The time of death was June 18th at four eighteen in the afternoon. The cause was an aneurism induced by a car crash. George and Sierra were on their way home from the airport. The kids hydroplaned on a turn and he could not swerve away quickly enough. The kids hit the back of the car and her head hit the door frame. The car was drivable, the kids were fine. They got back into their respective cars and called it even. She was fine and then she wasn't. A pain ignited behind her eyes. He called the police, kept driving to the hospital.

Clara got the text message at three thirty in the afternoon. She didn't know what to tell the kids. It was rushed, from George, and only said that Sierra was in the hospital. They should go to the ER downtown immediately. Clara called the Doctor because she didn't have a car. He didn't ask questions, just heard her quivering voice and was in front of the house as fast as he could be. They climbed into the cabin, Artie tucked into Clara's side and Angie with teeth clenched.

Everybody was silent but their collective thoughts were, 'No, no no no. No NO.'

Clara took the kids' hands and Angie did not protest as they fought their way into the waiting room. George appeared strong, like he had collected himself for his kids. They sat down silently and he pulled Clara to the side. The most painful noise in the world is the cracking of a grown man's voice. She knew it all too well from when her mother had passed away. Her father had to tell Clara that her mother was shot; A mall shooting.

George stood here now. He took a breath and his voice cracked, "She- she's not going to make it much longer. She's got enough strength for a few words. She d-doesn't want the kids to see her here, she wants them to remember her. She'd like for you to go in."

Clara took a deep breath, tears flowing steadily down her face. Sierra was her friend, but also like her second mother. Nobody could replace her mum, but Sierra had done everything in her power to win Clara over. They were sisters. The Doctor had found his way through the crowd and stood behind her. His hand fell on her shoulder, his face confused. His eyes did an inventory and it was clear Sierra was missing. His throat twitched as his breath hitched.

Clara left, running to the room George had directed her to.

"Wait outside the room for her, mate," George's voice was broken. "She's going to need you."

The Doctor met eyes with the broken man and shook his friend, "She needs this closure. I'll wait here."

George sat beside his sniffling son and the Doctor beside Angie. George told them the news. Artie collapsed into his father, sobbing. His cries drew attention and the onlookers put out expressions of sympathy. One elderly woman spared a tear for the boy before biting her lip and looking away. With a blink of an eye, Angie was up and gone. She sprinted. The Doctor looked at George and nodded, accepting this burden. He ran after the teenage girl. After a minute, he found her huddled under a tree in the courtyard outside. He sat against the opposite side of the tree, knowing to leave her be. She'd speak when she needed to.

"Why the bloody hell are you even here?" She raised her voice at him, head still buried in her knees.

"Because I know how you feel right now. I've lost everyone I've ever loved," He swallowed and steadied his voice. "It's not going to get easier, Angie, love, but your mum lives in your heart now. Once you accept that, you keep her alive in spirit. You can't let her leave completely. It's not fair to you but it's up to you now."

Angie bit back a scream. She cried out, "You're stupid. God. She can't be dead... she can't... I just..."

The Doctor shifted around the trunk and sat closer. "Death is harder for the living."

"I didn't even tell her I loved her..." The girl whimpered, falling into sobs. The Doctor sat dutifully silent beside her until she stilled and then brought her back to the waiting room to be with her family.

Sierra Maitland was all but dead. Her eyelids just fluttered when she heard Clara enter the room. Clara stood at the bedside and her hands clasped around her friend's. Clara stood there, staring down. Tears streamed easily down her face.

"I'm going to take care of them, Sierra," Clara choked out. "I won't leave them; for you."

"Clara-" Sierra's voice was just above a whisper. "Love, I want to tell you to live a good life. Have a good life, do it for me. Be with the... the bloke..."

Her hand turned under Clara's and the young woman could feel paper between their palms.

"Give to the kids, I love them," Her eyes shut again and her chest wracked. Her head jerked a last time, and her hands went slack. Clara stifled a sob into her hand. The Doctor's came rushing in the moment she flatlined and Clara was pushed out, the paper from Sierra clenched in her hand.

As she stumbled into the waiting room again, she was sure everyone was staring at her. She looked a right mess with eyeliner down her face and her walk in a daze. She only made eye contact with one person and registered green before he was on her, hugging her tight as she sobbed. Her hands clenched around the lapels of his stupid tweed jacket and she heaved against him. His hands ran over her back and he stayed silent, just holding her. They didn't move until asked to and Clara had calmed herself by then. She handed george the paper, hoping for the kids' sakes that it was just a last 'I love you.' Anything more would be too painful.

George told Clara that he was going to take the kids home. They needed time to sort things out among themselves and grieve together. Clara nodded and the Doctor held her hand tightly as he lead her back to his truck.

"Do you want me to take you back to your flat?" He asked quietly as he opened the door for her.

She climbed in a shook her head, voice low, "I don't want to deal with anybody."

"My flat?" He asked again as he started the truck. It was always quiet there.

She looked at him, eyes big, and his heart broke again, "Yes please."

The Doctor nodded and drove to the shop with one arm, the other hand staying intertwined with hers. When they got there, he led her up to the flat she'd seen a few times now. It was still surprisingly clean for a single man. She took a few aimless steps and asked him for a shower, so he nodded and waited on the couch for her to come out. When she finally did, she was only in a towel and he nearly jumped out of his skin. She let out a breathy laugh, more than she thought she would be able to manage.

"C'mere, I wanna show you something." At his look she smirked slightly, "Trust me."

The Doctor nodded and stood.

She turned her back to him and let the towel slip off her shoulders. Across her left shoulder was a tattoo, black ink of a script note. He traced it with his finger, unable to help himself, and she bit her lip.

"It's the last note from my mom. She went out to the mall and I'd been asleep when she left," Her voice caught in her throat. This could never get easier. "It says 'I love you. See you soon. -Mum'"

The Doctor could read it but he was glad to have her share it with him. Next to her mother's signature was a little drawn heart.

"I brought the note in and had he replicated it. It's her handwriting, her heart, her love," Clara sighed. "Sierra was a sister to me... I don't get why the people we love must die."

"They don't," The Doctor spun her around to look at her. He placed a hand on her chest, fingertips on skin and palm on the towel. "They're all right here. It's your turn to keep them safe."

Clara's mouth twitched into a small smile before she walked away from him, to his room. He chuckled lightly, "Stealing my clothes again?"

"More comfortable," Came her small response.

He waited a few minutes but when she did not come back out, he entered the room to find her cuddled up under his comforter, his dress shirt collar sticking up against her neck. He watched her silently before her eye cracked open. She patted the spot beside her, so he slipped into the bed. She curled into him, and he could feel her body tremble as she began to cry again. They lay in silence for hours before they fell asleep. The only thing that makes losing a loved one even remotely easier is to still have a loved one to keep you feeling alive.