13 Novella 2

Cold

"Are we safe?" Asks Yaz into the tense silence.

"Yes babe, we realised the bugs were heading your way, it was the warmest place on the ship facing away from the star. So now we're at the colder end. However, we managed to reset the generators and that sound" she pauses, and you all take in the groans of the ship "is the ship slowly turning. They should all freeze eventually, we'll just have to wait it out" she says with a worried smile.

The two shipmates sit separately and silently while you wait in earnest for a plan that will only hopefully work.

                           *           *            *

"How much longer Doctor?" Says Jenny anxiously with you tucked in at her side.

The physical contact worries you into a sickly trance, but it was that or freeze.

Opposite you in the tiny chamber The Doctor has wrapped her own coat around Yaz who is shivering violently, tucked in her side too.

You watch The Doctor shoot you two humans worried glances before answering.

"I'm sorry everyone but we need to wait a bit longer"

"Doctor I'm not sure how much longer she's going to last" says Jenny and you assume she's talking about you.

Your eyes are too stiff to open again and check.

The temperature is well below freezing and you feel if you had to move your body would have to thaw from its position first.

"Yaz baby can you hear me?" Comes The Doctor's pained voice. "Her pulse is weak" she sounds on the edge of panic but you still can't open your eyes, too cold to even think about moving any muscles.

You feel almost- warm fingers on your neck, and if you could move you would have. "(Y/n) too" says Jenny in distress.

"Nottttt...wooooryyyy" you say through chattering teeth, forcing your muscles to work, icy breath rising from your mouth.

"Just a little longer" pleades The Doctor and Jenny nods silently, gripping you tighter, trying to submerge you in her own protective heat.

Minutes seem to last hours as you slowly become less tense, your body too weak to continue shivering, until, mind foggy, you feel yourself go completely still.

"Now!" Shouts The Doctor from somewhere far off, and you feel yourself hoisted off the ground into Jenny's arms using all her semi-Time Lord strength.

In front you are sure Yaz is being carried by The Doctor in a similar fashion.

Your body is stiff from the cold and you can feel the chills biting at your face and ears.

Jenny clutches you tighter to her chest, and despite the close contact, you don't feel at all unsafe.

"Morgan no!" Floats The Doctor's voice but you have no idea what has happened and it disappears from your mind when you become aware of being carried in through the Tardis doors, revelling in her almost instant heat.

She takes off, you and Yaz curled up on the floor against Jenny as The Doctor pilots furiously. You aren't aware of much, but you know you are safe in Jenny's arms.

                       *          *           *

Several hours later you have regained most of the feeling in your body, sat on the Tardis deck next to Yaz bundled in blankets and being brought warm drinks, Jenny off finding more blankets.

The Doctor had confirmed mild hypothermia, but you were fast recovering as you watched her talking patiently to Michaels.

You were unreasonably saddened when Jenny told you Morgan stayed behind to detonate the ship and prevent any of the bugs ever escaping. She had seemed nice and certainly didn't deserve to die.

Now just Michaels remained.

You know you are the only one who knows what he did to Johnson to save his own life, and when he looks in your direction you know he is thinking the same thing.

You break your gaze and return to your hot chocolate, thinking deeply. You disliked being around any man, and as far as men go, he really was awful.

You were anxious for The Doctor to drop him off somewhere when he approaches you with small steps and stops just in front of you.

The Doctor had just taken Yaz off to be checked again, and you realised with horror that it was just you and him left.

"You can wipe that look off your face right now" he snarls in your ear as you recoil, not daring to run, knowing in your state he would easily catch you.

Besides, you've learned it's best to just accept whatever he wanted to do to you, courtesy of Jay.

"You killed her" you reply quietly. "She reached up to you, and you... and you let go" you say breathlessly.

"You won't be telling anyone that though, now will you?" he whispers gently, and with a stab of fear, you feel the barrel of a gun press into your side.

He was far too close and you were beginning to hyperventilate.

"Shut up!" He hisses but you are panicking, breathing heavily and your heart pounding, flashbacks plaguing your mind until you are no longer aware of the present.

"(Y/n) what's wrong?" It's The Doctor, returned with Jenny by her side. You've never been more relieved to see those two women.

"Stand" he says taking a step away from you, realising your panic could ruin everything.

"(Y/n) what's happening?" Asks Jenny and you shake your head not daring to answer with the barrel of the gun aimed at you from behind his leg.

Sensing danger, he abandons all pretences.

"Take me to the nearest peninsula" he says, drawing out his gun openly and pointing it at your head. Jenny gasps but The Doctor is calm.

"I will take you home as soon as you let (Y/n) go" she says mildly.

"Doctor please-" begs Jenny but is silenced by one look from The Doctor.

"Put the gun down, and then we can talk". A pause, and for a second you really hope he might just let you go.

"No deal" he says and cocks the gun. You wince but he hasn't shot you yet.

Tears begin to tumble down your cheeks as you stand mere feet from a man holding a gun at you.

"Let her go, or I take you nowhere" The Doctor repeats, with a hint of danger to her low voice.

"I don't think you understand me, so let me make it clearer" Michaels says and slides the gun in one movement, pulling the trigger with a powerful noise.

"No!" Someone screams as you feel a heavy impact in your chest that sends you tumbling to the ground.