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"Oh, Peri. . . I'm so sorry." Those were the last words she heard before blacking out and waking up in the medbay. As soon as she did a small, fearful chirp escaped her, which startled her even more.
A chirp? That's odd. Maybe a new nervous tic perhaps? She glanced around the room and after seeing that the Doctor wasn't there, she slowly got up. Ow. OW- Why do her legs hurt so much? And as soon as she glances down, she screams, knowing exactly what had happened to her. He failed, and hadn't made it to her in time. . .
Now she could never go home, as her mother would never accept her again and Howard- Oh God she couldn't even imagine what he'd do to her, pending he even believed that she was really, well, Peri. "Doc-Doctor!?" The doors are locked, probably due to the ship anticipating her reaction. And with another chirp of defeat the tears started to flow down her cheeks and she went to curl up in the corner to wait for him, further upset by the wings that began at her forearms.
It had to be at least three hours and more damage had revealed itself as she'd become a bit more of what one would call, a birdbrained type if you pardon the pun. Easily distracted and requiring a little more explanation for things, along with constant reassurance. Of course he was patient with her, but that would only last so long, especially with this face's temperament. But it did feed his ego, since he could feel even more superior over her than she had before, especially seeing as some of her memories had slipped away from her entirely.
Another day, another horrible fate one of his companions has to meet. "Peri?" she cocked her head and faced him, a blank smile on her face as he outstretched his arms to allow an embrace. "I'm sorry. . ." For what? she would ask, to which he'd simply answer "It doesn't matter much, hey- is there anywhere in particular you want to be right now?" her answer shattered his hearts, as she said it; 'Somewhere I can feel free, Doctor. I feel. . . caged up here.'
On this occasion, he blindfolded her and took advantage of her now lowered intellect and simply led her into her room of sunflowers. She wouldn't remember what it was for now after all, and it was more than real enough for her mind. Especially with the riverside and trees, and the little cottage replica that had been added by his last face. What she said as a thanks, once more shattered his hearts and even brought a genuine tear to his eyes. 'Is this where you leave me then? Or are you going to stay? I'd like it if you stayed with me.'
What could he do but agree to stay there with her now? He may be a pompous and sometimes cold bastard with an ego the size of Gallifrey itself, but he couldn't do that to her. Especially since he. . . No. That would be inappropriate now, as he'd always feel as if he was taking advantage to admit his feelings now. "I promise." he began, before pausing. And then- "I'll stay with you until you want me to leave, okay?" She went and hugged him, chirping happily in response as well. 'What if I don't ever want you to leave?' He chuckled. "Well-! Then, I simply won't go." More happy chirps followed, as the voice of the ship filled his head.
She warned him how risky this was if the room malfunctioned, since Peri would likely continue to deteriorate until she was no more than an innocent child in her mindset with a possibility of a rage fueled temper issue as a result of pain due to the malformed DNA alterations. And he didn't care, as long as she stayed happy and alive there with him. Even if his hearts continued to ache horribly. He didn't care how cruel the ship saw this to be, it was better than setting her free to die, since there was no way in the universe to save her at all now. . .