Pressing his fingers to Donnaās temples, John delved very briefly into Donnaās mind, only to recoil a breath later. The searing tide of gold that was her mind was boiling and churning, flaring like the brightest supernova. Going back in to reinstate the block would be nigh impossible.
Fortunately, it seemed like his counterpart had a plan of some sort. The sonic buzzed in an unfamiliar sequence, and John glanced up just in time to meet the Doctorās gaze, then blinked in surprise as the other squeezed his shoulder. Sheer flabbergastedness forestalled any immediate reaction, and by the time the chin bump occurred, it was all John could do to avoid letting his jaw hit the ground.
Their last encounter was still burned into his memory - harsh winds on a freezing beach and harsher words that he couldnāt refute. A double dose of his own self-loathing: his own, and the dark accusation reflected in his mirrorās eyes. Heād known - theyād both known, probably - that there hadnāt been space in the TARDIS for two, not when both of them were all broken, sharp edges, the fire flickering amidst the storm, tinder to a lighted match.
At least, that was what he had thought at the time. Two years had given him some perspective, enough to appreciate the gift that the Time Lord Doctor had been trying to give him. But still, never in his wildest dreams had he thought that the Doctor would hold any shred of affection for him. Heād always been so good at hating himself, after all.
But there was no time to reflect on that just yet. He nodded in response to the Doctorās explanation of his actions, but barely had an acknowledgement formed in the back of his throat (something about how fleeing behind the console wasnāt going to save the Doctor from Donnaās wrath) when he found himself on the receiving end of a one-hundred-percent pure Donna Noble shove. It toppled him right over and sent him sprawling right onto his bum, flailing.
"Donna!" he yelped, springing to his feet and positioning himself quickly between her and the door. "Itās alright," he said, making soothing gestures with his hands. "Look, donāt worry. We have this all under control." He smiled, trying to recall what heād done to calm her down during their first meeting aboard the TARDIS.
ā¦Oh, that was right. Nothing.
"Hello," he said, a little desperately. "Iām the Doctor, and heās the Doctor too, long story. Itās probably all a bit confusing for you right now, but if you could just give us a chance to explain, I promise that there isnāt any alien abduction going on. Well, maybe just a little, but trust me, weāre just trying to help."
It was probably inviting a smack, but Donna had a tendency to listen when he was talking, and if she was listening, she wasnāt running, at least.
