13 Novella 1

Related

TW: self harm

You stare at her, dumbfounded, waiting for her to tell you she's joking, that it's not real, she's not really associated with this woman.

She sighs, recognising your inner turmoil.

"Ok just listen." She starts, twisting her hands as you raise your eyebrows slightly.

"Her name is Jenny. Many faces ago now my DNA was replicated to form a genetic match, technically my child but a futuristic and sped up process, it took minutes, and by the time I accepted her she had died taking a bullet for me. I stayed for hours but she didn't wake, so I moved on. She must have woken soon after, and I haven't seen her since. This was her attempt to reach out to me, but it all went horribly wrong and you got caught in the middle. I'm sorry (Y/n), you didn't deserve any of this." She whispers the last part, finally breaking eye contact and leaving you free to absorb this new information.

"Does Yaz know?" You blurt out.

"Um yes I think Jenny told her" she says, confused as to your line of questioning. You are relieved, worried this may cause a wedge between them. The Doctor looks at you questioningly and you lie back.

"She wants to meet you" says The Doctor carefully. You sit upright and feel your heart rate pick up. With her hearing, the Doctor notices too.

"Okay maybe not the best of idea just yet, don't worry, I think she just wants to apologise" she responds.

"No I'd like to meet her" you say determinedly.

"Ok" the blonde says uncertainly, pausing before leaving your bedside and exiting into the corridor.

Moments later she comes back with the woman who looks nervous and, to your surprise, very pretty, blonde ponytail swinging as she walks toward your bed. The Doctor looks between you two nervously before opening her mouth.

"Do you want me to stay?" She says you softly.

"No we'll be ok" you respond, not taking your eyes off Jenny who smiles a little apprehensively. The Doctor scronches her face and nods to leave, but you know she won't have gone far.

You are propped up on you elbows and you adjust yourself to avoid the awkwardness. To your horror you find Jenny's warm hands on your shoulder, probably just trying to help you, but you flinch away in alarm.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry! I was just trying to help." She says worriedly.

You shake your head, trying to regulate your breathing while she visibly deflates.

"Really. I'm sorry about everything. This is all my fault, I should never have let this happen, I managed to hurt an innocent person while just trying to find my father- mother sorry, I'll have to get used to that" she grins sheepishly.

You grin unexpectedly, realising this woman knows The Doctor from a long time ago.

"Tell me about him, what he used to be like, please?" You say.

She smiles.

"Well you have probably seen just how wonderful she is, well it was just like that. We ran, with some of his other companions, I wonder what happened to them..." she frowns, then clears her face again. "Yes, we ran, so fast and so far and I never wanted it to end"

"But it did" you whisper. "You saved him"

"Yes, he waited but when I woke... he was gone. I've been searching ever since. I was getting desperate, and in a stupid move I recruited Alastair." She shivers, then looks up, tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry (Y/n)...I hope one day you can forgive me"

You stare at her and begin to make the connections between her and The Doctor.

Their undying compassion, admiration for bravery, and the constant weight of their mistakes on their shoulders.

"Already done" you whisper with a smile, and she looks up, her own face brightening. She really had a very pretty smile.

The Doctor clears her throat as she re-enters, warily looking between the two of you.

You smile reassuringly and her own face relaxes.

"I do have a couple of questions though" you say, the first to break the silence. Both look at you with the same expectant expression and you can't help but laugh. Confusion crosses both their face and they exchange awkward smiles.

"Anyway, how come Jenny didn't die?" You ask.

"Actually that's a good question" says The Doctor, turning to her daughter. "I waited for signs of life, but there was nothing, did you- you didn't-regenerate did you?" She says in slight alarm.

"Calm down mum" she says softly. They both blink in surprise at her causal use of the word and you feel like an intruder.

"No I didn't regenerate, no gold light and no new face. You see, I simply came back. But I don't think I'm immortal. I have scars see" she continues, pulling back hair over her left ear to reveal a thin jagged scar running the length of her ear to neck.

"Actually I get in trouble quite a lot, guess I must be your daughter then, I've got countless scars all over" she grins.

"Me too" you mutter so quietly you don't think either could have heard you. Looking up however, you see two faces turned to you, Jenny's in confusion, The Doctor's stern and unamused.

You avoid the latters eyes and turn instead to Jenny.

"So you're not a time lady?" You ask, moving on quickly.

"Nope, I'm utterly unique" she says cheekily and you smile.

The Doctor finally removes her eyes from your face to look at her daughter. They look a little surprised to be together still, but comfortable nonetheless in each other's presence.

"So when can I leave?" You ask a little impatiently, desperate to get back to your room and sleep for eternity and forget the day's events.

"Soon" says The Doctor unsmilingly. You sigh and fall back onto your pillows, closing your eyes in exhaustion.

After a while of hushed conversation, they both rise and leave, chatting quietly about what you didn't know, and didn't really care.

Fully aware and conscious, the memories of a few hours before were beginning to creep into your head.

You toss and turn trying to get comfortable, but limited by the line in your upper arm.

Losing patience, you reach over and yank it out, gasping at the ripping pain. You internalise a cry and lay back on your bed, quickly realising you felt better.

The thoughts had stopped for a while at least, mind too focused on the pain. You don't want to do it, but you know there is no use putting it off.

You can do it now, or wait in discomfort for another few hours and then do it.

You swing your legs over he side of the bed and flick your bedside light on. It was too easy.

A cabinet above you contained medical supplies. The lock wasn't a problem, you used the bloody needle from your arm, and with a rewarding click it swings open.

Waiting for you are blue packets, each containing a brand new scalpel. You grab a couple of packets and hastily shut the cupboard, trying to get it to lock. You think it works.

Sitting cross legged, you eagerly rip open a packet and a shiny metal scalpel slides into your open hand. Brand new.

You don't hesitate, the sharp pain making you feel at peace for the first time in over twenty four hours.