At first glance the puddle looked shallow. But he knew it was deceptively deep. Watching three people step and topple head-first into the filthy water convinced him of that. He laughed at their misfortune. He shouldn't have. But it was funny.
He held up the umbrella against the rain. He was quite lucky he found it, really. Well..."found it" wasn't exactly the right term. More like "kept it" because someone forgot to put it back in her bag.
Down the lane, not 50 feet from said puddle, came Donna with her bag raised over her head to protect her from the rain. She was swifter than usual. The Doctor assumed she was more concerned with finding shelter than worrying about puddles. He estimated that with her current pace, steps and distance, she was heading straight for that puddle! Now although he liked watching others fall into it, he did NOT relish the idea of Donna doing so.
He sprang to his feet immediately.
"You have got to be kidding me!?" she exclaimed.
He grabbed her arm the instant she started to fall. As he pulled her upright he noticed how her wet hair clung to her face. A memory flashed in his mind. One from the first day he met her: Donna stood beside him on top of the Thames Flood Barrier as they surveyed the river. She was dripping wet in her wedding gown with her hair plastered against her skin. The sight made his hearts flutter. This surprised him because he didn't think they would ever do that again (at least, not so soon after losing Rose). He'd remember that moment for the rest of his life! She held onto him back then for support, just like she was doing now. He smiled in response and shifted the umbrella from covering himself to shield her instead.
"Come. Sit." He said and guided her to his dry bench at the bus stop.
"Better?" he asked as she sat down.
"Yes, thank you."
Her teeth were chattering. He pulled off his coat and draped it around her shoulders before he sat next to her. Another memory drifted in. Also from the day they met: they sat on a roof, dangling their feet over the edge while the Tardis cooled down in the background. He placed a ring on her finger and said "With this ring. I, thee, bio-damp." If I had been smart, I should have given you the real thing that day...
Her blue eyes studied him. He wondered what questions formed behind them. His hearts began to flutter again. A familiar warmth flowed through his veins making his skin tingle. He hadn't felt this way for a very long time. Do you have any idea how much I love you? Her eyes widened and he bit his lip. Tell me I did not just say that out loud?!
Screech!
Blimey! Stupid bus. You have the worst timing!
He reluctantly got up and helped lift and guide Donna onto the bus. She quietly gave him back his coat and he handed her the umbrella she misplaced the day before.
"Thanks again," she said as she took it.
"Yeah," he said as he winked and gave her a little salute from his right temple with his forefinger as the bus pulled away.
He watched until it was out of sight. The warmth in his veins lingered and burned within him. As he turned to go, he took one foot forward and stepped into something wet and deep.
The puddle!
He fell head-first into the filthy water just as the three others had done before him. A laugh escaped his lips when he raised himself up to his elbows. Then two. Suddenly, he rolled over onto his back and laughed. He opened his arms wide to embrace the rain "Oh, Molto Bene" he laughed at no one in particular, "Molto Bene!"