*Spoilers for Wild Blue Yonder*

For those who agree the Doctor needs a hug...

"You don't know where you're from."

He hit his palms against the metal frame once.

"The Flux."

He struck the metal frame again, twice.

"It destroyed half the universe."

He slammed it three times.

"Because of me."

He lost count at this point. The metal frame was being slammed again and again, not that he could really see it anymore because the images of the Flux and its destruction played repeatedly through his head. Half of the universe gone, because he devastated it. Half of creation gone, and yes, not-Donna may have reassured him that it wasn't directly his fault, but deep down, he knew it was.

He let out a cry that felt like thousands of years of hurt and loss had been bottled and trapped inside of him. They were swirling and growing endlessly because his previous incarnations were too stubborn to let them out, to show their true colours to his friends. He had to protect them from how cruel the universe had been to him. Watching them admire the wonders of the universe in awe was enough to overcome the negative feelings he had for what anyone had against him.

Now with no one around, the feelings had transformed into a tornado, with the winds howling and lashing out in his voice, echoing the empty tunnel ducts. Down here, he was hidden from the main spaceship facilities. And down here, he could hide the pain away from everyone but himself, and maybe the pain could fill up the empty space around him so that it could engulf him in more guilt and sorrow than he deserved. Maybe it could drown him and then he wouldn't be a problem anymore-

"Doctor, stop!"

He tried to land another kick on the metal frame but a pair of hands was forcefully pushing against his shoulders to stop him from doing so. His vision tried to focus on eyes filled with fear and horror that was going to start saying things to take him down again and...wait. His vision refocused, and those eyes were instead filled with concern and worry, but not for themselves.

"You're going to hurt yourself if you keep doing that," a gentle voice wandered into his ears, a soothing tune that calmed the storm within him.

"(Y/N)?" the Doctor muttered, his expression softening. He got a nod in return.

But then the memory of what had happened five minutes ago flooded his mind and his expression hardened again. He stepped back from the figure and shouted, "How do I know you're (Y/N)?"

Before (Y/N) got the chance to reply, he yelled, "I'm not going to fall for this again! Do not make me go through that again, because I can't. I can't! It is my fault that half of the universe is gone and you know what, I don't know who I am anymore!"

His outburst scared (Y/N), he could tell. Even though (Y/N) had put on a straight face, seemingly unaffected by it, he could see (Y/N)'s lips quivering and hands flinching at every loud noise he made. The Doctor wasn't sure if this was just the not-things being really good at copying, or if it was the genuine (Y/N) that was standing in front of him, taking in all of his rage like a champion.

"I know who you are," (Y/N) stated firmly, taking a step forward to him. He wanted to move away, but his body wouldn't listen. It was like his body knew whether the (Y/N) was the real one or not, and his mind was too occupied to realise it.

And suddenly he felt a pair of arms enveloping him, drawing him into the tightest of embraces. The warmth emanating from (Y/N)'s touch was a soothing wave washing over him.

"You are the Doctor," (Y/N) affirmed, letting go of the hug and holding tight onto the Doctor's hands, just as how he did with Donna, "I don't know what the not things said to you just now, but I don't care what you were before. I only know you, now. And you've saved me and everyone else many times. You are the Doctor, and you will always be important to me."

The words dispelled the tumultuous thoughts that had once churned within him. The lines of tension etched on his face gently gave way. He looked at (Y/N)'s eyes again, this time full of hope and confidence in him.

"I am the Doctor."

He repeated, and (Y/N) smiled in response. He clasped (Y/N)'s hands, fingers intertwining with each other in a firm and purposeful grip to anchor himself to (Y/N)'s presence.

"I am the Doctor."

"Yes, we've established that," (Y/N) giggled, "Are you feeling better now?"

Lifting (Y/N)'s hands up to his lips, he pressed a tender kiss upon them and muttered, "Thank you."

The smile (Y/N) returned him was enough to give him the motivation to keep running towards their next goal.

"Let's go find Donna."