Woman On A Bench: a prequel/Doctor's point of view to my story Old Man On A Bench. It is a good idea to read that one first. But certainly not necessary. Enjoy! Read and Respond, as needed.
"Thanks for meeting me." Sylvia said.
The Doctor sat down next to her on the bench. "Is there something wrong with Donna? Is she ok?"
"She's fine. Still temp-ing. I don't know why she hasn't found a full time job yet. It's not for lack of trying. But that doesn't concern me."
"Then what does?"
"She's not happy. I see her trying to be. She goes thru the motions like everyone else, I suppose. But her spunk is gone. Are you sure you only took away her memories of you and your travels? Did you take away anything else you shouldn't have?"
"She seemed pretty fired up on the phone the last time I saw her." A faraway look came into his eyes as he remembered the day he brought her back. The day he left her in her old life. The one she hated and tried so desperately to get out of. The guilt of sending her back put a knot in his throat and started to water his eyes again. He swallowed hard and forced himself to concentrate on Sylvia.
"At first she was all fiery," she explained. "But it cooled down. It was so gradual, I hardly noticed it. Well, that's just it. I didn't notice it. My dad did. Donna's his only grandchild. He's doted on her since she was born and he notices everything about her. He mentioned it to me one day and since then I've kept my eye on her. He's right. So, is it possible you erased something you shouldn't have?"
"I don't think so. It's quite an involved process really. One I haven't done in a while, but it's not too hard to forget how to do it. There isn't any way that I could..grab onto something...well, technically, if I had been thinking about ..."
Slap!
The Doctor touched his cheek in surprise. "Ow!" Like mother like daughter. Blimey.
"Stop rambling! You need to concentrate and answer my question. A simple yes or no is all I need. I'm going to ask you again. Is it possible that you erased something else besides her memories of traveling with you?"
"Ahh...yes. I suppose it is possible. Yes."
"Ok. Now we're getting somewhere. Then how do we determine that youdid erase something you shouldn't have and what that was?"
"I'd have to physically connect with her again."
"Excuse me? You'd have to what!? 'Physically Connect' with her AGAIN?!"
She looked like she was about to slap him, so he thought it best to quickly explain what he meant.
"No, No it's not like it sounds. I'd press my fingers on either side of her head at her temples and connect my mind to hers. I have to 'physically' touch her to do it. I've done it with...to...her at least… twice."
"That's not going to happen."
"Why?"
She looked at him in disbelief. "Well, I seem to recall that someone told us that if she remembered you, she'd burn up. Now how are you going to 'physically connect" with her and not trigger those memories?"
He started to answer, but nothing came out. She was right. Blimey. Again.
"Just as I thought. Is there another way to find out?"
"Well, there is, but it's rudimentary and time consuming."
"What is it?"
"It would require a lot of old fashioned observation by someone who knows what they're looking for."
"Is it something I could do?"
"Have you had any training in clinical research?"
"Nope."
"Any training or knowledge of behavioral psychology?"
"None."
"Has your dad had any training in these areas I've mentioned?"
"Nada."
"Well, then no. It looks like I'm the only one qualified to ascertain whether or not I have erased anything that I shouldn't have from Donna's memory."
"Great. A man cleaning up his own mess. Donna would like that. I like that. But how are you going to do that and not let her see you?"
"That, Sylvia," he said as he tapped his sonic screwdriver in his hand, "is the million-dollar question."
L on Z