Fic: All Fall Down
Fandom: Doctor Who
Pairing: The Master (Ainley)/OFC
Comm/Prompt: hc_bingo / vehicle crash
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1266
Summary: The Master is left injured after a malfunction brings the TARDIS crashing down.
The engine whines and stutters. The Master frowns up at the column and then makes another adjustment. What is wrong with the damn thing? Everything is aligned. The handbrake is off. The TARDIS ought to be flying free and easy.
It's not.
Something is wrong, and he doesn't know what. He can't fix it.
"Hold-" he starts, but it's too late. The TARDIS drops like a stone through time and space and slams into something hard.
Sparks fizz from the console, casting an inconsistent light into the inky darkness. The Master gets one knee under him. Pain makes him gasp. This body doesn't have strong bones and he's broken a leg. Several ribs. Possibly a wrist.
He considers the points of pain, the darkness, the fact he's no idea where they are or when, and that he doesn't know how to fix the TARDIS. He takes a slow breath in because anything more hurts.
"Fuck," he says succinctly. Swearing isn't overly productive, nor terribly high-brow, but it does hold a certain satisfaction.
"Ow," moans the darkness in response. It has Seren's voice.
"Are you injured?"
"I fell on my ass."
"Is that a yes or a no?"
"Um." She pauses, no doubt evaluating. "Cuts and bruises, but no breaks."
"Lucky you," he mutters and drops sideways to take the weight of his injured leg. Metal shifts and there's a scrabbling sound as Seren moves closer.
"What did you break?" she asks. "Other than the TARDIS?"
"Right leg, a couple of ribs, and I think my wrist, though I can move it so maybe not."
More sparks fly. They light her face, which is scowling at the console. "Please tell me it's not going to blow up."
"It's not going to blow up."
"You don't sound sure. Try harder at convincing me we're safe."
"I'm not sure." The Master wrinkles his nose at the stench of burning. "Something is very definitely on fire."
"Fuck," she says.
"Very much so."
"Right. Fine. Okay."
There's a bang and the sound of metal sliding on metal and then a faint click. The Master winces at white light hits him full in the face. Seren mutters another curse and shines the torch elsewhere.
"Sorry."
"No, it's fine. At least you found light."
She comes over and kneels beside him. The torch beam touches his face briefly, then travels slowly down as she checks him over. The press of her hand to his chest makes him hiss a breath.
"Aren't Time Lords supposed to have superior bone structure?" she asks.
"This body isn't quite Time Lord. I didn't have enough strength to upgrade everything."
Seren sighs, but says nothing as she examines his wrist. The torchlight is angled downwards, throwing her face into shadow, so he can't read her expression as well as he might otherwise.
"What do you think?" he asks her.
"It's not broken, but it's pretty badly sprained."
The Master shakes his head. "I didn't meant that. I meant-"
"I know what you meant," she says tartly. Her eyes meet his briefly, then she turns her attention to his right leg. "I don't like what you did, but it's done and there's no changing it. Your leg is broken, by the way."
"I gathered from the pain."
Seren moves the light to the console. Smoke hazes in the beam. "Is there a danger of the TARDIS exploding? I'd rather not be inside if there is."
"No, but outside might be better anyway, given the smoke."
"Mm." She shines the torch over his leg. "I need to brace this first. Where's the medical bay? I was a little out of it when I needed it."
The Master grins. "So you were."
Not even the shadows can dampen her glare. "Oh, shut up."
He laughs and then gives her directions. Watches her leave the room. Silence falls over the darkened console room, broken by the occasional sputter of sparks. He hopes the TARDIS isn't too badly damaged. Wonders how he'll fix it when he's injured. He'll have to direct Seren through the repairs.
A snort escapes him at that. She's as bad as following instructions as he is giving them. They might end up being wherever they've crashed for some time.
Bracing himself against the pain, the Master pulls himself up and pokes at a control. Static snows over the monitor, with the odd flash of the outside world in black and white. He presses a button and a wavering read-out tells him there's a breathable atmosphere, a warm temperature, and that it's currently daytime.
"What are you doing?"
He jolts at Seren's annoyed tone and puts weight on his broken leg. He yells at the white hot pain that jabs upwards. She breaks into a run and then is there, her arm around his waist, murmuring soft words of comfort as she eases him back to the floor.
She pushes something into his hand. He focuses and sees she's had the foresight to grab a water bottle. He gulps a mouthful of cold liquid. It settles the nausea roiling through his stomach. He manages a ragged breath that hurts his side.
"I assume you're not allergic to anything in this kit?" she asks, and he shakes his head. Can't do more, because everything is pain and his thoughts are muddled. She roots through. "Okay, then let's start with something for that pain before you pass out."
Watching her prep a syringe, the Master realises she knows what she's doing. Another skill gained during her fight against the Daleks, no doubt. He doesn't like how she's come to the knowledge, but it's done and there's no changing it. Like she can't undo his past.
It takes two shots for the pain to ease enough for him to think. Seren frowns at the second syringe and then at him. "You'd better know what I've done," she says.
"I changed the physiology, which means I can handle an overdose. Better too much than too little at this point."
Seren hums. "If you say so." She pulls the leg of his trouser up and winces at the bruising. "Nasty."
"It does hurt rather a lot."
"I'm really not surprised."
She wraps a bandage around his leg, covering it from knee to ankle, then takes the water bottle off him. A quick dash of liquid dampens the bandage and turns the chalky covering to a white goo which hardens quickly.
"There," she says, sitting back on her heels. "That'll should do for the moment, though don't try standing unaided." She pokes his arm. "Right?"
"Yes, yes, fine." He brushes off her concern. "Now try opening the door before choke."
"No respiratory bypass either?"
"I do. You don't."
She hitches a shoulder. "Good point."
Fresh air blows in, carrying the smell of heather. The Master sighs. "I think we hit Earth. Scotland, to be precise."
"Time?"
"Sorry, I was a little busy trying to stop the TARDIS from crashing."
"Okay, stay here a moment while I have a nosy." She gets to her feet and wanders outside. The Master sighs again.
Earth isn't too bad, he supposes. At least there aren't any Daleks or Cybermen or another of the hundred and one things that'd want them dead. Though the locals might if they've landed very early in the planet's history.
There's little choice though - the TARDIS is down and needs repairs. He needs to heal. Like or not, they're going to be on Earth for a while. He wonders how long it'll take Seren to realise that, and how loud she'll be when she does.
Pairing: The Master (Ainley)/OFC
Comm/Prompt: hc_bingo / vehicle crash
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1266
Summary: The Master is left injured after a malfunction brings the TARDIS crashing down.
The engine whines and stutters. The Master frowns up at the column and then makes another adjustment. What is wrong with the damn thing? Everything is aligned. The handbrake is off. The TARDIS ought to be flying free and easy.
It's not.
Something is wrong, and he doesn't know what. He can't fix it.
"Hold-" he starts, but it's too late. The TARDIS drops like a stone through time and space and slams into something hard.
Sparks fizz from the console, casting an inconsistent light into the inky darkness. The Master gets one knee under him. Pain makes him gasp. This body doesn't have strong bones and he's broken a leg. Several ribs. Possibly a wrist.
He considers the points of pain, the darkness, the fact he's no idea where they are or when, and that he doesn't know how to fix the TARDIS. He takes a slow breath in because anything more hurts.
"Fuck," he says succinctly. Swearing isn't overly productive, nor terribly high-brow, but it does hold a certain satisfaction.
"Ow," moans the darkness in response. It has Seren's voice.
"Are you injured?"
"I fell on my ass."
"Is that a yes or a no?"
"Um." She pauses, no doubt evaluating. "Cuts and bruises, but no breaks."
"Lucky you," he mutters and drops sideways to take the weight of his injured leg. Metal shifts and there's a scrabbling sound as Seren moves closer.
"What did you break?" she asks. "Other than the TARDIS?"
"Right leg, a couple of ribs, and I think my wrist, though I can move it so maybe not."
More sparks fly. They light her face, which is scowling at the console. "Please tell me it's not going to blow up."
"It's not going to blow up."
"You don't sound sure. Try harder at convincing me we're safe."
"I'm not sure." The Master wrinkles his nose at the stench of burning. "Something is very definitely on fire."
"Fuck," she says.
"Very much so."
"Right. Fine. Okay."
There's a bang and the sound of metal sliding on metal and then a faint click. The Master winces at white light hits him full in the face. Seren mutters another curse and shines the torch elsewhere.
"Sorry."
"No, it's fine. At least you found light."
She comes over and kneels beside him. The torch beam touches his face briefly, then travels slowly down as she checks him over. The press of her hand to his chest makes him hiss a breath.
"Aren't Time Lords supposed to have superior bone structure?" she asks.
"This body isn't quite Time Lord. I didn't have enough strength to upgrade everything."
Seren sighs, but says nothing as she examines his wrist. The torchlight is angled downwards, throwing her face into shadow, so he can't read her expression as well as he might otherwise.
"What do you think?" he asks her.
"It's not broken, but it's pretty badly sprained."
The Master shakes his head. "I didn't meant that. I meant-"
"I know what you meant," she says tartly. Her eyes meet his briefly, then she turns her attention to his right leg. "I don't like what you did, but it's done and there's no changing it. Your leg is broken, by the way."
"I gathered from the pain."
Seren moves the light to the console. Smoke hazes in the beam. "Is there a danger of the TARDIS exploding? I'd rather not be inside if there is."
"No, but outside might be better anyway, given the smoke."
"Mm." She shines the torch over his leg. "I need to brace this first. Where's the medical bay? I was a little out of it when I needed it."
The Master grins. "So you were."
Not even the shadows can dampen her glare. "Oh, shut up."
He laughs and then gives her directions. Watches her leave the room. Silence falls over the darkened console room, broken by the occasional sputter of sparks. He hopes the TARDIS isn't too badly damaged. Wonders how he'll fix it when he's injured. He'll have to direct Seren through the repairs.
A snort escapes him at that. She's as bad as following instructions as he is giving them. They might end up being wherever they've crashed for some time.
Bracing himself against the pain, the Master pulls himself up and pokes at a control. Static snows over the monitor, with the odd flash of the outside world in black and white. He presses a button and a wavering read-out tells him there's a breathable atmosphere, a warm temperature, and that it's currently daytime.
"What are you doing?"
He jolts at Seren's annoyed tone and puts weight on his broken leg. He yells at the white hot pain that jabs upwards. She breaks into a run and then is there, her arm around his waist, murmuring soft words of comfort as she eases him back to the floor.
She pushes something into his hand. He focuses and sees she's had the foresight to grab a water bottle. He gulps a mouthful of cold liquid. It settles the nausea roiling through his stomach. He manages a ragged breath that hurts his side.
"I assume you're not allergic to anything in this kit?" she asks, and he shakes his head. Can't do more, because everything is pain and his thoughts are muddled. She roots through. "Okay, then let's start with something for that pain before you pass out."
Watching her prep a syringe, the Master realises she knows what she's doing. Another skill gained during her fight against the Daleks, no doubt. He doesn't like how she's come to the knowledge, but it's done and there's no changing it. Like she can't undo his past.
It takes two shots for the pain to ease enough for him to think. Seren frowns at the second syringe and then at him. "You'd better know what I've done," she says.
"I changed the physiology, which means I can handle an overdose. Better too much than too little at this point."
Seren hums. "If you say so." She pulls the leg of his trouser up and winces at the bruising. "Nasty."
"It does hurt rather a lot."
"I'm really not surprised."
She wraps a bandage around his leg, covering it from knee to ankle, then takes the water bottle off him. A quick dash of liquid dampens the bandage and turns the chalky covering to a white goo which hardens quickly.
"There," she says, sitting back on her heels. "That'll should do for the moment, though don't try standing unaided." She pokes his arm. "Right?"
"Yes, yes, fine." He brushes off her concern. "Now try opening the door before choke."
"No respiratory bypass either?"
"I do. You don't."
She hitches a shoulder. "Good point."
Fresh air blows in, carrying the smell of heather. The Master sighs. "I think we hit Earth. Scotland, to be precise."
"Time?"
"Sorry, I was a little busy trying to stop the TARDIS from crashing."
"Okay, stay here a moment while I have a nosy." She gets to her feet and wanders outside. The Master sighs again.
Earth isn't too bad, he supposes. At least there aren't any Daleks or Cybermen or another of the hundred and one things that'd want them dead. Though the locals might if they've landed very early in the planet's history.
There's little choice though - the TARDIS is down and needs repairs. He needs to heal. Like or not, they're going to be on Earth for a while. He wonders how long it'll take Seren to realise that, and how loud she'll be when she does.