On the Run ♦ 012. One Step Closer to Goodbye ♦ with captoftardis

[noblexcompanion]

Saying goodbye to Kassia was one of the hardest things Donna had had to do. If ever she had a daughter of her own she hoped she'd be just like Kas. Being around her triggered all those deep rooted maternal instincts Donna tried so hard to hide. In fact, part of her had been more than a little tempted to stay behind with Kassia on Scallite VI to

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[captoftardis]

Eventually, his paranoia couldn't stand it anymore, and he went in search of her, quickly dressing and ignoring that not everything was completely dry.

Walking alongside the river banks, he finally spotted that flame red hair, "Donna!" He wouldn't admit it, but his hearts stopped beating so fiercely when he spotted her and his mind calmed down. They were fine; they were safe.

Nevermind she'll probably have a heart attack from him finding her rather unannounced.

[noblexcompanion]

Donna on the other-hand flailed, shrieked and grabbed for her still damp clothes to attempt to cover herself up. "I knew it! I knew it! I said you were just trying to sneak a peek to get your jollies!"

She was blushing almost as bright as her hair. "Well, turn the other way then, Spaceman! A girl needs her privacy!" Ugh, damp clothes were gross.

[captoftardis]

An agitated ruffle of his hair, "Yes, because I'm so turned on right now!" He growled in frustration and kicked a rock, not even caring how much he was acting out like a teenager.

"Hurry up, we have alot of convincing to do if we want to try and find a proper bed for the night." Otherwise it's camping out once again. So far, these locals seemed OK at their presence.

[noblexcompanion]

"Well obviously you're not because blokes don't tend to get turned on by whales." Donna huffed and started to tug her damp clothes on. The urge to shove him in the river and drown him was sorely tempting.

"Keep your hair on, Time Boy. Jeeze. Untwist your knickers for a minute."

[captoftardis]

He turned around rather quickly, brows deeply furrowed, "Where's a whale? I definitely don't see one, especially not in the middle of China." It didn't matter how impatient he was, he would never let Donna be negative about herself. Not not, and certainly not anywhere in her lifetime.

They spent the next couple hours trying to find somewhere to stay, and just when the Doctor was convinced they were to be camping again, a young woman with a baby papoosed to her back approached them, offering a extra room for the night. "I hate to see such a weather-worn couple be out of luck." She smiled so sweetly, the Doctor didn't have the heart to correct her on her phrasing.

The Doctor offered as much help as possible, assisting the woman's husband until it was nightfall and curling up under the scratchy covers without even waiting for Donna.

[noblexcompanion]

Playing the couple card again? Fun times. Oh well, at least they had a place to stay. Donna spent much of the evening cooing over the baby, playing with it, feeding it, cuddling with it. It was definitely a much needed morale booster. What an adorable little one!

Eventually Donna stumbled to the sleeping area, exhausted and already half asleep. She gave the Doctor a nudge. "Move over, Time Lord." She crawled under the covers with him, wrapping an arm around him.

[captoftardis]

He didn't move at first, still feeling stubborn and exhausted, but he relented, especially after feeling her arm wrap around him. He moved a hand to touch her arm, and stayed there for a while.

Figuring she had fallen asleep by now, he still felt obligated, "I'm sorry." He felt guilty for being so angry and frustrated, but he hated the feeling of not having some control over what was going on. Worse yet, he felt like he owed an apology for losing Rose and John before Donna could say goodbye.

[noblexcompanion]

Donna was on that delicate cusp between being awake and being asleep. She was still curled up against the Doctor, arm still wrapped around him. She was holding onto him almost as though he was her lifeline.

"Me too," her words are mumbled against his shoulder. She felt the apology needed to be said. An apology for being a moody cow, for not being able to save John and Rose, for making the Doctor mad.

[captoftardis]

And with that, he fell into a dreamless sleep, which was greatly welcomed given how much he just wanted to retreat from everything and be left alone.

When he blinked open up his eyes, the sun was just breaking over the horizon. He could hear Donna next to him, still asleep when he turned over to wrap himself around her, returning the embrace from earlier in the night. He'd hate to admit it, but he was terrified of waking up and she not being there. As much as he was acting like he was perfectly fine alone, he wasn't.

[noblexcompanion]

He might want to practise his 'perfectly fine alone' act because Donna cold see right through it. It went with the territory of being his best mate. She was supposed to notice these things.

She stirred a little and nuzzled further into the embrace, cracking an eye open. "Mm. Morning already?"

[captoftardis]

"Mm-hm." He commented, not ready to get moving yet, which was a rarity for this Time Lord. Run, run, run, seemed to be all he did, and now nothing seemed really grand.

"We should go." He comments lazily, brain just now starting to pick up where they still had at least 2 days worth to go. But he's not ready to move just yet.

[noblexcompanion]

"Just five more minutes?" Her voice was thick with sleep and she snuggled up closer to him, definitely in no hurry to get up and start moving again. She felt as though she could sleep forever.

"Just a few more minutes then I'll get up, promise..."

[captoftardis]

After a good 15 more minutes, the Doctor finally pulls himself away and sits up with the worst posture one could ask for, scrubbing at his face.

Finally, he gets moving, leaving Donna to sleep in a tad long before he nudges at her shoulder, "Hey. We need to go." Back on the road, back home.

[noblexcompanion]

She still looked exhausted, but at least she wasn't being her usual morning grumpy self as she forced herself to sit up, rubbing her eyes with a yawn. What she would give for a hot shower and a hotter coffee - maybe a bagel or crumpet too.

"How much further is it back to the TARDIS? You reckon the poor horse can make it or are we on foot?"