The Soufflés That Got Burnt (Whouffle One Shots)

Scars (Part 2)

He instantly woke her.

"W-What?" She asked and he stopped cradling her but instead pined her down the mattress.

"W-Why didn't... Why didn't you tell me?!" He asked, staring into her chocolate brown eyes. When she didn't answer, he asked again, "Why?!" She stared at him and tears started leaking from her eyes.

"I didn't tell you because I knew you had enough things on your plate!" She was right. He was trying ever so hard not to go sneak off into the TARDIS, he needed to get used to the life on Earth, and the two needed to pay the rent in the apartment.

"But that's no excuse! Clara, you know I'm always here for you!" He replied.

"But when you aren't, I need to learn how to do things myself. I can't always depend on you!" The Doctor sighed.

"When someone is here, you have someone to depend on. I'm right here. You can depend on me. Please." He got off and sat down on the bed. "You have signs of depression. I know what it looks like. I was stuck on Earth, when I wasn't around Amy and Rory for once. I met this teenager, Aaliyah. She befriended me after I helped her. I was happy to be her friend and I showed her the stars and planets with no danger, since I didn't want her parents to be sad if she died... She didn't mind I was an alien at all, she always was happy around me... Long story short, one time, we went to this really hot planet, I went to the wrong place, and well... She was wearing a jacket like she always did and she took it off, unable to bear the heat unlike me. I saw them all... Scars I haven't seen on any human. I knew they weren't accidental or because of some incident and I asked her about it. She got all protective and immediately said she wanted to go home. I took her home and I never saw her again. I looked up what all those scars were and I found out they were self-harm scars... I-I haven't seen them on any other companion ever since." He looked at her. "Clara, please, don't. I don't want to lose you this way."

This was the first time Clara saw the Doctor so... Distraught. She was used to seeing sadness in his eyes, she knew it was because of all the stuff he's seen, but this time...

It was different.

She was completely lost for words.

"Please..." He brought her in for a hug, a strong hug.

"I... I won't."