They were parked in their usual place and used the time to do repairs. The perception filter was damaged from Sandy’s crash landing and the Doctor wanted to check everything else so there are no future surprises. 

 

It's been five days since Yaz's accident and although medical technology on board the ship healed her broken bones and patched up the damage it wasn't a magic wand, and she still had a lot of healing to do. So, each day Yaz spent about an hour inside the medical pod which reminded her of a sunbed. It was designed for slow healing of the damaged tissue and did wonders for all her bruises. 

 

Sandy was helping the Doctor for most of the day and was excited to finally spend some time with Yaz afterwards. Although they were on the ship together, they didn't get to spend much alone time. But today was a date night and she felt herself beaming from inside unable to concentrate completely on her work, her mind wandering off. 

She was deep underneath the ship with the Doctor, learning about all the maintenance and repairs. She found it exciting and intriguing. It was like a massive computer and that was her passion, along with aliens. So, there was nothing more exciting than repairing a spaceship with an alien by her side. And not just any alien, the Doctor. Something she still had to pinch herself at times. 

 

"Good job Sandy...you're a very fast learner. You're gonna know this ship in no time." 

 

"I hope so. This is very cool. It's like a world building" she said as she was putting the shiny plates which resembled honey cones back to their slots "These are so beautiful I can't stop looking at them" she held it in her hand and watched how the light danced across the amber surface. 

 

"They're stunning. I find Doongoon technology very interesting. I read about it, but never really got my hands on it. Here, just slowly put this plate inside" she monitored over Sandy's shoulder "There, now we just let the ship build itself and we will have a swimming pool in few hours." 

 

"Waaaw...that's amazing. Doctor, how do you build a TARDIS? What's the main difference between this ship and yours?" 

 

"TARDIS is grown, this ship is built that's the main difference. TARDIS is organic matter combined with AI, so she can think and feel. This ship is purely mechanical.  Advanced technology compared to Earth sure, but still no organic parts...Not as cool as my TARDIS" she smuged 

 

"Waaaw...TARDIS is cool" she sighed leaving her toolbox on a side "You're cool" 

 

The Doctor smirked "Well thanks Sandy. I think we're done for today. No more damage from our crush landing" she smiled "Fancy a cuppa?" 

 

"Definitely" Sandy smiled picking up her toolbox. 

 

.... 

 

Yaz opened her eyes when the music stopped, and the lights switched back on. The door of the pod opened up and she sat up stretching her arms. Her body felt better but still broken. She looked down at the massive bruise on the side of her waist. It was getting smaller, but it was still painful. 

 

"Hey" Sandy smiled from the door of the sickbay. 

 

"Hi" Yaz looked up and pulled the tank top down. 

 

"Wait" she rushed to help her get down from the pod. 

 

"My nurse?" She smiled draping her arm over her shoulder. 

 

"Nurse, girlfriend, partner in crime" she giggled buttoning her shirt and felt her heart do a somersault at Yaz's finger hooked up to her chin raising her gaze and pressing her lips to hers slow and passionate. Too passionate for the early morning hours. So, Sandy broke out of the kiss with a giggle moving her arms from her waist and bum and stepped back to a safer distance. 

 

"Too early for this" she huffed tucking her curls behind her ears. 

 

"If you say so" Yaz giggled shrugging and picked up her jacket from the chair "So what did you two do?" 

 

"We repaired all the damage from my famous landing and added a swimming pool...Well more like a spa small one. But you should see. It will look awesome when it's all done. Might take you there later." she winked. 

 

"That date might end up as something I'm not sure my body can handle yet" she laughed. 

 

Sandy smirked then hooked her finger between the buttons of her shirt pulling her in for a short kiss "It's purely water therapy, recommended by your Doctor" she raised her eyebrow with a cheeky smile 

 

.... 

 

Yaz's phone rang as she walked back to her room. It was Martha. 

 

"Did you steal my cat?" Yaz laughed. 

 

"She loves me, didn't ask about you at all." 

 

"Serves me right, I'm a shit mum." 

 

"What can say Yaz, you're just not a type to settle down. How are you? Kate told me what happened. Girl....you're lucky to be alive." 

 

"Still bartered but I'm getting there." 

 

"Seriously...You two should not be doing this alone. You'll get yourself killed." 

 

"Says a woman who spent most of her career saving the world alone” she laughed. 

 

"Guess it comes with a job description when you work with the Doctor " she giggled "Anyways that name you asked for, Blue line biogenetics. Found it, it is in Tokyo, but registered under a different name "Blue line" and it has nothing to do with biogenetics and everything to do with luxury boat building. At least on the surface." 

 

"And under the surface?" 

 

"Not sure, but for the company who's heavily into boat building they haven't sold or produced any boats since they've opened up 10 years ago. I'm gonna see with Kate today if we can dig a bit deeper for you. I always wanted to see Tokyo." 

 

"I can be there in 5 minutes." 

 

"Oh no, you will stay right where you are and enjoy being pampered by your girlfriend." 

 

"Excuse me?" 

 

"I have my resources" she laughed. 

 

"I can see that." 

 

"Besides I miss some excitement" 

 

"Thanks for that" 

 

"Don't mention it. Now go and rest. I'll get back to you as soon as I have something solid." 

 

"Alright babe" 

 

"See you soon.” 

 

"See you" 

 

..... 

 

Sandy hopped around the lab swaying with the sound of the music and flicking over the hologram display above the desk. Behind her, the diary they required from the lady being analyzed. Every word, formula and strange notes scanned by the ships system. Suddenly the alarm went off and the lights changed. Sandy turned around her eyes darted across the monitor. Then she flinched as the lab door sealed shut. 

 

Yaz was woken by the sound of the alarm, and she jumped out of bed. The Doctor suddenly appeared in her room. 

 

"Sandy, lab!" She panicked and disappeared. 

 

"Fuck!" Yaz got up and ran out of the room down the hallway. As she ran through the narrow hallways the sound became louder. 

 

"Faster Sandy! On the left!" The Doctor gave instructions "Your left, pull that lever down." 

 

"Sandy grabbed the bar and pulled it down. The glass barriers shot from the ceiling down to the floor and sealed off the whole section of the lab. 

 

"Sandy!" Yaz yelled as she ran towards the door. 

 

"Contamination" Doctor said. 

 

"What? But she's inside" Yaz pulled the sonic out. 

 

"NO!" Doctor yelled "Wait. Sandy the button on the wall there. Hit that button" Doctor jumped on a spot pointing nervously. 

 

Sandy pressed the button and the whole sealed section of the lab went up in flames incinerating the diary and everything around it. Sandy grabbed the syringe from the drawer and injected herself in the neck then transferred the sample for analysis. 

 

"I need to let her out" Yaz yelled. 

 

"No Yaz" Sandy came to the window on the door. "Let me make sure I'm fine. It'll only take a moment. It's ok" 

 

"What happened? Contamination from what?" 

 

"Diary" Doctor said. 

 

"Diary was contaminated?" She frowned confused "With what?" 

 

"Thermo activated" Sandy said "The pages must have heated up from the scanner." 

 

The monitor beeped and Sandy turned around. She smiled and the lab door opened up. Yaz immediately ran inside, closing her arms around her. 

 

"I'm fine. It wasn't long enough, and apparently not air born" Sandy insured as Yaz tightened her arms around her. 

 

"You sure you’re, ok?" She cupped her face 

 

"Yes...it's alright" she nodded as Yaz pressed her lips to her forehead relieved and pulled her to her chest again hugging her tight 

 

"Nice to have you safe Sandy. I don't think my preceptors can take more stress." The Doctor said as she glitched 

 

"Thank god its not air born" Sandy sighed. 

 

"That's why she gave it to us" The Doctor said looking at the data displayed. 

 

"It wasn't what was written" Sandy said "He literally hid it on the pages." 

 

"Clever" Doctor said "...seamless, harmless, completely undetectable..." 

 

"Until you heat it up." Sandy said "Like invisible ink over the flames. We got it Doctor....look." 

 

"The whole sequence, everything" she smiled satisfied looking at the ships analysis across the screen 

 

"Can UNIT make a cure now?" 

 

"Absolutely Yaz, this is all they need" Sandy said proudly "I think this is why it was there. Look, this is all the information about it. Everything they are trying to cover up." 

 

"Briliant job Sandy, well done" Doctor smiled. 

 

....

 

 

Later that evening Yaz was braiding her hair in front of the bathroom mirror. She was expecting Sandy any minute. After an earlier scare she was eager to have her closer. And before her mind got too wrapped up in all the possible morbid scenarios of how the day could've ended the short knock on the bedroom door shifted her attention in a more positive direction. 

 

"Hi" Sandy smiled brightly from the door. 

 

"Waaaaaw" Yaz's eyes widened at a woman standing in her doorway wearing a tight black dress just above the knee, her hair up in a messy bun, a few pink curls falling to the side of her face like little springs. Then, when she looked down, it brought a smile to her face to see a pair of black glittery trainers on her feet, tied with big pink bows. Her throat tightened and suddenly she felt overwhelming shame for not taking a date night more seriously. 

 

"Like it?" 

 

"Blimey who are you?" She swallowed deep "You look...waaw...amazing." 

 

"Are you gonna stare or I'm gonna get a kiss?" She giggled, stepping forward and draping her arms over her shoulders. 

 

"Not sure, let me find my brain first" she frowned gliding her hands down her waist "I think I'm gonna have to change" she whispered into her lips and pulled her into a kiss. 

 

 

.....

 

 

The ship came to a halt and Sandy smiled excitedly "So where are we?" She rushed to the door, but Yaz blocked her path and covered her eyes with her hand. 

 

"Surprise" she smiled grabbing the door handle and as they stepped outside moved her hand. 

 

"Holly bananas! Are you kidding me???" Sandy jumped from excitement "Venice? You took me to Venice for a date?" 

 

"Yap" 

 

"OMG I can't believe this. I'm in Venice!" She yelled, exited, pulling her hand to the stone railing of the nearby bridge, and leaned over the edge to look down to the canals. "Gondola...a freaking gondola...and sea...and I'm in Venice!" 

 

"Yes, you are" Yaz laughed. Considering the fact, they are traveling all over the universe, her excitement about Italy seemed hilarious. 

 

The soft evening lights illuminated the narrow streets, and she looked up and around elated. Her eyes glowed with excitement. 

 

Yaz stood behind her smiling "I mean we can always go back and watch some movies, make popcorn..." she joked, and Sandy cut her off with a kiss "Or stay here" she giggled into her lips then pulled her phone out to take a photo of the two of them. 

 

.... 

 

As they walked hand in hand through the narrow streets, Yaz's mind drifted back in time from time to time, remembering what it was like when the Doctor took her to amazing places, she never thought her eyes would ever see. It was a role reversal that she didn't quite know how to accept. Maybe she'll get used to it, maybe she never will, maybe her desire to be more as the Doctor has come true in the most morbid way possible. Either way, she was determined to make this evening special as she was brutally aware of how easily it could be their last. Then Sandy's voice calling her name broke her chain of thoughts and she felt like an idiot. 

 

"Oh...sorry" she flinched "...I just drifted away. Not very polite." 

 

"You alright?" 

 

"Yeah" she smiled and kissed her knuckles "I'm hungry, you?" 

 

"Yeah" she smiled. 

 

"I know a really cute place just around the corner from here. I went there with Ryan." 

 

"Who's Ryan?" 

 

She sighed deeply. Of course she didn't know who he was. When was she ever talking about any of it. When was the last time she saw any of them. A decade of life locked away in some deep, safe space inside, hidden from everyone around her and mostly from herself. 

 

"A friend who traveled with me. Fam..." she took a deep breath. 

 

"Fam?" Sandy frowned confused. 

 

"It's what the Doctor used to call us. Her fam, team TARDIS...Graham, Ryan, Dan... we all travelled together." 

 

"And now?" 

 

"We all went our separate ways I suppose. Or I went separate way." She looked into the distance "Not sure which one to be honest. Aaaa....look, right there" she cheered up pointing at the restaurant. 

 

.... 

 

"They have fantastic pasta here. All homemade...We can have a walk around after. I’ll show you everything. We could come once in the daytime and pretend we are proper tourists." 

 

"We could" Sandy laughed "I'd love that." 

 

"Yeah, what the hell. Now we have this ship we can go anywhere we want Banana. We just need to sort out this mess first. Then a holiday, any place you want." 

 

"Really?" 

 

"Yeah, really.... What did you think, I'm just gonna park it in my garage?" She giggled "Oh, did you know there were vampires in Venice once?" 

 

"What?" Sandy's eyes grew the size of saucers. 

 

"Not the real once, alien." she laughed "The Doctor told me. Like a big stinking fish kind who pretend to be human" 

 

"A fish vampire?" Sandy laughed "Are you making this up?" 

 

"No... I swear. Ask her...she was a bloke back then." 

 

"I'm still having a brain freeze over that. She said she was Scottish." 

 

"Yap she was. And had a really dodgy dress sense in one of her regens. Had a wife as well. She told me that right after..." she stopped herself mid sentence. 

 

"Right after what?" 

 

"Oh, never mind" 

 

"Noooo, tell me...pleaseeee" 

 

She purist her lips "Right after she told me she would date me. Anyways...why the fuck am I saying this now?" 

 

"Cause I'm trying to get as much out of you whilst I have a chance." Sandy laughed "You know everything about me, and your past is like a mystery wrapped up in enigma." 

 

"I'm sorry" 

 

"I'm just being nosy that's all." She looked down at the menu. 

 

Her curiosity was itching to ask more questions but she was very aware how much Yaz still struggled with her emotions, trying desperately to juggle them between her and the Doctor. She also knew the Doctor spent most nights in Yaz's bedroom, which at times was a hard pill to swallow but the one she just took with a lot of water and reminded herself that she wouldn't swap places with her for anything in this world. 

 

Yaz reached across the table and brushed her fingertips over hers and Sandy released the menu lacing them together. 

 

"I wanna tell you everything." Yaz said quietly "But I also don't wanna hurt you. This is all just so fucked up Sandy. I'm fucked up." 

 

"You will hurt me more if you stay a mystery." She said brushing her thumb over her hand gently "So come on...tell me about the fish vampires." 

 

.... 

 

Sandy asked question after question all evening, those she never dared to ask. Slowly peeling back, the layers of the woman she loved. Getting to know parts of her that she never knew before and seeing sides of her she didn't know existed. And somehow, by the time they got back to the ship, Yaz felt lighter. It was as if the burden she had been carrying for three years was slowly lifting from her painful back and for just a moment she was reminded of the person she used to be. 

 

"Thank you for an amazing evening" Sandy smiled stopping by Yaz's bedroom as her fingers sifted through hers gently. 

 

Yaz tugged on her hand just lightly and moved curls from her forehead as Sandy's green eyes gazed at her softly. 

 

"Stay" she said quietly, and Sandy blinked, the corner of her mouth twitched as all the words died on her lips and Yaz felt the ground opening beneath her feet as Sandy lowered her gaze to the floor. "Sandy…I'm sorry I didn't..." she fumbled but then Sandy laced her fingers with hers and reached for the door. 

 

.... 

 

The sound of an alarm sounded from the phone beside the bed and Yaz lazily reached under the covers turning it off, then rolled to the other side draping her arm over the other woman and gently kissed her shoulder. 

She smelled like Christmas morning and cotton candy and felt soft and warm like velvet against her skin. She felt like a betrayal of lost love, and at the same time deeper, more loving and meaningful than she could have ever imagined. And Yaz buried her face in her pink curls and moved just a little closer allowing herself to fall into her. 

 

....