As Brittle As Quicksilver (Fourth in The Creators Saga)

When It All Comes To Light

You can probably tell what goes down in this by looking at that pic. And the Doctor's Season 4 theme fits in quite nicely.

Enjoy!

***

The Doctor checked in on the Alchemist later in the kitchen, seeing she was downing a cup of tea in one go. "Impressive," he raised an eyebrow.

"Never challenge me to a drinking competition," she warned him, wincing.

"Could you even get drunk?"

"Probably not."

He sat down across from her and gave her a hard look. "You know what I'm going to say."

"I know exactly what you're going to say. It doesn't need saying."

"Does it?"

"I'll keep a hold on it," she promised. "After that incident today, I need to lay off."

"About time," he grumbled, but there was a soft look in his eyes.

The Alchemist patted his hand. "I mean to stay for as long as I can," she promised.

"I know," he whispered.

She kissed him softly. "I'll be in the medbay," she whispered back, standing and heading for the door.

He just nodded, staring at a random spot on the table. He had Donna now, which he was grateful for. He'd never had a big sister before - well, he hadn't had any sibling before. The Master had come close, but then he'd gone mad.

And then there was Alice.

He leaned on one hand, his other hand running through his hair. God, how was he going to deal with this? Their Bonding wasn't even complete, which would make her death even worse. They had agreed not to finish it unless by some miracle she survived, as if they finished it before she died, the Doctor would more than likely die of heartbreak sooner or later. They knew it was entirely possible, that was why starting the Bond had been such a risk. The Alchemist had been adamant about it, that the universe would still need him if she died. In the end, he'd only agreed just so she would stop saying herself and death in the same sentence.

Even now, it bloody hurt . . .

"Finally!" Donna's loud voice sighed, and the Doctor cringed, quickly trying to control himself to not show he'd been internally fighting with himself. "Bloody place is a maze! Oh, is that tea? Lovely," she poured herself a cup, then plopped down next to the Doctor. "I picked out a room for sure, it's not bad at all, your ship is - " She paused, taking a good look at him. "All right," she put her cup down. "What's wrong?"

The Doctor blinked, looking at her. "What?"

"Don't try and bluff your way through it," she leaned back and folded her arms. "I know that face. That's what my mum calls my bluffing face. If something's up, you don't show anything, hoping no one notices. Won't work on me."

"You really are my big sister, aren't you?" the Doctor tried to smile.

Donna saw right through that, too. "Come on, Spaceman," she told him. "What is it?" She looked at the abandoned cup on the table. "And where's the Alchemist?" The Doctor's mask dropped, and so did Donna's jaw. Instead of the Doctor, a man who grinned in the face of danger, she was seeing a man scared for his life - no, it wasn't his, she realized in horror. "What is it? What's wrong?"

The Doctor just shook his head, trying very hard not to cry. "Alice," he began, but his voice cracked.

"Let it out," she advised, giving him a bear hug. "Tell me."