Running from Nightmares

[Ace McShane]

It’d been the same dream for the past month or so; she was running from something, Ace was never sure what it was she just knew that she had to run. It was almost like the feeling she’d had running with Karra all those years ago, but nothing like it at the same time. There was more a fright or flight sense to the feeling that always shook her to the bone every night, this night the dream had gotten worse, more vivid.

Ace could see, in quiet clear detail the trees around her and smell the dirt under her bare feet. She leaned forward and put her hands on her knees catching her breath for a second“This is a dream, it’s always the dream Ace.” even as she told herself this it didn’t help to calm her down any. Hearing a twig snap Ace was off again like a shot.

She slid under a downed tree, popped back up on the other side and kept running. Her lungs and legs burning every step of the way, she could hear branches breaking behind her and someone curse when they bumped into the downed tree that she had slide under. Digging her heels into the ground Ace slid to a stop as she burst out of the woods and was met with air, the drop didn't seem to amaze her anymore but she couldn’t stop herself from saying it “Long way down.”

Ace heard someone coming up behind her and out of the woods, she knew were this was going “You know, that’s the thing about recurring dream,” she said forcing her voice to show the calm her shaking body was unable to maintain, smirking a little and turning to face the person, she could see their outline and the shape of a gun but other than that she couldn't see anything else. when they raised the gun she continued “You always know what’s going to happen next.” spreading her arms out Ace fell backwards off the cliff.

The trip down the cliff had started to seem to take longer every night; Ace was right above the water before she snapped her eyes open in the waking world and sat up gasping for breath and clutching the tee shirt she slept in as it clung to her covered in sweat and shaking.

(The Eleventh Doctor)

[Deleted]

The Doctor sat patiently on a bench, waiting for his sonic to pick up the the next energy spike in the neighborhood. Over the past couple of weeks, reports of nerve racking nightmares have popped up all over Earth. Some resulting in peoples deaths. Earth had just passed it off as a bunch of coincidences caused by some miss pattern in the planets. But the Doctor knew better. He didn't know what was causing the nightmares yet, but he did know it was something wit telepathic abilities. Or a really big mind probe. Probably the first option.

The sonic let out a low groan, letting him know of a high energy spike down the block. Quickly he pocketed it in his jacket, and stood up, walking ( or rather jogging), towards the spike. He excitedly knocked on the door of the recent nightmare victim. Maybe this one would five him some more insight on whoever, or whatever, could be causing this. He hoped it wasn't an outbreak of psychic pollen, he didn't know if he could face the Dreamlord again. He bounced on the balls of his feet, while waiting for whoever lived in side to open the door. If they would open the door. If not, well, he might just have to find another way in. But this way is more legal.

[Ace McShane]

Ace had almost fallen back asleep when there was a knock at the door. “No…” she took the pillow and held it over her face for a second hoping that it was just a ding dong ditch by the local kids in the neighborhood, but threw it off the bed when the knocking continued “Yeah, yeah I’m up, I’m up.” sighing she kicked off the sheets and made her way over to the door, tripping occasionally over stuff as she went “Shit.. I should probably clean sometime.” Reaching over to a coat rack Ace grabbed a hoodie and pulled it on before she started to unlock the apartment door.

Pulling the door open a little and rubbing her eyes with the back of hand trying to blink her vision clear, who stood before her was probably the last person she ever thought she’d see here.

Opening the door fully Ace crossed her arms across her chest and leaned against the doorframe “Well, look what the cat dragged in.” she’d seen this version of The Doctor once or twice but even if she didn’t recognize him she could almost feel the time radiation coming off of him.

[Deleted]

He turned back to the door, putting on a big smile when he heard it open. His smile faltered for a second... She seemed familiar. Very familiar. But he just couldn't place her face… Unless.... "Ace!" The Doctor threw his arms around her, in the biggest hug he could muster. He hadn’t seen Ace in… He couldn’t even remember how long it had been. And she had most definitely changed, regenerated nonetheless. He felt a pain of guilt, along with the joy of seeing his friend again. Even though he had a feeling she wouldn’t be as enthusiastic in their reunion. He couldn’t blame her…

Without waiting to be invited in, he slipped past her into the house. He took a quick look around, momentarily pausing in the hallway, before going into the living room. “I love what you've done to the place…” He stated, looking behind the furniture, and other odds and ends. So far he hadn’t been able to find any clues leading to the Dream-fluxations, but he had a feeling that this time would be different.

He jumped over the back of the couch, plopping down onto one of the seats. “So Ace! You’ve regenerated!” He grinned widely at her, clapping his hands together. “How do you feel? Any lasting affects? The first time I regenerated I had nausea for weeks..”

[Ace McShane]

"Ace!" she jumped a little when he threw his arms around her and hugged her, almost squeezing the air out of her “Professor, air.” she laughed a little and hugged him back. It really didn’t bother her it had just become a habit to say that lately so people would stop hugging her.

“Hey, wait a…” she hanged her head a little when he got halfway down the hallway “I love what you've done to the place…” with a slight hint of sarcasm mostly brought on from the lack of sleep, not trying to be rude “Just make yourself at home yeah?”[/i] Ace sighed before shutting the door and saying softly and rubbing the bridge of her nose “So much for those full eight hours.”

Following after The Doctor, she watched as he looked behind furniture and over the odds and ends Ace tilted her head to the side watching him “Loose something?” she straighten up when he hopped onto the couch and sat down.

“So Ace! You’ve regenerated!” suddenly Ace’s bare feet became very interesting to her, she didn’t like talking about her first regeneration it still terrified her to some extent “Yeah…it was that time you and I went to San Francisco, I should have looked at the scanner before leaving the TARDIS.” she’d always figured they’d just gotten separated after it’d happened.

“ “How do you feel? Any lasting affects? The first time I regenerated I had nausea for weeks..”[/font] her temper flared momentary but she closed her eyes for a second trying to quench it but before she managed to do that her mouth decided to keep going “Do you have any idea what it feels like, growing up human knowing all your life that death is final only to have…” she stopped herself before she continued “Sorry…sleep lately has been an issue so I get a little hot headed.”