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Danni sat down on her small cot bed and the guard slammed and locked the bunk room door. She looked around the room before placing her head into her hands and began crying. She couldn't believe she had just done that, betrayed the Doctor and for what? Them infectious drums? He would never forgive her if he ever found out, and she wouldn't ever forgive herself even if he didn't. She knew she shouldn't have asked to hear them again, but she couldn't resist with them so tantalisingly close. So close that when she approached them she could almost hear them. She did her best, she really did but the silence in their absence was slowly driving her insane. The Doctor never understood how much she had needed them, still needed them to function. That had been the sole reason she had even contemplated turning him over to the Silence, so he would stop dismissing her need for them. At least Koschei understood the drive you got from them. The pure need that radiated from deep inside when she heard them. And he had understood wonderfully how to feed that feeling, building it to dizzying heights...
She shifted on the spot as a wave of desire ran through her, making her blush as she thought back on the encounter. It was the same when she had met the Doctor after she had unlocked them, she had just needed him too. But that was such a long time ago, or such a long time ahead of this depending on how you looked at it. She always thought that the Doctor would love her back after that, but what if he didn't? Jack said he meant the proposal, she'd been focused on that for the last nine and a half months, but what if he didn't? What if it really was just a ploy to get her to touch River? Why did he have to marry River?
She shook her head, she couldn't believe she was trying to rationalise this in her head. He may not have confirmed it himself, but as Eleven he would always steal kisses, and hold her hand extra tightly. There was something there, she knew it. But she had shattered any hope of it ever developing. There was no way Koschei would keep this to himself, it was only a matter of time until the Doctor found out and she lost him forever.
She curled up on the bed, tears streaming down her face as she tried to protect herself from what she'd done. She barely registered the fact he was now 'Koschei' in her head, just kept repeating it to herself as she begged it not to be true, that it didn't really happen.
Heather was startled to find her friend curled up on the bed when she was returned there from her duties that day. The girl who'd given her chocolate and tried to time and again cheer her up, the girl who'd never been scared or frustrated at their situation, was clinging to her pillow as she sobbed, completely broken. When she reached down, wanting to check she was okay and not physically hurt but she flinched out of the way, begging for her not to touch her. She sat down next to her, not touching her as she listened to her, slightly frightened at what could have happened.
~0~0~0~
When they were let out the next day to head to their duties, Danni was grabbed from the orderly line they were forced to walk in to their duties and taken straight down to the conference room where Koschei would normally meet her. She paused outside, her heart pounding in her chest as she held her hand to the handle. What if she just turned and ran? The guards would shoot at her, trying to stop her. Maybe she wouldn't get that far, maybe they would grab her and drag her in kicking and screaming. Koschei really wouldn't like that. And it wasn't what she wanted to do. She didn't want to be afraid of what would happen, but she also didn't want to want him again. And she did.
She took a deep breath to try and suppress the mass of shame that rose into her head and opened the door. The lights were on and she was slightly surprised to see Koschei sat in his usual seat. She walked over and sat down, unnerved by the grin on his face as his eyes raked up and down her body.
"I think," he drawled out, "our arrangement will have to change, don't you?" She looked back at him, feigning confusion.
"Why?" She asked, how could she not remember the day before? He leant across the corner of the table.
"Here is how it will go. You will give me the information I need, then I will give you what you need." He explained
"What I need?" She repeated, now actually confused. His hand reached out and touched her temple and suddenly her head was filled with the four beats again. She gasped at the feeling and quickly pulled away.
"N-No." She stuttered out, shaking her head frantically and his eyes narrowed.
"No?" He asked angrily.
"No." She replied, more confidently this time, "No, I don't want them." He slowly stood up, walking around the back of her chair and leant down so his lips were just grazing her ear, sending a shiver down her spine again.
"Yes you do. I can tell, the need is practically rolling off you."
"I don't want them." She reiterated and he knelt in front of her.
"I saw you, moaning in ecstasy as they rushed through your veins. Only I can make that happen, you know? With one touch, I can take you back there." He traced his fingertips up her arm, up her neck and to her temple. She bit her lip to stop from crying out at the touch and the drumming pounding through her.
"Tell me, how long can you resist?" He whispered, hot breath tickling her ear again.
"I can't, please Master." She almost sobbed, "I can't do this. The Doctor..." he pressed his fingers against her temple hard and the drumming increased in volume.
"The damage is already done, my dear. Would it really matter if we slept together once or a hundred times? You betrayed him, and with me no less. He will never forgive you. He will leave you, cold and alone. And silent." She could feel the tears running down her cheeks, "I, on the other hand, will always be able to make you feel this way. I can keep the very thing you crave running through you, always." Unable to resist any longer, she grabbed his head and slammed her lips onto his. She could feel him smirking as he kissed her back just as hungrily, but she didn't care as the drumming and utter despair ran through her veins fuelled her need to touch him, to have him near her always. He was right, the Doctor was going to leave her anyway. At least this way she wouldn't be alone.
~0~0~0~
There was something going on around him. The Master had no idea why he'd even called the meeting of his Earth-bound representatives, but he had and now he was stuck in this stupid room, listening to these stupid humans trying to please him. He was tapping impatiently on the table, though if anyone had noticed they didn't comment on it. Danielle would have. She'd have told him to stop being a child. She always spoke her mind, unlike these 'yes' men.
"And Spain is really coming along." One of the men in suits told him with a slimy smile, "They've almost completely finished their ship and I have it on good authority that someone is in the process of developing a remote timing device that will come in very handy."
"All of which you told me last time." The Master retorted calmly, "Anything new to add? What about the homing device? I even gave you the blueprints because you were struggling." The man glanced down at one of his fellow ambassador, looking slightly nervous for a moment.
"We are still working with them." He tried to reassure and the Master's face fell into a deep scowl, "We are just having a bit of trouble sourcing some of the parts." Seeing the Master becoming increasingly angry he stuttered slightly, "B-But I have people trying..."
"Oh, you do?" The Master interrupted, "But you're not?" It wasn't good news, nothing was. Still no sign of bloody Martha Jones, no further on his plans to dominate the universe. What a disappointment they all were.
"Of course I am, Master." The man almost begged, "As soon as I get back I shall chase things up." There it was, another fake agreement, another fake promise to move forward in his plan. He was sick and tired of these monkeys trying to win his favour. He wanted someone to fight back, for once. Like Danielle did, like she used to at least anyway.
He growled and stood up, knocking the chair he was sat on over. The men all looked back at him, frightened at what might have been coming. He was supposed to be concentrating, why was she always popping up?
"You are all on thin ice." He warned darkly, "If nothing has been done by the next time I call on you, you will all be sent to the Serbian Mine Fields." A threat he knew would shape them up. The Serbian Mine Fields were known for their extremely high mortality rate, the one place no one ever wanted to go. They all began shoot him empty promises which just angered him further. He pointed towards the door, "Get out." And they did, scrambling over each other to get back to Earth. He growled and spun on the spot, the drumming in his head fuelling him until he was so tense his fingers had closed in on themselves, the sound deafening him and he had to get out.
~0~0~0~
He had sent for her over a hour ago, but Danni still sat on her own waiting for Koschei to turn up. He did like to keep her waiting, she guessed it was a power play thing. He'd had her brought to his private rooms this time, something he had never done before and something was was worrying her. Any change in his behaviour was a worry for her. The room was lavishly decked out with a large super king bed in the middle and ornate furniture around the room, as if he had to remind himself he was in charge. Everything was in deep reds and browns and there was a door to what she guessed was an en suite. She'd been his maid for almost a year now, and she was always still impressed by the way he'd decorated the room. The brown reminded her of her own room.
A large window almost completely dominated one wall so he could look down on his domain. A long windowsill ran underneath it and she sat down on it, placing her feet so she was sat sideways with her knees bent, hugging them loosely. She watched a smattering of clouds float by in swirls and she was briefly reminded of dangling her feet out of the TARDIS doorway. It wasn't half as calming, but it was just as peaceful.
"And I don't want the world to see me," She whispered, "'Cause I don't think that they'd understand." She closed her eyes and leant her forehead on the cool glass, "When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am." She had been singing to herself more and more lately, everything seemed so silent these days and she needed the sound to fill the times in between being with Koschei.
"And I'd give up forever to touch you, 'cause I know that you feel me somehow." She started, deciding to go to the beginning of the song, "You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be, and I don't want to go home right now." She opened her eyes and jolted slightly when she saw Koschei's reflection in the glass, "Your ninja powers have, as always, surprised me." He didn't say anything but grabbed her arm, pulling her off the windowsill and she stumbled into his chest. The movement flicked her head back and he kissed her hungrily, holding her firmly so she could not get away. She replied eagerly, knowing going along with him made him surrender the drumming much quicker. He broke it off and leant against her forehead, panting.
"Are you okay?" She asked, confused by his actions. He never stopped, if he wanted her then he just continued until the end.
"Why do you never leave my head?" He asked in return, thinking back on the meeting he'd just endured. About how it always came back to her. She blinked.
"Sorry?" She asked and he sighed angrily.
"Nevermind." He bit out before pumping the drumbeat into her head. She groaned in relief, letting it flow through her body and she pulled him down for another kiss. He backed her onto the bed, his hand grasping her hair tightly as he dominated her mouth. He climbed onto the bed, a leg either side of her and he grabbed both her hands, pinning them above her head.
"I can't get you out of my head." He panted, "The only thing louder than you is that noise. You don't ever go away, and if I have to suffer, I'm going to make sure you can't survive without me. That every waking moment is spent craving me." He promised her, holding both her hands in one of his own before ripping her top open, "You won't be able to function without me. And when I die," he licked up her neck to her ear, "And you've told me I will, you will die without me." He whispered and she whimpered, half at the action and half in fright.
"Why?" she whispered and he frowned.
"Why what?"
"Why me?" He stared down at her as she bit her lip, eyes wide, torn between being terrified and entranced by him.
"I don't know." He admitted before slamming his lips onto hers, stopping any more questions.
~0~0~0~
From then on their ritual changed. She was torn from her duties when he saw fit and taken to the room, where he would use the drums to make her submit to his will. She stopped asking for stuff, there was no asking for information, there was just the two of them. Day in day out, she try and fight him some days, some days she would not put up a fight at all, but it would always end the same. Falling into the drumming-filled haze of lust which would consume the pair. Over the following couple of weeks she became a shell of her former self, needing the meetings as much as he became to crave his time with her. When the guard lead her past their normal meeting room and towards the main console room she began shaking; he had not called for her in 24 hours and as with the last time her withdrawal symptoms were returning. She was glancing around the hallways, confused and slightly scared as she clasped her hands together to stop them from shaking. All she could think about was getting the drumming back into her mind, but she was fighting against the impulse to find him and beg. She wasn't far off that, though.
She was lead into the console room and she saw the Doctor in the corner, the relief rushing over her at the sight of the aged man. She hadn't realised how long it had been since she'd last seen him, but even as an old man he looked so good. He tried to get up, but was still chained down and she sent him a weak, shaky smile. Koschei slid down the banister from the top of the stairs.
"Ahh, Danielle, we've been waiting for you." He called to her and she stared at him, wide-eyed and terrified at the joy she felt at the fact he was just across the room. They were just there, almost within touching distance.
"I've been trying to get more information out of our little pet about this gun that Martha Jones is looking for, but he will just not submit to me." He told her lightly, as if he was asking for her advice, "so I thought, I would find someone who would." He walked over and placed a hand on her forehead and she groaned loudly as she heard the drums. He began backing up but she followed willingly, not taking her eyes off him as if it would strengthen the connection and he manoeuvred her to stand in front of the Doctor.
"What have you done to her?" he asked. His voice was hoarse from under-use and his elderly nature, but the horror was very evident in his tone as he looked at her. She seemed to be taking physical pleasure from whatever he was feeding her.
"You see, apparently she's had the drumming before. And now she craved it, she addicted and I'm the only one who can satisfy it." He removed his hand and she moaned in almost guttural despair. He turned her to face the Doctor, placing a possessive arm over her shoulder. The Doctor looked down at her, trying to work out what was happening as her mouth moved in silent words. He blinked as he realised she was directing them at him; 'help me'. His breath caught in his throat, she was in so deep.
"I had banned her from seeing you, after all I do not want what is mine mingling with the livestock, but I wanted to see what you have done to yet another life."
"She's not yours. She's not anyones." The Doctor replied angrily and Koschei grinned triumphantly.
"Oh yes she is. Whenever I see fit, I call her and she comes running." The implication was thick in his words and the Doctor shot a heartbroken look at her, which she returned.
"I can't... The drumming..." She stuttered out, in tears and Koschei pulled her close.
"Don't worry, dearest. I'm sure he understands that you're on my side now. Another life lost. And they call me the monster." He tutted, "Maybe now you see why you should tell me more about this gun; maybe, just maybe you can save Martha from such a fate." Danni tensed as the Doctor fell silent and she used all her willpower to push away from him.
"You have been looking in the wrong place." She told him, turning to face Koschei with her back to the Doctor, "All along, looking for Martha Jones when she is just a decoy." His eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"She's not the cause of your downfall." She stood on the tips of her toes so they were eye-to-eye, "I am." She grinned manically, "The only person in the universe as insane as you, who else?"
"You said that Martha was looking for a gun, and that she finds all the pieces." She nodded.
"I did. And she does. But that doesn't mean that she uses it, or that it in fact works. I've seen the future, it's a fix point in time. I will be your downfall." His eyes narrowed angrily, and if she hadn't been blinded by the need to hear the drums she would have seen the brief flash of hurt that the Doctor caught flashing across his face. He raised his hand to hit her, but instead pushed her onto the Doctor, who collapsed under the her weight.
"Fine, stay with the dog." He hissed, "Chain her up next to him." And he stormed out. Danni collapsed into a pile of heavy sobs and the Doctor watched him retreat before shifting to look at her. Two men were chaining her to the hook he was also attached to.
"He didn't hit you." He stated, amazed.
"What am I going to do?" She sobbed as if she didn't hear him, "I'm going to go insane, I can't do that again."
"You could hear the drums?" She nodded.
"You stopped them, but the withdrawal drove me almost insane. I can't go through that again. What have I done?" She looked up at him, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, and I hope in the future you remember that I didn't choose to go back."
~0~0~0~
"Can I ask you a question?" Danni asked quietly. She was sat next to the Doctor, tapping out the rhythm of four on her leg.
"Of course." The Doctor replied, grabbing her hand and making her stop.
"Am I a burden?" He frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"I keep jumping from place to place, never in the right order. I appear in the middle of your adventures, with your friends and... well, others and I can never stick around. And now this." She looked down at his hand on hers, "I'm just the girl who gets in the way."
"Never." He told her, squeezing her hand, "I meant it, you're my best friend. My adventures are always that much better when you're there." She smiled slightly then groaned, using her other hand to tap on her head.
"I... It's just too quiet."