"Half an hour to go then!" Gina bundled into the room with cups of tea, "anyone for another game of uno?" Clara and Danny both groaned, grinning at each other as they fell back into the sofa. "What?"
"Mum you're so competitive it's embarrassing," Danny chuckled. "Can't we just watch the lead up concert?"
"You mean you two just want to cuddle on the sofa?" Phil grinned. Clara and Danny shared a glance, "alright we got it," he smiled and put the TV on. "Back in a sec," he smiled and left the room, Gina followed muttering something about Christmas cake.
Danny kissed Clara's head gently as she watched the TV and Clara turned her head, smiling up at him and kissing him properly, shutting her eyes as she did so. "You okay?" He asked quietly as their heads rested together.
"Last night," she replied equally quietly. Danny rubbed her arm softly. "It'll be okay," he reassured her, "we'll be back at school before you know it."
"I'll miss this," she sighed and rested her head down in his chest. "It's been the best Christmas."
"We're gonna make next year our year, I promise. Your Dad will get better and we'll have all the holidays as well as school," he swept her hair back. "You and me against the world Clara Oswald."
Clara linked their hands, "always and forever."
Both parents came back in with nibbles and the promised christmas cake. "Ah good, we need more food," Danny chuckled.
"Actually I fully plan to eat as much of that cake as I can before I leave," Clara pointed out. "It's amazing Gina."
"Well you can have as much as you like love," she smiled.
They sat, chatted and vaguely watched the TV until the countdown to midnight started. Clara squeezed Danny's hand as they stood up, counting down. When midnight hit they turned to each other and kissed gently, fairly quickly, but giving themselves this one in front of his parents. The moment they seperated Danny's parents jumped over for a group hug, all exchanging their new year greetings. They watched the fireworks on the TV and sung Auld Lang Syne while holding hands.
Clara helped Gina to clear up once they settled down, "you alright with that?"
"Yeah, honestly the pain is better I need to get mobile again," Clara smiled and put the plates down on the side. "Thank you for everything this week, it's been so good. And thanks for driving me to the hospital so much, you really didn't have to."
"Hey, it's been our pleasure. You're a wonderful girl Clara, you're always welcome here." Gina smiled. "We'll keep making sure your Gran gets to see your Dad, he's doing really well."
"Thank you, I wish I had a better way to say thanks," Clara told her.
"You're making our son happy, that's more than enough," Gina replied, rubbing her shoulder reassuringly.
"Cheesy Mum," Danny came in with the last of the plates. "You look tired," he slipped a hand round Clara's waist.
"You mean you're tired and you want to go to bed?" Clara chuckled, "come on let's go, I need a good night's sleep to face tomorrow."
He squeezed her carefully and smiled, saying goodnight to his parents before going upstairs.
#-#-#-#
Clara woke up and looked over, smiling for a moment before sighing, moving closer to Danny. "We got time yet," he whispered to her.
"You're awake?" she asked.
"Have been for a while," he kissed her head gently. "Just watching you."
"Creep," she said, grinning a little as she did. "I'm gonna miss waking up next to you."
"You can call me every morning if you like, you always wake up before I go to work - weirdo," he chuckled.
"Hey I just make the most of my day! Work to do, books to read, got to fit it all in somewhere. Especially when you've been distracting me all week," she winked at him. Danny gave a mock look of shock and started to tickle her, causing Clara to squeal. "Nooo stop it this is mean! Danny!"
He kept her shut in his arms but still tickling her until he knew to stop and they both lay laughing gently together, both slightly out of breath. Danny grabbed his phone on the side and grabbed a quick photo before Clara had a chance to protest. "I love you," he told her. "We should get up."
"I don't want to," she sighed. "I'm so happy here."
"Me too, but I don't want to get you or my parents in trouble by having you back late," he stroked her hair softly. "You go first, I'll go and make tea."
"Tea on tap, that's definitely what I'll miss," she chuckled and forced herself to climb out of bed to go to the bathroom.
#-#-#-#
Clara was quiet in the car on the way back, just leaning on Danny's shoulder in the backseat of the car. "We're here love," he squeezed her hand. "There's two little boys who look very excited to see you back currently running towards the car." He pushed her a little to sit up as Noah and Elijah started jumping at the window. Clara smiled and gestured to them to move away from the door so she could open it, stepping out and immediately they jumped at her legs.
"You're back!" They both shouted excitedly. Noah looked up, "you don't look happy. Didn't you miss us?"
Clara shook her head, crouching down to them and smiling a little more, "of course I've missed you both loads, don't be silly. I've just had a really good Christmas so I'm sad to be leaving that behind, but I can't wait for you both to beat me at snakes and ladders again," she chuckled. "Hey why don't you go inside and I'll come find you in a minute."
"We can play the big one!" Elijah jumped around.
"It's the best! Thank you!" Noah added.
Clara rubbed both their hair, "I'm glad you like it. Why don't you go set it up so you can show me?" They both nodded and ran off back into the house as Hannah came over.
"Good to see you back, good week?" she asked.
Clara nodded, "yeah, great thanks. It's cold out here can we get inside?"
Danny followed her in with the case while his parents went to speak to her social worker and Hannah. "Danny can play too!" Elijah jumped around excitedly. Kate came in the room and cornered both the boys.
"Hey, Danny has to go in a sec I think Clara will want to say goodbye, you two should go and tidy that mess of a bedroom and leave them be okay?" she told them, pushing them towards the door as they complained. "Come on I'll help you and if you're good I might even play later too." That seemed to work and they ran out, Kate following.
"Where's everyone else then?" Danny asked.
"I literally just got back…" Clara pointed out, "but the minivan is gone so at a guess some of them have gone out?"
"We'll make a detective out of you yet," he grinned, slipping his arms around her and kissing her head. "You okay?"
"I think so. Noah and Elijah will keep me entertained anyway, and Kate too. If I can keep out of her way then I'll be okay. I'll call you every morning before you go to the café," she smiled softly.
"Sounds perfect, and you can call me anytime you need. I'll keep my phone on me in case of emergency, Mum and dad understand that, it's okay." Clara nodded and kissed him, "I love you."
"I love you too, you're making me proud," Danny smiled, holding her close.
They stood there for a couple of minutes just listening to each other breathing, but the silence was broken as the door opened. "...some serious bargains and- you! You have the nerve to show up here?!"
Jackie.
Clara and Danny stepped but stood side by side, hands linked. Danny squeezed hers gently and she returned the gesture to reassure him she was okay. "Afternoon Jackie," Danny told her. "Been shopping?"
"What's it to you?"
"Politeness…" Danny shrugged. "We'll go upstairs."
"You have questions to answer!" Jackie launched towards them but Danny immediately let go of Danny and stopped her.
"You know everything you need to know Jackie, the rest is nothing to do with you. Just live your own life and leave ours alone okay?" Clara had already got to the door and Danny followed her out and up to her room, ignoring the looks from everyone else.
"Nicely done," Danny smiled, sticking his arm around her as they got up the stairs. "You're gaining in confidence, I'm proud of you."
"I'm shaking so bad," she hugged into him when they got to her room. "But I did it so that's something I guess."
"Hey you're doing great," he smiled. "I gotta go now okay?"
Clara sighed, nodding, "I love you, I'll see you back at school," she smiled and kissed him, letting him go.
"Look after yourself," he rubbed her hair back softly and left, reluctantly. "I love you," he added before shutting the door behind him.
Clara sighed and walked over to the window, sitting on the sill and looking out as Danny's parents drove away. She bought her knees up to her chest and leant against the cool glass, taking deep breaths to try and calm herself down. She almost fell off when the door opened and Kate came in with 2 mugs of tea. "I've managed to keep the boys busy for a little while, I thought you might need some space to breathe," she walked over and handed her the mug.
"Thank you," Clara quickly wiped at her cheeks to get the few stray tears. "Sorry you must think I'm an idiot," she climbed down from the window and took the mug, sitting on her bed and inviting Kate to join her.
"On the contrary I'm surprised you look so composed. Come on, tell me all about it." That got her smiling. Clara told her all about the week - how they made her Christmas special, how she got to see her Dad frequently and showed Kate the present he'd given her as well as what Danny had got her. "Man that boy loves you, that is pure goals and that watch does not look cheap!"
"Idiot saved up all the money his parents paid him at the café," Clara smiled and sipped her tea after she took the watch back from Kate.
"What's the date on the back?" she asked.
"You'll laugh," she shrugged.
"Try me."
"Seriously?" Kate nodded. "Okay, it's the date we first met in the library and I did his maths work with him," she raised an eyebrow, "it's hard to explain. It was my first weekend there, I'd been getting it from Jackie all week but Danny… he never said anything - kept quiet. Then that day we talked and well then I collapsed and incredibly that didn't scare it off, so it's a pretty impressive day to be honest."
"Almost your first date, that's cute," Kate smiled. "I just need to go and see Hannah about something, take your time but I'm sure the boys would be happy to see you soon." Clara nodded, thanking her for the tea as she left.
She sat back shutting her eyes for a long moment as she took a deep breath, but when she opened them again she saw Jackie and her friends at the end of the bed. She jumped back, the still pretty hot tea spilling on her. She managed to get the rest of the mug down but she couldn't focus on the burning through her jumper as they walked towards her. "What do you want? What exactly do you expect to happen?"
"You think you can just get away with this? He's not here to protect you now," Jackie seethed. "You're gonna pay for this Clara," she took one more step and Jackie nodded at her friends who ran and pinned Clara down, covering her mouth. She tried to fight it but couldn't - they were too strong. Jackie bent right down close to her. "Leave him alone or this is going to get a lot worse," she whispered before standing up and kicking her back in the ribs again. "Maybe you'll get the message this time."
#-#-#-#
"Hey it's dinner, why you still hiding up here?" Kate stuck her head around the door to see Clara was asleep. "Danny really tired you out huh?" she chuckled and then walked around the side of the bed. Something didn't look right. "Clara?" she shook her gently and got nothing. "Hey Clara don't be scaring me now," she tried again a little harder and Clara's eyes flickered open. "Hello, what got you in such a deep sleep?" Clara mumbled something and turned over but winced in pain from lying on her ribs. "I thought that was better?"
"Missed my pills," she managed. "Gonna sleep now."
"Why are you so tired suddenly? You really do need to eat Clara," Kate told her. "Do you feel okay?"
"Fine, I'm fine, just tired," Clara shut her eyes again.
"Something isn't right. You-" Kate suddenly had a brainwave. "You've had a seizure haven't you? Clara you told me about this. You said… you said… - wait. How long did it last?"
"Not long, no more than 3 minutes, don't need the hospital," she told her.
"Clara you-"
"No!" Clara pushed Kate back. "Just leave me to sleep, I'll be fine after. Don't tell anyone, I don't need it."
"Why did this happen?" Clara shrugged. "Alright I'll let you sleep, I'll tell Hannah you're feeling a bit rubbish and I'll get her to save you some dinner. See you later."
Clara watched as she walked out and shut the door, sighing softly. She didn't really have a clue how long the fit had lasted, but given how tired she was 3 minutes felt like a long underestimate.
Kate left the room and went downstairs, storming into the dining room and over to Jackie, "what did you do?!"
"What the hell Kate I'm just eating dinner chill out," Jackie rolled her eyes.
Kate didn't let up, "you know what I'm talking about, she's in pain again and she's clearly had another seizure up there!"
"Then phone an ambulance don't hassle me, they happen all the time," Jackie shrugged.
"I know you're lying," Kate spoke angrily, slamming a hand down on the table. It was at this moment that Hannah came back in.
"Woah Kate what's going on calm down!" she walked over and pulled her back from Jackie.
"She's a bully," Kate stared at Jackie. "Ergh I can't stay in here. Clara's not feeling well I'm gonna go sit with her," she pulled herself off Hannah and stormed upstairs.
Gary heard what was said and followed Kate upstairs into Clara's room. "She's asleep?"
"Happens after a seizure," Kate said, having sat down on the chair by Clara's bed.
"You called Jackie a bully, do you think she had something to do with this?" Gary asked and Kate nodded. "Does she need checking out?"
"She won't go to hospital," Kate sighed, "she said her fit only lasted 3 minutes but something doesn't feel right."
"I know what to do. Stay with her," Gary smiled and left the room.
He reappeared about 15 minutes later, knocking gently on the door and going back in. "How's she doing?"
"The same," Kate told him.
"I got some people to help," Gary smiled and moved to allow Greg and Hayley to come in. "I bought the hospital to her. This is my brother Greg and his fiancé Hayley - they're medical staff and they know Clara "
Kate smiled, "thank you so much. I know I'm probably overreacting because I don't know her that well but I think she's lying about how long her seizure went on for."
Greg walked over, "I think you're right, it'd be strange for her to sleep for so long and so deeply after a short seizure. You're Kate right?" Kate nodded. "Thank you for looking after her, she's a stubborn sod sometimes."
"I think you should look at her ribs too, she was complaining about them again when she woke up," Kate told them.
"Thank you. Gary said you haven't eaten yet, why don't you go see to that while we check her over?" Hayley smiled and put a hand on her shoulder reassuringly before Kate walked out. "Gary could you leave us be? She trusts us, she might talk if you're not in the room. I know there are rules but-"
"Say no more, I'll wait in the hall," he told them and left.
Hayley sat on the edge of Clara's bed and carefully shook her awake, "hey, don't panic look it's just us, nobody else is in here."
"I said no hospital," she mumbled.
"Look around, you're not in the hospital. Your care worker Gary called us he knew we were off shift - I guess that's why you didn't want to come in huh?" Clara nodded, "do you know how long the seizure really was?"
"I don't know exactly, maybe 7, but I feel okay just really sleepy honest," Clara was still coming to.
Hayley nodded and reached for her bag, starting to check her over. While she did Greg sat down on the other side, "now your friend said your chest was painful again, did something happen to cause all this?" Clara shook her head.
"Greg," Hayley called his name just loud enough to get his attention and nodded towards the marks on Clara's arms.
"Clara what happened here, you need to tell us," he took her hand. "We just want to look out for you."
"You can't change anything, nothing will stop them," Clara replied.
"Stop who honey?" Hayley asked, putting her stethoscope down. "Is it Jackie and her friends?"
"How does she do it? How does a 14 year old girl manage to get that much power over someone to persuade them to do these things with her? She needs help," Clara sighed and shut her eyes again.
"She's really drowsy I'm not happy," Hayley looked at Greg. "But we know she won't go in…"
"You want to stay don't you?" Greg asked and Hayley nodded.
"I'm worried, I don't think it's anything serious physically but… I don't know, it's just something."
"I got it, I'll speak to Gary. You stay," he stood up and left the room. Hayley watched as Clara slept. She looked almost peaceful, but it was clear something wasn't quite right too, her breathing was a little shallow - probably because of the pain from her ribs.
She carefully lifted her top just enough to see the fresh bruise and sighed. "This has to stop." Greg came back in and told her Gary had agreed they could stay for a while. Hayley showed him the bruise.
"Geez that's fresh. Her friend was right. That Jackie girl has a lot to answer for doesn't she?" Greg shook his head and sat on the chair by the bed.
"I have to speak to them about this, it can't be allowed to carry on," Hayley stood up. "Stay here?" Greg nodded as she went downstairs and found Hannah's office, knocking and going in when offered. "You're in charge here right?"
"Correct, you're Clara's doctor friend?" Hannah asked.
"If you like, yes. Have you any idea about what happened this afternoon?" Hayley asked.
"Clara doesn't tell us much. All Kate said was that she wasn't feeling well, although she seemed to think Jackie had something to do with it again," Hannah explained.
"She's right. There are fresh bruises on her ribs and marks on her arms - it looks like she was held down," Hayley replied. "This is serious, you need to do something about it."
Hannah stood up, "consider something being done. I can't believe what's got into that girl! I understand why she would be upset, but having seen Danny with Clara… she needs to let it go. Thank you for letting me know, and if there's anything I can do…"
"I'll let you know. Greg and I will hang around at least till she wakes up, I need to be able to examine her when she's conscious," Hayley explained and Hannah agreed before leaving.
Hannah went into the dining room, slamming the door behind her to get everyone's attention. "Jackie, Lacey and Kate I want you in my office right now!"
"Can't it wait till we've finished here?" Jackie shrugged, although the other two had already stood up.
"No. It can't." Hannah replied and the look she gave was enough to prove she meant it. All 3 girls eventually left and Hannah followed them through. Once the door to the office was shut she turned to face them as they stood in a line. "Do any of you know what ABH stands for?" she asked.
Silence.
"None of you?" she asked again.
Jackie shrugged, "it's a crime or something?"
"Correct. It is a crime. The definition of ABH is any injury which is calculated to interfere with the health or comfort of the victim including bruises and broken bones." Both Lacey and Kate shared a glance as Hannah spoke. Jackie didn't react. "I think you know what I'm talking about don't you? ABH carries a sentence of up to 5 years-"
"Hannah we're teenagers geez," Jackie interrupted.
"And there are young offender prisons full of people that have done less than what you've done up there!" Hannah shouted, slamming her hand down on the desk. "Clara would have every right to call the police and I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult to put a case together. Means, motive and opportunity right here."
Lacey and Kate looked scared now.
"Luckily for you I'm pretty sure she won't, but I want answers and I want them now. Jackie I want you to sit outside where I can see you," she instructed and Jackie had no choice but to do as told. Once she was outside Hannah turned to Lacey and Kate. "Talk."
"We didn't really think…" Kate spoke first.
"We just followed. I'm sorry, we shouldn't have done it, She just told us one side of the story and made it sound really bad," Lacey added.
"Clara did steal her boyfriend," Kate tried pointing out.
Hannah sighed, "maybe it wasn't perfect, but can you see why they might have been too scared to tell her?" Both girls stopped to think about that. "We've all learnt a lot recently about Jackie, might I suggest you think before you act in future and not follow like sheep?" They nodded. "Good, you're both grounded and extra chores for a month, we'll review at the end. Off you go, you can tidy the kitchen and start the washing up. And don't even think of speaking to Jackie when you leave." Hannah opened the door for them and watched them go, turning her attention to Jackie and instructing her inside.
Jackie got up reluctantly and walked into the office where Hannah shut the door. "Hannah really you know me better than this," she slumped down on the sofa.
"No, I thought I knew you better than this, but what you've done… I can't condone this. I can't even try and explain to Clara, let alone myself, why you've done this!" Hannah was angry. Jackie had been here so long, the two of them were close.
"Because she stole my boyfriend!" Jackie shouted back.
"They've both explained themselves and apologised! I understand what happened was upsetting Jackie, but none of it deserves this! You and Danny were never going to last, we both know that. It was all for show. And his parents were adamant he's been doing a lot better since you broke up which is funny, because I know you can do a lot better than your grades show as well," Hannah told her. "I think this is a conversation I should've had with you a long time ago Jacqueline. You need to buck your ideas up! You're grounded until you return to school and in that time I want all your Christmas work completed, because I know you haven't even started it yet. And if you go anywhere near Clara, unless it's to apologise," Jackie scoffed, "then you'll be in even bigger trouble."
"Can I go now?" she asked.
"Yes, to your room. I need to ring your social worker," Hannah told her and sent her out.