#needstime

        far below them, the earth stands, covered in clouds; somewhere beneath it, and several thousand years in the past, is his home, though sheffield feels dead tiny, now, looking at the planet as a whole, so far away that if ryan holds his hand out, it seems bigger. it’s a little overwhelming, his own insignificance --- and a little awe-inspiring, too. how many people get this, eh? only the people who go up on the international space station get to see the earth like this, and they’re not doing it from the observation deck of some super swanky station.

        ( he still feels small; ryan tucks that feeling away. not like it’s the first time he’s felt that. ) 

        hands in his pockets, ryan glances at graham, and then back out to the view. the silence stretches a long time, just watching it. down there are people just living their lives, same as they used to. and now they’re here. the doctor is...amazing.  

      A satisfied smile slowly lit up his face as the man spoke. Not easily put off by danger, and remarkably calm for someone face to face with a wanted outlaw. The Doctor had chosen well for a companion this time ‘round, all things considered. Jack waved a dismissive hand. ‟ If they find us, we’ll just pretend you’re my hostage. ” He didn’t even wait for an answer. ‟ As for the explanation, let’s just say I have reason to believe we have a mutual friend. ”

"Probably not. I don’t know where we are either.” Ian smiled at the other man. Although it wasn’t unusual not to know where he was, he usually had some idea of how he’d got there. And here was definitely a cell, given the high barred window and heavy door.

HE’S FROWNING —   ❝ Eight minutes? ❞   — concern is writ on every line of his face. Sure, he hasn’t slept proper since he’d lost Grace, but this? Definitely not good. ( She’s got the grandad in him coming out ).   ❝ Come now, Doc, that can’t be healthy for anyone. ❞   Arms are crossed on his chest as he leans back against the TARDIS railing. His own tired gaze takes her in as she whirls around the controls of the console — she is amazing, he’ll give her that ( with a little prodding ), but he reckons a crash is imminent. And then what? Team Tardis needs it’s captain at her best.      ❝ I know you ain’t human, but that don’t mean you can go on like you do without a proper lie in. ❞

       “Course it does!” The Doctor barely glances up as she flits around the center console, pressing buttons and scrolling through pages on a touch screen she’s still figuring out how to use. “I’ve got a neat trick. Perk of the species.” She dodges briefly out of sight behind the crystalline pillar at the center of the bridge. “Not sleep, exactly. More like meditation.” 

        The Doctor pauses as she comes around the other side of the circular dashboard, leaning over the controls with both hands on the edge. There’s something distant in her voice as she continues. “I can stretch one minute into sixty, one hour into twelve...” 

        It’s not a great way to rest, exhausting one part of herself to refresh another, but the Doctor doesn’t rest much otherwise. “At least it feels like more time than it is.” She turns abruptly, giving Graham a shrug and a smile that echoes her former sentiment: I’ll be all right, in the end. Hopefully.