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Socially Awkward?

Graham paused, aware that he was just voicing his fears. He had no idea what the Doctor made of him just talking. But it was the truth. It was difficult, living in the aftermath of cancer. He would have confided in Grace but being a widow just added to the feeling of isolation.

"It's like I'm always running from it. You know?"

The Doctor looked up. One eyebrow raised as she made her way around the console. "Running?"

"From the cancer. Only I can't can I? Not really. Is. I dunno why I am saying all this." He sighted. "Old man rambling."

"Ramble on." The Doctor stopped what she was doing. "There we are, in orbit now. Graham, I'm a rubbish person to tell all this too." She stepped around the console before coming to sit next to him. Graham sighed. "I wish I could say something useful."

He shook his head. "Honestly Doc, I don't think there is anything useful to be said."

She nodded. "Cancer isn't something Gallifrey had to deal with."

"No?"

"No." She paused. "It's not an exclusively human thing. I know animals can get it. Clara told me once, her Gran's cat had it. When she was little."

"Aww poor cat." Graham smiled slightly. "At least I can moan about it. Poor animals just have to get on with it. I forget sometimes you're not from Earth."

"Me too. Spend so much time there. I'm sorry Graham. I really am. I can come out with all this stuff to Zellen about how wonderful humans are but then." She sighed. "When it matters." She shook her head as he frowned slightly.

"Doc."

"I want to say something clever and profound. Something to make you feel better but I can't." She bit her lip. "Because I don't know if your cancer will come back. I don't know how to make sure you will be ok. And that." She looked away as Graham watched her intently.

"What?"

"That scares me." She paused. "I've travelled with loads of people. Even my granddaughter."

"You're a gran?"

"Susan, my granddaughter died. In the Time War. Others left, settled down. Amy and Rory died to be together. None were unwell. And I don't know how to deal with that. I honestly don't and that, Graham, scares me." She looked away, her eyes only flickering to his once.

"Ok." Graham squeezed her hand. "Things do scare you. Feelings and things."

She nodded. "Socially awkward."

"Nah. It's not that."

Her eyes snapped back to his. "You care about us as much as we all do about you. Doc, you're more human than you think." He patted her hand before standing and heading off to find the younger two. The TARDIS hummed gently, signalling that she was resting as the Doctor rested her head against the console. "They really think nothing scares me, Old Girl." She sighed as the lighting in the room changed to a lilac hue. "These humans, my fam. They think because I'm not like them things don't scare me. When will they realise everything scares me? Loosing them most of all."

Xxxxxx