The Noble Path

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Previously, in chapter nine...

The Time Lord sat down beside Donna. "Won't have to. I've got your cure, right here," he said excitedly as he patted his pants pocket.

The next thing the Doctor knew, he was on the floor looking up at his very angry companion who'd apparently pushed him down. "What was that for?"

"I may be old, but you're an old pervert," she said with disgust, watching him stand and brush himself off.

"All I did -" he paused, looking down as he mimicked his previous actions. He sighed dramatically, realizing what she saw. He removed the pressure hypo from his pocket.

"This," the Doctor began, holding out the instrument, "is your cure."

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Chapter Ten:

Age Defying

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"Well, what are you waitin' for? An invitation?" Donna pushed the sleeve up on her left arm quickly then held it out to the Time Lord.

The Doctor stepped up to her and took hold of her wrist. He injected the miracle he'd synthesized into her bicep, then placed the empty silver syringe back in his pocket, still holding her arm. He observed the injection site for a few moments before gently pulling her sleeve back down and releasing her.

Donna lowered her arm and sat there, staring at him for a minute before speaking. "Well?"

"Well, what?" he asked.

She widened her eyes as if the Doctor were stupid. "Is it workin' yet?"

He couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him. "Not that fast, I'm afraid."

"Why the hell not?" she asked a bit indignantly.

"It's going to take a little time, Donna, and the process will be uncomfortable at best. So, I prescribe sleep. Lots of good-for-you, wake-up-younger rest. Doctor's orders." The Time Lord smiled gently. "Then the only thing left of this will be a bad memory." He cupped her cheek. "All right?"

She took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. "I don't know if I can fall asleep. I mean I'm all wound up, and if there's gonna be pain involved, I doubt -"

The Doctor's hands framed her face as his middle fingers touched her temples. "Sleep," he softly commanded, catching her when her eyes closed and she limply fell forward. He placed her body comfortably on the bed, pulling her legs up and covering her with a duvet.

Watching Donna nestle in beneath the blanket, he walked over to the chair across from her bed and sat down wearily. He would remain with her until she awoke, keeping his eyes on her and being there for her.

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He sat through the first few hours, watching his companion toss and turn, an occasional moan escaping her lips though she did not awaken.

As Donna's discomfort grew, he stood, bending over her to check her vitals before inducing her into a deeper sleep.

Leaving for only a few minutes, the Doctor returned with an IV bag and stand, along with a filled pressured hypo. He laid the metal syringe soundlessly on her bedside table, then inserted the IV carefully, securing it in place before sitting back down in the chair. The fluids would help her feel better when she awoke by keeping her hydrated while her body was changing. The injection, if necessary, would alleviate any aches she experienced, should they become too uncomfortable. It was the least he felt he could do for her - she'd certainly been through enough already.

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As the hours passed by, the Doctor watched Donna's face frown in discomfort now and then, but thankfully she remained asleep. He'd removed the IV when it had drained, and she'd almost awakened then, but again he induced her to sleep just a little while longer. Rest really was the best medicine for her now.

The Time Lord watched as her skin began smoothing and drawing back to its original elasticity. He observed her hair as the gray began fading and the red fire that was so Donna began appearing as life once more extended through the outgrowth of the epidermis. And when her eyes finally opened and she looked at him and grinned, he felt a lightening in his hearts that hadn't been there since this whole ordeal had begun.

"You're awake." The Doctor smiled.

"And you're still here," she replied.

"Yep. How do you feel?"

"Hungry," Donna answered.

"Excellent!"

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Donna sat in the kitchen while the Doctor made tea, feeling full and more comfortable than she had in quite a while. When the Time Lord had insisted on leaving to bring food to her she'd protested, wanting to make the trip herself. She'd felt as if she'd been stuck in her room for ages, even though she had no idea how long it had actually been. Regardless, she felt alive - more so than she had in days - and she wanted to embrace it head-on.

"So," Donna began after thanking him for the tea, "how'd you reverse the effects, then?"

"There was this one ingredient - the one thing that was completely unique to the equation - which caused the results of your anti-aging concoctions to go all willy-nilly and age you so rapidly," he began, sitting down across from her. The Doctor was eager to tell Donna about his accomplishment.

"Yeah? An' what's that?"

"Grape seed. There were minute traces of the extract in your retinol cream. That caused a chemical reaction with the rhu-rhu root which reversed its effect and advanced your age."

"But I only use that stuff on my face. Why'd my whole body get old instead of just that one place?" she asked.

"Because your body absorbed the combination through your skin - most likely through your hands. You applied the creams to your face with them, and I assume you rubbed the remains into your hands for good measure. When you began grabbing up the rhu-rhu root, the troublesome combination absorbed through the skin and into your bloodstream. And your blood circulates throughout your entire body, not just certain parts."

"You are way too smart for your own good." Donna smiled.

"Luckily for you," the Doctor returned her smile cockily.

"Yeah," she admitted. "You didn't get rid of these age spots, though," she told him, closely inspecting the skin of her arm.

"Sorry. Those were already there before you were affected." He looked at her thoughtfully. "I could remove them if you'd like, pain free of course."

She seemed to think about it for a moment. "You know, I think I'll keep 'em. Reminders they are. They'll keep me focused on the fact that I'm still young enough to do most things now, but remind me that I'll never be as young as I used to be and had better make every moment count, if that makes sense."

"Oh Donna, it makes perfect sense to me. Wiser words were never spoken." The Doctor said with an air of pride.

"Don't go gettin' all sentimental on me. You're older than everyone else I know combined, space man."

"Oi! I certainly don't look it, and really there's a lot to be said for that old Earth adage about being as young as you feel. Today I hardly feel four hundred!"

Donna rolled her eyes but couldn't hold back her chuckle for long. Crisis conquered, she and the Doctor fell into the pleasant chatter of two old and dear friends.

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The End.

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