Doctor Who_ Camera Obscura - Lloyd Rose [39]
‘Let me help you up,’ she said.
‘Not yet.’
His voice was weak. That frightened her, which made her angry: ‘You got up too soon, you idiot!’
‘I think you’re right.’ He smiled at her. ‘It was vanity, really. Wanted to prove I was fine.’
“And...?’
‘And I’m not, obviously. Still,’ he went on more cheerfully, ‘I’m clearly better. Where’s Fitz?’
‘Out looking for you.’
He was puzzled. ‘Just searching London?’
‘He was worried. I was worried. We’ve spent the last few days expecting you to die any minute. Your chest was smashed. The doctor said your ribs had pierced your heart.’
‘What doctor was this?’
‘In Liverpool. We brought you back from a hospital there. You were in an accident. Don’t you remember?’
‘Vaguely.’ His eyes clouded. ‘I remember the accident.’
‘What happened?’
‘Help me up.’
She supported him into the sitting room, where he fell on to the settee. She hovered, feeling foolish and helpless. ‘Do you want some food? You haven’t eaten in days.’
‘That’s right,’ he said wonderingly, as if she’d made a point that hadn’t occurred to him. ‘You know, I bet that’s one reason I feel so bad.’ He sniffed. ‘He might have at least offered me a cup of tea.’
‘Who?’
‘Sabbath.’
‘Sabbath!’ Anji felt the blood leave her face. ‘He’s here?’
The Doctor nodded soberly. ‘Oh yes.’
‘Is that where you’ve been? Seeing him?’
‘Yes. He’s taken quite a nice house in Regent’s Park. One of Nash’s. Some people insist on the best.’
‘What’s he doing here?’
‘It’s not surprising, really. He picked up the same odd readings I did.’
Her heart sank. ‘Please don’t tell me you’re going to be working together.’
‘Well,’ he commented drily, ‘it’s preferable to my running about like a fool fixing everything only to find out he’s been playing me like a pinball machine.’ The blue of his eyes looked suddenly chill and airless. Anji glanced away.
‘You can’t trust him.’
‘No, of course not,’ the Doctor said absently, his mind on something else. ‘You know, he seems to have the strangest ideas about how time works. I don’t think he’s got it right at all. Of course, we had the discussion in Spain and I was still a bit rattled from the crisis with the TARDIS. Perhaps I misunderstood his point. I may be wronging him.’
‘Not possible.’
‘It won’t do to underestimate him. He’s brilliant in his way.’
‘He’s an arrogant creep.’
‘Don’t be too hard on him. It’s a difficult life when you can’t find anyone to take you as seriously as you take yourself.’ The Doctor cocked his head. ‘That must be Fitz.’ A moment later, she heard the footsteps on the stairs and Fitz banged in. He glared at the Doctor.
‘Here you are! I’ve been all over the bloody place not knowing what had happened to you. You ever hear of leaving someone a note?’
‘Sorry, Da,’ murmured the Doctor. To forestall Fitz hitting him with something, Anji rang for tea.
The landlady – a motherly woman whose innate warmth was mixed with an air of having seen it all – brought up a tray laden with sandwiches and cakes. The Doctor sat up, pleased as a child.
‘Just the thing!’
The landlady smiled and set down the tray. As she withdrew, she gave Anji a sympathetic glance of solidarity in the face of male eccentricity. Anji smiled uncertainly. She disliked being waited on, but she had discovered it was the only way to get anything to eat or drink. The one time she had tried to venture helpfully into the downstairs kitchen, the landlady had politely but firmly run her out, and she’d been left with the impression of having done something insulting.
Fitz dug in heartily and the Doctor wolfed down several cakes. Anji gingerly nibbled on some salmon. She had a bad feeling about the way things were heading; it cut into her appetite.
‘So where were you?’ said Fitz with his mouth full. ‘I’ve been running around like a right fool, asking policemen if they’d seen you.’
‘He’s been to see Sabbath,’ said Anji glumly.
‘Sabbath!’ Fitz dropped a slice of ham. ‘Oh bloody hell. Why’s he here?’
‘The same reason we are,’ said the Doctor. ‘There’s something wrong with time.’
‘They’re going to be working