Recess was called, but it offered no respite as the bailiff stopped him before he could step out of the courtroom, "the prisoner wishes to see you," he informed The Doctor.
Biting back the sigh he wanted to give at this news The Doctor followed the man back to the holding cells.
The Master's face was grim, "they're going to call you as a witness," he stood up, jabbing his finger into the brown pinstripe suited chest in front of him, "and you haven't been paying attention to one word that was spoken today!"
The Doctor made to protest this but the other Time Lord waved him off, "I turned around a few times during the proceedings and your eyes were unfocused and it was like you were gazing into the Untempered Schism for the first time! What in Rassilon's name is your problem?"
"I haven't been sleeping well," The Doctor countered weakly.
"You haven't? You think I have gotten a wink in this hell-hole? This is my life on the line and you are complaining about being a bit sleep deprived? Pardon me while I try to drum up some sympathy for you. No, sorry, can't," The Master snapped, "if you don't get it together before this afternoon you could condemn me to death."
Seeing that his rantings were not having the desired effect on his fellow Time Lord, The Master quickly changed tactics, "imagine, all the cosmos and no one who would ever be able to fully understand you. Remember how it felt when you thought you were the only one left?"
The Doctor nodded, "yes I do."
"You felt abandoned, orphaned and knew the rest of your life you'd never be able to fully relate to another living soul..." The Master continued.
"That's a slight exaggeration," the thin Time Lord protested, "I have friends, I have people who I can count on."
"It's not the same as being with another of your own kind and you know it!" The Master pressed on, "and if you don't help me, that will be again. Only this time you'll be alone forever."
The bailiff announced that the visit was over by opening the cell door and gesturing for The Doctor to leave.
As he made his way back into the courtroom he passed the big double doors leading to the outside and with all his being he wanted to keep going out of them, back to the TARDIS and away from his duty to testify. He almost gave into that urge, picturing himself running away, yet again. But he stopped himself and with heavy hearts went back into the stuffy room, waiting to be called.
He was the only one in the room. The dust motes danced in the sunlight, and he tried not to think of them as Vashta Nerada although some were most likely just that. Leaning back he let his mind wander...
He had never slept as deeply and woke as refreshed as he did the night he first slept nestled in Koschei's arms. He didn't have the usual anxiety dreams, or wake with that dizzying sense of not knowing where he was. Instead the soft kiss to his forehead and the "time to get up" whispered in his ear woke him with a smile on his face.
"It's just dawn," Koschei smoothed the hair from his face, "if you get back to your room now you'll have a half an hour before anyone else will be awake."
He quickly pulled his clothes into something resembling order and made for the door, "aren't you going to get back to your room?" he asked, slightly puzzled that the other boy made no move to follow suit.
"Nah, I paid off the teachers for my morning classes," Koschei grinned crookedly, "I'll pass with flying colours whether or not I attend."
"What about breakfast?"
"Don't worry about me," Koschei waved him off, "just be sure to meet me back here tonight!" with that he rolled over on the pallet and closed his eyes.
Feeling like he was floating on a cloud Theta didn't bother trying to sneak into the dormitory. He walked in the front door, the teacher on hall duty barely acknowledged his arrival and he made his way to his room.
His dorm mates were still asleep, he climbed into his narrow cot and pretended to be as well, until the first bell rang.
Lost in his thoughts The Doctor barely heard the return of the others and vaguely registered that the judge was speaking until he felt a tap on his shoulder.