The Two Doctors and Hatters
Outside the House
The Sixth Doctor and Fifth Hatter quickly made their way up towards the large house, trying to be careful not to be spotted as they reached a paved area of the property, now badly over grown with grass and weeds, while in the middle of the pavement was an old fountain, long since dried up and disused. They hurried behind a large palm tree and hid behind it, peeking around the side of it, looking around. The Fifth Hatter couldn't help but think that the place must have been quite nice in the old days, back before the garden had been allowed to grow out of control and the weathered, faded paint of the stone of the building had been fresh.
They moved across to the fountain, ducking down low, casting their eyes around, and back up to the house.
"Let's just make a run for it," the Time Lady murmured to the Sixth Doctor beside her, the dry grass itched and tickled her bare legs.
He hesitated, casting one last look around, before nodding. They jumped back up and run across the pavement, over to a set of steps and up onto a short balcony, carefully running passed a barred window and over to the end of the balcony, flattening themselves against the wall, looking back the way they had come every now and then.
Slowly, the Sixth Doctor stepped away from the wall, looking back the way they had come, when the Fifth Hatter frowned, quickly grabbing his hand.
"What?" he asked, whispering as he looked back to her.
"I thought I heard voices," she replied just as quietly, looking back over her shoulder, "It sounded like a man and women".
They moved back to the wall, peering around the edge, where they noticed that a window had been left open. They exchanged a look and nodded, hurrying back over to the stairs and down them, carefully making their way along the edge of the house, keeping low as they stepped over to the window. The Sixth Doctor moved to stand on a small, wooden crate that had been left beneath it, but the Time Lady stopped him.
"Perhaps I ought to stand on it," the Fifth Hatter suggested softly, casting the crate a dubious look, "It looks like it would brake under your weight".
"Under my weight?" he repeated, looking affronted, "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Just that…well, I'm lighter then you are".
The Sixth Doctor narrowed his eyes at her, looking as if he was going to argue, when she sighed and stepped past him, carefully stepping up onto the crate before he could stop her, grabbing hold of the bar that was on the outside of the window as the crate jostled slightly under her weight. She was glad that she had stopped him, even with her standing on top of the create it felt very badly balanced and far to spindly for her comfort, as if it was going to break in half at any moment.
He shot her a look as he moved closer to the window to listen, muttering to softly for her to hear under his breath about it being his luck to have such an strong minded best friend, though, he did have to admit that it made things far more interesting.
The Time Lady peered around the window frame, looking inside a small kitchen that had a large wooden table sitting in the middle of it, where a man with red hair was sitting at the end of it, reading what appeared to be a recipe book. She narrowed her eyes at him, but she couldn't make out his face as he was turned away from the window, that's when she noticed a pretty, dark haired women standing before the fireplace, her hand resting on the mantle, wearing a grey and silver gown. She eyed her curiously, the women looked human, but her dress was all wrong.
"…vats of boiling liquid," the red headed man was saying to the women, looking down at the recipe book in his hands, "The strange thing is, however, is that I can find no recipes for cooking the human animal".
"There are races that do not eat their own kind," the women replied, shrugging.
"Oh, but a species that is at the top of the food chain as these creatures are, must develop the finest flavour of all," he remarked almost dreamily as the Fifth Hatter wobbled on the crate, almost toppling off, but she managed to right herself, "They have the pick of the planet's resources and all that goodness is concentrated…"
The Fifth Hatter wobbled again, but as she tried to right herself, the crate fell beneath her, sending her crashing into the Sixth Doctor, causing them both to fall onto the hard ground under the window, limbs tangled.
"Listen!" the women hissed from within the kitchen.
The Time Lords winced painfully, trying to untangle themselves from each other, when they heard footsteps approaching the window and quickly scrambled closer to the wall, flattening themselves against it, hardly daring to breath, half expecting to be discover. A tense moment past before the window above them closed with a clatter.
Once they were sure that they weren't about to be caught, the Time Lords untangled themselves from each other, and carefully stood, "I thought you were supposed to be lighter, Hatter," the Sixth Doctor remarked innocently.
The Fifth Hatter shot him a look, reaching around to smack the back of his head, "Cheeky," she muttered, almost sounding fond as she began to walk back the way they had come.
…Countryside….…..…
"So, you're an actor?" Peri said to Oscar while they waited for the Sixth Doctor and the Fifth Hatter to return. She, Jamie, Oscar, and Anita were all lying on the ground of the slope, ready to duck down out of sight should anyone come by them.
Oscar smiled broadly, "For my sins".
"What're you acting in in the moment, Oscar?" Jamie asked curiously.
His smile dimmed slightly, "I'm between roles at the moment, so I'm managing a restaurant for a friend of mine," he informed them, Jamie nodded in understanding, "Las Cadanas in the Bario Santa Cruz".
"Quiet, Oscar," Anita suddenly held out a hand out towards him, hearing approaching footsteps crunching the grass, "Someone's coming".
They all laid down on the grass, ducking below the top of the slope as the Sixth Doctor and the Fifth Hatter walked over to them, clearing their throats as they spotted the group trying to hide, looking slightly amused. They all looked up, sighing in relief that it was them as they sat up.
"Oh, Doctor, Hatter, you scared us," Peri commented, shaking her at them as the Time Lords moved further down the slope, sitting in the shadow of a tree, "Do you have to creep up like that?"
"You were expecting a brass band?" the Sixth Doctor resorted, casting her a quick look, making her roll her eyes.
"Did you find out anything?" Jamie questioned, looking between the Time Lords.
"Aside from the Hatter being heaver then she claims…"
The Fifth Hatter smacked his arm, giving him a sharp look as he yelped, quickly rubbing the spot, "Never make jokes about a women's weight, Doctor," she told him sternly, giving him a mock sweet smile, "The next time you do, I'll be aiming for the cheek".
He winced, still rubbing the spot with a painful grimace, while Jamie and Peri exchanged an amused look, "I will keep that in mind," he said warily, before shaking his head, turning back to the others, "As I was saying, we didn't find anything, but the Sontarans are here," his tone turned grim, "We can sense their presence".
"Who are the Sontarans?" Oscar frowned, looking confused.
"Don't ask," Jamie advised him warningly, pointing at him, "Just hope you don't meet one".
The Fifth Hatter nodded in agreement with him, before looking over to Anita, "Anita, the Dona Arana, was she a tall, quite pretty young women with dark hair?" she asked, already suspecting that the women she had seen in the kitchen wasn't from this world.
"No," Anita shook her head, frowning, "She's small and frail and has white hair".
She sighed, feeling sorry for the old women, having a pretty good idea just what had happened to her, she just hoped that it had been quick, "Yes, as I had thought," she said sadly, exchanging a look with the Sixth Doctor, "I'm afraid that I couldn't see the man that she was with very well, just that he had red hair," she paused, looking thoughtful, "I suppose that he could have been human".
"What do you mean, 'could have been human?'" Oscar repeated, looking amused as he looked around at the others, expecting them to have a similar reaction, only to find that Jamie and Peri appeared completely unsurprised.
The Sixth Doctor meet his eyes, "That noise you heard was a spacecraft landing," he told him, making Oscar stare at him, "That hacienda…" he nodded back over to the house, "Is now in the possession of what you would term an 'alien beings'".
Oscar tried to laugh him off, "You are joshing me, officer, are you not?" his tone grew unsure, almost worried.
"Joshing?" he frowned, looking questioningly to the Time Lady.
"Joking, Doctor," the Fifth Hatter clarified for him.
"That woman," Jamie began, looking at the Time Lady, "Was she wearing a long grey frock?"
She blinked at him, surprised, "Well, yes," she nodded slowly, smiling slightly, "I suppose you could call it that".
"Well, she was at the Space Station, then".
The Time Lords exchanged a look, "Was she now?" the Sixth Doctor said thoughtfully.
"Aye," he pointed at them, frowning, "Dastari said she was a…hungryman or something".
"Androgum?" the Time Lords cried in unison, the Fifth Hatter's eyes widening, startled.
"Aye, that's it".
"Well, that would explain why she was there," the Time Lady commented, before pausing, glancing at the Sixth Doctor, "Though, I would never have known from looking at her. Her features were far softer than any other Androgum I have come across".
"Oh, he said he'd done some operations that had turned her into a genius," Jamie informed them.
The Time Lords eyes widened, even more alarmed, "What a stupid thing to do!" the Sixth Doctor exclaimed, frowning deeply.
"That's what the Doctor and Hatter said!"
"And we were right," he agreed, exchanging a grim look with the Time Lady, "Whatever he's done to her mind, her nature will stay exactly the same, and Androgums have as much emotional capacity as…" he looked pointedly to Peri and the Time Lady, "As a gumblejack".
"Well, what's the next move, Doctor, Hatter?" Peri questioned them.
"We have to find a way of getting into that hacienda without being detected," he answered.
"I know a secret way into the cellars," Anita spoke up, her eyes brightening as they all turned to her, "It used to lead from the old ice house".
"The cellars?" he said slowly, nodding, breaking into a smile, "That sounds even better. Peri," he turned to Peri, giving her a serious look, "You'll have to cause a distraction while Jamie, the Hatter, and I try and find where we're being held".
Peri shook her head, looking nervous, "What…what sort of distraction?"
He sighed, looking exasperated, "Do I have to think of everything? Knock on the door and say you're lost".
"I don't speak Spanish!"
"Perhaps I should go with Peri," the Fifth Hatter cast the girl a slightly concerned look, not liking the idea of leaving her on her own with Androgums around. They had a fondness for human flesh, as she remembered. The Sixth Doctor frowned at her, while Peri looked hopeful, "And, given the situation, I think it would be better if we stick together".
The Sixth Doctor eyed her for a moment, looking unsure. He didn't like the idea, but he did have to admit that it was more practical and safe for them to split into two's, rather than one of them to go off on their own, "Oh, very well," he sighed after a moment of consideration, pointing a stern finger at her, "Just be careful".
The Time Lady rolled her eyes fondly, "I always am, sweetheart," she smiled at him.
He returned the smile and quickly stood, "Right, Anita," he rubbed his hands together as Jamie and Anita both stood. He looked at her, "You'd better show us this ice house".
"But what if a Sontaran answers the door?" Peri asked, biting her bottom lip worriedly.
"Oh, I doubt that will happen," the Fifth Hatter smiled comfortingly at her, standing and brushing her skirt down of dirt and grass, "They'll be busy doing something else, I expect. No, they will be wanting to keep a low profile, when you look like a Sontaran, that's hardly going to help".
"Just do as the Hatter says," the Sixth Doctor instructed Peri, holding out a hand, and helping her to stand, turning to Jamie and Anita, "Come on. Lead on".
And with that, he, Anita, and Jamie set off for the house, while the Time Lady flashed Peri another comforting smile, following after them. Peri sighed heavily, glancing at Oscar, and reluctantly went after the Time Lady.
As they neared the house, the Sixth Doctor, Jamie, and Anita went off towards where a separate shed was at the back of the house, while Peri and the Fifth Hatter walked around to the front of the house, making their way through a set of large gates and into a courtyard area.
"Come along, Peri," the Time Lady smiled softly at her, taking her arm, lightly tugging her along beside her, "Everything will be perfectly fine, just follow my lead".
"Easy for you to say," Peri muttered nervously, looking around the courtyard as they headed over to where a set of steps were leading up to a very large, wooden door. There was even weeds growing up through the concrete, "You're used to doing this sort of thing".
"Well…yes, that is true," she agreed, shrugging, "But that should only make you feel all the more reassured".
She turned back to the door and raised her hand, knocking twice on the wood.
….….somewhere in Seville….….…
The Second Doctor tried to lean away from Dastari as he held an injector gun in his hand, moving it closer to his arm, but he could only eye it warily with his arms and legs strapped down to the table.
"I'm afraid I'm unable to give you a full anaesthetic," Dastari informed him, moving the injector closer to him.
"Doing the job on the cheap, are you?" the Second Doctor tried to scoff, but his nervousness seeped into his voice, his eyes glued to the device, almost as if looking at it would stop it from being injected into him.
Dastari sighed slightly, "You'll have to be conscious while the neuron bombardment excites your brain cells so I will then be able to examine them," he explained to him patently.
"You should be examining your own brain cells, Dastari!" he snapped angrily, still trying to lean away from him, "Most of them must have leaked out of your ears or you wouldn't be involved in this madness!"
"This injection will simply inhibit the Motor Circuits," he remarked calmly, placing the device onto the Second Doctor's right arm and injecting him, making him wince loudly, uselessly trying to struggle against his bounds.
"Get on with it, Dastari!" Stike ordered, annoyed as he stood behind the bed with Chessene and Varl, watching the proceedings, "You delay my war effort!"
The Second Doctor moaned weakly, starting to feel the effects of the drug already, his eyes starting to feel heavy. He gave up trying to struggle, feeling too groggy as his head fell back down onto the bed.
Dastari cast Stike a sharp look as he removed the device from the Second Doctor's arm, "If you want this operation to succeed, Group Marshall," he said sternly, "You will allow me to proceed as I decide and at the pace I consider appropriate," he looked down to the Doctor, his voice growing softer as Stike huffed angrily, "Count backwards from ten, Doctor," he instructed him.
"Certainly not!" the Second Doctor glared at him, trying to make his voice sound stronger, fighting to keep his eyes open, "Do you expect me to co-operated in my own murder?" he tried shouting at him, but his tongue felt heavy, making him say complete gibberish, before he fell back against the bed weakly, unable to keep his eyes open any longer, and he passed out…
….….Courtyard of the house…..
The Fifth Hatter sighed and knocked on the front door again, but still there was no answer as she and Peri stood before the large door, waiting.
"Maybe they're not home?" Peri suggested hopefully, glancing at the Time Lady beside her.
The Time Lady smiled slightly, giving her an amused look, "I like your optimism," she commented, moving back to look up at the windows of the house, trying to see if there was any movement. She thought she saw a shadow move across one window, but it was gone before she had a chance to really look.
"What are we going to say?" Peri asked, moving to sit on the steps, "They're going to want to know what we want, right?"
"Good point," she nodded at her, a thoughtful look crossing her face as she cast her eyes around the rundown courtyard, "We're too far away to be trying to sell them something…"
"What about…students?"
"Students?"
"We could say that we're looking for accommodation, or something".
The Fifth Hatter seemed to think about it for a moment, before breaking into a broad smile, "Perfect!" she cheered excitedly, "That ought to work. Oh, well done, Peri!" she pointed at her.
Peri smiled at her, feeling quite pleased. The Sixth Doctor never would have acted that way, if anything, he probably would have made another comment about what humans can do when they use their brains, "You really think it'll work, then?" she questioned, standing and moving back over to the door.
"Yes," she replied, still smiling broadly at her, "Yes, I truly do believe that it will work. The Doctor really doesn't give you enough credit, still, that can't be helped," she sighed slightly, shaking her head, "This regeneration is one of his more difficult ones to deal with, I'm afraid".
Peri couldn't help but agree with that, as much as she had begun to slowly like this version of him, she did miss the Fifth Doctor's gentle nature. She gave herself a shake and knocked on the door, "Hello?" she called loudly through the door, waiting a moment for someone to reply, but when no one did she tried again, "Is anyone there?"
….….Entrance to the Icehouse….….
The Sixth Doctor and Jamie stood outside a small, almost hidden door, watching as Anita carefully opened it, making sure that it didn't squeak as she peered through it, making sure no one was waiting inside, before turning back to them.
"Shall I come with you?" she asked them quietly.
"No, you've done quite enough already, bringing us here, Anita," the Sixth Doctor replied, shaking his head, glancing at the door. He looked back to her, "I want you to collect Oscar and get off the estate as quick as possible," he told her, holding out a hand for her.
Anita nodded and took his hand, but rather then shake it, she stepped closer to him and kissed his cheek, leaving him very shocked as he stared at her as she turned, starting to walk away. He blinked, quickly shrugging it off as he stepped over to the door and carefully inside.
Jamie hurried after Anita, "Anita!" he called to her, making her stop and turn around, looking curious. He held out his hand with a hopeful smile, "Bye".
She smiled at him and shook his hand, "Good luck".
And with that, she let go of his hand and walked off, leaving Jamie looking quite disappointed.
….….The houses entrance hall…..
Eventually, someone did answer the door, the same dark haired woman that the Fifth Hatter had seen through the window, and she let them into a large entrance hall with a tiled staircase at the back of the room leading up to the upper floors, with arched doorways around the room, leading off to other rooms.
"American students?" the woman commented, raising an eyebrow as she looked between the Fifth Hatter and Peri.
"Yes," Peri smiled at her, trying to hide her nervousness, "We're planning to send parties every year and we're…" she trailed off, looking unsure as she glanced at the Time Lady.
"Looking around the area," the Fifth Hatter said quickly, shrugging casually as she tried to discreetly cast her eyes around the room without the woman catching on. She could already sense the woman trying to read her mind, but she easily deflected any attempts and closed her mind off from her. After all, Borusa had been the one to teach both her and the Doctor telepathy. She gave her a small smile, not missing the small frown on her face as she seemed to eye the Time Lady closely, "We're looking for suitable accommodation, and we thought that this place might be just right for what we have in mind".
"I thought you said that you were American students?" the woman frowned slightly, her gaze fixed on the Hatter, "But you have a British accent".
"I'm a part of an exchange programme," she invented easily, still smiling calmly as she noticed out of the corner of her eye Peri tensing, "It's for gifted students," she added, pinching herself through her skirt to stop herself from laughing aloud.
"I see," she said slowly, still eyeing her carefully.
Peri walked across the room, looking around, pretending to be admiring the Spanish deco, "Can I ask, do you live alone or are there other occupants?" she questioned, trying to distract her from the Time Lady.
"I live alone," the woman answered. Footsteps sounded on the stairs and they all turned to see the red headed man that the Fifth Hatter had also seen coming down the stairs. Her eyes lingered warily on the very large sword-like knife hanging on his hip. The woman looked back to them, "Apart from my servant," she continued, inclining her head towards them, "Wait here, please".
She and the red headed man walked into the next room as Peri moved closer to the Time Lady, who was watching them go, "What are they doing?" she asked her quietly, trying to peer inside the room.
The Fifth Hatter sighed slightly, glancing at her, "I expect they're debating if and how they will cook us," she remarked softly, making Peri look at her, startled. She shrugged, "Though, that woman is certainly suspicious of us".
"Well, what are we going to do?"
She looked at her calmly, giving her a small smile, "Make sure they know we will be missed if we disappear," she pattered her shoulder gently, winking, "Don't worry, everything will be perfectly fine".
….…..Inside the icehouse…..…..
The icehouse was dimly lit with sunlight shining through thin strips of wood on the slatted windows and the floor was covered with straw. Jamie stood at the end of the small room, pulling a trapdoor up as the Sixth Doctor stepped back inside the room, having wanting to make one final check outside before going any further.
Jamie moved to climb down the wooden ladder in the trapdoor, but the Sixth Doctor stopped him, grabbing his arm. He stepped closer to the edge, looking down into the darkened space beneath, before carefully placing a foot on the first step, slowly making his way down, "Mind how you go, Jamie," he warned him, "This ladder seems a…" he broke off with a loud cry of surprise as he fell, landing with a thud.
Jamie peered down at him, trying hard not to smile, "'A wee bit rickety,'" he finished, highly amused as he raised his eyebrows at him, "Is that what you were goin' to say, Doctor?"
The Sixth Doctor groaned slightly, rubbing his back with a painful grimace as he pulled himself back onto his feet, "Good thing the Hatter wasn't here, otherwise she would never let me forget it," he muttered to himself, sighing heavily.
Once Jamie had climbed down, being careful not to make the same mistake as the Sixth Doctor had, the two of them set off down the short, darkened tunnel, until they came across a door. They opened it, carefully peering out to find that they had reached the cellar that was full of old wine barrels and even a few wooden chairs that were scattered around the large area.
Slowly, they creeped out of the door and further into the room, casting their eyes around as they moved over to a pillar, the Sixth Doctor held up his hand to Jamie to stop him, and peered around the edge of the pillar. He quickly spotted Dastari and a red headed man seeming to be strapping his Second regeneration into a wheelchair beside an operating table. From what he could tell, his other selves head was hanging limply, as if he was unconscious.
He and Jamie darted across the room to the next pillar, edging around it to crouch behind a couple of barrels that had been placed beside the pillar. They watched as Dastari and the man wheeled the Second Doctor across the room towards a staircase, before deciding that it was safe enough to move out from behind the barrels.
Jamie began to go after the two men as they disappeared around the corner, but the Sixth Doctor caught his arm, pulling him back. Jamie frowned at him, "Are we not going after them?" he whispered.
"Let's have a good look around here, first," the Sixth Doctor replied, glancing back to the middle of their room, where the operating bed and equipment that really didn't belong was.
"But there's only two of them," he tried, "We could easy…"
"One of them's an Androgum, Jamie!" he cut across him quickly, holding up a hand to stop him from interrupting, his tone very serious, "He could break us both in half with one hand".
….….The houses entrance hall…..
"And, er…how many bedrooms?" Peri asked, trying to hide her nervousness, while the Fifth Hatter strolled around the entrance hall, trying not to look as if she was lingering, though, she doubted anything she or Peri would do now would be of much use. They were already suspicious of them.
"Seven," the woman answered at once.
Dastari and the red headed man entered the room with a wheelchair, and the Fifth Hatter had to force herself not to react as she caught sight of the Second Doctor strapped into the chair, his head hanging limply, unconscious. She plastid a politely curious look onto her face as she stepped back over to Peri and the woman, both of whom had turned to look.
Peri frowned and looked back to the dark haired woman, not recognising the man at all for the Doctor, something that the Time Lady was very glad for, "I thought you said you lived alone?" she said.
"Visitors," the woman told them calmly, smiling pleasantly, but the Fifth Hatter didn't like it at all. It had been a test, then, trying to see what their reaction would be to seeing the Second Doctor, she just couldn't tell if they had past yet. Dastari and the red headed man wheeled the chair to stop before them, giving them a clear view of the Doctor. The woman glanced at them, "Take him through," she said, gesturing across the room to another room.
The two men wheeled the Second Doctor over to the doorway and through into the next room, while the women watched them go.
The Fifth Hatter glanced at the woman, trying very hard not to look or sound as worried as she truly was for her best friend, "Is he quite alright?" she asked, her tone innocent, "Does he need a doctor…?"
The woman inclined her head, "That's not necessary," she said politely, "He has had rather a tiring time lately".
The red headed man moved back into the room and over to them, his eyes lingering on the Fifth Hatter and Peri, making the Time Lady struggle not to grimace, noticing the hungry glint in his eyes, "Madam?" he turned to the woman.
"Shockeye, show these young women around," the woman smiled at him, holding out a hand towards Peri and the Time Lady. The Hatter moved closer to Peri, noticing how nervous she was getting, obviously having seen the hungry glint, too, "They might be particularly interested in the kitchens".
Shockeye broke into a broad smile, bowing his head at the woman, his eyes flickering over to the Time Lady and Peri. The Fifth Hatter winced, practically able to see him licking his lips, "With pleasure, madam," he remarked.
"Actually…" the Fifth Hatter cut in, grabbing Peri's hand as Shockeye began to move towards the kitchen door. She fixed a bright smile to her face as she looked back to the woman, "I think we have about as much information as we need. Thank you very much for your time…" she started to edge towards the front door, lightly tugging Peri along with her.
"Come," Shockeye held a hand out towards them, his voice low.
The Time Lady tried not to sigh as she continued to edge away from them, "Oh, we couldn't possibly," she said, shaking her head, trying to sound as if she had just remembered, "We're meeting our friends for lunch and they will be terribly worried if we are late".
And with that, she and Peri hurried over to the front door, throwing it open, trying hard not to run as they darted out into the sunny courtyard.
….…Cellar….….…..
The Sixth Doctor stepped further into the middle of the room, casting his eyes around at the small table that was set up beside the operating table that he guessed his past self-had been strapped to at one point, judging by the thick straps that were hanging over the side of the bed. He noticed a curious capsule that had been placed by a pillar, big enough to fit a fully grown person. He moved closer to it, but shook his head, knowing that he needed to focus on finding the Second Hatter before he could investigate further.
Jamie stood back and watched as he looked around the room, when the Sixth Doctor caught sight of the edge of what appeared to be a second operating table that had been wheeled behind a stack of old barrels off to the side of the room. He hurried over to it and sighed in relief, finding the Second Hatter strapped to the bed, appearing to be asleep and unharmed, with her hat and glasses missing.
"There you are," he smiled, moving closer to her, quickly examining her to make sure that she was unharmed. He checked her pulse first, nodding in satisfaction to find that both hearts were beating normally, then he checked her pupils, watching them closely.
Jamie followed after him, watching as the Doctor leaned down closely to the Time Lady's face, lifting one eye open, "What's wrong with her?" he asked worriedly, moving around to the other side of the bed.
"She's been drugged, Jamie," the Sixth Doctor replied grimly, gently letting her eye slip closed again, and tilting his head towards her mouth and nose, listening to her breathing. He nodded to himself as he straightened, satisfied with his diagnosis, "I would say…something in the anomode group," he turned back around and headed over to the small table that had pieces of medical equipment left out on it, breaking into a broad smile as he came across what he had been looking for, "Ah, ha!"
"What's that?" Jamie nodded to the small, gun like device he was holding as he dashed back over to the Time Lady.
He held up the device, slotting a small tube of clear liquid into it as he did so, "This should bring her around," he told him, undoing the straps that were holding the Second Hatter's arms down, and rolling the sleeve of her dress up, positioning the end of the device against her upper arm. He injected the liquid into her arm and pulled the device back, quickly using his thumb to rub the spot he had injected, watching her face closely.
After a moment, the Time Lady's eyes flickered, looking bleary and confused, "What…Doctor, Jamie…" she slurred softly, forcing the two men to lean closer towards her, trying to hear, "I can't see…my glasses…." her eyes slipped shut and her head fell limply onto her shoulder, unconscious once more.
Jamie frowned deeply, looking very confused as he looked back up to the Doctor, only to find him smiling happily, "I thought you said it was supposed to wake her up," he said in an accusing tone, pointing at him.
The Sixth Doctor sighed in exasperation, "It needs time to make its way through the rest of her system, Jamie," he informed him patently, shaking his head at him.
He eyed him, still looking unconvinced, "Are you sure that was the right drug?"
"Of course I'm sure," the Doctor said at once, affronted as he fixed him with a look, "Do you truly think I would make such a mistake when it comes to my best friend?" he didn't give Jamie a chance to speak as he continued briskly, "No. Now, get these straps off her".
Together they undid the straps on the Time Lady's legs, and the Doctor quickly put an arm beneath her knees and under her back, carefully lifting her into his arms, trying to support her head against his chest and stop her dress from sliding up her legs. If only she had worn trousers in this regeneration, that certainly would have made less awkward in situation like this. Still, at least she had tights, he didn't think he would be able to hide his blush if she hadn't.
"What about her glasses?" Jamie asked as they moved back to the main part of the room.
He paused and looked down at the Time Lady's face, not having really payed that part much mind. From what he remembered, the Hatter's Second regenerations eyesight really had been terrible, which posed a rather big issue when it came to the very high possibility of needing to run. He sighed heavily, turning back to Jamie, "We will have to deal with that latter, for now…" his eyes drifted across the capsule he had noticed earlier, "For now we investigate down here. Jamie, hold her," he didn't give Jamie a chance to argue before he practically shoved the Time Lady into his arms, almost causing him to stagger back at the sudden extra weight. The Doctor began to turn away, before throwing him a stern look, "And be careful with her. She's not a sake of potatoes".
"I know how to carry a person," Jamie muttered, slightly annoyed as he adjusted the Hatter in his arms, trying to make her more comfortable.
The Sixth Doctor strolled over to the capsule, pulling the door open, and stepped inside the small space while Jamie watched on. He began examining the interior controls, a deep frown settling onto his face as a removed a small piece of equipment, stepping back out, "They've got it almost exactly right," he remarked, moving around to the controls that were on the side of the capsule, "Even down to the Briode Nebuliser," he pointed down at the device in his hand, "Look!"
Jamie looked at the capsule curiously, "Well, what is it?"
"The Kartz-Reimer version of the TARDIS".
"A TARDIS?" he exclaimed, incredulously.
"Mm," he nodded, focused on the outside controls.
"Will it work?"
"Hmm?" the Sixth Doctor straightened, glancing up at him as he toyed with the device in his hand, closing the door, "It will if I or the Hatter use it, or any other Time Lord, but not for anyone else".
Jamie looked at him curiously, "Why not?" he questioned.
"This machine has to be primed," he explained to him, gesturing at the capsule, "By what we call the Rassilon Imprimatur, that's a kind of symbiotic print within the psychology of a Time Lord," he moved around to look at the other side of the capsule, crouching onto the floor as he continued his examination. Jamie sighed slightly, really not understanding a word that he was saying. He stood and moved back around to stand beside Jamie, "Once that's been absorbed into the Briode Nebuliser you have a time machine that anyone can use," he smiled almost smugly, lightly tapping Jamie's shoulder as he leaned closer to him, "That, of course, was what they didn't understand," he slipped the device inside his waistcoat, still smiling, "They simply copied the technology, without realising that old Rassilon had a second trick up his sleeve".
"A most interesting lecture, Time Lord," a deep, slightly gravelly voice called throughout the room.
Jamie jumped, but luckily kept his hold of the Time Lady as he and the Doctor turned to find two Sontaran's standing behind them in the shadows, the one who had spoken raised a thin, black stick up and aimed it at them.
….…..…Countryside….…..
The Fifth Hatter and Peri ran down a slope, trying to get away from the house and hopefully back to somewhere that they could hide out and wait for the Sixth Doctor and Jamie to return. The Time Lady looked back over her shoulder, swearing softly in Gallifreyan as she caught sight of Shockeye chasing after them, quickly closing the gap between them. Even from here, she could see the hungry glint in his eyes, which was rather unsettling.
She grabbed Peri's hand and tried to pull her along faster, dodging trees and small bushes as the run, only for Peri's foot to get caught against a rock, sending them both sprawling painfully onto the dry grass.
"Ow!" Peri groaned, trying to pull herself back up.
The Fifth Hatter, wincing, quickly sat up, ignoring the pain that shot up her legs as she did so, only to find Shockeye standing above them, having caught up with them. She swallowed slightly nervously, knowing that they were in trouble now.
"Pretty, pretty," Shockeye eyed them hungrily, licking his lips as he leaned down towards both women, "Here, my pretty ones".
Peri looked up to him, her eyes widening fearfully as he reached down towards them, heading towards their throats…
And the Second Hatter makes another appearance and speaks, lots more of her to come. Tell me what you thought, please review :)