The Dispossessed

Chapter 4

I do not own "Doctor Who." That belongs to the BBC. Consider it and a few characters borrowed until the end of the story.

John tried convincing himself he wasn't being evil. Devious and underhanded, yes. Anything giving him a valid excuse to see Donna was justifiable in his mind. Convincing his boss was the hard part, but being his charming, stubborn self, he won that round. So no he was making the rounds on his lunch hour, dropping off business cards and free samples of the coffee shop's wares to surrounding businesses, hoping to drum up more traffic and well. . .business for the shop.

His last stop was where Donna worked. He let himself in the door, smiled when seeing she sat at the front desk, chatting into the headset she was wearing. John sat his basket down on the counter separating him from her work space. He leaned on it, hoping to catch her attention.

". . .no, I can't guarantee anyone can see you tomorrow, or even by the end of the week. Yes, that's right. Monday at the earliest. 8 a.m. See you then," she finished, pulling off her earpiece and shaking her head in frustration. "Some people. . .

"Yeah, people. The planet's just filled with them, and you can't move without tripping over someone," John said.

She frowned, then recognition hit, as she gave him a small smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Trying to increase business at the shop," John said, handing his basket to her. "Not much left but you can pick what you want, or you can come by later if you haven't had your break and join me on mine at 3:30 and have something on me."

"Ate my lunch here a half-hour ago because half the staff's off with the flu, and I'm manning the desk here as you can see, so no break later," Donna said.

"Right," John said, taking back the basket. "Sorry to bother you then."

"But I do get off early today, we're closing up because so many people are sick," she said. "So I will see you later. Papercut."

She didn't say anything more, just went back to work. He walked out, a spring in his step that wasn't there before.