On The Couch: Thirteen

"Do we really need to do this?"

"I know you tried your very best to be late, Doctor, but we still have half an hour left."

"I wasn't trying, people really did need my help – "

"It took you an hour to reprogram a space shuttle?"

"It was very complex."

"You took a tea break."

"They needed a bit of comfort. How would you feel, crashing on a strange world, stranded and confused, ship damaged, friends injured or worse – "

"Did you need to make all the tea yourself?"

"I wanted it to be the very best."

"Very gracious of you. Did you slip in calming -"

"Herbs, they were only herbs, and only for the more anxious ones."

"You took some of them with you. Offered to let them take your place."

"You did say I was gracious."

"Right, right. Now, something simple, I think…what is your favourite number?"

"…Really?"

"I could choose something more intimate – "

"No, no, that's all right. Hmm. Thirteen."

"And why is that? Isn't it considered unlucky in many cultures?"

"One reason I like it so much."

"Naturally."

"Besides, it's a very versatile little number. It's a star number, a Fibonacci number, four sorts of prime. It can symbolise mystery, maturity, epiphany – "

"Which you tend to equate…"

"And that's only on Earth."

"And you own planet?"

"It symbolises mystery there as well."

"And why is that?"

"No one is quite certain of what happens after."

"You're being cagey, Doctor."

"I wouldn't be me, otherwise."

"You may be the worst patient I've ever had, did you know that?"

"I suspected. Remind me to refer you to the Master."

"Why is that?"

"Well, aside from breaking my record…he broke thirteen."