Doctor And Assistant (Chap. 15)
Chapter 15: Two Angels Are A Crowd
/the Doctor\\
Derpy stepped out of the TARDIS in a long grey ball gown that fit her perfectly with her black heels and golden sash (which went around her waist and ended behind her in a large bow). "How do I look?" she asked, straightening her bubble hairpin. "I'm not really sure..."
'Oh, right,' the Doctor thought to himself, 'she's so self conscious nowadays.'
"No, no, you look... wow," he laughed breathlessly. "Just... just... Wow. I'm speechless."
"Is that bad?!" Derpy gasped, a nervous expression appearing. "I can-"
"-No, silly. I'm speechless in a good way. You look beautiful," he smiled, taking her hand.
She blushed, looking down. A lock of her golden hair fell over her apricot face and the Doctor hesitatingly pulled it to its correct spot. "Thanks," she smiled, not meeting his gaze. "I suppose we should enter now?"
"Oh, right," he laughed again. "Yeah."
Together they entered the white walled, large town hall, the Doctor flashing his psychic paper to whoever asked. They then were escorted inside of what seemed to be a ballroom. Music was playing, guests and couples were dancing on the wooden floors, people were sitting around watching the others...The Doctor looked at his assistant and saw she was looking at the salmon-colored streamers (pretty odd choice of a color for a Christmas party to the Doctor) that adjourned the extremely light beige walls.
"Shall we take our seats?" he asked her.
"Okay," she smiled up at her.
He pulled her to his side and they walked together to small table where he proceeded to pull out her chair for her.
"Oh, um, thanks," she embarrassedly said. "But you don't have to do that. I can do it perfectly well..."
"Now, Derpy, I always pride myself in being a gentleman," he said in a deep voice, kissing the top of her head and taking his own seat. His serious expression melted and they both shared a chuckle. "Plus, you can't use your hand."
"Doesn't mean I'm good for nothing," Derpy snickered.
"I didn't say THAT, did I, love? If anything, you may even be good for more things than me right now, cast and all!"
Derpy rolled her eyes sarcastically at his compliment. "I applaud your new outfit. Ya know, instead of your usual? But I do think you look cuter in the brown suit," she giggled.
"Figured something new," he grinned, adjusting the black bow tie on his black and white suit (Author's Note: Like 10's suit from 'Human Nature' — 'The Family Of Blood'). "But I'm having a weird feeling about this bow tie..."
She surveyed the scene around her with her beautiful golden eyes. The Doctor watched her, making sure she wasn't being bombarded and it wasn't too much to handle.
"You all right?" he asked.
"Yeah," she nods back, turning to look him dead-on again. "It's weird seeing so many humans... happy. I know we've been to places with populations forty times longer than this room, but... Everyone is happy. No fighting."
He smiled grabbing her hands and holding them in his. "That's what happens when you're with the ones you love."
"Oh, Doctor," she laughed infectiously. "That's all you ever talk about now!"
"What? It's true," he smiled, his thumb tracing invisible lines on her non-casted hand. The song changed, getting slower. Crowds of people flocked to the floor, some also returning to their seats. The lights dimmed and Derpy watched the crowd in awe. "Shall we?" he asked abruptly.
"'Shall we' what?"
"Oh, here we go," he mumbled sarcastically. "I've always been completely rubbish at asking things like this." The Doctor stood up and walked over to his assistant while still holding her hands. "Derpy Hooves, would you like to dance?"
She giggled, a nervous blush spreading on her face. "I can't really... I don't know how to dance."
"If I can do it you can do it," he grinned. She didn't budge. "Come on, please?"
She stared at him before looking down at the floor, giggling, and letting him pull her up to standing position.
/Derpy\\
Derpy didn't know what to think. She couldn't dance, let alone with the Doctor! What if she messed up?
With possibilities running through her head, she let him pull her up. They walked as if they were conjoined by the hip and he was not stopping his adorable, contagious, British smile that sent shivers down her spine.
They finally got to the middle of the floor and he swung her outward a with a laugh at her surprised reaction, finally making her join back with him. She rested her arms loosely around his neck and he had his on her waist.
They swayed back and forth slowly, keeping in the same routine as the others around them. But to Derpy, when she gazed into the Doctor's eyes, it was just them, and no one else. "See? You're getting the hang of it," he grinned.
As the music got louder, the Doctor made her do more tricks. He picked her up by her waist and spun her around, making her giggle out of nervousness. Then, holding one of her hands, he spun her in a quick, short circle. He embraced her for a few seconds while behind her when she landed softly against him before reversing the motion so they were just swaying again.
The Doctor hummed quietly to the chorus, perking Derpy's curiosity. "What, do you know this song?"
"Yeah," he nodded, "Smother Me by The Used. One of their slower ones."
She turned her head to hide a smile. "Know the lyircs?"
He waited for the semi-chorus to start before pulling her closer to him so they were touching. With a slight shake of his head, he laughed: "can't get me to sing that easily. Yes, there was an occasion, but never again."
Derpy giggled, blushing over how close she was to the Doctor.
"You know, this song reminds me of us."
"How so?"
He twirled her again. "It just does. Then again, I do always think of you."
Her blush deepened. Derpy saw that he was staring into her eyes as well, and he chuckled when her right went upwards. "Sorry," she apologized, blinking to try and fix it.
"Why are you sorry?"
"My eye. I know it's weird..."
"Oh, Derpy," he murmured, "you don't need to sorry about that. I don't care if your eyes are sometimes crossed or that others think your not intelligent. You're you. You shouldn't have to apologize for what everyone else thinks. Well, everyPONY."
There was a pause until the verse kicked in.
"I'm just kind of used to it... I have to apologize so they don't think I do it on purpose. It embarrasses people to be seen with me, apparently..."
He frowned at her. "Don't worry, love. I'm sure it will stop."
"Are you sure?"
"Have I ever been wrong?"
"No, it's just..."
His gaze turned concerned and soft. "What is it?"
"I don't want you to be like that too."
The Doctor frowned even deeper. "Derpy, why would you think that?"
She looked up at him and masked her expression with a fake, weak smile. "Even my friends turned on me. Everyone does."
"Oh, Derpy," he repeated, "Derpy, Derpy, Derpy... I would never ask you to change. I love you the way you are."
"Really?" she asked, a real smile appearing.
"Really. You're beautiful," he grinned.
She blushed again. "Oh, stop it," she giggled embarrassedly.
"Nah," he chuckled. "I won't. You'll be used to it. It's like when people salute me."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Is that a challenge?"
"No, no," she giggled.
He watched her eyes again as the second to last chorus started. "I love you, so, so much, Derpy. Remember that."
"Trust me, I will," she smiled.
The music began to end as the last chorus was beginning. The Doctor, seizing the moment, lifted her chin with a hand and brought her lips to his in one slow motion. They kissed each other deeply until the song stopped and then some, not worrying about their surroundings.
She smiled at the Doctor and he took her hand again, leading them back to the table. "You know," she said, "I think I might be getting the hang of this 'dancing' thing."
The Doctor chuckled. "And you've definitely got the hang of that last bit."
Derpy blushed. Had she done something wrong? Or something right? She hadn't kissed anyone as a human before. She could blame it on that, she supposed.
"Hey, not like that. It's a good thing," he laughed. "And I hope I'm not coming across creepily."
She let the Doctor pull out her chair before sitting down again. "No, not completely."
"Okay, good," he said, making her laugh. She sipped the water in her drink and set it neatly back down on the table before he began speaking. "Where would you like to go after this, love?"
Derpy groaned. "Doctor. Really? I don't know any planets!"
"Oh, come on, am I the only one to have an education and be part of a race based solely on galaxies and multiverses and time traveling and paradoxes and – I'll stop now."
"Yes, yes you are the only one to have an education like that," she giggled. "Obviously."
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked sarcastically.
She lowered her voice. "You're a time traveling alien called a Time Lord, a LORD of TIME, who has a blue police box that's bigger on the inside. You're a man who has TWO hearts, not one, TWO, and has multiple lives and fights other aliens, and knows outer space like the back of his hand," she rolled her eyes.
"I get your point. What's the point of living if you're only surviving?" he smiled.
"I guess you're right," she smiled back.
Someone tapped the microphone, the music stopping. A tall,slender woman with brown hair stood in front of the stage, her hands holding the microphone and trying to stop trembling.
"Speech?" Derpy asked the Doctor.
He shrugged in response, grabbing her hand.
"Okay, hello everyone!" the woman smiled warmly. "My name is Cassandra. I'm the mayor here, for our out-of-towners. And I just wanted to say we'll be having some extremely unexpected guested her. I have one request –" her expression went slack, almost like she had taken out the pins that held her smile to her face. She looked at the Doctor wearily –"help me."
Cassandra fell to the floor and automatically the Doctor and Derpy sprung into action, running to the stage. Cries, gasps, and grimaces were seen and heard throughout the room. A crowd of people ran to he scene as well, and the Doctor shot a hesitant glance at his assistant.
"Clear the crowd," he ordered.
Derpy nodded, grabbing the microphone while the Doctor took Cassandra's pulse. "Everyone needs to stay calm!" she yelled. They stopped their nervous murmurs and looked up at the shy woman. "Okay. Good. Stay like that. NOW! Everyone needs to leave single-file in a near and orderly fashion out of that door."
"Who's he?!" someone called out from the back.
"That's..." Derpy looked to the Doctor for help so he flashed his psychic paper once at her without gazing into her eyes, continuing his check. "Right! That's Doctor John Smith! He's trained, clinically proven. Now, everybody out!"
Derpy switched the microphone off and dropped it to the ground, rushing back to the Doctor. Everyone left in seconds time.
"Alright Cassandra... Cassandra, can you hear me?" he asked the body.
"Ha," Derpy laughed to herself so he couldn't hear, "the Doctor's finally gotten a patient on the clock." She then knelt down next to him sharing an equal amount if concern. "Is she going to be okay?"
He pulled his stethoscope out of a pocket, placing the two white ends in his ears and placing the metal where her heart'd be. He stayed silent for a few moments. "She'll be okay."
"She was saying... What was she saying?!"
"That 'we'll be having some... unexpected guests'?" He gasped, pulling out his sonic screwdriver and scanning the area. "Oh, no..."
"Doctor? Doctor, what is it?"
"Derpy, love, are you ready for a fight?"
"Um, maybe if you told me WHO I am fighting?"
"Angels."
"Sort of, then. But if they're Angels, why did she collapse? Wouldn't she be thrown back?"
He raised his eyebrows at her. "Good point! Heart couldn't take the sight of seeing one. But you're right on a second thing, too: wouldn't she be thrown back? Her eyes are off of the Angel, so it should en somewhere near... And if... There's someone else!"
And as if on cue, a yell was heard. "CASSANDRA! Someone help! Come on, Cass! I can't do this any longer!"
"Oh, no... It's outside, isn't it?" Derpy asked.
"You know it. Derpy, love, it seems even in our breaks we have some sort of work left. I need you to look after Cassandra. Have her tell you everything she can remember once she gets up." He got up from his kneel next to the women and began running to the door. "I'll handle whatever's outside! Be safe!"
"I'll try!" Derpy shouted back. She lowered her voice, talking to herself. "All right... Where to start?"
/the Doctor\\
"Come on!" the voice shouted. An instinct in the Doctor sent him running. Well, that wasn't a surprise. He could run faster and longer than any human.
"Stay where you are!" the Time Lord shouted back. "I'm almost there!"
With his sonic screwdriver emitting a blue knight and an obnoxiously high pitched buzz, the Doctor kept running to the source. The sky seemed to be turning greater every time his foot hit the ground, storm clouds swarming over top.
He finally reached the man wearing a suit identical to his. And, behold – an Angel. "What is this thing?!" he asked.
"I have it now. Blink," the Doctor ordered.
"Are you sure?"
"Be quick, anyways."
The Doctor jumped in front of the man and the Angel took his gaze instead. "What now?" the man asked. "They... Cassandra, where is she?"
"In the gym. Everyone evacuated the building. It's just me and my assistant. She's being watched and check on, so don't worry," the Doctor rambled. "Now, how about we begin walking back?"
The two began exiting the street. Surprisingly, although they were in the middle of the park, no one noticed them panicking over a statue.
They reached the room once more and the Doctor ordered everyone around once more as soon as he stepped into the fire exit. "We don't have much time!" he yelled to his assistant after finally backing up enough to open the door. "I have an Angel on my hands. Can you take over, love?"
Derpy laughed. Hopping off of the stage and standing next to him, she smiled "of course." He kissed the top of her head and ran over to Cassandra. "Oh, and Doctor? Heartbeat is good, didn't falter. And her pulse is active and healthy as far as I can tell. Only problem is that she isn't responding."
"Probably a mental shutdown issued by her brain because she was over frightened. Sir, what was your name?" the Doctor asked.
The man nodded, walking over to the Doctor when he answered. "Timothy. You can call me Tim."
"All right, Tim. Does Cassandra have anything wrong with her that may have caused this?" The Doctor began checking Cassandra's heart again.
"Well, she's easily startled. I'm friends with her, but I don't know if it's hereditary or just a trait she's picked up."
"Okay, so she might not be up and at 'em for a while," the Doctor muttered to himself. He then raised his voice so he could be heard. "Were you there when she saw the Angel?"
"That stone figure? Yeah. We were walking around town and she pointed out how this... statue, sorta just appeared in front of us. We walked away, thinking it was nothing, and then she felt something poke her back and turned just in time for it to be right in her face."
Derpy gasped over dramatically, her eyes still locked on the Angel outside. "She's like a walking miracle! A touch from an Angel and she wasn't even thrown back!"
"Touché, Derpy, touché," the Doctor said, sharing a laugh with his assistant (Author's Note: he was hinting at Chapter 6).
"So then she said she felt light headed, told me to keep watching it to see if it'd move again, and left," Tim concluded.
The Doctor looked up at Timothy. "Would you care to handle your friend while I help mine?"
"Fine, okay." As those words left Tim's mouth, the Doctor smiled and hopped to his feet, almost dashing to his assistant. But then: "But one more question." Those words froze the Doctor into place. "What kind of doctor are you?"
Derpy laughed. "You don't want to know."
"Yeah, I do," Timothy objected. "If you're going to be looking over Cassandra I believe we should know who you are, so we know who we are trusting as a town."
"I'm Doctor John Smith. Graduated from... Template University, the one out of town."
"I don't recall that college even existing, sir. Now tell me the truth so we know who we can accomplish for saving our town, please. And try not to be so mendacious this time."
"Timothy, just stop," Derpy warned without watching the strife play out. "He's Doctor John Smith. Call him 'the Doctor' and drop it."
"No! I am in need of a name or I will have you exiled from the town. And yes, I know it sounds medieval but it can STILL happen."
"So you'd risk everyone's lives just to exile us?" Derpy asked.
"Yes."
"Fine. I'll tell you who I am," the Doctor snarled, his back turned to Timothy as he prepared what to say. "I'm the Doctor. I'm a Time Lord. I'm from another planet called Gallifrey which is located in the constellation of Kasterborus. I'm over 900 years old and I'm the man who will save you all from this, along with my girlfriend, Derpy," he whispered harshly. "You gotta problem with that?"
Derpy giggled to herself. "He's so cute when he says things like that..."
Timothy's eyes went wide and his face pales. "An... Alien?"
"Yes," Derpy sighed. "He has two hearts and I was a pony. If you don't believe us, your loss. Now, Doctor, time to handle some Angels, don't ya think?"
"Coming, dear!" the Doctor smiled, hopping off of the stage and running to his assistant. "Now, what's our status?"
"Two Angels. One from you, and one just came. And I really need to blink. Can I risk it?"
"Uh..." the Doctor ran it over in his head. "Go ahead."
As she blinked, the Doctor slammed the door shut. "How long will that hold for?" Derpy asked.
"A few minutes. Right, right, right, right, right, right, what next..." his eyes scanned the room enduringly, myriads of thought running through his head. "Cassandra!"
Derpy and the Doctor ran to the stage again. The banging on the doors increased. "We have to find a way to get rid of them!" Derpy muttered to herself. "But how?"
"Excellent question, Derpy," the Doctor smiled, hoisting her up to the top of the stage. "Keep thinking about that while I handle this."
He jumped up himself and scanned Cassandra with his sonic screwdriver. Timothy let out a gasp. "She's waking up! Did you use that..."
"Sonic screwdriver," Derpy filled in.
"...Right... Did you use that 'sonic screwdriver' to wake her up?"
The Doctor watched the woman who was groggily waking up. "It was a coincidence. This can't kill. Can't resurrect. Can't wake up. Can't make you fall asleep. Mostly for locks and doors. I actually only scanned her to see her pulse, heartbeat, any anomalous behaviors or traits and her species, age, date of birth, full name-"
"-Um, Doctor?" Derpy cleared her throat with a laugh.
"Right, right, I'll stop," he smiled apologetically. He again got into a kneel next to Cassandra. "Cassandra? Cassandra Waltz?" (Author's Note: My inspiration for the name? I searched "Doctor Who" on iTunes Radio and the first song to come up was "Cassandra's Waltz".)
Cassandra moaned, her eyes groggily opening. "I... And where's..."
"It's all right, just take your time," Derpy said soothingly, a reassuring hand on her back. The banging increased against the door. "... Or not."
"Where is everyone? What time is it?" Cassandra asked.
The Doctor pulled out his fob watch, something he always wore no matter the occasion. "12 past 5 o'clock at night," he answered, shutting it with a snap and placing it back into his inside breast pocket.
"Where are the guests?"
"You've obviously knocked your head a bit harder than we thought," Derpy laughed. "Evacuation."
"Why?"
"Weeping Angels," the Doctor grimaced. "You have to keep direct eye contact with them. No turning your back, and no blinking, as you've figured out yourselves."
The door knob began twisting and Derpy jumped back in alarm before running to the failing bulwark. "Doctor?!"
"Lock the door! We have to find a place where we will have more time!" the Time Lord yelled, helping them up -
-"There's no lock!"
"Here!" The Doctor tossed her his sonic screwdriver through the air, his assistant catching it perfectly in her grasp. "Surely we can't go through the front door... Alright. Mayor Cassandra, tell me; where is the SECOND fire exit?"
Cassandra gasped. "Great idea! To your left!"
"Then go ahead and run! Not too far," he ordered. Timothy and Cassandra sprinted to the door and the Doctor ran to his assistant. "I suppose it's time to go, huh?" he whispered into her ear.
She smiled up at him. "Let's go."
They ran to the others holding hands and sharing absolutely insane grins. "My madness MUST be rubbing off on you with that smile," he laughed to her.
"I suppose."
Their reason for being so happy during such a predicament? The fact they could never get a break. But they didn't want one now – because when else would you be able to run from an Angel?
The followed the cement-walled and marble-floored hallway until they reached the outside world. "Everyone, into the TARDIS!" the Doctor ordered.
"I'm sorry, what?!" Timothy exclaimed when they reached the blue police box.
"Just hurry!" Derpy whined as she opened the doors and pushed the two humans inside. She shared a laugh with the Doctor before going in herself.
The Doctor slammed the door shut, turning to face the surprised crowd with one clasp of his hands. Derpy stood positioned like a soldier to her General next to him, but she smiled when he grinned teasingly for no reason.
"Hey, what's with the crowd?" Scarlet asked, walking from the bedroom hall, Lilly trailing next to her.
"Scarlet, Lilly, meet Tim and Cassandra," the Doctor smiled.
"Scarlet," she nodded at them. "How was the dance?"
Derpy tried to hide her smile, pursing her lips instead. "We got Weeping Angels on our trail. Other than that, fantastic," she giggled.
The Doctor kissed the top of her head when she said "fantastic" and she blushed, another infectious giggle emerging from her mouth. He held himself back from kissing her lips, smiling at her instead.
"That's adorable," Lilly laughed.
"But what will we do with the Angels?" Scarlet asked.
"Right!" the Doctor laughed. "Okay, well, see, Tim and Cassandra, I am going to drop you off in another town."
"Is that even going to work?" Derpy asked.
"Yes."
"Hold up, ANOTHER town? Doctor, I'm sorry. But my reputation here is extremely rare for someone who's grown up like myself. I won't be able to regain it!" Cassandra said exasperatedly.
"And what of our friends and family?" Tim asked, heartbroken.
The Doctor and Derpy hated seeing them that way. "You'll find a way. We'll drop you off and come to fix the problem! This is for your own good," Derpy tried to reassure them.
Cassandra nodded, a weak smile on her face. "But which town?"
"Thinking somewhere across the state," the Time Lord admitted.
"Oh, what about somewhere in Florida?" Scarlet suggested. "Easy to get used to. Mind the heat, of course. I had one of my homes there."
"One of your homes?" Cassandra asked.
"Okay, let's get things straightened out. I'm Equestrian. She is Skyolozine. He's Time Lord. All different species. You two and Lilly are human with the exception of her being a psychic. Cleared up now?" Derpy clarified.
"'Skyolozine'?"
"I grow wings and fly. Not at all entertaining."
"But–"
–The TARDIS tilted to the left and then the right. Derpy gripped the Doctor's hand tightly and squealed out of horror because she couldn't scream.
"The Angels have the phone box!" the Doctor yelled. "Everyone hold on! Change of plans!"
Derpy followed him as he went to work on the TARDIS busily pressing buttons and then running around a bit more to type on a monitor. Everyone looked for something to hold on to.
The Doctor paled slightly at the feeling of being watched, and he turned around to see Derpy staring at him unabashedly. "Why're you looking at me like that instead of panicking when the Angels have the phone box?"
She smirked, sitting on a railing. "You're so cute when you act smart and your going to save the day."
The Doctor shook his head and laughed. "Then come look cute with me. I need your help."
She nearly fell from the tilt but the Doctor caught her, directing her to a spot at the controls. "Whatcha need for me to do?"
"When I say 'go', pull down this lever." He directed her hands to a large clamp and she smiled sincerely at him.
"Why?" Scarlet asked for everyone else.
"We're going to give them a bit, of a taSTE of, their oWN MEDIcine," he explained, his voice getting louder every time he forced down a lever. He spun a dial continuously. "Ready, Derpy?"
"Ready, Doctor," she said confidently.
"3...2...1... GO!" Stopping the spinning, he used all 10 of his fingers to flip 10 small levers in sync of her large clamp. "Everyone to the control panels!" They all rushed over and hid underneath. "Duck down! Hide your faces!"
"But, Doc-" Tim protested.
"-Trust me!"
The Doctor pulled Derpy to his side and they held themselves to each other tightly under the panel. If this weren't to work, they would go as a team to whatever time zone their attackers chose. "Doctor," she whispered, her breath frail and soft.
He looked at his beautiful assistant. "Yes?" he whispered back.
"If you kill us, I am so going to resurrect myself and kill you."
He kissed her lips softly. "That's the Derpy I know and love."
Derpy giggled, resting her forehead against his. She let out a gasp and looked past him.
"They are there, Doctor, but they aren't moving!" Lilly proclaimed.
"Oh, thank Rassilon," he muttered under his breath. "We're good. Everyone up!"
"WAIT!" Scarlet gasped. "WHERE DID THE TARDIS GO?!"
"Relax, relax," the Doctor chuckled. "I had it teleport a block away, present time, without us. It tricked the Angels into looking at each other, see?"
The two Angels were staring directly at each other. Derpy smiled, throwing her arms around the Doctor. "You did it!" she cheered.
"WE, did it," he corrected her.
"Oh, shut up," she giggled.
"Perhaps we should get to the TARDIS?" Scarlet suggested.
"Is this the same time zone as when we left?" Tim asked, taking Cassandra's hand and helping her around the Angels.
"Yes, why?" the Doctor answered.
Cassandra cleared her throat. "We should be going. Thank you, Doctor, Derpy, Scarlet, and Lilly. It's been a pleasure."
"Don't you want to travel with us?" Derpy asked, her right eye moving upwards. The Doctor grinned and held her hand.
"Nah," Cassandra smiled. "The only traveling we need to do is in this town. I'm the Mayor, after all." And they walked off.
"Perhaps we should get going to the TARDIS?" Scarlet tried again.
"Oh, yeah," the Doctor laughed.
Lilly laughed at something Rachel had probably said. "Seems like it to me, too," she smiled.
Derpy furrowed her brow out of confusion in the Doctor's direction. He shrugged in response.
(In the TARDIS)
Scarlet and Lilly had recently fallen asleep in their rooms, leaving the couple cuddling next to each other in the library.
"Funny lot of times we've been having lately, ain't it been?" the Doctor asked his assistant. "I means we've gotten five Angels, a decapitation, smoke fumes, one Cyberman, a Skyolozine, three humans, and a psychic..."
"I think the phrase 'absolute craziness' sums it up," she said softly.
But all of a sudden, during her laugh, the Doctor felt Derpy stiffen against him. "Are you okay?" he immediately asked.
"Huh–yes! Yeah, I mean..." she looked up into the Doctor's eyes and frowned. "No, I'm... I'm really not okay."
A tear spilled onto her cheek and the Doctor wiped it away with his thumb automatically, his hands on her shoulders. "Why are you crying, Ditzy?"
He had only called her "Ditzy" so she knew he was wither (a) deeply concerned or (b) trying to tell her it was a serious matter.
"Well..." she looked away.
"No," he whispered softly, allowing his left hand to travel up the right side of her face, tracing her jawline. "Look at me when you explain."
Another round of unstoppable tears flooded her eyes and she practically collapsed into him, although she was still fully conscious. Her breathing became heavy, her chest practically throwing itself up and pulling itself back down.
"Sh, sh, sh, sh, sh," he whispered into her hair, holding her to him. "It's okay. Sh, sh, sh... It's all right..."
"Why did she... I didn't want her to...!" she sobbed.
"Who are you talking about, love?"
"Ca... C... Cara!" she managed to choke out.
"It's okay, dear, it's okay, just cry... It's all okay," he tried to reassure her. Guilt washed through him: maybe if he'd woken up earlier, she wouldn't have bled out? But he pushed the thought away before it could snowball into something more.
Her bottom lip quivering, she looked up and he gazed into her eyes. "Doctor, w-w-why is she with us?"
"Scarlet?"
Derpy nodded.
"She's changed."
"How do you know she isn't lying?"
"She would have done something by now," he smiled weakly. "Trust me."
"I do trust you, Doctor, I just..." She began crying again. "I can't believe she's gone!"
"Neither can I, Derpy," he said into her ear.
"You... You said there was a War, right? How do you survive being the last of the Time Lords?" she asked sincerely.
"I... I... I tell myself there was nothing I could have done. I tell myself the truth. And... It does come back to haunt me some times. Okay, a lot. But I put it behind me."
He watches her eyes again and shut his own. "I've upset you, haven't I?" she asked. "I'm sorry..."
"No, no, you haven't don't anything wrong," he whispered.
"But you look sad," she whispered back.
"Looking and feeling are totally different things. You can feel depressed but smile, or frown even though you're elated."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and he held her to him. He shut his eyes again, this time tighter, hating to see her cry.
Derpy leaned away and the way her eyes watched his made his hearts stop for a few moments; they were all so full of emotions, but they looked almost... Enticing...? Well, to him, they always were. But these sort of... pulled him to her.
"Derpy, why do I want to kiss you so badly right now?" he asked, his lips brushing against hers when he spoke.
"I don't know." She wiped away a few of her tears away.
"Well, can I?"
She giggled embarrassedly, closing the gap between them.
Their lips linked together softly but there was something behind it that made it passionate at the same time. He held his girlfriend to him tightly and continued to kiss her until their need for breathing took over and he leaned away. When the Doctor did so he realized they were both smiling like fools and blushing like crazy. Her giggle became infectious.
Derpy then laid her head against his shoulder and shut his eyes. The Doctor, realizing the couch was large enough, laid down and had her use his chest as a pillow. She opened her eyes out of confusion and he snickered at her expression. "A bit better than my shoulder, I think," he whispered as an explanation.
She smiled, shutting her eyes once more and then draping her non-casted hand over his stomach. The Doctor frowned, remembering how he forgot to ask her something. "Hey, Derpy?"
She lifted her head so they were looking each other in the eye. "Yes?"
"Why did you wait to say anything until now?"
She paused, a smile spreading on her lips. "I think it's because I trust you with my emotions. I also... I didn't want to break down in front of Lilly. Especially not Scarlet, because I wouldn't want to make her feel guilty."
The Doctor frowned again but quickly kissed the top of her head and ran his fingers through her hair.
"Can I sleep now?" she yawned a laugh.
"Go ahead," he chuckled. "Goodnight, dear."
"Goodnight, Doctor."
He paused for at least a minute, lowering his voice to a whisper so there was no way she could hear it. "I love you, Derpy."
She lowered her voice as well. "I love you, too."
Author's Note:
How was that for a first date? Haha! Seems even on their breaks they don't get a break. Life of time travelers, eh?
Sorry for the late update. I forgot I had to upload 15 before 16, and I'm working on 17. So, yes. Numbers. What fun.
See you in the next chapter!
—GothicPegasister