Death Comes for the Doctor
Part One: The Trials of a Time Lord
Chapter Four
Author's Note: Things will get a little more fun in this chapter. Bear with me. Will feature 1 and 6(Doctors)
"So what is the deal with you, anyway, Doctor?" Ben rudely asked the Doctor (first Doctor) in his cockney accent.
"What was that, my boy?" the Doctor answered, tapping his cane against the TARDIS floor, causing a loud crack to resonate throughout the control room.
"I mean, what is it with you? I mean one minute you are huffing and puffing acting like you're 95 years old, and the next you are saving the world with your "powers". Ben continued.
The Doctor took a seat in his favorite Victorian chair, sighed, and responded, slowly and calculated, with a tone of annoyance.
"Did it ever occur to you that the two are related? If it weren't for you and your kind constantly sticking their nose where it shouldn't belong, I wouldn't have to save the world every other moment!" the Doctor got quite heated before collecting himself.
"I'm sorry, it's just that I am quite tired and I require rest…" The Doctor got up and walked away, but halfway out the room, he turned around and faced Ben.
"I'm sure you will find a satisfactory answer to your question in the future…"
At that moment, Polly, who just finished washing her hair, entered the control room, brushing her still moist hair and addressed Ben.
"My, what was that about?" she said jokingly.
"Its just that, well, do you ever wonder about the Doctor? You know, his bein' alien and all?"
"Well, 'course I do, but not knowing is half the fun!"
Ben scoffed at her remark and continued,
"I just, I don't know about his stability. In the last month or so, he really has been getting tired more easily. I'm beginning to think his health is failing."
"Oh, I'm sure he is fine. I bet its all some elaborate scheme to make you look bad." Polly finished with a giggle before a loud thud was heard, like something, or someone, hitting the ground. They both looked at each other then rushed to the Doctor, who was on the floor in the middle of the hallway, clearly in pain.
"You alright, Doctor?" Ben asked as he held his hand out.
"Does it look like I'm alright, boy? Help me up!"
Ben and Polly each took an arm and lifted him up, Ben handing him his cane. The Doctor looked concerned.
"Something is wrong with me…" he said, putting a hand on his chin.
"Well we can tell that much, what is the problem?" Ben said impatiently
"No, not me…but ME"
Ben and Polly looked at each other, confused, and Ben turned to the Doctor
"How do you mean, Doc?"
The irascible octogenarian's face was turning red again and he began to huff and puff.
"I've no time to spare with explanations that will be wasted. I am in need of a few things"
"What do you need, Doc, I'll get it for ya" Ben replied.
"My sonic screwdriver, a Cartusian wingnut, a flux capacitor, and a spot of tea, now be a good boy and fetch them for me, will you?" the Doctor authoritatively issued.
Ben sneered and headed off down the hallway for the supply room and Polly followed. The Doctor stood over the TARDIS console, inclining his ear to the center column, listening to its strained noises, indicating engine trouble.
"Don't worry, old girl, I know how we can fix this" the Doctor whispered, patting the center column.
Sixth Doctor8
"Ugh, Doctor, can't we take a break, we've been looking for the perfect fishing spot for 5 hours" grumbled Peri as she shuffled into the console room, carrying the majority of the supplies. The Doctor carried his fishing rod and a lunch pale, which he promptly handed to Peri, who sneered at the Doctor when he turned his back.
"Nonsense; rest is for the weary, and sleep is for the dead! There is still plenty of time left in the day" pontificated the Doctor, who took a quick glance at his binary wrist watch.
"Well can we at least eat some food? I'm starving" said Peri, grabbing her stomach as she let the gear fall to the ground.
"My dear Peri, I should hope that you of all people should be mindful of how much food you intake; besides, we have already eaten today!" the Doctor said, leaning one hand on the console and the other on his hip.
"What is it with you Time Lords and your 2 meal days!? I have been carrying heavy equipment all day and I will NOT go on anymore 'expeditions' until I have some food. Do you understand, Doctor?"
The Doctor looked like he knew he was mistaken. His face taking on an apologetic smile, the Doctor bargained with Peri.
"No. You're right. It has been a long day. What would you say to a nice, juicy, medium rare- Peri's face glowed with brighter excitement with each passing adjective until- Thraxin Otter!" finished the Doctor
"Eww, that sounds like something that would get stuck in a motor boat" Peri whined as she grimaced in disgust.
"Would a cheeseburger suffice?" The Doctor said, in a patronizing tone.
"Thank you, Doctor. See I knew we could come to a reasonable compromise." Peri said wryly as the Doctor disappointingly dialed the coordinates.
The TARDIS shook and rumbled with her usual inconsistent consistency and came to a stop with a slight squeal.
"Earth, 1986" The Doctor announced as he opened the view screen
"Benny's Burger Shack, Cincinnati, Ohio, to be more precise." He clarified.
"Ok, let me wash up. I'll be right with you, Doctor."
The Doctor stood around and waited with a small smile on his face and his hands in his the pockets of his multi-colored coat. He fiddled with his cat lapel badge when he thought he heard something faint in the background.
"Help……………me……" the weak male voice repeated.
"You………….must…..help…….ourselves……" The voice joined what seemed to be a chorus of other voices that seemed strangely familiar to him.
"What! What is that? I can't make it out!" the Doctor yelled, oblivious to the presence of Peri, who was becoming more concerned with each ignored invocation. Finally she slapped him hard across his face and he came to his senses.
He shook his head to flush the pain away and turned to Peri.
"It was me, Peri, all of them, They are in danger…" he said, addressing Peri, but said mainly for himself.
"I thought you already helped your formal self, you know, with Jamie?"
"No, this is different somehow…" The Doctor pondered, quickly running the most likely possibilities through his head.
"It's probably that you're too hungry; let's get some food and then see what to do." Peri said. She pulled the Doctor, who was still preoccupied with thought, out of the TARDIS and into the restaurant.
The burger joint was an average middle American restaurant of the 1980s: Arcade machine in the back with 4 or 5 pre-teens huddled around it, Bon Jovi playing on the radio, too much denim for anyone's good, and those terrible leg warmers. The Doctor continued to look dazed as he took his seat.
A man of about 30 with balding hair and glasses came over and took the order.
"My name is Bill, I'll be your server today. If I can have a moment of your time, our deal of the day is-"
"William, if I may, my time is worth more then anything you,or anyone on your planet can possibly conceive, now I would appreciate if you stop wasting it and get me and my friend some water" interrupted the Doctor irritably.
Bill's eyes were still wide and his jaw was still dropped as he stumbled his way back to the island in the kitchen to get the drinks.
"Doctor, why on Earth would you act like that?" Peri said annoyedly.
The Doctor looked confused. "I..don't…know….I became very thirsty all of a sudden…"
"Not to mention crabby" Peri added.
"Yes…I haven't been like that since….well….my first…." The Doctor sputtered off, going into thought. It was his first incarnation that was pleading for help. Why did he need to cross his own timestream? Why did he get extremely thirsty?
Bill returned and put both the drinks down on the table authoritatively.
"Now do you want a burger or not?"