let's go thig

[makingsouffles]

[If one more person tries to tell her it's going to be okay, she's going to rip someone's head off.

There's no way of telling anyone on this planet that Oswin knows something's gone horribly wrong, apparently this is another one of those planets where telepaths and empaths are a bizarre anomaly. Which is probably why they can't explain why Oswin's spent the past four hours pacing the tram station like a caged tiger, even though she's been told already that rescue's gone off to fetch the passengers on the one that's broken down. Like she cares about that, it'll take them even longer to get to them.

She's too far away to communicate across their bond, but Oswin can still feel him there, feel his presence in her head constantly. And that something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.

Oswin's never felt anything like this before, this overwhelming terror that seems the farthest thing away she's felt from the Doctor's normal presence. She's never felt him this scared, this helpless, this utterly terrified, and it's a physical ache. Telepaths are normally the stronger of the two, the more aggressive, but right now, Oswin's just about ready to tear through whatever she needs to in order to get back to the Doctor's side.

And she does, sort of. She might be small, but Oswin rips right through the gathering crowd like a girl possessed when the rescue vehicle finally arrives, shoving people aside without a care. Finally, finally, after an amount of time that seems longer than all those hours she spent waiting, Oswin launchs herself into the Doctor's arms clinging fiercely to him without even a spare thought towards who might be watching.

She doesn't speak, not yet. She just lets their bond do the talking for now. That'll come later.]

Comments

[mrcool]

[The possession is unlike anything the Doctor's ever felt before. He struggles against it, tries to push it off, but he can't fight it. He's screaming in his head, scratching against the walls and he can't get it to stop.

When it's finally over, he curls up in a ball and cries, and the rest of the passengers pretend not to hear him.

When he finally staggers off the vehicle, his eyes red and him still shaking, it's a relief to feel Oswin there. In his mind, he cries out and clings to her, burying his face in her shoulder. He's shaking violently, trying so hard to keep from crying.]

[makingsouffles]

[Her fingers curl almost viciously in the back of his jacket as Oswin buries her face in the crook of his neck, trying to slow her breathing enough to calm down. It's been torture waiting here and totally helpless to do anything to help.

She takes a few deep breaths, her grip on him easing to be a little less fierce as she closes her eyes and radiates comfort over their bond.] ...you're okay. [Oswin murmurs, her voice full of relief. He's not hurt, at least, not physically.

Though, from the looks of it, that might've been preferable.]

[mrcool]

[The Doctor can't help it. The tears start to well up and he muffles a groan into her shoulder.]

I'm sorry.

[He doesn't even know why he's saying it. It's just his default response to everything. He clings to her tighter and repeats it, over and over.]

[makingsouffles]

Shh.

[She knows him well enough to know that, and therefore doesn't say anything. Her hand rubs gently over his back as she nudges a little more into his mind, nestling there and letting the warmth of her presence radiate out.

There's some little part of her that's terrified whatever's happened can't be eased, that something's done something to his mind. It's the only explanation she can think of, she's felt him physically hurt before. At least there's comfort to be taken in the fact that at least the bond is still there.]

[mrcool]

Oswin.

[He breathes as best he can but the panic is welling up inside him again. There's a flash of memory across their bond, that darkness, screaming for help but no one could hear him.

He almost died today.]

I-I don't want to be here, I want to go. Right now.

[makingsouffles]

[Her fingers tighten again at that, but not for long.

It's her job, being the stronger of the two of them in situations like this. Not that there's a lot of them, but enough so that Oswin knows what to do. Clasping his hand tightly in hers, she nods.] Better find the TARDIS, then. M'sure she's not that far.

[mrcool]

I'm sorry.

[He hates being like this, feeling like he's going to fall apart at the slightest touch, but he's petrified and he just needs to be somewhere familiar and safe.

He gives a little nod and swallows before leading the way. He can feel his TARDIS reaching out to him as well, doing her part to try and quell the fear and panic in his chest.]

[makingsouffles]

Haven't got anything to be sorry for. [She squeezes his hand, following behind without even a last glance back at the station.

The faint hum of the TARDIS working alongside her makes Oswin feel a little better, even if she can't quite tap into her too. They'll be okay, both of them, in the end. Just in need of a bit of recuperation.]

[mrcool]

I know.

[His voice is a little breathless. His hearts are still racing wildly.]

I just feel better saying it.

[Stepping into the TARDIS makes him feel so much better. Letting out a quiet sigh, he closes his eyes and lets that familiarity wash over him, relaxing his panicked mind and slowing his hearts.]

[makingsouffles]

[Giving his hand one more squeeze, Oswin releases it, instead wrapping her arms tightly around him. It's a comforting embrace, this time, not a desperate one, and definitely what he needs.

She won't ask what happened just yet. Being in his mind this long's more than enough to tell her he needs a lot of time before he'll be willing to talk.]

[mrcool]

[The Doctor clings to her and lets out a long, shaky sigh, his arms tight around her. He does try to show her some of it, but likely all she'll get are confused pictures of screaming, a woman, people staring accusingly at him, but most of all, the complete and utter terror he felt.

And then the memories become too much to bear and he shudders violently, a soft gasp escaping him as his breath starts to come faster.]

[makingsouffles]

Shh, shh.

[She takes the images as best she can, trying to make some sense out of them. And when that proves to be in vain, Oswin instead focuses on soothing them away, replacing them however temporarily with better memories, better feelings.

Resting her head against his shoulder, she closes her eyes.] You haven't got to tell me yet.

[mrcool]

[He closes his eyes and focuses on the soothing that she's bringing him, darker memories replaced with happier ones. Taking deep breaths, he drops his head to rest on her shoulder and swallows.]

I tried. I... Can we go lie down? And have tea?

[makingsouffles]

[Understanding travels over their bond and Oswin gently kisses the side of his head.]

'Course we can. [She gives him a squeeze.] You get settled, I'll get the tea, okay? [It might not be the best of ideas to leave him alone but. Tea.]

[mrcool]

[He smiles weakly and nods, reluctantly letting go of her.]

I'll be in my bedroom.

[He's still a little too shaky to trust his legs for a while.]

[makingsouffles]

Won't be long. [She waits until he's safely out of the room before heading off to the kitchen.

And, it's not long before she's pushing the door of the Doctor's bedroom open, having quickly changed into something a little more suitable for resting than her dress and jacket, and with a pair of steaming mugs in her hands.

Oswin gives him a faint smile, handing one of them to him before heading around to the other side to set hers down and crawl under the covers beside him.]

[mrcool]

[The Doctor is looking considerably better when she returns, tucked in under the covers in a pair of striped pajamas with a book propped open in his lap. He's still pale, almost worryingly so, but he's calmed down finally and started to relax.

He looks up when she approaches and gives her a small smile, taking his mug of tea with a murmur of thanks. Once she's joined him, tucked snugly against his side, he leans over to kiss her temple lightly.]

Thank you.

[makingsouffles]

'Least I could do. [Without hesitation, Oswin snuggles against him, her head resting on his shoulder. His pallor still worries her, but there's not a lot she can do about it now besides let him rest for a bit. Being close to one's empath or telepath always helps a lot with stuff like this and she's only too happy to oblige.

Wrapping her fingers around her mug, she takes a long sip of tea, resting against the Doctor's side. Her gaze idly travels to the book in his lap.] What're you reading? [And she'll just send a bit of comfort his way for good measure, doing the same thing mentally that she's doing physically.]

[mrcool]

[The closeness helps considerably and he sips at his tea, relatively content. The terror of before is starting to wear off, thanks in part to both Oswin and the TARDIS, and it feels more like a bad dream than anything now.

He glances down at his book once more and smiles.]

The Man In the Iron Mask. One of my favorites. I have a lot of favorites though.

[makingsouffles]

Mm. Well. You've had a lot of time to pick, yeah? [She smiles up at him, glad to see any improvement from the shaking wreck of a man that had staggered out of the rescue vehicle and into her arms. Bit of recovery does wonders.

Comfortably warm and soothed merely by acting as a soothing presence, Oswin allows herself to relax a bit, while still keeping watch on the Doctor's mind. She's in there already, after all. Might as well keep it stable.]

[mrcool]

[It helps just being in one of his safe places. Both Oswin and the TARDIS make for comforting friends and he's got a book and tea.

Not to mention he's pushing what just happened somewhere far, far back in his mind so he doesn't have to think about it.]

I have. And books never really stop coming. Always something new to read.