The Castaway and The Doctor

Chapter 2

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I don't remember anything else until I woke up. My head hurt. There was still a bit of a pain in my neck. There were fresh tears on my cheek. I must have dreamt of Gallifrey.

I rolled over, thinking this was my bed, and promptly fell off what I now knew to be a couch.

"Ow," I muttered, pulling my hands out from underneath me to help myself up. My nose felt broken. Please don't regenerate from something as stupid as that, I thought suddenly. Wait, what brought on that thought?

"Woah, watch out there," a man's voice said behind me. "Take it easy. You've had quite an afternoon."

"Yeah, yeah," I replied weakly, pushing myself up and pulling my knees under me to stand. "Just... let me get some fresh air. That'll help."

"Sure."

A hand grasped my elbow and helped me stand up. Instantly, the whole room span around as the blood rushed to my head and I grabbed the man for support.

"It's okay," he said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders to steady me.

As my vision cleared, I looked up at him. I had to look up. He was, like, six inches taller than me. And boy, was he handsome.

"Thanks," I mumbled. "Can you help me outside?"

He nodded, and guided me out of his well decorated, comfortable living room. He took me out to the back porch. It wasn't anything big, just a slab of concrete with two patio chairs and a coffee table. I sat on one of the chairs and took a deep breath of the cold air. I sighed a little. Starting to feel better already.

"Don't go anywhere," he said, pointing at me like he would a pet dog. "I'll be right back, and I expect some explanation."

With that, he went back inside.

What sort of explanation? I thought to myself as I shivered. The temperature had not changed the whole time I was unconscious. Speaking of which, how long had I been out?

Oh shoot! I thought, suddenly remembering my sonic screwdriver. I checked my jacket pocket. Nope. It was gone. I must have lost it when the cyberman attacked me. That was the last tie I had to my home. My best friend had given that to me before I had been banished. Now I'd lost it.

The man returned with a warm, woolen blanket and two cups of steaming cocoa. He drapped the blanket across my shoulders, and I pulled it around them more snuggly as he sat in the chair opposite me.

"Thank you," I said, taking the cup he offered to me.

"No problem," he said.

I took a sip and let the warm fluid warm my veins while I tried to think of what to say when he asked me for my explanation. I glanced up at him momentarily, looking over the rim of the cup. He really was handsome. He had sandy blond hair, and blue eyes. He had a bit of scruff, but it worked on him. He had a kind face, and now that I had a good look at him, I couldn't wait to learn the name that matched.

"So," he said, putting his cup on the coffee table. "What's this all about?"

I swallowed another gulp of the hot liquid before I spoke. "You mean, the head thing?"

"Yes, the cyberman head," he replied.

"Wait, you know about them?" I asked, stunned.

"Why yes. In fact, I've been tracking them and other extraterrestrial life or technology for a few years now. Ever since... well, yeah." He picked up his cup again, swirling the contents around. "But it seems you know about them too."

"Well, yes but... Who are you?"

"I'll tell you that after you tell me who you are. Seeing who did the saving an hour ago, I think I deserve at least that privlege," he said, taking another sip from his cup before putting it back down again.

"Uh, well, this is rather unglamorous, but..." I took a deep breath. I owed him the truth, and though it wasn't the best name in the world, it really had begun to fit me. "I'm the Castaway."

He scrunched up his eyebrows. "Really? Anything else?"

"Nope. Just, 'The Castaway'."

"Oh. That's very unusual."

"Yeah. It's not my fault though. Nor is it my parents."

"Interesting," he mused.

"Huh, yup." I replied. "But you can call me Cas. It's easier."

"Alright then, Cas it is."

"Your turn," I said. "What's your name?"

"Kian Wright," he said, holding out his hand for me to shake. I accepted. His hands were very warm compared to my ice-cold ones. It felt great. I just wanted him to hold my hands forever, to keep them warm and snug...

"Alright, Kian," I smiled. "Nice to meet you."

"So, how did you come across that cyberman?" he asked, looking right into my eyes.

"Uh - well.... I was just walking back to the TAR - my house. And it... just... jumped out...."

Kian had a sly smile on his face. "You stopped yourself from saying something. You're hiding something."

"Uh....." my face flushed and an embarrassed smile spread across my face. "No.... I didn't."

"Now it's even more obvious!" he laughed. The way his eyes sparkled made my heart race. "Come on, tell me. You can't hide it now."

"Well...." I sat there for a second. How do you explain a TARDIS without just showing someone? Aha! That's it!

"How about I show you?" I asked, a smile playing across my lips. This was going to be fun.