Facing His Fears: A Doctor Who Fan Fiction

Chapter One

"I want to go and see it" Donna turned to face The Doctor.

"Huh?" The Doctor had a questioning look on his face.

"I want to see your home plant" she continued.

"Gallifrey doesn't exist, the time war, there is nothing more than rocks and dust left."

. Donna realized that she had touched a nerve.

The Doctor took a deep sigh and sat down. "I don't think I can ever face it again" he said to himself more than Donna.

"We don't have to go" The Doctor jumped to his feet and started playing with the console. Donna stood and joined him. She looked at him with a growing sadness,

"I'm sorry..." she broke off.

The Doctor started running around the console. Donna knew that he was getting ready to take off into space. She had to laugh because he was concentrating and nearly every time, he was his tongue came out and she let a small laugh.

The Doctor looked up, "What?"

Donna shook her head, letting the smile slide from her face.

"Every time you are doing something, your tongue comes out onto the roof of your mouth.

"Do I really?" The Doctor laughed "I don't believe you."

Donna shrugged and stood close to the Doctor and laid her head on his shoulder.

"I never meant to touch any nerves; I just want to understand." The Doctor kissed her forehead and put his arm around her "Don't apologize."

The Doctor stepped away and looked intently at her "I haven't been back since the time war; I feel like I need to face it."

"Then do it, spaceman, you need to stop running from things, all your life that's all you've done. The Doctor just looked at her. "I'm going to take that as a yes."

The Doctor still couldn't decide; the things that he did, all his people gone. Of course, he knew Donna's intentions were good, but he didn't, couldn't face it.

"Doctor, look at me" their eyes met, and she found that he had tears in his eyes.

"I come off strong, I know that, but when we first met, the anger and pain, I saw in you was extremely, well disturbing."

The Doctor looked down; Donna grabbed his chin so he would look her straight in the eye.

"You would never let me live with this pain" The Doctor grabbed her and held her tight "I'm the only one left" Donna pulled away "No, you're not, you have me, Martha, Rose and the countless others, you are not alone. You never have been."

With that the Doctor straightened his tie, turned back to the console. Donna watched as he put coordinates in for Gallifrey. "Here goes nothing" he said as he flipped the last switch on the console and the TARDIS took flight.

The Doctor looked over his shoulder and watched Donna in the doorway of the TARDIS as she watched the remains of Gallifrey drift by. This was only for her, she wanted to come here to what? feel his pain. She used the word understand, she never really could understand. The loss and hurt that he felt all the time.

"Oi, get over here " Donna was calling over her shoulder. He put his head down leaning over the console trying to hold all his emotions in.

"I said get over here" she said starting toward him.

The Doctor turned and ran his fingers through his hair before letting a deep sigh escape his lips. "Why?" He looked at Donna quizzically.

She knew immediately what he meant. " I don't know, you know so much about me and sometimes I feel like I barely know you."