Ian sets his hand on my shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze.
“You will, Jamie.One of these days, you’ll believe it, too.I swear you will.”
Chapter37
Jamie
Istep away from the tree I’d been leaning on and rush after him, catching up just as he gets to his car.My footsteps crunch on the gravel, and the Doctor turns as I pull up behind him.
“What in the name of God…?”
“I didn’t want to scare you,” I say.
“Were you waiting for me in the car park?How did you know when I’d be finished?”
He looks angry.He clearly doesn’t like that I came all the way out here, hid behind a tree, waited like a stalker for him to arrive, then jumped out behind him.
“I didn’t know,” I say.
The Doctor looks me over for a second.
“How long have you been here?”His tone shifts, more worried than annoyed now.
“I don’t remember,” I say, my teeth chattering.
“You’re some idiot.You could’ve called.”He gives out to me, but the anger is gone.
“I didn’t know what to say.”
“Do you now?”
I shake my head.
“You’re a mess.”
“I am.”
You have no idea how much.
I wrap my arms around myself, but I’m still shivering.I’m soaked through, right down to the bone.
“Come on, I’ll take you home.”
“I have my car.I can drive myself.”
I’m not a fucking kid he has to drop off with his parents after I’ve gotten into trouble.
“To my place.I’ll take you to mine.Otherwise, you’ll get pneumonia and end up in the hospital.And I hope it’s not mine, because I don’t know if I’d be able to treat you.And I hope it’s not some other one, because I don’t want anyone else touching you.”
Why do I get the feeling he’s not really talking about hospitals and pneumonia?
He walks around the car and opens the passenger door.“Are you getting in, or do I have to carry you?Then, on top of the pneumonia, there’ll be my dislocated shoulder.”
I can’t help but smile.
The Doctor is joking.The Doctor isn’t angry.The Doctor hasn’t given up on me yet.
The Doctor still wants me.
