For those who have waited six weeks for the conclusion...

Part 7

She promised that she would keep her alive. The Doctor intended to keep that promise.

With the Spirit trapped in the protactinium, it was safe for her gang to come out. Through the weird structure built solely by Ryan and Lise, she announced, "Mission accomplished, gang!"

The TARDIS doors burst open with Lise leading, and the other three trailing behind. Their anxiety was written all over their faces. Yaz appeared more jumpy, Ryan and Graham, despite their efforts to keep a straight face, had worry in their eyes, but Lise was the most concerned of them all. She ran and kneeled next to (Y/N), instinctively feeling for her heart beat.

The Doctor crouched down, fishing out her stethoscope from her coat pocket. She listened on in search of any sign that told them (Y/N) was alive. The tension was felt as everyone held their breaths. Finally, the Doctor took off her stethoscope.

"She's alive."

Graham let out the loudest sigh of relief while Yaz helped Lise up. The Doctor got onto her feet, hoisting (Y/N)'s arms over her shoulder. Ryan offered to help her, but she refused. After all, it was her responsibility to look after (Y/N).

"Don't worry Ryan," she said with a smile, "I can handle it, though I might need some help with the TARDIS doors."

With that, the gang headed back to the TARDIS to allow (Y/N) to recover.

—

It's been about a week since the incident, and (Y/N) was still unconscious.

Everyday, the Doctor would come in to check on her. Once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once at night, though she would usually stay by her side the entire night. Although Lise rejected the offer to return home, Yaz managed to convince her to go.

"Think about it this way," she said, "We could come back one second later and (Y/N) could be awake!"

The protactinium was securely stored in a room in the TARDIS, as the Doctor hoped to wait until (Y/N) was awake to throw it in the supernova together. She wanted her to witness the fruit of her labour, and the reward for her bravery. She was not only brave in facing the Spirit, she was also brave in trusting four complete strangers with her life. The Doctor admired that.

With Lise and the Spirit settled for now, the gang just had to focus on moving forward, but it wasn't easy.

(Y/N) didn't make much noise the first few days. She lay peacefully in bed, with a fluffy blanket on as Graham wanted her to be comfortable. But by midweek, it was obvious that the memories were coming back to her, just as Lise had said. Her soul was reforming, and it became certain she didn't live an easy life.

It started in the evening, when Ryan was heading for a shower. He decided to check in, only to find her thrashing about in bed with her eyes closed, screaming for help. He immediately called for the others.

The Doctor tried to calm her down, but she couldn't hear her in her unconscious state.

"(Y/N), it's okay. Nothing's wrong, you're safe. If I dare say, you're in the safest place in the universe. Nothing can get to you here. You're alright, (Y/N). I promise."

It took time, but eventually (Y/N) stopped screaming. She slipped back into her deep sleep of recovery, and that was just the beginning.

The screaming and thrashing pursued into the second week, and then the third, and then the fourth, it soon became a month. The gang travelled less and less, for the Doctor was far too worried to leave (Y/N)'s side by then. They landed back in Sheffield with the TARDIS parked just outside Yaz's apartment so Graham, Ryan and Yaz could keep themselves occupied while the Doctor worked on (Y/N).

"(Y/N)," she would tell her every night, "You're alright. You're safe. I promised I would keep you alive, didn't I? I did, you're alive now, but you're asleep."

She fluffed up her pillow and put it back under her head, "Maybe you want to wake up now? No rush, but I've got loads to show you! Any time, anywhere, you name it!"

During the day, the gang would drop by to visit and see how the Doctor and (Y/N) were holding up, and usually the Doctor would spend the time with maintenance repairs on the TARDIS. Sometimes, when she felt like it, she would gather the gang around (Y/N) and tell them stories. Impossible, real stories that she hoped would intrigue (Y/N) to wake up.

"Did I ever tell you I made out with the Queen?"

"What?"

"True story, but I can't tell if it was her or her replicate. Zygon problems, hard to tell."

Graham walked out of the room after that, leaving the Doctor to tell the juicy details to the other two. She hoped (Y/N) didn't mind.

It went on for another month or two, like how Lise had experienced with her friend. At last, the day came when (Y/N)'s soul was fully formed.

Well, almost.

—

It was a Saturday. The Doctor always found Saturdays boring, but she had to stay put because the gang was coming over for tea. They had tea at Yaz's, then Graham's and Ryan's, and it was the Doctor's turn to host the tea party.

While the Doctor was unexpectedly preparing the tea in the kitchen, Graham found his way to (Y/N)'s room to check on her. He grabbed the worn-out chair by the bedside table and sat down, staring at (Y/N) as though that was going to help wake her.

"Hey, (Y/N)? You know it's been three months, maybe it's time, mate?"

"You're not mating with me, sunshine."

Graham was old and he should think he's imagining things, but he was pretty sure he saw her mouth move.

"Of course I'm not mating with you," he said casually, looking down at his hands, "I'm old and I have a wife."

"What's her name?"

"Grace."

"Am I Grace?"

"No, Grace is gone," Graham muttered, and it suddenly dawned upon him that he was actually conversing with someone. He looked up to see (Y/N) staring back at him.

"Oh my god, you're awake!"

His cry of excitement led Ryan to think there was an emergency, because the next thing he knew, Ryan had ran into the room, almost colliding with him.

"What's going on?"

Graham was too elated to say anything, so he just pointed at the one person who was asleep for three months. Ryan was dumbfounded as the only thing he could say was, "You're awake."

(Y/N) pushed herself into a sitting position, studying both men in the room. No word was spoken for five minutes, until (Y/N) stood up and pointed to herself.

"No, I'm (Y/N)."

It took a while for Graham and Ryan to get it.

"Three months and she's still funny, I think that's a good sign," said Ryan as he offered his hand out, "I'm Ryan."

(Y/N) blinked once before replying, "I know, and you're Graham."

The man's eyes widened with surprise, "She remembers!"

"Of course I do, why wouldn't I?" (Y/N) asked as she looked behind the two, "Where's Yaz?"

"With the Doctor," Ryan said, "They're going to be so happy when they see that you're awake now. Oh, and don't worry about any injury, the Doctor had you healed already."

Her brows furrowed, but she didn't question further. Instead, she squeezed past the two and headed down the corridor. Ryan and Graham caught up to her.

"Where're you going?"

"To find Yaz," (Y/N) answered simply, "Why?"

"Do you remember what happened?"

She stopped in her tracks to think, "Sort of. I was being hunted by this thing, it was trying to kill me, then you guys saved me, and I got knocked out, and...how long was I knocked out?"

"Three months mate," Ryan showed her three fingers, "Been rough, especially for the Doctor."

Again, the same puzzlement from before returned to her face, but she was more concerned about other things.

"Three months? Do you think you guys could get me back to my family? It's a time machine, right?"

Graham nodded, seeming relieved, "Yeah, the TARDIS, you remember that?"

She pursed her lips before exclaiming, "Oh yes! The TARDIS! Awesome, that means I won't be gone for long right?"

Before the pair could give her an answer, Yaz appeared right down the corridor. She ran up to the group.

"You're awake!"

"No, I'm (Y/N), and you're Yaz!" (Y/N) joked. They shared a laugh.

"Funny," Yaz remarked, "Different funny, but I like it."

"Where's the Doctor?" asked Graham.

Suddenly, (Y/N) found herself embraced by a pair of arms that felt so familiar, but she couldn't figure out why.

"Doctor, she's awake!"

"Why didn't you get me earlier?" The Doctor complained, letting go of (Y/N) before deciding to go in for a hug again. (Y/N) stood stiffly on the spot.

"You have no idea how worried she was for you," Yaz told you, "We stopped travelling because she was spending too much time with you!"

(Y/N) didn't respond, giving the Doctor a chance to fire off.

"(Y/N), I can't believe you're finally awake!" She rambled as she let go of you at last, "I told you I would keep the promise and here you are, alive and well! And you remember! You do remember, right?"

"She does, we asked her just now," Ryan helped her answer as she couldn't seem to speak for now.

"That's brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!" The Doctor exclaimed, "Where do you lot want to go? I'll take you to this planet where they celebrate all year long, this does call for a celebration!"

"Sorry, sorry, hold on," (Y/N) said, catching the gang off guard as they were about to dash off, "I've got a question."

"Go on then, shoot," the Doctor said, "Oh! And we're gonna have to stop by Lise's place to tell her you're awake."

"Lise? Lise who?"

The grins on all their faces disappeared. Slowly, Graham said, "Lise Meitner. The scientist we met. Don't you remember?"

As hard as she tried to recall, (Y/N) shook her head. Realisation dawned on the four of them: not all of (Y/N)'s memories were intact.

"Is there anything else you don't remember, (Y/N)? Anything at all?" The Doctor asked, approaching her cautiously.

"I won't know what I don't remember, will I?" (Y/N) said, "But I think there is something I really don't remember."

She focused on the Doctor's face, and the breaking of the Doctor's two hearts couldn't be any louder.

"Who are you?"