Chapter 2: Alone At Last.

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A knock on the door alerted the Doctor to someone outside her bedroom. Curious to the reasoning since the Fam were supposed to be out, the Doctor carefully opened the door, breathing a sigh of relief as she saw Yaz's smiling face in front of her.

"Why are you still here? Did you decide to stay back?!" the Doctor nearly shouted, saying it with a bit more excitement than she intended.

"Sorry, no. Still heading off. Graham just wanted a sandwich before we left. Can I?..." Yaz said as she gestured coming in.

"Sure!"

"I won't stay for long. I just wanted to check in on you. See how you were handling the outfit change."

"Well, thanks for the concern. I'm perfectly good with the outfit, actually. Finished dressing not long before you came in."

Yaz looked her over, chuckling as she noticed one slight problem.

"Is that why your shoes are still untied?"

"I knew I forgot something.."

She began to tie them, much to the delight of Yaz. But that wasn't the complete reason why Yaz was there. Her smile slowly evaporated as her mind drifted to her initial purpose. It was a tough question to ask, and she wasn't sure she'd get an actual satisfying answer. But she'd see the Doctor sometimes, times where she didn't notice that she was looking at her, and she could see that... something was different. Something had changed.

"... How are you holding up?"

As the Doctor tightened the second lace, she looked up at Yaz, hearing the question. She could see the slightly troubled look on her face. Something was bothering her, and she needed to know now. Out of everyone on this ship, she was the one she could bear to see hurt the least.

"What's wrong? You ok?"

"I could ask you the same question."

Yaz took a deep breath.

"You've... just been different since we faced off with the Master."

"Different? Different how?" the Doctor said, folding her arms and fidgeting.

"Well..you've not always been as excited as you usually are. A lot more snippy and short with us. You just don't really seem like yourself lately..."

"Oh...."

"Yeah..."

The Doctor pondered Yaz's accusations, not really knowing how to respond to them. She didn't know how to explain why she's really been feeling how she's felt recently; she can't even fully understand it herself. It would just bring about more questions than answers, and if she was honest, she just didn't need that right now.

"Like I said, he was one of my oldest friends, and having to remember that and accepting the fact that he has changed and we have become enemies, it's just made it a bit tough, really."

She wasn't stretching the truth per se, but she wasn't exactly letting Yaz know of the full reasoning. Yes, that did still hurt, but she had gotten used to that a long time ago. What she hadn't gotten used to was the real reason.

Yaz had half a mind to go over and comfort her, but she was pushing her time here already and knew that Graham and Ryan would be ready to leave anytime soon. She also made a promise to them to come along. But when she came back, then she would be there for the Doctor completely. Still, she could at least make the suggestion.

"If you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm here fo-"

"Definitely. Sorry... thanks for the offer." The Doctor said, as her excited response was quelled as her wide smile decreased slightly.

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