Chasing Cars - Doctor Who

[sushigal007.livejournal.com]

Set immediately after the novel “The Indestructible Man.” Although all you really need to know is lots of bad things happen, mostly to Jamie.

The TARDIS floated silently through space. Inside, Jamie and Zoe were curled up in each others arms, onto their seventeenth hour of sleep. The Doctor didn’t blame them; if it wasn’t for the fact that he’d woken up with a desperate need to pee, he’d still be asleep with them. But while he was awake, he’d taken the opportunity to grab a bite to eat and decide what to do next. They’d been through a lot these past few weeks and needed some R and R. Perhaps they could go skiing on the ice caps of Tamarix. Or to Greece. Greece was nice and sunny, and he knew Jamie in particular could do with seeing the sun after being locked up in an underwater prison. For now though, he’d just let the TARDIS drift. Much as he liked to deny it, the TARDIS did have a nasty habit of dropping them in trouble and right now, that wasn’t what any of them needed. They needed sleep and food and…

Maybe they needed to go home.

His hearts sped up slightly at the thought. He’d only just got his friends back, he didn’t think he could stand to lose them again. But maybe he was being selfish, expecting them to carry on travelling with him after all they’d been through.

He sensed a movement behind him and spun around to see Zoe standing in the doorway. “My dear, you should be resting,” he scolded.

“I woke up and you weren’t there,” she said petulantly, moving over to his side. “Where are we going?”

“I don’t know yet,” he admitted. “I was thinking…” He sighed and rubbed his face, then turned and looked seriously at her. “Are you happy travelling with us?”

“Of course,” Zoe said, looking surprised. “Well, most of the time,” she quickly amended.

“So… you would like to carry on travelling with us?” the Doctor asked carefully. “You don’t want to go home?”

Zoe narrowed her eyes. “Certainly not. Why do you ask?”

“I thought… well, after what happened to your friend…” He stopped babbling and turned back to the console. “I just don’t want you to get hurt again,” he finished quietly.

“So long as I have you and Jamie, I’ll be fine,” she said simply. “Speaking of which,” she added severely, “I hope you’re not going to suggest taking Jamie home, he’ll think you’re punishing him.”

“No, I know,” he admitted. “I just thought… never mind. How is he?” he asked, changing the subject.

Zoe shrugged. “Better than he was. He woke me up yelling about a Doctor Kos…voski or something but settled down again after a few minutes. I didn’t really know what to do.”

The Doctor shrugged hopelessly. “There’s not a lot we can do. Except be there for him and let him know we still care.”

Zoe looked thoughtful. “Really? Hmm. Well, I’m going back to bed. Night.”

The Doctor waved her away and began tapping co-ordinates into the console. Greece. A holiday was just what they needed.

===

The Doctor returned to Zoe’s room a few minutes later. After spending so long apart, he and his companions had been loathe to split up and by unspoken agreement, they’d all slept together in Zoe’s bed, which was the biggest.

Jamie stirred and opened his eyes as he slipped quietly under the covers. “Doctor?”

“It’s all right, I’m here,” he said soothingly. The boy rolled over and snuggled into his side. Even in the darkness, the Doctor could feel the weight of his gaze. “I can’t sleep if you’re staring at me,” he said gently.

“Sorry.” Jamie raised a hand and gently brushed the Doctor’s hair off his forehead. “I just… I know it’s you, but I still... it’s incredible.”

The Doctor smiled sadly. “I’m not human. I’m able to withstand a lot more than you. Although I should’ve…” He hesitated. It had taken so long for Jamie to trust him again. He was only just beginning to recover. Perhaps it wasn’t the best time to explain the process of regeneration. “Maybe we should have a password or phrase,” he suggested. “So you can be certain I’m me?”

“What sort of password?” Zoe asked, propped herself up on one elbow and leaning over Jamie.

“Well… something only we would know. Like… oh dear, my mind’s gone blank,” he fretted.

“Like Macra?” Jamie suggested.

“What’s Macra?” Zoe asked.

“There’s no such thing as Macra,” the Doctor answered with a smile.

Zoe leaned over and gave him a light smack on the arm. “Tease.”

“Don’t hit me or I’ll push you off the bed,” the Doctor warned, reaching over Jamie to poke her in the ribs.

“Both of you stop and go t’ sleep,” Jamie ordered, sitting up and batting away his friend’s arms. “I’m tired, I cannae sleep through your bickering.”

“You can’t still be tired,” Zoe said in disbelief. “You’ve slept almost an entire day.”

“Aye, well, now I’m going t’ sleep an entire night.” He lay back down and screwed his eyes shut.

Zoe and the Doctor looked at each other in amusement. She raised an eyebrow suggestively at him and the Doctor nodded. “How about we make it worth your while?” she whispered, and nibbled his neck.