Small

by Pebblenessmonster

Summary:

'This was the shed. The door was the very same one he’d entered through. This wasn’t the floor, this was a countertop. The real floor was the dark abyss below. Everything was as it had been.

And it wasn’t those things that were giant- it was Steven who was small.

This had the potential to be very, very bad.'

Chapter 1

Steven didn’t remember falling asleep. But he must have, after all he had just woken up.

He wondered where the Doctor was- the old man hadn’t given him an earful for drifting off like he usually would. Instead this was a peaceful awakening. Too peaceful.

Until it wasn’t.

Coming to his senses Steven felt like his body had been doused in hot water and left to simmer; everything inside him ached. His mind scrambled to make sense of things as he lay unresponsive.

He wasn’t in the Tardis, that he was sure of. He wasn’t even in the solar system. The Doctor had taken them exploring somewhere. A planet, indescribably green and teeming with new species of people and plants. It had been nice, almost pleasant even.

However instead of the soft moss he recalled treading underfoot, the ground beneath him was hard and cold and surprisingly… lumpy. He didn’t understand that. Though he wasn’t understanding much else either.

It must have been a nasty fall for him to feel both confused and bruised. Had he fallen, was that what had happened? That part was coming back to him at least, if not anything else.

Hopefully the Doctor and Vicki would find him soon. Preferably Vicki would arrive first, she could calm the Doctor’s wrath when he saw whatever situation Steven had ended up in.

Opening his eyes and rubbing them feverishly he looked up.

Above him was a cavernous ceiling of dark wood, he could barely make out how far up it began. It was like he was staring up at a mottled-brown night sky, only without the stars. He wished there were stars.

The pain was wearing off now, though he still felt rather dazed.

Turning onto his side he swore as the harsh lumpy floor caught on his shirt and scratched at his bare arm. The wall he faced was plain and similar to the ceiling, it might have been spruce or walnut or something entirely alien.

This planet and its locale was foreign to Steven. He and his fellow passengers had been touring a community which was a blend of the natural and scientific worlds, something he wasn’t used to seeing. In his time life revolved around networks of technology and practical science, not trees and fungi.

He still couldn’t remember exactly where he was. He had no idea and that fact was annoying him. He should know, he should remember, but he couldn’t.

Now he rolled onto his other side like a struggling bug, eyes widening as he glimpsed an abyss. Past the edge of where he lay was nothing- a dark, heavy chasm. Quickly he scuttled back, not keen on falling into the pit.

At his level, past the abyss, was another wall- it was adorned by gardening tools which, in any other circumstance, wouldn’t worry Steven at all. These were a green kind of people, it was perfectly natural for them to have an array of equipment for their work.

However what wasn’t natural was their size. The clippers, trowels, shears and all were enormous. To Steven they looked like weapons of some strange agricultural war waged by giants. They hung idly, retired from whatever conflict they must be purposed for.

There was a nasty feeling building up in his stomach, he couldn’t quite explain it. Perhaps it was confusion, perhaps it was dread.

Shakily Steven mustered up the energy to stand. As he did so he realised he was coated in the remains of a strange, sickly yellow dust. He patted himself down, choking on the particles of it as it floated about in the air around him. Hopefully it wouldn’t stain his clothes.

Slowly turning around he then came to face another curiosity. It was a door. A door built by people for people. Except it couldn’t be. It was giant, easily hundreds of thousands of feet in height.

This was a very strange place; Steven hated how he couldn’t remember it. He didn’t like being forgetful, it felt even worse than actively being wasteful. Determined not to be ‘wasteful’ he wracked his brain trying to think back.

The Doctor, Vicki and he had temporarily gone their separate ways. He hadn’t seen anything of particular interest to him in the community so had settled for idle wandering. So he must have been alone.

How typical, he supposed the Doctor’s preachings about ‘strength in numbers’ had been the best way to travel after all- not that he would ever admit that to him.

Then the weather had started to turn sour and he had gone astray looking for shelter. There had been a shed belonging to one of the gardeners. His sanctuary.

It had hosted everything a person in the community could need. Alongside the usual tools there had even been a primitive sort of lab setup, Steven hadn’t pretended to understand it but still found it interesting. Plants truly were all these people knew- it was what they worked with in every aspect of life.

During his appraisal his senses had become overwhelmed by something. A horrid stench had invaded the room making him sick with madness. Then, like a scared, wild animal, he had lashed out crashing about the room in agonised confusion.

He didn’t remember anything after that. He wasn’t even sure he should.

The last thing Steven could properly recall before everything became too hazy to piece together was stepping into that room. He’d shut the door behind him with a conclusive slam just wanting an out from the threatening weather. In he had walked, then he had collapsed, then-

He was starting to get a dreadful feeling he did recognise this place.

If he acknowledged that feeling however, he would have to acknowledge a great deal more too. A great deal which was, to him, absurd. Incredibly so.

It didn’t make sense. Nothing did.

Steven almost hoped he was still asleep and dreaming- he’d rather be jolted awake to face the Doctor than spend another second here. But pinching himself wasn’t helping, it just hurt.

Perhaps that wasn’t enough. He needed to test all of his senses in order to fully ground himself. Then maybe, just maybe, one would fail him and he could take pleasure in somehow waking himself up. That was the ideal scenario even if it did mean he might be trapped in a dream.

Anything was preferred to… this.

Touch was proving responsive, clearly. Steven could feel the tapping of his shoes on the floor as he paced in concentrated circles like a worker ant on the fritz. He was wild with energy, his body providing ample feedback to his brain as he walked.

In the back of his throat Steven could taste a sweet aftershock.

Coughing he brought up more of the jaundiced dust, it rose out of him floating back into its environment. That was worrying. Steven didn’t feel ill, he hoped he wasn’t, but that dust seemed to suggest something horrible had happened inside of him.

It smelt like perfume gone-off, he thought as he watched those last traces of it disperse into the air. Holding his shirt up to his nose he could detect more of the stuff invisibly lingering on his clothes, it was horribly saccharine.

He couldn’t hear much but that was to be expected- this ‘cavern’ seemed unpopulated and uninhabited. But there was a feeling of mild pressure in his ear and along with that came a constant buzz.

Perhaps he had somehow hit his head and broken his mind; that would certainly compensate for this nonsensical place.

Lastly there was his sight to check.

Steven didn’t want to look around again, this was the final test and if he passed then well… everything would be wrong. Things wouldn’t make sense if he faced this reality, maybe they never would again.

But he had to know.

So he looked.

Steven knew where he was.

From his platform- which he now realised was cluttered by colossal mathematical and scientific instruments- he could look out into the horizon to see racks upon racks of hideously huge alien plants and growths. There was of course also the gardening tools, and even a raincoat propped up on its stand.

This was the shed. The door was the very same one he’d entered through. This wasn’t the floor, this was a countertop. The real floor was the dark abyss below. Everything was as it had been.

And it wasn’t those things that were giant- it was Steven who was small.

This had the potential to be very, very bad.

Actually it wasn’t just bad, it was ridiculous. A hysterical snort escaped his mouth. He’d always been a skeptical man and this really was pushing him to his limits.

After a second of hysteria came the shock. His breathing quickened. This couldn’t be happening. This couldn’t be real.

It sounded like the plot of some abstract holo-film, not an actual scenario he had ever expected to experience. He couldn’t believe it. Things like this didn’t just suddenly happen, it didn’t make sense.

Unless.

The dust.

Feeling like he was about to throw up Steven feverishly brushed down his clothes as if that would somehow reverse the change. He could feel the memory of it on his fingers, his face, his limbs, his entire body. It had all dissipated now but the damage was done.

This would serve him right for sticking his nose in where he didn’t belong, he thought.

Even if he had only been wanting to escape the rain he’d still stumbled into a world he didn’t belong to. Though he really didn’t belong to any world at all, travelling with the Doctor. And now there was nowhere for him anywhere, not in this state.

The Doctor certainly wasn’t going to be happy with him.

If he ever found him that was.

Comparing himself with his surroundings Steven estimated he must be just over an earth inch or so tall. He was an inch tall and no one knew where to find him.

At least he was up somewhere safe, he supposed. In his panic he must’ve collapsed against the countertop. He was just grateful he wasn’t on the ground, not exactly wanting to become the muck on someone’s shoe.

The Doctor and Vicki didn’t know where he had gone. Maybe, if he wasn’t found, then they would leave without him. He desperately hoped they wouldn’t.

Entrenched in his own thoughts Steven figured he could either give up and take the dignified option of squirreling himself away and living out the rest of his prospectively short life as some sort of small hermit man, or at least try and ask for help.

As much as he cringed at the thought- the Doctor and Vicki would never let him live this down- Steven reckoned he ought to choose the latter.

He had to try, or else his new chance at life aboard the Tardis would have all been for nothing.

“Doctor! Doctor!! Vicki!!”

As expected he wasn’t very loud. Steven thought he’d probably scream himself hoarse before anyone answered his calls.

“Of all the people in the universe- it just had to be me, didn’t it?” He swore out to no one in particular.

Of course it was him this happened to. Of course it was him who stepped one toe out of line and as a result got shrunken down to a frankly humiliating size. He was supposed to be six feet tall and now he was this.

There was a rack of test tubes situated beside him on the counter. Though he hardly dared to, Steven stepped forward to examine his reflection.

It took a lot longer than he was willing to admit to reach it but slowly he approached his ‘mirror’. Staring into the bottom of the closest test tube he took in his warped reflection.

“Ridiculous..” He muttered looking back at his tiny self, “I mean- this isn’t possible.” Clearly it was. It was possible and very, very embarrassing.

Everything around him was enormous. Steven had to crane his neck upwards to see where the test tube ended, and almost wished he hadn’t when he fully took in how far up the ceiling was.

Back on Mechanus- at least things had made sense there- he’d always wished for a larger enclosure. He supposed he’d finally gotten it.

Steven’s attention was suddenly drawn to the door. It was opening.

It was a horrible sound: the thud of the handle clicking down; the whine as it creaked open; the way it heaved in its arch. Steven threw his hands to his ears, cringing. It was a perfect agonising symphony, he hadn’t picked up on it at all at his regular size.

He then realised that, if the door was opening, someone was coming in.

They were going to come in and see him. And they were going to see him not as a person but as a curiosity. Steven hadn’t seen any other tiny people on this planet, he might be the only one. He might even be an experiment.

He couldn’t go through that again.

Quickly he dashed behind a still metronome-like instrument, hiding himself from view.

After a moment he peeked his head out past the metronome, heaving a sigh of relief at the familiar sight in front of him.

It was Vicki. Maybe she’d come looking for him after all.

His repose did not last long however. Properly looking at Vicki he was taken aback by how giant she was- or more accurately how giant she was compared to him. She was supposed to be the little shrimp whose head he patted to annoy her, now he was no bigger than her pinky finger.

As much as Steven hated to admit it, he was scared. He wasn’t exactly sure why- he trusted Vicki and could never be afraid of her- but something about suddenly being this small and powerless next to anyone set his nerves alight.

But this was his only chance for help, he had to be brave. He was too stubborn to cower at the sight of his friend even if she could probably break him in half if she wasn’t careful enough; Steven didn’t want to think about that possibility.

Vicki was looking around now, just as curious as Steven had been. He hoped she wouldn’t be affected by whatever was happening too, then the Doctor really would be mad.

Right now her attention was focused on the array of foliage growing on pots on the floor. They were unrecognisable and decidedly inhuman so it made sense she would be so intrigued by them. Vicki always adored the strange, it was in her character.

After a few seconds of watching her Steven gathered together all his strength and on shaky legs stepped out into the expanse. He didn’t stray too close to the edge for fear of falling and came to stand on the center of the table. Vicki still wasn’t looking.

“VICKI” He cried out, his throat aching at his effort to be loud, “VICKI!!!”

Then, whether by her own choice or from hearing Steven’s pitched shouts, she turned around. Then she started to come closer.

At that moment Steven hated his instincts. His entire body tensed and he, without thinking, scrambled away madly trying to hide. Collapsing down behind his ‘shield’ once again he dared not move. Even then, he was still shaking.

But it was too late. Vicki had seen him. He’d felt her eyes on his back as he dashed across the table, now she was close and dangerously curious.

“Oh you poor thing, don’t be frightened! It’s alright!”

What?

Steven hadn’t expected that.

“I- I’m not scary I promise!” Her voice was sympathetic and sickeningly sweet, “You don’t have to be afraid!” She called out in a hushed whisper. “I won’t hurt you.”

Vicki always had seemed the type to believe in fairies.

“My name is Vicki.” She muttered softly, “And I’m quite friendly I can assure you- you’re safe with me. You can come out again now!”

Clearly she hadn’t recognised him; Steven was sure whether to be relieved or annoyed at that.

“What are you?” She continued, “I’ve never seen anything like you before…” Steven huffed in irritation- she had, every day on the Tardis.

Steven wasn’t overly happy to crush Vicki’s dreams of meeting a fairy but he couldn’t let this act continue. Her pet-talk was usually already tiring enough without being the recipient of it, he wasn’t sure he could put up with any more.

It was now or never. Time to embarrass himself.

Slowly he emerged from his hiding place head down in shame.

“Ooh hello, you’re- Steven??”

He looked up. They locked eyes.

Vicki screamed.

It wasn’t a particularly loud scream from her perspective, moreso a surprised recoil. But it made Steven’s head feel like it was on fire.

The shrill noise burned the back of his skull making him clutch his head trying to silence it. This was incomparable to anything Steven had ever felt before; it was like his eardrums were ready to rupture. It hurt too much to bear; Steven felt like he might cry.

As Vicki stumbled back Steven fell to his knees. His mind wasn’t working, he couldn’t even think.

Maybe he shouldn’t have asked for help after all.

“Steven… Steven is that you?” There was Vicki again though Steven could barely hear her for the echo of her scream in his head. “Steven?” She sounded worried.

“Hurts.” He muttered too quietly for her to hear. “Too loud.. My head..”

“Please Steven- say something, anything- Steven??”

The drumming in his ears was starting to lesson and his senses were returning to him. Vicki was still overly loud but his ears were thankfully adapting and dulling the noise, somewhat.

Shakily rising to stand, Steven faced Vicki- properly this time.

The countertop was about level with her chest so he had a full view of her face, her large features staring back at him making her seem like some kind of fairytale giantess. She was leaning down close too, Steven could feel her warm breath on his face- at least she’d brushed her teeth.

Bracing himself for a panic, Steven started to speak: “Hello Vicki…”

“What??”

“Hello!”

“I heard what you said!” Vicki hastily retorted in a frantic whisper.

“Good. I was almost worried you wouldn’t be able to.”

“What happened??” She wasn’t going to let him evade the obvious any longer.

“You think I know?”

“You don’t?”

Steven scoffed, “No!”

“I don’t… Look at you!”

“I’ve done enough of that already.”

“I’m getting the feeling that you’re not exactly overjoyed by this.” Vicki couldn’t stop staring; it was like she thought that if she blinked he’d disappear. “Oh but aren’t you just…”

“Just what?” Steven dared her to continue.

“Well. Adorable is what I was going to say.” Was her response. “You’re like a little pocket sized man!”

“Adorable?” Steven could feel his face heating up in embarrassment, “You see me and the first thing you’ve got to say is that I’m ‘adorable’?”

Vicki laughed, not noticing how Steven recoiled at her verbosity. “You are! You’re so… scrimbly.”

“Scrimbly?” Oh how utterly mortifying.

“You’re an eensy scrimbly Steven.” Vicki giggled, she was getting rather carried away and her voice was only increasing more to match. “You know, I never thought I’d end up as the tall one!”

“Alright, alright. Very funny.”

“But it is! I mean you’re absolutely tiny!”

Before Steven could react Vicki reached out her hand and, with the tip of her index finger, patted the top of his head. He could tell she was trying to be gentle and was very grateful for that but it was still a very disconcerting sensation.

“Stop that!” He moved away, elbowing her finger. “How would you like it if I just started patting you out of nowhere?”

“I don’t. You do it every day.” Vicki answered plainly. “Look, I just couldn’t help it!”

Right, that was it- she was getting too loud for comfort. Steven’s headache was beginning to return.

“Vicki-”

“Come on, you’ve got to find this a little bit funny-”

“Vicki!!”

“But I still don’t understand what happened, I know you don’t either but-”

“VICKI!”

“What?”

“Could you please, please keep your voice down. I’ve had a long day.”

“Oh. Sorry. I hope it wasn’t too… unbearable when I shouted.”

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

“Are you sure-”

“Yes.”

Vicki had a tendency to act too empathetic for her own good, especially when it came to the various pets and peculiarities she encountered on their travels. It was something Steven thought she might feel for him now. He wasn’t sure she’d have easily forgiven herself this time if she found out how much it had hurt.

“So…” Good, she was being quieter now. “What do you think’s happened-.”

“I’ve just said I don’t-”

“Well then tell me what you do know. After all we’ve got to do something. I’m guessing you don’t exactly want to stay like this.”

He definitely didn’t. Tardis travel wouldn’t be safe anymore, and he didn’t want to be stuck in the ship at all times. That’s if the Doctor even still wanted him around.

And he wouldn’t have anything to wear- in fact he was lucky these clothes had even shrunk with him- unless the Doctor happened to collect clothing for very miniature dolls. Or if Vicki could sew, perhaps she could make him some little suits or something. But that wasn’t enough for a happy life.

All in all, Steven knew he desperately had to get back to normal size.

“I came in, normal, and then… I flaked out. There was some sort of dust all over me- horrible stuff. When I came to I was like this.”

“I see.” Vicki put her finger to her mouth, thinking. “Dust? What was it like?”

“All sort of sticky and yellow. I could taste it.”

“Hmm. You don’t suppose it was some sort of pollen- or spore? After all these people love their plants.”

Indeed they did. Looking around again Steven stared back at the vast quantity of flora piling up in pots and racks and shelves about the room.

Some were cactus-like, prickly and threatening. Others looked like docile flycatchers which were almost smiling. There were also poisonous looking purple flowers growing from verdant green sunflower-like plants. It must be the perfect collection, for whoever had collected it at least.

But there was one plant that stood out.

A large, breathing shrub sat in the corner. Its tendrils were slowly writhing and looked to be coated in a layer of flaxen dust. The same dust that had shrunk him. This had to be it.

“There!” Steven pointed towards it, Vicki following his tiny finger to look at the strange creature. “That’s it, it’s got to be that!”

Before Vicki could approach it Steven called out “STOP! We can’t have you getting stuck like this as well. Be careful.”

“Good point.” Vicki nervously glanced at it, “We’ll need the Doctor to take a look at it.”

“Is he around, then?”

“Should be. I can call for him.”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t do that near me.”

“Of course.” Vicki agreed.

Steven hoped the Doctor could help. Maybe he would just waltz in and fix him without a second thought, that would be nice. But even then this was going to be embarrassing.

If Vicki was finding his predicament so funny then Steven dreaded the Doctor’s likely to be equally bemused reaction. He swore the old man had it out for him, this was a nightmare scenario for him to walk in on.

Vicki detected his uncertainty. “I’m sure he’ll be very understanding.”

“Really Vicki? Really?”

“Well…”

“He’s going to think this is the funniest thing ever to happen. He’ll never let me live it down even if he can fix me.”

“Maybe. But you can’t hide away from him forever.”

“I could.” Steven knew he was becoming manic but he didn’t care. His voice was coming out a hundred words a minute and his body was starting to tremble again.

He continued: “If you take me back to the Tardis I’ll just live in the walls. Say you’ve lost me and make him take off. If you bring me little bits of cheese and biscuits and promise never to let the Doctor set traps this could be fine, great even!”

“Steven…”

“I’ll steal your socks- sorry in advance- and make little jumpers for when it gets cold. Maybe I’ll even find a nice heating vent to sleep by. You’ll have to check on me regularly of course, just in case I ever met a nasty end and you’d have to pack me away in a matchbox and throw me into space-”

“Steven! Don’t talk like that!”

“I can talk how I like!”

“We’re going to fix this- fix you! So what if the Doctor laughs, he’ll still help you. I think he’s gotten rather fond of you, of course he’ll understand when you say you’ve had an accident and need him to help.”

Leaving no time for him to argue, Vicki smiled and stepped away towards the door.

“Now, I’m going to find him. You stay there and I’ll be back with him soon.”

“Okay- it’s not like I’ve got anywhere else to go.”

He still wasn’t happy about this, though.

After she’d left, closing the door behind her, Steven smiled dreamily at the blissful silence. Finally a break from all that racket. He wasn’t blaming Vicki of course but her voice had been rather shrill to his sensitive ears.

“I’ll have words when I’m back to normal..” He muttered to himself, “And that’s ‘when’ not ‘if’.”

His reflection was staring at him again. A taunt, it reminded him how severe his situation was. He didn’t exactly feel small- he still felt just as he had before- but he certainly looked it.

“The Doc’s going to laugh his head off…” He knew it was coming, it was perfectly in character for the old man.

Perfectly awfully in character.

Chapter 2

For a few more moments Steven delighted in the peace being on his own brought, then the door opened once more. He liked to think he was getting used to its screeching but he still cringed as Vicki re-entered the shed, the Doctor in tow.

“And so I just found him like this…” She was telling him, a hapless expression on her face as she tried to explain it. Steven supposed it was quite a ridiculous tale.

The Doctor didn’t particularly seem like he was listening.

Steven thought that, if Vicki was a fairytale giant, then the Doctor was one from a nightmare.

Magnified, his features were even more intimidating. Steven tried not to let his fear show as the Doctor stopped to look at him appraisingly. It was like he was a bug being glared at by a particularly wily crow.

“There you are my boy!” The Doctor then started in his usual demonstrative tone, “What have I said about wandering off- whatever it was you mustn’t have listened!”

“It wasn’t his fault- all he wanted was to get away from the storm out there!” Vicki protested; Steven was glad she was on his side for once.

“No matter.” The Doctor waved her away. “I suppose, in my old age, I can let bygones be bygones. Now come along, don’t hide away, the Tardis is just as dry as in here.”

“Doctor! I can’t just-”

“Don’t make excuses! Young man you are just as much a passenger aboard my ship as anyone is, don’t start giving yourself airs and graces making you unable to follow simple instructions!”

The absolute cheek. Steven was now entirely willing to bet he hadn’t listened to a word Vicki had said.

Vicki was now also realising this. “Doctor, if you just looked at Steven then I think you’d feel different.” She gave him her best charming smile in an attempt to placate his anger. “Go on, look.” Steven flinched as she pointed her finger dangerously close to his head.

“Hmm. Yes, yes, something is different about you…” The Doctor said, squinting. He was much taller than Vicki which only increased the distance between he and Steven even more.

“You’ve got to be joking!!”

“I shall have you know I never joke!”

“Oh for- Doctor! Look at me! I’ve shrunk!!” Steven irritatedly shouted.

“Hadn’t you noticed?”

Steven wanted to reach up and deck him- if only he could.

“As a matter of fact yes I have.” Steven said, “I think I’ve noticed it a great deal more than you have-”

“I’m afraid you’re going to have to speak up. My hearing isn’t what it used to be, not quite…”

“Doctor.” Vicki gently took ahold of his arm, “I think what Steven is trying to say is that- well- it is quite the transformation.”

“Indeed. And?”

“Tell him I want it fixed!” Steven angrily demanded; he didn’t care that he probably looked and sounded like a complaining ant, he just wanted justice. “Tell him if he doesn’t fix it then I’ll-”

“You’ll what?” Vicki interrupted him coyly. “I don’t think the Doctor’s ever had a flea before- maybe you could try that.”

“I thought you were supposed to be on my side!”

“I am!”

“Well you could do with acting a bit more like it!”

This bickering was seemingly what it took for the Doctor to start taking an interest. Speaking up with a cough he interrupted the pair’s sparring:

“Would you two stop that! Now, I never said I wouldn’t help out young Steven here. I will simply need more information.”

Steven was surprised at his willingness, he was almost… considerate. Once he’d actually realised what was happening that was.

“We do have a theory on what happened…” Vicki started, “Steven told me he remembers being covered in something- we think it was pollen- he says it came from that plant.”

She pointed towards the unhealthily yellow vines of the bush in question, “It’s not done anything with us yet though, I can’t think why.”

“Perhaps it saw through Steven’s particular type of humour and decided it wanted to… cut him down to size.”

There it was, this was what Steven had expected to hear.

“This isn’t funny Doctor!”

“Doctor. Steven says it's not funny.”

“Oh no of course not! I rather think we’ve got a height of problems to solve before we find time for idle joking!”

“I’ll do it- I’ll be his flea- I’m not afraid.” Steven muttered under his breath.

If he could, he'd smuggle himself under the old man’s waistcoat and kick him repeatedly until he got justice. He wasn’t sure he’d have much of an effect but it’d be more about the message than actually hurting him anyways.

“You are confident that it was this specimen that caused this shrinking?” The Doctor looked down at Steven, “All I need is a simple nod or shake of the head- there’s no need to trouble yourself with shouting for my sake.”

Steven nodded.

“Very well then.”

“You can fix him can’t you, Doctor?”

“We shall see my dear.”

“Great, that sounds promising.”

Steven’s snark betrayed the horror in his mind, what if he really couldn’t get back to normal? He just hoped Vicki and the Doctor would be kind to him, no matter how embarrassing having him around would be. Maybe they would shelf him, maybe he’d never see outside the Tardis again.

As his crisis continued on, the Doctor was spurred into action.

“Listen here.” He demonstratively began, a cunning smile on his face:

“I am going to collect a sample from this here plant, that should allow me to synthesise some kind of anti-effect once we have returned to the ship. Vicki my dear, could you find yourself some kind of measuring device and accurately take stock of Steven.”

“On it.”

“Hey! I’m a person not a piece of meat to ‘take stock of’!”

“Of course..”

Vicki said, then threw him a sickeningly sweet smile then looked at a row of rulers on the countertop wall, picking one which displayed earth measurements. “You’re a person, a person who happens to be so small that we need to measure your height in, what is it, inches?”

“I hate you.”

“Watch it, or I’ll take away your sugar cube allowance.”

“I don’t even- You’re in for it when I’m tall again.”

“Oh I’m sure…”

While the Doctor knelt down on the ground, picking leaves and prodding them down into a test tube he’d taken, Vicki was positioning the ruler.

It fell beside Steven, a monolith measuring up what looked like miles past his head. Of course it wasn’t miles- it was barely anything at all.

“Go on then, do your worst.” Steven said.

It was one thing seeing himself so small, an entirely other to actually have a measurement. That would be quantifiable, accurate, unchangeable. A statement like that, said aloud, was one of the most mortifying aspects of this incident.

“Alright then, looks like you’re about… 1.25 inches tall.”

“Are you- hey, it says 1.32!”

“I was just trying to evenly round it!”

“Well thanks- not. I need all the height I can get, don’t I? Measure me properly!””

“Don’t be such a bossy-boots!”

“Do it properly!”

“Oh alright then, 1.32 inches. Though I’m sure you’re on your tiptoes.”

“I’m really not.”

Putting away the ruler Vicki turned to the Doctor, “Doctor, he’s about 1.25-”

“Come on!”

“1.25 inches tall.” Vicki wasn’t deterred by Steven’s annoyance. “That’s about 3ish centimetres, isn’t it?”

“Indeed. Though I would have said Steven was more like 1.32- inches that is.” The Doctor muttered, standing up holding the test tube of green and yellow foliage. “Are you sure you measured him correctly?”

“Well I…”

“I have a cunning mind, and cunning eyes to match. Don’t you forget that.” The Doctor giggled, tapping Vicki’s nose. In response she pouted before also softly laughing.

“Thank you Doc..” Steven was glad at least someone was somewhat fighting in his corner even if he seemed reluctant to show it.

“Doctor! Not Doc!” He glared at Steven before softening, “Now, I think it is time we depart from this planet. The Tardis is the best place for you now my boy.”

The Tardis. Away from here. What if they had missed something? What if it hadn’t been that plant? What if they needed to return to find the right cure and never could? Suddenly Steven wasn’t so sure he wanted to leave.

Perhaps the Doctor could sense his fear. “There is no need to be frightened, I am confident my ship will have all the facilities needed to reverse this.”

“I.. I don’t know if I can..”

“Speak up!”

“I can’t!”

The Doctor tsk’ed; Steven could tell he was starting to become irritated.

“This is all very frustrating, dear oh dear…” The old man blustered. Then an idea seemed to hit him, Steven dreaded what it might be.

“Vicki.” The Doctor began to strictly instruct, “Pick him up.”

“What?” Even Vicki was surprised, Steven even more so than that.

“I said pick the boy up.” He repeated. “Pick him up and bring him to me. Then we can have a proper conversation, can’t we?”

Steven hated this. Even if that did sound like a practical solution he hated being small and vulnerable and at the mercy of everyone else, a trinket to be ‘picked up’ and saved rather than a normal, capable man. He didn’t want to be a trinket, never again.

“I can’t just do that!” Vicki came to his defence. “What if I drop him?” That didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

“Then be careful, very careful.”

“Don’t I get a say in all this??” Steven shout-interrupted; that seemed to be the only to get anyone’s attention now.

“Yes.. You do.” Vicki agreed.

Steven beckoned her to lean down again and she complied. With the air of a teacher commanding their student Steven started laying out his demands. If he had to do this in order to actually argue with the Doctor then he at least wanted some respect too.

“Look, if you’re going to do this then I have a few ground rules. One: Be careful. Don’t get overexcited and drop or squash or-”

“Alright alright!” Vicki whispered back, “I’ve got that, I’ll be very gentle!”

“Two: Make sure the Doctor is too. I don’t trust him sometimes, and I don’t want him coughing on me. If he looks like he’s about to do something then get me away.”

“No coughing, got it.”

“Third: Don’t, and I mean it, think this makes me your little pet.”

“I would never-”

“I’m not.”

Vicki’s expression shifted. Whereas before she had been almost playful she now adopted an understanding look. He had told her Mechanus was exactly like a zoo, maybe she was recalling that now.

“Steven. I promise I won’t. I’ll be careful- and so will the Doctor- and we won’t make you feel like a… specimen. You’re still our friend and we’d hate to make you feel like you’re-”

“Good.” Steven waved off her speech with an outwardly plain smile.

It was delightfully sappy and made him feel warm inside but he couldn’t think about that past anymore. Bringing it up only brought it too close for comfort. He couldn’t linger on those memories any longer, especially now.

“Well… are you ready then?”

“No, but I don’t think I ever would be.”

“Come on then, hop aboard.”

“Alright then..” Steven mock saluted; Vicki giggled. He felt like one of the first space explorers, nervous and ready to traverse a new horizon.

Slowly Vicki placed her right hand down by the counter. Her small-but-now-large fingertips pressed at the edge of the platform dangerously beckoning Steven forward.

Trembling, he stepped forward not daring to look at the empty space around her hand- the dark vacuum his ship orbited.

Vicki’s skin was soft and tender, Steven could feel his feet settling into the grooves of her palm as he shakily stumbled across. When he reached the center he fell to his knees trying to find a comfortable position.

He wasn’t so sure he liked being this close to another human being, it was like he could almost feel her breathing under her skin.

Still, she was nice enough a surface compared to the hard counter. She was even warm- Steven thought he could fall asleep here. He wouldn’t let himself of course, that really would be embarrassing, but the thought was there.

“You’re tickling me.” Vicki gently laughed.

“Oh, sorry about that.”

“No, no, it’s alright. I’m going to lift you up now, is that okay?”

“Go ahead…”

It was like flying. No, it was like ascending. There was a brief pressure in his ears, and he could feel a cold breeze rushing past him, but other than that he felt almost… free.

Steven thought this must be what the Rocketmen from his time felt like.

They had soared in neat loops through the sky, writing out their crimes with rocket fuel and ash. It had been a beautiful display despite the tragedy they caused. This must be what his mysterious saviour felt, floating in the vacuum of space content in dead wonder at the weightlessness that losing control gave him. His final moment of glory, his final memory.

Steven felt light-headed, he wasn’t sure if it was because of recalling that day or his present situation.

Finally he reached the Doctor.

Vicki was holding her palm up to the man’s face, leaving Steven staring directly at him. The Doctor was unblinkingly staring back.

His small beak of a nose was upturned ever so slightly and his lips pursed, both done in thought. Steven could see every inlay and line on his face, it was intimidating to face up with the sheer age of the strange man he travelled with. And yet he had an ageless quality about him too. It was indescribable but noticeable to Steven’s detail-sensitive eyes.

Steven tried to stand but it was absurdly hard to find his footing on the subtly constantly shifting surface. Sighing he resigned himself to sitting down cross legged, his own tiny palms pressed down against Vicki’s large one.

“Doctor… Hello.” He squeaked out. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“Steven…” The Doctor muttered. His voice was unusually soft, Steven wasn’t sure he’d ever heard him so quiet before. “What have you gotten yourself into…”

“I didn’t mean to-”

“No, I know.”

“Sorry.” Steven knew this wasn’t ideal. Perhaps he wasn’t cut out to be a crewman on a time and space machine after all.

“No matter. We cannot change what happened, we can only try to change you now. What was it you wanted to talk to me about then, hmm?”

“I can’t go back to the Tardis.”

Steven knew he sounded childish but, in current circumstances, he figured he could act how he liked. It had been a long day, he deserved his own opinions.

“Oh? And just why not?”

“It’s just- we won’t be able to return here if we do leave, will we?”

Steven braced himself for the Doctor’s fury- he never did like attacks on his piloting- but it never came. Instead the man stiffly nodded.

“You are right, no we won’t.”

“Then what if we had to return?” Steven laid out his argument:

“What if your sample doesn’t help? We’ll probably never land somewhere with this kind of flora again and then that’ll be it for me getting back to normal. Can’t I stay here while you synthesise a fix?”

He wasn’t particularly sure he wanted to stay in this shack but it seemed a better option than the alternative. It was getting rather cold however; he was starting to shiver.

“Now now, you can doubt my piloting all you want but don’t bring my scientific prowess into question! I am sure this specimen will produce an adequate cure. And until then, the ship is the safest place for you to stay!”

“The Doctor’s right Steven.” Vicki added in from behind making Steven jump and spin to face her. “It’s getting dark out, we can’t stay here forever.”

“But if-”

“Please trust the Doctor! Even if just this once! He wouldn’t leave if he didn’t think he had all he needed, he’s too precise for that.”

Steven then spun around again to see the Doctor’s response. “Quite so. I am confident we will have no need to return here, unless you fancy wandering into even more traps like this!”

“I don’t- I wouldn’t!”

“Then the matter is settled. We are going to the Tardis.”

And that was that.

He supposed he could have kicked up a further fuss and properly become an angry little insect on his friends back. But he didn’t. There was no use in fighting the Doctor and Vicki united especially when they had a plan set out in their heads.

And besides he was getting too tired to argue, it had been a rough day and he still didn’t feel entirely well and Vicki’s hand truly was lovely and warm…

“Want a nap do you?” Vicki asked with a giggle. Steven hadn’t known it had been that obvious “I’d be happy to oblige.”

Sitting up straight Steven protested “No! I’m not tired, just resting my eyes is all.”

“Is that so…”

“Yes. That’s all.”

“If you say so.”

How embarrassing.

Then the Doctor placed his stolen test tube in his trouser pocket and seemed ready to leave the shack before he turned back to look at Steven.

Vicki was still holding him up though she’d lowered her hand slightly without the Doctor’s proximity. Steven still wasn’t looking over the edge, he couldn’t bear to see where he might fall if anything went wrong. And besides he was too busy engaging in a staring match with the Doctor.

That was until the man lost the match, resigning himself to speaking.

“There’s a thought. We mustn't simply parade Steven through the town. For one those raindrops out there might smother him, and for another we cannot have the townspeople noticing him.”

“Why not?” Vicki questioned.

“These are scientists- of a sort. I would imagine that this plant was a specimen in an experiment. If they discovered the experiment’s byproduct, Steven, then we might never have him returned if they snatch him away for further testing.”

Steven was very much against that idea.

The Doctor and Vicki could tell, their haunches were raised in some kind of tense protective instinct for him. Vicki had a scared look on her face, he could tell she was picturing all sorts of nasty things happening to him. So was he.

These people were aliens. They were aliens and they had no right to his body. Vicki handling him was one thing but strangers taking him apart piece by piece to examine him was something else, something hauntingly familiar.

“We shan’t let them take you.” The Doctor promised. Somehow Steven knew he meant it.

“Don't… please.”

“Never.”

The Doctor slowly approached Vicki and Steven. Then he began pulling various objects out of one of his jacket pockets, tutting as he threw them down onto the table; Steven identified a pocket Venusian dictionary, a box of electro-matches, several buttons, an empty eggshell and a lock of hair. After that he patted it down humming satisfactorily.

“There, perfect. Steven my boy, I think you are best off coming with me.”

Oh no. Steven could see where this was going.

“What?? No, you’re not-”

“It is the only way! Vicki here has no place to hide you, I do. You will be as safe as can be I can assure you.”

“This is ridiculous. I’m not going to just sit around in your pocket!!”

“Is that a disagreement I hear? Well you’ve no other choice. It is either that or we take you out to be drowned and harassed.” How very appealing.

“Fine. But we’re not bringing this up again- ever.”

“I am hardly delighted by this either! My pockets are a fragile ecosystem and you’ve set out to ruin that!”

“Your pockets are nothing more than somewhere to keep rubbish.”

“Oh, is that so? Then they are-”

“Don’t even start.”

“Don’t start what, my boy?”

“I- Nevermind. Let’s just get this over and done with.”

Holding back her laughter at the Doctor’s attempt at back talk, Vicki began lowering Steven towards the Doctor’s right pocket.

“I’ll have to drop you in- sorry. When you’re settled give the front a kick so we know you’re alright.” She said nervously.

“Okay…” Steven muttered back. Vicki was starting to tip her hand downwards, he could feel the incline. It was like a slide at a funfair- if the slide was made out of skin. Steven could tell Vicki was nervous- her palms were starting to sweat. That only quickened his descent.

He didn’t dare try and cling to her to prevent the fall, not wanting her to bring her hand back up to see little fingernail marks puncturing her smooth palm. That was the sort of thing angry mites did, not respectable men.

Instead he decided to let it happen.

Sinking down, Steven was engulfed by darkness.

Chapter 3

Steven felt Vicki’s fingertip pat his head comfortingly before she withdrew her hand leaving him alone in the pit of space.

He hadn’t quite considered how enclosed it would be.

With his tiny strength Steven threw himself against the outer side of the pocket, figuring that would be more assuring than just a kick. He did this a few times until this was reciprocated.

A great mass patted the pocket, Steven figured it must be the Doctor’s hand. Then it too left and Steven was alone once more.

At least it was a cosy pocket. At least the Doctor had emptied it first.

It would have taken too much energy to try and stand so Steven settled for curling up in a small ball at the pit of the pocket, tracing his fingers up and down the fabric fibres trying to ground himself.

Then the Doctor started walking. Steven could feel the sway of his hips and swayed with him.

His training had luckily eliminated space-sickness though that still didn’t mean this sensation was entirely pleasant. It was like he was trapped in a closed-in hammock being rocked side to side without any control in which way he went.

“You could do with being a bit more gentle- a lot more gentle!” Steven shouted upwards.

He was still going to air his grievances even if the Doctor couldn’t hear them.

“I never said to hurry back! Take your time, you’ve got precious cargo!”

“You’d think I wasn’t even here the way you’re dashing about!”

“If you thought I was going to fall asleep here then you were wrong! Wrong! Vicki’s hand was an exception- and much nicer!”

“Don’t forget I’m here, if you send this jacket off to the washroom with me still here then you’ll never hear the end of it from me! If I’m not eaten alive by soap suds that is.”

“Speaking of washing, do you ever clean this thing? It smells… musky.”

Though he couldn’t see it Steven knew that it indeed was raining. Up above he could hear the ill tempered weather pouring down water and the wind howling. Below he could hear the Doctor’s shoes squelching as he strode through puddles and bog and who knows what else.

The Tardis was only a short walk away from the village but it had hardly been a pleasant journey from one place to another the first time, even less so now.

Steven was starting to get chilly again. The pocket almost felt like it was radiating cold rather than warmth. Steven wasn’t surprised- of course the Doctor would find himself a strange paradoxical jacket like that- but he was annoyed.

He didn’t exactly want to freeze and be pulled out as a little icicle of a man needing to be thawed out. He at least hoped Vicki had a good hairdryer if that were the case.

She must be getting drenched, the Doctor too. There was a storm raging overhead, Steven was sure of that now. He hoped the Doctor’s jacket wouldn’t be so soaked that it would seep into his hideaway; drowning sounded as dreadful as freezing.

Being a pessimist really did bring out the worst in him.

After a while of running the Doctor stopped, Steven feeling the jolt as he came to a halt.

They must have arrived at the ship.

Then he felt the Doctor pat down the sides of his jacket before presumably reaching into the other pocket to bring up the key. Carefully he slipped it into the lock and opened the Tardis door, stepping in and letting out a loud contented hum.

Immediately Steven was overcome by the feeling of calm that returning to the quiet ship brought. Outside had been dangerously chaotic as the rain hammered down on everyone but here Steven felt like he could breathe. All he could hear was the muffled sounds of the Tardis systems and Vicki speaking to the Doctor.

“I think we ought to…” Steven caught snippets of her conversation, “Can’t keep…”

“Mmm.” There was the Doctor’s indistinct voice chiming in.

Then, to Steven, the sky opened up.

Looking up he saw the pale white ceiling above. But seconds afterwards an old, wrinkled shadow began to descend. Steven scrambled aside in fear before recognising it as the Doctor’s hand. His ring was glistening, a light in the dark allowing Steven to see more clearly.

Disregarding his fear Steven tumbled towards the hand, letting himself be gently scooped up into the light. He breathed a sigh of relief at the intake of fresh air, the pocket hadn’t been all that pleasant in that aspect. The Doctor then brought his palm up to his face once more and began to speak gently.

“You made it, then.”

“Just about.”

“Good, good.”

The Doctor’s hand was absolutely freezing. Steven felt like he was sitting on an ice block, completely unable to get comfortable. He sat up frigidly holding his arms to his chest trying to conserve warmth.

In an attempt to distract himself from freezing alive he looked around the console room. It had been disorienting enough already to see a stranger’s hovel sized up, this however was Steven’s ‘home’.

He had walked through this room hundreds of times in the time he’d been travelling and liked to think he knew it like the back of his hand- even if the Doctor didn’t let him pilot the ship. It was uncanny, to see it from this perspective.

The central console was like a massive, beautiful citadel. Where Steven had previously dwarfed furniture it now dwarfed him. The grandfather clock in the corner ticked away threateningly, Steven thought he could probably sit atop the hands and feel the time pass by.

Vicki was gone. Steven turned to look at the Doctor, tilting his head questioningly. “Where’s Vicki gotten too then?”

“Off to her room I suppose… The rain didn’t take kindly to us, she will need a fresh set of clothes if she doesn’t want to catch the flu.”

Now that Steven was looking, he saw that the Doctor was soaked too. His head was beaded by droplets of water and his hair was bedraggled and slicked back against his neck. His waistcoat looked heavy with water and Steven didn’t dare look any further at his soaked shirt.

All in all he looked like a rat dragged through a thunderstorm; Steven held back his laughter.

“You’d better change too then.” He told the Doctor. “Before you get to work.”

“Nonsense! All I need is a hot mug of cocoa and then I can begin!”

As much as Steven wanted the Doctor working on a cure as soon as possible he also didn’t want the old man to get ill. Steven was sure his constitution couldn’t be that strong, after all sometimes he looked ancient.

“Ancient?”

“I didn’t mean- hey! I didn’t say that!”

“No, but you did think it.” The Doctor giggled and patted Steven’s head with his bony index finger, “You have a loud mind, much unlike your body.”

Steven wasn’t sure he wanted an explanation past that.

“Now, where should you like to stay while I brew myself something and then make a start on ‘brewing’ you a cure as well?”

“My room. Please.”

All Steven wanted was to curl up in bed and sleep for a century. This experience had taken its toll and now he felt weary down to his bones. Maybe he could sneak in a nap while the Doctor worked, that would be nice.

“Of course, we shall head there now.” The Doctor agreed. Steven thought he sounded tired too.

Stiffly the Doctor, with Steven in his raised palm, left the console room. The pair didn’t talk on the way to Steven’s room- there wasn’t anything to talk about.

The Doctor’s hand was still cold. So was Steven. He hoped the heating would be on once he reached his room otherwise he worried might contract hypothermia.

Thankfully the Tardis let his room not be far and the Doctor arrived at it without much hassle. Opening the door he shuffled in. Steven didn’t think the Doctor had ever seen his room before, he had no reason to.

“So this is where you stay, then…” The Doctor tutted disapprovingly. “You could do with some colour.”

“Says you, the whole ship looks like a hospital.”

“Tastefully so. This is just sad.”

“Thanks Doc.”

It wasn’t like Steven had had much time to decorate. After all he spent most of his time either out adventuring or in one of the other rooms with Vicki. When he was here he was usually sleeping or getting ready, there wasn’t any need to make the room look like a home. To Steven it functioned like barracks back at the academy.

It was a practical room laid out with a bed, dresser, desk and mirror. The bed was pod shaped like the sleepers from Steven’s own time, it comforted him to have that small reminder of his real life with him.

Gently the Doctor placed Steven down on it and watched as he stumbled on the soft uncertain ground of the mattress.

Deciding to succumb to it Steven sank down, laying on his back splayed out like a starfish in the deep blue ocean of his bedsheet. He hadn’t made his bed that morning and the duvet sat at the bottom of it like a colossal wave.

“I trust you can make yourself comfortable here, yes?”

Steven looked up and nodded.

“I am glad.”

Before he left the Doctor squinted back at Steven one last time. “I hope you know I will do everything in my power to reverse this. I shan’t sit around bone idle knowing how important this is.”

And then he was gone. Perhaps he did have a heart after all, it was just hidden very, very deep down and took something as absurd as this to bring it to the surface. Steven almost felt proud knowing he had caused such a change in the man.

He didn’t want to look around. These surroundings, dull as they may be, were too familiar to see in this new state. It would be wrong to try and exist in this space as if nothing had happened, he thought.

Instead he settled for staring up at the ceiling feeling like a dead fish lolling at the top of its tank. It was boring but at least it wasn’t inducing an existential crisis- yet.

What a day. It was supposed to have been pleasant, peaceful even. But that hadn’t lasted, nothing seemed to these days.

Travelling with the Doctor was like that- one minute you were on top of the world, a fresh–faced pioneer, the next you might hit rock bottom. At least the contrast provided a momentary rush, it made Steven feel alive.

The adrenaline from this particular experience was wearing off however. Steven felt heavy, heavier than he ever had. He supposed his mind wasn’t exactly made to be squeezed into such a small skull. Hopefully it wouldn't do something drastic before he could be cured.

At some point Steven felt the mattress below him start to radiate warmth- the Tardis must have activated the heating system for him. It was a comforting feeling and he untensed ready to finally get some rest.

But he couldn’t sleep. Not like this.

He may be in the care of friends but he was still an ‘experiment’. Falling asleep meant letting his guard down, Steven remembered that fact well. The Doctor and Vicki would never do anything but he couldn’t help but be afraid, it was an old habit he didn’t think he’d ever break.

It hadn’t been easy to sleep on Mechanus. Peace was hard to find especially during the nighttime observation hours. They watched, waiting for something- Steven wasn’t sure what. His cot was opposite their hatch so there was no escape from the unblinking analytical not-eyes of the machines. His only refuge was the roof, he could watch the stars from there.

They had been good stars; Steven missed them. It seemed almost poetic that his only company on that planet had been so far away, only for the Doctor to bring him closer to them than he ever could've imagined. Perhaps in travelling he had walked across the plateaus of the stars he called friends, breathed their air, shown them he had made it. He hoped so.

There was a knock at the door. Then it slowly opened and Vicki poked her head through the crack. Steven sat up and waved at her.

“Hello.” She greeted him with a smile. “I thought you might be hungry.” Stepping in, she held out a plate of food. “If you’re not… busy that is.”

“Busy with what?” Steven snarked back. “But yes I suppose I could do with a bite to eat.”

Vicki walked up to the bed, placing her plate on the side table and throwing aside the duvet to sit next to Steven.

“What was that? I couldn’t hear you over there.”

“I said I wouldn’t mind some food.”

“I thought you might say that. It must take a lot out of you- being so tiny down there.”

Looking up Steven noticed that Vicki had indeed changed. Now she was wearing some casual loungewear along with something suspiciously familiar.

“My cardigan!”

“Huh? Oh yes! You forgot about it this morning, it was hanging on the hatstand.”

“You can’t just take my clothes!”

“It’s not like you’d wear it, is it?”

“I could!”

“And be swallowed up whole by it! It’s too massive for even me let alone you!”

Steven gave an annoyed grunt in response. It was indeed dwarfing Vicki, she had the sleeves pulled up and the fabric was pooled up at every angle. Had he really been that big? He knew that of course he had but seeing himself from this new perspective was still unsettling.

“I’ll give it back when you’re normal-size again.” Vicki mumbled. Steven hoped she meant it or else there’d be trouble.

Feeling his stomach rumble Steven brought the conversation back on topic “So then, food?”

“I’ve brought some for both me and you, we can have a picnic. Would you like to sit on a pillow?”

“Yes please.” That would add some more height at least.

Steven watched overhead as Vicki grabbed one of his pillows, fluffing it up before putting it on her lap. Then she held out her hand and Steven boarded it once again, reeling as she carried him up to the pillow and placed him down on top of it.

“Don’t get crumbs on me.” He threatened.

“I won’t!”

Then she reached for the plate of food, putting it down on the empty bed space. For her there was a mug of milky tea and a strawberry doughnut, sprinkles and all. Then there was Steven’s platter.

“I wasn’t really sure what to get you…” Vicki said uncertainly. “I didn’t want to kill you with too much sugar or anything-”

“Thanks.”

“No bother. So I broke off some ginger biscuit for you, and found a little thimble to pour you some water. And I also got you some raspberry bits- as a treat.”

As much as Steven didn’t want to admit it, that did sound rather appetising.

“I’ll have the water first.” All that shouting to communicate had left him parched.

“Coming right up!”

When Vicki passed over the thimble Steven found himself having to handle it with both hands. It was more like a pail rather than a glass but he still smiled and thanked Vicki.

Breaking his reflection on the surface he craned his neck down and took a deep sip. It was refreshing and Steven gave a gasp of relief as the ache in his throat was eased.

“Nice is it?” Vicki asked.

“You can’t even imagine.”

Grabbing her own mug Vicki carefully lowered it down to Steven’s level.

“As people used to say, cheers.” She said with a grin, holding it out to him. Steven laughed and clinked his thimble against it, reciprocating her ‘cheers’. It was a strange old earth tradition, delightfully old-fashioned like something out of a storybook. In that case it suited this situation perfectly.

When Steven was finished with his water he dropped the thimble by his side and called out for some of the biscuit. Vicki carefully placed his portion down in front of him; it was indeed crumbs but from Steven’s perspective they were more than enough. One chunk was even as big as his hand.

“It was a bit finicky- getting the right size.” Vicki elaborated,“You don’t have to have all of it.”

Still, Steven appreciated her effort. Breaking the largest piece in two and putting aside one half he bit into the other. The flavour was furiously strong and he held back a cough of surprise.

“Steven? Is it too much? I didn’t mean-”

“It’s certainly.. something.” Steven wheezed, “Lot to take in.” Looking up he saw her worried expression. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Demonstratively he took another bite, putting on a smile to try and assuage her fears. It was still overwhelming but not unpleasantly so.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have gone for ginger… I couldn’t find anything else at first glance you see…” Vicki mumbled guiltily. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s nice, really.” And it was- it just took some getting used to.

Vicki still didn’t look sure.

“Aren’t you going to have your food?” Steven asked her, noticing she hadn’t yet touched her doughnut. Instead she had settled for nervously looking around the room unable to look down and meet Steven’s gaze.

“Mm. I will, in a bit.”

“It’ll go stale.”

“Yepp..”

“Vicki, what’s gotten into you?” Steven couldn’t understand her sudden switchup. “Look, this biscuit is fine- good even! There’s no need to get upset just because you couldn’t make crumbs crummy enough.”

“It’s not about that!” She confessed in a hushed tone, “I..”

“Tell me.”

“I just… I hope you will get back to normal.”

Oh. She was worried about him. Steven didn’t blame her. But that didn’t mean he was fine with seeing her like that.

“It’s just that trying to find you something you could actually eat made me think about what if the Doctor can’t help and you’re stuck like this all small and not able to help yourself and-”

“Vicki. Stop.”

His harsh tone made her stop rambling and finally look down at him again. She looked almost guilty, fiddling with the sleeve of his cardigan like a lost child.

“I just wish this wasn’t happening- or that at least I was there with you. Then you wouldn’t be alone.”

“I’m not alone, though.” Steven said, “You’re right here.”

“I must seem a bit scary to you though.” Vicki sniffled.

“You? Scary? Not one bit.”

Despite his nerves Steven knew he would never be scared of her. He couldn’t, after all Vicki was his friend, his companion, his saviour even. She was too kind and too afraid to fear, he couldn’t bring himself to find her in any way intimidating.

“I don’t want to mess up and ruin everything…” Vicki continued, “I mean what if earlier I had dropped you or done something even worse- then you’d never forgive me, that’s if there was even anything left of you that could.”

“But you didn’t- you’re… you’re very gentle.” It was slightly embarrassing to admit but he’d almost enjoyed her comfort. “You’re gentle, and… I knew I was safe.”

“You don’t mean that..”

“I do! If I wasn’t fine with you then I’d have made that very clear, very clear.”

“Hm. You do like complaining..”

“Exactly. But I’ll not complain about you- not today at least.”

Perhaps this was his punishment for a lifetime of grievances and obnoxiousness. Shrunk down like this he was having to abandon the daily routine of arguing the toss with everyone and everything. It was unfair but maybe preferable to his usual protests.

That was enough vulnerability for now, Steven thought. Vicki shouldn’t have to put up with his inner monologues, all she needed was the reassurance that she was okay. In truth that was all she ever needed.

“Now I’d like some of that raspberry, if you’d pass me a bit.” Hopefully that would put a stop to both their overthinking.

Giving in to Steven’s request Vicki nodded and picked him a drupelet for him. Ripe and glistening freshly, it was the perfect practical size for him and looked delicious.

And it was. It was sweeter than anything Steven had ever tasted before and his face scrunched up in overwhelm yet it wasn’t quite sickly.

“Thank you!” He exclaimed up to Vicki, “This is delicious!”

“I hope it's not too sweet…” Vicki muttered, glancing down at his invigorated expression. “The Doctor wouldn’t like it if you got overexcited- neither would you..”

“Overex- Vicki, this is the nicest fruit I’ve ever had!” Steven shouted as he finished off the piece, “Could I have some more?” He was buzzing, this was the best he’d felt all day.

“Oh no…”

“Please?” Steven cried out pouting up at her.

He had to have some more, he couldn’t just let the whole fruit go to waste and deprive himself of its goodness. This was the one good thing in his life right now and if Vicki wasn’t going to let him have some more then he’d never forgive her.

“I think… Oh go on then, one more.”

As soon as it reached his hands it was gone. Again the taste was sublime; Steven would do anything for it to last forever. It was like pure ecstasy trapped in berry form.

“This really is good- try some!” He told Vicki.

Obliging his fever she grabbed herself a whole raspberry and ate it, humming in satisfaction. It was clear however that she didn’t feel as passionate about it as Steven did. How rude.

“Can’t you taste it?” He pushed.

“Mm, it’s nice.”

“No, no, it’s more than nice… Pass me another will you.”

He was pacing now. Stumbling around in clumsy circles around the pillow while Vicki watched worriedly.

“Maybe this was too much…” She mumbled guiltily. “You can’t have anymore- I’m cutting you off.”

“HEY-”

“I thought it wouldn’t be too bad because it's natural and whatnot but clearly your body can’t take even that…” Vicki was rambling now, “Please stop pacing- you’ll tire yourself out.”

“I don’t think I could ever be tired again.”

“You don’t mean that..”

“You’ll see! You’ll see!”

“Please Steven, just sit down. You need rest, not.. this!” Vicki begged but Steven didn’t want to listen- she had taken away his joy after all. He could feel his brain crying out for it and he was inclined to agree, he needed more.

“Vicki, can’t I just have one more piece? And then I’ll never ask for it again, never..” Steven was pleading now too, he didn’t feel like he could live without his goodness. “You don’t get it.. It tastes so… fresh.”

“Because it's much too sugary for you! It’s making you giddy, you’re like an addict!”

How extreme. Steven wasn’t amused.

“An addict? An addict? It’s only a little bit of fruit! I mean, well, little for you. For me it's perfect. Although… maybe I could try a whole one. I’m sure I could, give me one and I’ll show you!”

“No! For goodness sake you’re not having a whole raspberry! It’s as big as your head, bigger even!”

She was getting rather loud again, Steven’s ears suffering the consequences. They ached. Everything did.

His body felt like it was going into shutdown without another treat, his ears ringing and vision blurring. Steven wondered if he was dying. His body was certainly limp as if he was, or even already had.

“Steven? Steven??” He could hear Vicki again, she was still too loud. She sounded worried, more than she already had been. He couldn’t think why. Though he couldn’t really think at all.

His head hurt, he wished it would stop. Maybe some raspberry would help ease the pain, maybe that was the real cure.

Suddenly he felt like he was floating again.

Looking, or more accurately squinting, around he realised that he was. In her nerves Vicki had grabbed him, coiling her thumb and index finger around his torso and bringing him up to her face. He could feel his legs dangling in the air below.

“Huh?” He murmured unsure why she had done this. “Huh?”

“Please don’t be broken please don’t be broken…” Vicki whispered, eyes closed in dread. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to break you I really didn’t…”

“‘M not broken..”

“You might be.”

“I’m not…”

“The Doctor’ll hate me, he’ll hate me and leave me behind somewhere. I told you I couldn’t be trusted, you should’ve been afraid when you had the chance…”

“Vicki? What’re you talking about?” His voice was coming back to him, as was his sense.

His body was sore, like he’d just run a marathon without stopping.

The drums in his head were banging a furious cacophony, coming to their crescendo before starting to dip down into quietness. Through half-open eyes he could just about make out Vicki staring down at him with haunted eyes, looking terrified and on the verge of tears.

“Don’t do that..” He muttered blearily.

“Do.. what?”

“Get upset. Don’t.”

“I’ll get upset if I want to- I’ve just broken you!”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I’m fine.. just a bit… overwhelmed.”

He straightened his posture and reached out his hand to pat Vicki’s knuckle in an attempt to be comforting.

“I’ll be alright.”

Vicki was still sniffling and her hand shook sending tremors Steven’s way. Seeing how her nerves shook him she then slowly and carefully lowered Steven down, allowing him to stumble down and back onto the mattress.

It took a second but he soon kept steady footing, trying his best to smile up at Vicki.

He was fine, truly. Or he would be after a moment. A part of his brain was still craving the sweetness but he pushed it away in favour of proper sense. Vicki was right- he didn’t like getting overexcited. He only hoped she could laugh about it when everything was sorted.

“See, look at me.” He stretched his arms out demonstratively, “Fine.”

“You’re not… I thought you were going to be deathly ill or something.”

“It’d take a bit more than a raspberry to knock me out, don’t you worry.”

His tiny body couldn’t have taken anymore though that was sure. It had dealt with whatever almost-toxins the raspberry had passed on fairly efficiently but clearly his body hadn’t been built for it in the first place. What a shame, it had been so nice on first taste.

What an experience. Steven wasn’t keen to repeat that- ever.

“I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologising. I told you- you’ve done nothing wrong.”

“I can still be sorry though.”

“Well you can say sorry all you want but that’s not going to change anything. It’s all up to the Doctor now, all up to him…”

“He’ll fix this, I know he will. He’ll mix up some concoction we’ve never even heard up that’ll be your magical cure and then things can go back to being alright again.”

“There we go, some positivity at last!” There was the Vicki he knew. “Good, you’re supposed to be the one reassuring me through all this.”

“Yes.. You’re right, I should be more positive.”

“Not if you don’t feel like it. I’m… I’m scared too, maybe we can be scared together.”

“Maybe..”

Steven could only hope there was a fix. The Doctor had to do something, he had promised. Perhaps it was overly optimistic, childish even, but Steven needed to believe there would be an end to this.

What was coming now however was an end to his energy. The heaviness was rushing back to him along with a newly found tiredness. He blinked furiously trying to stay aware and awake but Vicki easily saw through the act.

“You’re tired.”

“I think we all are.”

He had seen how the Doctor sighed and stumbled without his cane. How Vicki was slouched over herself rubbing her eyes every few minutes. How he himself could barely stand to hold his head up anymore.

This had been exhausting, even more so than a usual adventure.

“I’ll get over it.” Vicki murmured, perhaps also realising how tired she was. “You need to sleep- the more strength you’ve got for later the better.”

She tossed aside the pillow from her lap and made a move to stand before Steven halted her.

“No!”

She looked down confusedly.

Steven continued: “I mean- don’t go.” He knew he must sound like a lost child but he didn’t care anymore. “Stay- please.”

He couldn’t be alone. There would be no rest for him like that, it would only serve to perpetuate his fear.

“Lay down, sleep here for all I care.” He begged, “I just… you’re.. gentle.”

“You keep saying that.”

“That’s because I’m telling the truth! With you it's not like I’m back… there. You’re different.”

“Oh.”

“Before you came in I was too petrified to sleep. I couldn’t. In case they came for me.”

“We’re safe on the Tardis-”

“That doesn’t mean I felt it.”

Vicki nodded deeply.

“It took me a while too- to feel comfortable on my own again.” She confessed. “Koquillion was never far. I used to see him outside my window sometimes, in the night.” After saying that she took a deep breath. “I’ve never told anyone that before.”

“Vicki..”

“I know I don’t talk about it enough, especially not with you.” She said, “But I just can’t. Not anymore. You’ll learn to forget it too one day. The Doctor does that, we become… his. Not Koquillion’s, not the Mechanoids, but his.”

That day couldn’t come soon enough.

“But until then I’ll stay.” Vicki then added. Steven was grateful for that, grateful that of all the people in the universe to travel with he had her.

“Thank you.”

Cautiously Vicki fell down onto the bed, scrunching herself up against the wall while Steven evaded her crash. When she knew he was safe she stretched out, albeit rather stiffly.

Without a pillow to cushion her head she was level with him. Her doe-eyes stared deeply at him, taking in every minute detail of his face.

“I was right- you really are adorable.” She said.

“Not this again..”

“I’m right and you know it.”

Carefully Steven wandered over to where her head lay. He wasn’t sure whether to be comforted or disconcerted by the feeling of her steady breathing. The sheer scale of her face was unnerving too- not scary, not at all- just odd.

“Try and sleep.” She muttered softly, “I won’t let anything harm you- I’ll be your nighttime knight in shiny armour.”

He knew she meant it.

Instead of settling down on the sheets however he had a thought. He’d lost most of his dignity already, this couldn’t hurt.

“Would you mind… putting your hand down here- for me I mean. The bed’s decent enough but I’ll admit it: you’re nicer.” He stated, arms in the air in a confessional manner. “Laugh all you want but I’m too tired to get properly irritated.”

“Of course I can!” Vicki whispered. Then she placed her hand palm down facing upwards next to Steven. “I’m a quiet sleeper so you needn’t worry about getting moved about.”

“Great- I wasn’t exactly planning on getting smothered or thrown about anyway.”

“Don’t be snarky, I’m doing you a favour.”

“Which I’m very grateful for.” Steven said with gritted teeth as he scrambled up onto Vicki’s palm. His face was red with embarrassment but the need for sleep overpowered his usual complaints.

The lights were dimming. Steven looked up warily before turning around to face Vicki again, she was a comforting sight amongst the colossal shadows and shady corners.

“G’night Steven.. You’ll see, the Doctor’ll put this right soon enough.” She yawned (Steven momentarily looked away, he didn’t exactly want to see that much of her agape mouth). It was clear she wouldn’t be hanging onto consciousness for much longer. “You’ll be alright…”

“I hope so..” Steven muttered. Then, kneeling down, he placed a silent goodnight kiss against her palm before curling up ready for sleep to take him too.

Instinctually Vicki’s palm curled up as she drifted off, her fingers rising to provide an almost enclosed room for Steven. Normally he would’ve been alarmed but this time he felt safe- protected even.

This was as soft a bed as any, he felt like nothing could harm him here.

He could feel himself giving into his own desperation for sleep. Slowly it took him, seizing away his anxieties and replacing them with resigned slumber.

The next thing he remembered was opening his eyes to the distant sight of the Doctor standing grimly in the doorway. The man’s eyes flicked from Vicki- who was still in a deep sleep- to him hidden away in her enclosed palm.

Steven could see him through the gaps of her fingers. He looked serious. Gently Steven crawled out from within Vicki’s hand to meet his gaze.

“Good morning.” He nodded to Steven. “I take it you found the time to sleep, both of you?”

Knowing he wouldn’t be heard, Steven settled for nodding.

“That shall do you the world of good, I am sure.”

He was being evasive.

Steven groaned, he didn’t want to deal with his misanthropy this early in the morning even on a good day. Hoping to get his point across he gestured questioningly as if to ask for any news.

“I’m afraid I will need you with me, in the laboratory. No more hand-comforts for you, unless you deem my very own good enough!” No chance.

Seeing how Steven didn’t laugh or even argue back, the Doctor coughed awkwardly before continuing on.

“Well then.. I think you ought to see what I have been working on. Come along, come along…”

Steven only hoped the Doctor knew what he was doing.