𝐃𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐇𝐎 ━━━ IMAGINES

Third Doctor - Recovery

You walked into the console room to find the Doctor was no were to be found and picked up the blanket from the railing where you had placed it last night, wrapping it around your shoulders as you left the Tardis. You smiled at the sight of Jo, holding a finger to your lips while she was mid-bite, hoping she wouldn't make it known you had entered. She smiled, taking another bite of her apple.

"What is that?" She asked, continuing her conversation with the Doctor.

"The space-time coordinate programmer." He replied. "The wretched thing's nearly worn out. That's the trouble with the Tardis she is getting on a bit, Jo."

You walked behind him and placed your arms around his neck. "This is the part where he tells you that despite his appearance, he is in tip top shape."

Jo snickered, covering her mouth as she chewed her moutful of apple.

The Doctor looked at you with a smile, as you rested your chin on his shoulder. "I didn't hear you complaining."

You shook your head, walking away with a blush on your cheeks as you recalled last nights activities. You patted Jo on the back when she nearly choked on her apple. "You brought it up." The Doctor smiled toothily.

It was a cheerful morning and that's what bothered him the most. There was no way to predict what would happen later that day. When he drove to Global Chemicals, your positive energy hadn't deminished as he drove as fast as Bessie would allow. He had very few rules in this incarnation. But there was only one rule he had for you.

Do not leave his sight.

Unfortunately this incarnation, as guilty as his others, had a habit of wandering off. So he relied on you to follow him, keeping up even when he left without a word while you were making your own observations. He heard your screams and when he turned around you weren't there, his fear spiking dangerously as he called your name, racing through the mine.

He would forever be haunted by the way you laid still, a pulsing green tint on your skin.

He was angry, frighteningly so. He was afraid, looking like a caged animal the way he paced the floor beside your bed in the Tardis. The morning had started like any other, better than any other, so how did he allow the day to turn so deadly?

You knew the risks of travelling with him, and it had taken you a while to agree in the beginning, but the risks were always worth the adventure and the man taking you into the heart of it. Everything was going well between you both in your three month fresh relationship. So why were you now the patient instead of the nurse?

Jo would never forget the twinkle in his eyes, the anger that grew into fury, the desperation that became grief. Your body was in agony and the Doctor didn't have any answers. The one time you needed him, and he was helpless. He stayed by your side, keeping an close eye on your tempature which he fought to keep down, but it kept spiking unpredictabily. You were in pain and he couldn't save you.

The Brigadier named this moment the darkest in the third incarnations time. The Doctor tried to focus, but all he could imagine was you lying deathly ill on the bed. The anger started early on, the more he learned about Global Chemicals, the more outraged he became. This incarnation was peaceful, until that devastating day.

The fungus was an unexpected remedy, and that's why it was such a relief. The most unlikely cure was the greatest in his eyes. It was a theory in the beginning, so he tested it on Professer Jones first, afraid of making your condition worse. But as soon as it proved effective, he raced over to you.

It was a long process, trying to build your strength up again, but it was worth it just to see your eyes open. "Doctor..." He sat beside you on the bed and took your hand. "Doctor..."

"I'm here."

And he never left your side. Every plan he had made was put on hold. And the Brigadier knew better than to ask for his help during your recovery, although UNIT had never been so quiet, no threats to investigate. While you were healing, everything seemed to fade away, as if the universe was letting you recover without the stress of an alien threat.

You rem remained in bed for days while the Doctor helping you recover. In the beginning, you could only utter one word sentances, but slowly managed to talk for a whole conversation.

"Why does my mouth taste like something died?" You asked.

The Doctor hadn't laughed so hard in nearly a week. You smiled at him, resting your head on the wall as you held back a yawn. But he knew you were tired so he helped you lay down and covered you with the duvet. "Get some sleep." He took your hand and you smiled up at him, moving to place your head on his stomach.

He would stay with you until you were better. He couldn't go anywhere when all of his plans included you in them. And although he would be more alert, keeping a hold of your hand on adventures so you were never seperated, which could be diffiult at times, you were both relieved that you had made a full recovery.