Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who!
Sorry this one is extremely short. I had to cut it off, or else it would have seeped into the next chapter. Oh, and reviews are always welcome!
"Clara! Clara Oswin Oswald!" the Doctor shouted with triumph as he spun her around carelessly.
"Oi, ow!" she gasped as she instantaneously started massaging her cuts and moved backwards from the Doctor, for fear that he may try to touch her again.
Just then, a loud booming voice seemingly echoed from down the stairs, "Clara! It's dinner time! How come you aren't down stairs?"
Clara looked up at the Doctor, helplessly. There was a certain atmosphere between them that felt normal. She felt as though she could trust the Doctor, even though she had only known him for a short amount of time.
"Doctor, is it?" Clara whispered.
"That's what they call me!" he responded raising an eyebrow at her.
"What are you doing here? I have never met you, and the only reason I'm not running away is because I'm more scared of my husband right now than I am of a man that appeared to have come from a blue… box!" she stated, almost startled. She could hear footsteps coming up the stairs.
"Clara, I've lost you twice before and I just want to protect you!" he proclaimed with such urgency that it scared her.
"Doctor, I can't leave my husband right now." Her husband's footsteps were becoming louder and louder with every second that passed. "Yes, he is brutal, but I love him." Her voice was almost incomprehensible, especially when she muttered the last part. "Doctor, a marriage is more than just love. It's about promise. We have been together for four years" Clara explained.
"Yes, but by the look of things" the Doctor started, "He isn't keeping any promises to you." He cupped her face in his hands, gently rubbing her bruise from where he hit her.
The Doctor was puzzled. Why on Earth would someone as marvelous as Clara stay with someone as vulgar as her husband? Human women regularly confused him, but never as much as this one woman in particular. He was deep in thought when Clara almost shoved him back into the TARDIS.
"Oi, Clara. I just want to protect you!" the Doctor stammered breathlessly.
"If you want to protect me, Doctor" she started, rapidly glancing back at the door to make sure her husband had not entered unannounced, "then get out of here!"
"I will return for the next few days. Think about my offer, and please let me help you." The Doctor stammered as he entered the TARDIS.
Clara's husband was now approaching the door faster than usual. She knew what was to come next, but all that would come out of her mouth was, "Run you clever boy" and she began to choke on her tears as she finished, "and remember me".
