They survived Trenzalore. A second time, he thought with a smile as he watched her ramble on about the small creature she was absolutely sure they should have rescued as he plugged in the coordinates to a new place. It was a sort of rodent, something common to the planet, but the Doctor knew – you couldn't introduce a new species to a different world.

Pointing at her with his Sonic as she chuckled, he argued, "You lot destroy your own with things that come from the same planet, imagine the havoc a space rat could do to the ecosystem. Entire populations of indigenous species wiped out overnight just off the bacteria in its snot."

"How much damage could it have done?" She teased, "It's the size of my palm – smaller even. Could have kept it in a cage in my bedroom."

"Absolutely not," he told her with a swipe of one arm as she moved around him to secure the doors. "Clara?"

"Yup," she chirped.

"Bedroom, reminds…" he gestured up at her, "I fairly sure I left my psychic paper on your wardrobe."

"No," Clara told him curiously, "You pulled it out to demonstrate how we were going to get onto the planet of cat people without being cats and then you put it back in your coat pocket."

He smiled up at her a moment before shaking his head and looking back to the console, "And then you asked me to bring down the ridiculously heavy box of winter boots from the top of your closet, so I set it down on the wardrobe just inside your room. We'll need it…"

Pushing a button, he straightened, brow furrowing as he listened for the sound of a door opening that never came and when he turned, she was frozen to the spot, staring at him with wet eyes and a frightened look. The Doctor took a step towards her and she shook her head, smiling instantly before sniffling as a tear rolled easily off each eye.

"What is it?" He asked sadly.

She wiped at her face, turning away from him before tilting her head, "Sorry, just, before – what happened before, you telling me you wouldn't ever send me away… and then you did… and," she raised a hand towards the doors and repeated, "Psychic paper, on the wardrobe you said?"

His head hung slightly as he realized – she thought he was sending her away again. With a story about a left behind thing. "Clara, what I did, I did to protect you."

She only nodded.

Sighing, he exclaimed, "Planet of cat people, we've been talking about this for ages, do you really think I'd…" he watched the way her features only slipped further into desolation and he uttered, "You do."

"I want to believe you wouldn't," Clara started, "But you promised, and then you lied."

Rubbing the back of his head a moment, he took another step towards her, "And every time I send you out those doors you're going to think I'm just sending you away again, is that it, Clara?" He smiled as she slowly nodded, "How can I assure you? How can I lighten that shadow of doubt?"

Closing her eyes, she took a long breath and then looked at him again with a sad thin-lipped grin and nodded, "Be here when I get back."

"I pr…" he started, but she raised a hand and shook her head.

"Words are lies," Clara reminded, "Don't promise, just be here."

Nodding slowly, he watched her cautiously unlock the doors and step outside, closing them gently behind her and when he stepped forward to pull the door panel to his left open, he found her standing just outside holding onto the one to his right. Her eyes met his quickly and his hearts broke because he understood the damage done wouldn't so easily be repaired.