A/N: Okay. Wow. Super stressed.
First off, sorry for the long wait between updates. It will probably stay this way for the foreseeable future, as it does with the rest of my stories lately, because of Real Life Reasons.
Secondly, we now officially have only two chapters left to Eve of Something New, and I will use this opportunity to announce the sequel. I already have about half of it written, and can tell you it will be longer than this one - I currently have 25 chapters written, out of a planing of 58. Hopefully, by the time I start posting it, I will have more.
In about two weeks, July 2nd, to be exact, we will celebrate two years for this story, and I will post the two final chapters of this story, as well as more information about the sequel.
Until then, enjoy the chapter :-)
Eva sat with her back to the wall, dozing off as Ian tried to saw away the rope around Barbara's hands using a small rock. The Doctor sat next to her, alternating between looking at the teacher's failed attempts and watching over the exhausted time jumper.
None of them were certain how long it had been since they were thrown into the cave were they found several sculls smashed open, but they all knew if they didn't start making progress soon they won't be out in time to run away.
"I've found another piece with a rough edge..." Susan said, crawling towards Ian and Barbara.
"Oh, thank you," Ian sighed, taking the rock from her hand before groaning and letting it fall to the ground. "Oh, it's no good! It keeps crumbling..."
"Oh, it's hopeless," the Doctor sighed. "Hopeless. Even if we do get free, we shall never move that stone."
"There's air coming in here from somewhere..." Ian said, looking around.
"Yes, there is!" Barbara agreed. "I can feel it on my face!"
"It may only be a small opening," Ian quickly said. "Don't count on it."
"Oh, you obviously are," the Doctor muttered.
"Well, of course I am!" Ian protested. "Any hope is better than none! Don't just lie there criticizing us, do something! Help us all to get out of here." He lifted the rock from the ground, trying at Barbara's bonds again before throwing it away once more. "Oh, the stone's no good!"
"Well don't give up, Ian," Barbara said softly. "Please."
Ian sighed, looking at his co-worker silently for a moment before speaking again. "All right," he said, searching the ground for another stone.
"Use my lighter," Eva offered. "Maybe we can burn the ropes away."
"No, that would be too dangerous," Ian quickly waved the idea off. "We might accidently burn Barbara's hands."
"Then burn my ropes," Eva told him, knowing if she got burnt she would heal in a matter of minutes at most. "I can deal with a few small burns."
"We're not going to do something that might hurt you," Barbara said.
"Well, if we don't get out of here, we all die," Eva told her. "I think a burn on my wrist is the least of my problems at the moment."
"Stop being foolish, Eva," the Doctor told her sternly. "We are not attempting to burn your hands. Try those bones," he added, turning to Ian. "They may… they're sharper, perhaps."
"That's a good idea," Ian said, surprised.
"Oh Grandfather, I knew you'd think of something!" Susan said in relief.
"We must all take it in turns and try and cut his hands free," the Doctor said.
"But surely we should get the girls –"
"No, no, no," the Doctor cut Ian off. "We've got to free you first! You're the strongest, and you may have to defend us."
"I'll go first," Eva offered.
"You can barely stay awake," the Doctor said. "How do you expect to be able to cut the ropes?"
"I don't expect any of us could cut the ropes on their own," Eva told him. "I'd rather my turn be before I fall asleep."
The Doctor thought for a moment before nodding, and Eva grabbed a sharp piece of bone and moved to sit next to Ian, slowly starting to cut his ropes. They sat in silence for a couple of minutes, Eva cutting while Ian moved his hands occasionally to allow her clear access to the rope without fear of hurting him before he spoke.
"That was a brave thing you did out there," he said. "Drawing all of the attention to yourself."
"Would have been better if it actually worked," Eva muttered, adjusting her grip on the bone she used to cut the ropes.
"It did work," Ian told her. "You saved my life."
"Well," Eva said, moving the bone from hand to hand and she rubbed her aching wrists, "Considering the fact that we're still here, bound, and that they're planning on killing us come morning, I wouldn't talk so soon." Her hand shook, and she dropped the bone. "Sorry."
"Eva," Ian said slowly, "How long has it been since you last slept?"
"Oh, I don't know," Eva sighed. "A couple of days. My, er..." she laughed humourlessly. "My lifestyle isn't exactly one that allows me to rest at normal times."
"By lifestyle, you mean travelling with the Doctor and Susan?"
"No," Eva sighed. "I don't travel with them all the time. I just sort of... jump in and out of places. Been doing it for almost a year. I can't really control it," she added, "But I get to meet a lot of people along the way, and I go on such amazing adventures so I think it's worth it."
"You go on adventures... with the Doctor?" Ian asked.
"A different Doctor," Eva said, glancing at the man in question from the corner of her eye. "An older one. It's alright, though. Got used to it fairly quickly."
"How old are you, Eva?" Ian questioned.
"I'll be twenty in a couple of months."
"You're far too mature for your age," Ian said. "You're at the prime of your youth. You should be hanging out with friends, maybe even study. Not travel with an old man."
"I don't have a choice," Eva admitted. "I told you, I can't control when I travel or where to, it just happens. My family..." she sighed. "They don't exist in this reality. None of my friends know who I am. Believe me, I checked."
And she did.
She didn't think she could ever forget the day she convinced the Doctor to check about her life in the other universe. Her father was an accountant here – he never dropped out of university like he did back in her universe, never moved to the city and never met her mother. Her mother, on the other hand, did exactly what she did back home – only she married her high school sweetheart, and had a family with him.
Nyssa and Mike were never born. Neither of her parents ever knew anything about her. And when she walked through the town she grew up in and stumbled across Diana, one of her best friends... the other girl looked right through her. She never met her.
"I love my life, Ian," she found herself saying. "Even if only because it's better than living a life I hate. Can someone take over, please?" she added, louder, for the rest of their group to hear. "My hands are getting tired."
"Hand over the bone," the Doctor told her, shuffling forwards, and Eva did as she was told before backing away, resting her head against the wall of the cave.
Perhaps a bit of sleep would do her some good.
EMH
Eva woke up to the sound of someone crying in alarm. She opened her eyes, blinking sleep away, to see Susan staring at a hollow in the cave's wall. She shuffled closer, trying to see what captured the young Time Lady's attention when the branches were pushed aside and the old woman from earlier appeared, staring at them.
"You..." she started, breathing heavily, "Will not... make fire."
Eva swallowed hard, her eyes darting around the room and finally focusing on the small, sharp rock in the woman's hand.
"I will set you free," the woman said, "If you will go away and not make fire. Fire will bring trouble and death to the tribe."
Slowly, the Doctor nodded. "There will be no fire," he promised, and the old woman cut the cords on his hands.
He flexed his wrists as she moved on, making quick work of the ropes that bind the rest of them before marking at the secret entrance she came from.
"Hurry," she said. "Hurry! You must go across the top and into the trees..."
Eva looked at the Doctor, the two of them exchanging a look of understanding before the Doctor marked Susan to go through. She was quickly followed by Barbara, and then the Doctor, before Eva marked Ian he was to go next.
"I couldn't possibly –" he started, but Eva cut him off.
"Do you trust me?" she asked and he nodded. "Then go through already. Now isn't the time to be a gentleman."
Ian swallowed hard but complied, Eva close on his heels. As she pushed herself through the hole, she heard a noise behind her and turned around just in time to see Za and Hur run into the cave.
"Go!" she told the group. "What are you waiting for? Go!"
Barbara didn't need to be told twice before she started making way into the forest, Ian walking behind her and helping Susan and the Doctor and Eva bringing up the rear. As Eva looked up, she saw the moon already started descending, meaning there were only a handful of hours left before morning came.
This was going to be a long night.
Hours later, they were still running through the woods. Now that they were away from the cave, the adrenalin that kept Eva up and moving was starting to fade, replaced by dizziness and aching muscles.
She felt like she was going to vomit and pass out, not necessarily in that order, and was almost grateful when the Doctor stopped, leaning on a tree. She didn't dare asking the others to stop, unsure if she'd be able to keep moving once she did.
"Stop…" the old Time Lord muttered. "Stop... just a minute... let me get my..."
"We can't stop here!" Ian called out angrily.
"Just a moment..."
"Look, we've got to go further on!"
"I know," the Doctor replied. "I know that but I must get breath... I must breathe..."
"Try, try!" Ian called, before sighing when he saw the Doctor didn't move. "I shall have to carry you."
"Oh, there's no need for that!" the Doctor snapped and even with her blurry mind, it was clear to Eva that Ian had hurt the Doctor's pride. "Don't be so childish - I'm not senile - just let me get my breath for a moment..."
"I think we could all use some rest," Eva said, swaying on her feet for a moment before leaning on a tree. She wanted nothing more than to sit down and rest, but knew that if she did she wouldn't be able to pull herself back up.
She closed her eyes, blocking out the sounds of Barbara talking to Ian and Susan trying to help the Doctor and when she opened them, she found out she couldn't even see without black starting to fade in the corners of her vision.
"Eva?" someone asked. "Are you okay? We need to move on."
"'Mfine," Eva muttered, taking a step away from the tree only to sway once more. "I'm fine," she repeated, knowing she didn't sound any more convincing.
"Eva?"
"I'm fine," she said again, trying to walk towards the voice only to find out her legs couldn't hold her any longer, sending her to the ground.
"Eva!"
"I'm fine," she said one last time, right before the darkness finally took over her.
EMH
The sounds of an argument escorted Eva back into consciousness, doing nothing to help with the aches that pounded from the inside of her head.
"– what they've done!"
"– come on!"
"– think he's dead… there isn't any danger."
"– heaven's sake!"
"No!"
She groaned at Barbara's sharp tone, finally letting the others know she was awake.
"Eva!" Ian called out in relief, while Barbara used the moment of her colleague's distraction to run deeper into the woods. "Barbara!" he called out after her, picking Eva up with ease and following her.
"I'm going too…" Eva could hear Susan say, but as she couldn't hear the Doctor's protest, she turned to Ian.
"What..." she started before cringing at the sound of her voice, like gravel in her ears. "What happened?"
"You collapsed," Ian said. "I don't know what have you put your body through in the past couple of days, but it had apparently decided enough was enough."
"I didn't really eat... or sleep... in the past week or so," Eva admitted.
"Well, seeing as you wouldn't give your body a rest, it did so on its own," Ian replied, turning behind a tree to see Hur leaning over an almost fatally-wounded Za.
"No," she called out as Ian laid Eva down and tried to near her. "Keep away!"
"Let me look at him," Ian said.
"No!"
"I am your friend, you understand?" Ian asked her. "Friend. I want to help you."
An odd look crossed Hur's face.
"Friend?"
"I want water," Ian told her softly.
"Water..."
"Go and fetch some water for his wounds," Ian said, and for a moment Hur looked conflicted before pointing behind.
"Water is there," she said.
"Please, show me," Barbara asked her, before turning to Ian. "Give me your handkerchief."
"There you are," Ian said, handing it over to her and Eva smiled.
"And who said chivalry was gone?" she muttered, leaning back against a nearby tree.
She was so tired... but she couldn't sleep, she knew she couldn't. She had no idea how long she was out, but she knew dawn must be near... and with dawn, they will return to the caves and another day of fearing for their lives would start...
She wasn't sure if she was more grateful or exasperated when her necklace started glowing, signalling her time in this time was coming to an end.
"Eva!" she heard Susan calling, and turned her head to look at the young Time Lady.
"What's happening?" Ian asked.
"I'm going now..." Eva said, closing her eyes. "I'll be back later... a different me..."
"Eva, please stay!" Susan called out, finally reaching her friend.
"I'm sorry..." Eva replied as the bright light swallowed her. "I'm sorry..."
"Eva?" a new voice asked and Eva couldn't help but smile.
"Martha Jones..." she said, though she was too weak to speak any louder than a hoarse whisper. "Just when I needed a doctor..."
"Doctor!" Martha called out. "Eva's here and she's – Doctor, come quickly!"
"I'm not feeling too well..." Eva muttered, and the dark swallowed her once more.
EMH
Eva blinked back awake to the bright white light of the TARDIS's Med-Bay. She was wearing a light robe that did very little to stop her from shivering at the chillness of the room.
She tried to look around but as soon as she moved her head, her vision started spinning, making her lean over the side of the bed and retch. Acidic fluids burned their way up her throat and onto the floor, leaving her coughing and shaking.
A soothing hand rubbed circles on her back as she calmed down and she closed her eyes when another hand appeared in front of her, cleaning the corners of her mouth with a soft tissue.
"There you go," a voice said. "It's all out now. All better."
"Doctor?" Eva croaked out, opening her eyes and managing a small smile at Ten's worried face. "What got you so worked up?"
"Eva, this isn't funny," he said sternly.
"I puked all over your converse," Eva retorted. "I think it's at least amusing."
"No, it really isn't," the Doctor insisted, all but ignoring Eva's attempt at a joke.
"Not even a little bit?"
"Eva, you were unconscious for three days."
"What?"
Eva sat upright, making the whole world spin around her. She put a shaking hand to her mouth, determined not to vomit again as she looked at the Doctor.
"Take it easy," he said, holding her arms to stop her from falling to the floor. "Your body's gone through some difficult things lately, give it some rest."
"It rested for three days," Eva said, trying – and failing – to push the Doctor away so she could stand up. "Let go of me," she added as angrily as her tired body had managed.
"No," the Doctor said. "Eva, you need to calm down – you need to rest – Eva, please, stop!"
Eva stopped moving, but still didn't lean back on her pillow. The Doctor's grasp on her arms was so tight she was certain it was going to leave marks, but she was focused on the Time Lord's face.
"I thought I lost you, Eva," he whispered.
"You can't lose me," Eva replied. "Not ever. I can't die, Doctor – you know that."
"You were unconscious for three days," he said again. "Even with your body repairing itself faster than it should, it took you three days to heal. The only time that happened before was on Titan, and you spent nine days in a living storm back then. I've seen you heal from broken bones and gunshot wounds faster."
"I really don't want to know why I even had broken bones and gunshot wou –"
I thought you were dead for good!" the Doctor called out. "I thought you were gone! I thought –"
"Well, I'm not!" Eva called out angrily. "I'm fine, and awake, and alive, and I would really appreciate it if you stopped yelling at me!"
The effect was almost immediate. The Doctor calmed down, anger and despair leaving his eyes even though he still held her arms.
"Where did you come from?" he finally asked after several long moments of silence between the two."
"100,000 BC," Eva replied. "You kidnapped Ian and Barbara and cavemen kidnapped us."
"I remember that," the Doctor mused. "Spent half the time wondering what you knew, how did you know it and why you were so calm, and the other half worrying about your health. But you were already in a pretty bad state when I saw you in the TARDIS," he added thoughtfully. "Where were you before?"
Eva looked away sheepishly, knowing the Doctor wasn't going to like he answer.
"Evie?" the Doctor asked again, making her cringe slightly at his nickname for her. "Where were you before?"
"Henry VIII," she muttered and she could see his face fall as his grasp on her loosened. "Doctor, don't –"
"It's my fault," he said.
"No, it's not," Eva insisted.
"I shouldn't have let you go without food or proper rest –"
"You couldn't very well stop me from being dragged across time –"
"I should have tried harder –"
"You tried and I didn't let you –"
"You exhausted your body into near-death," the Doctor said. "And that says a lot, seeing as you can't really die."
"I know," Eva said simply. "And when you tried to stop it when it was still early enough to do so, I walked out on you." She raised a hand to his face, forcing him to look at her. "I'm fine now," she said before adding a cheeky wink to the mix. "You're not getting rid of me that easily, Hair Boy."
"Hey!" a new voice called out and Eva turned her head to see Martha walking into the Med-Bay. "I sure hope you're not disturbing my patient, Mister!"
"Your patient?" the Doctor asked. "What about me?"
"Unless you've gone to Med School since I last saw you two hours ago, she's my patient. How are you?" she asked Eva before the Doctor could protest. "Are you in pain? Dizziness, nausea, anything?"
"I feel fine," Eva replied, pulling away from the Doctor to allow Martha to check on her. "I'm pretty hungry, but I'm not tired anymore. Not in pain, but I was dizzy earlier."
"She vomited," the Doctor added. "Didn't even have time to clean it up."
"Do I even want to know what were you doing that you didn't have time to clean up?"
"I'll have you know that the Doctor was a perfect gentleman," Eva said.
"Why do I find that hard to believe?" Martha muttered.
"I was!" the Doctor protested as Eva laughed. "Really, I was!"
"So, what's the diagnosis, Dr. Jones?" Eva asked. "Am I dying?" She frowned at the less than amused looks Martha and the Doctor sent her way. "Too soon?"
"Considering you woke up less than ten minutes ago?" the Doctor asked. "Yeah, I'd say it's too soon."
"Alright, alright," Eva said, rolling her eyes. "Seriously, though, what's the verdict?"
"You seem fine to me," Martha shrugged. "Apparently, spending three days in a coma was just what your body needed to heal almost completely. You'll need to be on a very strict diet for a while," she added, and you might feel weak for the next couple of days, but as long as you don't push yourself I don't see why you have to stop living like you're used to."
"Really?" Eva asked excitedly. "That's better than I hoped for. Can we go on a trip?" she asked, turning to look at the Doctor. "Please? Please?"
"Not before you eat," the Doctor said. "And only at the condition that you stay close to me while we're out there."
"Deal," Eva smiled, leaning back on her bed and wondering where they might travel to next.
EMH
A couple of hours later, after she ate, took a shower and had a much-needed cigarette, Eva stood by Martha in the middle of the Console Room, watching as the Doctor flew the TARDIS away.
"So," she said, "Where are you taking us?"
"An adventure you'll never forget," the Doctor promised. "Just need to make a quick stop first."
"Where?" Eva asked, confused.
"Cardiff!"
"What?" Eva asked.
"Cardiff," the Doctor repeated as they landed.
"Cardiff?" Martha clarified.
"Ah, but the thing about Cardiff," the Doctor explained, "It's built on a rift in time and space, just like California and the San Andreas Fault, but the rift bleeds energy. Every now and then I need to open up the engines, soak up the energy and use it as fuel."
"So it's a pit stop," Martha said in understanding.
"Exactly," the Doctor nodded. "Should only take twenty seconds. The rift's been active."
"Wait a minute," Martha started, "They had an earthquake in Cardiff a couple of years ago. Was that you?"
"Bit of trouble with the Slitheen," the Doctor said thoughtfully. "A long time ago. Lifetimes. I was a different man back then. Finito," he added, "All powered up."
He glanced at the scanner, an odd look crossing his face before he tried to take off only for the TARDIS to fly away on its own. Both Eva and Martha flew to the side, only being kept from falling by the Doctor reaching out to grab Eva, who held the other woman's hand.
"Whoa!" Martha called out. "What's that?"
"We're accelerating into the future," the Doctor said, looking at the scanner as Gallifreyan numbers ran on it. "The year one billion. Five billion. Five trillion. Fifty trillion? What? The year one hundred trillion?" he muttered in disbelief. "That's impossible."
"Why?" Martha asked. "What happens then?"
The Doctor swallowed hard, glancing at Eva before replying. "We're going to the end of the universe."