Doctor Who Ficlet: The Ideal Companion

[bk_forever]

Title: The Ideal Companion

Fandom: Doctor Who

Author: badly_knitted

Characters: Ten, Donna

Rating: G

Spoilers: The Runaway Bride, and general spoilers for Donna’s time with the Doctor.

Summary: The Doctor hadn’t known he’d needed her until he met her.

Word Count: 604

Written For: juliet316’s prompt ‘Doctor Who, Ten and Donna, he never knew he needed her until she unexpectedly appeared in his TARDIS’ at fic_promptly.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Doctor Who, or the characters. They belong to the BBC.

He never knew he needed her until she dropped into his life unexpectedly, just appearing out of nowhere in his TARDIS. He’d made up his mind that he was fine with being alone; it was better that way. He didn’t need a companion, especially not a primitive human. He’d been there and done that already, and look where it had got him; Rose was gone, trapped in another universe, and she’d taken his hearts with her. No, it was much better, for everyone, if he travelled alone; that way he couldn’t get attached. Not that he ever would again anyway, the Doctor never made the same mistake twice.

But then she’d just appeared and she couldn’t have been more different than Rose is she’d tried. Tall, big-boned, red haired and loud, she was the exact opposite of small, slender, sweet natured Rose. It was a bit of a shock, to be honest; Great Gallifrey, this woman could probably shatter eardrums with her bellowing. He couldn’t help being just a little bit impressed.

She had courage, and spirit, and determination, she wasn’t afraid to tell him what she thought of him. Usually, people found the Doctor a bit intimidating; he wasn’t used to being on the receiving end. And yet, despite everything, or maybe because of it, he couldn’t help liking her. She pulled him out of the pit of gloom he’d fallen into after saying goodbye to his Rose, made him start to feel alive again, and it felt… good. But she had her life to rebuild, picking up the pieces of her future, destroyed by a wedding that didn’t happen and a man who had never loved her. She didn’t want to live the way he did, jumping from one mad adventure to another. His invitation to travel with him was turned down and while he understood, sort of, it was still a disappointment.

OoOoO

When they ran into each other again, he gave her a second chance, or she invited herself along, or something… He’s still not quite sure, but suddenly she was dumping luggage into his arms and then they were on the TARDIS.

He wasn’t looking for a replacement for Rose, no one could ever replace her, all he wanted was a mate, someone to share his adventures with, and Donna was fine with that. It was refreshing to travel with someone who didn’t fall madly in love with him. He’d never understood that about human women, and some men, why they got all those romantic ideas about him. Donna wasn’t like that; she had her head screwed on right, as she’d be the first to tell anyone who cared to listen.

Travelling with Donna was an adventure in itself, the feisty redhead was always ready and willing to set him straight whenever he made bad decisions and never afraid to flat out tell him when he was being an idiot. She was the best mate he’d ever had, and she made the universe seem fresh and new to his jaded senses. The time just seemed to fly past.

He’d thought it would never end, that they’d travel together for the rest of her life; he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had so much fun. She was everything a companion should be; smart, brave, adventurous, curious, full of enthusiasm, wonder and awe while still remaining resolutely herself. No nonsense, practical Donna Noble, her feet planted firmly on the ground. She was brilliant!

OoOoO

He never knew he needed her until she dropped into his life unexpectedly, but now she’s gone, and he doesn't know what he's going to do without her.

The End

Comments

[scripsi.livejournal.com]

That was very good and quite sad.

[bk_forever]

Thank you!

Some prompts just inspire sad fics, especially when it comes to Donna.

[owensheart.livejournal.com]

Donna was a brilliant companion for the doctor.

great story.

[bk_forever]

She was the best, just the kind of person he needed. I was so sad about the way things ended for her =(

Thank you!

[dm12.livejournal.com]

Well done! Exactly. He actually looked like a kicked puppy when she refused his offer to travel with him. More devastated than when she asked him his friend's name.

She was an exact match for him; seems almost like she was tailor-made to be what he needed at the time. A best friend, someone he could be honest (as honest as he gets) with. He didn't have to pretend he was alright with her; she knew the code.

I loved how she managed to bring him down several pegs when he needed it. From the very start of her travels with him, she dumped her luggage on him, the "great, all-powerful Time Lord" reduced to porter! At the same time, she offered him so much compassion and support when he truly needed it. She recognized that he wasn't human and didn't necessarily have the same point of view, she understood his burden as much as she could and shared it with him whenever possible. Perfect example of this was Pompeii. She got information out of him that both needed to hear: how many people died that day, what was at stake and, finally, the horrible choice that he had to make. When he wavered, she literally put her hands on his and they pressed that button together. She gave him the strength to do what he needed to do. Then, recognizing that this had to be, she asked him not to save the whole town, but just somebody. It was because of her that Caecelius and his family were saved. My theory is that Twelve chose that face in remembrance of Donna's first act of compassion as his companion, her first act of saving someone. (As for Eleven, he was just too broken up to do that, so he chose a younger face that could hide everything he felt, especially about Donna.)

She was a true friend in all of their adventures, and their down time as well. When she went, Ten was shattered completely. He spiraled out of control, became totally reckless, and couldn't take on any more companions until he finally regenerated.

[bk_forever]

Yes! Precisely, very well thought out!

Donna cut through all the crap with him, she wasn't in awe or in love, she treated him as an equal and stood beside him. I love her no-nonsense attitude, she recognises that bad things happen and you can't save everyone but sometimes you can save someone. And sometimes, doing that is enough to ease the pain so you can carry on. Donna was wise beyond her years or her experience, she was the best companion Ten could have had.

I like your theory about Twelve, I hope it is something like that and nothing to do with Frobisher.

Thank you!

[dm12.livejournal.com]

She wasn't necessarily in love, but she loved him deeply, based on friendship. And I think he felt the same. A practical, equal standing, true partnership kind of love.

I really do hope that's the reason for Twelve choosing that face. He made such a deal about it in the opening episode, but it's been ignored ever since. I would like to see this dealt with, but the show runners seem to make grand story arcs, leading to .... nothing! Sort of like what happened to Donna. She, more than any other companion, showed a huge amount of growth, only to end up exactly as she did before she started with the Doctor; shallow, settling for nothing, caught up in little stuff. Just as he needed her, she needed him. They were truly at their best with each other, and truly broken without.

[bk_forever]

Yes, thev love between friends. Not a romantic love, that wasn't what either of them needed, but a very deep friendship.

I agree, Donna going full circle wasn't satisfying, it felt like a cop out. At least Martha got to build on everything she'd gained through her time, but it was like they gave Donna all these powers then didn't know what to do with her so just took it all away.

[dm12.livejournal.com]

Truth be told, they only had two choices with Donna's character. She promised him that she would travel with him forever (recognizing that her forever would be much shorter than his, and he'd have companions after she was gone), and Donna was not one to break a promise. She had already proven she was resourceful enough to find him on her own, and she would do it again and again, unless he really didn't want her around. So two choices were left: either she dies or she has to forget him and everything she did.

She wanted to die right there, fully cognizant of everything she'd done, with him, knowing him. He violated her choice and her mind, saving the shell of her existence because he couldn't imagine a universe without Donna Noble. Possibly also because while she was alive, maybe he could think of a way to save her.

She was brilliant way before those "special powers," she saw the patterns that the Doctor missed. Her job as a temp especially suited her to life with him. She had to constantly go into a new situation, assess the job and the people, make a plan, deliver on that plan, then get out and move on to the next situation. Same thing as the Doctor. Too bad she never saw the value in that... I would like to hope that she used those lottery funds well, that she helped her mom out, then wisely invested and perhaps set up her own company and made good. Otherwise, she truly would be back to herself before she met the Doctor, thinking she was worthless and lucky to find any man who would marry her.

As for their friendship, I could see it going either way, and they'd be happy. Best friends have been known to make good couples, as long as they always can come back to the friendship. It's not necessarily the mushy kind of romance, but a true partnership in all that they do, based on knowledge of the other's needs. They complement each other; when one is weak, the other is strong, and vice versa. It would just be a natural growth of the relationship rather than a sudden "love at first sight" type. Regardless, they would be happy with each other whether that happened or not.

(I do know a bit about that; I married my best friend. We've known each other for over 30 years and will be married for 30... it just kind of grew into that kind of a relationship, based on friendship and knowledge.It's lasted through some very difficult times because we were able to communicate as friends.I'd still be friends with him regardless, but I'm glad we got married.)

[bk_forever]

I think the best friends growing into a couple is probably the best basis for a successful relationship. A whirlwind of passion and romance is probably the least likely to be successful because when you're settled into the realities of life, there's often nothing to fall back on when times get tough.

Yes, I can see what you're saying, the producers wouldn't want the same companion travelling with the Doctor indefinitely even if Catherine Tate could commit the role long-term. With her memories gone though, there was still the chance of the Doctor finding a way to fix her so she could remember without dying, but the whole marriage and lottery win scenario looks to have put paid to that.

I like to believe that Donna's natural brilliance will find its way to the surface again, because she proved she was so much more than she believed herself to be and that kind of awesome can't be buried permanently. She'll do amazing things with her life, I'm certain.

[dm12.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Having a firm grip on reality, being able to talk about difficult subjects honestly, and having common interests are essentials in a successful relationship.

No, they wouldn't, and viewers wouldn't want to see the companion "wither and die." Well, just because she settled doesn't mean the Doctor couldn't find a way to fix her. Just at that point, she'd already have a life, such as it was. If he ever did, though, I think the Doctor would probably get a good verbal reaming out plus a slap for violating her mind. Then she'd probably give him a hug, realizing what the cost was for him. He didn't escape unscathed from all of this, and her compassionate nature would get the best of her. I'm not sure where it would go from there, but she made a promise to Shaun, at this point, and you know what that means.

I also believe her brilliance can't be hidden for long, despite her mother's best efforts at slamming her down.

[bk_forever]

Strikes me as a case of jealousy on her mother's part. Donna had all the potential that she'd never had, so Sylvia undermined her daughter every chance she had.

Donna would be torn between promises to two men she loved and struggling to find a way to keep them all. Which of them needs her more? Really, that would be a horrible position for her to be stuck in. I don't think there would be a right answer to that.

[dm12.livejournal.com]

Right again... it would be very difficult. She made promises to both of them. She would be torn apart by the decision. How could she possibly keep them both? Although, I suppose the Doctor could remain as her best friend whose sage advice he could seek as needed, to keep him on track and from going off the rails.

Unless Shaun was a bit adventurous and willing to go with Donna in the TARDIS.... we really don't know much about him other than a passing comment about him being a dreamer. Hopefully both men would listen to her wisdom and things could go very nicely for them all.

[bk_forever]

It would be an interesting dynamic, having all three travel together - shades of Eleven and the Ponds - with Donna keeping both of her boys in line and out of trouble, except where necessary. If the Doctor was kept out of trouble completely, he'd never fix anything. The Doctor needs a best friend, someone who will look at all sides of a situation and give him sensible advice. He's rather a dreamer himself, maybe that's why Donna was drawn to Shaun.

[dm12.livejournal.com]

Well, Donna fully understands the Doctor's need to try and fix things. She also understands the risks. She shared in that outlook, but might have better ways to do it so there is a little less risk.

He did need a best friend, and Donna was it. I remember the moment when Amy referred to herself as Eleven's best friend (when she told him she might be pregnant), he cringed a bit and did not respond. I think that he was recalling Donna.

[bk_forever]

I'd like to think that the actors bear in mind the previous incarnations and things that have happened. When they're taking over a role, they really need to know what's gone before to add depth to their performances. I think Eleven would definitely think about Donna - regenerating wouldn't wipe away all the pain and sorrow because the memories are still there, even if they are less immediate and a little easier to live with.

Donna had a good head on her shoulders, loads of common sense and a no nonsense attitude. For someone as flighty and erratic as the Doctor, that kind of stabilising influence was invaluable. The Doctor skips through time and space sometimes as if he's kind of outside it all. Maybe that's the only way he can keep it from overwhelming him, but it does make him seem oblivious to how he affects people's lives.

[neverminetohold.livejournal.com]

Ah, even though I saw it coming - obviously, what with canon - that last sentence killed me. In a good way, of course, but those two are my favorite Doctor/Companion couple, and then, to have it end like this... *sniffles*

[bk_forever]

I think that's why I like writing them so much, even though the ending is so tragic. This is the third one I've written about their friendship and loss. I loved Donna, and Ten was at his best with her.

Thank you!

[morganfm.livejournal.com]

ouch! right in the feels. but so lovely. you perfectly summed up why Donna really was the perfect companion for him at the time. Thank you for this :)

[bk_forever]

Thank you, I'm glad it works for you!

Donna was my favourite companion, I was devastated by her fate, going back to her humdrum normal life, never able to remember all the amazing things she'd seen and done. Perhaps that's why I keep going back to her to poke at the wound a bit more.

[timelordshines.livejournal.com]

Great character study

[bk_forever]

Thank you! I like writing Donna =)