A/N: An AU scene from The Time of the Doctor. I do not own Doctor Who, but it doesn't stop me from loving it.
He could hear the engines, knew that his dear ship was coming back. Why it took her so long was beyond him, but he hobbled his way towards the sound as the people of Christmas followed him. He watched as the box materialized and couldn't help the anger that bubbled up when he saw a small frame clinging to the front. Clara turned to face him, tears in her eyes as she looked at his aged form. The argument didn't last long, before they were hugging tightly. He knew he would have to send her back, but as he looked around, he realized he could give her one more day with him. One more gift, to his impossible girl.
The second time the TARDIS returned for him, he wasn't waiting for her. In fact, he hadn't even known it was gone, and was unaware that Clara had been brought back. She had surprised him with her arrival, and he had dropped what he was doing, literally, to greet her. He had aged countless years, spent all of them defending his new home, and he knew he would die soon. His fears were realized when the Daleks attacked, demanding him. He stood proudly in front of them, the spark of confidence and power still bright in him despite his age. Clara stayed inside, pacing as she cried silently, before looking at the crack in the wall.
The Doctor glared up at the Dalek warship as they demanded him. He sat heavily as he felt his energy waning, knowing he was failing. He sighed, closing his eyes.
"Come now, Doctor, you aren't giving up now are you?" The optimistic voice of his companion jolted him from his thoughts. He waved her off as she moved to stand near him, not wanting to be fussed over. Except, she wasn't fussing over him. He looked up, wondering if maybe some sort of shock had set in. "We could take them, together you know. It would be so easy." He frowned as she spoke and she lowered her gaze to him. Her eyes were filled with a golden light, something he hadn't seen since…
"Clara, no! What did you do?" He sprang up with surprising dexterity, adrenaline he didn't know he had now coursing through his veins as he reached for her face. She waved him off this time, simply chuckling.
"Your people, doctor, care too much to let you just die." She patted his cheek. "They've sent you a gift." The Doctor shook his head, as painful memories filled his thoughts of the last companion who had held such power. She pulled his face to hers, and he was ready to absorb the energy from her to save her; she simply blew in his face, a gold mist flowing out. He breathed it in without a thought, and gasped as he felt the regeneration energy start to flow through him. She winked and jumped down off the tower, rolling on landing. He watched as she fought a Dalek head on, but lost sight of her as he changed.
Clara watched with a small smile as he completed his regeneration. The Doctor had pulled the rest of the energy from the Time Lords from her, giving him an entire new set of regenerations. She couldn't wait to meet this new Doctor…
"Do you know how to fly this thing?"