An Apple A Day (Sarah Jane)

[Deleted]

"You said you didn't sleep well, but I didn't imagine . . . . ." She trailed off before she could say something that might hurt. Sarah Jane was starting to have an understanding about what some of the things were that got Oracle's back up.   Thought broken off, she inserted a smile instead, thoughts whirling a moment.

"Well, it makes sense with the fire and all.   If you were as young as you look, I'd offer you some warm milk. As it is, perhaps it had better be brandy."

She was about to suggest that she go get them both a bit of a medicinal belt, when she recalled that Mr.Smith was currently (no pun intended) on the fritz.  The reason she recalled that was because there was a loud thump at her door.  Then another. Not a knock. Two decisive, solid thumps on that reinforced wood.

[Oracle]

"You said you didn't sleep well, but I didn't imagine . . . . ." Oracle looked at Sarah Jane, hoping she wouldn’t finish that sentence and let out a small sigh of relief when she didn’t finish.

"Well, it makes sense with the fire and all. If you were as young as you look, I'd offer you some warm milk. As it is, perhaps it had better be brandy." she laughed a little bit and leaned her head back a little, laying it on against the wall behind her “Good lord, I haven’t had a drink in,” blew air through her lips making a pfft noise “…six years maybe.”

Oracle moved her head slowly to look in the direction of the door when someone pounded on it, “…please tell me you were expecting someone and they just like to knock really hard.”

[Deleted]

'When did she start drinking' suddenly turned into 'is she going to forgive me for this?'  She was on her feet by the second pound on the door.  Sarah Jane had been warned about using the Zithilonian Wet Net, but she'd needed speed.  It also meant her search signal had gone just as distant as her search. 

It could be anyone, or anything at the door.

She pulled Oracle on to her feet by her forearms, sudden desperation making her strong. 

"Boots are under the chair. Grab them and go out the window in the attic. Go!"

She and Luke had been working on something.  The neighbors had slept through the night they'd installed the tiny disk that projected a soft, electronic landing pad for their very carefully placed electro-pult they kept on the roof at 13 Bannerman Road.

"Get on the painted X!"

Sarah Jane would go answer the door, and was headed that way now.

[Oracle]

Oracle planted her feet and stood easily when Sarah Jane pulled her to her feet "Boots are under the chair. Grab them and go out the window in the attic. Go!" she didn’t argue instead used the speed she’d regained thanks to the little bit of sleep she’d gotten to go and get her boots.

Getting her boots on quickly had become a habit of hers so she managed to get them on fairly fast "Get on the painted X!" “What?” she stomped her foot down a little making sure both of her feet where fully secured in her boots and quickly headed back out into the hallway.

She started to ask Sarah Jane something but stopped when she saw the woman heading for the door and turned heading for the attic like Sarah Jane had told her to and out the window. “Ok, so painted X…” she stood on it and held her arms out to her side just in case she needed to defend herself.

[Deleted]

She'd disappear into a coat rack.  It was something she'd learned long ago.  It worked, giving her cover to look at her own front door from as she listened to Oracle cat foot it up the back stairs.  Pretty quiet, that kid was, even in her boots.

Too much experience running away from mad scientists.    Something they had in common.

She took a deep breath, eyes on the light shining through the peep hole.  So.  Not the police.  Or the neighbors, just to be certain.  Not even Jack would do that.  Gathering herself, she too two bold steps closer to the door.  The light suddenly shown all around it, though a good stout door it was.  That stopped her.  Then she heard what she hoped, and what she didn't all at once.

Oracle's language. Sarah Jane and Mr.Smith had been working on samples for the last half hour, and she recognized it, bellowed from deep throats on her doorstep.  She was thrilled to hear Mr.Smith boom back in kind.  She didn't know what her silicon servant had told them, but Sarah Jane used whatever distraction it caused to turn tail and run up the stairs. 

Without missing a step, she scooped up her travel bag and neatly clambered out the window. 

Don't look down.  Don't look down.  Don't look down. Steady on, Sarah. 

The heavy sound of footsteps approaching kept her moving. There was Oracle, a pale face above dark clothing standing on the launch pad.

"Trust me." Sarah said to her with a wry grin. Trust or not in this moment, it didn't really matter.  Sarah Jane stroked her Iphone in a particular way, and Oracle was indeed launched. The first person to try it in quite a few months.  If all was well, most of the girl's momentum would be stopped by the repulser beam on the other side.  On the Chandra house.  Of she went in a faint rippling of green light.

[Oracle]

Oracle readied a defensive stance when she saw someone coming up to where she was, but instantly dropped it when she saw that person was Sarah Jane "Trust me." Oracle nodded “I trust you.” the normal alarms went off in Oracles head when she said that, how many times had she had the ‘trust me’ conversation with someone and it came back to bite her in the ass, but this time she figured a leap of faith would be better than arguing.

When the faint green light she took a deep breath and crossed her fingers as she went…hurtling towards the opposite pad.

Oracle landed hard, she hadn’t know where she’d end up so she’d not been able to properly prepare for the landing so when her feet hit the ground she over compensated, getting her feet tangled in themselves and felt a sharp pain in her leg starting at her ankle and running to the top of her foot, sucking in a deep breath when the pain hit her Oracle pushed it to back of her mind to be dealt with later.

She started to stick her arm in the air and let off some electric sparks to let Sarah Jane know she’d made it ok but stopped, if she did that the ones who were at Sarah Janes house would probably catch it two and just move locations, “Crap.”

[Deleted]

Her mouth popped open when Oracle said she trusted her.  It wasn't the answer she'd been expecting, but frankly Sarah Jane was really just trying to set up trust for the future by being correct now.  And maybe to help Oracle be less afraid, though 'wary' seemed a more accurate description of the look on the ginger girl's pale face as she was launched.

The spring of pale green light uncoiled under her, but it did not come arching up from the Chandra's house as Sarah Jane had expected.

Oracle simply slammed into the rooftop, and kicked Sarah Jane in the gut.

Behind her she could hear deep and foreign voices that were only just begining to reach the working sphere of her translator's abilities.  In any language, the did not sound amused.  She could feel their heavy footsteps shaking the solid old house.  She knew that she'd never stick the landing as Oracle had, and a broken bone wouldn't help either of them.  Mr.Smith's voice joined the fray, but he was clearly malfunctioning still. 

She turned back to the girl, focusing on the wisp of her there in the dark.  She spoke in a low town that carried, but was calm enough that perhaps no one would notice and come out of their houses.  Thank goodness the Chandras were on vacation.

"The lift on your side is broken.  Go. Oracle, just go.  I'll give you time.  I'll find a way to send the Doctor for you. " Her voice sliced with a harsh whisper filled with expectation. "Go!"

Sarah Jane actually shooed her with her hands.

[Oracle]

Oracle watched from the Chandras roof, expecting Sarah Jane to follow the same way she had come and was confused for a moment when her friend didn’t "The lift on your side is broken. Go. Oracle, just go. I'll give you time. I'll find a way to send the Doctor for you." Oracle tilted her head a little, not liking that idea, she started to shake her head no and took a step in the direction of Sarah Janes house "Go!"

Narrowing her eyes Oracles stubborn streak ran hot through her, she never took someone telling her to do something very well and she’d be damned if she left Sarah Jane to fend for herself against whatever had come looking for her.

Jerking her jacket off, no distractions, Oracle moved around the platform rubbing her hands together a little starting to build up a charge, and in a sing song joking voice “This is where I die.” she started to feed electricity into the platform trying to force it to life.

[Deleted]

"No! Don't! No! Don't"

Oracle did not do what she was told, as one of her companions would.   Not that they always did,  but clearly, Oracle didn't give it a second thought as one of them would have.    The beasts were climbing up into the window sill.  When she looked back, Oracle had her coat off and was putting a grip on the faulty mechanism.

How could she have even the smallest spark left?  And what did she just say?

Glass broke.  Through the window climbed a very tall figure in white. Highly composite materials.  Shine and craftsmanship that could be found only in the future or at Cosplay conventions.  They had bullet headed shields that domed over and left only a thrust of jaw and heavy mouth visible.  Humanoid.

Sarah Jane got on the pad and hit the button on her IPhone.  She flew through the air, praying the green coil of energy would come up and catch her. It did, and she landed effortlessly on her feet.

[Oracle]

She had to maintain the charge long enough to get Sarah Jane to the roof, she could do that right, just another pushing of her limits, what harm could there be?

Oracle thought she heard a slight pop from the platform so she eased off of the charge a little as Sarah Jane came to a land.

There was a definite amount of temporary damage from having pushed herself shortly after the image trick she’d pulled, Oracle realized that after she cut the charge to the platform and was sure Sarah Jane didn’t take any damage from the trip, she immediately saw a few spots before her eyes “woah, hello there spots.” she stumbled a little, leaning over Oracle placed her hands on her knees and blinked a few times before having to kneel on the ground or end up face planting on it.

[Deleted]

Thankful as she was, her tone was a bit clipped as she patted Oracle on the shoulder, her eyes rivited on the small envasion climbing out onto her roof across the street.  She wanted them to spot her. 

"Never mind that now!"  After the quickest glimpse of those tall strange folks in their shiny exoskeleton armor.  They looked rather hard boiled.  She pulled the girl more upright, then slung one of her arms over her shoulder, keeping good grip on that wrist. "Come on!"

She didn't sound very grateful yet, but first she'd have to get them out of here.   The sonic worked perfectly on the magnetic lock through the window, and she dragged Oracle into Rani's room. 

Girl room. Girl girl room. Everywhere, though with a nice dash of orange.  Out that door, and then she was guiding them hasteily down the stairs.

"Stairs, Stairs . . " she begged quietly in Oracle's ear, now, clutching the girl to her with one arm, clinging to the railing with the other, their feet banging into each other.

[Oracle]

"Never mind that now!" “Huh?” Oracle blinked one eye then another “Come on!” she felt Sarah Jane pull her upright and sling one of Oracles arms over her shoulder.

“…wait.” she fought Sarah Jane a little bit as they made their way towards the window and Sarah Jane used her little sonic lipstick to open the window “My jacket, no wait!” her jacket over the years had been come somewhat of a security blanket for Oracle, it kept the scars that littered her body covered and for the most part in turn seemed to keep her memories away as well. Without it she felt vulnerable and naked.

Oracle blinked a couple more times as Sarah Jane guided them hastily through the bedroom and down a pair of stairs. "Stairs, Stairs . . " Oracle nodded and focused on getting her feet one in front of another down the stairs “Must move faster, must move faster.”

[Deleted]

She could hear Oracle's heart in her throat as she called out for her jacket.  Sarah Jane had forgotten.  They should grab it.  Oracle might need it.  Pockets and protection . . .warmth.

"Too late." She said, low and half swallowed, knowing it is her fault.  Oracle, without her jacket, was just as small as she'd expected.  Good thing too, or she wouldn't have been able to drag her through the Chandra's house.  They wouldn't have made it at all if Oracle had not somehow kept putting one foot in front of the other though Sarah Jane could feel how cold she was right through her shirt.  The girl's lips were pale as her cheeks.  Still, somehow, Oracle must have found hidden reserves somewhere. 

It was fast enough.  The heavy thumps were only just landing on the roof.

"Well, at least your not barefoot." She managed to say with a grin the one time she really caught Oracle's eyes which seemed to be haphazard about focus. "That's a girl."

She pressed her hard up against the door to hold her there while she got the thing open.

They were headed right back to 13 Bannerman.

[Oracle]

Oracle looked up at the ceiling when the sound of heavy thumps came reverberation down "Well, at least your not barefoot." she chucked slightly “Yes, thank the Gods for small favors.” "That's a girl." Oracle gave a small double thumb up and kept moving.

She waited for a second while Sarah Jane got the door open, when she heard the door hinge squeak a little Oracle moved quick to place her hand on top of Sarah Janes to stop her first, even if as weakened as she was she still would bet she could take more of a hit if there was something waiting for them on the other side of the door, softly “Wait, I’ll go first, yeah?”

[Deleted]

Oracle stopped her, and Sarah Jane let her.  She could do the math.  She pressed the keys into Oracle's hands.

"Get your door open, then toss them too me." she suggested.  "I've got your back."

As horrible as it was that the young woman had lived through what Sarah Jane had seen up there in the attic.  Oracles memories.  And that was just the beginning.  But in that instant, Sarah Jane was glad of it.  The girl was a survivor. She would be good help.  You could die trying to help the wrong person.  One who didn't try. 

Not only did Oracle have no lack for trying, she seemed to have no lack in winning either.

"Be careful!"

She gave a nod, then slipped her hand on the door. She opened quick and slim.