-REMEMBER ME-

PART II

CHAPTER FOUR

The Doctor Is In

You look upward, into the dark line of trees lit by the stars, where the sound of the scream came. And then you look back down at me, clearly worried and confused. But there's a part of you inside that can never resist a scream, a cry for help, and no amount of pleading on my part will tear you away.

"Doctor…" I warn faintly. You look down at me, weighing your options.

"Can you walk?" you ask.

Without thinking, I nod.

A look of grim determination fills your face. Oops.

"K-9, stay," you say firmly to the tin dog.

"But master—!"

"No, K-9, you stay in the TARDIS."

K-9 hangs his head, looking depressed. Feeling bad for the poor thing, I pat him on the head. He cheers considerably, perking up and wagging his tail.

"Yes master!" he says, turning around and heading into the TARDIS. I look back up at you, and I can see it in your eyes.

I know, now, there's no stopping you. And if I feign illness then you'll just send me back to the TARDIS, and that is not going to happen. I'm not leaving your side.

Not here.

Not ever.

So I attempt to recover as quickly as possible.

"No one here yet, eh, Doctor?" I say weakly, in an attempt to recover my cheekiness.

You sigh.

"Then again…" you mutter, mouth turning downward in a pout.

"Help! Help! Somebody help me!"

You let go of me, forcing me to stand on my own, and your hand travels down my arm to lock hands with me. You share a quick grin with me, and I grin back as happily as I can.

And we run after the sound of the voice.

Into the jungle of primitive, leafy plants we go, chasing after the sound of the cries. I'm whipped by leaves and ferns and sticks as we go racing through the woods, my boots coming up muddy as they squelch in the water. The only thing guiding me is your hand, leading me tightly on. I trust you to keep track of the way back to the TARDIS, because I sure as hell can't remember.

We come across a clearing. The mud here is strangely thicker and darker. There's a single man there, crumpled at the base of a tree.

"Help," he cries weakly, catching sight of us.

You rush forward, and, quick as a flash, kneel down next to him and examine him. I dawdle back, staring in horror at his injuries, which look gruesome to my untrained eye. I avert my gaze, but you jump right in, not bothered at all.

"It's not as bad as it looks," you say reassuringly as you begin to tend to his injuries. "There's a lot of bleeding, but if we hurry we can stop that. It's mostly just minor injuries…scrapes and cuts…you'll be absolutely sorted…but I'm worried about your ankle, here…it seems you've dislocated it…"

"Who…are…you?" gasps the injured man between labored breaths. I stare at him with wide eyes.

"I'm the Doctor."

The man's eyes go wide and he gasps, making a funny spasm bending forward. You shove him back down again, against the tree.

"The Doctor?"

"That's right, now hold still. Clara!" you call. I jump, and take a hesitant step forward. You ignore me. "How did you manage to sustain this many injuries from falling out of a tree? You must stay awake, you've damaged your head somehow…Clara!"

This time I come all the way, kneeling beside him, my knees going into the strangely hot and sticky ground. You exchange a look with me, and I'm fueled with a desire to rise to the challenge and make you proud. I do my best to fight against the urge to run away.

"Keep him focused. Keep him awake," you say, and I nod shakily. "Hold him down."

I do as I'm asked, trying to steer clear of any blood, and I talk to him as you stop the bleeding.

"Hey there," I say softly, my voice trembling. "What's your name?"

"J—Jexlan," he answers, spasming.

"I'm Clara," I say nervously, trying to be reassuring. "What happened?"

"I was on watch…fell out of the tree…I…I think I was…"

Suddenly he grabs me, pulling me close, watching me with wild, desperate eyes. My heart pounds with fear, because he looks terrified.

"There is something…something out there…They're here…they are…they saw me!"

"Shh, shh," I whisper soothingly, unsure of what else to say, because now I'm frightened. Well and truly frightened. "It's alright. You're safe now."

"Alright, Jexlan, was it?" you say, face set. And I'm struck by how odd it is to actually see you Doctoring. "Jexlan, I warn you, this is going to hurt. But it will feel much better after, I promise, alright?"

He nods. You look at me.

"Hold him still."

"On three," you say. "One…two…"

Suddenly you yank on something, hard, and there's a sickening crack.

Jexlan screams, and it's the most awful sound. I want to cover my ears, but he'd jerked so violently that it's all I can do to keep him still. His eyes roll into the back of his head, and I remember what I'm charged with as he quiets.

"Jexlan!" I shout. "Jexlan! Wake up! You have to wake up!" I call to him. But I can sense it, him slipping into the unknown. "Jexlan!"

You suddenly appear right next to me, and you start slapping Jexlan lightly.

"What are you doing?" I ask in horror.

"Keeping him awake," you answer shortly. "Jexlan! Jexlan, come on! Wake up!"

You slap him a bit harder this time, and he gasps, eyes flying wide.

"The Doctor…the Doctor is here…must tell others…" he mutters wildly.

I look up at you sharply. Your eyebrows come together and your lips part, revealing your bottom teeth. I don't understand.

Neither, it seems, do you.

"Jexlan," you say sharply. "Jexlan!"

He vaguely glances at you. You frown. Then you pull out a white bag and hold it under his nose.

"Would you like a Jelly Baby?" you ask.

The scent of the candy seems to bring him round, and he focuses more.

"What?" he says.

"A Jelly Baby. Go on, have one. I implore you, they're quite delicious."

Slowly, Jexlan takes a Jelly Baby. He holds it out in front of his face like he doesn't know what to do with it. You yourself pick out an orange Jelly Baby and munch on it happily before offering the bag to me. Rolling my eyes, but grinning, I take one.

"Thanks, Doctor," I say. You wave me off, sticking the bag back in your pocket.

Seeing us eat them, Jexlan eats his Jelly Baby.

"Now, that's better, eh?" you say, grinning at Jexlan reassuringly. "Now, can you tell us what happened?"

"I was…" Jexlan puts a hand to his head. "…I was attacked, I think. Yes."

"Why were you out here all alone?" I ask.

"Scout…I was…on watch…"

"Ah," you say, apparently everything becoming clearer to you.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"Well…I think you might be right, Clara. I think we had best leave Trenzalore."

Now having had my curiosity piqued, I blink in surprise.

"What?"

"I think it best we leave."

"What for?"

"You…cannot leave!" cries Jexlan. "Your coming was foretold!"

"I don't believe in prophecy. A load of rubbish," you say, sniffing haughtily.

"We can't just … leave him here, Doctor," I protest. "He's injured, he needs our help!"

"You cannot leave!" cries Jexlan. "Your coming was foretold, you will bring peace! It was said...You are our salvation, Doctor!"

"Now, listen, I'm nobody's—" you hop up, suddenly angry. "You're talking nonsense, the both of you. I'm nobody's salvation and there's no such thing as telling the future! And you, Clara! One minute you want to leave and now you don't! What is the matter with you?"

"I'm not for staying, Doctor," I say tersely. "I just don't think we should leave Jexlan out here in the woods on his own! We've got to help him!"

You purse your lips, but I can see in your eyes, you're already conceding.

"Please, Doctor."

"Oh, alright," you mutter. "Do you have a base nearby? Friends? A city?"

"The ruined city is not far. That is where we have made base."

"'The ruined city,'" you repeat, smiling reluctantly. "Well, I always did love some ruins."

You move to help Jexlan up, and I quickly help you, as we both pull him up, throwing each an arm over our shoulders.

"Did you know I helped in the construction of Stonehenge?" you say to me offhandedly.

"Really?"

"Yes, was there when it was designed… a fascinating people…very advanced… might have helped the engineer out just a teensy bit…they couldn't quite figure out how to get the rocks on top in place, you see…"

Run you clever boy, and remember me.

A/N: So, what'dya guys think of that one, eh? I'm not doing so bad on the plot development front…I am attempting to form a coherent plot. My confidence is getting there, at least. I've got about a third of this little mini-lot written, hopefully I can keep going so you guys don't have to wait for more chapters . I've got to about chapter 7 or 8 I think, so I'm a few ahead, but not as far ahead as I feel comfortable with.

Anyway, I got a bit snippy last time about reviews, and that worked, but I feel guilty about it. So, this time I'll ask nicely, and perhaps out of the goodness of your hearts you'll kindly leave a review...so I don't have to guilt-trip you again ;)

Please, oh please, pretty please with sugar on top, dear reader, leave a review?

Thanks,

Gfg

PS: Updates are every Wednesday! (Next Wednesday, last Wednesday…one of the Wednesdays…)

(Kudos to the hardcore Whoufflers out there that caught that quote ;D) Anyway…Because Whouffle.

PPS: OMG DID YOU SEE THE POSTER FOR THE FIFTITH IT IS SO EFFING AWESOME AND JUST AMAZING AND I CAN'T EVEN I JUST CANNOT EVEN IT IS SO EFFING AMAZING AND I JUST WANT TO DIE BECAUSE MY MIND IS SO BLOWN AND IT IS SO DOCTORISH. TIME WAR. DALEK-Y AWESOMENESS. BAD WOLF. TARDIS DOOR. RED SONIC SCREWDRIVER. MATT SMITH. DAVID TENNANT. JOHN HURT. "THE DAY OF THE DOCTOR." I CAN'T EVEN. MIND IS BLOWN. *gasps for breath*

PPPS: LEAVE A REVIEW PLEASE!