New Territory
Title: New Territory
Author: it_must_be_so
Rating: G
Characters/Pairing: The Doctor(10) and Donna.
Word Count: 1,983
Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who, it all belongs to the BBC.
A/N: This is a sequel of sorts to Right There, most of you wanted one and so here it is.
Donna laughed lightly as she pushed the hair from her eyes, despite having a very large creature ramming its body against the mouth of the cave they were currently hiding in. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest, “He can’t get in here can he?”
The Doctor shook his head, “No, he’ll be gone in a few hours. Hopefully.” He muttered as he sat down on a rock, raking his hand through his hair. His mind was reeling as it replayed over and over the moment Donna jump in front of him, protecting him while throwing herself into the face of danger. He was so furious with her he could scream and at the moment all he saw was red.
“I swear,” Donna said as she plopped down next to him, “what is it with me and giant insects? That was an insect, wasn’t it? Looked like a giant praying mantis, and the way it was going after your head I’d say it was a female.” She laughed a little, looking at him, nudging his shoulder with hers, “Why so quiet? We just got away from an enormous mantis, normally you would be telling me all about how the time you…”
“You know, I thought that you were smart enough to do as you’re told.” He interrupted as he stood suddenly, pacing the width of the cavern, the steady pounding of the creature keeping time with his strides.
The rest of her thoughts trailed away as his unexpected change in demeanor confused her, “What are you talking about?”
He turned and faced her, a flustered look on his face, “I told you to stay put and what do you do? You just fling yourself into danger without a second thought.” His voice cracked on the last word and he moved away from her, deeper into the cave, shrouding himself in the shadows.
Donna listened as his footsteps stopped suddenly and a heavy sigh accompanied with string of words that she instantly knew as Gallifreyan, and a flood of emotion swelled in her. She stood, tears suddenly in her eyes, “No, I’m not.”
The Doctor reappeared into the light, “What?”
She sniffed lightly, “You forget so easily, don’t you?”
“Donna,” His said softly, although his annoyance was still present, “what are you talking about?”
“I know what you just said.” She referred to his use of his native language, “I had your mind in mine, I know what you just said.”
The Doctor swallowed, but said nothing.
“I’m not some stupid ape.” Her tone was weak and her blue eyes were watery pools.
He took a step forward, his arms at his sides, “I didn’t mean it like that.”
She laughed, humorlessly, “Really? I don’t think that those words translate into anything good.”
“Well, you should have done what I told you to do.” The Doctor snapped, shoving his hands back into his pockets.
“What do I look like to you, your companion or your pet?” Donna huffed, “I saved your life!” Her declaration echoed off the walls and hit him twice as hard, “Or-or maybe you like that dead slash headless look these days, cause that was exactly what you would’ve been if I hadn’t been there to pull your skinny arse out of the way!”
The silence stretched between them and they realized that the mentioned creature was no longer trying to get into the cave; hunger had obviously won against trying to wait them out any longer.
“Donna, I’m sorry.” He said faintly, knowing that she was right on all accounts, even if his wounded pride wanted to carry on the fight a bit longer.
Donna scoffed as she turned away from him, “You sure are.” She muttered, knowing it was loud enough for him to hear.
The Doctor opened his mouth to retort, but instead he thought better of it and he tore off his duster and placed it to the side, “We should stay here for the night, I’m sure that Keekin is still lurking around. We’ll make it back to the TARDIS in the morning.” He looked at her, her back to him, her arms undoubtedly folded over her chest.
It was going to be a long night.
Shaking his head, he began to scour check his pockets for any type of burning implements, they might have to go hungry, but they could do with a fire; with the damp walls and Donna’s cold shoulder, he needed some kind of warmth.
With his sonic screwdriver and a couple of brochures he had picked up from the various places they’d been, there was soon a soft crackle as the flames slowly rose. He smiled ruefully up at her, offering her the fire as a means of what he had said, she sniffed at it and his hearts sank a bit. Still in trouble, he thought.
“I’ll be right back.” He told her and he watched as her eyes widened as he made his way to the mouth of the cave, did she not believe him? Did she think that he would leave her here because of their row?
‘Row?’ He mused, it was certainly the last thing he wanted, having Donna not trust him.
“I’ll be right back, Donna, I promise.” He told her more firmly, hoping that she believed him. The last thing he would do is leave her here, not only with a huge Keekin, but without any sort of civilization at all. He wouldn’t wish that on anyone, not even he enemies…well maybe the Daleks.
He stepped cautiously out of the cave and with a quick look around made his way to the left, ducking behind a massive boulder. Clearing the area of leaves and branches, and with a few digs and some tweaking here and there, he stood and brushed his hands off on his trousers. And with a nod of satisfaction, turned and made his way back to Donna.
She was still there, not that there were many places to go, but he still sighed with relief, noting that she as well releases the breath she had been obviously holding since his departure.
“If you go out just there,” He gestured with his hands, moving them to the left, “Behind the big rock I dug a latrine, so there you go.” His eyebrow rose, “I mean, there you go as in ta-da.” He smirked, hoping to bring a smile to her, but she only shrugged her shoulders and muttered something he could only make out as a small ‘thank you’.
Adding another pamphlet to the fire he whispered, “You’re welcome.”
A few hours later and endless searching through his coat pockets for any sort of food, the Doctor sat in the soft fire glow as the gentle patter of rain fell outside.
He looked up as Donna returned from outside after answering nature’s call, she sat down on the opposite side from him, her stomach growling softly with hunger, but she simply ignored it, folding her arms over her chest.
“I found some dried fruit if you want any.” The Doctor offered, holding out the bag to her, “I don’t know how long it’s been in my pocket, but it’s better than nothing, eh?”
She shook her head, “No thank you.” Her tone was short and still upset.
“Donna,” He said tightly, “please eat something.” He tossed the bag at her and she caught it and threw it down at her feet.
“No, thank you.”
He had never had someone make him feel the way he felt at that moment, he wanted to punch at the rock walls; he wanted to shout at her that he was sorry and that he would do anything to make it up to her. The problem was, he had brought it all upon himself, if he had just locked her inside the TARDIS, he would have been able to recognize the planet and the tracks of the Keekin, he would have gotten back into the TARDIS and he would have picked a new destination.
It seemed, once again, he found another companion who didn’t listen. Big surprise, thought the Doctor. He never liked the idea of them being so willing to put themselves in harm’s way for him, he wasn’t worth it. Besides, he knew why she was upset, he should never had said what he did, his anger at her for almost getting killed mixed with her inability to do what he said made his mouth say things he would have never otherwise. Not that the TARDIS door would’ve kept her away, Donna was Donna and he loved that about her.
He stood and walked over to her, “Donna, I wish I could take back what I said, I do.”
“Right.” She replied quietly as she rolled her eyes, sarcasm coated heavily on the word.
“I do.” He insisted as he knelt down beside her, “I forgot that you know some Gallifreyan…”
Donna huffed, “So that makes it alright, because you forgot?”
The Doctor shook his head, “No, no. It was wrong of me, I’m sorry.”
He took her hand into his own and he was relieved that she didn’t pull away, “I don’t want us to fight, that’s not us.”
“I know, but I was just trying to help.” She squeezed his hand, their fingers intertwined, the argumentative part of her was replaced with her rare vulnerable side, “I’m sorry I upset you.”
“Just don’t do it again, yeah?” He asked of her, closing his eyes, trying to block the nightmarish thoughts of what could’ve happened.
Donna smiled lightly and nodded, “Yeah and do you forgive me? For saving your life-again.”
He nudged her softly, “Cheeky.”
With a hug and a friendly squeeze all was right in the Doctor/Donna world.
A bag of dried fruit was shared between them and soon Donna settled down, her head lying on the Doctor’s coat, folded up under her head, and every so often she would sigh lightly as he told her of the planets he wanted to take her, it seemed as if today had never happened. Their argument was short, but well needed, if he knew anything, he knew that it was good to get the tension off their chests.
“Donna, I am sorry for what I said earlier. I didn’t mean it.” He wanted her to know until he was sure that he was truly forgiven. He continued to stare into the fire, watching as the flames licked and curled around the deck of cards he chucked in, “It’s just that, you scared me today. When you jumped in front of me all I could think of was Jenny, I can’t lose you Donna. I can’t. You mean so much to me, much more than Rose ever did, and that’s saying something.” A sad smile spread across his lips as he disappeared into the past, “I loved her and when I lost her I didn’t know that I would feel that way again, I didn’t want to, to be honest.”
The Doctor swallowed past the lump in his throat, the overwhelming feeling of loss and regret filled him for a moment, until he thought about the first time he had seen Donna and knew that without a doubt he loved her.
“Remember the time he danced on the ice crystals of Wenfox? You looked so beautiful.” He breathed letting his hand drifted down and he touched her hair gently, “Donna?” He peered over her shoulder and his face fell at the sight of her closed eyes, the steady rhythm of her breath indicated that she was fast asleep.
“Didn’t hear a word I said, did you?” He whispered and her silence answered him.
He bent his head low and pushed aside her hair from her ear, “Sleep well, love.” He told her softly, his fingers, once more, lost in the gentle curls of her hair.