Saving the Doctor

Chapter 19

The ride is just as bumpy and noisy as the first time I tried to fly her, nails on a chalkboard and all. But on the bright side, I managed to stay upright this time.

We land ungracefully again and I turn on the view screen for the Doc. He reads it and hits the top a couple times. "Come on, now, stop being so stubborn."

I smile a little at him talking to the Tardis. He looks over and sees me.

"Oi. What are you grinning at?" He asks defensively.

I keep my smile. "It's always you and your box. No matter who you take along, or how long they're with you. It'll always be you and her, won't it?"

He studies me a moment as the air around us seems to relax. "You're talking like I'm going to bring other people with me. But you're wrong. I've learned my lesson." He points at me, "You're the last. I'll never bring anyone else aboard unless I have to and even then they won't be staying with me for very long. I'll drop them off as soon as I can. You've shown me that I can't stand to try and take care of idiots anymore."

I smile wider, remembering how he always called Mickey 'Mickey the Idiot' and that he once invited him to come anyway as the air around us becomes amused. I would give some smart-alek remark like 'Don't bet on it, Sweetie', but I don't want him to ask questions. That can only lead to trouble.

The Doctor points wordlessly at a control and I flip the switch before flopping down on the chair.

He stays at the screen and grumbles to himself.

I think about going over and trying to get the watch out of his pocket, but I soon realize that that would most likely upset him.

I sigh and let my head fall back onto the chair, noting how tired I am.

Maybe I'll take a quick nap...

No. What if he needs me to do something? I don't want to let him down.

I try and force my eyes to stay open and lift my head to watch him.

I find my mind wandering, though, and soon I'm in my own little world.

-Doctor-

I turn to Bethany to tell her where we've landed, only to see that she has nodded off.

I watch her face as she frowns slightly in her sleep.

I think about who she really is. What she knows. About me, my future.

I remember her saying that she tried to get signal to her mobile with my sonic. Silly girl.

If she knew anything about how my sonic works, she'd know it can't do that. Maybe she's lying about being from my future.

Although she did know about my wanting to be ginger. And which regeneration I'm on.

I pull her watch out of my pocket and study it.

If she is a Time Lord, locked away inside her watch, then how does she know about me? She shouldn't be able to remember anything about who and what she was before. How does she know?

She won't tell me as she is, though. She's quite stubborn.

I look at Bethany again and watch as she breaths in and out at a steady pace.

If she is a Time Lord, we'll be the only two left. And it's all my fault. Does she know about that, I wonder? I'll have to ask her when she wakes up.

For now, I take a coat and drape it over her to keep her warm.

The Tardis is in a good spot. We'll be well hidden for a while. I might as well take some time to rest a bit myself. If anything happens, I can always wake her.

I watch her a few moments more before slipping the watch back into my pocket and walking towards the stairs.

I turn back, though, and look for her mobile, careful not to wake her. When I find it, I slip it into my pocket as well so I can fix it later.

Soon I'm at the door to my personal quarters, ready to take a nap of my own.