Chapter Text
Bill was running down the smoke-filled corridor, the sounds of space station under attack by armed aliens not far off. What felt like an earthquake made the entire corridor pitch to one side and Bill slam into the wall. She kept running as it shifted back and the Doctor shouted about “something-something engines failing” and “auxiliary something-something powers” and “Quickly, to the TARDIS! Keep up Bill!”. None of these were helpful. The Doctor did not find that feedback helpful.
”Shouldn’t we be back where we left the TARDIS now? Oh god, they’re getting closer! They were shooting at us Doctor! With guns!”
”Yes, yes, I know, that happens! Yes it does. No time for that now.”
They rounded a corner.
“Here it is, Store Room 3B!”
The Doctor pointed his door-opening doohickey (sonic screwdriver apparently) at the door, pushed the it open and rushed in. He almost ran Bill over when he rushed out again.
”Right, Store Room 4B of course, hurry up Bill!”
Loud space-gun noises were closing in and she opted for running rather than shouting at him. Sparks flew from the ceiling. The floor shook. Running and shouting it was then.
”This is it, the TARDIS is in here!”
The Doctor waved the sonic screwdriver at the door, the floor was shaking again, more sparks from the ceiling and more smoke filling up the corridor. The Doctor pushed at the door.
”Hurry Doctor! Get it open!”
”It’s not opening, it must be deadlocked! Maybe another highly advanced locking process I haven’t encountered yet!”
”What? Why on earth would some space bar have super locks on a stock room? And just one of them?”
”Some space bar? I’ll have you know the Ernax Leuing Complex is a very prestigious entertainment complex on one of the biggest trading highways in the system. Luxurious hotels, well-renowned restaurants, four water slides! An excellent travel destination for anyone with an appreciation for the finer things! Really, how about some gratitude for me taking you to these wondrous places?”
”Well gee, thanks for the thrilling experience of running through a burning space station chased by gun-toting maniacs!”
”There you are, was that so hard?”
”Oh just get the door open, they’re almost here!”
”I am trying to open it, it’s not working! Kicking it is not going to help, please, leave this to someone with a wee bit more experience in this sort of thing. Given enough time, there’s not a door I can’t open!”
“Well do it quicker!”
The noise of oncoming guns and angry aliens was now coming from both ends of the corridor. A figure rushed out around the corner and Bill nearly jumped out of her shoes. But the way the figure almost stumbled to its knees and simultaneously almost crashed into the wall told her it was not one of the military-like gun-toting aliens. As he came out of the smoke she could see it was, in fact, the slightly skeezy bartender from upstairs, who had half-heartedly tried to hit on her before she made her quick excuses. He was also gripping a sodden dish towel from the bar, flapping it about in his frantic run. Bill turned back to the Doctor.
”Hurry up! We have to get to the TARDIS now! They must be right behind him, come on!”
”That’s not helpful, I am-” he stopped, looking down the corridor, screwdriver falling to his side.
”What are you doing?! Hurry up!”
The skeezy bartender had stopped as well, just a few meters away from them. The Doctor stared, eyes wide. Closing his open mouth, jaw clenched shut hard, his whole body visibly tensed, he looked absolutely horrified, Bill thought. The skeezy bartender had frozen mid-run, almost doubled over. His mouth was hanging open, shocked look on his scraggly face. Another frozen second, then he opened and closed his mouth as if trying to speak.
”… I… No?… It...”
He seemed to be staring intensely at the Doctor’s face, his eyes.
” … Doctor?”
The man took a hesitating step forward, seemingly unaware he was doing so. It was the Doctor’s turn at a goldfish impression before he spoke.
”...Fitz? You… Fitz?”
Skeezy bartender sprang into motion, practically tackling the Doctor as he crouched his gangly form to squeezee the Doctor in a tight hug, his arms around the Doctor’s back, gripping at his suit, still holding the dirty dish towel. Bill instinctively took a step back, in case this was a serial hugging situation.
The Doctor stood stock-still, yeah not much of a hugger, sorry skeezy bartender guy, Bill thought. But no, apparently the exception was gangly bartenders who looked like they’d ran out of a fire. Which was very probably what had happened, what with the space-bar being a bit on fire, courtesy of the good Doctor.
As the Doctor slowly put his hands on bartender-man’s back, shots hit the wall from around the corner and Bill screamed.
”Doctor! Door! Now!” was all she managed in the way of words.
The scruffy man pulled away from the Doctor, who seemed to remember the sonic screwdriver.
”I thought, I...” started bartender-man, and the aliens and their guns rounded the corner.
”TARDIS?” he shouted, finally sounding appropriately panicked.
”Right! TARDIS! Yes!” the Doctor started fiddling about with the screwdriver again.
Bill, fearing she’d lost her life because of sudden hugging, pushed at the door for all she was worth. It budged slightly. She pushed harder. The Doctor gave his screwdriver an annoyed look and then pushed as well. Skeezy bartender-man screamed behind them. As shots were hitting the floor around them, sparks everywhere, the door finally opened enough. They all squeezed through, bartender-man slammed the door shut again. Behind it were several large crates, which must have fallen down when the ship shook, blocking the door. Bill made a furious face at the Doctor as they all ran up to the TARDIS, he pretended not to know what she meant. The Doctor got his key out and opened the door, quickly rushing in, Bill at this coattails. Bartender-man was staring at the TARDIS, looking awestruck.
”Come on!” Bill shouted, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him inside.