Finding Harmony

8. More Than She Seems

Later on after waking from a doze I noticed things were too quiet. I walked out from the room, the cuff of my pants dirty from dragging across so many floors over my trainers.

I came into the TARDIS's main room to see a drenched Doctor leaning against the console head bowed, jacketless, and ever so sad.

He didn't notice that I was at his side, when I spoke he jumped.

"So where to next, Doctor?"

I watched his eyes grow wide as if barely registering what he was hearing before he turned his head slowly toward me.

"Darcy?" He swallowed, and I could see he was barely holding back tears. "You are still here."

I gave him a smile, sensing he'd had a rough time of it. Sensing perhaps some rough goodbyes had happened. I offered my hand, "You are not alone, Doctor. I'm here."

"Darcy." His chin wobbled.

I pulled him away from his console and took his hand drawing him away from the center and down the halls.

"Let's get you dry, shall we?"

The TARDIS directed me where to go, and I entered a smallish bedroom with glowing lights embedded in the walls. A big bed that looked like it hadn't been slept in ages.

The Doctor followed after me like a wet puppy, not complaining as I pushed him into his bathroom.

"Take a warm shower, Doctor. I'll take care of the rest."

The door clicked closed and I let out a sigh.

"Let's get him something shall we, ol' girl?"

The lights ebbed and grew bright again, I followed as they led me to a kitchen. Ingredients in the refrigerator perfect for what I needed.

The stove was a high tech one that I didn't quite understand but it cut the cooking time in half. In a hour when the Doctor trudged in with his striped pjs on, I set a bowl of chicken noodle soup in front of him.

"Good for the soul they say." He stared down at it but as I sat across from him in the small wooden chairs at the small wooden dining table. I blew on my soup before eating. "Would you like me to blow on yours too?"

He shook his head, his wet hair sticking in every direction. It took him longer to finish his soup than I, so I went and got a warm towel from his bathroom.

"May I dry your hair?"

He nodded, so very quiet, as I softly rubbed his hair until it was downy soft. A small curl I'd never seen before falling across his forehead. So used to seeing it defying gravity, he looked younger somehow with his hair down.

I glanced his way before going back to the stove and making the two of us some hot chocolates that I went into his bedroom and set on his bedstands before coming back to get him. He'd finished his soup but was just staring down at it, his mind far away. Carefully I took the spoon from his grip and placed it into the sink before helping him stand and bringing him back to his bedroom. He sat on his bed, and I helped him the rest of the way in. Tucking the blankets around him. His hand freeing and catching my t-shirt in a tight grip.

"Alright I won't leave you." I pointed to the hot chocolate before sitting myself on top of his covers. My hand at my locket, my voice coming through as I hummed a melody that sometimes came through in my dreams. A lullaby I'd had in my mind since I was young. I took off my locket and placed it on the side table, a habit I'd done since before I could remember worried it'd choke me in my sleep before hunkering down and turning on side patting the blanket on top of the Doctor's chest humming the lullaby like I did to some of the new children at the home. His eyes drifted closed and I whispered, "Good night Doctor."

The lights dimmed further and my head fell to the pillow beside his, an overwhelming exhaustion causing my eyelids to drift shut until I was in a deep sleep.

---

[Doctor's POV]

He woke to weight across his chest and he looked to his side to see the face of Darcy snoring softly. She was shivering ever so slightly having not gotten under the covers, he lifted her arm before getting up and getting a throw blanket placing it over on top of her.

Darcy Lewis.

He felt guilty how often he'd forgotten about her. He knew she must have felt awkward numerous times but there was always something else on his mind. Some great adventure, some great danger, something.

The lullaby she'd sung though. It was something she couldn't know. A melody he used to sing to his children as they slept in their beds. His wife from so long ago, humming along as she tucked them in. Their gazes drifting to each other over their children's beds, little smiles of joy. He shook his head, he had not thought of them, of her, in such a long while.

Then his gaze fell upon the locket.

The locket with a circular design so familiar his hearts ached.

It couldn't be? Could it?

He reached out as if memorized, his hands taking up the locket and nearly dropping it as a wave of telepathic energy flowed into him.

Familiar laughter, humming, running through fields alongside the... he dropped the locket, his hearts beating thunderously in his chest.

He looked down at Darcy, "Can you truly be..."

Darcy mumbled in her sleep as she turned over and the Doctor picked up the locket setting it to the side, his head shaking as he did so. Trying to ignore the pull towards memories of another he believed long since gone.