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[It's been a week and Ten can't push off facing Gwen forever. Especially knowing her shark!dog wants to go back. So, finally does click on his fluid to talk to Gwen with no idea what to say, he's not sure if she'll remember why she died or who he is outside of the Telly. Granted it's not much difference. But it is different to know someone over just knowing them through the Telly.]

Hi

[ Gwen, although she's sick as a dog, feels as chipper as ever. Sure, there are some things she's confused about, when she thinks back to the details of her death, but she's alive now! Isn't that the important thing? ]

Hey Doc! What's up?

[Its more along the lines - he wasn't sure if he'd have to discuss; why didn't you shoot the tentacle? He is glad that she's chipper and that makes him smile and does answer, considering how she usually is at first- she remembers him being real and not just in the Telly]

Not much.

[Oh, look who popped up on the screen and slobbering all over! It's Jeff!]

Seems like someone missed you.

[Pet, pet]

[ Oh, that's on her mind. But she's not going to bring it up right away. Not when her beloved Jeff is popping up on screen! ]

There he is! I was wondering why the apartment was so quiet... Should I come over and pick him up?

He needed someone to keep him company.

[And helps The Doctor's guilt]

You're always welcome over, Gwen.

[ She smiles. ]

Thanks for doing that. Gimme like... an hour, to get over there?

[ It definitely doesn't take that long to get there from here, but she's moving a bit slower what with being deathly (HA!) ill and all. ]

[A smile back, which fades away to looking a bit nervous. An hour. That's so fast. However, squeaks out]

Yeah. See you then.

[ The Doctor's in luck, because it winds up taking Gwen closer to two hours to get there... First she had to shower, then blow dry her hair, and find some (relatively) clean clothes to put on to look presentable enough to step outside.

Eventually, she's knocking on the Doctor's door, blowing her nose on a tissue which she stuffs into her jacket pocket to throw away later. ]

[Actually, that makes it worse that she's late and puts The Doctor on pins and needles so to speak because as much as he doesn't want to face it. The longer it takes is also torment and it torments because he knows that Gwen won't like the answer. There's only a slight jump when he hears the door knock and stares for a moment directly at the door very intensely. Jeff, on the other hand, is at the door just before Gwen knocks waiting in excitement for her.

When the door doesn't open after about a minute after the knocks, Jeff looks curiously at The Doctor, along the lines 'aren't you going to let my human in' and seems oblivious to why The Doctor is nervous.

Finally, The Doctor does take steps towards the front door and after he opens the door, gathers Gwen in his arms for a big hug. He is very glad she's alive.]

[ Gwen has a complaint half out of her mouth as soon as he opens the door-- something about why did he leave her standing out here in the cold when he knows she's sick-- but it's forgotten as he pulls her into a tight hug. She freezes, then hugs him back. ]

...Hi. Good to see you, too.

[ It's kind of weird, to have one of your childhood heroes from TV care about you this much. Gwen briefly wonders when this became her life. Guess that's Creepsville for you. ]

[It was weird but in a good way with having Gwen back. If only Adric, Susan, Leela, and Romana could have been the same. He's not silently crying for a moment for those he's lost. A whisper]

You too.

[Even if he knows there are consequences for respawning - in some ways it's better than good-bye forever. Meanwhile, Jeff is trying to squeeze in and get attention too]

Come in. Come in.

[ Gwen smiles at the Doctor then moves to follow him, bending down to scoop Jeff off the ground and into her arms-- a tough feat what with how he's wiggling so excitedly. ]

Hey there buddy, it's good to see you too! I hope you didn't forget about me!

[ WHOOPS. AWKWARD. Considering there's obviously stuff she's forgotten. Like why there's a gun in her apartment. The same gun that was on the ground at her feet when--

She stops in her tracks, just inside the door. ]

Um... Are we gonna talk about it, or...?

[Ten becomes emotionally withdrawn at the question he's been dreading but Gwen is his friend and what sort of Doctor would he be if he didn't help her, even if when the problem is him]

If you want.

[ Gwen holds onto Jeff tight and her brow furrows as she tries to piece together the fragments of memory surrounding her death. ]

Why... Why was there a gun? Why didn't you pick it up?

[A longish pause]

Most were fighting the Moon Presence.

[Then a direct look in the eyes as if saying Gwen should know the answer to that one about why he didn't pick it up but there are flames and shadows dancing in his eyes]

You mean, I was fighting the Moon Presence.

[ Because the Doctor doesn't fight. Which she gets-- that's part of what makes him a good, compelling, likable character. But it's different when there's a tentacle wrapped around your throat.

She raises a hand to rub at her neck absently. ]

Why would I do that? I've never fought anything.

[At her remark, he's quiet again. She doesn't remember what happened. She doesn't remember fighting at all and watches her rub her neck, probably completely unconsciously. Should he show her?

Because you were saving him and maybe she did. Probably did. She will eventually remember. It's up to him - keep the elephant in the room for as long as possible or tell her.

He tried. His sonic didn't work. He tried to fight the Moon Presence with telekinesis. Both failed and unfortunately, saying who he is here don't have the leverage like it does in his universe]

Why don't we have some tea?

[ There's something there... Something that's missing, and trying to fill in the gaps is giving Gwen a headache. ]

Yeah, okay.

[ She sets Jeff down again and they both follow the Doctor into the kitchen for some tea. ]

[Nearly a millennial of a reputation gone. A reputation that would make shadows run in fear of him just by saying his name. The Doctor leads them both to the kitchen and puts the kettle on and looks over at Gwen - and this is his consequence of not having picked up the gun to shoot the tentacle. Which he knew she'd forget things but no idea what but he is The Doctor and healing is what he does. Even if this is some kind of personal torment]

What do you remember about this place, Gwen?

[Ten asks with a neutral face and voice]

[ Gwen pulls a chair out and sits at the table, Jeff entertaining himself by chasing his tail at her feet. She watches the shark-dog with a distant look on her face, trying to place the pieces of the puzzle together. ]

I remember I've been here since March. And a lot of crazy stuff has happened. I met you, and Rose, and all these other people from movies and comics and TV shows and... [ She smiles down at Jeff and laughs. ] I got this pet land shark, which is crazy, where the hell did that come from?

[ As far as she knows, Jeff is just another product of Deerington's craziness. Where else could a land shark have come from? ]

I remember dying... Twice. And coming back. I remember you dying, and coming back. I remember the Great Sleep, and the time there was no food, and when the moon was turning people into monsters and making everyone go crazy.

[ She remembers mostly everything. Which only makes the parts she doesn't remember stand out all the more. ]

I just have no idea why there's a costume in my closet, or why I have swords and guns in my apartment. Was I cosplaying, for Halloween?

[The Doctor shoots Vira a text that Gwen is back and then listens. Okay, so far, her memories seem okay but where's the catch? There is a catch. This is her third time dying. When she questions where Jeff came from - that isn't good and when she remarks about her costume and guns in her apartment. She forgot an entire part of her life but also a part The Doctor doesn't know anything about either. There's a WTF look at the word 'cosplay' but Halloween clears that up and calmly asks]

Do you remember what the consequences are for returning after death here?

[ Gwen makes a face, reaching into her pocket and pulling out the packet of tissues she's been carrying around with her. ]

Yeah, you get sick as hell for a month. And if you die a ton of times, you forget stuff.

[ She still hasn't put together that that's what's happened to her. ]

That might be why you don't understand why you have that costume in your apartment.

[The Doctor reaches for Gwen's hands with his own to offer comfort]

[ She lets him take her hands, even though she's still confused. ]

You mean I forgot dressing up as a superhero? That wouldn't explain the weapons, though. They're not fake, I tested them.

[ The swords, not the gun. She didn't trust herself to touch the gun. ]

No. You were one.

[There's something very sincere and hurtful about that statement]

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