Traveling with The Doctor Part Thirty-Eight

The Doctor was crouched on the floor. Lauren took two steps forward. "Doctor?"

The Doctor leapt into the air, hollering. Lauren caught a glimpse of short brown hair. Could it be?

The Doctor spun around. It was Nate. "Oh, it is GOOD to be back! Oh, yes! And... I'm in a blouse? Oh, bloody hell. This is awkward."

Roxilana stepped forward, blaster drawn. "Now, one last thing." She stepped forward, and before The Doctor could react, she kissed him full on the mouth. She broke away after a moment.

The Doctor stumbled back. "Well, that's interesting..."

Lauren wrapped The Doctor in a rib-crushing hug. "You're back!"

The Doctor pushed her off. "Yes, yes, I'm back. Now, can we go? I need to change."

Roxilana shook her head. "Sorry, Doctor, but we can't risk you regenerating too early. Move along." Blaster still drawn, she led them past the TARDIS and further into the ship.

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Five minutes later, they were walking through the engine room. The Doctor looked at a blue energy column to their right. "So, that's pure energy, isn't it?"

Roxilana tilted her head and stopped. "Yes... why?"

The Doctor spun on the spot, nearly falling over. He straightened out. "Because if anything corrupts that stream, the ship starts to tear itself apart. And it just so happens... Well, long story short, when you made me reverse-regenerate, you caused a massive build-up of regeneration energy. Energy I should probably get rid of about now."

He threw his hand out, and gold energy shot from his palm and into the energy stream. Suddenly, the ship started shaking. The gold energy dissipated. "Now, we should run!"

The Doctor and Lauren pushed Roxilana aside and ran as fast they could. The Doctor stumbled and crashed to the ground. He sat up and yanked off the high-heels. "Why was I wearing these?! How do women use them?!" He stood and ran barefoot.

They managed to reach the TARDIS before the ship began leaning backwards. The Doctor leapt in, and Lauren followed. As the ship broke apart, the TARDIS dematerialized.

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Lauren stood at the open door, watching the ship tear itself to pieces. "Doctor, how did you know that would happen?"

The Doctor was standing at the controls. He was in his normal cordouroy jacket, t-shirt, jeans, and brown converse. "I didn't. I was just guessing. Guessing is something I'm good at, unlike dancing. I'm told I'm a horrible dancer."

"Doctor..."

"One moment. Like I was saying, I remember the Ponds' wedding. I was dancing like crazy. Rory told me I was awful. I miss him and Amy. They were splendid."

"Doctor..."

"I'm not finished. Now, where was I? Ah, yes..."

"DOCTOR!" Lauren pointed towards the dying ship. The Doctor moved to look. A squadron of small attack shuttles was barreling towards them.

The Doctor blinked several times. "Time to go!"

The door shut, and the TARDIS spun further into the system. The shuttles sped after it, weapons charging.