(no subject)
The room was becoming very familiar; he felt he could make his way there with his eyes closed, and the small couch felt almost like his own.
He never expected it to help very much - it was a desperate grasp at a solution, really - but it had been, a bit. To talk about it all to someone, to sort out his thoughts in words, and knowing the Master was doing the same. More or less.
His therapist was quite unflappable, and never seemed at a loss for words, until now. There was a slight, ironic smile on his lips; the Doctor raised his eyebrows.
"Problem?"
The doctor shook his head.
"Usually, by this time we'd go in depth in your history. What happened when you met each others' families…"
The Doctor snorted.
"…Your first date…"
The Doctor laughed out loud.
"…What relationships you have with your former partners."
"He is my former partner."
"Precisely. Your unique situation makes it all a bit difficult."
"You did say you liked a challenge."
The doctor chuckled faintly, and shook his head.
"I suppose we can do a variation on the theme. Have you ever been in love, before this?"
"I've loved a great deal of people - "
"Romantically, Doctor, as I'm sure you knew."
A wry smile; his voice becomes quiet, wistful.
"Yes, I've been in love. In this incarnation even, but I don't tend to act on it. There's a power imbalance, for win, and such an age gap, and of course I'd never settle down, and when they left…"
The doctor nodded.
"Can you tell me about them? The ones in this life?"
For some time, the Doctor merely gazed at him.
Then, he spoke of Nyssa, the young woman who blossomed in front of his eyes, who became his anchor and his serenity. He spoke of Turlough, the tormented exile who challenged and trusted and understood him.
Eventually he would speak of Romana, and Sarah, and Jo, and Jamie, and Barbara, and once, just once, the mother of his children.
He would speak of Lucy, a broken woman and a dear friend, who fell for him and confused him and helped him stay alive.
He would speak of Cameca, and Illeana, and Sybil, and so many others he had left behind.
Oh, yes, he had been in love. One would think, by now, that he would be better at it.
He never expected it to help very much - it was a desperate grasp at a solution, really - but it had been, a bit. To talk about it all to someone, to sort out his thoughts in words, and knowing the Master was doing the same. More or less.
His therapist was quite unflappable, and never seemed at a loss for words, until now. There was a slight, ironic smile on his lips; the Doctor raised his eyebrows.
"Problem?"
The doctor shook his head.
"Usually, by this time we'd go in depth in your history. What happened when you met each others' families…"
The Doctor snorted.
"…Your first date…"
The Doctor laughed out loud.
"…What relationships you have with your former partners."
"He is my former partner."
"Precisely. Your unique situation makes it all a bit difficult."
"You did say you liked a challenge."
The doctor chuckled faintly, and shook his head.
"I suppose we can do a variation on the theme. Have you ever been in love, before this?"
"I've loved a great deal of people - "
"Romantically, Doctor, as I'm sure you knew."
A wry smile; his voice becomes quiet, wistful.
"Yes, I've been in love. In this incarnation even, but I don't tend to act on it. There's a power imbalance, for win, and such an age gap, and of course I'd never settle down, and when they left…"
The doctor nodded.
"Can you tell me about them? The ones in this life?"
For some time, the Doctor merely gazed at him.
Then, he spoke of Nyssa, the young woman who blossomed in front of his eyes, who became his anchor and his serenity. He spoke of Turlough, the tormented exile who challenged and trusted and understood him.
Eventually he would speak of Romana, and Sarah, and Jo, and Jamie, and Barbara, and once, just once, the mother of his children.
He would speak of Lucy, a broken woman and a dear friend, who fell for him and confused him and helped him stay alive.
He would speak of Cameca, and Illeana, and Sybil, and so many others he had left behind.
Oh, yes, he had been in love. One would think, by now, that he would be better at it.