Title: A Lot To Answer For
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Tenth Doctor/Ten.5
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: PG-13
Table: 6, 50ficlets
Prompt: 40, Rough
Author's Note: Continuation of Surface Scars.
Author's Note: The human version of the Doctor is being referred to as John Smith in this fic, since it's the Doctor's human alias and his clone needed a name.
Author's Note: Spoilers for Journey's End, somewhat. This is an completely alternate take on the ending of Season Four.
Disclaimer: This is entirely a product of my own imagination, and I make no profit from it. I do not own the Tenth Doctor, or his human clone. Please do not sue.

***

As Jamie helped the Doctor over the rough, uneven ground near where they had left the Tardis, he could feel the Time Lord leaning more heavily on him. Even though the other man's wounds were healing quickly, he was still exhausted from his ordeal with the Master.

Jamie could feel the rage bubbling up under his calm exterior; he wanted to find the Master and rip the other man limb from limb with his bare hands. How dare he lay hands on the Doctor, treat him roughly, hurt him in any way?

The Master was going to have a lot to answer for, Jamie vowed, clenching his teeth and trying to force his anger back. But at the moment, they weren't prepared to face him; they had to reach the Tardis and get away from this planet as quickly as they could.

If they could be prepared for a meeting with the Master, then Jamie didn't doubt that they would somehow manage to capture him, and put an end to the way he continued to wreak havoc across space and time. They would be able to stop all of that, to keep planets and people safe.

But this wasn't the time, he told himself reluctantly. They had to come up with some sort of a plan, and then actually go looking for the Master, to surprise him, if they could. And they had to be sure that they had the upper hand, or that they could at least gain it.

If only they had been prepared this time! Still, they hadn't been, and there was no use wishing that things had been different. The past was over and done; and even though, as Time Lords, they could go back, Jamie knew the folly of wishing to do so.

They were only a hundred feet or so away from reaching the Tardis when a man seemed to appear from nowhere out of the trees around them, grabbing the Doctor's arm. Jamie and the Doctor both cried out in alarm, the Doctor twisting to free himself.

The man twisted the Doctor's arm, trying to pull the Time Lord off balance and send him sprawling. Jamie turned and doubled up a fist, aiming for the man's jaw; he could feel the shock run up his arm all the way into his shoulder when the blow connected.

The man flew back as though he'd been launched from a catapult, landing heavily on his back. Jamie stared at him for a few seconds, unable to believe that he'd just done that. The Doctor's hand on his arm brought him back to reality.

"Bravo, love," the Time Lord told him, his lips curving in a smile. "You've rescued me twice now. He was being unnecessarily rough, wasn't he? I think he's gotten his comeuppance for that. Now, let's get to the Tardis and get out here before we get any more nasty surprises."

"I won't let anyone get that rough with you again," Jamie told him, scowling as he glanced towards the man lying in the dust. He had to resist an urge to kick the motionless body when they moved by, but he refrained. They had no time for petty revenge.

It only took a few more moments to reach the Tardis; within seconds, they were inside the ship, and the Doctor was bending over the console and pressing buttons. Jamie leaned against the wall, feeling the familiar sense of time and space displacement.

He knew that on the surface of the planet, the ship was shimmering into nothingness; he didn't want to think of how high the Master's anger would run when he realized that he had once again lost his quarry, and that the Doctor was safe.

Jamie turned to the Doctor, his attitude brisk. He didn't have time to lean against the console and let any weakness overcome him; he had to make sure that the Doctor was all right, and then they had to try to think of a way to confront the Master and defeat him.

Or maybe that would be far into the future, he told himself, heaving a sigh. Neither of them was ready for that confrontation now; and he was sure that if they did go back to that planet, either the Master would be long gone -- or he would be more than ready for them.

He had no idea what was going to happen in their future. But for the moment, all he wanted to do was to take care of the Doctor, and make sure that the rough treatment he'd endured at the hands of his enemies wouldn't have any long-term lasting effects.

***

Next story in series - Maybe An Angel.