Title: Try Not To Breathe
By: angstytimelord
Pairing: Tenth Doctor/Ten.5
Fandom: Doctor Who
Rating: PG-13
Table: 6, 50ficlets
Prompt: 45, Breathe
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.

***

"Take shallow breaths, Jamie. Remember, we have two respiratory systems. The lack of air won't get to either of us for a while yet." The Doctor's voice seemed to come from a long way off; Jamie had to struggle to do as the Time Lord told him.

How had they ended up here, in an airless place that would kill them if they stayed here much longer? He hadn't wanted to go to this planet; he'd had some kind of sixth sense that had insisted they would be in trouble if they left the Tardis once they'd landed.

Still, he'd followed the Doctor's lead, wanting to be with his lover in case the Time Lord needed help of any kind. So here they were, trapped in a room that was slowly being drained of air -- with no way to get out, or even to call for help.

Jamie could feel his hearts started to thump harder in his chest; he closed his eyes, standing still and doing what the Doctor had suggested. He took shallow breaths, closing his eyes and trying to calm his racing hearts, knowing that his panic was only growing.

Yes, they each had two respiratory systems, but there was only so long they could go without air. At some point, they would need to breathe -- and if they couldn't, they would die. They would both die, here in this room, with no one to help them escape.

The Doctor's hand slipped into his, long fingers curling around his own. The Time Lord squeezed his hand reassuringly; Jamie wished that the gesture could mean more, but in his current state of fear, he could barely acknowledge his lover's touch.

"Try not to breathe, Jamie," the Doctor told him, his voice soft and low. "Well, not any more than you have to, that is. There has to be some way out of here -- we just have to stay calm and find it. If there was a way in, there has to be a way out."

Jamie nodded, hoping that he could do as the Doctor asked. The panic was rising within him; he didn't want to let it out, but he was having a hard time staying calm. He was more sure with every moment that these were going to be their last moments together.

How much longer could they last when their air supply was running out? He didn't know; all he knew was that he wanted the Doctor to know how much he was loved. If they had to die, then he wanted to die by the Doctor's side, knowing that they would slip into eternity together.

"Doctor." Jamie gasped the name, reaching out a hand to grip the other man's shoulder. "I-I just wanted you to know ...." His voice trailed off as the Doctor stumbled forward, as though the simple touch had propelled him off balance.

The Doctor raised his hands to catch himself against the panel of the wall that they had been standing in front of -- and, with a cry of shock, fell through it. Air rushed over them, cold and crisp, air that filled their lungs and was almost painful to breathe.

Jamie nearly fell on top of him as the Doctor pitched forward; he had put some of his weight behind that hand on the Time Lord's shoulder, and the lack of air had made him disoriented. He gasped in lungfuls of air as they tumbled forward, falling to his knees.

For a few moments, all he could do was sit there, gasping for breath, dimly hearing the sounds of the Doctor doing the same. Finally, he raised his head to look at the other man, groping for the Doctor's hand, sighing in relief when it slid into his own.

"I was going to tell you again that you should try not to breathe -- or to talk," the Doctor gasped, shaking his head. "It's a good thing you lost your balance when you reached out for me, Jamie. If you hadn't, I doubt that either one of us would ever have spoken again."

"I'm glad we're breathing," Jamie told him, getting to his feet slowly and resisting the urge to lean against the Doctor in relief. "And right now, I think we need to get back to the Tardis and get out of here. I don't know about you, but I've seen more than enough of this planet."

"I think that's a very good idea," the Doctor agreed, squeezing Jamie's hand. He led the way down the corridor that led out of the building they'd been in, Jamie following at his heels, both of them almost running in their haste to get back to the safety of their ship.

***