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Donna had been ushered to the gates of the Diamond train by some stressed Palace worker who could only tell her there was an ‘incident’. She was smart enough to put together that something Doctor-&-Alien-related had gone down. She couldn't leave him alone for a second.
The way that the resort staff were acting gave off the impression that it wasn't a light-hearted thing that had interrupted the adventure to the sapphire waterfalls. There were casualties. Before the worker who led her to the waiting room left, she asked if the Doctor was alright. They were curt, but they said ‘yes’.
She was the only one waiting around for the train to return. Evidently, all of the other passengers' loved-ones were on board.
Loved-ones or group members or companions .
Donna felt like she trusted the Doctor more than anyone else in the universe. Her feelings for him were platonic, but that didn’t subtract from their intensity. She loved him like he had always been her family. She wasn't delusional though. Her feelings couldn't possibly be reciprocated. He was a 900-plus Time Lord from Gallifrey or whatever. He probably had other aliens in his life he valued more than some random human he had picked up, especially a mess of a human like her.
Her self loathing was interrupted by a ding and lighted sign alerting that the travelers were departing their car. She was immediately put off when she saw the train. It was grungy. It didn't look as polished as the rest of the spa, and it didn't look like something a paying customer would voluntarily get on, even after signing a liability waiver. It was some kind of maintenance or emergency vehicle.
Midnight Palace-branded military men with heavy artillery got off first. Donna held her breath as the regular people were escorted out. A mousey lady in a tan sweater, a family with a goth teen, and a balding man all hurried off with their heads hung low. They didn't look at her as they passed.
Needing to take in air but not comforted at all, Donna openly asked noone, “Where's the Doctor?”
When she spoke, the mismatched mob of people stopped in their tracks. Since they seemed to know his whereabouts, she turned and repeated her sentiment, “Where's the Doctor? They said he was alright. Where is he?”
Even though her words held them in their tracks, most of them didn't look at her. They seemed stunned or ashamed.
The balding guy with glasses had a dry tone of voice, like what she had said drained everything from him, “What's his name?”
“The Doctor! Are you daft?” Donna didn't want to clarify anything. The stupid staff at this place already said he was ‘alright’. If they had lied, hell was about to rain down. It didn't matter if she was a 21st century woman in the 75th century (or whenever), she was going to make whoever was in charge wish they hadn't woken up that day.
The lady who looked like a mom, giant, tacky jewelry and all, reasserted, “We're not stupid. He was asking for his real name.”
“It's just the Doctor. That's it.” She was getting riled up, “If that is not real enough for you, you can take it up with me.” She meant that threat. The Doctor was still M.I.A, and she would tear this whole place down, with all of them in it, if that would return him.
The dad-guy in the crowd put a protective hand on his presumed wife's shoulder.
Their emo teen actually answered her question, “The Doctor’s still in the emergency car.” The black-swathed kid seemed more disturbed than what was typical for someone going through puberty’s hormones. He hesitated before adding, “He’s not hurt, but he's upset.”
The mousey lady with her hair in a bun chimed in, “Rightfully.”
After getting the smallest bit of information, Donna abandoned the entirely unhelpful people and returned her attention to the dirty emergency train. She began marching over to the entrance of it, when the military men raised their arms towards her. Until that moment, she was so wrapped up in her anger she had forgotten they were there. She stopped, because her fists were not going to stand up to bullets.
Before she could start screaming for answers again, three more people exited the car. Two of them were military personnel, and there, between them, was the lanky sliver of a man she recognized. That kid had said ‘he wasn't hurt’, but the Doctor was barely standing. He was shaking so much. No one was helping him by holding his arms or supporting him. The three didn't go far, but he was obviously struggling to keep pace with the others. In all their time together, his posture had never been so subdued. He was genuinely cowering away from the military men at his sides.
Donna had no idea how to respond to the scene unfolding before her. Apparently, the feeling was mutual. The Doctor stared blankly at Donna for a few moments, before his distant eyes actually focused enough to really see her. He didn't believe it. He was abnormally quiet, “Donna? You're here?”
She didn't care if she was going to be shot. She rushed up and hugged him. Choking back a sob at the notion she would be anywhere else, she assured him, “Of course I am, space-boy.”
He crumbled in her arms and let out a trembling breath. He held her like she was his respite. With some of the last scraps of his composure, he said, “I didn't think you'd be waiting for me.”
“I'll always be here.” She meant that too. As long as she lived, she would wait for him when he needed her. That's just what you do for someone you love.