
"It's strange, I've known you one week but I feel like I've known you a lifetime." Evelina told her, pulling back.
"It's the same for me." Chris said with a smile, "You're like the little sister I never even knew I wanted."
"You're much better than my big brother." Evelina said.
"Oh, that's gonna change, y'know." Chris said, smoothing Evelina's hair out of the way, "You guys are gonna be best friends once he gets out of this, 'I'm a boy and I'm better' stage."
Evelina suddenly gasped and pushed away from Chris fully, "He's here, the man you've been waiting for."
Chris let out a sigh of relief and stood up, "Thank you Evelina." She helped the younger woman stand and walk out towards the main room where Chris would find the Doctor.
There was a knock on the front door and Chris went to answer it after leaving Evelina just outside the main room, only to be stopped by Caecilius.
"I'm afraid business is closed for the day." Caecilius said, upon realizing that the man and woman on his porch were not the guest that he had been expecting, "I'm expecting a visitor."
"That's me." The Doctor said, his accent obvious to Chris, "I'm a visitor. Hello."
"Who are you?" Caecilius asked
"I am Spartacus." The Doctor said with a cheesy grin
"And so am I." Donna said, causing Chris to roll her eyes. She moved over to the Tardis leaning against it and smirking at Metella. She had told the woman about the man she was waiting for and the 'soothsayer' who told her about him.
"Mr and Mrs Spartacus?" Caecilius asked looking between the two as Chris snorted
"0h, no, we're not married." Donna said at the same time The Doctor said, "We're not together."
"Yes, of course!" Caecilius agreed, "You look very much alike."
"Really?" The two asked at the same time sharing a look. They both looked disgusted at the thought and it made Chris snort. She hid as the Doctor looked around the room. She may have been waiting for the man to show up but she was suddenly nervous about meeting him.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not open for trading." Caecilius told them, trying to shut the door.
"And that trade would be?" The Doctor asked, finally turning his attention back to the man in front of him.
"Marble." Chris said, suddenly popping up beside Caecilius who just glared at her.
"Christi, get back to Evelina, you know your duty."
"Ah, sorry, sir." Chris said with a smirk, "Have I mentioned yet that I quit?"
"Chris!" The Doctor said, pulling Chris into a hug, only letting go when she stiffened at the contact. "Ah, sorry, early, yeah?"
"Yeah," Chris said with a nod, "and you're late. I've been here a week."
"Ah," The Doctor said, rubbing his neck before shrugging, "Sorry?"
"I mean, it's okay. Cause I got over some things, found new things, got a job, quit that job," She gestured to Caecilius who was trying to get her away from The Doctor but was being held back by Metella, "Made some friends. Also, did I mention the fact that this is my second time meeting you and my first time meeting this you."
"You're about to have a panic attack, aren't you?" The Doctor said with a frown.
"Yeah," Chris said before throwing her arms around The Doctor as she started to hyperventilate
"Breathe." The Doctor murmured taking slow exaggerated breaths. "Chris you have to breathe."
"Breathing." Chris said, taking deep breaths with the Doctor, "breathing."
"Lobus Caecilius." Caecilius said, ignoring the fact that Chris was obviously having problems, "Mining, polishing and design thereof."
"Can't you see they're busy." Donna said, her voice harsh. "Just back off and go to your wife, we'll be with you in a moment."
"Yes, of course, sorry." Caecilius said, walking over to Metella who smacked him on the back of the head before turning to give Chris a worried look.
After Chris got her breathing under control she stepped back to smile shyly at the Doctor, "Do I do that a lot? Y'know, break down when I see you?"
"Once," The Doctor said only to add more when he sees Chris giving him a look, "Okay, more than once, not important… well, it is important, but we have differently important things to take care of."
"Ah yes, I forgot about that." Chris said before turning to Caecilius, "This man here just so happens to be a marble inspector. He's the friend that I got separated from just outside the city."
The Doctor pulled out his psychic paper and showed it to Caecilius, "By the gods of Commerce, an inspection! I'm sorry, sir." He glanced at Chris, "and Christi-"
"It's Chris, my name is Chris."
"Chris, I'm sorry for the way I have treated you, I was-" he paused, trying to think of the right word to use
"Insensitive" Donna suggested.
"Yes, I was insensitive."
"Yeah, you kinda were, weren't you." Chris said, "Well, no problem. Doctor Spartacus is here and everything is about to start and I'm sorry, but, yeah. That's it. I'm sorry."
"Well, we aren't prepared." Caecilius told them looking around nervously
"Nothing to worry about I'm sure you've got nothing to hide." The Doctor said, stuffing his hands into his pockets and looking around the room, "Although, frankly, THAT object - looks rather like wood to me."
"I told you to get rid of it." Metella said.
"I only bought it today!" Caecilius whined.
"It is a rather lovely old girl." Chris said with a grin
"Oh, stop it." The Doctor hissed in Chris' ear, "Don't flirt with the Tardis."
"Never," Chris whispered back with a grin before walking over to Evelina.
I have someone to take care of for the next lil bit. See ya. Rain told the Doctor for Chris.
You'll stay close.
So close you'll want me gone.
Never.
"Ah, well Caveat emptor." The Doctor said with a wink to Chris
"Oh, you're Celtic." Caecilius said with a frown, "That's lovely. Makes sense though, Metella told me Christi-"
"Chris!" Everyone heard from down the hall, The Doctor grinned.
"Excuse me, Chris, was speaking Welsh when she found her."
"Welsh?" Donna asked at the same time the Doctor said, "Found her?"
"Yeah, in an alley. She looked sick when Metella first brought her here a week ago. She was a blubbering mess. Something about sonics and Doctors." Caecilius frowned, "Took her three days to actually be useful."
"I'm sure it's fine, but I might have to take it off your hands, for a proper inspection." The Doctor said, getting closer to the Tardis to make sure there were no marks on the outside. He stored the information about Chris for later, knowing that he needed to have a talk with the woman when they were back on the Tardis.
"While we're here, would you recommend a holiday, Spartacus?" Donna said, getting closer to the Doctor
"Don't know what you mean, Spartacus." The Doctor said, suddenly going tense.
"This Doctor," Evelina said, bringing Chris' attention to her, "He cares for you deeply, and yet you do not feel the same."
"I've only just met him." Chris said ruefully, "Apparently he's known me for a long time"
"I can tell," Evelina whispered gripping Chris' arm, "He looks at you like you're his universe."
"That's a lot of weight to put on a person." Chris said with a small smile, "I hope I can live up to that."
"You will, oh believe me, you will." Evelina said, tears in her eyes.
"Hush, Evy," Chris said, wrapping the girl into a hug, "Breathe, you need to breathe. I got you."
"Announcing Lucius Petrus Dextrus, Chief Augur of the City Government." A man called into the house and Chris helped Evy to stand.
"Lucius." Caecilius said, "My pleasure, as always."
"Quintus, stand up!" Metella ordered, noticing that her son was still on the ground.
"A rare and great honour, sir, for you to come to my house" Caecilius told the man, obviously sucking up to the Augur.
"The birds are flying north, and the wind is in the west." Lucius said and Chris rolled her eyes, she'd never liked the man.
"Quite." The Doctor said with a grin "Absolutely."
"That's good, is it?" Donna whispered to the Doctor
"Only the grain of wheat knows where it will grow." Lucius said, his voice low and airy
"There now, Metella." Caecilius said, wrapping an arm around Metella's shoulders, "Have you ever heard SUCH wisdom?"
"Never." Metella told him. "It's an honour."
"Pardon me, sir, I have guests, this is Spartacus" He gestured to the Doctor, "and Spartacus."
"A name is but a cloud upon a summer wind." Lucius said with a nod to The Doctor
"But the wind is felt most keenly in the dark." The Doctor returned
"But what is the dark, - other than an omen of the sun?" Lucius said
"I concede that every sun must set" The Doctor said
"And yet the son of the father must also rise." Chris interrupted when Evy pushed her out of her hiding place. She paused when everyone stared at her, "What, never seen a woman with learning? My dad was all 'bout making sure I could help my future husband in whatever it was he did for a living." As Chris was talking her words started to slur together so she took a deep breath before continuing, "Well, don't mind me, obviously you macho men must compare your intelligence."
"Do forgive her," The Doctor said, "She was raised unconventionally"
Unconventionally my ass, Chris whined to Rain, making the woman in her head laugh, It's so strange having you laugh in my head.
Believe me, it's strange being in your head. Rain told her with a chuckle, You should probably help Evy now.
Chris nodded to herself and went over to help Evy out into the room, knowing the girl was weak. She saw The Doctor and Donna having a pointed conversation and couldn't help but roll her eyes. She, of course, knew they were going to stay. But still, she didn't like it one bit. She knew how hard this would be for the Doctor. And she wasn't sure how much just her being there would change.
"They're laughing at us." Evelina said from her spot leaning against Chris, "Those two, they use words like tricksters, they're mocking us."
"No, no, no." The Doctor said, looking to Chris for help, "I meant no offence."
"I'm sorry, my daughter's been consuming the vapors." Metella said and Chris shook her head at the woman, causing her to back off.
"By the gods, mother, what have you been doing to her?" Quintus asked, glaring at Chris
"Not now, Quintus." Caecilius ordered his son.
"But she's sick, just look at her!" Quintus said, going to push Chris away from his sister but a look from Evelina stopped him.
"I gather I have a rival in this household." Lucius said with a tight smile, "Another with the gift."
"Oh, she's been promised to the Sibylline Sisterhood." Metella bragged, "They say she has remarkable visions."
"I mean, you are an augur, you should know by now that you're not that special, yeah?" Chris said addressing Lucius but looking around the room, not making eye contact
"The prophecies of women are limited and dull, only the menfolk have the capacity for true perception." Lucius said with a nasty smile at Chris
"I'll tell you where the wind's blowing right now, mate." Donna muttered, earning herself an elbow from The Doctor.
"The Mountain God marks your words." Lucius said as the room shook slightly, "I'd be careful, if I were you."
"Consuming the vapors, you said?" The Doctor asked, giving Chris a look that she couldn't quite decipher.
"They give me strength." Evy said leaning heavily against Chris
"It doesn't look like it to me." The Doctor said turning his attention from Chris, who obviously didn't know him that well, to Evelina.
"Is that your opinion" Evelina asked, tightening her grip on Chris' arm, "as a doctor?"
"I beg your pardon?" The Doctor said, glancing at Chris who shook her head. She'd told Evelina nothing of who the Doctor actually was.
"Doctor, that's your name." Evelina said.
"How did you know that?" Donna asked
"And you" She pointed to Donna, "You call yourself Noble."
"Now then, Evelina, don't be rude." Caecilius said, trying to stop his daughter from offending their guests.
"No, no, no, no, let her talk." The Doctor said, waving off Caecilius
"You both come from so far away." Evelina said
"The female soothsayer is inclined to invent all sorts of vagaries." Lucius said and Chris glared at him. She did not like the man.
"No, I reckon you've been out-soothsayed." The Doctor told the man, much to his displeasure
"Is that so - man from Gallifrey?" Lucius said trying to steal the spotlight back from Evelina as the house started to tremble ominously
"What?" The Doctor asked, glancing at Chris again.
"The strangest of images your home is lost in fire, is it not?" Lucius asked
"Doctor, what are they doing?" Donna asked glancing between Lucius and Evelina
"And you, daughter of London." Lucius said, turning to Donna
"How does he know that?" Donna asked, a fearful look growing on her face
"This is the gift of Pompeii." Lucius told her, "Every single oracle tells the truth."
"That's impossible." Donna argued
"Doctor she is returning." Lucius said, his voice getting deeper and seeming more ominous with the shaking of the building.
"Who is?" The Doctor asked, "Who's she?"
"And you, daughter of London there is something on your back." Lucius nearly spat
"What's that mean?" Donna asked trying to see her back
"Even the word 'doctor' is false." Evelina said, looking back at the Doctor, "Your real name is hidden. It burns in the stars, in the Cascade of Medusa herself. You are a Lord, sir. A Lord of Time." She looked up at Chris, "And how can you be both the clouds and the Rain?"
"Evelina!" Metella yelled as the girl fainted in Chris' arms. Chris shared a look with the Doctor before he walked over to take a look at the young woman.
Chris carried Evelina to her room as The Doctor and Caecilius continued to talk. Once Evelina was lying down Chris went about preparing a washcloth for the girl's forehead, knowing that she was going to be running a fever.
"She didn't mean to be rude, she's ever such a good girl." Metella said, But when the gods speak through her-"
"What's wrong with her arm?" Donna asked, having followed them
"An irritation of the skin." Metella said "She never complains, bless her. Christi bathes it in olive oil every night."
"What is it?" Donna asked, glancing from Chris to Evelina
"Evelina said you'd come from far away." Metella said showing "Please, have you ever seen anything like it?"
Donna walked forward uncertainly when Chris nodded. She reached down to feel Evelina's are "It's stone." Donna said after feeling the arm. She looked around to find that Chris had gone.
Chris was making her way out to the Doctor. She knew how hard this adventure was going to be for the Time Lord and wanted to be there for him. She also had questions that only the Time Lord could answer. She'd made a list of them on the nights that she hadn't been able to sleep that week, which was most of them.
"Different sort of hypocaust." The Doctor said, looking down into the steaming hypocaust with interest, trying to figure out what sort of mysteries it held. He did not like the steam that was coming out of it.
"Oh, yes." Caecilius bragged, "We're very advanced in Pompeii. In Rome, they're still using the old wood-burning furnaces. But we've got hot springs, leading from Vesuvius itself."
"Who thought of that?" The Doctor asked, not noticing Chris walk up next to him, too absorbed in the hypocaust before him.
"The soothsayers." Chris answered for Caecilius, giving a small smile when she saw that she'd startled both of the men.
"I thought you quit." Caecilius said, a hint of anger in her voice now that he was over his shock at her sudden appearance.
"Yes," Chris said, offering no more information as she too studied the hypocaust, ignoring the looks the Doctor was giving her. She wouldn't have been able to read them anyway.
"After the great earthquake, an awful lot of damage." Caecilius said, wanting to draw the attention of Doctor Spartacus away from Christi. "But we rebuilt."
"Didn't you think of moving away?" The Doctor asked, gesturing for Chris to come over to the hypocaust before muttering to her, "No, then again, San Francisco."
"That's a little restaurant in Naples, isn't it?" Caecilius said, having overheard the Doctor.
"What's that noise?" The Doctor asked, referring to a stony growl coming up from the hypocaust.
"Don't know. Happens all the time." Caecilius told him before leaning in like he was imparting a great secret, "They say the gods of the Underworld are stirring."
"But after the earthquake, let me guess - is that when the soothsayers started making sense?" The Doctor asked, shaking his head at Chris who had been rolling her eyes.
"Oh, yes, very much so." Caecilius agreed eagerly, "I mean, they'd always been, shall we say, imprecise? But then the soothsayers, the augurs, the haruspex, all of them, they saw the truth, again and again. It's quite amazing. They predict crops and rainfall with absolute precision."
"Have they said anything about tomorrow?" The Doctor asked earning an elbow from Chris. In her opinion if the man was going to berate Donna for her actions then he shouldn't be such a hypocrite about it.
"No. Why, should they? Why d'you ask?" Was the answer
"No, no, no reason. Just asking." The Doctor said hurriedly after a look from Chris, "But the soothsayers, they all consume the vapours, yeah?"
"That's how they see." Caecilius told him.
"Ipso facto" The Doctor muttered, sticking his head into the hypocaust
"Look you." Caecilius said, getting frustrated with the strange Celtic man and his ex-maid.
"They're all consuming this." The Doctor said, holding up his pinched fingers to let dust fall to the ground
"Dust?" Caecilius asked
"Tiny particles of rock." The Doctor corrected before sticking some in his mouth.
"Dust" Chris said, earning a glare from both men, the Doctor's was less severe than Caecilius'
"They're breathing in Vesuvius." The Doctor continued, as if Chris hadn't interrupted him.
"Well, you two have fun." Chris said with a grin, She stood and walked over to the door leading back to Evy's room. "I should go make sure, uh, Spartacus, is doing alright. This is a new culture for her."
"Wait." The Doctor said, quickly making his way to Chris, "How are you doing?"
"I've had a week to get used to this, Doc." Chris said, The Doctor winced "I'm doing as well as I can. Now, let me talk to Donna and you ask Quintus about Lucius."
"Why would I ask about Lucius." The Doctor asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You're the timelord, work it out." Chris told him before turning and making her way to Evelina's room.
"You're not supposed to laugh." Donna was scolding Evy with a laugh as Chris walked into the room. "Thanks for that. What d'you think? The Goddess Venus."
"That's sacrilege." Evy said with a laugh of her own
"Nice to see you laugh, though." Donna said said, not noticing Chris for a moment, though Chris was smiling at the purple dress the temp was wearing.
"You look gorgeous." Chris said, before noting the wary look Donna was giving her, "Ah sorry, have we met yet? I mean, I haven't actually met you, but I want to make sure we've met. So that if we haven't I know not to cause a paradox or something," She noticed the looks the two women were giving her, "and I'm rambling, aren't I?"
"We've met," Donna said, "But he hasn't exactly told me who you are."
"Ah, well," Chris said failing to notice how Doctor like she was sounding, "how 'bout once we get back to the Tardis, assuming I haven't disappeared, I'll tell ya everything I can?"
"That sounds nice." Donna said with a still-wary smile before turning to Evy, who was watching Chris knowingly.
"What d'you do in old Pompeii, then, girls of your age?" Donna asked, getting Evelina's attention as Chris stepped out of the room with a frown. "You got mates? D'you go hanging about round the shops? TK Maximus?"
This was Chris' first time meeting a companion and she had the notion that she hadn't made a good impression with Donna the first time the temp from Chiswick had met her. Not that it really mattered, Chris had more important things to deal with than getting into this companions good graces, she could do that later.
The entire time Chris had been in Pompeii she'd been considering how she should go about this particular adventure. She could step aside and let things run their course. Back with eleven she hadn't changed much but she was afraid that something bad would happen if she go too involved.
Rain, any insight? Chris asked as she wandered about the estate, waiting for The Doctor to get back.
I am not an augur, Rain quipped, I know little more than you do, Chris. I have access to your memories of the show 'Doctor Who' and the knowledge I gained from an experience shortly before you showed up in this universe.
What experience? Chris asked, picking up a vase to examine it.
I believe it was the episode "Asylum of the Daleks" Chris shivered at Rain's reply.
I am glad I don't have to experience that for myself then. Chris set the vase down and moved on the a statue, I just wish I knew why the hell I was here, and how to get back home. Mike, my brother, my dad. I worry about them.
I know, Chris.
Chris let out a sigh, sensing that the conversation was over. She moved away from the statue but was startled into nearly knocking it over by the voice of Metella.
"Christi? Are you alright?" Metella asked and Chris turned to her sheepish after preventing the statue from falling.
"Yes," Chris said, stepping away from anything she might break, "just a little out of it. It's been a long day."
"That it has." Metella said with a grin, placing her hands on Chris' shoulders, "I know that you quit today, my dear, but know that you are always welcome here. You do so much good for my Evelyn."
"Ah now," Chris said, her face flushing, "I can't make her laugh like that Donna does."
"That is not true," Metella argued, squeezing Chris' shoulders then dropping her hands to her side, "There is more to doing good than making a person laugh."
"You're a lot more understanding than I thought you would be." Chris said, tilting her head to the side.
"You remind me of my mother." Metella said, much to Chris' surprise, "She was hardworking and never let anyone treat her the wrong way. She also tried her hardest to make the best out of every situation."
"I will try my best to do your mother proud, Metella," Chris said, "It is the least I can do to honor the mother of such a wonderful woman."
"You're giving her a big head." Caecilius' voice cut through the air and I turned to the man in surprise. He'd treated Metella with such love and care, "Metella, stop telling this child such lies."
Chris felt her shoulders deflate in both relief and hurt, she was glad that Caecilius did not treat his wife badly. Though, the way he was treating Chris was not something she was going to put up with either.
"My head's just fine the way it is, Caecilius." Chris told the man, shocking him by addressing the marble worker by his first name, "you need not concern yourself with the size of my ego. Nor with the conversations that have nothing to do with you."
"How dare you disrespect me in my own home?" Caecilius questioned hotly.
"Easily." Chris said before walking out of the room as Metella moved to calm down her husband.
A short time later Chris found herself in the main room by the Tardis. She was sitting with her back against it when Evy and Donna walked in. Chris watched the two warily before the earth suddenly started to shake in little spurts and the Doctor literally lept into the room.
"Caecilius, Chris," The Doctor yelled as he moved to Donna and Evy, pushing the two away from the hypocaust, "all of you! Get out!"
"Doctor!" Caecilius yelled as he and Metella rushed into the room, "What is it?"
"I think we're being followed." The Doctor said, trying to force Donna and Evelina back as the shaking got worse. "Just get out!"
"Doctor," Chris called as the ground near her started to crack, she looked around in fear, "A little help."
"Chris, get in the Tardis." The Doctor yelled before suddenly there was a giant rock creature pushing his way up from below the hypocaust. Chris hugged the side of the Tardis, not wanting to fall in.
"The gods are with us." Evelina said
"Water! We need water!" The Doctor started yelling, "Quintus, all of you, get water! Donna, help Chris!"
Doing as he said Donna made her way around the cracks in the floor and helped Chris around the side of the Tardis where she could stand on solid ground. Chris immediately threw her arms around Donna, who graciously returned the hug.
"I don't know what I do or say to make you so wary of me but you, Donna Noble, are a gem," Chris rattled, "A true gem."
"Uh, thanks." Donna said, gently pushing Chris back so that she could breath normally, "Now we should get water."
Chris looked over to the the golem and groaned as Donna went to fetch water. "Oh." She said as the golem attacked two servants, ones that she had grown rather fond of.
"Blest are we to see the gods." Evelina said barely loud enough for Chris to hear.
"Talk to me, that's all I want!" The Doctor yelled, placing himself in front of Caecilius and Metella, "Talk to me, just tell me who you are." The thing looked over at the Doctor, "Don't hurt these people! I'm the Doctor, just tell me who you are."
"Doctor!" Donna called before suddenly women in Red robes surrounded her. Chris tried to call out but she found herself staring at the woman who looked exactly like Amelia Pond.
A servant and Quintus threw buckets of water on the creature. The Doctor started to sonic the creature after it had fallen apart
"What was it?" Quintus asked while Chris tried to find her voice.
"Carapace of stone, held together by internal magma, not too difficult to stop." The Doctor told them, "But I reckon that's just the foot soldier."
Chris took several deep breaths trying not to panic so that she could tell the Doctor that Donna was kidnapped.
"Doctor, or whatever your name is, you bring bad luck on this house." Caecilius yelled
"I thought your son was brilliant, aren't you going to thank him?" The Doctor said before looking around for Donna and Chris "Still If there ARE aliens at work in Pompeii, it's a good thing we stayed."
He couldn't find Donna but he could hear the panicked breaths of Chris.
"Chris" the Doctor yelled as he ran to the woman, "hey, hey, hey, it's okay, you're okay."
He pulled Chris into his arms so that she had an anchor.
"Breathe, Chris, breathe," The Doctor ordered, slowing his breaths to help calm Chris.
"Breathing, breathing" Chris said matching her breaths to the Doctors. "Donna, she was taken."
"It's okay, we'll find her," The Doctor said, pulling back to look at Chris, "I know you're not used to this yet, but we'll get through this, together, you got that?"
"I got it," Chris said, nodding her head before grinning, "Thanks Doc, you're a star."
"Okay, what can you tell me?" The Doctor asked, dropping his arms from around Chris and taking a step back.
"Doc," Chris began, "I can't tell you anything, I'm sorry. This is too important I should actually just wait in the Tardis. I could change things too much from what I know and I don't want to do that because what if things go too bad what if Donna dies, what if you die, what if-"
"Chris, stop." The Doctor commanded and Chris stopped talking, "forget I asked," He frowned at the hurt look Chris gave him, "No, no, don't do that. I meant don't worry about it, obviously it's early for you and you're not as experienced as you will be and that's okay."
Chris took a few deep breaths before nodding. She couldn't believe she had forgotten about Donna getting kidnapped.
'You can't remember everything, Chris' Rain said, startling Chris. Considering Rain was another mind inside her own Chris forgot about Rain a lot, 'remember the letter? Trust The Doctor. '
Thanks, Rain. Chris said, Seriously.
You are welcome.
A/N: GUESS WHAT! I've been on FF for more than a year! The 26th marked my anniversary. I meant to update the story that has been going for a year but I got writers block after the last chapter and currently have one sentence written for it. Sorry. Hopefully I'll have something else to post before the new year. Any who enjoy! Let me know what you think, I love getting reviews. They certainly brighten my day.
-Ryn