Think of the Suited Doctor as a James Bond villian version of Matt Smith, yes? Please review!
CHAPTER 10 - The Suited Doctor
Tabitha must have dozed off, because Prescott's crying made her sit up fast. The bedroom was lighter, and she felt her chest squeeze as she saw that the light was tented red. It wasn't as obvious as the rest of the TARDIS she had seen, but it was clear that it was making its way through the door somehow.
"Shh, sweetheart, Mommy's here," Tabitha murmured, getting out of the bed and leaning over the playard to pick up the infant. The baby's cries turned to whimpers as he snuggled against her chest. Her eyes went toward the door, and her body started to shake as she saw light wisps of the red fog sneaking under the doorway. Tabitha focused on keeping her breathing calm as she changed Prescott – she didn't want him to be more scared than he was.
The baby seemed in distress, but Tabitha knew it wasn't food or tiredness – he was frightened. The TARDIS must be speaking to him, but she had no way of knowing what it was saying. She finished changing the baby and pulled him close to her chest, his head on her shoulder. He stretched his limbs, and then started to doze off as she quickly went to the nightstand beside the bed and picked up the smartphone. Sherlock said he'd call her when he got more information, but that had only been twenty minutes ago. Huffing with frustration, Tabitha packed some necessities – diapers, formula, bottles, some snacks, and a few other things – in the diaper bag, put it on her shoulder, and walked to the door. She bounced Prescott lightly, trying to keep him sleeping, as her heart rate increased. She stared at the door, and trembled with fear as the red tendrils became denser.
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Sherlock felt the physical world around him fade as his mind palace materialized around him. He was just inside the main door, and the palace looked just as he had made it – a huge entrance, then six corridors leading in different directions. He looked at the entrance of each hallway from his spot, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Where had the dark door been? He whipped his head to the corridor that lead to "Personal" information.
This corridor was denser with information than most people thought it would have. It had information on everyone he considered important. Although the list was small, he kept all the small details, just in case he needed it to protect himself or the people he deemed important. With sure steps, he walked to the entrance, going through the doorway, and felt the hallway close off behind him. He frowned, knowing that he had not willed it to shut. Who was controlling his mind palace?
Irritation slid into his veins as he continued his journey down the corridor. It was a simple white hall, with numbered white doors lining the corridor. He walked slowly, eyeing each door with an observing eye. He stopped at number 11. The door didn't fit at all with his décor. It was dark metal, no handles and no frame. It was as if the metal had melded to the white wall perfectly. The number '11' was indented at the top, in the middle.
"Who are you?!" Sherlock shouted, looking up and down the hall. When no one answered him, he growled and put his palms against the metal door. The anger was easy to see on his face, and the room seemed heavy with… amusement? He had no idea how a hallway could be amused, but it fueled his anger even more. "This is my mind – you have no right to be here. Tell me what you want!"
He clenched his jaw and he moved his hands to run his fingers over the seam that was entirely seamless. Suddenly, the door began to rise, and Sherlock jumped back, his body ready to fight if need be. When the door was fully opened, Sherlock knew immediately that the man in front of him wasn't who he seemed to be.
"The TARDIS has connected to my mind, I see," he commented, feeling relieved that he finally knew where the door had come from. What made him uneasy, though, was the two men in the hazy, red room. There was another door on the opposite wall, which he concluded would lead to the part of the TARDIS that was sick.
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"Sherlock?" Benedict watched him intently from his spot on the couch. When Sherlock didn't answer, he stood up and walked over to the man that was sitting still in the plush chair. His eyes was closed, and he seemed to be meditating in a way. Benedict knew he had gone to his 'mind palace', but wasn't sure why he looked in distress. What was happening? He moved beside the chair and touched Sherlock's shoulder lightly. The man didn't move, but his face turned from distress to anger.
"Sherlock," Benedict said, trying again, putting his hand fully on the man's shoulder and squeezing. Sherlock's shoulder twitched, throwing Benedict's hand off.
"Don't interrupt me. I'm conversing with the person who is the cause of all this."
"Okay…." Benedict answered, raising an eyebrow. Sherlock had said the words in a low voice, but his body didn't move a bit as he said it. Benedict huffed out a breath as he went into the kitchen to grab his iPad that was charging on the counter. He unlocked it and turned around to find Sherlock charging out the door. "Wait, what's going on?"
He hadn't even heard Sherlock get out of the chair! The actor hurried behind the detective and raced down the deck stairs onto the sandy beach. Sherlock turned around a rock, out of sight, and Benedict jogged the same way, coming to a screeching halt to keep from running to Sherlock's back.
"Well," he commented, not sure what else to say as he looked at what was in front of them. He ran a hand nervously through his hair as two Doctor's stared back at them. They looked identical, except for the clothing. The Doctor he figured was their Doctor was wearing the same clothing as before, while the other one seemed to stand a bit straighter in his black suit. He had on a skinny black tie and a white dress shirt underneath the suit jacket.
The TARDIS was behind them, but half of it was a perfect blue, while the other half was a perfect red.
"Where's Tabitha and my son?" Sherlock asked, using his voice to throw out a silent threat.
"Safely on the TARDIS," the suited Doctor answered politely with a smirk. He put his hands in his suit pants pockets. The normal Doctor behind him looked like he wanted to speak, but he didn't open his mouth. Benedict felt anger curse through his veins.
"What's going on, Doctor?" He directed it to both of them. The normal Doctor seemed to struggle to say something, and the suited Doctor laughed maniacally as he snapped his fingers. The normal Doctor opened his mouth wide and rubbed his jaw.
"It seems when we went through the void my soul was… well, split in half," the normal Doctor said, breathing heavily as he tried to catch his breath. He turned to his other half, who seemed amused at the whole situation. "I haven't figured out how to put us back together."
"Why would I let you do that?" the suited Doctor chuckled. He brought out a sonic screwdriver, identical to the normal Doctor's sonic.
"I don't care what you do, give me my family. Now." Sherlock looked ready to pounce, but smartly decided against it. Benedict stood next to the seething Sherlock, feeling the mixture of anger from Sherlock and himself twine together tightly. Their fists balled next to their thighs, and the normal Doctor jerked his head to signal what he wanted them to do. Sherlock moved slowly, and the three men surrounded the suited Doctor in a triangle of sorts.
"What do I get in return?" the suited Doctor said, studying his sonic lazily. Sherlock growled and pounced, his control snapping. The suited Doctor grunted as Sherlock knocked him to the ground.
"Sherlock!" Benedict and the normal Doctor shouted. The TARDIS started to hum loudly, seeming to try to put everything back together. Sherlock punched the suited Doctor in the face, then the suited Doctor punched him in the jaw. He grunted, and the suited Doctor pulled him up to a standing position in front of them. Sherlock struggled to pull away, but the suited Doctor held tightly, his face close to his. Benedict and the normal Doctor stayed where they were, Benedict being unsure of what he could do to help. The normal Doctor was quickly running through their options. How could he fix this?
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"The only thing I want is to take the TARDIS and have my own life," the suited Doctor growled. Sherlock struggled against his hold, and the suited Doctor pushed him away. Sherlock stumbled a bit, but righted himself quickly. The three men surrounded the evil Doctor once more. Benedict glanced at the TARDIS, and saw that it was quickly turned red. The blue side was getting smaller with each passing moment. Panic spread through his chest, and he jerked his head to Sherlock. The other man seemed to notice the issue, and sprinted toward the one blue TARDIS door – the only blue left.
"You are not taking my TARDIS!" the normal Doctor screamed, jumping between the red and blue box and the suited Doctor. Sherlock pulled at the hand, but the door didn't budge. Benedict joined him, and banged on the door with his fist so hard that he was sure it would be bruised.
"Tabitha!" both men cried out, pulling and banging on the blue door.
"I think you need to step away." The suited Doctor shoved the normal Doctor hard in the chest. The normal Doctor shoved back, and a grapple started between the two of them. While they were distracted, Benedict and Sherlock heard something from the other side of the door. A muffled voice.
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Tabitha held Prescott close and ran down the corridor. She hurried down the stairs, not stopping when she dropped an empty bottle. She had more in her bag, and she didn't want to stop for anything. Prescott was crying, a soft sobbing, and Tabitha had tears in her own eyes.
The console room seemed to be pulsing with red light. Light fog was rolling over the floor, a red hue just like everywhere else in the TARDIS. She hurried around the middle part, her heart thumping, but stopped when she saw a single blue button on the red console. Her breath caught as she reached out to touch it. Prescott stopped crying just as she touched it, and she felt warmth spread through her body. The TARDIS hummed, a noise that Tabitha thought she'd never hear again.
"Come on, baby, you can do it! Come back to us!" Tabitha cried. She was just about to press the button when the humming came to came to an abrupt halt. Suddenly, a spark shot from the blue button, shocking Tabitha and making her jump back. Prescott started crying again, and the button turned red. She heard the TARDIS start up again, only a deeper, more menacing hum. Tabitha gulp back tears. "You have to fight! Please, don't leave us!"
"Tabitha!"
"Benedict!" she cried, turning toward the door of the TARDIS. She saw that one door was blue, the only blue left what she could see of the TARDIS. She knew it was her way out, and she rushed forward. She gripped the handle and pushed, but nothing happened. Prescott wailed in her arms as the TARDIS's hum got louder. "Sherlock!"
She pounding on the door with her palm, and felt frightened tears running down her cheeks. She saw the top of the door turning red, like paint spilling over the wood.
"Tabitha! Open the door!"
"I can't! It won't open!" she replied, wanting to do more than hear Sherlock's voice.
"You have to try!" It was Benedict this time. Tabitha was full on crying now, the room loud with tears and sobs from Prescott and his mother.
"I can't!" She laid her free hand palm down on the wooden door, watching as the red slowly took over the blue. Laying her forehead on the wood, she choked on a sob. "It won't open!"
"There is no other way! I need you to open the door, Tabitha! I won't lose you or my son!"
Tabitha choked again on her tears, and looked down at the red-faced infant. Her tears instantly dried up – what kind of mother was she if she didn't try until her last breath to save her son? Her fear turning into anger, she channeled that emotion into a loud growl and gripped the handle tightly.
"TARDIS! I need you! One last thing, please, help me open the door!" She pulled hard, and it shook in the frame. Hope flared through Tabitha – it was more movement than before. She heard the men banging on the door from the other side. She shouted a plea one more time, then pulled hard. The TARDIS seemed to groan in pain as the door flew open. A blue light shot out from the part of the door that was blue, and shoved her hard out the door. She cried out as she cradled Prescott against her as she fell onto the sand. The blue light tried to reach her, and she reached out a hand to try to touch it.
"No!" the normal Doctor shouted as the suited Doctor shoved him and ran to the door. The evil doctor laughed wickedly as the red fog curled around the blue light, pulling it back inside the TARDIS. Tabitha slumped in the sand, finally letting herself cry again. Prescott's cries turned into whimpers as he snuggled into his mother's chest – seeming to try to comfort her. The TARDIS had turned completely red.
They watched in fear as the TARDIS slowly disappeared.
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Sherlock felt all the energy sap out of his body as he stumbled through the sand to Tabitha and Prescott. Tears were in his eyes, but he fought against them falling. He feel to his knees and wrapped his arms around Tabitha and Prescott, pressing his forehead against hers. His head seemed to be spinning, but he focused on having Tabitha in his arms.
"You're alright, darling, I'm here," he murmured, holding her tightly. Tabitha shuddered and lifted her free up to cling to his shirt. It took a while for her tears to slow down, and Sherlock held her the whole time, murmuring soft words. The Doctor had ran over to where the TARDIS had stood, and was now on his knees, looking around in shock and despair. Benedict made a beeline for Tabitha and Sherlock, dropping to his knees on her other side and putting a hand on her cheek.
"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" he said quickly, stumbling over his words. Tabitha turned her head enough to send him a nod, and turned back to Sherlock. She sniffled as her tears finally stopped, and Benedict wrapped his arm around her shoulders, over Sherlock's arm. He placed a hard kiss on her temple and closed his eyes as they held each other, feeling all their hearts pounding through one another.
"Can… can you hold Prescott? I don't want to let him go, but… but I need… need… please?" Benedict kissed her temple again and reluctantly let go of her. She looked at him with watery eyes, and he took Prescott from her arms. As he comforted the infant, Tabitha threw her arms around Sherlock, pulling him in for a desperate kiss. As their tongues slid over one another, Sherlock's hand found a place in her hair while the other was wrapped around her waist tightly. They were still kneeling in the sand, but neither one cared at the moment. Her hands gripped his shirt collar tightly as tears fell down her cheeks. They pulled away, but kept their foreheads together.
"I thought I lost you," Sherlock said hoarsely, breathing heavily after their kiss. He move his hand down to cup her cheek and used his thumb to wipe away a tear. His blue eyes showed the emotion that he was having a hard time hiding. Tabitha laughed and kissed him again, this time softly.
"Never," she replied, crushing his body against hers, her head resting in the crook of his neck. He held her tightly, pressing his lips to the top of her head. Benedict cleared his throat, and looked apologetic as he got their attention.
"I think Prescott needs attention," he murmured, holding the wriggling baby in his arms. Prescott started to cry loudly. "Food, maybe a change?"
"Let's go inside," Sherlock murmured, helping Tabitha stand up. After she nodded to him, Sherlock moved to stand in front of Benedict. He took Prescott and struggled to think of something to say to his look-a-like. "You… you did… you did well. Uh, what I mean is, we couldn't…"
"I know," Benedict interrupted, knowing how difficult this could be for Sherlock. He turned to look at the Doctor, who was now sitting with his head between his knees in the sand. "I guess I should make sure he's okay." He turned back to Sherlock. "Go spend time with your family."
"Whether you like it or not, you're family," Tabitha said, surprising both men. She bounced Prescott in her arms as Sherlock frowned at her. Benedict frowned, too, but felt warmth spread through his body. It made him feel good to be included, especially with this crazy group. "Bring him in and join us."
He nodded as the couple and the infant turned and walked into the beach house. The wind had started blowing harder than before, and Benedict could tell there was a storm coming from the clouds over the water. The waves crashed on the shore, just a few feet away from the Doctor. Benedict made his way over to the man. He stuck his hands in the pocket of his jeans, the wind ruffling his t-shirt lightly, and waited for the Doctor to notice him. It didn't take long.
"She's gone," he murmured, looking dazed. He turned and looked up at the actor. "He took her. I took her. Why did I take her? Why am I doing this?"
"I don't know. Let's get inside, though, yeah?"
"I have to fix this…" he mumbled to himself as he stood up. He walked with Benedict to the beach house, not bothering to shake the sand off. As the two of them entered, Benedict was relieved to hear the baby had stopped crying. He glanced at the kitchen, and saw Tabitha breastfeeding Prescott at the kitchen table. Sherlock was sitting close to her in another chair, touching her knee. Sherlock glanced up at him with a hard face. Benedict quickly averted his eyes.
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