Ticking Clocks (Doctor Who Fanfic)

Not Love, Not Always...

The shadow monster rarely made appearances over the next few weeks, mainly because the Doctor refused to leave Nyxie's side for more than three seconds. However, Nyxie didn't particularly appreciate this gesture, even if it made the shadow monster leave without hurting her.

The Doctor paced around the console room nervously, twiddling his fingers. "Nyxie, I need to go get something from the library." 

"Go get it, then." Nyxie said in a surly voice. 

He tugged on her arm. "C'mon, Nyx..." 

"No." Nyxie stated firmly. 

The Doctor heaved a dramatic sigh, then got up. "Fine. I'll only be two seconds. Stay alive. You know what? Stay there. Don't move a muscle." 

He darted out of the room, much to Nyxie's relief. She relished her tiny bit of freedom by pacing around the console room, waiting for him to get back. 

There was a tiny creaking noise, which Nyxie disregarded as her imagination. But when the creaking came back, louder than before, she began to worry. The Doctor was still not back. It had been more than two seconds. 

"Doctor?" she called nervously. There was no reply, except for the creaking noise, which had grown even louder than before. 

She backed against a wall and looked around furtively. The creaking had grown almost unbearably loud and monotonous. 

"Doctor!" she yelled. 

There was no reply. 

She was about to leave the console room in search for him when there was a earsplitting creakand the shadow monster appeared right in front of her. 

Nyxie swallowed and backed slowly away. "Please, leave me alone." 

Pleading probably wouldn't do her any good, but it was worth a try. 

The monster did not respond, only advanced on her slowly. 

"Well, this is just perfect." she muttered, backing up further and emptying her pockets to see if there was anything she could use against it. 

In her hoodie pocket, there was a stick of gum, a pink Sharpie pen, and a tiny book. She held it up to the light and made a tiny whimpering noise when she read the title. 

"You'll never get my books." she whispered, pocketing the book and throwing the gum first at the monster. It merely looked affronted and did not cease to corner her. 

The Sharpie also proved useless against the monster, and by now, she was backed into a corner and could go no farther. She stared helplessly up at it. "What do you want? Why have you been following me?" 

As expected, the monster did not respond. It was finally time to call for help. 

"Doctor!" the unusually subdued Nyxie squeaked. "Doctor, please!" 

This time she heard a yell, and thumping. "Nyxie!" 

"Doctor!" This time Nyxie's voice was a high-pitched shriek, before she felt herself falling, falling through darkness, falling through the frayed strands of her life. 

_________________________________________________________________________________


The Doctor gazed down at her, brushing her hair back like he'd always done. She didn't blush like she used to, though, her skin was pale, very pale, and she was so cold. 

Nyxie's eyes fluttered open. "Doctor." her voice cracked. 

The Doctor desperately grabbed her hand. "You're going to live, Nyxie, you'll be fine." 

Nyxie managed a slight smile. "I hope so. So many places we could have seen..." 

Her eyes unfocused for a moment, wistfully. 

"And we'll see them, Nyxie, we'll see them together!" promised the Doctor. "Imagine the places we'll go, the things we'll see. All of time and space, a step away." 

A tear escaped Nyxie's eye. "Promise me... you'll see them. With someone else. When I'm gone." 

"That'll be in ages, Nyx." the Doctor whispered. "I can see them with you. Who else?" 

"Someone special." Another tear dripped from her eye. "Someone you love." 

"That's you! And only you. You don't have to die, Nyxie. You've still got lives and lives ahead of you!" the Doctor cried. 

"Everything ends." Nyxie closed her eyes. "Everything ends." 

"Not everything." the Doctor whispered, squeezing her hand gently. "Not love. Not always." 

Nyxie smiled slightly, her eyes still closed. "Find someone for me. Someone to see those places with." 

The Doctor didn't say anything, only felt a hot, wet tear drip down his own cheek as Nyxie took her last breath. 

He was the last Time Lord once more.