Epilogue

The low hum of the TARDIS console was the only sound accompanying the occupants inside. The Doctor rested in his armchair on the upper level of the console room. His eyelids refused to open. Below, Clara sat restlessly on one of the bottom steps leading to the lower floor. After a visit to the TARDIS medbay - and a change of clothes and bandages - the pair both returned to the console room. Exhaustion had finally hit them, so the Doctor moved the TARDIS to Clara's flat. Neither, however, managed to exit the blue box. Clara's resurfacing guilt had instead driven her to the lower level to gather her thoughts. What could I possibly say to the man I physically hurt? The man who returned, and asked to stay with me even when I was grieving? The humming of the TARDIS grew louder with the voice in her head. I could have fought back harder. I could have stopped his interrogation earlier if -

"Clara, you do know the TARDIS picks up on your distress?" The Doctor called wearily. Clara let out an awkward chuckle.

"Yeah, I kinda forgot. Sorry."

"Come upstairs," He suddenly said. She could hear the chair creak, followed by a grunt. The sound of boots on metal then echoed throughout the interior. Clara slowly got up and ascended the stairs to find that the Doctor had come down to fiddle with the controls. He leant on the console panel for support as Clara approached him. Upon seeing this, she stopped in her tracks, deciding not to come too close. The treatment the medbay offered could only do so much to help the injured Time Lord. "So which one is bothering you more at this very moment? The events of today? Or Christmas?"

"Today. Look, Doctor, I - I'll just start with the worst offence. I'm sorry I didn't stop your interrogation sooner -" she began but he swiftly cut her off.

"Do you think I'm bothered about that? I'm just annoyed that Sister Xeka managed to give us the slip. And besides, you did what you had to do to keep up the pretence that you were still infected. Our escape couldn't have gone any smoother than it did." explained the Doctor. He frowned however when he saw Clara shake her head.

"Please, just let me finish. I'm also sorry for hurting you at - "

"You weren't even yourself. Clara, this is unnecessary. You don't need to apologise for things that were out of your control. If anything, I should apologise for letting you get captured in the first place."

"No, like you said: no control. My issue is… I - I'd never hurt you, okay? And then I let it happen… and, and I never want it to again," Clara blurted, "and as much as it pains me to say it, I'm hoping that those dream crabs still have me. You know, this is all…" her voice strained. The Doctor understood now, and watched her intently as she stared at her boots with a pained look. He edged around the centrepiece of the console room, stopping only inches away from her. Clara tried to shy away, but he grabbed her arm. Her voice failed as he held her gaze.

"I forgive you." he said softly. There were so many things he wanted to say to her in that moment, but perhaps this is what she needed to hear right now. He made a mental note to bring up Christmas and the dream crabs at a later time. Tears started to well up in her eyes. As she was about to pull him in for an embrace, the familiar cloister bells began to ring throughout the TARDIS, startling the pair. The Doctor spun around, racing over to a monitor. Clara took her position next to him, studying both his features and the monitor. The change of expression from confusion to horror told her all she needed to know. They were in danger, yet again. She drew closer to the screen. Amongst the lines and lines of code and Gallifreyan symbols, an encryption flashed. The words rearranged hastily. It now read:

SCHRODINGER PROTOCOL INITIATED

A/N:

*Cue title sequence* Hey guys sorry for the massive delay! This little snippet serves also as the prologue to my new fic that has been cooking for the past 8 months. The story is set but I just have to write it now! Expect longer times between chapters too since Uni has started up again. Thanks again to everyone who has read the series, and has kept this story on tab.

****UPDATE****

The link to the sequel 'We Happy Few' is now up! Just copy paste the link in front of the usual fanfiction url. Sorry I don't know how to properly link the story in!

s/11847954/1/