Notes: AH! I bet you all think I fell off the face of the planet! However, I did not, I just went into lurking mode. I'm back now, so expect updates again!! Hooray!!


Destruction

The Doctor didn't want to do it, but he knew he had to. He had no other choice. Sadie seemed resigned to the fact that there was no other way and was insistently urging him just to 'get on with it'. He knew he'd have to eventually, but he couldn't help prolonging it for as long as possible. He had no idea what would happen when he actually began to destroy the book, and that unnerved him quite a bit. The unknown could be fun and exciting, but it could also scare the living daylights out of you. He sighed, the breath coming out roughly due to the still very angry Skeeva beating itself against the door that separated them. The door was beginning to splinter ever so slightly. It wouldn't be too much longer now.

"I guess this is it," he said, looking down at the book.

'I guess so,' appeared on the page a moment later.

The Doctor paused, not quite knowing what to say or do. He finally hugged the book tightly to his chest. "Sadie…"

'Quit stalling. Get on with it, and I'll see you on the outside.'

She never had been one for long goodbyes. The Doctor flipped to the first page of the book, took a page between his thumb and forefinger, and slowly tore it from the book. Immediately a howl of pain from the Skeeva coursed through the room, followed by several cries. The beating on the door ceased momentarily, but then resumed, although this time less intense. The Doctor tore two pages from the book in quick succession, crumpling them into a ball and then tossing it across the small closet with a bit of flourish. Thinking better of his action, he stretched himself across the floor to reclaim it as the Skeeva shrieked and wailed. The Doctor could tell by the sounds that the creature was moving farther from the door. He got to his feet and stuck the already torn pages into his pocket. He then tore another three pages from the book before slowly opening the battered door.

The Skeeva was crouched against the wall farthest from him, whimpering. Its breath was coming in short, ragged bursts. The skin was pale, obviously clammy, and the glowing red eyes were beginning to darken. The plan was working; the Skeeva was dying. The Doctor ripped another page from the book. The Skeeva moaned pitifully as it fell completely to the floor, writhing in pain.

"Please," it asked, the voice husky and the previous arrogance gone. "I'm begging you, please don't. No more…the pain is unbearable. It hurts too much to stay still but yet the pain is so great to move…please…"

The Doctor stood, poised to tear another several pages from the book. This was torture. He was effectively torturing this creature. The very thing he fought to prevent so many times…he was standing right here in his own ship doing that very act. How could he do such a thing?

The Skeeva's breathing became a bit smoother. The Doctor's inner turmoil was buying it some recovery time. It knew that playing up sympathy would work. That plan always worked. Oh sure, there'd be a few pages lost during the struggle, but those could be replaced.

The Doctor's fingers toyed with the corner of a page. He'd almost resigned himself to continue on when a voice broke into his thoughts.

"Doctor, please…" The Doctor's head snapped up instantly. It was Sadie's voice. "Doctor, please, it…it hurts…I didn't know it would hurt so much, please, please stop…" The Doctor was at his companion's side in just a matter of seconds. A pair of green eyes looked back up at him.

"Sadie?"

"Yes, Doctor, it's me. The Skeeva…it must have left. Please don't tear the book anymore…" The Doctor was more than a little suspicious, and it must have shown on him. "Don't you believe me?"

There was a long pause.

"I don't know."