[ He doesn't truly want to refuse anything that she asks of him now. As it is, he desperately wants to take her into his arms; such a gesture wouldn't fix or heal what he's done to her physically, but the weight of her in his arms has always been a comfort all its own.
Because his own influence speaks louder than the paladin's for the moment, the Doctor starts to oblige her request, though his mind is even more cluttered with thoughts; his own and the spirit haunting him. He can't stay a step ahead of it like he normally can, and he's worried at the thought of lingering near Vanessa too long. Second-guessing himself in a matter of seconds, he begins to resist, to pull his hands back. ]
I know what it wants, Vanessa. I'm more than capable of handling this and I won't see you hurt again.
[ His mind keeps flashing to the remembrance of his hand around her throat and it sickens him that he lost his grip then. He can't risk it again, he needs to see this through. ]
no subject
Because his own influence speaks louder than the paladin's for the moment, the Doctor starts to oblige her request, though his mind is even more cluttered with thoughts; his own and the spirit haunting him. He can't stay a step ahead of it like he normally can, and he's worried at the thought of lingering near Vanessa too long. Second-guessing himself in a matter of seconds, he begins to resist, to pull his hands back. ]
I know what it wants, Vanessa. I'm more than capable of handling this and I won't see you hurt again.
[ His mind keeps flashing to the remembrance of his hand around her throat and it sickens him that he lost his grip then. He can't risk it again, he needs to see this through. ]