The Master watched in relief as Beatrice's body slowly began to relax the tremors in her body subsided. Her eye flew open and she sat up.
"Master!" she cried.
"It's alright my dear," he said soothingly as he gently placed his hand on her temple.
"Rest, I'll be here when you wake." Beatrice seemed to submit to the subtle telepathic suggestion. Careful he laid her back down. The Master then pulled a chair over and took a seat next to her. Taking Beatrice's hand in his he tenderly caressed the back of it with his thumb.
The Master sighed as he gazed at his sleeping lover. That had been a close call. Though her life might not have immediately been on the line, he dreaded to think the terror she would have felt had the drug injected in her had longer to work.
His carelessness had led to her being hurt for no other reason than being associated with him. Her position as his companion, and of course more, would mean she would be a target as long as she stayed with him.
There were few things the Master feared but the death of Beatrice was the one he worried for most. Particularly if it was his fault.
He couldn't put a date to when he had first grown to care for her. But he did know that it hadn't been until he was about to lose her that he finally allowed himself to accept those feelings.
Since Beatrice had entered his life she had awakened inside him happiness he had long ceased to believe he could feel. She saw him for what he was. But accepted him regardless of the darkness and cruelty within him. Rassilon only knows why.
He ran a hand through her silky locks as he came to a very difficult decision. As much as it pained him she had to go. He would miss everything about her, from her bright smile to her kind heart.
A part of him wished nothing more than to keep her with him for eternity. But that was not an option. He had to send her away for her own safety. He only hoped she wouldn't hate him forever for forcing her to leave. Maybe one day she could forgive him.
/
The Master sighed as he set the coordinates into the console. It had been a day or so since Beatrice the incident with Astoria and the fear serum. Beatrice had spent most of the time resting as the fear serum had sapped a lot of her energy.
As he was thinking the very subject of his musings entered the console room. He couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze.
"So, where are we headed?" asked Beatrice as she walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm dropping you off at your apartment.
"Oh. Time for me to get out of the way so you can start another one of your plans." she sounded slightly disappointed but understanding. The Master felt his chest tighten.
He could tell her she was right. It would be simple to drop her off and simply never return. But no. That wasn't an option. The time when he could lie to her was long gone. She trusted him and he couldn't bring himself to break that trust. He respected and cared for her too much. The Master forced himself to look her in the eye.
"No my dear. I'm dropping you off for good." He told her. Confusion filled her face and her hand dropped from his shoulder.
"What? Why?" The Master sighed.
"We always knew this had to end. That time has come," he said shortly.
"No," said Beatrice slipping between him and the console. "You aren't getting rid of me without giving me a proper reason," she said in a sharp tone. The Master saw a fiery determination in her eyes. A determination that he had come to admire.
"You aren't safe with me." Her brow furrowed.
"That isn't anything particularly new. I'm not safe at UNIT either. I'm well aware of the risk and I've accepted it."
"The difference between travelling with me and working for UNIT is that a mere agent there's no reason to target you. With me, people will go after you purely to get to me. You saw Astoria. She took you and used that fear serum to get revenge on me." the Master felt his voice rising.
"But I'm fine. I'm alive. There's always been this danger. What's changed now?" Beatrice's voice was also rising as she
"Because I've come to realize that your own survival has miraculously come to mean more to me than my own! I will not be responsible for your death! I can't be!"
"You won't be! It isn't your decision if I choose to stay!"
"For the love of Rassilon Beatrice, I'm giving you a way out! Why won't you leave? Why can't you care about your own safety for once you ridiculous human!" The words were out of his mouth before he could stop himself. He saw the hurt on Beatrice's face as tears came into her eyes. The Master closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. He loathed that he was the one causing her such distress.
"I'm sorry that was uncalled for." Beatrice's voice was soft when she spoke
"Is that what you want? Do you really wish me to leave?" The Master took a step forward and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"If I had my way, you would never leave me," he told her gently. She threw her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her.
"I don't want to leave you. We're already on borrowed time." she pulled away slightly so she could look at him. "Please don't make me leave," her tone was pleading as were her eyes.
He had seen that look before often on the faces of those who ended up on the receiving end of his schemes.
People pleading for him to let them go. Yet here was this brilliant, kind, and beautiful young woman, pleading to stay. What was left of his determination to send her away crumbled as he stared into her eyes. Gently he raised his hand to caress her face.
"My Beatrice. My foolish, wonderful Beatrice," he murmured
"Always yours," she said softly. He pulled her close burying his face in her hair which carried its usual scent of vanilla. He couldn't let her go. Not yet. And Rassilon help any soul who tried to take her from him.
Author's note: Well, Beatrice won't let him get rid of her so easily. I will be covering Frontier in Space next which will obviously be the last Doctor Who episode included. This also means my updates should be pretty regular as I will have a script to follow so keep checking for updates. Please like and COMMENT. One of the best parts about writing this story is hearing your reactions. Until next time Whovians!