The Fifth Doctor

“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.”

@cricketandcelery

“I think not!” Liz retorted immediatly. “When I offered you headache medication the first time, I did not remember that Aspirin can kill you. So, definatly not doing that no.” She crossed her arms, frowning. “What’s wrong? Why are you asking for something you know would kill you?” She bit her lip, hesitating before adding. “Are you really contemplating suicide or does just appear that way?”

While sound was a bit painful with the migraine, he still had a lot of catching up to do.  “Tell me, Liz.  What have you been up to?  How long has it been?” To be honest, he wasn’t so sure.  Time travel really effected his perception of linear time.  

She had never had any illusions about how little she actually ment to The Doctor, and yet, somehow, his question still shattered some.

“Yeah, its a good question. How long has it been since I quite literally ran away as fast as my legs would carry?” She is ironic and angry to try and cover up the tears threatening in her eyes and the spasmic opening and closing of her fists. “Why don’t try and figure it out while I get you that medication?” She gives him a sugur sweet smile that is just another defense and disappear out of the room before he can reply.

Stupid, stupid Doctor.  

Behind her smile, he could tell just how much he had hurt her.  

“Liz, that’s not what I mean–” but she was gone from the room.  

He looked around the room, trying to get a sense of time.  When was this…80s? 90s?.  His attention was drawn to Commodore computer on Liz’s desk, but so far that was the only clue he had.  When did he even start at UNIT?  Was it the 70s?  The 80s?  

She comes marching back into the liviginroom as though she never left, putting down a glass of water and some pain medication on the table infront of him.

“It’s Ibuprofen. Hole other active substance than Aspirin, so it should work. Unless Jo forgot to tell me something about your allergies, that is.” She explains simply, before going over to open fireplace and retrieving her pipe and a lighter.

Once that was done, she settled herself in the chair opposite him, avoiding looking at him by lighting the pipe.

He was growing a bit frustrated, but wasn’t going to let on.  The time he spent with Liz at UNIT was irreplaceable, and he knew he had probably learned more from her than she ever could have from him.  In a way, it was hard for him to believe she had felt this way, so uncared for, but he realized he was never really one to let on his emotions.  

“You mean a great deal to me.  You have, and you always will, Liz.”  

“Yes, well it seems so,” the Doctor said, with a small smile.  

Although she looked youthful just like him, appearing to be no older than her mid 30s, her eyes told a much different story.  He studied them for a short time. They were much older, and almost had a glimmer of sadness, as if she had seen much more…and much worse…than he could imagine.  He almost wanted to ask – to inquire about his future – but decided against it.  Somethings are meant to be waited for.  

“So…” he cleared his throat, “Doctor.  What brings your travels here?”  

He looked around and didn’t see anyone with her.  “Are you traveling alone?” his question having an undeniable tone of concern.  

Perhaps she had seen too much but well, that was just the way her life went. She explored, she saved people, she saw terrible wars and terrible events, and she made tough choices, but in the end, she kept on going, for centuries and many lifetimes, extending way beyond her natural lifespan of twelve regenerations. It had almost ended. Almost. But well, here she is.

At the mention of being alone, she suddenly remembered her friends, eyes widening in panic as she turned on the spot. God, how can she be so stupid? She had been too wrapped up in herself, literally, that she forgot that she had friends. They weren’t here though. Where could they possibly be? 

With a frown of thought, she was silent and still for a moment before turning back to her past self. 

❝ They were right there with me but I… I got pulled into some kind of portal ‘n’ now I’ve lost them. I gotta find them. I don’t know what’s happened to ‘em and if they’re hurt… ❞

Then she’d never forgive herself.

❝ I think I might need your help. ❞

“Where's the portal...Doctor?”  

@cricketandcelery

“I think not!” Liz retorted immediatly. “When I offered you headache medication the first time, I did not remember that Aspirin can kill you. So, definatly not doing that no.” She crossed her arms, frowning. “What’s wrong? Why are you asking for something you know would kill you?” She bit her lip, hesitating before adding. “Are you really contemplating suicide or does just appear that way?”

While sound was a bit painful with the migraine, he still had a lot of catching up to do.  “Tell me, Liz.  What have you been up to?  How long has it been?” To be honest, he wasn’t so sure.  Time travel really effected his perception of linear time.  

She had never had any illusions about how little she actually ment to The Doctor, and yet, somehow, his question still shattered some.

“Yeah, its a good question. How long has it been since I quite literally ran away as fast as my legs would carry?” She is ironic and angry to try and cover up the tears threatening in her eyes and the spasmic opening and closing of her fists. “Why don’t try and figure it out while I get you that medication?” She gives him a sugur sweet smile that is just another defense and disappear out of the room before he can reply.

Stupid, stupid Doctor.  

Behind her smile, he could tell just how much he had hurt her.  

“Liz, that’s not what I mean–” but she was gone from the room.  

He looked around the room, trying to get a sense of time.  When was this…80s? 90s?.  His attention was drawn to Commodore computer on Liz’s desk, but so far that was the only clue he had.  When did he even start at UNIT?  Was it the 70s?  The 80s?  

She comes marching back into the liviginroom as though she never left, putting down a glass of water and some pain medication on the table infront of him.

“It’s Ibuprofen. Hole other active substance than Aspirin, so it should work. Unless Jo forgot to tell me something about your allergies, that is.” She explains simply, before going over to open fireplace and retrieving her pipe and a lighter.

Once that was done, she settled herself in the chair opposite him, avoiding looking at him by lighting the pipe.

@cricketandcelery

“I think not!” Liz retorted immediatly. “When I offered you headache medication the first time, I did not remember that Aspirin can kill you. So, definatly not doing that no.” She crossed her arms, frowning. “What’s wrong? Why are you asking for something you know would kill you?” She bit her lip, hesitating before adding. “Are you really contemplating suicide or does just appear that way?”

While sound was a bit painful with the migraine, he still had a lot of catching up to do.  “Tell me, Liz.  What have you been up to?  How long has it been?” To be honest, he wasn’t so sure.  Time travel really effected his perception of linear time.  

She had never had any illusions about how little she actually ment to The Doctor, and yet, somehow, his question still shattered some.

“Yeah, its a good question. How long has it been since I quite literally ran away as fast as my legs would carry?” She is ironic and angry to try and cover up the tears threatening in her eyes and the spasmic opening and closing of her fists. “Why don’t try and figure it out while I get you that medication?” She gives him a sugur sweet smile that is just another defense and disappear out of the room before he can reply.

Stupid, stupid Doctor.  

Behind her smile, he could tell just how much he had hurt her.  

“Liz, that’s not what I mean--” but she was gone from the room.  

He looked around the room, trying to get a sense of time.  When was this...80s? 90s?.  His attention was drawn to Commodore computer on Liz’s desk, but so far that was the only clue he had.  When did he even start at UNIT?  Was it the 70s?  The 80s?  

“Surprise?”

‘Suprise’ was the least she could say.  Recently, he encountered three other past incarnations of himself, and that was definitely not by choice.  

He reached out his hand to help his female incarnation stand up.  Once they both were off of the floor, the Doctor stood up straight, put his hands in his pockets and let out a slight sigh.  

“Well, you could definitely say I’m surprised.”  

Remembering the last run in with himself, he immediately put his hand over his hearts … no pain from the paradox like last time.  

Maybe that’s what caused her to faint?  He wasn’t too sure.

“So which number incarnation do I have the pleasure of meeting?”  He looked her up and down, still in shock that he was staring at his future self.  He knew Time Lords could change gender, but he never figured he would.  

Alas, the fashion sense still hadn’t improved much.  What a shame.

Grateful for the hand up, she stood and ran a hand through dishevelled hair, fixing herself up. She was feeling quite a bit better now, the dizziness fading enough that the room was no longer spinning, getting back to her usual chirpy self. The sonic was taken back from him, tucked into her pocket where it belonged.

For a second, she paused at that. Could she tell him? If she left out the ‘War Doctor’ and the half regeneration of her tenth self…. then yes. Though that’d put her at his “last” body, which wasn’t technically true but it was all she could offer right now. Better than trying to explain that she was past her regeneration limit already.

❝ Thirteenth. I’m the thirteenth incarnation. ❞

She answered with a cheerful grin, shrugging a shoulder. 

❝ Endin’ it on a female note, I guess. ❞

Although she looked youthful just like him, appearing to be no older than her mid 30s, her eyes told a much different story.  He studied them for a short time. They were much older, and almost had a glimmer of sadness, as if she had seen much more...and much worse...than he could imagine.  He almost wanted to ask -- to inquire about his future -- but decided against it.  Somethings are meant to be waited for.  

“So...” he cleared his throat, “Doctor.  What brings your travels here?”