TIME LORDS DON'T CRY

Chapter Nine: Loss

The hoary moonlight slipped in and out of the roiling clouds, making the walking slow. The path they were following was worn smooth by many feet, but narrow. Dried burrs and stickers clung to their clothes where the Doctor and Marie had brushed against them in the confined space.

In places, the woods were so close that they seemed like an underground tunnel, the spreading branches beckoning them on towards hell. A sudden, heavy flapping noise caused both the Doctor and Marie to jump with alarm. A cry rent the air, “Ohhhh—-Whooo-ahh!”

“It’s alright,” Marie said, squeezing the Doctor’s hand, “it’s just an old barn owl. It scared me too.”

The Doctor smiled to himself and returned the squeeze. A thought occurred to him. He looked at Marie in the uncertain light.

“Marie, where’s your cat, Chauncey?”

Marie looked up at the Doctor, her face creased with worry.

“I don’t know. He ran away with me, but then…I just don’t know. After I left he cabin, I couldn’t find him. I wish he’d come back. I don’t know what I’d do without him. He’s–he’s my best friend.” She looked down, trying to hold back her tears. “He’s the only friend I have in the whole world.”

The Doctor could see Marie was fighting not to show how truly distressed she really was by her cat’s absence. He put a reassuring arm around her and gave Marie a quick hug.

“Awww–that’s not true. You have me now, haven’t you, ey? Best mates, you and me.”

Marie was about to turn and say something in reply, when the Doctor saw something lying in the path ahead that caused him to pull Marie to his chest. His face all of a sudden had a sober, dark cast to it.

“Marie,” he spoke softly but sternly into her hair, “keep walking but don’t look down at the path. Just let me guide you.”

The pair of them hadn’t walked but a few steps when he felt Marie stiffen. She halted abruptly.

“Chauncey?” She whispered in a confused voice. Then She tried to run, but the Doctor held her fast. “Chauncey! No! No, Chauncey, no!”

The Doctor gathered her in his arms and stoked her hair, her racking sobs muffled by his sweater. He did what he could to comfort her.

“I’m sorry, Marie. He’s gone. I’m so, so sorry.”

“I know,” she sniffed, “I can feel it. He’s not there anymore. He’s…gone. Just like mom. Why does everything I care about have to go away, why do I always have to be alone? Why?”

The Doctor glanced at the lifeless furry body. Marie was frozen to the spot, made temporarily immobile by her overwhelming grief. He held her to him, but knew this wasn’t a good place to be. They had to get out of these woods, get to a place where he could set up some sort of a defence.

“I tell you what, Marie.” The Doctor whispered into her hair, “I know it’s not much comfort right now, but when this is all over, we’ll give him a right proper burial, something befitting a good friend. Alright?”

Marie nodded her head. Handing her a bandana from his pocket, the Doctor gently pulled her away, down the path.

“Come on then sweetheart, we’ll be safer once we get to the house.”

As they skirted the cat’s body, the Doctor noticed something shiny lying there. He picked it up and examined it with his torch. It was a silver money clip.

“That’s Uncle Tobias’.” Marie said. The Doctor’s face grew angry and grim.

“Oh yeah? Well my dear Marie. I think I’m going to have to make a point of meeting good ol’ Uncle Tobias sometime soon. He and I have a few things to discuss.”

Back                         Home                              Doctor Who Main Page                          Next