Hey everyone! School just started again and I think I'm going to have to go back to just one chapter a week, at least for now. Thank you sooo much for reading and reviewing, it really means the world to me. Enjoy!

Stuck on the Slow Path (7)

The Doctor bounced around the room, an eerie grin plastered to his face. It was almost a little bit frightening.

"Come on, you can do it. This can't be the worst day in human history. This is just a passing thing. Crack a smile!"

Dawn glanced around the room. One or two pairs eyes had lit up, but the majority stayed staring frozen at the walls and floorboards, too deep in their misery to even hear the Timelord's ramblings. When the Doctor started back towards Kate, Dawn watched his facade drop. His voice lowered as the older woman bent her head to hear him better.

"Do you have any ideas?"

"I don't have a clue what we're fighting here; I haven't even seen it. And I don't know how to make my team happy again. I wish I could, but some things just can't be fixed with a joke."

Dawn approached the adults apprehensively. "Ugh, I was just thinking...maybe it's only feeding on the people in here. You know? Because I've texted my mum five jokes and she's loved all of them but that alien is still rampaging through the hallways. Maybe we can't use outside help. Maybe it can only connect with people who've seen it."

The Doctor eyed his companion proudly. "I don't say it enough; you're a genious."

Kate crossed her arms. "There's still the issue of making people happy on the worst day of their lives."

With a wink, the Doctor replied, "Don't worry-I've got it covered. You two call every room you think might have seen the alien; put it on speakerphone."

He spun around suddenly, clapping his hands loudly so the sound echoed through the dank space. A few heads turned, all solemn. "Everyone...just think. Think of the people you love. The people you are here for today. The one's you fight for or find cures for. Picture them as clearly as you can."

Dawn glanced up from her phone to find a couple of bowed heads. Some even had the traces of a smile written across their lips. The teen's eyes widened. He was doing it. He was really doing it.

"-Now think of this: why do you fight for them? Why do you risk everything for this person? Is it because you want to make them happy? Is it because it's your duty? Is it because you love them? Maybe it's all three."

Kate looked up now, and gazed around the attentive room. Every face was locked onto the Doctor; eyes sparkling. He had them. He really had them.

"-What's your favorite memory with this person? Was it when you went to the carnival together? Was it the first time you hugged or kissed? Was it every morning, when you knocked elbows in the kitchen making breakfast?"

Smiles grew around the room. Dawn could've sworn it was brighter, as if joy were generating light.

"-This person cares about you. They love you unconditionally. And that can't be taken away; especially not by a blue alien who attacks joy and love and poisons with hatred and fear. So just smile. I've seen love take down a legion of Cybermen and I've seen love nearly destroy the universe. Don't doubt it's power. Don't be underestimate it. And don't ever run away from it."

The Doctor backed away as UNIT soldiers wiped their eyes and scientists clapped. His eyes were bright and shining, from passion or tears, Dawn couldn't clearly tell. Kate raised the phone in her hand so they could all hear the cheering from the other end. Another room inspired. Another room laughing and crying happy tears.

As the Timelord neared, Dawn sprinted towards him, wrapping her arms around him tightly when they met. He returned the gesture, chuckling lightly. He heard Dawn sniffle once or twice. "How was that?"

"You can be such a softy sometimes and when you are-"

Dawn dug her forehead into her friend's shoulder, blinking back tears. She wanted to just stay in that moment forever, in the middle of a beautiful hug with a wonderful person surrounded by friends and other good people. So she held on. She kept her eyes closed and let every other sense sink into her memory.

The feeling of the Doctor's old beat up jacket beneath her fingertips and his bony shoulder holding her head in place.

The smell of clean laundry mixed with dirt and grime.

The taste of tears that had spilt into her mouth, salty and bitter.

The sound of sniffling and happy phone calls to relatives and the slow breathing of her exhausted, wonderful companion, whom she never wanted to lose. Whom she never wanted to hear stop breathing.

So she held on.