Chapter Text
Yaz was so distracted, she hardly noticed as a car pulled up beside her.
It was only when she heard a familiar voice say “Yaz, oh my god. Are you okay?!” That she looked up.
“Doctor?” Yaz rasped, relief, fear, disgust and embarrassment all warring inside her.
The Doctor was instantly at her side, crouching beside her. Yaz pulled away slightly, wishing she could be invisible. She hated the thought of anyone, especially the Doctor, seeing her like this.
“S’okay, I’ve seen a lot worse.” The Doctor offered with a gentle smile. “Do you think you’re done?” She asked, carefully placing her hand on Yaz’s shoulder.
Yaz wanted to shrug it off, take off running, never see the woman again and pretend none of this had ever happened. But she also wanted to live with the feeling of that touch, that hand on her shoulder, forever. She settled for a reaction somewhere in the middle. “Yeah… I think so.” Yaz said timidly before abruptly feeling the need to justify herself. “My boyfriend ordered us this big fancy dinner and I didn’t think it would matter because I always go on runs a few hours after dinner.” Yaz explained, the words tumbling quickly over themselves.
The Doctor nodded, but Yaz could tell she didn’t believe her. “Well… You should probably take it easy the rest of the night. I can give you a lift home.” She offered warmly.
“Yeah… Thanks…” Yaz nodded in awkward acceptance because she both didn’t trust herself to make it home and also didn’t want to be on her own again so soon. The Doctor offered Yaz a hand and helped her up. Yaz was thankful she didn’t comment on the way that she swayed slightly when she first stood. However, Yaz was also aware of the Doctor watching her like a hawk as she led her around the car to the passenger side and opened the door for her.
Yaz was thankful the Doctor didn’t ask her any more questions, aside form asking which ways she had to turn in order to get Yaz Home. When they pulled into the car park, Yaz hesitated before exiting the car. “Thank you again… I really appreciate it it.”
“It’s the least I could have done. I was driving home and I saw someone who looked like they needed help… just glad it was you.” The Doctor said warmly before immediately realizing what she said. “Not that I’.m glad you were sick… I just meant…”
Yaz smiled. “It’s okay, I knew what you meant.” The Doctor smiled back, clearly relieved. “No pressure if you have to get home, but if you want… you could come up for a cup of tea. O is… out.”
“Tea at Yaz’s? I’d love tea at Yaz’s!” The Doctor beamed and hopped lively out of the car. Yaz couldn’t help but smile too. She moved a bit more slowly than the Doctor had getting out of the car as she was being careful to mind her stomach.
Yaz led the Doctor up to her flat and welcomed her inside. “This is it.” She said smiling slightly, but she rarely felt happy to get home these days. “You can take a seat at the table, I’ll put the kettle on.” Yaz said simply, but she was surprised when the Doctor moved to stand between Yaz and the counter.
“You still look a little shaky and pale. Why don’t you take a shower? You’ll feel better. And I’ll have a nice hot cup waiting for you when you’re back.” The Doctor offered. Yaz thought for a minute. She hated the idea of seeming even more weak and vulnerable in front of the Doctor, but at the time time, it would ultimately feel better than feeling gross in front of the Doctor the whole time. Plus, she assumed she still had hours before O would arrive home meaning there was little risk of him coming home to find a stranger in his kitchen.
“Okay…” Yaz relented. “Thank you.” She smiled with genuine warmth.
“Course!” The Doctor started looking around the kitchen.
“Mugs are in that cabinet, tea bgs are in that container next to the kettle.” Yaz explained with a smile.
“Great, I’ll get it all sorted, don’t you worry. I’m good at making drinks, me.” The Doctor explained smiling.
Yaz disappeared from sight and went to go take her shower. When she came back, the Doctor was sitting at the table with two mugs filled with hot water seated on the table. She was just putting a tea bag in her own mug when Yaz reappeared. “Perfect timing! How are you feeling?”
Yaz smiled genuinely. Her hair was wet, but otherwise, she was thankful she didn’t look much worse for wear. “A lot better, thank you.”
The Doctor smiled and nodded as her tea steeped. “So… Do you want to tell me the real reason that you were so upset you made yourself sick?” The Doctor asked simply, there was no demand or judgment in her face. Yap’s expression fell before she immediately stiffened her shoulders.
“I don’t think here is the best place to discuss it.” The Doctor nodded.
“I was worried that would be the case.” She said softly as Yaz’s nonanswer had been an answer in itself.
“Yeah but… It’s gonna be okay. Tomorrow I’m going to start getting ready to change things.” Yaz explained. She felt a little paranoid worrying that O was somehow listening to them, but she reminded herself that even if she was being paranoid thinking he’d bugged the flat, there was every chance he could come home early and listen through the door.
The Doctor nodded. “Let me know if you ever need any help with anything.” She smiled.
“I will.” Yaz smiled back.
“Here, let me give you my number.” The Doctor asked holding out her hand for Yaz’s phone. Yaz smiled and handed it over. The Doctor entered her number and handed it back to Yaz.
Yaz looked at her phone out of curiosity to see how the Doctor had entered her name. Under the fist name she had just written ‘The Doctor’ but in the next name section she wrote ‘J.S.’ Yaz raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “J.S. huh…”
“Well… I want you to know I trust you.” She said, although her voice was somewhat tense, clearly uncomfortable to be sharing even the limited amount that she was.
“Thank you.” Yaz smiled, genuinely.
The Doctor smiled and gave a nod to Yaz before reaching over and helping herself to the bowl of sugar, which she started liberally adding to her sugar causing Yaz to laugh. “Enough sugar?”
“Not quite, but it’ll have to do.” The Doctor grinned before taking a sip of her tea.
The evening went on much like many of the other times they had bonded over drinks. They talked about all sorts of things, but this time the tension and avoidance whenever things got too close to Yaz’s life with O was amplified. Fortunately, the Doctor always steered them back to neutral territory. Finally, their mugs were empty and they couldn’t delay any longer.
“I’ll see you tomorrow… yeah?” The Doctor asked hopefully, lingering the doorway.
“Yeah.” Yaz replied with a gentle smile.
“Brilliant!” And with that, the Doctor bounded out of sight and Yaz closed the door behind her with a sigh, going back to her mundane, depressing life. She made sure to wash both mugs and put them both back where they came from to keep O from having any suspicion.
When Yaz went to bed, she was completely exhausted and worn out from the day. So worn out that she didn’t bother considering if she was concerned or relieved that O had yet to come back home.