Saving the Doctor

Chapter 8

-The Doctor-

I walk into the console chamber and see Bethany standing on tiptoes at the door in the big coat she retrieved from the closet while I was unconscious, looking out the window.

She's obviously about to go outside.

I shouldn't care, but I warn her anyway. "I wouldn't go out there if I were you."

She jumps at my voice and turns around with a hand at her chest, "Good god, Doc, you nearly gave me a heart attack!"

'Doc'?

"It's not safe out there."

What am I doing? What should it matter to me if what she does gets her in trouble? I have to deal with my own actions, she should have to do the same with her own. Why do I care?

She frowns, "What do you care? It seemed perfectly safe before. Besides, you don't seem to want me here, anyway." She turns to look out the window again.

"I don't care."

I set my jaw anyway and calmly reach into my pocket, retrieving my sonic, which I found in my previous set of clothing, and I lock the doors, ignoring the feeling that I shouldn't stop her. That I should just let her do what she wants and then let her deal with the consequences of her actions.

She turns and semi-glares at me before sighing and shrugging the coat off, "Fine."

I step up to the console and try the controls again, hoping that they'll work this time.

They don't.

I sigh irritatedly. "Bethany-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know." She comes to stand beside me and pops her knuckles, causing me to wince.

She probably thinks this is the only reason I'm making her stay. That I don't care.

It's for the better. I shouldn't care, but for some reason I do. Her believing I don't will make it easier for her to leave when I drop her back on Earth where she belongs.

I give her the instructions and the information I need comes up on the screen. I look it over and then turn to her, "Are you ready?"

She studies me confusedly. "For what?"

I don't trust her for this, but it needs to be done. Quickly.

"It's time for you to fly her."