A/N: Here's chapter three! This is currently my favorite out of the three measly drabbles posted in here, but I do have a couple more in the works, so... yup.

Screams. One after another. Scared and raw and lonely; they rang out through the TARDIS and startled the Doctor.

Lights blinked on the console, motors whirred, and a bell chimed softly as the Time Lord clad in pinstripes dashed from the pilot's seat, awoken from a light nap by the screams that were still coming.

Quick, heavy footfalls echoed dully and the screams got closer, closer and closer until they were right behind a simple blue door.

The Doctor disregarded the act of knocking. The cold, brass doorknob- unlocked- turned easily in his grip, and wood swung open, leaving thin darkness to greet him from inside.

Dim lights flickered on as the Doctor hurried in, finding a mess on the floor beside the bed: tangled sheets and thick blankets strewn about, half-covering the shaking body- legs drawn to his chest, face buried in his knees, hands clawing at his temples, figure trembling like a leaf and breaths coming in heavy sobs. A sight much too painful, and much too familiar.

Blankets were tossed aside and hands were pried away cautiously from tender skin, and the Doctor sighed as the Master seemed to notice his presence and simply collapsed against him. The Doctor pulled him closer and knew that normally, this would be refused with scowls and curses, but this was one of the bad times, and the bad times were different.

The Master mumbled something too quiet to hear and breathed out a small, shuddery sob, instinctively grabbing a fistful of the Doctor's shirt. The Doctor rubbed his shoulder, staring blankly at the wall in front of them.

Then the words tumbled out- he hadn't meant for them to leave from their place on his tongue, but they were dancing in the air now, and it only felt right that the rest of the words joined the first ones too.

The melody was simple- soft and sweet, an old, old lullaby from a place with red grass and twin suns. To someone who didn't speak the language, it sounded like the tinkling of running water. The words were smooth and flowed easily from one to the next.

To ones who did know the tune and the tongue it was sung in, it was a gentle story of brotherhood and a promise. Children of the Academy held it close to their hearts- a memory of home, of being tucked into bed with the words drifting around them, their mother's enchanting voice still hanging in the air long after the song was finished.

The Master's hoarse, quiet voice joined slowly until the light, friendly melody was sung by both of them- nightmares of war and carnage and metal monsters forgotten in the lullaby of their childhoods.

A/N: Reviews are candy for an author with a major sweet tooth! ;D