David sat on the bed and watched Clara as she started packing. They hadn't said anything since Clara looked at her phone but he could see it on her face. The blue box was fixed. His heart was breaking though he tried not to let it show.
David slowly glanced at Clara trying to think of something to say to lighten the mood but he couldn't.
"You got everything?" He finally said.
"Yeah." She replied softly. She shoved a couple of shirts in her bag.
He could see she was upset.
He sighed. "It'll be okay." David said trying to assure her.
Her chest tightened. Clara shook her head.
"No, it won't," She scoffed looking at him. "You won't be there. How am I going to get through that?" Her voice cracked.
He stood and took her hand. "You'll just get up tomorrow and continue to be magnificent." He smiled sadly.
Clara lowered her gaze staring at her suitcase. She could feel the tears starting. "I can't do this." She sniffed.
David caressed her face and tilted his head so her eyes would meet his. "You can," He said softly. "And I want you to do something for me, okay?"
She nodded slowly.
He swallowed taking her hands, gently rubbing her fingers. "I want you to have a great life. I want you to keep traveling and do all the things you want to do…" David paused before speaking again, his own voice breaking a little. "Meet someone who'll love you as much as me."
She started to protest but he gently interjected. "Please, for me?" He begged wiping an escaped tear from her cheek with his thumb.
"Alright," She sniffed. "But only if you promise the same thing."
David gave a faint smile. "Okay."
Clara wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace and buried her face into his shirt. She just wanted to hold him forever.
Clara slowly pulled back. "I want to give you something." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a key.
He looked at her curious.
"It's the TARDIS key." She explained.
David shook his head. "I couldn't," He replied. "How will you get in?"
She scoffed. "I can't now," Clara replied. "Besides there's always a chance we'll find each other again, yeah?" She took his hand and placed the key there and enclosing his fingers around it. "Just in case."
He smiled.
She looked at him. "What will you do?"
David shrugged. "Act, finish school, work the diner…"
"Be magnificent?" She added with a slight smile.
He smirked. "I guess."
Clara felt her smile falter and wrapped her arms around him, again hugging him, he embraced her back.
Suddenly there was a familiar wheezing groaning sound, dread filled inside her. This was it. They slowly pulled apart as the TARDIS appeared in the middle of the room.
The door opened and the Doctor reluctantly stepped out.
"Um, Clara…it's time to go." He said slowly.
Clara looked at David, hesitantly.
He just nodded slowly and sadly.
Her heart was breaking and she pulled him close giving him one last passionate kiss before pulling away and going to the TARDIS.
David shoved his hands into his pockets and watched as the Doctor turned away.
"Doctor?" He blurted.
He paused and glanced at David.
David swallowed thickly, wiping his eyes. "I won't forget her. No matter what your machine does." He said determined.
The Doctor just smiled sadly before going inside, the door closing behind him. David stood there and watched the time machine vanish.
The Doctor stood at the console pushing buttons and flipping switches. There was a tense silence. He glanced up at Clara who was still staring at the door, her tiny fists clinched at her sides.
"Maybe he was still there?" She wondered barely touching the handle.
"Clara…" The Doctor started to say but she opened it revealing only darkness and space.
"Clara…" He said again.
"I just needed some air." Clara lied shutting the door.
He sighed. "It's okay to be upset." The Doctor said.
"I'm not," Clara replied despite her voice betraying her. She swallowed. "He's probably forgotten me by now." Clara said going to the console pretending to be interested in the buttons.
"He deserves happiness. He- he was nice," She said her voice cracking. "Kind, friendly, loving..." Her sentence trailed as she gazed down at the promise ring and the tears started falling.
The Doctor went towards her wanting to say something to make her feel better. She quickly hugged him, surprising him a little but he embraced her back feeling his own hearts break for her as he held his crying friend.