The Undying Ember (sick entry)

[dancingdragon3.livejournal.com]

Title: The Undying Ember

Author: dancingdragon3

Characters: Twelve, illusions to some loved ones.

Rating: gen

Length: 238 words.

Warnings: Spoilers for DW 10x06 - what/who is in the vault.

Summary: What the Doctor thinks about when he sits with the vault.

Note: Written for who_contest challenge # 54 “Sick”.

The cellar was dark with shadows he did not see. Muffled piano notes were busy painting pictures from the past across his mind and hearts. Songs for fighting and running. For laughter and pain. Lost love and hope in the future.

And want. Always, there was delirious want. Even if it wasn’t for witness or reward, it twisted and clawed just the same. But this yearning he understood. It was one he always shared. Even on the longest night, it had not left him. How could one know the future and not yearn to change it? Do anything to avoid that long, empty road ahead.

Unfortunately, he had learned a long time ago, that there were events that could not be changed. No matter how much it seemed like you had, the universe had a way of getting its own back.

Thankfully, he had also learned that people could change. If they wanted to. If they were able. If they had a good enough reason or good enough people to hold their hand.

They could heal, too. Despite all his efforts to the contrary, he knew even the deepest wounds could close over given enough time and the right conditions.

The drums were gone. He had learned a lot. He hoped it was all enough.

He was the Doctor. If he couldn’t help his oldest friend finally heal their oldest hurt, then what was the point of him?