13 Novella 2

Together

You finish the song with tears rolling down your cheeks. The last time you heard that song, your mum was singing it under her breath to get Abigail to sleep.

"I didn't know you could sing" someone comments quietly. You jump, having been in your own world, spinning round on the stool to take in The Doctor leaning casually against the doorframe with an amused expression on her face.

You shrug and turn back, wiping your face. She stops then speaks.

"I know how you feel" she says quietly.

"No you don't" you scoff, surprisingly angry.

"Well let me have a guess then" she says, approaching from the side to stay in your eyeline before sitting next to you on the seat.

"You're happy because you have Jenny back, and she's a woman again, you're sad because you thought you were finally at peace, you're guilty because you aren't happy enough, and you're dreading your future and what's to come now. You're also resentful of the fact that you came close to being with your sister, and a little angry that you were brought back." She finishes. "Somewhat accurate?" She says after another pause.

"And that's just the beginning" you sigh.

"We're going to help your through this" she whispers at you and you nod.

A single image due to your psychosis floats in front of your vision, it comes and goes in an instant but it's enough for you to read it.

It's The Doctor, sat at the very piano, playing a beautiful song. The notes float around the reverberating image, and you can pick them out steadily.

A sudden feeling drifts around you like an aura, and you lift your fingers to play the gentle tune you've never played before. In fact you've never even heard it before.

It's strange and beautiful, and makes you want to cry and smile at the same time. It comes to your fingertips naturally like you've known it your whole life, but you are certain she's never played it for you before.

You finish and smile sheepishly, but you are not expecting the expression on The Doctor's face. She looks utterly horrified. Your own face drops and you feel strangely scared.

"Where... where did you hear that?" She asks, sounding serious and almost angry. You recoil, very concerned.

"I don't know. It just came to me!" You lie quickly.

She steps off the stool and looks you in the eye with a strange look of dread.

"I'm sorry Doctor what is it? I've never played that song in my life, does it mean something to you?" You ask.

She steps further back and runs her hands through her hair, looking slightly deranged for a moment before she pauses and breathes.

"You've really never heard that before?" She asks shrewdly and you nod, really quite scared.

"Just, just don't play it again" she says, before turning and exiting.

You sit still, left to wonder what on Earth just happened.

* * *

You sleep in your room that night, making your nest on the floor like nothing had changed, which, you supposed, it hadn't.

You fall asleep easily but wake several times in the night due to an unmoving feeling of unease. You rise early and pad softly into the console room.

It's just you and The Tardis. It feels like home. She thrums softly and you smile. Maybe it was a good nights sleep, or because you were older, or more wise now, but you could clearly translate what she was saying.

"Yes I'm fine thank you" you reply with a weak smile.

She doesn't believe you.

"Well I will be when the others wake up." You say and she agrees.

"Actually I meant to ask you something" you say suddenly and she seems to listen up. "You took me to the music room last night, and I played a song that I don't even know the name of." She hums in question.

"Yes well The Doctor reacted... strangely" you say and she makes another questioning noise.

"She looked like she'd seen a ghost. She was angry. And scared" you finish, Running your fingers along the console. Without thinking about it, you begin to hum the song under your breath.

You feel the Tardis tense and suddenly let out an alarmed thrum.

"Ok ok! I'll stop!" You say apologetically. She seems frightened, and you stroke her gently to calm her down.

"What is it? What's the song? Why are you both so afraid?" You ask desperately.

"Because that is a song from my home planet." Replies The Doctor quietly.

You gasp and drop to the floor in fear. She was standing right behind you. You hadn't been concentrating on your surroundings enough and had ignored the image of feet along the Tardis corridors.

It scared you how accurate your psychosis could be sometimes...

"Don't do that!" You gasp, clutching your chest.

"Sorry sorry" she says pulling you to your feet. You shake off her touch and she puts down the box she is holding.

"God how do you approach so quietly?" You ask trying to catch your breath.

"Time Lord tricks" she responds, eyeing you closely.
"What are you doing up so early?" She asks.

"Talking to The Tardis" you respond truthfully as she scrutinises you.

"Yes..." she says looking up. "You sure were".

A little worried, you step back but then she smiles kindly.

"Sorry (Y/n) I honestly didn't mean to scare you" she says sincerely and you nod believing her.

"I think, I think I must have heard that song from The Tardis or Jenny maybe" you lie and she nods sadly.

"Yeah probably" she replies, and you turn to leave, but spin round at the last minute.

"I won't play it again thought Doctor." You say carefully and she nods again. "But- can I ask? What does the song mean?"

She looks up, visibly confused.

"What does it mean?" She repeats confused.

"Yeah. It's so sad, but happy too, like death and birth" you reply.

"Well that would make sense" she smiles slightly. "It's a lullaby" she responds matching your expression.

"It's beautiful" you say quietly, and leave before she has the chance to say anything else.