HELTER SKELTER
Chapter Twenty Two By the time the Doctor reached Paul, Amy and Rory were with him, comforting him while he stared numbly at the floor. The Doctor knelt down and examined his friend's face. He looked ill, his face was puffy and haggard and his eyes had huge bags under them. The Doctor asked Amy and Rory to leave him alone for a moment. Amy kissed Paul's cheek and he and Rory rose. They took each other's hands and walked out of the room while the Doctor took the seat Amy had been sitting in. "My friend, don't despair," he said gently. Paul looked at him and the Doctor flinched when he saw there was no sparkle left in his eyes. For the first time since he had met him, Paul looked world weary and tired of life. The Doctor put his hand on Paul's shoulder. "I can hear her, I can hear both of them," Paul said in a dull voice. "I can hear Jane's fear in her voice and it's killing me inside. Before I was one of the captives but now…" "There are ways to track them," the Doctor said. "We have Altok. I have ways of interrogating him. I'll make him tell us where they were taken." "What frightens me is William's mind has been blocked from brainwashing but not hers." The Doctor's eyes lowered. "Forgive me, my friend, I should have went into everyone's mind, not just yours and Williams. That's my fault." "No, you didn't know that would happen, it's not your fault," Paul said. "I just hope that they don't try anything with her until we reach them…if we…" "No," the Doctor said, cutting him off, "don't think for one moment we won't rescue them because we will. You have to have hope, Paul." "Yeah," Paul murmured as his eyes returned to the floor. "Paul, can I ask you something?" the Doctor said. Paul looked up at him and nodded. "Have you been ill lately? I noticed that your face seems puffy and it wasn't the case six months ago. Are you taking medication that's causing your face to swell up?" "Exhaustion," Paul said, looking at his hands, "told Amy when I first met her that I felt tired and my mind was out of sorts at times. It's all the stress of being a Beatle combined with what's been going on with the Illuminati. They gave me some medication to try to help me but yeah, it's swollen my face up a bit." "You look terrible, my friend." Paul gave him a sad smile. "I know. I feel terrible too. I think my body is wearing down, all these stressful years are finally catching up with me." "Will you let me help then?" Paul looked at him. "You have medicine that can cure me?" he said hopefully. "I have medicine that's far more advanced than anything on Earth. I think I'll be able to counteract the effects of the years of stress and worry but if I do, you must sleep for awhile in order for it to work." "Sleep? But Jane…William…they need me!" Paul said, shaking his head at that. "I need…" "You need to rest. You're no use to anyone if you're ill and tired and depressed. I promise you that we'll find them but you need to have a rest, even if it's a short one so you can be healed. If you keep on like this, you're gonna have a nervous breakdown." Paul let out a rueful laugh. "Yeah, that's what my doctor said." "Then heed the warning," the Doctor said. "Because not only does your doctor think you're heading for a complete collapse but this Doctor thinks you are as well. You've given 100 percent to your band and your career and now this quest to rid the Illuminati and it's caught up with you at last. Rest, before its too late and you need to go to A and E." "But I'll never be able to sleep properly," Paul said. "I'll be lying there worrying about Jane and William." "I can help with that as well. I can put you into a deep, dreamless restorative sleep where you won't be bothered. But I won't do it without your permission. I won't force you to do anything, I'm not the Illuminati. I'm only recommending you do this before your body gives out completely." Paul thought for a moment. "If I do this, you'll find them?" Paul said. "I swear to you, my friend, I will do everything in my power to find them and bring them back," the Doctor said. Paul thought for a moment more and then nodded. "Okay. You're right, I need to rest but I just feel like I'm letting Jane and William down if I take a nap while they're suffering." "I think they'll understand. I think they would want you to rest and be healed before you went back imto the thick of things. I don't think Jane will hate you if you take time out to heal your body, I think she would urge you to do it if she were here and William would as well." Paul nodded. "Okay, I'll do it," he said. "Thank you, my friend," the Doctor said, patting his shoulder. "If you're gonna be my companion you need to be in tip top shape. Can't go chasing after monsters and throwing up every other step." "No, I s'pose it wouldn't be cricket if I vomited on everyone's shoes while you were trying to stop the baddie," Paul said with a slight smile. "Paul?" The Doctor squeezed his shoulder when Paul grew misty eyed upon hearing Jane's voice. "Yes, love?" he said, trying to keep the anguish out of his voice. "I've been listening to everything the two of you have been saying and I agree with the Doctor. You are ill, darling. I can see it in your face. You've been working yourself to death and if the Doctor has something that can help cure you, you need to rest and allow it to work. I'll be alright, I promise. I won't hate you if you do this. I want you to do it so you'll be well and be strong again. Let the others find us, you need to think of you right now." "We'll find them, Paul," Rory said. "Yeah, just rest and relax," Amy added. "We're professionals, Bro. We can get them back." "You don't have to worry about me," William said. "Just concentrate on rescuing Jane." "No, you're coming back as well," Paul said to him. "You're one of my best mates and I'm not about to see you become a drone again. Besides I need someone to polish my awards and MBE medal." The Doctor smiled when everyone laughed at that. "Come on, Paul," he said to him. "Quicker I can cure you the quicker I can help find them." "Go on, love, I'll be alright," Jane said. "If you can survive being a captive so can I." "I love you, Janie, know that." "I do know that," she said fondly. "Now go and have a lie down before you collapse at our wedding." Paul smiled at that. The Doctor stood up with him and they walked back to the TARDIS. Once they were inside, Martha walked with Paul and Paul scratched her head. They went back to the med bay and the TARDIS made up a bed for Paul while the Doctor pulled things out of the cupboards. Paul sat down on the bed and rubbed Martha's side while she sat beside him and panted. While he was doing that, John, George, Ringo and Roger entered the room and walked over to him. "Okay, Amy and Rory just informed us of what is going on," John said. "Now hear this, McCartney, you will take this medicine and you will go to sleep and let others worry about rescuing Billy and Janie. You are ill, everyone can see it and I'm not about to have my best mate end up in a loony bin or in hospital because he finally cracked after years of stress. You push yourself far too hard and now you're dealing with the consequences. If the Doctor's asking you to rest, you will rest or I'll put my fist in your face and knock you out myself, is that clear, Private McCartney?" "Yes, Sergeant Pepper of the Fop Brigade," Paul said with a salute. John and the others smiled. The Doctor glanced over his shoulder and grinned when his band mates took turns hugging him. "You need this, Paulie. It's been a long time coming," John said, kneeling down beside him. "Yeah, you look like shit," George said. "Gee, thanks, George," Paul said while John giggled. George shrugged. "I can't lie, mate. You need a rest." "Yeah, you look like death warmed up and you're puffed up like a balloon," Ringo added. "Rest is definitely what you need right now." "Yeah, I agree," Roger said. "Rest for a long, long time so the Beatles will fall off the charts and the Who will take your spot." "Shut up, Roger," John said while everyone laughed. Roger leaned over. "No, seriously, mate, you do need the rest. And trust me, Jane's parents are out there now, ready to tie you to the bed if you don't do it." "Alright, alright, I'm doing it!" Paul said while they laughed harder. "It just shows you how many friends you do have," the Doctor said over his shoulder, "you have people that truly care for you and want you to get well." Paul smiled at that and John patted his knee. "Now, if it'll make you feel any better. We, as in all of us in front of you, will take your place with this evil villain stopping rubbish." Paul raised his eyebrow. "Seriously?" he said, looking at each of them. "Hey, I want my revenge on these bastards for torturing and humiliating me. You think you're gonna have all the fun?" John said. "Oh boy, I suddenly pity the Diablons then," Paul said while John gave him a big toothy grin. He looked over his shoulder when everyone else came in the room. Margaret walked over to Paul and gave him a tight hug. "Honey, you're like a second son to us, you need to do this, please," she said in his ear. "Everything will be alright. We'll get them back, just rest." "I will," Paul said, hugging her. The Doctor came forward with a small glass filled with a reddish liquid. "Drink all of this," the Doctor said, handing it to Paul. Paul nodded. He took the glass and took a sip. He made a face and looked at the Doctor. "Bit tart, mate," he said. "Um…sorry, can't be helped." "Hold your nose then and drink it, Paulie," John said. Paul took a deep breath and quickly drank all of it. He grimaced as he handed the glass back to the Doctor. "Ugh, now I'll have a sour taste in my mouth," he said. The Doctor got him a glass of water and Paul gratefully downed it before handing the glass back to him. Afterwards, the Doctor instructed him to lie on the bed. Paul waved to everyone and told Jane and William that he would see them when they got back to the TARDIS. Both Jane and William told them they would be alright and told him to get well. Paul said goodbye to them and lay still while the Doctor put his fingertips to his temples. Everyone watched while Paul's eyes fluttered and then closed. His breathing evened out and in a few seconds he was in a deep, dreamless sleep. Margaret kissed his cheek when the Doctor got up and pulled a sheet up to his shoulders. The Doctor bent over, reached behind his ear and took the communicator off it. "Right," he said to everyone as he straightened up. "While Paul is resting and his body is healing, let's go ask our red friend a few questions and get Jane and William back here where they belong."
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