"You want to talk?" Kathryn stressed, stepping forward. "After what you did?"

The Doctor gently grabbed Kathryn's arm and pulled her back. "Stop."

"Doctor—"

"Kathryn. Just…just wait for a few minutes. Let them speak."

Kathryn stepped slightly behind the Doctor. She glared threateningly at the banshee and the dullahan, but stayed silent. The Doctor turned back around, taking in the two creatures at a glance.

The dullahan was as just ugly as he had been the previous night. Though, as he was missing the horse and the thunderstorm, he wasn't nearly as terrifying. The spine-whip was hanging from his belt, and under one arm he held his head. However, his other hand was holding up a massive umbrella that blocked the sunlight from reaching himself and the banshee. The dullahan was also stooped, making him resemble a stereotypical football player. Unfortunately, he smelled far worse than one.

The banshee was a complete opposite from the dullahan. She was short and slender, with a gorgeous figure and a perfectly shaped face. Her eyes were large and dark, old. Though she was wearing a heavy cloak, her long pale hair had been pulled forward over one shoulder, and it fell nearly to her waist.

"We don't wish to cause you trouble—how did she call you—Doctor," the banshee said, her voice silky. "We simply wanted to see what sort of travelers you were. Your use of sonic technology made it obvious you weren't from this time."

"Oh, we're just sightseeing," the Doctor said in a chipper voice, putting his hands in his pockets. "What's your story?"

"We live here, Doctor. Have you never heard of the Naime?"

"So you two are married then."

The banshee smiled, showing straight, white teeth. "Four hundred years."

"Congrats," Kathryn snipped at her. "Why are you killing people?"

The banshee seemed surprised. "You're a Jahra. You should already have complete knowledge of all races programed into you."

"I'm not your usual clone, lady," Kathryn shot back. "So why are you killing people?"

The Doctor looked over at Kathryn. "It's how they feed, Kathryn. All life forms give off different hormones and chemicals. Different emotions and stimuli promote different hormones. For humans it's things like adrenaline and cortisol, particularly when they're scared. The Naime absorb the hormones from the air."

"You terrorize people in order to eat?" Kathryn gasped in horror, staring at the Naime. "That's…that's wrong! There have to be better ways to get lunch than killing children!"

"Arguing with things like you gets the same result, but it takes far too long and produces little by comparison."

"I am this close to messing up your pretty face."

"Kathryn."

Kathryn glanced up at the Doctor as he fixed her with a stare. She stepped backwards again.

"Did you purchase her?"

The Doctor looked back to the banshee. "What?"

"She obeys you, yet obviously knows she's a clone. She should be back in the Laboratory with her makers, not here. Did you buy her?"

"No. She came by free choice."

"Which means she's a rouge."

The Doctor seemed to hear something in the banshee's tone, because he shifted slightly. "I suppose you could term it that way, yes."

The banshee blinked calmly. "I'll make it simple then; we shall return her for you, and the Rahki will never be told that you withheld her."

"He doesn't own me, lady!" Kathryn said, stepping forward again. The Doctor tried to rein her in again, but she was no longer listening.

"Let me make this abundantly clear to you, Silicon, and your freak-faced fiancé," Kathryn snapped. "This area is not yours. I and the Doctor are unlike any terrestrials you've ever met, and if you don't clear out you're going to be the headless one and I'll be using your hubby as fish bait. You leave this planet now, or I swear you won't see the end of the week."

The banshee's eyes narrowed and she inhaled deeply through her nose. The light in her eyes changed subtly and she leaned backwards slightly.

"Your threat is noted, Jahra. But we still have a child to claim. I expect we will see you tonight."

Kathryn opened her mouth to say something else, but the banshee and dullahan teleported off to somewhere.

"Rule Number Four: Kathryn is no longer allowed to speak to any aliens we meet."

Kathryn turned around, glaring at the Doctor. "And what was your plan, Bright Eyes? Ask nicely?"

"It's always worth a try."

Kathryn seemed ready to argue, then forced herself to relax and let the point go. She frowned, puzzled.

"Hang on. What happened to Rules One through Three?"

"Rule Number One: Always listen to the Doctor. Rule Number Two: No wandering off. Rule Number Three: Don't touch any buttons on the TARDIS console."

"Thank you." She turned abruptly and started walking down the hill. The Doctor followed. Neither looked at the other as they started swapping ideas.

"Not a lot of time before sundown," the Doctor pointed out.

"Half a day at most," Kathryn agreed.

"We need some kind of defense. What don't the Naime enjoy?"

"Sunlight, going from the umbrella."

"Stories say they have a thing against gold, or at least the dullahan does."

"Chemical reaction maybe?" Kathryn suggested.

"Possible," the Doctor consented. "I say we rely on UV rays until we know for sure."

"Elizabeth needs a guard. I can do that."

"No, she's the bait."

"That's why she needs a guard."

"Why do you care so much?"

"Why do you care so little?"

"I do; I'm just remembering that both sides have the right to live."

"Tch." Kathryn rolled her eyes. "Alien pacifist," she sighed, a touch of teasing in her voice.

"American war-monger."

"Yeah, we are rather good at winning, aren't we?"

Kathryn and the Doctor were not cordially received by Mr. Dixon when they arrived at the house. The man's face was set and his eyes hard when they walked in the door.

"What more do you have to say?"

Kathryn started to speak, then literally bit her tongue to keep the words inside. The Doctor spoke for them.

"Your daughter is still in danger. The dullahan won't stop until he has claimed her life."

"Elizabeth may be dead soon in any event. Your medicine is slow to work, Doctor." Mr. Dixon spat out the name. The Doctor didn't lash back.

"She'll heal with rest, Mr. Dixon. Kathryn and I want to be certain she has that chance. The dullahan and his mistress the banshee will be back tonight. We can help you prepare for them."

"I don't think it's a coincidence that those demons arrived the same day—no, the same night that you and that female did, Doctor," Mr. Dixon accused.

"You think we'd be standing and chatting with you if we wanted you dead?" the Doctor asked, incredulous.

"For all I know you're the scouts!"

"Mr. Dixon," Kathryn cut in suddenly. Her voice was soft, sweet, and almost tender. "I can relate to your pain. Your son, your first child, is gone, and someone is at fault. I make the best target for your rage, considering what I did earlier. But I know that you know that we could have done nothing to stop it, and I'm sorry." Kathryn swallowed, meeting Mr. Dixon's eyes. "So please. Let us try and save your daughter."

Kathryn padded softly into Elizabeth's room. The small girl seemed impossibly delicate, lying on the bed wrapped in bandages. Standing by the bed, Kathryn looked out the window at the rapidly fading sunlight. She hoped the Doctor's idea would work, that he had been right in his assumptions. She still didn't know if she trusted him or not. How could she? She'd known him for only two days—well, three technically. And someone like him…He was too easy to trust. Kathryn wanted to understand and be understood by the Doctor, but he didn't make sense. How could someone not make sense to her?

"What are you thinking about?"

Kathryn slowly crouched by the bed, smiling gently as she set what she was holding on the bed. "I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't," Elizabeth told her with a small voice. "Is Jonathan dead?" the young girl asked. Kathryn swallowed and nodded.

"He is. I'm sorry. I wasn't fast enough to save him."

Elizabeth didn't answer. Kathryn breathed in and tried to find something to say. "You should be sleeping. How do you feel?"

"Numb. It stings a bit."

"But not like before?"

"No. What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing you need to hear. A personal riddle."

Elizabeth's gaze flicked to someplace just over Kathryn's head and she smiled secretively as she looked back as Kathryn. Kathryn checked behind her to see nothing but the window and the sun disappearing behind the mountains.

"What's so funny?"

"I solved a riddle of my own, that's all."

Kathryn's grin widened. "Good." She moved closer to Elizabeth's head, holding one of her hands. "Elizabeth, I need you to be very brave."

The small girl nodded. Kathryn did too, though hers was more of a reassuring nod. "Good." She sat on the bed next to Elizabeth, still holding her hand. "The woman you saw last night…and the thing that hurt you. They're going to come back tonight, and they'll try to get inside. Now the Doctor and I have been working together, and we're going to protect you, I promise. I'll be right here all night. I'm not leaving you. But things will be frightening, and if I tell you to do something you have to promise to do it without asking me why."

"I promise."

Kathryn smiled at the young girl as the last sliver of sunlight vanished.

Outside the Doctor stood on the lawn, ready. He could already hear the hoof beats coming through the trees. The dullahan galloped up out of the woods, his lusterless horse snorting out puffs of flame that only heightened the stench. The horse rose up, forelegs pawing the air as the dullahan cracked his whip, head held up to focus on the Doctor.

"Leave this place, Doctor man! You have no right to intrude upon what belongs to the Naime! I and my mistress the banshee shall have the girl as well as the fear that comes from the stories her death shall spread!"

"No."

Kathryn felt the pulse of energy from the transport hit her back even as Elizabeth's eyes widened slightly. Kathryn didn't turn as the banshee spoke.

"I'm here for my prey, Jahra. Give her to me."

"No."

*Constructive criticism welcome, praise happily accepted, flames not wanted*