[ There really aren't good choices here. There are just choices, and none of them are preferable. Caitlyn would be in a bed right now if he had it his way, safe and resting, where she could be monitored for symptom progression and worsening illness.
On the scale of bad to worse, this is...better than it could be. She's safer than she would be on the ground. He reasons through all of it and because they don't have the time to spare, because the screams are growing louder, he has to leave her. But he trusts her. With what strength she has, she'll fight and he knows that.
She would fight anyway, because that's who she is, but he won't leave her letting her doubt his faith in her, too. Cradling her cheek gently in his hand for a moment — at the same time, checking for signs of fever by touch alone — the Doctor finally relents, nodding, kissing her forehead softly. ]
I know you can, and there's no one better to have my back. I won't be long. Don't move from this spot.
[ As if she could. She looks absolutely awful but what options do they have left? With one parting glance and pat to her cheek, the Doctor leaves her there, going back down to help rescue the villagers that he's able to usher inside. He spares a glance up at her as often as he can, and the moment he senses trouble, he'll go to her. ]
no subject
On the scale of bad to worse, this is...better than it could be. She's safer than she would be on the ground. He reasons through all of it and because they don't have the time to spare, because the screams are growing louder, he has to leave her. But he trusts her. With what strength she has, she'll fight and he knows that.
She would fight anyway, because that's who she is, but he won't leave her letting her doubt his faith in her, too. Cradling her cheek gently in his hand for a moment — at the same time, checking for signs of fever by touch alone — the Doctor finally relents, nodding, kissing her forehead softly. ]
I know you can, and there's no one better to have my back. I won't be long. Don't move from this spot.
[ As if she could. She looks absolutely awful but what options do they have left? With one parting glance and pat to her cheek, the Doctor leaves her there, going back down to help rescue the villagers that he's able to usher inside. He spares a glance up at her as often as he can, and the moment he senses trouble, he'll go to her. ]