"Flippin' Eck Spaceman, for a stick insect you weigh more than an elephant that's been at the buns," Donna grumbled.
The TARDIS seemed to know she needed help and put the med-bay right next to the console room and she somehow managed to get him onto one of the beds and the comforting whirr of the diagnostics filled the air.
Her gentle ribbing at his weight had covered her panic...now it took hold of her as she tried to wash the blood from her hands...her face; anywhere the Doctor's blood had touched her.
She hadn't seen it as she'd been too busy looking at the scenery.
The first she knew that something was terribly wrong was the full weight of the Doctor pushing her to one side and then that terrible roar.
And then the screaming had began and it had been a blur since then and she had no idea how she'd fought of the thing with teeth and claws or how she'd got the Doctor back to the TARDIS.
She had gone into automatic and had cleansed and stitched every rip and claw mark that the creature had inflicted on her Spaceman.
She threw her clothes in the bin and showered until she felt like she'd scrubbed a whole layer of skin away.
She dressed quickly and went back to the med-bay.
The Doctor was as still as he'd been when she left; his breathing still shallow and rapid and a sheen of sweat covered his face.
She wiped it away with a cool cloth and she was surprised to see his eyes open.
"Hello," she said softly. "Go back to sleep Martian Boy."
"Earth Girl, he said softly and his faced creased in pain and his eyes closed again.
It was three more days before he opened them again and another seven before Donna or the TARDIS would allow him to get up.
Two days after that Donna found a note on the kitchen table from the Doctor to go to the garden.
She walked in and heard soft music playing and the path seemed to lead towards it.
She found a table set out with all her favourite picnic foods and the Doctor was sitting at it.
Donna sat down and the Doctor poured her a glass of chilled wine.
He smiled that smile, not his widest or his maddest but the one that held genuine warmth and affection.
"Donna Noble, thank you...you saved my life."
Donna smiled back. "Yeah, I did. But if you do anything as stupid as throw yourself in front of something with teeth and claws again..."
She stopped when the Doctor took her hand. "Donna, I would do it again and again. I promised Wilfred I'd keep you safe and sound and I will."