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[broken-clock.livejournal.com]

[the sound of a journal hitting a wall with great force]

Comments

[broken-clock.livejournal.com]

[he turns his head sharply, and then winces; his fists tighten in angry frustration]

[sinister-charm.livejournal.com]

[he pauses]

I know.

[broken-clock.livejournal.com]

[he looks back, slowly, and his gaze is desperate now]

She may not come back. Like...

[he flinches, then, and his voice lowers]

Susan.

[sinister-charm.livejournal.com]

[he sighs]

It's a possibility. ...And I was hoping you wouldn't find out.

[broken-clock.livejournal.com]

[he's staring down at his lap, now, shoulders shaking as he murmurs]

I thought we agreed that ignorance wasn't bliss.

[sinister-charm.livejournal.com]

[he slips his hand under the Doctor's chin, makes him look up; sternly]

And if I had told you earlier? Before? When you first came? The month after that?

[broken-clock.livejournal.com]

[he stares blankly at him for a moment; then a slight, weak smile curves his lips]

Point taken.

[sinister-charm.livejournal.com]

[the Master lowers his hand]

When you're... feeling better, I'll explain.

[broken-clock.livejournal.com]

[a slight, slow nod]

...Thank you.

[he closes his eyes, then, resting his forehead on the Master's shoulder]

My granddaughter...

[sinister-charm.livejournal.com]

[he wraps his arm around him and sighs]

I'm sorry. ...She died in the ritual, like I did.

[broken-clock.livejournal.com]

[he returns the embrace, tightly, almost clinging; his voice trembles when he speaks, every word forced harshly from his lips]

It was painful, then...

[sinister-charm.livejournal.com]

[he strokes the Doctor's head with his other hand]

She was the tenth. The first ten had their hearts removed after they were murdered.

[broken-clock.livejournal.com]

[the touch is comforting, though still he shudders as he listens]

He didn't...even care who she was...

[sinister-charm.livejournal.com]

No. The first ten were... just whomever he came across. Only the last ten were chosen specifically, I believe.

[he continues to hold him, stroke his head, though his voice is rather detached-sounding]

[broken-clock.livejournal.com]

[his fingers dig into the Master's back, but the Doctor doesn't really notice, eyes shut tight against unwanted images]

He said she died alone...

[sinister-charm.livejournal.com]

[he doesn't wince and doesn't move away]

She did.

[broken-clock.livejournal.com]

[slowly, he looks up; he doesn't care that his eyes are burning again]

She should have regenerated. Why didn't she regenerate?

[he's shaking more, now]

She was supposed to be safe.

[sinister-charm.livejournal.com]

[and he looks down, meets the Doctor's stare]

The castle's doing perhaps...

[he squeezes the Doctor, tries to calm, comfort - not his best areas, not at all]

[broken-clock.livejournal.com]

[something like rage flashes in his eyes, but he only nods]

Why her? Why did it have to be her?

[sinister-charm.livejournal.com]

[he sees that look, but says nothing of it, he lets it pass as if it went by unnoticed]

I don't know, Theta. I'm sorry. Sometimes, even I don't have all the answers.

[broken-clock.livejournal.com]

[the faintest smile at that, even as the tears fall and his voice wavers]

Sometimes?

[sinister-charm.livejournal.com]

[he moves his hand from the back of the Doctor's head and lightly brushes the tears off the Doctor's face]

I like to think that I do know a great deal about many things.

[broken-clock.livejournal.com]

[he relaxes, slightly, staring at the Master's hand]

Academically, yes...

[sinister-charm.livejournal.com]

[he slightly rubs the Doctor's back]

I admit, I lack in other areas... but if I had an answer for you, Theta? I'd give it.

[broken-clock.livejournal.com]

[he closes his eyes, leaning into the touch, even though his hands remain rigid; softly]

I know.