Chapter Text
“I can’t believe this is happening.” Donna grumbled in a very strained voice.
“Calm down, it’s alright” The Doctor leant over and whispered. “Everything’s under control.”
“Under control?!” Her voice rising slightly as she twisted round to give him an incredulous look. “We are tied up, on the floor, hostages for a terrorist attack!”
“Oi!”
one of the terrorist group turned his attention, and the barrel of his gun, towards them. The other hostages on either side of The Doctor and Donna understandably scooted away, trying very hard to make it obvious that they didn’t know them.
“Got something to say have ya?” He stood above them wearing a mocking grin.
“Nope, nothing.” The Doctor quickly chirped, before Donna bristling next to him could say anything. “Nothing at all. Zatta. Nill. Zilch. Nothing to declar-”
“Alright, alright” The terrorist growled with annoyance and walked off. “Just shut up already. Jeez.”
At this point Donna began to reflect how her life had gotten to the point that now being threatened by someone with a gun made her want to give someone a piece of her mind. She supposed it was something that happens when you travel with The Doctor. After all her adventures travelling through time and space it really puts it into perspective how being threatened at gun point really wasn’t the worst thing that could happen to you.
At the same time, she also decided that she was uncomfortable not just because she had her arms duct-taped together behind her, but her arse was also going numb. All this trouble just to investigate some ‘paradox-y stuff’ that was going on around this date; August 15.
“If we stayed at that horrible hotel just for this.” She whispered quietly. “I’m going to kill you.”
The Doctor look very confused, and just a tad wounded. “I thought you liked the hotel. They have the little bottles of shampoo and everything.” He grinned and said happily almost to himself. “I like little bottles of shampoo.”
A commotion to the left drew their attention where a young man with black hair and a red jacket had suddenly gotten up. One of the terrorists, that same one who had just a second ago with a bad haircut had been threatening Donna and The Doctor, picked him up by his hair with ease and a cruel grin.
---
Shintaro had made a mistake. He should’ve stayed down, should’ve stayed quiet. But the way that other guy had been treating this whole situation like some game and just acting so calm about it. And now he was being mocked by that stupid looking terrorist gang leader with an even stupider haircut.
Shintaro was scared, any second now could be his last, but he wasn’t scared for just his own sake but also for his family’s sake as well. If those terrorist got the ransom money and flew off they’d probably just drop the bombs over the city streets just because they could, and his mum and little sister could be killed. Shintaro gritted his teeth, swallowed his fear and opened his mouth.
“oi!” Said a voice that was definitely not his. “Let him go.”
Both Shintaro and the terrorist, who was still holding him by his hair, turned to look at the man who had called out. Dressed in a blue pin stripe suit and brown overcoat the man was still in mid scramble to get up from the floor, made even harder with his arms tied behind his back.
“What was that?” The terrorist scoffed with a cocky grin.
“I said.” The man in the suit finally got to his feet. “Let him go.”
The atmosphere was charged, an energy that hadn’t been there a second ago had now formed around them all. Through the tears forming Shintaros gaze darted from the man to the terrorist whose grip on his hair faulted for just a second.
“He’s just a kid, he didn’t do anything.” The man continued, voice quick but clear and gaze steady as hell. “Just put him down and no one has to get hurt. We can talk this all out ju-”
“Big words for someone tied up and helpless.” The Terrorists’ smile looked a bit forced now. “I think that you need reminding who’s in control here.” Shintaro found himself gazing down the barrel of a gun.
“No!” The man shouted.
---
Donna screamed. From their displays televisions, coffee makers, dvds and everything else came raining down with deafening crashes and bangs. Out of reflex she tugged hard at the bindings around her thumbs, wanting to cover up and shield herself from the shelving units tipping over of their own accord, and was pleasantly surprised to feel it snap.
“Doctor!” She shouted over the continuing ruckus whilst also scrambling out of the way from a sign swaying overhead. “Doctor!”
She shouted again. Frantically looking left and right she spotted him caught underneath a shelf of computer mice, bloody typical getting himself in trouble.
“Doctor!” She shouted again, though this time with slightly more joy.
Then she saw them; two kids. One that young man who had been threatened running away, and a much younger girl with orange hair in a ponytail to the side charging off to her right. But what made Donnas blood turn cold was the terrorist aiming for the young man.
Swearing loudly Donna dived for him, wrapping her arms around the terrorist’s waist she tackled him to the ground. Her ears rang with the sound of a gunshot. Donna cried out in frustration. Her stomach sunk even lower when she looked up to see the young man sink to the floor as the shutter rose to blind her with the day’s sun.
Something caught her attention though, like little barbs sinking into it, making Donna turn her head to the right. There stood that girl with the ponytail just behind another with white hair and her eyes closed.
They said something but Donna was in too much shock to even register it. The white haired girl apologised when she opened her red eyes.
Donna felt her body stop.
---
“Thank you ever so much for your help officer. This will be very useful in my investigation.” The Doctor strolled back out of the building and into the chaos outside.
Lights both red and blue spun atop police cars and ambulances. While the police in their smart black uniforms made efforts to keep the gathering crowd of curious onlookers at bay medical professionals had their hands full handing out blankets and cups of water to the poor hostages. Aside from a few cuts and bruises The Doctor was very glad no one was hurt.
“Anytime sir.” The policeman gave a polite nod. “Are you sure you don’t need anything else at all? Anything else I can do to help?”
“No thank you, you’ve done more than enough.” The Doctor said again, eager to lose the overly-eager policeman. “One of my associates will be here shortly to sort out everything else, good day.” He gave a cheery wave before leaving.
The Doctor found Donna sitting on the back step of one of the ambulances with a scratchy looking blanket draped over her shoulders, elbows on knees and chin in her hands. Standing slightly off to her right the Doctor gave a little wave. She didn’t react.
“Donna?” He said softly, kneeling down to meet her gaze.
“Hm?” Donna eyes momentarily focussed on him before settling back way off into the distance.
“You alright?”
Donna took a deep breath, her eyes focussed on him for a bit longer this time. “Yeah, I’m alright.” She lied.
“Y’know…you did save him.” The doctor watched her blink several times. “There was no blood at the scene.”
Donna blinked a few times and sat up. “But, the gun went off.” Her brows were furrowed in thought. “My ears are still ringing.”
“The bullet missed. You’re a hero Donna.” He grinned.
It was almost visible how the weight just rolled off of her mind. Donna sat up straight with a proud look on her face shining brightly to the world.
“Well, I guess I am.” She nodded happily. “Donna Noble; Hero of the day.” She splayed out her hands upon the air for emphasis. “Do you think it’ll be in the newspaper? Maybe they’ll even give me a medal or something for my heroic act.”
“Well I’m afraid we can’t stay around long enough for your interview.” The Doctor stood up and pulled Donna up with him.
“Why not?”
“Because I’ve just seen the policeman from earlier coming towards us with who I think may just be the real detective. Come on Donna!”