Chapter Two : A new start.
DISCLAIMER : I don't own Doctor Who - it, and its' characters all belong to the BBC.
A/N : Thank You to all those who read this story - with a very special thanks for the appreciated support given by Nikki Pond and Borshy ! Anyway, as promised, here is the concluding chapter to this story...It is essentially a filler chapter for my next story - provisionally titled My Doctor, My Oswin, My Clara starting Oswin's adventures as a companion of The Doctor. I hope you like it !
XX xx XX
Oswin gingerly stepped out of the vat, helped by a nurse. Having been a Dalek for over a year, she was finding herself a little unsteady on real feet. Wrapped in a large towel, she felt the cold floor on her bare, wet feet, as she paddled slowly towards The Doctor - who still had his back turned against her, seemingly lost in his own thoughts.
"Doctor ?" Oswin said, as she placed her hand on The Doctor's shoulder.
The Doctor flinched at Oswin's touch, which brought him back to the real world. He spun round, slightly startling Oswin, who stepped back a little.
Slightly lost for words at the beautiful girl in front of him, The Doctor stuttered as he said "err...hello...oh, er...how do you feel, Oswin ?"
Oswin blushed slightly and gave The Doctor a warm smile, as she said "erm...great I guess...Erm, it's so nice to be Human again."
They both looked at each other for a few seconds, not saying a word. The Doctor, especially, couldn't take his eyes off Oswin's sparkling brown eyes...
The impasse was broken by Doctor Williams, who called out "I think the patient should take a rest now, since we need to make some final observations - just to make sure she is OK, of course. Oh, and after what the patient has been through, I think she deserves some time to recuperate...Nurse Wilson, please take the patient to Room 099."
The nurse by Oswin's side nodded, and started to lead Oswin away. Oswin looked over her shoulder at The Doctor, who merely nodded at her. Oswin smiled slightly, and returned the gesture.
"Doctor ?" Doctor Williams walked slowly towards The Doctor with a furrowed brow.
"Yes, Doctor Williams" The Doctor politely replied.
"During the life force extraction, I noticed something quite odd..."
The Doctor frowned, and tensed slightly. "What was it ?"
"The essence...there was much less of it than we would have expected for a girl of the patient's age. Indeed, it was only about half of what we were expecting. I was surprised that she was as strong as she appears to be."
The Doctor listened intently, not knowing yet what to say. Doctor Williams continued...
"If the patient..."
"Please, call her Oswin" said The Doctor.
"Yes, as you wish...If the pati...sorry, Oswin were to continue a normal life - even without the intervention of the Dalek episode, she would have...faded not long after her 30th birthday..."
"What ?!" said The Doctor greatly surprised. "Are you saying that effectively she was only half a person ?"
"Well, that's one way of putting it...it is as if she had been split up - broken, somehow...And quite frankly, I have no idea why that is..." Doctor Williams shook his head slightly, obviously puzzled.
Concern growing about his newest companion, the Doctor's words came out in a worried tone. "Does that mean that she could die even before three years are up ?"
"Oh no, I think she has enough essence for a few more years yet, but..."
"But what ?"
"Previous patients seemed to behave differently according to the environment they were put in...It seems that if the patient experiences trauma and unhappiness, that patient can fade at a much faster rate than one who is happy..."
"And ?"
"If Oswin is subjected to unpleasantness, her life could end erm, maybe up to a year - or more, earlier..."
The Doctor's eyes opened wide and he could feel tears forming. Oswin had been through so much hell, how could the Universe be so cruel as treat her like this ? Then again, after what happened to Rose and Donna in particular, he should have expected it.
"But, if Oswin has a happy life, she could live much longer than the three year average for a life force transfusion patient. However, we also have to bear in mind the amount of life force Oswin had to begin with...Anyway, I still have some routine tests to make on Oswin, nothing major. Feel free to ask me anything if you want, and the patient rooms are just beyond that door in the far corner." Doctor Williams gestured towards a plain metal door with a circular window .
The Doctor nodded. "Thank you, Doctor".
The Doctor was half in thought, and half concentrating on getting to Oswin's room as he made his way across the facility.
This girl, against impossible odds, had survived a Dalek conversion, and was now Human again. She deserved a good life after her ordeal...But why was she just half a person ? She looked perfectly fine...but why wasn't she expected to live much beyond the age of 30 ? The Doctor hated not knowing, and he had to solve this mystery - and if possible - if it was at all possible, try to extend the life of his saviour - his guardian angel who had saved him in another dark hour of his life.
The Doctor knocked on the door which had the numbers 099 embossed on it. There was what looked like a letterbox in the centre of the door, with a small ledge extending out from it.
Maybe it was a feature for more dangerous patients, to allow food transfer, he thought...like in a prison...
"Come in", a voice chirped.
The Doctor opened the door to find Oswin sitting up in a bed with a light pink hospital gown on, and a plain white blanket across the lower half of her body.
"Hello again Chin Boy !...I need a Doctor" Oswin grinned as soon as she saw The Doctor.
The Doctor gave a reluctant smile as he sat down on a stool next to Oswin.
Under the ceiling light, the room was nothing special - indeed, with no windows it seemed rather claustrophobic. The furnishings were simple, Oswin's bed, The Doctor's plastic stool, and there was a small bedside table with a glass vase. A pretty purple flower, which could have passed for a Dandelion if it was yellow, had wilted slightly, as it was, sticking out of the water in the vase.
Oswin could sense something was wrong, as she asked the Doctor "what's the matter ?" Her smile had faded, replaced by a worried look.
The Doctor thought of lying for a few seconds. Who would be happy to know that they could die sooner ? - before thinking that telling the truth was the best policy.
The Doctor let out a big sigh before saying "Doctor Williams said that you may fade ...in less than 2 years..."
Oswin's heart sank. She thought she was going to shed tears again.
Noticing Oswin's pain in her expression, he quickly added "but that's only if you are unhappy...But don't worry Oswin, I shall do my best to make you happy...and he said that you could live for much longer than three years if you were happy..."
Oswin didn't show any emotion for a few seconds, trying to make sense of what had been said, before giving a slight smile and saying "I..." She grabbed hold of The Doctor's shoulders and buried her head in his chest. She sobbed slightly as she said "why am I crying ?...I should be happy that Iam Human again, and I know, I just do, that you will do your best to keep your promise...But I'm also afraid that you will leave me..."
"Why would I leave you ?" the Doctor said, as he reassuringly placed his hands on Oswin's back.
"I saved you, but you have to save others too. You can't be with me all the time. It's so dangerous out there...After all that has happened, I feel so alone, so afraid at the moment...and if something were to happen to you..."
Clearly, the news about Oswin's life span hadn't done anything good to ease Oswin's traumatised mind after the Dalek episode.
"Nothing's going to happen, OK..." whispered The Doctor, as he kissed the soft hair on top of Oswin's head. "Look, get some rest, and we'll go back to the TARDIS...you can travel with me...and we'll look after each other".
Oswin moved her head away from The Doctor's chest, while maintaining her hands on his shoulders. "Really ? I can come with you ?" Oswin looked up at the Doctor, with tear stains on her cheeks.
"Yes, of course, it is what you wanted, isn't it, when we met at The Asylum ?" The Doctor smiled.
Oswin smiled back, nodded slightly, then stared into The Doctor's eyes for a few seconds.
"Doctor ?"
"Yes ?"
The Doctor was taken completely by surprise when Oswin crashed her lips onto his. Her lips were very soft and warm...But before The Doctor had a chance to react, Oswin pulled away, with a big grin on her face.
"Wha, wh, what was that for ?" a crimson faced Doctor whimpered.
"It was my way of saying Thank You..."
"For what ?"
"Well, you saved my life, made the impossible - possible - you gave me back my Human body, and now you'll whisk me off with you to see the stars...How could any girl not be grateful...I'm so happy to have a fr..." Oswin paused. "A friend like you..."
A friend, The Doctor was certainly that, but Oswin had a fuzzy feeling in her heart that she couldn't ignore. It was if somehow they were meant to be together - and to be more than just friends. Was it love ?. Yes...no, no, no, it couldn't be, they had only been together mere hours, besides, even if she had feelings for him, did he feel the same way about her ? A man like The Doctor who had done so much good for the Universe surely was already accounted for. After what happened with Nina, she didn't want to go through the horrible feeling of a broken heart again.
"Erm, I guess your w, w, welcome" stuttered the still stunned Doctor.
Oswin smirked as she said "and you liked it !"
"Well, I, what ?..."
"And you blushed !"
"Oooh, shut up !"
Oswin burst into laughter, as The Doctor shook his head - and he was still blushing.
XX xx XX
Oswin couldn't get to sleep, so The Doctor allowed her to rest her head on his chest, while he described to her some of the amazing places he had been to, and the adventures he had had. A planet called Midnight, New, New, New...New York, The Rings of Akhaten...they were just some of the fascinating places that actually kept Oswin awake - with the excitement that she could actually visit these places with her Doctor. However, Oswin got the feeling The Doctor was giving a somewhat rosy picture of some of these destinations, when he paused, and had a slight look of sorrow on his face while he talked. When Oswin asked about what happened to the companions he had had, all he would say was either "they led happy lives afterwards" - or nothing at all...just a blank, mournful look on his face. She knew it troubled him - a lot, so didn't pursue the questioning further. This man had been through a hell of a lot - much of it not nice at all...She felt compelled to be with him, to make sure that he would not be alone, and someone would be there to care for him...in the short time she had left...
XX xx XX
The next morning, Doctor Williams discharged the pair, and they waved goodbye at the doors of the TARDIS to Williams, and some of the nurses who had created another miracle. Doctor Williams himself gave a gift of pretty red flowers to Oswin, before the doors of the TARDIS closed behind her.
"What sort of flowers are these ?" Oswin said, as she felt the scent of...bananas coming from the flowers.
"Calibasothius" The Doctor said, without looking up from the central console. "Their scent apparently has a very soothing effect on the body...especially if you like bananas..." The Doctor paused. "But don't breathe in too deeply...if you breathe the scent too deeply...and for too long...which most people don't, they can have a, well...soothing effect on...erm, the lower part of the body..."
Oswin gave The Doctor a puzzled look. He looked briefly at Oswin "it can have a laxative effect".
"Ewww !" Oswin cried as she suddenly dropped the flowers..."That's is sooo charming !"
"Oi ! It's a very expensive gift on this planet" the Doctor replied, a little irritated. Oswin flashed back a cheeky smile.
Leaving the flowers behind, Oswin skipped towards The Doctor. For the first time, she could have a good look at the TARDIS with her own eyes. The room was circular in shape, and mostly silver in colour, with blue ring attachments positioned evenly around the circumference of the wall. In the middle was a platform, with dozens of levers, buttons, and wheels, all below a clear central column, which itself had another clear column within it. Above the column was a set of concentric rings, decorated with strange pictures of circles with... circles.
"Is that your language ?" Oswin asked, pointing up towards the rings on the ceiling.
The Doctor looked back at Oswin and smiled "yes, the language of my home world of Gallifrey".
"I'd love to see your home world. Can we go there ?" Oswin chirped.
The Doctor's smile disappeared, and he looked down. He swallowed before saying "no...it's...gone"
Oswin fell silent. She walked slowly towards The Doctor, and placed her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry...I didn't know..." The Doctor pulled away from Oswin suddenly, swung round, and said "where do you wanna go, Oswin ?!" The Doctor smiled again, but Oswin knew it was a forced one.
Oswin opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything. This was it, a chance to go anywhere in the Universe, to finally see the stars, to do what she had always dreamt of doing. She noticed a magazine lying on the floor near to where The Doctor was standing. It appeared to have a familiar picture on the cover, and when she picked it up, a big smile appeared on her face. Oswin showed The Doctor the cover, who immediately frowned.
Amy had probably left that magazine there during some down time, he thought. After what happened at The Asylum, both Rory and Amy could do with some time back home to rekindle their relationship. This was going to be a trip with just him and Oswin, the pretty brunette impossible girl...A girl who only had half a life...
The Doctor shook his head as he said "oh, that is soooo boring, I could show you something way more interesting away from Earth !"
"But it's a place I've always dreamed of going to - my mum too. I wanted to live there once, but I was so lucky...then again unlucky..." Oswin frowned "...to get a job where I could go into space and see the stars..." Oswin's eyes widened. She looked like a lost puppy with those big, round, shiny brown eyes...and The Doctor's heart melted - and not for the first time either.
"Oh, alright...you're the boss !" a clearly reluctant Doctor replied.
"Am I ?" Oswin raised an eyebrow.
"Oooh...shut up !...Oh, and er... brace yourself ! the Doctor snapped, as he pulled a lever.
A loud whining noise went round the room, and Oswin shrieked as she grabbed a handrail as the floor jolted suddenly, before shaking. A big grin appeared on her face, as she felt ridiculously happy. She looked at The Doctor playing with the levers and switches on the platform...and she had that fuzzy feeling in her heart again.
XX xx XX
Moments later, the shaking stopped, and The Doctor grabbed Oswin by the hand. They ran towards the TARDIS door, before The Doctor said "Oswin...welcome to..."
"Oh, my Doctor, my name is Oswin Oswald...but my friends call me Clara." A bit late to say this, but better late than never she thought. Besides, as a lover...no, friend, no, a very good friend, he was entitled to know this somewhat mundane fact.
The Doctor paused before starting again...He swung the doors open before saying..."Osw...Clara...welcome to Hong Kong !"
XX xx XX
Clara and The Doctor stood still just a few steps outside the TARDIS.
"Erm, this doesn't look anything like the cover of that magazine" Clara said, as she glanced towards The Doctor, clearly not amused.
They were in a dark, wet alley with a sole rusting lamp post offering some illumination. Clara jumped a little as a cockroach ran by her feet. There were some wicker baskets filled with rubbish at the side, plus the air was quite warm and humid. It was warm enough for Clara to regret wearing a jacket over the blue polka dot dress a Nurse had given her at the hospital.
"Well, the navigation system was always a little knackered, but I'm sure we're not far away...Oooh look, over there..." The Doctor pointed upwards. "Chinese characters in neon !...I knew Sexy wouldn't let me down ?!" a relieved Doctor said.
"Sexy ?" Clara gave a look that could kill.
"The TARDIS - don't you think she's great...and sexy ?...No ?" an increasing sheepish Doctor said.
Clara raised an eyebrow before giving The Doctor a playful smirk "you're being weird..."
They jumped when they heard a scream in front of them. An old, short Chinese lady had appeared in front of them. She dropped two red bags, filled with what looked like vegetables onto the alley...before fleeing...They heard the lady shout "GHOST !"
Clara and The Doctor looked around, but saw nothing. Clearly very puzzled, Clara smirked as she said "does your bow tie always have that effect on people ?!"
"OI ! Bow ties are cool" the Doctor snapped, clearly unimpressed by his pretty companion's remark.
Unnoticed by the pair in front on the alley, a character on a neon sign had morphed from a Chinese character into a skull. The skull wavered in its' form, with sparks flying out of its' teeth. Looking down, it paused after noticing Clara...It then began to cackle quietly before saying "well, if it isn't..."
XXxx THE END...or the beginning ? xxXX
A/N : Probably not as good as the opening chapter, but not every day is filled with excitement & action of course. Thinking back to Oswin's fate as I was standing at the bus stop this morning, I began to wonder why The Doctor could not have saved Oswin in "The Asylum of The Daleks" in the same way I have had in my story...
24th Century Earth : Star Trek - Replicators are able to produce something...out of nothing, food, drink, and probably bodies as well...
21st Century Earth : Doctor Who - Wifi base units which can routinely suck the souls (essence) out of people...and replace them at will...
The Doctor - An alien hero who can go to billions of years in the future (& past) - in a blink of an eye.
Surely with all the universe and time at his disposal, he could have found someplace & someone to replicate Oswin - plus move her essence from a Dalek - to a new body !
Anyway, I guess that would make things very complicated - and probably make BBC writers scratch their hair out with worry. Also, I guess science-fiction is supposed to entertain...and not really be scrutinised by people wondering "is that possible" :P !
I'm waffling on too much here :P !...Best regards to y'all - Red Kestrel.