θ 42

[bit_impossible]

[He almost doesn't give in to sleep, figuring he can put it off a while longer, but the past few days have been mentally draining for him. Battling one's own inner demons and fears can do that to you, especially if you've been avoiding them for hundreds of years. After seeing others nod off without a incident--and after turning over what he saw in the broadcast in his mind, compiling all that with what he's seen and heard so far about the Captain and Commander--he finally decides that perhaps he'll close his eyes for a short kip. Nothing too long; just enough to renew some of his mental energies.

When he awakes, however, he expects to see the expanse of the library, shelves lined with holobooks and the like, but instead finds himself looking on a sight he hasn't seen in nine months.]

[The console room of his TARDIS.]

[A broad, excited grin spreads from ear to ear, his eyes lighting up. Immediately, his fingers dive for the central column as he whispers a fond, intimate greeting to his ship, but he can barely feel her dials, or the cool metal of the switches and knobs. Just a touch, a teasing little touch; a reminder of what he should be feeling but can't. The smile fades somewhat from his face as he backs away, his legs barely nudging the yellow pilot's chair. He's sensing a pattern here. Especially since he can see the Sphere still hovering nearby.]

So...only another dream, eh? [His voice is tinged with sadness, but that smile's still there.] If only for a little while...

[He begins to walk around the circumference of the console room, hands yearning to reach out and feel her walls and each of the roundels--every bit of her he can reach, really--properly beneath his fingers, but he restrains himself from doing so. Soon enough, he stands before the hallway leading off toward the inner passages of the TARDIS. Part of him wonders how far he can go before he reaches the end of this dreamscape, but he only takes a few steps into the hall before he stops.

It's the sounds coming from within that give him pause, however.

For a long moment the Doctor simply stands there, closing his eyes. All around him, he can hear the soft murmuring of voices, laughter, and even singing. He recognises each and every voice despite not having heard most of them for centuries.]

"Oi, Doctor, I thought we were going to Blackpool! Surely it doesn't take that long to get there."

"Hey Professor, where've you got to?"

"Heya Doc! Whatcha got planned for today?"

"Doctor, still recalibrating the TARDIS? Would you like my help?"

"I need to return to U.N.I.T. HQ, Doctor. Really, I don't know how you talked me into this..."

[And so the voices continue to call to him. He doesn't even know where to begin. His poor ship must be packed to capacity!]

"Doctor..."

"Doctor!"

"...Grandfather?"

[That last voice makes his hearts stop and his eyes fly open, but he still only sees the empty hallways. Further down, past his field of vision, there are doors opening, closing, being thrown open and slamming shut, but no one actually comes to greet him.

But the voices are enough. Just to hear them again... To hear all of his friends again...

Finally, the sweet, beautiful humming from his TARDIS fills the air and he finds himself closing his eyes again, letting her soothing music wash him over with warmth--or is that contentment? Whatever it is, he feels at peace...if only for a little while.]

If only...

Comments

[oliverplus]

You say that, but if you're threatening to stay alone forever, there's no way I'm leaving.

[bit_impossible]

Forever is a long time, Oliver. Even I don't have that.

[oliverplus]

It's an even longer time to be alone.

[bit_impossible]

It's nothing you should be worrying yourself about.

[oliverplus]

Yeah right, just like you listen to me when I tell you not to worry about things. You say that, but you're only gonna hurt yourself.

[bit_impossible]

I have good cause to tell you not to.

[oliverplus]

Good cause for me, maybe. Not for you.

[bit_impossible]

Ollie, I'm fine. [sighs slightly, touching a knob on the console.]

[oliverplus]

[frowns] Not alone, Doctor.

But I'll leave you with them for now, if you want.

[bit_impossible]

[quickly] No. I mean, no you don't have to. If you go to the library, you can join me here for a bit. Listen to them and see what the old girl's like now with your own eyes.

[oliverplus]

...I can go into your dream? Wait, you mean...you think it works like the nightmares, then? Why the library?

[bit_impossible]

Library seemed a nicer venue to relax in than the offices... And if I'm able to walk around here, why can't you? Bit like wandering onto a television set, when you think about it.

[oliverplus]

Ohh, that kinda makes sense when you put it like that.

Well, I'll give it a go, anyway! Be there soon. [waves his barcode triumphantly]

[bit_impossible]

[smiles and waits for Oliver to arrive.]

[oliverplus]

[when Oliver steps into the library and finds himself in the console room, he stops in his tracks, staring] Whoa!

[bit_impossible]

[grins] Impressed?

[oliverplus]

Yeah! I mean...wow. [walks around the console] It's like being here. [looks up and around at the coral theme]

[bit_impossible]

[smiles sadly] Almost! So what do you think of the old girl now? A lot different than through the holograms, eh?

[oliverplus]

Yeah, just...wow, she looks different. Always amazing, though.

[bit_impossible]

Of course she is! She wouldn't be my TARDIS if she weren't absolutely brilliant.

[oliverplus]

[laughs] I know, Doctor, I know!

[bit_impossible]

[starts fiddling with knobs again, listening to what's going on down the hall.]

[oliverplus]

[steps across the console room so he can hear better] We can't go out there, can we?

[bit_impossible]

[absently] No, no we can't.

[oliverplus]

But listen to 'em all! It's not like over the sphere. They all sound like they're just out there!