Kira hesitated a moment. "C-can I join you this time? On your search for the 'queen' I mean."

The Doctor returned his attention to Kira, as if assessing her. Like his gaze alone could tell just how useful she'd be in this adventure. It was a fairly simple adventure. Nothing too dangerous, he'd dealt with the Nestene Consciousness before. The risk was fairly low all things considered.

"Okay."

...

The Doctor was kneeling in front of an apartment door, using is Sonic Screwdriver to remove the nails holding the small cat-flap stationed in the door closed. Kira was watching the Doctor with a small smile on her face. Excitement alight in her dark brown eyes as she essentially watched her favorite show play out in front of her.

She was extremely happy that the Doctor had allowed her to join him on his adventure. It was a distraction. A viable reason to ignore her problems. It gave her something different to think on. A problem she could actually solve.

Kira had found out rather quickly that this universe was almost identical to the television show she'd loved to watch. Sure, there were a small number of differences. For one, she was here now. Whether she tried to or not, Kira knew that her presence would most likely change things to a small extent. How people reacted to her, or how she reacted to others would alter things slightly.

There's also the fact that the number of people going on these adventures would change slightly. Which might make some things a bit difficult. Nonetheless, things would most likely stay the same. Kira knew her presence would change things slightly, but she highly doubted that she'd make much of an impact. Which -despite how depressing the thought of her existence not really mattering might be- is not a bad thing.

It meant she knew what to expect. That she could, to an extent, stay out of trouble. Keep herself, and perhaps even the Doctor and his companions, safe. She could make plans to protect everyone. At least, that was her hope. There was still the small issue of knowing when to put a plan into action.

This was no show, and Kira didn't want to mess with timelines too much. Saving someone who shouldn't have been saved. Saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. They ways things could go wrong were endless. Nonetheless, she didn't want to just stand by watching as someone died. Not when she could've done something to help.

She sighed, running her hand nervously through her short brown hair as she turned her attention back to the Doctor. The small smile returning to her face as she watched him jerk back as the cat-flap swung up at him. The Doctor peered through the cat door. His expression morphing into one of disbelief at what he saw peering back at him.

The Doctor jumped to his feet just as the door was pulled open. A pretty blond woman stood there. Her eyes wide in surprise as she looked up at the Doctor. Kira had to hold back her smile as she watched the Doctor and Rose interact, a nostalgic feeling settling in her gut as she essentially watched a memory from her childhood.

"What are you doing here?" The Doctor's tone was slightly accusatory. Like he suspected the woman was stalking him or something. To be honest, with his history, Kira wouldn't have been surprised if someone had been stalking him. He is the one and only Doctor after all.

"I live here!" Rose almost sounded insulted. Kira couldn't really blame her. From Rose's perspective, she was the one being stalked. After all, a strange man blows up her work, and then turns up at her front door, suspiciously sneaking about and un-nailing cat flaps. Who wouldn't be worried and insulted?

"Well, what do you that for?" The Doctor's questions continued without pause. He refused to believe that this was all a coincidence. Coincidences didn't exist in his life. Coincidences always turned out to be someone or something hiding behind a curtain and manipulating things as they saw fit.

"'Cause I do!" Rose was definitely insulted. "And I'm only home because someone blew up my job."

Kira couldn't help but giggle at the absurdity of their conversation. She felt like a specter, an audience member watching a favorite comedy from the sidelines. Her giggle drew the arguing duo's attention to her. The Doctor amused and Rose seemingly surprised and slightly irritated. She hadn't noticed Kira. Thing small girl had blended into the background.

"Who are you then? You weren't there last night." Rose glared at the girl, her bad mood only becoming worse when she realized that this girl, this stranger, was laughing at her.

Kira froze slightly, surprised at the fact that Rose had turned to address her. She'd almost forgotten that this was all real and that Rose was a real person, rather than an actress reading from a script. Kira mustered up a shy, nervous smile as she awkwardly waved at Rose. Trying to stay off the woman's bad side. She didn't want Rose asking the Doctor to get rid of her. With how important Rose would become to the Doctor, well, she didn't want to chance it.

"H-hi. I'm Kira. I was, uh, waiting in the… car?" She internally berated herself for her stupid excuse. Kira wasn't the best liar, but she wasn't terrible. Most of the time she could come up with a plausible excuse at the very least. Perhaps the pressure was getting to her. She glanced at the Doctor, wondering what he'd think of her attempted lie.

She was embarrassed when she realized that he seemed to be enjoying this. His eyes sparkling with silent laughter as he watched Kira struggle to come up with a proper lie. Kira wanted to glare at him. No doubt he would've found it hilarious, and would've teased her for pouting over something so trivial.

Kira returned her attention to Rose, who was glancing between Kira and the Doctor. You could practically see the gears in her head turning as she tried piecing together the puzzle of the two strangers in front of her.

"Right. Well, what are you doing here now?" Rose seemed to have calmed down, and Kira had to hold back a small sigh of relief at the simple question. She had feared that Rose would question her, demanding a proper answer.

The Doctor gave a small 'ah ha' at Rose's question. Suddenly remembering why they had appeared at her door. He quickly reached into his inside coat pocket, pulling out his sonic screwdriver and checking it over. A look of confusion overtook his face as he studied the small device, before turning his attention back to Rose.

"Must've got the wrong signal. You're not plastic, are you?" He reached forward, lightly knocking his fist against the poor blond girl's forehead. "No, bonehead. Bye then." The Doctor turned, about to walk away when Rose surged forward. Her hand gripping his arm tightly and pulling his attention back towards her.

"You, inside, right now." Rose demanded, pausing a beat before turning her attention towards Kira. "You too." She then dragged the Doctor inside and gave Kira a sharp glare. Kira flinched slightly, somewhat scared of the blond woman before her. She hesitated a moment before moving to follow the Doctor and Rose, carefully closing the door behind her.

"Who is it?" The question was practically a yell. The slightly nasally voice was familiar, and it only took Kira a moment to assign the voice a face. Jackie, Rose's mom.

Rose quickly ran towards her mother's room, releasing her grip on the Doctor's arm along the way. Kira and the Doctor followed behind Rose at a slower pace. Inspecting the Tyler house as they walked through it.

"They're part of the inquiry. Give us 10 minutes." Rose called out, her voice just as loud as her mothers. Kira couldn't help but pity their neighbors slightly.

Kira and the Doctor paused when they reached the door to Jackie's room. Kira hesitated before walking just past the door to Jackie's room. Stopping once she was out of the woman's sight and turning to watch what would happen next. She made herself comfortable, leaning leisurely against the wall as her gaze focused on the Doctor. A small knowing smile stretching across her face.

"She deserves compensation." Jackie demanded as she turned towards the Doctor. Her eyes grew wide when she saw him. Large muscles flexing underneath the black leather jacket, tall frame and piercing blue eyes. He seemed to capture her 'interest'.

"Ha. We're talking millions." The Doctor lied with ease. Playing along with the cover Rose had provided for them. He hadn't seemed to notice the look in Jackie's eyes. Instead mulling over knowing look Kira had given him. His eyes wandered Jackie's room. Ignoring the woman as she stood up from her bed.

"Um, ahem, I'm in my dressing gown." Her voice had turned soft. Her tone flirtatious as she batted her eyes at the Doctor.

The Doctor turned his gaze to her, his face blank. Clearly unaffected at her attempts at seduction. "Yes, you are." He returned his attention to the room, looking at it with interest when his gaze landed on Kira. She was smirking, watching him closely. She looked like she was waiting to deliver a punch-line. He arched a brow in question, the girl clearly knew something he didn't.

Jackie continued, oblivious to Kira listening in. "There's a strange man in my bedroom." She started playing with the ribbon that held her dressing gown shut and gave the Doctor a suggestive look.

The Doctor's gaze returned to Jackie, his face once more blank as he pointedly ignored the look Jackie had given him. "Yes, there is."

Jackie started to sway as she continued, taking a small step towards the Doctor. "well, anything could happen."

The words made Kira's smile tense. It was funny watching it on television. There it was nothing but a joke. A script meant to make people laugh. Now, in person it just seemed… wrong. She felt like a voyeur almost. This Jackie, this very real Jackie, was flirting with the Doctor. She genuinely wants to get him into her bed, and here Kira was, listening in like some perv. She pushed off the wall, prepared to walk away and leave Jackie to her attempts at flirting.

"You're right, anything could happen."

Kira froze at the Doctor's words. A knot of dread settled in her stomach at the thought of him perhaps returning Jackie's shallow intentions. She wasn't sure why, but Kira was terrified at the thought of the Doctor 'getting together' with someone.

Her back still turned towards the Doctor, Kira hadn't seen the small smirk on that had stretched across his face. Nor had she seen that his eyes were focused on her as he spoke. His gaze alight with mischief as he pointedly ignored Jackie's victorious smile.

The Doctor moved quickly. A large hand wrapping around her arm before he gently pulled her back. Kira stumbled, her feet tangling together as she was thrown off balance. She would've fallen on her ass if it wasn't for the strongly muscled chest that had intercepted her. The Doctor wrapped an arm around her, holding her close as he turned towards Jackie.

"For example." The Doctor didn't give Kira time to regain her balance as he thrust her towards Jackie. Kira stumbled, before falling gracelessly onto Jackie's bed. A small pained groan escaping her lips as her ribs collided with the bed frame. "A strange and mysterious little girl might appear out of thin air."

Kira took a moment to regain her bearings before she scrambled to her feet. Her face beet-red as she tried to avoid looking Jackie in the face. Kira could hear the Doctor chuckle at her. Her blush, if at all possible, darkened as she subtly glanced up at Jackie.

Jackie was still as a statue. A multitude of emotions flashed across the poor woman's face. Embarrassment, and confusion fighting for dominance before she seemed to settle on anger. Jackie glared harshly at Kira before turning her gaze towards the Doctor, who was still chuckling.

Kira tried to find something to say. It was a struggle to get her mouth to finally move, but actually speaking was a bit beyond her at the moment. This seemed to amuse the Doctor even more as his quite chuckle turned into a booming laugh. Kira struggled a moment longer before she turned her attention to the Doctor. A small, distressed, whine escaping as she silently pleaded for mercy.

The Doctor seemed to settle down slightly, relenting as he reached forward. His large hands settled on Kira's shoulders before he began to gently guide her out of Jackie's room. A look of mock pity on his face as he turned towards Jackie.

"Sorry 'bout that. She's a bit 'slow', the poor girl. Well, see ya!" The Doctor quickly urged Kira forward. Leaving a very angry, confused, and embarrassed Jackie Tyler behind.

…

"Don't mind the mess. Would either of you like a coffee?" Rose's question managed to pull Kira from her state of embarrassment. The poor girl was still blushing bright red, and she looked like she couldn't decide how to react. Part of her wanted to get angry at the Doctor, part of her wanted to laugh along with the Doctor, and part of her wanted to find a hole to run away and hide in.

"Might as well, thanks. Just milk." The Doctor answered without missing a beat. His hands gently squeezing Kira's shoulders before he let go, moving to explore the small apartments living room.

Kira took a deep breath, forcing her embarrassment to the side as she followed the Doctor's example and began looking around Rose's apartment.

"What about you, uh, Karen was it? Would you like some coffee?" Rose peeked her head into the living room. Pointedly ignoring the Doctor's blatant invasion of privacy to focus on the small girl.

It had taken Kira a moment to realize that Rose was talking to her. Kira had quietly corrected Rose before refusing the offer. Thanking Rose with a small smile. She wasn't a big fan of coffee. The drink far too bitter for her pallet. There was also the small fact that, if this universe really did follow the show, they'd be attacked by a 'killer plastic arm from space' before she could even take a sip of the drink.

Rose eyed the smaller girl a moment before returning to the Kitchen. Deciding to ignore the girl's odd behavior. She had far too much to think about already. After all, the man who was currently rifling through her mail is the same man who'd bombed her workplace and saved her life.

Kira quietly walked towards the Doctor. Listening as he rambled pointlessly while shuffling through the different papers strewn about the messy living room. She couldn't keep the small, fond smile from her face. Looking at him now, no one would've guessed that the Doctor had only recently come out of a disastrous war where he had, as far as he's concerned, destroyed his own home planet.

"Hm, Rose Tyler." He mumbled the name. Testing it before carelessly dropping the letter back onto the small side table he'd picked it up from. The Doctor's gaze drifted before he caught sight of his reflection in the small decorative mirror hanging on the wall nearby. The Doctor turned towards it, inspecting his face closely.

Both Kira and The Doctor ignored Rose as she rambled something about calling the police and the news mentioning a body. Kira felt a small stab of guilt at that. She'd forgotten about Wilson. He was a real, living person. A person with friends and family. A person with feelings, hopes, and ambition. And she'd forgotten about him.

"Ah, could have been worse, look at the ears." The Doctor flicked his ears as he spoke, pulling Kira from her small self-induced guilt trip. She couldn't help but giggle slightly as she watched him. The Doctor turned his attention towards her reflection, smirking slightly.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I think you look… handsome. A bit like a rebel." Kira smiled as their eyes met in the reflection of the mirror.

"Oh? Handsome am I? I feel honored." The Doctor's eyes twinkled as he teased the easily embarrassed girl. Turning from the mirror to wink her. Kira blushed lightly and giggled nervously as her eyes roamed the room. Looking anywhere but at the Doctor.

She tried hard to distract herself from her embarrassment by focusing instead on what was supposed to happen next. Or rather, what happened next in the television show. She still wasn't sure that this universe would follow the show. Sure, there were a large number of similarities, but there was still a chance that it was different. A chance that things would suddenly change. After all, she was here now. That was bound to change some things.

If she remembered right, they were going to get attacked by the arm. The Doctor would run off with the arm, Rose following close behind and demanding answers. The Doctor would leave, and Rose will become curious and search his 'name' on the net where she'll find Clive. Kira's eyes widened as she came to a sudden realization.

This wasn't the Doctor's first trip. Or rather, this wasn't his first trip after the war. Clive had pictures of the Doctor, the ninth Doctor specifically. Pictures of him without Rose. She could only think of two possible explanations for that. One, he was lying about it being his first time seeing his reflection. Two, he was going to go on a number of trips without Rose (or without Rose nearby at the very least).

Kira watched the Doctor study a deck of cards as she thought over the different possibilities. She was pulled, once again, from her thoughts by the Doctor. She couldn't help but wonder if this trend was going to continue. She listened as he quietly sung "Luck be a Lady", shuffling the cards from one hand to another.

Kira couldn't hold back her laughter as the cards flew into the air. Slowly drifting to the floor while the duo watched on with interest. Normally, Kira would've rushed to clean up the mess, but she knew it'd be pointless. After all, the 'killer plastic arm from space' was going to cause a larger mess when it attacked.

Rose continued talking. Ignorant of the fact that her two guests had been ignoring her throughout her entire speech. Her topic had, at some point, moved from Wilson towards the Police. Kira felt a bit sorry for the girl. She hated it when people ignored her. Yet here she was, ignoring Rose. She'd have to learn to ignore the Doctor's antics at some point.

The Doctor muttered something to himself as he walked away. His ever wandering gaze caught by some other random object in Rose's living room. He paused when a rustling sound filled the room. Kira subtly moved away from the couch. She hated to admit it, but she was a bit scared of the 'killer plastic arm from space'. Luckily, the Doctor hadn't seemed to notice, as he leisurely walked towards the couch to investigate the out of place sound.

"What's that, then? Have you got a cat?" The Doctor asked. He didn't bother to wait for an answer. Instantly moving to kneel on the couch before peeking over the back to see what was behind it.

"No." Rose answered. Oblivious to the fact that a plastic mannequin hand had shot out from behind the couch before latching onto the Doctor's neck. Kira rushed to help. Grabbing tightly onto the arm and pulling it with all her might.

"We did have, but there's these strays, they come in off the estate." Rose began to ramble as she walked into the living room with two steaming mugs of coffee in her hand. She glanced at the plastic hand gripping tightly to the Doctor's neck with clear disinterest.

"I told Mickey to chuck that out." Rose complained with a small scowl. Ignorant of the very real danger they were in. As far as Rose was concerned, the odd duo were nothing more than two possibly psychotic strangers playing with a plastic hand.

"You're all the same. Give a man a plastic hand…" Rose continued her rant. Kira wanted to roll her eyes at the woman's attitude. Now was not the time.

Deciding that she needed a bit more leverage, Kira pushed the Doctor into the nearby lazy-boy chair. She climbed on top of him, bracing her feet against the armrests. Adjusting her grip slightly, Kira took a deep breath before pulling with all her might. Using gravity to her advantage, Kira shifted her center of balance so that the only thing keeping her from falling to the floor was the hand.

"Anyway, I don't even know your name. Doctor what was it?"

"ROSE! The hand. Is trying. To kill him!" Kira finally snapped. Turning her head slightly, she glared at Rose from the corner of her eye. Anger and Exhaustion made her voice strained. Her face turning red as she continued to pour all her strength into trying to remove the hand. "Now, if you're done chatting. Help me get it OFF!"

The hand released its grip the moment the last word had left Kira's mouth. Kira fell back as the hand flew from her grip. Her head hit the floor with a muffled thud. The hand rushed at Rose, latching onto her face. The plastic palm was pushing down on the woman's nose as the fingers held her jaw tightly shut. Affectively suffocating her.

Rose began to panic, her muffled yells slightly drowned out by the sound of Jackie's hairdryer. Kira pushed the steady pounding of her head to the side as she struggled to stand up. Her legs tangled with the Doctor's as they both tried to move at the same time. The Doctor tripped forward, one knee digging harshly into Kira's thigh as the other rammed against the hard floor. The thin carpet doing nothing to ease the painful fall. He paused a moment, wide eyes meeting Kira's before he scrambled to his feet. Mindful of the girl stuck on the floor below him.

Kira breathed a sigh of relief when the Doctor had finally managed to untangle himself from her. She ignored the ache in her muscles as she pushed herself off the floor. She was practically crawling as she scrambled towards the still panicking Rose.

The Doctor had his hands wrapped tightly around the rubber appendage. His muscles straining as he pulled on it. Kira quickly moved to his left and grabbed the arm tightly around the wrist. They pulled with all their might. Jaw's clenched and muscles tensed as they tried to force it to let go.

The force of their combined pulling was too much for Rose. She fell forward. Both Kira and the Doctor unprepared to catch her, fell back, shattering the glass coffee table beneath them.

Kira winced as she felt a sharp pain stab at her legs. She was seriously regretting her choice of outfit. Some heavy duty jeans would've been wonderful right about now. Kira sighed, pointedly ignoring the wet and warm feeling of blood running down her leg as she turned her attention towards Rose.

The Doctor pushed Rose onto the couch behind her before scrambling to his knees. He quickly shuffled towards the poor girl as he pulled his sonic screwdriver from his coat pocket. A shrill trill-filled the air as he sonicked the arm, weakening it enough to pull it off of Rose's face.

Now that Rose was no longer in danger of suffocation, Kira turned her attention towards her injuries. Her whole body ached, she had a large, ugly purple and blue bruise forming on her right thigh just above her knee. A jagged cut running up along the side of her left thigh. A multitude of small cuts littering her exposed legs, arms, hands, and shoulders. And a pounding headache. She quietly groaned in pain as she stood, careful of the glass still littering the floor. Kira carefully reached into her bag. Slowly rummaging through it before finding the small first aid kit her father had given her.

The Doctor smiled when the arm finally stopped moving. Sighing in relief as he let the tension pour out of his body. That was a close call. Too close. He'd have to be more careful from now on.

"It's all right, I stopped it. There you go, you see? Armless." His tone was, once again, bright and cheery as he tossed the arm to Rose. She caught the arm with a gasp, still scared of the mannequin part that had almost ended her life. Once she affirmed for herself that the arm was no longer active, Rose turned to glare at the mysterious Doctor.

"Do you think?" Her voice was heated with anger as she hit the Doctor with the arm.

The Doctor let out a small exclamation of pain. Glaring slightly at the woman he'd saved twice now before pushing himself up from the floor. He dusted off his jacket before turning to Kira, ready to leave the Tyler residence.

"Come on Kira, let's…" He paused when he'd caught sight of the girl. Small cut's littering her body, an ugly bruise developing on her thigh, and from what he could tell, a painful looking cut on her thigh. He hadn't noticed that she'd been so badly injured. Everything was moving too fast, too hectic. "Are you okay Kira?" His voice was heavy with guilt as he moved to help the girl.

Kira hesitated a moment before returning to her work. She was tightly wrapping a bandage around the cut on her thigh. Luckily, the cut wasn't deep. Just… long. She was thankful she'd taken that first aid course her high school had offered when she was a freshman.

"I'm fine. Just got a, ah, small cut from the table. Nothing too serious." Kira kept her eyes focused firmly on her hands. Using all her might to keep them from shaking. She didn't want to see the Doctor's expression. She didn't like it when people pitied her. It made her feel small. Well, smaller. She couldn't stand it.

The Doctor watched her hands as they wrapped the bandage around her thigh. Her body shook as her fingers fumbled with the bandage. He wanted to help, but he wasn't sure how. It was clear that Kira knew what she was doing. It was also glaringly obvious that she didn't want help.

Kira glanced at the Doctor, and couldn't help but feel a bit guilty at the conflicted look on his face. She took a deep breath before releasing it in a small, defeated, sigh. She quickly cut the bandage, tying it closed before stuffing the kit back into her bag. She'd worry about re-organizing it later.

"I'm fine Doctor. Really." She met his gaze. Relieved when she saw no hint of pity in his bright blue eyes. The Doctor met her gaze, searching for the slightest hint of a lie. Kira hesitated a moment before gently holding out her hand. A small shy smile on her face.

"Um, c-could you help me up… please?" The question was soft, almost a whisper. The Doctor glanced at Kira's hand before a large smile stretched across his face.

"Well, helping is part of my job description." The Doctor gave Kira a small, lopsided smirk as he pushed himself to his feet. Dusting off his jeans before gently taking her hand in his, mindful of the small cuts littering her soft hand. He carefully pulled her up, ready to catch her if her leg gave out.

Kira gave the Doctor a bright, thankful smile as she slowly put weight on her leg, testing it. Once she was satisfied that she could walk without issue she slowly stepped away from him. Moving towards the door to the Tyler residence. The Doctor watched her for a moment before following behind. Thankful that the girl seemed to be okay.

"Alright then. Back to the TARDIS!"