8 Years Later
John Smith's day had started out fairly simple, uncomplicated and quiet. He gave a lecture for an hour, then spent an hour in his office before spending another two hours giving another lecture. Fairly simple, uncomplicated and quiet. And then came the phone call from Missy Delgado.
He knew something was amiss when she started the call by greeting him nicely. That was usually a red flag and it certainly was when she began mentioning his goddaughter in their conversation.
"Emily will be moving to London, in case you're wondering," Missy stated casually.
"Yes, she told me she's going to King's College – I'm very happy for her."
"To study law," she added begrudgingly.
John pinched the bridge of his nose. "She's more than capable of making her own decision and you should respect that – not everyone wants to be a scientist."
"Speaking of scientists," Missy mentioned. "How does spending a year as a visiting professor at my department sound to you?"
So, this is what the call is all about. "Why the offer?"
She decided to get straight to the point and come clean.
"I just need you to come down here for a year," Missy Delgado sighed through the phone. "A professor's retiring, one is pushing daisies, a senior lecturer will be on maternity leave and another is close to pushing daisies."
John Smith pondered the offer his best friend of 50 years is selling to him. He had lived in Glasgow all his life and now she wanted him to move to Egham for a year. He knew that this was coming since she had suggested the idea to him several months back.
"I don't say this often, so I'll say this once," she continued. "Just do it for me, please, I'm asking for your help as a friend – we're really short on staff."
He massaged his temples, leaning back against the chair. There was nothing but silence for several seconds. "Fine, but as soon as the contract's over, I'm returning to Glasgow."
"You can move to a different planet for all I care," she muttered. "I need you to come down here before the new academic year starts."
That's only a month from now. He would have to start packing, look for accommodation and do a bunch of other menial things.
"You can stay with me and Emily while looking for a flat."
John ran a hand through his silver curls. "The things I do for you."
"And who knows, maybe you'll find the Impossible Girl again."
His lips formed a sad smile. Eight years. It has been eight years since their last encounter and then there had been nothing. He tried looking for Clara again. He went to the same pub several times, tried looking for her red-haired friend and even asked around, but his efforts were not fruitful.
"Stop using that to bait me."
Missy grinned. "It's working, though, isn't it?" she asked. "You'll have more time to travel to London and all over England if you want to."
"It's a big world, Missy," John sighed. "Clara could be living in a different continent for all I know."
"Maybe, maybe not."
"If this about the offer then yes, I accept it," he stated grumpily. "There's no need for you to convince me any longer."
"Bloody finally," Missy muttered, dropping the sweet tone. "Get here as soon as possible."
Two weeks later, he was well on his way to his new workplace. Well, to Missy's home first.
John's car was filled to the brim with his belongings. He would be living in Surrey for a year, so it was justifiable to bring the essentials, including his electric guitar and the amplifier.
The nine-hour drive wasn't as horrendous as he had imagined, but by the time he had reached his destination, he wanted nothing more than to fall asleep in the car. "Why did I do this?" he groaned, head leaning against the steering wheel.
A moment later, he stepped out of the vehicle. Unloading and unpacking can wait. He could even do it tomorrow.
John made his way to the front door and halfway through, it swung open and a young woman ran towards him before giving him a hug. "You're finally here!" she exclaimed, making her uncle feel a bit uncomfortable with the physical contact. "I finally have somebody on my side."
He couldn't help but chuckle. "That's the first thing to say to your Uncle John after a nine-hour drive?"
"Sorry, it's just been unbearable with mum constantly questioning my decision," Emily explained, finally releasing him.
He flashed her a kind smile as they stepped inside. "She's just worried about you, that's all."
"Well, well, well, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you just got off a twelve-hour flight," Missy greeted, a mug in one hand.
John crossed his arms. "I'm more than happy to drive back to Glasgow right now."
"Yeah, right, you sensitive idiot," she retorted. "See, Emily, this is why your uncle is still single."
"I think it's romantic that he's still searching for Clara," her daughter defended.
"Eight years is-"
"I still have her necklace and have every intention of returning it to her if we were to meet again," he stated sternly.
Missy rolled her eyes. "This is just a modern version of Cinderella, but good luck with your mission, Professor Smith," she retorted before disappearing upstairs. "You can have the guest bedroom downstairs!"
Emily placed a comforting hand on his arm. "This is why I can't wait to move out – she's driving me crazy."
They laughed.
John collapsed on the sofa. "Let's just hope I won't stay here for long."
"Grandad!" a boy of around seven years exclaimed. "Grandad!"
He tugged his grandfather's jacket and dragged the elderly man to the entrance of Forbidden Planet. "Come on," he giggled as his grandfather purposely resisted a bit.
"Oh no, I think I hear my wallet and bank account crying in fear!"
The boy laughed and held onto his granddad's hand once they were inside the shop. "I just want to look at some comics."
"Now remember, you're only allowed one comic book and one figurine or keychain or whatever merchandise your mother approves of."
The child glanced at his mother who was trailing behind them, flashing a grin. "Can I buy a Funko?"
She arched a brow. "What sort of Funko are we talking about here?"
"The Joker," he replied. "The one that I showed you yesterday."
"Yes, that's fine."
He then raced to one section of the shop to grab the box. A few seconds later, the boy returned, clutching it tightly to his chest.
"Comic book?" his grandfather asked.
He nodded and raced down the steps.
"Malcolm, do not run!" his mother warned and he immediately stopped. "Do you want to follow him or wait here?" she asked her father.
"I'll just wait by the counter if you don't mind," Dave stated. "Stairs are apparently my nemesis now."
Clara shook her head. "Let's just hope he won't take as long as last time."
Luckily for Dave Oswald, he didn't have to wait for more than ten minutes as he spotted a familiar figure with a mop of brown curls racing towards him. "Got what you wanted?"
"Yes," Malcolm answered, smiling as he placed the items on the counter.
"Where are we off to next?" Dave asked once they were outside.
"Foyles and then PC World!"
He grabbed his grandson's hand as they crossed the road as the family of three made their way to the tube station. "I thought he had that workbook to occupy him?"
"He finished it in less than two days," Clara replied in a hushed tone. "Said that it was too easy, which is why he didn't give it much attention."
Dave's eyes widened in surprise and awe. He ruffled Malcolm's hair. "My little genius."
The elderly man then focused his attention on Clara. "We really need to sit down and discuss this properly."
"I know, but let's just wait until school starts again and see how things go," she murmured. "Just let him enjoy the summer break."
The family had gone to London during the weekend in order to spend time together and let Malcolm have a bit of fun before the new term began. It was also a perfect excuse to get him out of the house.
Clara Oswald certainly didn't think she would be out and about with her son on a family trip eight years ago. Her past-self would be shocked to see her now, happy and content with what she had. Although sometimes, she did wish to meet John again. Despite their brief encounter, Malcolm Oswald is still their child.
One Month Later
John Smith stood behind the line as he waited for the train to come to a halt. It was around eight in the morning and unsurprisingly, the train was crowded. Not too packed up to the point where there weren't any seats available, but full of commuters who were either eager to get off at the next stop or just couldn't be bothered to sit down.
Luck was once again in his favour today as he spotted two empty seats in the back row and to his surprise, a boy he kept bumping into on the train was occupying one of the seats.
He looked up and mumbled a sorry before grabbing his backpack, allowing John to sit down. This was what, the fifth time this week since he would also see the boy on his commute back home.
The lecturer decided to pass the time by going over his notes for the day. There wasn't much else he could do aside from staring out the window.
Not five minutes into his work, John caught sight of the boy glancing at his notebook. One page was filled with various equations while the other had a phase portrait drawn.
If they were going to be sitting next to each other on a daily basis, he might as well try to make a new friend. "Do you like maths?"
The boy looked up and froze, fear in his eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry," he apologised before glancing out the window again.
"No, it's alright," John assured. "You seem to have a keen interest in this diagram here."
The child merely stared at him. He looked as if he was debating to say something.
"Do you like maths?" he repeated, flashing a kind smile. "I used to find it boring when I was a child."
"It's not boring," the boy argued.
"No, it took some time before I saw the beauty of it," John explained.
"Are you a professor?"
"Yes, but I'd rather be referred to as 'doctor' since it has a nicer ring to it."
The schoolboy's lips formed a small smile. "What sort of maths do you work on?"
That was the first time in a while since anybody had asked him and it was certainly the first time it came from a child. "My research is in Mathematical Physics, so everything from topology to numerical solution."
"Cool," he said in awe. "Do people just call you doctor then?"
"There's this running joke where I'm known as the Doctor back in Glasgow, but people call me John."
"I'm Malcolm," the boy stated.
"It seems like you were interested in reading my notes, Malcolm."
There was an announcement that the train would be approaching a stop soon and Malcolm shifted in his seat. "I am."
"Is this your stop?" John inquired.
"It is," he answered, feeling a bit disappointed that their conversation was coming to an end.
The Doctor stood up to let the boy out. "Well, maybe I can tell you about my work some other time."
"It was nice meeting you, John," Malcolm uttered.
The academic still couldn't shake off the feeling that the child wanted to say something. "Is there something on your mind, Malcolm?"
The coach came to a halt.
Malcolm hesitated for a second. "You mislabelled your diagram – the steady state is zero-one and not one-zero since it's on the x-axis and the arrows should be pointing toward one-one, not away from it since one-one is stable," he explained in a hurry before dashing out, leaving an astonished John.
He quickly glanced at his notebook, scanning his work and examining the phase portrait.
Malcolm is right.