Author's Note: Hello everyone! I hope you enjoy this chapter...it's different to how I originally planned and I ended up changing it as I went along! As always, thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter:
Rwyf-Yn-y-Blaidd-Drwg, Shifuni, Simpa007, padmay97, alyssa love, MayFairy, Brownbug, chibiwolfgurl and (hello new reviewer!) Lady Bird.
A Reluctant Unification
The Doctor felt his back hit the wall and knew he was in trouble. As usual, he thought.
"Tell me what you're doing!" He demanded but the droids continued to advance. "Maybe not." He slid along the wall making sure he was out of their grasp. If he edged a little to the right and ducked maybe he could get out; if he wasn't touched and electrocuted that is. "Ah, well. No point in thinking of the worst. Off we go!" He squeezed his eyes shut and ducked under one of the droid's arm. He opened his eyes and saw that he had indeed managed to escape through the small gap. He admired his work with a grin. "Ha! I knew there was reason I was gangly!"
With that, he shot off down the corridor and down the stairs towards Amy and Rory who were both still with Mr. Horton. "You two!" He called to them hurriedly. "C'mon, I think we'd better get to our rooms. I just met some robots on the floor above and they were none too friendly." He ran back up the stairs and up the next flight too with Amy and Rory puffing behind him. They reached the landing where all their rooms where.
"Right," The Doctor began. "I don't think getting to the TARDIS is going to be an option right now. The Clockworks seem pretty against me going down there so what we'll have to do – "
"Why don't you come in, Doctor?" A voice called suddenly. The Master was leaning casually on the open door of his and Fred's room, that irritating smirk on his face. The Doctor scowled. The Master has managed to open the door without them hearing; probably one of his ridiculous mind games.
"Why would I want to go in there with you?" The Doctor bit back.
"Because you can't do this on your own, Doctor. This place is over-run and only we..." He gestured behind him into the room where Fred was. "...know what's going on. So if you want to get to your precious TARDIS again, you'd better come in." He backed into the room, confident that the Doctor and his companions would follow.
The Doctor grimaced. Unfortunately, the Master was right. As much as he hated to admit it, he needed the Master's help.
"So how do we do this?" The Doctor said, leaning back in his chair and giving the Master a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. They sat across from one another; only a small, round table divided them. Fred perched on the chest of drawers behind the Master, trying not to look bothered that the Doctor was in her and the Master's room. Amy and Rory stood close together and leaned against the wall behind the Doctor.
"Why don't we play Searistring?"
The Doctor snorted, surprised at the Master's suggestion.
"Searistring? What's that?" Amy asked, unsure about the relationship and history between the two Time Lords.
"An old Galliferyan game we used to play when we were children; trading questions and answers of equal value." The Doctor paused and studied the Time Lord opposite. "Fine. You first...Master."
The Master bowed his head mockingly. "My question – I'll start off easy – why are you here?" After a second's pause, they both leaned across the table and joined hands as though they were about to arm wrestle. They both closed their eyes. The Master seemed to be calmer than the Doctor: his eyes were closed but he looked oddly relaxed whereas the Doctor's eyes were squeezed shut and he seemed to be pushing something out his mind. The three companions shared a bewildered and concerned look. Finally, they both opened their eyes again.
"What the hell was that?" Fred asked from behind the Master.
"That was the Doctor's answer." Noticing Fred's confused expression, the Master elaborated. "The whole point of the game is to answer the question posed by the opponent with your mind without giving any other information away. Of course, it's not quite that easy is it, Doctor? While the Doctor was answering the question, I tried to push into his mind and force him to reveal more than he wants to."
"Oh, he'll beat you at that, won't you Doctor? He's the best at mind...stuff." Amy finished lamely.
"He is the best," The Master confirmed a little too kindly. The he smirked. "Until he's playing me, of course."
Amy laughed and made retort but the Doctor cut across her. "Don't, Amy."
Amy suddenly realised that the Doctor wasn't denying that the Master had a stronger mind than him and it shocked her. Nevertheless, she did as she was told and leaned against the wall again and continued to watch the odd game.
"So, something brought you here, probably that panel in the basement, eh? What an odd life you live Doctor, being dragged from place to place and breaking hearts on the way."
The Doctor glanced at Fred who avoided his gaze and shifted uncomfortably. The Master straightened up. "You're turn, Doctor. Ask away."
"How are you here?"
They linked hands again and this time it was the Master's turn to squeeze his eyes shut and try to block the Doctor out. There was another tense moment before they broke the connection. They both sat back in their chairs again and the Doctor sighed as though he was disappointed.
"A vortex manipulator? How...primitive; especially for you Master."
The Master shrugged. "It's only temporary. I have plans to make something a bit more luxurious for us." The Master grinned again when he said 'us', knowing that the Doctor would feel a stab of pain at the idea of him and Fred being 'us'. "My turn again. It gets a bit harder this time."
This time, the Master didn't ask the question out loud, they just linked hands as the Master mentally asked him his question. The Doctor's eyes widened with shock before he squeezed them shut. This connection lasted longer than the others and the Doctor looked not only under pressure but very uncomfortable; his face grew more and more tense. The Master laughed, his eyes shut and his face relaxed. Suddenly, the Doctor yanked his hand out the Master's grasp and they both cried out at the abrupt break in connection. It seemed that the Master had pushed into areas of the Doctor's mind he did not want him to see. They both slumped in their chairs panting, their companions looking on, worried.
"It seems I've won this one, Doctor."
The Doctor's eyes flicked past the Master to Fred who fixed him with a steely glare. His eyes slid back at the Master. "It seems you have."
A heavy silence enveloped them all until the Master said, "Can you three go? I think the Doctor and I need a chat."
"The Doctor said you had wild hair. I'm kind of disappointed now." Amy said, sipping a glass of water and crossing her legs on the bed in her and Rory's room.
Fred found herself laughing, something she didn't do very often anymore. She couldn't help quite liking Amy and Rory; after all, it wasn't their fault the Doctor abandoned her. "I'm sorry my hair let your down."
"Why have you straightened it? I bet it looks amazing curly."
Fred shrugged, not really sure herself. "I don't know really. The Master prefers it like this and it goes with the kick arse look I've got going on right now. You know, dressed all in black and looking sleek."
Amy laughed too. "That's true, it does." Amy's smile faded and she couldn't stop herself asking: "How did you away? How are you still alive?"
"Amy!" Rory exclaimed from where he was perched on the windowsill.
"What? She doesn't have to answer it if she doesn't want to!"
Fred smiled but she didn't seem as relaxed as she had been. "No, it's fine. The Master found me, healed me and we started travelling together. Simple as."
"Oh. That's it?"
"That's it. No real drama I'm afraid. Well, other than the brush with death, the time and space travel and encountering aliens of course but that's everyday to us now, isn't it? It's all just part of the fun."
Amy beamed and nodded, taking another sip of her water.
"What's that?" Fred asked suddenly, pointing to Amy's jacket pocket.
Amy reached down and pulled it out before she remembered what it was. Fred blinked in surprise.
"Is that my diary?"
Amy nodded guiltily. Fred's expression was unreadable as she held her hand out for it. Amy passed it to her and Fred couldn't help but smile softly as she stroked the cover affectionately.
"It feels like a lifetime ago." She gazed at it, her eyes glazing over before she said very quietly, "A happier time."
Amy saw the pain in her eyes. "He was devastated, you know; about what happened. When I said I'd found your diary he was really upset. We've never seen him like that before."
"Was he?" Fred huffed but there was a glint of hope in her eyes.
"Yes! He misses you so much and it wasn't his fault! The TARDIS took off and he had no control over it – "
"Her." Fred cut in without thinking. Amy looked at her questioningly and she explained. "The TARDIS isn't an 'it', she's a being."
"Right. Sorry." Amy remembered that the Doctor said that Fred and the TARDIS had got on well. Amy attempted to rescue things. "The Doctor said he thought us three would get on well if we ever met."
But it was too late; Fred's barriers had come slamming down and she was cold again. "Did he? Well, the Doctor says a lot of things he doesn't mean."
Another chapter over! I hope you enjoyed having a bit more Fred in this one. I hope I didn't make her into too much of a bitch...I just think she'd be angry and confused.
Please review!