The Girl Who Wanted More . . .

RTD: Sure, destroy Gallifrey, for reasons.

A scene from Doctor Who: The Maze of Doom by David Solomons.

It’s my first real go at Illustrator and Doctor Who fanart (unless you count fanvids :) I posted it and tagged Mandip and David and am super nervous! I hope they like it. I hope YOU like it ^.^ 

If you’re confused about the backdrop, they’re in the TARDIS wardrobe. They were just changing behind a curtain and then popped out twirling and stuff. There was nothing heterosexual about it– or that long look they gave when the Doctor dipped Yaz. 

“Prison didn’t have a barber, besides it’s all knotted and matted.” The Doctor murmurs her fingers brushing the long strands out of her face.

Yaz sits down beside her, gently rubbing circles on her back. “Would you like me to cut it?” Yaz asks, stroking the back of her hand along the Doctors cheek. The Doctor doesn’t speak, she just nods her head leaning into Yaz’s touch.

“It needs cutting pretty short, is that okay?” Yaz says quietly, assessing the matted dreadlock the Doctor has going on.

The Doctor shrugs her shoulders and nods, pointing to the magazine on Graham’s coffee table. “That’s pretty cool, can I have that?”

Yaz peers over the Doctors shoulder smiling, planting a firm kiss on her clothed shoulder “An undercut would suit you I think, we’ll have to get you some hair product if you like that style.” Yaz giggles enjoying the Doctors wide smile.

“Would you mind telling me what you’re gonna do before you do it? Just feels safer that way.” The Doctor murmurs catching Yaz’s eyes. Yaz swallows but nods sincerely offering her hand.

“Come on space girl, let’s get that mop chopped eh.” Yaz grins taking her hand, guiding upstairs to Graham’s bathroom.

10 minutes and a few custard creams later the Doctor is sitting on the edge of the bath, a towel tight around shoulders and neck. The top of her hair clipped up into a raggedy bun, a lollipop in her mouth.

“Okay so I’m going to start by cutting your hair short with the scissors, then I’ll clean it up with the clippers okay.” Yaz explains handing the clippers to the Doctor to hold.

“Mkay.” The Doctor murmurs around her lollipop, looking back at Yaz in the mirror smiling. Yaz begins to gently separate each lock of matted hair from the clump, cutting down to a inch off her scalp, placing the cut hair gently into a plastic bag.

“They should make silent scissors, maybe I’ll invent them.” The Doctor mumbles.

“Sounds like a good plan, I never liked the noise they make too.” Yaz agrees moving quickly but gently through the rest of the Doctors hair.

“I feel lighter already.” The Doctor jokes as Yaz bins the last lock, chuckling.

“You’ve got some of the thickest hair I’ve ever seen, right can you hold the scissors and I’ll take those clippers and clean you up.” Yaz hands the scissors over handles first. “It’s going to whir a bit Doctor okay, just the mechanism inside, let me know if it’s too much.”

The Doctor nods biting her lip as Yaz turns the clippers on and they whir to life, gently lifting some hair with the comb guard she moves the clipper up through her hair. After a few seconds Yaz notices the Doctors eyes close and a deep purring rumble erupt from her.

“Feels nice?” Yaz asks gently, grateful that something is relaxing the Doctor. The Doctor leans more into her body as she glides the clippers through her hair the whirring vibration massaging as they moved.

“Feels amazin’ Yaz.” The Doctor croaks groggily, her eyes flickering open briefly before closing again.

“Just you wait till I wash your hair, my head massages are legendary.” Yaz promises, beaming as the Doctor flashes her dimples in a wide smile.

“Okay, you’re all cleaned up and even space girl. Just need those scissors back to cut and style the top okay.” Yaz says, turning the clippers off and setting them aside. The Doctor hands the scissors back to her handle first her eyes blinking awake again.

“That were amazing Yaz, I can see why people use those to cut hair, so relaxing for such a noisy machine.” The Doctor chuckles, taking the clippers into her lap sonicing them for their manufacturing history.

The Doctor geeked away the next 20 minutes as Yaz lifted each lock of hair and measured them between her fingers before snipping away as efficiently as she could.

“Right space girl you’re almost done, ready to sit down on that little stool and lean your head back over the bath we’ll get it washed and ready for your next adventure.” Yaz promises her heart warming at the sight of the Doctors eyes close again, her next adventure will probably be a 12 hour nap Yaz thought.

“Nothing with lavender in it please Yaz, the smell makes me nauseous this go round.” The Doctor explains as Yaz starts the warm shower, wetting her hair.

“That’s okay Doctor, we’ve got Graham’s Head and Shoulders or Ryan’s Star Wars shampoo, my word he’s a big kid sometimes.” Yaz jokes plucking Graham’s shampoo and squeezing a dollop of shampoo into the palm of her hand. She lathers it up between her hands before gliding them into the Doctors warm wet hair taking care to gather the suds up around her hairline massaging them into her scalp.

“Feel good?” Yaz asks gently, the weight of the Doctors head resting in her hands as she grew more and more limp.

The Doctor doesn’t respond, she just inhales deeply and let’s herself feel vulnerable and relaxed for the first time in a long time. She’s safe here in this bathroom with her trusted companion. She’s safe to just feel herself again.

Yaz knows she can’t massage away the last ten months, but she can endeavour to give the Doctor some rest for the next ten minutes, after all she’s done for all of them it seems only fair. So she continues to massage the shampoo through her short curling locks and rinsing with warm water, taking care to shield the Doctor’s ears and eyes from the spray of the water.

It’s only when she comes to towel dry her hair that she notices the Doctor looking up at her, green and golden orbs shining with such gratitude.

“Hey there.” Yaz whispers smiling as she dries her hair carefully.

“I think I need a nap.” The Doctor yawns holding her hand to cover her mouth. Yaz smiles before hanging up the towel and holding out her hand.

“You deserve it come on, I’ll make you up a bed on the sofa.” Yaz ushers her through the door, tucking her into her makeshift bed her hair drying and curling every so slightly.

Graham folds his arms, beginning to whistle merrily “Back in my day I could handle myself in a scrap if needs be.” He notes seeing Yaz crack a smile.

“I’m sure Grandad, but I couldn’t hit a target if it stood still and Yaz might be police but she’s five foot four and those things we saw are easily eight feet. We’re screwed.” Ryan laments biting at his thumb nail before Yaz pulls his hand away.

“The Doctor will show up, even if we’re in the pit, she loves a dramatic entrance.” Yaz reassures them seeing Graham sigh before nodding.

“You’re right cockle, she’s never let us down. But what’s the game plan if they chuck us in that pit?” Graham asks noticing the guards laugh and chat exchanging money.

“Find something sharp and long and stand back to back in a little triangle, poke anything that comes near.” Yaz surmises slapping Ryan’s knee with a bit of enthuasism.

“Oh excellent, this is gonna be brilliant. We’re going to put our whole planet to shame Yaz. An old man, a uncoordinated softie and a fierce little munchkin.” Ryan groans, jumping at the guard beats the bars again.

“Right you lot, times up. Time for the pit, now I’ve bet good money that you’ll die within 15 minutes so don’t let me down now.” He jeers, their handcuffs buzzing with life again.

The entrance to the pit was the first natural light they’ve seen in the last day and they squint as they enter the arena, thousands of natives to the planet screaming and cheering.

“Reminds me of a derby game.” Graham yells over the crowd. Their handcuffs are seized off them and they’re pushed through into the pit.

“Good luck.” A guard yells sealing the gate shut.

“Oh charming that is, good luck to you to mate.” Graham snarks grabbing Ryan and Yaz by their arms pulling them close.

“Okay kids I think Yaz was probably right in her assessment let’s just line up back to back and keep things at bay yeah. And if anyone sees the Doc start running, don’t think we should be here a minute longer than necessary.” Graham orders picking up a loose spear and handing it to Ryan as Yaz scrambles to pick up a forgotten sword.

They spend the next few minutes moving as a tight circle keeping an eye on their surroundings as the gladiatorial fights continue around them. Suddenly, what looks like an 8ft grasshopper charges towards Graham it’s pincers snapping as it moves.

“OI BUGS LIFE, stay away from my grandad.” Ryan shouts stabbing the speak forward jamming it into the beasts leg, it howled in pain dragging itself back away from them.

Vroop vroop vroop

“Oh thank god.” Yaz whispered as she heard the Tardis flying none too gracefully down to the pit, the Tardis door slam wide open. A frazzled Doctor with singed hair and and a few black smudges to her face marches out, holding nought but her sonic.

“I’m here for my friends and I am not happy.” The Doctor seethes, the whole crowd quiet with awe. Yaz yanks Ryan and Graham forward as they hustle towards her pushing through the fighters.

“We’re here, Doctor!” Yaz yells catching her eyeline, the Doctors face softens as she sees them, relief evident.

“I said don’t wander off!” The Doctor scolds as they all but throw their arms around her in a tight hug.

“DULY noted. Can we leave?!” Graham wheezes when they’re at the door. The Doctor checks them over briefly touching Yaz’s wrists where the handcuffs bit into her skin.

“Are any of you hurt?” She asks very quietly, Yaz can see the flicker of that oncoming storm the Doctor spoke about only in the depths of night.

“No Doctor, you got here in time.” Yaz promises, swallowing as she knows she’s saving this city from the Doctor’s wrath. The Doctor nods and they all clamber into the Tardis locking the door and dematerialising.

A few hours later...

“Thank you.” The Doctor mumbles into Yaz’s hair as they lounge together reading, Yaz smiles squeezing her hand.

“Can we go see the 1966 World Cup Doc?” Graham asks, his feet betraying him as he bounces on his heels excited.

“Yeah of course Graham, best have a nip in the wardrobe and find some England shirts eh, we’ll want to blend in.” The Doctor advises beaming back at him.

“Can we go to New York in the eighties I want to see a band!” Ryan requests a few days later, the same excitement on his face.

The Doctor clicks her fingers into little guns and winks awkwardly “Yeah of course Ryan, sounds groovy, let’s get some neon wear shall we.”

And on and on it goes, the Doctor and her fam have seen every remarkable feat of West Ham throughout the ages, Ryan’s bopped to all the greats of the eighties and the Doctor is run a little ragged. She may not say so but Yaz knows deep down she’s a little bit of a homebody, she likes her Tardis and tinkering, she loves helping people more. But alas three months back and there hasn’t been one distress call or wandering fancy to visit some planet mired in conflict and civil war. Just weekly trips to Sainsbury’s for more biscuits and tea and then on to wherever her fam wants to visit next. It ends now Yaz thinks, it’s been fun, but they need the Doctor back.

“I’d like to pick the next trip Doctor.” Yaz mentions confidently in the Console Room one morning seeing the Doctor look up and grin in delight.

“Of course Yaz, where and when would you like to go?” The Doctor asks standing up to pull the console screen closer to tap in the coordinates.

“My future, say 40 years from now. I’d like to see it.” Yaz requests, immediately feeling bad as the Doctor instantly flexes her jaw biting her lip, this is for your own good she thinks.

“Oh erm wouldn’t you like to see something more, I dunno fun? Not that your future won’t be fun Yaz but I can show you anything the whole universe, there’s got to be something.” The Doctor croaks trying to keep the deep seated emotion out of her voice and failing. She’d been doing so well keeping her fam safe, gone nowhere dangerous, nowhere enticing.

Yaz pushes off the Console praying the Doctor would forgive her for this one day. “If you’re not going to take me where I want to go, then I guess I’ll just go and pick up a shift at work. Why don’t you take Ryan to another party or something.” Yaz says offhandedly trying to keep control of the voice in her head screaming at her to pack it in and apologise.

The Doctor folds in on herself glum, her eyes welled up with fresh tears. “Yeah you love your work, have fun at your shift. Call me if you need me Yaz I’ll be there.” She half whispers trying to focus on another broken circuit board.

Yaz’s heart sinks as she watches, after everything they’d been through she thought the down time had been a good idea, but now all she saw was a frightened and wounded person desperate to keep everyone safe, and happy. Yaz kicked a loose pipe in frustration slapping her hands down on the console rails.

“Doctor, I’m sorry. But we haven’t been on any trips like we used too, what happened to the universe in distress eh? You’re so desperate to keep us safe after Gallifrey and I understand with the cybermen and the Master you’re afraid for us. But this life isn’t you - you’re not an intergalactic travel agent okay, you’re the Doctor! And I need you back.” Yaz insists biting her lip as the Doctor looks up, her face distraught.

“I turned it off.” The Doctor whispers, the guilt hitting her like an avalanche.

Yaz frowns in confusion. “What do you mean you turned it off?”

The Doctor moves towards the edge of the console table lifting a cap off a light. “I turned off the distress radio, after the Dalek invasion.” The Doctor admits quietly, she can’t face Yaz’s expression the disgust and horror at her dereliction of duty.

Yaz moves closer encircling her arms around the Doctors waist kissing the back of her head. “Why?” She whispers into her hair.

The Doctor sighs leaning back into Yaz’s hold. “Because I wasn’t ever going to leave you lot behind, but I couldn’t bring myself to ever endanger you again.” The Doctor reasoned closing the cap on the light again.

Yaz stops her from turning around, holding her tighter. “The universe needs you Doctor, and we need you too. We’ve all made our choice to stay with you. It’s not your fault or your responsibility to keep us safe.” Yaz whispers as she hears the Doctor sob a little to herself.

“I have a duty of care -“ The Doctor starts, before Yaz turns her around in her arms holding her by the shoulders.

“You do, to the universe. And I have a duty of care to you Doctor, I won’t let your fear rule you. So I’m going to lift that cap and turn the distress radio back on, and you’re going to remember that we all choose you, no matter the circumstances.” Yaz vows, lifting the cap as the Doctor watches and turning the switch back on. No alert comes screaming through, for that Yaz is glad.

“See? No boogeyman waiting. Just your fam and your Tardis. But when that rings Doctor, you’re going to put your coat on and say something clever and we’re going to help whoever out there calls, yeah?” Yaz champions, seeing a flicker of confidence spark in the Doctor’s eyes.

“Yeah Yaz, we will. Thank you.” The Doctor thanks, leaning in to plant a soft kiss to her cheek.