She didn’t have the strength to move, wasn’t sure she’d be able to if she did. Everything hurt and yet nothing. She was going numb. The armour that should have protected her was charred and damaged, her visor cracked. She knew what was happening. Somewhere in the haze of her head she pieced it together. She’d never found her family. They were still out there. She’d failed them.
No that hadn’t been his voice. Pidge blinked slowly. That was the Doctor. She gave him a weak smile. Would it be so bad to give up here? They could find another pilot for the Green Lion. Shiro might be able to rescue Pidge’s family. It would be okay.
Be great. She had been, hadn’t she?
“Doctor. Tell the team I’m sorry, okay? They’re gonna need a new pilot.”The paladin’s smile was fading. “’m cold…”
Too young. She was too young. Just a child, and she was laying there on the ground, dying. Humans were so, so fragile, and yet they still insisted on throwing themselves head-first into the most dangerous of situations. Stupid, brave, brilliant humans. Brave, brilliant Pidge. Ever so gently, the Doctor cradled the young padalin’s head in his hands.
“No. I’m not going to do that, Pidge. You’re going to be just fine. Everything’s going to be alright.” Grown-ups across the universe told this lie, and more than ever, the Doctor hoped he wasn’t lying when he said it. “I promise. And I never break my promises.”
Jaw tight, he lifted the girl in his arms and held her close to his chest, moving as fast as he could without doing more damage or causing her more pain. The castle was too far---she wouldn’t make it there. No, the TARDIS was closer. If he could just get her to the TARDIS, get her to the Zero Room, everything would be alright. The Green Lion could wait. The fight could wait. Everything else could wait until he’d fixed this. He’s lost enough friends, already.
He wouldn’t lose another.
“Keep looking at me, listen to me. You’re not going to die now---it’s not your time. I should know, I am a Time Lord, after all.” Not that it worked that way, but he smiled at his little joke, anyhow. “We’ve still got to find your family, haven’t we? Can’t do that if you go to sleep, now can you? And you haven’t even seen inside my TARDIS yet! Oh, you’d love her. Infinitely better than my screwdriver. We’ll get you inside and warmed up in a jiffy.” He needed her to talk. If she talked, she wouldn’t sleep.
“Pidge Gunderson,” he said quickly, Why did you choose that one? Of all the names in the universe, why was Pidge the one you chose? It’s different, I’ll give you that. Much different than Katie.”