We're back with the Protector! This is not the most exciting episode ever in my opinion, personally, it just exists for me and at one point I couldn't even remember it was an episode... oops.

Let's get into it!

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"Hold that one down!" The Doctor barked as the whole TARDIS shook, the empty bag of chips the Protector had just finished minutes ago fell onto the floor.

"I'm holding this one down," Rose replied.

"Well, hold them both down." He huffed.

"It's not going to work." The Protector shook her head, stumbling past Rose as the console shook and pulled the other lever down. She gritted her teeth as the TARDIS fought back. Of course it was going to fight her, the Doctor didn't like her therefore the TARDIS didn't either.

The Doctor huffed. "Oi! I promised her a time machine and that's what she's getting." He narrowed his eyes at the Time Lady before looking at Rose. "Now, you've seen the future, let's have a look at the past. 1860. How does 1860 sound?"

"What happened in 1860?" Rose asked.

"I don't know," he shrugged, "let's find out. Hold on, here we go!"

The TARDIS shook and the three would have been thrown around the entire console room had they not been tightly holding on.

"Blimey!" Rose exclaimed with a laugh as the TARDIS stopped shaking. The Protector straightened, smoothing out her jacket before checking the console wasn't damaged at all with how much force the Doctor had been using with it.

"All good?" The Protector asked as Rose and the Doctor stood up from where they had fallen.

"Yeah. I think so." She nodded. "Nothing broken." She looked to the Doctor. "Did we make it? Where are we?"

"I did it." He nodded. "Give the man a medal." He then read off the scanner, "Earth, Naples, December 24th, 1860."

"I did it?" The Protector repeated with a frown. "Excuse me?"

"Well, it is my time machine." He narrowed his eyes. "And if he hadn't touched her like I told you not to we wouldn't have been thrown around. You're not her Pilot, I am!"

"Without me, you two would still be floating in the vortex!" She laughed angrily. "Neither of you could reach that lever, gods know how you managed on your own before."

The Doctor huffed. "I managed and am managing just fine thank you."

"Sure you did." She rolled her eyes.

Rose looked to the Doctor after the two stopped bickering. "Wait, did you say December 24th?"

"Yeah."

"That's so weird. It's Christmas."

The Doctor nodded to the doors of the TARDIS. "All yours."

"But, it's like, think about it, though." She began walking to the doors. Christmas. 1860. Happens once, just once and it's gone, it's finished, it'll never happen again except for you. You can go back and see days that are dead and gone a hundred thousand sunsets ago. No wonder you never stay still."

"Yeah." The Protector frowned. "It's not such a bad life."

"Better when you're not on your own, right?" Rose said to the Doctor, glancing at the Protector for a second, the Time Lord grumbled slightly as Rose smiled. "Come on, then." She went to open the doors of the TARDIS

"Where do you think you're going?" Rose asked.

"1860."

"Go out there dressed like that, you'll start a riot, Barbarella. There's a wardrobe through there." He pointed to the hallway of the TARDIS. "First left, second right, third on the left, go straight ahead, under the stairs, past the bins, fifth door on your left."

The Protector snickered at Rose's pout on her face, the blonde then frowned as the Time Lady made no move to follow her. "You not coming Protector?"

The Time Lady shook her head. "I don't need any fancy clothing."

"Why not? You can't go dressed like that can you?" She questioned, looking down at the Time Lady's red jeans and yellow trainers mismatched combination that somehow went to the white and black diamond top and blue denim jacket. "Your clothes are worse than mine!"

"I'll change my shoes then." She shrugged. "The yellow might be a bit bright for Christmas."

Rose shook her head. "I don't think the shoes will affect it much" She then headed down the corridors.

The Protector frowned at the Doctor who was watching her as Rose got out of sight of them both. "What is it?" The Time Lady asked.

"You're just changing your shoes?"

"Well, are you going to change then?"

The Doctor shrugged. "I'll change my jumper."

"Wow." The Time Lady laughed, rolling her eyes. "You're going to change your jumper!"

The Doctor huffed in annoyance. "Why did I let you on my ship?"

"Because you know Rose wouldn't come if you didn't invite me." She smiled. "She'll be good for us."

The Doctor frowned deeply in confusion. "Good?"

"Because of everything that happened." She replied with a small shrug, looking down at her hands and picking at her nails for a moment as she thought about how to say what she wanted to say. "After the Time War." She looked up at him, his face stone cold and distant, more distant than it usually was for him. "I know you don't like talking about it Doctor, neither do-"

The Doctor angrily cut in, his brows furrowed and a fierce look on his face as he clenched his jaw. "You have no idea what I had to do." He snapped.

The Time Lady sighed. "No, you're right." The Doctor stared at her, taken back by her words. "I don't know what you had to do but I know what I did." She turned away from him, anger making it impossible to even look at him at the current moment. "I lost my family that day Theta."

"Don't call me that." He hissed.

"Why?" She turned to look at him again, stepping closer and narrowing her hazel eyes, making him step back. "Because you're angry at yourself or because you're ashamed?" She crossed her arms at him. "Either way, you did what you did and you can't change that now, you have to accept it Doctor, just like I do."

"And what if I don't want to?" He asked. "What then?"

"Well, you're just going to have to suck it up and live with it just like I have to live with what I did that day." She turned to leave him. "Because you aren't the only one who did things they have to live with, Theta." With that the Protector walked away, leaving the Doctor standing in the console room. The Time Lord stared at her angrily as she disappeared into the hallway, he then turned to the console and considered kicking it in anger for a moment before he shook his head and crouched down on the floor, deciding to work on underneath the console rather than make the already damaged machine worse.

×××

After she left the Doctor in the console room alone the Protector went in search of Rose in the wardrobe. "This is massive." The blonde spoke aloud, hearing the door open and footsteps approach as she looked at herself. The Protector's eyebrows rose as she looked at the human in the mirror, a long light red, almost pink dress with black lace over the top of it which came down to the waist. Rose also had a black shawl and a small red rose pinned to the top of her hair. "Sorry." She apologised seeing the eyebrow raise of the Time Lady. "Is this too much?"

"Oh no." The Protector smiled with a shake of her head. "You look beautiful Rose."

The blonde returned the smile the Time Lady sent her way. "Thank you, I wasn't sure of the whole thing really."

"No it works," the Protector began, starting to hunt around in the shoe section, throwing shoes over her shoulder without care, "and it is very appropriate for where we're going."

"That's good," Rose replied before frowning when the Protector made a small chuckle and pulled out a rather long piece of fabric that was not supposed to be there.

"What in the world are you doing here?" She chuckled wrapping the fabric up which actually turned out to be a ridiculously long scarf.

"What is that?" Rose frowned as the Protector wrapped the item up, a fond look on her face.

"It's one of big ears old scarfs."

"He used to wear that?" Rose looked at her in slight disbelief.

"All the time." The Protector giggled. "He had no idea how stupid he looked even though I reminded him every time I saw him."

Rose looked the Protector up and down. "Not to sound rude but you also do look stupid in that outfit." The Time Lady stopped looking at the scarf and looked up at the human, tilting her head slightly in thought before she shrugged and headed for another door. Rose smoothed out her dress before heading to the door they had came through. "Coming?"  She questioned, looking at the Time Lady.

"Just going to find some different trainers." The Protector replied, placing the scarf down on a nearby chair in the extremely large room filled with clothes and a few desks with chairs and mirrors scattered about. She grinned spotting a dark red pair of shoes that looked almost identical to her yellow vans. "Perfect." She showed Rose who laughed slightly and shook her head.

"You're bonkers."

"Or is it you that's bonkers Rose?" The Protector questioned, winking at the human after she put her new shoes on, neatly tucking the yellow ones away in a corner to put back on later.

×××

The Protector walked into the console room as the Doctor was talking to Rose by the console. "Considering what?" Rose asked.

"That you're human." He replied.

"Is he being rude again?" The Protector cut in from where she stood by the hallway, the two looked over at her, and Rose smiled shaking her head.

"I think he was giving a compliment." She frowned noticing the Doctor's jumper had been changed out for a different one. "You changed your jumper."

The Doctor nodded. "I've changed my jumper, had a spare under the console. Come on."

"You two stay there." She pointed at the Time Lords, running to the doors. "You've done this before. This is mine."

The Protector and the Doctor watched as Rose opened the doors and carefully stepped out into the ground, the snow crunching beneath her feet. "Cool right?" The Protector grinned, walking out after her, Rose turned and nodded in agreement with a smile.

×××

The Doctor, the Protector and Rose walked down the snow-covered street as a choir sang God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. The Doctor walked up to a man selling newspapers and bought one before frowning as he looked at the date. "I got the flight a bit wrong."

"I don't care." Rose shrugged.

"It's not 1860, it's 1869." The Protector snorted as he spoke aloud.

"I don't care," Rose repeated.

"And it's not Naples." The Doctor added.

"I don't care."

The Protector burst out laughing. "It's Cardiff." Rose stopped in her tracks as the Protector pointed at the Doctor laughing. The Time Lord grumbled, glaring at her. "Did you even get your license?" The Time Lady asked.

The Doctor crossed his arms. "Yeah."

"Liar." The Protector snorted. She shook her head smiling again before her smile fell as screams echoed from inside a large theatre and people began to run out.

"That's more like it!" The Doctor commented, the three of them running in as people continued to run out.

The three found their way to the theatre everyone was running from as the last of the people left the room. A large blue gas entity flew around the room. "Fantastic." The Doctor grinned, earning an eye-roll from the Protector.

"Of course, you'd say that." She shook her head, moving further into the room.

"Did you see where it came from?" The Doctor asked, looking slightly more excited than he should of.

"Ah, the wag reveals himself, does he?" A man stood on the corner of the stage and looked at the Time Lord. "I trust you're satisfied, sir!"

"Hang on." The Protector frowned as Rose spotted an older man and young woman picking up what looked like an unconscious older woman lying in the middle of a row. "Oi! Leave her alone!" Rose shouted, making her way over to the pair. "Doctor, Protector, I'll get them."

"Be careful! The Doctor shouted. "Did it say anything? Can it speak? I'm the Doctor, by the way."

"Doctor?" The man frowned. "You look more like a navvie."

"What's wrong with this jumper?" The Doctor asked, looking at the Protector for a moment. The Time Lady shook her head and stood up on the stage to try to get a better viewpoint of where the blue creature could have possibly gone. Her eyes widened as the blue entity flew around the room once more before it flew into a gas light. "It's gas!" The Time Lady pointed.

"It's made of gas!" The Time Lords said together before quickly leaving the room, the man from the stage right behind them. "Oh no you don't." The Time Lady narrowed her eyes, seeing the man and woman from inside the theatre step into a hearse and begin to leave.

"Rose!" The Doctor shouted.

"You're not escaping me, sir." The man stated. "What do you know about that hobgoblin, hmm? Projection on glass, I suppose. Who put you up to it?"

"Yeah, mate. Not now, thanks." The Doctor replied before spotting where the Protector had headed, stepping into a nearby carriage, the Doctor quickly followed her. "Oi, you! Follow that hearse!" He shouted.

"I can't do that, sir." The driver stated.

"Why not?"

"I'll tell you why not. I'll give you a very good reason why not. Because this is my coach."

"Well, get in, then. Move!" The Doctor ordered, pulling him inside.

"Come on, you're losing them." The Protector shouted, looking out of the window. "Can't you go any faster?"

"Everything in order, Mister Dickens?" The driver asked, the Protector blinked before she began to smile as the Doctor also blinked at the man they just learned to be Charles Dickens exclaimed:

"No! It is not!"

"What did he say?" The Doctor asked, looking at the grinning Time Lady.

"Let me say this first." The man said. "I'm not without a sense of humour."

"I thought I recognised you." The Time Lady chuckled.

"Dickens?" The Doctor said.

"Yes." He nodded.

"Charles Dickens?"

"Yes." He repeated.

"The Charles Dickens?"

"Should I remove the gentleman and lady, sir?" The driver asked.

"Charles Dickens?" The Doctor began to grin. "You're brilliant, you are!" He exclaimed. "Completely one hundred percent brilliant. I've read them all. Great Expectations, Oliver Twist and what's the other one, the one with the ghost?"

"A Christmas Carol?"

"No, no, no, the one with the trains. The Signal Man, that's it. Terrifying! The best short story ever written. You're a genius."

"You want me to get rid of them, sir?"

"Charles looked in thought for a moment before shaking his head, unsure of what really was going on. "Er, no, I think they can stay."

"Honestly, Charles. Can I call you Charles? I'm such a big fan."

"A what?" Charles frowned. "A big what?"

"Fan. Number one fan, that's me."

"How exactly are you a fan?" Charles asked. "In what way do you resemble a means of keeping oneself cool?"

"He doesn't know what a fan is you idiot." The Protector rolled her eyes at the Time Lord.

The Doctor glared at the Protector for a moment before looking back at Charles. "It means fanatic, devoted to. Mind you, I've got to say, that American bit in Martin Chuzzlewit, what's that about? Was that just padding or what? I mean, it's rubbish, that bit."

"I thought you said you were my fan."

"Ah, well, if you can't take criticism. Go on, do the death of Little Nell, it cracks me up."

"Doctor." The Time Lady huffed.

"No, sorry, forget about that. Come on, faster!"

"Who exactly is in that hearse?"

"Our friend." The Protector replied. "She's only nineteen. We brought her here and now she's in danger."

"Why are we wasting my time talking about dry old books?" Charles questioned. "This is much more important. Driver, be swift! The chase is on!"

"Yes, sir!" The driver replied.

"Attaboy, Charlie." The Doctor nodded, smiling. The Protector rolled her eyes at the Time Lord while Charles Dickens frowned in confusion.

"Nobody calls me Charlie."

The Time Lord smirked. "The ladies do."

"How do you know that?"

"I told you, I'm your-."

Charles nodded as he and the Doctor cut in: "Number one fan."

"No offence Charles but I think we got bigger things to worry about," The Protector spoke up, looking at the man before her eyes narrowed towards the Time Lord who rolled his eyes in return, "instead of if he's your number one fan."

"Yes," Charles nodded. "Yes, indeed you're right."

The Carriage continued on for a few more minutes before it stopped in the snow-covered street. The Doctor stepped out, and Charles followed with the Protector out last.

They walked up to the door of a building with the sign 'Sneed and Company' On the front.

The Protector stormed in front of the Doctor and Charles, banging her fist on the door twice.

A few moments later the door opened and a young woman stood in the doorway. "I'm sorry, Ma'am. We're closed."

The Time Lady scoffed as Charles shook his head. "Nonsense. Since when did an Undertaker keep office hours?" The Time Lady turned around to the man, nodding in agreement. "The dead don't die on schedule. I demand to see your master."

"He's not in, sir."

"Because I haven't heard that one before." The Protector replied, ducking under the young woman's arm and slipping into the house.

A light flickered in and out for a moment and the Doctor frowned while pointing at it. "Having trouble with your gas?"

The Protector frowned too and pressed her ear up to the wall while knocking on it.

"You're not allowed inside, ma'am."

"Well, I already am so what are you going to do about that then?" She turned to the woman and then knocked again. "There's something inside the walls." She frowned. "Walls... walls, 1869, walls and gas pipes." She slowly moved her head away from the wall.

"The gas pipes." The Doctor repeated as they looked at each other.

"Something's living inside the gas!"

The Protector's head snapped, facing the direction of inside the house a second after Rose screamed out, muffled slightly from the walls. "Open the door!"

"And that's my cue." She ducked and ran through a corridor just as an older man turned a corner.

"How dare you-." He began only to blink as the Time Lady quickly ducked under his arm and past him.

"No time to talk!"

The man turned to Charles Dickens and the Doctor who were on the Time Lady's tail. "This is my house!"

"Shut up," Charles replied.

The Man looked at the young woman. "I told you."

"Let me out!" The muffled voice of Rose echoed through the house while she hit the door. "Somebody open the door! Open the door!"

"Get back!" The Protector shouted before she bashed her shoulder into the door, causing it to swing open. "Oh." She blinked at the dead old woman and man who were both alive? "I don't think you're meant to be walking." She raised a brow.

"I think this is my dance." The Doctor stated, running through the door with Charles behind him, the Doctor pulled Rose away from the dead woman.

"It's a prank." Charles stared at the dead man and woman before looking at the Time Lords. "It must be. We're under some mesmeric influence."

"Afraid not." The Protector replied.

"The dead are walking." The Doctor added before looking at Rose. "Hi."

"Hi." She replied and noticed Charles. "Who's your friend?"

"Charles Dickens." The Doctor casually replied.

"Okay." Rose blinked.

"And who are you then?" The Protector looked at the dead woman just standing there. "I'm the Protector. What do you want?"

Several voices overlapped each other and spoke almost together at times as the woman's mouth opened up. "Failing. Open the rift. We're dying. Trapped in this form. Cannot sustain. Help us." She cried out and gas escaped the corpse's mouth, disappearing into the air before the dead woman collapsed to the ground.

"Well okay then." The Protector replied, glancing at the Doctor who looked back at her in thought.

What the hell was that?