The Doctor opened the door to the console room to find The Master glaring at him like a wild dog. He spoke one word and it sent chills down The Doctor's spine.
"Doctor."
It was a greeting, but it was also a warning.
"Hello," said The Doctor. "Can I turn you loose or will you try to kill me?"
The Master's tone was precise, deadly. "I'm not sure yet. Let's give it a go."
The Doctor sat down on a stool. " I'm sorry maybe I was a tad excessive, but I never know with you."
The Master's eyes twinkled mischieviously. He batted his eyes at The Doctor. "Want to kiss and make up?"
"Shut it." The Doctor removed the restraints . As soon as he was free The Master lept up and began kicking them aggressively. He turned and pointed at The Doctor. "If you tie me up one more time…"
All it took was one look from The Doctor and The Master backed off.
"I will sit quietly until you choose to let me go."
The Doctor gave a thumbs up. "Now you've got it!"
" So what now?" asked The Master, still not daring to move. " What do you do in here all the time? Don't you get bored?"
"Why would I? There are lots of things to do here. A movie theater, a swimming pool, a library, a tennis court..Just kidding not a tennis court that would be silly!"
The Master stared blankly, "You're as insane as I am!"
" No one could hold that title. But your right, I am insane but I also never lie."
"My TARDIS doesn't even have a bath tub! How..?"
The Doctor shrugged, "She likes me."
The Master scoffed, " Oh everybody likes you!"
"Not everyone," said The Doctor, "You don't."
The Doctor grinned but the look on The Master's face made him stop.
"What's the matter with you? You hate me, you said so yourself."
The Master's mouth twitched slightly, then it lifted in a sneer.
"I don't hate you, I loathe you. There's a subtle difference."
The Master seemed to recover and plopped down in a chair next to The Doctor.
"So, where we gonna go?!"
"Were not going anywhere. There's no need to. It's not as though I can take you sight seeing."
The Master frowned. "You're no fun anymore."
"Not while you're around."
Time passed. The Doctor fiddled with the controls while The Master explored the room. What little dialogue that occurred can be summarized by this.
"Master? Where are you?"
"Where else would I be?!"
:Pause:
"Oooh this is new! What is it?"
"Something you shouldn't be touching!"
:Pause:
:Master swearing under his breath.:
:Pause:
" Master, your too quiet!"
" Can I have my screw driver back, now? How about now? Now?"
Need less to say this didn't work out for very long. Finally The Doctor threw up his hands in surrender.
"All right! Let's change things up a bit!"
The Master looked dead at him and said. "That's all well and good. But can I have my screw driver back?"
"NO! Now, as I said there are a lot of things to do here. So why don't you go check them out."
The Master's eyes grew wide. "Are you turning me loose? In the TARDIS? In YOUR TARDIS?!"
The Doctor closed his eyes and took a deep breath, " Yes I suppose I am. Don't get too excited though SHE'll be watching you and I wouldn't take that lightly either."
The Master beamed. "Now we're talking!"
As the doors closed behind him The Doctor heard his half mad, child like laugh.
The Doctor leaned against the console. "Be a good girl and look after the annoying lunatic will you? But don't hurt him…badly."
The lights in the TARDIS had just dimmed to night setting when The Doctor went off in search of The Master.
It didn't take long before he heard the screams coming from his bed room.
"Put me down! Oh please! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I wasn't going to do anything I swear! DOCTOR!"
"What's he done now?" he wondered aloud as he ran toward the noise.
When he arrived at his room, the door was wide open. As he walked in he had to press his lips together to keep from laughing.
There was a hammock hanging from the ceiling where no hammock had been before. It was more of a net actually and consisted of The Doctors feather comforter. Inside was a wide eyed, struggling, shrieking ball of Master. The Doctor cleared his throat.
"What have you done?"
" Doctor!" The Master sputtered, "Oh THANK GOD! Tell this bucket of bolts to put me down!"
"First tell me what you did to make her do this to you in the first place! Why are you in my room?"
"I was hoping I could find another screw driver!"
The Doctor gave him a stern look, "To do What?"
The Master's voice was rather like a child trying to explain how his hand ended up in the cookie jar.
"I-I don't really know. I knew then, but not anymore . Oh please let me down! I promise I won't do anything else!"
The Doctor allowed himself a small smirk. " Let him down, Girl."
THUD!
The master landed safely in a nest of cloth and feathers.
"It's alive!" he gasped, "The God damn thing's alive! How is that possible?!"
"It's a long story. Now, get out of my room and if I catch you up to no good again I'll let her have you."
The Master scuttled off to the console room like a beaten dog.
The Doctor patted the wall beside him. "Well done, old girl."
There is no "Bed Time" for Time Lords. They require very little sleep for the most part. How much depended on The Time lord, his preferences and his constitution.
The Doctor slept very little. The Master surpassed even that. Perhaps it had to do with the particularly hyper active nature of his current incarnation. Perhaps the drums he claimed to hear inside his head kept him from nodding of or maybe, like The Doctor he avoided sleep for fear of nightmares.
Two opposing personalities in close proximity to one another all night long could have spelled disaster. However, The Master seemed to value his space.
"Do I have a room?" he asked almost doubtfully.
"Of course, three down from mine and I know you know where that is."
The Master scowled. "She won't give me any trouble will she?"
" Not unless you do something to antagonize her again. She's very protective of me."
The Master sighed and warily began to make his way back to his room.
"Huh." Said The Doctor
"Huh, what?"
" You're afraid of the TARDIS."
The Master looked scandalized, "I am not! Why should I be?"
"You are! You should see yourself creeping along with your eyes moving all over."
The Master turned and started walking out.
" She won't hurt you." The Doctor called after him, " Just throw her a few compliments if it worries you!"
The Master turned slowly, " You want me to sweet talk a machine?"
"I've seen you be charming and I would watch what you say if you want heat tonight."
The Master huffed and turning on his heals walked to the door where he paused.
" Good night, sleep well my beauty."
The Doctor raised an eyebrow "What are you drunk?"
"I wish..I wasn't talking to you you conceited fool. He gave a bow toward the console."
The lights flickered and a hum filled the air.
"Still got it." Said The Master and shut the door behind him.
One of the problems with owning an elderly TARDIS is it seemed something was always breaking. It seemed to The Doctor no day could go by without something hissing, groaning or popping at him to fix it. Normally it didn't phase him, but this morning's crisis du jour had him stumped. He was squinting moleishly at a dial when The Master entered the room.
"Dear Rassilon! Do we need a service dog?"
The Doctor did not even look up, his tone was long suffering.
"Oh now you're here! Fantastic!"
The Master plopped down on a stool beside The Doctor and peered at the controls.
"I seem to remember mechanics not being your thing. Me, on the other hand."
"Oh you don't even know what's wrong!"
"Neither do you apparently."
Taking off his glasses The Doctor turned to The Master.
"Get out."
"What did I do? I could help you know."
"No."
"I really could if you'd just let me…"
"Leave!" The Doctor pointed to the door.
The Master frowned, "You know I only annoy you because I'm right."
The Doctor worked on in silence. The Master never one to take a hint continued watching from the side lines.
Suddenly the console hissed loudly and The Doctor startled. "Easy girl."
The Master seemed genuinely alarmed at this, suddenly growing tense in his seat.
"You are watching the pressure gauge, aren't you?"
"Mmm hmm."
Said The Doctor without looking up.
"And the power levels."
"Yes..yes..go away!"
The Master was on his feet hovering closer now.
"So help me, you had better not be tuning me out!"
"Yes..of course I have."
The Doctor felt The Master's hand hit the side of his face.
"Listen to me!"
The Doctor turned in surprise.
"You hit me!"
The Master pushed The Doctor out of the way and slid into his spot.
"Get over it.."
The Master's eyes flickered over the controls.
"Just as I thought. The core pressure is way too high, you have to bring it down or.."
The Doctor's voice was shocked, "You hit me and now you're telling me what to do!"
"Why the hell does that even surprise you?!" The Master's eyes wide with frustration. " Now listen.."
"No, you listen you lunatic! I don't need your help and I certainly don't want you touching my TARDIS !"
"Doctor…"
The Master tried to reach around The Doctor to the controls but The Doctor grabbed his hands.
"What ARE you on about?"
At that moment something gave a shriek like a tea kettle boiling and the console began to vibrate. The Doctor heard The Master shout "Get out of the way!" Then he was flung sideways just as the control panel exploded outard in a cloud of steam and glass. He felt his face his the cold metal floor and then nothing.
DW DW DW DW DW DW DW
When The Doctor awoke he was lying on the floor of The TARDIS bits of glass and metal lay around him and there was a high, whining ring in his ears. He touched the ache in his face where it had hit the floor. Once the fog over his vision had cleared he was able to see The Master's face inches from his own. Small cuts and black smudges covered his face and his lips were moving frantically. However no sound seemed to be coming from them. The Doctor shook his head and the ringing stopped.
"ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?! ANSWER ME!"
The Master's hands gripped his shoulders like a vice.
"Yes.." The Doctor croaked, his throat felt dry and raw. " Got the wind knocked out of me mostly."
The Master released his grip and sunk back onto his knees. "Thank God. I thought I was going to have to fix this thing myself!"
As The Doctor began to rise he noticed something strange. The Master seemed oddly still. Normally, he would have been on his feet by now. But he had not so much as changed his position.
"Master? Are you ok? You got the worst of it."
The Time Lord spoke evenly.
"Don't panic."
"What?"
"I said, don't panic. I know how you wound up you can get and in this incarnation you're twice as bad. Now promise me you'll keep it together."
" I promise not to panic."
The Master slowly uncurled himself . Blood soaked his shirt just below his rib cage and as The Doctor's eyes focused he saw a large shard of glass protruding from the wound.
"Doctor.." said The Master blinking his eyes owlishly, "You had better come over here. I'm not so sure how much longer I can keep this up."
The Master began to sway. The Doctor breaking out of his daze lunged forward and caught The Master before he crumpled. Gently he helped him to lay down flat.
"Déjà vu…" said The Master grimly, " I hope things work out better this time then the last time."
The Doctor was struggling to remain calm.
"Don't you say that." He said, "That's not funny. Lie still."
The Master spoke through gritted teeth.
"Doctor, for God's sake do something."
"Hold on, let me look."
The Doctors sonic screw driver hummed to life. The light flickered over The Master's wound and then went out.
" Well it could be a lot worse. The shard missed all the major blood vessels, it should come out easily. But here's where it gets a little tricky."
The Master groaned. "God, I hate it when you say that! Just tell me, is it going to hurt?"
"Oh yes."
" Just do it then."
The Doctor gripped the shard with his hand. He looked to The Master who gave a small nod. In one smooth movement The Doctor drew the shard out. The Master gave a stifled groan. Then relaxed.
"That wasn't so bad."
"Here's where it gets a little tricky."
" Oh Christ…"
The Doctor's sonic screw driver flashed. The acrid smell of burning flesh filled the air as the laser seared the blood vessels stopping the bleeding . The Master convulsed with pain but made no noise, The Doctor couldn't help but be impressed. Then it was done. The Master lay pale and motionless . The Doctor knelt by his head. The Master's eyes flickered open.
"Is it over?"
"It's over. I'm sorry. I'm so,so, sorry."
The Master gave a rueful grin.
"You would apologize for saving someone's life."
" You saved mine first. Besides I'm the one that got you into this mess."
"Can't argue there."
In spite of himself The Doctor smiled.
"Come on. Up you get, you can't stay here and I can't carry you."
Together they made it to The Master's room
The room was pleasantly warm and the bed was crisply made. A first aid kit and a glass of water and pitcher sat on either night stand.
"Thank you." Whispered The Master.
The Doctor smiled, " Actually, I think she's thanking you."
The Doctor guided The Master to the bed where he sank down greatfully.
After removing The Master's bloody shirt, The Doctor examined the wound. It was open and raw but there was no sign of bleeding now. The Doctor took out some gauze and antiseptic and began to clean it.
"Oh Doctor, you've never touched me so sensually before!" The Master's weak whisper made The Doctor cringe.
" And you'll be cleaning the rest of this yourself."
As The Doctor was bandaging the wound The Master spoke awkwardly.
"You know..You don't have to be kind to me."
" Enjoy it while you can."
The Master's voice had none of its usual bravado.
"I mean it. I know how it is between us. You don't owe me anything. I can take care of myself."
The Doctor fastened the bandage and stood.
" Why do you say things like that? You act like kindness is some kind of bargaining chip or a gift you choose to give. It's a duty! Believe me, if that wasn't so drummed into me I'd be as bad as you by now."
The Master gave him a curious glance, "You said you were nothing like me. Being kind was always easy for you, it's who you are…something's happened to you."
" Sometimes hearts break so many times they can never be put back together."
"But I'M the broken one, not you."
"The times they are a changing and so am I."
The surprised look on The Master's face said more than any words could have.
"What's the matter? Scared of the competition?"
The Master chose to ignore this remark.
" But you saved my life! You saved my life and I'm your enemy."
The Doctor gave a smile, "So what? Just because I'm choosing not to be a savior doesn't mean I'm evil. You saved my life too."
" Doctor, you're not yourself. What happened to you?"
" Remember that day on Galifrey? Remember how it felt looking into that void? That feeling of being completely alone and powerless? I know you do. Well maybe some of us break later then others."
The Master sat in silence as The Doctor left. As The door closed behind him The Doctor heard The Master's parting shot: "Don't you dare break Doctor! One of us has to be whole! "
The Doctor felt tears prick his eyes, " I never thought the day would come when he sounded like the good one.