Doctoring the Doctor
By Sonic Jules
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Previously, in chapter one...
"It's beautiful," Donna said admirably. "What is it?"
"Not sure," the Doctor answered, holding the strange object with one hand while retrieving his glasses with the other. "Some sort of artifact, though I don't think it's from this planet. It was obviously buried here some time ago. I'd say the wind storms eventually uncovered it." He tilted the box until he could see the bottom after putting his specs on. "There's an inscription written here," he stated.
"Yeah? What's it say?" Donna asked, squinting to see what he focused on.
His face wrinkled in confusion. "This side down."
"Get out!" Donna said, watching the Time Lord.
"No, really. It does. See?" He held it out for her to look out. Donna shook her head.
"Well?"
"Well what?" the Doctor asked.
"Aren't you going to open it?" she asked impatiently.
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Chapter Two:
Choices
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The Time Lord looked at Donna then looked back to the artifact several times. Finally he pulled out his sonic screwdriver. Clicking on the device, he scanned the box for a few moments. When he shut it off, he still looked at the object warily.
"What's that sonic thingie of yours say about it?" Donna asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"Nothing, actually."
"Nothing? It's empty?"
"Oh, I didn't say that," the Doctor shook his head. "Alien technology," he said, one hand holding the box while he used the other to point at it.
Donna pointed her index finger at him. "Alien," she stated sarcastically. "So?"
"Could be a Pandora's Box, so to speak," he replied with a mysterious tone. He stared at Donna for a moment, then a wide smile spread slowly on his face. "Let's find out!"
Donna smiled, too. "All right," she agreed. She scooted in right beside him, her curiosity clear as she watched his hand reach for the small clasp.
Slowly - too slowly as far as his companion was concerned - the Doctor flipped the gold colored handle upward, then held onto it as he pulled the top up.
From within the container a puff of dust exhaled like a sigh, instantly covering both the Doctor and Donna's faces in a light, golden shimmer.
Sputtering a bit as they wiped their skin, the Doctor sneezed twice. Still eager to see the contents within their newly found dusty treasure, however, they looked inside the receptacle.
"How disappointin'," Donna spoke a bit sadly. "I can't believe there was nothin' but dust in that thing. Still though, the container's pretty. Can I have it?"
"Hmm?" the Time Lord hummed distractedly. Like flipping a switch however, he turned toward his companion. "Strange that."
"What? Me wantin' the little box is strange?"
"No, not in the least. But what is odd is the fact that someone went to a bit of trouble hiding it here. Why would they do that? Why would someone go to such lengths to hide an empty container?"
"Dunno. Maybe it's magical or somethin'. Or maybe the dust inside it is - oh!" Her face suddenly showed her disgust. "Eww! You don't think that was someone's remains in there, do you? Oi!" Donna exclaimed, lifting her blouse and wiping her face vigorously with the cloth.
"No, I don't think that was it," the Time Lord reassured her. Donna watched in abject horror as he wiped his right index finger across his cheek then placed the digit in his mouth. "Nope, not the ashes of anything dead," he said with confidence. "In fact, the dust almost tastes ... familiar."
Donna blanched. "So what exactly is it, then?" she asked, her face still wrinkled in disgust at his actions.
"I don't know." The Doctor stared at her for a minute as he placed the box back on the ground, then suddenly grasped her head within his hands. "Donna!"
"What? What?!" she replied, suddenly worried that perhaps she was growing purple spots on her flesh.
"I think you should sit down," he said gently, causing Donna to believe those purple spots may be growing orange spots on top of them. Or perhaps they were getting lumpy and bumpy...
She sat on the ground at his insistence. Immediately Donna raised her hands to her face, feeling for anomalies. "What's wrong? What's happenin' to me?" she asked, her voice rising.
"I don't know - tell me what's going on - what are you feeling?" the Time Lord asked with concern.
"I don't feel anythin'. What do you see? What is it, Doctor?" Her panic was increasing.
"Nothing."
"Nothing? Nothing?? Then why'd you have me sit down all of a sudden?" Now Donna's panic was turning to anger.
"Oh, I was a little concerned, that's all. Normally alien materials affect you lot, and a mysterious puff of dust is usually something to worry about. Are you all right?"
Donna stood back up suddenly, wiping the dry soil from the seat of her trousers. "Nothin's wrong with me, you git," she exclaimed, slapping away the hand he offered to help her remove the dirt.
"Good," the Doctor said with a nod. "Excitement's over. Let's head up to the top of that mountain then. See if anything is going on around here at all."
His companion eyed him warily for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. Okay."
When the Doctor began walking, however, Donna couldn't stop wondering if perhaps something was wrong with him. He looked rather pale...
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To be continued....
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