I'm so sorry that it's been so long since I updated last! I had vacation and then camp, and then struggled with writers block due to not writing in a while. :P
BTW, reviews make me very very happy! ;) *Hint, Hint*
Hang on to your Stetsons folks, lots of feels coming your way!
Period Eleven - Doctor Who?
I finally finish filling Wilfred in on all the recent happenings - It hasn't been easy, either; Donna kept on popping up, refusing to leave, insisting to be let in on the conversation. Her Grandfather eventually managed to persuade her that we were talking about fishing, and that how he knew me. According to his hastily made-up story we would go out by the lake as kids, and we haven't seen each other for many years. It was convincing enough, and Donna finally left us alone to talk. I've been keeping a watchful eye on her, worried that something will click in her mind and she'll remember something.
Donna catches me looking at her, and raises an eyebrow. "What are you looking at, fisher boy?" She snaps.
I sigh, shaking my head. "Don't call me that."
"And what am I supposed to call you, then?" She inquires, annoyed. "You haven't told me your name!"
"Jo-" I cut myself off before I finish the fake name. With a pang I remember all the times I pretended to be John Smith when Donna was traveling with me. And how everyone would think we were some kind of a couple. I was a different me then, but the memories are still crystal clear. "P-parker. Parker..." I rack my mind for a last name, looking around desperately. My eyes land on Martha. "Jones. I'm Parker Jones." Martha gives me a weird look, but she stays quiet.
"Wait, I was just talking to her and she said her maiden name was Jones?" Donna asks, pointing to Mickey and Martha.
"Yes! She is. I mean it is. I'm, uh..." I'm a rubbish liar, that's what I am. "I'm Martha's brother!"
"Really?" Donna asks disbelievingly. "You're her brother?"
"I'm adopted." I say quickly.
"Obviously."
"So..." Amy pipes up helpfully. "Am I the only one who's starving?"
"I was trying to not talk about it!" Mickey groans. "Talking about being hungry always makes it worse!"
"Then maybe we should not talk about it, huh?" Rory sighs, obviously tired.
"How long have we been here, do you think?" Clara asks of the room.
Mickey rolls his eyes. "How are we supposed to know?"
"It was just a question!" Clara huffs.
"And I just answered." Mickey replies snarkily.
"Can we please just get along?" I yell, exasperated.
My head aches as I see Mickey's mouth opening, ready for a quick comeback. The loud, familiar echo of the opening door resounds through the room, and I'm almost glad for the interruption. Almost. I sigh, tiredness washing over me. I find that I could actually sleep right now, which is rare. Too much has been happening lately. Far, far too many loved ones involved.
"Remember everyone," I instruct, rising from my spot on the uncomfortable floor. "Stay cool."
I'm taken by surprise as I feel a hand grasp mine, and look to see River standing next to me, giving silent comfort. I squeeze her hand lightly and put on a small smile, just for her. She returns the smile, and it gives a little comfort, even though we both know there is no happiness behind them.
The entrance opens fully, and I glance around to see that everyone is on their feet, anticipating whatever might be behind those doors. I don't know if I can handle another one of my friends being dragged into this mess.
General is again standing in the doorway, her familiar smirk etched onto her face.
"WHAT IN THE BLAZES IS YOUR PROBLEM?" Donna screams at her, going right up to the General and getting in her face. I start to intervene, but the ever present chain wrapped around my torso holds me back.
"Donna, don't-"
"You insane..." Donna trails off a moment, looking for the right word. "LUNATIC! I am a British citizen! How dare you kidnap me for some ridiculous stunt? If you want to be famous, then try singing, Sunshine!"
"Is that what The Doctor told you?" Atisha laughs. My hearts sink dramatically as she says my title, and I just hope Donna won't remember... "He is such a bad man, isn't he? Well, he's not really a man at all. Time Lords aren't human after all, so how could he be?" Atisha is speaking to Donna, but her eyes are looking intently at me, almost teasingly.
"...Doctor...?" Donna whispers.
"Don't think about it, Sweetheart!" Wilfred says hurriedly, going over to his Granddaughter. "It doesn't mean anything!"
"Oh yes, you don't remember do you?" Atisha says coolly, eyes boring into mine.
I shake my head adamantly. "Don't."
"Hold on...Time Lord?" Donna gasps.
"Of course, that's what The Doctor is." The General smirks.
"Don't listen to her, Donna!" I yell, still staring down Atisha.
"I know who you are!" Donna sobs, turning to me. I shake my head and back up, soon meeting the wall.
"No you don't! You don't know me!" I insist, a tear rolling down my cheek. I look desperately to River, who is still beside me. "Help me..." I whisper.
"Sweetie, there's nothing I can do..." River is crying now too. She must know how hard this is for me.
"The Doctor Donna...In the TARDIS..." Donna whispers, coming towards me.
"Please stop!" I yell, feeling more tears spilling from my eyes.
"You made me forget!" Donna chokes out, barely able to talk through her tears. "You made me forget to save me...How could I have forgotten you?"
"Please, Donna - You can't remember!"
"My head...Oh, Doctor! My head!" Donna yells, holding her head as she staggers back a pace.
"Sweetheart!" Wilfred yells desperately. "Honey, please!"
"Make it stop! It hurts too much!"
I open my mouth to say who knows what - what can I way? What can I do? Nothing. I'm useless. White-light energy rushes from around Donna, hitting us all. The last thing I see before my world goes completely dark is Donna falling to the ground in a heap.
My eyes snap open to the scene of many people in a small room, who seem to be waking up as well. Donna. My eyes find her quickly, lying on the ground, unmoving. By now everyone has sat up or is in the process of doing so, but my eyes are unable to leave my poor friend.
"Donna." I breathe. My energy comes back in a burst, and I jump to my feet, racing towards her. My chain pulls me back a foot short and I fall back on my backside, unable to reach the unconscious woman in front of me. "Donna!"
"What was that?" General Atisha snaps, stalking over to me. I'm too focused on Donna to respond. "I demand you explain what just happened!" Atisha kicks me angrily. "Tell me!"
I get to my feet and give her a level glare. "That," I snap. "Was a force field of energy. As you know, I had to wipe Donna's memories of me in order to save her life. But there has always been the possibility that she might remember something, so to protect her I set in her mind a fail-safe which goes off if the memories were to ever come back. As you've noticed, it knocks unconscious anyone who might be near her, in order to ensure she has time to escape if she is put in danger."
Atisha looks behind her, where Wilfred is cradling his unmoving Granddaughter's head. "Then why isn't she awake yet?" The General asks coolly, looking back to me.
"I don't know."
"I need to check on her!" Martha tells Wilfred hurriedly.
"You know it's your fault if she dies, don't you?" Atisha sneers at me.
"This whole time I've been blaming myself for everything that's been happening." I say levelly, meeting Atisha's eyes. "But I've come to realize how completely out of proportion this is. Do you even realize how ridiculous it is to blame me for something that I didn't even have any comprehension of doing? I blew up Archinaga - yes, I admit to that - but there was no possible way I could have known that it would hit your planet, let alone kill so many!"
"Do not try to defend yourself now, Do-" Atisha begins angrily, but I cut her off, anger and adrenaline flooding through me.
"I have already apologized numerous times!" I yell in her face.
"An apology cannot bring back my family!"
"No, it can't; and I am sincerely sorry! I would have understood physical torture more than I can your way of revenge! To bring innocent people into the mix! I know what happened was absolutely awful - believe me, I understand! I'm the very last of my kind! - but how could you possibly be so messed up in the head to think up something like this?" My voice has risen so that I'm bellowing now, rage making it hard to think.
Atisha's eyes take on a crazed look, and again I question her level of sanity. "You will suffer as I suffered!" She spits at me.
"I have already suffered more than you could possibly understand!" I shove the General back with the palms of my hands angrily, hardly even aware of my friends calling my name in protest. "I'm responsible for the destruction of my kind. I killed my own family and friends to save the universe! I'm the last one left. I'm in this alone. I always have been. I always will be. My companions are the only reason I bother to live anymore! And then you come along and try to harm them. Look at what you've done to Donna!" I bellow, gesturing to my still unmoving friend. "I have lived 11 lives. Death and pain follows me wherever I go. I watch as my friends die around me! I have suffered more than anyone else ever has!"
"It's not enough!" Atisha screams, eyes blazing. The fight inside of me dies, and I take a small step back.
"Don't hurt my friends. You can torture me. Kill me. I don't care. If you have any kindness left in you, then let my friends go. Please."
Atisha stares deep into my eyes, and I force myself to stare back. "Guards!" She yells after a long pause. Five guards come running into the room and stand next to their leader. She looks to Martha, who is still sitting beside Donna and Wilfred. "What's the condition of the prisoner?"
Martha looks up, surprised. I nod for her to answer, fear coursing through me. "She has a pulse and her breathing has gone back to normal."
I breathe a sigh of relief and bury my face in my hands, trying to stop the tears which are coming late.
"Guards," Atisha says, anger gone from her voice. "Return Wilfred and Donna back to their homes." I look up at my captor in shock, tears forgotten.
"Hang on!" Mickey says excitedly. "You're letting us go?"
Atisha turns to look at him. "I said Donna and Wilfred. You and the rest will stay here." I begin to protest, but she holds her hand up to silence me. "Accept my generosity, Doctor. It's them or no one."
"No!" Wilfred protests, getting to his feet to look at me. "I won't leave you!"
"Go with Donna. Make sure she's alright. Protect her. Do you understand?" I say, calmer than I thought would be possible at the moment.
"Yes, but-"
"Thank you." I say to Atisha, who doesn't even nod in reply.
"Guards," She orders again. "Do as I said."
So, thank you to JustaFicReader for pointing out what you did. It does make sense, and I hope this chapter pleased you :)