So, some people have asked me about Kylie's strength and how she survived the Dalek's shot. I think this might help clear some things up:

Osiriens are stronger than humans. Owe it to evolution or the siren's added mix to their DNA or whatever. But that isn't what makes Kylie less 'killable'. It's all in the Timepiece. The Timepiece protects its wearers, it depends on their survival – if the owner dies, so does the Timepiece. Once it's strapped on to someone, nothing will be able to tear them apart. So it makes its owner stronger, healthier, and more difficult to kill. Not unstoppable, mind you, it just makes it harder. The Timepiece is a piece of technology the Doctor hasn't encountered yet, and, as of yet, he still hasn't realized how powerful it is. He's becoming more suspicious, but until recently he only thinks of it as somewhat of a Vortex Manipulator replica.

I'm using all of this as a prelude as to what's to come. The Timepiece plays a HUGE role in Kylie's past and her future, bigger than even the Doctor can imagine right now.

I hope this cleared some things up! Feel free to PM me if you still have some questions. I'll be happy to help:) I want you to enjoy this story with me as much as possible.

So, yeah. Thanks for all the new followers and favorites! And especially the reviewers. You make my day:)

"There we go!" The Doctor said as we settled down. "Perfect landing. Which isn't easy in such a tight spot."

"You should be used to tight spots by now," Martha grinned. "Where are we?"

"The end of the line," he said.

I narrowed my eyes at him. His usual enthusiasm was gone. I had a bad feeling about this.

He didn't seem to notice my look. "No place like it," He continued.

Martha rushed out of the TARDIS.

No place like it.

It couldn't be. He told me he wanted us to travel with him. I had to be wrong.

The Doctor met my eyes unflinchingly.

"Home?" I heard Martha say incredulously from outside. "You took me home?"

I regarded him and I knew he could see the hurt in my eyes. He looked away.

"I thought you said we could travel with you." I hissed at him.

He shrugged, using his hand to scratch the back of his head. "Changed my mind. It happens."

"You can't just change your mind."

"'Course I can."

I glared at him.

His face lost some of the aloofness as he looked at me. "Kylie, I've taken you to three different places. How many times have you injured yourself? Three."

"That- you- It's- Ugh!" I ran my hands through my hair and pulled it. "That's my problem, Doctor. I get into these situations. With or without you. We met in a damn hospital for God's sake."

"Yeah, well, I feel responsible for you."

I bared my teeth in annoyance. "What, then? You'll just leave us here? You think Martha will just get on with her life? Just forget everything she's seen? And me? You'll just leave me to wander Earth without this." I said, motioning to my Timepiece. "That's the worst fate you can ever put me through, Doctor."

"Of course not!" The Doctor exclaimed. "I won't just leave you to wander Earth. I'll take you to Orisis."

White, hot panic rushed through me. I shuddered, my mind whirling with thoughts so fast I felt faint all of the sudden.

I would not go back.

"No." I said, a bit more forceful than I had intended. I took a big breath, trying to calm myself when I saw him shoot me a concerned look. "No, if you're to leave us, I'd prefer to explore Earth."

He looked suspicious, but didn't say anything.

"Doctor? Kylie?" Martha called.

We walked out the TARDIS, and I think the both of us were trying to avoid each other's eyes.

"It's the morning after we left," he said, eyes full of curiosity as he looked around Martha's room. I leaned back against the TARDIS, glaring at him. "You've only been gone about twelve hours. No time at all, really."

"But all the stuff we've done," she insisted, sounding rejected. "Shakespeare, New New York, old New York?"

The Time Lord nodded, before finally turning around and meeting her eyes. "Yep, all in one night – relatively speaking. Everything should be just as it was. Books, CDs," He picked up a pair of pink panties with one finger. "Laundry."

Martha snatched the lingerie from his fingertips, and in any other time, I would have laughed.

"So, back where you were, as promised." He smiled.

"This is it?" Martha asked, bewildered. She looked at me, seeking help. "This is it?"

I shrugged noncommittally, and continued glaring at the Doctor. He seemed to be unaffected, but I saw how he flinched ever so slightly every time he met my eyes.

The Doctor inhaled deeply. "Yeah, I should probably… um…"

He was interrupted by the phone's ring. The answering machine picked up.

"Hi! I'm out! Leave a message!" Martha's voice reached us.

Martha apologized even as another voice started speaking.

"Martha, are you there? Pick it up, will you?"

"It's mum." Martha explained. "It'll wait."

"All right then, pretend that you're out if you like. I was only calling to say that your sister's on TV. On the news of all things. Just thought you might be interested."

Martha quickly turned on the TV. An old man appeared on the screen, talking to a bunch of reporters. A woman stood a few paces behind him. She must have been Martha's sister.

"The details are top secret," The old professor, somewhere in his seventies, was saying.

"How could Tish end up on the news?" Martha wondered out loud.

"Tonight, I will demonstrate a device…" The TV continued.

"She's got a new job. PR for some research lab."

"…with the push of a single button, I will change what it means to be human."

Martha switched off the TV. She turned back to the Doctor.

"Sorry. You were saying we should-?"

The Doctor stared intently at the now empty screen frowning. Shaking himself out of it, he nodded. "Yes, yes, we should. One trip is what we said."

"Yeah. I suppose things just kind of… escalated."

"Hmm. Seems to happen to me a lot."

"Thank you. For everything." Martha said, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

It suddenly hit me. She was saying her farewells. It was over.

The Doctor smiled just the tiniest bit. "It was my pleasure." He then turned to me. "Kylie?"

I nodded, stiffly. I was angry at him, even if I didn't really have a right to. He'd given me an opportunity to travel with him, and I knew very few had that.

And yet, he'd given me hope. That even if my Timepiece was ruined, even if I couldn't travel with it anymore, the Doctor would still be there. That the adventure still wasn't over. If he hadn't told me he wanted us to keep travelling with him, I wouldn't have held it against him. But he had, and that's what angered me.

I tried smiling at him, but I knew my eyes didn't fool him.

"Goodbye, Doctor."

He nodded back. "You sure you want to stay here?"

"Yeah."

With another nod, and a small smile, he turned on his heel and climbed back into the TARDIS.

Martha and I watched quietly, I think still dumb with the realization that everything was over. When the TARDIS fully disappeared, we turned towards each other. I realized Martha had tears forming in her eyes.

She held them back, however, and I smiled at her in reassurance.

"So, this is goodbye then?" I asked.

"You could stay, if you want." She offered. "I could help get you settled."

I smiled at her, but shook my head. "No, but thanks. I'm going to head to Cardiff. I have some human money still stashed around for emergencies, so it'll be no problem."

Suddenly, she hugged me. A bit surprised, I hugged back.

"Good luck," she said, smiling. "Find me if you ever need anything."

"I'll visit." I promised.

And with a last smile, I stepped out her door and into the human world.

My priorities were clear. Reach Cardiff, try to get into Torchwood, find a way to fix the Timepiece, and disappear.

Should be easy, I thought with a dry laugh.

I hadn't even walked a block when suddenly the wind picked up. My hair blew back from my face as I came to a stop. I watched, apprehensive, as the TARDIS slowly materialized into view.

The doors opened and Martha popped out. "You coming?" she asked with a smile.

I couldn't stop the small smile forming on my face.

"Of course."

I stared at myself in the mirror and grinned.

I liked what I saw.

The burgundy dress hugged my curves and settled nicely on my flat stomach. The fabric was soft, and I liked how it felt against my legs. I hadn't had the chance to dress up in a long time, and I found it oddly exciting, even if I had never been one to enjoy the expensive events.

Martha helped pile up my hair stylishly, with twists and twirls that I had no idea someone could do. If one thing was for sure, Martha knew what she was doing. She'd already helped me with the make-up, insisting that she wanted to help, even as I'd told her that I was capable of doing it.

Now, I just had to face the Doctor.

I'd walked into the TARDIS, Martha pulling me by the hand towards the wardrobe. The Doctor had been hunched over the console, fussing with the controls.

Or eyes had met for only a second before I was whisked away.

I was still angry. Even if he'd come back, it was only a matter of time until he left again. He'd only settle this Lazarus business and then he would leave.

I didn't want to be angry. I don't think he really deserved it. But still, it was one thing to leave us after he had promised us one trip; it was another thing entirely after asking us to actually travel with him.

"Kylie?" Martha called.

I slipped on my heels, balancing with one hand on a wall. "Coming!"

I walked towards the console room, grinning at Martha who was equally dressed up. The Doctor had his back to me, staring at something in a screen.

"Finally!" he said, hearing me approach. He turned around with a smile that immediately fell the second he saw me, his face melting into one of surprise.

I looked at Martha and tried smiling at her. However, her eyes were on the Doctor.

I ran my eyes over him, and he wasn't the only one surprised. He was dressed up in a tux and a bowtie, and I had to admit he looked incredibly handsome in it. If I'd still had the attraction patch, well, I'd be salivating right about now.

I'd always had a weak spot for men in tuxedos.

His hair was a mess as always, as if he'd just rolled out of bed and hadn't bothered with it. Which was probably true. There was probably a name for that kind of hair. I was sure of it.

I realized he was still staring.

He still looked surprised. I didn't know if I should be offended or not.

"Doctor?" I dared to ask.

He immediately snapped out of it, eyes wide as he avoided our gazes. "Come on, then!"

He strode out of the TARDIS, and we followed slowly after him, Martha and I exchanging tense looks.

Whatever the Doctor felt when he'd looked at me disappeared on our way to the party. He was his normal self, fussing with the cuffs of his dress shirt and looking completely uncomfortable out of his normal suit.

"Oh, black tie. Whenever I wear this, something bad always happens."

Martha shook her head, smiling. "It's not the outfit, that's just you. Anyway, I think it suits you. In a James Bond kind of way."

"James Bond?" He said, considering it. He then nodded, like he approved. "Really?"

Martha chuckled at his expression.

I walked a few steps behind them, struggling with myself.

This was ridiculous. I was not a child anymore. I could not hold a grudge against him. He had given us another opportunity for one last adventure with him. I would not forgive myself if the only thing I did was brood. Yes, I felt betrayed. But, then again, we were merely friends, and not that close ones.

I let my anger go, deciding to enjoy the last moments I had with the strange duo.

"Kylie?" The Doctor glanced back at me, and I noticed I was being left behind. The amazed look in his eyes every time he looked at me still hadn't left. I did not understand where it came from.

I waved his concern off. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Coming."

I increased my pace until I walked on the Doctor's other side.

If the air between us was edgier than usual, neither of us said anything about it.

We reached the building, where a huge sign claimed it as Lazarus Laboratories in big slanted letters. Even from outside, I could see it brimming with people and photographers. We entered, our eyes instantaneously drawn to the white machine in the middle of the room.

The Doctor was easily distracted.

"Oh, look, they've got nibbles!" he exclaimed, taking some hors d'oeuvres from a passing tray. "I love nibbles!" His gleeful smile was almost contagious as he swallowed a whole one in one bite.

He offered the other one to me, and immediately ate it when I refused with a soft smile.

A woman approached us. Based on the similarities, I gathered it was Martha's sister. They greeted each other, hugging.

I found my eyes once again being dragged towards the Doctor. And in passing, I saw I wasn't the only one looking at him. Two different women, from two different parts of the room, also stared at him, admiring from atop glasses full of champagne. The Doctor was oblivious as he listened in into Martha's conversation, munching away at his 'nibbles'.

I couldn't blame them, the women. It was ridiculous the change in the Time Lord. He always carried an aura of confidence with him, the way he strode around like he knew what he was doing, eyes just brimming with intelligence. The tuxedo, the way it suddenly highlighted his looks, made up for a lethal combination.

One he didn't even seem aware of, which only seemed to add to the attraction.

One I couldn't help but admire.

I frowned, grabbing a glass of champagne from a nearby waiter. It was probably just the after effects form the attraction patch.

Right?

"This is Kylie, and this is, uh, the Doctor." Martha introduced us to her sister, thankfully dragging me back from my somewhat disturbing thoughts.

We shook Tish's hands, the Doctor smiling a 'hello!'

"Is he with you?" Tish asked Martha with a raised eyebrow.

Martha blushed, glancing quickly at the Doctor. "What? Uh, um, no. No!"she insisted when Tish merely continued looking at her.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Martha's sister said, looking at the Doctor and me. "Are you a couple?"

The Doctor almost choked on his food.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, he wishes."

The Doctor managed to swallow, shooting me a look as he raised an eyebrow, "That's not what you said back in New New York."

It was my time to splutter, and he had the gall to look smug. Smug!

"You- That's not- You know that was not my fault!"

He smirked, and I stared at him, staggered.

I rolled my eyes, swallowing the rest of my champagne in one gulp. "You know what? I'm going to the ladies room."

I strode off, leaving the empty glass in a nearby table. I skirted around a group of women, slowing when I noticed one of the women that had been ogling the Doctor was there, speaking.

"He is definitely one of the most handsome men here."

Another woman agreed with her. "He is. Though he came in with two women. I doubt he's single."

The first woman sighed. "I hope he's not. Do you see the hair? It's so very… fuck me."

I continued walking on towards the bathroom.

Fuck-me hair.

That's definitely what that style was called. It had a nice ring to it. I wondered how he'd react if I called it that to his face.

Ah, that'd be fun.

I took care of business, smiling at a waiter as I came out and he offered another champagne glass.

I sipped it once, pausing at the edge of the crowd when the sound of a fork tapping against a glass cut the conversations short, and obtaining everyone's attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the old man I recognized from the TV said. "I am Professor Richard Lazarus and tonight I'm going to perform a miracle. It is, I believe, the most important advance since Rutherford split the atom, the biggest leap since Armstrong stood on the moon. Tonight, you will watch and wonder. Tomorrow, you'll awake to a world that will be changed forever."

The crowd watched quietly as he entered a cabinet in the machine. There was a high-pitched whir and a blue light flooded the room. I squinted through the light, watching as the machined powered up and pillars around the cabinet began to spin around, going faster and faster. It was all very dramatic.

An alarm called everyone's attention, and the equipment began malfunctioning, throwing sparks as the pillars began to move dangerously fast. I watched from behind the crowd, wishing I were taller so I could see more. There was no doubt in my mind the Doctor was already somehow involved.

Smoke flooded the room, and I could feel the audience flinch with every spark that flew.

The machine came to a sudden stop, and I saw Martha and the Doctor rushing about.

"Get it open!" The Doctor yelled.

Martha opened the door, and from the smoke, we saw Lazarus' shadow appear. But the person who stepped out wasn't old. No, the man that stepped out looked 40 human years younger.

The crowd gasped and murmured. I looked, astounded, as the now young Lazarus ran his hands over his face, realizing that it had worked.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am Richard Lazarus." He announced. "I am seventy-six years old and I am reborn!"

The audience burst in applause.

I frowned. I knew this wasn't part of human history. It wasn't.

I ducked through people, shouldering my way through until I finally reached the Doctor.

"It can't be the same guy." Martha was saying. "It's impossible. It must be a trick."

"Oh, it's not a trick. I wished it where."

"What just happened, then?" I said as I stepped beside them, watching as Lazarus posed for pictures. "This is wrong."

The Doctor gave a small, barely perceptible nod, his eyes never leaving Lazarus. "He just changed what it means to be human."

"This isn't supposed to happen," I muttered.

"History can be rewritten."

I shook my head. "But not like this. It's almost… unnatural."

He remained quiet.

After a moment, we approached Lazarus and his wife, watching as he shoveled the hors d'oeuvres into his mouth. His wife watched, aghast.

"Richard!" She exclaimed.

"I'm famished." He growled.

"Energy deficit." The Doctor intruded. "Always happens with this kind of process."

"You speak as if you this every day, Mr-" Lazarus trailed off.

"Doctor. And, well, no, not every day, but I have some experience in this kind of transformation."

Lazarus smiled condescendingly. "That's not possible."

The Doctor grinned. "Using hypersonic sound waves to create a state of resonance. That's- that's inspired."

Lazarus raised his eyebrows. "You understand the theory, then."

"Enough to know that you couldn't possibly have allowed for all the variables."

The newly young human shrugged, slipping another hors d'oeuvre into his mouth. "No experiment is entirely without risk.

"That thing nearly exploded. You might as well have stepped into a blender!" The Doctor exclaimed.

"You're not qualified to comment," Lazarus' wife – Lady Thaw, as they called her, - butted in.

The Doctor raised an eyebrow. "If I hadn't stopped it, it would have exploded."

Lazarus smiled again, but his eyes were completely cold. "Then I thank you, Doctor. But that's a simple engineering issue. What happened inside the capsule was exactly what was supposed to happen. No more, no less."

"How would you know?" I asked, if a bit roughly. "You've no way of knowing until you've run tests."

Lazarus laughed. "Look at me! You can see what happened. I am all the proof you need."

"This device will be properly certified before we start to operate commercially." Lady Thaw assured.

"Commercially?" Martha exclaimed. "You are joking. That'll cause chaos."

The amusement bled off Lazarus' face. "Not chaos. Change. A chance for humanity to evolve, to improve."

The Doctor glared. "This isn't about improving. It's about you and your customers living a little longer."

Lazarus shook his head slowly, and spoke like he was speaking to a child. "Not a little longer, Doctor. A lot longer. Perhaps indefinitely."

"Richard," Lady thaw said. "We have things to discuss. Upstairs." She left, and Lazarus trailed after her.

"Goodbye, Doctor." He said. "In a few years, you'll look back and laugh at how wrong you were."

He paused, taking Martha's hand in his, and kissed it. I watched Martha's face contort in disgust.

I stared as he left. There was something incredibly wrong here. Something probably not entirely human.

The Doctor sighed. "Ooh, he's out of his depth. No idea of the damage he might have done."

"So what do we do now?" Martha asked.

The Doctor inhaled, looking around. "Now… well, this building must be full of laboratories. I say we do our own tests."

Martha looked at her hand. "Lucky I've just collected a DNA sample then, isn't it?"

The Doctor's face changed into one of surprise and admiration. "Oh, Martha Jones, you're a star."

I didn't hear the rest. I was already slipping away.

The Doctor wasn't one much for espionage. However, I'd found through the years that that was one of the most capable ways of finding out what you wanted to know. I just had to find Lazarus and his wife. Perhaps then, I'd find what was wrong here.

And there was something definitely wrong.

I left the Doctor to his research, and I ducked into a stairway.

Up we go.

So, the Doctor got a bit tongue tied when he saw Kylie in a dress.

Tell me what you think?;)