The pain was intense, burning, and unmitigated. But that wasn't why she cried. For someone who was used to having such control, what was about to pass was the ultimate torture. As she had begun this process she pushed one thought to the forefront of her mind, 'Let me become someone he'll notice, let me be somewhere he'll find me.' But even now, she could feel her thoughts, her feelings, and her very essence slipping away. She clung to the memory of her Doctor like a small child clinging to a teddy bear. But even that started to slip away. It didn't happen in slow motion, as it seems that crisis usually do. Instead, it felt practically instantaneous, a million and one changes happening in just a moment of time. She had become someone that so desperately needed to be rescued, and someone who had no idea that she needed to be.

-

It was 6:00 in the morning; it was going to be a mild day, not too hot, not too cold, your typical early September day. But right now there was a slight bite to the air, the warmth of the sun was not yet noticeable and the truth was that autumn would soon be descending on Cardiff. Abigail James exited her small, humble, flat ready to conquer her day. She had a new resolve having just narrowly escaped death, or at least that's how it felt. She promised herself she would never forget the day the sky became filled with 26 planets other than her own. There were so many conflicting stories of how the planet had been saved; she wasn't sure which one to believe. Something, however, told her that there was a "someone" behind everything. She hoped one day she would be able to uncover that mystery. But really, in what universe would she, simple, plain, ordinary Abigail ever have reason, or opportunity to live such a fantastical adventure first hand.

Abigail walked briskly down the sidewalk. It was only a ten minute walk from home to work but this was her first week at the small diner, and though she was catching on quickly Abigail knew she needed this job and sought to do everything she could to impress. The life of a poor college student, it was definitely not glamorous but she knew that it was simply a means to an end.

Turning the corner Abi could see the small restaurant come into view, the lights shone out from the dimness of the dawn around her. As she approached the doors she could see Meg hunched over the counter reading a fashion magazine. Though Meg seemed to be everything Abigail was not, the two had become fast friends. They looked quite oddly matched, despite the identical, hideous, mustard colored waitress uniforms. Meg had her dark brown, nearly black hair streaked with purple this week and piled clumsily on top of her head. At a glance, any normal human would label Meg "the hottie" of the two. She had the body, the complicated makeup and manicured fingernails, and she had a personality to match; always outspoken, talkative, a textbook extravert. However, for those who took the time, Abigail James had something that Meg did not. It was nothing tangible, true, Abigail was pretty. Her skin was fair but sun kissed from the summer past. Her hair was like wheat bathing in the sunlight; it was long but was normally pulled up and out of the way for one reason or another. Her smile was genuine and sweet and it matched her temperament perfectly. But her eyes were what captivated those who took the time to look long enough. They were blue, icy and warm at the same time. They were the color of a snow-scape against a cloudless sky, and they carried the weight of centuries of experience, though she herself was only twenty something; they also bore sadness, a burden, a loss of something, deep within them. However, within those eyes, behind the sadness, was also a spark of life, of hope, and what made Abigail truly beautiful was she was completely unaware of the beauty in that.

"Hey Megs." she said, a bit of sleep still in her voice.

"Hey," Meg replied as she chewed her gum methodically, not making the effort to look up from the latest celebrity gossip, "ugh! Can you believe she wore that?"

Abi glanced over from where she was hanging up her jacket as Meg held up her magazine, "You know I don't follow any of that stuff."

"Yeah I know. You're so weird."

"Okay girls! Look lively!" Mrs. Murphy, the owner of the little diner emerged from the back, "The regulars should be here any minute."

Abi tied her apron around her waist and checked the pockets for her pen and pad. No sooner had their motherly boss nudged them into action than the first customer entered, though oddly, not a regular. Meg was still absorbed in her pointless drabble so Abigail made her way to the far corner of the restaurant where the man had stationed himself with his back towards her. He was hunched over the table in the booth looking at the menu, still wearing his gray, wool trench coat.

Abigail smiled as she approached the end of his table, he was definitely good looking, his hair was dark and thick and she had to calm her nerves, she had never been particularly comfortable around good looking men, "Hi" she said, trying not to let her cheeks flush pink, "what can I get for you?"

The man looked at her, first only out of the corner of his eye, but when he caught a glimpse of her small, but hourglass shaped figure he slowly absorbed all that she was. As his eyes moved up her body a smirk spread across his face, exposing his dimples. 'Oh great," Abi thought 'you have dimples too.'

The man sat up fully now and turned towards her slightly, his smirk becoming a very large, beaming, smile now. He stuck out his hand to shake hers and introduced himself, "Captain Jack Harkness" he said, "And you are?"