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So what are the consequences of Clara's words?

Waiting

She knew that she had been stupid. She still didn't know what had come over her to say what she had said. Her dad had stopped her from going back to London, saying that he wasn't going to allow her to go back after what she had said. She hadn't moved from the kitchen, staring at her phone, waiting for the Doctor to call her back, telling her that he was safe.

Clara hadn't noticed her dad sitting next to her until he placed his hand on top of one of hers.

"I think you should get some sleep. You look exhausted."

"I can't. Not yet." She told him.

"Why did you say what you said?" He asked.

She sighed. "Because part of it was true. I am still unsure whether it is a good thing or not. I have been denying to myself for so long that I don't know what I have made up to keep myself sane or what is the truth. But I know one thing for sure. The Doctor is the first man that I have given a second glance or thought about since I married John. The Doctor has been there when others would have turned away and left me to it.

"Is it okay that I just want to feel like when I first went out with John? The feeling of being safe and loved and just being adored by someone. The Doctor has shown me more of that in the last few months than John has for the last couple of years. I wondered why I felt so safe with basically a stranger rather than my own husband. Maybe I was just keeping too much hope that John would get back on his feet again."

Her dad snorted. "Yes it is. And maybe it is a good thing that you have fallen for someone else. John doesn't particularly deserve the love that you have given him. Clara, you have stood by his side and gone through a lot just because he lost his job. There is more that he could do with the knowledge that he has."

"I know. I told him that. Many times."

"If this Doctor guy has been looking after you, then it is no wonder you have come to love him. You have looked for some kindness and he has been the only one to give it to you. It doesn't take a genius to know why you have attached yourself to him. So is it really a bad thing that you have fallen in love with him?"

Clara allowed herself to laugh. "The only problem is, you two probably have more chance of being school friends than I probably do to go into a relationship with him."

"Okay." Her dad said, processing what she had just said.

"Does that really matter?" Linda said as she entered the kitchen and placed her mug by the sink.

Both Dave and Clara turned to look at her.

"What?" She said. "Please tell me that you were shocked when Clara married John. Dave, I think I know your daughter better than you do. Don't you remember all the posters that we had to take down when we redecorated her room? Most of them were of older gentleman while most girls her age would have go for whoever was popular, good looking and young. Not your Clara though. Leading me to think that she would marry an older gentleman rather than marry someone her age."

Clara didn't have a chance to reply. Her phone started ringing and she was glad to see Adrian's name on the screen. She answered it soon after.

"Clara, what on earth is happening?" He asked.

Clara closed her eyes and hugged her pillow, trying to recreate the feeling and smells that she woke up that morning with. She tried to imagine the Doctor next to her but the image of him was lost when she opened her eyes.

Maybe she should have asked him to come with her.

Linda's words were still going around her mind. It was the first time she had really said anything nice about her. But there was probably some truth in her words. She hadn't really ever had an interest with pretty young men, except for John. John was the exception.

She rolled over as her phone buzzed on the bedside table and she sighed with some relief when she saw the number on the screen. She answered it before resuming her position.

"Hey."

"Hey." She said.

"How are you?" The Doctor asked.

"I have felt better. You?"

"I'm fine."

"Is it okay that I miss you, even though I saw you this morning?"

He chuckled. "Yes, because I feel the same."

"It is just great to hear your voice."

"Will you stop worrying? It is audible."

"It has just become part of my everyday life. I worry constantly."

"Hopefully soon that will all be in the past."

Clara sighed. "Maybe."

"Look Clara, you have just been stuck in a rut and everyone either couldn't see it or just didn't want to help because of the same fear that you have."

"Are you going to be that person to help me out of the rut then?"

"I hope so. I don't think I have to tell you what I feel because I think you already know and feel the same. You can't keep living like this."

"I don't need someone else to be protective over me."

"No but I have a duty of care."

She pulled the pillow closer to herself and closed her eyes. "A duty of care." She repeated.

"Clara, you know I am not people person."

"Says the guy that works in a school."

"Children are easier to deal with. They wear their hearts on their sleeve and they will at least tell you bluntly if something is wrong. Adults just hide behind smiles and words that are the opposite of what they actually mean."

"I suppose."

"I am not a people person, but I am a you person."

She couldn't stop herself from laughing. "I am trying to work out whether that was the sweetest thing I have ever heard or the cheesiest thing."

The Doctor chuckled. "You know what I mean though."

"Yeah." She sighed. "Keep talking to me. I might actually be able to fall asleep at this rate."