Chapter Three

"Coming to yet?" The Doctor's eyes slowly stirred, not wanting to open. It was bright, he had blinked several times to adjust and adapt to the bright light of the sun, which seemed to be beaming directly on him. He panicked, becoming frightened; was this even real? The last thing he remembered.. Well, he didn't even remember that, but he knew, in his mind, a bed was not the last place.

"Hey there.." Said a calm, cooling voice, it seemed to hush him, and sooth away the anxiety he started having. "Relax, you're home." It was Oswin, he could recognize the softness, yet edge, the drops of sarcasm she always had laced and ready to spill out of her lips. As he parted his lips to speak, they were dry, and cracked apart, the soft skin, which was rough from lack of water, split, the faint taste of blood hinting around them. He tried licking his lips, to at least moisten them, but no, no result. His mouth was dry, probably from hours, or days, he didn't know, of not having any water. He tried sitting up, to look around because his bed didn't feel like his bed anymore, it was different to him, and that's because it was; but Oswin interfered, she had placed her hands on his shoulders cautiously, which were covered in dark, blue and yellow bruises.

"No good, that, trying to get out of bed. You're pretty badly beaten. Do you know what happened?" She brought a glass of water to his lips, slowly pouring a small amount into his mouth at a time.

"No.." He said weakly, reaching for the glass with his sleepy fingers, he hadn't used them recently, so it seemed, but they were bruised, and two felt dislocated.

"My friends and I were out, saw you on the ground and didn't know what to do, so I brought you here.. You didn't have any ID or anything, just some paper. Weird bit of paper, that," she gestured to the paper she had placed on the bed, besides his stack of folded clothing, clothing he had been wearing before anything happened to him. He blushed faintly when he realized he wasn't wearing them anymore, and suddenly had the strength to pull his blankets up over him, despite her attempts to stop him from moving. She giggled, it was quite funny, seeing him embarrassed.

"Don't worry, Doctor. I didn't look when you were naked.. Well, too much." She bit her lower lip, of course she was joking to make him a little more relaxed, and it worked slightly, up until his muscles flinched in pain.

"Not kidding, you need to relax. Was going to take you to the hospital, but you didn't have anything on you, figured you got robbed or something. I took a few courses in medical so I brought you here."

"Don't have anything."

"I can see that, a huge empty apartment." Oswin chuckled. He laid against his pillows and sighed. Wait, when did he have so many..

"What did you do to my flat..." He sounded upset, which he was. She had brought over a few things, such as bedding, clothing, food, a chair - so she wouldn't have to sit on the foot of his bed, which she didn't mind but figured he would, a lot.

"Oh this? You didn't have anything, literally, so I took the liberty and brought it over from my place. You can keep it if you like, sure looks like you could use it."

"Will you leave.." The Doctor groaned.

"I'm not leaving till you're better. You're my responsibility whether you approve or not, I'm staying till you're better." He sighed, wanting to be alone so he could regenerate some of his broken bones so that he was in less discomfort. "So.. Can I get you anything? You haven't eaten in days." Oswin asked. The Doctor felt his stomach, it was rather empty, and in his condition, he couldn't really move, with her around at least. Before he could do anything, she stood up and was in his kitchen, by the fridge pulling out some items before heating them up. His eyes were heavy, exhausted, it had been far too long since he had felt this way, and not even because he was tired. She came back, quickly, with a bowl of beans. "Sorry it's not much, only good at making soufflés, I burn those too often though."

"I like soufflés." He sat up, trying to ignore any pain, showing as if it wasn't effecting his as significantly as it did, maybe then she would leave sooner. He didn't need her, or want her to be doing this, any of this, except leaving. He took the bowl which she held out for him, holding it close towards his chest so he wouldn't have to do much movement to get it within his mouth.

"Do you want some tea? Toast? No bread here, but I could run home and get you some, if you'd like. Wouldn't be a hassle."

"It's fine." He said dismissively, even if that would be the perfect opportunity to have her leave, and sonic the door shut. She smiled, and leaned back in her chair, watching him, incase he would need any help. He didn't eat much, feeling too dismantled for eating. She took the dishes to the sink, figuring she'd wash them later while he was sleeping, returning and sitting with her feet on his bed, leg on the other.

"Is this what you do all day?" He asked after long moments of silence, his eyes meeting with hers.

"Not everyday, I happen to be off work today. Figured I'd check in and see if you were up, and y'are." She was grinning, she seemed to do that often, either that or a smirk, both she pulled off well.

"You're tired, you should get some rest." His eyes jerked open again, searching the room for her, he had dozed off, probably for the fifth time that hour. He nodded, agreeing, every muscle in his body ached, and needed to heal itself.

"I'll come back and make you dinner.."

"Fine."

"Oo, grumpy pants is back." He scoffed, rolling his eyes as she stood and tucked him in, without thinking, she leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, pulling back with a soft smile before heading to the door, turning back just to see if he was trying to sleep or not. He was, so she left peacefully.

More night terrors and tremors, uncontrollable shaking throughout his sleep, which was a deep cycle. He was lost in his brain, his body trying to take over and regenerate, apparently it was more damaged than he had assumed, which was why he was unconscious for days, rather than minutes. He was shaking, violently, fighting himself to regain control, wanting to be conscious, but the war was only beginning. The war, Timewar, it hurt, every night, but since he wan waking everyday, and preoccupying his mind, the demons in his head would attack. Everything was dark, gloomy, full of distain, there was no light around, only fire. The fires searing the apertures, and avenues of his mind, destroying everything in its path, like a wild, untamed fire, blazing away. He could feel the lack of hope, the unexistance of it, the nothingness, like the void. The thunder within his heart would grow, echoing louder with each fleeting breath. He began fighting, hearing the yells and cries, the pain from the Timewar aching over his already sore body; he was shaking and stirring, more violently, until a cool wave washed over his face, it was calming, flooding through his veins, calming and cleansing all of the burns, and tremors. He opened his cool blue-grey eyes, body engulfed in a heavy sweat, the sheets soaked; he saw an angel, maybe he was delusional from the fever he had been running, but whatever it was, it was beautiful. She stroked his cheek, cooing him from his nightmares, he began to speak, almost in protest, but was denied. She covered his mouth, with an elegant, slender finger, perching his lips shut. His eyes began to fall shut, against his will; the more he tried looking, the further down they would go.

"You're looking better." Oswin had woken him again, making him eat and keep up his strength. As much of a pester and nuisance she was to him, it was helpful.

"You need to leave."

"I don't see you doing anything on your own."

"I can look after myself, never needed anyone around, and I certainly don't need you; go."

"Doctor, you're ridiculously sick and hurt, you should be in a hospital."

"I know what's needed for me." "Yeah, help."

"I'd be fine by now if you'd leave." His words were hurting her, like being pricked by a needle, repeatedly in the finger. He did have a sharp exterior, and was using it. All this waiting, and unwanted rest made him short, willing to be rude at any given moment. She studied his blue eyes, seeing if that was what he wanted, in a way she was staring. He sighed, this was him giving in.

"Oswin.."

"What, Doctor?" Oswin sounded rather annoyed.

"Please.. Leave? I know I'll be able to take care of myself, you've done enough." She still was trying to read him, his voice had softened from the harsh tone he was using earlier, as did his expression. Reluctantly, she nodded, standing up and heading towards the door. He had managed to hurt her, again, with all of his relentless attempts to shove her away and return to his solitude. As she opened the door he stopped her, calling out her name.

"Oswin."

"Yes?" She turned around, her voice full of excitement, and worry, what if he had suddenly became in a worse condition?

"Thanks..." She smiled brightly at him, her dimples openly showing her happiness; he was grateful, at least, even through his angst. He had made sure she'd left before he pushed his blankets off, gripping his stomach the entire time, and searching for his clothing. He had no clue where they had gone, or when he was stripped of them; he instantly was embarrassed over that fact. He found them, folded neatly at the foot of his bed.. And cleaned, he didn't expect that, particularly, wasn't too shocked by the gesture, Oswin seemed to have no limits. Especially after he had only boxers on, which he wasn't wearing that pair when he left his flat, at least that's what he remembered. He struggled to pull on his clothes, even if he was leaving them loosely, it was difficult with the amount of pain he had developed in his ribs, but he couldn't leave his flat uncovered. It took several deep breaths, moments of pausing, focusing and meditating on not starting the process of regeneration, while he attempted to prep himself for leaving towards the Tardis. He had looked at his hands and seen the glowing golden light, flowing through his veins, flickering inside of his skin. He had contemplated doing it there, in his flat, just regenerating, but he wasn't safe there, he needed his protection, the Tardis, it was the most secure place, and the only place he would allow his body to regenerate. Stumbling into every wall, he barely made it to the door; it had been an hour since Oswin had left him to his isolation, and he was still too far away from the Tardis. He couldn't make it in time, at the rate he was going. He drew in another breath, focusing his strength this time, and pushing on. The Doctor continually walked in each wall, groaning loudly at the fact he lived on the top floor of three, the stairs were going to be a nightmare. With each descending step down, he cringed and shivered, nearly falling over and down, towards the bottom of the never ending steps.

"What are you bloody doing!?" His eyes opened from the agony of pain they were swimming in, to find Oswin grabbing his arm right as he was about to slip from a step, stabling him. "You should be in bed!"

"No. I've got to.."

"Got to what? Oh flipping hell, Doctor." He didn't have time to waste anymore, so he tried pushing on, only to meet her holding him, planted firmly where he was.

"Look, there's somewhere else I need to be, Oswin, I'll be fine there, better in fact."

"Yeah, a hospital. You're being mental."

"Please..." He was becoming desperate as his own strength was weakening, his eyes were borderline leaking out the tears that had formed, that he was blinking back continually, to show he was strong. "I need the Tardis."

"Tardis?" He had confused her, her face screwing for a moment.

"Later. Do you trust me?" She looked back and forth between his eyes, he was pleading her for help, and she, being clever, realized that.

"Yes.."