Jack's brother? The shock of it nearly shook him out of his rage. Nearly. His face was still a tense mask of false calm. It brought to mind the time he coolly turned to Davros and told him that he was going to kill him. You just didn't torture those he cared for. Ever.
"I...Ril, I don't know if I'll have that kind of control," he said with equally false calm. He kept his voice even, because there was no need to frighten or worry her. She'd been through enough.
"If you can't stay with me," she says softly, "I'll understand. Even I would go after him if the positions were reversed. Don't get yourself killed if you do go." Ril smiles and there's a slight laugh. "I'll have to drag myself out to meet you when you come back."
He relaxed a bit and let out a low, rumbling chuckle, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I will try not to get myself killed, Ril. Promise. I'm not sure I can afford to die again."
Really, he's not sure he wants to find out what will fail on his body the next time he dies. Maybe his hearing would fade away completely. No, he definitely doesn't want to die again.
"I promise you, my dear, protecting me is an impossible task. Nobody's managed it yet."
"You're a Time Lord," she said, her voice dry. "You out of any should know that nothing is impossible. You and I both know that all too well." She awkwardly cupped his cheek and ignored the pain as she shifted a little.
"Perhaps improbable is a better word, but I've never let that stop me before." It was difficult to talk, but it kept her thinking, awake. Present. "If I'm able. I won't let you go."
"Nothing...except keeping me safe." There's a little grin, and then he furrows his brows at her in concern. Eight climbs out of the bed very carefully and goes for the medic kit that's leaning up against the wall across the room. Digging into it, he finds a small bottle of stuff and pulls it out, returning to the bed.
He hands the little bottle to her and says, "Drink this. It will help with the pain a bit until he gets here," then climbs back into bed with her and gently holds her again, nuzzling her hair lovingly.
"I should have been with you," he breathes, "When I found you, I just...couldn't... oh, Ril. I love you. Just...know that, if I ever fail you again. I'm so sorry."
She washes the contents of he bottle down without protest and manages a half smile. It would have been wider if he face would have let her. Ril makes a soft sound.
"Hush, now. Not even you can be everywhere, everywhen," she says, leaning to kiss his temple. Her lips brush his ear a second later. "If there is one thing I will never doubt, it's that." She regretted immensely the fact that she couldn't tap him on the nose like she so wanted to do. "But listen to me when I say this."
Her knuckles skim his cheekbone and she's pleased at least that works.
"You didn't fail me, my Doctor. You found me and you saved me. And I will live. There's nothing to be sorry for, so stop that."
He continues to hold her carefully, going quiet for a bit while he forces his heart to accept what she's telling him. It's so very hard not to blame himself for not being there to protect her. Still, after a while, Eight gives her a little smile and nods.
"Alright," he says quietly, "But from now on, I'm not letting you out of my sight.
"I'm pretty sure I'm fine with that," she says. "We can keep each other safe that way." Or die trying, if needs must. She closes her eyes and lets out a soft sigh. "I'll try not to get into trouble if you do the same."
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"I...Ril, I don't know if I'll have that kind of control," he said with equally false calm. He kept his voice even, because there was no need to frighten or worry her. She'd been through enough.
"I'll try, but if I see him..."
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She gives him a wry glance.
"I ought to be the one protecting you."
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Really, he's not sure he wants to find out what will fail on his body the next time he dies. Maybe his hearing would fade away completely. No, he definitely doesn't want to die again.
"I promise you, my dear, protecting me is an impossible task. Nobody's managed it yet."
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"Perhaps improbable is a better word, but I've never let that stop me before." It was difficult to talk, but it kept her thinking, awake. Present. "If I'm able. I won't let you go."
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He hands the little bottle to her and says, "Drink this. It will help with the pain a bit until he gets here," then climbs back into bed with her and gently holds her again, nuzzling her hair lovingly.
"I should have been with you," he breathes, "When I found you, I just...couldn't... oh, Ril. I love you. Just...know that, if I ever fail you again. I'm so sorry."
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"Hush, now. Not even you can be everywhere, everywhen," she says, leaning to kiss his temple. Her lips brush his ear a second later. "If there is one thing I will never doubt, it's that." She regretted immensely the fact that she couldn't tap him on the nose like she so wanted to do. "But listen to me when I say this."
Her knuckles skim his cheekbone and she's pleased at least that works.
"You didn't fail me, my Doctor. You found me and you saved me. And I will live. There's nothing to be sorry for, so stop that."
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"Alright," he says quietly, "But from now on, I'm not letting you out of my sight.
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And then she laughs, even though it hurts.
"We'll be rubbish at it, won't we?"