My Rival, My Doctor

Chapter 23

The person over the loudspeaker kept chanting "Hope and harmony." I stayed by the Face of Boe while the Doctor went to fetch some water.

My allergies were getting worse when a nurse approached with a liquid. I drank it, grimacing at the horrid taste. My nose felt a bit itchy, but besides that, they were gone.

The Doctor came back with a cup of water for Hame. "That's very kind," she thanked, "There's no need."

"You're the one working."

"There's not much to do, just maintain his smoke. And I suppose I'm company," Hame sighed, "I can hear him singing, sometimes, in my mind. Such ancient songs."

"Are we the only visitors?" I asked sweetly.

"The rest of Boe-kind became extinct long ago. He's the only one left. Legend says that the Face of Boe has watched the universe grow old." Hame paused, hesitating before continuing. "There's all sorts of superstitions around him. One story says that just before his death, the Face of Boe will impart his great secret, that he will speak those words only to one like himself." I've heard that before. The wanderer.

The Doctor asked, "What does that mean?"

She dismissed, "It's just a story."

"Tell me the rest."

"It's said he'll talk to a pair of wanderers. To the man without a home. The lonely God. To the lady of the stars." Huh, I applaud Amelia for coming up with such a knowable name.

We sat there, waiting for Rose, when I got the brilliant idea of calling her on her phone. The Doctor looked dumbfounded before dialing her number.

"Rose, where are you?" He questioned worriedly.

There was some mumbling before she answered uneasily, "Er, wotcha."

"What?" I inquired.

The Doctor ignored me. "Where've you been? How long does it take to get to Ward 26?"

"I'm on my way, gov'na," Rose replied stiffly, "I shall proceed up the apples and pears."

"What?" I repeated. The Doctor shushed me before saying excitedly, "You'll never guess. I'm with the Face of Boe. Remember him?"

"Of course I do. That big old boat race."

He noticed something over his shoulder before saying, "I'd better go. See you in a minute." I walked up to the Duke, now completely cured. He was exclaiming, "Didn't think I was going to make it. It's that lady again! She's my good luck charm. Come in. Don't be shy."

I approached slowly, searching for signs of stone. Clovis stated, "Any friendship expressed by the Duke of Manhattan does not constitute a form of legal contract."

"Winch me up. Up!" The Duke commanded, "Look at me. No sign of infection."

A waiter with a champagne bottle offered, "Champagne, ma'am?" I scrunched up my nose and thanked him though.

"You had Petrifold Regression, right?" The Doctor obviously was as dubious as I was.

"That being the operative word. Past tense. Completely cured."

I interjected, "But that's impossible."

"Primitive species would accuse us of magic, but it's merely the tender application of science," a nurse explained.

"How on Earth did you cure him?"

She corrected, "How on New Earth, you might say."

"What's in that solution?" I looked at the solution that was applied, but the nurse answered quickly, "A simple remedy."