13 Novella 1

Close

TW: mentions of self harm

Were you dead? You couldn't be, this isn't how it ends, no you can hear something still as you drift in and out of consciousness...

Something bright burns behind your eyes, illuminating the black with red. You force them open into thin slits, able to make out a clearly defined flame and someone holding it high above you. Relief floods you as the weight of the vampire is pulled off you, but somehow you feel more vulnerable than ever.

You hear the dull thuds of metal falling to the floor and in an instant feel warm strong arms reach you. You don't have the energy to move or even flinch, lying completely still, but not yet under.

The hands scramble to your neck where they become still, probably searching for a pulse, the other hand applying hard pressure on your neck. You may be delirious but you are sure there is more than one person with you, and since her arms were currently around you, it definitely wasn't The Doctor holding the flame.

"Oh my god (Y/n) I'm so sorry I should never have come here! This is all my fault, please (Y/n) wake up!" The Doctor pours out in a panicked rush, that beautiful voice so familiar.

You want to move and tell her you're ok, to reassure her you'll be fine, but actually you can feel yourself getting closer and closer to sleep, your eyes having long since dropped shut.

"Use this to staunch the blood, I'll lead the way, you need to get her out of here, now" another voice says, vaguely registering in the background.

A piece of fabric is pressed to your neck, then the strong arms of the time lady lift you clean off the floor effortlessly.

You are vaguely aware you are moving, and despite hating the close contact, you feel safe in these arms.

Safe. A word you haven't used in a long time.

The journey is short and you can tell when you've reached the console for the deep concerned thrumming of the Tardis.

"Thank you for your help, you may have saved her life" says The Doctor breathlessly.

"No worries, first time meeting a human, I couldn't just let her die" and then you realise; it was the friendly alien you met earlier that had been holding the flame. "You'd better get her out of here quickly now, the vampire will be following her scent when she manages to free herself"

The Doctor thanks them again and takes you into The Tardis, closing the door behind her with her foot after Yaz slips in.

The wrap around your neck seems to be working and you feel your eyes open fractionally. You moan softly and The Doctor stops in her tracks and looks down at you.

Her face is fuzzy but you make out a worried expression before she bends down and rests you gently on the floor.

"Yaz come and hold her please, we need to get out of here before the vampire catches her scent and comes after us" she informs.

Once again you fail to struggle when weaker and colder human arms pull you into their lap. The Tardis picks up with a whooshing sound and you feel the slightest relief that you have at least escaped.

You don't think you've even landed when The Doctor once again scoops you from Yazs' lap and carries you at a quickened pace further into the ship. Your head lolls, the Tardis journey having sapped the energy you had managed to revive, and your eyes fall shut once again.

"No (Y/n) don't do this to me we're almost there! Hang on, I'm not going to let you die, not today, not tomorrow or the day after or the day after. You will be just fine, I promise..." you miss the end as you are seriously close to unconsciousness by now, grey spots clouding your vision and nausea rolling in.

You are a aware that you are being placed gently onto a bed and your sleeves rolled up.

You are so out of it you don't even react to the sharp intake of breathe signalling The Doctor has just seen the extent of your injuries. A sharp poke in your arm and instant relief, another more painful poke in your hand and the feeling of fluid entering you.

Comfortable and safe, you finally allow yourself to sleep.

* * *

You feel significantly revived before you've even opened your eyes. They take a bit of convincing but you get in on the third try.

You think you are alone, but happen to glance over at the door and see The Doctor sat crossed legged like a child with a book in her hands, eyes scanning the page at impossible speeds, little furrow lines on her forehead. You don't like to disturb her so lie back down quietly.

You roll to get more comfortable but pull at your iv sending pain down your arm. You wince and roll back, still trying not to alert the Time Lady. You know sooner or later she is going to make you talk. You pick later and close your eyes.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Comes a low voice in the semi-darkness. So she knew you were awake. Of course she did, she's shown you multiple times how clever and perceptive she was.

"No" you reply sullenly. She sighs and gets to her feet and approaches you as you shift yourself up to rest on your elbows.

"Firstly, I'm sorry for what happened. Truly I am, it was stupid and reckless of me to enrage a vampire, and you got caught in the middle. I believe there is no lasting damage, and I've replaced a large volume of the blood you lost. You neck looks like it's going to heal nicely"

You nod, knowing there's more and dreading it.

"Still, this could have been avoided if she'd never caught your scent in the first place" she says, eyes locked straight on yours. You break contact first, not saying a word.

"(Y/n)?" She says quietly and you turn your head away, noticing the clean white gauze bandaging your left arm.

"Why did you do it?" She whispers.

You think about an answer. An answer that won't land you straight back in the psych ward, will appease The Doctor and erase suspicion while not lying to her all at the same time. It's a long list.

"(Y/n)?" She prompts and you decide to answer as best you can.

"Don't worry, really Doctor, it's a one time thing" then you realise she would have seen your old scars too. Her expression of calm disbelief reflects that.

"I couldn't help it" you say quietly.

"(Y/n) I have enough trouble keeping you alive without you working against me too! I need you to promise you'll come and find me if you ever feel like this again. Do you promise?"

You look deep into her caring hazel eyes filled with nothing but deepest concern and hate yourself for what you are about to say next.

"I promise".