Cold War

"Everything alright out there, Clara?!" John's voice barely cut through the rushing wind and the crisp autumn air. His hand was clutching onto the throttle of a motorboat, his motorboat, and John could feel his hair whipping about harshly. Droplets of ice water stung his face as they chopped through the waters of Cold War Lake, with no particular destination in mind.

"It's wonderful, Doctor! I feel like I'm flying!"

Clara's figure was at the bow of the vessel, hanging off the front end as her long hair tossed about her head, the girls eyes closed as the chill lake water caused her cheeks to grow a rosy pink. It had been her idea to come out on the lake after the book signing at the local Pub, and though John originally had a bad feeling about the journey, he was having one hell of a time now. Steering the boat meticulously through the slight curl of whitewater, Clara laughed in joy and excitement, turning around and sitting with her back to the bow.

She looked beautiful in a satin dress, which was now dark with water, and her ponytail had turned to sharp ringlets which bounced about her face as she crawled back to the stern. Plopping down beside him, John continued to steer through the slight sheen of heavy fog which had fallen across the water,

"I've never been on a boat before," Clara admitted, swiping some moisture from her brow, "it's fantastic,"

"I haven't been out in this in in a long time," John admitted. His boat wasn't all that grand, really. It had a metal body, which was cold and clanged whenever something happened to slam against it. The inside was just benches, and in the back, a V6 motor that was older then he. But it still chugged along the lakes surface with ease, bouncing along like it was still young, "I used to fish,"

"You don't anymore?"

"No," John felt suddenly downcast. He hadn't taken the boat out since his last day with the Ponds. He missed them dearly, just as dearly as he missed River. Even so, John couldn't stay unhappy for long, as he was with Clara. His Impossible Girl. After all, there was no point in living in the past when there was still an uncountable amount of moments to have in the future.

"John, I think someone else is coming through the fog."

Blinking out of his thoughts, John let off the motor a bit, feeling the boat lurch as it came to a stall in the water. In the silence the sound of another motor could be heard, chopping right towards them. Having a suddenly bad feeling about the situation, John tried to start the motor back up to flee, only for it to cough and sputter. Strike that last thought about it being dependable,

"Oh, Dalek's," John grabbed the pull string and heaved it a few times, only to jerk his head upwards as Clara let out a startled yelp. A large hook had nearly impaled her. Had she not scrambled to one side, she would have had a significant bruise in a not very comfortable place. Jostling as the rope attached to the hook tightened, their boat began to drift as Clara hobbled to John's side of the boat, grabbing his arm as he continued to pull at the motor, praying for it to turnover. It didn't though, merely coughed in anguish as another dark shape appeared through the fog.

"We could jump?"

Clara glaced at the blackwater wearily as John shook his head,

"We're already to far from shore. And you'd probably freeze before you even got close," John admitted,

"Paddles?"

"Gone. Broken years ago,"

"Anything?" Clara's voice had gone up in pitch slightly as another motorboat came into view, holding several dark figures, "anything at all?"

Before John could respond, the other boat bumped into theirs. It was slightly larger, and held four people inside. All of them were men, older looking and droopy eyed. John couldn't tell if they were friendly or not, as they said nothing as two of the men boarded their vessel. John was so preoccupied by this he almost missed Clara, who lost her balance on the bench and tumbled back first overboard.

"Clara!" lunging for her, John felt his arms being grabbed by one of the men from the other boat, "Clara! Help her, dammit she's not coming up!"

John continued to thrash as one of the strangers looked at him in a funny way, then shed his jacket, reaching a hand into the water where Clara had fallen in. It only took a moment for her body to be hauled back aboard. She was shivering and unresponsive as John rapidly shooed off the hands on his arms, grabbing onto his companion instead. Her lips were a pale shade as her eyelashes fluttered, and her teeth chattered as John pulled her in, trying to warm her.

"'ere."

The man who had gone after Clara spoke up, nearly giving John a heart attack as the strangers large jacket was draped over Clara's quaking shoulders, "it's good,"

The voice of the man was heavily accented as John pulled the jacket all the way around his impossible girl, trying to give her as much heat of his own as possible. Why couldn't they ever have a regular Wednesday out? Eyeing the two men now in his boat, John jerked again as the other vessel started up its motor, pulling the stalled one along behind it as they cut quietly across the lake. John wanted to yell, or at least ask why they had been so suddenly boarded by these strangers. But he had a feeling none of them spoke fluent english, let alone enough to give him a full rundown on what was going on. John wasn't relaxed, but he wasn't all that startled either as it seemed none of the men were armed. They only carried flashlights, and the clothes on their backs. And as they gently moved along towards an obscure shoreline, Clara stirred,

"You ok Clara?"

"...think so? What'd I miss?"

"We were being boarded,"

"Oh? What happened?"

"We got boarded," John didn't miss the adorable bewildered expression which flicked across Clara's features as she shook her head,

"No no, what's happening now, I mean?"

"Oh, we're being taken to shore I think. I'm not exactly sure where,"

Just as John said this, the two boats reached a small wooden dock. Despite the heavy fog, there were lights glimmering not far away.

"Out,"

The man who lent Clara his jacket was already out of the boat, his dark eyes shadowy in the quickly falling darkness as John swallowed and nodded, assisting Clara out first before following close behind. It felt good to be on land again, after what felt like hours of being in the boat. Of course the hijacking itself only took a few minutes, but it certainly felt a lot longer. Shaking his head, John kept his companion close to him as the men guided them from the dock and up the narrow path. This revealed a rather large cabin, painted to look like the scenery and partially hidden by a thicket of trees. Thankfully, the heating was working fine as they were escorted inside, out of the quickly dropping temperature. Inside the cabin was a different story. Many figures were in the main room, sitting behind open laptops and wearing earsets. At the center of it all was a taller man with a white coloured beard, and focused eyes. He was staring out one of the windows, only turning when one of the men tapped his shoulder and spoke in what John could identify as Russian. The man, the captain of this little get together, turned and stared at them for a long while, frowning.

"You certainly aren't convicts,"

The phrase caught John off guard, as he blinked in confusion,

"Uh, no."

"Search them. Just to be sure," the man waved a hand as John stiffened. And as John and Clara were pushed back to back and patted down by men from the group (John was surprised Clara didn't bite anyone's hand off), John couldn't help but wonder what kind of operation they had walked into. It wasn't like anything he had ever experienced before, and it all felt a bit surreal. Deciding there was nothing dangerous on them, the searchers mumbled apologies and left as the Captain sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Sorry about that, kids." He groaned, voice heavily accented like the rest of the men, but still English nonetheless, "we're all a bit on edge here,"

"We can tell," Clara mumbled, pulling the large jacket farther over her shoulders as John placed a hand around her,

"What exactly was the purpose of bringing us here?"

John couldn't help the bite to his tone as the Captain shook his head again, hands held behind his back stiffly,

"That was a precaution. There is an escaped convict running around this side of the lake. We couldn't take any chances,"

"A convict?" Clara seemed to lose more of her color as the bearded man coughed slightly, realizing he had yet to introduce himself,

"My apologies, I am Captain Zhukov, commander of security at the Cold War Detention Facility. These are my men, and they will not harm you. They work under my orders alone,"

"And...you're all hanging around here because?"

"One of our convicts escaped the Cold War facility not a few hours ago. Skaldak was his name, Marshal Skaldak."

"Hey, I know that name," John blurted, blinking as Clara gave him a funny look,

"How?"

"He was in the papers wasn't he? About five years back?"

"Yes." Captain Zhukov turned to glance out the window again, a haunted look in his eyes, "he murdered his own daughter," the Captain stated lowly, like if he said it to loud something would jump out of the walls, "bastard somehow kept the lock of his cell from closing and got out when the guards were in cycle. We've cornered him here, but this forest is so large and he seems to know the area well. But you both should be safe here for the night, I will have some of my men escort you back to the opposite shore in the morning,"

"What?" Clara's weak rasp was slightly squeaky as she looked to the Doctor, "what about the kids? And...and Mr. Maitland? I promised I'd be back in time for Artie's chess match,"

"We'll have to improvise, Clara," John admitted, "I think we best stay here, like the Captain said. Not best to be running around with a madman on the loose,"

"I guess. But…"

"No more buts. You should go sit by the fire, you're still chilled to the bone," John rubbed Clara's arms rapidly as she frowned but didn't fight it, shuffling to sit in a folding chair in front of the fireplace. Turning back to the Captain, John cleared his throat,

"Uhm, if you don't mind, Captain. But I get a bit...oh how do you say, fidgety, without something to occupy my time. Is there anything I could do to assist you?"

About an hour later, John found himself knee deep in wiring and circuits. The Captain's technology was outdated and barely running at all. This gave John all he needed to keep his mind and his hands busy. Every so often he'd check on Clara, who'd taken up a place by the fire and dozed. She would stir sometimes from her sleep, and the Doctor would run a gentle hand across her temple, wishing all of her pain to vanish. He knew that Clara's mother had died, and that it was a topic which often plagued her nightmares. But John could never be to careful. After all, he knew how hard it was to relive awful memories of loss over and over again.

"Captain,"

The voice of one of the men brought John's head out from one of the folding tables. An older man with a shaky disposition and a set of large earmuffs was waving over the Captain with a hand, "I'm picking up a radio signal sir,"

"Two way?"

"Yes sir. Should I patch it through?"

"Yes. Let's see what the bastard is trying to pull."

Nodding his head sharply, the older gentleman flipped a switch, opening the radio waves for communication, "Marshal Skaldak, we've picked up on your signal. Are you ready to surrender?"

"An honorable man never surrenders." The voice of Skaldak was deep and raspy, crackling across the radio. It gave John shivers just listening to it as the man breathed heavily,

"Fine. Then what do you want? You're surrounded out here. No place to hide for long,"

"I wish to discuss my terms like human beings, Captain. In person."

"You are hardly in a place to negotiate, Skaldak,"

"But for now, I hold the higher ground," Skaldak released a heavy, rattling cough, "I want to discuss my terms,"

"Very well. I will come to you-"

"No." Skaldak's tone was sharp through the two way, "You don't think I'm foolish enough to let you come to me? No. There is a girl under your care, Captain. I will speak to her."

John felt suddenly sick to his stomach. Clara.

"Don't be daft. I'm not sending an untrained civilian to negotiate with a killer,"

"I'll speak to her only, Captain. If not, I will find a way to escape, you can count on it. You have fifteen minutes to decide,"

The radio signal closed suddenly as the cabin fell quiet. Staring at the Captain, John shook his head,

"No."

"We need the man back in custody before he hurts somebody else,"

"And I won't let that somebody be Clara," John pointed an accusatory finger at the bearded man, "she's under my protection. My responsibility. I refuse to let any harm come to her."

"And I suppose you think you get to speak for me, Doctor,"

Clara's voice caused John to jump slightly. Whipping around on a heel, the small woman was standing right behind him, arms folded, expression cross, "don't I get a say in this?"

"No. I'll go talk to Skaldak, you are staying here,"

"Oi! You heard what the man said. He wants to talk to me. I'm pretty sure he won't show up if he knows you're coming. Your chin alone will scare him off,"

John felt suddenly violated, holding his chin in his hand as Clara brushed past him, standing before the Captain with a gleam in her eyes, "what do I need to do?"

"You know I don't like this?" John spoke up, only to grunt as Clara smacked his chest with the back of her hand,

"I don't think you get much of a vote."

John grumbled unhappily as the Captain chuckled, grabbing a pair of headphones being handed to him by one of his men,

"Put these on. We'll hear everything. And if you need intervention, just call out. I'll send some of my men with you, they know Skaldak's last location."

Setting the headphones over her ears, Clara adjusted the mic in front of her lips. It was really quite fetching on her; action ready Clara. John smiled to himself, shuffling his feet awkwardly as Clara patted his shoulder, squeezing it slightly with her small hand,

"I'll be fine, Doctor. I'll be protected out there,"

"Yes. But don't think you're going out there without me. Give me a headset,"

"Doctor-"

"If you're going I'm going," John Insisted, shoving an earpiece into his head, "you're stuck with me,"

Clara's smile betrayed her seriousness as three armed men opened the front door. Nodding, John took hold of Clara's hand, walking with her from the cabin and into the woods. He honestly couldn't believe this was happening to them. It didn't seem moral, or even legal for that matter. But then again, they were out in the middle of nowhere with a group of Russians. They might as well have been in a sinking submarine, because even that seemed to make more sense then what was going on right now. Continuing to walk deeper into the woods and away from rue safety of the cabin, John appreciated their guards a bit more. Soon through, they stopped at the edge of a clearing,

"This was Skaldak's last known location," one of the men said, though it was slow, as he had to choose his words carefully, "he should be there,"

The man pointed a little ways down the path as Clara nodded shakily, her deep breaths fogging up in the air as she gave John's hand a squeeze,

"I'll be ok, Doctor."

"I know you will, Clara. But this is ridiculous,"

"It seems that way, doesn't it," Clara's laugh sounded like bells in the quiet as John leaned down, kissing his companion's forehead firmly,

"Brave heart, Clara. We'll be listening in from here."

Nodding, John felt the small hand leave his as Clara continued on along the path. John sat down behind a thicket of trees, keeping his ears on the radio as the men around him set up with their guns.

'Marshal Skaldak?'

Clara's voice came through John's mind suddenly. Thankfully, the Captain had given her a script, but if the negotiation didn't go according to plan, Clara would have to be fast with her tongue, 'Marshal? My name is Clara! You wanted to speak to me?'

'Clara who?'

Skaldak's voice was just as deep and frightening in the earbud as John tensed. Any sign of trouble and he'd run to her. He'd pull her into his arms and hold her till their heart's beat the same rhythm, he didn't like when she wasn't with him.

'Clara Oswald, sir. Where are you?'

'Does it matter where I am? You are a brave girl Clara Oswald, to come out here and negotiate with a convict,'

'Brave heart, Marshal,'

John cracked a smile, shaking off the moment of slight humor as Clara gasped a little. Skaldak must have revealed himself, 'y-you said you wanted to negotiate your terms. Well...l-let's negotiate,'

'The Captain won't negotiate with me,' Skaldak said sharply, 'he is not a good man, Clara Oswald. It's been five years since I had my daughter at my side. And I'm no closer than I was to finding her killer.'

'You're...saying you didn't kill her?'

'No. No I would never hurt her...never. She stood by me, always. We sang songs together during stormy nights. She was my baby girl. Yet I was accused of killing her, taking prison time for her real murderer,'

'So why am I here then, if we aren't going to negotiate?'

'I wish to speak to someone with full discretion, someone who will hear me,'

There was a crackle and a gasp as Clara's headset suddenly went quiet. Tapping the earpiece wildly, John's heart was fluttering nervously in his chest. Bad. Bad. Very bad.

"Something's wrong. Something's wrong, Clara's earpiece is dead."

The men needed no more persuasion as they swiftly left the thicket, guns wielded. Following behind them through the dark woods, he exhaled deeply at the sight of Clara. She was leaned up against a tree, eyes wide as her chest rose and fell. Skaldak was nowhere to be seen.

"Clara!" John moved forward quickly, wrapping the small, shaking girl into his arms, "Clara! Are you alright?"

"I'm...I'm fine. I'm ok, I'm ok!"

Clara's breathless laughter soothed John, as he knelt to scoop up the headset which had been thrown to the ground, "how'd I do? Was I good?"

"Not a test, Clara,"

"But was I good?"

John grabbed onto Clara's shoulders, smiling at her widely and kissing her cheek,

"Excellent,"

"Good. I...I dunno where he went."

"The men will find him. What happened?"

Before Clara could answer, the beams of flashlights cut through the woods, as the Captain appeared in the clearing. Beside him stood a lumber figure with grey curly hair and eyes that looked ready to kill. Twelve.

"I swear, I can't leave you two alone together for five minutes," the Scottish roll of his elder brother was soothing yet horrifying at the same time as John pulled at his collar,

"Were you followin' us?"

Clara's voice snapped John out of his thoughts as Twelve huffed slightly and folded his arms,

"Yes. I mean...no...sort of? I had a feeling you two would get yourselves into trouble. And look at ye', out here chasing down escaped convicts," Twelve shook his head. If other men weren't present, John was almost certain he would get a good thrashing, "You two with me, now. Captain," Twelve gave the bearded man a good handshake, "sorry if these two caused any trouble?"

"Not at all, Detective. They were actually quite useful. Clara, John, it was a pleasure having you here,"

"We has an interesting time, Captain," Clara stated, letting the man kiss the back of her hand, while John settled for an awkward half salute. As his companion smiled and jogged off to meet with Twelve, who was already prowling back towards where they had come, John was stopped by a hand on his shoulder,

"Hold onto that one, boy," he stated, nodding his head like he knew something John didn't, "a lass like that only comes around once,"

"Noted,"

The Captain let out a hearty laugh as John quickly followed behind Clara and Twelve. Soon enough, they were all huddled back into the police cruiser after another trip across the lake, the boat trailer rattling along behind them. Clara had fallen asleep an hour or so into the three hour trip back home, leaving only John and Twelve in the front seat. Pulling at his (now ruined) bow tie, John glanced up as his brother made a grunting noise,

"You both could have gotten yourselves killed. That was stupid,"

"You do stupid all the time," John complained, though it was a weak argument and Twelve didn't look ready to back down so easily,

"I'm trained in stupid, mush brain. You're not. Got it? If Clara wasn't here I would have throttled you the minute I figured out where you ended up. You shouldn't be so reckless. There's only one of her, you know. And only one of you,"

John remained quiet as he frowned. He didn't want anything to happen to his Impossible Girl. Him, he could care less about. But glancing back at Clara's peacefully sleeping figure, John smiled. The Captain was really right about her; once in a lifetime girl. Twelve made a noise as he turned up the radio slightly, causing John to look back at him tiredly.

"Maybe just a coffee next Wednesday. Yeah? Or will you go rob a bank afterwards?"

"Yeah," John smirked at his brother and sat back in his seat, "maybe."

A/N: Wow look at that! Another episode completed :) Sorry it took a little while, the plot of this one was giving me some serious trouble. I mean, it's pretty hard to transfer a sinking submarine setting into something even semi-realistic (stretching the 'semi' in the realistic here, guys). Anyway, here it is! I have some ideas on how to proceed with 'Hide', but I'm thinking ahead and am slightly stumped on what to do with 'Journey to the Center of the TARDIS'. I may have that one, as well as 'Nightmare in Silver' in Clara's point of view, but I don't know yet. Anyway, if you have any suggestions for 'Journey to the Center of the Tardis', feel free to comment what you had in mind. Cheers mates!