Jumping For The Stars

Chapter 14 - The Deal

Chapter 14

The Deal

The Doctor closed the door to Ailia's room behind him, chuckling at how much she reminding him of a child, she absolutely did not want to go to sleep. Of course, it made sense he was a stranger, or close to it and was practically kidnapping her at that.

No, he thought to himself, she wouldn't survive another day on her own. Flesh and bones was all she was. Silently he knew that wasn't it, but that was what he would tell himself for now.

He thought about Martha Jones and that days adventures, he heard what Ailia said, invite her along, but there was a problem with that. The Doctor didn't think he could bring himself to bring someone else along, he would just ruin their lives. Just look at Ailia, he known her a day and already she was in pain.

Wait, he told himself, wait until Ailia wakes up.

He shook his head, trying to discourage such thoughts. No, he tried to quiet the voices of past and present, no I will not get attached to this one, they leave, they die, they disappear, it's not worth it.

---

Ailia stared at the ceiling of the room, the Doctor having triumphantly thought that she was asleep. Still, she wasn't. She could feel the course fabric of her jeans rub against her legs and the plush material of the stolen purple hoodie was pulled close into her. Peck rested on the pillow, his even breaths for once not doing much to sooth her.

The bed was soft and warm, much better than the cold benches and thin bunks that she had slept on of late, but she was worried to close her eyes. Not for fear that this was a dream, no if it was a dream then she would be more than happy to go to sleep. No, she was scared of something else, the voices, the voices returned when she was asleep. She thought that they would disappear when she when she went after the Hoyle, but it wasn't them that caused it, apparently. She had a feeling that it was something much, much bigger.

Those were her last thoughts before she felt the conciousness of the TARDIS surround her in a comforting gesture and pull her in a safe and quiet world of black.

---

Ailia woke up a little while later, her bones creaking underneath her skin. She felt the TARDIS whispering around her, apoligizing, but she only patted the bedside table. "Don't worry," Ailia whispered, "You did the best you could."

Peck looked at his misteress with ever curious eyes, and Ailia smiled at him, "Looks like you, little buddy, need a b-a-t-h."

The creatures eyes widen and it tried to move away, but despite Ailia's creaking limbs she was to fast for the little devil and caught him up with a swift lunge.

The TARDIS laughed in it's own strange way around her, and Ailia moved forward, remembering a bathroom nearby.

"Wish me luck, TARDIS," Ailia said squaring up like a warrior going into the feild and walked into the bathroom prepared to do the impossible.

The TARDIS did not inform the Doctor that Ailia was awake and he only came to realize it when he was knocked out of his chair in the library by a fast moving projectile. Peck came bounding after it.

"I didn't do it, I swear, I didn't do it," Ailia stammered, using the Doctor as a sheild in front of her.

The Doctor didn't know what was happening and didn't understand why when a dripping wet rodent came into view Ailia was cowering behind him.

"What?" the Doctor stated, seeing Ailia in the purple hoodie and jeans from the day before.

The rodent started slowly moving forward and Ailia backed away, pulling the Doctor with her.

"I'm sorry, but what?!" the Doctor exclaimed.

"It was a mistake a terrible mistake and now I'm going to die by rodent," Ailia babbled, the martin hissing at the rodent comment, "Low blow, I know, but it wasn't my fault."

The Doctor decided then was a good time to move away and the martin charged, launching itself straight towards the girl. Ailia ducked under the animal and tripped, right into the swimming pool.

The martin stopped, sitting on a bookcase, starring at Ailia, did something that seemed to be a smirk and stalked away.

"Yeah, right, very funny," Ailia huffed, swimming over to the side and patting the Doctor on the back as she trudged out, "Meet me in the console room in ten, I've got to catch a rat."

---

Despite the strange occurance and behavior of Ailia she was on time, though apparently she did not 'catch a rat' as she said. Instead she leaned of the railing wearing the well worn combat boots that she must not have worn when the martin had chased her, a pair of worn jeans and what appeared to be a dark green woven poncho over a band t-shirt. Then, some how, miracously, she managed to top it off with a worn red ball cap.

To be honest the Doctor had no idea how she came up with it and what's stranger, she managed to look good.

Ailia saw his gaze and caught it, speaking in a tone that was a stark contrast to the voice that she had used with the martin earlier, "I raided your magic room full of clothes."

"Okay," was all the spikey haired Doctor could manage to say, frankly surprised by this silent rebellion.

"Let's go see Martha, I think she deserves a trip," Ailia moved around the console, beginning to pull a lever.

"No, my ship, my rules," the Doctor said, placing a hand over hers and pulling the lever back.

"A space ship which I am trapped on for the time being, Doctor," Ailia's said with no vocal change. "Besides, you seem like you could use a friend."

"No," the Doctor said stubbornly and Ailia looked at the hand which he quickly moved.

She looked up at him, not daring to take a step back, "Doctor, how about I make you a deal, okay? You take Martha with us on a trip, just one trip and I tell you a story."

"What?" the Doctor took a step back.

"You wanted an explanation, I'll give you part of it, so long as you take Martha. With us. On an adventure," Ailia explained, her nose crinkling slightly.

"Part of it?" the Doctor tilted his head.

"We'll get to that later," Ailia smirked micheviously.

The Doctor nodded, "Alright," he brushed Ailia's hand away and pulled the lever, "Allonsy."

A:N/ Okay, I'll admit it, this chapter is just a filler, but give me a break. I mean, this is further than I've gotten before and frankly I'm quite proud of myself. So, yay me.