Fall of the eleventh
Chapter Two
Some things never change
The Doctor was sitting in the TARDIS console room one evening, his back leaning on the railing surrounding the TARDIS console.
Clara was sleeping in her bedroom and the Doctor had taken this opportunity to have a bit of time to himself.
He looked weary and dejected, his eyes fixed upon the floor, diverting all his attention on it. To give his mind something else to focus on, to allow it to rest in a form of quiet meditation.
The day had not turned out as he had planned, of course this happened to many people, from different species, galaxies and times. But the Doctor had not expected that this particular day, would be the day he would die.
The day he had lost an identity and gained a new face.
"You still like me, don't you?" The Doctor looked up the TARDIS console, seeking solace from his old friend.
On the outside, the Doctor's body had rejuvenated into a new form but on the inside he felt like a broken man and at the present moment, the Doctor felt like the TARDIS was the only friend he could turn to, to voice his concerns.
"I'm still the same man, it's not like I'm ginger or anything! Although that has yet to happen. I was surprised by the accent though, I haven't had one like that in a while." The Doctor remarked and let his words fade into silence.
"Do you think she still likes me?" The Doctor addressed the TARDIS once more, receiving no answer, besides the constant gentle humming of the T.A.R.D.I.S' engine.
"It's a lot to take in for her I know, but I don't think she'll ever like me the way she used to." The Doctor told the TARDIS his concerns.
Clara was the Doctor's best friend, but she had not acted as if the regeneration had pleased her and for his best friend to act in such a way, hurt the Doctor more than he realised.
"I still like you Doctor."
The Doctor heard a voice in the console room. It was Clara.
The Doctor's head turned towards Clara, but he panicked and turned away quickly once he had realised who it was. He didn't want her to see him this way.
"Clara! Uh… yes, yes of course you do." The Doctor quickly agreed, hoping that Clara would accept his answer and leave him alone.
"It's getting late, you know, so I'll be going to bed now…" The Doctor got up and began to leave the TARDIS control room.
But Clara was having none of that. She had stayed alongside the Doctor across his entire lifetime and wasn't going to allow him to slip away that easily.
As the Doctor walked towards an entrance of one of the many rooms that occupied the TARDIS, Clara intercepted him and blocked the Doctor's path and said, "No more running, you clever boy."
This rendered the Doctor speechless. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words left his mouth. Clara seized this opportunity to come closer to the Doctor and hug him.
The Doctor stood rigidly at first, from the surprise of Clara hugging him, but then let his tense muscles relax.
"Thank you, Clara." The Doctor said quietly.
"You're welcome, you looked like you needed it." Clara replied, still holding the embrace.
And for the first time that evening the Doctor smiled, his countenance filled with hope and vigour.
His spirit was restored and he was ready for anything the universe had in store for him.