Donna Noble

As all of you know I have been absent for a bit.  I am sorry about that.  It will have to last a little longer I am afraid.  First they threw us into another lockdown and switched us to online teaching, which was supposed to last until the end of the school year.  Now they are sending us back to in person teaching this week with very little warning.  These transitions have thrown me for a loop and I am spending most of my time trying to deal with them.  Please know that I love my threads and that I will be back soon! I am sorry for the delay in everything. 

“Oh, I was a string bean then, too, you weren’t wrong,” he replied as he continued to brush his fingertips over the simple little paper frog in his hands, even if he was agreeing with her teasing nickname for the previous incarnation of himself that she knew best. “Honestly, bit surprised you don’t call me that, too. Or a skinny streak of nothing, I think I remember you saying, once or twice. I’m just about as thin, I think, if not thinner this time ‘round… Unless there was a different reason you called him that?” he wondered, finally raising his head to look toward where her voice had come from, brows furrowing curiously. 

His hands were still focused on the frog, however. He doubted he’d tire of running his fingers over it any time soon.

His brows furrowed more as she explained, a small confused frown on his lips. “Frogs are considered wise? I’d have… I’d have thought more of owls, I think, or turtles, considering how long a turtle can live f–” he stopped, mid-word, blinking at her. “Is that why you consider me wise? Because of how long I’ve lived?” he asked, a bit more surprised than confused now.

He smiled at the idea of Donna with her little folded paper zoo, trying to cheer up her co-workers all the while, but he couldn’t help the chuckle that left him when she mentioned her hypothetical-alien boss hiding under a desk at the sight of him. “Oh, I’d certainly have left him that way, or worse, had he tried anything with you,” he admitted honestly, his hearts aching at the very idea of Donna, especially a pre-current Donna, with all her low-self esteem and very little experience with anything otherworldly—though he didn’t doubt she’d have fought, even then. Donna had always had a fire in her, always—having to deal with an alien such as that.

“Nope. Haven’t done a thing to the fidget cubes. Humans can make wonderful things all on their own, no alien changes required. Like you and this little frog. I think it’s wonderful, this frog, just a bit of paper and careful fingers…” he told her, before humming thoughtfully. “I feel like you’d like the crunchier slimes, in any case. Not the more… Watery ones, if you ever tried to mess with slime, but I won’t go about making you mess about with slime,” he couldn’t help but add, thinking she’d enjoy the feel of the little foam bits in her hands and the noise.

“I like when people record themselves reading books, but it’s more them… Recording the page-turning and all that. That’s nice. Then there’s some where they’ve got a machine, and it crushes things–all sorts of things. Some of them make very pleasant sounds. Though, I’ve also watched a few where they try to crush things and everything goes sideways–things explode, sometimes there’s fire… It’s all so interesting, those ones,” he started, “But then other times I’ll listen to rainfall. Not storms, just… Soft rain. Especially ones where it’s off tin roofs and things like that, those are very calming…”

He blinked when she mentioned the TARDIS, head tilting upward to look at the ceiling curiously. “Did she? I’m glad that helps, and that you were able to finds tones that work just right for you,” he told her, tilting his head back down after he’d sent waves of gratitude toward the Old Girl. “She’s done that for me once or twice, with the ambient tones… It doesn’t work as often as she’d like, but… She knows how little I sleep, and even more how little I get restful sleep, so she tries,” he said quietly, directing his attention back to the frog. 

He couldn’t help but beam at the idea of Donna leaving him with more little frogs, in all different colors, since frogs weren’t just green. “I can’t wait,” he told her, still beaming, before he moved one hand from the frog and felt around his belt loop for the little clip that held the holder for the fidget cube to unclip it and tug it out of his pocket. It was, in fact, the one that was meant to be a starry sky, and he brought it up, carefully setting it, belt-clip, rubber holder, and all, in front of where she sat. “You’re free to mess about with that one for the moment, if you’d like, until you find one of my other ones you think you’d like more, color-wise. If none of them seem as nice, though, you can keep that one and I’ll get another sometime,” he offered genuinely, his smile gentler now but his expression no less brightened.

For the first time in a long time, she really eyed him up.  Sat right back and narrowed her eyes to take him in.  She wondered if he could tell she was doing it.  Probably.  That man never missed a damn thing.  He was right.  He was a bit of nothing.  She wondered if he had some kind of alien metabolism that she couldn’t wrap her head around.  “I think it’s because of your face,” she admitted moments later, settling properly into her seat.  She tilted her head just so, tracing the lines of his jaw until it disappeared into his hair.  “This face of yours demands so much attention... I can’t seem to keep my eyes off it.” She realized that was a hell of an admission but she was prepared to say it.  “I guess I never noticed that you’re a bit of a twig elsewhere.”  She snorted a laugh, hoping he would realize that just like old times, she was teasing him in the only way she knew how.  

She watched him, practically seeing the way his mind worked as he came to his conclusions.  “I mean your age is an obvious answer.  But I didn’t really know just how old was old when we first met.  But you were wise then and you are wise now.  Sure, sometimes you miss a thing or two when it comes to human interaction but that is hardly your fault.  We are a messy lot, always evolving and taking on ridiculous rituals.  I would love to know who invented the high five.  Such a strange way to celebrate something...” She raised her hands and slapped them together, making a face while she did so. 

She had missed this so much, just sitting quietly in the TARDIS and talking about anything.  Tonight was more focused, a discussion on what might help given her shift back into understanding that the world was so much more than her tiny neighborhood in Chiswick.  She wondered if he had a point, if she should try a few of his suggestions.  She was sure that whatever she asked for in the end, he would do his best to get it for her.  She was hoping that now it was more about being her friend than doing it out of any residual feelings of guilt.  She didn’t want him to let it drag at him forever.  He didn’t deserve that; she had been angry at first but it had faded and rightfully so. 

“A bedtime story for a Time Lord.  Just what it is that you listen to?  The classics --- not just from Earth but every other planet out there?” She would have to break into his stash and see.  She rather liked the idea of being read to as she drifted off.  “Rain is lovely, waves on a beach too.  Sometimes just the sound of a crackling fire.  Makes me think of Christmastime as a child, curled up on my father’s knee.  But for now, I am grateful to the TARDIS for knowing what I needed when I needed it and giving it to me without me even having to ask.” She meant it.  She knew that she and the ship hadn’t always seen eye to eye but she liked to think that the TARDIS going out of her way to make Donna feel safe meant something.  

“Oh pish posh. You’d be surprised the amount of things I hear the older generations of humans go on about. The things they say they endured during their younger years. The way young humans all look at them as if they are their own brand of crazy.” Ten laughs throwing his head back, carefree and looking almost youthful and free. Instead of some troubled celestial being. “You will fit in just fine Miss Noble. I guarantee. Plus you know that I will always be around to visit you too. Maybe not with this face though. But with any face I wear I will always think so kindly of my precious Donna Noble.” 

“Oh we can peep in just fine. But to be fair: That was out of mine or my old girl’s control. And besides in the end, we did manage to get you free and unsacrificed. So you are breathing and just fine, you didn’t really die.” Though Ten says those with utmost teasing and playfulness in his voice. “How about the French Revolution then aye? See the queen tell them to eat cake and everything. And maybe even have a good drink afterwards with some common folk afterwards. I hear they threw festivals in celebration you know.” 

“This is true --- there are many brands of crazy going about willy nilly.  Just look at my mother,” she commented with a snort.  That woman never ceased to amaze Donna (and sometimes it was not a good thing).  Now she couldn’t help but tilt her head, eyes squinting a little as she took him in.  “--- it’s strange to think that one day I might see you but you won’t have this face.  I rather like this face.  Sure, you’re built like a string bean but you’re my Doctor.  I only hope that if it happens...well, you’ll still be my Doctor even if you are also a fellow ginger as well.”

She despised admitting when she needed help. Always had, most likely always would. Even when she’d been pregnant with the kids, which had been a - very hard process. Regeneration drains, the unknown, no medical team to help her, nothing except her and the Master. And when it had happened the second time, well… that had splintered any real chance of repairing the relationship between them. But she didn’t doubt that he loved Sol and Helios as much as she did. That was clear.

“Thank you.” she said, finally. Helios giggled as he was scooped, flopping back to play with her curls, eternally fascinated by Donna’s hair. Sol grinned up too, although his sharp eyes definitely didn’t miss the Doctor’s sagging shoulders.

“Don’t let them eat too many sweets.” she added, kneeling down next to Sol, fighting back a wince as she kissed his forehead. “You wanna go play with Auntie Donna?” she asked, and he nodded brightly, bouncing up.

Donna’s critical eye never left the Doctor as she bid her kids to enjoy their time with Aunt Donna.  Donna had much more to say on the matter but right now she had to focus on Sol and Helios.  When she got a chance though?  The Doctor wouldn’t know what hit her (or perhaps she would, given that it would be hardly the first time Donna had unleashed the full power of her opinion on her).  She smiled down at the boys.  “We’ll go in the back yard.  There’s plenty to do and see there.  Lots of exploration and then..” She lowered her voice conspiratorially.  “...a few sweets.”  She pressed a finger to her lips so they knew to keep her secret.  

Oh. She swallowed hard. There was deep damage going on in Donna’s head. The human subconscious was an immensely powerful thing, and the Doctor felt this twisting feeling was still going on in her guts.

“Hey, no, don’t worry about it.” she said, gently, “It’s um. I mean, it’s fine. He still does his part, y'know, loves the boys more than anything.” she shrugged, lightly.

Donna wondered if she had said too much, both in regards to her companion’s personal life and her own.  It was rare that she talked about her dreams outside of the four walls of her therapist’s office.  She was encouraged to do so, of course but she had not met anyone that she felt remotely comfortable even doing so with. 

Yet here she was, letting her words get the better of her.

anobletemp​:

“I think that is indeed what we are looking for,” the Doctor told her.  Truth was, he actually did recognize the mechanic but didn’t want to give that away.  “It looks like we could spin it.  I bet it might open the door.”

The Doctor noticed when her emotions changed, even without the use of their link or seeing the expression on her face. Her muscles had tensed–he’d been right about ending up sending her into a panic–and his insides twisted with guilt as he muttered to himself about never knowing when to shut his mouth.

He felt the elbow to his side and took that as his cue to shift, looking up at her for a moment before he straightened his back. He had no idea whether that’d been intentional or not, the jab to his side, but right now? He wouldn’t blame her if it had.

“It’s nothing bad, Donna. I promise. I told you before that we can have children with humans, didn’t I? So, even if the meta-crisis hadn’t happened, you’d be fine,” he assured, shifting his arms and laying his hands on her shoulders after a moment, thumbs rubbing soft circles into her muscles. “Well, see, natural born Gallifreyans have excess regeneration energy that releases in small bursts throughout the pregnancy, with a much larger amount releasing during labor–and before you ask, no, that does not mean our child is regenerating when born. It’s… A precautionary measure, I think, just to make sure development goes smoothly,” he explained, “You’ll notice when it first happens, your abdomen will glow yellow with little sparkling swirls going throughout. I think you’ll find it pretty.” he told her, voice quieting at the end. He shook himself internally, “But that’s normal, alright? Just means they’re growing. And what I meant by change you more, was that I think you might absorb the excess energy the baby gives off, and if that happens, you might gain more of my species’ traits than you’ve already got. Could mean you’ll be able to regenerate, could just mean a longer lifespan, could change your insides a bit. We’ve got more differences than just two hearts, regenerating, and telepathy, and I’d be happy to go more in depth about our anatomical differences with you after you’re calmer again. I’m sorry, I–” he pursed his lips, turning his head and tilting it as if he were glancing rather fiercely at an area of the back couch cushion.

His hands fell from her shoulders, landing in his lap as his fingers began to fidget. “For now, though, I’ll tell you that Gallifreyans have an extra rib, and our body temperature isn’t the same as a human’s, even if I feel the same to you. We’re colder, actually. Our brains are different, but you know that bit…” he swallowed, “I wanted to see if you’d gained more than just… Exceptional knowledge and telepathic ability, and I could still have a look, but I don’t know if what I’d find now would change as the baby grows, is all, which is why I’d been grumbling about wishing I’d done a test to see what all has changed about you sooner than now,” he explained, tugging at his fingers in irritation. 

“The only reason I think you’d absorb the excess—which doesn’t mean that the… glowing ‘round your abdomen won’t happen, if you did. Still would, but instead of just… fading away into the air–like mine does during the time period where I’m getting used to a new body after regenerating–it’d fade because you’d be taking it for yourself—is because of the meta-crisis, because you’ve already got a bit of Gallifreyan D.N.A. in you. And, before I make this worse, your body absorbing the excess will not hurt the baby. It’s extra regenerative energy, they’ll give off what they don’t need as they’ll grow…” he told her, his gaze not moving from where he was currently trying to stare a hole in the couch cushion. 

“And, again, Donna, even if the meta-crisis had never happened, you and the baby would still be absolutely fine. There have been Human-Gallifreyan hybrids before. But this is still a completely different circumstance, so even though you’re still partially human, you’d skew more toward the… Gallifreyan side of things, even if only slightly until we know more about how you are currently and whether or not, as the pregnancy goes along, you’ll change. In whatever way that might happen. Aside from normal pregnancy changes, of course…”

It’s funny how the two of them could revert to very characteristic behavior in a flash.  He could talk himself in circles, revealing just a hint of his vast wealth of knowledge and she could only hear bits and pieces because she was too busy working herself into a blind panic.  It seemed that no matter what, no matter the changes (his regenerations, her current hybrid status) they still could cling to the characteristics that made them...well them.

If Donna weren’t obsessing over the safety of a baby she never knew she wanted until not that long ago, she might have appreciated the fact that the more things changed, the more they stayed the same.  Instead, she had her hand pressed firmly to her stomach, telling herself that no good came from stress (she remembered that from every pregnancy show ever) but at the same time picturing herself giving birth to a baby who changed its face every time it sneezed.

Finally, his voice filtered in and she turned her head to look at him.  She realized all at once that perhaps that was the first thing she had truly loved about the Doctor.  His voice.  All those times when she was awoke from dreams (memories shifting back into place).  He had been there, his hands steady on her skin and his voice promising her safety.  She had come to crave that voice --- and now, listening to him lay it out for her she found that the panic she had nearly threw herself into was subsiding.  

“Of course,” he grinned, “So, where would you like to start?  All of time and space, anywhere that ever was or ever will be.  Where would you like to go?”

“Yeah, a bit confusing. My main problem was the shorter legs, t’be honest. Not great for the running.” Or for jumping off cranes, she’d discovered…. “Hey, I look good in a Fez! It suited me!” She said, with mock offence.

The Doctor glanced at the floor a little awkwardly, and shook her head. “I didn’t mean the sonic. It can only tell me so much, and… won’t be able to tell if you’ve got any badly deteriorating mental blocks in place.” Tucking a strand of her own hair behind her ear, she flicked her eyes back up to Donna as she bit at her bottom lip. “I meant… telepathically. It’d be quick. Won’t hurt, I promise. I jus’ need to make sure.”

Donna thought of the running, oh the running.  The Doctor had always been a nimble one and steps ahead of her.  She snorted a laugh.  “I think I could keep up with you now.  Maybe even beat you.” She raised a brow and then couldn’t resist running hand over the TARDIS.  It did not look the same but it felt the same.  

And that was all that mattered.

The Master was looking at her and he smirked at her cruelly. “I said I can make you do whatever I want with just a few words.” he had done it to people and creatures before. It wouldn’t take him much if he felt the need to do so. He wanted her to know that he was in charge. “Don’t you even think of running to warn him.” He said coldly. He was smirking as he looked at her. “You are the Doctor’s companion, I know you are thinking of trying.”

Donna looked at him, trying to read his face.  She could only see one thing in it --- his hatred.  She had no idea if he was bluffing or not.  She shook her head.  “You are having me on.  No one has that kind of power.  You’re like the Doctor.  He can’t...” She could never see her Doctor do that to someone.  He was too good a man.  

He was her Doctor.  

She stepped away from him, determined to keep him at arms length.  “Of course I am thinking that.  I can’t let you hurt him.  He is a good man.”

“Oh you know I can’t promise that.” The Doctor was grinning as he looked at her.  “Besides where is the fun without a bit of trouble and risk.” The time lord thrived on the chaos and the more dangerous something was the more he loved it.  He would do his best to protect Donna. Jack chuckled as he looked at her “You know the Doctor, and I swear he goes looking for trouble on purpose.” He smiled at her comment. “Well I try.” he winked a bit.

“Oh I know, you can’t promise anything.  Danger smacks you in the face on a daily basis,” Donna commented wryly, waving her hand at him with a snort.  She then raised an eyebrow at his comment.  “ --- I swear you see danger and just jump in head first.  I think you should talk to someone about that really.”  She then shifted her attention to Jack.