A/N: Okay guys, this is it. Last chapter. Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed and to those who read it. I hope you enjoy it, and please review for me!!
Chapter Seven.
The Doctor sat beside the sleeping figure of Tilly, stroking her hair as she slept. He'd promised he wouldn't leave her and he was going to keep that promise. He would stay right by her side and do all he could to make her smile. She slept fairly soundly, shifting occasionally and snoring softly.
The Doctor was almost drifting off to sleep himself when he heard Tilly groan. He looked at her face and saw her wince in pain. He wondered what she was feeling at that moment. He wished he could make her better, but knew it wasn't possible.
"Doc," Tilly whispered and the Doctor saw she was awake again. She looked even worse now, her face was so pale but with a greyish tinge to it. Her eyes looked cloudy and her lips were dry.
"I'm here," the Doctor answered, taking her hand in his. He squeezed it gently and felt her squeeze back.
"I..." she said softly, swallowed and took a shaky breath. "I just wanted... to say..."
She was finding it difficult to draw breaths now and the Doctor's hearts broke watching her struggle.
"I just wanted to say thank you..." she took several deep breaths. "For taking me to the concert... for being so kind... for just... being there."
"You don't have to thank me," he said softly.
"But I do," Tilly said breathlessly. "I'm so sorry..."
"What are you sorry for?" the Doctor asked in confusion.
"For coming along with you..." she said, gazing at him with those soft hazel-green eyes of hers. "I shouldn't have. I've been a hassle to you."
"No," the Doctor shook his head. "No, I've loved having you here with me. You've taught me so much."
"What..." Tilly managed before laying back on the pillow, exhausted.
"You taught me that the emotions I feel really do make me somewhat human. We all feel emotions, and they aren't always good. Sometimes they make us feel great, other times they just crush us. But we all feel them and they make us who we are. Even if they sometimes rip me apart and make me feel human, I wouldn't want it any other way."
Tilly smiled happily but was too weak to do anything else. The Doctor gently stroked her cheek and she once again drifted off to sleep.
Tilly was breathing heavily while she slept, each breath tearing through her body and causing her evident pain. The Doctor bit his lip to stop himself cursing every god, leader and influential person that he could think of. How could life be so cruel, he wondered.
On the outside he was stony faced and staring into space. Inside his head he was screaming and crying. Lamenting the loss of all past friends, family, loved ones, companions. Grieving the loss of his home planet and all he'd known. Mourning for the cruelty that humans, and anything with emotions, had to endure. And weeping for the innocent girl lying helplessly before him.
The Doctor knew that Tilly didn't have much longer. He wondered if she'd ever wake up again. If he'd ever see her smile again. The Doctor heard her whimper and looked down at her, seeing she had woken again. Hazel-green eyes met brown, both full of sorrow. Their hands grasped each others tightly and their souls intertwined for just a moment. But it was long enough to see the grief locked away inside them both.
"Thank you Doctor," Tilly whispered and with the last of her strength she smiled. It was a smile of happiness, knowing she was safe in the arms of someone who understood her, and someone who truly cared.
"Thank you Tilly," the Doctor answered as he gazed into her eyes for the last time.
Slowly, ever so slowly, those beautiful hazel-green eyes flickered shut and Tilly drifted into a dreamless sleep that she would never wake from.
A single tear escaped his eye and trickled down his face, dripping onto Tilly's closed eyelids. At last she was at peace; she could finally rest after her long fight.
"Now I'm here," the Doctor whispered softly, and felt Tilly smile inside his hearts.
The End.
A/N: Sob. Please review!!!