My first attempt at writing Donna. Challenging, but fun! Feedback is always lovely.
DWDWDW
The Doctor thought nothing of it at first.
This incarnation was a particularly tactile one, but he had not always been so and thus was aware that other people might have different boundaries. He was not offended by it, even though he didn't like to reign in this body's natural impulses to pat someone on the back, hug them or grasp their hand.
But Donna made it absolutely clear from the beginning that she didn't appreciate alien hands on her and don't you forget it, Spaceman. And the Doctor might have a bit of trouble with the concept of personal space sometimes, but he always tried to respect his companions' wishes, especially when they were so…forcefully stated.
And he truly didn't think much about it. Donna had no trouble expressing her opinions openly (no matter if they were good or bad) so he just shrugged and went about his way.
They did get along fabulously, in any case. They both protested loudly when people mistook them for married or a couple, but it was all in jolly good fun and they would laugh about in the kitchen later, over a cup of tea and some chocolate Hob-Nobs.
But after a while, he couldn't help but notice certain oddities about Donna's behavior. She was always loud, brash and sometimes even annoying, but she never really talked about herself. Since the Doctor wasn't too fond of domestic situations in any case, it didn't bother him. Much. But Donna talked, talked and talked, much like himself, but… He realized after a few weeks he knew very little about her. Oh, he knew all about her all-time favorite Bachelor was and which line in Pretty Woman always made her cry, but not more than that. He had met her grandfather, and her parents, but she didn't much talk about them. Her Gramps, she'd mention in passing but her mother and father not at all.
She might complain when he left teacups all over the console room, but she cleaned them up without fail. And did the washing up after dinner. And kept the kitchen stocked.
He was a genius, after all, and occasionally quite perceptive. Certain things stuck out.
Like what he discovered a few weeks after Donna had found him a second time. She usually excused herself and went to bed rather early, as was wont with humans. The Doctor would busy himself with the TARDIS while she slept, and they would see each other in the morning over scrambled eggs (for Donna), toast with marmalade (for him) and tea (for both of them) and that was it. He usually never went close to Donna's room. He had no reason to. One night, however, he'd needed an extra temporal solenoid he knew he had seen a few regenerations ago in a cupboard usually located close to Donna's room. As he came down that corridor, he thought he heard a noise. He stopped, listened, and shrugged when the corridor remained quiet. The Doctor started walking again and as the sound of his trainers echoed across the TARDIS, he heard it again. A gasp, a wheezing of air hastily expelled from a pair of human lungs. A sharp intake of breath, whistling between teeth. He stopped again. As he sharpened his hearing, he thought he could detect heavy breathing. Took another couple of steps. The same gasp, a little louder this time. The sharp tang of human perspiration hit his nostrils. He was now quite close to Donna's bedroom door and could sense her standing beside it, close to the wall. He turned towards the wall, mirroring what he thought was her position. All was quiet, except for the faint hum of the TARDIS and the rapid breaths from the other side of the wall.
The Doctor closed his eyes, shifting from one foot to another, waiting.
Nothing happened.
Rubbing his neck vigorously, the Doctor hesitantly took a step towards Donna's door, but courage failed him and he turned around and raced back towards the console room. Whatever it was, Donna wouldn't appreciate him butting in. She was a grown woman; she could take care of herself. No need for him to get involved. No complications, no sir, he did not want that..
DWDWDW
They landed on Hyldroxi on a glorious Saturday morning (well, their equivalent, at least) and the Doctor was nearly bursting with excitement. He had looked forward to seeing the Floating Gardens there for a long time, and Donna was sure to enjoy the beauty of the city and its inhabitants. The city-planet with its tall, slim, azure-skinned humanoids was one of the unknown jewels of the Universe, as far as the Doctor was concerned. Why more tourists didn't come there… Well, less crowds for him and Donna..
As they strolled along the streets, the Doctor took a deep breath and savored the magnificence of the beautiful people, beautiful architecture, beautiful weather… Beautiful everything, really. He excitedly pointed this out to Donna, who nodded and smiled at him.
He told her all about how the climate and certain air-borne minerals gave the natives their distinctive coloring and how they were among the true connoisseurs of loveliness and it took him a while to notice that Donna was unusually quiet. He looked to the side, and thankfully she hadn't wandered off, but her normally forceful presence was subdued. Her head was lowered, and she looked small, grey and tired.
The Doctor asked her if she wanted to return to the TARDIS, she truly looked terrible, but Donna just shook her head, all traces of color gone from her face. No matter what the Doctor said or did, he couldn't seem to get her out of her state. He thought he even saw her cringe once, as he pointed out an especially distinctive Hyldroxian for her to admire, but she told him with some of her old energy not to gawp and couldn't a girl get something to drink on this stupid planet?
It was only after they returned to the TARDIS and Donna had gone to bed that the Doctor thought he might have missed something.
DWDWDW
Please review!