Epilogue
Donna relaxed against the cushions, wondering if she could convince the Doctor to let her keep the couch in its present condition. Ok, so it was probably a little out of place in the middle of time travel equipment...plus you had to edge around it slightly to get to and from the door which in some circumstances might be a bit of a health hazard, but still...
"Better?" the Doctor asked, draping a blanket on her shoulders, "I'm sorry, Donna. I should have thought of you...far too cold a night to have you out."
"I'll have you know I've been out all night on colder nights than this!" She tucked her feet underneath her and leaned back, enjoying the familiar sounds of the TARDIS and the novelty of clean clothes and aftermath of a hot shower.
"I wonder how Clara is settling in," she said.
"She's met Jack so I'm guessing she's just fine," the Doctor said drily, "right! I think we've arrived! Hadn't far to travel, had we? Come on!"
Donna raised an eyebrow and stayed where she was.
"We're arrived," the Doctor repeated, "come on!"
"Oh no!" She leaned back even further and looked at him severely, "no way am I going out there yet. Before you move me, I need at least six hours sleep...oh and a hot meal."
"Why?" He sounded incredulous.
"Because," she spoke slowly, emphasising each word, "when we go out there, there's bound to be some sort of trouble...and if you expect me to help save the world again today, I need sleep and food. In that order."
"Fair enough," he rubbed his head, "you sleep and I'll go find something to eat."
"Ok...actually no..."
"What?"
"If you go out there and don't come back, I'll have to get up and look for you, won't I? So you can wait and we'll go together."
"Whatever you say." He smiled brightly at her and sat down.
"I think all that stuff...the regeneration stuff," Donna said, "it's alright now. You said a few days." She picked up the watch from where she'd dropped it, noting with amusement that Clara's vortex manipulator was gone. She closed her hand around the watch, feeling the familiar sensation of a heartbeat within it. Sighing, she held it out.
"You can mind this for me if you want", she said, trying to inject as much carelessness into her voice as she possibly could.
"Ok," the Doctor's voice was equally casual as he took it, "you can manage it, though. I know you can."
"Yeah...but not yet. Anyway you said to keep it with me. So if you have it and I'm with you, that's the same thing, isn't it?"
He smiled thoughtfully, "in Gallifrey, they used to say that you only really came through the process when you had a chance to mourn for what you lost and accepted what you gained, in each new incarnation."
"But I didn't change when I regenerated."
"Maybe not...but physical appearance was only ever part of it. The acceptance of who you are is what really counts." He gave her a significant look.
"Must be weird though," she said, ignoring his look, "whole new body and face. How do people recognise you...you know...if you haven't seen someone for a while?"
He looked at her for a moment and she knew he was considering whether or not to admonish her for changing the subject. She stared him down, smirking, and he gave up with a slight laugh.
"Jack said once the blue police box kind of gives it away! Handy enough at times though...especially if you're on Wanted signs...best disguise there is!"
"And you've been on quite a few, I suppose!"
"Oh yes." He looked quite proud of himself, "you'll be seeing one or two of them before too long, I suspect."
"I'll be suitably impressed then, won't I? Oh come on!" She stood up and stretched, "let's go! But I get to decide everything we do today and it's fish and chips for starters..."
...
They entered the TARDIS at full gallop, Donna breathless with laughter.
"Oh this is great!" She bent to catch her breath, "Mr Timelord afraid of sea-weed!"
"I wasn't! You threw it at me...could have been anything!"
"It was sea-weed!"
They sank down on the couch.
"This is a permanent fixture, isn't it?" the Doctor asked, looking down at it. Donna smiled hopefully at him.
"The place needed a bit more of a...domestic look."
"Domestic! TARDIS doesn't know the meaning of the word!" He smiled at her, "you enjoyed that?"
"Yeah! We went there three years in a row when I was a kid. Best beach ever! And that disco!"
"We were a bit old for it, to be fair."
"Speak for yourself!"
The screen on the console flickered to life.
"Doctor! Donna! How are things? I hear you've being partying pretty heavy...crashing out on the beach! You're a bad influence on him, Donna!"
"Captain!" The Doctor looked sternly at it, "the fact that you're contacting me this way makes me very suspicious about your vortex manipulator which, as you recall, should not be operational."
"No! As if I would!" Donna turned away to hide her smile.
"How's Clara?" she asked.
"Fine, fine. We've been remembering the good times!! Doctor, she's says you've got plans for the Time Agency. You can't just wander in there blindly."
"Wasn't planning to," the Doctor said, "anyway, they're not plans exactly...more like an...excursion! Donna and I have it covered."
"Have we?" Donna mouthed at him.
"Believe me, they're not excursion type of people," Jack said.
"Clara's colleague...we promised to help her," Donna reminded the Doctor.
"So we did!" The Doctor said, "Jack, you'll have to get the details for us. We'll see if we can find out anything about her whereabouts, if she's been exiled or imprisoned. Who, where and when is she?"
"If you can get to her," Jack said, frowning slightly, "she's committed a huge crime against them, helping Clara. I didn't like to say too much to her...but...it's kind of a long shot."
"Well, we'll stay optimistic."
"Yeah, well, we'll cover you this end," Jack said, "I will need the teleport for this, you know."
"We'll see."
"Into battle then!" Jack offered a small salute.
"It's not a battle!" The Doctor sounded firm.
"I'll see you soon," Jack said, winking at Donna. The screen fizzled out.
"I still don't know what this is all about," Donna said.
"Our holiday isn't over yet," the Doctor pointed out, "your sick leave doesn't officially expire until tomorrow so enjoy the last of your time off."
"Time off!" Donna snorted, "come on then, let's get some more popcorn before we go."
"How could you want more popcorn?"
"I just want one last look, ok? Don't worry, I won't throw any more seaweed at you."
"Hmm...there's a lot of things resembling sea-weed that you wouldn't want thrown at you!"
He held out his arm and she linked it as they went back outside.
...
In the Torchwood hub, Jack switched off the screen and went to find Clara who had been sitting stiffly near the entrance ever since she'd been dropped of. SHe sat quietly with her head down but from a distance she could see her try to take everything in in quick glances, as if afraid to be caught looking too closely at anything.
"Make yourself at home," he said to her, "the others will be back soon and you'll be sorry you didn't take advantage of the place being quiet!"
"Thank you," she said, smiling shyly at him, "were they ok? The Doctor and Donna?"
"They're fine," he said, "although I'm not sure I approve of his plans...and it's definitely not like me to do the disapproving!"
"He's amazing," Clara said quietly.
"Yeah..." Jack looked thoughtful for a moment, then brightened and smiled back at her, "they're going to find out any news they can about your colleague."
Clara put a hand to her chest, "that would be..." She trailed off, smiling tearfully, "I'd be so grateful. I just feel so guilty about her. I was her supervisor, you know, and in some ways, I feel I led her into danger. I think we corrupted each other! But she tried to help me in the end and it's my turn to help her now."
"I understand," Jack said kindly, "what's her name?"
"Agent Smith." Clara said, her voice trembling with emotion, "her name is Jenny."
Thanks for the great reviews as always:) Next story coming right up!
