Wondered how it would be like for the Doctor to deal with someone who'd been dropped into another person's body. Warning: hints of suicide

A life. A death. A flame snuffed out on a candle as tires skid on the wet road. A mother felt heartbreak. A father cried while two brothers understood nothing. A soul soared, free from the body for only a moment. Another soul, torn, ragged, exhausted, tired. The blade looking so pleasing. The crimson flood. Sirens, panic, success. Tired angels wandered white halls, peering in on slumbering patients. The souls clashed. One with the want to live. The other with the want to die. Both meshed and fought. A fever rose, nurses worried. A Doctor slept next door, unaware of the battle raging in the bed beside him. And then silence. The war had been won. The body inhabited peacefully once more. But which soul survived? The twenty-seven-year-old woman torn from her family on a rainy night after a mechanical malfunction? Or the young college student who had tired of loneliness and life's suffering and took the only other option available to her. The end.

I woke up disoriented, frowning slightly at the white ceiling in confusion. Where… I grimaced then, head aching sharply in pain. God, I feel like I was hit by a semi-truck. I gasped then, suddenly sitting up and looking over myself in a panic as I remembered. I-I was. I was hit by a truck. H-He was heading into my lane and I tried to brake, but they weren't working. So how am I alive? H-How am I unhurt? I noticed the bandages on my wrists, but that would hardly account for slamming into a truck and it was then that I noticed something else. I'm… pale. Like really pale. I was tan before. It was summer, I'd been working outside with my father on setting up the pool for my brothers. I-I was tan and my fingers were short and pudgy, now they're thin and long. I-I don't understand. I brought a hand up to run it through my short hair, but my hair was much longer than before and lightly touched my shoulder blades. How long have I been here? I swallowed thickly before finding the call button and quickly pressing it multiple times. A nurse hurried in then and stared gaping at me as I tried to speak.

"T-Thank God. W-What's going on? How long have I been here?"

"Doctor!" She shouted, rushing from the room as I lifted a hand in a vain attempt to stop her.

She soon returned though with a number of other nurses and doctors; all of whom were rather pleased I was awake. I believe I heard someone mentioning how they'd expected me to stay in a coma for longer than I did. And yet, I'd only been asleep for a week. But how did my hair grow out? How did I lose my tan? W-Why don't I feel right? They then asked me questions about who I was, but they kept calling me by a different name. They kept calling me Charlotte Cooper and when I insisted that that wasn't my name, they looked at me like I was nuts!

"I'm not Charlotte!" I argued again. "I told you, my name's Kris! Kris Lewis! I-I was in a car accident!"

The group exchanged glances, but muttered reassurances to me about being confused before leaving me with a nurses who assisted me to the restroom—despite my not needing her help—only for me to nearly have a heart attack when I looked in the mirror. T-That's… That's not me. That face isn't mine! What the hell is going on?! I ran my hands over my gaunt face, fingers brushing sharp cheek bones and a small mole along my jaw. Bright blue eyes stared back at me instead of my dark green ones and my straight pitch black hair was now a curly brown. T-This isn't me! I could feel my legs growing weak and I stumbled back, vaguely hearing the nurse outside asking if I was alright. I still don't know how I managed to walk myself out of the bathroom and reassure her I was okay before returning to my bed to panic on my own.

W-What the hell… What is this? What sort of sick joke is this? This isn't my face, my body, my name. Everything is wrong. What about my family? My mom and dad and brothers. Did I… Did I really… die? Is that it? I died and somehow ended up like this? But how? Why? And this body… It's not mine. So who's is it? Why aren't they here trying to kick me out of their body? Are they still in it somewhere? God, this is so messed up. I-I… I don't know what to do. I can't make heads or tails of this. I tried to calm my racing heart, knowing that the nurses would be after me in an instant if I wasn't careful and I knew I couldn't deal with any more questions or anything right now. So I curled up on my bed and pulled the covers up, doing my best to keep my sobs down to a minimum so as not to disturb my neighbor.

The next morning, I felt marginally better. I had calmed down and forced myself to relax, though I was still tense and upset about the whole body switch thing and the fact that the nurses would give me odd looks when I insisted they call me Kris. But I'd managed to get more of the story on how this… Charlotte person got to be here. And it explains why I'm not getting resistance for being in this body, if my theory on being dead is correct. No family, no friends, struggling through school and a smoking and drinking problem. Man, she had it rough. That, and it explains the nurse who watches me eat and takes away my utensils the moment I'm finished. They've got me on suicide watch. I sighed softly, the nurse watching me eat giving me a small smile as I gave up eating after only a few bites.

"Finished already, Char—Kris?"

I nodded, pushing the table aside and allowing her to take it. "Is there anything I can… read? Or a puzzle book or something I can do?"

"I'll see what I can find." She replied, eventually returning with a logic puzzle book and a pen.

I thanked her absentmindedly, waiting until she was gone to scratch at the itchy bandages on my wrists before getting comfortable and working on the puzzles. I wasn't distracted long before I felt eyes on me and I turned to see someone surprising watching me with a goofy grin from the bed next to mine.

"Hello!" David Tennant chirped as I blinked in shock. "How are you doing today, Kris was it? I'm the Doctor!"

A chill went down my spine. No. No, he's joking right? A-And just when I thought this situation couldn't get worse. Are you telling me I died and ended up in Doctor Who now?

"You look like a patient to me." I blurted out and he chuckled.

"Humor! Love it. What's that you're writing in?"

I glanced at the book and tightened my grip on it before looking back at him, mind still reeling from the fact that he was acting just like the Tenth Doctor.

"Logic puzzle book. I asked the nurse for something to do and she brought me this."

"Ooh, logic puzzles. Are those the ones where you have clues and have to check off boxes to figure out which person did what thing on what day with whom?"

I slowly nodded. "Yeah, though not all of them are… about that."

He hummed, but I caught his eyes on my wrists and felt uncomfortable despite the suicide attempt having not been of my own doing.

"You doing alright though?" He questioned, his sad gaze turning to my face instead and I nodded.

"Yeah. Eager to leave and…" I trailed off.

And what? Charlotte doesn't exist anymore; not that I know of, anyway. So I get out of the hospital and… start over?

"No plans then?"

I shook my head, turning my gaze back to my puzzles. "Not really. I… I'll need to start over. I'm not… I'm not Charlotte."

"Ah, I heard." He mused out loud. "You believe you are Kris who was in a car accident, right?"

"I am Kris." I pressed angrily, annoyed at everyone insisting I wasn't, but then I winced; knowing that I wasn't helping myself get out of the hospital by insisting this.

They already think I'm nuts and have signed me up for therapy too. God, how do I explain to someone that I died and ended up in this body without sounding like I'm nuts? Much less, explain how I may be in one of my favorite sci-fi television series. I dragged a hand down my face with a heavy sigh. At least I'm not freaking out about that. Though anything's possible at this point. Why not ending up in a different universe where Doctor Who is real?

"Sorry." I muttered, but he smiled.

"Oh, it's fine. I suppose I sounded a bit disbelieving, but really, I believe you."

Doubt it. I mused silently. I know I sound nuts you're just saying that to keep me content. We heard voices then and I frowned, knowing that whoever was approaching was going to needlessly ask me the same questions they've been repeating time and time again. And if I don't snap at them, then I'll be amazed. The curtain was pushed aside on the Doctor's side—I'll just call him that, since I doubt I'm in bed next to David Tennant at this point—and a group of students stood there with their 'professor' of sorts, only sending my mind into more panic. Dear God, I'm in Doctor who. That's Martha Jones. A-And this has to be the beginning of 'Smith and Jones'. My life's just a full on mess now, isn't it?

"Now then, Mister Smith. A very good morning to you. How are you today?" Mr.—Stoker, I think it is?—asked, but I sort of zoned out a bit, focusing on not tightening my grip on the puzzle book in my hands until the curtain was pulled back on my little space as well; making me jump.

"Ah, apologies if we disturbed you, Miss Cooper." Stoker smiled and I frowned.

"It's Lewis."

His lips twitched. "Yes. If you believe so." He then turned to the group. "This is Miss Charlotte Cooper—"

"Kris Lewis." I pressed again, but he ignored me.

"—and after a stressful ordeal—"

I tightened my grip on the book as a number of sympathetic eyes shifted to my wrists and forced myself to stare at my puzzle book instead of glaring at them.

"—she was unconscious for the time period of one week and has since blocked out her memory of the event and previous events. She now believes she is patient Kris Lewis who was in a car accident, though as you can see, that it not the case."

I grit my teeth tightly. Just ignore him. Just pretend they're not there.

"With no immediate family, we have already begun making plans to send her to a facility where she will get the proper help and care that she needs. Until then though, we are making sure her health is taken care of properly and that her wounds are cleaned and on the road to proper healing." He smiled, before holding an arm out to lead the group elsewhere.

There was a sharp 'snap' and I winced as I looked down at the broken pen I now held, begrudgingly closing my puzzle book and setting the pieces of the pen aside to stew angrily.

"Idiot. The lot of them. I'm not fucking crazy."

"I don't think you are." The Doctor's voice piped in and I frowned over at him.

"Says the guy getting a trip to psychiatric." I mocked him and he chuckled.

"Yeah, well, I'll get out of that somehow."

"Lucky you." I grumbled and he got up from his bed and pulled a chair up beside mine.

"Hey now. It's not so bad."

"Oh, yeah. No, course not." I said sarcastically. "The hospital thinks I'm some psychotic suicidal idiot who can't make my own proper decisions and have delusions of being someone I am, but they insist I'm not. Not to mention that I don't even know who this Charlotte chick is, where she lives or anything about her. They're probably assuming I have amnesia and experienced such a'traumatic experience' that I shut everything out and imagined a new person for me to become to cope. I can't even get some damn decent food without some stupid nurse hovering over me like I'll kill myself with my spoon."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, alright. Point taken. Things aren't great, but I can at least do something about the food thing. What do you want to eat?"

I eyed him suspiciously. "Something carbonated with a ton of caffeine and jello. Maybe a chocolate bar."

He smiled. "Now that I can do. I saw a vending machine downstairs and convincing one of the nurses for a spare jello cup shouldn't be too hard."

Not with those looks. I idly mused, unashamed of the small crush I had on David Tennant. Or the big one I have on the Doctor, but let's not mention that too much. He waved and headed out, leaving me alone to bury my face in my hands. I've lost it. I'm nuts. I just know it. That Stoker guy should lock me up, because this is just insane. I died, ended up in someone else's body, and just so happened to have popped up in the middle of a British sci-fi television show that I enjoy in the hospital bed next to the Doctor of all people!

"Kris? You alright?"

I looked up, seeing the Doctor and feeling my heart just throb as he gave me a worried look; a chocolate bar, soda, and two jello packs in his hands.

"You okay?"

"You… Y-You called me Kris." I muttered in shock and he smiled slightly.

"Well, that is your name, isn't it?"

"B-But you're the only one who's called me that since I woke up." I breathed out. "W-Why? Why are you being so nice to me? You don't even know me."

And I know more about you than you'd appreciate.

"Well…" He rubbed the back of his head, depositing the goods on my bed and grabbing one of the jello cups for himself. "You're interesting and I think it's wrong of them to treat you the way they have been. If you say you're Kris Lewis, then that's who you are. And you've got a good head on your shoulders. I doubt you'd be making it up or lying about it. There's no point." He grinned. "Besides, I like you. You're funny and clever and are going through a unique situation but are able to keep your head on your shoulders and not panic. And you stick to what you believe is true. You should be a lawyer. I'll bet your poker face is great."

I snorted, managing a small smile that made his eyes light up.

"Ah-ha! I knew there was a smile in there somewhere!" He teased and I playfully shoved him.

"Shut up. I just haven't had a reason to smile till some goofy weird guy in the hospital bed next to me brought me food and gave me the compliment of a lifetime."

"Of a lifetime?" The Doctor mused, wiggling his brows at me as I rolled my eyes.

"Don't get cocky. I'm happy, alright? Now shut up and eat your jello."

He smiled again and I began to eat my own jello when I heard the pitter-patter of rain on the window. Oh no… I looked at the window and stopped, speaking up quietly.

"Doctor?"

"Hm?" He hummed and I pointed at the window.

"The rain… it's going up."

He turned as well and blinked in surprise before the whole building suddenly shook. I tumbled from the bed, feeling arms grab a hold of me and prevent me from cracking my head on the floor as the building quaked for a bit longer until it finally stopped.

"You alright, Kris?"

I looked at the Doctor's face, inches from my own and fought the redness in my cheeks. "Y-Yeah, I think I'm okay. Thanks. But what was that? Not an earthquake, I'm guessing."

He gave me a surprised look. "What makes you say that?"

"W-Well, it doesn't explain the rain going up." I stuttered out. That, and I already know what it is. Have to play innocent though. The last thing I need is the Oncoming Storm aimed my way.

He grinned and ruffled my short hair—which I'd gotten cut not long after I woke up by a nurse, who was surprisingly willing to trim it into a scruffy two-block cut that looked great with my new curly brown hair.

"You are brilliant, Kris."

I blinked, still rather stunned by the attention the Doctor apparently enjoyed giving me and he ducked behind his curtains to change as Martha came in with her nurse friend and I went to see if I had anything other than the hospital clothing I was in. Thankfully, I found whatever clothes Charlotte had been wearing when she showed up and someone had been kind enough to wash the jeans and grey shirt. I sighed and pulled them on, vaguely hearing Martha return and attempt to calm the panicked patients and her nurse friend as she went to open the windows. The sound of the Doctor's curtains being yanked back surprised me briefly, but I was soon finished and wandered out just in time for the Doctor to grab my hand.

"Kris! Excellent! Want to join us?"

"S-Sure?" I weakly agreed and he grinned as he tugged me along to the patient's lounge.

We headed to the balcony and the Doctor gave me a look.

"You willing to take a look?"

I shrugged. "Why not?"

I've already died once and, though not willing to do so again if I can help it, I know there's no danger here. He smiled again, ruffling my hair a second time and making me scowl, before opening the door and stepping out with Martha and I on his heels.

"We've got air…" Martha breathed out, sounding surprised, though I was more focused on the light buzzing feeling tingling my skin.

Weird. It's beautiful, I mean, but… it doesn't feel right. I looked out at Earth sadly. My poor family will be devastated…

"How does that work?" Martha asked and the Doctor stared out curiously.

"Just be glad it does."

Martha took a few moments. "I've got a party tonight. It's my brother's twenty-first. My mother's going to be really… really…"

She didn't finish and the Doctor gave her a worried look.

"You okay?"

"Yeah."

"Sure?"

"Yeah."

"And you, Kris?"

I flinched, but gave him a brief look. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's… amazing and all, but…"

He raised a brow. "But?"

"I dunno. Just feels… wrong." Like I'm not supposed to be here. God, what am I going to do? Another universe? The Doctor? I sighed softly, resting my chin on my arms as the Doctor and Martha chatted about aliens and he formally introduced himself. Come on, Kris. Now's not the time to feel sorry for yourself. We're moving past this, remember? Can't change what's already happened. I blinked as a spark of light went over the sky; tuning back into what the Doctor was saying.

"…force-field keeping the air in."

"But if that's like a bubble sealing us in, that means this is the only air we've got. What happens when it runs out?" Martha questioned and I frowned.

"Suffocate."

The Doctor nodded. "Yeah. Everyone in this hospital will just run out of air."

"Why would anyone do that?"

"Heads up." He said, nodding towards a ships flying over the building. "Ask them yourself."

Martha gaped as the rhino-esque aliens stomped out. "Aliens. That's aliens. Real, proper aliens."

"Judoon." The Doctor growled.

"You say that like it's a bad thing." I murmured, knowing it was a bad thing.

"Can be." He mused, lightening his tone. "Come on then. Let's see what they want."

We headed downstairs to peer through some ferns at the troops of Judoon grabbing people and cataloging them; the Doctor looking rather amused by the whole thing despite his earlier tone.

"Oh, look down there. You've got a little shop. I like a little shop. What about you, Kris? You like shops?"

"Not really." I said, seeing him pout. "Little ones tend to get a bit claustrophobic is all. And even the big ones end up a big confusing. I don't care much for crowds."

He seemed to accept that, messing up my hair again and forcing me to try and tame the wild curls for the umpteenth time.

"Never mind that. What are Judoon?" Martha asked.

"They're like police. Well, police for hire. They're more like interplanetary thugs."

"So an army of mercenaries then?" I offered and he nodded.

"More or less."

"And they brought us to the moon?" Martha questioned, still lost.

"Neutral territory. According to galactic law, they've got no jurisdiction over the Earth, and they isolated it. That rain, lightning? That was them, using an H2O scoop."

I raised a brow. "Why aren't there laws against using transportation to remove things from Earth?"

"Well, they've got to be able to press down the law somehow." He offered, though I wasn't entirely convinced of that.

And he doesn't sound too sure either.

"What are you on about, galactic law? Where'd you get that from?" Martha questioned, following after the Doctor and I as we shifted to get a better look. "If they're police, are we under arrest? Are we trespassing on the moon or something?"

"No, but I like that. Good thinking." The Doctor complimented. "No, I wish it were that simple. They're making a catalogue. That means they're after something non-human, which is very bad news for me."

"No." I muttered. "Really?"

"Yup." He said popping the 'P' as Martha gapped in shock as well.

"Oh, you're kidding me. Don't be ridiculous." She said, making the Doctor look at her seriously. "Stop looking at me like that."

"Come on then." He whispered, leading the way out before finding the Admin office. "Martha, could you go keep an eye on where the Judoon are at? What level? Don't need them sneaking up on me."

"Sure." She said, heading off and I watched as he used his sonic on the computer in front of him curiously.

"Anything you want me to do?"

He looked at me and blinked, before turning back to what he was doing. "Yeah, actually. I'm curious. You're awfully calm about all this. Why is that?"

I frowned, thinking about it. Well, I do know what's going to happen and such, but… one would think I'd be a bit more panicked. There's real aliens here. Posing a real threat. So why am I not running around like a chicken with my head cut off?

"I-I… I don't know." I told him honestly, taking a seat next to him in a chair and looking up at the ceiling. "For one thing, I don't find rhino's very threatening."

He snorted in amusement at that.

"But… I've had a rough time lately." Died, ended up in a television universe, not to mention an entirely different body. "I guess nearly dying and being in a coma kind of puts things into a different perspective. The thought of aliens isn't all that surprising anymore and it's not like they're looking for me. I only risk suffocating to death." Or death by straw, but let's not mention that bit.

The Doctor paused in what he was doing and looked at me with furrowed brows. "You—"

He was cut off as Martha returned, slightly breathless.

"They've reached the third floor." She said, before spotting his sonic. "What's that thing?"

"Sonic screwdriver."

"Well, if you're not going to answer me properly—"

He looked slightly offended. "No, really, it is. It's a screwdriver and it's sonic. Look."

"Who looks at a screwdriver and thinks 'let's make that sonic'?" I scoffed, earning a pout from him. "Needed a bunch of cabinets set up?"

"It doesn't do wood." He pouted and Martha chuckled.

"What else have you got? A laser spanner?"

"I did, but it was stolen by Emily Pankhurst, cheeky woman." He responded and I raised a brow.

"What would she need a laser spanner for?"

I was ignored though as he got frustrated with the computer.

"What's wrong with this computer?! The Judoon must have locked it down. Judoon platoon upon the moon." He muttered more to himself than anyone else. "Because I was just travelling past. I swear, I was just wandering. I wasn't looking for trouble, honestly, I wasn't, but I noticed these plasma coils around the hospital, and that lightning, that's a plasma coil. Been building up for two days now, so I checked in. I thought something was going on inside. It turns out the plasma coils were the Judoon up above."

"But what are they looking for?"

"Something that looks human but isn't."

"Like you, apparently." She smiled.

"Like me, but not me."

"So a fugitive?" I offered and he shrugged.

"Possibly."

"Haven't they got a photo?" Martha asked.

"Well, might be a shape-changer."

"Sounds fun. How are they going to find that?" I questioned. "I mean, how hard would it be to just grab a marker and draw an 'X' on the back of your hand and get away with it?"

"Good point." He mused. "Very good. Never thought of that."

"Criminal psychology degree." I hummed. "It's my job to figure out what criminals think."

"Ooh, clever you." He smiled, but Martha interrupted again.

"Can't you just leave the Judoon to find it?"

"If they declare the hospital guilty of hiding a fugitive, they'll sentence it to execution." He told her, all seriousness once again.

"All of us?"

"Oh, yes. If I can find this thing first—Oh!" He exclaimed, annoyed. "You see, they're thick! Judoon are thick! They are completely thick! They wiped the records. Oh, that's clever."

I raised a brow. "Thick or clever? You've really got to make up your mind."

"Oh hush, you." He chided me.

"What are they looking for?" Martha asked as he ran a hand through his hair.

"I don't know. Say, any patient admitted in the past week with unusual symptoms. Maybe there's a back-up."

"Just keep working." Martha offered. "I'll go ask Mr. Stoker. He might know."

She headed out and I jumped when the Doctor suddenly turned to me.

"You. You had some unusual symptoms and you were admitted within the last week."

I frowned. "Me? You honestly think they're after me? Don't be stupid. I don't know the first thing about intergalactic laws or whatever. I'm human!"

"Well, how do I know that? You said so yourself, how hard would it be to just pretend you've already been catalogued?" He argued and I grabbed his hand with the sonic and pointed it at me.

"Go on then. Scan me. Use your sonic to scan me and prove to you that I had nothing to do with this. Because I'm not about to let you waste time arguing with me when the alien could be out there somewhere getting away."

He stared at me for a bit, before suddenly grinning. "Alrighty then. I believe you. You seem honest enough."

I gave him a strange look as he went back to fighting with the computer. "That's it? You give in that easily?"

"Yup. After all…" He looked at me again, expression solemn. "…no alien would look at Earth with such a sad expression."

I went quiet at that, sitting in silence as he worked before he suddenly grinned.

"Ah-ha! Got it! Come on, Kris. Let's go!"

He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the room; the two of us very nearly crashing into Martha.

"I've restored the back-up!" The Doctor said happily, the same time Martha quickly shouted.

"I found her."

"You did what?"

We spotted the Slabs and the Doctor quickly grabbed Martha's hand as well as mine and hurried us through the halls. Judoon entered the stairwell we'd run into then and we quickly turned and went into another hallway towards Radiology. The Doctor sonicked the door behind us to keep the Slab at bay and shoved Martha and I behind the glass.

"When I say 'now' press the button."

"But I don't know which one!"

"Then find out!"

The Doctor worked on the x-ray machine as Martha grabbed a manual from off the shelf. The Slab soon broke through the door though and the Doctor called out, but Martha was still panicking.

"I said, now!" The Doctor repeated and I slammed a hand down on the yellow button myself.

The Slab fell to the ground and I released the button with a sigh of relief.

"What did you do?" Martha asked.

"Increased the radiation by five thousand percent. Killed him dead."

I didn't like the sound of that, but reminded myself that the Slab was a basic slave drone and probably had no consciousness at all. Besides, who am I to judge him for this? Technically, Mr. Stoker's death is partially my fault. I pushed the depressing through from my mind and looked over to find the Doctor hopping around.

"Out, out, out, out. Ah, ah, ah, ah! It is, it is, it is, it is hot. Hold on." He grabbed his shoe and tossed it into the bin with a grin. "Done."

"You're completely mad." Martha said as I too came out from behind the glass.

"You're right. I look daft with one shoe." He said, taking the other and tossing it as well. "Barefoot on the moon."

His teeth snapped together as Martha shook her head and I smiled a bit; her going over to check on the Slab.

"So what is that thing? And where's it from? The planet Zovirax?" She joked.

"It's just a Slab. They're called Slabs. Basic slave drones. See?" He knelt down and grabbed the arm. "Solid leather all the way through. Someone has got one hell of a fetish."

"Slave drone." I spoke up, catching his attention as he stood. "So it doesn't have a… conscious or anything? You didn't actually kill someone?"

He gave me a soft smile. "No, course not. It's like short circuiting a toaster. Only knows how to make toast; or in this case, follow orders. I just turned it off."

I nodded, relieved as Martha spoke and he discovered his fried sonic screwdriver.

"But it was that woman, Miss Finnegan. It was working for her, just like a servant."

"My sonic screwdriver." The Doctor said quietly in shocked disbelief.

"She was one of the patients, but—"

"Oh, no. My sonic screwdriver…"

"—she had a straw like some kind of vampire."

"I love my sonic screwdriver."

"Doctor?" She scolded him and he tossed the sonic over his shoulder, where I caught it before it could hit me upside the head.

"Sorry." He apologized. "You called me Doctor."

"Anyway?" She pressed, despite the smile on his face from that. "Miss Finnegan is the alien. She was drinking Mr. Stoker's blood."

"Funny time to take a snack. You'd think she'd be hiding."

"But I thought she was a shape changer?" I questioned, trying to speed things up a bit and he looked at me with his mouth hanging open.

"Yes. That's it! Shape-changer. Internal shape-changer. She wasn't drinking blood; she was assimilating it! If she can assimilate Mister Stoker's blood, mimic the biology, she'll register as human. We've got to find her and show the Judoon. Come on!"

Running. Always with the running with him. I mentally complained as I called out to him while we ran.

"W-Wait! How are we supposed to explain that she's an internal shape-changer?! What if she's already been catalogued as human?! Better yet, you're alien too! You can't just go waltzing up to them to explain!"

"Excellent observations, Kris!" He called back. "I'm sure I'll figure something out. Here!"

We slid behind a water cooler as another Slab walked by.

"That's the thing about Slabs. They always travel in pairs."

"Well, what about you?" Martha questioned.

"'What about me' what?" He hummed, avoiding eye contact.

"Haven't you got back-up? You must have a partner or something. You can't just have Charlotte."

"Kris." I pressed, but was ignored.

"Oh, humans. We're stuck on the moon, running out of air, with Judoon and a bloodsucking criminal, and you're asking personal questions?" He complained. "And Kris isn't my partner. I just brought her along. Come on."

I felt something in me ache at his blunt words. I know we're not partners or anything, but… a tagalong? Is that all? I mean, I should be honored he's even letting me do that, but... it still hurts.

"I like that. 'Humans'. I'm still not convinced you're an alien." Martha commented just as we rounded the corner and the Doctor was scanned.

"Non-human." The Judoon announced, stunning Martha.

"Oh my God, you really are."

I hadn't been paying attention though, and missed the Judoon scanning me as well.

"Unidentifiable species. Further scanning required."

"W-What?!" I screeched out in shock as the Doctor grabbed my arm.

"And again!"

We bolted down the hall, just missing the Judoon shooting at us. We hurried up the stairs then and the Doctor locked the door behind us as we walked quickly down the hall where people were slowly succumbing to the lack of oxygen.

"They've done this floor." The Doctor told us. "Come on. The Judoon are logical and just a little bit thick. They won't go back to check a floor they've checked already. If we're lucky."

"Doctor." I called out, making him double back when he saw Martha had crouched beside her friend giving oxygen to a patient.

"We're gonna run out." The woman explained to Martha about the air and the Doctor looked at us both.

"How are you two feeling?"

"I'm running on adrenaline." Martha smiled and he did a bit too.

"Welcome to my world." He commented, before glancing at me as I panted a bit. "And you, Kris?"

"B-Been better." I told him shakily, a painful stitch in my side from the running that made me wish Charlotte was fit like my previous self. Though what did the Judoon mean, 'unidentifiable species'? W-Was it because I'm not from this universe? No doubt the Doctor will question me on it later too. God, what am I going to tell him?

"What about the Judoon?" Martha asked then.

"Nah, great big lung preserves. It won't slow them down. Where's Mr. Stoker's office?"

"It's this way." Martha replied, standing to lead the way round the corner.

I paused though. "I'll, um, just wait here. In case the Judoon or that Slab decide to show up."

"Good idea." The Doctor said, him and Martha entering the room as I leaned up against the wall and tried to breathe in the quickly thinning air.

I mostly don't want to see Mr. Stoker. It's bad enough I could have saved him, but I know I can't do anything. Even saving one small life could cause an unfathomable amount of consequences. And if the Doctor finds out that I've been doing this… I don't even want to think what he'll do. As it is, I'm just a tagalong. There's nothing to stop him from becoming the Oncoming Storm against me. It's bad enough that I've been much too calm about things. He'll find out sooner or later, if I'm not careful.

"Think, think, think." The Doctor muttered as he and Martha stepped back out of the office. "If I was a plasmavore surrounded by police, what could I do? Any ideas, Kris? You're the criminal expert."

"Hm? O-Oh, um… I'm no expert on aliens, but I suppose any criminal would attempt to find a way to escape. And since we're on the moon, the only transportation off is the Judoon ships."

"Ah! Yes! Excellent, Kris!" He grinned, ruffling my hair once more, much to my annoyance.

This is going to become a thing, isn't it?

"She's as clever as me. Almost." He hummed upon catching sight of the MRI room just as the Judoon could be heard heading our way. "Martha, stay here. I need time. You've got to hold them up."

"How do I do that? And what about her?" Martha asked.

"Kris has to come with me because they've already scanned her as something unidentifiable. They would have to do a longer scan and, while I need time, too much time wouldn't be a good thing either. Now, just forgive me for this. It could save a thousand lives. It means nothing. Honestly, nothing." He said, grabbing her and kissing her.

It was weird though. I remembered it lasting longer in the show, but he just did a quick peck before grabbing my hand and rushing towards the MRI room.

"Right, now you listen to me, Kris. I need you to just stay hidden." He told me once we reached the room and were standing outside as lights flashed from within. "I don't know why the scan the Judoon did on you said what they did and I will find out sooner or later, but right now, I need you safe. Don't come in under any circumstances. Got it?"

"But—"

"No." He cut me off, grabbing my face and looking at me seriously. "I mean it. Don't. Promise me you won't."

I hesitated, but he wasn't going to give in and I knew that, so I bowed my head. "Promise."

"Good." He said, ruffling my hair and grinning at me. "Wish me luck."

And with that, he ducked inside the room as I pulled my hand out from behind my back to reveal crossed fingers.

"Idiot. Like I'm just going to let you go off and die."

The Doctor walked into the MRI room and quickly got Ms. Finnegan's attention by playing the shocked innocent bystander.

"Have you seen them? There are these things. These great big space rhino things. I mean, rhinos from space. And we're on the moon! Great big space rhinos with guns on the moon. And I only came in for my bunions, look." He lifted up his foot. "I mean, all fixed now. Perfectly good treatment. The nurses were lovely. I said to my wife, I said I'd recommend this place to anyone, but then we end up on the moon. And did I mention the rhinos?"

"Hold him."

The remaining Slab came out and grabbed him, giving her time to return to what she was doing.

"Uh, right, um… that big machine thing. Is it supposed to be making that noise?"

She waved him off. "You wouldn't understand."

"But isn't that a magnetic resonance image thing? Like a ginormous sort of magnet? I did magnetics GCSE. Well, I failed, but all the same."

She decided to humor him. "The magnetic setting now increased to fifty thousand Tesla."

"Ooh, that's a bit strong, isn't it?"

"It'll send out a magnetic pulse that'll fry the brain stems of every living thing within two hundred and fifty thousand miles. Except for me, safe in this room." She smiled.

"But uh, hold on, hold on. I did geography GCSE. I passed that one. Doesn't that distance include the Earth?"

"Only the side facing the moon. The other half will survive. Call it my little gift."

"I'm sorry, you'll have to excuse me, I'm a little bit out of my depth. I've spent the past fifteen years working as a postman. Hence the bunions. Why would you do that?"

"With everyone dead, the Judoon ships will be mine, to make my escape."

Point one for Kris then. Right on the dot with that one. He mused. "No, that's weird. You're talking like you're some sort of an alien."

"Quite so."

"No!"

"Oh, yes."

"You're joshing me."

"I am not." She insisted.

"I'm talking to an alien? In a hospital? What? Has this place got an ET department?"

She ignored his rambling. "It's the perfect hiding place. Blood banks downstairs for a midnight feast, and all this equipment ready to arm myself with should the police come looking."

"So, those rhinos, they're looking for you?"

"Yes. But I'm hidden." She said, showing him her already marked hand.

"Right. Maybe that's why they're increasing their scans."

"They're doing what?" She questioned, suddenly worried.

"Hm, ah big chief rhino boy. Ah, he said, 'No sign of a non-human. We must increase our scans up to setting two'?"

"Then I must assimilate again."

"What does that mean?" The Doctor questioned innocently.

"I must appear human."

"Well, you're welcome to come home and meet the wife. She'd be honored. We can have cake." He smiled as she pulled out her straw from her purse.

"Why should I have cake? I've got my little straw."

"Oh, that's nice. Milkshake? Uh, I like banana."

"You're quite the funny man. And yet, I think, laughing on purpose at the darkness. I think it's time you found some peace. Steady him!"

The Slab forced the Doctor onto his knees, but just then the door opened.

"Oi! Have you lot seen the rhinos outside? Crazy, right?" Kris said, stepping into the room as Ms. Finnegan scowled.

"I don't have time for this. Grab her!"

The Slab grabbed her arm and yanked her down to her knees beside the Doctor as well, who hissed angrily at her.

"What are you doing?!"

"Buying you some more time." She hissed back. "It takes a while to get here from where you left Martha and those Judoon walk slow."

"You're going to get yourself killed!"

"Oh, and you aren't?"

He went to retaliate, but Ms. Finnegan cleared her throat and gave them both annoyed looks.

"You've interrupted me at a bad time, girly."

"Pft, I'm hardly girly." Kris scoffed.

"Nevertheless, I think I'll start with you. Females always tend to taste better." She smirked and the Doctor quickly panicked as the Slab tightened its grip on them both.

"No! No, take me!"

"Bit late for that, deary." She hummed, brushing her fingers over Kris's neck and jabbing the straw in.

Kris gave him a slightly panicked look as Ms. Finnegan started to drink, but after a moment, she started to slowly grow weary and the Doctor struggled to think of something. A rash thought came to mind and, with the Slab trying to hold Kris and him, he took a chance. He swung his foot out, wincing when he accidently hit Kris on the shoulder, but managed to dislodge the straw and make Ms. Finnegan furious.

"You idiot! Now look what you've done!" She shouted at him as the Slab dropped Kris to the ground.

And hopefully she's alright. I still can't believe she did that! What was she thinking?!

"If you want me to drink you dry, then so be it." Ms. Finnegan snapped as the Slab got a better hold on him and she drank his blood as well.

She didn't get very far though before the Judoon stepped in and she released him.

"Now look at what you've done." She lightly scolded the Judoon as she tucked her straw away in her purse. "This poor woman died of fright and he's looking a bit pale himself."

"Scan her." The Judoon demanded and Kris was scanned as the Doctor rushed over to her side. "Confirmation. Deceased."

"No, no, no, no." The Doctor muttered, pressing his fingers to Kris's neck in the hopes of finding a pulse as Martha tried to push through.

"No, let me see her."

"Stop. Case closed." The Judoon announced, having assumed Kris to have been the alien they were after with her scan having come up unidentifiable.

"Oh, don't be stupid." The Doctor snapped harshly. "Martha! Scanner!"

Martha's eyes widened and she grabbed the scanner from the Judoon and aimed it at Ms. Finnegan.

"Oh, I don't mind. Scan all you like."

"Non-human." The Judoon announced and her eyes widened.

"But… What?"

"Confirm analysis."

"Oh, but it's a mistake, surely. I'm human. I'm as human as they come." She insisted as Martha glared at the woman.

"She gave her life so they'd find you."

"Confirm." The Judoon announced then. "Plasmavore, charged with the crime of murdering the child princess of Patrival Regency Nine."

"Well, she deserved it!" Ms. Finnegan snapped angrily. "Those pink cheeks and those blonde curls and that simpering voice. She was begging for the bite of a plasmavore!"

"Then you confess?"

"Confess? I'm proud of it!" She chortled. "Slab, stop them!"

The Slab stepped forward, but the Judoon easily dispatched it.

"Verdict, guilty. Sentence, execution."

Ms. Finnegan didn't care though, plugging in the MRI machine to reveal it overloading.

"Enjoy your victory, Judoon, because you're going to burn with me. Burn in hell!"

She too, was taken care of then and the Judoon withdrew as Martha hurried to the Doctor's side where he was doing CPR on Kris.

"Come on, Kris. Come on. Don't give up yet." He growled.

"Doctor… what about the… scanner?" Martha breathed out, growing short on breath after having ran after the Judoon to find the Doctor.

He glanced over his shoulder, not stopping the chest compressions. "And my sonic is fried… the plug… Martha, unplug it! Big red one!"

She nodded and crawled over on her hands and knees, managing to unplug the device before collapsing and the Doctor cursed under his breath as he realized why Kris wasn't waking up. Air. There's not enough air. Even if I do resuscitate her, she can't breathe. He grunted, hoisting her unconscious body into his arms and managing to pull Martha over his back before finding a window and lying Martha on a bed and Kris on the ground.

"Come on, come on, come on, please. Come on, Judoon. Reverse it." He muttered, before rain began to splatter on the window and he grinned. "It's raining, Marth, Kris. It's raining on the moon. But we're not done yet."

He knelt back down to Kris's side, checking again for a pulse before starting up CPR once more. With the hope that with the hospital back on Earth and air flooding the building she would hopefully come to.

"Come on, Kris. Don't give up. Not again." He muttered, glancing briefly at her bandaged wrists. "I'll take you away from here. We'll travel and see amazing things. Aliens and planets and history in the making. I won't let them lock you up in some psychiatric ward. But you've got to try."

He pressed his lips to hers, forcing yet another lung full of air into her, and suddenly, she coughed. He smiled in relief as she choked and hacked, breathing in air greedily before opening her eyes.

"D-Doc… tor?"

"Hey, there." He said, but her eyes slid shut and after a brief moment of panic and checking her pulse, the Doctor relaxed.

Just passed out. She'll probably need a blood transfusion too. I don't know how much blood that plasmavore took, but for her to go into cardiac arrest, I'll have to make sure she gets properly treated. And what better place than the Tardis? He grinned, picking her up and carrying her out, sneaking past the press and police and into his ship. Oh, won't she be surprised.

I woke up with a startled gasp, sitting up abruptly and shaking. I'd remembered, relived that accident. The accident that killed me and dropped me off in this mess. I felt sick to my stomach as I remembered the sounds of the car crushing, the bones snapping, my own choking gasps. No. Stop it. D-Don't think about it. I closed my eyes and buried my head in my hands with a shudder, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart before opening my eyes and looking around in confusion. A hospital? T-That doesn't seem right. It doesn't look like Royal Hope, so where… I felt hope swell up in my chest. I-I'm alive? This is after the accident and I'm alive? My hope shattered though when I looked down at myself and saw the same hands as before, the same slim fingers, the bandages on my wrists, the clothes that Charlotte wore when she tried to end her life. And suddenly, tears slipped down my cheeks, dripping off my jaw and landed on my hands as they quivered along with my lips and I let out a bitter chuckle.

"W-Why get my hopes up? I-I died. Why can't I just accept that? W-W-Why can't I-I just…"

A choked sob escaped me and I brought the back of my hand up to my mouth to stifle them, just in time for the Doctor to walk in.

"Kris! You're awa—" He cut himself off upon seeing my tears as I curled up into a ball on the bed. "Kris? Kris, what's wrong? If it's about what happened at the hospital, it's fine! Really! You're safe."

He sat on the bed and was hesitant about reaching for me, his hand hovering a few inches away as I tried to get a hold of myself.

"'m sorry." I managed between sobs. "I-I'm sorry."

"H-Hey, now. There's nothing to apologize for." He comforted, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze. "It's a normal reaction."

I shook my head. "I-It's not that. It's not what happened. I-It's stupid. No one would believe me. N-No one ever does."

He frowned. "Now, that's not true. I reckon I'd believe a lot more than most people."

"N-No. I can't. I-I can't tell anyone." I pressed, silently cursing my big mouth.

"Well, I won't force you." He begrudgingly replied. "But I'm here to listen, when you're ready. I swear, I won't make fun of you or anything, if that's what you're worried about."

"'m sorry." I repeated again, honestly wishing I could tell him and not end up having him get angry or upset with me over the whole 'different universe where this is a television show' thing.

"That's alright. Really. And you were sort of out of it for a while, so I can understand some of your confusion. Actually, there's some things I want to talk to you about, once you've calmed down a bit."

"I-It's fine. Go ahead." I insisted, wiping my face and taking a deep shuddering breath.

He waited a bit more, handing me a handkerchief that I gratefully took, before giving me a frown.

"That was very reckless, what you did." He scolded me and I winced. "You were dead for almost two minutes, Kris! If I hadn't been conscious, then you would have stayed dead! Does that mean anything to you?"

"Sorry." I muttered quietly. An angry Time Lord was not something I wanted to personally experience. "I just… You were the first person who saw me. Me, me. Not Charlotte or some psychotic person. So I… I didn't want you to get hurt. I—Kris—doesn't really… exist here, so… no one would really miss—"

"I would." He snapped, making me cringe once more; not only at his words, but the one's I'd just spoken.

Do I… Do I really believe that?... I mentally felt horrible as I realized that, yeah. I did believe that. I had nothing here. No family, no friends, no job or school or even a home. I had nothing here that was mine. Even the clothes I was wearing were Charlotte's. So if I had died again, some part of me hoped that I'd wake up back home. Back in my body. Safe.

"I mean it, Kris." The Doctor pressed, the sharp tone gone from his voice as he made me look right at him. "I would miss you. Because I don't know Charlotte. I've never met Charlotte. I only know you. And if you were gone, I would mourn for you. I would mourn for Kris Lewis. The woman who joked and ran with a crazy Doctor in a hospital full of Judoon, and faced a plasmavore with more idiotic courage than any human. And I would hate for you to just throw your life away because you can't see that someone cares for you. Right here." He smiled, patting my leg under the covers of the bed. "Now then. Enough moping. How would you like to see my ship?"

I stared in shock. "Y-Your ship?"

He nodded, apparently pleased with my reaction. Though I knew what the Tardis was, it was the fact that he was inviting me to join him that was more of a shock to me. W-What did I do? The most I did was risk my life to help him and—Dear God. That was it, wasn't it? I've done it now. I caught the Doctor's attention.

"You're in it right now, actually."

As if I couldn't be in more shock, he threw that at me and I realized how stupid I was. How did I not recognize this as the med bay?! I don't even know what half the stuff in here is!

"Y-You're kidding."

"Nope! And I will gladly give you a tour, if you want. Some new clothes too. I'm sure you'd like something yours."

I let out a shuddering breath, before grinning; the first full grin since I'd shown up in this body. "Thank you."

"W-Well, if you smile like that every time I offer up some clothes, I might just have to give you a room too." He said with a stutter, before smiling once more and helping me up.

My legs were a little shaky at first, but quick to remember their purpose as the Doctor tugged me to the door.

"Ah! That's right, I forgot to mention." He said, pausing and looking at me sheepishly. "You were sort of out of it for a while there, but I invited Martha on board as well. Just for a trip, though. You're welcome to stay longer, if you want. I won't make you."

"Doctor." I interrupted, cutting off his nervous rambling. "I have nothing. You offering up your ship—your home—to me is more than I could ever ask for and, if you'll have me, I'll be glad to keep you company."

He looked relieved, which was surprising. This younger Tenth had just recently lost Rose and was still hesitant about Martha joining, yet he appeared to desperately want me to stay. I wasn't sure what the reasons behind the offer were, but I wasn't about to argue a place to stay.

"Come on then." He smiled, tugging me along behind him as we left the med bay and headed down the halls with him opening doors every once in a while. "This is the kitchen, here's the library—"

I stopped there, gaping in shock at the space that seemed to go on forever, earning a chuckle from the Doctor before he pulled me away from the sight.

"You'll have plenty of time to explore that later. Up next is the wardrobe, where you will find anything and everything cloth-like that one might desire. And you are welcome to take your pick, Kris." He smiled, leading me into the expansive closet and pointing to a door. "That's the changing room on the right and I'll wait here until you've finished."

I turned to him and couldn't resist the urge to hug him, pulling away before either he nor I could react.

"Thank you." I said sincerely, face pink in embarrassment as I hurried over to see what I could find to wear.

The Doctor waited patiently, but his mind ran rampant about Kris. It was odd. He'd never taken to a companion as quickly as her before, however he couldn't help but be curious. Her situation was different and he silently wondered if she had some personality issue that made her believe she was a completely different person. He assumed she just had a terrible experience as Charlotte and upon attempting to take her life, literally threw away anything pertaining to that person and became someone entirely new. It was possible, but there was still a part of him that didn't care for that theory. For one thing, the Judoon scanned her and somehow ended up with 'unidentifiable species'. She was human, as far as he could tell. Even his scans had agreed. That didn't stop his worry though.

She was hiding something from him and, though he didn't press her for answers before, he could only hope that she'd speak with him about whatever it was. He'd have to keep an eye on her however. If not for that, then for her suicidal tendencies. The way she'd spoken earlier, about her near fatal experience with the plasmavore, had him concerned. No one should have that sort of mindset and he hoped that by giving her someone to rely on and something to call her own—even just clothes and a place on the Tardis—that he might keep her around long enough to give her something to live for. And what could do that better than a few trips through time and space?

The changing room door opened then and he pushed himself from off the wall as Kris walked out and pulled the deep red scarf around her neck closer. He smiled at her relaxed posture that the new set of clothes brought her, and the fact that they were more than appropriate for adventure. Slim fit jeans, instead of those skinny type that most women wore now, which could become problematic when something needed to be put into a pocket. In fact, I think those might be men's skinny jeans, not slim jeans. Huh. He mused, though didn't comment on it. But couple that with a nice black and white printed t-shirt of half the skeletal system, the scarf, and a dark coat and boots, and she looked about ready to face anything.

"Better?" He commented and she nodded.

"Much. And thanks again, for all this."

"Course! Can't have you going around feeling uncomfortable. Though you're taking the whole 'spaceship' and 'traveling with an alien' thing pretty well."

"Mm." She hummed, following him as he led the way back through the halls. "I mean, it's surprising, but I woke up to alien rhinos, traveling to the moon, and a blood sucking plasmavore. A big ship and human-looking alien aren't that big of a stretch."

"Wait until you see the outside." He smirked, already eager to get her back to the control room to head on their first adventure and show her the blue box.

"Does it have a name?"

"Huh?" He blinked in confusion.

"The ship." She corrected. "Like the S.S. Doctor or something."

He snorted. "No. Nothing like that. I just call her the Tardis."

"Tardis." Kris repeated, getting a taste for the foreign word.

"Yup. Stands for Time and Relative Dimensions in Space."

"So it travels in space and time?"

He rounded on her quickly, stunned. "H-How did you figure that out?"

She looked a bit surprised herself. "I-It's… It's in the name, isn't it? Time and relative dimensions?"

He opened his mouth, but quickly closed it, before opening it again. "You're the first person to catch that."

"Seriously?"

He nodded, giving her another curious look before returning their walk. "Takes a bit of fun out of it."

"Sorry. Just thought it was a bit obvious."

"Nah, that's alright. I honestly don't know how anyone's missed it. Even I sort of skipped over what I was saying."

"How's it do it?"

"What?"

"Travel in time and space. I mean, it doesn't exactly run on rocket fuel, does it?"

"Oh, no. Nothing like that. That stuff is disgusting." He said with a wrinkle of his nose. "No, she's much more complicated. It'd be hard to explain. I'll tell you what though, she's got a whole sun burning up in the center of her." He admitted and she looked at him in surprise.

"A sun? Like Sol? Like… an entire star?"

"Yup." He smiled, pleased that he was impressing her. "An entire star trapped at one moment in time just before it would turn into a black hole. The energy from it gives this ship its power. I'd show it to you, but it would fry us up in a matter of minutes."

"Well, I don't want that." She joked as they entered the console room and her jaw dropped. "W-Whoa…"

"Welcome, to the console room." The Doctor grinned, leading her up the stairs to where Martha quickly greeted her.

"How are you feeling then, Charlotte? Any dizziness? Nausea?"

"It's Kris." Kris insisted and Martha shook her head.

"Right. Sorry."

Kris brushed her off and continued to look around, touching one of the coral pillars and moving to the console as the Doctor flipped some switches and prepared to send them off. "And I'm fine. A small headache, but that's it. What's this button do?"

"That's the radio." The Doctor responded. "And don't touch anything. You could send us hurtling into space."

"Like I'm stupid enough to touch the controls of a space ship." She scoffed sarcastically. "Where are we going then, Mr. Martian?"

He frowned. "I'm a Time Lord. Not a… a Martian."

"And I'm the Queen of England." She snorted. "But alright. I'll roll with it. Now answer the question, Time Lord."

He turned to her poking her in the forehead lightly as she smirked. "You've gotten sassier. Why are you sassy?"

"Because it bothers you." She hummed, pointing to another button. "And this one?"

"Mustard. But if you're going to be sassy, I might just have to be sassy back."

"Love to see that."

Martha cleared her throat then, raising a brow at the two. "Where are we going, if I might ask?"

The Doctor shrugged then, grinning. "Don't know. I've set it to random. Hold on tight!"