AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is my first actual Doctor Who fan fiction story. I'm also not British so forgive me if their dialog doesn't sound quite right. Thanks! Enjoy the story!
If he hadn't looked up in the niche of time...If he hadn't moved as fast as he did...if he hadn't ended up sacrificing the fate of the world to save her...would she still be here?
::Back to the beginning::
"I don't know why I'm crying," Clara commented with a small, unsure smile as she looked down at the key in her hand with tear filled eyes. The Doctor smiled and replied, "I do. Remember this. Remember this. Right now. All of it because this is the day." His smile widened as he went around to the other side of the central console swinging the umbrella and exclaimed, "This is the day everything begins!"
Clara smiled as she ran her thumb over the key and thought about what this meant for her. She was suddenly grabbed from behind by something very cold as she dropped the key and heard the Doctor yell, "Clara!" He was already running towards her, wielding the sonic screwdriver as she was dragged out of the TARDIS screaming, "Get off of me!"
"Water vapor doesn't stop ice. I should have realized," the Doctor commented, more to himself than anything else as he followed close behind, still aiming the sonic at the ice creature holding Clara and pulling her away as he yelled, "Let her go! Let her go now! Now!"
"Get off of me!" Clara screamed as she struggled as hard as she could, trying to eescape the beast's grasp. The Doctor realized what was about to happen, and he froze for a brief moment, before he shouted, "No! Clara!" He saw the ice lady start to fall backwards, and his instincts kicked in as he dropped the sonic and raced forward. He managed to grab Clara's hand as she fell, her weight pulling him down to his knees as she hung high up in the air.
"Clara!" The Doctor called, jerking Clara out of the shock she had been in as she looked up at him to see him trying to get her to reach up with her other hand. She immediately obliged, and now having a form grip on both of her hands, the Doctor began to pull her back up. After a few minutes of struggling, the Doctor was finally able to haul her back over the edge as he stumbled back and fell. He was still holding onto her wrists while she held onto his, so he accidentally pulled her with him as she fell on top of him.
The Doctor could feel her shaking against him, and he instantly sat up as he wrapped his arms around her comfortingly and protectively. Clara's breathing was ragged and long as she started to calm down from her near death experience. The Doctor sighed in relief that she was safe as he placed his head on top of hers and closed his eyes. He wasn't used to such intimate gestures or acts, and to be honest, it usually made him incredibly squeamish and awkward, but this time it was different. It was comforting, and it caused something else to well up inside of him. It was a warm sensation that felt familiar, but he just couldn't place it or name it. Not now, at least.
A little while later, the soothing silence was suddenly pierced by a high shrill, causing them both to jump as the Doctor frowned and stood up. He took Clara's hand and helped her to her feet as he led her over to the TARDIS, stooping down to pick up the sonic on his way over. He opened the little door on the left door and answered the phone that was inside, "Hello?"
"Doctor, the snowmen 'ave the pieces of the ice lady!" Jenny exclaimed on the other line, and even Clara, who had to place her ear next to the phone, was able to hear the fear and panic in her voice. "What do we do?!"
Suddenly, a strong wind blasted past them, nearly knocking the pair off their feet as Clara instinctively grabbed onto the Doctor for support. The ground beneath their feet began to soften as they started to sink into it. The Doctor stiffened when he figured out what was happening. It had to be snowing and storming extremely hard to deplete the supply of such dense water vapor so quickly. He then commented into the phone, "Just stay there and don't leave!"
"Yes, Doctor!" Jenny replied, and both she and the Doctor hung up as the Doctor turned to Clara. He gave her a wide smile and asked, "You ready to save the world, Clara?" Clara couldn't help but smile right back at him as she laced her fingers with his and questioned, "Do I have a choice?"
"Not really," the Doctor replied with a mischievous grin, and Clara rolled her eyes in amusement as he pulled her inside the TARDIS. He let go of her hand and ran over to the central console. After pulling the final lever, he turned his attention back to Clara and walked over to her as the engines began to rev.
"You're going to have to change," the Doctor commented as he stood in front of her. Clara raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms, about to ask why until the Doctor gently grasped her hand, lifting it up. He placed something in her hand, and her eyes widened in surprise when she saw what it was. It was the key! How did he find it when she didn't even know where it had landed?
"How-" Clara began to ask, but the Doctor stopped her mid sentence with a wave of his hand as he gently pushed her towards one of the doors and informed, "First door on your left. You'll find everything you need in there." Clara gave him a questioning look but didn't comment or argue as she nodded. She went up the steps as the door in front of her opened, startling her as she looked over her shoulder at the Doctor who only smiled.
"The TARDIS is only welcoming you," the Doctor soothed with a grin, "but you need to hurry. This may be a time machine, but we're already set on our destination, and we've got a world to save."
Clara smiled and nodded as she ran down the seemingly endless corridor until she came to the door the Doctor had indicated. She was unsure how to open it since there were no handles on the big metal doors that slid instead of swung open, but she noticed a flashing red button, and something compelled her to push it, silently urging her, so she did. The doors slid open, and she stood there in shock and awe at the interior.
It was a bedroom with a bed with bright red comforters and gold colored pillows. By what she could see, the sheets on the bed were also gold in color. There was a metal dresser built into the wall, but she needn't go look in it for something better to where because there was an outfit already lying in wait for her on the bed.
"Is this your doing?" Clara asked the ship, not really expecting an answer as she walked over to the bed, picking up the clothes laid out for her. To her surprise, the engines hummed as if affirming and answering her question, but she knew she really shouldn't be surprised. Nothing about the Doctor or the TARDIS made sense, not entirely, at least, so there were bound to be more surprises in store for her.
The Doctor was looking at one of the two pull down screens when he heard one of the doors open, and he turned around. He was amazed by what he saw. Clara was wearing a red shirt with sleeves that went down to her elbows that had a black collar and black cuffs. She also had on a pair of black jeans that fit her perfectly. Of course, he knew she would come out wearing something else, something thinner and lighter so she could move around easier, but he didn't expect her to come out looking...well, like that.
"Close your mouth," Clara teased as she smiled and walked past him. "You'll catch flies."
The Doctor snapped his mouth shut and blushed; he hadn't realized his mouth was hanging open in awe of her beauty. Clara smiled as the TARDIS shook as it landed. The Doctor ran past her towards the front doors and called back to her, "Just in time! But I do think the TARDIS took her time getting here!" Clara smiled and chased after him as he opened the doors and stepped out. What they saw shocked not only Clara but also the Doctor. He had expected to get there first before Dr. Simeon. He was wrong.
"You're too late," Dr. Simeon stated triumphantly as he motioned to the large glass sphere and added, "Behold!" Clara and the Doctor watched in horror as the snow in the oversized snow globe began to melt together and began to grow as it froze into ice. A figure rose from the still forming pile of ice, and terror filled Clara when its gleaming eyes landed upon her. It gave her a sharp toothed grin, causing a shiver to go down her spine, but she held her ground despite her fear.
The creature turned to face them, still contained within the globe as the Doctor took a step back and commented, "Run." Clara was so focused on the creature that she only registered that he had spoken to her as she blinked and asked, "What?"
"Run!" The Doctor yelled as he grabbed Clara's hand about to run into the TARDIS when a loud crash pierced the air, and pieces of glass flew past them and around them. The ice man had broken out of the globe.
Clara's eyes widened as she tightened her grip on the Doctor's hand. Suddenly, the creature surged towards them, a murderous lust in its eyes, but by the time she could scream, she was pulled inside the TARDIS, and the door was slammed behind her. The beast pounded on the door in frustration, but Clara knew it couldn't get in as she looked up at the Doctor in surprise at how fast he had moved.
"Time Lord," the Doctor commented with a sheepish smile. "Quick reflexes."
Clara didn't reply; she only nodded as the Doctor turned and ran over to the control boards, flipping a few switches before pulling the final lever. The TARDIS shook as Clara went over to the Doctor and asked, "What happens now?" She knew they had failed, and the world was now doomed. What she didn't know was what was going to happen next, and she was scared of the answer. The look in the Doctor's eyes scared her even more. It was a look of fear and uncertainty.
"We save the others, and we escape."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know it's not entirely British, but I did the best I could. For my Star Wars readers, I'm working on those stories. No promises on when they'll be updated. For my Doctor Who readers thanks for reading! :D Reviews are like stickers and cookies! Can't get enough of them! So please review! :D
