Two updates in one day. How am I being this productive right now?

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A loud scream then came through through the comm close to the Time Lords, instantly the sprinted straight towards the med-centre, the cries they couldn't mistake to be Abi begging, her voice shaking for help. "This is Med-centre. Urgent assistance requested!"

"Urgent assistance!"

"Stay here!" The Doctor shouting as he ran. "Keep working!"

"Urgent assistance!" She cried again.

"You jinxed it," Rita shouted after him.

"Come on even you knew there would be trouble here." He remarked running towards the med-centre.

"Okay, you have a point now come on!"

"Captain?" They turned around and groaned seeing McDonnell and Scannell running behind them.

"I told you to stay in Engineering." The Doctor protested standing in front of Scannell.

"I only take orders from one person round here." He told the Doctor.

"Oh, is he always this cheery?" The Doctor looked at the captain.

"He has a point, kind of." Rita shrugged continuing to run to the med centre. They stopped hearing a high pitched scream.

"That can't be good," Rita commented picking up the pace and running to the med-centre with the Doctor.

"Doctor, what were those screams?" Martha asked concerned.

He sighed and looked at Rita shaking her head mouthing for him to tell her to not worry. "Concentrate on those doors. You've got to keep moving forward."

"Impact in twenty-seven oh six."

"Korwin's gone." Scannell looked around the room then noticed the figure burned onto the metal x-ray shield and gasped. "Oh, my God. Tell me that's not Lerner."

The Doctor and Rita slowly walked over, he lightly drew his finger on the edge of the burn. "Endothermic vaporisation. I've never seen one this ferocious."

"Burn with me," Rita muttered. "This is powerful."
She looked at the Doctor slightly worried.

"That's what we heard Korwin say," Scannell mumbled thinking back.

"What? Do you think?" She shook her head not wanting to believe what they were suggesting. "No way. Scannell, tell him. Korwin is not a killer. He can't vaporise people. He's human!"

"His bio scan results." The Doctor picked up the results. "Internal temperature, one hundred degrees!"

Rita looks over his shoulder her eyes widening. "Body oxygen replaced by hydrogen."

"Your husband hasn't been infected, he's been overwhelmed." The Doctor looked at McDonnell sadly.

"The test results are wrong." McDonnell jumped up snatching the results from them.

"But what is it, though?" He ran a hand through his hair. "A parasite? A mutagenic virus? Something that needs a host body, but how did it get inside him?"

McDonnell then snapped at him angrily. "Stop talking like he's some kind of experiment."

"Where's the ship been? Have you made planet-fall recently? Docked with any other vessels? Any kind of external contact at all?" The Doctor asked.

"What is this, an interrogation?" McDonnell asked.

"McDonnell I know this is hard, but we have to stop whatever it is before anyone else is killed." Rita calmly spoke not wanting to antagonise the woman anymore.

"We're just a cargo ship." She told them turning around running a hand through her hair and breathing deeply.

"If you give her a minute." Scannell turned around with McDonnell.

McDonnell turned back around towards them. "I'm fine. I need to warn the crew." She walked up to the comm and spoke through it. "Everybody, listen to me. Something has infected Korwin. We think he killed Abi Lerner. None of you must go anywhere near him, is that clear?"

"Understood, Captain," Ashton replied. "Erina? Get back here with that equipment. He ordered.

McDonnell looked at Rita and the Doctor sitting on a step close to tears sighing she asked: "Is the infection permanent? Can you cure him?"

The Doctor looked at the woman sadly. "I don't know."

"Don't lie to me, Doctor. Eleven years we've been married. We chose this ship together. He keeps me honest, so I don't want false hope." She demanded the answer. Rita looked at the Doctor then back at McDonnell, sighed and sadly answered. "I'm sorry McDonnell. There isn't a way back, your husband is dead. That parasite is too strong and aggressive."

"Thank you." She nodded at the brunette wiping her now glassy eyes.

"Are you certain nothing happened to provoke this?" The Doctor asked. "Nobody's working on anything secret? Because it's vital that you tell us." He sternly reminded her.

"I know every inch of this ship." She snapped. "I know every detail of my crew's lives. There is nothing."

"Then why is this thing so interested in you?" He asked.

"I wish I knew." She sighed.

"Stone, Doctor, we're through to area seventeen," Martha informed them through the comm.

"Keep going you've got to get to area one and reboot those engines." The Doctor reminded her.

"McDonnell I'm only asking because sometimes the Doctor doesn't ask with the kindest voice, there is nothing you have done or know about that could have possibly brought that on board?" The brunette asked quietly trying to talk as calm and softly as she could.

"I know nothing of how it got on board." She breathed deeply trying to stay calm.

"Thank you." She nodded. "I'm sorry about him." Her eyes glanced over to the Doctor who had his back to her talking to Martha through the inter-comm. "He can just get a little worried sometimes, our ship is stuck and were heading towards the sun, even if he won't admit it I will for him."

"It's okay." She shrugged. "At least you guys have each other."

"Oh, you don't mean? Because we're not." She shook her head. "He's my best friend."

"You two are close." She pointed out.

"Yeah, I guess..." She looked over to him watching him talk then pulled her eyes away. "Right, best head back to engineering." She jumped up from where she was sitting beside McDonnell causing the woman to slightly jump at the sudden movement.

McDonnell then stood up as well, the Doctor placed down the comm and they headed back to engineering.

"Doctor!" They heard Martha screaming through a comm as they walked through the storage area.

"Doctor! Stone! We're stuck in an escape pod off the area seventeen airlock." She screamed. "One of the crew's trying to jettison us! You've got to help us! Tell me you can stop it."

"Why is this happening?" McDonnell asked.

"Stay here!" He shouted. "I mean it this time! Jump start those engines!" He sprinted out heading for Martha. Rita ran after him moving as fast as she could trying to get to her friend.

"That's enough!" The Doctor shouted. "What do you want? Why this ship? Tell me."

"Doctor!" Rita ran up beside him just as Ashton threw his fist through the keypad.

"Come on. Let's see you. I want to know what you really are." The Doctor calmly spoke gritting his teeth. Ashton stood in front if the Doctor nose to nose. The Doctor pushed Rita behind him as Ashton raised his hand to the visor but then doubled over in pain.

"Airlock sealed." The computer stated. Ashton then pushed his way between Rita and the Doctor back to the ship the Doctor grabbed the intercom to warn the others.

"McDonnell? Ashton's heading in your direction. He's been infected, just like Korwin!" He shouted. Rita ran over to the window and gasped then started to scream hitting it shouting for Martha.

"Stone!" Martha shouted hitting the window of the pod then shouting for the Doctor as well when he ran beside her.

"I'll save you!" He shouted.

"Martha!" Rita screamed. "We will get you back!"

"I'll save you!" The Doctor screamed again as the pod slowly moved away.

"No." She started to shake watching it get smaller and smaller. The Doctor pulled her to his chest tightly wrapping her in a hug. "She's gone." She started to sob into his chest tightly gripping onto the lapels of his suit.

"We will get her back." He softly spoke into her mind rubbing her back. Before grabbing the inter-comm with the hand not around her shouting into the comm. "Scannell! I need a spacesuit in area seventeen now!"

"What for?" He asked.

"Just do as he says!" Rita turned her head screaming into the intercom while tightening her grip on him. She already lost one friend, she didn't want to lose another. It broke him just as much as it broke her. She couldn't witness that happen again because it broke the both of her hearts.

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"I can't let you do this." Scannell protested as the Doctor finished messing with the space suit he was now wearing.

"Scannell no matter what I or anyone else says he won't listen, there is no point in trying to stop him." Rita coldly told the man.

"He wants to open an airlock in flight on a ship spinning into the sun. No one can survive that." Scannell snapped back at her.

"He can." Rita firmly told him.

"You open that airlock, it's suicide. This close to the sun, the shields will barely protect him." Scannell told them.

"If I can boost the magnetic lock on the ship's exterior, it should remagnetise the pod. Now, while I'm out there, you have got to get the rest of those doors open. We need those auxiliary engines."

"Doctor, will you listen!" Scannell shouted. "They're too far away. It's too late."

"We're not going to lose her." He shouted back then looked at Rita. "Stay here and don't leave until I get back, I don't want to find Ashton has done something to you."

"I won't move an inch." She smiled softly. "I'll try not to, might have to slightly move, however." She smirked and hugged him. "You better not be an idiot." She whispered placing a kiss on his cheek.

"I'll try not to." He smiled then placed on his helmet squeezing her hand and then moving to the air lock.

"Decompression initiated. Impact in twelve fifty-five." The computer informed.

Rita watched as the Doctor slowly made his way to the outer airlock. "You can do this." She closed her eyes, trying to send him the strength to do this.

"I have to." He replied breathing deeply before opening the outer airlock gritting his teeth then climbing outside and reaching for the row of buttons. "Come on!" He shouted. "Go on, my son!"

She heard him screaming and shouting. Tightly shutting her eyes she told him through her mind to keep on going as long as he could, reminding him that he was doing this to get Martha back and that his best friend was waiting for him on the other side.

The Doctor then climbed back inside as the escape pod began to be pulled back. Rita cried out in pain feeling as if her head was on fire while being forced back. "Oh no." She gasped clambering back to her feet widening her eyes, "Doctor!" She shouted running over to his side as staggered out of the airlock throwing his helmet down and squeezing his eyes shut. He reached out and gripped onto her whining in pain. "Sweetheart!" She cried clearly seeing him in distress she pulled him away from the airlock. He then collapsed to the floor pulling the brunette with him. Still having his grip on her she reached for his head placing her cheek against his. "Tell me what's wrong," she said in a soothing voice. "What happened." He cried out in pain again his breathing increasing. Rita looked up seeing Martha climb out of the pod.

"Doctor!" She shouted running over to them. "Stone is he okay?" She asked in a shaky voice.

The Doctors eyes then opened briefly and a white light shone as he coldly shouted: "Stay away from me!" He then cried out in pain tightening his eyes "Rita!" He cried.

"I'm right here." She soothed stroking his hair back. "I'm not going anywhere."

"What's happened?" McDonnell came running in.

"It's your fault, Captain McDonnell!" The Doctor shouted squirming in Rita's arms.

"Riley, get down to area ten and help Scannell with the doors. Go!" She ordered.

"You mined that sun. Stripped its surface for cheap fuel. You should have scanned for life!" He cried out again screaming in pain making both of Rita's hearts ache.

"I don't understand." She said scared and confused.

"Don't you ever listen!" Rita shouted looking up from the Doctor. "You mined the sun!"

"That sun is alive. A living organism. They scooped out its heart, used it for fuel, and now it's screaming!" He shouted again jolting in sharp pain. Rita began to rock back and forward holding the Doctor tightly close to her.

"What do you mean?" McDonnell asked. "How can a sun be alive? Why is he saying that?"

"Because it's living in me."

"Oh, my God." She gasped stepping back and holding a hand to her mouth.

"Humans! You grab whatever's nearest and bleed it dry! You should have scanned!" He screamed.

"It takes too long." McDonnell made an excuse causing Rita to glare at the woman. "We'd be caught. Fusion scoops are illegal."

"Shush." Rita soothed rubbing his head almost gasping at how hot it now felt. "We will fix this sweetheart, I promise you we will."

"You've got to freeze me, quickly." He gasped again continuing to squirm in the brunette's arms.

"What?" Martha asked.

"The stasis chamber," Rita explained. "We have to make it below minus two hundred. We have to freeze it out of his system." She explained her own voice shaking.

"Stone it'll use me to kill you if you don't." He cried gripping on to her tighter than he was before. "The closer we get to the sun, the stronger it gets! Med-centre, quickly! Quickly!"

"Martha help me!" Rita shouted trying to pull the Doctor up. Martha and McDonnell then ran over helping the Time Lady take the Doctor to the med centre.

"Sweetheart stay strong." Rita cooed as Martha helped pull him into the med centre. "Martha the instructions go." She ordered. Martha then ran over and started flicking through the pages.

"I can do it!" She cried out.

"Stone! where are you?" The Doctor screamed not feeling her near him.

"I'm right here sweetheart and I'm never leaving." She promised. "Martha help me get him in the stasis chamber!" She shouted pulling him over. Martha ran over and helped the Time Lady put the Doctor into the chamber. "Minus two hundred Martha," Rita told her.

"No, you don't know how this equipment works. You'll kill him. Nobody can survive those temperatures." McDonnell protested.

"In a matter of fact I do know how this equipment works thank you very much and he is not human and neither am I, so unless you are a Time Lord and you know that he can't survive this shut up and listen to me when I say he can!" She snapped at the woman.

"Let me help you, then."

"You've done enough damage." Martha hissed.

"Ten seconds. That's all I'll be able to take." He cried. "No more. Stone!"

"Doctor I am right here." She squeezed his hand tightly.

"It's burning me up. I can't control it. If you don't get rid of it, I could kill you. I could kill you all."

"No you won't because we're going to fix this and then we will get out, we have so much to do and see Doctor, so many things to do together. I'm not leaving you ever because I-" she paused then deeply swallowed. "Because you are my best friend and I need you by my side Doctor, I can't be alone you can't leave me." Her eyes started to become glossy with tears as she spoke feeling everything overwhelm her at once. "I need you, Doctor."

"I'm scared! I'm so scared!" He cried.

Thickly swallowing she shook her head slightly. "I know, my sweetheart. I know you're scared." She softly stroked his forehead slightly hissing at how high the temperature was. "You have to stay strong." She kissed the side of his head. "Please. I need you to stay strong," she whispered.

"It's burning through me." He cried out in pain.

"Martha There's this process, this thing that happens if I'm about to die." He cried out.

"Shush. Quiet now. Because that is not going to happen the Stone said it won't. Are you ready?" She asked.

"No." He cried. Martha looked at Rita who forced the Doctor out of her grip and a nodded stepping next to Martha as she used a joystick to roll the Doctor in before punching in the numbers. The stasis chamber then began to drop in temperature. tears began to fall from the brunette's eyes as she heard his screams and cries of pain.

"Heat shields failing. At five percent." The computer stated. The stasis chamber then shut down as the Doctor cried out.

"No! Stone! Martha!" He cried. "You can't stop it. Not yet."

"What happened?" Martha looked at McDonnell.

"Power's been cut in Engineering."

"But who's down there?"

"Leave it to me." McDonnell then ran out.

"It needs to come back on." Rita started to sob. "I can't be the only one." Tears started to form in Martha's eyes as she pulled the shaken Time Lady into a hug trying to comfort her. "I can't be the only one."

"Come on. You're defrosting." Martha whined seeing the frost no longer on the Doctors body.

"Martha, listen!" He cried out. "I've only got a moment. You've got to go!"

"No way." She shook her head.

"Get to the front. Vent the engines. Sun particles in the fuel, get rid of them."

"I am not leaving you." She stated then looked at Rita. "Either of you."

"Martha you have to go, give back everything what they took because I'm not leaving him, never."

"Please go!" He cried.

"I'll be back for you two." She then ran off. Rita started to pace around running a hand through her hair hearing the Doctors screams.

"You have to fight it, Doctor. I can't be the last, I'm so scared to be alone, I need you with me, we have so much to see in the universe, so much to do together, I need you beside me." She cried crouching down to the floor in a ball whimpering at the thought of being alone. "I need my Doctor with me. Please don't leave me alone." She sobbed tears streaming down her face escaping her shaking body. Her head jolted up at the sound of a thud. The Doctor had climbed out of the chamber. "No!" She screamed running over to him. "You have to stay in there!"

The Doctor pushed her away gritting his teeth he crawled across the floor. "Get out!" He screamed trying to stop himself. "Get out of here Stone! I can't fight it anymore!"

"No!" She shouted. "I promised you I would stay with you! And I am not breaking that promise!"

The Doctor screamed in pain as his eyes opened. "Burn with me. Burn with me Stone." She swallowed hard and ran out before seeing it closing the door behind her.

"Martha!" She shouted into an intercom. "It has to be done now! He can't fight it anymore!" Rita then fell to the floor crying and shaking beside the door. She heard the agonising screams from the Doctor before there was nothing but silence. Thinking that he was gone she shakenly got up slowly looking through the window in the door to see the Doctor looking back to himself lying on his back. "Doctor!" She shouted wrenching the door open and running to him diving to the floor, placing her head in the crook of his neck. "You're okay" she murmured. "I got you, your okay." She soothed as he breathed deeply placing an arm around her pulling her closer to him. "I was so worried about you." She cried feeling a lump in her throat. "I thought you-" she burst to tears not able to speak, just keeping him close to her. "I'm sorry." She sniffed. "I'm sorry for everything."

"Shush." He rubbed her back. "I'm okay, we're okay." He pulled her closer breathing deeply.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered leaning her head against his looking into his soft brown eyes.

He frowned slightly not understand what she meant before his eyes then widened feeling a pair of lips on his. The Doctor slowly closed his eyes returning the kiss pulling her even closer as he lay on the cold floor.

Pulling away for air she started to chuckle resting her head against his. "I... I..." she looked around frantically before closing her eyes as he moulded his lips with hers again.

Not saying another word Rita then stood up helping the Doctor to his feet before Martha came running in embracing them both in a hug. "You saved him, Martha." Rita chuckled giving the woman a hug back.

"Thank you." The Doctor grinned while laughing with the two girls.

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"This is never your ship." Scannell chuckled walking around the TARDIS.

"Compact, eh? And another good word, robust."

"Look at that barely a scorch mark on her." Rita patted the TARDIS. "Literally survives anything. Exactly like her driver." Rita smirked at the Doctor who rolled his eyes.

"We can't just leave you drifting with no fuel," Martha told them.

"We've sent out an official mayday. The authorities'll pick us up soon enough." Riley explained to Martha.

"Though how we explain what happened?"

"Just tell them." The Doctor spoke up. "That sun needs care and protection just like any other living thing." The Doctor and Rita then slipped into the TARDIS.

"Oh, you have no idea how happy I am to be back in here."

"Hmm, I know that feeling." He hummed walking over to the console the brunette following.

"Are you okay?" She asked him. He looked down at her then rested his forehead against hers sighing.

"I'm fine. I promise." He kissed her cheek then rested his head against hers again. They stood there for a while. Both of their eyes closed just knowing that they were both alive.

"So." Martha entered the TARDIS walking over to the console. "Didn't really need you in the end, did we?" She then looked up noticing how scared they both looked holding on to each other for dear life as if the thought of letting go even for a brief moment would cause one of them to permanently lose the other. "Sorry. How are you two doing?" She asked. Rita sighed hugging the Doctor then moving away sitting down in the jumpseat as the Doctor ran around the console.

"Now, what do you say?" He burst out in a happy mood, he was never one to talk about his feeling to people, the only person he actually remembered telling his feeling to was Rita, his Stone. "Ice skating on the mineral lakes of Kur-ha. Fancy it?"

"Whatever you like." Martha shrugged.

"I think she deserves another 'frequent fliers privilege.'" Rita winked at the Doctor who nodded in understanding.

"By the way." He cleared his throat looking over at Rita who nodded for him to go on. "You'll be needing this." He brought out a TARDIS key on a chain. Martha looked at the Doctor who was deadly serious. Her eyes then flicked to the Time Lady's who held a proud grin on her face with her arms crossed.

"Really?" She asked holding out her hands. The Doctor then lowered the key into hers.

"Frequent flier's privilege." He paused then added: "Thank you." Martha smiled for a moment before her eyes widened remembering something, she took put her phone. Rita let out a chuckle as Martha dialled her mother's number placing the phone to her ear and walking out of the console room.

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Aha, they're not there just yet, I really like to drag this out as long as possible because I'm so horrible. ;)