ficlet: Deathlock

[dbskyler]

Title: Deathlock
Rating: G
Characters: Sarah Jane, the Fourth Doctor, Ohica, Maren
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction, offered freely. Doctor Who and all characters belong to the BBC.
Summary: Sarah watched as the Doctor lay dying.
Spoilers: "Brain of Morbius"
A/N: Written for 50ficlets. Prompt: Heaven and hell.



Sarah knelt, cradling the Doctor's head in her lap. She caressed his face, looking for any sign that he might be coming out of this. But he lay completely motionless and unresponsive, and his skin felt ice-cold to her touch.

What was it he had said? Mindbending? Deathlock? What did that mean, exactly? Morbius had been defeated, but had he managed to kill the Doctor first? The Doctor's chest still rose and fell, but she was worried that his breathing might be less regular than it had been a few minutes ago. She moved her hand to one side of his chest and felt the welcome thump of a heartbeat. She moved her hand to the other side, but this time she felt nothing. Startled, she sat up and leaned forward, pressing down with both hands. No, thankfully, she'd been wrong; there was a second heartbeat there. Weaker than she liked, and too fast, but there. With a deep breath, she leaned back again, re-settling the Doctor's head in her lap.

She only wished she knew what to do for him. Or if there was there anything to do for him at all. What did deathlock mean? Was he already gone beyond reach, with his body just waiting to catch up? Was he brain dead?

Sarah rubbed a hand across her face, but her eyes were dry. She didn't even feel sad; she just felt numb. She knew that if the Doctor died, she would be stuck on Karn with no way of getting home, but she honestly didn't care. It didn't make sense, but then nothing made sense now, and never would again.

Not knowing what else to do, she sat there with the Doctor's head in her lap, watching his breathing get shallower and shallower. She didn't even bother looking up when she heard someone enter the room, not until Ohica asked her what had happened.

"I think he's dying," she replied.

She'd seen so many things while traveling the universe, but she'd never known that it could hold such pain.

***

"The Time Lord dies. Only the Elixir of Life can save him."

Sarah looked up as sudden hope burned through her. If there was a chance that the Doctor might yet be saved . . .

She held her breath as Maren went to the altar and checked the goblet.

"Some has formed, Ohica. Enough for the Doctor."

Sarah anxiously watched while Ohica held the goblet to the Doctor's lips. She clenched her fists until she thought her fingers might leave permanent holes in her palms.

When the Doctor revived, she'd never known the universe could hold such joy.

Comments

[primsong.livejournal.com]

Oh, that was nicely done - very empathetic for dear Sarah, I like your introspective touches -"She clenched her fists until she thought her fingers might leave permanent holes in her palms."

[daystarsearcher.livejournal.com]

Drive-by icon love!

(HOW ARE THEY SO CUTE I DO NOT EVEN)

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! : )

(And I have to agree with daystarsearcher about the icon. *g*)

[daystarsearcher.livejournal.com]

I've probably said this before, but I really love your prose style. It reminds me of calligraphy, concise strokes that cut right to the heart of things.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Wow, this is one of the nicest things anyone's ever said about my writing. Thank you.

[shadowturquoise.livejournal.com]

This is a lovely bit of introspection that fits perfectly into the episode. I love your attention to details that puts the reader into Sarah Jane's heart.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I had to re-watch the episode (well, the end) in order to get the details right, but I was willing to do that for the sake of artistic integrity! *g* (Okay, and I also love the episode . . .)

I'm glad you think it works, though! Thanks. : )

[sleepismyfriend.livejournal.com]

Very lovely, indeed! Brain of Morbius is probably my second favourite serial of theirs, tied with Masque of Mandragora. (First is Ark in Space for hilarious reasons.) :)

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I love Brain of Morbius and Masque of Mandragora too, although I would put Pyramids of Mars in first place.

[amilyn.livejournal.com]

I really like Sarah's thought that she'd be stuck on Karn if the Doctor died...but just not finding the will to CARE about it. Nicely done. You've led up to her quiet, defeated, "I think he's dying," so VERY well here.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

She does seem very defeated at that moment in the episode, doesn't she? It's so unusual for her, too, so I'm really glad I made that work for you.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

Gorgeously written.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Thank you. : )

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

That's lovely! =:o}

But shame on Sarah for not knowing her wrestling jargon! The "mindbending contest" is basically a mental wrestling match. A deathlock, originally, meant any wrestling move that is designed to force your opponent into either submitting or suffering injury, or (in the most extreme and illegal forms of the sport) actual death. Hence the Doctor's comment, "It's usually a game, but it can end in deathlock".

These days all you're likely to see is the tamed-down and impressive-but-safe versions such as the "Indian Deathlock".
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_wrestling_holds)

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Well, Sarah knows how to save the Earth, so I think she can be forgiven for not knowing wrestling jargon. ; )

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

BUT WHO WILL SAVE TEH EARTH FROM ALL THE WRESTLERS?!? =8oO

[spydurwebb.livejournal.com]

Love this! I'm glad to see someone look at what Sarah was thinking in those moments. Perfect! :)

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :)

[thisbluespirit]

This is lovely, as everyone has said. (Curses! I am so late; you'll never pay me to say nice things about you now. :lol:)

No, really; you do write so well & this is a lovely deepening of what happens on-screen.

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

(Curses! I am so late; you'll never pay me to say nice things about you now. :lol:)

Well, you do a nice job, so I suppose I can put up with some tardiness . . . ;)

Thanks for the kind words!