The Doctor's POV

"Someday the aliens will realize they can't just barge in and take over the humans. Better yet, the humans could learn to take care of themselves. I'm not gonna be here to save them every time a scary scary monster peeks its head out of the closet," I mutter to no one in particular.

I mean, yes, the Nestene Consciousness does have thought control over plastic, but the humans have things that melt plastic. They really can be clever at times. Not as clever as Time Lo-

Stop it Theta. Do not think of them; you did what you had to do to keep the universe safe. Remember, 'never cruel or cowardly, never give up, never give in'.

"Wilson? Wilson I've got the lottery money! Wilson. You there?" a young woman's voice calls out.

Who in Rassilon's name is that? The shop is closed now darling! Scurry on home so I can save your lot. Grab Wilson on your way out too. Wait… didn't that dead body two rooms ago have an ID that said Wilson? Maybe don't grab Wilson on your way out. It wasn't pretty.

"Wilson?"

A pair of plastic legs in a cardboard box next to me twitch and I sigh. Now you've done it. You've done woke up the Autons. Blowing up their relay device will be much harder with them chasin' after me! And I've got to rescue you before I blow up the building.

I take out the sonic and scan for nearby life forms. Two!? Now I have to save not one human, but two! For the love of Gallifrey... At least they're both together. If I'm gonna make it in time I better run. Autons can be really spry if they want to.

They should be just in here. Yes! A hand sticks out from the door and I grab it and breath, "Run." An Auton karate chops a pipe and the steam just misses a blonde's face. That would have left a nasty burn. Two girls run with me to the lift. One a peroxide bottle blonde, the other a dirty blonde.

Dirty Blonde helps me pull off an Auton's arm that's stuck in the lift doors while Bottle Blonde presses herself into the lift wall, terrified.

"You pulled his arm off," Bottle Blonde says confused. Dirty Blonde doesn't look confused. Actually she looks thrilled. She's trying to hide it but her eyes give her away.

Why's she so excited and better yet, why is she trying to hide it?

"Yep," I say and toss Dirty Blonde the arm. "Plastic." She catches it and looks at it with pure, unadulterated wonder. Huh… It sure is nice to see that on someone's face again. Maybe…

"Very clever. Nice trick. Who were they then, students? Is this a student thing or what?" Bottle Blonde asks rapidly.

"Why would they be students?" I ask calmly to try and get the shaken Bottle Blonde to settle down.

"I don't know."

"Well you said it. Why students?"

"'Cause to get that many people dressed up and being silly, they got to be students."

The ape has some intelligence! "That makes sense. Well done."

"Thanks."

I wonder what Dirty Blonde thinks. She hasn't said anything yet. "What bout you? What do you think they are?" I ask her.

Her face shines and she replies, "Aliens." She's American. Must be from the Midwest judging from the accent.

"Aliens?" I ask confused. I don't have to fake the confusment. How does she know it's aliens? She could just be a conspiracy theorist, but she doesn't look crazy besides the gleam of excitement in her eyes. That could just be that she's an adrenaline junkie. Running from aliens does get your hearts pumping.

She raises an eyebrow and challenges me. "You're the one that said what do you think they are not who do you think they are. And we did pull off its clearly plastic arm while it was still moving. So yes, I think aliens are a perfectly reasonable deduction."

Oh my Vot. "That was brilliant," I say before I can stop myself. She is the closest to companion material I've had since that brief stint with Zara the Larc. Larcs are a mighty fine species; one of the cleverest ones too. Their ability to run isn't very great on account of only having one leg. They just can't hop fast enough. Sigh.

"Whatever- I mean whoever they are, when Wilson finds them he's gonna call the police," Bottle Blonde says forcefully.

"Who's Wilson?" I ask. Probably the same Wilson I saw dead. What a shame. He had some impressive ginger hair. I can't believe I haven't been a ginger yet. You'd think after ten bodies I'd have had ginger hair at least once.

"Chief electrician."

"Wilson's dead." Bottle Blonde looks rightfully shocked but Dirty Blonde is a different story. I could have told her that the Earth spins round the Sun and gotten the same look she's wearing now. Odd...

Bottle Blonde blabbers on while I change the settings on the sonic. Setting 328B should melt the wires in the control panel and make the lift useless. "Hold on. Protect your eyes." Don't want to scar their retinas.

"I said who are they?" Bottle Blonde shouts. Better answer her now or she'll never shut up.

"They're made of plastic, living plastic creatures, and they're being controlled by a relay device on the roof, which would be a great big problem if I didn't have this. So, I'm gonna go upstairs and blow them up, and I might well die in the process. But don't worry bout me, no. You go home, go on. Go have your lovely beans on toast," I explain and pause when Dirty Blonde chuckles at me. Why's she grinning? I just showed her a bomb for Vot's sake and said I was gonna blow up the building!

Better add something so they don't tell what really happened. The news would lap it up like dogs. "Don't tell anyone about this 'cause if you do you'll get them killed." That should work. I should really get their names. I can't keep calling them Bottle Blonde and Dirty Blonde. "I'm the Doctor by the way. What're your names?"

Bottle Blonde speaks first and replies, "Rose."

Dirty Blonde blurts out, "Phoenix." That's a unique name. Rolls right off the tongue though. Phoenixes are friendly creatures unless you insult their family. If you do that...well you better run fast. Then they will hunt you down until they're dead or you're dead.

"Nice to meet you Rose, Phoenix. Run for your lives!" I say a bit too manically. I close the door and run to the center of the room to place the bomb. Don't want one side to explode and then have the building fall sideways. Gotta get it in the direct center.

I run out the same door as Rose and Phoenix did and close the door just in time to contain the explosion. Now I've got to take care of the main relay device and get the Nestene Consciousness to bugger off and then the Earth is saved, again.

But that can wait till morning. I should get a cuppa back at the Tardis. With some banana flavored biscuits of course. Sounds great. Maybe get a few hours of sleep too. It's been a few weeks since I slept last. Maybe the enigma of Phoenix will keep the nightmares away. She was way too excited. And the death grip she had on her messenger bag could have strangled a Dalek straight through it's shell. She was dead sure it was aliens too. I wonder what other surprises she's full of?

I walk back to the Tardis and head for the kitchen after flying into the Time Vortex. I make my cuppa and grab my biscuits and head for the library. A fire roars in the grandiose fireplace. Normally the large scale of it would comfort me, but today it illiminates the emptiness of the chair across from mine.

I chug my tea and throw my biscuits into the fire. The library isn't for me today.

Straight to bed sounds better. I leave my empty mug on the bedside table and crawl under the thick covers. I kick off my shoes and strip down to my pants. I curl up and screw my eyes shut. If I concentrate enough I can pretend the weight of the duvet is actually the weight of someone hugging me tight as we sleep.

An hour passes and I wonder if Phoenix is asleep. Human bodies are so delicate with all their requirements. An average of eight hours a day of sleep, two to three meals a day, 2 liters of water a day, a 37C temperature...the list goes on and on.

She seemed far too ok with the idea of aliens trying to take over her planet. Maybe that's the key! It's not her planet! She could be a Time Agent from a future human colony. Or an alien herself… But I doubt that; she smelled human and, minus the extra thrill, acted human. Her heart rate was in the acceptable normal range; as with her breathing patterns.

Her clothes were a few years out of style. She was wearing a floral printed dress, light pink roses to be exact, and burgundy boots laced up with black ribbon. A vintage look, minus the french braided hair. Maybe she's from the 2060s? 40s and 50s fashion comes back in full force for a decade.

I wake up refreshed after 7 hours of deep slumber. The most I've gotten at one time in years. Instead of the usual nightmares of a city burning and its inhabitants screaming I actually had a pleasant dream. Odd.

I was laying in a field of lavender roses while the ivory moon, Pazithi Gallifreya, was glowing bright far above. A cool breeze was out and my leather jacket was doing nothing to keep me warm. Soon I was shivering and from my right came a fiery bird out of the sky. The phoenix wrapped its huge wings around me and I soaked up the heat. The company was fantastic and I sat and star gazed with my new friend. It didn't say anything back but I knew somehow that it was enjoying my explanations of the nearby stars just as much as I was.

The sweet smell of roses still surrounds me even though I'm wide awake.

I don't need a visit to Sigmund Freud to know that the phoenix in my dream was Phoenix. The lush field of lavender roses symbolizes Rose. There is something else about the field of roses thats niggling in the back of my head. It'll come to me eventually if it's really important. On another note visiting Gallifrey, if only in a dream, was very peaceful and relaxing. I can only hope it happens more often.

I whip up a batch of anti-plastic and quickly land the Tardis to start my search for the Nestene Consciousness. Luckily I used the sonic on that plastic arm so I can just track that. It should have scurried back home just like Thing in the Adam's Family. I set the sonic to scan and let it lead the way.

It leads me to flats and up multiple flights of stairs. Stairs suck. Teleportation is where all the fun's at. Boom. Instantly where you want to be and you're ready to do whatever.

I finally get lead to a single door which conveniently has a cat flap. Not so convenient is the nails holding said cat flap in place. I could just sonic the door and walk in but someone might be home. I did land the Tardis during prime work hours but someone still might be home.

Instead I aim at the nails and they pop out onto the other side. A quick tap to the flap and suddenly it gets pushed open to reveal… Phoenix?

She doesn't seem phased to see a stranger she met yesterday to be on the other side of a random cat flap. With that grin I would bet she expected me. Is she psychic? A Time Agent with future knowledge? Or something else, part of me adds ominously.

Rose yanks open the door and over her head I see an ecstatic Phoenix. "What're you two doing here?" I ask thoroughly confused. They didn't seem like flatmates yesterday at Henriks.

Rose gets this 'duh' face and says, "I live here."

I turn to Phoenix and she adds, "I'm just crashin' on the couch."

"Well what do you do that for?" I ask.

"Because I do! And I'm only at home because someone blew up my job."

The sonic was supposed to lead me to the plastic arm not these two. Maybe it's got a bug? "Must've got the wrong signal. You're not plastic, are you?" I knock on their foreheads and find they are indeed, not plastic.

Phoenix knocks on my forehead and sasses, "No, bonehead."

That's what I was gonna say! Maybe she is psychic… I get pulled in the flat by a mildly upset Rose who says, "You, inside. Right now." Another woman asks who it is and Rose pokes her head into another room. "It's about last night, he's part of the inquiry. Give us ten minutes."

The same woman then addresses me. "She deserves compensation. Both of 'em."

"We're talking millions."

"I'm in my dressing gown."

"Yes, you are." Why does she feel the need to tell me what she's got on? I'm not blind.

"There's a strange man in my bedroom."

"Yes, there is." Again with the obvious.

"Well anything could happen."

Oh… Man, humans only have one thing on their minds. "No," I say sickly sweet and walk away.

Cackles come from down the hall and as soon as I spot the culprit she runs away. I follow her into a living room and start fiddling around. Phoenix plops down on the couch and watches me.

"Don't mind the mess. Do you want a coffee?" Rose asks.

"Might as well, thanks! Just milk," I reply. Phoenix shakes her head.

I pick up a gossip magazine and flip to a photo of a couple. "That won't last, he's gay and she's an alien." A snort comes from behind me. I flip through a book and say, "Hm, sad ending." I hate sad endings. Happy endings are ok but endings in general are just bad. I pick up an envelope and read, "Rose Tyler." That's a nice name. Almost as good as Smitty Werbenjagermanjensen. He was number one!

Oh look a mirror! "Ah, could've been worse." Still not a ginger. Sigh. The impulsive choice of a leather jacket does suit this body well. Good job impulses! You always pull through for me in the end.

"Hey! I think you ended up pretty good," Phoenix blurts out behind me. What in the name of…? Seems like the evidence is piling up for her being psychic. Would be best to just ignore it for the moment. Wait...did she just compliment me?

"Look at the ears," I say flicking my ears. I was hoping for a bit more normal sized ears this time around. I guess you get what you get.

"Don't diss the ears!" Phoenix scolds behind me. I turn to look at her and she is giving me the stink eye. Well then…

Can this body shuffle cards? "Luck be a lady," I sing and shuffle. The first time is ok and the second time ends up with them shuffled too...and on the floor… "Maybe not." Frank Sinatra you have failed me.

"How about a game of fifty-two card pick up?" the psychic asks. Oh hush. I'd like to see you try your hand at shuffling cards after getting a pair of new hands not too long ago.

Something behind the couch starts making a racket and Phoenix sighs. "What's that then? You got a cat?" I ask. Maybe I should get a cat. A nice ginger and white one that loves to cuddle. But the life span of a cat is at most 18 to 20 years. That would go by in the blink of an eye.

"No," Rose says. If it's not a cat…

Suddenly the plastic arm I was tracking grabs onto my neck. Phoenix frantically works on prying it off of me. The arm pops off my neck and heads straight for Phoenix's face.

We crash onto the glass coffee table and it shatters. The sonic! I push her onto the couch and use all my strength to rip the arm off her face. I quickly try a few different sonic settings and manage to cut off the link. "It's all right, I've stopped it. There you go, you see? 'Armless."

I toss it to Rose and she whacks me with it. "Ow!" What was that for?! I just saved your flatmate's life!

"Wimp!" a hoarse Phoenix yells. Whatever you say sweetie, just remember who was the one to pull that thing off your face.

Well it's time to blow this popsicle stand! I head for the stairs and both humans run after me. "Hold on a minute, you can't just go swanning off."

Phoenix sarcastically says, "What are you going to do Rose? Tie him to a kitchen chair?" She broke your throne, she cut your hair and from your lips she drew the hallelujah. Wait what?

God dammit brain. Now is not the time to start singing that one song from Shrek.

"That arm was moving. It tried to kill Phoenix!" Rose shouts. Someone isn't handling this very well.

"Ten out of ten for observation," I reply.

"You can't just walk away. That's not fair!" When is anything fair? "You've got to tell us what's going on."

"No I don't." It's in your best interests. Once you get sucked into a life with me you can never leave. If you do happen to leave then you're branded for life 'companion of the Doctor' and any and all aliens will hunt you down looking for information on me.

And we have come to the end of the stairs! Just a few more decades until teleportation humans. Until then, good luck.

"All right then. I'll go to the police. I'll tell everyone. You said if I did that I'd get people killed. So, your choice. Tell us or I'll start talking."

Beep. Beep. Beep. My bullshit detector just went off. "Is that supposed to sound tough?" Besides, you just gave away your plan and if I was evil I could just take you out. Think things through a little better next time. Ok?

"Sort of," she says weakly.

"Doesn't work," I say and can't help but let out an amused smile. Ah humans, what a comedic race.

"Who are you?"

"Told you, the Doctor." Were you not paying attention to the man with the bomb? I said my name very clearly.

"Yeah, but doctor what?" Oh for crying out loud! You don't go up to a medical professional and say, 'And you are Dr. what?'.

"It's Doctor who not Doctor what. Really, come on," Phoenix butts in exasperated.

"Just the Doctor," I say. I throw Phoenix a smile for correcting Rose.

"The Doctor," Rose says with an abundance of sass.

"Hello!" I reply and wave at them.

"Is that supposed to sound impressive?"

Is it? "Sort of." Well I didn't call myself the Plumber did I? I did want some sense of bravo.

Rose chuckles and then digs deeper. "Come on then. You can tell us. We've seen enough." She latches onto my arm, much like a parasite, and gives me a puppy dog face. You're gonna have to do better than that sweetcheeks. "Are you the police?"

Me?! The police?! Oh thats… Most of the time the police is chasing me. "No! I was just...passing through. I'm a long way from home." A very long and impossible way away. Suddenly memories of the Time War flash in my brain and threaten to overtake me. My first time out of the Tardis after the War and I end up as a puddle? Not today.

I'm so caught up in my own thoughts I almost miss Phoenix whisper, "Yeah, I know the feeling." Wait… Was I right when I originally pegged her as an alien or Time Agent? She is in the wrong country so maybe she's just homesick.

"But what have we done wrong? How come those plastic things keep comin' after us?" Rose continues on.

"Oh, suddenly the entire world revolves around you two! You were just an accident. You got in the way. That's all."

"It tried to kill Phoenix!" 'Tried' being the operative word. I stopped it. And did she not notice it trying to kill me too?

"It was after me, not you two! Last night in the shop, I was there, you blundered in, almost ruined the whole thing. This morning, I was tracking it down, it was tracking me down. The only reason it fixed on you is 'cause you've met me." Rassilon! I got them marked already. Now I have no choice but to either take them with me as full fledged companions or constantly monitor them and their lives on Earth.

"So what you're saying is the entire world revolves around you."

"Sort of, yeah." I am a Time Lord. The...last of them. What I wouldn't give for just one other Time Lord or Lady to be out there among the stars.

"You're full of it!" Rose says with a laugh on the tip of her tongue.

"Sort of, yeah." I can be cheeky too! Look!

"But all this plastic stuff, who else knows about it?" Oh Rose...you've just never looked hard enough. There are people who know about aliens all over. There's quite a few aliens hiding on Earth for refuge, disguising themselves as humans. Including me at times.

"No one." If I say 'a few people' then I know you will hunt them down until your last breath. I'm not sure what Phoenix what do. Is she still here? She's been awfully quiet.

I turn my head around and see her following behind slightly soaking up the scene in front of her. She is definitely a people watcher. It's such a fun hobby. You can learn a lot about a race and their customs by sitting in a crowded area and just watching.

"What, you're on your own?" So alone.

"Well, who else is there? I mean you lot, all you do is eat chips, go to bed, and watch telly! When all the time, underneath you, there's a war going on."

Phoenix pushes past Rose and I and starts walking backward in front of us. "We're not all like that. Some of us are different, we crave adventure, the thrill of the unknown," she says passionately. The passion overflows into her hands and they help her express her thoughts. "You have us, the thrill seekers. You always have us. Start from the beginning, Spaceman."

That was...fantastic. Oh! I love that word. Fantastic. That little speech was truly fantastic. I do always have the thrill seekers. Whether it be for companions or the ones who provide the little nudges needed during adventures. I can't do everything myself, but there are always people there to help me along.

"The thing controlling it projects life into the arm. I cut off the signal, dead." Good thing I found the right setting.

Rose looks confused and asks, "So that's radio control?" Oh yeah, no thought control yet.

"Thought control," Phoenix and I say in sync. Wait, what? Damn psychics gotta take all the impressiveness out of things. Is that even a word: impressiveness? How about yes. "Are you alright?" I ask Rose. She looks overwhelmed. Eh, she'll get over it. Besides one outta two isn't that bad, even though the one is psychic...possibly...probably.

Just as I hoped, she brushed it off and manned up. Womanned up? Stop overthinking things! "Yeah. So, who's controlling it then?"

"Long story." What I really mean is: Long story to explain to you and not have your inferior human brain explode from shock.

Phoenix rolls her eyes and retorts, "It's not that complicated."

Oh really? Explain to the class please. "What do you know about it?" Wait...how much does she know?

"Well, if I were to guess I would say an alien is using thought control to control all the plastic in the world to try and take over Earth. First step would be to either enslave the human race or kill us all. Enslaving us never works, I mean we can't even keep our own prisoners in jail. Humans always find a way to continue," she explains logically. Now that right there is as suspicious as a tall figure, in a trench coat, in an alley, at night, with his brim pulled down against the rain...with sunglasses. "But that's only a guess," she adds after seeing my face.

"How did you come up with that?" I ask tensely.

"A show on TV," she says innocently. Her heart rate stays the same so I know she's telling the truth. That's reassuring. I toss Rose the plastic arm to study and she shares it with Phoenix.

What show? I go to ask but Rose gets her question out first.

"Is she right?" A little bit of Rose's outer shielding cracks and I see trickles of fear leek through.

I sigh and reply, "Yes. But the real question is do you believe it?"

Phoenix's blue orbs stare into mine with such a strong intensity I have to hold back a gasp. "I believe what I told you is true as hard as Mrs. Hudson ships Johnlock." I look around to see if the trees are still rooted in the ground because her assurance was so strong.

What Sherlock is she talking talking about? The BBC version has the most Johnlock subtext but doesn't come out for another five years. The movies with Robert Downey Jr. do have some Johnlock undertones too. When did those come out?

"Really though, Doctor. Tell us. Who are you?" Rose probes. She could be a policewoman and get people to confess after a short talk with her. From her relentless digging or the sheer amount of annoying questions she asks. Is that really a bad thing? Best to give her something to distract her.

"Do you know like we were saying? About the Earth revolving? It's like when you were a kid. The first time they tell you the world's turning you just can't quite believe it because everything looks like it's standing still. I can feel it," I explain and grab their hands for a dramatic flair. Phoenix gasps and squeezes my hand tighter. "The turn of the Earth. The ground beneath our feet is spinning at a thousand miles an hour, and the entire planet is hurtling around the Sun at sixty-seven thousand miles an hour, and I can feel it. We're falling through space. Clinging to the skin of this tiny little world. And if we let go..." I drop Rose's hand but Phoenix is holding on too tight. I look into her eyes and give her the silent message, 'you need to let go now' and squeeze her hand.

The look on her face falls for a moment but she does release my hand. I finish my monologue, "That's who I am. Now forget me Rose Tyler, Phoenix." I take the plastic arm back and wave as I say, "Go home."

I head back home and toss the plastic arm onto the pilot's seat. "Stay," I command it and put the Tardis in the Time Vortex. Next step, head for the kitchen.

My hands feel so empty now that Rose and Phoenix aren't holding them. A banana should fill the space in my hands, and stomach quite well. Bananas are good.

I unpeel it and shove it greedily in my mouth. Might as well pop a few days into the future and try and track down the Nestene Consciousness again. Should have calmed down by then. I hum 'They All Laughed' by Ginger Rogers as I connect the arm to the console for tracking. Ah, 1937. I really should visit again.

The Tardis shows an active Auton at a restaurant so I set the landing coordinates for the back alley of said restaurant. I land with a bump after several minutes and grab onto the console to steady myself.

Once outside I throw my banana peel in a rubbish bin. The back door opens with a disgruntled employee grumbling, "It's your turn to take out the trash. I mean it's not like it's been your turn everyday for three damn years!"

"Oi, mate, could I go in this way? I'm looking to talk to the manager about a job offer," I ask.

He looks up startled and replies harshly, "You lookin' to be dishboy?"

"Server," I reply and put my hands up.

"Go ahead then. Be warned the manager, Royalton, is a dickhead. That sneaky bastard skims off our paychecks."

I hate assholes like this 'Royalton' bloke. Ironic since I don't have an actual job job and get money from cash machines and unlimited credit sticks or cards. I guess I can label myself an asshole. I have done some pretty asshole-y things, especially during the Time- No, don't think about it. You did what you had to do. You. Did. What. You. Had. To. Do.

I grab a bottle of champagne from the kitchen as I pass through. Gotta look waiter-ish after all. I spot the Auton immediately and who do I see sitting across from it? Phoenix and Rose.

"You can tell me anything. Tell me about the Doctor and what he's planning and I can help you Rose. Because that's all I really wanna do sweetheart, babe, sugar, sweetheart," the Auton says. Phoenix rolls her eyes and looks around the restaurant. Searching for someone? Me possibly? Psychics, ugh.

"Your champagne," I say as I present the bottle to the Auton.

It doesn't even look up when it spits out, "We didn't order any champagne." Rude. "Where's the Doctor?" it continues. It takes its anger out on Rose and clenches her hand tightly.

"Ma'am. Your champagne," I try as I shove the champagne in Rose's face.

She pushes it out of the way and offhandedly says, "It's not ours." At least she doesn't take drinks that aren't hers. That's a positive. "Mickey, what is it? What's wrong?" What's wrong is it is an alien trying to take your planet over! Rassilon, someone is thick. Shouldn't the waxy sheen, painted on hair, and the poor attempt at vocal mimicry be a dead give away?

"Doesn't anybody want this champagne?" God, I'm just about done with these people. Maybe I don't have to talk to them. Maybe I just sonic the Auton and be on my merry way.

"Why yes my good sir, I would love some," Phoenix says in an extremely bad attempt at a posh accent. That was so bad it was funny! Don't you dare laugh Theta Sigma!

The Auton gets to the end of its rope-or should I say it got so mad it almost melted itself-and finally raises its eyes to me, "Look, we didn't order… Ah, gotcha!"

Psh. You don't 'got' me. I shake the bottle of champagne and grin as I say, "Don't mind me. I'm just toasting the happy couple. On the house!" I pop the cork off of the bottle and it goes flying towards the Auton.

The cork hits the Auton and is immediately absorbed into its face and then spat out. Creepy. "Anyways…" the Auton says sinisterly. Its hands morph into paddles and it uses them to start chopping tables. Not good…

I yank off its head and end up falling onto a table. It looks up at me and warns, "Don't think that's gonna stop me." A guy at the table in front of me lets out an extremely girly scream. Phoenix laughs and then tries to hide it by coughing.

Rose smashes the fire alarm with her elbow and shouts, "Everyone out! Everyone out, now!" All three of us book it back to the Tardis with the headless Auton destroying tables behind us.

Once out the back door, I sonic it locked to buy us some extra time. Rose runs for the gate at the back of the alley while Phoenix calmly walks over to the Tardis.

"Open the gate!" Rose shouts panicked. "Use that tube thing! Come on!"

I open my mouth to correct her but little miss psychic answers first. "It's a sonic screwdriver Rose. Not just a tube thing. Why don't you come over here?"

That's the last straw. "How do you know all these things? Are you psychic?" I prod, very suspicious.

She sighs and runs her fingers through her hair as much as she can with it being french braided. "We don't have the time for me to explain it all right now but know this. I am not bad, and yes I know that all bad people would say that but I am actually telling the truth. When we are done saving the world, I swear on my life, I will tell you everything and answer all your questions."

I unlock the Tardis and step in. She follows me in but immediately stops inside the doorway. "Fine. But I want every last question I have answered, and you better be truthful or I can and will throw you into a blackhole. I am going to be keeping a sharp eye on you so don't you dare do anything other than what I tell you."

"When I said 'I swear on my life' I meant it. I am a very blunt and open person and very rarely lie," Phoenix replies sharply. I look back at her from my position at the console and see the truth in her eyes. The eyes are the window to the soul after all.

Rose runs in and collides with Phoenix. "How about we shut the door so the crazy Auton doesn't get in, eh?" Phoenix announces and shuts the door. Rose freaks the hell out and rips open the door and runs out. "Or we can open it," Phoenix mutters.

"You gonna do the whole run-out-and-around-the-bigger-on-the-inside-spaceship-to-make-sure-it-really-is-bigger-on-the-inside thing?" I ask Phoenix who has hopped up onto one of the coral struts.

She looks up from digging in her bag and tilts her head. "I'll take a rain check."

Well ok then… Never had anyone say that before. I hear a happy hum and look back to see Phoenix gorging on a muffin from her messenger bag.

She catches me staring and says between chews, "I'm hungry and it's banana pecan."

Banana. Mmm. Eat on girl.

"It's gonna follow us!" a freaked out Rose shouts. A lot of shouting today.

No need to worry dear. "The assembled hordes of Genghis Khan couldn't get through that door. Believe me, they tried. Now shut up a minute."

That sure was an interesting day. All because of a mistaken identity. He thought I was the leader of a large town he and his army were taking over. Why he thought I was leader, well, the people were bowing down to me and lavishing me with gifts after I had saved them from some Cybermen. I can see how I came across as the leader of the town.

Focus. "You see the arm was too simple, but the head's perfect. I can use the signal to trace it back to the original source," I say somewhat smugly. I hook the head into the console and then turn turn back to Rose. Now comes the questions.

"Right. Where do you wanna start?" I ask and hook my thumbs into my leather jacket.

She looks around and says unsure of herself, "Um, the inside's bigger the the outside."

"Yes," I confirm.

"It's alien."

"Yep," I answer, popping the 'p'.

"Are you alien?"

"Yes. Is that alright?"

"Yeah," she answers, a little too quick.

Phoenix butts in and adds, "It it makes you feel any better I'm human too."

Good for you Phoenix. "It's called the Tardis. This thin-" I start.

"No, no, no, no. First of all, she is not an 'it' or a 'thing'. She is the Tardis and has put up with your shit for centuries. Oh and one more thing. She. Deserves. Your. Respect," Phoenix protests.

To my surprise the lights in the console room get brighter and a few levers start going crazy. What the hell is going on?!

"'Tardis' stands for time and relative dimension in space," Phoenix continues over my shock.

"You done now sweetheart?" I sass. Word stealer.

"Go ahead dear," she replies back cheekily.

Rose starts crying and I give Phoenix a look that says 'you see what you did''. She throws me back a look that says, 'it's your damn spaceship that freaked her out'. Maybe it is the Tardis that is upsetting Rose?

"That's ok. Culture shock, happens to the best of us," I try and console her.

"Did they kill 'em? Mickey. D-did they kill Mickey? Is he dead?"

"Mickey is perfectly fine. Scared, but fine. I promise you," Phoenix broke in, "Remember what I told you about my promises. I'm like a Victorian gentleman who's word is his honor." Then, without looking away from Rose, she adds, "Oh, and Doctor, the head is melting."

"Melting? Oh, no, no, no, no, no!" I shout and try and land the Tardis while I still have a hold of the signal.

"What are you doing," Rose bellows at me.

"Following the signal! It's fading! Got it! Got it! No, no, no, no, no! Almost there. Almost there! Here we go!" I babble out. Before the Tardis even fully lands I am running for the doors.

"You can't go out there, it's not safe!" Rose warns and runs after me, only to stop at the doorway.

No Nestene Consciousness in sight. Dammit. "I've lost the signal. I got so close!"

Rose steps out after Phoenix and closes the door. "We've moved," she says shocked. "Does it fly?"

'Does it fly?' Of course not you ape. Do you think people would just be ok with a blue police box flying by them? No, it would cause mass panic. "Disappears there and reappears here. You wouldn't understand."

"I-if we're somewhere else, what about that headless thing? It's still on the loose."

"It melted with the head. Are you going to witter on all night?"

"I'll have to tell his mother," Rose mutters. Who's mother? "Mickey." Who? "I'll have to tell his mother he's dead and you just went and forgot him, again." She gets angrier and rants, "You're right. You are alien."

"Look if I did forget some kid called Mickey it's because I'm trying to save the life of every stupid ape blunderin' about on this planet. Alright?!"

"Shut the fuck up! You two are both acting like children and I have the mother of all migraines right now. Now act like adults or I will finish this shit myself!" Phoenix screams at the top of her lungs. Both hands are massaging her temples and her eyes are bloodshot.

"Are you ok?" Rose asks.

She takes a deep breath and says, "I've had worse. To save some time the Nestene Consciousness is under the London Eye. Allons-y!" She grabs our hands and starts running for the Eye.

We run to the Eye and Phoenix points us to a manhole with one hand and uses the other to pull at her hair in pain. A trip to the medbay is the first thing that's happening when we are done. If she's in that much pain there is something major going on. Even if she's on my bad side at the moment it is my duty as 'the Doctor' to help her.

Once down the manhole we are met with the stench of burning plastic and the vat of living plastic known as the Nestene Consciousness. I explain it to Rose and then work on addressing the Consciousness. "I seek audience with the Nestene Consciousness under peaceful contract, according to convention fifteen of the Shadow Proclamation," I say professionally.

It rumbles out that it agrees so I continue, "Thank you. If I might have permission to approach." Rose runs over to Mickey and Phoenix hobbles along. So domestic. Ugh.

"Doctor, he's alive!" Rose exclaims.

"Yeah, that was always a possibility. They keep him alive to maintain the copy."

"You knew that-"

Phoenix growls, "Now is not the time to be arguing!" I hate to admit it but she's right. Not that I'll ever tell her that.

I talk with the Consciousness more but don't focus much on what I'm saying. Phoenix is crying and all I can think of is to not let the ape die. Something deep inside is telling me to protect her with all my might but I don't know why.

"Doctor!" Rose shouts as a warning. Just as I turn around two Autons grab me and search me. One of them find the anti-plastic and I'm forced to try and calm the Nestene Consciousness down. "That was just insurance. I wasn't gonna use it!"

I hear a thud and crane my neck to see Phoenix slumped on the floor. Oh no, no, no. She can't be dead. No. No. No. My hearts race and threaten to beat out of my chest.

"I'm here to help! I'm not your enemy. I swear I'm not!"

It doesn't believe me. Shit. It found my Tardis. Oh shit. I keep trying to explain myself but it refuses to listen. "Yes that's my ship."

"You did nothing to save us," it wails out.

"That's not true! I should know, I was there. I fought in the War. It wasn't my fault! I couldn't save your world. I couldn't save any of them!" I try explaining. I couldn't even save my own planet. I had no choice but to use the Moment.

"What's it doing?" Rose asks from Phoenix's side.

"It's the Tardis. It's identified superior technology, it's terrified! It's going into the final phase. It's starting the invasion. Get out Rose! Just leg it, now!"

This is all my fault. Phoenix's death and all the other deaths are now going to be added to the weight on my shoulders. Can I take the weight?

I struggle against the Auton and watch Rose stand. She had dragged Phoenix over to the Tardis and her and Rickey were huddling over Phoenix.

Rickey hugs Rose's legs and bleats, "Just leave him!"

Suddenly Rose makes a run for it with Mickey shouting after her. She grabs an axe and says, "Got no A-levels, no job, no future, but I'll tell you what I have got…" She whacks at the wall and grabs a chain. "But I'll tell you what I have got. Jericho Street Junior School under sevens gymnastic team. I got the bronze!" And after her speech she runs off the catwalk.

I use the distraction to flip one of the Autons over my shoulder while she slams into the one holding the anti-plastic. Auton, anti-plastic, and all plunge into the Nestene Consciousness.

"Rose!" I shout to grab her attention as she swings towards me. I catch her and immediately ask, "Is Phoenix ok? Please say yes."

"She's still breathing." My hearts restart and I let out a relieved breath. My mind settles down a little and now realizes me gotta go. The roof is exploding and soon the whole underground room is gonna blow. I run for the Tardis and unlock it as fast as I can.

Rickey steps on Phoenix's hand and she moans, "Oww. What just happened?"

She's awake! No major brain damage then. "Come on Phoenix! Upsy Daisy," I coax. I pull her to her feet and into the Tardis. She falls down inside the doorway and accidentally closes the door with her knee.

I start the dematerialization sequence and spare a peak back to see her huddled with her knees to her chest in the corner. She's safe for now. Medbay visit is in order as soon as I drop Rose and Rickey off.

Just seconds later we land and Rickey wastes no time in bolting out the door. Rose walks out next and is immediately on her phone.

"Phoenix!" I say as I sprint over to her.

She curls further into a ball and mutters, "Help me Theta Sigma."

The world stops spinning. Time stops. My hearts freeze as my blood turns to ice. "What," I whisper softly. My name. She. Knows. My. Real. Name.

My brain goes into panic mode and on autopilot I fly the Tardis into the Time Vortex. I turn around to an even greater shock and see Phoenix glowing with a blue light. It almost looks like- No it can't-

She explodes with blue regeneration energy and I have to block my eyes with my hand it's so bright. It fades away after a minute but when I open my eyes all I see are white spots. After rubbing my eyes they behold a tall ginger woman where Phoenix just was. Wearing the same clothes…

"Phoenix?"

Thank you for reading! Please leave a review as creative fuel for my brain. I'm going to try to update one every week or two. If you ever want to know how much longer till the next chapter just PM me!

Disclaimer: I own no part of Supernatural, Doctor Who, Sherlock, or any songs/bands I mention throughout the story. I do own Phoenix and all my crazy thoughts! Cover picture by the very talented Deviantart user brandrificus. I suggest you check out their art work!