"Everyone is gone except you and I. I need you to leave!" an ashy-brunette woman ordered a woman beside her with shoulder length black hair and blue eyes.
"But I can't leave y-"
An explosion that didn't sound too far rocked both women, nearly knocking them to the snowy ground.
"Zohar, get out of here, NOW!" the brunette shouted and pushed the black-haired woman back.
"But Kaeya, I can't just leave you here! We can leave, we can escape somewhere..." Zohar looked around, seeing their premises were clear for the moment.
"Anywhere we go it'll be a risk. Everyone's gone, Zo. But there's a ship in the south, it's been hidden but it still works. Go!"
Zohar's eyes watered up, "But...but I can't..."
"I already lost my parents and grandparents. I will not lose my only friend on this planet. Go," Kaeya turned Zohar around.
"But-" as Zohar tried to turn around, Kaeya had lifted her arm up to reveal a Vortex Manipulator, "Where are you going?"
Kaeya bit her lip as she tried figuring out the blasted manipulator, "You and I both know what we saw minutes ago. That ship...that ship belonged to Time Lords, and if it belongs to them...then..."
"Kaeya, you'll get yourself killed! And for what? A chance? What if it's not even him!?"
"I'm willing to take that chance," Kaeya looked up, dead serious, "If you haven't noticed, I have nothing left on this planet. This is my last hope, so please just go."
But Zohar wouldn't have it, she marched up to her friend and set her hand over the manipulator on Kaeya's wrist, "Fine, then we go together."
"Zohar, I can't ask-"
"You are my princess, you are my friend, and we go together."
Kaeya sighed but activated the manipulator.
I gasped lightly as I woke up from the awful dream. I lifted my head from my spot on the floor and looked to see if any of the Jones's had woken up. It was dark inside the Valiant's cell rooms, everyone sleeping as much as they could. I shared a cell with Martha's family for the night, the most uncomfortable place to sleep in. Most of us took the floor for a sleep, none of us accepting any commodity from the Master as it would probably bite us later.
I turned flat on my back and stared up at the ceiling, feeling my chest slightly ache as was usual after having those dreams I'd taken custom to having ever since this awful year started. Sometimes they were good ones, nice little scenes but...then I'd get those types of dreams, of a war, and suddenly they weren't dreams anymore, they were nightmares. Worst of all they weren't even nightmares that belonged to me...they belonged to a certain princess of a certain snowy planet.
I shut my eyes, forcing myself to try and return to sleep, praying that just for tonight my sleep would be dreamless.
~ 0 ~
Francine and I entered the main room of the Vailiant where the Master greeted with his usual, mocking tones and smiles, "My little toy," he pointed as I set the tray of food on the table. He reached for my arm but I jumped back, gasping with horror. He frowned and looked around, sending a smirk at the Doctor who sat on a wheelchair across the room, still elderly, "That's a peculiar reaction...haven't really had that one all this time," he stepped forwards and I quickly stepped back, "Have I finally broken you?"
I swallowed, "Stay away from me..."
"What's wrong with her?" he looked at Francine.
"We don't know, she awoke like that," she muttered, giving her usual glares at him.
"What's wrong little toy? What's changed between last night and today?" he stepped forwards again and I quickly went around him and Francine.
"It's...it's the crystal, its affects," I hugged myself, giving them my back, "They gave me nightmares."
"In that case you should let me help you," I heard his footsteps nearing followed by his hand touching my shoulder.
"No!" I cried and moved farther away, spinning to face him, "Don't touch me! Stay away! I saw what you did and I don't want you anywhere near me you cold-blooded murderer!"
"Oh, those are definitely new reactions," the Master smirked.
"I saw what you did..." my voice broke and I shook my head, "How cold are you? You're pure evil!"
"Tell me exactly what you saw?"
"No."
"I said tell me," he stepped forwards, his playful tone gone and replaced with his serious, ordering one.
"Why? I don't want to remember!" I put a hand on the side of my head and sniffled, "It's stuck inside and it's awful, I don't want to remember."
"Minerva," the Doctor called, his voice slightly scratchy from his new age.
Without a thought or hesitation, I dashed to where he was and encased him in a hug, uncaring if I accidentally pushed him back on the wheelchair. I wept quietly into his shoulder and felt his arms move to hug me. The poor Martian had no real strength anymore but this hug was just as good as his others, cause it was still given with the same intentions: comfort.
"This was your intention?" he demanded from the Master, "Make her cry? For what?"
"That was not my intention," the Master plainly said, "I had no intentions from her except entertainment with a measly crystal. That crying is all her, all the emotional mess humans are."
"I'm not a mess," I shot back, glaring daggers at him, "I'm reacting like a regular person would after seeing a murder! You are despicable!"
"Now let's not go insulting or other people can get hurt," the Master warned, eyeing the Doctor as an example.
"Don't," I quickly wiped my face, "I'll stop but...but don't hurt anyone."
"That's more like it. I won't tolerate any insults from you, little toy. Remember, your acts define whether or not your family continues to live."
I swallowed hard and nodded. It had been only a matter of hours, on the first day the Master took control of the Earth, for him take my family into custody. He kept them on Earth, locked up somewhere...I had no idea where they were, if they were being properly fed, well-treated...all I knew was that if I didn't obey, they would be killed.
"Leave them alone," the Doctor said.
"Of course, come to defend the poor human," the Master rolled his eyes, "Perhaps that kind of defense might have prevented poor Kaeya's demise."
"You leave her alone!" I snapped, surprising him and the Doctor.
"You defend her?" the Master raised an eyebrow.
"How can I not? After seeing what you did to her..." I swallowed hard.
"How did you see it?"
"Your crystal showed me."
I certainly wasn't going to reveal to him nor the Doctor that I had been having dreams of Kaeya and her past life for the past couple of months. She'd been able to use the crystal the Master used on me to create a link between us. With that link she showed me certain moments of her life on the Monsoon, and last night had been the most horrible moment I ever had to see. It was plain awful and no matter what my thoughts had been on Kaeya no one deserved to go through what she had to.
But something was wrong with the princess.
Over the past months I've been able to learn more about her and her people. I can actually say that she had been a lovely, kind person to everyone she'd met. It made me feel genuinely bad for my past thoughts on her. We'd been able to get to a new relationship level of friends as weird as it was. It wasn't that hard to construct after seeing some of her moments with the Doctor and the moments she'd had with her family. It was like she and I shared the same dreams of adventure, only she couldn't have that. After having a dream (that's not really dreams but her memories in reality) of her having an argument with her grandfather about leaving her planet, I understood her even more. So when she asked me to help her, I couldn't refuse. She needed mine, but mostly the Doctor's, help, and I planned to help her.
Of course, that didn't mean I was okay with the fact that she still remained in love with the Doctor...
Beyond everything, I still wanted the Doctor to myself. I wanted him and it broke my heart that Kaeya was still coming back to try and rekindle what they had in the past. I didn't blame her, now that I knew how long she'd gone without seeing the Doctor and suddenly knowing that he was alive...I'd go after him too. But there was something she would need to face when she returned and she knew...after all, she had willingly returned several things to me.
"The crystal, right," the Master seemed to buy the lie but not the Doctor as he was still giving me a sharp look that made me look away, "Well, today we'll get to learn what else it can do."
The Master had taken custom of using me every-so-often to figure out what else Kaeya's crystal can do since it apparently worked for me only, despite its burns. But it was because of that crystal that was the origin of the link between us and so as much as it physically pained me. I endured the burns it gave me to keep my contact with Kaeya.
"But for the meantime, let's all appreciate this new Time Lord Empire. It's good, isn't it? Isn't it good? Anything? No? Anything?" neither the Doctor nor I spoke, " Oh, but they broke your hearts, didn't they? Those Toclafane, ever since you worked out what they really are. "
The crystal had also shown me what those Toclafane really were...and I nearly cried.
"They say Martha Jones…has come back home. Now why would she do that?"
"You leave her out of this," I quickly ordered.
"Oh, touchy territory, again," he put his hands up.
"She's my best friend, and she's gonna kill you...unless Kaeya does it first."
"Interesting, see because it's been a year, and there's been no sign of the snowflake princess," he shrugged, "Guess someone isn't coming."
"Yeah, you keep thinking that," I looked around, "But let me remind you her spirit lurks...she's sneaky, Master. Don't think one night she might reappear and kill you in your sleep."
"Such dark talk for a young woman," he shook his head.
"Says the man who's taken nearly 90% of the population."
"I'll make it 95% and nice little Americans if you keep talking."
I swallowed, feeling my fear trade in for weariness, "I've done everything you wanted so far. Why won't you at least let me talk to my family?"
"Does get Martha to talk to her family?"
"Well...no, but-"
"Gotta keep the game fair, don't I?" he teased.
"You're going to die," I declared, not a warning, simply a statement, "You'll be stopped and then you'll die."
"Minerva," the Doctor said, tugging on my arm.
I turned to him, kneeling in front of him, "I'm sorry, Doctor. But he's committed an atrocious crime..."
"Look at that, hm," the Master sauntered over, his hands behind his back, "You turned a human who abhors deaths and violence into a...killer. How does that make you feel, Doctor?"
"I never said I was going to end you. I'm simply saying you've angered a very powerful woman. You tried murdering her and she survived, something you weren't expecting. You keep thinking of Kaeya as that snowflake princess but the truth is she's sick. She's not well anymore, she's sick and she has no control...I bet that'll give you nightmares, never knowing when she'll appear."
The Master simply looked to the side, none too pleased to hear my words.
~0~
"Right here," the Master patted the seat beside him, his wife Lucy on the chair to his left while another woman, Tanya, was massaging his shoulders.
Suppressing my hisses, I carried Kaeya's crystal in my bare hands and placed it on the table, "There," I opened and closed my hands repeatedly and flinching at the intense stings. Truthfully, my hands were destroyed from so many burns, not to mention their pain it caused me.
"What shall we do with this toy today? Hm, ladies, any ideas?" He glanced at Lucy and Tanya.
"How about you leave me alone?" I suggested, "Murderer."
"Condition red!"
"What the hell?" the Master jumped from his chair and ran up the stairs to the bridge.
Repeat: condition red.
Francine quickly grabbed the Master's jacket and threw it to Tish who then handed it to the Doctor. I watched helplessly everything, the pit of my stomach telling me it wouldn't end well.
"Oh, I see," the Master turned to the Doctor who aimed his laser screwdriver.
"I have one thing to say," the Doctor said, but the screwdriver didn't work...
"Isomorphic controls," the Master leaned over, plucking the screwdriver from the Doctor's hands and then backhanding him, sending him to floor.
"Doctor!" I moved to run but the guards were quickly on it, restraining me with ease.
"It's his fault," the Master gestured defensively, "And hers," he shot the wall beside Francine, still grazing her leg, "Say sorry," he commanded darkly.
"Sorry. Sorry. Sorry!"
"Mum!" Tish ran over to her.
"Didn't you learn anything from the blessed Saint Martha?" Lucy ran over and helped the Master into his jacket, poor thing looked like she would crack before us, "Siding with the Doctor is a very dangerous thing to do. Okay. Gotcha," he lifted the Doctor into a chair at the table, "There you go, Gramps," he sat on the edge of the table, looking around the room to Tish and Francine, and then me, "Oh, do you know, I remember the days when the Doctor, oh, that famous Doctor, was waging a time war. Battling Sea Devils and Axons. He sealed the rift at the Medusa Cascade single-handed. Ooh. And look at him now. Stealing screwdrivers. How did he ever come to this? Oh yeah. Me!"
"I just need you to listen," the Doctor tried to say but was cut off.
"No, it's my turn. Revenge! Best served hot. And this time…it'll be a message for Miss Souza and Miss Jones," he snapped his fingers, the guards moving me up.
"N-n-no, please," I pleaded, seeing him pick up the crystal.
"Guess what I discovered today? Man do I love to research," he smiled, placing the crystal in my hands despite my struggles to push it away. "It's a very nice trick."
"It's burning me..." I bit my lip hard, tasting a bit of the metallic flavor of blood from the strength.
"Leave her," the Doctor reached out but to no avail.
"One...two...three..." the man counted, "...it's a lovely feature, really. I tell you with this little crystal the Time Lords could have won the war," he nodded to the guards and stepped back, "...did I mention...four!" he pressed a part of the crystal.
I felt a shock start up at my wrists that quickly spread to the rest of my body. It felt like every inch of me was on fire. It made me wonder if this is what it felt like for the Doctor when he had been taken over by the sun of McDonnell's ship. I screamed at the top of my lungs, dropping to my knees when it all stopped, but flinching when the burns and the aftershocks struck every second or so. Eventually, it was just too much and I fell on my side on the floor.
"Amazing, how do you keep doing that?" The Master bent down beside me, moving a piece of hair from my face with his stupid laser screwdriver, "You keep surviving. After everything that crystal's done...you just keep surviving..." He had the audacity to sound awed by my persistent survival.
"Get away from her," the Doctor snapped, falling from his chair in his attempt to reach me. At least he did. "This was my plan, my actions. You don't have to hurt her."
"But I do, because that's how the message gets through. And now for Miss Jones..." the Master smirked, standing up.
"Minerva? Can you hear me?" the Doctor lifted my head up.
"He's...he's a m-murderer...awful..." I twitched with no control, "...I h-hate him."
"My people. Salutations on this, the eve of war," the Master began his broadcast, a stupid camera in front of him, the guards picking up the Doctor by my side, though I remained on the floor...my eyes wandering to the crystal not too far from me, "Lovely woman. But I know there's all sorts of whispers down there. Stories of a child, walking the Earth, giving you hope. But I ask you…how much hope has this man got? Say hello, Gandalf," the Master moved to the Doctor's side, " Except he's not that old but he's an alien with a much greater lifespan than you stunted, little apes. What if it showed?" he looked down at the Doctor, "What if I suspend your capacity to regenerate? All 900 years of your life, Doctor. What if we could see them?" he used the screwdriver on the Doctor again, the poor Martian convulsing again as he aged even more, "Older and older and older. Down you go, Doctor," the Doctor fell to the floor, writhing in pain as the Master continued.
I struggled to move towards the crystal, it wasn't even that far...if I could just stretch...
"Down, down, down you go," the Master finally stopped and silence fell over, "Doctor," he bent down in front of the Doctor's clothes on the floor which were empty.
My hand touched the crystal...
A large, domed head peered out from the Doctor's clothes, blinking eyes as he looked around.
The Master stood up and faced the camera, "Received and understood, Miss Jones?" the transmission ended.
As a tear rolling down my face as I broke a piece of the crystal.
~0~
Kaeya stepped forwards, only a couple feet away from her favorite iced-lake, "Hello?" she cautiously called, her hands at her sides and balled up, swirls of snow forming underneath them.
There was a foreign spaceship on the other side of the iced lake with an open door. She recognized it was Time Lord ships but she had listened to Zohar's words and would act with caution until she proved that it really was the Doctor. Zohar currently awaited not too far from the lake, just at the right amount where she could act in case Kaeya needed her.
"Who's out there?" Kaeya called, remaining in her place.
"Help..." came a muffled voice from across, a man's voice.
"Since you are on Moontsay territory and I'm..." Kaeya swallowed as she gathered her courage to speak her next words, "...the last of the royal family, you will answer me. Speak your name right now."
"Kaeya..." she saw a man stepping out of the ship, looking injured around the abdominal area.
Kaeya's eyes watered up at the mention of her name, "How do you know me?" her authoritative tone faltered.
"Because I love you, why else?" the man dropped onto the snow on his hands and legs, "Please help me."
"Doctor? Is that you?" she stepped onto the lake, tears beginning to stream down her face, "Is that really you?"
"Yes, but please...help me."
"If you're hurt you can regenerate, do it, please," Kaeya rushed over, forgetting her caution as she dropped beside him.
"I can't, I need your crystal to heal myself."
"Are the injuries that bad?" she tried to inspect them but he kept moving from her, "Let me look at your face," she had to smile even through all the losses and pain. It had been ages since she'd seen the Doctor, he'd changed again!
"Help me stand, please."
Kaeya nodded and wrapped an arm around his waist while his arm went around her shoulders, "What's happened? Why do you need the crystal?" she asked as they walked down the iced lake.
"Don't waste time, Kaeya. I can't heal myself unless I have it. Please, don't you trust me?"
"Of course I trust you, with my life. The crystal is inside the castle but I can't leave you here. Here," she moved in front of him and took her arm back. She frowned when she saw no blood of any kind on them, "Doctor, where exactly are you hurt?" she looked up to see a wicked grin on the man's face, "Y-you're not the Doctor..." she stepped back, her eyes wide with terror.
I jumped in my spot of sleep and snapped open my eyes to see I was still in the cell that had become a sleeping room for me and the Jones's. I groaned and sat up, leaning against the bar cells, "What happened?"
"You passed out, that's what happened," Tish answered, "After you were practically electrocuted."
"I'm not even cuffed," I looked at my free wrists.
"I believe the Master's words were: a gift," Tish rolled her eyes, "I swear to God I'm gonna kill him."
"I'm gonna kill him," Francine corrected her, "If I have to wait 100 years, I'm going to kill the Master. One day he'll let his guard down. One day. And I'll be there."
"No, that's my job. I'll swear to you. I'd shoot that man stone dead," Clive kissed her, the two apparently back together.
"I'll get him. Even if it kills me," Tish reinstated.
"Don't say that," her mother scolded.
"I mean it. That man made us stand on deck and watch Japan burning. Millions of people. I swear to you, he's dead."
"I don't think any of you will have to kill him," I sighed, garnering all their looks.
"Why do you say that?" Tish asked.
"He's had luck for an entire year, but everyone's luck runs out eventually. That man has done wrongful things, murdered a person and that can't go unpunished. It's cliche but I believe justice will prevail."
The three just stared at me like I was crazy. I'm pretty sure they wanted bloodshed but as much as I hated the Master, I didn't think bloodshed was necessary. I was sure the Doctor would have some kind of punishment he saw fit for the man, the only thing I hoped was for Kaeya to find some peace with the punishment he would choose.
~0~
Everyone was sleeping, including the Master...so I started taking out the crystal bits hidden within my clothes, making sure to be as quiet as possible.
~0~
"What now?" I groaned as I was brought inside the main room again, really all I wanted was to be back in my cell with the Jones family, hopefully to try and get some needed sleep.
"Ouch, a bit rude for someone who just wanted to talk," the Master flashed a grin as he plopped down at the end of the table.
"Oh, you want to talk?" I raised an eyebrow, the man nodding silently, "Okay, return the Doctor to normal and we'll talk all you like."
"Clever one she is," the Master glanced at the Doctor, now in a cage by his orders, "Isn't she?"
"Leave her alone," the Doctor ordered.
"I just want to talk," the Master sighed, as if annoyed no one would believe him.
"Make it quick cause I got things to do," I rolled my eyes.
"I thought you were afraid..."
"I was, I am, but I figure it's better to be angry with you than afraid of you. You don't deserve my fear."
The Master rolled his eyes and motioned for the guards to sit me down on a chair beside him, "So I was thinking, you could tell me what exactly Kaeya's been up to."
I smirked, "You're afraid."
"Am not."
"Are too. My words did get to you. Well, unfortunately for you, I don't know what she's been up to."
"You are the last being linked to this stupid thing," he took out the crystal and placed it on the table, "You activated it, god know's how, and now it responds to you, meaning...you have an open link with Kaeya," he neared the crystal to me, smirking when he saw me stiffen, "And the woman was telepathic, she can speak in other's minds. Seeing as your the closest person to that," he nodded back to the Doctor who was watching carefully, "I'm sure she's contacted you somehow."
"Well you're out of luck cause she hates me," I lied and shrugged. It was best to keep that thought alive, "She hasn't contacted me, she never did. The only reason she was in my head in the first place was cause I wore her necklace one time."
"Where is the necklace?" he looked from me to the Doctor, "It seems it has disappeared..."
"Even when the TARDIS is cannibalized it still manages to get you," I smirked.
"Where's the necklace!?" he shouted, making me flinch.
"Leave her alone!" came the Doctor's voice, a couple sounds of struggle against the cage afterwards.
"I just want to know where the bloody thing is!" the Master turned to him.
"Why?" I stood up from my seat, pushing the guards away from me, "What is so important of that thing?"
He glanced back at me, "You know, it's really quite amusing to know that the human who claims to be so clever-" he returned his gaze to the Doctor, "-and the man who was able to end the greatest war of in the universe haven't figured out what that necklace is in reality. Idiots!" He shook his head.
"It's a necklace with a mysterious energy level," I said, "How would you know its purposes?"
"It's called research, my darling. I've had a whole year plus the eighteen months I spent here, unbeknownst to you both. That necklace can bring so much destruction, if treated properly."
"You can't even touch it," the Doctor reminded, "It burns you."
"I'm sure I'd be able to find another way to unleash its power," he gestured to his black glove, "And since Kaeya has not returned then it means its power is still intact."
"Well you're out of luck cause neither of us know where it is," I shrugged.
He turned around, shooting me a glare, "How do I know you're speaking the truth?"
"You don't. And that's your problem, not mine, nor the Doctor's."
"You mark my words, I will find that necklace and when I do, you'll be the first one I unleash it on," he narrowed his eyes but his threat meant nothing to me.
~ 0 ~
We watched Martha be escorted inside the bridge room, up to the Master. She glanced at Jack and I and smiled. She looked over to her family and the Doctor before being forced down on her knees in front of the Master.
"I'm gonna need your teleport device. In case you thought I'd forgotten," he held out his hand. Martha threw her manipulator over to him, "Down below, the fleet is ready to launch. Two hundred thousand shops set to burn across the universe," he grabbed the communicator, "Are we ready?"
"The fleet awaits your signal. Rejoice!" a man responded.
"Three minutes to align the black hole converters. Counting down!" he gestured to the counting clock against the wall, "Never could resist a ticking clock. My children, are you ready?" he turned back to us.
"We will fly and blaze and slice! We will fly and blaze and slice!"
"At zero, to mark this day, the child, Martha Jones, will die. Ha, my first blood, well second," he shot me a smirk, "Ha, any last words? No?" he glanced around but didn't receive what he wanted. He stopped with the Doctor, "Nothing? No? Such a disappointment, this one. Days of old, Doctor, you had companions who could absorb the time vortex. This one's useless!" he looked up to me, "And this one's a freak all on her own."
"Murderer," I whispered.
"Sh, sh," Jack nudged me, offering a dim smile.
"Bow your head, Martha Jones. And so it falls to me, the Master of all, to establish from this day, a new order of Time Lord's! From this day forwards-" Martha started chuckling, cutting him short of words, "What's so funny?"
"A gun?" she looked up, still chuckling.
"What about it?"
"A gun in four parts?"
"Yes, and I destroyed it."
"A gun in four parts scattered across the world? I mean, come on. Did you really believe that?"
"It doesn't matter, I destroyed it," he shrugged, still in the dark.
"As if I would ask her to kill," the Doctor spoke up.
"It still doesn't matter. I've got her exactly where I want her," the Master gestured.
"But I knew what Professor Docherty would do. The Resistance knew about her son," Martha explained, "I told her about the gun so she'd get me here. At the right time."
"But you're still gonna die! Doesn't matter!"
"Don't you wanna know what I was doing? Travelling the world?"
He rolled his eyes, "Tell me."
"I told a story, that's all. No weapons, just words. I did just what the Doctor said. I went across the continents all on my own. And everywhere I went found the people and I told them my story. And I told them to pass it on, to spread the word so that everyone would know about the Doctor."
"Faith and hope? Is that all?" the Master could care less, "Really?"
Martha stood up, "No, cause I gave them an instruction. Just as the Doctor said."
"I told them that if everyone thinks of one word, at one specific time-"
"Nothing will happen! Is that your weapon? Prayer?"
"Right across the world. One word, just one thought, at one moment… but with 15 satellites!"
Now he was getting it, "What?" he blinked.
"The Archangel Network," Jack reminded, with a smug smile.
"A telepathic field binding the whole human race together," I smirked, "Martha?"
"Oh, yes," she smiled, statically, "And with all of them, every single person on Earth, thinking the same thing at the same time. And that word…is Doctor."
"Look at that," I pointed at the clock, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached number zero."
We looked over and saw an energy ring glowing around the Doctor.
"Stop it! No, no, no, no, you don't!" cried the Master.
Everyone around closed their eyes, thinking of only one thing, one person, one name.
"Doctor," I whispered, hearing everyone else do the same.
"I've had a whole year to tune myself into the psychic network and integrate with its matrices," the Doctor was saying, his voice returning to the one we knew best.
"I order you to stop!" the Master yelled, "Stop this right now!"
We opened our eyes, and found the Doctor in his normal self, growing closer to the Master.
"The one thing you can't do. Stop them thinking. Tell me the human race is degenerate now when they can do this."
"No!" the Master tried to shoot at him but it was easily deflected.
Martha ran back to her family and gave them a hug.
I started digging into my pocket...
"You killed Kaeya..." the Doctor continued, his face turning dark for a second or two, "I don't know how you did it but you killed her. But you know what? I'm sorry. I'm sorry for you."
"Fine, then I'll kill all of them," the Master looked around, stopping at Jack and I, "Starting with her!" he aimed his sonic at me.
But a blue light zoomed through the room and knocked the sonic from his hand, making it fade away. And just like that, the light was gone along with the sonic. I blinked, feeling some sense of familiarity with it...like it had been there before.
With no way of protecting himself, the Master started backing away from him, "You can't do this! You can't do—It's not fair!"
"And you know what happens now."
"No! No!" the Master cried, backing away up to the wall.
"You wouldn't listen," the Doctor floated towards him, "Because you know what I'm going to say."
"No!" the Master curled up on the floor.
The Doctor finally landed on his feet and walked over to him, bending down and giving him a hug, "I forgive you."
"My children!"
We felt the ship rock a little and the Doctor looked around, "Captain! The paradox machine!"
"You men! With me!" Jack called for the guards, "You stay here!" and he ran off.
The Master pulled out his manipulator and disappeared...along with the Doctor.
"Minerva, the spheres!" Martha pointed to the window, "They're gonna come for us," she ran up to get a better look.
"I don't think so," I mumbled, opening my hand that burned and looking down at it. I looked back at the table where Kaeya's crystal still remained, about to head for it when the Doctor and the Master returned again. Suddenly, the ship rocked again and made us all fall to the ground.
"Everyone down! Time is reversing!" the Doctor yelled.
We remained on the floor or wherever we could until the ship finally stopped.
The Doctor stood up and quickly went to go check on the controls of the ship, "The paradox is broken. We've reverted back, one year and one day. Two minutes past 8:00 in the morning," he turned on the communicators.
This is UNIT Central. What's happened up there? We just saw the President assassinated!
"You see? Just after the President was killed, but just before the spheres arrived. Everything's back to normal," the Doctor looked back, "Planet Earth restored. None of it happened. The rockets, the terror. It never was."
"And the spheres?" Martha questioned.
"Trapped at the end of the universe."
"But I remember it," Francine stood up.
"We're at the eye of the storm. The only ones who'll ever know. Oh, hello!" he turned to Clive, "You must be Mr. Jones! We haven't actually met!"
With that distraction, the Master ran past us towards the door.
Jack stopped him and turned him back around, "Woah, big fella! You don't want to miss the party!" he glanced at a guard, "Cuffs," he grabbed them and cuffed the Master, "So what do we do with this one?"
"We kill him," Clive stepped up.
"We execute him," Tish glared.
"No, that's not the solution," the Doctor said.
"It's really not," a new voice rang throughout the room.
"I know that voice..." Martha became alarmed.
"As do I..." the Doctor agreed, nervous.
I turned to face them, a brand new necklace around my neck, its burn at an all-time high, "You tried murdering me you bastard!" I/Kaeya shouted as I stormed towards the Master.
"Doctor, that's Kaeya, she's doing it again!" Martha ran towards me, her face in anguish.
"No," I turned around, closing my eyes for a second, knowing they were filled with Kaeya's blue hue, "This time it is different, I assure you that."
'Well, this is a twist," the Master's said, making us turn around, "Is it really you, Kaeya?" he smirked, "The great princess of the Silver Monsoon...inside a human body?"
"My essence remains, Master," I/Kaeya glaring at him, "All this time you've been theorizing what happened and I can assure you that you are correct. I triggered it."
"Well, well, well, Moontsays aren't that primitive as they were thought to be, abominations," he spat.
"If we were abominations I wouldn't be here right now would I!?" I/Kaeya shouted, "If anything we are more powerful than your people! But unlike you I wouldn't use feelings against them to kill them."
"Kaeya, you're hurting Minerva," the Doctor pleaded, turning me around, "Please, leave her alone."
"She's not being hurt, Doctor, there's more control this time," I/Kaeya smiled, "But look at you..." I raised my hand to rest it over his cheek, "...alive. You're alive..."
"How are you doing this?" Martha demanded from behind, "And what the hell are you and that man talking about?" she shot the Master a glare.
"Minerva broke the crystal into pieces, creating a replica of the necklace I had made in the past. With a little bit of my essence I was able to activate it and allow only a small part of me to return for a few minutes. So don't worry, I won't be long, just a couple of minutes..."
"But what for? What do you want?" the Doctor asked, taking my hand off him.
"I need you to help me, Doctor. I'm going to die if you don't help me," I/Kaeya looked at the crystal that still laid on the table, "Everything went wrong and I can't fix it on my own. Please help me."
"Why are you telling me this now? Why didn't you say anything before when you took over Minerva's body?"
"It was the wrong part of me that took her over. It wasn't supposed to be like that. I've apologized, I swear. But please help me, cause if you don't...I'm sorry but I won't be the only one to die." I turned to face the Master, a glare forming on my face the moment I laid eyes on him, "And I hope you rot in hell for what you tried doing with me."
"You survived, didn't you?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Do I look okay to you? I lost my entire family, my people, my friend...I don't know where any of them are! I am a wreck and I may die again! But I'm going to do something I should've done far too long ago," I turned back for the table.
"What are you doing?" the Doctor asked, suspicious.
"Destroying the thing that brought my entire planet destruction. If Minerva was to destroy it on her own it would simply have reformed again. Now that she has a little of my essence we can finally destroy this thing once and for all," I picked up the crystal, the burns starting immediately.
"But your grandfather is still alive!" Martha exclaimed, "If you're really dying then shouldn't you wan to keep that crystal?"
"It can't do anything for me anyways," and then I threw it to the floor, the crystal shattering into pieces. I passed over the bits, stomping on them until they were itty-bitty pieces that could never come together, ever.
I gasped suddenly and stumbled forwards, the Doctor immediately rushing and catching me before I fell, "It's okay, I've got you."
"Will you help me?" I/Kaeya asked, reaching to touch his face once more, "Will you help this screwed-up princess?"
He nodded, "Yes, I will. But you have to tell me what you did to survive."
I/Kaeya half-smiled, "That's the man I've missed. It's been a long wait to be able to talk to you again, but it's been worth it. Thank you."
"Right, but-"
"And please remember that I love you, I've never stopped. There's something important you need to know."
"What is it?"
"Moontsays, we can," I swallowed, "We can-""
I gasped one final time and felt my energy drain as the necklace around me deactivated itself. The Doctor held me before I fell and gently set me down on the floor.
"We have to help her," I whispered, my own voice free of overlapping.
"Yes, we will, but-"
...there was a gunshot. I glanced back, seeing Lucy holding a gun that was aimed straight for...
"No!" the Doctor shouted, seeing the Master on the floor with a gunshot wound, "Martha, help!"
Martha rushed to us and took his place at my side on the floor while he ran to the Master.
"Put it down!" Jack ran over to Lucy, cautiously taking the gun from her.
"I've got you, I've got you," the Doctor set the Master down on the ground.
"Always the women," the Master half-smiled.
"I didn't see her."
"Dying in your arms. Happy now?" the Master glanced at me. That was never Kaeya's intention.
"You're not dying, don't be stupid. It's only a bullet. Just regenerate," the Doctor brought his attention back.
"No."
"One little bullet c'mon," the Doctor insisted, frantically.
"I guess you don't know me so well. As an old friend of mine said, 'I refuse'."
"Regenerate. Just regenerate," the Doctor gritted his teeth, slowly breaking down, "Please! Just regenerate! C'mon!"
"And spend the rest of my life imprisoned?"
"You've got to. Come on. It can't end like this. You and me, all the things we've done. Axons? Remember the Axons? And the Daleks? We're the only two left, there's no one else. REGENERATE!"
"How about that? I win," the Master paused, "Will it stop, Doctor? The drumming. Will it stop?"
He closed his eyes for the last time and died. The Doctor grew frantic, poor thing, rocking him back and forth as his tears streamed down.
The rest of us watched the Doctor cradle the dead Time Lord in his arms. I looked up, feeling that we were being watched, and found that blue light from earlier making rounds up in the ceiling.
~0~
The Doctor, Martha, Jack and myself now stood by Pierhead Building, overlooking the bay. I sat under the rails, my legs dangling down, unconsciously opening and closing my hands. They were practically destroyed with all the burns and cuts from the crystals, Martha promising to look it over as soon as we got to her parent's home.
"Time was, every single one of these people knew your name. Now they've all forgotten you," Martha sighed.
"Good," the Doctor nodded, going under the rails and sitting beside me, "How are your hands?"
"They hurt..." I admitted, letting him take them into his, "...just a little though."
"Yeah right, you took bits of a burning crystal into your hands, hid them and touched a burning crystal everyday. I'm not that big of an idiot."
I playfully rolled my eyes, "No, but it'll be fine with proper care."
"Yeah but-"
"It doesn't matter, Doctor," I smiled broadly, "You're here now, restored to your usual idiot self," he smiled, "And my best friend's back too," I glanced up at her, "And the immortal too," Jack shot me a wink, "All that's left is to..." I returned my gaze to the Doctor, finding him very close to my face, "...call my grandmother," I whispered, swallowing hard.
He took my hands into his, sadly watching how I flinched with pain as his fingers passed over my destroyed skin, "...I wish you'd remember."
"...remember what?"
He leaned forwards, "It's just...I can ramble on for hours and yet when I want to speak these words...my m-mouth goes all dry and-and I stutter and..."
I saw Martha's legs, from the corner of my eyes, passing by us. With any luck, we could have a small moment alone. "Just take a deep breath, Martian," I offered, seeing him getting really worked up.
The Doctor sighed, still struggling to speak, "Minerva, I'm...I-"
Suddenly, he was pushed forwards, his lips landing perfectly on mine. My eyes fluttered closed at the sensation of something warm pressed onto my mouth, a feeling that was all too familiar.
"I have been waiting months to do that!" Martha cheered on the side. "I literally had to push!" She started laughing and seconds later Jack joined in.
The Doctor and I pulled away, both blinking at our actions. I was nervous of what he could do or say next...how Martha had practically pushed him on me...
"I wish you'd remember," he whispered instead with the same sadness that filled his eyes. He kept glancing down at my hands like he was too scared to face me.
"Remember the fact you nearly made me fall in love with you in 1913? Or that I posed as a blind woman who called herself Lisabetha and stole your human heart?" I raised an eyebrow at him, almost laughing when his eyes snapped up to me.
"Y-you...you remember?"
I smiled, "I remembered a long time ago. Kaeya returned my memories months ago."
"So...you remember, everything?" his hand reached to cup my face. My eyes wanted to close at the soothing touch of his fingers. "You remember our kisses? Our time together? You remember all of that?"
I nodded, "Yup. You bloody Martian got straight to work as a human."
"This is...this is amazing!" he laughed, bringing my hands to kiss them...until he remembered their condition.
"I can take care of them," Martha reminded.
"No," he cut in before I could say anything, "Minerva, I know I don't deserve you. I've been stupid, stupid and oblivious. But I was confused, I was really, genuinely confused...but then I realized, back in 1969...that it was you who I wanted to kiss."
"And that's why you kissed me secretly while I slept?" I loved seeing his reactions at the fact that I already knew this information, "Doctor, I wasn't asleep! That's what I wanted to talk about, remember? I wanted to know why you did it...why you kissed me..."
"Because you're wonderful. When I saw you sleeping, I had to go closer...and seeing you, it reminded me of our moments in 1913 and it made me yearn for them. I wanted to kiss you again, feel your lips on mine again...so I went for one...apparently not so secretly."
"Here's a secret, Martian," I leaned forwards, "I would've gone for one too..."
His hands took mine again, and slowly we leaned over to reconnect our lips. I could feel all his honesty in this kiss, how his mind had been cleared...his yearn to just kiss me again. I also felt my right hand being gripped, the stings striking again, and moved a little off to our sides. Something warm started spurring inside it, making me pull away.
...there was orange energy wrapping around it...and my left hand.
"Doctor, no," I whispered, seeing him use his own energy to heal my wounds, "It's a waste."
"Never. Nothing will ever hurt you again, I swear on my life. And if anything tries, if anything gets past me then I'll heal you myself."
"You're wonderful," was all I had to say. I looked down at my hands and was amazed at how normal they looked again. It was like nothing ever happened to them. "Wow..." I whispered. I looked up, ready to thank him...when I met a pair of lips on mine, pulling me into a kiss of a life time. My hands went up to his shoulders, feeling his arm wound around my waist that 'discreetly' brought me closer to him, deepening our kiss.
"Alright, cut it out you two, people are starting to stare," Jack's hand patted our heads.
I pulled away, completely blushing, "Sorry..."
"I'm not," the Doctor whispered with a smirk on his face.
"I told you, Minerva!" Martha bent down beside us, "If the human version fell for you, it meant the big, daft original one had already done so."
"I guess you were right," I conceded, "The amazing, brilliant, original version likes me."
"So, so, much," he brought my healthy hand up to his lips, "And the clever girl actually looked at me twice!"
"If you knew how many times I could not force myself to look away, think about something that wasn't you. What do you think I did all that year? The Year that never was? Do you think I thought about Jack?"
"Hey!" the immortal man gave a cry, not too pleased.
"Shut up, you owe me and I'm trying to make a point," I waved him off, "Or how about that date with Jerome?"
"I don't like him," the Doctor immediately stated, "Now I can say that clearly. I. Don't. Like. Him. I was jealous, very, very jealous that you were out with him and not with me. I hated the fact he gave you a present before I did, and a good one! I hated it and I hated him. I still hate him."
"Also right," coughed Martha.
"But why did you hide 1913 from me?" I asked, still confused, "That actually would've been really nice to know about."
He sighed, "Cause I was confused and you deserved better. I wanted to be fully committed to you. Plus, I was scared."
"Why?" I nearly laughed, "It was pretty obvious how I felt."
"Yeah, but...it didn't stop me from being scared," he said and I nodded, understanding him, "So...about us...you and I...is there an 'us' and a 'you and I'?"
"There is if you want it to be," I nodded.
"Oh yes!" he exclaimed, "Most definitely!"
"You and me, then? As an item?"
"Oh yes..." he whispered, leaning forwards again, his gaze locked on my lips, "...because I already wasted a year pushing my feelings away from you. No more. Everyone can go to hell because I just want you."
"Oi!" Martha and Jack cried, again not so pleased.
"Shut up," the Doctor and I said as we went for another kiss.
"Well I'm gonna get back to work. I don't want to see a snogging session," Jack declared, making us pull away once more.
"You know, Jack, I really don't mind, though. Come with us," the Doctor offered.
"Oh, I think it'll be fun having an immortal man around," I agreed.
"I'm sorry but according to the Doctor over there, I''m a flirt and I'd make you uncomfortable."
I laughed, "Right, right."
"I stand by that," the Doctor pointed between us.
"A little flirting isn't bad, Doc," Jack smirked, "It gets other people to speak up."
"We make such a good team," Martha remarked to him.
Jack laughed, "Anytime you need me just call. But seriously though, I had plenty of time to think that past year, the Year That Never Was. And I kept thinking about that team of mine. Like you said, Doctor, responsibility. Plus, you might be a bit busy now..." Jack's eyes wandered over to me.
"Defending the Earth. Can't argue with that," the Doctor moved to shake his hand...and then we saw the manipulator Jack wore.
"Hey, I need that!" the immortal cried as the Doctor pointed his screwdriver at the manipulator.
"I can't have you walking around with a time-travelling teleport. You could go anywhere—twice. The second time to apologize."
"But I bet if that one over there," Jack nodded to me, "Asks for a manipulator, she'd get it in a heartbeat."
"I'll admit it may be a little more challenging to deny her things, but..." he glanced at me, "I'll try my best."
"And when that doesn't happen, you can all meet me with Leonardo Da Vinci," I grinned mischievously, "He promised he'd make a portrait of me!"
"No, absolutely not," the Doctor frowned, a finger pointed at me, "Especially now that I can call you mine!"
"Was your jealousy the reason why I couldn't go back to Da Vinci?" I raised an eyebrow, "We were just friends back then, brand new friends actually."
"Well..." he pondered, seeming as though even he didn't know, "...I am not exactly sure. I just know that I didn't want you near him."
"That's the start of jealousy," Martha pointed out, Jack nodding in agreement.
"So does this mean I'll never get to see Da Vinci again? Cause I really liked him," I frowned.
The Doctor chuckled, bringing me closer to him, "Tell you what, I'll bring you to any other artist you want. You name it."
"Renaissance, 1700's?"
"Yes, just for you," he tapped my nose, "Anything for you..."
"I like this very much," I whispered, resting my head on his chest, "Finally."
"Finally," Martha threw her head back, "A whole year's worth of work finally paid off."
"Well, again, it's been nice, but I really gotta go," Jack stepped back, looking just so eager to get back to Torchwood, "And Minerva, if you're ever in need of a new job, I've got you covered," he winked.
"Thanks, but I don't think I'll be working anytime soon. I've got someone to be with, now," I glanced up at my Martian, "And I'd like to be with him 24/7. "
"Understood," Jack nodded.
"But actually," I wiggled out of the Doctor's hold and stood up. I went straight to hug Jack, surprising him for a couple seconds.
"For the record she began the hug," I heard him warn, probably the Doctor of course.
"Minerva, what are you doing?" the Martian nearly whined.
"I just wanted a hug from the immortal man, everyone got one so why couldn't I?" I pulled from Jack and nodded, "And you give very good hugs."
"Thank you," Jack nodded then promptly moved me back to the Doctor, "Now stay there," I laughed and sat back down beside the Doctor, "Before I do leave though, I have one question cause, see, I can't die...but I still age. Can you fix me? Will I ever be able to die?"
"Nothing I can do. You're an impossible thing, Jack," the Doctor shrugged.
Jack laughed, "Been called that before," he straightened up and saluted, "Sir. Ma'am's," he made to leave then turned back around, "But I keep wondering…what about aging? 'Cause I can't die but I keep getting older. The odd little grey hair, you know? What happens if I live for a million years?"
"I really don't know," the Doctor just smiled in amusement at the man's worries.
"Okay, vanity. Sorry. Yeah, can't help it. Used to be a poster boy when I was a kid back on the Boeshane Pennisula. Tiny little place. I was the first one ever to be signed up for the Time Agency. They were so proud of me. They Face of Boe they called me. Hmm, I'll see you," he ran off towards the water tower.
I looked between the Doctor and Martha with wide eyes, "Oh my god..."
"Can't be," Martha shook her head.
"No, definitely not. No," the Doctor said, but he started to laugh, "No!"
"Oh I am not gonna let that one live down!" I laughed.
"Not a word," the Doctor warned, still getting over his own laugh.
"But-"
"Not one," he pulled me back to his chest, kissing the top of my head.
That was the end of all my words, feeling very content at the moment because I'd finally gained something good, something very, very good.
~0~
"Yes, grandma, I'll stop by soon. Mhm, yes, bye," I hung up the phone of the TARDIS, tears in my eyes.
I flinched when a pair of arms wrapped around my waist from behind, "Sorry," the Doctor whispered, moving to unwrap himself from me.
"No," I placed my hands over his arms, making him stop, "I'm just not used to this...but it doesn't mean I don't like it," I glanced up at him, blushing.
"Me neither," he admitted, wiping my face of tears, "So how are they?"
"You were right, none of my family remember anything. I even called my mother, took her by surprise, she still gave her usual yells. But she did tell me my dad was fine...everyone is fine."
"So why we're you crying?"
"Because I'm happy," I shrugged, "My family's fine, the world is saved...and I've got you, now. Everything is just fine."
"Just fine," he turned me around, leaning us against the console, "Finally."
"Are you okay?" I whispered, realizing I hadn't even asked about him, "You just lost the only other Time Lord and you discovered who killed a very important person to you."
"I...don't know. But I do know that I won't forgive him for what he did to Kaeya."
I shook my head, "What he did to her was plain awful, Doctor, "Do you know how she was attacked, though?" I looked up at him, "What he did to get near her?"
"No, what he'd do?"
"He pretended to be you. He pretended to be the one person she would always help. He tricked her into telling him where her crystal was and then...then..."
"Who the hell are you?" Kaeya backed away from the man that clearly was not the Doctor, "And where's the Doctor?"
The man just laughed, "You are quite stupid my dear. The Doctor is no where near this planet."
"Who are you?"
"I am the Master, and you have just told me where your precious crystal is, meaning I have no more use for you," he pulled out a decent-sized knife from his jacket's pocket.
Kaeya's eyes widened as she stepped back, "No, wait, you don't have to do this. The crystal won't activate unless I touch it. You need me."
"Actually, there was a corpse of your grandmother out in front of the castle. Pretty sure I can use her too as she was part of the Royal Family."
"But you can't kill me," Kaeya pleaded, her eyes watering up, "Please, it's not fair. I already lost everyone, at least tell me if you know where the Doctor is. Is he alive? Is his family okay?"
"Let's not do this, please. I'm short of time," he lunged for her but she jumped back.
She quickly turned around and tried calling out for her friend, "ZO-" but she was spun around in a second and gasped at the immediate plunge of a sharp object into her stomach. She tried gripping the man's arms, forming only bits of ice on it as her powers and energy started to fade, "No..."
"If it's any consolation, I hear your people have a myth," the Master whispered into her ear while making sure the knife was dug in deep inside her stomach, "If it's true then I guess one day we'll see each other again. Maybe you'll even find out whether or not your precious Doctor made it out alive."
Kaeya's eyes watered up as she looked at him with utter horror, "But I-I don't know how to...tell me how, please..."
"KAEYA!" came Zohar's scream.
"My cue to run," the Master grinned and stepped back, pulling the knife out of her as well. He undid the manipulator on her wrist and strapped it on to himself, "Castle here we come. Bye!" he waved and flashed out.
Kaeya fell to the iced lake with a thud, convulsing and gasping here and there, "Mommy, I need to remember..." she shut her eyes while her tears streamed down.
"He stabbed her and left her to die for a crystal that in the end he couldn't even get working," I sighed, "That's cruel."
"But you said there was someone else with her, right?"
I nodded, "Yeah, I guess a friend. She was called Zohar. I guess she helped Kaeya. Doctor we have to help her. When she talked to me, she said she needed your help because she couldn't fix whatever she did on her own anymore."
"To help her I need to know what she did first," he rested his chin on my shoulder, oblivious to how deeply he was making me blush with our closeness, "The Master apparently knew what it was but it's not like we'll be getting anything out of him."
"I'm sorry, she didn't tell me either. The link between us wasn't too stable, only few words could get through."
"No, it's alright. I'll figure it out."
"I want to help too," I admitted, turning around, "I told her I'd help so I'm gonna keep my word."
"You sure you're okay with that? I know it's not easy..."
"Well, she is still in love you so that'll be a challenge. But all feelings set aside, she's not that bad of a person and she needs help. I'm no one to deny her that."
He smiled and rested a hand on my face, "Well, if this makes it easier for you, I want you to know that I choose you."
"C'mon, Doctor, a first love never really dies, you know. I'm okay with that, really. Some part of you will always love her but if I can take over those two hearts of yours then I'll be the happiest woman in the world."
He half-smiled, "Already done."
I leaned up to kiss him, but struggled with his height, making us both chuckle, "You're quite tall, Martian," I remarked, merely able to brush my lips on his.
"You're quite small, clever girl" he countered, leaning down and closing the gap between us.
Our kiss lasted a mere minute when we heard the TARDIS doors opening, "So, is this how it's gonna be from now on?" Martha put a hand on her hip, "Snogging all day?"
"Quiet Martha," I pushed the Doctor off me.
"I'm your best friend, it's my job to tease."
"Anyways, Off we go! The open road!" the Doctor went around the console, excited to start our trips again, "There is a burst of starfire right now over the coast of Meta Sigmafolio. Oh, the sky is like oil on water. Fancy a look? Or…back in time. We could…I don't know, Charles II? Henry VIII? I know! What about Agatha Christie? I'd love to meet Agatha Christie! I bet she's brilliant..." but we looked up and saw her smiling in what could be called an apologetic manner.
"Martha?" I frowned, walking over to her.
"I just can't," she said to the Doctor then looked at me, taking my hands, "It'll be just fine."
"What are you talking about?"
"She's not coming," the Doctor joined us, "She's staying."
"But...but why?" I blinked, misunderstanding my best friend's decisions.
"I've spent all these years training to be a doctor. Now I've got people to look after. They saw half the planet slaughtered and they're devastated. I can't leave them."
"But...what about us?"
"Hey, we can still talk over the phone, visit each other. And besides," she took my hand and the Doctor's, putting them over one another, "You've got each other now."
"But I already lost one best friend," I whispered, thinking of Mickey and who he might be doing at this precise moment.
"But you're not losing me. I'm simply...moving out!" she shrugged, "Nothing has to change. I'm just gonna continue my studies, be with my family. I think I did what I had to do, what my purpose was in all this...get my two favorite people in the world together."
"Well for that job I'd give you an A+," I sighed as I glanced at the Doctor, "And for saving the world, 200%!"
Martha chuckled, "Thank you. But I've got some presents for you two," she announced, digging into her pockets, "Doctor, here," she handed him her cellphone, "Keep that. 'Cause I'm not having you disappear. If that rings, when that rings, you better come running. Got it?"
"Yes, ma'am," the Doctor nodded.
"And for you, I've been working on this," she pulled out an mp3 player, with earphones, "You can't be in a relationship with an alien of 903 years old where even he listens to music."
"But I don't even-"
"It's already got pre-downloaded music, even that Spanish music you liked," she handed it over, "Though those were a bit tricky..."
"You listen to Spanish music?" the Doctor turned to me.
"Well, I'm half Mexican. I'm not gonna ignore that part of my heritage," I winked, pulling one earphone into my ear, searching for one specific song, "Besides, there's a song I like that relates to you and I."
"Really?" he beamed, "Mind if I can hear?" he leaned down to kiss me.
"Ah, ah," I put a hand to stop him, gesturing to the mp3, "Found it," I walked to the side, hearing Martha's snicker.
"I don't like your present," the Doctor muttered to her.
"Yeah, I had a feeling you might not. But I had to give her something to distract her at times. I don't want her snogging you all the time."
"I don't see anything wrong with that," the Martian declared, neither of them seeing my smirk.
"Thought you might," Martha sighed, "Minerva?" she called.
I turned around and returned, pulling the earphone out, "Yes?"
"I'm off, take care," she hugged me and the Doctor, "And behave," she pointed with a fake serious look.
"Martha!" we both scolded, blushing like mad.
She laughed and walked towards the doors, "I mean it. I want hands off each other."
"Bye Martha!" we mock glared.
"Martha?" I called before she opened the door, "Thank you. You saved the world, you helped me...you helped us," I glanced at my Martian, oh, that felt nice...my Martian, "Thank you."
She smiled, "You know what, I'm good. I'm really good."
"Yes you are," the Doctor nodded.
"I just hope that Minerva will see she's so not second best," she watched my smile fade, her eyes softening as she glanced at the Doctor, "But that's your job now, Doctor. Make her see she's grand all on her own...that she's the best."
The Doctor, although confused, nodding, winding an arm around my waist, "She is the best."
"Hm, hear that, Minerva?"
The Doctor gave me a sharp look, trying to decipher what was going on. I shifted on my feet, feeling like I could kick Martha because I didn't need the Doctor to know about my insecurities. It didn't matter.
Martha chuckled, "I'll see you later, guys," she waved and walked out.
"Minerva, are you okay?" the Martian asked, leading me back to the console, "I got the feeling Martha was hiding something from me. And if it concerns you then I need to know."
"It doesn't matter," I waved him off, watching him start up the old box of wonders.
Swiftly, he yanked me to his side, locking me between the console and him, "I've wasted so much time ignoring you, pushing my feelings away...I was an idiot, a big idiot. But no more. And you know what?"
"What?" my voice was just above a whisper, my heart beating faster as he pressed his forehead against mind.
"There's one thing that attracts me to hell from you..." he leaned me against the console and placed his hands on my waist.
"What?" I blinked, swallowing hard and feeling my face warm as the sun.
"That..." he smiled softly, "...you're clever...and I like it."
I fiddled with his lapels, avoiding his look as I was blushing like mad, "It's a good thing I like you too then."
"So we're on the same page, then? You and I, in the TARDIS, next stop everywhere?"
My eyes looked up, and for the first time I didn't feel just happy as in laughing and smiling...but that kind of happy where your stomach is just always full of butterflies, always feeling a warm tinge. I don't think I've ever felt like that, not even with my grandparents. This was something different and I definitely liked it.
"Doctor, next stop everywhere," I whispered.
He smiled, looking me over and making my body just burst with bubbliness and happiness, especially when he leaned down for a kiss, one that would seal this actually perfect day.
We pulled apart in time as a ship's horn rang in our ears. We barely managed to glance back when the TARDIS shook unexpectedly and sent us to the floor.
"What the hell...?" I lifted my head up to see a ship's ocean liner.
"What?" the Doctor reached for a life preserver, "What!?" he turned it over...
...and we saw the word 'Titanic' sprawled across it.
"Big what..." my eyes widened, both of us glancing at each other and the life preserver.
Author's Note:
And voila! The story shall continue in a new season, with new characters, new problems and a new title...Star-Crossed.
Haaa, see what I did with that title? ;) I'll be uploading the first chapter of the next story in about an hour or so. I would've had it all done but I had to for a birthday dinner (oh well right?) where there were so many pancakes to eat that I simply could not stay away :D. So, um, I'm trying to pull a Rose Tyler here cause I'm 19 now and, well...I see no Doctor and a TARDIS whatsoever around, WHERE ARE YOU!? I literally have the blouse 'waiting for a madman with a box' because of it xD. That would be the best birthday gift ever omfg :D
And just a reminder, the new story will not follow Minerva's POV anymore, it will be third! :)
And sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry for the stupid misspelling errors! Usually when I type them it's from my phone and it has a lovely (note the sarcasm) manner of somehow coming up with words that were no where near related to what I had intended to write. When I finally upload it on this site, I've edited again and somehow I still manage to miss errors apparently. Sorry! But for the last chapter, it's been fixed. If there are any in this episode, let me know and I'll fix them! For the early chapters I can't really do much because if I try uploading it I have to go back and re-format that with all the italics and whatnot.
Miss JemmaPOND I just have to inform that the next story will have a lot more kissing for our pair. I mean, they wasted a full year of their time being stupid and oblivious so they're gonna wanna make up for it lol. Yeah, I see Martha and Jack as partners in crime, really. Hey, there's no official ship name for the pair so it's all good lmao.
What myth? Whaaa...hmmm...wonder what it could be. You and I both omg, hugging Captain Jack would be highly amazing and incredible 3
Of course Jack is amazing! Those pesky answers, hm, probably are gonna be in the next story...oh well .-.
Yes, yes, so together now :)
What am I doing to you exactly lol I am merely writing a chapter .-. ;)
Yeah . so sorry about those errors, all fixed now as I said. Yes, this is why those last three episodes pissed me off. The Master is just a plain jerk, not even evil, just a jerk.
That crystal sure was used for a long time, apparently...wonder what else it did besides giving dreams and nightmares...
Yeah, I figured I could give a playful sneak peek to make up for the frustrating first one lol Glad you liked it!
And before you jump onto the next story, I just want to take a moment and thank everyone who read, reviewed, favorited and followed this story. It's my first story and I really am glad to see it was really liked and it gives me hope for future stories I may post later on. Seriously, thank you so much and I hope the next story is also to your liking :)