The room itself had a sterile atmosphere. Everything in it was white, the walls and floors to the beds and sheets that covered the children tucked inside, some asleep, some probably never going to wake up again. It was next to one of these girls in bed that another sat, looking very much the same, but with wide, almost fearful eyes as she watched the woman who walked into the room, checking on the children. She relaxed a little, however, as she saw the name tag. Doctor River Song, she was a doctor. She took a deep breath, finally taking the courage to ask the woman what she'd been curious about for a while. "Excuse me, Doctor Song?" She asked quietly.
River was taken aback by the sudden voice, turning around quickly with a gasp before exhaling. "Oh, I'm sorry. When you work with children in rooms like this, sometimes it's hard to remember that they'll have visitors their age. You must be Clara, aren't you? Oswin says she has a sister when she's awake."
"Sisters. Plural." She replied, almost immediately. "There is..." She froze, wincing. "...was, Victoria as well, triplets." She paused, with a small, sad smile. "It was hell for Mum."
"Of course. You'll have to forgive me." River said, sympathetically. "What was your question?"
"Well, I've been coming in here a while. Oswin likes company, she says it keeps the voices away for a bit. There's that boy, at the end of the room. No-one ever comes to visit him, and he never wakes up. Who is he?"
River gave her a small smile, beckoning for her to come closer. After a small look at Oswin, she followed, leaning over to look at the boy. He had a square-ish face, with a large fringe that covered his eye. He looked tall, although it was hard to tell with him lying down. "This is John. But no one ever really calls him that. He was brought in by a cousin, Susan, about two years ago. She was in tears, saying that a fire had started while she was at their home. She'd gotten him out, but he'd inhaled too much smoke trying to save his parents. He's been asleep since. We call him the Doctor, because according to Susan, he's always wanted to help people. There's something about him though, the people who stay in here swear that he shows up in their dreams. He's always grinning, and he takes them on adventures. Perhaps he could be with Oswin now."
Clara gave a small smile. "I doubt it. Oswin doesn't really trust people."
River nodded. "I can imagine, with her condition. But people trust the Doctor. Once we had a girl in here, completely quiet around everyone but her grandfather, and I'd find her talking to him so loudly I had to ask her to be quiet." She smiled at the memory. "People trust our little Doctor here, but no one knows why."
Clara stared at the boy, nodding. "He's got a big chin." She remarked, causing River to laugh. "I suppose he does. "
The doctor walked around the room for a bit, checking on the other children before walking to the door. "I have to go Clara, I'm sorry. It was nice to meet you."
Clara smiled in return. "Of course, goodbye Doctor Song." She replied, sitting next to 'The Doctor.' He looked like he needed some company. She wondered what had happened to Susan and the others as she started to fall asleep.