So today has been . . . an interesting day. Rain made us nearly miss our first train . . . which was then running twenty-five minutes behind, so we barely made our second train, and I'm uploading this while my dad's sorting out a rental car thing. Welcome back to Germany for me!

So, it's back to present day, the crew meets Lazarus, and a specific Tyler trait comes out in Anna during the adventure.

Enjoy "The Lazarus Experiment!"

***

"There we go," the Doctor nodded as he applied the brake. "Perfect landing! Which isn't easy in such a tight spot."

"You should be used to tight spots by now," Martha remarked, not seeming to be aware of the slightly less than happy air the family was giving off. "Where are we?"

"The end of the line," the Doctor gestured to the door. "No place like it."

They didn't know what Martha was expecting when she left, but it certainly wasn't home, as evident by her jaw dropping. "Home," she turned, eyes wide. "You took me home?"

"In fact, the morning after we left, so you've only been gone about twelve hours," the Doctor confirmed.

"Is it for sure?" Rose quirked an eyebrow.

Anna giggled and held up Martha's alarm clock. "Yes."

"Just making sure."

"Twelve hours," the Doctor nodded. "No time at all, really."

"But all the stuff we've done," Martha blinked, confused. "Shakespeare, New New York?"

"Yep," he confirmed. "All in one night, relatively speaking. Everything should be just as it was. Books, CDs – "

"Laundry," Anna nodded at it.

Martha frowned in her direction, which the Doctor was quick to divert. "So, back where you were, as promised."

"This is it?" Martha asked in disbelief.

"Yeah," the Doctor nodded. "We should probably – "

The phone rang, then the answering machine picked up. "Hi, I'm out. Leave a message."

"I'm sorry," Martha sighed, going over to check it.

"Martha, are you there?" Francine's voice said. "Pick it up, will you?"

"It's Mum," Martha shook her head, turning around. "It'll wait."

Rose frowned, folding her arms. If it had been her mother, she'd have picked up. But before Martha could talk again, Francine continued. "All right, then, pretend that you're out if you like. I was only calling to say that your sister's on TV. On the news, of all things. Just thought you might be interested."

Martha frowned and turned, picking up the remote. She clicked it on, revealing an old man speaking to a crowd. "Tonight, I will demonstrate a device which will redefine our world," he said.

"She's got a new job," Martha explained, pointing to Tish, who was at the old man's side. "PR for some research lab."

"With the push of a single button, I will change what it means to be human!" the man declared.

Rose's eyes bugged out. "Did he just say he was going to change what it means to be human?!"

***

"Oh, black tie," the Doctor grumbled as they walked towards Lazarus Laboratories, the Doctor wearing the tuxedo he had worn back in the parallel world. Martha had found a wine-colored dress in her closet, while Rose and Anna had gone back to the TARDIS wardrobe. Rose was wearing a black dress with thin straps, a dark grey faux fur coat around her, her blonde hair scrunched into messy curls that worked for her, black heels on her feet. Anna had chosen a short white dress with a skirt that puffed out, the waistline and the collar emphasized with red and dark pink flower patterns, wearing white sandals with matching patterns painted on them. "Whenever I wear this, something bad always happens."

"It's not the outfit, that's just you," Rose laughed.

"I think it suits you," Martha eyed him. "In a James Bond kind of way."

Rose gave her a look, catching the flirting attempt. The Doctor, however, didn't seem to take it that way, and he blinked and looked himself over again. "James Bond? Really?"

"And Rose is Miss Moneypenny!" Anna grinned.

Rose blushed, feeling a spark of triumph at the taken aback look Martha had. "You introduced her to James Bond," she nodded at the Doctor. "Good job."

"After you," the Doctor held open the door for the ladies. Rose's attention was immediately caught by the large glass chamber at the center of the room. The Doctor's went to the food being passed around. "Oh, look, they've got nibbles! I love nibbles. Rose, would you like nibbles?"

"No," Rose shook her head, smiling fondly. "Have at it."

"Hello," Tish smiled as she walked up.

"Tish!" Martha grinned, hugging her as Anna started investigating over food options.

"You look great," Tish complimented. "So, what do you think? Impressive, isn't it?"

"Very," Martha nodded.

"And two nights out in a row for you. That's dangerously close to a social life."

"If I keep this up, I'll end up in all the gossip columns!" Martha joked.

"You might, actually," Tish laughed. "You should keep an eye out for photographers. And Mum, she's coming, too. Even dragging Leo along with her."

"Leo in black tie?" Martha's eyebrows shot up. "That I must see."

"Banana bread!" Anna suddenly cheered, and Rose laughed at the way the Doctor's eyes lit up as the girl came skipping back, her plate containing three slices. "Oh, this is great!"

"Bananas are good," the Doctor agreed, taking one of the pieces.

"Oh, fine," Rose sighed, taking a slice as well. "Thanks, Mara."

"Mmmhmm!" Anna nodded, then grinned at Tish. "Hello!"

"Hi?" Tish looked at Martha for an explanation.

"This, is, er," Martha scratched the back of her head.

"Doctor John Tyler, Rose Tyler, and Annie Tyler," Rose answered, and the Doctor did a double take as Rose handed over the psychic paper she had somehow gotten from his jacket. "There wasn't anyone by the doors to check our invite."

"Oh, I apologize," Tish took a look at the psychic paper and nodded. "Welcome, Dr. Smith. Married?"

"Yes, and our daughter," the Doctor nodded. "So this Lazarus, he's your boss?"

"Professor Lazarus, yes," Tish nodded, Martha frowning slightly at the psychic paper. She'd planned on introducing the Doctor as her plus one. Rose could have used the psychic paper for her and Anna, couldn't she? But even she had to admit, the trio made a striking family. "I'm part of his executive staff."

"She's in the PR department," Martha explained.

"I'm head of the PR department, actually," Tish corrected.

"You're joking!" Martha blinked.

"I put this whole thing together," she bragged.

"So do you know what the professor's going to be doing tonight?" the Doctor asked.

"Looks like it might be a sonic microfield manipulator," Anna said absently, tilting her head to the side as if she could see it better that way.

Martha looked at Rose in explanation, who just shook her head. "They're science geeks," Tish rolled her eyes. "I should have known. Got to get back to work now. I'll catch up with you later."

"Science geeks?" Anna blinked, turning around. "What does that mean?"

"That you're obsessively enthusiastic about it," Martha explained.

"Oh," Anna nodded, then blinked at Rose. "That's good, right?"

"It's good," Rose patted her arm.

"Nice!"

"Martha!" Francine's voice called.

They turned to see Francine approach with Leo, both in fancy dress as well. "Mum!" Martha grinned, giving her a huge hug.

"All right," Francine chuckled, giving her a hug as well. "What's the occasion?"

"What do you mean?" Martha blinked, pulling back. "I'm just pleased to see you, that's all."

"You saw me last night."

" . . . I know," Martha cleared her throat, Rose smiling behind her piece of banana bread. "I just miss you. You're looking good, Leo."

"Yeah," her brother grumbled, tugging at his collar. "If anyone asks me to fetch them a drink, I'll swing for him."

"You disappeared last night," Francine frowned at Martha.

"I just went home," she shrugged.

Her gaze went towards the Doctor. "On your own?"

He choked slightly on his bread. "Married," he pointed to Rose.

"Hi," she gave a wave and an apologetic smile. "I'm Rose, and this is the Doctor. That's our daughter, Annie."

"Or Anna," she nodded. "Or Mara. Or – "

"Those work," the Doctor put an arm around her shoulders.

"Mara?" Francine frowned.

"Nickname. Anyway, Martha and I've been doing some work together," the Doctor lied.

"You all right, mate?" Leo held his hand out to shake.

The Doctor shook his hand. "It's lovely to meet you, Mrs. Jones," he told Francine. "Heard a lot about you."

"Have you?" Francine raised an eyebrow. "What have you heard, then?"

"Ooo, Lazarus!" Anna stood on her toes, unintentionally saving her father from potential embarrassment. "That's him!"

The sound of a clinking glass made everyone else turn as well to see the man making an announcement. "Ladies and gentlemen!" he called for attention. "I am Professor Richard Lazarus, and tonight, I am going to perform a miracle. It is, I believe, the most important advance since Rutherford split the atom, the biggest leap since Armstrong stood on the moon. Tonight, you will watch and wonder. Tomorrow, you will wake to a world which will be changed forever."

He stepped into the glass chamber, and a moment later, the four columns surrounding it began to oscillate around the chamber, energy pouring inside. A few seconds later, an alarm rang out. "Something's wrong," the Doctor looked around. "It's overloading!"

The computers by the machine sparked, then something exploded, pouring out smoke. The Doctor ran over, pulling out his sonic screwdriver. "Somebody stop him!" the old woman by the machine ordered. "Get him away from those controls!"

"If this thing goes up, it'll take the whole building with it!" the Doctor snapped. "Is that what you want?" He looked around a bit, then yanked out a large power cable. "Get it open!" he shouted as the columns slowed.

Rose and Anna ran up to the chamber, pulling the doors open. Out stumbled a much younger man. "Ladies and gentlemen," he slowly straightened. "I am Richard Lazarus. I am seventy-six years old, and I am reborn!"

***

"It can't be the same guy," Martha denied as the four watched Lazarus pose for photographers. "It must be a trick."

"Oh, it's not a trick," the Doctor shook his head. "I wish it were."

"So what just happened?" Rose frowned.

"He just changed what it means to be human," the Doctor answered.

"Ew," Anna wrinkled her nose as Lazarus started devouring food from a passing tray.

"I'm famished," Lazarus was telling the woman from before, Lady Thaw, as the Doctor walked up.

"Energy deficit," the Doctor diagnosed. "Always happens with this kind of process."

Lazarus frowned as the girls joined him. "You speak as if you see this every day, Mr. – ?"

"Doctor," he corrected. "And well, no, not every day, but I have some experience with this kind of transformation."

"That's not possible," Lazarus shook his head.

"You used hypersonic sound waves to create a state of resonance," Anna told him sweetly, Lazarus's jaw dropping. "That's inspired."

"You understand the theory, then," he managed to say.

"Mmmhmm," she nodded, examining the glass of water she held. "I also understand enough of it to know that you couldn't possibly have allowed for all the variables."

"No experiment is entirely without risk."

"That thing nearly exploded," the Doctor scowled. "You might as well have stepped into a blender."

"You're not qualified to comment," Thaw sneered.

"He stopped it from exploding," Rose folded her arms. "I'd say that's plenty qualified."

"Then I thank you, Doctor, but that's a simple engineering issue," Lazarus said. "What happened inside the capsule was exactly what was supposed to happen. No more, no less."

"You've no way of knowing that until you've run proper tests," Martha shook her head.

"Look at me," Lazarus held out his arms. "You can see what happened. I'm all the proof you need."

"This device will be properly certified before we start to operate commercially," Thaw nodded.

"Commercially?" Rose's jaw dropped, her tone outraged. "You are joking! That'll cause chaos!"

"Not chaos," Lazarus shook his head. "Change. A chance for humanity to evolve, to improve."

"This isn't about improving," the Doctor scowled. "This is about you and your customers living a little longer."

"Not a little longer, Doctor," he smirked. "A lot longer. Perhaps indefinitely."

"Richard, we have things to discuss, upstairs," Thaw cleared her throat.

"Goodbye, Doctor," Lazarus nodded. "In a few years, you'll look back and laugh at how wrong you were."

He kissed the back of Rose's hand, the blonde wrinkling her nose in disgust as he left. "Oh, he's out of his depth," the Doctor shook his head. "No idea of the damage he might have done."

"So what do we do now?" Martha asked.

"Now?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow, looking around. "Well, this building must be full of laboratories. I say we do our own tests."

Rose sighed, holding up her hand. "I just had to be the one to collect the DNA sample needed, didn't I?"

The Doctor laughed fondly, kissing the top of her head as they walked off.

***

The Doctor peered at the computer screen, watching the DNA sample on screen. A moment later, he blinked, put on his brainy specs, and took another look. "Amazing!"

"What?" Rose asked, looking around him.

"Lazarus's DNA," the Doctor gestured.

"I can't see anything different," Martha frowned.

Anna gasped, eyes widening. "Did that just change?"

The Doctor nodded silently. "But it can't have!" Martha protested.

"But it did," the Doctor told her.

"It's impossible!"

"Well, that makes two impossible things we've seen tonight," Rose stood back up. "How about that?"

"That means Lazarus has changed his own molecular patterns," Martha breathed, stunned.

"Hypersonic sound waves to destabilize the cell structure, then a metagenic program to manipulate the coding in the protein strands," the Doctor nodded.

"He hacked into his own genes and told them to rejuvenate," Anna told Rose.

"But aren't they still mutating?" Rose pointed to the DNA strand on screen.

"Because he missed something," the Doctor nodded. "Something in his DNA has been activated and won't let him stabilize. Something that's trying to change him."

"Into something?" Anna guessed.

"I don't know, but I think we need to find out," the Doctor shut down the computer.

"That woman said they were going upstairs," Martha said.

"Let's go!" the Doctor nodded, heading out the door.

***

They stepped out of the lift into an office full of awards. "This is his office, all right," Rose looked at the names on several of them.

"So where is he?" the Doctor frowned.

"We could try back at the recep – " Anna began as she walked around the desk, only to shriek. "Daddy!"

The Doctor ran to her side, stopping when he saw the skeleton in a black dress. "Is that Lady Thaw?" Martha's jaw dropped.

"Used to be," the Doctor nodded grimly. "Now it's just a shell. Had all the life energy drained out, like squeezing the juice out of an orange."

"Lazarus?" Rose guessed.

"Could be."

"So he's changed already?"

"Not necessarily," the Doctor shook his head. "You saw the DNA. It was fluctuating. The process must demand energy. This might not have been enough."

"So he might do this again?" Martha asked, horrified.

"Mmm," the Doctor nodded, leading them into another lift.

***

"I can't see him," Martha peered over the top of the crowd of people.

"He can't be far," the Doctor frowned. "Keep looking."

"Hey, you all right, Martha?" Leo walked up, concern on his face. "I think Mum wants to talk to you."

"Have you seen Lazarus anywhere?" Martha asked.

"Yeah, well, he was getting cozy with Tish a couple of minutes ago."

"With Tish?!" Martha's jaw dropped.

The three others spun around when they heard that, Francine walking up. "Ah, Doctor," she began.

"Where did they go?" the Doctor leaned forward.

"Upstairs, I think," Leo frowned. "Why?"

"Doctor – " Francine began, only to gasp when he sprinted past her, spilling her drink all over her. "I'm speaking to you!" she yelled as Anna ran after him.

"I am so sorry," Rose quickly handed her a wad of napkins as Martha followed. "But we've got to find him."

She ran after the others quickly, not stopping when Francine tried calling after her as well.

***

"Where are they?" Martha growled when they made it back to Lazarus's office.

"Fluctuating DNA will give off an energy signature," the Doctor used his sonic screwdriver. "I might be able to pick it up . . . got him!"

"Where?" Martha asked.

Rose frowned when he pointed the sonic up. "But this is the top floor!"

"The roof!" Anna's eyes brightened.

***

"Between the idea and the reality," Lazarus was telling Tish when they arrived, "between the motion and the act – "

"Falls the Shadow," the Doctor finished.

"So, the mysterious Doctor knows his Eliot," Lazarus turned, curling his lip. "I'm impressed."

"Martha, what are you doing here?" Tish blinked.

"Tish, get away from him," Martha ordered.

"What?" Tish blinked, glaring at her. "Don't tell me what to do!"

"I wouldn't have thought you had time for poetry, Lazarus, what with you being busy defying the laws of nature and all," the Doctor tilted his head.

"You're right, Doctor," Lazarus told him. "One lifetime's been too short for me to do everything I'd like. How much more I'll get done in two or three or four."

"Doesn't work like that," the Doctor shook his head. "Some people live more in twenty years than others do in eighty. It's not the time that matters. It's the person."

"But if it's the right person, what a gift that would be," Lazarus smirked.

"Or what a curse," the Doctor countered. "Look at what you've done to yourself."

"Who are you to judge me?"

"Over here, Tish," Martha ordered.

"You have to spoil everything, don't you?" Tish asked angrily. "Every time I find someone nice, you have to go and find fault!"

"Tish, he's a monster!" Martha protested, watching Lazarus spasm and fall behind her sister's back.

"I know the age thing's a bit freaky, but it works for Catherine Zeta-Jones – "

Anna screamed as Lazarus reared, looking like a weird mutant scorpion . . . thing. "Daddy!"

"What's that?" Tish blanched when she saw what Lazarus turned into.

"Run!" the Doctor yelled.

"Are you OK?" Martha asked Tish as they raced for the stairs.

"I was going to snog him!" Tish said in disbelief as Rose led them to the lifts.

The Doctor locked the door, then jumped back as Lazarus tried ramming it. "Security one," a female voice said as the lights flickered and went out, the doors all slamming shut. "Security one. Security one."

"What's that?" Anna looked around.

"An intrusion, it triggers security lockdown," Tish explained. "Kills most of the power. Stops the lifts, seals the exits."

"The stairs!" Rose grabbed Anna's hand. "Come on!"

They were halfway down then they heard the door crash inwards. "He's inside!" Martha warned.

"We haven't got much time!" the Doctor took the lead, taking them downstairs. They burst out of the stairwell, scattering a few guests. "Tish, is there another way out of here?"

"There's an exit in the corner, but it'll be locked now," Tish pointed.

"Mara, setting fifty-four," the Doctor tossed his sonic to her. Anna caught it and grabbed Martha's wrist, tugging her off. "Hurry!" He jumped onto the dais, yelling to get everyone's attention. "Listen to me! You people are in serious danger! You need to get out of here, right now!"

"Don't be ridiculous!" one woman scoffed. "The biggest danger here is choking on an olive!"

Lazarus jumped from the mezzanine level, smashing into one of the tables, sending everyone into a panic. "Mum, get back!" Leo called.

"Leo!" Francine cried when Lazarus's tail sent a table crashing into Leo.

Anna found the door, and with a quick buzz of the sonic, got it open. "Over here!" she called, waving people through. "This way! Everyone, downstairs, now! Hurry!"

"Go!" Rose pushed the woman that had spoken before, sending her after Anna. "Go, go, go!"

"What's the point?" the Doctor yelled at Lazarus as Martha worked on dragging her family out. "You can't control it! The mutation's too strong! Killing those people won't help you. You're a fool. A vain old man who thought he could defy nature – only Nature got her own back, didn't she? You're a joke, Lazarus! A footnote in the history of failure!"

"But Anna's still out there!" Rose chased after the Doctor as he ran down the hall.

Lazarus snarled close behind them, and the Doctor shook her head. "Then best get him away from her!"

He took her hand, helping her through the pipes and panels, hearing Lazarus growl nearby. "It's no good, Doctor. You can't stop me."

"Is that the same arrogance you had when you swore nothing had gone wrong with your device?" the Doctor retorted.

"The arrogance is yours. You can't stand in the way of progress."

"You call feeding on innocent people progress?" Rose asked in disbelief. "You're delusional!"

"It is a necessary sacrifice."

"That's not your decision to make," the Doctor said darkly.

***

"We can't get out," Tish panicked when they saw the crowd by the glass doors. "We're trapped!"

"There's got to be an override switch," Anna looked around. "Security desk!" She ran over, vaulting over it, bending down to find the control panel. She ran the screwdriver over the controls, making the lights turn on and the doors open.

***

"Peekaboo!"

Rose squeaked, and the Doctor looked up to see Lazarus was hanging from the ceiling, right above them. "Oh, hello," he blinked before taking Rose's hand and running down the corridor.

***

"We've got to go back," Martha said as she helped Leo outside.

"No, I've got to go back," Anna shook her head. "You're staying."

"The hell I'm not!" Martha glared at her.

"The hell you are!" Anna folded her arms. "You've got your family out here. Both of mine are still in there."

"Rose isn't even your real mother!"

That was when Anna snapped. "The mother I had died in the Time War!" she yelled, storming towards Martha, glaring at her with such a fury that the woman staggered back. "She died getting me to a safe place so my dad could find me and keep me safe! And he did that, for years! And then we stopped on Earth and he found someone that could look after me, take care of me, because he couldn't always look after me and save your race at the same time! And you know who he found? Rose! He found Rose, and never once has she let me down! She had the chance to be with her family, Martha. You lost your cousin in Canary Wharf, right? Adeola? We were there when she died! My dad was the one to break the control the Cybermen had over her, but she was already dead!"

Martha swallowed, eyes wide. "Anna – "

"And when Rose had the option to cross dimensions into a parallel world to be safe, forever, with her family, she came back," Anna cut her off. "She chose us. She chose me and my dad. And it's because of that choice that I'm who I am today. It's because of that choice that she can never, ever see them again, because after Canary Wharf, the dimensions were sealed off. For good. Rose's entire family is lost to her. She's got only us. And all you have done is scorn her because you think you might be better, when my dad knows better than you. We've known her for years. You've known her all of . . . what, only a day or so? Why the hell do you think you know her better than us?" Martha gulped, and Anna shook her head. "It's my family, Martha, not yours," she said firmly. "And I say Rose is my mother. That should be good enough for anyone. So here's what's going to happen. I'm going to go in there and save my family. You are going to stay out here with yours. And you sure as hell have a better attitude by the end of this. Because this is your last chance, all three of us decided. Either you clean up your attitude and treat Rose with the respect she deserves – because she does deserve it for what she's gone through for us – or you're not going anywhere with us again." Stunned silence from Martha after that. "Is that clear?" she asked icily.

Martha swallowed. "Clear," she nodded, her cheeks burning in shame.

And just like that, it was as if a light had switched. "Good!" Anna grinned at her. "Bye!"

With Martha gawking after her, Anna ran back into the building, hurrying for the opposite staircase.

***

The Doctor tugged Rose into one of the laboratories, jumping onto one of the tables. "What're you doing?" Rose asked.

"Making an explosion," the Doctor answered as he took one of the light fittings apart. "Turn that Bunsen burner on, take out the flame."

Rose did as he asked as the Doctor jumped down, pulling the tube off of a gas fitting, then heard Rose gasp. He looked up as she ducked down, then heard why. "More hide and seek, Doctor?" Lazarus rumbled. "How disappointing. Why don't you come out and face me?"

The Doctor winked at Rose, turning on the gas. "Have you looked in a mirror lately?" he asked cheekily. "I would much rather prefer my girlfriend, thanks!"

Rose laughed as he pulled her out the door, and she hit the light switch, making the lab explode behind them as they ran on – and right into their daughter as she ran around the corner. "Whoa!" she stumbled, then grinned. "Mum! Dad!"

"What are you doing here?" the Doctor stared at her.

"Looking for you! What else was I supposed to do? Oh, and there's this," she tossed him his sonic screwdriver. "Thought you might need it. I also yelled at Martha, by the way," she added.

"You what?" Rose blinked, surprised. Annakamara, yelling at someone? What did she do to deserve that?

"I told her to stay with her family," Anna shrugged. "She didn't take it too well at first. So I yelled. I think she got the message. Also, was that you?" she pointed to the smoke coming from the hall.

"Oh, yes, we blasted Lazarus," the Doctor nodded.

"Did it kill him?"

A roar came from the lab, and he winced. "More sort of annoyed him, I'd say," he said, leading them back down the stairs.

"Where do we go now?" Rose asked as they ran into the reception room. "We can't lead him outside!"

The Doctor opened the door to the chamber, pointing inside. "Get in!"

Anna scrambled in, Rose squeezing in after her. "We're hiding?" Rose asked in disbelief as the Doctor got in last.

"No, he knows we're here," the Doctor shook his head. "But this is his masterpiece. I'm betting he won't destroy it, not even to get at us."

"But we're trapped."

"Well, yeah, that's a slight problem."

"So what's the plan?" Anna asked.

"Well, the plan was to get inside here."

"Then what?"

"Well, then I'd come up with another plan!"

Rose sighed. "Back to making it up as we go along, then. Great!" She yelped when the Doctor started shifting. "Oi!"

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," he apologized, pulling his sonic screwdriver out of his pocket. "Here we are!"

"What're you going to do with that?" Rose frowned.

"Improvise," he answered, sliding down towards the floor, opening a panel in the bottom.

"So where did that come from?" Rose eyed the door, Anna watching the Doctor work with wires and processors. "Is it alien?"

"No," the Doctor shook his head. "For once, it's strictly human in origin."

"How?" Anna asked.

"Probably from dormant genes in Lazarus's DNA," he answered. "The energy field in this thing must have reactivated them, and it looks like they're becoming dominant."

"Wonderful," Rose sighed. "It's a throwback."

"Some option that evolution rejected for you millions of years ago," the Doctor nodded.

"Brilliant – "

"But the potential is still there."

"Not so brilliant," Rose hung her head.

"Locked away in your genes, forgotten about till Lazarus unlocked it by mistake," the Doctor finished.

"It's like . . . " Anna thought. "Oh! It's like Pandora's box!"

"Exactly!" the Doctor nodded before peering at her shoes. "Nice sandals, by the way."

"Thanks!"

A whine started up, and Rose looked up. "Doctor, what's happening?"

"Sounds like he's switched the machine on," the Doctor winced.

"Doctor, that's not good!"

"Well, I was hoping it was going to take him a little bit longer to work that out!"

"Daddy!" Anna whimpered, pressing against Rose, who worked to get an arm around her.

"I know, I know!" the Doctor hurried to use the sonic. "Nearly done!"

"Well, what're you doing?" Rose looked down.

"I'm trying to set the capsule to reflect energy rather than receive it!"

"Will that kill it?"

"When he transforms it, he's three times his size. Cellular triplication, so he's spreading himself thin."

"Doctor!"

"Just one more!" The Doctor used the sonic one last time, and a big bang came from outside. The whining diminished, until finally, the machine hissed. The Doctor cautiously opened the door, looking outside. He nodded, stepping out, helping Rose out. "I thought we were going to go through the blender then," Rose said shakily.

"Really shouldn't take that long just to reverse the polarity," the Doctor shook his head, giving his daughter a quick squeeze. "I must be a bit out of practice."

"Or just getting old," Rose teased.

"Look," Anna pointed.

"Oh, my God," Rose's eyes widened as they walked over towards Lazarus, the man lying face down on the ground. "He looks human again." She wrinkled her nose. "What the hell did he do to himself?"

"Eliot saw this," the Doctor mused. "This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper."

Anna tilted her head. "This Eliot really isn't a cheery soul."

Rose laughed as they headed for the doors.

***

"There you are!" Martha ran over as the three exited. "Oh, thank God!"

"I trust we don't need to say anything to you?" the Doctor raised an eyebrow.

"No," Martha shook her head, biting her lip and looking at Rose. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have acted like I did. What good is a day or so over years?"

"Not much," Rose shook her head as the Doctor moved past them, showing the paramedics where Lazarus was. "But honestly, Martha, listening to just the Doctor isn't going to get you anywhere. The way to the Doctor's through his daughter – and me, too, I guess. So, let's try this again." She held out her hand. "Rose Tyler, girlfriend of the Doctor, adoptive mother of Annakamara."

Martha smiled and shook her hand. "Martha Jones, medical student in training . . . and not interested in your boyfriend."

"Annakamara," Anna beamed, stunning the woman by giving her a hug. "Daughter of the Doctor and Rose Tyler. Thank you for listening. People sometimes don't do that . . . it's awful when they do that."

SLAP.

"Oi!" Rose ran over as the Doctor reeled away from Francine, the woman glaring at him as he rubbed his cheek.

"Keep away from my daughter!" Francine spat.

"Mum, what are you doing?" Martha's eyes widened.

"All of the mothers," the Doctor rubbed his cheek. "Every time."

"He is dangerous," Francine pointed at the Doctor. "I've been told things."

"What are you talking about?" Martha frowned.

"Look around you! Nothing but death and destruction!"

"This isn't his fault!" Martha shook her head. "He saved us, all of us!"

"And it was Tish who invited everyone to this thing in the first place," Leo added.

"So it's her fault?" Anna blinked.

"Thanks, Leo!" Tish punched him in the arm.

A huge crash sounded down the street, and the Doctor immediately ran off to check. Anna followed close behind. "Leave him," Francine ordered when Martha made to go.

Rose turned to Martha and shrugged. "Your choice," she said simply before running as best she could in heels.

She found Anna staring in horror at more corpses, the Doctor grimly shaking his head. "Lazarus, back from the dead," he quipped, two more groups of footsteps making Rose turn and smile as Martha and her sister both joined them. "Should have known, really."

"Where's he gone?" Martha asked as the Doctor scanned around.

"That way," the Doctor pointed. "The church."

"Cathedral," Tish corrected. "It's Southwark Cathedral. He told me."

***

"Do you think he's in here?" Martha whispered as they entered the Cathedral.

"Where would you go if you were looking for sanctuary?" the Doctor asked, nodding towards the altar.

"Nice one," Rose rolled her eyes.

The Doctor peered behind the altar; Lazarus was shivering, wrapped up in the red blanket his body had been under in the ambulance. "I came here before, a lifetime ago," he said. "I thought I was going to die then. In fact, I was sure of it. I sat here, just a child, the sound of planes and bombs outside."

"The Blitz," the Doctor nodded.

"You've read about it."

"We were there," Rose smiled fondly.

"You're too young," Lazarus shook his head.

"So are you," Anna nodded.

Lazarus laughed, and Rose grimaced when his body made painful cracking noises. "In the morning, the fires had died, and I was still alive. I swore I'd never face death like that again. So defenseless. I would arm myself, fight back, defeat it."

"That's what you were trying to do today?" the Doctor asked.

"That's what I did today."

"What about the other people who died?"

"They were nothing. I changed the course of history."

"Any of them might have done, too," Anna frowned. "History isn't made with equations. Death is part of being human. You can't change that."

"No, avoiding death, that's being human," Lazarus shook his head. "It's our strongest impulse, to cling to life with every fiber of being. I'm only doing what everyone before me has tried to do. I've simply been more successful."

"Look at yourself," the Doctor gestured. "You're mutating! You've no control over it. You call that a success?"

"I call it progress. I'm more now than I was. More than just an ordinary human."

The Doctor looked at Rose. "There's no such thing as an ordinary human."

She smiled up at him, then grimaced when Lazarus creaked again. "Daddy?" Anna turned to him. "He's about to change again."

"I know," the Doctor nodded. "If I can get him up into the bell tower somehow, I've an idea that might work."

Anna tilted her head back. "Up there?"

The Doctor nodded again as Lazarus shook his head. "You're so sentimental, Doctor. Maybe you are older than you look."

"I'm old enough to know that a longer life isn't always a better one," the Doctor shrugged. His last self hadn't lasted very long. It was long enough to take care of Anna for a time and to bring Rose on board. And that had been one of his best lives, because he got to spend practically all of it with them. "In the end, you just get tired. Tired of the struggle, tired of losing everyone that matters to you, tired of watching everything turn to dust. If you live long enough, Lazarus, the only certainty left is that you'll end up alone."

"That's a price worth paying."

"No, it isn't," Rose shook her head.

"I will feed soon."

"We're not going to let that happen," the Doctor stated.

"You've not been able to stop me so far."

"I thought you liked them fresh, Lazarus?" Anna said innocently.

So innocently that it made both the Doctor and Rose spin to her. "Mara!" the Doctor shouted, eyes wide.

"Catch me if you can!" Anna dashed for the stairs to the bell tower.

"No, Mara, be careful!" the Doctor yelled, even as Martha took off after her. Not to be left behind, Tish followed.

***

"What are you doing?" Anna blinked, turning to look at Martha.

"Best way to get on the Doctor's good side is through you and Rose," Martha answered. "Might as well try and start making things better."

"That I get," Anna frowned at Tish. "And you?"

"Keeping her out of trouble!" Tish nodded at Martha.

"Come on," Anna looked up at the bells. "We've got to get to the top!"

They ascended up the narrow stairs, then Tish paused, hearing more cracking noises. "Did you hear that?"

"He's changed again," Martha swallowed.

"Keep moving!" Anna urged.

***

"Where are they?" Rose looked up as she and the Doctor ran to the bottom of the central tower.

"Kara!" the Doctor yelled.

Anna poked her head out. "I'm busy!" she yelled back.

Despite herself, the Doctor grinned up at her. "Take him to the top!" he ordered. "The very top of the bell tower, do you hear me?"

"Up to the top!" Anna nodded. "Then what?" She looked behind her, her eyes widened, then she bolted again, Martha and Tish right on her heels.

"She has a point," Rose said as the Doctor climbed into the organ loft. "What then?"

"Hypersonic sound waves," the Doctor grinned, using his sonic screwdriver on the organ, pulling out as many stops as he could. "Inspired!"

***

"There's nowhere to go," Tish looked around the bell tower. "We're trapped!"

"This is where Daddy said to bring him," Anna said.

"All right, so then we're not trapped. We're bait!"

"He knows what he's doing," Martha said. "We have to trust him."

Lazarus slunk in, giving them an ugly grin. "Ladies."

Anna made to straighten, but Martha shook her head, putting her arm in front of her. "Stay behind me," she said. "If he takes me, make a run for it, head down the stairs. You should have enough time."

"Martha!" Anna stared at her.

"Just do it!"

***

"I hope it's a good acoustic in here," the Doctor looked down, making sure he had his foot on the pedals, before starting to play.

***

Lazarus lashed out with his tail, sending Martha into the wall of the tower. The next stroke hit Anna, who went flying over the rail. "Anna!" Tish cried, the girl screaming as she clung onto the wooden walkway for dear life. "Hold on!"

"Get away from her!" Martha quickly ran with Tish, the two of them trying to get Lazarus as far away from Anna as they could.

***

"Mara!" Rose cried, hearing her scream.

The Doctor's eyes narrowed. "We need to turn this up to eleven," he growled, playing with the settings even more.

***

Martha and Tish had to cover their ears as the notes reverberated into the tower. Lazarus tumbled past Anna towards the cathedral floor, just as the girl lost her grip. She screamed again, Martha and Tish lunging at the same time. Both women grabbed her before she fell. "We've got you," Martha told her, both of them pulling to get her back up into the tower. "Hold on!"

***

"Mara!" Rose cried up, unable to see.

"Kara!" the Doctor joined in.

"We're OK!" Anna's voice called back, making the Doctor slump in relief, Rose collapsing in one of the pews, her hands over her mouth. "All of us, we're OK!"

***

"Thanks," Anna whispered, curling into the Jones sisters.

"It's your dad you should be thanking," Martha grinned.

"I told you he'd think of something."

"He cut it a bit fine there, didn't he?" Tish asked.

"He always does," Anna grinned. "It's more fun that way."

"Who is he?"

Anna and Martha looked at each other. "He's . . . " Anna began, trailing off.

Martha shook her head, grinning. "He's the Doctor," was all she said.

***

The Doctor had just closed Lazarus's eyes when the trio scrambled down the steps. "Oh, thank God!" Rose ran to hug Anna.

"Hi," Anna hugged her back.

"I didn't know you could play!" Martha grinned at the Doctor.

"Oh, well, you know," he shrugged, hugging his daughter. "If you hang around with Beethoven, you're bound to pick a few things up."

"Hmm," Martha smirked. "Especially about playing loud."

He blinked. "Sorry?"

***

"Well, that just kind of escalated, then," the Doctor sighed as they walked back to the TARDIS, his bow tie hanging around his neck.

"I can see a pattern developing," Martha grinned, then it faded slightly. "Anna talked to me, back at Lazarus Laboratories . . . I haven't been fair. I see that now. And I'm sorry about how I've been acting. To Rose and Anna, specifically. I am."

The Doctor gave her a long look, then nodded. "That was what this was for," he told her. "I assume my daughter also told you the conditions about how today had to play out?"

"She did," Martha winced. "All I can do is hope I get another chance."

The Doctor and Rose exchanged glances. "She and Tish had my back up in the tower," Anna threw in her say.

"And that's points for you," the Doctor conceded, nodding. "As long as you remember those terms, Martha . . . " He nudged the door to the TARDIS open. "Welcome aboard. Again."

"Thank you," Martha smiled brilliantly, and gave Anna a hug first this time. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome," Anna smiled.

"And this time, you are sitting with me for tea," Rose declared, snatching Martha's hand. "Humans only!" she called over her shoulder as she pulled Martha in.

Anna blinked, then pouted. "Did Mum just kick me out of our nightly routine?" she complained.

The Doctor laughed as they entered, watching Rose and Martha head down the hall. "For the night? Possibly."

"So what do I do, then?" Anna folded her arms.

"Tell you what," the Doctor pulled up the grating. "I could use your help down here. But first, we are getting out of these."

"OK!" Anna agreed at once, skipping off down the hall.

The Doctor shook his head fondly. He could only hope these adventures would go better than these last ones had been.

***

Well, hey, this was fun to write! So Anna's given Martha the lecture she needs . . . cue a much better Martha from here on out!

I kind of figured this was a good episode to tie in the importance of family, i.e. Anna going after hers after telling Martha she needs to be there for hers.

And now it's on to much nicer episodes! Next up is "Mummy on the Orient Express" for Jessie and company!