So I was watching some parts from Partners in Crime this morning, and one of those scenes that I re-watched was Donna dangling for her life from the side of the Adipose building. And as I watched, I was struck by something that I can't believe I hadn't noticed before. And that was the Doctor basically screaming at her to 'hang on'. And I think we all know who else he said that to…

So that's where the inspiration for this one-shot came from.

So…yeah.

Enjoy, I guess (maybe).

God bless and have a great day (or night)!
ThePro-LifeCatholic

Also...about the title of the prompt. I think I was going more for a flood of emotions, memories, etc. But I'll shut up now and let you read it, m'kay?

Disclaimer: Guess what I still don't own? That's right. Doctor Who and any of its characters/planets/filming sites/etc. Shocker, isn't it?

Writing Prompt #85: Dangerous Flood

Characters: Donna Noble, 10th Doctor, mentions of Rose Tyler

Shippings: implied 10/Rose

Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Angst/Suspense-ish

Rating: K-K+

One moment they had both been standing inside the metal container, trying to get the window open. He had been using (or rather, attempting to use) his sonic screwdriver. When that hadn't worked within the first 3 seconds, Donna Noble had taken the situation into her own hands.

"Smash it then!" she had proclaimed, procuring a wrench from somewhere and beginning to beat against the thick glass.

The next thing the Doctor knew, the floor under his feet dropped. The broken piece of cable flashed past him, looking not unlike a long, black snake. He slammed hard against metal, his feet bracing to keep him from keeling out into the night air. It took him a second or two to recover from the shock; he could hear his hearts pounding in his ears and adrenaline flooded his system, causing him to shiver slightly.

"DOCTOR!"

The Time Lord peered over the side of the metal wall, brown hair tingling as it met the rush of cool night air. It only took a moment for him to fix his eyes on the thrashing figure beneath him.

Donna.

Dread froze his joints; his hearts had left his chest and were now choking his windpipe. He groped the empty air with one arm, despite the knowledge that they were too far apart from each other to join hands.

"HANG ON!" The two words left his mouth as more of a scream than anything else. Was he trying to console his new-found friend, or was he merely trying to assure himself that he could rescue her?

"I…AM!" The reply came without a pause. Oh, Donna Noble. Even in a life-or-death situation, she was still able to shout back at the world. She could fall to her death at any moment, and she was still going to make certain that she had the last say about the matter.

But her quip, which might've been funny at any other time, wasn't even registered by the Doctor. He could see her. The last time he had told anyone those two words, it had been to a yellow-and-pink human who was in danger of letting go. He could see her face clearly, etched with terror, as her grip on the handle loosened.

The Doctor pulled on the cable, his whole body tense and strained. His breath sounded loud and shaky in his ears; his chafed hands burned and stung from being wrapped too tightly around the metal rope.

The sonic pen! Of course! Some quick thinking and very good timing…and it was in his grasp.

"I'll be right back!" he shouted down at her. Please don't let go. Please don't let go. Please don't let go…

A desperate burst of manic energy catapulted him down the stairs. His trainers slapped hard against the surface of the stairs.

The Doctor charged down flight after flight. In his mind, he was seeing bleached walls and bright white lights. His stinging hands balled into tight fists around the sonic devices, a grip tighter than when he had been holding onto the giant magnet. Rose's scream echoed in his ears, her last look back at him when she no longer had the strength to hold on haunted his every thought.

He flung open a door, closing the distance between the window and himself in several long bounds. The sonic pen shook in unsteady hands as he worked open the glass panel. Then he wrapped his stiff arms around the dangling legs, trying to shout reassurances at the screeching woman outside. She kicked wildly, trying to break free, but he held tightly to her with an iron grip. The Doctor's need to hold onto her, to never let her go, was more of a deranged, obsessive obligation now than anything else.

He couldn't let go. He wouldn't let go. Not again. Never again. Just hang on.

He couldn't live to see it all happen again. To watch someone slip from his grasp, falling into the emptiness, the nothingness, into death itself was something he couldn't bear to live with twice.

The next thing the Doctor knew, Donna was safely on the ground. She brushed down her outfit and smiled up at him, letting him know that she was going to be fine. He could only manage a grin in return; immense relief flooded him, making him feel dizzy and giddy. Then her hand was in his, and they were running, side by side. He blinked violently, trying to ignore the unshed tears that blurred his vision. But the Doctor took care not to let Donna see. He squeezed her hand a little more, just to make certain that she was still right behind him.

Just hang on…Just hang on…Just hang on….Just hang on…Just hang on…Just hang on…Hang on…