I ball my fists and stay where I am.Ryan messes with him, clearly trying to get a reaction, and then Ian joins in, also naked.
Ryan and Ian move in closer, blocking my view.I can’t tell if the Doctor is looking at them or pretending none of this is happening.Nick taps my shoulder.“I’m going to check ifyourDoctor needs help.”
He walks away to join the two idiots.When I see them laughing in his face without a hint of shame, something in me snaps, like a spring bursting out of the works.All of a sudden, I’m dead set on ending their sad little attempts to wind me up.They are not provoking anything at all.They don’t want to write this day into the sad book of death, leave my niece without a father, or ruin my career by making me kill three brainless arseholes who tried to spark reactions I don’t even have.
I don’t fully understand what’s rising in me, but it drags me straight towards them, hell-bent on claiming what’s mine.
Because he’smyDoctor, and nobody gets to lay a hand on him.
“Are we done here, children?”I call them to order, like I’m supposed to.
Nick tries to mess with me again, and I nearly let it slide with some dumb joke to hide how riled up I am.But then the Doctor looks up at me, eyes wide and nervous, like a lost pup.When he clocks that I’m wearing shorts, he lets out this tiny sigh of relief, and it hits me square in the chest.
“I’m here to claim what’s mine.”
It’s not a joke.I’m not taking the piss out of anyone.I just stopped doing that, especially with myself.
“Oh, holy shit!”Ryan slaps a hand over his mouth to hide a laugh.It won’t do him much good; I’m going to knock all his teeth out anyway.Then maybe he’ll stop being a dick.
“We were just messing around.”Ian jumps in, tries to save himself and his brothers, but at this point, all three of them are firmly on my bad side.
“Go play somewhere else.”
I’ve never been more serious.The three of them might not get it — since they seem to share a single brain cell along with a surname — but the Doctor does.He knows I’m not joking, that I’m really pissed off.
His face goes pale, like he’s afraid something might actually happen.He should be, because I’m done putting up with their crap.
“Are you still here?”I threaten them.
“Let’s go,” Nick calls out to his brothers, like a sheepdog herding his flock.“Someone’s about to get in trouble, and I’m not in the mood to get punched in the face.”
Turns out he’s the smartest one in the family after all.
They head off, but Ryan keeps snickering.Fine.He’ll be the first one I kick off the field for good.
Once we’re alone, the Doctor runs a hand through his hair, staring at the floor.He looks awkward, embarrassed, and confused by how I acted, and honestly, so am I.I don’t know what set me off or why.It’s better not to ask.
“I didn’t know,” he says, justifying himself as he always does.“Nick tricked me into it.”
I can believe that.
“I ended up here and…”
“And you enjoyed the show.”My voice comes out harsher than I mean it to, sharpened by anger I have no right to feel.He just said Nick tricked him, but I can’t help my reaction.
“What?”
“Do you like what you see, Doctor?”
“You’re some arsehole.”
“I am.”
“Are you angry because I showed up and barged into your space?Because your team is over there staring, wondering who I am?Or is it because you decided you had to jump in and defend me?From what, exactly?They’re just three idiots — I’m used to them, and their crap doesn’t bother me.I don’t need anyone riding in to rescue me.I’m not some princess in a tower, waiting for you to go off and slay a dragon.”
“I couldn’t give a shit about the team.They can watch as much as they like, and I haven’t come to save you.”
I step in closer, and he backs right up against the door.
