Chapter 1: One too many

Chapter Text

"Why do bad things always come in three?" the Doctor pondered hopelessly as he and Clara ran away from a rather unpleasant bunch of angry Sontarans... First, the TARDIS landing on the wrong planet, (as per usual-the Doctor thought to himself), then malfunctioning, rendering them unable to escape just as they got themselves into a rather heavy confrontation with a Sontaran squad.

"We come in peace," -the Doctor started -"look,...no guns!" - showing his hands in the air, but the Sontaran leader was adamant. "You and your puny human pet are here to meddle in our glorious business," -he declared- " and you will be destroyed in the name of the Sontaran empire!" He raised his arm to give command, as the Doctor turn to Clara- "Time to go" -said the Doctor as he reached for Clara's hand, and pulled her away. All he wanted was a nice little picnic on a moonlight planet, gazing at the stars and the three moons orbiting them, but no,...life had other plans. They started running, because- "when in doubt-run", the Doctor always said. After a few dozen meters and a couple of close shots, when they thought they had gotten away, and they were just about to reach the safety of the TARDIS, that's when it happened. The third...

Suddenly, the Doctor heard a terrifying scream from behind. It was Clara...- "No!" -the Doctor gasped - "Clara!?" the barrel on Clara's left side has been hit by a laser from a very determined Sontaran soldier, and exploded, the blast of it propelling Clara in the air, hitting her hard in the process. It was like a slow motion for the Doctor, as he watched terrified at the unconscious body of his friend land beside him. His eyes flared with both horror and anger.

"No! Clara?"- there was no response. The Sontaran responsible was revealing a wide smile as he approached hastily towards them, unaware that there was something brewing in the soul of the man standing in front of him, something dark and uncontrollable. He stopped suddenly as his gaze met the man's, and in that moment he knew. He could feel there was no escape from this strange man's fury and revenge. The man's eyes were black, and focused as he looked deeper into him, grazing his eyes over the gun that he was holding.

"To die in battle is a glory for the..." -he thought, as the man reached into his jacket pocket, and pulled a small strange looking metal device. Next thing he knew, he was on his back, gun way out of reach, and the strange man, the girl-pet, and the strange blue box were long gone.

"Clara, please stay with me, Clara?" -the Doctor pleaded as he carried Clara's unresponsive body through the TARDIS door. "Please, no...not again, I can't"- he panted passing the console. She was slowly slipping away into darkness, he could sense it, into everlasting coldness, and he could not help her. He shivered.- "Mad-bay!- he yelled-"NOW!-The TARDIS complied with buzzing and humming, as she materialized the medical station right in the first room from the stairs. She new Doctor needed her help, now more that ever.

"Clara, can you hear me?"-Doctor whispered, but there was no response. His hearts almost stopped in that moment. -No, I won't let you, no...don't you dare...-he let his mind plead. He reached the bed in the med-bay, and placed her gently, but hastily on it. ... " Scan her!"-he yelled out, and a greenish-blue light from a weirdly looking machine crossed Clara's body. -Results pending, -the machine stated, -calculating damage...Internal bleeding, massive blast impact damage, four broken ribs-it started. Doctor listened with dread in his eyes, as he placed IV into Clara's forearm. "You'll be fine Clara, its ok"-he said, mainly for his own sake. -"Just hang on a bit longer..." The machine interrupted him at this point, continuing the scan, declaring a prognosis- 30% chance of s...- but the Doctor switched it off with an angry punch, almost braking it. "Don't you dare"- he repeated, voice shaking fiercely, switching on the monitoring devices. A shy feeble signal came out of it, showing Clara's weakening pulse, but confirming she was still holding on, just. Doctor rushed to the console room, pulling frantically on the levers and pushing swiftly on the buttons. The TARDIS came to life once again, taking off, and carrying them away from the hostile planet. Doctor returned to her bed in matter of seconds, checking on her. She was still breathing, but those were shallow breaths, so weak. "She won't make it"- a terrifying thought crossed his mind..."Shut up!"-he yelled at himself. "Strax! I need Strax" -he breathed out, running again and setting the course for Victorian London where Vastra, Jenny and Strax were.

Jenny was just about to pour some tea into the cups for herself and Vastra, when she heard a familiar sound of a TARDIS materializing in the next room. She and Vastra rushed to the door, but there was no one to exit. Nothing. Just as they were getting ready to knock, the door opened and the Doctor appeared, perplexed and in breathing heavily he exclaimed- "Strax!? Where is he, I need him now!"-it was more of a request than a question, but a terrified look on the man's face told them not to go there..." Right here, sir."- They heard coming from the kitchen, as Strax appeared with a mop in his hands, slightly confused, but eager.

"How may I be of assistance?" he asked casually... "Clara, she's hurt, please..." Doctor's voice broke off before finishing his sentence, as he turned in the spot and entered the TARDIS once again, determined not to leave Clara's side for a moment more than absolutely necessary.- "I'll just get my equipment, shall I"-

When the Doctor entered the room Clara was in, the look of terror crossed his face, and his body momentarily stiffened and shivered. -There was something wrong...what was that beeping?-

He almost cried out when he realized the beeping was signaling that the patent has stopped breathing. - "No, no, no, no, no-he ran towards the bed-NO!"- he repeated once again frantically looking at Clara's non responsive body. He froze for a moment, not knowing what to do, while Strax entered the room and declared lazily- "Not to worry sir, we shall have him up and running in no time, won't we boy? - he finished by looking at Clara. With a flick of his little red device, he started Clara's heart, and slowly started to stabilize her. "I detect some internal bleeding; all under control now...should get plenty of rest, but will be fine."- He stated casually, still beeping around Clara's body which at this point was starting to gain in color somewhat. When he finished, Strax turned to Doctor and informed him he would be leaving now, something about swapping the kitchen, and that he should call if something changes in boy's state, and walked out of the room. TARDIS door closed behind him, leaving Doctor standing there a few meters away from the bed, still unable to move.-" It was too close, he went too far, he should have never let this happen...He was so reckless-the Doctor thought-always putting people in danger, but never again, never again...".

Chapter Management