Chapter 2

I felt the Doctor grip my hand tightly, and I squeezed it, relaying comforting words that I didn't want to say in the presence of the young girl.

A slender girl, about 16 years of age, walked cautiously out of the shadows.

The Doctor gasped slightly. "She's exactly how I remember her," he murmured.

Surprisingly enough, she looked very little like the Doctor. Charlotte was rather short and her hair cascaded past her shoulders in blonde waves. A few freckles marked the top of her cheekbones, and her pink, plump lips pressed together in skepticism. Then I saw it. The one connection she did have to him. The one thing that proved she was his.

Her eyes. A stormy blue, but also green when the light hit them the right way. They were identical to his, except Charlotte's were youthful and lively, while his showed years of hardship.

I wonder if he saw the same thing too.

The Doctor gawked at her, completely in a trance, forcing me to nudge him. "Say something," I hissed under my breath.

His eyes came to, suddenly aware of his current situation. He took a couple of steps forward. "Hello, Charlotte. I'm your uncle. Uncle John," he said, holding out his hand.

Charlotte just stared at it. Awkwardly, he retracted his hand, and preoccupied them again with his flailing hand motions.

"Well, anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to spend Christmas Eve with Clara and me. Of course we would have to get Mrs. Denley to agree to it, but-" the Doctor started, but Charlotte cut him off.

"Why?" she inquired coldly.

Ignoring her biting tone, he responded, "I know it's pointless, but she is your caretaker, and I'm-"

"No, why? Why now? You haven't shown your face in 13 years," Charlotte hissed.

Taken aback, the Doctor didn't say anything. He just stood there frozen in time. "I'm sorry, I just-"

"Sorry? No, if you were really sorry you would have come get me a long, long time ago. You left me here. An orphan," she spat.

The Doctor held up his hands in surrender. "Charlotte, I know that you're very upset, but-"

She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "I'm not upset. I'm pissed," she snorted.

"And you have every right to be, but I need you to stop interrupting me. I'm not here to make excuses of why I didn't come back sooner, I'm not here to force you to come live with me. You're old enough to make your own decisions, right?" he said softly.

"Yeah."

"Well, I'm giving you a choice right now. You can come back and live with me and Clara, or you can stay here in the orphanage-" the Doctor explained, but Charlotte interrupted him again.

"I want to stay here."

"Now you didn't let me finish. Before you-"

She slams her hand against the couch. "Why should I let you finish? What gives you that right? You've been living comfortably with her while I've been suffering in this hell. Constantly wondering what I did to make my parents not want me. Beating my brains out trying to figure out what is wrong with me that nobody has ever loved me. So tell me Uncle John, why would I ever want to live with you and your slut? I mean look at her! She could be my sister!" Charlotte yelled.

"Hey! Listen here-" I began, but the Doctor whipped around and held up a hand.

"Don't," he warned.

I crossed my arms, irritated. Why wouldn't he stick up for me? She just called me a slut!

"See and that's where your wrong, Charlotte. I love you. Very much actually," he argued with a comforting tone.

She rolled her eyes. "You've never met me. You don't love me. Now leave and never come back."

"I will, I promise, but just do one thing for me. One favor, Charlotte, please," the Doctor said, holding up one finger.

Her eyes narrowed. "Why would I ever do you favor. You've done nothing for me," Charlotte snarled.

"Because your whole life you've been wondering why no one wanted you and what you did that displeased them. I know that you're dying to please someone. This is your chance. Make me a very happy man, Charlotte. One favor. That's all I'm asking," the Doctor implored.

"What are you a therapist?"

"No, but I'm a Doctor. I just want you to do one thing and then I'll leave. I promise," he replied.

Charlotte gave a loud huff. "Fine, what is it?"

"You have a golden fob watch, correct?" the Doctor inquired, nodding to the girl's pocket.

"How'd you know?"

"I-My brother gave it to you when he gave you away. Now that's beside the point, I need you to open it for me," the Doctor explained quickly.

Charlotte pulled the golden chain and watch out of her pocket with a confused expression. "What do you need to know the time or something?"

"No, but it's very important that you open it," he laughed.

"It doesn't even work though. It's been broken for as long as I can remember," she insisted.

"Just open it, Charlotte. Please," the Doctor pleaded.

She rolled her eyes again. Charlotte had a bad habit of doing that.

Digging her nails under the lid, she pulled up, trying to loosen it. "I don't see the point, but-"

Gold exploded from the watch, so bright that I had to shield my eyes with my arms. The clang of the fob watch hitting the floor sounded as Charlotte's skin illuminated in sparkling gold.

"What did you do to me? Ah, make it stop!" she shrieked, gold tears spilling over her cheeks. "Please!"

The Doctor's eyes softened, and I could tell her cries hurt him deeply. "It'll be okay. Just relax. Don't fight it," he said, trying to calm the girl.

I felt sick to my stomach. How much pain was she in? "What's happening to her?" I yelled, trying to be heard over Charlotte's screams and the roar of the fob watch.

"She's remembering!" he exclaimed, a hint of a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

I raised my eyebrows, surprised by his answer. I was expecting a completely arrogant and impossible to understand response, but for once, he didn't hide his feelings behind equations or statistics. He was honest. He was real. He was alive.

My thoughts were quickly shattered though, when Charlotte let out a blood-curdling scream. The temperature in my body dropped and chills rattled my bones.

Just as soon as it had come, the golden energy flowed out of Charlotte's body and returned to the watch. Her skin returned to its porcelain hue, and her screams ceased. The lid to the watch slammed shut after all the energy was captured.

Charlotte stood silent, staring off into nothing.

The Doctor slowly approached her. "Charlotte, are you alright?"

Her eyes rolled around the room, trying to focus on his figure. "I-I'm fine," she answered, her speech slurred and soft.

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

"Mhm, but…I…I'm tired. Really tired. And I think I'm going to-" Charlotte murmured.

At that moment, her eyes closed, and she began to sway on her feet. Charlotte's knees gave out and she spun toward the floor. Before her head could hit the ground though, the Doctor thrust his arms out and caught her torso with a grunt.

"Clara, come on, we have to get back to the TARDIS," he demanded, scooping Charlotte up in his arms.

I didn't argue because I was scared.

She didn't look good.