I'm back with a far longer chapter than usual! I hope you're having as much fun reading this as I am writing it
"Come on then, out with it. Where are we going?"
"This is the third bloody time you've asked! If I'm not mistaken, patience is a highly regarded value."
"Not in Hell it's not! And we've been walking for hours. Can't you just zap us there?"
"Take a breath, love. It's been five minutes! Are you being this insufferable on purpose?"
"I'll be the judge of time here, thanks. And alright, maybe just a small bit," Clara pursed her lips together tightly to refrain from smiling. There was something so addictive about teasing the King of Hell. They had definitely been walking for at least ten minutes though, and she had lost count of the number of crumbling stone steps they had descended. The smug demon accompanying her hadn't bother to warn her about the amount of countless meandering corridors and stairwells they would have to pass through, merely telling her to "Watch your step, Teach, it's a long way down". Clara had been less than impressed. The décor seemed to decrease in finesse the further down they ventured, not that it had been much to brag about in the first place. Skulls lined these walls, embedded into the stone alongside the sparsely situated flaming torches, and the floor was perpetually slick with water. Crowley had informed her that even he didn't think too highly of the place, and she could see why. She shivered.
"Let me ask a different question then. Bit of an important one really. Did you get the key?"
"Ah," Crowley delved into his pocket for a moment, eyebrows furrowed as he retrieved a silver dagger with a lethal jagged edge. Crowley grimaced, returning it to the confines of his coat hastily. "Oops. Not what I was looking for. Save that for another day. Hold on…"
After a second of further rummaging which Clara spent dubiously contemplating the deadly contents of Crowley's pockets, the demon finally pulled out a small, gnarled grey object with a triumphant expression. Clara raised her eyebrow at it sceptically, unimpressed by the small key. Crowley frowned at her.
"You look disappointed."
"Well, that's because it's disappointing," Clara admitted easily with a frown of her own. "To be perfectly honest, I expected more."
Crowley shrugged, appearing nonplussed by her lack of appreciation. He eyed the key hungrily, the sole object that was his leverage in this whole Tardis-Winchester business. Clara glanced suspiciously from the key to the demon who was still staring at it as if it was made of solid gold.
"Uh, Crowley do you wanna be alone with that thing?"
"Jealous, darling?" He smirked flirtatiously and tossed the apparent 'key' high into the air in her direction. Clara quickly snatched it with fumbling fingers before it hit the ground, shooting Crowley a warning glare and thanking her reflexes for not failing her in a rather embarrassing manner. She had never been one for sport, but her hand-eye coordination had been improved some from her time travelling in the Tardis. The Doctor tended to make a habit of tossing her his sonic screwdriver unexpectedly, and often the consequence of not catching it could be pretty dire. The demon merely smirked.
Clara turned the key over in her hands, slowing her pace considerably in order to examine it in more detail. It wasn't like any key she had ever laid eyes on before, but it just about resembled the shape of one enough for her to believe that his really was the object they had come down here for. A sickly grey sheen coated it, tinged with black, the edges of it twisted like the branches of dying trees.
"Not very nice looking though, is it?"
"Don't be superficial. It's what's on the inside that counts," Crowley tapped his temple and cast her a sideways glance, his eyes flashing blood red momentarily. Clara blinked and her steps faltered, caught off guard for a moment. Amongst the easy going flirtatious banter, it wasn't hard to forget what he was sometimes. She recovered her composure quickly, holding her chin high and eyeing him mischievously.
"Is that what you say to the people you possess?" She quipped back without missing a beat, and Crowley actually cracked a smile, though it disappeared as soon as it had come.
"Yes, this is why I haven't killed you yet," His snarky tone dripped with sarcasm. "For your side-splittingly funny jokes. Ha."
"I knew you kept me around for something," Clara replied airily, punching his arm hard, knowing the smug demon would barely feel it anyway. "Let's face it, Crowley. You need me and my genius one-liners."
"Oh yes, you're a simply wonderful asset to my team. A barrel of laughs," Crowley grumbled, throwing his eyes up towards the ceiling in exasperation. "This is why I pay you, right? I should really give you a raise."
"You don't even pay me."
"My mistake. This is why I allow you to remain alive."
Clara scoffed. Crowley smirked at her, the smug mask back in place.
"Just one more teensy little nugget of information about that fascinating key you're holding so dearly right now," He inclined his head towards the key still clasped securely in Clara's hands. He paused for dramatic effect. "It's made of human bone."
Clara shrieked, immediately throwing the key into the air on impulse. Crowley reached out and snatched it quickly, pocketing it again as he laughed, amusement shining in his eyes.
"You're just the gift that keeps on giving, love," He remained grinning and Clara fought an indignant growl, practically stomping after him in annoyance.
"Well, I'm glad you find me so amus-"
"Shh," Crowley held a finger to his lips, his other hand taking hold of her arm and stopping her in her tracks. "We're here."
By here, he seemed to mean a large, rusty metal grid embellished with ornate designs and threatening spikes, suggesting that it was a door of sorts not only meant to keep something in, but also to keep people out. It was situated at the very end of the long, dark corridor they had been walking down, an alternative route Crowley had hastily picked after the last passageway they had ventured through, which had been lined with cells holding wailing spirits. Clara hadn't exactly enjoyed seeing the tortured souls clambering at the bars of their cages as they passed to say the least. Gloomy and decrepit as it may be, at least this hallway was far quieter.
Now though, she felt a sudden spark of nervousness, mingled with anticipation. She attempted to push the part of her that feared what she might be about to see to the back of her addled mind, trying to focus on the part of her that was practically buzzing with excitement. Adventure, danger, never knowing what was going to happen next… That was what she wanted, what she had always wanted. And that was what Crowley could give her, she realised with a start.
"Wait!" She blurted out before she could stop herself, covering his hand with hers to stop him as he closed his fist around on of the metal bars, preparing to unleash whatever was inside. Crowley raised an eyebrow expectantly as Clara stood there with her mouth open, feeling like an utter idiot.
"What?" He probed eventually, his smooth voice taking on a mocking tone. "Cowardly lion got your tongue?"
"I just…" Clara fumbled around blindly for the right words, inwardly cursing her mind from going blank whenever she met Crowley's eyes. "I… You… Me."
"What?" Crowley squinted at her as if blinded by her stupidity. Clara sighed. And blurted everything out in a huge jumbled rush.
"I mean… You and me. Me and you. I'm staying with you. After this. When this whole thing is all done and dusted, don't leave. Okay? I want to do more stuff like this, dangerous, stupid, fun stuff like this. With you. So, don't just… Leave me. Please."
Crowley blinked. Clara raised an eyebrow. Crowley cleared his throat.
"Okay," He choked out, eyes still widened in surprise at her little outburst. To be perfectly honest, Clara hadn't been expecting it either.
"Okay," She parroted, giving him a little salute and releasing his hand from under hers. Crowley tilted his head to the side, surveying her, and took her face in his hands suddenly. Clara had to remind herself to breath.
Crowley narrowed his eyes, his gaze boring into her soul as he examined her. Clara gave him an inquisitive look, hoping that it was too dark in here for him to notice the blush on her cheeks. Seemingly satisfied, the demon drew back slightly, his expression softening.
"What?" Clara whispered, not trusting herself to speak any louder.
"Just making sure you weren't possessed."
"Are you for real?"
"Are you?" The grave look in Crowley's eyes indicated to Clara that the question was loaded with significance, the demons face lacking his signature smirk for once. "Is this really… What you want? I'm a demon, Clara-"
"Yes," Clara stopped him before he could go any further. She paused, taking a deep breath and raised her hands to circle his wrists, his hands still cupping her face with surprising gentleness. "Yes."
"Well, every king does need a queen," He mused quietly. A ghost of a smile played around Crowley's face. "You know what? I think you're something that I'm not going to let those Winchesters take away from me."
"So do we have a deal, then?" Clara felt an unbidden smile tug at her lips. Crowley put a finger to her lips with a smirk.
"Oh, when we get topside, we'll have our deal," His eyes danced with mirth. "You know how deals are sealed?"
He winked and dropped his hands from her face, leaving Clara breathless and without an answer to his rhetorical question, though she suspected she knew what it was.
"You are a terrible influence on me," She breathed, shaking her head slowly with an awed smile.
"Thank you," He beamed, appearing genuinely delighted at her confession. He slide a heavy bolt across the door with a harsh clang. "Now, keep your terror to a minimum please. There's someone I'd like you to meet."
"Oh yeah?" Clara rushed after him, her curiosity effectively peaked as they entered another, relatively large room. "Who's that then?"
Crowley clicked his fingers with a proud smile as the room was instantly illuminated by dripping wax candles along the walls. Clara could now see clearly, only there was absolutely nothing to see. The room was as stark and bleak as the rest of the place, with bare walls and a few metal chains curled in a corner. She heaved a sigh.
"Oh, I get it. This is your plan to finally kill me? Make me think I'm safe with you, then lure me down here and wait for me to die of suspense?"
"Don't be so dramatic," Crowley rolled his eyes and sauntered over to the centre of the room, spinning back to face her with a flourish. "And try to look a tad more excited. Clara Oswald, I would like to introduce Juliet and Co."
Crowley grinned, motioning to the room in front of them. Which was still infuriatingly empty.
"I… Don't see anything, sorry," Clara shrugged, glancing up at him, confused. Crowley clicked his teeth impatiently.
"Well of course you wouldn't," He snapped exasperatedly. "You're human. You can't see them unless they let you. Or unless your damned soul is on the verge of being dragged to Hell which is a tale for another time… Come on, Juliet, don't be shy now."
Clara prepared to open her mouth, armed with another puzzled comment to fire when she froze at the sound of nails scraping against the cold stone floor near the corner of the room. The chains shifted against the floor with an eerily grating sound in response to something tugging at them. Clara squinted into the shadows, trying to decipher what the cause of the sound might be, but was unsuccessful. She was still frustratingly unable to see anything there. The tapping of nails on stone resumed again, closer this time, as if something was approaching steadily… And was that a growl?
"Crowley… What-"
She gasped as the air shifted slightly into something more tangible, and if Clara concentrated hard enough, she thought she could see the faint smoky outline of a very large, very intimidating something. The large black something growled again, and- Yes, those two blood red lights glaring directly at Clara were definitely eyes.
She took a shaky step back, keeping her eyes fixed on the creature as the wisps of black smoke slowly but surely morphed in a more visible shape, one that Clara instantly recognised.
"Crowley," She grabbed his arm, nails digging into his jacket sleeve, her eyes never once leaving the animal. She watched it with a sense of fear mingled with fascination. "Is that what I think it is?"
"Yes, I suppose it's safe to assume that this is the first time you've seen a-"
"You've got a pet werewolf?" Clara covered her mouth with her hand quickly, as if her sudden exclamation might startle the creature. Crowley made a strangled sound.
"A hellhound, you imbecile. She's a hellhound!"
"Oh!" Clara choked out a sound something halfway between a frightened yelp and a surprised laugh. "Oh. Right. I knew that. I, uh… Slip of the tongue."
"Convincing," Crowley shot her a glare and shook his head. Clara shrugged apologetically. The demon crouched down, eye to eye with the hellhound and whistled. "Come here, girl."
If Clara wasn't so stricken with awe and fascination at the scene unfolding in front of her, she would have laughed at the sweet tone of voice Crowley had adopted. She never imagined she'd hear the likes of it from him of all people.
Crowley reached out to pat the demonic pitbull on the head, and the guarded growls subsided. Clara could see it more clearly now, though it still appeared to be made of thick vapour and swirling smoke.
"And I thought I was the strangest pet you owned," She commented absentmindedly, eyes still trained on the dog. She took a few tentative steps forward. She had never owned a dog, didn't have much experience with them, but she knew that looking such an animal in the eyes was considered a sign of aggression. Even so, she couldn't help but look at the bright crimson orbs that fixated on her suddenly. The hound gave a low growl, its fangs bared in snarl. Clara swallowed hard, but held her ground, crouching down slowly beside Crowley.
"Juliet, don't be rude," Crowley chided gently, giving the dog a gentle tap on the snout. "This is Clara, she's no threat to you. Trust me, she wouldn't hurt a fly."
"It's scared of me?" Clara hissed in disbelief. "What's so threatening about me?"
"Nothing. You look like little birds help you get dressed in the morning. She just isn't used to strangers, that's all," Crowley corrected. He issued her with a sinister smirk. "Scared?"
"Should I be?"
"Probably. She could easily rip you to shreds if she wanted. But you won't, will you, Juliet?" Crowley cooed, ruffling the colossal dog's fur affectionately. "Papa doesn't want you to hurt this one, okay? She's mine. I want her alive for the time being."
"Wow," Clara breathed in disbelief.
"I know. Magnificent, isn't she?"
"I'm talking about you. I've never seen you act this nice."
"I'm full of surprises."
"Can… Can I…?" Clara trailed off quietly, one trembling hand outstretched cautiously. Fascination was winning out over fear at this point. Out of the corner of her eye, she could make out more dark blurred shapes lurking in the shadows. She wondered briefly how many hellhounds were hiding in this room, just mere steps away from her.
"She won't bite. Probably," Crowley assured her with a grin. Clara held her breath, willing her hand to stop shaking as she held it out to the hound, her palm facing inward, testing. The dog growled, and Clara could hear her heart pounding in her ears. It sniffed her hand, its growls quietening considerably after a brief, tense moment. Its nose prodded her hand, and Clara almost jumped, startled that she could actually feel it. It looked like a toxic mixture of wisps of smoke and vapours, as if the mass of dark air could just blow away with the wind. But its strength surprised her as it butted her hand again.
Feeling brave, she reached out to touch its head, and Juliet huffed, inching closer and pushing against her hand. It didn't feel like fur, but it was soft and warm, like something just barely solid enough to touch without putting your hand straight through it. Clara found herself smiling as she stroked the demon dogs head and looked at Crowley, feeling elated. His expression gave nothing away, but she could see a sparkle in his eyes that indicated that he was impressed. Clara turned her attention back to Juliet.
"Good girl," She crooned, scratching the hellhound behind the ears. "You're not so scary, are you, Juliet?"
The hellhound whined and Clara laughed, adrenaline coursing through her.
"This is amazing," She whispered breathlessly, unable to wipe the smile from her face.
"I think she likes you," Crowley murmured, disbelief evident in his expression. "I'm almost impressed."
"I touched a hellhound and have all ten fingers still intact," Clara gasped with a proud grin.
"Yes, it's definitely one to tell the grandkids," Crowley agreed, his toned still laced with surprise. "Clara Oswald, you've tamed one of my top vicious soul collecting killing machines."
"What did you expect?" Clara gave him her best 'I told you so' smile and shrugged. "I'm a charmer."
"You certainly are," Crowley straightened up but froze suddenly. He frowned in confusion, holding up a finger and cocking his head to the side. He exhaled in a soft hiss, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Clara scrambled to her feet as Juliet and the other hellhounds began to whimper and snarl. Her muscles tensed up suddenly, and she felt on edge as the hounds began to shift around, agitated. Something was going on.
"I think…" Crowley paused, straining to hear something Clara's ears weren't equipped to pick up. His face shifted into a stony expression as the hellhounds erupted into a chorus of aggravated howls.
"What is it? What's going on?" Clara stared at him wide eyed, her breathing quickening.
"Trouble. Time to go."
Crowley grabbed Clara's hand and dragged her from the room quickly. She urged her legs to move faster, struggling to keep up and narrowly avoided falling flat on her face.
"What are we running from that could be such a threat?" She panted, wishing she'd worn more appropriate footwear for running. "I'm not trying to be rude, but you're kind of already dead."
"And you're merely a death that hasn't happened yet."
"You're right. I could die. Or worse still, get a lecture from the Doctor when we get back."
"Nice to know that you've got your priorities straight. Fasten your seatbelt."
The words of warning were barely out of Crowley's mouth before the air was abruptly sucked out of Clara's lungs, and when she opened her eyes that she hadn't remembered closing, they were standing somewhere else entirely. Struggling to catch her breath, she looked around quickly and deduced that they were definitely still in Hell, but now, instead of feeling trapped inside some dark decrepit building underground, she could see the sky.
Among the ominous, swirling storm clouds which were spitting out bolts of lightning, crackling and flashing in the dark sky, was a small box spinning and crashing out of control. A small blue box. Crowley shielded his eyes with his arm as the Tardis crashed against a large pillar, sending a shower of small shards of rock raining down on their heads. Demons were everywhere, Clara realised, shouting at each other and hissing suspiciously at the foreign object which was currently crashing into everything in its path.
"Bollocks," Crowley hissed as chaos and fire erupted around them.
"Sir, what do you propose we do?" A nervous looking demon clutched a clipboard frantically, eyeing the Tardis with dismay. "The impact of its collision with the left wing has damaged some of the cells and some of the souls made a run for it-"
"Bollocks!"
Crowley pushed past the anxious demon, neck craned up towards the sky to squint at the Tardis. Rage was evident in his expression and Clara' stomach clenched tightly in worry.
"Crowley, we have to-"
"Destroy it, I know."
"That's not what I was going to say!" Clara had to yell to be heard above the raucous commotion erupting around them. The Tardis crashed into another wall of stone, and demons sprinted to safety as it crumbled, the Tardis leaving fire and destruction in its wake. Crowley grabbed a passing demon by the collar.
"You! Stop that bloody box if it kills you! Someone get me a witch! We have to end this thing immediately."
He shoved the demon away angrily, a group of demons nearby who had been listening nodding in agreement, faces awash with concern as they scurried away.
"You know, I feel like you're on my side here but only barely," Clara gritted her teeth and tugged at Crowley's arm. He started towards the blue box. "Crowley, we are not destroying that Tardis! Crowley- Did you even hear anything I just said?"
"To be brutally honest, Clara, I'm barely listening right now."
"Well you better start paying attention because right now I want to punch someone and you're dangerously close!"
Crowley clenched his jaw and effortlessly swept his hand towards a large shard of flaming metal the Tardis had just dislodged, redirecting its path to crash into the nearest wall. He turned towards Clara just as the wall above them crumbled and shattered. Clara felt the heat from the fire erupting around them threaten to engulf her and willed her legs to move, but she couldn't. Crowley swore and threw himself in front of her, pushing her out of the way while shielding her from the impact. Clara clamped her eyes tightly shut and grabbed onto him, and they were gone.
When she opened her eyes again, two things were significantly different. One, their location, which she had expected. Two, any doubt in her mind that she may not be able to trust Crowley had completely vanished, along with the chaos in Hell. They were now standing in a circular room that Clara recognised as one of the many part of the bunker. They were back. She unfolded herself carefully from Crowley's arms, looking up at him with wide eyes, one thought firm in her mind.
"You saved me," She breathed. Crowley sucked in a sharp intake of breath in horror.
"I- What- No, that's absurd. I did no such thing, you take that back."
"You do care! I knew it, I knew you cared-"
"No, I do not. I don't care. At all. I cannot emphasise enough how little I care-"
Clara kissed him.
And suddenly she understood. She got it. Everything. She had never truly believed it before, how you supposedly just know when something is right, you just feel it and you know that this is where you're meant to be, but now it all made sense. From the way her hands gripped Crowley's face like she never wanted to let go, to the way his fingers tangled in her hair, an unspoken promise that he was hers and she was his. She didn't think she had even made a conscious decision to press her lips to his, but now Crowley was kissing her back and her knees were going weak and she couldn't form a thought coherent enough to realise that she was in too deep now and this was bad bad bad and she never, ever wanted this to end.
"You care at least a tiny bit," She pulling back just enough to whisper against his lips, stroking his cheek with her thumb gently. "And that's enough to seal the deal for me."
"You're the bane of my existence."
Clara felt Crowley's smile against her lips, and she returned it with one of her own.
"Love you too."
Crowley chuckled softly, his forehead resting against hers.
"Holy crap!"
The pair sprung apart at the sudden exclamation and turned in unison to discover a disgruntled looking Dean Winchester standing stock still at the bottom of the stairs he had just descended, staring at them with his mouth agape. Clara opened her mouth and closed it again, words failing her. She shifted from foot to foot, suddenly lost for an explanation.
"Oh, joy," Crowley grunted. "This is bound to be a train wreck for all involved."
"Uh, Dean-" Clara began but stopped when Dean made a strangled choking sound.
"Yes, startling revelation, isn't it, Dean?" Crowley sighed and dusted himself down. "Clara, please ensure him that I wasn't attempting to suck out your soul."
"My soul- Oh, god no!" Clara blinked, a startled laugh forcing its way up her throat at the preposterous idea. "Don't be daft!"
Dean didn't appear to be listening. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut, pinched the bridge of his nose, muttered something incomprehensible under his breath and looked at them again, squinting as if unsure whether his eyes were deceiving him or not.
"Really, Clara? Really? You're making a deal with him? The freaking king of rotten?" Dean pointed at them accusingly, horror written all over his features. "Aren't teachers supposed to be smart? How could you be this goddamn reckless?"
Clara attempted to interject, but Dean continued ranting.
"You know, for someone so small, you make some colossally bad decisions. What'd you sell your soul for then, huh? Friggin' hair extensions?"
"Hold your horses, Squirrel," Crowley held up his hands in surrender. "For lack of a less cliché phrase, it's not what it looks like-"
"Not what it looks like?!" Dean's eyed bulged out of his head incredulously. "You know what I think it looks like? Your standard demon deal. You know what it's gunna look like in a minute? My fist connecting with your goddamn nose."
Clara's heart sank as the Doctor's voice wafted from around the corner, the sound quickly followed by the man himself as he approached Dean. They needed to relinquish control of the situation. Fast.
"Dean, are you having another drunken brawl?" He turned, catching sight of Clara and bared his teeth in a grin, brandishing his sonic screwdriver. "Oh, Clara, you've returned to the realm of the living! What a relief. Don't worry, I barely noticed you were gone."
"Oh fan-friggin'-tastic, Doctor Disco is late to the party!" Dean grunted, hands clenched into fists at his sides. "The deal was going down just a minute ago, Doc. Looks like Clara's soul has just gone on the market."
Clara sighed, exasperated and took a step towards the Doctor and Dean.
"No, it hasn't, thanks very much-"
"Clara! What did I tell you about selling your soul to strangers?" The Doctor waved his hands around boisterously and Dean ducked out of the way of the sonic screwdriver, batting him away with a glare. "This is a classic example of bad parenting, isn't it? Stroppy rebellious teen acts up to prove that she's ready for the real world-"
"Doctor, I'm not a child!"
"Of course, right, I forget sometimes. Forgetting, remembering, they're too very difficult things to balance at the one time. And you don't make it easy you know, what with your antics," He waved the sonic again, this time bumping off Dean's nose.
"Hey, watch it, man!"
"It's hard to remember how old you are when we both look so similar in age. Head like a cheese grater, you know me," The Doctor continued as if Dean hadn't spoken.
"A sieve, genius. Head like a friggin' sieve."
"Yes, thanks for your input, Dean. I'm beginning to see why you get beaten up so often. I'm one more pop culture reference away from losing my mind here. Clara you're not helping matters by eloping and canoodling with demons. I'm sorry it's come to this, but you're grounded," The Time Lord spun around on his heels, his coat billowing around his knees as he jabbed a bony finger at Crowley. "And you, you were supposed to be looking after her! She can barely fend for herself here on earth let alone down in Hades! You had a duty of care, and instead you give her the kiss of death and yank her soul from her body! Give it back, or I shall call someone who can exorcise you!"
Dean let of a huff of disbelief and gestured to himself. "Uh, right here, dude."
Clara held up her hands as a peace offering.
"Whoa, wait. Doctor, listen-"
The Time Lord had begun storming over to Crowley, who was standing with his hands shoved deep in his pockets, an amused expression on his face.
"Do you think this is funny?" The Doctor yelled.
"Not half as funny as it will be when you find out I wasn't stealing her soul," Crowley smiled brightly. The Doctor narrowed his eyes as Crowley gave an exaggerated glance to a non-existent watch on his wrist. "Not that I'm not enjoying this little rendez-vous, boys, but there's a bit of a situation back home that I have to deal with-"
"I gave her to you to borrow, not to return to me with some pieces missing!" The Doctor cut him off, raising his voice. "I was reasonable about you taking her on your little trip to the Underworld too. Heck, I was just short of popping a coin into your mouth to ensure your safe crossing!"
"Do I look like I'm in the mood to be interrogated by the Winchesters and their adopted alien stick insect right now?" Crowley yelled. "No? Well then, let's assume that I'm not."
"Well someone's got to do the explaining around here-"
"I think that's my queue to leave," Crowley took a step back. Clara spun around to face him incredulously.
"Oi! You can't go! They think we made a demon deal or something, you have to explain-"
"Trust me, there are easier ways of torturing myself," Crowley looked up over Clara's shoulder towards Dean and the Doctor. "And I've got a mess in Hell to clean up, thanks to your bloody Tardis!"
"My Tardis?" The Doctor froze, muscles tensed. "What's my Tardis doing in Hell?"
"You tell me, Doc," Crowley shrugged, glaring at the Doctor. "Clara, this is one battle you'll have to fight on your own. If I don't go back downstairs to sort this mess out now, I could have a serious problem on my hands. We all could."
"Oh, don't you dare," Clara narrowed her eyes in warning. Crowley smirked.
"I apologise… For nothing," He winked, raised his hand, fingers poised to click. "Good luck."
"I am going to kill him!" She yelled as the demon disappeared.
"Not if I get there first," Dean muttered darkly as Clara turned reluctantly to face the two again. "Now, want to tell us what the heck is going on?"
There we have it, the long awaited kiss! What did you think? Any of you have a favourite chapter so far?