When Donna came down the stairs her mother was waiting for her at the kitchen door, a look of utter annoyance on her face.

"What was that about, Donna?"

„I'm sorry, but the Doctor was not feeling well." Donna tried to explain, but Sylvia cut right through.

„Obviously. So that's why he nearly threw over the table and ran out of the room without a word?! That was very rude! I know why I don't want you to bring him along..."

Donna had to gather all her mental strength not to yell at her mother, or worse, slap her in the face. Instead, she drew a deep breath.

„Mom, listen, please. Don't be mad, it's not his fault. And he's definitely not rude." She sat down at the table again, as did her mother, still waiting for an explanation.

„No, I can agree to that!", Wilfred said but was silenced by a look of his daughter.

„So, Donna, then why should I not throw him out at the spot? You could see that he did not want to be here. So why did you bring him along in the first place? And where is he now, anyway? He owes me an explanation!", Sylvia raged on.

„I was going to explain, but you wouldn't let me continue, so..." Donna gave her mother a look but continued before she could counter anything.

„I've put him in bed upstairs, and DON'T complain about that, Mum because it's MY room. He's had a headache the whole day but wanted to come anyway. He took some painkillers in the morning, but they were wearing off quite fast and the headache developed into a migraine. You know how bad migraines can get..."

„Then he should have stayed away."

Donna could feel the displeasure and annoyance radiating from her mother, and tried to reason one last time in favor of her friend.

„But he did not want you to be mad if he stayed away because he knew we argued about it before. And believe me, he's very sorry about this."

Sylvia did not know what to say against that, and although Donna could still sense her annoyance, they continued with the Dinner for the time being.


When the first guests were about to leave, Donna thought it would be a good time to check on the Doctor. She knew he would probably be sleeping, but a quick check whether he needed anything would do no harm. And she was glad she did.

Standing in front of the bedroom door, she could already hear the quiet moans coming from the other side. Donna cautiously opened the door, and as her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, she saw the Doctor helplessly tangled in his sheets. He was clutching his pillow in an iron grip, eyes clenched shut and damp hair clinging to his forehead. This was bad.

She quietly closed the door to not let more light in, crossed the room in no time and knelt down in front of the bed.

„Doctor...? Hey, Spaceman...can you hear me?" She spoke quietly, stroking his damp hair. The Doctor's eyes cracked open and a single tear ran down his cheek.

„Donna...?"

„Yeah, Sweetheart, it's me...You're not getting any better, aren't you? Sleep's not helping?" She wiped away the tear.

„No...I-I think it's getting worse... I'm so dizzy, it feels like the whole room is spinning...and it hurts...Oh Rassilon, it hurts...I don't want..." He clenched his eyes shut again.

„Shh...Sweetheart, I know...Do you want me to get anything for you? From the TARDIS?" Donna was considering whether there were any pain meds left in the TARDIS, but she wasn't sure.

„Do you have any pain meds? I-I think I've taken the last Ibuprofen this morning..." Ok, that was answering her question. „Yeah, sure. I think mom has a few left in her stock. I'll be back in a minute." Ok, that was answeringdo no har morning..."TARDIS, but she wasn't hurts...I don'autiously openedneeded anything would do no har


She left the room and was halfway down the hallway when her mother came up the stairs.

„And? Is he any better?", she asked.

„No, I think he even got worse..."

„Yeah, well, considering that whining coming from your room..." And that was enough for Donna.

„Mom, stop it. You've had migraines yourself, you know how bad they can get. And the Doctor is really having a bad one. I get that you are not totally excited to have him here, but he's my best friend and he's not feeling well. So stop complaining!"

Sylvia raised her hands. „Yeah, well, whatever my daughter wants. But as I can see that he's not any different, could you go downstairs and help your granddad do the washing up?"

„Yes, but..."

„No, Donna, for one time you could do something in this house. Your Doctor will not be going anywhere soon, will he?"

Donna took a deep breath. „Yeah, whatever. But before I go, do we have any Ibuprofen left?"

Sylvia had already started to walk away. „I suppose. I will take care of that. Go help your grandfather, or he will crash the wine glasses again."

Donna reluctantly went down the stairs. She should be the one tending to her sick friend, but she had not wanted to argue with her already annoyed mother. Today was one of those days when Sylvia could explode any second if something would not go according to plan. And the Doctor definitely did not go according to plan.