A/N: Hi all! Hope you're all well. I got the inspo for this chapter from a prompt on tumblr by the user impuremetals.
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'Can you stand?' A asked. B nodded shakily, trying to pull themselves to their feet.
Just as soon as they managed to get upright, their knees buckled. B's vision went blurry as they tried to grab the wall, or anything, really, to stop them from-
A catches them before they hit the ground, helping B sit back down. 'S-sorry'. B stutters. 'I-'
'It's okay.' A slips a hand under B's legs and another behind their back and picks them up easily. 'It's okay, I've got you.'
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Enjoy!
His eyes fluttered open to the surrounding darkness. Apart from the TARDIS's humming, he could hear his companion's faint slow breaths. The time lord's lips curled into a small smile. He couldn't believe the innocence and beauty he held in his arms. The Doctor couldn't wait to see her smile again, to hear her laugh.
He sighed. It ached him to remember the last time he heard her laugh just before all the mess happened.
That mess... that terrifying mess. The more he thought about it, the more nauseous he felt.
He could feel his hearts beating ever so slightly faster.
What terrified the Doctor was that... that all he could do was watch... He couldn't fight him; no matter how much the Leader hurt Clara.
.
She is safe, Doctor. He heard a telepathic message from the TARDIS. She is doing well thanks to your swift thinking.
I only wish I were swifter. He sighed. It was a difficult situation to predict... but he should have been prepared.
.
There was nothing he could change now. Only look ahead and think about his next move; checking on his companion's progress at medbay.
.
The Doctor closed his eyes yet again, waiting for Clara to wake up. He slowly was drifting off to sleep before her fingers curled tighter around his shirt. "Shhhhhh... It's alright, Clara." He purred as his long thin fingers slowly passed through her short hair.
She let out a sigh, slowly waking up. "What time is it?" She murmured.
The Doctor chuckled. "No time in space, Clara."
She groaned in reply, before she tried to sit up. "Slowly, Clara... Slowly." He breathed as he helped her lay back down comfortably next to him. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I've been sulking in bed for too long." She croaked. "I really need a wash and some yoga."
"Plenty of time to do anything you like, Clara but-"
"I'll end up going back to Earth once I'm 80, Doctor." She huffed.
"And I promise you won't, Clara." He let his fingers run through her hair. "But you have a priority, and that is-"
"-to heal." She stopped him, before pecking his cheek. "Got the message." She chuckled. The time lord felt warmth over him as his cheeks turned ever so slightly red, before trying to recompose himself.
.
"Doctor?" She asked. ""Mind if I try to walk? It's been awfully tiring staying in bed for God knows how many days."
The time lord sighed. "If you insist. I'll still keep an eye out though."
"Never thought you'd stop." She laughed. "Thank you, Doctor."
The Doctor sat at the edge of the bed. "Are you hungry?"
Clara smiled. "Famished." She looked away. "But I can't wait to get into a shower, though."
He nodded. "Fair enough. First, I want to check out the bandages and some stats at medbay. I probably won't have to replace them but I'll see how everything looks."
Clara nodded, which the Doctor felt was his cue to prepare. He removed the chair from the bedside and helped his companion remove the sheets.
"Ready?" He asked, looking into her eyes. He could see how hesitant she was. Clara felt weak; the electric shocks had fatigued her muscles, and being bedridden didn't help to strengthen them.
"Y-yeah." She said.
"Clara." He brought her attention. Her eyes were larger than how they normally would be. She looked at him as he sandwiched her hand between his. It was shaking ever so slightly. "You don't have to-"
"No, Doctor." She stopped him. "I'm doing this." Her lips curled into a sad smile. "At least I'll try."
The Doctor nodded. "Just know I'll be next to you, ok?"
.
She nodded, and proceeded to slowly shift herself to the edge of the bed, always with the help of the Doctor. Her feet dangled out, barely touching the floor. The Doctor brought a pair of TARDIS blue slippers and slipped them into Clara's feet.
"Can you stand?" He asked. Clara nodded shakily. Her fingers wrapped around the edge of the bed as she pushed herself off the bed. The Doctor kept a close eye on every movement she made. Just as soon as she managed to get upright, her knees buckled under her. Clara's vision went blurry as she tried to grab the bed behind her...
but she wasn't quick enough and-
.
The Doctor's arms swiftly curled around her feeble body and catches her before she hit the ground. 'S-sorry'. She stutters. He couldn't help but notice the film of tears occluding Clara's eyes. 'I-'
'It's okay.' The Doctor slips a hand under Clara's legs and another behind her back and picks her up easily. 'It's okay, I've got you.' He breathed in her hair as he helped Clara to sit back onto the edge of the bed. "I've got you."
"Thank you." She sniffled.
"It's alright. We'll get there soon enough, Clara. I promise you." He pressed a kiss to her head, his arms wrapping her in warmth. "Do you want me to hold you... Maybe we can try walking that way?"
She swallowed thickly, trying to hold back the tears which were forming. "I-" But the companion could hardly say more. Instead, she accepted the Doctor's invitation to bury her face in his chest. Her cries broke his hearts, easily hearing the desperation of suddenly feeling so dependent. He knew it was going to be a tough process of trying and falling before trying again...
.
Goodness... He had brought this to her... No matter how much she tried to shrug it off, that she was OK... She wasn't. He knew, Clara needed weeks of physical therapy to arrive close to the strength she had before. "I'm sorry, Clara. I'm so terribly sorry."
She pulled away. "It's not your fault." Clara sniffed. "I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting myself to be so weak."
"It's alright." The time lord breathed as he wiped the tears off her cheeks. "I promise you, we'll get through this together."
"Don't let go." She sniffed.
"I swear, I won't." He purred back.
"Would you help me stand up? Maybe I'd be able to take a few steps."
He curled his arm around her torso as she did to his, her fingers holding his shirt within her tight grip. He offered her his free hand for her to grasp before helping her slide off the edge of the bed. Clara sighed in relief when her feet touched the slippers.
"I know it might be scary, Clara. But I won't let you go. Whatever happens, I'll be here to catch you." She unknowingly tightened her hold on the shirt, the fear of falling taking the best of her. The companion's toxic thoughts were soon disrupted by the Doctor's soft yet strong voice. "Do you trust me?"
She looked up at him, his eyes piercing through hers. But... His gaze was so gentle and comforting. "I trust you." She replied.
And the girl meant it.
His lips curled into a soft smile before pressing a kiss to her hair. The time lord looked into her eyes glazed with fear. "One step at a time, ok?"
She nodded, before looking in front of her. There were probably 12 steps to medbay's door from her hospital bed. But it certainly felt like more. She dared to lift her foot. The leg planted to the ground shook a little, but she was able to take the first step before falling. "You're doing great, Clara." The Doctor said. She smiled, but it soon faded as she returned to business. Lifting the other foot and taking yet another step. The Doctor's hold never faltered, holding her steady with every step.
.
After a few more steps, the Doctor felt Clara involuntarily leaning a bit more towards him. "Do you need to rest?" He asked.
"I'm fine. I can do this." She said, taking another slow and calculated step to the door. "I can do this." She breathed to herself, as she straightened herself as much as she could.
The companion proceeded to take another premeditated step to the door, before her knees started to shake and buckled under her. The time lord caught her whilst the companion's fingers desperately curled around his shirt. "You're safe." He breathed into her hair, repeating it like a mantra as he hugged her small form to his. The Doctor couldn't ignore the muffled sobs his companion was letting out. "We'll go through this one step at a time." He said as the time lord rubbed her back tenderly. "I'm so proud of you for walking this far already." The Doctor pulled her away. "Hold on, ok?" Clara sniffed, still holding on to the Doctor yet refusing to look him in the eye. His right arm curled behind her legs before heaving her up to a bridal style. Her head rested against his shoulder, her arms finding their way around his neck.
.
"I'm so sorry, Doctor." She murmured.
The Doctor instantly held her tighter to him. "You have nothing to apologise for. Your body needs to heal, Clara."
I'm so tired. He heard her think.
"Do you need to sleep a little more?" Her arms tightened slightly. "Understood. Understood." He chuckled. "Let's take you to medbay first."
Clara hummed as she rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. "Thank you, Doctor."
He pressed a kiss to her hair. "Rest a little more till we get there." You're in good hands.
The companion hummed yet again as they exited the bedroom, her fingers playing with the curls at the nape of his head.
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Thank you so much for sticking around till now, it really means a lot to me! I've been struggling a lot these past few months, and everything feels tough but venting out through whouffaldi is my comfort. And it feels even better to know that others are reading and (hopefully) enjoying my content (even though it might not be the best) :)
Feedback greatly appreciated (especially if you'd like further chapters)! Wishing you all the best.
Take care xxxx