Chapter Nineteen:

Unwelcomed

"This," the Doctor said, interrupting dinner, "is River Song. Where's Andie?"

Jack pointed towards the kitchen with his spoon. "She can bake, Doc."

The Doctor, followed by River and a moment later, Donna, entered. He set beside the humming Andie a small charm. "You put it on your neck and it hangs itself. It's said," he paused when she looked up to meet his eyes.

In her eyes, though, swirled lights without her knowing.

"Doctor," Donna panicked, "what is that! What is—?"

"Donna, quiet! Out. Both of you – please." He took a soft breath before capturing Andie's face between his hands. Her face was warm, but it seemed to be slowly cooling. He could see one great big puzzle – that of the Universe. It was mostly empty, but some spots were filled in. It wasn't what he was looking for. He sensed Jack's presence, heard the click of his Vortex Manipulator starting up. It was then the Doctor saw more, watching as the Time Lord mind embedded itself and easily redid her DNA. It had taken years, but as the Doctor finished his travel, the whir of the TARDIS triggered Gallifreyan DNA survival code and forced a harmless change of her body-code.

She gasped for air, both in shock and because of sudden rebirth. She ached so much so suddenly.

The Doctor let go, catching Andie as her legs gave out. She had long ago dropped her cooking tools. He gave her a soft hug, setting her softly on the chair Jack brought for her.

"How—" she felt the weight of her limbs. It felt so weird.

"A half empty Time Lady," the Doctor said, pulling himself to sit on the counter in front of her. He knew Jack wanted to show and question whatever he had on his watch. The spikes, the Doctor knew, were showing a very un-human amount of energy. Anyone would pick it up with the correct technology – UNIT, Torchwood, Sarah Jane, even with K-9 and her super-smart computer Mister Smith. Looking at Andie, both of them knew she was slowly coping with the fact that she was no longer human.

Instead, Wilf turned the door 'round, making his way past Jack and to Andie. "What's the matter, my girl? Why is my Donna so scared?"

Andie gave him a shaky smile, and raised her hand, feeling the tremble of her breaking non-human hearts. Two hearts. A tear fell from her eyes.

"My girl," Wilf whispered, kissing her head and touching her hand.

"Can I come in?" Donna called through behind the door.

The Doctor called back in the positive and looked at the sad Jack. He heard the Captain's thought. She'll be with him forever. The Doctor, feeling a tug of melancholy thought, knew the Captain's fate as well.

Donna held her daughter. She was so fragile. Both were so delicate right now. She released Andie and let her daughter stand.

"Instead of sitting here and sulking, allons-y!"

Donna smiled at her daughter, trying to hide the fear. Andie was so intertwined with the metacrisis; she seemed to be a part of the Doctor. Donna was her mother, but the Doctor felt the connection as well.

A zooming noise was heard, a TARDIS whirring noise into existence. The Doctor, Andie, and Jack froze. River stormed in, a grinning Koschei, smiling Delta, and giggling Jenny behind her.

"No," Donna said, "That's—"

"Doctor," River said, glaring at the group of Time Lords after being exposed to the story by Jenny, "the Master wanted you." It was obvious that neither Jack nor River had met them just yet. This was the first time River heard of the return, just like Jack, of the Master.

Jack took out a pistol, but no one flinched. Koschei grinned wider before holding out his hand. In the palm, a tiny gem sat, warm and happy.

"You're Donna's daughter," she said, smiling a kind smile. "You're young Echo. Oh, it is good to meet you. Soon, you'll know more. We can't stay long or the Doctor will get frustrated."

Jenny laughed before glancing at Jack. He didn't recognize her or like Koschei, both of those facts put her on edge.

"Professor," Jenny's hand tapped her daughter from her trance. "How far into the future are we?"

Koschei shrugged, choosing to answer, and tapped the gem. "The Doctor has already met us, but it's been a while for each of us."

Delta patted her mum's arm. "The Ood would like to see you, Doctor."

Jenny nodded. "You won't mind, will you, Dad? Won't you come with us? All of you can." Jenny ignored the short glare Koschei shot her. She was still so young.

Jack lowered his gun, a tug on his mind was released, and he looked to Andie. "We won't go."

The Doctor shook his head, her hair flipping about. "Yes, we will. If the Ood need us, then they need all of us."

The Doctor then looked at Koschei.

"We're going in my TARDIS," Delta butted in. She smiled kindly at a tired Andie. "I do hope your Captain will keep his gun here on Earth." There was a slight threat in the tone she used, but no one saw the flash in her eyes that backed it up. However, all the Time Lords except Andie felt the threat and the Doctor decided to step in.

"He will."

"I will not! And why has no one said anything about his daughter?"

Delta, always one to protect her fellow Time Lords and mother, took the two steps to stand in front of her mother.

"Jack," she said, a smile on her lips. "Hold still." Her hazel eyes caught his and things froze as she sent the story of herself, her mom, and Koschei and how they came to be to his mind. "Now," she finished, "we good?"

Jack nodded. "We're good."

Andie leaned heavily against Donna.

"Grandad," she said to Wilf, "Pack warm clothes.