staircasetotheclouds | (no subject)

[She'd expected it to be over. To close her eyes and never open them again, with the knowledge that she'd saved the Doctor, the man who'd been able to, if only for a little while, give her the hope that she might be rescued. Might actually, after this long, lonely year, be taken away to places she could only dream of. Or, at least, taken home.

Run, you clever boy, and remember.

Her last words. Oswin had no idea where they came from, but it felt...right. Saying them. Maybe he'd even hear. With one last smile on her lips, she shut her eyes, bracing for whatever was coming.

When she opens them again, everything is burning.

The pod in her mind is gone, replaced with a flaming room that's currently being rocked with an explosion. Her vision's blurred and disoriented and really, all she can make out are the fire all around her. Adrenaline suddenly surging through her veins, Oswin jerks up, crying out in confused pain as the wires she was hooked up to tear free from her skin. Sparks are flying all around her and with terror in her heart, Oswin can only think to do one thing.

Run.

She stumbles, trying to move, but survival instinct is taking over. Deterred only when another explosion slams her into a still-burning wall, Oswin ignores the dull sensation of pain that would've normally been agony, her mind focused on just getting away. But there's nowhere to go, not on an entire planet that's due to explode completely at any moment. The Daleks in the ship above the asylum are unleashing all of their firepower upon her, upon the Daleks that no longer served a purpose to them.

Suddenly, there's nothing but blackness for a few seconds, and the sensation of going somewhere, even if Oswin can't properly tell where. The only thing she does know is that when she's deposited, there's no more fire. No more exploding asylum. She's too jacked up on adrenaline to properly tell where she is or what's around her. Somewhere outside, her mind registers dully, because as Oswin falls to her knees, there's grass there, under her bare fingers.

Her coat from the Alaska, the sort they'd all been wearing when the ship crashed, is now faded from a year underground and ripped to shreds by the damage done running through an exploding planet. As the adrenaline fades from her veins, though, Oswin's far too tired to notice that, or the fact that her back is completely covered in burns of varying severity from where it had struck the wall.

It does hurt, but it's just a dull throbbing now. Collapsing on her side in the grass, she closes her eyes, fighting not to completely lose consciousness. Maybe it's in vain, but even confused, Oswin knows if she sleeps now, there's a chance she won't wake up. And she'd really rather do that.]

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[He watches her quietly and smiles a little when she relaxes. Pulling a blanket out of seemingly nowhere, he tucks Oswin in gently.]

Get some rest. Just call when you wake up.

[Haven't got to tell her twice. Oswin drops right off to sleep almost immediately after he speaks, turning over onto her side to get comfortable.

In a few hours, she wakes, briefly disoriented with the change of scenery. It takes a moment, but everything does come back to her well enough, if a little blurry. Can't really blame her, though, everything was a bit confusing. Still is, really, but at least Oswin's somewhere relatively safe and calm enough to actually think.

She's alive. She's human. Not really sure how, and debatably not in a position to argue. A position to be curious, though, that's something Oswin can get behind.

Maybe the Doctor will have some idea. Clearing her throat, which is feeling better now that it's had a chance to rest, Oswin calls out hesitantly.]

...Doctor?

[She'll find a glass of water beside the bed to help with that parched throat and a sandwich next to that too, if she's hungry.

The Doctor isn't far, just in the console room which is now just beside the hospital wing and working on some of the wiring. He looks up at the sound of his name and grins.]

Just a mo!

[She smiles just a little as he calls back, sitting up a bit shakily. It's nice, being somewhere that isn't constantly under attack. And somewhere that's real, but Oswin doesn't think too hard on that one.

The water helps with her throat immensely, and since she is a bit hungry, she'll just nibble on that until the Doctor arrives. Might as well not waste it, after all.]

[It'll take a bit for him to untangle himself and join her. Finally he appears in the doorway, floppy hair standing on end.]

Look at you! Much better. How do you feel? I've got a wardrobe room, you can go find something that fits if you like.

[Her eyes glitter with amusement upon seeing him and Oswin grins faintly, setting her empty plate aside.]

Well. Bit less like I just got lit on fire, at least. [She's almost right back to her normal self, on the outside at least. There's still a lingering fear of what will happen when he finds out who she is and a general confusion as to why she's still alive, but with the Doctor there, she's comforted for now.

She nods.] Might be nice, yeah. Mind leading the way? [With just a little wavering, Oswin stands and takes a few steps towards him.]

[He lets out a short but bright laugh and immediately looks down to her hand. His own hand stretches towards hers before he seems to think better of it and instead brings it up to smooth through his hair.]

Right. This way. I didn't catch your name earlier. And what were you doing out there, how did you get hurt?

[For just a moment, her fingers twitch towards his hand, but as soon as he pulls back, so does she. Something in Oswin's chest aches to grab the Doctor's, but before she can, he's talking and...asking what she'd hoped he wouldn't.

And she doesn't know quite how to answer, so Oswin merely falls back on what's comfortable.]

Forgotten me already, have you? [Her tone is challenging and teasing all at once and she gives him a smirk to go with it. Because that's all she knows to do in situations like this.]

Forgotten...?

[He falls silent, frowning as he tries to recall just who exactly this girl is. She doesn't look familiar, though she says she knows him and well there's plenty of people who've researched him.]

Have we met?

Once, yeah.

[A hint of nervousness slips into her tone and she's suddenly not quite so willing to tease and snark at him.]

What, I go and save your life and you can't even remember my voice? [Oswin dances around the question, dropping hints instead so he can figure it out himself. She wants to delay the realization for as long as she can, because who knows what'll happen?

Last time she saw him, he despised her and what she'd become.]

[Give the Doctor a moment. He frowns and stares hard at her.]

...I'm sorry, I can't recall. I've met more people than I could name. It's nothing personal, it's just that my memory isn't so great nowadays.

Old age'll do that. [She grins, but something about it is most definitely forced, and it drops quickly.

Her voice is just that much smaller when she speaks again.] ...Oswin. My name's Oswin.

Oswin.

[Give him a moment. His eyes widen.]

Oswin! Oswin Oswald?!

[She watches his eyes apprehensively, unconsciously pulling her ragged coat closer around her as her heart races in her chest.

Her head dips in a small nod, and this time, her smile just barely reaches her eyes.] ...Hello, again.

You're alive!

[This has to be the best news he's had in ages. He pulls her into a tight hug and laughs.]

[That's what surprises him?

Oswin stiffens in surprise, at a total loss for how to react. It's been so long since she's been able to actually touch another person, never mind have them wrap her up in a hug, but she does manage to finally return it.

Her fingers wind into the back of his jacket just a little too tightly as she buries her face in his shoulder.] Didn't miss me, then?

'Course I did. [He holds her close.] It's good to finally...meet you.

[She's more or less clinging by now, reveling in the chance to be this close to someone again. Careful, Doctor, she may not want to let go for a bit.]

...And you. Properly, anyway. [Oswin doesn't want to think about the last time they were close enough to face to face. Which, really, was only a few hours ago, from her perspective.]

[He chuckles and squeezes her tight.] good, I'm glad to hear it.

[Still holding onto him for dear life, Oswin takes a few deep breaths, trying to steady herself and anchor all of this into reality.

She's okay for now, even if she knows the questions she doesn't want to answer are probably coming soon. The Doctor's got her and he's actually relieved and happy she's alive and that's a hell of a lot more than she could ask for.]