Clara awoke with a jolt, memories rushing through her head. She tried desperately to hold on to them, but the images slipped out of her grasp, fading into nothingness. She sighed, causing the Doctor to look down at her. "You're awake then?" he asked.
"I suppose so. Did I miss anything?" Clara queried.
"Not much, but keep your voice down; Scarlett's still asleep." Clara glanced over at the corner, and saw Scarlett curled up with her head on her hands and her eyes closed.
"How long has it been?" Clara asked, turning back to the Doctor.
"What, since you fell asleep? Six hours. We've been here for about seven." The Doctor replied.
"What are they going to do to us now then?"
"I don't know." The Doctor replied. "But whatever it is, I won't let them hurt you." Clara smiled slightly at the Doctor's words, knowing he would keep that promise to the best of his ability. She suddenly heard footsteps behind the door, and the Doctor heard them too, as he lifted his arms from around Clara and allowed her to stand up. The Doctor stood beside her, both of them backing away as they watched through the cell bars, seeing a troop of Clerics enter; Madame Kovarian following. The Doctor stepped in front of Clara, and watched out of the corner of his eye as Scarlett stood.
"Get them out." Madame Kovarian ordered, and a cleric warned them to stay back before he opened the steel door. Guns were aimed at them through the bars on either side of the door, and the three prisoners walked cautiously out of the cell.
The Doctor was instantly hauled away from Clara, who was grabbed by one of the taller Clerics and lifted off the ground. She screamed and kicked, but was ignored as they tied first her wrists and then her feet together. The Doctor was yelling at them to let her go, but the Clerics simply pulled a gag over his mouth; silencing his protests. Scarlett was being held by two of the Clerics, but she wasn't fighting back; just standing there.
"What are you doing?" Scarlett asked, turning her head to glare at Madame Kovarian.
"We're giving the Doctor an incentive." Kovarian said, then she addressed the Doctor patronisingly. "Are you going to be good now?" She asked, and the Doctor gave her a death-glare, but one of the Clerics moved closer to Clara with his gun and the Doctor nodded reluctantly. "Okay, then let him speak."
Once the gag was removed the Doctor's first words were, "Let Clara go."
"No" Kovarian answered, smirking, watching as the Doctor's eyes showed his distress for his companion. "Not until you answer some questions."
"What do you want to know?" The Doctor ground out, sending glances over at Clara every now and again to check that she was okay.
"How much do you know about dear Scarlett?" Kovarian asked.
"Not much. We had a bit of a chat earlier." The Doctor replied.
Kovarian addressed Scarlett again. "So you didn't tell them." Scarlett sent her a scalding look, but the woman only laughed and looked back at the Doctor. "Well, I suppose I won't spoil your fun. I don't know how he'll react when he finds out."
"Finds out what?" The Doctor asked, then yelled out as Clara was kicked in the back by one of the Clerics. She whimpered, curling into a small ball on the ground. "What did you do that for?" The Doctor yelled, outraged.
"You spoke out of turn. Don't, or they'll keep hurting her. Now, question two: How much do you know about Trenzalore?"
"Enough." Was the Doctor's only reply, and then Clara yelped as she was kicked again; this time in the side. "Fine, fine, I'll tell you, just don't hurt her! I know that Trenzalore is where the 'question' is asked, I know that that's the reason you want to kill me and I know it's where I die." The Doctor rattled off, his attention focused solely on Clara.
"Better. Now, I think I'll leave you alone for the rest of the day." Kovarian said. "You can ask one question, and then I'll leave." The Doctor's mind raced over possibilities, but in the end one thing stood out from the rest.
"Can I ask you never to hurt Clara again?"
The effect was instantaneous. Madame Kovarian had no sooner gestured to the Clerics before they surrounded Clara and began to punch and kick her. Some grabbed bats from the nearby cells and some just continued to beat her with their bare hands. Clara's yelps turned into coughs and hiccups as she struggled to breathe. There was a loud crack at one point, and Clara let out a gut-wrenching scream. The Doctor's cries mingled with hers, but Kovarian only watched his pain with a sick smile on her face.
Suddenly, Scarlett screamed above everyone else, her high voice cutting through the din. "Stop!" The cry was shrill, and caused both Kovarian and the Doctor to turn to her. Silent tears cascaded down the girl's cheeks, and she looked at Kovarian with pleading eyes. "Please don't hurt her."
Kovarian said nothing, simply gesturing to her men to put them back in their cell. The Doctor and Scarlett were pushed through the door first, Clara thrown in after them, and then the door was slammed closed. The Doctor wasted no time in rushing to Clara; undoing the restraints around her wrists and ankles before laying her down on the floor. Scarlett had retreated to the corner of the cell again, and she stared out, looking fearful.
"Aren't you going to help?" The Doctor yelled, and Scarlett flinched at the desperation in his voice.
"I can't." Scarlett cried, tears still flowing from her eyes. "I wish I could, but I can't."
"Why not?" The Doctor barked. Scarlett only shook her head in response, glaring at the ground. The Doctor ignored her then, his focus returning to Clara. He looked up and down her small body, examining her injuries. "Can you at least find something to use as a bandage?" The Doctor croaked, his throat tightening as he surveyed Clara. Scarlett didn't reply, and the Doctor continued with his examining, trying to determine which bone had broken and where the worst of the bleeding was coming from. He started when her heard the sound of ripping cloth, and glanced at Scarlett to see the girl tearing her thin jumper to shreds; now wearing only a small t-shirt. The girl looked back up at him with sincerity in her eyes, and the Doctor returned a thankful look.
"I'm sorry Clara, but this is going to hurt." The Doctor said, kissing her thankfully blood-free forehead then regarding her body and pressing his fingers to the top of her ribs. He pressed once, then again further along. The third time he pressed his fingers down she whimpered slightly, and he frowned in discomfort, before pressing again marginally further down. The sharp shriek that Clara emitted almost made him weep, but he grasped her hand as she feebly attempted to swat his hand away. "Scarlett, I need a long bandage, now." As he spoke, his voice quivered, his hearts breaking at the pain Clara was in. He kissed the hand he held softly, waiting for Scarlett.
"Will this do?" Scarlett asked, crawling over to them and handing him a ragged strip of cloth. The Doctor grabbed the fabric from her, then carefully lifted Clara's body, eliciting another moan of pain, and laid it underneath her so that the ends stuck out on either side. Scarlett retreated back into the corner, watching as the Doctor tied the ends together tightly, apologising endlessly as Clara cried and winced, his tears now over-flowing his eyes and dripping down his cheeks.
He then began to inspect her other wounds, using bits of material to wipe and then bind her injuries. Clara tried to stay silent, but occasionally she would whimper. The Doctor was trying not to break down, seeing Clara in pain was hurting him as well. When he ran out of cloth from the jumper the Doctor finally looked at Clara properly. All of the major cuts were bandaged, but it wouldn't be long before her blood soaked through the thin material; some of the strips were already turning red. The Doctor scooped Clara into his arms, walking over to the far corner opposite Scarlett, and placing her gently on the floor. He kept her body straight, and put her head in his lap, gently stroking her hair.
"Sleep, my Clara." He murmured, kissing her on the forehead. Her eyes closed slowly, and her breathing evened out.
"What are you going to do?" Scarlett's soft voice broke the silence.
"I'll make them fix her." The Doctor replied, continuing to stroke Clara's hair. "I have to."
A.N: Hello People! I'm so sorry for what I did to Clara, but I had to (the bad thing was that I quite enjoyed writing this chapter). On the plus side, it is a longer chapter again. On the minus side, my story is now writing itself. Granted, I didn't really have a solid plan in my head, but still. Anyway, thank you so much to everyone who reviewed my last chapter, because I was really nervous about it. This chapter's question is: How old do you think I am? I gave a big clue last chapter, but I'm curious to see how old people think I am.
Anyway, please review, and I should have the next chapter up soon.
-Weird :)
