!EDITED!

A/N: was 9490 words, is now 12066! Enjoy! :D

After a few weeks, Jack is still traveling with us. He fits into our little trio quite nicely; smart, a flirt, resourceful, a flirt, handsome, a flirt, charming... did I mention he's a flirt as well? The four of us just clicked. But now we were in Cardiff, again. We were parked by the Millenium Center where the rift is to charge up the TARDIS and Rose had phoned Mouse up to pop by; of course, she couldn't just say she missed him and came up with something she needed from him.

Rose and Jack were sitting on the jump-seat, talking about whatever it is they talk about that makes them giggle like freaking school-girls. I was up on the upper level of the console room with the Doctor; he was wearing this headlight that looks like a huge mouth and I was beside him, handing him tools and helping him do some maintenance on the TARDIS.

There's a knock at the door that echoes through the console room and Jack jumps up, "I'll get it!" he beams, running to the door.

Rose and I share a look, her snickering while I roll my eyes. Jack opens the door, sticking his head out, "who the hell are you?" he asks rudely, making me snort.

"What do you mean 'who the hell am I'? Who the hell are you!?" Mouse scoffs.

"Captain Jack Harkness," he introduces and it's the first time I've heard him not use that as a chat-up line. "Whatever you're selling, we're not buying," he starts to close the door.

I shake my head with a smile, heading down the ladder as Mouse comes in, "get out of my way!" he glares at Jack.

"Don't tell me," Jack closes the door. "This must be Mickey Mouse," he rolls his eyes.

"Mouse!" I squeal, rushing over and jumping on him, my arms going around his shoulders and my legs going around his waist.

"Bird!" he laughs, wrapping his arms around me tightly. "Only she can call me 'Mouse'," he glares at Jack and he holds his hands up in mock surrender.

"Here comes trouble," the Doctor calls down. "How're you doing, Ricky boy?" he smirks.

"Stop it!" I call up to the Doctor, narrowing my eyes and he just sticks his tongue out childishly.

"It's Mickey!" Mouse glares, setting me down. "Miss me?" he laughs, seeing my jumper.

"Course I did! What kind of stupid question is that?" I roll my eyes.

"Don't listen to him," Rose sighs, coming over. "He's winding you up," she shakes her head.

Mouse eyes Rose up and I wrinkle my nose as he smirks, "you look fantastic," he pulls her into a hug.

I squeak when they kiss, holding onto each. I run behind Jack, "PDA!" I point between them, making Jack laugh. "My poor eyes! It burns! It burns!" I cry dramatically and they pull away.

"Sod off!" Mouse laughs, Rose beaming and pecking him on the lips once more.

"Aw, sweet! Look at these two," Jack sighs, watching them with a smile. "How come I never get any of that?" he whines.

"Buy me a drink first!" the Doctor calls down.

"You're such hard work," Jack pouts, making me giggle.

"But worth it," the Doctor winks down at him.

"That's debatable!" I call up, smirking.

The Doctor rolls his eyes, going back to work while mocking me. I snicker and turn to Jack, "come here, ya big baby," I girn, holding my arms out.

Jack beams, wrapping his arms around my waist and spinning me around. I squeal, wrapping my arms around him and giggling into his neck, "Jack!" I laugh, beaming when he sets me down.

"Kitten loves me!" Jack calls up to the Doctor, his arms still around me.

"Lizzie's like that with everyone," he rolls his eyes. "Love for all wrapped up in a nice, tiny package," he snorts.

"Unless you piss her off," Jack laughs, swaying us from side to side.

"I'm right here!"

"We know," they wave off, making me huff.

"So," Rose turns to Mouse, laughing. "Did you manage to find it?"

"There you go," he hands her, her passport before coming over to me. "I picked up some pencils and the sketch-books you asked for," he hands me a duffel bag.

"Ooo, yay!" I beam, taking it from him and looking to make sure he got the right pencils. "Thanks, Mouse," I squirm out of Jack's hold to pull Mouse into a hug and kiss his cheek, ignoring the little pang of anger I get.

Rose smiles, waving her passport around, "I can go anywhere now!" she calls up to the Doctor.

"I told you: you don't need a passport!"

"It's all very well going to Platform One and Justicia and the Glass Pyramid of San Kloon! But what if we end up in Brazil? I might need this! You see? I'm prepared for anything," she gives him a tongue-in-teeth grin.

"Couldn't we just use the psychic paper as a passport, though?" I raise an eyebrow and she sends me a 'shut it' look, making me snort quietly.

"Sounds like your both staying, then," Mouse mutters, causing an awkward silence and I bite my lip, feeling guilty. "So, what're you doing in Cardiff?" he changes the subject quickly. "And who the hell's Jumping Jack Flash?" he eyes him with distaste, making Rose and I snicker. "I mean, I don't mind you girls handing out with big-ears up there-"

"Oi!" the Doctor calls down indignantly while I giggle.

"Look in the mirror!" Mouse retorts without missing a beat. "But this guy, I don't know, he's kinda..." he trails off.

"Handsome?" Jack smirks.

"More like cheesy," Mouse and I shoot back, high-fiving after and making Rose laugh.

"Early twenty-first-century slang... is cheesy good or bad?" Jack frowns.

"It's bad," Mouse replies.

"But bad means good, isn't that right?" Jack points to me and I shake my head, smiling.

"You've so much to learn, captain," I snort.

"Wouldn't mind having you as a private tutor," he wiggles his eyebrows, making a show of eyeing me up.

Mouse scoffs, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and giving Jack his 'back off my Bird, look'. I love how protective of me he was, but sometimes it could be excessive and unnecessary. I pinch his side, making him yelp as he lets me go. "Jack's harmless," I roll my eyes, making him grumble as he folds his arms with a slight pout and Rose pats his shoulder, trying not to laugh at his attitude.

"Are you saying I'm not handsome?" the Doctor cuts in and I turn to see him coming over.

I bounce over to him and grab his hand, "you're very handsome," I assure him quietly, smiling up at him. "I mean... you do have big ears," I giggle, reaching up with my free hand to tug on one and he whines in protest, grabbing my wrist. "I like them, though," I shrug as I pull him down a bit and stand on my tip-toes to kiss his cheek lightly.

I lean back down and smile shyly at his stunned, but pleased expression; lips parted and lifted slightly with his eyebrows raised. The grip on my wrist loosens a bit as he looks down at me. I jump, though, when there's two shouts, "GET IT, -SIS!" "-KITTEN!"

The Doctor bites his lip, snorting loudly and I groan, closing my eyes as my face burns. "Be kind and put me out of my misery!" I plead, making the Doctor laugh; they'd been doing this sort of thing - innuendos and shouting when the Doctor and I hug or hold hands and the quiet teasing - since Jack came on board.

"Moving on before Lizzie catches fire," Rose snickers and I lean my forehead against the Doctor's chest, letting out a miserable and very 'real' cry. "We just stopped off, we need to refuel," she changes the subject, her voice shaking with laughter while the Doctor pats my head consolingly. "The thing is: Cardiff's got this rift running through the middle of the city; it's invisible, but it's like an earthquake fault between different dimensions," she explains and I can't help but smile proudly; she's learned so much since we started traveling with the Doctor.

The Doctor pulls me over to them, squeezing my hand as he cuts in, "the rift was healed back in 1869-"

"By a girl named Gwyenth," I smile sadly. "There were these aliens called the Gelth and they were trying to use the rift as a gateway! Gwyneth managed to blow them up and close the rift, saving the world-"

"But closing a rift always leaves a scar," Jack puts in. "That scar generates energy; harmless to the Human Race-"

"But perfect for the TARDIS," the Doctor grins. "So! Just park her here for a couple of days right on top of the scar and-"

I beam, "open up the engines-"

"Soak up the radiation," Jack mimes.

"Like filling her up with petrol and off we go!" Rose cheers.

"Into time!" Jack shouts.

"And space!" we finish, laughing as we do a four-way high-five.

"Whoo!" Rose and I cheer, both punching the air.

"My God! Have you seen yourselves?" Mouse stares at us incredulously. "You all think you're so clever, don't you?"

"Yeah!" the Doctor and Rose laugh.

"Yep!" Jack grins, smacking Mouse on the cheek lightly.

"Of course," I wink.

***

The five of us head out of the TARDIS, the Doctor locking her up, "should take another twenty-four hours, which means we've got time to kill," he grins.

"That old lady's staring," Mouse mutters and I look over to see that there was, indeed, an old lady staring at us in shock and slight disgust.

"Probably wondering what five people could do inside a small wooden box," Jack smirks, making the Doctor, Rose, and I laugh.

"What are you captain of? The Innuendo Squad?" Mouse scoffs and Jack rolls his eyes, throwing up a 'whatever' sign with his hands as he starts to walk off. "Wait!" he calls and Jack turns back to us. "Um, the TARDIS, we can't just leave it... doesn't it get noticed?"

"Yeah, what's with the police box?" Jack walks over. "Why does she look like that?"

"It's a cloaking device," Rose smiles.

"It's called a chameleon circuit," the Doctor corrects, leaning against the TARDIS and folding his arms. "The TARDIS is meant to disguise herself wherever we land; like if this was Ancient Rome, she'd be a statue on a plinth or something," he explains. "But I landed in the 1960s, she disguised herself as a police box and the circuit got stuck."

"So it copied the real thing? There were actually police boxes?" Mouse asks.

"Yeah, on street corners," I smile, bouncing slightly. "Phone for help before they had radios or mobiles! If they arrested someone, they'd just shove them inside until help came round; like a little prison cell," I explain.

"Why don't you just fix the circuit?" Jack asks, folding his arms.

"I like it! Don't you?" the Doctor asks indignantly.

"I love it!" Rose grins, patting the side.

"I think she's gorgeous," I assure him, running my hand along the door and smiling when she thrums under my fingers.

"But that's what I meant!" Mouse smiles, putting his hands on his hips. "There's no police boxes anymore! So, doesn't it get noticed?"

"Ricky," the Doctor smiles and Mouse glares at the use of the name, me rolling my eyes. "Let me tell you something about the Human Race: you put a mysterious blue box slap-bang in the middle of town and what do they do?" he asks and grabs Mouse by the shoulders. "Walk past it," he answers before Mouse can even open his mouth. "Now stop your nagging! Let's go and explore!" he grins, letting go of Mouse and grabbing my hand, making me yelp as I'm dragged off suddenly.

"What's the plan?" I ask, bouncing up and down excitedly as I intertwine our fingers.

"I don't know!" he laughs, squeezing my hand. "Cardiff, early twenty-first-century, and the wind's coming from the east," he smirks and I roll my eyes; show off. "Trust me! Safest place in the universe!" he grins.

"Let's go look around at the shops, never been to Cardiff," Jack suggests.

"Shopping!" Rose and I cheer, making the men chuckle.

"Or..." Jack trails off with a smirk, coming up on the other side of me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Rosie and Mickey Mouse-" his smirk widens when both Mouse and Rose complain. "-can show me around and you and the Doc can go explore a bit," he wiggles his eyebrows and leans down to where his lips are right by my ear. "Find somewhere nice for the night?" he murmurs to where I've got to strain to hear him.

I wish I hadn't heard him at all; I'm so going to kill him! I gape at him as he pulls back, bursting out laughing, "your face," he bends over, clutching his stomach. "Oh, kitten, you're adorable," he wipes at his eyes, straightening. "So innocent," he snickers, pinching my bright red cheek.

"I'm- I'm n-not innocent!" I slap his hand away, glaring. "You- I- ugh!" I splutter, throwing my head back.

"I feel so left out," Rose pouts, coming up on the other side of Jack with her hand in Mouse's.

"Ditto," the Doctor agrees, pulling me closer as he looks down at me with furrowed eyebrows. "Want to share?"

"N-no! Jack, if you say one word," I cut him off when he opens his mouth with a grin. "I will shave your hair while you're sleeping," I give him my nastiest look.

"Shutting up!" he yelps, raising his hands to his hair.

***

After going shopping, Jack giving us a delightful and slightly inappropriate fashion show, we'd decided we were hungry. So, now we're at a restaurant; Jack sitting by Mouse, then Rose, and the Doctor and I were sitting across from them. All of us were laughing hysterically while Jack tells us a story of one of his adventures. "I swear! Six feet tall and with tusks-"

"You're lying through your teeth!" the Doctor accuses jokingly.

"I'd've gone bonkers!" Rose laughs. "That's the word: bonkers!"

"I mean it! It turns out the white things are tusks and I mean tusks! And it's woken! And it's not happy!"

"How could you not have known it was there?" I ask, my arms wrapped around my waist while I clutch my sides.

"And we're standing there, fifteen of us, naked-"

"Naked!?" Rose and I squeak.

Jack sends us each a sly wink, making us giggle while he continues, "and I'm like 'oh, no, no, it's got nothing to do with me'!" he holds his hands up, all of us cracking up. "And then it roars and we are running! Oh, my God, we are running! And Brakovitch falls, so I turn to him and I say-"

"I knew we should've turned left!" Mouse cuts him off and we all lose it.

"That's my line!" Jack 'pouts', still laughing.

"I don't believe you!" Rose shakes her head. "I don't believe a word you say ever! That is so brilliant!"

"Did you ever get your clothes back?" I giggle, leaning my elbows on the table and putting my chin in my hands.

My smile fades a bit, however, when I feel a rush of anger. I look up at the Doctor, my eyebrows furrowed when he gets up suddenly and goes over to a man, snatching his newspaper from him. I tune out whatever Jack answers me with as I get up, "Doctor?" I ask worriedly, going over and tensing when I see that Margaret Blaine was on the front page as Mayor of Cardiff. "So much for 'safest place in the universe'," I sigh, making the others look over.

"I was having such a nice day..." the Doctor mutters dejectedly, showing them the paper.

"Oh, come on! I thought we got all of 'em," Rose gets up, grabbing the paper.

"Obviously not all," I shake my head. "Fancy a little side-trip?" I smile.

***
The Doctor, Rose, Mouse, Jack, and I head to town hall to catch Margaret and see what she's up to. The five of us walk in and stand in the lobby, Jack looking at his vortex manipulator, "according to intelligence: the target is the last surviving member of the Slitheen family; a criminal sect from the planet Raxacoricofallapatorious masquerading as a Human being zipped inside a skin-suit," he reads off.

"Mm, we met her a while back, lovely woman," I give a very fake grin, making the Doctor and Rose laugh.

"Yeah, 'lovely'," Mouse rolls his eyes.

"Ok," Jack chuckles. "Plan of attack: we assume a basic 57/56 strategy covering all available exits on the ground floor; Doctor, kitten, you go face-to-face, that'll designate Exit One; I'll cover Exit Two; Rose, you're Exit Three; Mickey Smith, you take Exit Four," he gives us our orders. "Have you got that?"

I snicker at the Doctor's indignant face and the tiny pang of annoyance I get, "excuse me? Who's in charge?" he demands pointedly, reaching down to tickle my side and I squeak, making him smirk slightly as I move away.

"Sorry," Jack rolls his eyes, standing to attention. "Awaiting orders, sir," he deadpans, Rose snorting loudly.

"Right!" the Doctor gives him a look before leaning in a bit conspiratorially. "Here's the plan," he pauses and then grins widely. "Like he said! Nice plan! Anything else?" he asks, Rose and I snickering as Jack rolls his eyes again.

"Present arms," Jack orders.

All five of us pull out our mobiles, "ready!"

"Speed dial?"

"Yup!" the Doctor smiles.

"Ready!" Rose nods.

"Check!" Mouse nods.

"All set, captain," I wink.

"See ya in hell," Jack grins, walking off.

***

The Doctor and I make it to the Mayor's office and walk over to the Secretary, who's name tag says, Idris. "Hello!" I smile when we reach his desk. "We've come to see the Lord Mayor!"

"Have you got an appointment?" he asks, looking between us.

"Nope," I beam, popping the 'p'.

"Just a couple old friends passing by," the Doctor smiles. "Bit of a surprise! Can't wait to see her face!" he rubs his hands together, making me giggle.

"Well, she's just having a cup of tea..." Idris tells us uncomfortably.

"Oh, she won't mind," I wave off. "Just go in there and tell her the Doctor and Lizzie Tyler are here for a visit," I put my hands behind my back, rocking on my heels.

"Doctor who?" he frowns.

The Doctor smirks and I roll my eyes, smiling when he gives me a wink, "just the Doctor," he grins. "Tell her exactly that: the Doctor and Lizzie Tyler," he nods.

Idris looks between us once more before standing, "hold on a tick..." he trails off, entering the office.

I turn to the Doctor, folding my arms, "you love hearing that, don't you?" I accuse, narrowing my eyes playfully.

"Yeah," he smirks down at me, completely unabashed about it.

"Dork," I snort quietly and he pushes me lightly, making me giggle.

The two of us share a look, smirking when there's the sound of glass breaking from inside the office. Idris opens the door, squeezing through it and looking pale and extremely flustered, "the Lord Mayor says thank you fo- for popping by... she'd love to have a chat, but, um... she's up to her eyes in paperwork," he apologizes and I just raise an eyebrow as he fumbles over his words. "Perhaps if you could make an appointment for next week...?" he trails off, chuckling nervously.

"She's climbing out of the window, isn't she?" the Doctor asks.

Idris hesitates for a moment, closing his eyes, "yes, she is," he admits sheepishly.

The Doctor nods with a smug grin and pushes past him, grabbing my hand as he heads into the office. I see an open window and the two of us rush out onto a large balcony. We were just in time to see Margaret hop over the wall and onto a scaffolding... well, that's convenient. "Slitheen heading North!" I call into my phone as we run after her and hear vague confirmations back.

"Leave the Mayor alone!" I hear Idris shout before the Doctor's hand is ripped from mine.

"Oi!" I turn to see him trying to hold the Doctor back. "Get off him, you git!" I kick the back of his knee, making him buckle and he falls to the ground with a groan, letting go of the Doctor in the process.

"Thanks, tiny," the Doctor smiles, grabbing my hand and we hurry after Margaret.

I head down the scaffolding first, the Doctor right behind me as he calls for Margaret mockingly. I jump down onto the pavement and smile when she sees me, "hi!" I wave cheerfully.

Margaret snarls and runs off in the other direction. The Doctor and I chase after her and meet up with Jack and Rose on the way. She darts into an alley and the four of us stop at one end, hoping Mouse stops her at Exit Four... but he doesn't. "Who was on Exit Four!?" Jack groans.

"That was -Mickey!" "-Mouse!" Rose and I answer.

"Here I am!" Mouse pants, coming over.

"Mickey the Idiot!" the Doctor scoffs, rolling his eyes.

"He's not an idiot!" I glare, making him roll his eyes again and Mouse sends him a smug grin.

"Stop," Rose scolds him as well with her own glare. "I mean, be fair, she's not exactly gonna outrun, is she?" she gestures Margaret who was running at a pretty slow pace.

But, a second later, she teleports away with a blue, shimmery light. "She's got a teleport!" Jack complains. "That's cheating! Now we're never gonna get her!"

"Oh, the Doctor's very good with teleports," Rose smirks up at him.

The Doctor, with a dorky grin, holds up his sonic and presses the button. Margaret reappears, closer and running toward us. When she realizes what's happening, she freezes and then turns to run the other way, teleporting away. The Doctor simply presses his sonic again, doing this twice more before Margaret gives up. She stops right before us, panting with her hands on her knees. "I could do this all day," the Doctor informs her cheerily.

Margaret puts her hands up, glaring at him, "this is persecution! Why can't you leave me alone? What did I ever do to you?"

"You really have to ask that?" I ask, folding my arms and cocking my hip.

"You tried to kill Lizzie and Rose, me, and destroy this entire planet," the Doctor glares as a rush of anger hits me.

"Hardly a loss," she eyes Rose and me with disgust and the Doctor takes a step forward with a dark look as even more anger hits me, but I grab his hand to stop him. "Apart from that," she rolls her eyes.

***

The five of us lead Margaret back into town hall and we reach an exhibition room. "So," the Doctor walks up to the display in the middle of the room. "You're a Slitheen, you're on Earth, you're trapped, your family get killed but you teleport out; just in the nick of time," he sums up. "You have no means of escape so what do you do? You build a nuclear power station," he gestures to it. "But what for?"

"A philanthropic gesture," she waves off. "I've learnt the error of my way," she smiles pleasantly.

"Hm, I'm sure," I roll my eyes, looking at the model. "Can't help noticing, though, that this is right on top of the rift," I point out.

"What rift would that be?" she frowns.

"A rift in time and space," I answer. "Which, of course, you had no idea about?" I raise an eyebrow.

"I assure you, I didn't," she replies.

Jack cuts in, "if this power station went into meltdown, the entire planet would go schwup-boom!" he mimes an explosion.

"This station is designed to explode the minute it reaches capacity," the Doctor mutters.

"Didn't anyone notice?" Rose frowns. "Isn't there someone in London checking this sort of stuff?"

"We're in Cardiff, London doesn't care!" Margaret scoffs. "The South of Wales coast could fall into the sea and they wouldn't notice-" she cuts herself off, her eyes going wide. "Oh... I sound like a Welshman," she groans. "God help me, I've gone native!"

"But why would she do that?" Mouse asks incredulously. "A great big explosion... she'd only end up killing herself," he points out.

"She's got a name, you know," Margaret glares.

"She's not even a she! She's a thing!" Mouse scoffs and I reach up to slap him upside the head. "Ow!" he groans.

"Be nice," I scold.

"She's a murderer! She almost killed you and Rose!"

"Doesn't mean you should call her a thing," I retort.

"Oh, she's clever," the Doctor grins, suddenly lifting a piece of the model and flipping it over. "Fantastic!" he breathes as my eyes widen.

"Is that a tribophysical waveform macro-kinetic extrapolator!?" Jack and I ask excitedly, high-fiving.

"Couldn't have put it better myself," the Doctor smiles between us proudly.

"This is beautiful!" I breathe, running my finger along the edge of the smooth metal.

"Ooh, genius!" Jack beams, taking it off the Doctor. "You didn't build this," he glances at Margaret.

"I have my hobbies, a little tinkering," she waves off with false modesty, making me snort.

"No, no, no," Jack shakes his head. "I mean, you really didn't build this; way beyond you."

"I bet she stole it," Mouse puts in.

"It fell into my hands," Margaret shrugs.

"From the person's hands you killed to get it, I assume," I raise an eyebrow.

"They didn't need it anymore," she retorts.

"Is it a weapon?" Rose cuts in, looking at it curiously.

"It's transport," I correct as Jack puts in on the floor.

"Kitten?" he wiggles his eyebrows and I shake my head.

The Doctor places a hand on my shoulder and leans down, "go on," he whispers, giving me a little push.

I glace back at him, biting my lip before sighing. "Ok... reactor blows, rift opens, phenomenal cosmic disaster; this thing, though creates a force-field around you like an energy bubble," I mime a bubble and smile when Jack stands on the extrapolator and mimes as well with sound effects. "You're safe inside and then you just feed it co-ordinates, stand on top-"

"-and ride the concussion all the way out of the solar system," Jack grins.

"You're doing better at that," the Doctor murmurs with a proud smile, tugging my ponytail teasingly.

"T-thanks..." I send him a quick smile, pulling on the ends of my jumper.

"It's a surfboard!" Mouse's exclamation draws my attention.

"A pan-dimensional surfboard, yeah," Jack nods, picking it up.

"And it would've worked," Margaret grinds out. "I would've surfed away from this dead-end dump and back to civilization!"

"You'd blow up a whole planet just to get a lift?" Mouse glares at her.

"Well... she did try and blow up the planet just to make a bit of money," I point out.

"Like stepping on an anthill," Margaret smiles nastily.

I feel a wave of fear and worry, making me look over to the Doctor. He was staring at a banner intently. I tilt my head, concentrating so it would translate; apparently, written word takes a bit. I freeze when it does and walk up beside him slowly, staring at the words... how?

"How'd you think of the name?" the Doctor asks, reaching down to take my hand in his.

"What? Blaidd Drwg? It's Welsh," Margaret replies.

"I know, but how did you think of it?"

"Chose it at random, that's all, I don't know, just sounded good," she comes over, shrugging. "Does it matter?"

"Blaidd Drwg..." the Doctor murmurs, his eyebrows furrowed.

"What's it mean?" Rose asks warily.

"Bad Wolf," I whisper, a chill running through my spine and a feeling of dread taking over me.

"But... I've heard that before: Bad Wolf," Rose frowns.

"We've heard it lots of times..." I nod, my hand tightening around the Doctor's as he runs his thumb along my knuckles. "Gwyneth... Satellite Five... even that boy wrote it on the outside of the TARDIS..." I breathe out.

"Everywhere we go... two words following us: Bad Wolf," the Doctor muses.

"How can they be following us?" Rose asks, her voice wavering.

The Doctor stares at the words, another wave of worry and fear washing over me, "nah!" he smiles suddenly, making me frown. "Just a coincidence! Like hearing a word on the radio and then hearing it all day! Nevermind! Things to do!" he waves off, pulling me with him to the door. "Margaret, we're gonna take you home!" he calls over his shoulder.

I glare up at him; he's such a liar! The Doctor sends me a look that he knows that I know he's lying as he squeezes my hand; a silent plea to keep quiet. I narrow my eyes and turn from him, dropping his hand and hearing him sigh.

"Hold on," Jack cuts in. "Isn't that the easy option? Like letting her go?"

"I don't believe it!" Rose beams before he can get an answer. "We actually get to go Raxa..." she falters, making me smile. "Wait a minute!" she points to the Doctor and I glance to see him rolling his eyes playfully. "Raxacor..." she tries again.

"Raxacoricofallapatorius," the Doctor and I supply.

"Raxacorico..." she tries slowly, walking over to the Doctor and me.

"-fallapatorius," the Doctor nods.

"Raxacoricofallapatorius!" she blurts out quickly, then squeals in delight.

"That's it!" the Doctor cheers and catches Rose as she jumps at him happily.

"I did it!" Rose cheers, laughing as the Doctor spins her.

I smile, shaking my head as I watch him set her down, Rose punching the air triumphantly. "Go, Rose!" I cheer, laughing when she brings me into a tight hug, jumping up and down.

"They have the death penalty," Margaret cuts through the mood, making everyone go quiet. "The family Slitheen was tried in its absence many years ago and found guilty with no chance of appeal. According to the statues of government: the moment I return, I am to be executed. What do you make of that, Doctor?" she sneers. "Take me home and you take me to my death!"

I feel a tiny, little pang of guilt as the Doctor stares at her, "not my problem," he shrugs, grabbing my hand and pulling me from the room.

***

The five of us were escorting Magaret back to the TARDIS for the rest of the time that she needed charging. The Doctor and I were a bit behind everyone. "So," I cut into the silence. "You're not gonna tell me why you're worried about 'Bad Wolf' following us around, are you?"

"No," he admits. "But it's fine," he assures me, squeezing my hand.

"Yeah, that's why you're worried and a bit afraid," I roll my eyes.

The Doctor stops and turns me to face him, putting his hands on my shoulders, "trust me?"

"Stupid question," I smirk.

"It'll be fine," he smiles, tapping under my chin.

I sigh, knowing I wasn't going to get anything else out of him, "ok," I nod, grabbing his hand and we start to walk off again. "Thanks," I grab his bicep with my other hand, leaning my head on his arm.

"For what?" he asks, intertwining our fingers.

"Not lying about the fact that you're lying to my face," I smile, making him chuckle.

"You're welcome," he squeezes my hand.

***

Getting back to the TARDIS, I run my hand along the console, trying to soothe her. She was more than a little cross that we'd brought Margaret on board. "It's alright, girl, it's only for a little while," I whisper and she hums petulantly, making me smile slightly.

"This ship is impossible!" Margaret stares around in awe. "It's superb! How do you get the outside around the inside?" she turns to the Doctor.

"Like I'd give you the secret, yeah," the Doctor scoffs, holding his hand over my mouth when I nearly blurt it out.

I smile up at him sheepishly when he takes it away, "sorry..." I whisper and he gives me a 'scolding' look, pulling on my ponytail.

"Maybe I shouldn't trust you," he teases quietly, making me snort. "Go help Jack," he nudges me.

"Kay," I smile, poking his side on the way and giggling when he squirms.

I sit next to Jack, who was on the floor by the console, trying to merge the extrapolator with the TARDIS. "Shh, girl," I whisper to her as she gives a few harsh beeps and I stroke the grating floor.

"Need a second alone?" Jack smirks, making me laugh as I start to help him fix the wires, him giving me instructions when I need it.

"I almost feel better about being defeated," Magaret continues to look around. "We never stood a chance! This is the technology of the Gods," she smiles and I roll my eyes at her attempt to appeal to the Doctor's ego.

"Don't worship me," the Doctor folds his arms. "I'd make a very bad God; you wouldn't get a day off, for starters," he retorts. "Jack, Lizzie, how're we doing?" he asks, coming over to us.

"This extrapolator's top of the range," Jack answers.

"It's stacked with power," I smile.

"But we can use it for fuel?" the Doctor raises an eyebrow.

"It's not compatible," I shake my head.

"But it should knock off about twelve hours," Jack puts in.

"We'll be ready to go by morning!"

"Then we're stuck here overnight," the Doctor sighs.

"I'm in no hurry," Margaret smirks.

"Wonder why," I roll my eyes, Jack snorting loudly beside me.

"We've got a prisoner!" Rose laughs. "The police box is really a police box!" she squeals and I shake my head, smiling at her enthusiasm.

"You're not just police, though," Margaret retorts. "Since you're taking me to my death, that makes you my executioners; each and every one of you," she sneers, making Rose's and my smiles fade.

"Well, you deserve it," Mouse glares coldly.

"You're very quick to say so!" Margaret snaps. "You're very quick to soak your hands in my blood! Which makes you better than me, how, exactly?" she wonders aloud, making Mouse go silent. "Long night ahead..." she trails off as she moves to sit in the jump-seat. "Let's see who can look me in the eye," she smirks.

I look down, glaring at the extrapolator, not even able to look her in the eye for a second as I get a small wave of guilt.

***

Mouse leaves after a bit and I share a look with Rose before following him out. He was standing by the fountain, kicking the ground. "It's freezing out here!" Rose wraps her arms around herself.

"Eh, it's not so bad," I shrug, skipping over to Mouse.

"Better than in there," he nods to the TARDIS, making me frown. "She does deserve it, she's a Slitheen," he glares at the blue box. "I don't care... it's... it's just weird in that box," he shakes his head.

"I- I love it in there; she's warm and feels like home..." I mutter, rubbing my arm and Mouse rolls his eyes.

"I didn't really need my passport," Rose cuts in shyly, making me smile.

"I did want some new pencils and a few of my sketch-books... but it's always good to see you," I smile, biting my lip when Mouse hip-bumps me.

"I've been thinking," Mouse wraps his arms around Rose's and my shoulders, pulling us close. ."You know... we could go and have a drink, have a pizza or something; just the three of us like old times," he offers, looking between us.

"No, not me," I shake my head.

"Come on! I thought you were going out more now, traveling and all," Mouse pouts.

"I am... but you two should go on," I smile, moving from under his arm. "It's been a while since we've been home and I'm sure you guys could use some... alone time," I smirk, wiggling my eyebrows.

"That'd be... nice," Rose mutters with an odd tone as she moves from under his other arm, making me falter.

"Alright," Mouse smiles, not hearing it. "But you owe me a night at the pub," he points to me 'sternly'.

"Wouldn't miss it," I giggle, wrapping my arms around his waist tightly and squealing happily when he spins me around. "See ya later, Mouse," I beam when he sets me down, kissing his cheek and getting a pang of anger.

I roll my eyes, walking off and hearing a 'see ya, Bird,' from behind me.

3rd Person POV:

... a few moments ago...

On the TARDIS monitor, the Doctor was watching his two companions and 'Mickey the Idiot' on the monitor. The Doctor smiles softly, his hearts doing a little flip in his chest when Lizzie says that it feels like home in the TARDIS, said box giving him a teasing hum. The Time Lord rolls his eyes at his time machine's persistence but leans forward when he hears Lizzie squeal loudly. Giving a quiet scoff, he scowls at the monitor when he sees Mickey spinning her around while she giggles like she was having the time of her life. Best mates, he rolls his eyes. His scowl deepens when she beams up at the young man, kissing his cheek happily.

"So, what's on?" Jack asks, smirking over the Doctor's shoulder.

The Doctor jumps, turning around and fumbling to try and turn the monitor off, "nothing! Just..." he trails off when the TARDIS door opens, revealing Lizzie; dammit, he curses to himself.

1st Person POV:

I walk into the TARDIS, raising an eyebrow when Jack starts laughing while the Doctor looks at me with a rather embarrassed expression. I walk over, looking at the monitor and rolling my eyes when I see it on and showing outside. "Really?" I look up at the Doctor.

"I wasn't-! I was just- just-" he splutters, his ears and cheeks turning pink; oh, this is brilliant!

I bite my lip, trying not to laugh at his flustered expression. That's right! His flustered expression! "You, are a liar," I poke his side. "See anything interesting?" I smile and he groans in annoyance, turning away from me as his face burns a little darker. "Not gonna tell me?" I ask 'sadly', moving in front of him.

"You're way too smug," he shakes his head.

"Pfft! As if you've any room to talk about being smug," I snort.

"She's got a point," Jack laughs from where he's working on the extrapolator.

"No one asked you!" the Doctor glares at him, making me giggle and he sends me a look.

"What?" I ask innocently and he huffs, starting to mess with controls.

I look over at Jack, doing a little victory dance that makes him nearly drop his tools as he bursts out laughing. I yelp, stumbling to the side when the Doctor reaches out to push me without looking. "Meanie," I pout, folding my arms.

"'As if you've any room to talk'," he mocks, rolling his eyes.

"Broo-dy!" I tease in a sing-song voice.

"You're about three seconds from getting thrown out," he narrows his eyes.

"Ooo, the big bad Time Lord's cross with me," I bite my lip, shuddering dramatically.

I squeak when he grabs me and throws me over his shoulder, "no, no, no, no! Doctor! Put me down!" I kick my feet. "Jack! Save me!" I reach out to him as the Doctor walks me to the doors.

"Sorry, you're on your own, kitten," Jack laughs.

"Traitor!" I glare at him. "Put! Me! Down!" I hit the Doctor on the back with each word; not enough to hurt, obviously.

"Have fun out in the cold," he opens the door.

"No! I'm sorry! I won't tease you, I promise! Put me down!"

I'm set back down and I stumble slightly at how quickly it happened, "arse," I glare up at the Doctor, who has a wide grin now.

"Language," he scolds lightly.

I huff, moving over to Jack and sitting down while he snickers. "I'm spending time with Jack, now," I stick my tongue out. "He doesn't fling me around like a doll," I lean against his side.

"Not my fault you're so light," the Doctor shrugs, moving back to the console.

"It's not my fault either!" I point out, throwing my arms up.

"That's true," Jack backs me up, only to ruin it a second later. "You ever see her go to town on a whole pizza?" Jack snorts.

"You should see her with chips... or banana pancakes," the Doctor smirks.

"You made them for me, it's your fault I like them so much!" I point an accusatory finger at him. "I should've gone with Rose and Mouse," I groan, laying back on the grating floor. "At least they love me! They would never be so cruel as to mock my stature and love of delicious, but horrible for my health food!"

"Stop being dramatic and help," Jack rolls his eyes, grabbing my hand and pulling me up.

I glare at him for all of two seconds before he, the Doctor, and I burst out laughing.

***

The Doctor, Jack, Margaret, and I had spent the next half-hour or so in uninterrupted silence. I thought I was going to die of boredom; at least Jack and I were being kept busy with the extrapolator, though. "I gather it's not always like this; having to wait," Margaret comments suddenly. "I bet you're always the first to leave Doctor! Never mind the consequences, off you go! You butchered my family and then ran for the stars, am I right?" she sneers and I get a rush of anger and guilt. "But not this time; at last, you have consequences... how does it feel?"

"He didn't butcher them," I glare. "You were trying to destroy the Earth for a quick buck!"

"What about you, then, Lizzie?" she glares right back. "You sat back and watched him! Happily at his side, while my family was blown up!" she snarls, making me falter.

"Don't answer back," Jack shakes his head. "That's what she wants," he glares at Margaret.

"But we didn't! The Doctor gave you every opportunity to stop what you were planning and you laughed in his face!"

"What about you? You had an emergency teleport," the Doctor cuts in, sending me a warning glance. "You didn't zap them to safety, did you?"

"It only carries one," Margaret retorts sadly. "I had to fly without co-ordinates... I ended up on a skip in the Isle of Dogs," she huffs, making the three of us snicker. "It wasn't funny!" she snaps.

"Sorry..." I murmur, trying to stifle my laughter.

"It is a bit funny!" the Doctor grins, making Jack and I laugh again with Margaret joining this time.

After we sober up, Margaret ask, "do I get a last request?"

"Depends what it is," the Doctor shrugs, folding his arms.

"I grew quite fond of my little Human life," she smiles. "All those rituals, the brushing of the teeth and the complicated way they cook things... there's this little restaurant just round the bay; it became quite a favorite of mine."

"Is that what you want? A last meal?"

"Don't I have rights?"

"Oh, like she's not gonna try to escape," Jack scoffs, rolling his eyes.

"Except I can never escape the Doctor, so where's the danger?" she sneers before turning back to the Doctor. "But I wonder if you could do it? To sit with a creature you're about to kill and take supper," she smiles. "How strong is your stomach?"

"Strong enough," the Doctor assures her.

"I wonder..." Margaret smiles. "I've seen you fight your enemies, now dine with them," she challenges.

I look between them worriedly, a knot forming in my stomach. The Doctor glances at me, "there are people out there," he shakes his head. "If you slip away for one second, they'll be in danger and Rose is among them, so no," he turns her down, making me sigh slightly in relief.

"Except... I've got these," Jack hops up and pulls out a pair of metal bracelets, wincing when I jab my finger in his back. "Right..." he murmurs sheepishly. "Uh, you both wear one; if she moves more than ten feet away, bzzz!" he makes a loud buzzing noise. "She gets zapped by ten-thousand volts," he explains, handing them over to the Doctor.

"Do I even want to know why you have those at all, let alone in your pocket?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Probably not," he snorts, making me roll my eyes.

"Margaret," the Doctor turns to her with a grin. "Would you like to come out to dinner? My treat?"

"Dinner in bondage..." she raises her eyebrows. "Works for me," she smirks, making me gag.

"Ew... now I'm mentally scarred!" I shudder, making Jack laugh.

"Poor kitten," Jack pats my head as he moves over to put one of the bracelets Margaret.

I roll my eyes, "I don't like this," I look up at the Doctor, wrapping my arms around my waist. "I'm coming with you," I decide.

"No," he shoots me down instantly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had any say over what I do," I glare. "I'm coming with you," I repeat firmly.

"You can stay and help Jack," the Doctor argues, pointing over my shoulder.

"He doesn't need my help," I retort. "Do you?" I give Jack a pointed look.

"Nope, I got it," he smiles, coming over to put the other bracelet on the Doctor.

"Thank you," the Doctor glares.

"I'm scared of her more, sorry, Doc," Jack shrugs, sending me a wink.

The Doctor rolls his eyes, "... please stay?" he asks, cupping my cheek and dragging his thumb across my skin.

"Either you try and make me stay in the TARDIS," I glare, grabbing his hand and moving it. "Which won't really work out well since I'll follow you anyways or you bring me with you, your choice," I shrug.

The Doctor sighs, "you stay right beside me, have you got that?"

"Yes, sir," I smile widely, giving him a teasing salute.

"Don't," he narrows his eyes, moving my hand down.

"But... I thought you were in charge and you gave me an order," I tilt my head, giggling when he rolls his eyes.

"You're in real trouble," Jack laughs, patting the Doctor on the shoulder and making him groan.

***

The Doctor had taken us to a little restaurant and we were sat at a table for two, but a chair was brought for me. I didn't like it all, it was too... romantic of a place and he and Margaret were forced to hold hands cause of the bracelets. I felt like some sad third-wheel to the shitiest date ever.

"Here we are, out on a date, and you haven't even asked me my proper name," Margaret smiles and I internally cry at how she pretty much just emphasized my feeling of the evening.

"It's not a date," the Doctor glares and I nearly jump when I feel him give my knee a squeeze under the table, making me blush and hold my menu over my face.

"Blon," Margaret tells us. "I am Blond Fel Fotch Passameer-Day Slitheen; that's what it'll say on my death certificate."

I sigh, setting my menu on the table, "nice to meet you, Blon," I smile sarcastically.

"I'm sure," she rolls her eyes.

"Hey, you're the one who insisted we know your name," I shoot back.

"Look... that's where I was living as Margaret," she changes the subject, pointing out the window and I look over to see. "Nice little flat, over there, on the top, next to the one with the light on; two bedrooms, bay-side view-"

I frown when I hear something odd... what is that? I look back to see Margaret staring at the Doctor with an evil smirk while she pours some kind of white powder into my drink. I raise an eyebrow, kicking her in the shin under the table and making her yelp as she grabs at her leg while she glares. The Doctor looks back and raises his eyebrows, looking between us. I just switch Margaret's and my wine glasses, smiling as I take a sip.

"It is a nice flat," the Doctor agrees with a wide grin and I feel his thumb graze over my knee.

It sent a shiver through my body and I move to fold my leg over the other, making his hand drop. I feel the smallest, tiniest pang of hurt, but the Doctor nor I acknowledge anything as he grabs his menu. Ever since 1941, he's been more touchy and more distant at the same time and it was really messing with my head. I mean, I didn't even fully understand my feelings toward him and then he has to go and confuse me more? It was as if something had shifted in our relationship. Like after I'd been so close to kissing him, we were in this awkward place where one of us would try to move one way and the other would move in the opposite direction. And then, at the same time, it was like nothing had changed. It also didn't help that since Jack's with us, the Doctor and I have been spending more time alone in the past weeks.

"Thank you," Margaret rolls her eyes, moving her now poisoned wine away form her.

"Pleasure," the Doctor smiles cheekily, making me snort loudly.

"Tell me then, what do you two know of our species?"

"That I really wish I'd stop seeing you," I reply, looking over my menu and taking another sip of wine.

"Only what I've seen," the Doctor smiles, chuckling at my comment.

"Did you know, for example: in extreme cases - when her life is in danger - a female Raxacoricofallapatorian can manufacture a poison dart with her own finger!"

The Doctor's hand shoots out in front of my face faster than I can comprehend and there was a green dart between his fingers. I breathe out shakily, my heart racing when I see he wasn't even looking... damn. "Yes, I did," he replies, dropping the dart.

"T-thanks..." I murmur and he sends me a quick smile before going back to his menu.

"Just checking," Margaret smiles, making me roll my eyes. "One more thing... between you and me," she leans forward and the Doctor looks around before leaning in as well. "As a final resort: the excess poison can be exhaled through the lungs," she whispers, opening her mouth a green gas starts to come out.

The Doctor, without even flinching, raises his hand and sprays breath freshener in her mouth. Margaret gags, sitting back as she coughs. The Doctor sits back down, "that's better," he grins, sending me a wink. "Now, then... what do you think, Lizzie? Mm, steak looks nice; steak and chips?"

"I was kinda feeling the grilled chicken myself," I smile

***

After eating our food, which was amazing, Margaret starts to plead her case, "public execution is a slow death; they prepare a thin acetic acid, lower me into the cauldron and boil me," she explains, making my stomach churn; so much for getting a good meal... "The acidity is perfectly gauged to strip away the skin; internal organ fall out into the liquid and I become soup... and still alive, still screaming..."

I cover my mouth, really hoping I don't get sick as I take deep breaths. The Doctor grabs my free hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I don't make the law," he tells Margaret calmly.

"But you deliver it," she sneers. "Will you stay to watch?"

"What else can I do?"

"The Slitheen family's huge; there's a lot more of us, all scattered off-world," she replies. "Take me to them, take me somewhere safe," she tries.

"We do that and you'll just start all over again," I shake my head.

"I promise I won't," she whispers.

"You've been in that skin-suit too long," the Doctor lets go of my hand to lean forward. "You're forgotten: there used to be a real Margaret Blaine; you killed her and stripped and used her skin," he shakes his head. "You're pleading for mercy out of a dead woman's lips."

"Perhaps I have got used to it; a Human life, an ordinary life," she admits. "That's all I'm asking! Give me a chance, Doctor! I can change!"

"I don't believe you," the Doctor shakes his head.

"I promise you, I've changed since we last met," Margaret insists. "There was a girl - just today, young thing, something of a danger. She was getting too close. I could feel the bloodlust rising, just as the family taught me. I was going to kill her without a thought and then... I stopped. She's alive somewhere right now, she's walking around this city because I can change! I did change! I know I can't prove it-"

"I believe you," the Doctor cuts in calmly.

"Then you know I'm capable of better!"

"You saved one life, that doesn't mean anything," I shake my head, folding my arms. "Need I remind you, yet again, that you tried to destroy my planet for a profit and tried to destroy it again for a lift. And just tonight, you've tried to kill me twice and the Doctor once."

"I spared her life," she argues.

"You let one of them go, but that's nothing new," the Doctor retorts. "Every now and then, a little victim's spared; because she smiled, because he's got freckles, cause they begged... and that's how you live with yourself. That's how you slaughter millions. Because once in a while, on a whim... if the wind's in the right direction... you happen to be kind," he shakes his head and I chew on my bottom lip, feeling a strong mix of emotions from the Doctor and I place my hand on his back.

"Only a killer would know that," Margaret glares and the Doctor stiffens.

I glare, moving to grab his hand instead and rubbing soothing circles, "you have no right to say that," I snarl.

"Is that right?" she smirks, leaning forward. "From what I've seen, your happy-go-lucky little life leaves devastation in its wake. Always moving on cause you dare not look back! And you," she eyes me. "You follow him; sweet, innocent, oh, so kind Lizzie," she scoffs. "Running around with a murderer! Not doing anything to stop him," she smiles sweetly, making me freeze while the Doctor tightens his hold on my hand to where it's almost painful. "Look at the two of you, playing with peoples lives, you might as well be a God with his little mortal to do his bidding!" she sneers. "... and you're right Doctor, you're absolutely right," she continues in a softer tone. "Sometimes, you let one go," she nods. "Let me go..." she whispers. "In the Slitheen family, we had no choice; I was made to carry out my first kill at thirteen and if I'd refused, my father would have fed me to the Venom Grubs-"

I frown when I hear a low rumbling, sharing a look with the Doctor.

"-if I'm a killer, it's because I was born to kill, it's all I know! Doctor? Lizzie? Are you even listening to me?"

"Can you hear that?" I ask.

"I'm begging for my life-!"

"No, listen, shh," the Doctor holds up a hand to shut her up.

I look down at my wine glasses, ripples forming in the wine. I squeak in surprise when I'm suddenly brought down to the ground with something covering me. I scream as the windows in the restaurant shatter and bury my face against the thing that was over me. I blink when it stops and the smell of leather registers in my mind... oh, God... it was the Doctor that was on top of me. I look up, my face bright red as he looks me over frantically, his hips settled between my legs.

"You alright?" the Doctor asks, moving his hand to cup my face and I just nod mutely. "You sure?" he frowns.

"Y-y-yeah... I'm- I'm fine," I whisper.

The Doctor's eyebrows furrow before his eyes widen, "right..." he clears his throat, looking down between us. "Right! Come on!" he hurries off me and helps me stand.

I look around at all of the people screaming and running from the restaurant. The Doctor pulls me after them, broken glass crunching under our feet with Margaret right behind us. "The handcuffs!" she shouts after us.

The Doctor groans, pulling me to a stop to wait for her. When she reaches us, he takes her wrist and uses the sonic to remove her bracelet, "don't think you're running away," he tells her firmly, grabbing her wrist.

"Oh, I'm sticking with you!" Margaret replies as we run. "Some date this turned out to be!" she shouts.

"It wasn't a date!" I groan.

***

The three of us get to the TARDIS and I freeze, skidding to a stop. There was bright blue lightning shooting out of the top it, clouds swirling around where it was meeting the sky. "Oh, my God! It's the rift!" I gasp.

"The rift's opening!" the Doctor shouts, pulling on my hand and I start to run again.

The ground underneath us shakes and cracks. I scream as it cracks under my feet and the Doctor yanks me to him. I tighten my hold on his hand, my heart beating frantically as we run to the TARDIS. The Doctor quickly unlocks it and we rush in, my eyes widening at the sight. The whole place was shuddering, lights were flashing, there were little explosions happening, and there was a loud and frightened hum going through the console room.

"What the hell did you do to her!?" I gape at Jack, who was running around the console.

"It just went crazy!"

"It's the rift! Time and space are ripping apart!" I shout over the noise as the Doctor runs to the console.

"The whole city's gonna disappear!" the Doctor shouts.

"It's the extrapolator!" Jack yells, holding it up. "I've disconnected it but it's still feeding off the engine! It's using the TARDIS! I can't stop it!"

"Never mind Cardiff, it's gonna rip open the planet!" the Doctor yells, making my face pale.

"What is it? What's happening!?" I hear Rose yell.

"Oh, just little me!" Margaret laughs and I turn to her.

She had freed one of her arms from her skin-suit to reveal her long arm and talons. I jolt forward when she grabs Rose around the neck, "Rose!"

"One wrong move and she snaps like a promise," Margaret threatens, making me freeze in place.

"I might've known," the Doctor glares, a rush of anger hitting me.

"I've had you bleating all night! Poor baby! Now shut it!" she sneers. "You, flyboy, put the extrapolator at my feet," she orders Jack.

Jack hesitates and Margaret tightens her grip on Rose's neck, making her whimper. Jack was quick to kick the extrapolator over to Margret, glaring at her. "Thank you," she smiles. "Just as I planned."

"I thought you need to blow up the nuclear power station," Rose chokes out, trying to pry Margaret's hand off her.

"Failing that, if I were to be arrested... then anyone capable of tracking me down would have considerable technology of their own," Margaret explains. "Therefore, they would be captivated by the extrapolator! Especially a magpie mind like yours, Doctor! So the extrapolator was programmed to go to Plan B!" she pulls one of Rose's plaits roughly, making her whimper.

I growl under my breath, tears prickling my eyes I clench my fists. I feel hot liquid run down my hand and hear the Doctor hiss in pain, but I don't pay attention to that as I continue to glare daggers at Margaret.

She smirks at me as she continues to explain, "to lock onto the nearest alien power source and open the rift and what a power source it found... I'm back on schedule... thanks to you," she smiles nastily at the Doctor.

"The rift's gonna convulse! She'll destroy the whole planet!" Jack yells.

"And you with it!" Margaret retorts as she pushes Rose aside, but still holding her, so she can stand on the extrapolator. "While I ride this board over the crest of the inferno all the way to freedom, stand back... surf's up," she smiles evilly at us.

A panel of the console directly in front of Margaret suddenly bursts open, and a blinding light floods out. I glance at it and it was like I was drawn in, transfixed by the swirls of golden energy while there's soft singing in the back of my mind.

"Of course, opening the rift means you'll pull this ship apart," I hear the Doctor

"So sue me," Margaret scoffs.

"It's not just any old power source," he retorts. "It's the TARDIS. My TARDIS. The best ship in the universe," he says.

"It'll make wonderful scrap," she sneers.

"What's that light?" Rose asks.

"The heart of the TARDIS, she's alive," I answer breathlessly. "You've opened her soul," I smile, giggling at the singing a feeling of warmth spreading through me.

I'm suddenly jerked away by my wrist, my ear pressed against something. I snap out of it when I hear twin heartbeats and feel fear and worry washing over me. I close my eyes, breathing deeply as wrap my arms around the Doctor's waist, groaning quietly when I feel like I'm spinning.

"It's... so bright..." Margaret whispers.

"Look at it, Margaret," the Doctor orders softly, stroking my hair.

"Beautiful..."

"Look inside, Blon Fel Fotch... look at the light..."

"Thank you..."

"Don't look!" the Doctor shouts. "Stay there! Close your eyes!" he lets go of me and I open my eyes to see him slamming down a few levers, closing the heart of the TARDIS. "Lizzie, go sit down for me," he tells me gently, cupping my face in his hand and I nod, stumbling over to the jump-seat as warmth spreads throughout my body. "Jack, come on! Shut it all down! Shut down! Rose, that panel over there! Turn all the switches to the right!" he orders and they set to work, the TARDIS stabilizing after a few moments. "Nicely done! Thank you, all!" he grins at them.

"What happened to Margaret?" I ask, giggling slightly at the light and tingling feeling.

"Must've got burnt up, carried out her own death sentence," Jack shrugs.

"No, I don't think she's dead," the Doctor shakes his head, watching me as I get another rush of worry and fear.

"Then, where'd she go?" Rose asks.

"She looked into the heart of the TARDIS, and even I don't know how strong that is," the Doctor replies, still watching me. "And she's telepathic, like I told you: gets inside your head, translates alien languages; maybe the raw energy can translate all sorts of thoughts..." he trails off, kneeling down next to the skin-suit.

Rose and Jack kneel next to the Doctor while I stay put, kicking my feet back and forth. The Doctor reaches inside the skin-suit and pulls out an egg with little dreads on it, "here she is!" he smiles.

"She's an egg?" Rose asks, staring at the egg incredulously.

"Regressed to her childhood," the Doctor nods.

"She's an egg?" Jack frowns.

"She can start again!" the Doctor smiles, glancing at me when I snort loudly. "... live her life from scratch. If we take her home, give her to a different family, tell 'em to bring her up properly, she might be alright!"

"Or she might be worse," Jack retorts.

"That's her choice," the Doctor shrugs.

"She's an egg," I giggle, swaying from side to side.

"She's an egg," the Doctor nods, smiling even as I get more worry.

"Oh, my God, Mickey!" Rose yells, running out the door.

The Doctor puts the egg on the console and comes to kneel in front of me, "Lizzie, are you alright?" he asks softly, pulling out his sonic and he scans me.

"Hey! You actually bought me dinner this time!" I giggle, watching the pretty blue light.

"What's wrong with her?" Jack asks, sitting beside me and watching me warily.

"Nothing, she's fine," the Doctor breathes out, slipping his sonic back in his pocket.

"I feel amazing! The TARDIS sang to me, Doctor!" I giggle. "She has such a pretty voice!" I beam and she hums in appreciation. "You're welcome, girl!" I smile up at the ceiling, the Doctor snorting loudly.

"Uh... Doctor?" Jack asks worriedly, putting an arm around my shoulders.

"Aw! Captain Snuggle!" I wrap my arms around his waist. "You smell good," I nuzzle his shoulder.

"She's fine," the Doctor chuckles. "She'll feel... euphoric for a while, but you'll be just fine," he smiles, cupping my cheek in his hand.

I sigh, closing my eyes, "you have really warm hands, did you know that?" I ask, going to grab his hand to hold it to my face. "Ow..." I open my eyes when I feel a sharp pain in my hand and I look down at my hands to see fingernail cuts in my palms and dried blood on them.

"Ow," the Doctor hisses, stretching his hand out. "Let me see," he takes my hands in his gently, looking them over.

"Stupid Maggie..." I pout, both the Doctor and I wincing when he brushes a thumb along my right palm.

"Um..." Jack frowns, looking between us.

"Um..." I repeat, looking at the Doctor with wide eyes. "Jack saw! He knows!" I squeak.

"It's fine," he chuckles, taking his sonic out again and running it along my hands.

I giggle when my palms tickle and watch as my skin closes up, "whoa! That's so cool!" I gasp. "Look, Captain Snuggle! I'm all healed!" I show him my hands.

"All better," the Doctor grins, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to my forehead before he stands.

My eyes widen and I feel my face burn as I touch my forehead lightly, "... did you see that?" I whisper to Jack.

"Yes," he shakes his head with a small laugh. "Lucky you," he winks, making me giggle and the Doctor chuckles. "But, does someone want to explain to me what just happened?"

The Doctor sighs, going over to the console, "we can feel each other's pain and a few emotions," he waves off. "That's all the explanation you're getting, so don't go bugging Lizzie for questions while she's like this," he narrows his eyes at Jack.

"It's all we know about it, anyway... well, and my dreams might somehow be connected to the Doctor," I tilt my head.

"Lizzie, hush," the Doctor orders.

"Make me, big-ears," I bite my lip and his eyes widen.

"She's bolder when she's... what? Drunk?" Jack smirks.

"As good a description as any, I suppose," the Doctor shrugs, avoiding my eye as his ears burn pink.

"I made him blush again!" I cheer, throwing my hands up. "Ha! That's twice in one day!" I do a little dance, making Jack laugh.

I jump when the door opens and a sad Rose comes in. I hurry over to her and wrap my arms around her, "what's wrong, baby sis?" I ask, pulling back and cupping her face.

"Nothing," she sends me a fake smile, tears stains on her cheeks.

"We're all powered up, we can leave," the Doctor cuts in. "Opening the rift filled us up with energy, we can go," he smiles. "If that's alright?" he asks softly, worry hitting me.

"Yeah, fine," she shrugs, her voice cracking slightly.

"How's Mickey?" the Doctor asks carefully and I gasp softly at him using his real name.

"He's ok... he's gone..." Rose whispers, pulling me into a tight hug.

"Do you want to go and find him? We'll wait," the Doctor assures her.

"No need... he deserves better," she shakes her head, making me frown.

"Off we go, then, always moving on!" the Doctor grins, watching us as he flips a lever.

"Next stop, Raxacoricofallapatorius! Now, you don't often get to say that," Jack smirks, making me giggle.

"We'll just stop by and pop her in the hatchery! Margaret the Slitheen can live her life again! A second chance," the Doctor smiles.

"That'd be nice," Rose mutters before letting go and wandering off.

I frown, moving over to the Doctor, "I'm gonna go talk to her," I decide, feeling a little less floaty seeing Rose in pain.

"Alright, we'll be there in a few minutes," the Doctor nods.

"Ok!" I skip out of the console room.

3rd Person POV:

Jack watches Lizzie with a frown, "she really alright?"

"The TARDIS protected her, that was the singing she heard," the Doctor explains. "Thanks, dear," he whispers, stroking the console and she hums softly in response.

1st Person POV:

I skid to a stop when I reach Rose's door, which was dark wood with rose vines going around the edge. I knock and hear a muffled 'come in'. I open the door and see Rose sitting on her queen bed, knees drawn up and crying. "Oh, sweetheart," I go over and sit beside her, pulling her into my arms. "What's wrong? What happened with Mouse?" I ask, rubbing circles into her back.

"He doesn't understand," she cries, leaning into me with her arms going around my waist. "He thinks I won't stay home cause I fancy the Doctor," I stiffen at that. "I don't, I promise," she assures me quickly and I relax. "I love Mickey, you know I do, but... he's just- he doesn't understand!" she buries her face against my neck.

"I didn't realize traveling was affecting your relationship like this..." I whisper, guilt knotting in my stomach. "Rose, if you need us to stay home for a while, we can... I'll understand and be more than happy-"

"No!" she cuts me off, pulling away and wiping her face. "No, I don't want that! I won't do that to you!" she shakes her head. "My whole life, you've made sure I was safe and happy, that I knew I was loved... you'd have slapped me if I thought any different," she laughs lightly, making me giggle. "So just this once, let me sacrifice a bit for you," she grabs my hands. "It's not like it's much of a sacrifice, anyway... I love traveling with you and the Doctor and Jack; we're a family, the four of us," she smiles before it falters a bit. "I just wish that Mickey could see that and understand what this means to me," her bottom lip trembles.

"Hey," I squeeze her hands. "He'll come round, I know he will," I smile, cupping her face in my hand and wiping a tear away. "I'm here for you in the meantime, whatever you need... and if you need me to beat some sense into Mouse, I'll kick his arse happily," I wiggle my eyebrows, making her laugh.

"You're right, he'll come round," Rose smiles, laying back on her bed.

"Pfft! I'm always right!" I flip my hair.

"The Doctor's got a point, you are cheeky," she laughs.

"Oi!" I giggle, jumping on her and hitting her in the face with a pillow.

"Oh, it is on!" Rose shouts, grabbing a pillow and slamming it into me.

The two of us get into an all-out pillow war. I make Rose fall onto the bed, bouncing up and down on the mattress and we make eye contact, bursting out laughing. I clutch my stomach, falling backward on the bed as tears start to form. "Oh, my God! You should've seen your face!" I wheeze.

I sit up quickly when there's a knock on the door. "Come in!" Rose and I laugh.

The door opens and the Doctor comes in, looking around the room with raised eyebrows. Rose and I share a look before cracking up again, the Doctor laughing as well. "We're here," he grins.

"Ooo, yay!" I jump up and go to step off the bed, but my legs get tangled in the blanket and I start to fall.

I scream, covering my eyes and I wait for impact, but it never comes. I open my eyes and realize that I was standing upright with hands... big, strong, and warm hands on my waist. I was also aware that I was facing a jumper-clad chest and Rose was snickering in the background. I look up to see the Doctor looking down at me with wide eyes.

"U-u-um... th- thanks..." I squeak, my face hot.

"You're..." the Doctor clears his throat. "You're welcome," he smiles.

I bite my lip to not laugh, which was hard with his expression, Rose snickering, and the fact I still feel a bit funny from the TARDIS. "Um... Doctor?" I snort and he hums in response. "You can let go of me now," I giggle.

"Oh! Right," he lets go of me, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry..." he breathes out a laugh.

I scrunch my face up when where his hands were turns cold, "no, I change my mind," I shake my head. "You're warm," I wrap my arms around his waist, snuggling close.

"Lizzie..." the Doctor groans slightly, holding his arms out.

"Carry me to bed, I'm too weak to do it!" I cry dramatically, giving him my best puppy-eyes. "Shut it!" I glare at Rose as she laughs. "Pllleeeaaassse?" I pout up at the Doctor.

"Come on, then," the Doctor shakes his head, lifting me up bridal-style and carrying me out the room.

"Night, Rose!" I call over his shoulder.

"Night!" she laughs.

"How can you be so squishy and not at the same time?" I poke the Doctor's chest.

"Quit it," he rolls his eyes, moving my hand away.

"How come you can fall asleep on my boobs and I can't poke your chest? That's not fair!" I pout, startling a laugh out of him. "Double standard!"

"You need sleep, now," the Doctor shakes his head, opening my bedroom door and carrying me to my bed.

"No!" I whine when he sets me down and goes to leave. "Cuddles..." I grab his hand, pulling him to lay down.

"Liz-"

"You're warm and comfy," I cut him off, snuggling over and wrapping my arms around his waist. "Just stay till I fall asleep?" I ask, leaning my head on his chest.

"Alright," he sighs, wrapping an arm around me and getting comfortable. "Till you fall asleep," he promises, rubbing my back.

A/N: thanks for reading! Let me know what you think! :*