Touch The Sky: Doctor Who/Studio C [Book 3]

No Such Thing as a Hopeless Situation

No Such Thing as a Hopeless Situation

(Original Story: Part 5)

"I wish you hadn't done that."

Mallory hadn't gone far—she stood on Cyndi's porch, a soft breeze flattening her creamy dress against the curve of her stomach. Matt fought back the urge to close the distance between them and spread his hands over the swell.

"Done what?" he asked.

"Did I look like I wanted to talk about hell with two relative strangers?" she snapped. "Was there a sign on my back?"

"Mal, I..." he started. "Well, I mean, Donna was going to get it out of us eventually. She's bloody tenacious like that."

"No, she wasn't. She wasn't going to get it out of us, she was going to get it out of me and you know it." She spun around. "You can sympathize with me all you want but ultimately I'm the one that has to deal with it and I'd appreciate if you don't corral me like that again."

"Sorry," he said softly.

"Are you?" she asked.

"Yes," he said, hoping she'd actually accept his sincerity.

She blew out a breath. "Okay."

He knew it wasn't what she meant, but he couldn't help but murmur, "Are you?"

Mallory glanced away. "Matt, I can't even remember what okay feels like anymore."

"That makes two of us."

She rolled her eyes. "You've had it easy."

"I blew up Pompeii." Matt hadn't intended for the words to fall past his lips, but they did, and her eyes widened.

It took a moment for her shock to subside, but when it did she retorted, "I got Sally Sparrow killed."

"And if I remember what you told me correctly, I got Adam killed," he shot back.

"The only reason Mark remembers the Year is because he was ready to get himself killed for us."

"The only reason I don't is because I did get myself killed."

"I remember," she said acidly. She paused, her voice dropping. "I held a gun to the Master."

"Did you shoot?"

"No."

"I would have."

"You wouldn't."

"I would." He searched her gaze. "Was it after...?" She got his gist and nodded. "I would have. If it had been you that had died in my arms I wouldn't have even hesitated."

Neither spoke for a long moment. "Who have we turned into?" she finally whispered.

He swallowed. "Two people that would tear apart the universe for each other."

"That's nothing new."

"It's not, is it?" He stepped toward her, whispering, "And now there's a third person on that list."

Mallory glanced down, let out a single, watery chuckle, and nodded.

"C'mere," he said softly. She tucked her head against his shoulder and let out a sigh as his arms wrapped around her loosely. "Mal, I can't... I won't believe those memories are gone forever. There's got to be something we can do."

She shook her head. "Please don't start thinking like that."

"Mal—"

"No. I'm only just learning how to come to terms with the fact that you never will remember it. If you start thinking you can you're just going to become obsessed with something that can't ever come to pass."