Have a bunch of chapters lying around that I haven't posted for things to enjoy that. And my brain has been bouncing between fanfics as well soooo updates~ whoo~

"The thing is, Doctor, you're missing the obvious. We came here through the wormhole, yes? But our Tritovore friends didn't. They came here to trade with San Helios. Therefore, the question is, why did they crash?" Christina asked, drawing my gaze as the Doctor questioned the Tritovores who started to lead us into their engine room.

The Doctor took one look at the large hole in the center of it and hummed. "Oh, yes. Gravity well. Look, goes all the way down to the engine. So what happened?" He asked, translating the response. "He says the drive system stalled. Ten miles up, they fell out of the sky. But what caused that?"

The Tritovore shrugged.

"Which means no idea," Christina interpreted.

"Yeah. But wait a minute. That's a crystal nucleus down there, yes? And it looks like it survived the crash. If the crystal's intact… Oh, yes. That's better than diesel."

"What? You can use the crystal to move the bus?"

"Just like Asher said," the Doctor chimed, shooting me a smile that I didn't return.

I was debating on mentioning the "bird" in the engine. Would Christina not go down if I told her? Would the Doctor let her? The Doctor rushed past me then and I hesitated, looking back at Christina as she started to hook up her harness. Ooh, I hope I don't regret this.

"Christina?" I asked, drawing her attention to me as she eyed me.

"You're not going to stop me going down, you know."

I shook my head. "Not trying to. Just… bit of warning. Or, well, two things I guess."

"What's that?" She questioned, connecting the clips to her harness and pulling out a flashlight.

"There's a laser grid partway down with a button near it."

She turned to me with a rather surprised look. "Alright. We'll just pretend you do know the future then. What's the other thing?"

"There's a, um… bird in the engine."

"A what?"

I glanced back toward where the Doctor had run off to, knowing he'd be getting suspicious by now with Christina's lack of answer. "The thing that took down the ship. It's one of the rays caught in the engine."

She looked down the hole for a moment, then back at me. "Alive?"

"Hybernating?" I offered with a grimace. "I-I don't know everything but it's really cold down there or something. So you need to be fast or your body heat will wake it up, I think."

"Well then, that certainly adds a bit of spice to this," she said, looking a little more uneasy but somehow still determined as she reached up to the comm in her ear. "You need that crystal? Then consider it done and thank your girlfriend for knowing her stuff."

"I-I'm not—"

"Christina!" The Doctor called in the distance as she smirked.

"The aristocracy survives for a reason. We're ready for anything."

"No!" The Doctor shouted upon seeing her drop down into the hole, hastily pulling out his sonic to work the crank. "Come on. Come on, come on, come on."

The crank stopped though before he could, surprising him.

"It stopped."

"Like I said, thank your girlfriend," Christina told him over the comms. "I don't believe in all that psychic crap but a laser grid seemed a bit specific."

The Doctor turned to Asher, who just awkwardly shifted on her feet as the crank started up again far slower.

"Warned me about the bird in the engine too."

"Bird in the engine?" The Doctor questioned, seeing Asher wince. "Bird in the—Hold on. One of the creatures is in the vent?" He half screeched, looking at Asher. "And you let her go down there?"

He instantly regretted his words as her jaw went tight. It sounded like he was blaming her which wasn't what he meant.

"Asher, I didn't mean—"

She shook her head. "It's fine. I get it."

"It's not fine," he pressed, making her let out a short scoff but before he could continue she started heading for the next room. "Asher, I really didn't mean—"

"It's okay," she pressed, offering him a small smile. "I just need some air."

His gaze flicked back to the hole where Christina was, wanting to follow after her because it was hot outside and Asher wouldn't actually want to be out there, but he couldn't leave Christina in a vent with a dangerous metal creature without some instruction. He had to stay put and he groaned in frustration, running a hand through his hair as he sat down on the edge of the hole.

"Trouble in paradise?" Christina asked, not helping how he felt right about now. "If it helps, I made the choice to come down here. She didn't have to tell me."

She was right, the Doctor knew. Asher could have very well said nothing if this was what had to be done. But she did. Wonder why? He had a feeling he knew why. Or, well, he'd hoped it was the reason why. He hoped she'd told Christina about the danger anyway because she didn't want the adventurous woman to go in without knowing. Asher wanted Christina to know the danger she was getting into and… maybe… that was her way of trying to stop her.

And I just went and yelled at her like an idiot.

I felt a bit bad for stepping outside. One because it was ridiculously hot but also because now there was a misunderstanding between the Doctor and I. Not that he was wrong to shout. I'm not exactly happy that someone is risking their life for some part but if she didn't get it then everything would change, wouldn't it? We wouldn't be able to get off the planet or the Doctor would go in and get hurt or who knows? I finished off the last of my water, crushing the bottle and putting it back in my pocket with a sigh as I dropped my chin on my hand. I just wanted to not be in there. Feels like I'm intruding a bit with him and Christina chatting away. Just another adventure where I feel like I'm just kinda here not doing anything.

"Not that there's much to do anyway. Pretty sure the others are just waiting for us back on the bus."

The Doctor and Christina burst from the ship suddenly, surprising me as the Doctor hastily grabbed my hand and pulled me onto my feet.

"Come on!"

I stumbled in the sand, looking back at the ship in confusion. "What? What about the Tritovores?"

He didn't look at me as he replied. "They're gone. I'm sorry."

"Gone?" I breathed, mind spinning.

"There was nothing we could have done," he continued as we hurried up a dune. "They didn't have just one creature in the ship. They hit a swarm. They were all over the interior."

"I… I forgot," I murmured as his phone rang and he answered.

"Not now, Malcolm!" He shouted, hanging up as the bus was within sight and Nathan stepped out to question where we'd been. "Get inside. Get them sitting down. Now then, let's have a look," he said, ushering me into the bus as he looked at the device, pulling out the crystal in the center.

"So what does that crystal do?" Christina asked and he tossed it over his shoulder into the sand.

"Oh, nothing. Don't need the crystal."

"Oh, I risked my life for that."

"No, no. You risked your life for these. The clamps."

He rushed around the bus and I frowned lightly before sitting down in one of the seats to wait like the others. He hurried back in and shooed Dan away from the wheel as Christina continued to ask questions.

"But what are the clamps for? Do they turn the wheels?"

"Yeah, something like that. I just need to fix this. Have you got a hammer in that bag?"

"Funnily enough," she said, digging through her bag before I jumped when he tossed me the phone.

"Press redial!"

I got back up onto my feet and did as he asked, holding the phone up for him as he spoke to Malcolm again.

"Listen, there might be something following us. You need to close the wormhole."

I assumed that the military woman on the other end questioned something not long after that given he told me to hang up.

"You do realize they'll still prepare for something dangerous even if you don't tell them to, right?"

I remembered something then, letting out a small "oh" before grabbing Christina's bag and digging through it.

"Hey!"

"Sorry, he's going to need it."

"Need what?"

I pulled out the golden cup and she shook her head.

"Oh, no. No, no."

The clamp on the steering wheel sparked then, making the Doctor groan.

"Oh, it's not compatible. Bus, spaceship, spaceship, bus. I need to weld the two systems together. I need something non-corrosive. Something malleable. Something—"

I held the cup up toward him, cutting him off as he blinked at me. "Something gold?"

"That'll do," he said, taking it as Christina complained.

"It's over a thousand years old, worth eighteen million pounds. Promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise," he lied, given he immediately started pounding the golden cup with a hammer.

"I hate you."

I shook my head and settled into the seat once more as he called out to the others a moment later.

"This is your driver speaking. Hold on tight."

"But what for?" Barclay questioned. "What are you doing?"

"Getting us out of here," I offered as Christina huffed.

"Do as he says," she then turned back to the Doctor. "What are you doing?"

He ignored the question as he tried to get the bus going. "Come on. That's it. You can do it, you beauty. One last trip."

The bus started to lift up out of the sand and Barclay gaped.

"Ah, you are so kidding me."

"We're flying. It's flying."

"He's flying the bus."

"It's a miracle."

"My boss is going to kill me," Dan murmured, pale in shock.

"Anti-gravity clamps. Didn't I say?" The Doctor said cheekily as he turned the bus to face the wormhole. "Round we go."

"Doctor, they're coming," Carmen warned as Christina questioned him over the roar of the bus.

"Do you think this thing will survive the journey back?"

"We will!" I called back as the Doctor grinned.

"You heard her! Next stop!"

"Planet Earth!" Christina called as he drove the bus into the wormhole.

We came out the other side, flying through the tunnel and up into the open air above the city. I hastily redialed the last number, knowing that Malcolm needed to close the wormhole and when he picked up, I called out to him loudly.

"Close the wormhole, Malcolm!"

"Yes, ma'am! My pleasure!"

He hung up on me and I turned to the Doctor.

"I told Malcolm to close the wormhole!"

"Call him back!" He demanded and I nodded and did so, holding it up to his ear. "Malcolm, listen to me! I need that signal. We've got billions of those things about to fly through! Loop it back through the integrator, and keep the signal ramping up. Five hundred Bernards! Do it now!"

The wormhole closed and the people on the bus let out laughs and cheers of relief as the Doctor grinned.

"Right on time."

"Did I say I hated you?" Christina asked him with a smirk, drawing his attention. "I was lying."

She pulled him forward to kiss him and I swore for a brief moment, his eyes shifted to mine before he turned his head; making her kiss his cheek instead.

"Sorry," he said with a small, solemn smile as her gaze flicked toward me briefly.

"No. I understand."

If I didn't feel awkward before, I certainly did now and the Doctor landed the bus safely in front of the tunnel to the applause of everyone around. He sonicked the doors open and a UNIT operative led the people away before the Doctor held up his psychic paper and hooked his arm around my shoulders.

"We don't count," he said as Christina tried to follow but was grabbed by the operative.

I glanced over at her as she was escorted away, turning my eyes up toward the Doctor who pointedly refused to look. I never understood this bit. Why he goes from friendly to ignoring her.

"Doctor!" A bespecled man called, rushing over as the Doctor released my shoulders and smiled at him.

"You must be Malcolm."

Malcolm pulled him into a hug, praising the Doctor and repeating how much he loved him before Magambo shooed him back to his station.

"Doctor," she said with a smile, saluting him as he wrinkled his nose at the gesture. "I salute you whether you like it or not. Now, I take it we're safe?"

"Yeah. it was these creatures that did it. It's not their fault, it's their natural life cycle. But I'll see if I can nudge the wormholes onto uninhabited planets. Closer to home, Captain," he said, stepping over and gesturing to Nathan and Barclay nearby. "Those two lads. Very good in a crisis. Nathan needs a job, Barclay's good with engines. You could do a lot worse. Privates Nathan and Barclay, UNIT's finest."

"I'll see what I can do… and I've got something for you."

She gestured to a covered military truck where two men pulled a tarp off the Tardis, making him grin.

"Oh, ho, ho, ho. Better than a bus, any day. Hello," he greeted his ship as I smiled up at her as well.

"Found in the gardens of Buckingham Palace," Magambo informed him.

"Oh, she doesn't mind."

"Til we meet again, Doctor?" She glanced at me. "Asher."

I offered a small smile as the Doctor hummed.

"I hope so."

Christina ran over as Magambo walked off and I nodded toward the Tardis, drawing the Doctor's gaze.

"I'll just wait inside then."

His brows furrowed and he opened his mouth to say something but Christina finally reached us and stopped him.

"Little blue box, just like you said."

I left him to deal with her and slipped into the Tardis, letting out a long sigh and pulling off my hoodie to throw on the nearest coral-shaped pillar. The Tardis chirped, seeming pleased to see me and I reached out and brushed my hand over the console, looking around. I'd had a good look at Twelve's Tardis but this was my first time getting a good look at Ten's. I smiled softly before plopping down on the jumpseat and idly picking at my fingers. The door clicked open then and I looked up at the Doctor as he stepped in with a smile.

"Christina take the bus then?" I asked and he nodded, tossing his coat over mine.

"Yup," he popped, heading to the controls and sending us off.

The silence was somehow stifling and I lightly rubbed at my arm.

"I… I'm sorry about before," the Doctor said first, drawing my attention to him as he flicked a switch back and forth on the console. "What I said back on that ship. It wasn't okay to say that. I know you do your best to make decisions and that you often blame yourself for those sorts of things. I didn't mean to make it sound like I was blaming you."

"Doctor?" I called out, finally making him turn. "It's really fine. I-I'm not just saying that to hide anything. I honestly understand why you said it and all. You were worried. I get it."

His expression softened into something almost sad and he let out a soft sigh, pulling a hand through his hair and leaning back against the console.

"I just… I feel like I've screwed something up somewhere. I know we were in a bit of a crazy situation but you started drifting off. If I've done something wrong—"

"What?" I interrupted, a bit confused. "No. Nothing's going on. You didn't do anything."

He frowned lightly, confused as well. "But you were…"

"I was just giving you space, is all," I said, holding up my hands. "I didn't have a whole lot I could do in that mess and you and Christina were getting on, so I just—"

"There's nothing between us," he blurted out. "Really."

I cracked a small, awkward smile. "Doctor, it's fine. I just meant that you were having fun, explaining things and stuff. Hard to have the same sort of enjoyment when I already know some of it. I'm not going to stop you from talking to people, even if we are together… Unless my future self does that, in which case this is a bit awkward."

He chuckled and pushed off the console, plopping down beside me on the jumpseat and draping an arm across the back of it behind me. "Nah, you're great about that sort of thing. Though, it's not often it happens." His smile faltered. "Really. I do try to tone it down. Just doesn't always work."

I snorted. "Turn it down? What? Time Lords have some sort of attraction hormone or something?" I lightly elbowed him. "Just admit you think this regeneration is hot and you have trouble with all the ladies you attract."

"Is it?" He questioned with a smirk, leaning closer teasingly. "Hot, that is."

I opened my mouth, paused, and gave him a look. "I feel like this is a trap."

"Might be," he joked but leaned back away from me again and his smile fell. "Carmen said something to me before I left. The Ood have already told me about it. My song ending. She said, 'He will knock four times.'"

I felt a little uneasy with him bringing it up. I knew exactly what Carmen and the Ood had meant and what was coming. I can't tell him though… right? My eyes went to my hands as I twisted my fingers. I have to say something, don't I? He wouldn't have brought it up otherwise.

"I… I'm not sure what I can tell you," I admitted to him.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have said anything," he apologized, pulling his arm away from my back and sitting up to lean over his knees. "Just been on my mind. Didn't mean to pressure you."

Come on. Think of something! "It… It's not who you think," I offered, drawing his solemn brown eyes to mine. "The… The knocking and… I don't know if it helps but… you help someone wonderful. A man you would be proud to know. It… It still sucks. I can't even begin to think of what it's like but… Sorry. I'm not very good at this."

I jumped when he suddenly flopped over, dropping his head into my lap and clasping his hands over his stomach as he closed his eyes.

"So, I save someone, huh? Suppose it could be worse."

I nodded slowly, unsure of where to put my hands with him suddenly sprawled over my lap. I went still when his eyes opened and he reached up to brush his knuckles over my cheek, making my face flush and a thick knot form in my throat.

"You're sunburnt," he commented.

I lightly pushed his hand off my face, closing my eyes and turning away sheepishly. "I told you I would. It's why I always covered up at digs even when it was hot."

"Yeah, you mentioned the desert one. How was that? Anything interesting?"

"I thought you don't like archaeologists," I grumbled.

"Only the annoying ones, which are most of them. You're not even really interested in the human stuff though. Makes things way more interesting," he hummed, taking one of my hands and laying it over his stomach as he ran his thumb over the back of it. "So? What'd you go looking for in the Mojave? What did you find?"

I sighed before begrudgingly indulging him with what I could remember from the dig I'd been involved in. After a while, I was far more relaxed and tiredly twisted my fingers through his hair as he rambled on about archaeologists he disagreed with. At some point, I started to drift off and eventually felt him get up; lightly carrying me to my room. I sank into the bed quickly and vaguely heard him mutter a goodnight as a feather-light touch brushed my temple.

It was nice, even if it had started out awkward and uncomfortable. The Doctor knew exactly how to get me to relax and I frowned lightly in my half-dazed state; hugging a pillow further into my chest. And I don't even know how to start helping him... God, what am I doing?

I thankfully got to spend a couple of days on the Tardis before I tripped again. I used my precious time in peace eating, sleeping, and listening to the Doctor rattle on about anything and everything. Not what he wanted to discuss, I'm sure, but he was setting aside his concerns about the prophecies of the Ood and Carmen for my sake. I felt a bit bad about it but he never let me dwell for long before he was chattering away about something else.

Stumbling when I was on the way out of the kitchen with a fresh bag of chips—

"Crisps, Asher."

"Yeah, yeah. I know but I'm going to forget."

—I only half expected to end up in another place. Ending up in a metal room with a large window of the planet below wasn't exactly what I'd been hoping for. Better than a desert though, I mused, walking over to the window and frowning lightly at the clouded planet as I opened my chip bag and ate one. What planet is that then? I'd almost say it's Earth with the blue sea and clouds but this is Doctor Who. Could be some planet I've never seen. Yet, as some of the clouds shifted, I recognized a sliver of land.

"Hold on, is that fucking Florida?" I questioned, moving closer to the window and holding a hand up to block the reflection on the glass as I leaned in. "Damn, it is. Earth looks terrible."

Thing is, there's only two episodes that have this sort of view and neither one is exactly good. I pulled back and ate another chip as I tried to think. Both were with Nine. Wasn't a big fan of his so the episodes are extra foggy. Hmm, but didn't he not recognize me when we met before? I swear the first episode with him and Rose after the sentient plastic was one with a view like this. So, that means—

"Blimey! I've never seen it for real before. Oh! Sorry, didn't know someone was here."

I turned to see a young blonde hurry over to look out the window and the Ninth Doctor coming up behind her.

"Asher? What're you doing here?" He questioned as I shrugged.

"Dunno. Just got here." I lifted my bag. "Eating chips though, if you must know. Sorry, crisps."

"You just got here?" He asked then, brows furrowed and I eyed him as I nodded slowly.

"Yeah, why?"

I would probably always be cautious with the Ninth Doctor. It felt like something I had to do given he was one of the more… volatile Doctors. Much like Ten, he could go from friendly to not in a matter of seconds. That, and I don't know how much I've told him by now. He is obviously aware I jump around his timeline but… I keep my foreknowledge hidden usually. I keep quiet about it. Have I told him? Have I slipped up? He's the most likely to be unhappy about it and I really don't want to deal with that.

"You haven't seen Rose then," he went on and I shook my head. "Well, introductions then. Asher, this is Lynda with a 'Y.' Lynda, this is a friend of mine, Asher Watkins."

Lynda dies, my mind unhappily supplied as I nodded to Lynda and she went over to the window to smile down at the planet.

"Planet Earth," she breathed as I mentally ran through the shit that was about to happen.

God, this is the worst place to be if I don't want confrontations with the Doctor. This is 'Bad Wolf', isn't it? Rose gets sent away, Jack turns immortal, Bad Wolf shows up, the Doctor regenerates… I could already feel a knot coiling in my gut like a snake and I turned my gaze away from the poisoned planet Earth, digging through my bag of chips as I tried not to bring the Doctor's attention to me. The last thing I wanted was for him to find out I knew something here and couldn't stop it. Because I can't stop it. Rose has to become Bad Wolf or a lot of stuff doesn't happen. The Doctor has to regenerate or things don't happen. But a part of me wondered what the cost of that was.

Everyone on Floor 0 would be killed by the Daleks.

I don't know how to stop that.

Lynda would be killed here.

I can't even think of what to do to save her.

Jack becomes a literal immortal and dies a billion trillion lives.

But he has to… doesn't he?

The worst part was, I was now stuck in the middle of it and I wasn't even sure what part I would end up playing. The Doctor could leave me here when he takes Rose into the Tardis, expecting me to pop off somewhere else; whether I actually did in a timely matter or not. He will probably end up angry with me if he knows anything about my knowledge of what happens. If he doesn't, then I'll probably get shoved into the Tardis with Rose and sent off too. If he likes me enough, my mind idly supplied and I drew my gaze to him as Lynda tried to explain what was wrong with the smoke-covered planet below.

"A hundred years ago, like you said. All the news channels, they just shut down overnight."

"But that was me," he breathed, stunned. "I did that."

"There was nothing left in their place. No information. The whole planet just froze. The government, the economy, they collapsed. That was the start of it. One hundred years of hell."

"Oh, my… I made this world."

"You didn't," I cut in, drawing his solemn gaze to me as I winced slightly.

I didn't like speaking up and interrupting conversations and with how awkward I was with the Ninth Doctor that only made things worse.

"Sorry, it's just… Humanity has always been about adapting, overcoming, and stuff, right? Just because the cable went out doesn't mean everything should have fallen apart. If anything, it's their fault for being so focused on the screen that they couldn't pull themselves out of it when it all shut down. Not that… that where I'm from is much better really, but… I don't know. I just don't think it's the fault of one person."

He looked at me with those deep blue eyes and I turned away sheepishly. They reminded me of Ten's looking up at me from my lap and I plopped another chip in my mouth to keep occupied on anything but him.

"Well, then," he hummed, voice rather chipper despite his earlier unease. "First thing's first. We need to find Rose."

"How are you going to do that?" Lynda asked as he smiled at her and patted the console in front of him.

"With the computer of course." He glanced at me then, making me stiffen. "Unless you know anything?"

So he does know. Great. I tried to think of what floor Rose might have been on but was coming up blank.

"I… I can't remember. Four something? She was playing the 'Weakest Link.'"

"Oh, my God, she's with the Anne Droid," Lynda gasped. "That's one of the worst ones."

"Just means we gotta work fast," he said, working on trying to get the computer open as I watched him.

He hadn't shouted yet, so there was that. I worried that what I'd given him might be too much information too soon, but apparently not. I hadn't thought for long about it just out of concern about him being angry. I really don't like confrontations, least of all with him. He's… He might have been a character in my world but I looked up to him. Having someone you look up to come at you like I know he's going to just… God, there's no way I can avoid it is there? The door opened up behind us and a grinning Jack Harkness walked through.

"Hey, handsome. Good to see you?" His eyes drifted to me and his smile widened. "And if it isn't the old Ash! When'd you show up?"

"Maybe ten minutes ago?" I offered, glad that he was there.

Jack was such an easy-going guy he could make anyone relax just by being there. This was my first time meeting him but he was always fun to watch. Though, I'm not really into the flirting thing. I'm socially awkward enough, thanks.

"Any sign of Rose?" He asked, thankfully not jumping right into flirting with anyone yet.

"Can't you track her down?" The Doctor questioned, fighting with the computer.

"She must still be inside the games. All the rooms are shielded."

"If I can just get inside this computer. She's got to be here somewhere."

"Well, you'd better hurry up. These games don't have a happy ending."

"Do you think I don't know that?" He grumbled with the added pressure as Jack handed him his wrist computer with an apologetic gesture.

"There you go, patch that in. It's programmed to find her."

"Thanks."

His gaze turned to Lynda then, and an easy smile formed on his face. "Hey, there."

"Hello," she greeted, shaking his hand with a smile as well.

"Captain Jack Harkness."

"Lynda Moss."

"Nice to meet you, Lynda Moss."

"Do you mind flirting outside?" The Doctor complained, shooting me a look, oddly enough. "Control him."

I pointed to myself. "Me?"

"I was just saying hello," Jack huffed.

"For you, that's flirting," the Doctor grumbled as Lynda smiled with a small flush to her cheeks.

"I'm not complaining."

"Muchas gracias," he hummed, kissing the back of her hand before the Doctor got frustrated with the computer.

"It's not compatible. This stupid system doesn't make sense!"

I winced when he tossed something in my direction; nearly dropping it as I'd expected him to throw it, not lightly toss it. He's not like him, like dad. The Doctor's better than that, I told myself as the Doctor and Jack finally got a panel removed from the console. He turned back toward me and reached for the wrist computer he'd given me, giving me an odd glance as he took it before turning back to the console.

"This place should be a basic broadcaster, but the systems are twice as complicated. It's more than just television. This station's transmitting something else."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. This whole Bad Wolf thing's tied up with me. Someone's manipulated my entire life. It's some sort of trap and Rose is stuck inside it," he said, and again, his glance shifted to me.

Again, I felt he was asking for answers and I hastily tried to come up with something.

"It's… It's not exactly the Bad Wolf thing."

"How do you mean?" He asked, turning his gaze down to the wrist computer and keeping his voice calm. "It's been popping up all over the place. Dragging me around."

"Yeah, but this isn't…" I frowned, trying to think. "I mean, it is but the transmitting thing isn't it. It's something else. It's got nothing to do with Rose, I don't think."

"You don't think," he quoted me, looking at me again with an unreadable look that I was struggling to figure out if he was angry or not. "So you don't know for sure."

"Look, I'm trying to help," I pressed, getting a little frustrated myself since it felt like everything I said was just digging myself into a deeper hole. "I just don't know everything. I can't tell you what people are thinking and there's things I can't say."

He looked like he wanted to say something but the wrist computer in his hand chimed, drawing his attention to it as I stuffed my bag of chips into my hoodie pocket, turning away.

"Found her. Floor 407. Come on!"

The group of us rushed to the lift where the Doctor begged the lift to move faster. As soon as the doors opened we all rushed out, splitting up to find the right door.

"Game Room Six, which one is it?"

"Over here!" Lynda called and we congregated there as Jack offered to shoot through the door.

"You can't. It's made of Hydra combination," the Doctor said, trying to sonic the door lock. "Come on, come on, come on."

Finally, the door opened and we hurried through as he shouted at the directors.

"Rose! Stop this game! I order you to stop this game!"

"Stop this game!" Jack shouted as well.

"Look out for the Anne Droid, it's armed!" Rose shouted, climbing down and rushing toward us.

I wasn't thinking. I know I wasn't because I only hesitated for half a second before I just kept running. The others had slowed down, prepared to meet her in the middle but I didn't. I just ran—sprinted—and would have probably tackled her hard had we connected. We didn't though, not really. My hand grabbed her wrist and pulled, then something hit me in the back and it felt like the world snapped one inch to the left. Everything felt off and I slipped and fell to the ground. I clenched my eyes shut as bile rose up the back of my throat and my head spun, staying on the ground for a moment longer to try and get everything settled again. Hell, I couldn't even think. Everything was just muffled other than my racing heart and quick breaths in my ears.

It took a moment before I finally felt okay enough to push myself up off the ground. I rolled myself over and sat with my back up against the wall as I tried to gather my thoughts. I wasn't in the room with Rose and the others anymore. Instead, I was in a room glowing with orange and blue lights and circular corridors. I… Where… Something turned the corner in front of me and my heart leaped into my throat. A Dalek rolled toward me and I wished I wasn't on the ground up against a wall. It was all fun and games to joke about their plunger and whisk, about their salt shaker shape, but not here; not now. What was rolling toward me could kill me in an instant if I didn't prove useful. There would be no jokes and I would be lucky if I could get my voice to work at all with literal Death rolling toward me.

I had nowhere to run as I scrambled to my feet and it blocked any escape with its plunger. Its eyestalk scanned me up and down as I stood absolutely still before it spoke.

"You will follow."

I wasn't about to argue. I had no way to fight this thing, no way to really ensure my safety except to listen to it. How did I… I got hit instead of Rose, didn't I? I didn't… I wasn't really thinking. I just… ran. I allowed myself to be led into a corner of the next room where Daleks were roaming about and just sank back down to the floor. Why? Why did I do that? Nothing would have happened to Rose. She would've been fine. The Doctor would have saved her. I don't even know—I thought back to his shielded blue eyes back in the observation deck eyeing me with every answer I tried to provide, suddenly missing the warm brown eyes of his future self; or any of his future selves. I don't even know if he'd go looking for me. We hardly know each other and he probably thinks I'm hiding information from him or something. I ran a hand through my hair, bowing my head over my knees as I lightly gripped and tugged the hair at the base of my neck.

"Alert. Alert. We are detected!" A Dalek called out then, drawing my gaze slightly upward in caution.

"It is the Doctor. He has located us. Open communications channel."

Another Dalek turned toward me, aiming its plunger. "The female will stand. Stand!"

I hurried back up onto my feet as a hologram appeared to show the Doctor, Jack, and the others on the satellite I'd been teleported away from.

"I will talk to the Doctor," the Dalek to my left stated as the Doctor smiled and waved.

"Oh, will you? That's nice. Hello!"

"The Dalek stratagem nears completion. The fleet is almost ready. You will not intervene."

"Oh, really? Why's that, then?"

"We have your associate," it stated, turning its eyestalk toward me as I shifted slightly away in unease. "You will obey or she will be exterminated."

"No," the Doctor declared and I grit my teeth, not daring to look away from the Dalek out of fear of it and fear of what expression the Doctor held.

"Explain yourself."

"I said no."

"What is the meaning of this negative?"

"It means no."

"But she will be destroyed."

"No!" He half shouted and I finally looked over at the screen as he stood. "Because this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to rescue her. I'm going to save Ash from the middle of the Dalek fleet and then I'm going to save the Earth, and then, just to finish off, I'm going to wipe every last stinking Dalek out of the sky!"

I stared in surprise at his response. I couldn't remember specifics but he'd said the same sort of thing he would have if it was Rose here and not me. I still had some doubts. Maybe it was because he couldn't stand the guilt of knowing someone died when he could have helped. Maybe it was because he knew he would be coming here anyway so he'd just help me in the process. Maybe I was wrong and he actually did like me as a friend despite my knowledge of the future. He obviously did in the future but I wouldn't have thought that his Ninth self would be so accepting. The hope of that being the reason made my stomach twist into knots. I wasn't sure how to feel about it.

"Ash?"

I dragged myself out of my thoughts to look up at the Doctor on the screen.

"I'm coming to get you."

He sonicked the screen away and the Daleks around me shifted, screeching at one another as I went ignored. I wasn't important to them now. All they wanted was the Doctor and I was happy to just stay out of their way.