Rule One: Clara Lies
Dr Chang strides away, but Clara stands and doesn't follow. Danny is here, then. She's surrounded by see-through tombs, and Danny is here too. He doesn't fit into this picture—he's normal. He's the one thing in her life that's even approaching normal. They sit—sat—in on Tuesday nights, had a takeaway and watched TV, curled together on the sofa. He'd laugh at something funny; her head would bounce on his chest.
She feels a bit sick.
But if Danny is here, she can talk to him. If this isn't just some big joke—if it is, it isn't funny—she is going to tell him. She was prepared, before, had all the notes stuck on her shelves. She knew for certain when she made that phone call, still knows now, that she will never again lie to Danny Pink. And she's going to tell him that. It's a promise.
The Doctor has been watching her as she has been busy not following Dr Chang. It only now crosses her mind that she can't see where he has gone to. The Doctor leans in closer, pops her little thought bubble, and asks, "Are you okay?"
She has been faced with nothing but that question or a variation of it over the last few days. She always found it hard to answer—the answer is so obvious, she often just stayed silent until whoever asked the question realised how obvious and boring they were being and stuttered something else. She almost snorts at the Doctor, at his genuine concern. She doesn't deserve it. She has lied, so much. But now she tells the truth, the simple and undeniable truth. She owes him at least that.
"No."
He looks at her outstretched hand, then her face—perhaps to check if she's lying this time.
He makes his decision, takes her hand.
It's funny, she thinks, how a hand that feels so cold to the touch can be so warm.
THE END
Author's Note: I thought of the last line first and worked backwards. I just loved that little moment between Clara and the Doctor. Every time he asks Clara if she's okay I melt a little. The friendship between these two this series has floored me. I may never recover.