After the Rain

by ChromaticDreams

MAJOR spoilers for "Death in Heaven." After the rain, they lied to each other, all at once. The Doctor and Clara lied to sustain their damaged façades. Danny Pink lied to conceal his guilt. And the Mistress lied to get her friend back. Four short epilogues, one for each character. (4/4: The Mistress)

1. One: The Doctor

For "Death in Heaven," I've decided to write a sort of epilogue for the four main characters. This is the first one, from the Doctor's point of view. The next three (in order) will be Clara, Danny, and finally, the Mistress. Hope you enjoy! I know I've had such fun writing fics circulating around series 8. :)

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After the Rain
One: The Doctor

Sure, he lied to her. When had he done any different? Their entire relationship was built on lies and secrets.

I found Gallifrey. I'm going home.

Out of all the lies he'd spun, he regrets this one the most. Before, he lied to sustain his damaged façade, and now he lies to help sustain hers. They masked their faces and lied to each other, because if they can believe for just a moment they aren't both broken inside, maybe then they can manage to part ways.

Danny hadn't returned. This was obvious. Her eyes inflated to the size of small tangerines simply at the mention of his name. Try as she will, Clara hadn't yet perfected the art of lying, and he hopes she never does.

He didn't find Gallifrey; of course he didn't. He only found stars at the Mistress's coordinates. When he outstretched his hand to open the door he closed his eyes, and allowed brief flickers of memory to flash before him: an orange sky, illuminated by the light of the two suns, silver-leaved forests stretching so far into the horizon it seemed they touched the stars, the lazy summer days he spent exploring the world outside, before he was inducted into the Academy... He remembered himself as a young child, running on the edge of a brook, hand-in-hand with his best friend.

Kochei...

The Master.

The Mistress.

His friend.

And this friend was as much as a liar as he was. It seemed he built his home around liars. There was no Gallifrey anymore, not in this universe. Her final gift was utter deception, and he had accepted the bait thoughtlessly.

The Doctor diverted his attention to the console of his TARDIS, a welcome- yet grim- distraction from his tormented thoughts. Snapped levers and severed wires littered her console. Guilt panged in his hearts as he remembered who had done this to her. He wanted to forget. He wanted to pretend this day was an unwelcome dream, but whenever he tried to catch a few winks, her face stared back.

"I want my friend back," she said.

Well. So did he... desperately. Just not like this.