Chapter Text
There he was, all alone again. He used to think it was better that way, truly believed it, but now all that’s left is a painful emptiness. A loneliness left behind from all his previous companions, consuming him whole.
Adelaide had shot herself. It was all the proof he needed to know that he was powerless against time. He thought he was being smart, thought he was better, he thought that, like the ancient Greeks used to say, he had too much Hubris.
The Doctor was scared, afraid, perhaps even petrified of what was awaiting him. He tried to break the laws of time, and now they were coming for him.
He lowers his head as he lets out a sigh. His still wet hands gripped the edges of the console tightly, his knuckles turning white. He held back his screams and tears and let out some more shaky breaths. He steadied himself and raised his head. His hands finally relaxed and he pushed himself upright, not fully letting go yet.
Nothing came yet, but the fear wasn’t over yet. Perhaps they would let this slide as a warning. Or perhaps there wasn’t even a ‘they’ like he thought. Either way he still needed a distraction.
His fingers glided over the console; he took his time as he slowly pressed some buttons. He was tired, the aftermath of the adrenaline finally started to kick in. But he refused to sleep, he didn’t need it for another 3 days, even if he kept this behaviour up.
He pulled the lever closing his eyes as he listened to the TARDIS’ familiar sound. She was gentle this time, not shaking violently as always, but more so gently rocking. She probably pitied him, he was certain actually, he could feel her trying to comfort him inside his head. He shut her down, keeping his walls up. Comfort was not what he needed right now.
The sound had stopped before he noticed. He opened his eyes again, his lids were heavy but he didn’t care, he still didn’t.
He walked to the door, opened it and walked out, closing it behind him without looking.
His eyes had to adjust to the sudden brightness, which was a stark contrast to what he had just experienced. When he had walked away from Adelaide it was night and the TARDIS had adjusted her lighting for him.
When his eyes did finally adjust, he could finally have a proper look around.
He froze.
What? How the hell did she bring him here? This was one of those placed he had restricted the TARDIS to go to. Yet she still managed to anyway.
He quickly turned around trying to leave as quickly as possible, he couldn’t see him. His hand was reaching for the TARDIS but the TARDIS wasn’t there.
What? How? It was impossible! The TARDIS couldn’t just leave! Not without him, not without his help. He didn’t even hear the familiar vworping sounds.
He was confused but more so stressed. Now he was definitely going to find him. He hurried to find the TARDIS again. Maybe she’d hidden herself from him, though unlikely. She couldn’t even more. But then again, she was gone. Obviously she must’ve gone somewhere.
Maybe someone else had controlled it, but he couldn’t think of anyone.
Maybe someone had snuck on the ship when he wasn’t looking or wasn’t there and had waited for him to leave to take control of the ship and leave him stranded there. Though that wouldn’t explain why she left him here of all places
Lost in thought the poor Doctor failed to notice that the person he feared to face had walked out of his apartment and now stood right behind him.
Only a featherlight tap on his shoulder made him snap out of it as he instantly turned to face him.
Sherlock.
Instinctively he took a step back, not out of shock but more because he didn’t like the sudden proximity with him.
He awkwardly started rocking on his feet while Sherlock was scrutinizing him. He didn’t want to hear Sherlocks observations, yet he still somewhat patiently waited for him to make them.
“You’re an alien.” Sherlock finally stated, it had hardly been half a minute. But if it were up to the Doctor, it was half a minute too much. At least 2 minutes since he had been spotted, even if the TARDIS never left Sherlock would still know about him. The realization daunted on him as Sherlock continued his observations.
“You’re stressed, scared, no petrified of something. You haven’t slept in a long time… You can either teleport or time travel because it hasn’t snowed here, it’s summer. Yet you don’t have anything to travel with, or perhaps. That noise, that I heard just before you appeared here. You’ve lost your ship, haven’t you?”
The Doctor hadn’t replied to anything Sherlock said, he didn’t want to give away anything more than Sherlock could deduce.
He nodded, still hopping from one foot to the other consistently.
“Yep” He popped the ‘p’ as he confirmed Sherlocks question, which was more a statement. Almost a rhetorical question.
Sherlock continued a part of his deduction in his head until he spoke again:
“Are you a part of Torchwood?”
The Doctor had almost forgotten about them, but the moment he heard their name he became serious again, his movement halted. He didn’t want to be seen as part of Torchwood, not after what they had done. He had to make sure that Sherlock did not get the wrong idea of him, even though technically he didn’t deduce his answer.
“No.”
It was very clear to both of them and Sherlock decided not to push further.
Clearly Sherlock was at hit wit’s end because he had started asking questions instead of deducing. Though there was only so much a detective could figure out about something he has no knowledge of.
“What is your ship?”
The question was quite vague, but pretty clear to the Doctor. Yet he decided not to answer like Sherlock wanted him to but instead use it as an excuse to leave him and never return here.
“Lost. And I should go look for it instead, so if you’ll excuse me”
He was halfway in turning and walking away from him when Sherlock stopped him, grabbing his arm, not hard but enough just to make him pause. If the Doctor really wanted to, he could still walk away.
“I just wanted to say. If your ship hid itself, perhaps it has a reason to and wouldn’t just show up again.”
There was some truth to those words and the Doctor did consider it. He didn’t resist Sherlocks grasp on his arm, instead relaxing and facing him again.
Yes, the TARDIS could’ve hidden herself from him for a reason, even if he didn’t know how she would be able to, it was impossible. But his own reasoning, of someone stealing it was equally as unlikely. Either way it would be worth a shot to look. He decided.
“Maybe, but it won’t hurt to look for it”
Besides, he still wanted to get away from Sherlock. He had to make sure he didn’t find out too much about him. Though he was failing miserably at that.
He slid out of Sherlocks loose grasp and turned to walk away.
Not even a couple of seconds later Sherlock called out again. He probably didn’t want to let go just yet, probably wanted to figure out exactly that which the Doctor was so desperately hiding from him.
“I could help, twice the number of eyes.”
The doctor paused again. If he were to say yes, he would have to tell Sherlock what to look for, giving him even more information, and he really didn’t want that. On the other hand, he could probably use the extra help and even if he didn’t accept it Sherlock would still pry anyways.
Before he could decide Sherlock walked up to him and pretended as if he had already made the choice. It took him too long
“So, what are we looking for?”
The Doctor was tired and didn’t feel like resisting, so he gave up and decided that it wouldn’t hurt to just let him help, perhaps even show it to him if he could find it. He knew Sherlock would definitely pry for that.
“A blue police box, from around the 1960s” He replied.
Sherlock raised an eyebrow but didn’t question it. It must be very odd for him to hear all of this, but surprisingly he wasn’t against the idea.
Before the Doctor could he moved, walking around casually looking out for his ship, the Doctor quickly followed and before he knew it, they were walking side by side. Yes, they could’ve split up, but he didn’t feel like doing that. Perhaps he was just too tired and lonely for that.
They searched the surrounding areas for about half an hour but with no luck. In the time they had kept quiet and to themselves. They had searched thoroughly, anywhere the TARDIS could be, but the TARDIS was gone. Without a trace without a sound-
Without a sound! Of course! It couldn’t possibly have moved if it didn’t make the sound! He was so stupid, he felt embarrassed.
Sherlock looked up as he noticed this shift in the Doctor. Confused he looked at the Doctor for answer, who didn’t give him any, so he asked.
“What? What happened? Did you see something?”
The Doctor turned to look at him, snapping out of his own world of happiness and embarrassment.
“Right…” He thought a second on how to explain it so he could understand, but then he realized that he was Sherlock. He didn’t have to simplify it as he usually did with his companions, he would probably just get it.
“The TARDIS never left the spot. She never buzzed so she’s still there, just in temporal flux!”
As he said it his excitement seeped through his voice. He couldn’t wait for Sherlock so he just ran back to where the TARDIS originally was.
How had he not thought of this earlier? He had been so stupid, to forget this even after noticing that she hadn’t made a sound. Perhaps he really was tired. He promised himself that when he was alone again in the TARDIS he would sleep, just so that eh could get his focus back.
Sherlock had caught up with him again and stopped where he had stopped himself. The Doctor pulled out his sonic from his pocket and started to scan the area around him, searching for a trace of her.
Sherlock just stood there, still amazed by all that was happening, now closely observing his sonic, trying to figure it out.
“Yes! I got it. Now if I just reverse it, like so-”
He did something on his sonic-screwdriver that made the TARDIS reappear right in front of them.
They both looked like happy little children in awe at how the machine faded (quickly) back into reality.
“Right, now that I have her back…”
He hoped from Sherlock to just go away back into his apartment again, but just like he thought he didn’t.
“Shouldn’t you show me what your ship looks like? I did offer you my help with relocating it.”
The Doctor went into awkward mode again, swaying slightly. He held himself back from reaching for his keys when he tucked his sonic back into his jacket. He didn’t want to show Sherlock. He would insist on staying and he promised himself to never have a companion again, though he did start to doubt this promise.
Sherlock waited patiently, he probably knew that giving the Doctor a long silence would up his chances for a yes, and so the silence stretched.
The Doctor yawned once and he was instantly reminded of his fatigue. He knew Sherlock wasn’t leaving anytime soon, and he needed sleep. So, against knowing better he sighed and unlocked the door. Mentioning for Sherlock to get inside and locking it behind him again.
Upon seeing that Sherlock hid his excitement underneath a stupid smile, he swiftly slipped in and looked around the console room. He strolled over the metal grating; the air was hardly colder than outside. The machine buzzed with life as he stroked the console.
The Doctor couldn’t help a proud smile forming on his lips, at least he could still surprise the world’s greatest detective. His eyes were fixed on Sherlock as he inspected every little bit of the TARDIS. After a second he walked closer to him.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she?”
Sherlock hadn’t made a comment yet, but he was certain he loved it too. Unlike his previous companions Sherlock didn’t comment on the size of the ship, rather he just hummed in agreement.
After a while of now comfortable silence the Doctor spoke up again.
“So…What do you think?”
Sherlock looked up to face the Doctor again, taking a couple steps toward him.
“She is magnificent. I can’t figure out how she works yet, but I suppose that would come later.”
The Doctor smiled again in the praise he received. He heard it all before yet it still made him so happy to see someone entering his TARDIS for the first time.
“I’m afraid later won’t come. I can’t keep you here, I will have to go soon.”
The Doctor answered with pity in his eyes. It was a stark contrast to how he looked when he first got here but he had warmed up to Sherlock. Almost forgetting why he didn’t want to meet him in the first place.
“Can’t I stay? Come with you for a while? It would do me good, getting away from London for a while.”
He didn’t really expect that request. Though he didn’t know what he was expecting otherwise either.
Any other day he would’ve minded, he would’ve ushered him out or never let him in in the first place. But today he was tired and lonely, it was his best excuse. He did want him to stay, to show him the stars. To show him that there was so much more to see and know and that it was definitely worth knowing that the earth orbits the sun.
He decided that he could stay, but he would rest first.
“Fine, but only 1 trip, you hear me?”
“Of course.”
As Sherlock said that a smile formed on both their lips as they looked at each other. Whatever would happen, it would be like none of them had experienced before.
The Doctor walked over to the console and put the TARDIS into the Time Vortex, just so that nothing could happen while he was asleep. Sherlock observed his every move as if he was a student learning something cool and new from his favourite teacher.
Once done he stood back up again and faced Sherlock.
“It’s late, I assume you haven’t slept, so I’ll make a room ready for you. Be right back”
Sherlock just nodded to confirm and he watched the Doctor leave him alone in the console room.
In the meantime the Doctor was pacing through the TARDIS halls, looking for a good spot to put his room. He couldn’t find one. So he resorted to the TARDIS, asking her for help. A slight hum was found in his head as she nudged him somewhere down the hall. There she had placed a door that wasn’t there before. The Doctor thanked her in his mind, peeked inside the room and was pleasantly surprised by the beauty of it. Sherlock really had some taste. There were books, shelves and drawers filled with anything he might need. 2 comfy chairs and a violin with all its necessities surrounding it. There was even a yellow smiley on the wall just like in his apartment. The Doctor had smiled and quietly closed the door to walk back to Sherlock.
When he returned, he saw Sherlock once again at the console, observing it. He probably also touched it since he just pulled his hand back from it.
“Your room’s about 10 meters into the hallway, then right and then the 3rd door to your left.”
He said, now softly smiling.
Sherlock turned to him and simply said:
“Thank you.”
The Doctor’s smile grew warmer and he continued.
“I’ll be in my room, if you need me just ask the TARDIS, she’ll guide you.”
That was probably confusing to him, since he doesn’t usually communicate with machines, but Sherlock just nodded.
“Good night.”
The Doctor said, waving a little to say goodbye as he headed to his own room.
The walk back was slow and quiet, though the TARDIS was there to accompany him he felt lonely again. How he missed Sherlock already was a mystery to him, but he still did. His smile had faded and his fatigue was clearly visible now.
Eventually he reached his room, he locked it even though he had no active reason to and got ready for bed.
When he was ready, he crawled into bed and made himself comfortable under his blanket. He put out the light and closed his eyes…