by Becky Miller
11 Breakdown
Lynne was making a cup of tea. She had put the kettle on the stove. She could use a cupper after all the adventure she had just been through. She wasn't used to a life like that anymore since her ship broke down and became stuck in the late twentieth century Cardiff.
So before she would decide on a place to go with her newly repaired ship, she would relax on her couch and watch East Enders with a cup of nice hot tea.
Halfway through the show, the doorbell rang. She stood up swearing underneath her breath why she couldn't have a quiet moment to watch some TV. Unsuspecting she went to open the door.
"Oh, my dear! Doctor, what happened to you? You look awful." Lynne said as she saw the worn down sad Doctor standing in front of her when she opened the apartment door.
He didn't say anything. He just gave her a deeply sad look as he lifted his head trying to stand tall and proud.
"Come in, come in." she said quickly and offered the Doctor a cup of tea.
"I am tired, Lynne. I am tired of it all." he said as he slumped down on the couch, his overcoat still on.
"Tired of what, why?" Lynne asked but she knew she wouldn't get a proper answer out of him like this. She gave him the cup of tea and tried to sense what was troubling the Doctor so much that made him so sad.
"It's Rose." he whispered as he stared into his cup, his eyes filled with tears.
"Oh, Doctor. I am so sorry." Lynne said as she saw the images of Rose flash in front of her. How she was pulled through the closing rift to another dimension. How the Doctor desperately tried to grab her, but failed. And how he stood against the wall when the rift had closed and there was nothing he could do to get her back.
"But she is still alive and with her family." Lynne said to comfort him. "I know what it is like when the only thing you ever cared for is torn away from you. The world seems to collapse around you and there seems to be no future anymore, only a dark gaping hole to fall through. But I can also say that you have to get over it. Life goes on, for her and for you. You can't sit in your TARDIS forever blaming yourself for what happened."
The Doctor couldn't control himself any longer and tears started rolling down his cheeks into his tea.
"I cannot go on like nothing happened either, Lynne. I can't do it anymore. I have tried but every time I switch on the TARDIS's engines, I think of her. Everything is so grey and dull without her." the Doctor said when he had composed himself again and took a few sips of his tea.
"You can't just stop travelling. You'll get the excitement back, after a while." Lynne said.
"Oh, Lynne it is not just that. The death and destruction I've seen. The things people dear do to each other, the disrespect they have for each others lives. I have seen it. I don't want to be a part of that anymore.
I just want to live in peace now. Live a quiet life. A simple life.
Oh, how I have tried to stop them. All of them, but I am on my own. I am alone. So alone.
I won't do it anymore. I won't fly this thing anywhere again. I will park it somewhere out of sight. I won't fly it again." the Doctor said determinately.
"Oh, come on now, Doctor. You can't mean that. You love travelling to unexpected places, exploring the unknown. That is who you are."
"Not anymore. I am serious. I am tired of seeing all that sadness and sorrow. It has made me weary. It is too much for only one man." the Doctor said firmly.
"But you are not alone. There are others to help you. Like me. You have me." Lynne said.
"I am very grateful for that, Lynne. And your help is very welcome, but I cannot do this any longer." the Doctor said. His sadness was replaced by a strong determination.
"I still offer my help. I will not just walk away from you now and leave you on your own. I will always be there for you." Lynne said as she took his hand and sat next to him on the couch.
"Then, I want to ask you to come with me. Find a place where we can live in peace, where we can be surrounded by people, living their simple happy lives. Come live such a simple life with me, Lynne.
I can imagine you would decline, because you have already tasted the excitement of time travel and all. I don't mind if you go your own way and find adventure for yourself again, but if you mean what you say, I would appreciate your company very much." the Doctor said.
"Of course I will, Doctor. I will come with you. It is you who makes the travelling exciting and fun anyways. I am sure a simple life in the suburbs of London will be no different. I will help you. You won't be alone.
You hear me? You are not alone." Lynne said and a tiny smile appeared on the Doctor's tired weary face again.
The end
Additional feature
Cheap pun
Rose: "I'd love to be able to read minds."
Doctor:"I don't. It is tiresome, unpredictable and impolite."
Rose: "And probably dangerous as well."
Doctor:"That's right. You must have read my mind."
Rose: "Oh, Doctor. That is a cheap one."
Doctor:"I know. I just couldn't resist."
Doctor Who - Breakdown was written and created by Becky Miller.
Doctor Who and related characters are property of the BBC. No infringement intended. SP 2009.
Also by the same writer:
The Daughter
The first book of the Becky Miller Doctor Who fan-fiction series. Rose, Mickey and the Doctor receive a strange numerical message. Is this code really a message and if so who sent it and why? All the answers to these questions are hidden until an unexpected visitor in the TARDIS begins to unveil her secrets one at a time, but in doing so jeopardises the lives of all involved.
Mirror Mirror
The second book in the Becky Miller DW series. Europe isn't always the most exciting place in the universe, especially in the nineteen fifties, but when sightseeing with the Doctor something's always about to happen? When innocent people seemingly at random start disappearing around him, the Doctor must take action. Is he strong enough to face the one responsible? Will he ever be able to look at himself in the mirror?
Diversion
The fourth book in the Becky Miller DW series. Just as Lynne is about to relax on the couch with a cup of tea the door bell rings and a familiar man stands on the door step. He looks broken and asks for her help which she cannot refuse. But will life stay normal just as Lynne and her new house mate so heartily desire or will the past come back to haunt them after all?