"I said it was her," Val spoke into the silence. The glare the Doctor shot her as he sat up was like a cold steel dagger to the heart. She didn't speak again.
Installment 1: The Clock Strikes at Midnight
Chapter 9: Under the Palm Trees
It was another twenty minutes still before the rescue vehicle came alongside and brought them back to the leisure palace. No one spoke unless absolutely necessary. Each was lost in their own thoughts. Merlin did not speak to Val or Biff as he walked past them and lay down on his bed. He proceeded to ignore their offers of food and tried to lose himself in a book. It was later that evening that he left the room with the goal of apologizing to the Doctor. He hoped the man would forgive him, but he couldn't be sure until he tried.
He found the man sitting on a bench under a patch of tall palm trees, looking out over the surface. Merlin hesitated for a minute but then he slid onto the bench next to the other man. The Doctor didn't acknowledge his presence.
"I've come to apologize." Now the Doctor glanced at him.
"What for?"
"For trying to throw you out of the plane. I should have known the creature was still in Sky and was using you. I should have been able to figure out that you weren't the problem. I should not have fallen to masses. I should have-"
"Jethro," the Doctor cut him off sternly and waited until Merlin looked into his eyes. "You have nothing to apologize for. This was not your fault. You couldn't have done anything." Merlin only scoffed at this. If he hadn't come here then his magic would not have woken the creature. And if he had been braver he might have used his magic to protect them all instead of hiding in the back of the crowd.
"I could have protected us all if I wasn't so scared," he protested bitterly to the thick glass wall.
"I don't believe that for one minute. Something about you reminds me of myself and I believe some part of you stopped you for a good reason. Maybe if you had interfered it would've been much worse than it already was. So if you held back for some reason than I am grateful, Jethro."
"Merlin," he said impulsively.
"What?"
"My name." He looked at the Doctor again with a small smile. "My name is Merlin." The Doctor's eyebrow shot up and the corners of his lips twitched.
"An honour to meet you properly then, Merlin." He held out his hand and they shook.
"You believe me?"
"What reason would you have to lie?"
"I lied to get here," Merlin retorted.
"Fair enough," the Doctor conceded. "How were you planning on getting home?"
"Haven't thought about it much. I figured I would continue pretending to be Jethro a little longer and head back to Earth with Val and Biff." Merlin looked decidedly unhappy about enduring more time with the two adults.
"I could give you a lift home." Merlin looked back up at the Doctor.
"If I accept, would you tell me more about yourself? There's something about you my magic is picking up on even all bound up like it is right now." The Doctor cocked his head to the side.
"Why is it bound?"
"Even in orbit I could feel something from the planet trying to steal it from me," he explained. "I think that is what gave the creature enough energy to wake up and inhabit Sky. I have kept it completely bound up inside since I first felt the tugging. I can't wait to get far enough away to let it loose again."
"We can leave in fifteen minutes." The Doctor grinned as he stood. "I have to find Donna, but I will meet you by the pool." Merlin stood to his feet as well with a wide smile.
"I'll be there in ten."
And thus ends installment one. Merlin gets to see the TARDIS for the first time, he is able to release his magic, cute smiles, and the Doctor drops him off at home. No travelling this time. However, the next installment will feature another familiar face. Who is it? You'll just have to wait and see.
