A/N: Hi all! Very sorry for taking a bit long to update! I've finished my 1st set of exams this year, and hopefully I'll receive the results soon (as well as struggling to complete this chapter due to writer's block). I'm planning a total of 10? chapters (still not sure 'bout the exact number) and am veeeery tempted to write a sequel (yes... it's a complicated story line xD) but I probably would leave it at this story only.

Hope you all enjoy! (*fwuffy* and *introspective* whouffaldi ahead)

She started waking up slowly, taking her time to shed sleep from her brain. She took in a deep breath before smiling slightly, smelling a light scent of cinnamon, books and... space.

The Doctor.

Her fingers curled around the rough shirt under her fingertips.

As the girl's eyes fluttered open, medbay's silhouettes slowly swam into view. She soon became more apprehensive of the whimpers and mumbles which had woken her up.

She slowly heaved herself, biting her lower lip as she turned to look at the Doctor. If only she would feel less sore...

It broke her heart hearing him so distressed during his sleep. The companion dragged herself closer to his face.

.

"Doctor?" Her fingertips grazed along the stubble. "Doctor, it's alright. We're safe."

Her fingertips grazed along the wrinkles on his forehead, before making their way to his scalp. "It's just a dream, Doctor." Her fingers massaged his scalp as she whispered soothing phrases into his ear. The Doctor's eyes flashed open. "Shhhh... It's alright." Clara said gently, her soft voice calming him almost instantly.

All is right when Clara is around.

He looked at her features: her sparkling eyes, soft skin, radiant hair, soft lips... "Feeling a bit better?" She asked.

The time lord nodded before his eyes closed slowly, enjoying Clara's bandaged fingers passing through his hair. It had been an awful nightmare, but his companion was enough to calm the storm. She was always more than enough. "Doctor, I just want you to know that if there is anything bothering you, you can just talk to me about it, if you feel comfortable."

The time lord forced a sad smile at her. "Thank you, Clara."

But he said no more. The companion felt troubled; torn between giving him the space she knew he needed but at the same time wanting to know what was going through that skull of his... to help... to comfort.

"There is nothing you can do, Clara." He mumbled without opening his eyes. The girl stopped caressing his hair for a moment. Of course, telepathy. "It's useless worrying about me, I'm alright." He wasn't. And she didn't need telepathy to know that. "How are you feeling?" He continued.

"Much better. You took great care of me, Doctor. Thank you." He mirrored her smile. "Are you healing well?" Her fingers caressed his cheek bone.

"Few bruised ribs but overall I'm healed."

Clara smiled. "I'm glad."

The girl hummed as his fingers made their way through her hair. "It's your wounds which I'm worried about."

"Don't worry about me, Doctor." Her voice was so gentle. "I'm almost fully healed. I promise, I'm not in pain." And she was not wrong, even if she was terribly sore from the shocks.

.

His fingers travelled up her cheek into her hair, the woman leaned against this touch. A faint thought entered her mind. I'm sorry I put you through this, Clara.

She took his hand delicately between hers and pressed a kiss to his knuckles. "You have to stop apologising, Doctor. You did nothing wrong. Nothing." Her fingers intertwined with his. "I only have to thank you for taking care of me, healing my wounds. You could have just let the TARDIS look after me, but you stayed next to me for however long I was asleep for. And I really appreciate my mended arm. Only God knows if it would have ever been fixed otherwise."

He smiled sadly, planting a kiss into her hair. "I would do anything for you, Clara."

"Doctor... please... I don't want you to." She breathed. "I don't want to see you sacrificing something for me. The Universe needs you. Not me. You. I am nothing compared to you."

"You are everything compared to me, Clara." He smiled. "I don't care what the Leader said. You are no ordinary mortal pudding brain, Clara Oswald."

"Thanks for the compliment." She laughed. "Hearing that from you means a lot." Her smile faded. "That still doesn't justify you sacrificing -"

"It does." He tucked a string of hair behind her ear. "You have been saving me for thousands of years. Let me do the saving now."

"You save worlds, Doctor. I do nothing except exist... Maybe lend a hand here and there."

"And without your helping hand, it would be very difficult for me to keep saving planets." He looked at her with such care. "But I'd protect you, nonetheless."

Clara's lips curled into a soft smile. "Thank you. For everything."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, to which the girl hummed. "Thank you, Clara. Now rest a little more."

"You should really get up, I have held you hostage long enough." But the time lord wrapped his arm tighter around her, tenderly stopping his companion from sitting up.

"I don't mind being held hostage a little longer." He purred, the Doctor's fingers passing through her hair.

.

She simply smiled to the remark before resting her ear back against his chest and wrapping her arm around his waist, pleasantly drifting off to sleep to the time lord's caress and heart beats. For Clara Oswald, the latter were her lullaby. And his caress soft and soothing.

After some time, the time lord whispered her name. She neither responded nor stirred from her deep sleep. The Doctor let out a sigh. He wouldn't dare make himself vulnerable around her. Not for now, at least. He had no idea how she would take it if Clara were to know his deepest thoughts.

After making sure his companion was asleep, he thought of the things he would confess to her, but was too scared to say them out loud. 'Twas as if... If the Universe were to hear those words, it would do everything to take her away from him. Even worse... To see her suffer.

.

Her screams replayed through his mind yet again as tears streamed down his cheeks.

No... She's with him now. She's safe, sound asleep in his arms.

He can never guarantee her safety, and yet, it does not seem to bother her.

Exploring the Universe was far too tempting for a young woman like her.

And he loved to see the wide smile on her face whenever he opened the TARDIS' doors. Clara's large eyes would glisten as she'd look out to the stars, her smile so wide, her laugh so musical...

His fragile, human, kind, beautiful, extraordinary, impossible companion

He couldn't help but confess (and yet, hoping the Universe wouldn't hear it)

You are as beautiful as you are brave.

Gentle as you are fierce.

You brought the time lords to their knees and softened this old man's hearts.

This Universe needs you, because if not I'd tear the Universe apart just to find you.

.

He'll tell her... Oh, he'll tell her soon enough. He'd have to... sooner or later she'll find out. But only when the time is right.

A/N: apologies for the full-stops in between paragraphs but I still can't find a way for FanFiction to keep my paragraph breaks... or else the chapter would look too cluttered.

Anyway, hope you've enjoyed this chapter! Would truly appreciate any feedback (no flames please!)... It gives me so much motivation to continue writing this story (and others)!

Take care and stay safe xxxx