Doctor And Assistant (Chap. 14)

Chapter Fourteen: If You Love Her, Doctor...

/the Doctor\\

He watched her as she slept, a habit he couldn't break since he realized he felt so strongly about her. "Derpy, I love you," he whispered.

She stirred in her sleep and he smiled weakly at her. Even if she hadn't heard him, at least he admitted it.

The Doctor quickly walked out of her room and shut her door. The TARDIS knew what he was doing before he even said anything, the reason being their psychic link. It slowly made it's way through the Vortex in silence, not a hum, not a buzz... absolutely nothing. He watched the circular tubes in the middle do their usual vertical movements.

Lilly curiously walked out of her room and over to the Doctor. "What are you doing?" she asked in a whisper.

"Please... Please just go back to bed?" he frowned.

"Tell me what you're doing and I swear I will."

She watched him silently, intent on finding an answer, but when she got none she sighed and walked back into her room.

Soon, he had changed into Doctor Whooves, his pony form. He quietly made his way into Derpy's room again, picking her up and carrying her. The sky in Equestria showed that Princess Luna had raised the moon. He carefully surveyed the area, seeing to whether or not somepony was awake and could see him.

Using his teeth, once he had gotten to her front door he used the sonic screwdriver to unlock it. Derpy stirred again at the noise but didn't wake up. When he got inside he set her down in her bed and shut his eyes, allowing a tear to drop before wiping it away and strictly precluding the rest.

Doctor Whooves moved a few strands of hair from her face and kissed her forehead, leaving her room and entering the TARDIS.

It wasn't until the TARDIS door closed that he started staggering, falling against the door and sliding to the floor, tears streaming down his face that he used his hooves to cover.

Scarlet came barreling out of her room. "Doctor?! I'M A UNICORN!" But she stopped short when she saw him leaning against the door. "Doctor? Is that you?"

He nodded.

"What's wrong? Where's Derpy?"

"I have to leave her behind," he muttered, "she can't travel with us anymore."

"Why not?"

"She broke her hand."

"It isn't your fault!"

"Yes it is, Scarlet!" he yelled. "I don't want to do this-"

"-then why are you?"

"Because I have to," he said softly. Scarlet approached him cautiously and sat next to him. "What're you-"

- She wrapped her arms around him in a friendly way. "Look. I know I've been really bad to you two in the last few days. But I'll respect your decisions. You know what's best. And... I am here for you, Doc."

"Thank you," he muttered.

But he couldn't cry away the guilt on the dark grey and light blue mare's shoulder.

Lilly walked out next, a young violet unicorn with light red eyes. "Doctor, Rachel just told me what's going on. Everything is going to work out," she promised, throwing his arms around him too.

"Y-You guys shouldn't have to be in my business like this. Derpy being... It isn't your concern," he tried to say.

"If it's yours, Doc, it's our," Scarlet nodded.

"I just hope she won't hate me," he laughed dryly and humorously.

"She can't find it in herself to," Lilly smiled weakly.

/Derpy\\

Derpy sat up quickly, her eyes widely opened. She had a... She wanted to say it was a dream, at least, where the Doctor was...

No, it wasn't a dream.

Everything from the previous night had started coming back to her at that moment. The broken hand. The crying. The almost-kiss. Someone being in her room in the TARDIS.

Derpy hopped out of bed and felt a change. "That's funny," she laughed to herself, "I thought my bedroom in the TARDIS has a carpeted floor. And didn't I use to be taller than this?" But when she looked around, she saw a different wall color. She couldn't hear the TARDIS humming in the background and feel it underneath of the floorboards. And when she looked down at her light-grey cast, it wasn't covering a hand.

It was covering a hoof.

"Doctor?" she asked loudly as if he would be in her house, flying quickly down her steps and outside. She hadn't walked out of the TARDIS, she had walked out of her house — in Ponyville. The TARDIS was no where to be found.

Derpy flew inside. "No... no, no, no, no, no, no!" she whispered to herself. "This can't be happening... There is always an explanation! Why would he just drop me off? No... He didn't drop me off, did he?" A tear made it's way down her face. "And I never told him how..."

Her crying cut her off and she flew to the couch, burying herself in the cushions.

She couldn't understand. She had 6 months to tell him! She ignored so many different chances! She wimped out. Of course she did, of course!

That's what she always does. She can't ever do anything right. And that's what her thoughts were. Just her failing.

/the Doctor\\

He limply raised the sonic screwdriver and a Cyberman fell. Same old, same old. Then, a bloody Dalek. Who cared about what they wanted? The Doctor didn't. He sent it flying backwards into a pole where it burst into flames. Next, the person who is oblivious to what they were, and would do anything for him just because he saved their life.

"Oh, thank you, thank you!" the grey haired woman said, hugging him. "What were those things?"

"One Cyberman. One Dalek. Different species. Aliens from different planets. I gotta go. Come on, Scarlet, Lilly."

And they walked away from the house call before the elder could say anything more.

In the TARDIS, he slumped further into the couch. He couldn't get Derpy out of his head! How was she taking this? When would she figure out he left her behind? Would she cope? Would she even NEED to cope?!

"I'm going to give you some alone time to calm yourself and brood," Scarlet said softly, walking away.

Lilly, however, walked closer to the Doctor before whispering: "Doctor, I know how badly you love her and miss her. It is so obvious. I know it hurts now, but... You'll be used to it. And I also know you've been hurt before in outrageous proportions, but just remember one thing: none of that was your fault." And Lilly walked off.

The TARDIS buzzed louder.

"Yeah, I know," the Doctor muttered in response, "I shouldn't think too much. I need to wait until this cloud passes by. Right?"

The TARDIS stayed silent.

"Okay, one light flicker for 'yes', and two for 'no'. Now, answer my question please."

Two flickers.

"Then what do I do?! I can't go back and get her-"

-one flicker. The TARDIS zoomed into life.

"You're going to literally kill me one day," he smiled. His triumphant laugh echoed off of the walls. "Let's get my assistant!"

And Scarlet laughed along with him, walking back with Lilly. "We knew you'd come to your senses!"

/Derpy\\

There was a firm knock on the door out of nowhere.

"It's open," Derpy sniffled.

The pony walked into her living room, placing a hoof on her arm. "Is this all you did when Dinky was at school and you weren't traveling?" the British voice teasingly asked. She sat up, turning to face him.

The Doctor.

"Doc... Doctor?" she asked, flying off of the couch.

"I'm back," he laughed. "Did you miss me?"

Derpy stood her ground, her forearms crossed. "First off, where were you?! Secondly, why did you do that?! And finally, why did you think I wouldn't have been hurt?!"

He frowned at her anger towards him. "I knew you'd be hurt," he muttered. "And..."

"Yes?"

"I'm so, so, so, so, so, so, so, SO sorry," he admitted.

Her tough attitude diminished as soon as he smiled that adorable, caught-red-handed British smile and a tear spilled onto her cheek. She wrapped her arms around the Doctor and he held her tightly to him.

"I didn't want to leave you," he whispered. "I really, really, REALLY didn't..."

"It's okay... But why did come back?"

They leaned away so they were still touching, but looking each other in the eye at the same time. Then they realized they were both trying not to blush and shared a nervous laugh.

Doctor Whooves smiled at her again and felt her heart just explode out of no where. "Derpy, I thought... I thought... I thought maybe you'd..."

"'Thought I'd' what?"

He wiped her tears away. "I thought... Derpy, I think you need a Doctor."

Derpy giggled at his joke. But then the unthinkable happened.

Doctor Whooves brought their lips together in one swift motion. He kissed her softly like he was scared he would break her.

Derpy's eyes widened and she froze before kissing him back. They both smiled at the same time before leaning away seconds after. But her expression turned to one of guilt. "Oh, no," she gasped.

"What?" he asked cautiously. "Did I do something wrong? I had a feeling you didn't -"

"-NO! No, I do feel the same. But don't you know that... Oh God..."

"What?"

"We won't work!" she frowned.

"I know that, Derpy. I know... I think about that every second of the day. Every single time I look at you I realize this probably will never be anything more than Doctor-and-Assistant."

"And I hate that," they said in unison.

"How about, Derpy, we forget about the future, and we make the most of what we have?"

"Doctor, I... I love you. I love you, so, so much. But are you sure you want to become attached like that to someone?"

"Derpy, I've been waiting 6 months for you to come clean. And for you, I'm willing to do anything," he laughed breathlessly.

"Me too," Derpy giggled. "I'll be honored to forget the future with you."

"Next time, don't take that long to kiss me," he teased her.

"Can't I say the same?"

"Oh, shut up, you wall-eyed beauty," he chuckled, kissing her again.

"Mom?" Dinky asked a moment later, startling the couple.

"Oh, uh, hi, uh... Hi, Dinky," Derpy laughed nervously, sharing the same embarrassed blush as her now-stalfriend.

"What were you doing?" the unicorn asked.

Derpy thought over what to say, but Doctor Whooves had already beaten her to the punch. "We were greeting each other in a rather weird way," he laughed nervously.

Dinky rolled her eyes. "You two finally decided to become a couple, huh?"

Derpy blinked a few times. "Excuse me?" she laughed.

"You two. Dating. It's a good look if you ask me," Dinky smirked. "Thought it'd be made quicker, though."

Doctor Whooves bit his lip, obviously unsure with the situation. "I suppose so."

"Oh, and Doctor Whooves," Dinky smiled, "I think it's time to explain what are you now."

"Why?"

"If you're gonna be something close to my father, I should know whether or not you're normal."

Doctor Whooves covered his eyes with a hoof and couldn't hide his embarrassed laughter (again). Derpy gasped at how she worded it, because all the mare had heard was "if you're gonna be my father".

"Okay, well, first things first, I am not normal and I never will be," the Doctor laughed.

To let him explain on his own Derpy grabbed Dinky's beige school bag and flew it upstairs into her room. It was a pink-walled bedroom with wooden floors and a white-sheeted mattress.

Before she flew back downstairs, she paused for a moment to process what had just happened...

... And she started smiling uncontrollably. "I guess I'm not all failures."

/the Doctor\\

"Whoa..." Dinky laughed. She was sitting next to him on his assistant's couch, her eyes widened at the possibility of time travel. "You mean to tell me you actually do this for a living?"

"Well, 10 livings," Doctor Whooves laughed.

"Oh, 10? So you have a family?"

He frowned, thinking of Gallifrey. "Well, no, not... Not anymore. It's usually just me in the TARDIS. And your mother, as you've probably pieced together. But no, um, no family. I'm all alone, like usual, with the exception of one or two people."

Dinky stood up on her hind legs, almost falling over when the cushion shifted her weight, and wrapped her arms around the Doctor. "Don't worry, Doctor. We can be your family," she smiled.

Doctor Whooves grinned back, wrapping a forearm around the filly. "Thank you, Dinky... I'll remember that."

Derpy flew in. "What'd I miss?"

"Oh, nothing. Your daughter is a very nice pony, is all."

Dinky jumped to the end cap opposite of the Doctor. Derpy sat down in the middle. "That's my little Dinky," she giggled.

Dinky gasped. "Oh! Doctor, can you tell me a story?"

"What about?"

"Hmm... What about your favorite adventure?" Dinky suggested.

"Too many to count on two hands," Doctor Whooves laughed. "But... I suppose I can pick. Now, let's see here. Oh, I know! Get comfortable, girls," he laughed again.

Derpy smiled, her filly resting against her and the mare now resting against the Doctor. "Hope you don't mind," she whispered.

"Nah, why would I?" he asked, kissing her forehead. "Alright... where to start?

"Imagine yourself in a planet called Earth, where the year is 1920. The sky is a beautiful light blue, white clouds dotting it with a chill in the air that just made you happier. I had your mother with me, Dinky, and we were going to go to a party there."

"Oh, I love this one!" Derpy giggles.

"Now, this party taking place was like no other, because not only was there a famous author, but there was also someone called 'the Unicorn' who stole jewlery, and there was also a HUGE wasp!"

(4 Minutes Later)

"...and that was why Agatha Christie had forgotten what had happened, why her car was found by the lake, and also, the plot for her next story." The Doctor decided to conclude his story from then even though Dinky had fallen asleep halfway through. He enjoyed having Derpy's company, however, so he took extra time just so the moment wouldn't end. Derpy smiled up at him and touched noses with him. He loosened the arm around her. "How'd I do?" he jokingly asked his assistant.

"Pretty good," she giggled, "Dinky seems to have liked it."

"Or it was boring," he suggested.

"I think she'd have like it better if she was there, maybe."

Doctor Whooves laughed simply at her. "Ready to go back out?"

"You know it," she smiled. The Doctor shared the same expression, helping Derpy to carefully get off of the couch without waking the unicorn.

"Where would you like to go next?"

"You know... I don't care."

"Wait, what?" Doctor Whooves asked, softly shutting the door behind them.

"As long as I am with you... It doesn't matter where I am."

Doctor Whooves snickered. "And I suppose it wouldn't matter if we took a break, right?"

"Hmm?"

"Cause I hear, somewhere on Earth, we have been invited to a party."

"Another?" she laughed. "Where at?"

"Pennsylvania! Beautiful place. Fantastic, if I say so myself," he rambled, opening the TARDIS doors for his assistant.

"And what's the invite say about it?"

"It's a Christmas Eve Formal — wouldyouliketogoasmydate?" he asked quickly.

She stopped walking, looking at him enduringly. "See, the best part is –" she planted a quick kiss on his lips. "That I would love to."

Scarlet watched them with a smirk. "See you two have finally opened your eyes."

"Are you going, too?" Derpy asked.

"Nah, I'm figuring I can stay in the TARDIS with Lilly and let you two have some alone time," Scarlet nodded. "And by the way, I figured out my pony name. Qantiel. I like it. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

Derpy nodded. "How do you have those... gears? Like, on your hooves."

"I do?"

"Yeah," the Doctor said, tilting his head to study them closely.

"I'm gonna guess its a birthmark or something," Qantiel laughed. "And, also, why is there a tattoo on me? Can you two figure that out?"

The Doctor let his attention wander to her cutie mark. "It's a spade with three light blue lines on it. That's your cutie mark. Marks your special talent."

"Like, mine are bubbles. Probably from my personality. But it could also be how I created a bubble with soap," she added with a giggle. "And the Doctor has an hourglass. Probably know why."

"Maybe you're good at card games?" Doctor Whooves suggested.

Qantiel laughed vibrantly. "I'm going to make up for a recent loss of sleep. See ya."

As she left, Lilly ran in and threw her arms around the wall-eyes Pegasus. "Derpy!" she smiled. "Derpy, you're home! Rachel was telling me how the Doctor was coming to get you!"

Derpy shared a smile with the Doctor as he watched, and she hugged Lilly back. "Nice to see you again, too," she giggled.

He laughed once she ran off again. "Right, then," he smiled. "Avante, Derpy!"

"Avante!" she cried out in response with a large smile on her face.