A Stitch In Time (2/4)
Title: A Stitch In Time
Rating: G
Characters/Pairing: Ten, Donna
Summary: The Doctor has a crazy idea that might just work. Donna isn't so sure.
Part 1 here
Donna followed the Doctor down the corridor towards the medical bay.
“This isn’t going to turn me into a Time Lord, is it?”
“No, of course not.”
“Good.”
“Oi! What’s wrong with that?”
“Well, it's just the whole two hearts thing - it would be so confusing.”
He didn't miss a beat.
“All the more to love you with.”
“See, and I just knew you were going to say that. I’ve been waiting for you to come out with that for ages. It has to be some sort of Time Lord pick up line.”
“I’ll have you know I’ve never used it before.”
He didn’t turn around, but Donna could hear a smile in his voice. She didn’t know quite what to say in reply, and opted for a safer topic.
“Yeah, yeah, all right. Speaking of Time Lord anatomy, how are you going to get the energy stuff in me? You’re not going to have to cut me up and stitch me back together, are you?”
“Nope. An injection of antibodies. Out of me, into you.”
“Really? It’s just - antibodies?”
“Yup. Why, what did you think it would be?”
“I don’t know, something more high tech like those Huon particles. I didn’t know it was just antibodies. Hmm. Essence of Time Lord. You could stand to make millions. Actually, never mind doing this to me, let’s go into business.”
He chuckled.
“Seriously,” said Donna, quickening her footsteps a little to match his. “Return of the Noble Corporation PLC Limited.”
“What, with Mrs Noble and Doctor Noble?” he said, laughing so hard that he began to cough. She banged him on the back.
“Well, I am the best temp in Chiswick. I’d be in charge of the whole operation, obviously.”
“Obviously,” he agreed, the laughter still creasing his face.
They were nearly at the medical bay.
“So, how’s this going to work, then?” said Donna, feeling suddenly nervous.
“Like I said. Antibodies.”
“Yeah, but like how, dumbo? Biologically speaking?”
He turned for a moment and grinned at her.
“So enquiring. I’ll make a scientist of you yet.”
“Shut up and just tell me, Martian.”
“You know, we really need to work on a name for you too. What about Venusian? I like that. Ven-u-sian. They’d practically worship you on Venus. They love red hair.”
He gave Donna an admiring glance (not just her hair, either, she noticed) and secretly she felt flattered.
“Stop getting off the subject. Is it going to be like where I’ll have to be on drugs the rest of my life to stop the transplant from going rotten?”
“No! These won’t do anything nasty like that. They’re, well, they’re a biological derivative of stardust, really.”
“I’m going to have stardust in me?”
“A derivative.” He looked at her curiously. “Why? Does that bother you?”
A slow smile spread across her face, and her eyes lit up with the wonderous look he so loved.
“Not at all. I just can’t believe it. Having stardust running through your veins, that’s just … it’s just …”
He grinned and went on.
“The antibodies inhibit the aging process, basically. As long as you have them, they’ll make you exceptionally long-lived. Forever, even. And the more you have, your body can actually use them to regenerate. Simple.”
“I see,” said Donna.
“Of course when you regenerate it uses up a lot of antibodies. I don’t actually have all that many left.”
“And after this you won’t have enough to be able to regenerate any more.” Donna felt suddenly sad for him. “Doctor, are you completely, one hundred percent sure about this? You won’t regret it, will you?”
He turned again and looked at her with soft eyes, drawing her into a sudden hug outside the medical bay door. “Completely sure.”
Part 3