Author's Notes:

Not mine, nope, none of it! Reviews would be awesome, is anyone reading?

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'Ultimately, this is entirely my fault, isn't it? You had no problem stepping into my life again after Andrew went nuts.'

'You were unconscious and Christopher was gone. You weren't in any position to argue, one way or the other. I stepped back into a place I never should've left.'

Sarah laid back on the bed. 'My head is pounding.' She put a hand over her eyes. 'Why did you bring me in here earlier, anyway? Out of all the rooms in the TARDIS, why this one?'

The Doctor took the hand that wasn't covering her eyes. 'This is our room, it seemed like the most natural place.' Letting go of her hand and standing up, he walked across the room and turned the lights down. 'Your head is sore because of all the pressure of the day; those memories don't rush in without some wear and tear on the dendrites. Why don't you stay here and try to get some rest? I'll get Luke and set the TARDIS to float in the vortex for a while.'

'Wait a minute.' Sarah sat up slowly. 'I need to know something before you walk out that door.'

The Doctor came back over and sat down beside her, casually draping an arm across her waist. 'If you're going to ask me what this means for us, don't worry. I'm not going anywhere.' He reached up and caressed her face before gently pulling her to him for a slow, meaningful kiss.

The rest of the night on Aldebarus III was quiet. As the sun rose and began to shine through a small window, Sarah felt a pair of arms encircle her. She nestled back against the Doctor's chest. 'It feels warmer in here,' she said softly.

'It's your imagination,' the Doctor whispered in her ear. 'The Aldebarians aren't real keen on changing the conditions of their cells.'

'It could be a worse way to be in prison.'

'We'll be out of here soon enough, ten hours is usually about the normal for overnight stays here on Aldebarius.'

'It makes it sound like you knew what was going to happen here.'

Just then, they heard a loud click of the door being unlocked.

'Ah, here we go, Sarah. Time to go home.' The Doctor jumped up off the bed quickly. 'Back to the TARDIS and to our normal travels.'

Sarah got up a bit more slowly. 'Right, back to running for our lives, escaping certain death and righting the galaxy's wrongs.'

The Doctor playfully punched her on the shoulder and smiled, 'That's the spirit!'

The Aldebarians ushered them back to separate rooms where they could change back into their regular attire before walking them both back to the TARDIS and wishing them well.

Once inside the TARDIS, the Doctor went quickly to working on the console. Sarah watched him for a moment. 'Uh, Doctor, did you care to comment on what happened back there?'

'It was a ceremony much like I would expect on many primitive worlds, Sarah. The Aldebarians were better than most as far as hospitality goes and at least they didn't make us undergo the ceremony at knife point.' The TARDIS shifted suddenly, and the Doctor kneeled in front of the console, pulling off a panel and sticking his head inside.

She decided against pursuing it anymore. She knew if the Doctor wanted to mention anything about it, he would find a way. She wasn't sure why, but she was suddenly very depressed. Silently, she decided to take a walk around the TARDIS to clear her mind.

A few minutes later, the Doctor pulled his head out from underneath the console. 'Sarah, about last night...and there's something you need to know about that ceremony…' he dropped off as he realised she wasn't there. He felt the pounding in his head and knew it was probably affecting Sarah even worse. 'Ah, aftereffects of the chemical, I'd better warn her.' He set off through the interior door in search of Sarah.

It didn't take him long to find her. She was sitting in one of the corridors, leaning against the wall, knees pulled up against her chest, her head cradled in her hands. He knelt beside her and gently put a hand on her shoulder.

'My head started pounding suddenly,' she whispered. 'It came on so fast, and I don't even feel like I can take another step.'

He lowered his voice to a whisper to match hers. 'I know, Sarah, I'm sorry.' He reached out and pushed her hair away from her face. 'It seems to be an effect from the chemicals the Aldebarians gave us.'

'How long will this last?'

'I'm not sure.' He helped her to stand up, but her legs gave way almost immediately. He easily scooped her up and began to carry her down the hallway. As he was walking, the throbbing in his own head began to worsen. 'C'mon Sarah, I need to get you some place where you can lie down. Sleep is probably the least painful way to get this out of your system.'

He staggered a bit, causing her to look up and study his face intently. 'You too?'

'Yes.' He pushed open the nearest door with his foot. 'Ah, this will do nicely.' He carried Sarah over towards the large bed against the wall and gently sat her down. 'Now, you lie here for a bit. I'm going to go see if I can come up with something that will help us get this out of our system faster.'

Sarah slid back onto the bed. 'If this is affecting you as well, you need to take it easy.'

He smiled at her. 'I will, but let's see what we can do about subsiding these headaches, shall we? Then, you and I need to discuss something.'

'As much as my head hurts, you've piqued my curiosity.' She smiled up at him. 'Doctor, does this have to do with…'

'You know me too well, Sarah. I'll be back in a few minutes, you just rest until then.' He left and pulled the door shut behind him. He rested his hand on the door for a moment before walking towards his lab.

It didn't take long for him to take a blood sample, identify the exact chemical and create a reasonable antidote. He gave himself a quick injection and then made a few more modifications for Sarah's antidote. He quickly headed back to the bedroom he'd left her in. He opened up the door and smiled as she saw her sleeping.

He sat on the edge of the bed and reached out and took her hand. 'Sarah. Sarah, sit up for a second. I have to give you the antidote.'

She sat up and rubbed her hand over her eyes, then spied the syringe in his hand. 'Oh goodie, a shot.'

'It's faster than anything else.' He took her sleeve and rolled it up. 'I'm sorry, but this is going to burn as it goes through your bloodstream.' He gave her the shot, then laid the empty syringe on the bedside table. He kicked off his shoes and stretched out on the bed with his back against the headboard.

She whimpered slightly as the antidote coursed through her veins. The Doctor frowned, then tapped her lightly on the arm. 'Come here.' He opened his arms.

Sarah hesitated and looked from his arms up to his face. 'What is going through that head of yours, Doctor?'

'You're in pain, Sarah. I caused it. The least I can do is give you some earthly expression of comfort.'

As she settled into his embrace, she continued to question him. 'Since when? This is not exactly normal behaviour for you. Last night notwithstanding, you've never been this, how shall I say, tangible before. What does this have to do with that ceremony on Aldebarus III?'

'It was a bonding ceremony, Sarah.'

'I know that, you're the one who said it was just a formality, and that we had to do it to get off the planet.' She winced again as more of the antidote continued to course its way through her veins.

He tightened his arms around her, resting his cheek against the top of her head. 'It was a formality, but never doubt how much you mean to me, Sarah. You're more than just an assistant or a travelling companion. You're my best friend.'

Sarah sat up and looked over at the Doctor sitting in front of her. 'John, I still have trouble with the fact that I lost all those memories for all those years.'

'That's something we won't have to worry about again.'

'You suppressed them. Why?'

The Doctor looked down at his shoes, then looked up at Sarah's inquisitive eyes. 'I did what I've always tried to do. I was just trying to protect you.'

She reached over and took his hand in hers. 'Please do me a favor. Going forward, can we face things together? I'd rather go in with both eyes open than come out the other side only having seen half of what was going on.'

He reached out and took her face in his hands. 'Sarah, you've stood by me longer than I ever thought anyone could. You've put yourself in danger time and time again right by my side. I will continue to try to protect you, but I won't shelter you.'

She smiled, then leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. 'That's all I ask.' She stood up and headed for the door, the Doctor following. 'Now, what does Luke know?'

'He knows his heritage.'

Sarah laughed. 'That one day, he'll grow up and spend his life saving the Earth over and over, just like his dad?'

The Doctor joined in her laughter. 'Just like both his parents. You've saved the world, too, Sarah.'

'You and I together, yes.'