The Aeon of the Time Lords (Book Two - the Double Era Series)

Chapter Eight

"I can't do this, Martha," the Doctor whispered quietly into the phone as I slept. This was one of his rare chances to get to talk about me while I slept, and to collect more data on me. I was a regeneration or two behind him, Maybe eighth or ninth, and had the active body of a teenager. It was a wonder I slept at all, considering Time Lords didn't actually need that many hours of sleep and could go running for days on little energy as long as they were moderately healthy.

"Can't do what, Doctor?" Martha replied. The Doctor looked at the screen as his TARDIS collected data on me. Numbers and letters and other symbols went flying past his eye line, all meaning something about the girl that he most likely already knew. I was very similar to him, as far as vitals go, which wasn't to surprising, considering we were the same species and all. I'd done a good job of keeping me body fit, either from working out regularly or, more likely, running on a daily basis. I was thin, possibly a bit to thin. Even while aboard the TARDIS, where it was next to impossible to go hungry, I barely ate. One thing he loved about me though was that I spoke in my sleep. Ever so softly, so only someone with excellent hearing like himself could make the words out, but they were there, none the less.

"I don't know if I can handle her anymore," the Doctor explained, "But the thing, Martha, is that I know what will happen if I let her back on her own. Sure, she's got her smarts and all, but I've got my sonic screwdriver and my TARDIS and my companions and almost every planet owes me a favour for one reason or another and even I barely make it sometimes. She... She'd never last. I couldn't do it again, Martha. I couldn't be alone again. I already lost the Master, as much as he causes trouble, he was still something. Something. I can't lose her too, Martha. I won't."

"You'll get used to her in time, Doctor," she promised, "Besides, you have all of eternity to come to like her. Even if you couldn't, though, I'm sure she would do just fine on her own."

"Chr.." I called out in my sleep, "The prophecy has told of the Doctor Chr..."

"Eh... Martha. I'm going to have to call you back," the Doctor insisted, hanging up before she could ask further questions and kneeling beside the jump seat, "Where did you get that name?"

"The Prophecy warned me of the numberless Lord," I cooed, asleep, "A doctor among the people. The Doctor ...Chr..."

"Ooohhh... Kay," he stood up, keeping an eye on me as he gave a command to the TARDIS, "Dream scan, now! I want to see what's going through her head!"