After their first night, Mary gave the Doctor freedom to roam her home… always within eyesight. His coat hung on a rack, among others that varied in color and style. He wasn't allowed to help cook breakfast, no access to knives or even spatulas. Mary's hair was done up in a ponytail, her sleeveless pink blouse and dark jeans screamed sit-com Mother yet the way she handled knives while cutting open bagels and spreading strawberry jam between them felt too efficient.

"You're good with knives, but you don't like to hurt people."

The joyful aura snaped away like hitting a light switch. It came back quickly, but they couldn't shrug off how tightly she squeezed the blade's handle.

"You make some interesting assumptions after being tied to a bed." She didn't turn to face him.

"With a baby monitor at the ready and how nothing in your bag seemed designed to be lethal. I appreciate the food too, very generous."

Either by his words or from being annoyed by the situation, Mary decided that three bagels were plenty. She handed the Doctor two, claiming her appetite wasn't as much of a problem. Before he could take his plate, the two locked eyes.

"You shouldn't be too trusting, Doctor, not with me."

That statement remained the only thing brought up while they sat down and ate in silence.

Once nothing was available to chew, the Doctor decided to try getting to their task.

"Have you looked at what you picked up? I'm curious to know what was worth ruining a fancy party."

Mary shrugged, running her finger over some excess jam and eating it.

"Not sure," she said after licking her finger. "Looked larger than a marble, all black, more likely to lose it under a couch than put it among the Royal Family Jewels."

"But someone hired you to get it, it has to be worth something."

"It is," Mary narrowed her eyes while taking both plates. "Lots of money, for me. Enough to get out of this country."

She seemed to try using the water faucet to drown out any attempt at conversation. The Doctor simply got closer. Aggressive scrubbing of already cleaned plates did not deter him.

"Keep the money," he said. "I just want a peek at what's worth so much trouble. And honestly, has air travel gotten so expensive that burglary is essential? Must be terrible for tourism."

Her cold glare of irritation was met with indifference. They stayed like that for a moment. He then slowly turned off the faucet. When it didn't seem like she would smash the plates over his head, the Doctor carefully took them from Mary, placing them in a drying rack.

"I want to make up for my breaking into your car and the nice meals." The Doctor offered his hand. "Consider me your companion. It's always good to have backup."

She looked down at his palm, knowing very well that this was longer than necessary. They already agreed before, but now it would mean whatever happened next for Mary would depend on a stranger. He wondered how often many of his friends struggled with this blind trust with so little known.

Pressing her soaked palm into his, they shook firmly.

"Remember, my money." She stressed.

"Of course," the Doctor shrugged. "I'll just stick around until I can catch a bus."

Mary's smirk was infectious. She dried her hands with a nearby towel, handing it to him afterwards.

"Alright, Partner," she walked over to the closet. "Grab your coat, we're heading to London."

Putting on the grey jacket from before, feeling his tools inside each pocket, he started to feel more complete. Yet… there remained an emptiness that followed him from the previous regeneration. Shaking it off, the Doctor followed Mary after she put on a hooded black jacket. They moved past the leading to her garage.

"I made some calls while you were sleeping on the way here. We'll be traveling back to London a few different ways."

Opening the front door, the Doctor didn't have time to appreciate the green lawn or white exterior with a red roof of Mary's home. Instead, his gaze settled on the grey motorcycle parked in the driveway, keys on the dashboard. Closing the door, he noticed Mary carrying a small black satchel, it blended with her coat.

"I am grateful you volunteered to handle carrying my package like your life depended on it." She shoved it into his chest, pressing in with hand and eyes long enough to make her point before marching down the front steps, over to the bike. The Doctor's hands twitched, holding whatever lay inside was almost too much. Taking a deeper breath until both hearts helped exhale the stress, he focused a small portion of mental willpower to stiffly follow the Thief.

"Shouldn't there be two helmets?" He asked while she put on a black one.

"Probably." Mary turned on ignition, the Doctor barely wrapping his arms around her while they flew.

Suburbs blurred away to forests. Several cars were on the road but easily avoided. While slowing down to not look like people in a desperate rush, the Doctor noticed their scenery moving by. Beautiful countryside with hints of villages where so many different lives existed simultaneously. Most 'days', such things were easily ignored with the pulling of levers. Embracing this type of travel was more dangerous for him, the sensation of being directly part of the many paths of life normally offered a cruel temptation. Part of him always considered finding a spot to stop, and truly grow from there. The horizon… no longer compelled an urge to wander.

Rolling into a small village, Mary parked between two cars along an impressive stone wall. They walked several blocks past brick homes with red-tiled roofs. Sunlight peeked through the clouds, illuminating the travelers dealing with quiet storms of thought.

"It's not like the movies." Mary said.

"What isn't?" These were their first words after an hour of driving.

"This, the job." She gestured openly at everything surrounding them. "Anyone looking for thrills is seeking death. Boring is better; making sure any task becomes a series of short trips of exchange. We're not going back to the bike."

She explained that part at an intersection where no windows were nearby in the empty street, knowing the Doctor would turn to look back thankfully not draw attention.

So, this is how one lives in the present. No greater task beyond living and doing a job

After traveling for so long… the Doctor developed a persistent detachment. No point in history held sway, planets changed by simply blinking, and sometimes a morbid thought of being among the dead persisted even when embracing someone living. His grand lie for many regenerations had been to treasure his 'present'. But his nature now known, while having access to time travel, he could run forever… without ever cherishing a sense of an ending.

They eventually stopped at a nearby eatery with outside dining. While ordering food, Mary casually tapped her fingers five times rhythmically. Someone reading the paper nearby, a woman, folded it under their arm before heading for the loo. Mary gestured for them to take a table near the cars, and wait for her there.

Carrying a tray of chips and some soda, the Doctor walked adjacent to the eatery until carefully sitting down, making sure not to attract any curious eyes. When Mary arrived, he actually had to stop himself from almost correcting a stranger. She wore the same cap, sunglasses, green coat, black slacks, and casual footwear the stranger with the paper had worn. While said paper was casually placed next to their tray, the Doctor noticed… Mary's attire on another walking casually away, towards their bike.

"We have a nice drive ahead of us," Mary said while casually eating a few chips. "Enjoying the trip so far?"

The Doctor noticed a motorcycle shooting down the road by their table.

"So far," he agreed, thankful his new tongue liked chips still. "It's nice to actually see things, after my nap."

Mary didn't smile at his attempt at humor. She chewed several more chips while vaguely observing the village. Her gaze, while concealed, burned with sudden anger at the paper.

"So," the Doctor said, deciding to direct attention away from the paper, he definitely was not allowed to see according to Mary's body language. "What's next on the agenda?"

Mary stopped eating the chips.

"…a little trip down the Thames into London. I have some friends to meet, and then I'm off on vacation." Her words were just casual enough to conceal a deeper pain to the last word.

"Very nice of your friends to go to so much trouble."

Mary gripped the table tightly, her only show of struggle. It lasted a second, she then smiled with such passion there seemed no one happier. The Doctor carried that smile for millennia.

"They're the best," Mary said cheerfully. "I always cherish my found family."

"…Same," the Doctor replied. "None better."

The happy demeanor switched to curiosity.

"You have… friends too?"

"Y-Yes," the Doctor stammered. "The best, I… haven't seen them in a while though. Kind of taking on lots of different changes in my life." Literally, he thought. "Better not to get them tangled in it." He scarfed down whatever chips remained before something else could come out he might regret sharing. When it was clear nothing more would be revealed from either of them, Mary took their trash over to a bin, placing their tray on top with others.

"No one should get used to being so lonely, Doctor, you might think it's deserved."

The only words spoken before they walked around the corner and found a Blue Beetle, Mary had the key.

They drove for about thirty minutes, no radio or small talk. The Doctor had kept their package nearby but struggled when keeping it in his lap. Every few minutes, he always thought there was movement, something… searching. One flick with his screwdriver and he could try making a run for it. But then Mary would be left to deal with whoever demanded such a strangely disturbing item. Something inside him, still part of the 'Doctor' lie, anchored any attempt to ignore someone in danger. He then mused on who could be causing trouble, most of the usual suspects were licking horrifically gaping wounds after the Flux, but there softer stirrings echoing in his travels. Plans were being made, and this package… felt part of that.

Parking several blocks away from a nearby boat rental space, Mary reached into the glove compartment and pulled out some documents. Among them were a passport, boating permit, some decent cash. Mary 'bumped' into the steering wheel, windshield wipers sweeping twice before she stopped them. She left the key on the dashboard and they left the Beetle quickly. The Doctor made sure not to look back, even as he heard the car start up moments after they left.

Their boat had one motor and grey lifejackets, just a step above a canoe. It swished when they got inside. The Doctor was now being made to handle all kinds of vehicles, Mary was in charge of the rudder. Their ride was thankfully calm, seeing nature fade to deeper channels as London finally shined through. Sunset was almost upon them. Orange light glistened along windows, the sharper light hit them hard, the Doctor wished he had his own sungl—

Something in the bag tried to flee. It shot up towards his hands, something internal bite in his fingers almost made him drop the bag. Gritting his teeth, the Doctor managed to shake with physical and mental force. The bag stopped moving… for now.

"Getting nervous." Mary either misread his emotions or was unnaturally calm about their sentient prize. The former seemed more likely; nothing in their curious travel arrangements expressed anything but the utmost skilled human tactics.

"…Just looking forward to getting back to… my car."

"Did you actually park nearby? We're miles from Kensington."

"I like to travel, my rides practically chained to me."

Mary stopped the motor for a moment and fished out several hundred pounds. She handed it to him before he could protest.

"Let's call it overdue bus fare, might help with some parking tickets too."

"But don't y—"

"I won't need it," Mary said sharply. "Fact is… I have enough cash and means to probably get off this island normally. But this job… it caused enough noise along with… some other things to hopefully cause enough confusion that no one will notice me gone."

The Doctor once again felt the horrible itch. His true binding to this stranger, the feeling of one in need of help. They had left the paper behind in the Beetle, but Mary's careful way of searching for any hint of being watched couldn't be ignored for long. Knowing things were too tangled to avoid, from the very moment they met in her getaway car, it was time to… explain some things.

"Um…Ma—"

"MARY CINDER"

The two snapped their heads towards a patrol of boats coming out from behind several bridge pillars. Blue lights flashed, burning among several officers in bright yellow jackets. One woman held a megaphone.

"FIRST AND ONLY WARNING, TURN OFF THE MOTOR, DO NOT TRY TO RUN"

Mary's face showed no panic. Instead, her eyes, taking off the glasses and hat to fully see, glared daggers at the bridge. The Doctor caught sight of a woman with a long black hat before he held on dear life when Mary abruptly turned their ride around. Policeboats roared behind them, sirens blaring along the streets. Their boat had clearly been customized, now moving with unexpected speed for all except the Thief who quickly zipped past a barricade barely formed from where they were. She beached the ride and they charged out. Sirens were distant but closing fast. The Doctor wondered if they could possibly reach out to UNIT, there had to be some kind of get-out-of-jail card he could cash in over the decades. But the anger, and fact that the officers were actually armed implied… Mary may not have the same courtesy. He needed some kind of clarity, especially when several people looked automatically panicked at seeing them. Some pulled out phones, but found their cameras… jammed, along with the security cameras nearby. A buzzing noise in the Doctor's pocket was ignored by Mary as they charged into a more isolated street corner.

The kept running until they noticed a nearby construction zone. Slipping inside, almost falling into a massive pit of sand and industry, they carefully shuffled around the narrow footpath made for workers. Another building had at least enough of a skeleton to risk sneaking into, they finally crouched down to catch their breathe.

"Who was that woman?" the Doctor's breathe came easier thanks to two hearts.

"That Demonwas the client," Mary growled. "She made me do this job… promised to clear up what I've been marked over… what she made me take the fall for."

"Why? Why betray you before the job's done? Why take on the job at all?"

Mary deeper sorrow came through, before the Doctor could fully realize how much must have been held at bay, it flooded out.

"I'm a dead woman walking, part of me just wanted to walk to the police… afterwards. But then you… and she… said my gang would be next. My friends… Wally… I-I couldn't let them suffer. I need to make sure I haven't ruined another's life for meeting me."

The sobs were strangled but not overbearing. Some deeper strength let it leak out without making Mary explode in agonized sadness. The Doctor let her vent quietly while he tried to consider who was on the bridge. There had been a similar vibe of danger, this quieter threat stamping around, but different from the…

His arm felt like it caught fire.

The Doctor couldn't contain his cry of pain, it forced him onto both knees, clutching their package. No halfway psychic tricks would stop this agony. It wanted to be seen!

The Thief noticed his anguish, the tears stopping. She almost reached out, but the Doctor staggered further away. The lie had ended, he was needed.

"M-Mary," the Doctor gasped. "DON'T LOOK."

He then opened the bag with his back turned.

Glaring down into the darkness, mental barriers that stopped the Cybermen's mental assimilation were in full effect.

An eye opened in the darkness.

The Doctor screamed.