A/N: was 7628 words, is now 11407! Enjoy! :D

The kettle whistles and I hurry over to take it off the heat. Making me a cup of tea with honey, I sit down and smile as I take a sip. I'm glad this is something that carried over from being Lizzie, it would suck if I- she- we didn't like honey tea anymore. Sighing at the slight pain in my head, I rub at my temples in frustration while feeling a slight pang of concern. Martha walks in and I glance up, "there's a kettle."

"Thanks," she smiles, fixing herself a cup and sitting across from me.

Watching her for a moment, I raise an eyebrow in question. She was biting her lip and seeming to struggle, thinking something over that was obviously bothering her. I wasn't quite sure what, though. "Something wrong?" I ask, making her jump slightly.

"No... not wrong," she shakes her head, taking a sip of her tea.

I wait patiently while she gathers her thoughts. The silence was nice - comforting in a way. It wasn't awkward or at all unwelcome. I do enjoy having Martha on board the TARDIS. It feels as if I've known her for years instead of just a few days. It was also a plus not to have a complicated history with her.

"In New York... you told Dalek Sec you'd lost your baby sister cause of them," she glances at me and I tense, my hands tightening around my cup as my heart aches. Martha's tone turns a bit hesitant, "what did you mean by that? What happened to her?"

"I... should tell you about something first," I sigh, leaning my elbows on the table and putting my chin in my hands. It was only natural for her to be curious, I hardly open up to her. My heart aches more and tears prickle my eyes as I think of Rose. "I was... Human for a while. Twenty-three years, actually," I mutter, making Martha's eyes widen.

"You were actually Human? How's that even possible?"

"There's this thing called a Chameleon Arch," I trace the top of my cup. "It alters your DNA... changes it entirely. The Doctor and I modified it so that when I became Human, our connection would remain. It was so he'd be able to find me if he survived. The last day of the war..." I trail off, my face contorting at the memories. "I was leaving Gallifrey... heading to Earth. I'd become Human and was ready to go, but I was shot by a Dalek." Martha gasps softly and I refuse to look at her. "The shot must've hit my necklace - what my Iralian consciousness was in," I take it out of my holster and she takes it from me, looking it over. "It corrupted the fail-safe and I became a Human infant. I managed to make it to Earth - still not sure how - and ended up on the Tylers' doorstep."

"Tyler, your last name," she mutters.

I nod with a hum, "my name as a Human was Elizabeth Mae Tyler. Most called me Lizzie."

"Dame Elizabeth..."

"The name slipped out. It was from a trip in the TARDIS when I was still Human." I smile as I think of Scotland and Queen Victoria. "You see, Kas had found me when I was Human, but since he'd thought I was dead... how was he to know I was his wife? I and the bond caught his interest, so my sister and I traveled with him. We'd been with him for... a year, I think? Maybe a bit more?" my eyebrows furrow. "We'd been trying for 1979 for Rose's birthday and ended up in 1879." Martha snorts loudly, making my smile widen. "Anyway! We met Queen Victoria, ran into an alien werewolf, and got knighted! Of course, Kas and Rose got exiled within the same breath!" I giggle.

"You two have a habit of making queens your enemies, don't you? Is it a rebel princess thing?" Martha laughs and I roll my eyes with a smile. After a moment, she seems to hesitate again, "so, Rose... she's your sister?"

"Yeah," I whisper, my heart aching once more. "The Daleks are the reason she's gone... it was during the Battle of Canary Wharf. She's lost with our mum and dad and her boyfriend - my best friend - in a parallel world. I lost my Human family to them, Kas and my children, my mum and dad, my brothers, my home... everything," my voice cracks and I wipe at my eyes.

Martha moves over to my side of the table and wraps me up in her arms tightly, "I'm so sorry," she murmurs and I wrap my arms around her waist gratefully while she rubs my back. "Star?" she asks quietly and I hum for her to go on. "You and the Doctor were in Canary Wharf, did you... did you see Adeola?"

"Yes, I... know what happened to your cousin," I bury my face against her shoulder, feeling her tense. I need to tell her, she deserves to know. "She was... I'm sorry, Martha, she was taken by the Cybermen... they killed her."

"Addy," she breathes, tightening her hold on me and she buries her face against my neck. "... thank you for telling me," she whispers shakily.

I pull away and wipe her tears and brush her hair from her face with a sad smile. "Anytime you need to talk, I'm here for you, alright?"

"Thanks," she smiles, wiping at her eyes some more. Her smile turns teasing, "... your highness," she giggles when I nudge her with my foot.

"I'll let that go this one time," I narrow my eyes playfully and she sticks her tongue out. "Now," I stand, holding my hand out to her. "Enough with the emotions and junk, there are places to be! Things to be seen! Adventures to be had!" I pull her up and wiggle my eyebrows, "I hope you're ready for more, Martha Jones."

"Absolutely!"

***

The Doctor lands the TARDIS and I check the monitor to make sure we'd ended up in the right time and place. I was hoping to give Martha a surprise visit home. After this morning, I'd talked to Kas and he agreed that it was a good idea. If she was going to be a companion and not just some tag-along - which we both want one hundred percent - then I want her to know she can see her family whenever she wants.

"There we go, perfect landing," Kas beams, looking at the monitor over my shoulder. "Which isn't easy in such a tight spot."

"You should be used to tight spots by now," Martha teases, making me snort quietly while Kas rolls his eyes with a smile. "Where are we?" she asks excitedly, looking between us and the doors.

I put my hands behind my back and bounce on my toes, "take a look," I smile, nodding to doors.

"No place like it," Kas grins, his hands shoved in his pockets.

Martha runs over to the doors and flings them open, only to stop in her tracks when she sees her living room. "Home... you took me home?" she frowns, looking between us as we step into the room.

Kas nods with a hum, "in fact, the morning after we left. So you've only been gone about twelve hours... no time at all, really," he shrugs.

"You should count yourself lucky I helped pilot her," I grin, leaning against the TARDIS and folding my arms. I breathe out a laugh when she thrums against my back in amusement. "Last time he said twelve hours, he'd brought Rose and I home twelve months late."

"A whole year!?" Martha squeaks, staring at the Doctor incredulously.

"Oi, I said I was sorry," the Doctor pouts.

"... mum's slap hurt," I rub my cheek, remembering the sting of it.

"But all the stuff we've done," Martha cuts in, her eyebrows furrowing. "Shakespeare, New New York, old New York?"

"Yep, all in one night - relatively speaking," the Doctor nods, looking around the room curiously. "Everything should be just as it was; books, CDs, laundry," he picks up a pair of underwear off of a clothes rack with a slight smirk, making me roll my eyes.

"Seriously, honey?" I sigh, taking them from him and tossing them to Martha.

She catches them and quickly hides them behind her back as she shifts on her feet. "This is it?" she asks quietly, tears welling up as she looks between us.

"No," I shake my head with a slight frown. Did she really think we'd leave her just like that? With no warning or anything? "We're just popping in for a visit... I thought you'd like to see your family," I rub my arm with furrowed eyebrows.

"Yeah, we should probably... um..." Kas gestures to the TARDIS. Neither of us wanted to stay and be in the middle of a happy family reunion. Besides, I have something I need to take care of.

A phone rings, cutting into the awkward tension. "Hi, I'm out! Leave a message!" Martha's voice comes over the answering machine.

"I'm sorry," she sighs, putting her face in her hand in embarrassment.

"Martha, are you there? Pick it up, will you?"

"It's mum... it'll wait," Martha shrugs, chewing on her bottom lip.

"Alright, then, pretend that you're out if you like," her mum scoffs, making me snort quietly and Martha nudges me with her elbow. "I was only calling to say that your sister's on TV - on the news of all things. Just thought you might be interested."

Martha frowns and picks up her remote, turning the telly on. There was an old man in his seventies by the looks of him on the news. His name was Professor Lazarus and there was a pretty young woman standing beside him. That must be Martha's sister. "How could Tish end up on the news?" she stares at the screen with wide eyes.

Professor Lazarus - The details are top-secret. Tonight I will demonstrate a device...

"She's got a new job, PR for some research lab," Martha's mum's voice comes over the phone before she hangs up.

Professor Lazarus - ... with the push of a single button, I will change what it means to be Human.

Martha switches the TV off and turns to us while I'm lost in thought. "Sorry, you were saying...?"

"Yes, yes, we should..." Kas nods absently. "We'll just pop by later to pick you up... after you've seen your family," he wraps an arm around my shoulders to pull me into the TARDIS.

"No, I'm sorry," I shake my head, stopping him with a hand on his chest. My thing will have to wait until later, I guess. "Did he just say he was going to change what it means to be Human?" I frown at the black screen.

***

I was putting on my arm cuff when hands cage me to mirror from behind, making me smile up at Kas. "You look beautiful, Rinell," he smiles, pressing a kiss to the back of my head.

"Don't look so bad yourself," I smirk, turning and looking him over. He really does look nice in this suit. "All posh and sexy... it's unfair, really. How am I supposed to keep my hands off you?" I pull on his bow-tie so I could kiss him and he hums, pulling me closer and slipping his tongue past my lips. "Kas," I giggle between kisses as he reaches for my zipper. "Martha's waiting for us-" I squeak when he picks me up suddenly and I wrap my legs around his waist and grab onto his shoulders. "Kasterborous!" I scold half-heartedly as he drops me onto a chaise lounge.

"We barely have any time alone since Martha's started traveling with us," Kas crawls on top of me and hovers there, his hands on either side of my head. "It was supposed to be just the two of us today," he pouts and I roll my eyes with a smile as I untie his bowtie. "And you're always teasing me. Being cruel." His pouting is ruined with a groan when I kiss up his throat and let my light flow through my lips. "Like now."

"It isn't teasing if I plan to fully back it up," I smirk, breathing out a laugh when he shudders.

***

After getting ready - again - Kas and I step out of the TARDIS. I look around for a moment before Martha steps into the room, wearing a deep plum dress that reaches her knees. It was paired with matching heels and her hair was down, though pulled away from her face by a thick, knitted headband. "Don't you look cute," I smile, making her jump and turn to me, stopping in her tracks.

Her eyes widen and I blush slightly, wrapping an arm around myself. "Wow, Star... you look..." she takes in my outfit.

"Gorgeous?" the Doctor offers, putting an arm around my waist and I blush more at the attention. Is he teaming up with Martha to... to flirt with me? With a smirk, he rubs my side and snickers quietly when I shoot him a look. Bastard.

"That's a word," Martha looks me over once more before shaking her head. She turns away from me and grabs a small clutch purse.

"Well, thank you both," I smile, pushing a chunk of hair behind my ear.

"Where's your holster-purse-thing?" she glances at me, her eyebrows furrowing.

"Oh, I've got a more discreet one for things like this," I smile, patting my thigh holster under my dress. "Come on, let's go!" I grab Kas' hand and drag him from the flat.

***

The three of us were walking to the Laz Labs building - me with Kas' blazer on. "I can't believe we're going to be late," Martha huffs from the other side of me, folding her arms. "What even took you two so long to get ready?"

"U-um.. well, you s-see...." I trial off, clutching my necklace - I'd decided to wear it since I don't have my usual holster on - as my face burns and Kas turns his head to cover up a laugh with a cough.

"Nope, never mind, don't want to know," Martha shakes her head.

Kas shrugs, fussing with his cuffs. "Oh, black tie," he groans under his breath. "Whenever I wear this, something bad always happens."

"It's not the outfit, it's just you," Martha rolls her eyes, making me snort quietly. "Anyway, I think it suits you," she looks him over considerately. "In a James Bond kind of way," she muses with a teasing smile.

"Not you too," the Doctor sighs 'woefully', making Martha frown in confusion.

"That's what I said last time he wore it," I smile, making her let out a quiet 'oh' before shaking her head with a smile. "And shut up," I slap the Doctor's arm lightly before pointing up at him. "You're flattered at the comparison, do not even try to deny it."

The Doctor's face breaks out into a huge grin and he fixes his bow-tie while we walk into Laz Labs, making Martha and I share a look before bursting into giggles. What a dork. The banners outside the doors make me pause for a moment. The symbol... it looks like- I shake my head, pushing that out of my mind. 

That's... a scary coincidence. I wonder what Professor Lazarus' inspiration for that symbol was.

Looking around the reception hall, I see tons of guests all mingling about the place. There was a huge white capsule surrounded by four pillars that curve a bit at the top. Impressive. I raise an eyebrow, eyeing the piece of machinery as I hand Kas his blazer back. It's not nearly as cold in here as it was outside, thank God. My heart aches, though, and my stomach knots up in guilt as I see more of the symbol. This was going to be a hard night to get through.

Kas wraps an arm around my shoulders, rubbing my arm as worry hits me. But he beams at a waitress going by, "oh, look! They've got nibbles!" he takes some off her tray with his free hand. "I love nibbles!" he pops one in his mouth. "Star, have a nibble," he feeds me one, making me smile. He's always trying to cheer me up, even when he doesn't know what's causing my bad mood.

"Hello," a voice catches my attention and I look to see Martha's sister had come over.

"Tish," Martha smiles, pulling her into a tight hug.

"You look great," Tish pulls back, looking her sister over. "So, what do you think? Impressive, isn't it?" she gestures the party.

"Very," Martha nods, looking around.

Tish nudges her with a teasing grin, "and two nights out in a row for you! That's dangerously close to a social life!"

"If I keep this up, I'll end up in all the gossip columns," Martha jokes, making me hide a snort behind my hand.

"You might, actually, keep an eye out for photographers," Tish warns. Nice. "And mum, she's coming too. Even dragging Leo along with her," she smiles. Leo was her brother, right? She'd told me a bit about her family on the way here. He's got a little girl named... Keisha, I think is her name.

"Leo in black tie? This I must see," Martha laughs before glancing over at Kas and I. "This is, uh... Star and the Doctor," she introduces.

"Hello," the Doctor smiles, shaking Tish's hand.

"Lovely to meet you," I smile, shaking her hand as well.

"They with you?" Tish raises an eyebrow, eyeing the two of us suspiciously.

"Yeah..."

"But they're not on the list," Tish frowns. "How did they get in?"

"They're my plus two?"

"So, this Lazarus bloke," I cut in before Tish can ask more questions. "He's your boss?"

"Professor Lazarus, yes. I'm part of his executive staff," she tells us proudly.

"She's in the PR department," Martha rolls her eyes with a smile.

"I'm head of the PR department, actually," Tish corrects.

"You're joking!" Martha stares at her in surprise.

"I put this whole thing together."

"You did a brilliant job," I look around, making her smile.

"So, do you know what the professor's going to be doing tonight?" Kas cuts in.

"Yeah, cause that looks a bit like it might be a sonic micro-field manipulator," I nod to the machine, trying to ignore the banners.

Tish sighs, "she's a science geek, I should've known," she gives Martha a pointed look, making her look away shyly and I wince slightly. "Gotta get back to work now. I'll catch up with you later," she gives Martha a one-armed hug before heading off.

"Science geek? What does that mean?" the Doctor asks, glaring at Tish's back. Overprotective idiot.

"That she's obsessively enthusiastic about it," Martha shrugs.

"Oh, nice," his glare turns into a smile. "I'm married to a science geek!"

"You're a science geek too, honey," I shake my head with a smile.

"Brilliant!" he beams, making me giggle.

"Martha!" a woman in a gold gown comes up. Martha's mum. Francine, I believe.

"Mum!" Martha turns and launches at the woman, hugging the life out of her.

"Oh," her mum gasps, wrapping her arms around Martha. "Alright, what's the occasion?"

"What do you mean? I'm just pleased to see you, that's all!"

"You saw me last night," her mum reminds her, pulling back.

"I know, I just... miss you," Martha mutters awkwardly, making me bite my lip to keep from smiling. "You're looking good, Leo," she turns to a handsome young man.

"Yeah," he smiles, hugging her tightly. "If anyone asks me to fetch 'em a drink, I'll swing for him," he jokes, pulling back.

I go to introduce myself when Martha's mum cuts in, "you disappeared last night," she eyes me.

"I... just went home," Martha shrugs.

"On your own?"

"Married," I point to the Doctor, who waves with food in his mouth, making me sigh.

"These are friends of mine, Star and the Doctor," Martha introduces.

"Doctor what?" Francine looks him over.

"No, it's just the Doctor," Martha shakes her head. "We've been doing some work together."

"Yeah, alright," Kas grins, shaking Leo's hand and then Francine's. "Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Jones, heard a lot about you."

"Have you? What have you heard?"

"Oh, you know... that you're Martha's mother and, um... no, actually, that's- that's about it..." he stumbles over his words, making me turn my head to hide a smile. He's just digging himself in a hole. "... we haven't had much time to chat, you know... been busy."

"Busy? Doing what, exactly?" she raises an eyebrow.

"Oh... you know... stuff..."

"Pardon my husband, sometimes he puts his foot in his mouth," I cut in with a smile, shaking Francine's hand while the Doctor pouts beside me. "Your daughter has been helping us with a time-consuming trial at the hospital. She's very bright and we're lucky to have her. Martha has proved to be an invaluable addition to our research."

"Oh, well, that's... Martha that's wonderful," she turns to her with a wide grin.

"Yeah, it really is," Martha smiles shyly, sending me a grateful look that I wave off.

Our attention is drawn up to the platform the machine is on when Lazarus taps on a champagne glass, standing behind a podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Professor Richard Lazarus, and tonight, I'm going to perform a miracle! It is, I believe, the most important advance since Rutherford split the atom! The biggest leap since Armstrong stood on the moon! Tonight, you will watch in wonder! Tomorrow, you'll awake to a world which will be changed forever!"

Entering the capsule, two women start the machinery for him. I raise an eyebrow at them both being young and very attractive - the same as most of the staff. He certainly likes to surround himself with youth and beauty. Not that I've much room to judge as most of Kas and my companions are young and attractive. My thoughts are cut off when there's a high-pitched whir and a bright blue light. The pillars begin to spin individually. An energy field surrounds the capsule and the pillars start to spin around it as well, going faster and faster. My eyes widen at the speed and an alarm blares.

"Something's wrong... it's overloading," Kas breathes, his eyes widening as well.

The technicians try to stop it with no luck and part of the control panel explodes, sending sparks up and they jolt back with screams. The Doctor and I share a look before rushes over, him hopping over the control panel and me kneeling beside it. I open up the system and mess about with the wires while Kas uses his sonic on the controls.

"Somebody stop them! Get them away from those controls!" some old lady shouts. Moron.

Kas turns to her with a glare, "if this thing goes off, it'll take the whole building with it! Is that what you want?"

Not having any luck with shutting the system down, I pull the main cord from the controls. Martha, Kas, and I hurry over to the capsule and try to open the door as the machine powers down. "Get it open!" I shout.

The three of us pry the door open and smoke billows out of the capsule. I stumble back in shock, horror washing over me as a man that looks to be in his late thirties steps out. Lazarus touches his face in awe as photographers snap photos quickly and there's a murmur of shock running through the crowd. "Oh, my God..." I breathe.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Lazarus holds his arms out. "I am Richard Lazarus, I am seventy-six years old, and I am reborn!" he announces and the applaud starts up.

"He did it! He actually did it!" the old lady that'd shouted at us for stopping the machine grins up at the professor.

***

The Doctor, Martha, and I were watching Lazarus talk to the press carefully. I was a bit off to the side, my arms folded with my chin in my hand. He didn't look like there was anything wrong with him, but every instinct I have is telling me that something horrific was about to happen tonight. This was messing with mother nature... this was messing with the natural order of the universe and I had to stop it.

"It's truly amazing, isn't it?" a voice notes beside me, making me jump and look to see a man with short dark hair. His eyes were a gorgeous brown, almost looking golden in the light.

"Yes... truly," I hum, going back to watching Lazarus carefully.

"Genetic manipulation seemed impossible, but Professor Lazarus has accomplished his dream," he murmurs, watching the man as well. "Of course, he couldn't have done it without Mr. Saxon's generous contribution."

The name catches my attention, "who is this Mr. Saxon?" I ask curiously. I've never heard the name before but if he's got enough money to back a project like this, it might be a good idea to know about him.

"You haven't heard of Harold Saxon?" the man looks at me, a chuckle leaving him. I raise an eyebrow, unimpressed with his reaction and he clears his throat slightly. "Mr. Saxon is running for Prime Minister. He's a brilliant man - clever, charming, hypnotic," he tells me and my eyebrow goes higher at the smirk that plays on his lips as he says the last word.

"Hm, I've met plenty of charming, rich politicians in my life," I mutter, tapping on my side. "What made him decide to back Professor Lazarus? Is he a man of science?"

"He's a man of many things," the man smiles, glancing at me.

"Do you work for him?" I ask curiously.

"In a sense, yes," he smiles. "And I've been overseeing the project."

"So..." I trail off, chewing on my bottom lip as I look up at one of the banners. "Do you happen to know about the symbol Lazarus has used? What inspired him?"

"Oh, that was Mr. Saxon," the man informs me, making me look at him with slightly wide eyes and my eyebrows raised in surprise. "It was the one thing he was absolutely insistent on in the agreement."

"... and Lazarus agreed to it?" my eyebrows furrow. It wasn't that odd for a benefactor to have demands, but why this symbol? Where did Mr. Saxon get it from? If he's running for Prime Minister... could he have seen the ring in one of the files? Did he like the way it looked?

"Mr. Saxon has a talent for persuasion," the man smirks. "Besides, it wasn't hard considering Lazarus wants fame and Mr. Saxon promised to make him a star."

"I-I-" my voice shakes a bit. The way he emphasized 'star' and the look in his eyes had my nerves a bit on edge.

There's a beep and the man takes his mobile out, "terribly sorry, the master calls," he smiles at me and bows, making my heartbeat pick up. "It was lovely speaking with you, my dear," he grabs my hand and presses a kiss to my knuckles before using it to pull me close. I was frozen and couldn't move. There was something about this man that made me want to make myself small. I couldn't put my finger on it. "You've brought a beautiful light to the party," he whispers in my ear, his voice lowering and I swallow thickly as a cold chill runs down my spine. Why, though? "My evening would have been so dark and dreary otherwise. Truly a gem, you are."

My heart was beating rapidly at this point and my breathing was quickened as my stomach knots up. The man pulls back and smirks with another chuckle along with a wink before walking away. Shaking my head, I call out to the man but it was too late as he moves through the crowd. I press my fists to my eyes as tears well up. How...? Why...? What was that!? There were only a few words that really made me react this way and the only reason they did, was because I was already on edge from the symbol. But that man's aura. It was so menacing and it reminded me so much of-

A hand on my shoulder makes me jump and I turn to see Kas looking down at me with his eyebrows furrowed, "what's wrong, sweetheart?" he frowns, cupping my face so he could look me over.

"That man, I thought-" I cut myself off, frowning.

"What man?"

"No one... nothing," I put my hands over his, trying for a smile and he gives me a scolding look for lying. "It's really nothing, I promise," I assure him, squeezing his hands before pulling them away from my face. "So... Professor Lazarus," I nod to the man who was still speaking with the press.

Kas narrows his eyes at my subject change and complete lie, making me look away. I'm sorry, honey... but I can't. "You've been giving me a headache ever since we arrived, I'm not letting this go," he warns, raising an eyebrow as he grips my chin and forces me to look up at him, making me wince slightly.

"... I know..."

With a sigh he pulls me into a tight hug, "come on," he whispers, pressing a kiss to my head and pulling me over to Martha.

"Alright?" she asks, looking at me worriedly.

"Perfectly," I nod, biting my lip when Kas gives a quiet scoff.

"Ok..." Martha frowns between us before shaking her head and looking up at Lazarus. "It can't be the same guy... it's impossible. It must be a trick," she tries to reason.

"Oh, it's not a trick," the Doctor mutters, his tone darkening. "I wish it were."

"What just happened, then?"

"The good professor just changed what it means to be Human," I glance at her, folding my arms.

The three of us walk up to the old woman and Lazarus, who was stuffing hors-d'oeuvres in his mouth. The Doctor and I share a look, both of us with raised eyebrows. That wasn't good.

The old lady stares at him in shock and disgust, "Richard!"

"I'm famished," he continues to shove food in his mouth.

"Energy deficit," the Doctor cuts in, hands shoved in his pockets.

"Always happens with this kind of process," I nod, eyeing the man carefully and trying to push the conversation with the mysterious stranger out of my mind. Also, the fact that the Doctor was going to drill me about it later.

"You speak as if you see this every day, Mr. and Miss..." Lazarus trails off, looking between us for an introduction.

"Doctor," I point to him with a smile. "And that's Mrs. Tyler."

Kas grins, "and well, no... not every day. But we have some experience in this kind of transformation."

"That's not possible," Lazarus shakes his head with a condescending smirk. One that I wanted to wipe off.

"Using hypersonic sound waves to create a state of resonance," I raise an eyebrow, giving a smirk of my own when his eyes widen.

"That's... that's inspired," Kas compliments.

"You understand the theory, then," Lazarus eyes us curiously.

Kas hums, "enough to know that you couldn't possibly have allowed for all the variables."

"No experiment is entirely without risk," Lazarus retorts, narrowing his eyes.

"That thing nearly exploded," I snort, cocking my hip as I narrow my own eyes. "You might as well have stepped into a blender."

"You're not qualified to comment," the old lady glares at me.

I glare right back, "and you would know that how, exactly? You don't even know me."

"If we hadn't stopped it, it would have exploded," Kas glares as well, putting his hand on the small of my back to calm me a bit.

"Then I thank you, Doctor, and your very lovely wife," Lazarus smiles, eyeing me up and I nearly gag while the Doctor glares at the man. "But that's a simple engineering issue," he shrugs. "What happened in the capsule was exactly what was supposed to happen. No more, no less."

"You've no way of knowing that until you've run proper tests," Martha argues.

"Look at me! You can see what happened," Lazarus laughs, gesturing down to himself. "I'm all the proof you need."

"This device will be properly certified before we start to operate commercially," the old lady puts in. By her tone, she thought she was reassuring.

"Commercially!?" I stare at her incredulously.

"You are joking? That'll cause chaos!" Martha stares at them in equal indignation.

"No chaos - change," Lazarus corrects with a smile. "A chance for humanity to evolve. To improve."

I glare at the arse, "this is not about improving, it is about you and your customers living a little longer!"

"Not a little longer, Mrs. Tyler, a lot longer," Lazarus smirks. "Perhaps indefinitely."

"Richard, we have things to discuss," the old lady cuts in. "Upstairs," she gives him a pointed look before walking off, making me wrinkle my nose at the undertone she uses. Gross.

Lazarus goes to follow but pauses, "goodbye," he smiles at the three of us. "In a few years, you'll look back and laugh at how wrong you were," he chuckles. Grabbing Martha's hand, he raises it and kisses the back before leaving.

"Ooh, he's out of his depth," the Doctor scowls after him. "No idea the damage he might have done."

"So what do we do now?" Martha between the two of us.

"Now? Well, this building must be full of laboratories," Kas shrugs. "I say we do our own tests."

"Lucky I've just collected a DNA sample then, isn't it?" Martha smirks, lifting her hand and wiggling her fingers.

"Oh, Martha Jones, you are brilliant," I grin, making her beam.

***

The Doctor, Martha, and I had found an empty lab to analyze the DNA from Martha's hand. The Doctor and were watching it on a screen - him with his 'brainy' specs on - and my eyes widen at the subtle change. It was still changing even now. Kas stares at the screen, "amazing," he breathes.

"What?" Martha asks, leaning back on the desk beside me and looking at the screen.

"Lazarus' DNA," I point to it.

"I can't see anything different..."

"Look at it!" Kas gestures to it with both hands as the DNA flickers again.

"Oh, my God, did that just change?" Martha's eyes widen. "But it can't have!"

"But it did," Kas grins.

"It's impossible," Martha denies, shaking her head in disbelief.

"And that's two impossible things we've seen tonight," the Doctor's grin widens. "Don't you love it when that happens?"

"That means Lazarus has changed his own molecular patterns," Martha watches it as it continues to change.

The Doctor nods with a hum, "hypersonic sound waves to destabilize the cell structure, then a mutagenic program to manipulate the coding in the protein strands," he explains quickly.

"Basically, he hacked into his own genes and instructed them to rejuvenate," I add when Martha stares at him.

"But they're still mutating now," she points out.

"Mm," I nod, folding my arms with my chin in my hand. "Cause he missed something... that's what happens when you get cocky about your own genius," I mutter, giving the Doctor a teasing, pointed look that he rolls his eyes at.

"Something in his DNA has been activated and won't let him stabilize," the Doctor murmurs, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. "Something that's trying to change him..."

"Change him into what?" Martha asks, looking between us warily.

"I don't know," Kas shrugs. "But I think we need to find out."

"That woman said they were going upstairs," Martha puts in.

"Ah... yay," I cheer unenthusiastically, making the Doctor snort quietly as he starts to pull me over to a lift.

***

The lift takes us up to Lazarus' office and we step off, looking around the pitch-black room. The Doctor flicks the lights on and I move forward, looking around curiously and listening for any voices or movement or anything.

"This is his office alright," Martha scoffs quietly, noting the immaculate decor as she moves toward the desk.

"So, where is he?" Kas muses aloud.

"Don't know," Martha sighs. "Let's try back at the re...ception..." her voice falters.

With a frown, I move over, "Martha, what is- oh, my God," my hand flies to my mouth.

The old lady was behind the desk - dead. She looks as though every liquid in her body had been sucked clean out of her. The skin was tight against her bones and her body was grey... it was disturbing, to say the least. Martha grips my arm, "is that Lady Thaw?" she gasps. What that her name?

"Used to be," Kas mutters from behind us, making me jump slightly. He glances at me with his lips twitching up as he kneels beside the body, examining it. "Now it's just a shell. Had all the life energy drained out, like squeezing the juice out of an orange."

"Not everything needs to be said," I remind him, my stomach churning at the analogy. "I won't be able to drink orange juice ever again," I sigh, running a hand through my hair.

"Sorry, love," Kas snorts quietly, standing back up and brushing his trousers off.

"Lazarus," Martha guesses, still staring at the body in shock.

"Could be," I nod.

"So... he's already changed."

"Not necessarily," the Doctor shakes his head, pulling on his bow-tie. "You saw the DNA, it was fluctuating. The process must demand energy. This might not have been enough."

"So he might do this again?" Martha asks - her voice a bit shaky - and the Doctor hums.

The three of us share a look before heading over to the lift. I pause in my step, though. On the closed doors was the symbol again. I shake my head, ignoring the pang of concern and annoyance I get along with the Doctor's glance as I press the button to call the lift back.

***

Stepping off the lift once more, the three of us look around the reception in search of Lazarus. "I can't see him," Martha frowns, stepping on her tip-toes to try and see over the guests.

"He can't be far, keep looking," the Doctor pulls me through the crowd.

"With Tish!?" Martha's shriek catches our attention and we hurry to where she's standing with Leo.

"Ah, Doctor. Star," Francine comes over.

Kas ignores her and turns to Leo urgently, "where did they go?"

"Upstairs, I think... why?" he frowns.

"Doctor-" Francine's cut off by Kas pulling me past her, making her drink go crashing to the floor and all over her dress. "I'm speaking to you!" she shouts after us.

"Terribly sorry!" I call back with a wince.

"Not now, mum!" Martha groans as she follows after the Doctor and me.

***

Kas, Martha, and I burst into Lazarus' office and look around frantically. "Where are they?" Martha asks, her breathing quickening in worry for her sister.

I give her hand a comforting squeeze, knowing just how hard it is when one of your siblings is in danger and you feel useless. "We'll find her, Martha," I assure her and she sends me a wary smile.

"Fluctuating DNA will give off an energy signature," Kas mutters under his breath quickly, getting his sonic out. "I might be able to pick it up." He holds the sonic out at arm's length, slowly turning it in a circle as it whirs. "Got him!" he grins when the beeping increases.

"Where?" Martha motions for him to go on and he points the sonic up. "But this is the top floor!" she protests and I nudge her side, making her eyes widen. "The roof!"

***

The three of us rush out the door leading to the roof, seeing Lazarus with Tish. They were intimately close, Tish's hands in Lazarus' as he smiles down at her, "I find that nothing's ever exactly like you expect, there's always something to surprise you. 'Between the idea and the reality, between the motion and the act'-"

"'Falls the shadow'," Kas finishes the quote.

Lazarus turns to us with a sigh, "so, the mysterious Doctor knows his Eliot. I'm impressed," he rolls his eyes.

"Martha, what are you doing here?" Tish glares at her sister from her spot beside the professor.

"Tish, get away from him!"

"What? Don't tell me what to do," Tish scoffs, folding her arms.

"I wouldn't have thought you had time for poetry, Lazarus," I glare. "What with you being busy defying the laws of nature and all."

"You're right, Star," he grins, making my skin crawl. That smile was disturbing. "One lifetime's been too short for me to do everything I'd like. How much more would I get done in two or three or four?"

"That is not the way it works," I shake my head.

"Some people live more in twenty years than others do in eighty," the Doctor agrees, glaring at Lazarus. "It's not the time that matters, it's the person."

"But if it's the right person? What a gift that would be," Lazarus smirks.

"Or what a curse," I retort with a shrug.

"Look at what you've done to yourself," Kas gestures to him.

"Who are you to judge me?" he glares and my eyes widen when his body starts to shift a bit, cracking sounds coming from him.

"Over here, Tish," Martha hisses, gesturing her sister over urgently.

"You have to spoil everything, don't you?" Tish scowls as she walks over to us, her arms still folded petulantly. "Every time I find some nice, you have to go and find fault!"

"Tish, he's a monster!"

I watch in horror with the Doctor gripping my hand as Lazarus starts to convulse behind Tish. His body stretches and grows until he's transformed into a grotesque human-scorpion hybrid with bones showing through the ripped skin. The face was still Human, though there was a split from his lips down his throat. I cover my mouth with my free hand, trying not to throw up as my stomach churns.

Tish was still having a go at Martha, not noticing the horrific scene behind her. "I know the age thing's a bit freaky, but it works for Catherine Zeta-Jones!"

Lazarus growls lowly and Tish turns to finally see what he's become. She screams as he rears up to tower above us, his large scorpion-tail rising to strike. "Run!" Kas and I shout and the three of us hurry inside the building with Kas locking the door behind us with the sonic.

"Are you ok?" Martha fusses over Tish, pressing the call button over and over for the lift.

"I was gonna snog him!" she squeaks with wide eyes.

"Yeah, maybe not," I snort loudly, jumping when there's a banging on the door. Alarms start to go off and the lights shut down, making me frown up at the ceiling. Brilliant.

PA - Security breach! Security breach! Security breach!

"What's happening?" Martha looks around, trying her hardest not to freak out.

"Uh, an intrusion," Tish chews on her bottom lip anxiously. "It triggers a security lock-down; kills most of the power, stops the lifts, seals the doors," she explains.

"He must be breaking through that door," I run a hand through my hair, pointing to the door with my other.

"The stairs, come on!" Kas grabs my hand, making me let out a quiet yelp as I'm yanked after him.

Martha and Tish follow after us and the four of us hurry down the stairs, hearing a loud crash from behind us. "He's inside!" Martha screams and we hurry down the stairs faster.

"Haven't got much time!" Kas shouts as we burst through the doors to the reception.

"Tish, is there another way out of here?" I ask quickly.

"There's an exit in the corner, but it'll be locked down..."

"Right, then," I nod, taking the Doctor's sonic out of his blazer pocket and chucking it to Martha. "Setting 54, hurry," I order, rushing over and climbing onto the platform by Lazarus' machine. "I need you to listen to me carefully! Everyone here is in serious danger!" I shout to the crowd.

Kas pops up beside me, "you need to get out of here right now!"

"Don't be ridiculous," a woman scoffs. "The biggest danger here is choking on an olive!"

Just as she finishes her sentence, glass shatters and the guests begin screaming. I stare up at the balcony above to see Lazarus in his scorpion form. Leaping down, he lands on the reception floor with a loud crash. "That... is one very ugly olive," I shake my head.

The guests scream and rush over to the exit Martha had gone to open and she starts to usher people outside. Good. Lazarus scurries over to the woman who'd scoffed. "No!" Kas shouts, the two of us rushing over. "Get away from her!"

I'm pulled to a stop and behind Kas as Lazarus opens his jaws and sucks the lifeforce from the woman. My stomach churns as her shell falls to the floor a moment later with a clatter. "Lazarus! Leave them alone!" I scream when he heads to Martha and her family. "What is the point if you can't control it? The mutation is too strong! Killing those people will not help you!"

"You're a fool, vain old man who thought he could defy nature!" Kas shouts. "Only nature got her own back, didn't she? You're a joke, Lazarus! A footnote in the history of failure!" he grips my hand tighter and pulls me from the reception hall. Lazarus growls as he chases after us.

***

The Doctor and I creep through a service hall with Lazarus close behind us. "It's no good, Doctor. Star. You can't stop me," he hisses.

"Hm, that sounds a bit like the same arrogant attitude he had when he swore that his device didn't have anything wrong with it," I taunt. "Don't ya think, honey?"

"The very same," he grins, helping me over a pipe.

"The arrogance belongs to the two of you," Lazarus retorts. "You can't stand in the way of progress!"

"You call feeding on innocent people progress?" the Doctor scoffs. "You're delusional!"

"Is it a necessary sacrifice!"

"That is not your decision to make," I snarl, the Doctor tightening his hold on my hand as my light flows around them and I take a deep breath to calm it down.

The lights in the room come back on suddenly. "Peek-a-boo!" Lazarus coos and we look up to see him hanging from the ceiling.

"Oh... hello," Kas smiles up at him, a pang of fear and disgust hitting me.

He pulls me through the next room and I look around at the lab we'd ended up in. Turning to the Doctor, I grin widely, "ooo, want to blow something up?" I wiggle my eyebrows and bounce on my toes.

"Thought you'd never ask!"

The two of us beam before rushing to work. The Doctor takes apart a light fixture to expose the wires while I hurry to flip all the gas-jets on. I yelp quietly when I'm yanked down as Lazarus comes into the lab. "Could've warned me," I whisper, making the Doctor cover my mouth with an eye-roll. I smile against his hand before licking it and he pulls it back with a grimace as he wipes it off on my side. He rolls his eyes again when I cover my own mouth to stop from laughing.

"More hide-and-seek? How disappointing," Lazarus hisses. "Why don't you come out and face me?"

"Have you looked in the mirror lately?" Kas scoffs. "Why would I want to face that when I can stare at my beautiful wife, hm?" he pulls me up with him, sending a wink at my blush.

"Idiot," I shake my head with a smile as we run from the room.

"Rude," he narrows his eyes playfully, flicking a switch as we pass it and the room explodes behind us.

"Not ginger," I smirk, pointing to my hair with my free hand.

"Glowstick," he snorts.

"Twig," I stick my tongue out before gasping when we run into Martha - literally. "What are you doing here?" I grab her shoulders to steady her, staring incredulously.

"I'm returning this," she smiles, holding up the sonic. "I thought you might need it," she shrugs, chucking it to the Doctor.

"Oh, you're good!" I beam, pulling her into a tight hug and she laughs, hugging me back just as tight.

"How did you...?" Kas trails off, staring at her as we pull away.

"I heard the explosion, guessed it was you," Martha grins, pulling Kas into a quick hug as well.

"We blasted Lazarus!" he beams.

"Did you kill him?" she asks just as Lazarus comes crashing down the corridor.

"More sort of annoyed him, I'd say," the Doctor groans with a wince, grabbing my hand and I grab Martha's as we run back to reception.

***

"What now?" Martha asks quickly as we enter the room with Lazarus close behind. "We've just gone round in a circle!"

"We can't lead him outside," I shake my head, pulling the two over to Lazarus' machine. "Come on, get in!" I push them inside the capsule before stepping in after them and shutting the door behind me.

"Are we hiding?" Martha stares at me.

"No, he knows we're here," the Doctor shakes his head. "But this is his masterpiece. I'm betting he won't destroy it. Not even to get at us," he shrugs, making me groan in annoyance when he wriggles against me in the tight spot.

"But we're trapped!"

I rub my ear at the volume and shoot Martha a look. "Well, yeah... that is a slight problem," I admit, wincing when she shoots me an even darker look.

"You mean you don't have a plan?"

"Yes! The plan was to get inside here!"

"Then what?"

"Well... then either the Doctor or I would come up with another plan," I shrug before chewing on my bottom lip when she gives a derisive snort.

"In your own time, then!"

The Doctor reaches into his pocket, Martha letting out a yelp when he almost elbows her in the throat. "Sorry, sorry, sorry," he mutters quickly, pulling his sonic out. "Here we are!" he grins.

"What're you gonna do with that?" Martha stares.

"Improvise," his grin widens and he starts sliding down to kneel on the floor.

"Oh, that's clever," I beam down at him, only to squeak in surprise. Kas had 'slipped' and grabbed the inside of my thigh, squeezing tightly to 'regain his balance'. "You're completely impossible," I roll my eyes, staring at the opposite wall with a bright red face.

"Nah, just a bit unlikely," he retorts, fixing my dress from where it'd slipped up a bit before he opens up the panel on the floor.

"I hate you," I huff, folding my arms.

"No you don't," he snorts, getting to work on reversing the polarity of the machine.

Martha cuts in, "I still don't understand where that thing came from," she frowns. "Is it alien?"

"Nope," I shake my head. "For once, it is strictly Human in origin."

"Human? How can it be Human?"

"Probably from dormant genes in Lazarus' DNA," the Doctor mutters while he works. "The energy field in this thing must have reactivated them."

"... and it looks as if they're becoming dominant," I sigh, leaning against the wall of the capsule.

"So, it's like a throwback?" Martha raises her eyebrows.

I glance at her with my lips twitching up, "some option that evolution rejected for you millions of years ago," I nod.

"But the potential is still there," Kas puts in. "Locked away in your genes, forgotten until Lazarus unlocked it by mistake."

"It's like Pandora's box..." Martha's eyes widen.

"Hm, I like that," I smile, tilting my head to the side.

"Exactly," the Doctor nods. "Nice shoes, by the way, ladies," he compliments, making Martha roll her eyes with a quiet snort.

"Thanks, honey," I nudge him with my foot.

"Star, Doctor... what's happening?" Martha asks warily when a blue flight floods the capsule.

"Sounds like he switched the machine on," I shrug.

"That's not good... is it?"

"Not in the slightest," I shake my head.

"I was hoping it was gonna take him a little bit longer to work that out," Kas sighs.

"I don't want to hurry you, but-"

"I know, I know," he cuts Martha off. "Nearly done..."

"What're you doing?"

"Kas is trying to set the capsule to reflect energy rather than receive it," I explain.

"Will that kill him?"

I shrug, not knowing for certain, "when he transforms, he's three times his size. Cellular triplication. Lazarus is spreading himself thin."

"We're gonna end up like him!" Martha shrieks when whirring starts up, gripping my arm tightly.

"Just one more!" Kas shouts.

The machine powers down and I step out of the capsule with Kas and Martha right behind me. I brush off my dress and stretch a bit. Martha leans her forehead against my shoulder from behind, "I thought we were gonna go through the blender then," she breathes out shakily.

"Really shouldn't take that long just to reverse the polarity," the Doctor frowns, putting his sonic away. "I must be a bit out of practice..."

"Or just getting old," I tease, making Martha snort quietly as she straightens.

"Oi! Cheeky," the Doctor pouts, slapping my shoulder while Martha and I snicker.

Martha sobers and gasps softly, "oh, God," she whispers. Lazarus was on the floor, curled up and naked in on the in his Human form once more. "He seems so... Human again. It's kind of pitiful," she looks down at him sadly.

"Eliot saw that too," Kas sighs, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me close. "'This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but with a whimper'," he quotes softly.

***

After the paramedics had arrived, they took Lazarus' body and put him on a gurney. The Doctor and I watch - his arms around my shoulders from behind - as they load him onto an ambulance.

"She's here!" I hear Tish and look over to see Martha hugging the life out of her, making me smile. "Oh, she's alright!"

My smile widens when I see Francine and I pull away from the Doctor to walk over. "I don't believe we've finished talking, Mrs. Jones-" I yelp, jumping back and grabbing my cheek from the sharp sting of her slapping me.

Kas pulls me behind him, leveling Mrs. Jones with a dark glare as he holds his own cheek, "what the hell was that for!?"

"Keep away from my daughter!" Francine snarls, glaring between us.

"Mum, what are you doing?" Martha steps forward, staring at her mother in shock.

"All the mothers, every time," the Doctor grumbles, turning to me and tilting my head up. "Alright?" he asks gently, his eyes softening as he brushes my hair out of the way.

"That hurt," I pout, rubbing my cheek and wincing at the sting while Kas hisses quietly.

With a chuckle, he pulls me into his arms and pets my head, "you're cute when you're pouting," he kisses the top of my head, making me whine with my face burning as I bury it against his chest.

"Meanie," I mutter, poking his stomach when he laughs quietly.

"They're dangerous!" Francine screams, making me wince and Kas' arms tighten around me. "I've been told things!"

"What are you talking about?" Martha asks and I peer around the Doctor with a frown. What is she talking about?

"Look around you!" Francine grabs her daughter by the shoulders. "Nothing but death and destruction!"

"This isn't their fault," Martha glares, pulling away. "They saved us! All of us!"

"It was Tish who invited everyone to this thing in the first place," Leo cuts in. "I'd say technically, it's her fault," he smiles, making me turn my head to hide a quiet snort when Tish elbows him in the ribs.

There's a loud crash from down the street, making Kas and I share a wide-eyed look. Taking my hand, he pulls me after him as we run to where the ambulance had gone. Reaching the ambulance, my heart aches at the sight. The doors were blown open and the medics were just shells on the ground. "Lazarus, back from the dead," the Doctor murmurs.

I glance at Martha and Tish as they run up before folding my arms and chewing on my bottom lip. "We should have known, really," I sigh, running a hand through my hair.

The Doctor gets out his sonic and tries to locate Lazarus. We need to find him before he gets the chance to kill anyone else. He can't have gone far. "Where's he gone?" Martha asks, staring at the ambulance and the bodies.

"That way," Kas points to a huge building. "The church."

"Cathedral," Tish corrects, making us all turn to her. "It's Southwark Cathedral... he told me," she bites her lip, shifting on her feet awkwardly.

***

The four of us enter the building and the Doctor has his sonic out in front of him. I really need to have the TARDIS make me a new one... or maybe I'll convince the Doctor to make me one. Ooo, or I could design my own!

Martha's quiet voice brings my attention back to the current situation. "Do you think he's in here?"

I glance at her with a raised eyebrow, "where would you go if you were looking for sanctuary?"

Kas walks up to the altar with the rest of us following. Lazarus was sitting on the ground, leaning against the altar with a blanket around his shoulders as he gasps for breath. He really is a pitiful sight. "I came here before... a lifetime ago," he wheezes. "I thought I was going to die then. In fact, I was sure of it. I sat there - just a child. The sound of planes and bombs outside..."

"The Blitz," Kas nods.

"You've read about it," Lazarus looks up at him.

"We were there," I retort, looking down as my heart aches. That was when we'd met Jack, when Rose was still with us, and when I was still trying to deny my feelings for the Doctor.

"You're too young," Lazarus scoffs.

"So are you," the Doctor shrugs.

Lazarus laughs, though it quickly turns into a gasp of pain. With a cough, he looks up at us, "in the morning, the fires had died and I was still alive. I swore I'd never face death like that again," he tells us while I glance at Kas. He was circling the altar slowly, eyeing the bell tower above us and he gives me a minute nod with his eyes flicking to the church organ. Nice. "So defenseless... I would arm myself. Fight back. Defeat it."

"That's what you were trying to do today," I sigh.

"That's what I did today," he glares up at me.

"What about the other people who died?" I glare right back, folding my arms. "The people you murdered without a single care?"

"They were nothing," Lazarus waves off, making my blood boil. "I changed the course of history!"

"Any of them could have!" I growl, my light flowing around my arms. "You think history is only made with equations?"

"Facing death is part of being human," Kas glares down at the man as he comes back to stand in front of him. "You can't change that."

"No, Doctor, avoiding death - that's being human," Lazarus scoffs. "It's our strongest impulse. To cling to life with every fiber of being. I'm doing what everyone before me has to tried to do. I've simply been more... successful," he chuckles before curling in on himself with a groan of pain.

"Look at yourself," I shake my head. "You're mutating and you've no control over it. You call that a success?"

"I call it progress," he glares up at me. "I'm more now than I was. More than just an ordinary Human."

"Ther's no such thing as an ordinary Human," Kas shakes his head.

Martha taps my arm, "he's gonna change again at any minute," she whispers.

"I know," I whisper back, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "If I can get him up into the bell tower somehow, Kas has an idea that might work..."

"Up there?" she looks up and I nod with a quiet hum.

"You're so sentimental, Doctor," Lazarus laughs, eyeing him carefully. "Maybe you are older than you look," he muses.

"I'm old enough to know that a longer life isn't always a better one," he retorts gently. "In the end, you just get tired. Tired of the struggle. Tired of losing everyone that matters to you. Tired of watching everything turn to dust." Kas glances at me, a strong mix of emotions washing over me as tears well in my eyes. "If you live long enough, Lazarus," he kneels in front of him. "The only certainty left is that you end up alone."

"That's a price worth paying," Lazarus breathes shakily.

"Is it?" I raise an eyebrow.

"I will feed soon," he warns darkly.

"We are not going to let that happen," I shake my head.

"You've not been able to stop me so far," he chuckles.

"Leave 'em alone, Lazarus!" Martha shouts, pulling away from me.

"What the hell are you doing?" I glare as she backs away.

"They're old and bitter! Thought you had a taste for fresher meat!"

"Martha, no!" the Doctor snaps.

Martha makes a run for it and I growl under my breath, following after her. Lazarus snarls from behind, chasing after us.

"You complete idiot!" I shout when I catch up with her. "Do you want to get killed!?"

"Oh, shut up and run!" she snaps, making me huff in indignation. "What are you doing?" she demands and I blink a few times when Tish appears beside us.

"Keeping you out of trouble!"

"Doctor! The tower!" I shout over my shoulder.

The three of us head up a narrow, spiral staircase that leads up to the upper level. Lazarus follows us before he screams out in agony. "Did you hear that?" Tish glances back over her shoulder.

"Yes, he has mutated again," I nod, glancing over my shoulder as well while we run down a corridor lined with archways. "I am so bloody glad I decided to wear converse instead of heels!" I beam, making Tish snort loudly.

"We've got to lead him up," Martha rolls her eyes.

"Star!?" I hear the Doctor call.

I peer out of one of the little archways, "hi, honey!" I wave down at him happily.

"Take him to the top! The very top of the bell tower, do you hear me!?"

"Yes, sir!" I send him a cheeky two-finger salute. "Ooo, I'd love some Bach, by the way!" I beam before grabbing Martha's hand and dragging her with me. "Come on, Tish!"

***

The three of us reach the bell tower, which a circular walkway surrounding the bell with wooden railing for safety. "There's nowhere to go! We're trapped!" Tish shouts.

"No, we aren't," I shake my head. "This is where we need to be."

"Alright, so we're not trapped - we're bait!"

"Oi, my husband and I know what we are doing!" I fold my arms. "Most of the time..." I mutter under my breath.

"Trust them, Tish," Martha tells her.

"Aw," I smile, throwing an arm around Martha's shoulders.

"Ladies," Lazarus hisses and we turn to see him entering the bell tower in his scorpion form.

"Both of you stay behind me," I pull Martha behind me as well as Tish, letting my light flow around me. My lips twitch up just a bit when Prelude in C Major starts to play. "Stay back, Lazarus! Why don't we talk, eh? Come on, it doesn't have to be this way!"

Lazarus snarls and swings his tail out, hitting me in the side harshly. I scream out in shock and pain with the Doctor shouting from where the organ is. Being thrown, I quickly grab the edge of the walkway to stop from falling to the ground.

"Star!" Martha screams.

"Hold on!" Tish shouts, both of them kneeling down in front of me.

"What do you think I'm doing!?" I shout, my eyes widening when Lazarus hovers above us.

"Get away from her!" Martha shouts and Tish holds her back from jolting forward.

"Anytime now, Doctor!" I scream and breathe out a little when the music gets louder.

I wince slightly as the music resonates around the tight space. Lazarus screams, beginning to writhe and he falls over the railing, crashing to the floor below. My grip starts to loosen and I scream when I start to fall. Martha grabs hold of me just in time and I breathe out shakily as she and Tish pull me up. I lay on my back, starting up at the ceiling while I breathe heavily. That was close.

"We've got you," Tish smiles down at me.

"Star!" Martha hugs me tightly.

"This is becoming a theme with us," I laugh quietly, hugging her back just as tightly.

"El!?" the Doctor calls up worriedly.

I pull away from Martha and lean over the edge of the walkway, smiling down at him. "We're all perfectly fine, Doctor!" I call before beaming at the sisters. "Thanks, by the way!"

"It's your Doctor you should be thanking," Tish grins, standing while I help Martha up.

"I will later," I wave off. "Besides, told you we knew what we were doing," I send her a playful glare.

"He cut it a bit fine there, didn't he?" she scoffs.

"He always does," Martha smiles. "It's more fun that way," she wraps an arm around my waist and I giggle, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and bumping her hip with mine.

"Who is he?" Tish frowns before eyeing me. "Who are you?"

"The Doctor and Star Tyler," I shrug with a grin.

I squeak when I'm yanked from Martha and pinned against the wall, making me wrap my legs around the Doctor's waist so I don't fall. Looking me over to make sure I was really alright, he presses his lips to mine in a fierce kiss. I moan quietly at the intensity of it and curl my fingers in Kas' hair, tugging. With a groan, he presses himself against me and squeezes my hips as he nibbles on my bottom lip.

There's a throat clearing and the two of us break apart. My face turns bright red and I peek over Kas' shoulder, wincing when I see Martha folding her arms and looking away with a slight frown. Though Tish was smirking at me teasingly and she wiggles her eyebrows. I squeak and bury my face against the Doctor's shoulder in embarrassment, whining quietly when he chuckles. Setting me down, Kas grabs my chin in his hand and presses one last kiss to my lips before turning to the girls. I wrap my arms around his waist from behind and lean my forehead against his back while I try to cool my face down.

"I didn't know you could play," I hear Martha.

"Oh, well, you know... if you hang around with Beethoven, you're bound to pick a few things up," the Doctor waves off.

"Hm, especially about playing loud," she teases, making me snort quietly.

"Sorry?" Kas jokes, making all of us laugh.

"Come on," I sigh, coming out from behind Kas and wrapping my arms around myself. "I want to get out of this dress and we've got somewhere to go," I give Kas a pointed look and his smile falters, but he nods and wraps an arm around my shoulders.

"Where?" Martha asks curiously, coming up on the other side of me while Tish follows.

"You'll see..." I mutter.

A/N: my hand is completely healed! It was more of a hassle than I thought it'd be to write on my phone, so I just waited. Anywho! Thanks for all the well wishes and patience! Only four more chapters before 'Utopia' (I'm adding a very short interlude after this chapter and I've already done 'Blink'). Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think by dropping a comment or vote! :*