"But how? How can you be here?"
The Doctor began to pace up and down the empty control room in frustration. If there was one thing he hated, it was not knowing.
One thing after another these days. The Fall of the Eleventh. The Question. The Cracks.
And Clara Oswald.
All of a sudden the greatest intelligence in all of time and space was completely without a clue. And that terrified him.
He slowly returned his gaze to the monitor. Upon it was the image of the crack in the skin of the universe, recorded by the all-knowing, all-seeing TARDIS database.
The Doctor felt a bit dizzy looking at it. It was almost like it was staring back at him. Laughing. Taunting him and his cluelessness.
"I closed you! I jumpstarted the universe. The second Big Bang! How can it not have been enough?" he wondered aloud, hand rubbing his elongated chin.
The crack did not answer him. But a certain robot companion did.
"The cracks are caused by the implosion of the TARDIS hyperdrive, affirmative?"
The Doctor nodded to K9. "Yes. They were. Still are, I guess. But does that mean the TARDIS explosion wasn't a singular event? And that it was actually rooted through every time-stream all at the same time?"
His complexion increased, creasing his forehead. "26th June 2010 wasn't the source of the explosion, but instead an echo of the greater explosion occurring elsewhere in time?"
He placed his hands on his head, and closed his eyes in deep thought.
"Is it so much to ask for the universe to be simple? That, just for once, the great scheme of things both good and bad would play out straight? Miracles are one thing. What we have here is quite another."
K9 piped up even though it had no philosophical observations to make. "Master, where is the Dalek located?"
The Doctor sighed loudly. "In the hold. I've put a Tesla barrier around it, just in case. Fry it's circuitry if it tires to leave. I'm not taking any chances until I know I can trust it."
He clasped his hands together and leant back on the wall. "Should that day ever come."
He began to tap loudly to distract himself. "I don't know, K9. Are these people the ones to accompany me to my fate? Is Trenzalore coming? Should I let them in on the possibility of that danger? Am I good for them any more?"
It was a question that needed no answer. The Doctor was sure he knew it already. He was intensely worried about Craig Owens. He was brave, yes, but he was still a very fragile human being. If he was caught in the crossfire, the Doctor didn't know what he'd do. He was most concerned about Clara Oswald. He'd killed her twice. He couldn't bear to see her die a third time. Especially considering how he was coming to feel about her.
There was no sound to be heard but the gentle humming of the TARDIS engine. For not the first time that evening, the Doctor wished that his companions didn't have to sleep.
He may have one of the biggest families in the universe out there, but against the many mysteries facing The Doctor he had never felt more alone. Or useless.
He poured out a bowl of Crude Oil for K9 in his 'Good Dog' bowl, which his metallic companion gratefully accepted, lapping it up to refill his reserves tank.
Then he took a seat and sat with with his head in his hands. He was so zoned out he almost didn't hear her coming. But yet he did.
"Bit late to be having a stroll, isn't it Miss Oswald?"
He swivelled his chair to face his female companion who had only just entered the control room from one of the corridors.
Her hair was all over the place, her eyes were red from fatigue and her posture was akin to an Egyptian mummy, arms hung at her sides and face contorted with stress.
Nonetheless, she was still stunningly attractive.
Her brown eyes reflected the deep shrubberies of Gallifrey, where the Doctor and the Master had once played joyously in their youth. A long time ago, sure, but the good memories never should be outweighed by the bad.
Her nose was small but endearingly cute. Her ears were like little radar dishes, and the Doctor noticed from time-to-time that they often went red around him. Now was no different.
Inside his chest his two hearts began to beat that little bit faster, like a drumming band in full encore.
"I'm sorry Doctor. Is this a bad time?" Clara asked, looking tiny.
The Doctor sensed her discomfort and worry, and his hearts instantly went out to her. He just wanted her to be happy. To pull her into a hug, and whisper in her ear that everything was fine and always would be.
He shook off his inclinations. "No, not at all. I always have time for you, Clara Oswald."
Clara offered him a grateful smile. "I need to talk to you about something," she said. The Doctor gestured to the seat next to him on the sofa. He wasn't catching her drift.
She elaborated for him. "Alone. In private. Preferably, with no K9. No offence!"
The robot dog seemed completely indifferent. "Affirmative, mistress. Farewell Master". With that, he finished his oil and trundled from the room.
Clara walked over to the baggy sofa. The Time Lord was out of the loop about what the norm for a sofa was. His looked like it belonged in a scrapheap, the felt ripped and the stuffing hanging out in places. Nonetheless, Clara sat down on it, tucking her skirt underneath her legs, and allowed herself to get comfortable. Or uncomfortable.
"What's up?" the Doctor asked, focus now entirely on his companion's pretty face.
"It's about that night, Doctor," Clara began hesitantly, doing her best to ignore the haughty implications of what she was saying. "My... nightmare."
The Doctor raised his eyebrows. "Did you have it again?"
Clara nodded, biting her lip. "Except, I'm certain that it wasn't... isn't... a dream." She was struggling to control her voice, which was breaking off.
Sensing her distress, the Doctor placed his hand on hers. He hated to see her upset - no matter the reason. This seemed to relax her a bit, and she continued after taking a moment to catch her breath.
"I've seen it three times now. Once on that night. Then again on the Dalek ship. And again... just now."
The Doctor nodded, stroking her tender hand slowly. "What exactly happens?"
"There's this... voice... in my head. It's like it's mocking me... It keeps saying I can't do anything to make it stop. And it keeps appearing differently. Once it was a shadow, and then it was..."
Her voice faltered again. She could barely speak the words. "You, Doctor."
The Doctor whispered gently to her, soothing her nerves. "What does it say to you?"
Clara shook her head. "I don't know. It just keeps saying that I'm useless, and that I can't fight my fear. I just..." Her voice trembled as her raw emotion bled into it. "I just hate it, Doctor. I just want it to stop!"
She was shaking a lot now, tears rolling from her hazel eyes and onto her nightgown. The Doctor wrapped his arms around her, and she laid her head against his chest.
"It hurts me, Doctor! It attacks me if I question it! It feels like a knife in my skin! Why is it doing this to me?"
The Doctor held her close as her breathing slowed back to normal. She had been on the brink of hysteria, but his touch had brought her back.
"Listen to me, okay Clara?" the Doctor whispered as he stroked her head. "Whatever is going on, I'll figure it out. We'll figure it out, together. Okay? Because that's what we do. I won't let it hurt you ever again, you hear me?"
Through her tears, Clara nodded slowly. She was chewing her bottom lip to try and stop her crying, and it was starting to work.
"You should never keep these things from me, okay? You're under my protection. I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you" he said calmly, akin to a relaxing waterfall cascading away all of life's problems.
The Doctor began again, whispering softly into her ear. "Did I ever tell you the story of a certain young Time Lord, born on the sixteenth province of Gallifrey? He was raised by a very kind mother, not unlike your own. She would tell him stories, of The Grand Boundaries of the Seventh Quasselect, and the Silver Moons of Boon. You'd love Boon, Clara. All of the people go around wearing fezzes, and the cats have two tails!"
Clara laughed, her smile instantly bringing the light back to her darkened features. "You're so full of it, you know that Doctor?"
The Doctor chuckled. "It's all true, I promise! One day, I'll show you."
In response to his warmth, Clara closed her eyes and began to visualize the Golden Orange skies of Gallifrey, just as the Doctor had lovingly described to her on many prior occasions.
"Well, anyway. This young Time Lord was particularly headstrong and reckless, and he wanted to rush through his childhood, so he could own a TARDIS for himself, and see the stars". The Doctor smiled sadly. "He never recognized the importance of his family, always in a rush, and he never realized how much he would miss them... when they were gone."
Clara put her hand on the Doctor's. She understood his pain. They had both loved and lost. They were kindred souls. Two of a kind.
"In the end though, this Time Lord ended up having to steal his TARDIS because he wasn't qualified to drive one. He was so... determined to see those stars. And, he did. Seeing all of the worlds and nebulas changed him. He knew that they were beautiful, but he didn't want to experience them alone. Not any more. Only then did he realize exactly why he should never hide his emotion. It was a thing to be celebrated. To think that he had believed it to be a distraction! Nothing is more important than keeping your loved ones close".
At that, his embrace of Clara seemed to grow tighter. Only a slight change, but it was obvious that his narration was making him think very deeply.
"That's why he travelled, Clara. He wanted to see the universe, but the universe didn't want to see him alone. So, he met people. People who were very important to him, in the many years that followed. He didn't want to entertain his own selfish desires any more. Now he just wanted to take his friends, his companions, on a journey that would brighten their lives. He never knew why. He never knew when. He only knew... who."
Clara raised her head and looked straight at the Doctor. He looked right back at her, lost in the depths of her brown eyes.
They were so close together now, he could smell her perfume. Cherry. It suited her well.
"When he met someone who he knew... just knew... he wanted to take on this adventure, wanted to share those experiences, he never hesitated. Because there's just so much out there, Clara. So much amazement to feel. So much happiness to discover. So many beautiful sights that should only be experienced with people... that you love."
Clara blinked slowly. It was like time had stopped around them, and they were the only people in the universe. "What are you thinking, Doctor?" Clara asked, watching him closely, her heart beating at an accelerated rate.
The Doctor took a deep breath. "Isn't it obvious? I only take the best of the best. And that's you. You were always more than just a ghost."
The moment could have lasted forever. Not a pin dropped. "I will always be there for you, Clara Oswald."
Clara needed no further invitation - she suddenly grabbed the Doctor by the lapels of his bow-tie, and pulled him down to her level, where their lips met, connecting them in a passionate kiss. The Doctor didn't flail his arms at all, but placed them gently around Clara's waist. Clara's lips were warm, and soft. Her breath was sweeter than one of her chocolate soufflés. She was also (modestly) a fantastic kisser. It was like being at peace with the world, relaxing all of the Doctor's senses in a zen-like fashion. Their lips moved in synchronicity, exploring each other slowly, but meaningfully. Then Clara licked the Doctor's lips for entry, and he let her in, their tongues brushing together gently, but with a rough and desperate edge too.
They just stayed like that for what seemed like a century, arms around each other, and lips moving together frantically. Finally, they broke apart, breathless.
"I guess this really is a snog box, huh?" Clara managed to gasp, still almost brain-dead from the overwhelming rush surging through her body. She had been on a high, and was taking her due time to come down from it.
The Doctor began to scratch at his head nervously. He too was in shock. "Well... that was..." Then he broke into a smile. He knew exactly what word to use. Clara returned the smile. There was no other word to describe it. The most fantastic experience either of them had ever had.
"Geronimo!"
TO BE CONTINUED...
NEXT CHAPTER: Victorian Values - Vastra, Jenny and Strax return! (25/5/13)
It had to be special. It needed it's own chapter. But what did you think? Was it worth the wait? Did it do Whouffle justice? I'm eager to know! It'll only get better for the lovestruck pair from now on.
So, if you liked (or disliked) this chapter (or any), please leave a review. It always helps me through the tedious time that is EXAMINATION SEASON.
The Name of the Doctor is tonight, so fingers crossed for Whouffle, and, of course, a superb season finale! No matter who Clara may turn out to be, I will continue this story as it is only fiction.
As always, it's been my pleasure. See you all next time!
ASouffleToServeTwo