Gallifreyan Nature: Chapter 31

[nevermoreraven]

Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: Teen
DISCLAIMER: Other people have actually read this one before the internet.  Yes, I know.  It's weird.
Summary: This is a rewrite of the Human Nature/Family of Blood two-parter, because I really liked Latimer.  It's long.  I liked it pretty well at the time, as did the other readers, so let's see how well it held up.  ...so far, so good.  also I actually bothered to tab for once on this one.
It's not finished, but it's fairly close.

 

Her mind was completely taken away from her earlier thoughts as she entered the cavern.  The flickering lights revealed hurt people, people who needed medical attention.  Instantly she felt the need to go to them, to heal them, and with a nod and a smile the Doctor let go of her hand.  He watched her begin her work with an approving grin, and although no one could probably tell, his hearts swelled with pride.  This was the Martha Jones he had known, and with as much compassion as he knew resided in her soul, no one could deny her the certification-once they finally stopped roaming around and she actually got down to taking the test, he thought with a sigh.

It was then that he noticed another woman, walking among the wounded and providing what little help she could.  The similarity was so strong that, for a moment, he worried about a paradox being created, but another look got his heartsbeat back to normal.  That was Nurse Joan Redfern.

“Odd, isn’t it?  We were both looking for healers,” John remarked, smiling at his ‘nephew’.  He was one of the few that had actually snuck up on the Time Lord, but considering the fact that he’d previously been the Doctor, he’d probably picked up a trick or two.

“How is everyone?” Dan didn’t bother to reply to Mr. Smith’s teasing.  To his embarrassment, his cheeks felt hot, and his teacher smiled, savoring the moment before turning to the more serious matters.

“Not bad, actually.  Only two died.  But everyone’s scared.  The Family have everyone terrified.  We’re not sure what went wrong, but Joan got me out of there, and we found Latimer.  He wanted to go searching for you, said he sensed some kind of psychic distress call, but Joan wouldn’t have it.”

“Better not to risk him?” The Doctor quirked an eyebrow, but John was already shaking his head at the suggestion.

“She said that from one look in your eyes, she had absolutely no fear for your safety.”

The other eyebrow joined the first.  She’d managed to pleasantly surprise him.

 

The two women toiled together in the night, as the Doctor plotted his next move.  Astonishingly, neither used any nasty language, a feat that might earn respect on both sides.  The duty was to the patients and the patients alone.  Rivalries and dislikes had to be forgotten in the common responsibilities they bore.