Saving the Doctor

Chapter 18

I lay there, speechless, as he waits angrily for an answer. When I can't come up with anything, he stands and turns towards the stairs.

"Well, if you're not going to tell me anything, you can stay put. See if I care. If you change your mind, give me a shout, but don't expect me to come running." He's almost reached the stairs, and he hasn't looked back yet. He might not, unless I give him reason to.

"Where are you going?" I struggle again with my wooden handcuffs.

"To see an old friend."

Old friend? In here? "But aren't we right outside the place of the people who are looking for us? We need to move!"

He turns to give me a look of mock surprise. "Oh, she is clever!" His expression turns grave once again, though, and he continues, "But I'm not getting you out of that," he indicates my 'shackles', "until you answer my questions. So. Until you decide to tell me exactly who you are, we're staying right here." He steps down onto the first step.

"I'm not telling you because I can't."

He stops short, almost as if he's suddenly frozen.

Good. I have his attention. Now. What to do with it?

He turns back around slowly to look at me. "Why not?"

Looks like it's time to pull a River.

"...Spoilers."

He glares at me a moment, "Are you telling me you're from my future?"

"Yes. Well. I mean. I've never actually met you before, but I watch you. A lot."

Gosh, that sounds bad.

"You...watch me."

"I don't mean to sound like some creepy stalker chick, but yeah. I do."

"In that case, you'll know what is supposed happen here. Do tell away."

I shake my head, "I haven't seen this yet. And even if I did know, I couldn't tell you. Paradox Effect."

"Oh, yes, of course." He says sarcastically, "The risk of Paradox. Wonderful loophole." He gives me a serious look again, "But you said you've been watching me. If you know me so well, tell me something about myself that you couldn't possibly know unless you have been watching me."

I sigh and furrow my brow, "Okay, hold on a second, let me think."

He crosses his arms and waits.

Let's see...what do I know about him that nobody but his closest companions would know?

'No more'? But that's more about his past than his future, and I don't want to reopen those wounds too soon.

'Bad Wolf'? But that hasn't happened yet, and that would be quite the Spoiler.

I have to come up with something about his personality. He hasn't seen his new face yet. Maybe I can tell him what he'll think of his new look.

"You really want to be ginger, but you never have been. Even though this is your tenth regeneration."

He stares at me blankly for a few moments before wordlessly coming over and snapping one of the branches near my wrist, freeing my hand suddenly.

How did I not notice that the wood had gotten so brittle and dried up?

The Doctor then heads over to the console, flipping a couple switches. I break the branch at my other wrist and then the one at my ankle, leaving me with two wooden bracelets and an anklet.

That's gonna drive me kinda crazy...I can't stand to have anything on my ankles for very long.

I stand for what feels like the first time in hours, though I know it couldn't have even been thirty minutes, and stretch.

I slowly make my way over to the console to stand next to the Doctor, biting my lip nervously. There's no hiding behind any secrets now. This is going to get tricky.

"Let's get out of here. Do you remember how we start, or do we need to run through it one more time?"

"Doctor," I ignore his question, "I just...want to tell you that...I'm sorry. About Gallifrey. And your family. I know you're going to miss them, and...I'm sorry for not telling you sooner about me and what I know. I just...didn't want to mess things up any more than I already have."

He moves a few levers and flips a switch, barely acknowledging that I've said anything. I sigh and look down at the console, lightly tracing the edge with my index finger and pressing my lips together, not knowing what to say.

After a few long awkward moments, I open my mouth again to change the subject, hating the way it hangs in the air. "So, um...can I uh...get my watch back now, please?"

He stands up straight, not even glancing in my general direction, "No. I said you would get it back if you answered all of my questions, which you haven't. So until you do, your watch stays with me. It's much safer with me, anyway."

I start to protest, but I remember how I promised myself that I'll do as he asks, so I let out a heavy sigh instead. "Okay, fine, Doc. Whatever you say."

"Now. We've got to get out of here. I assume you remember how to fly her."

I nod and press a few buttons, and we're off.

A/N

Hey, everyone! Thanks for reading Saving the Doctor, I hope you're enjoying it!

Please let me know if you find any continuity errors or, actually, errors of any kind. Your feedback really helps!

Thanks again,

SaraMarieMendoza