Saving the Doctor

Chapter 24

I take a look at myself in the mirror and decide the dress fits me perfectly. It's a nice dress. But...I don't feel comfortable keeping it. It's too nice of him to just give it to me. I can't possibly accept it.

I start to get a bad feeling. Now that I've calmed down and can think straight...what if the Doc is right?

I look back to the closet door and remember all the dresses inside. Was it my imagination or were some in several different sizes?

There's a knock at the door and it slowly opens. The man smiles when he sees me in the dress and my heart melts all over again. I can't even fathom that I distrusted him for a moment. He's just...so intoxicating.

He takes my hand in his and twirls me so he can see the rest of the dress on me. His smile gets wider as I face him again. "Very beautiful. I knew it would be perfect for you."

I blush and once again try to form an actual sentence. "Th-thanks." I manage quietly.

He looks around. "And your father? He stayed to talk to you, didn't he?"

"Oh, um..." I try find something to cover up what we had argued about. "Yeah, he did, but...he wanted to go check on something. On our ship. It was kind of important. He'll probably be a while."

Such an obvious lie...man, I'm a terrible liar.

He doesn't seem to notice, though. Instead he just nods with his charming, understanding grin and leads me farther into the room.

Wait.

How long has his hand been at my waist? Not that I mind, it's just that I don't remember when that happened...

"Surely he will approve of this selection. You simply must keep it. As a token of my appreciation."

A small smile forms on my face. "Appreciation? But I didn't do anything for you...appreciation of what?"

He turns towards me, his hand still at my waist and his smile gently softening. His voice is almost a whisper with his next words. "Your visit. Your presence. Your smile. Your eyes."

Oh, my god. Wait, what? Seriously?

My heart gets tighter the longer he goes on. I start to feel dizzy again. "Your happy and trusting spirit...your beauty."

I give a short giggle, but it seems more like a soft scoff, as I cover my mouth with a hand and send my gaze down to my feet, causing my hair to fall into my face.

"What is it?" He asks, confused yet gentle.

"It's just...I've never been the type of girl people see as...attractive. And if they have...they never told me."

"Then I am fortunate. If you had been told, perhaps someone would have kept you home. I would never have met you, which would have been unfortunate." I meet his hypnotic gorgeous eyes and raise an eyebrow curiously at him. "Since you are the most beautiful woman I have ever had the privilege of meeting."

I feel my cheeks heat up again and I direct my gaze back down at the floor, biting my lip nervously.

No one has ever shown this type of interest in me. It actually feels a lot nicer than I thought it would. I...don't know what to do...or say...

"Thank you..." My voice is barely audible and I would be surprised if he heard it.

"Speaking of your home, perhaps you would like to tell me about where you're from?"

Where I'm from? Oh. Right. Earth. That's a more comfortable subject for me.

"Sure. What would you like to know about it?"

Oh, good, I'm sounding almost normal again.

"Your friends. Family. What the planet looks like."

I smile at him. He does care. About me. About my family. My friends. I feel completely sure that he just wants someone to share his time with. And I for one do not mind if I'm the one he spends it with.

-Doctor-

I pull two levers before remembering that she's not cooperating with me.

I continue around the console, pressing buttons and throwing switches and levers as I think.

Why must she be so uncooperative? So gullible and trusting? Wasn't she saying just minutes ago how he most likely bribes girls with his wealth and his charms?

She was obviously attracted to him, which would explain her ridiculous reasonings. She's such a naive little girl. She reminds me so much of someone...someone lost...

I pull her watch out of my pocket where I've been keeping it. I stare at it and will it to tell me its secrets, but it stays silent.

Who is she...

Perhaps if I open it for just a moment, she'll tell me.

Don't.

I blink suddenly, then smile down at the watch. "I knew you had to be more than a watch made pretty just for show."