The Master watched with a sense of pride as his daughter pursued her unfortunate victim and he knew what was coming and a few moments later the shot rang out from somewhere within the trees.

Ashena appeared a few minutes later, remounted her motorcycle and rode back to where the Master was waiting.

"That was too easy," he said.

"You could always let me hunt Jack Harkness."

"No," the Master snarled. "He's mine."

Ashena flinched at the snarled words...she wasn't afraid of much but her father and her mother were two things she feared and respected.

Father's temper always simmered beneath the surface and she knew when to leave him, but her mother when he had been with them, her mother's temper was volcanic and like a volcano you were caught in its explosive power and prayed you survived.

She was about to speak but the sound of another motorbike stopped her.

It slewed to a halt and the soldier almost fell off it in his haste to reach them.

"My Lord!" the soldier shouted and skidded to a halt. "My Lord, wonderful news...the Lord Doctor!" the soldier stopped to draw breath.

The Master scowled. "What about the Lord Doctor?"

"He's awake, My Lord!"

The Master left Ashena behind in his haste to reach his quarter...no their quarters once more.

He flung open the doors to the bedroom, causing all but the occupant of the bed to jump.

"Leave!" he snarled at the assorted physicians and Seska.

They all obeyed and the Master shut the doors behind them and locked them.

"Ni'ala," a voice said and the Master took in a sharp breath. It was a voice he feared he'd never hear again.

He turned and looked at the figure in the bed. "Eresh'ala," he said and crossed to the bed and laid a hand on the Doctor's cheek...to make sure that this wasn't a cruel trick.

"It is me," the Doctor said and leant into the Master's hand.

"You came back to me," he whispered.

Always," the Doctor replied and then wrinkled his nose. "You smell of fuel and blood."

The Master smiled. "Then I shall shower."

He looked into the Doctor's eyes and his smile faltered...something was not right. He waved a hand in front of the Doctor's face, but his eyes didn't track it.

"You can't see," he said, unable to keep the sadness out of his voice."

"The physicians say it's only temporary, a day or two... side effects of being in stasis. Now, no more sadness," he said and pushed the Master away. "I want a happy mate in this bed."

The Master tried to smile, knowing that the Doctor would sense it if he wasn't.

He reluctantly entered the bathroom and stood in the shower, allowing the water to wash away the smell of fuel and human blood.

But it did nothing to wash away the anger that was rising...it wasn't fair, his Beautiful Storm was blinded; he may never see again, despite the assurances of his lover that it was temporary.

The Fates must hate him.

"Is this how you repay me?" he snarled at the air. "Is this my punishment for my pride...well screw you!"

He leant against the shower wall and he felt the urge to break something or someone and he knew exactly who...but that could wait, all he wanted for now was to protect his mate and once again feel the chaos of the storm that was the Doctor.

The Doctor heard but couldn't see the Master leave and when he'd gone he let his head hang down...he felt broken and cold inside.

The first thing he'd felt when Seska's regeneration energy had hit him was euphoria; its heat was like a warm fire on a winter's night. But it had turned to pain...extreme pain and then he was in hell and he couldn't escape.

He had ran and kept on running, pursued by nightmares...forever running, heading for a light that he never reached.

But then by some miracle the light came to him and the monsters were left behind.

He'd panicked when he couldn't see and he had a headache that almost crippled him but the reassurances of the physicians and painkillers made him feel somewhat better, and then the joy of being reunited with his son and then the Master pushed it all into the distance.

But when the Master left the room, the headache he'd had when he awoke returned with a vengeance and he stifled a groan and held his head and thankful for his other Time Lord Senses reached for the painkillers.

The Master allowed his anger to cool before stepping out of the bathroom and saw the Doctor putting a bottle back onto a bedside table.

"You're in pain...I'll call the physician."

"No...just a headache...I want to be alone with you, no more interruptions."

"Okay," the Master said and slipped into the bed next to the Doctor.

The Doctor reached out and missed the Master's face and let out a huff of frustration.

The Master smiled and took hold of the outstretched hand and placed it on his face and closed his eyes when soft fingers ran down his cheek.

"Inari," the Doctor whispered.

The Master placed a gentle kiss on the Doctor's lips and drew him into his arms. "Sleep, Eresh'ala."

Hours after the Doctor had fallen into sleep the Master was still wide awake, still keeping a tight hold on his lover.

Dark thoughts chased around his mind...how much longer could he keep hold of the Doctor...were the fates determined that he loose him...not if he could help it.

The Doctor would regain his sight and then they would finish what they started together and the New Time Lord Empire would spread beyond Earth and swallow up the whole of existence.

No-one took any notice of the cloaked figure as it slipped out of the gates...they wouldn't stop them anyway, since they were wearing the colours of the royal house.

The figure mounted the horse they had lead out of the gates and galloped off into the night.

The lone ride only stopped when he was met by two other riders.

The figure handed over a roll of paper.

"Tell them that he's awake...tell them to run and hide. Tell them that my parents will be coming."

Ni'ala- Master

Eresh'ala- Doctor

Inari- Beloved