Saving the Doctor

Chapter 10

I'm shaken awake by a loud metal creaking and the feeling that the world is rolling over.

My eyes instantly snap open, only to see that I am falling towards the ceiling.

Falling.

I'm about to scream when I feel someone grab my left wrist and stop my fall. I feel a sharp pain in my shoulder as I jerk to a sudden halt and hang there in the air. The metal groaning and creaking has stopped as well.

I stare 'down' at the ceiling for a moment, heart racing, before looking up to see the Doctor trying to keep hold of my wrist with one hand and the top rail with the other. He tries to pull me up, obviously in pain. I wonder if he was able to take more pain medication yet.

The metal groaning starts again and the Doctor tightens his grip on my wrist and on the rail, anticipating another turn.

"Hold on!" He yells as everything tilts again, my sense of direction now completely lost.

I'm now swinging towards the railing at an uncontrollable speed. I brace myself for impact, shielding my face with my free arm, turning my face away and closing my eyes.

I feel pain shoot through my arm as I collide into the railing with a loud, dull clang and the Doctor loses his grip on my wrist. I grab for the nearest thing as I fall, eventually catching the last rail within reach, causing the same shoulder to complain yet again as I catch my own fall this time.

I look 'up' and see that even though the room is turned to a different angle, the Doctor is still above me, and we look like we're laying across the outside of the rails.

"What is going on?" I yell as the metallic groaning starts again.

"I don't know!" He yells back.

Wonderful.

Well, being clueless is his usual, so I won't worry too much, but I still hope he can figure it out quick. He usually comes up with solutions right when they're needed.

Although...

The few times he hasn't...

"What do we do?"

"I don't know!!" He seems to be getting frustrated by that fact and having to admit it.

The room tilts again, right side up this time, and thankfully, it's not very far of a drop to the floor. I let myself fall and I land, quite ungracefully, on my feet, almost losing my balance.

I ignore the dull throb that has started in my right arm and run up the stairs, my ankles complaining slightly. I go straight to the console and take instructions from the Doctor, who was just ahead of me on the way up.

After a few tries, he starts getting irritated. "It's not working!" He yells as the metal groaning starts coming back.

"Really? Hadn't noticed!" I doubt he appreciates my sarcasm, but I need an outlet.

We keep trying. He gives me instructions and I try to follow them as best and as quickly as I can.

Before the room tilts again, throwing my balance, I hook my left arm through the railing along the side of the console, trying to secure my position as the room goes tumbling again.

Before it can, though, everything stops: The metallic groaning, the loss of stability in the room; and it's replaced with a silence that feels in no way natural. In fact it's extremely unnerving.

I share a look with the Doctor before we turn to look in the direction of the Tardis' doors.

Then there are three loud, slow, deliberate knocks.

A/N

Hey there!

I hope my chapters aren't too short, sorry if they are, and I also hope they aren't too boring either.

If you do find them boring, I thank you for bearing with me for so long! I really enjoy writing, and hope it's good enough for others to enjoy reading it.

Please let me know what you think through comments and if you have any suggestions, feel free to tell me. I always look for criticism and helpful suggestions, as long as they aren't hateful. After all, taking into consideration what my readers think and want helps me to become a better writer!

In any case, thank you again, and I hope I can make the rest interesting.

Sincerely,

Sara M.