Chapter 7: Nothing Will Be The Same
Brooke stood in her spot afraid. She felt the urge to cut, to get all the bad feelings out. She began to shake, welling up with tears but tried to fight it, she tried to stay strong.
"I need to get out of here." She pleaded.
"No!" The Doctor bellowed. "No, you're not going anywhere until you tell me the truth" he carried on.
Brooke fumbled with her wrist chafing it as her urge overwhelmed her.
The Doctor realised she really was distressed, he lowered his tone.
Brooke searched her surroundings suddenly feeling extremely anxious and afraid; she felt a panic attack urging on and desperately needed a blade.
The Doctor now alarmed approached Brooke.
"Brooke?" He called, the awfully bizarre instinct inside him once again awakening.
"Get away from me" Brooke shouted defensively backing away from The Doctor.
Brooke ran into the tunnel bolting towards her room, she burst inside looking for her rucksack, while The Doctor ran after her worriedly.
She found it and began to rummage eventually drawing out a box, The Doctor caught up with her finding her opening it. Inside smiled at her a silver blade. The Doctor's pupils enlarged as she saw the box's content suddenly realising what was going on, he thought back to her rubbing her wrist and the cuts he'd healed before.
"Brooke." The Doctor called extreme concern in his voice. Brooke then realised she'd forgot to shut the door in her haste. She quickly shut the box concealing the blade inside.
"Leave me alone" She spoke her voice shaking, she was genuinely afraid.
"Brooke give me that box now" The Doctor demanded softly.
"Brooke now" The Doctor repeated but Brooke did not listen.
Suddenly The Doctor approached her attempting to grasp the box away from her. He managed to hold it tugging it away bur Brooke refused to let it go. She began to cry. "I need it" she spluttered. "Please" she begged. The Doctor for the first time saw her emotionally weak, she was a tough one; he knew she was bottling it all up.
"No." he whispered. "No you don't" he answered her looking at her kindly. Brooke looked back at him her eye filled with tears and finally let go.
The Doctor threw the box out of reached and held Brooke protectively. He felt guilty, he had caused this, and it was so obvious now that she was nothing but innocent. Brooke shook in his arms while grasping her wrist.
"I'm sorry" she blurted. "I'm not supposed to answer your questions" I shouldn't even be here" she spoke with distress. "It's too dangerous".
"Shhh..." The Doctor soothed her. "It's alright." "I'm sorry too" he genuinely apologised.
The Doctor noticed her clawing at her wrist and let go of her slightly. He held both her wrists speaking soothingly.
"This has to stop" he spoke.
"Brooke it really does" he told her desperately.
Brooke looked up at her father reading his honest concern.
"I can't "She whispered. "It's what helped me get through." "It's the only way"
"You can" The Doctor spoke. "How long?" he then asked.
"Ever since I've been on the run" she replied.
The Doctor closed his eyes in mental pain after hearing her answer.
The Doctor lifted her arm slowly rolling her sleeve. Brooke realised what he was doing and took back her arm. "It's not pleasant" she spoke ashamed.
The Doctor took back her arm and revealed it, cringing at what he saw. Her entire arm was covered in scars, three years worth of scars draw across her delicate skin. Brooke quickly hitched back her sleeve. The Doctor felt sad, sadder than normal sad, sadder that he would be sad in this sort of situation. He almost felt tearful not knowing why.
"I need to know who you are Brooke" he told Brooke gently.
Brooke winced.
"You don't need to be afraid, you're safe here" The Doctor explained.
Brooke shook her head.
"It's not just that kind of danger; it's the danger of time of timelines, of order." Brooke described.
"Time can be written" The Doctor spoke.
Brooke considered his comment.
"Not always" she replied.
"That woman, the picture in your locket, is my wife Brooke" he began.
"Professor River Song, also known as Melody Pond, my best friend's daughter and my wife"
"I know" Brooke answered causing The Doctor to startle a little.
"Can I have my locket?" she then asked The Doctor.
The Doctor handed over the locket which Brooke carefully clutched; relieved it was back in her grasp.
"After I tell you, what I tell you; you won't see me the same. To be honest, I'm terrified just thinking about your reaction and I've played this moment in my mind several times but I've never managed to imagine a positive outcome or reaction. I'm sorry." Brooke spoke to The Doctor as confidently as she could.
