13 Novella 4

Fork

You wake between your girlfriends to find your hands wrapped firmly around them. You sigh and loosen your grip and they chuckle slightly.

"Sorry, I honestly don't mean to hold you hostage" you say with a blush, while Jenny kisses you lightly on the forehead before sliding out of bed.

"Well it's not like we were going anywhere" she says and you grin guiltily, getting out of bed yourself and heading to the bathroom. Once ready you all leave for the console room together, your girls either side, stealing glances at you when they think you aren't looking. You wished they wouldn't worry so much.

"Morning" says The Doctor, arms around Yaz and hugging her from behind. "Where are we going today?" She asks politely and you look up at each of your partners who both shrug.

"Your choice" you tell the blonde Time Lady and she nods, pulling Yaz chaotically behind her as she runs around the console in a blur, poor Yaz just trying to remain upright.

She pulls a final lever and you feel the whole ship shake as you take off. Grinning, you happily allow yourself to be thrown around the deck, Missy grabbing you impatiently when you nearly fall for the third time.

She shakes her head and you stick your tongue out at her, making her scowl playfully. You land with a thump, and follow a charismatic Doctor out the doors.

"Ok, where are we?" Says Missy cautiously. She sounds worried.

"Um, Griskiei?" Responds The Doctor uncertainly. You don't know whether she is referring to a person or place.

"It's really not" says Missy a little heatedly, and you don't understand her panic. Until her mind shows you a picture of yourself, alone and scared. You can't help but smile, slipping your hand back into hers reassuringly.

"It's fine, come on, let's explore" you say, tugging her and Jenny.

"I don't understand" says The Doctor, running her hand along a rusting metal coated wall.

"Well we're not going to figure it out by standing here are we?" You say and Jenny giggles.

"My god you're impatient" she says with an eye roll. You scowl in response, making her smile widen.

"Right, I'll go with Missy and Miss Whiney, you two can go that way" Jenny indicates the passageway opposite. The Doctor narrows her eyes but nods.

"Something isn't right here, meet back in an hour, and don't touch anything." She scolds and you roll your eyes.

"Come on" you say, dragging the others. You know they could stop you easily, but they allow themselves to be hauled along.

You let go and start skipping, giggling when your ankle does a weird jerk and you almost fall.

"An absolute child" mutters Missy, looking around warily.

"I'm just having fun, I've been pretty trapped the last couple of weeks" you remind her and she nods, looking troubled. It must have been hard for her too, you think with a pang.

"We've passed here" says Jenny after a while and you all stop. She's right, you've turned left at this fork at least twice now.

"We can't be going in circles?" You inquire and Missy bends down to run her hand along the width of the floor. You cock your head in fascination, then scrunch your nose in disgust as she sticks her finger in her mouth.

"Twice actually" she says, confirming your theory. You don't bother asking about her weird behaviour; you've seen The Doctor test things with her mouth before now. You supposed they could pick up more with their well adapted senses.

"So I say-" Missy starts then stops. You turn to find what she's looking at and see it too. About ten feet away is a man, lying out cold on the floor. You approach steadily with the others where Jenny bends down and checks his pulse. You are pretty sure he's dead until Jenny looks up in surprise.

"He's breathing" she comments and you look back at him, resigned to getting too close now you know there's a chance he could hurt you. Actually his eyes are open, but unblinking. You are tired just looking at him. Very tired.

You feel a little fuzzy, like someone has put a pillow over your face.

"I can sort that out" mutters Missy, and Jenny rolls her eyes.

"No we need to get him back to The Tardis, (Y/n) any ideas?" She asks and turns to you. You stare at her blankly.

"(Y/n)?" She says, and Missy steps over cautiously too.

Slowly, you lower yourself to the floor and kneel as waves of lethargy take over you.

"(Y/n) what are you doing?" Asks Missy, lowering herself in front of you. Jenny does the same. You shake your head and topple softly onto your side, shoulder cushioning the blow as your eyes flutter closed and you roll onto your back.

"(Y/n) my love what's wrong? What's happened?" Asks Missy urgently but you can't respond.

"Jenny help me! We need to get her back and- Jen?" There is no response.

"Oh for goodness sake Jen not you too" she sounds really scared now. Through thin slits in your eyes you can see Jenny lying a little distance away, fighting to keep her own eyes open.

"Don't do this, why are we..? Do we..?" Missy struggles, and you feel her kneel at your side, gently shaking you. "My love I need you to wake up, now" she mumbles, also going limp. You watch in silent horror as she lays too, arm over you to shield your body as best she can.

"Stay... don't go" she says desperately, but you can feel yourself slipping, her face the last thing you see as dark unknown covers you like a warm blanket.