Lots of People Have Imaginary Friends (or, Call Me Munchkin Again)
Title: Lots of People Have Imaginary Friends (or, Call Me Munchkin Again)
Characters: Alex (OC), Donna, Shaun, brief appearance by the Doctor (11)
Summary: Alex is sick and slips about her new best friend.
Rating: G
Word Count: ~3,000
Prompt: Written for Travellers’ Tales prompt #6 (fever) at doctor_donna
Note: Many thanks to bas_math_girl for help with the celeb reference (way back in the day, before this sat on my laptop for ages, but still). I’m not British, folks, and I don’t keep up on celebrities either, so meh. :p
Another note: After months of having this thing done, I finally named the bloody thing. At last!
‘Verse Notes: This fits into my Better than Just Stories ‘verse, the masterlist for which can be found here.
“But I don’t want to go to bed....”
Donna just smiled, pulling up the covers and turning off the small lamp beside the bed. “You need to sleep,” she insisted gently. Alex whimpered and Donna bit her lip, sitting down beside her. “Alex, if you don’t sleep, you won’t get any better. You want to be able to play, don’t you?”
Alex nodded, but she was still pouting. “I don’t feel good, Mummy,” she said. “I feel icky.”
“That’s because you’re sick,” Donna reminded her. “You’ll feel better soon. Mummy promises.”
“But I want to feel better now. It’s dumb for me to be sick.”
“I know, baby, but bad things happen sometimes. They happen to everybody, like when Mummy hurt her head, remember? But Mummy’s fine now, and you will be too.”
“I don’t feel good,” Alex repeated simply. “Please, Mummy, make it better.”
Donna closed her eyes for a moment, squeezing them shut tighter as she heard Alex let out a little cough. She quickly opened them again and placed a hand on her daughter’s forehead, swallowing as she felt the heat coming from her skin. “Mummy’s trying, Alex,” she promised, “but if you’re going to feel better you need to sleep. Promise Mummy you’ll at least try?”
“I promise,” Alex replied, coughing as she tried to give Donna a smile. “I’ll try, promise.”
“That’s my girl,” Donna said softly. She stroked Alex’s hair for a moment then leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Alex’s flushed cheek. “Sleep, baby. Mummy will be back later.”
Donna got up to leave but she hadn’t even reached the door when Alex called for her. She immediately turned around and her heart melted as she saw the look on her little girl’s face.
“Mummy?”
“What’s wrong, Alex?”
“Mummy, if I knew how to make me better, would you listen?”
Donna hurriedly wiped her hands under her eyes and nodded. “Of course we would.”
“Good. ‘Cause I want the Doctor.”
Donna stared at her, her worried face shifting into a frown. “Alex, we’ve been to a doctor.”
“No,” Alex said simply, “I want the Doctor.”
“Alex, Mummy doesn’t understand. Remember, Mummy took you to the doctor on Tuesday?”
“No you didn’t!” Alex insisted, coughing again as she grew more upset. “I want my Doctor!”
“Okay, okay, it’s all right, baby, calm down,” Donna said quickly. “Just explain it to me.”
“He can make me feel better, Mummy. He’ll let me play with his tie and tell me funny stories and I’ll feel much better, I promise. He never comes back, never when he wants to. He’s my best friend, and we never can play, and it’s your fault, Mummy. Why won’t you let us play?”
“Alex, honey, you’re not making any sense....”
“Why won’t you let him come back?” Alex shouted. “It’s all your fault, Mummy, he won’t come because of you! Why don’t you want to see him, Mummy? Why does he have to stay away?”
“Alex, I don’t.... I don’t understand.” Alex just stared at her and she swallowed, trying to keep calm. “We’ll call Dr. Francis in the morning. I’ll take the whole day from work and we’ll go in to see him and he’ll give you a sweet like he always does. And we can see whoever else is there too, and then you’ll get to play with your friends, and you’ll have a wonderful time. Okay?”
“I don’t want to see him, I want my Doctor. Please, Mummy, where is he?”
“Just....just go to bed, Alex,” Donna replied softly. “We’ll talk about the doctor in the morning, okay? Please, just go to sleep. You promised Mummy, remember?”
Alex reluctantly nodded and Donna smiled at her, flipping off the light and leaving the room. She shut the door behind her and managed only a few steps before she leaned against the wall, sliding to the floor and burying her head in her hands. “Oh, God,” she sobbed. “Alex....”
“Donna?”
Donna looked up to see Shaun standing beside her, rubbing a hand over his hair as he stared worriedly down at her. When he saw the expression on her face he just rubbed harder.
“You’ll go bald if you keep doing that,” Donna said with an attempt at a laugh. “Stop it.”
“I can’t help it,” he replied. He crouched beside her and wiped the tears from her face, running his fingers through her hair. “She’s not feeling any better, is she?”
“Her fever’s up. Again.” Donna swallowed a sob and leaned her head against the wall, tears trickling down her cheeks again. “She’s talking rubbish, Shaun. She asked to see the doctor, but she....she went mad when I told her I’d take her in the morning. She loves Dr. Francis, too, that’s what’s so weird. Oh, God,” she said again. “Shaun, tell me she’s going to be okay.”
“We’re doing what we can, and her doctor said-”
Donna turned her gaze to him and her face hardened. “Tell me she’s going to be okay,” she demanded. “Tell me my baby’s going to be all right. Shaun, tell me.”
Shaun sighed and supported her jaw with his hand, tenderly pulling her face closer. “She’ll be fine,” he said softly. He brushed his lips against hers, and after a moment he pulled back to look at her face. “Donna, you are a fabulous mother. Alex will be fine. It’s just the flu.”
“Thank you,” Donna replied simply. She smiled, but then Shaun leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to her feet. “What in the- Shaun Temple, you put me down right now!” She shrieked as he threw her over his shoulder, then he turned and began to make his way down the hall. “What do you think you’re doing, you idiot?”
“Distracting you,” Shaun admitted with a grin. “Is it working?”
Donna just thumped him on the back. “You won’t be nearly as attractive with a broken back....”
Shaun just rolled his eyes and pretended to drop her, laughing as she yelped and clung onto the back of his shirt. They finally reached their bedroom and he flopped down on the bed with her still in his arms, squeezing her briefly before finally releasing her. He smiled, running one of his hands under the bottom hem of her shirt, but Donna batted his hand away. “Donna, what’s wrong? You’re not- you aren’t pregnant again, are you?”
“Of course I’m not. Why? Are you saying I’m fat? Shaun,” she growled, “don’t you dare.”
“You,” he said, leaning over her and pressing his lips over hers, “are the most beautiful....and caring woman....I’ve ever seen....in my life.”
Donna finally returned his kiss, reaching up and pulling him closer. “Even more beautiful than Stacey Solomon?” she challenged.
“Now she is fat,” Shaun replied with a wink. Donna laughed at that and he shot her a teasing glare as she swatted him lightly on the arm. “Oi, stop it. I’m defenseless, remember?”
“Not bloody likely,” Donna scoffed. “I don’t have you that well trained....yet.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m not afraid of you.”
“Oh, shut up!” Donna chuckled. She shoved him away and sat up, pulling her legs up onto the bed and wrapping her arms around her knees. There was a moment of silence then she sighed, resting her head on her forearms. “Thanks for trying,” she said simply.
“Donna, really, she’ll be fine. She’s my daughter too, after all. Assuming, that is,” he added, nudging her with his elbow, “that there’s nothing you need to tell me.”
“Oh, shut up,” she repeated, but this time there was no humor in her voice. “Shaun, I’m scared.”
“So am I,” he admitted, “but I promise you, Donna, our little girl is going to be fine.”
Donna nodded. “But what about what she said? She asked for the doctor, but she doesn’t want to see him. I don’t understand. Shaun, she doesn’t make any sense. I remember being sick as a kid. The doctor was a nice enough bloke, but I never would have called him my best friend.”
Shaun just slid even closer and wrapped his arms around her waist, smiling as she leaned her head against his chest. “Maybe what makes sense to her doesn’t make sense to you. Maybe it’s not supposed to,” he offered. “Maybe you’re not supposed to understand.”
“Now you’re not making any sense,” Donna retorted. She hesitated, fiddling absently with her wedding ring. “I know she has an imagination, but what if there’s really something wrong with her? All this stuff about the doctor....”
“Donna, look at me.” Donna’s head rose and he stroked her cheek, smiling as she leaned into his touch. “We made the most adorable child in the whole world. She’s perfect. There’s not a thing about that little girl that’s not right, do you understand me? She’s wonderful. And it’s all because of you, her amazingly beautiful mother.” He kissed her once more, releasing her as he felt the tension finally drain from her body. “Hello. There’s my wife. I’ve missed you.”
“You’re distracting me again,” Donna said, narrowing her eyes at him.
“Absolutely. Are you complaining?”
Donna just smiled and kissed him again. “Did I say I wasn’t enjoying it?” She started to kiss him more passionately but suddenly groaned and pulled away, clutching her head. “I’m sick of these migraines,” she grumbled as she settled against the wall.
“Go to sleep,” Shaun urged. Donna shook her head but he guided her to rest on the bed, lying down beside her as she squeezed her eyes shut even tighter. “Donna? Can you hear me?”
“I’m fine,” she assured him.
“Do you want anything? It’s not bad enough you need....I don’t need to call Dr. Francis, do I?”
“Not even close. I haven’t had one that bad since right after I had Alex. I’m fine, I swear.”
“I’ll keep track of the munchkin for the night. You rest.”
Donna managed a small nod. “I owe you one.”
“Of course you do,” Shaun replied with a smirk. He pressed his lips to her forehead then stood, laying a blanket over her before he turned to leave. “Donna?”
“What now?” Donna groaned, but she was grinning anyway. “I thought you told me to sleep.”
“If you were pregnant again,” he said simply, “I’d be ecstatic. I’d love another baby.”
Donna’s smile warmed but she waved him away. “Tomorrow,” she promised. “Now get out.”
“Love you,” he reminded her, then turned out the light and left.
Down the hall Alex’s door was still shut, and Shaun gently knocked on it, but there was no response. The door cracked open and he peeked inside, smiling as he saw his little girl curled up in bed, clinging to her favorite stuffed animal. “Alex?” he called. “Are you awake, honey?”
“Hi, Daddy,” Alex said, and a little arm escaped the covers to wave at him. “Daddy, I still don’t feel good. Mummy said she was gonna take me to the doctor, but I don’t want to go.”
“I see,” Shaun replied. He slipped through the door and carefully closed it behind him, walking up to the side of Alex’s bed and sitting beside her. “Do you want the Doctor to come see you?”
“Can he?” she asked, her reddened eyes suddenly bright. “Daddy, please, can he? I want him.”
Shaun didn’t answer, silently smoothing her hair from her face. She was still too warm, but she was sleeping less than she had the last few days, and she sounded more like the irksome and amazing little girl he loved so very much.
“Daddy, can I?” she repeated. “I miss the Doctor, Daddy. He’ll make me feel better, promise.”
“Okay, Alex, calm down. Daddy will phone the Doctor, but only if you do a favor for Daddy.”
Alex nodded, curling up into a little ball as she coughed again but still excited. “What is it?”
“You can’t talk about the Doctor in front of Mummy.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” Alex whispered. “I didn’t mean to, but I don’t feel good, Daddy. My brain’s all hot and icky. But I didn’t mean to, I promise.”
“It’s okay, honey, Daddy knows. Do you remember what Daddy told you?”
“Mummy....Mummy’s sick,” Alex said slowly. “She’s sick of the Doctor. He can’t talk to her.”
“She doesn’t remember him, honey. And if she sees him, yes, she’ll get very sick. You don’t want Mummy to be sick, do you?” Alex shook her head so hard her curls flew about and smacked her face, and Shaun reached forward to calm her. “It’s okay. Mummy’s fine.”
“I like Mummy,” Alex offered suddenly. “I like the Doctor too, but if he makes Mummy sick he doesn’t have to come. I like Mummy more.”
Shaun just grinned, hugging his daughter to his chest. “I like Mummy too.”
“That’s because Mummy’s brilliant!” Alex said, her enthusiastic tone evident despite her voice being muffled in Shaun’s shirt. “That’s what the Doctor says. He says Mummy’s brilliant!”
“That’s because she is, honey. Mummy’s very brilliant. Just like you.”
“And you too,” Alex insisted. “Doctor says I’m bright ‘cause I’m made from two bright things.”
“And if the Doctor said it, it must be true?”
“Yeah huh!”
“Silly girl,” Shaun said as he hugged her tighter. “I think you need some rest.”
“I’m not sleepy!” Alex protested. “I feel all icky and sick and squirmy.”
“Squirmy now, is it?”
Alex nodded. “If I use that word lots, will you put it in one of your stories?”
“We’ll see. But I won’t do anything unless you stay in bed. I’ve told Mummy I’m staying with you tonight. Would you like that? Or,” he cut in before Alex could reply, “would you like me to call the Doctor? He’ll wear his super secret hiding key.”
“I love the hiding key,” Alex said with a smile. “Mummy comes in and she doesn’t even see him sitting there. She says I have an imaginary friend, I hear her. But lots of people have those!”
“Yes, they do, Alex. But yours isn’t imaginary, is he? That makes you special.”
Alex grinned wider, but then she leaned forward and started to cough. Shaun grabbed a glass of water by her bed and let her take a drink before setting it back down. “You, young lady, are going to sleep. Ah, nope,” he said as she started to protest. “You won’t be able to have fun with the Doctor if you’re tired, will you? Go to sleep, Alex. He’ll come later tonight.”
“Okay,” Alex replied with a sigh. “And Daddy?”
“What is it, honey?”
“Can you call me munchkin again? If you’re not mad at me?”
“I could never be mad at you, munchkin. Daddy loves you. You know that, yeah?”
Alex nodded. “I think I’ll sleep now,” she said finally. “Can the Doctor come soon?”
“He’ll be here when you wake up,” Shaun promised. “I’ll be in my office if you feel....what was the word again, squirmy?” Alex giggled then disappeared under her covers and he just smiled. “Good night, munchkin. Have a good sleep.”
“Night, Daddy,” Alex called from beneath her blankets. “And tell the Doctor to stay away from Mummy. He only can see me, okay? Tell him he’s in trouble if he sees Mummy first.”
“I think he knows that, but I’ll tell him anyway.”
“Good,” Alex replied in a huff. “He’s my best friend. He has to be a good friend and do what I say, right? ‘Cause friends do that, don’t they, Daddy? They listen to what the other says?”
“Sometimes,” Shaun answered hesitantly. “Sometimes they have to not listen though, if what their friend wants is bad for them.” He swallowed, casting another glance toward Alex’s door. He knew Donna wasn’t going to walk in on their conversation; most days when she got headaches she could barely walk, and she wouldn’t bother to come down the hall anyway, not since he’d promised to take care of Alex for the night. Hopefully Donna was asleep already; a good rest normally drove her headaches away, or at least kept her occupied long enough to stop thinking about whatever had given her a headache in the first place. Or so he hoped.
“Daddy?”
“The Doctor will listen to you, sweetheart,” he said finally. “I promise, he won’t see Mummy.”
“I think he wants to see her,” Alex offered, popping back out from the covers. “He looks really unhappy when I talk about her, even when he tells me his stories, and he gets all quiet after she comes and sees me with him, like he doesn’t want to have fun anymore. Why’s he so sad?”
“I think you should ask the Doctor. But sleep first. You can ask the Doctor when he gets here.”
“Promise?”
“Of course, honey.”
Alex vanished under the blankets again, the little lump where she was lying shifting a few times before it finally stilled. Shaun just smiled, flipped the lights off again, and walked out.
“Hurry up, Doctor,” Alex whispered in the dark. “Being alone’s no fun. I need my best friend.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Some time later -Alex wasn’t entirely sure how long it had been- the door clicked open, light spilling onto the carpet as a tall skinny shadow passed through the entrance. There was a moment of silence then a buzzing, and Alex’s lamp turned on, her eyes meeting a familiar face.
“Hello, dear,” the Doctor greeted her with a smile. “I hear we’re still not feeling well? I think I can fix that straight away. But first,” he said, rubbing his hands together, “who’s for checkers?”
Characters: Alex (OC), Donna, Shaun, brief appearance by the Doctor (11)
Summary: Alex is sick and slips about her new best friend.
Rating: G
Word Count: ~3,000
Prompt: Written for Travellers’ Tales prompt #6 (fever) at doctor_donna
Note: Many thanks to bas_math_girl for help with the celeb reference (way back in the day, before this sat on my laptop for ages, but still). I’m not British, folks, and I don’t keep up on celebrities either, so meh. :p
Another note: After months of having this thing done, I finally named the bloody thing. At last!
‘Verse Notes: This fits into my Better than Just Stories ‘verse, the masterlist for which can be found here.
“But I don’t want to go to bed....”
Donna just smiled, pulling up the covers and turning off the small lamp beside the bed. “You need to sleep,” she insisted gently. Alex whimpered and Donna bit her lip, sitting down beside her. “Alex, if you don’t sleep, you won’t get any better. You want to be able to play, don’t you?”
Alex nodded, but she was still pouting. “I don’t feel good, Mummy,” she said. “I feel icky.”
“That’s because you’re sick,” Donna reminded her. “You’ll feel better soon. Mummy promises.”
“But I want to feel better now. It’s dumb for me to be sick.”
“I know, baby, but bad things happen sometimes. They happen to everybody, like when Mummy hurt her head, remember? But Mummy’s fine now, and you will be too.”
“I don’t feel good,” Alex repeated simply. “Please, Mummy, make it better.”
Donna closed her eyes for a moment, squeezing them shut tighter as she heard Alex let out a little cough. She quickly opened them again and placed a hand on her daughter’s forehead, swallowing as she felt the heat coming from her skin. “Mummy’s trying, Alex,” she promised, “but if you’re going to feel better you need to sleep. Promise Mummy you’ll at least try?”
“I promise,” Alex replied, coughing as she tried to give Donna a smile. “I’ll try, promise.”
“That’s my girl,” Donna said softly. She stroked Alex’s hair for a moment then leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Alex’s flushed cheek. “Sleep, baby. Mummy will be back later.”
Donna got up to leave but she hadn’t even reached the door when Alex called for her. She immediately turned around and her heart melted as she saw the look on her little girl’s face.
“Mummy?”
“What’s wrong, Alex?”
“Mummy, if I knew how to make me better, would you listen?”
Donna hurriedly wiped her hands under her eyes and nodded. “Of course we would.”
“Good. ‘Cause I want the Doctor.”
Donna stared at her, her worried face shifting into a frown. “Alex, we’ve been to a doctor.”
“No,” Alex said simply, “I want the Doctor.”
“Alex, Mummy doesn’t understand. Remember, Mummy took you to the doctor on Tuesday?”
“No you didn’t!” Alex insisted, coughing again as she grew more upset. “I want my Doctor!”
“Okay, okay, it’s all right, baby, calm down,” Donna said quickly. “Just explain it to me.”
“He can make me feel better, Mummy. He’ll let me play with his tie and tell me funny stories and I’ll feel much better, I promise. He never comes back, never when he wants to. He’s my best friend, and we never can play, and it’s your fault, Mummy. Why won’t you let us play?”
“Alex, honey, you’re not making any sense....”
“Why won’t you let him come back?” Alex shouted. “It’s all your fault, Mummy, he won’t come because of you! Why don’t you want to see him, Mummy? Why does he have to stay away?”
“Alex, I don’t.... I don’t understand.” Alex just stared at her and she swallowed, trying to keep calm. “We’ll call Dr. Francis in the morning. I’ll take the whole day from work and we’ll go in to see him and he’ll give you a sweet like he always does. And we can see whoever else is there too, and then you’ll get to play with your friends, and you’ll have a wonderful time. Okay?”
“I don’t want to see him, I want my Doctor. Please, Mummy, where is he?”
“Just....just go to bed, Alex,” Donna replied softly. “We’ll talk about the doctor in the morning, okay? Please, just go to sleep. You promised Mummy, remember?”
Alex reluctantly nodded and Donna smiled at her, flipping off the light and leaving the room. She shut the door behind her and managed only a few steps before she leaned against the wall, sliding to the floor and burying her head in her hands. “Oh, God,” she sobbed. “Alex....”
“Donna?”
Donna looked up to see Shaun standing beside her, rubbing a hand over his hair as he stared worriedly down at her. When he saw the expression on her face he just rubbed harder.
“You’ll go bald if you keep doing that,” Donna said with an attempt at a laugh. “Stop it.”
“I can’t help it,” he replied. He crouched beside her and wiped the tears from her face, running his fingers through her hair. “She’s not feeling any better, is she?”
“Her fever’s up. Again.” Donna swallowed a sob and leaned her head against the wall, tears trickling down her cheeks again. “She’s talking rubbish, Shaun. She asked to see the doctor, but she....she went mad when I told her I’d take her in the morning. She loves Dr. Francis, too, that’s what’s so weird. Oh, God,” she said again. “Shaun, tell me she’s going to be okay.”
“We’re doing what we can, and her doctor said-”
Donna turned her gaze to him and her face hardened. “Tell me she’s going to be okay,” she demanded. “Tell me my baby’s going to be all right. Shaun, tell me.”
Shaun sighed and supported her jaw with his hand, tenderly pulling her face closer. “She’ll be fine,” he said softly. He brushed his lips against hers, and after a moment he pulled back to look at her face. “Donna, you are a fabulous mother. Alex will be fine. It’s just the flu.”
“Thank you,” Donna replied simply. She smiled, but then Shaun leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to her feet. “What in the- Shaun Temple, you put me down right now!” She shrieked as he threw her over his shoulder, then he turned and began to make his way down the hall. “What do you think you’re doing, you idiot?”
“Distracting you,” Shaun admitted with a grin. “Is it working?”
Donna just thumped him on the back. “You won’t be nearly as attractive with a broken back....”
Shaun just rolled his eyes and pretended to drop her, laughing as she yelped and clung onto the back of his shirt. They finally reached their bedroom and he flopped down on the bed with her still in his arms, squeezing her briefly before finally releasing her. He smiled, running one of his hands under the bottom hem of her shirt, but Donna batted his hand away. “Donna, what’s wrong? You’re not- you aren’t pregnant again, are you?”
“Of course I’m not. Why? Are you saying I’m fat? Shaun,” she growled, “don’t you dare.”
“You,” he said, leaning over her and pressing his lips over hers, “are the most beautiful....and caring woman....I’ve ever seen....in my life.”
Donna finally returned his kiss, reaching up and pulling him closer. “Even more beautiful than Stacey Solomon?” she challenged.
“Now she is fat,” Shaun replied with a wink. Donna laughed at that and he shot her a teasing glare as she swatted him lightly on the arm. “Oi, stop it. I’m defenseless, remember?”
“Not bloody likely,” Donna scoffed. “I don’t have you that well trained....yet.”
“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m not afraid of you.”
“Oh, shut up!” Donna chuckled. She shoved him away and sat up, pulling her legs up onto the bed and wrapping her arms around her knees. There was a moment of silence then she sighed, resting her head on her forearms. “Thanks for trying,” she said simply.
“Donna, really, she’ll be fine. She’s my daughter too, after all. Assuming, that is,” he added, nudging her with his elbow, “that there’s nothing you need to tell me.”
“Oh, shut up,” she repeated, but this time there was no humor in her voice. “Shaun, I’m scared.”
“So am I,” he admitted, “but I promise you, Donna, our little girl is going to be fine.”
Donna nodded. “But what about what she said? She asked for the doctor, but she doesn’t want to see him. I don’t understand. Shaun, she doesn’t make any sense. I remember being sick as a kid. The doctor was a nice enough bloke, but I never would have called him my best friend.”
Shaun just slid even closer and wrapped his arms around her waist, smiling as she leaned her head against his chest. “Maybe what makes sense to her doesn’t make sense to you. Maybe it’s not supposed to,” he offered. “Maybe you’re not supposed to understand.”
“Now you’re not making any sense,” Donna retorted. She hesitated, fiddling absently with her wedding ring. “I know she has an imagination, but what if there’s really something wrong with her? All this stuff about the doctor....”
“Donna, look at me.” Donna’s head rose and he stroked her cheek, smiling as she leaned into his touch. “We made the most adorable child in the whole world. She’s perfect. There’s not a thing about that little girl that’s not right, do you understand me? She’s wonderful. And it’s all because of you, her amazingly beautiful mother.” He kissed her once more, releasing her as he felt the tension finally drain from her body. “Hello. There’s my wife. I’ve missed you.”
“You’re distracting me again,” Donna said, narrowing her eyes at him.
“Absolutely. Are you complaining?”
Donna just smiled and kissed him again. “Did I say I wasn’t enjoying it?” She started to kiss him more passionately but suddenly groaned and pulled away, clutching her head. “I’m sick of these migraines,” she grumbled as she settled against the wall.
“Go to sleep,” Shaun urged. Donna shook her head but he guided her to rest on the bed, lying down beside her as she squeezed her eyes shut even tighter. “Donna? Can you hear me?”
“I’m fine,” she assured him.
“Do you want anything? It’s not bad enough you need....I don’t need to call Dr. Francis, do I?”
“Not even close. I haven’t had one that bad since right after I had Alex. I’m fine, I swear.”
“I’ll keep track of the munchkin for the night. You rest.”
Donna managed a small nod. “I owe you one.”
“Of course you do,” Shaun replied with a smirk. He pressed his lips to her forehead then stood, laying a blanket over her before he turned to leave. “Donna?”
“What now?” Donna groaned, but she was grinning anyway. “I thought you told me to sleep.”
“If you were pregnant again,” he said simply, “I’d be ecstatic. I’d love another baby.”
Donna’s smile warmed but she waved him away. “Tomorrow,” she promised. “Now get out.”
“Love you,” he reminded her, then turned out the light and left.
Down the hall Alex’s door was still shut, and Shaun gently knocked on it, but there was no response. The door cracked open and he peeked inside, smiling as he saw his little girl curled up in bed, clinging to her favorite stuffed animal. “Alex?” he called. “Are you awake, honey?”
“Hi, Daddy,” Alex said, and a little arm escaped the covers to wave at him. “Daddy, I still don’t feel good. Mummy said she was gonna take me to the doctor, but I don’t want to go.”
“I see,” Shaun replied. He slipped through the door and carefully closed it behind him, walking up to the side of Alex’s bed and sitting beside her. “Do you want the Doctor to come see you?”
“Can he?” she asked, her reddened eyes suddenly bright. “Daddy, please, can he? I want him.”
Shaun didn’t answer, silently smoothing her hair from her face. She was still too warm, but she was sleeping less than she had the last few days, and she sounded more like the irksome and amazing little girl he loved so very much.
“Daddy, can I?” she repeated. “I miss the Doctor, Daddy. He’ll make me feel better, promise.”
“Okay, Alex, calm down. Daddy will phone the Doctor, but only if you do a favor for Daddy.”
Alex nodded, curling up into a little ball as she coughed again but still excited. “What is it?”
“You can’t talk about the Doctor in front of Mummy.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy,” Alex whispered. “I didn’t mean to, but I don’t feel good, Daddy. My brain’s all hot and icky. But I didn’t mean to, I promise.”
“It’s okay, honey, Daddy knows. Do you remember what Daddy told you?”
“Mummy....Mummy’s sick,” Alex said slowly. “She’s sick of the Doctor. He can’t talk to her.”
“She doesn’t remember him, honey. And if she sees him, yes, she’ll get very sick. You don’t want Mummy to be sick, do you?” Alex shook her head so hard her curls flew about and smacked her face, and Shaun reached forward to calm her. “It’s okay. Mummy’s fine.”
“I like Mummy,” Alex offered suddenly. “I like the Doctor too, but if he makes Mummy sick he doesn’t have to come. I like Mummy more.”
Shaun just grinned, hugging his daughter to his chest. “I like Mummy too.”
“That’s because Mummy’s brilliant!” Alex said, her enthusiastic tone evident despite her voice being muffled in Shaun’s shirt. “That’s what the Doctor says. He says Mummy’s brilliant!”
“That’s because she is, honey. Mummy’s very brilliant. Just like you.”
“And you too,” Alex insisted. “Doctor says I’m bright ‘cause I’m made from two bright things.”
“And if the Doctor said it, it must be true?”
“Yeah huh!”
“Silly girl,” Shaun said as he hugged her tighter. “I think you need some rest.”
“I’m not sleepy!” Alex protested. “I feel all icky and sick and squirmy.”
“Squirmy now, is it?”
Alex nodded. “If I use that word lots, will you put it in one of your stories?”
“We’ll see. But I won’t do anything unless you stay in bed. I’ve told Mummy I’m staying with you tonight. Would you like that? Or,” he cut in before Alex could reply, “would you like me to call the Doctor? He’ll wear his super secret hiding key.”
“I love the hiding key,” Alex said with a smile. “Mummy comes in and she doesn’t even see him sitting there. She says I have an imaginary friend, I hear her. But lots of people have those!”
“Yes, they do, Alex. But yours isn’t imaginary, is he? That makes you special.”
Alex grinned wider, but then she leaned forward and started to cough. Shaun grabbed a glass of water by her bed and let her take a drink before setting it back down. “You, young lady, are going to sleep. Ah, nope,” he said as she started to protest. “You won’t be able to have fun with the Doctor if you’re tired, will you? Go to sleep, Alex. He’ll come later tonight.”
“Okay,” Alex replied with a sigh. “And Daddy?”
“What is it, honey?”
“Can you call me munchkin again? If you’re not mad at me?”
“I could never be mad at you, munchkin. Daddy loves you. You know that, yeah?”
Alex nodded. “I think I’ll sleep now,” she said finally. “Can the Doctor come soon?”
“He’ll be here when you wake up,” Shaun promised. “I’ll be in my office if you feel....what was the word again, squirmy?” Alex giggled then disappeared under her covers and he just smiled. “Good night, munchkin. Have a good sleep.”
“Night, Daddy,” Alex called from beneath her blankets. “And tell the Doctor to stay away from Mummy. He only can see me, okay? Tell him he’s in trouble if he sees Mummy first.”
“I think he knows that, but I’ll tell him anyway.”
“Good,” Alex replied in a huff. “He’s my best friend. He has to be a good friend and do what I say, right? ‘Cause friends do that, don’t they, Daddy? They listen to what the other says?”
“Sometimes,” Shaun answered hesitantly. “Sometimes they have to not listen though, if what their friend wants is bad for them.” He swallowed, casting another glance toward Alex’s door. He knew Donna wasn’t going to walk in on their conversation; most days when she got headaches she could barely walk, and she wouldn’t bother to come down the hall anyway, not since he’d promised to take care of Alex for the night. Hopefully Donna was asleep already; a good rest normally drove her headaches away, or at least kept her occupied long enough to stop thinking about whatever had given her a headache in the first place. Or so he hoped.
“Daddy?”
“The Doctor will listen to you, sweetheart,” he said finally. “I promise, he won’t see Mummy.”
“I think he wants to see her,” Alex offered, popping back out from the covers. “He looks really unhappy when I talk about her, even when he tells me his stories, and he gets all quiet after she comes and sees me with him, like he doesn’t want to have fun anymore. Why’s he so sad?”
“I think you should ask the Doctor. But sleep first. You can ask the Doctor when he gets here.”
“Promise?”
“Of course, honey.”
Alex vanished under the blankets again, the little lump where she was lying shifting a few times before it finally stilled. Shaun just smiled, flipped the lights off again, and walked out.
“Hurry up, Doctor,” Alex whispered in the dark. “Being alone’s no fun. I need my best friend.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Some time later -Alex wasn’t entirely sure how long it had been- the door clicked open, light spilling onto the carpet as a tall skinny shadow passed through the entrance. There was a moment of silence then a buzzing, and Alex’s lamp turned on, her eyes meeting a familiar face.
“Hello, dear,” the Doctor greeted her with a smile. “I hear we’re still not feeling well? I think I can fix that straight away. But first,” he said, rubbing his hands together, “who’s for checkers?”