TTR: Casting The Mold By Daniel Ben-Zvi Hex was halfway to the loos when the feeling first overtook him. It started as a mild rumbling in the pit of his stomach, the slight twinge his body would throw at him to let him know he was operating on far too much caffeine and far too little else. It was a familiar feeling, one born of too many nights running a double shift down in Casualty. That lasted for about five seconds before it built...no, escalated...into a wave of nausea the likes of which he couldn't remember having experienced before. The taste of last week's salmon flooded back into his mouth as Hex fought to keep down the meager contents of his stomach. It felt...it felt, Hex thought, like he'd had far too much to drink. Which was strange, in a way, because he didn't drink... ...did he? [It was only a quick glimpse through the curtain, he thought. He just wanted to prove to himself that the Doctor and Ace had been kidding when they'd told him just how large the crowd was going to be. Just one look, thought Hex, and he'd be able to prove that this was just some sort of weird, elaborate joke. After all, there was no way that Jo Dee would put herself at this much risk... "Bloody hell," said Hex under his breath, "there must be a hundred people out there." "Actually, it's closer to two hundred." Hex jumped slightly, startled by the Doctor's sudden appearance out of seemingly nowhere. I really should be used to this, by now. He's done it often enough. "In addition," said the Doctor, "there are the television cameras ready and waiting." "And to think," cracked Ace, sauntering casually in, "you thought Jo Dee was drunk." He had, in fact. It had only been a quiet night out, a spot of karaoke in a Nashville bar, a little rest and relaxation in between fighting off the monsters and saving the universe. It had become a little more than that when, at Ace's prompting, he'd gone onstage to sing a number...and stunned the audience into silence. He could still remember the sight of Ace in the audience, mouth hanging open in slack disbelief. The Doctor, on the other hand, had just sat there and smiled. As if he knew exactly what would happen. He'd been offered deals from three record labels on the spot, each of which he'd politely declined. It was then that he'd met Jo Dee. She'd been hard to miss...statuesque, flaming red hair, with a personality that could literally light up a room. They'd flirted, briefly. Then Jo Dee had divulged that she was engaged and Hex turned bright red. She'd laughed at that. A bright, brassy laugh that just oozed joy. "Don't sweat it, stud. But tell you what...let me make you an offer. I know you're not looking for a record deal but I've got a little show coming up in two days. How'd you like to do a number with me?" "Onstage?" "Did you have something else in mind," she smiled. And that had led to this. An audience two hundred strong, a TV crew from CMT...and nerves bad enough to make violent nausea seem like an attractive option. "How's it hanging, stud?" Jo Dee strolled by, dressed to impress in a snug fitting black blouse and a tight pair of jeans. "You ok?" "Terrified, actually." "You and everybody else in this town before they go on, hon. But don't worry, I'll be gentle." Hex smiled back at her. "Don't you dare." "Ooh, fire. I like that." They'd gone out together, Hex taking a moment to absorb the presence of the crowd. Jo Dee introduced him, using his real name, which made him feel slightly uncomfortable. That discomfort vanished when Jo Dee turned to look at him and mouthed "You ready?" Hex just nodded. And the moment the music began, it was as if everything else disappeared. His nerves, the crowds, the Doctor and Ace...it was just him and Jo Dee. "...so bring on the rain..."] It had taken Fitz some time to make his way down towards the loos after Hex. He'd been worried, of course, when he'd seen Hex walk away. The slight greenish tinge to his complexion, the mild stumble in his walk...for someone who'd not touched a drop of the hard stuff, thought Fitz, which was not a good sign. But there had been orders to fill and drinks to pour...it had been a relief when Harry had finally come around to relieve him. That feeling of relief was quickly turning to worry as Fitz turned the corner, spying Hex on his knees, a pool of sick slowly spreading below him. He bent down towards Hex. "You ok, mate?" he asked. "No..." Hex replied groggily. It was all Fitz could do not to stumble backward in shock. This...this didn't look like the man he'd spoken to not twenty minutes ago. He was dressed the same...but nothing else about him resembled the man Fitz had spoken to. Hair color, physical appearance, body language...not one bit of it was the same. The Hex he'd just spoken too had been skinny...not rather noticeably fit. And his hair had been black, Fitz remembered that...not dark blond. It was all...different. Which was why, though Fitz, it was just so stupid that his brain chose that exact moment to fixate on the tiniest little detail. "You didn't have an accent before." [The baseball bat swung forward gracefully in his hand, the guard crumpling to a heap at his feet as the bat walloped him up the head. To his left, Ace was fighting off her attacker with a series of pointed kicks to his stomach and nether regions. Hex could still hear the countdown echoing throughout the chamber. They were trying desperately to buy the Doctor enough time to stop the explosion but he wasn't sure it would be enough. To his right, Alicia groaned, slowly getting up from the floor. "Take it easy," said Hex, "that was a hell of a shot you took. You could have concussion. We should get you to a hospital." 10...9....8... "I think," said Alicia, "we've got other things to worry about." "Professor!" yelled Ace. "If you've got any tricks up your sleeve, now's the time!" "Almost...got...it," came the Doctor's familiar burr in response. 7...6....5....5.....5....fiv...f........ "He did it....YEAH!" Hex was silenced as Alicia launched herself at him, wrapping his arms around him in a crushing hug. He simply stood there, wrapping his arms around her, taking a moment to enjoy the smell of the air.] The conversation came in snatches, drifting in and out of his consciousness. "Is he all right?" [God, Doctor, dinner was amazing!] "I think so. He's just been through a hell of a lot in a very short time. Not sure why this particular author had him go through it like this, though." [Us? We save the universe. Eight times a week, twice on Sundays.] "But why now? His debut won't be for another five months yet." [I'm having the time of my life. I can't imagine ever wanting to leave.] "Who knows? There's obviously something about him that seems to fascinate this particular author. Or at least raise his interest." [It's been great, Doctor...but it's time for me to go. I have my own life to lead.] Hex groaned, clutching at his head as several figures swam into vision before him. He recognized Fitz from before and he knew that the dark-haired beauty in T-shirt and jeans was Ace...although he wasn't quite sure how...but when it came to the other three, he was drawing complete blanks. "Good morning, handsome," tittered the short-haired blond in what looked like Edwardian clothing...or something similarly old-fashioned. "Charley!" hissed the professionally dressed Pakistani woman seated next to her. "What? He is very attractive." "He is that," added another dark-haired woman seated at the head of the table. "And the way he fills out that leather jacket...he obviously works out. Several times a week, from the looks of things." "I fit in as much as I can around my shifts..." started Hex before coming to a stop. "Wait a second...who are you?" The blond smiled at him. "You already know Fitz and Ace...or will know Ace, to be precise," she said. "That's Anji," pointing to the Pakistani woman, "Izzy," to the dark-haired woman who wasn't Ace, "and I'm Charlotte Pollard. But everyone calls me Charley."" "Hector. But everyone calls me Hex." "Just Hector?" asked Fitz. Hex thought for a moment. "You know, I'm not quite sure." "Definitely from the North...Merseyside?" asked Anji. Hex nodded. Anji leaned back, a satisfied smile on her face. "What happened?" asked Hex. Ace smiled at him warmly. "You weren't exactly in fit shape to pick this up. So I got it for you when we got the call." And she handed him an envelope with his name (Hex, he noted, not Hector) written on it in ornate silver calligraphy pen. He opened it, finding inside a sheet of paper with the following words written on it: Harvest Dan Abnett Doc7, Ace, Hex (intro). June 2004. Izzy smiled at him wickedly. "One of us..." she hissed playfully. "Stop it," smiled Anji, "he's confused enough." "What's going on?" "You got the call, mate," said Ace. "You've got your first official story lined up. Welcome to our world." "Welcome to monsters," said Izzy. "And last minute rescues," added Fitz. "Daring escapes, fanatical improvisation," chimed in Anji. "And fantastic adventures," finished Charlie. "Welcome," said Ace, "to having all of time and space put out before you like some cosmic toy store. Welcome to having the time of your life...and wondering whether or not you'll survive it. Welcome to love and laughter and anger and tears and more excitement than you could possibly imagine." "Welcome to life onboard the TARDIS. Welcome to our world." And although he wasn't quite sure why... ...Hex found he couldn't keep himself from smiling. Disclaimer: "Doctor Who" was created by the BBC. "This Time Round" was created by Tyler Dion. Hex is set to be created by Dan Abnett. Izzy belongs to Marvel. Charley belongs to Big Finish. Ace, Fitz and Anji belong to the BBC. Summary: Things start to slide into place...and possibilities begin to open up.