Everything gradually slowed and quietened. He held onto the Doctor, tightly at first, nose buried in his neck, breathing in his scent, so familiar, so yearned-for, feeling their hearts thump against each other, his own slowing until they were beating in time, da-da-da-dum, da-da-da-dum.
He breathed in deep and exhaled slowly, then loosened his grip on the Doctor and gently pulled back so he could look at him again. He bit his lip and brushed his fingers lightly over the big bruise rapidly darkening on the Doctor's jaw.
"Thank you," he said seriously, meaning it more than he could bring himself to say. He hadn't realised just how far out of control he'd been.