They made it back to the TARDIS in record time. Peri opened the door before the others rushed inside, the Doctor carrying Abby, and Owen running alongside.

Owen briefly noticed the blue box was bigger inside but right now all he cared about was Abby and whether the Doctor could save her.

"Where are we going, Doctor?" Peri asked.

"The zero room," The Doctor answered, "I just hope it hasn't been deleted from the TARDIS archives. I don't have time to make a new one."

"Will the zero room help?" Owen asked.

"I don't know," the Doctor said, "but we're about to find out."

They'd all now stopped in front of the door to the zero room. Abby was moaning in pain and her bloody nose was getting even worse.

"Owen, open that door," the Doctor instructed.

He did so and breathed a sigh of relief to see a large white room on the other side.

"Right, everybody in and shut the door behind you!" the Doctor shouted.

They all scrambled into the zero room and Owen slammed the door behind him. As soon as he did he was consumed with an overwhelming sense of peace. They all were. Their mad rush from the woods to the TARDIS to the zero room had left them in frenzy but, as soon as they entered the zero room, the feeling immediately dissipated.

Even Abby had calmed down and was resting. She felt lighter in the Doctor's arms. The Doctor held her out and her body started to float in mid air. Owen was spellbound.

"You ARE a wizard," he said.

"It's not me, it's the ship, this room. Can you feel it?" The Doctor asked.

"What is this place, Doctor?" asked Peri.

"The zero room is a place of tranquillity," the Doctor explained, "as you might imagine, time and space travel can take it out of you once in a while."

"I've wondered where you always disappear off to," Peri commented.

"This room has healing qualities for the mind, body and soul," the Doctor said, "and Abby needs it more than anyone."

"Why?" asked Owen.

The Doctor explained. "Well, her mind needs it because she's lived for so long. If you try to fit 300 years worth of memories into the mind of a 12-year-old girl, it's like trying to write the entire works of Shakespeare on a Post-It note. She needs time in here to gain some perspective. That's also why she started getting headaches. Her young human cranium couldn't cope with the number of brain cells generated to hold those memories. And as for her soul, well, I think we all know why she needs to be here."

"How do you know all this?" Owen asked.

"Because I've been in her situation," the Doctor said.

"You have?" Owen raised an eyebrow.

"Five times, as a matter of fact," the Doctor reminisced, "On the fourth time, I needed to use this room to get my thoughts together."

Still floating in the zero room, Abby awoke.

"Where am I?" Abby asked, scared, "Where's Owen?"

"I'm here, Abby," he said, reaching out for her hand, "It's okay."

Abby looked down and realised she was floating. She started to cry.

Peri took her other hand and held it gently.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Peri asked.

"I'm flying," Abby wept, "you said I was normal."

"You are normal," Owen reassured her, "It's this place. It's going to help you get better."

"You promise?" Abby asked.

Owen looked over at the Doctor, who slowly nodded his head. Owen turned back to her.

"I promise," he said.

"I think we better leave Abby for a few hours," the Doctor suggested, "give her a chance to recover in peace."

"Okay, Doctor," Peri agreed.

Owen said nothing. He really didn't want to leave Abby. Abby looked down and smiled.

"It's okay, I'll be fine," she said.

Owen smiled back.

"Okay," he said.

He followed the Doctor and Peri back out into the corridor. Owen was about to close the door to the zero room when Abby called out to him.

"Owen?"

"Yeah?" he answered.

"Do have any more of those 'Now and Later's?" she asked.

"Uh-huh," Owen said.

"Can I have one?" Abby asked.

Owen beamed, "Sure!"

He walked in, reached into his pocket and pulled out one of the candies, unwrapped it and handed it to her. She put in her mouth and chewed on it. She smiled.

"It's really good," Abby said, "Can I have another?"

Owen laughed. It was so different from the first time she tried one, so much better.

He emptied his pockets of all the candy he had. He handed her another, before putting the rest in the corner.

"Help yourself," He said, "but make sure you rest, okay?"

Abby smiled, "Okay," she said.

Owen was pacing the corridor outside the zero room. He wanted desperately to be with his friend. If he couldn't be in the room with her, he would wait outside. He'd wait forever for Abby.

Peri watched from around the corner. He wasn't a bad kid really, she decided. He was kind and caring, but Peri did have to wonder how long that kindness would have lasted if Abby had stayed a vampire.

Owen turned to pace back and spotted her. He froze.

"It's okay," Peri said, smiled, "I come in peace."

Owen relaxed a little, but said nothing. He looked everywhere but at her, unable to meet her gaze.

"How you doing?" Peri asked.

"Fine," Owen said.

There was a pause then Owen said, timidly, "I'm sorry about before, in the forest."

"Oh that?" Peri said, acting nonchalant, "Don't worry about it. I've seen plenty of things scarier than a 12-year-old boy."

"The Doctor said something about time and space travel," Owen said, "Is that true?"

"Yeah," Peri said, sitting down. Owen joined her.

"What's it like?" he asked.

"Amazing, truly amazing," Peri began, "there are so many wonderful things to see and do. But then there are days when I wish I'd stayed at home."

"Me too," Owen whispered.

Peri put her arm around the boy. He continued.

"I love Abby. She's the only friend I have but tonight I was in that warehouse thinking if only we could go home, if only Abby was normal."

"Well, now you can go home," Peri said, cheerily.

"No," Owen said, "we'll be in trouble."

"What sort of trouble?" Peri asked, concerned.

Owen was nearly in tears, battling so many emotions. He knew he shouldn't tell anybody about what happened on their last night in Los Alamos, but he couldn't hide it anymore.

"People died," Owen wept, "These other kids, oh god!" He leaned forward, resting his head in his hands.

"I hated them so much, but I just wanted them to leave me alone!" he cried, "I even hit back one time thinking, no, praying that they would just go away!"

His hands clenched into fists as he relived his painful memories. Peri rubbed his shoulders, trying to calm him down, taking in every word he said.

"One night," he continued, "they cornered me, attacked me. They dragged me back to the pool, they were going to drown me!"

"The pool?" Peri asked.

A voice up the corridor made them both jump.

"Los Alamos Swimming Centre, yes?" the Doctor asked, as he walked towards them.

Owen nodded timidly.

"Abby saved me," he said.

"She killed four boys, not to mention countless others over the centuries," the Doctor stated.

Owen said nothing. He'd seen Abby rip people apart and drink their blood, but he didn't want to believe that was all Abby was. She liked puzzles, she listened to his problems when no one else did.

"Are you still going to help her?" Owen asked, unsure whether he would.

"Yes," the Doctor sighed, resignedly.

He moved towards the door of the zero room, "Now if you'll excuse me, it's time to examine the patient."