Dos and Don'ts
By Sonic Jules
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Disclaimer: Doctor Who and the characters of said show do not belong to me, no matter how hard I've wished for it. No infringement meant on the owners and associates, nor BBC.
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A/N: My many thanks to Catharticone, who checked and helped and worded things better, as she always does. If you like this story, it's really because of her.
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Chapter One:
Her Little Secret
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Donna entered the TARDIS with a flourish, surrounded by the many bags of items she'd bought with the credit stick the Doctor had given her. She practically waddled up the ramp as she carried the overstuffed containers, smiling excitedly when she saw the Time Lord peeking around the time rotor.
"I brought lunch!" she said cheerfully as she deposited all but one of the bags on the floor beside the jump seat.
"And a little of everything else, too, I'd say," the Doctor commented, eyeing her numerous purchases. "Is there anything left for the Earth to sell?"
"Oi, don't you start. You're the one who said I should go shoppin'. Wanted me out of your hair, you did. And besides, there's so many things to see on New, New, New Earth - really, how could you expect me to resist?"
The Time Lord grinned at his companion. "I couldn't, could I?" he replied with a slight hint of sarcasm.
"How's the maintenance comin', by the way?" she asked, pulling out a few items from the bag she held.
"Fine, fine. Almost done," he answered a bit distractedly. "What's that smell?"
Donna grinned proudly, holding a container out toward him. "I'm not quite sure. It looks like chicken, and there's lots of healthy lookin' vegetables in the mix, plus everyone in the restaurant was eatin' it. I figured it couldn't be too bad."
The Doctor nodded, grabbing up the majority of her purchases while Donna put the dish back in the bag she was holding then picked up the remaining sacks. They walked down the corridor toward the kitchen, only stopping long enough to put the new merchandise in her room on the way.
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The Doctor and Donna sat across from each other as they dipped their forks into the food on their plates. Both nibbled the takeout tentatively at first, then dug in with gusto. Their meal was obviously quite tasty.
When they were done, the Time Lord spoke. "So, what all did you buy while you were shopping?" he asked, eyeing her a bit suspiciously.
"Some clothes, some shoes, and - you know - stuff."
"Stuff?"
Donna wiped her mouth with a napkin before standing. "Yeah, stuff." She grabbed up her plate and his. "Feminine ... Stuff."
"Oh," he answered slowly. "Oh!" he repeated, looking at her as he stood, a slight flush to his cheeks. "Well, I suppose I should finish up," he exclaimed, pointing toward the corridor. "Thanks for lunch," he said as he disappeared.
Donna stood there for a moment before turning toward the sink, grinning. It seemed that all male species got a bit befuddled when it came to feminine products. Not that she'd purchased any, but mentioning them did stop him from asking anything further. Besides, she'd rather not mention what else she'd bought. No one needed to know all her secrets after all, including that scrawny Lord of Time.
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It had been two hours since the Doctor had seen Donna, one of which he had nothing to do, having completed the repairs and 'tune up' he performed on his ship. Now he was bored.
It was a bit early for dinner just yet, but if he took them someplace fun, like Fresiendeo, where there was so much to see and do, then dinner there would fit perfectly into their schedule.
Decision made, he bounded down the corridor in search of his mate.
The Doctor knocked on her bedroom door then waited impatiently for a few moments before knocking again. When his second try received no results, he knocked again, much harder.
"Donna?"
The Time Lord opened the door carefully. He was quite sure she wasn't asleep; Donna had been too wound up over her purchases to be tired, and he was sure she'd slept well the night before. Regardless, he called her name a bit softer as his eyes swept the room, just in case.
Not seeing his companion as he looked around, the Doctor turned to walk back into the corridor when he heard a muffled sob coming from behind the bathroom door. Quickly he walked toward it.
"Donna?"
He heard her sniffle. "Yeah?" she asked a bit timidly.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah," she answered. Her voice was soft and so very unlike her normal self.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Can you say anything but 'yeah'?
"Of course I can, you nitwit! I'm not some daft little child who can't form sentences or speak her mind - I was simply answerin' your questions - politely too, I might add," Donna replied, her voice strong and defensive. "What d'you want? And what are you doin' anyway, standin' outside my bathroom door?"
The Doctor grinned slightly. Now there was the Donna Noble he knew. "I thought you might enjoy a trip to Fresiendeo. I need to take the TARDIS out and make sure she's running up to par, and it's beautiful there. Plenty to do - sort of like an amusement park - and I thought we'd have dinner while we were there in a bit. What do you say?"
"No, thanks."
"Donna?"
"What?"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothin's wrong, Doctor. I'm ... In. The. Loo." She sighed. "Do you mind?"
"Oh, not at all. I'll just sit out here and wait until you're done," he replied cheekily.
"No!" she yelled clearly.
"Then tell me what's wrong," he replied calmly. "Does it have something to do with your purchases today?"
"Yes - no! No, nothin's wrong, except for the fact that you're just standin' there, outside my bathroom door like some sort of stalker. Smacks of perversion to me, it does."
The Doctor was not so easily deflected. "I'll leave you alone once I know you're all right. Until then, I can wait out here far longer than you'll want to stay in there, trust me."
He couldn't see the roll of her eyes, but he was quite sure she did it, just the same.
"I'd like a bit of privacy. Is that too much to ask for?" she spoke with a friendly tone, causing his eyebrows to quirk.
"Donna," the Time Lord began, sounding like his patience was waning. "Either you're coming out, or I'm coming in."
"No! Now run along and leave me the hell alone!"
The Doctor knew she was hiding something from him. He worried if he didn't get to her quickly, well, traveling through time and space, there were too many horrible possibilities he didn't want to think of.
He was going in. With or without her consent.
"Back away from the door, Donna. I'm coming in."
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To be concluded...
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