Life, Love and Death through Time and Space

Chapter Two

by

Sabrina Lonewalker

The first place he took her to see was something called the "Medusa Cascade". Her eyes widened when she saw it on the screen. "It's beautiful." She looked back at him and saw that soft smile. "I came here when I was just a youngster in Gallifreyan reckoning, nearly 90 at the time. I was a very young Timelord and this was one of the places we were sent to learn TARDIS coordinate settings. It's the center of a rift in Time and Space."

Grance listened to him talk, learning more about him all the time. They travelled, visiting different planets, cities, even going back into Earth's history so that she could witness first hand events she had only read about in history classes. Of course, there were the times when his help was needed and she understood that.

She never complained about it, only insisting that he let her help as well. Her experience and training as a surgeon also came in handy in helping the people who asked for his help. Her genuine concern for those she treated set well with the people they helped and the Doctor was proud of her willingness to learn about people she didn't know.

One time, they had helped a planet in the Cresoia system avoid an all out war and had finally gotten the continents settled and were able to leave. However, one good thing came out of their visit. He had come to her and as she watched, he went down on one knee in front of her with a box in his hand and asked her to marry him. He opened the box to show her a complete wedding set. The engagement ring wasn't a diamond but the most beautiful fire opal she had ever seen. Of course, she had said "Yes", and they were married there and then. She had been so happy as she went back to the infirmary. Finally, after a few weeks, including a short 'honeymoon' they were able to leave but Grace had been unusually subdued and quiet as they walked into the TARDIS. He had been at the console for an hour before he realized Grace had left the room. He set the TARDIS controls on auto-pilot and went to find her. He finally entered their quarters and found her face down on their bed, crying her eyes out.

He sat down on the bed and pulled her to him, pillowing her head on his chest as he held her. "Grace, what is it, my love?" He had asked quietly. She had worked tirelessly in the aliens infirmary, doing emergency surgeries, treating wounds, all the things a physician would do. Now, he stroked her hair as he let her cry. Obviously, something had happened and he knew, she would tell him when she was ready. Right now, he just held her close, letting her know he was there for her.

After a few more minutes, he could tell her sobs were subsiding. "Grace, my dearest, please, tell me what happened?" Grace raised her head to look at him, always finding comfort in those beautiful blue eyes of his. She finally wiped her eyes with the handkerchief he held out to her. "Thanks," she said, her voice softer than usual. Finally, she heaved a big sigh and snuggled back against him, pulling his arms around her waist. He kissed the back of her neck and in spite of herself, she shivered in delight.

"You know how busy we were in their hospital," she said. He nodded, "Well, we were doing rather well, hadn't lost one single patient

until...until they brought in the last three, a mother and her two small children. They had been injured in the retreat just before the treaty went into effect." She was silent for a few minutes. Obviously, this was not easy for her and he tightened his arms around her.

Finally, she continued, "The mother wasn't hurt all that badly but, the boy needed immediate surgery. His sister was burned but, their physicians were able to take care of her. I went to work on the boy, he couldn't have been more that 10 years old. I tried, my love, I tried but, after three hours, there was nothing I could do. He died on the table." She began crying again as if her heart were breaking. He knew how deeply she cared about children and what hurt them hurt her.

He knew that nothing he could say would help her so, he let her cry herself out. After a few minutes, she spoke again, anguish in every note and tone of her voice. "I hate losing patients, you know that but, to lose a 10 year old, with so much life ahead of him, it doesn't seem fair." The Doctor kissed the top of her head and mummured, "I know, I've seen so much needless death and yet, even I can't stop it from happening. Sometimes, my dear angel, even with all we know, we can't stop death from happening."

Grace listened and nodded sadly. "I know and they didn't blame me for what happened. They understood that I had tried everything I knew how to do. I tried to apologize to the mother for not doing more and she just hugged me and said she knew I had done everything within my power to save her son. She was more worried about how I was handling what had happened."

The Doctor had leaned back against the headboard of the bed and Grace turned in his arms to look at him. "Have you ever felt like that?" She asked him. He nodded, "Yes, back in my fifth incarnation, when we lost Adric, I told you about him, didn't I?" Grace nodded, "Yes, yes you did. It had to be hard to watch him and know there was nothing you could do." His voice teared up, "Yes, I had to watch and I could do nothing. It hurt more that I would let Tegan and Nyssa know. They needed me to be strong for them."

Grace reached up to brush the hair back from his face and she could see the tears. "Oh my sweet love, and no one was there to help you grieve, not one to hold you, to let you cry." He smiled sadly, "I had to do my grieving in private, where they couldn't see. I had always been so strong for them, I wouldn't let them see." Grace smiled as she looked at him. "Remember that I'm here now, love," Grace said, "You can always be yourself with me. You don't have to go through anything alone anymore." He smiled and kissed her, "I know, my angel, I know."

The kiss deepened as he bore her back onto the bed and he felt her hands pulling his coat off his shoulders then, she was unbuttoning the shirt. She wanted him, needed him as much as he needed her. Soon they were underneath the covers as he claimed her again as his, his lover, his angel, his wife. As much as he showed Grace how he felt about her, she showed him also, just what he meant to her.

Grace fell asleep not long after and he eased himself out of the bed, covering her with a light blanket. He redressed himself with a smile. He knew she had needed him then but now, she needed this time alone and he went back to the control room as they continued their journey, always together.

End Part Two