Doctor Who: Series A [COMPLETE]

Episode Eight: Dead Air

The atmosphere inside the TARDIS was heavy with melancholy. In one swift moment, Jade had swept from euphoric feelings of triumph to bitter, heartbreaking disappointment. She sat alone, leaning beside one of the Doctor's bookcases, arms folded, staring into space. Although anyone else would be expected to flee to their bedroom for a quiet moment alone, Jade knew herself too well: she needed to be where her friends were at that moment.

After a while of leaning near the console and peering over at his friend, Callum decided it was time to talk to her. He sat beside Jade, shuffling to get comfortable on the hard metallic floor. Sometimes, a floor is just a floor - even when you're hurtling through space in a time machine.

At first, he said nothing, wondering if it would coax Jade into talking. She said nothing. Instead, they both looked over at the Doctor, stern concentration painted on his face as he twiddled with dials. He hadn't spoken a word since they left Trap Street either, and Callum concluded he'd have to be the one to break the silence.

"Who was he? Shane, I mean."

It was the only question he could think to ask, and like extracting a shard of glass from the heart, he realised the delicate motion needed - and he'd failed. Before he could chastise himself aloud, however, Jade answered.

"He was my colleague. And my friend. We met the Doctor together."

"Oh," Callum said, sinking into himself. He knew it was a childish notion to entertain - that he wasn't the first to join the Doctor with Jade - but he couldn't help but let those feelings bubble up to the surface.

"He didn't want to come with us. I think if he did, he'd still be alive. The plague infected him."

"Oh...I'm sorry," Callum felt even worse than before. 

"It's OK. I should've said something. I just..." Jade's voice wobbled, but she composed herself, "I just always assumed that we'd go back and save him. I was stupid."

"No! You weren't. This is all...totally strange new territory. You weren't to know, and he wouldn't blame you."

Callum wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and she naturally drew closer to him, leaning her head against him.

"Thanks, Callum."

He felt the wet of her tears as they fell onto his t-shirt, so rubbed the shoulder of her hoodie, comforting her the best he could. Sarah had never been particularly complimentary about his comforting skills, but he really did care for Jade. Maybe his time with her and the Doctor had changed him? Or perhaps it was too early to decide on that.

Suddenly, there was a clap of hands.

"Right, you two. We need to talk," said the Doctor, standing over them with a look of mad ambition about him.

He skipped back off to the console, and Callum stood, offering his hand to Jade. She accepted his assistance and followed him to the console, pulling down the sleeves of her hoodie so that she could wipe the tears from her face. Weakness wasn't something she liked to show others.

"Jade, I'm sorry - I'm so sorry - for your loss," the Doctor said, outstretching his arms and hugging her lightly - this regeneration wasn't particularly adept at showing such affection, and he suddenly wishes he was Eleven again.

He stepped back and clapped his hands together again, as if to mark the start of a grand speech.

"A long, long time ago, I let a friend down. She lost somebody important to her, and she begged for my help. I ended up causing her to lose him twice. I'm not going to let the same thing happen to you," he declared, turning back to the console and pulling a lever.