AN/ This takes place after the episode 'Midnight.' The Doctor takes some time out at recover from the events that took place on that diamond planet. TARDIS POV. Part of my TARDIS 100 series. The BBC has full rights, but oh how I wish I could have a little bit bigger piece of the Doctor Who pie. The official Adobe pdf script for this episode was a big help in writing it.

This was just supposed to be a relaxing, leisurely trip for you and Donna, my Doctor. I don't know why everything had to go so very wrong.

When you returned to me, you were exhausted both in body and in mind. We took off, you steering me away from the diamond planet. Donna asked, probably not for the first time, if you were okay. You nodded, put me on auto pilot with every shield firmly up and said you were just going to have a quick shower.

I saw a crack about Space Men and bathing flit through Donna's mind, but for once her brain-mouth filter was on and she just said "sure." She knew you'd been through enough.

"It'll just be five minutes," you told her. "I've put the TARDIS on auto pilot so we won't crash into anything. You can just…" You sighed, not knowing what she should go do.

Donna just nodded again and shooed you off. "I'll be fine. Just go."

So you went. I directed you to a bathroom with a large shower. You left your brown suit crumpled on the floor and stepped under the water's powerful spray. You had the water go as hot as your could bear it, as if you were trying to disinfect yourself.

"My Doctor…" You let me wrap my consciousness around your mind. "Tell me what happened."

And so you did. You opened the door to those recant memories and I stepped through. I saw the unknown creature – one that no one until now had ever encountered before, possess Sky Silvestry as you saw it. I saw her copy everyone's voice and finally steal your own. I saw the humans you were trapped with turn on you when things got bad- the very worst of human nature. Cabin fever can sometimes only take a few seconds to set in. You were powerless, terrified. Your voice was your last great weapon and it had been stripped from you. I felt the fear of being unable to move, the cold you felt, the darkness, your hearts beating fast, your body temperature rising, your internal panic… and then your relief when it let you go, followed by the horror and the sadness at what had been done to get rid of it, and the quiet disappointment and... disgust at the humans' actions.

You turned the water temperature cold, the sudden shock of it letting you know that you're alive. I realized you were crying quietly, tears masked more or less by the water on your face. This was a side of yourself you never show to anyone except me. I enveloped your mind with my own and for those few minutes, I just held you safe and tight.

It wasn't fair, that was something we both agreed on. It was a witch hunt and they made you into their scapegoat. They were under attack, they were in danger, they were afraid, and in their panic, they picked you out to take the blame. This time your brilliance, your instinctual leadership, it wasn't enough. It didn't work this time. I imagined how frustrating that was for you, to have that sense of authority you love so much degraded. You gave all that you could in that situation and it simply was not enough. You almost failed, you almost died. Your chances of regenerating out there were extremely small. You were so lucky, my Doctor, so lucky you came back to me in one piece.

When you finally emerged from the shower, composure regained, you put on a fresh suit and felt much better. Donna was waiting for you. She playfully ruffled your still damp hair and handed you a cup of tea. You smiled and accepted it, thanking the both of us. Then we were ready to move on... and we did.