Izara stayed out of sight in the Powell Estates courtyard after the Nestene was destroyed. She didn't interfere. She didn't approach.
Tonight belonged to them.
She watched from the dim walkway above as the Doctor led Rose out of the alley, offering her the universe with that soft, hopeful awkwardness he tried to hide.
"…it also travels in time."
Rose stopped dead.
Izara hugged her arms around herself.
She knew this moment by heart—
And still, it hit her.
Rose laughed, overwhelmed. "No."
The Doctor's face fell almost imperceptibly.
Izara flinched, because she knew what that no did to him.
How heavy it felt.
Rose turned away… walked a few steps…
Then turned back.
"Does it travel in space?"
The Doctor lit up. "Oh yes."
And the TARDIS came into view — just around the corner, the soft hum of her engines rolling through the courtyard like warm thunder.
Izara felt it immediately.
A resonance.
A shiver through her bones.
Her System reacted like it had been pinged by a god.
[SYSTEM ALERT: Unidentified extradimensional entity initiating handshake…
STATUS: COMPATIBLE / DANGEROUS / INEVITABLE]
"Oh," Izara whispered.
"Oh no."
Rose bounded up to the TARDIS excitedly — but the Doctor held the door.
"Go on then. Or You can stay home." He shrugged, pretending it didn't matter.
Rose hesitated.
Izara stepped back into the shadows.
This wasn't her moment.
Rose eventually said, "Nah. I've gotta get home."
The Doctor nodded slowly, softly. "Yeah."
And he stepped inside the TARDIS.
The doors closed.
The engines roared—
VWORP— VWORP—
The TARDIS vanished.
Izara's chest tightened.
She knew what was coming next.
He'd be back.
He always came back for Rose.
He needed to ask her again — to try again — because he couldn't bear leaving her behind.
Izara waited.
One minute.
Two.
Three—
VWORP— VWORP—
The TARDIS reappeared.
This time, Rose laughed aloud. "He came back?"
She dashed inside her building, racing upstairs to grab a bag.
Izara stayed frozen on the walkway, silhouetted under a flickering streetlamp.
She didn't hear the footsteps until they were close.
"You."
She turned.
The Doctor was standing at the other end of the walkway, hands in pockets, breath misting in the cool air.
"You're still here," he said quietly.
Not surprised.
Not angry.
Just… curious. Concerned.
Izara swallowed. "So are you."
He walked toward her — cautious, studying her like she was a puzzle piece that didn't fit the box image.
"You were at the shop. And now you're here again." His eyes narrowed. "You keep orbiting events. Not accidents."
Izara tried to smile. "Maybe I'm predictable."
He didn't return it.
Instead, he moved even closer.
"I scanned you before leaving," he said.
"And something else was there. Something layered. Clever. Shielded."
Izara felt her stomach drop.
The Tok'ra-lite neural shielding.
Of course he sensed it properly this time.
"Human minds don't do that," he continued softly.
"They don't hide themselves from a Time Lord."
Izara forced steady breathing. "I'm not hiding."
"You are." His voice lowered. "But not from me."
The soulbond flickered — a warm pulse under her skin.
The Doctor stiffened, as if sensing something he couldn't name.
Izara stepped back. "Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't look at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like… like you're figuring me out."
His expression shifted; something vulnerable, raw, nearly broken flickered in his eyes.
Like she reminded him of a memory he couldn't bear to touch.
"I don't know what you are," he said finally, voice barely above a whisper.
"But you're not dangerous."
A beat.
"Not yet."
Izara snorted weakly. "Comforting."
He huffed — almost a laugh — then sobered.
"Rose is going to ask you if you want to come."
Izara's heart lurched. "She hasn't even—"
The TARDIS engines hummed behind them — warm, curious, reaching.
Izara felt it again:
That tug.
That recognition.
Like the TARDIS herself was bending her head out the door to peer at Izara.
The Doctor noticed her flinch.
"You feel it," he whispered.
Not a question.
Izara couldn't lie. "Yes."
He stared at her, something like awe and suspicion at war in his eyes.
"The TARDIS doesn't react to humans."
"I never said I was just human."
He froze.
Before either could push further—
"IZARA!"
Rose barreled down the walkway, bag over her shoulder.
"Come on! You're coming too, right?"
Izara blinked.
Stunned.
Terrified.
Elated.
The Doctor turned slowly to face her, expression unreadable.
"Your choice," he said softly.
Izara looked at Rose.
At the blue box glowing warmly below them.
At the Doctor, who felt like gravity.
The System pinged:
[Mission Activated — "Witness the TARDIS"
Objective: Enter the TARDIS.
Reward: +400SC
*Status: PENDING]
Izara inhaled.
And stepped toward destiny.