Saving the Doctor

Chapter 6

I open my eyes and suddenly realize that I have absolutely no idea where I am. I sit up and look around frantically.

At first I think I must still be dreaming: I'm on the Tardis! And it's definitely not just the set.

I blink, stretch and rub the sleep out of my eyes. As I stretch, I realize that I'm still sore from all the flying around I did yesterday.

Oh, yeah.

Flying around.

In the Tardis.

Trying to take care of 'Doctor Smith'.

It all comes flooding back.

I groan and flop back down on the floor, which is harder than my bed back at the hotel would have been, even though it has the coat on it. There's a loud metallic clang as I meet the grated floor. "....Ow."

After a moment, I prop myself up on one elbow and rub the back of my head. I can feel my pulse in the bruise between my shoulder blades.

I roll my shoulders and then sit completely up and pop my neck, which wakes me fully. I then commence popping every joint in my hands, including my wrists.

"Stop that."

I look over to see 'Doctor Smith' frowning at me. I pop both sides of my back, "Why?"

I stand and pop my ankles. The Doctor cringes with each pop. "It's irritating."

I shrug. "Bad habit." I run my fingers through my now-loose hair, fluffing it up in the process, "How long was I out?"

"A few hours. You talk in your sleep."

I run my hand down my face, "Yes...I know...please tell me I didn't say anything embarrassing."

He just grins at me and I groan inwardly. I have no idea what I dreamed about. Or if I even had a dream. I can't even begin to imagine what I might have said. "Great."

After a moment, I have a sudden realization and look at him, slightly surprised, "You're sitting up."

He is. Cross-legged on the floor in front of me. "Yes, I am. The pain medication started working a while after you went to sleep. The pain isn't completely gone, but it's lessened considerably."

I smile, "That's great! The packet says that you can only take two every twenty-four hours, so I hope you noticed what time you took the first two."

He nods, "Internal clock."

"Oh..." I sit, hugging my knees loosely, "I dunno if those are very reliable..."

"Mine is. It's been thoroughly tested and proven to be one hundred percent accurate."

I raise an eyebrow skeptically, "Sure it has."

"No, really. My life has even depended on it."

"Whatever you say, Doctor Smith." I look around, still fascinated by the hugeness of the room, "How does this work, anyway? I mean, I thought I was walking into an little antique police box."

The air around me becomes slightly amused and I try to keep from grinning.

"Bigger on the inside." I can hear him smiling, and I know what he usually says next. Well...in the show, anyway. "Time Lord technology."

Looks like he says it in real life, too.

"Time what now?" I give him a confused look, not wanting him to become suspicious of me.

"Time Lord." He says, almost like he's trying to explain something to a child about the age of five. I can already hear his next line in my head.

"Time Lords were an alien race who unlocked the secrets to controlling the elements of time and space. They became gods."