A Day that Shook the World

Part 3

“Oh, Jo...” the Third Doctor gave her a soft hug and helped her up off of the TARDIS floor. “There’s nothing we could have done to stop it.

    “I know, Doctor. But seeing all of those people die...” Jo let out another sob and buried her face into her hands. The Doctor was about as good at comforting people as he was at lying in these circumstances, so he wasn’t sure what to do now that she had started crying again. Luckily, as soon as she had started, she had stopped and said, “Doctor, take me home.”

    The Doctor paused. He was about to say something before, but now his mind froze as he tried to interpret what Jo had just asked him to do. “But... why?”

“We’ve been trying so hard just to get to Metebelis Three for so long now, and I’m getting tired of all these detours!” Suddenly, his face became gloomy as Jo said, “I would like to just go back to the lab and continue being your assistant who just hands you test tubes day and night for your experiments.” She heaved a big sigh, and then, that’s when the Doctor finally understood something. Jo didn’t feel important; she thought she was just his expendable lab assistant. The Doctor also realized that, perhaps, maybe he had been treating her a bit unfairly the past few months.

“My dear Jo,” the Doctor began, “but you aren’t just my lab assistant, colleague, or even just a scientific partner. You are my best friend, and I just wanted to take you places and give you an opportunity to show you things that very few people have a chance to see. I wanted to make you happy, but now I suppose that I haven’t been very kind to you lately. I’m hardly a good friend at all. I’m sorry, Jo.”

Jo was astonished to hear the Doctor say these things. He hardly ever apologized for anything, and he had never called her his friend before. “Oh, Doctor...” Jo reached up and gave the Doctor a hug. He was a little surprised himself, but it didn’t take long for the Doctor to recover and return the hug. “I really like travelling with you, Doctor, but... I suppose I could do without all the danger.” The Doctor released the hug.

“Ah, but Jo,” he said, “my middle name is danger!” Jo giggled a little at hearing the Doctor use another silly cliche.

“What is it with you and the cheesy cliches today?” she asked, giggling all the while.

“What do you mean, ‘cheesy cliches’?!” he replied, feeling rather offended. “You know, I thought we were having a bit of a ‘moment’ there. But that just ruined the mood.” Jo laughed a bit louder this time, and walked over to where Ace had finished crying on the Doctor’s shoulder. The Third Doctor followed her. “Now, I think we ought to get right down to business so that we can get out of this dratted place.”

“I agree,” the Seventh Doctor replied, looking up at him. “Ace, why don’t you show... erm...”

“Jo.”

“Yes, sorry. Why don’t you show Jo some of the rooms of the TARDIS while the Doctor and I work on fixing the Energy Abator?”

“Will do, Professor! Come on, Jo; I wanna show you the explosives lab!” Ace said, full of excitement as she led Jo to the hall.

“NOT THE EXPLOSIVES LAB!!!” the Seventh shouted back at her. “I banned you from the explosives lab! I don’t need you making any Nitro 9 when we’ve already got a radioactive machine part full of energy straight from the TARDIS sitting in the middle of the console room!”

“But Professor-”

“No buts! Why don’t you show Jo something else? Like, maybe the library, or...”

Ace looked unamused, but Jo on the other hand said, “Alright, that sounds good,” and she grabbed Ace’s hand and pulled her into the hall.

“She’s a handful, isn’t she?” the Third Doctor said. He seemed to be telling the Seventh Doctor instead of actually asking him.