The Mad Man With a Box

Chapter 3

Doctor POV

Adrenaline courses through my body. I know what I have to do. I run as fast as I can. My own words echo in my head. You mustn't let her remember, not even for a moment.

Donna falls to the ground. NO! I run faster. She can't remember! When I get to her I kneel down and cup her face with my hands.

"Doctor...is-is that...you? Did you...change? Like...like Rose said you would..."

I nod my head. She's old now with gray hair and wrinkles, but I still see her as the same beautiful woman that I knew many years ago.

"Doctor...please...Don't..."

A tear falls down her cheek, and I wipe it away with my thumb.

"Donna, I need to do this in order to save you," I say sternly through gritted teeth.

"I'd rather die remembering you, than live without even knowing who you are."

I look away and bite my lip. I don't want her to see me cry. I can't believe I have to go through this...again.

I look into her eyes, and she looks into mine. Her time is running out. I place my hands on the sides of her forehead. I see all of the our adventures, and I painstakingly try to erase them from her memory. Something is wrong though, and I cant quite figure out what it is.

"What are you doing?"

"I imagined a door, and I closed it," she says with a grin, "I'm clever now."

"Donna, please," I beg as a tear rolls down my cheek.

"I'll be fine," she says as she grabs my hand and looks into my eyes.

Her hand goes limp, and her eyes close. It feels as if someone has ripped my hearts out of my chest. I can't support myself anymore; my body crumples to the ground next to hers, her hand still in mine. I close my eyes and let my tears fall down the side of my face in silence. She's dying.

At first I don't even notice the gently glow. Then it gets brighter. I jump up and take a step away from Donna. She's regenerating.

"I'm an idiot!" I yell, "Part human! Part Time Lord! Of course!"

I step back and wait in anticipation. Then I realize the obvious. She isn't regenerating. She's dying. Her brain is burning up. There's nothing I can do.

"DOCTOR! CATCH!" Jessica screams as she throws a shiny metal object at me from the second floor. I catch it and examine it. A fob watch.

"Just give it to her!"

I run over to Donna and place it in her hands. It opens by itself and consumes her in a bright light. I step back and cover my eyes with my arm.

The light disappears and Donna lays unconscious on the ground.

Jessica POV

"She has a pulse," The Doctor says.

I let out a sigh of relief. The Doctor scans her briefly with his sonic screwdriver. It's probably just me, but I swear she looks younger.

"Timelord," I hear him whisper under his breath.

"Jessica, do you know what this watch does?" The Doctor spins around and looks at me while pointing at the pocket watch.

"No, but I-I...well...it just kinda well...er...spoke to me I guess. I mean, it...I felt draw toward it sort of...its really hard to explain..." I stutter.

The Doctor just nods his head. Danny just stands there bewildered.

I can hear the side door opening. Wait, Mom and Dad aren't supposed to be back from their trip for another we-wait, that's right. I missed three whole weeks of my life thanks to Mr. Time-Boy over here. Great. I can't wait to explain this to my parents!

"Doctor..." I whisper, "...my parents are home...."

"Great, go and greet them," he says quickly as he shoves me towards their direction without looking away from Grandma.

I let out an exasperated sigh and roll my eyes.

When I see my parents I expect a huge welcome, and possibly a hug, but what happens next throws me completely off guard.

"I need you to be very brave, sweetie," My mom says to me as she puts her hands gently on my shoulder. She nods her head at my dad, and he walks upstairs.

I follow my mom into our living room, and my dad walks downstairs holding a small shoebox. My mom reaches in and grabs four silver pocket watches and hands one to each family member.

I look at mine. The design is beautiful.

"Listen," my dad says, "when I count to three, open your watch, I promise you'll be fine. Ready?"

We all nod in agreement. I have no idea wats happening, but for some reason is just feels right.

"One."

The Doctor looks up at us in our little family circle and starts to say something.

"Two!"

"Hey! What do you think y-"

"THREE!"

The last thing I remember seeing is The Doctor backing away and shielding his eyes with his arm, before I am engulfed in a bright white light.

Every cell in my body burns. I let out a terrible shriek, but it sounds so distant. My head feels as if it is being re-arranged. New memories. New knowledge. New everything. I am not Jessica Noble. I am a Time Lord.