I never know why. I only know who. (AU)

Chapter 22

Woah an update, this doesn't happen often, here you are...

If hospitals could feel more daunting than usual, the waiting room in this one definitely made it. Clara could feel the eyes of the nurses around on her and she wanted more than anything to tell them to fuck off, but she knew they would simply call her even more of a child then. Even then, it wasn't really worth it. She'd have to get used to people judging her for no reason.

John was holding Clara's hands, gripping it tighter whenever he heard a horrible whisper from someone. She appreciated it very much, even though she knew it was probably the only way he was stopping himself from going over to them and giving them a piece of his mind.

The floors were a disgusting green that made you feel sick, and the walls were plastered with leaflets about being a parent that would make any mother of any age want to vomit from tackiness. And just to add to the horrible place, the seats were uncomfortable too. Clara imagined that they were often far too busy in there to bother with decent decoration. It would be kind of nice to actually change the atmosphere a bit.

"Clara Oswald?" Her name was called from one of the rooms on the right, and Clara half-jumped out of her skin as she snapped out of her own small thoughts.

"Ready?" John mumbled softly upon seeing her scared reaction. She took a few moments to look down to the floor, closing her eyes to breathe.

"As I'll ever be." She replied, knowing that was about as honest as she would be able to get.

John carried on holding her hand as she stood up, taking small paces towards the woman who was stood in the doorway. She smiled kindly at the young teenagers, holding the door open for them as they walked in.

They both greeted her kindly on the way in, not wanting to seem rude. Clara moved to the corner of the room, crossing her arms as she stood awkwardly. John moved next to her, not quite sure of what to do.

"Clara, is it?" The woman asked gently, looking up from her notes that she was holding to smile at her. "Would you come over here for me?"

Clara took a small breath before making her way over, sitting down on a chair where she was signalled to sit on. "I'm just going to talk to you alone for a moment." She said softly, drawing a curtain around where they were sat.

Clara knew that it wouldn't actually provide any sound-proofing for them, but it did make her feel slightly better.

"So.." The woman began, smiling at Clara again to put her at ease. "How far along do you think you are?"

Clara bit her lip nervously. "Twelve weeks." She mumbled, fiddling with her fingers on her lap.

"Okay...And, could you tell me when your last period was?" She picked up a pen on her desk to write down on her notes sheets.

Clara counted it back in her head, "Um...Middle of July I'd say. I can't remember the exact date. I haven't...I mean, I never needed to..." Clara cut her words off quickly, knowing she was stumbling.

"It's fine." The woman smiled, writing down more things. "And is it the father who accompanies you here today?"

Clara nodded quickly. She sat idly for a few more moments in the silence, listening for the sound of breathing from the other side of the curtain. She was shocked at how quiet John was being.

"Are you sure that this man is definitely the father?" The doctor asked, looking down again as she did.

"What?" Clara asked, shocked.

"I'm sorry, we just have to...young parents often..." The Doctor stumbled off upon seeing Clara's shocked face in hurried confusion.

"Are you saying that I...I'm not a...I don't..." Clara trailed her words off, realising that she wasn't getting anywhere. "Yes. Yes of course I'm sure. I've never been more sure of anything." Clara confirmed, making the Doctor nod apologetically.