Dr Smith was running. He was now running down the corridor of his son's primary school as fast as he could to get away from the recent interaction as quickly as possible. He felt terrible. Terrible for being so late. Terrible for how he treated his son's teacher and terrible for lying to her. As Dr Smith reached his destination, he let out the breath he'd been holding while leaning against the door of his transport that would take him to the Owens' residence.
Not having a car of his own, Craig let flustered man borrow the family car whenever needed. Dr John Smith often took the tube to work. Some days, spending many gruelling hours away from Paul. He felt compelled to practice this particular brand of medicine, though. Shifting gears, he made his way to the familiar home, not even noticing that he was absently talking out loud to himself.
"I mean, I didn't technically lie to her." He said as he made a turn. "She asked me about my late wife's name. River was my late wife...I mean, I think she is...er was...is? Well, we were married at one point anyway." He thought about his impromptu marriage to the 'devil in heels'. The corner of his mouth was about to turn up into a grin, but he frowned instead. The look on the young women's face made him cringe. He could see that he'd upset her.
"It's not like she asked for Paul's mum's name. She specifically said, 'late wife.' No harm done." He was clearly trying to convince his conscience that he did the right thing. Dr Smith pulled into the Owens' driveway and thought about the look on Clara's face when he'd yelled at her so harshly. He turned off the engine.
Before he knew it, his head was in his hands as he was sobbing. He didn't know what else to do. He couldn't bring her into this mess...again. Only for it to end so horribly. He thought that if he pushed her away, maybe that would be better. Better than reliving the pain that burned in his memories and consumed his thoughts. Because the truth was that he did lie to her. He knew she wasn't asking about River. She was asking about Paul's mum. Clara Oswin Oswald. But that's what The Doctor does. He lies.
...
Victorian London, 1892
"Oi! Where do you think you're going? I thought we was just getting acquainted!" echoed in the Doctor's head as he now found himself being pulled by this new acquaintance through the grand Victorian style home.
Now they were alone in the corridor. It's why you like me." She said cheekily. Clara had purposely disobeyed him when he specifically requested her to stay in the study.
"Who said I like you?" 'Blimey,' he thought. For a Victorian-era woman, she was a bit bold.
Correction, VERY bold because now she's kissing him, and his brain is fritzing out. She pulls back to see him gaping like a fish which he sees is only fueling her taunting.
"I think you just did," she smirked.
"You kissed me!" Exclaimed the red-faced Doctor. 'Stating the obvious. Great comeback,' he thought.
And now he's just told her to shut up. Yet another 'clever' comeback.
...
And now he's feeling self-conscious because she's just admitted to him that she's basically ogling him as they climb up the ladder to the TARDIS. He doesn't know what to feel. He feels like something is happening in the pit of his stomach. What is that? Butterflies? He's known this woman all of what, 45 minutes? That's when they both reach the top. And of course, now she's chiding him for insulting her in thinking she's "sweet little Clara" with ideas above her station.
The Doctor has already made his decision as he opens the doors. He can't wait to hear her say it. He'd never given in this quickly, but there's something about her that he can't quite figure out. Now, she's running out of the TARDIS, circling it. Trying to figure out how it's possible. He's patiently waiting for her to say it...but she never does.
Instead, he hears, "It's smaller on the outside."
"Okay, that is a first."
And now he's giving her a key. He's never been more certain of anything. How is this possible? This woman literally bullied her way into his life, and he's asking her to come with him. To travel again. He thought he was done. He thought that part of him died when the Ponds were taken by the weeping angels. But here was this short yet fierce woman who managed to pull him out of the depths of his despair and give him a reason to live. Not just exist.
A reason to be The Doctor again.
But now, she's being pulled away, and everything he'd just opened himself up to is being ripped from him before it even started. He runs to her. He can hear her yelling. Or is it he who is yelling?
All The Doctor knows is that he reached her just in time. The Time Lord brings Clara into his arms as the Ice woman plunges to her death. His hearts are racing, and they're both nearly in tears about the tragedy that almost happened but didn't.
Clara is shaking. Her eyes are wide. The Doctor gently brings her back into the TARDIS to catch her breath. He kisses the top of her head as she clings to him while they both are sitting on the console floor. The only sounds are their ragged breathing from the adrenaline wearing off. He almost lost her. He could feel his hearts nearly shattering, much like he imagined the ice woman had done only moments ago. How had Clara dug herself so deep within his soul that the thought of losing her would have sent him into the depths of hell itself?
Before he had any more time to contemplate, Cara was now pulling herself up and dusting off her poofy dress.
"What do we do now?" she questions. The Doctor is still trying to regain his focus.
"Doctor?" She questions again. "What do we do about the ice woman? Do you think she survived?"
The Doctor stands up as the task at hand starts flooding back to him.
"Right...the ice woman. I don't know if she survived the fall, but I'd hate to think of any piece of her getting into the wrong hands."
The Doctor brings the TARDIS down to the ground below to gather up the shards of ice. He nearly weeps when he sees the pieces scattered about, thinking how Clara's body could have been lying right amongst the abominable fragments. Broken. Dead. But now, here she was. Standing next to him. Having recently faced death, she's the one pushing him along to save the world. They quickly collect the pieces and place them in a box. Now that he's moving again, the gears are turning in his head. He's got a plan. And a clever one at that.
...
Okay, so maybe his 'clever idea' didn't go according to plan. He hadn't expected Simeon to pop back up as a frozen dead man. That was...frightening. Oh, right, and the nearly dying part. Only this time, he almost bit the dust while Clara, along with Vastra, called out in fear. He could see the tears falling from Clara's eyes as she begged for The Doctor's life. And then, like a Christmas miracle, her powerful emotion saved him. Saved everyone. The three looked out the window and realised that it wasn't rain falling from the sky. It was tears. Clara's tears.
"We saved the world, you and me." Said the Doctor as he looked over to Clara and nudged her side with his bony elbow. She nudges him right back. And much harder than necessary! He winces at the jab, and she's laughing. He can't help smile at the sound of her laughter. They were back at the Latimer residence, standing right outside the TARDIS, saying goodbye to the Paternoster Gang. It was an emotional day, and the Doctor was unsure if Clara would still want to travel with him. Now seeing just how dangerous it was to be near him. And Clara, she didn't know if the Doctor wanted her to come with him anymore. Seeing that she almost got herself killed. Would she be a burden?
They were both awkwardly standing at the entrance of the TARDIS whilst the others were quietly talking. Clara turned to the Doctor and broke the silence between them.
"Does this mean you'll go back to your cloud?" she asked softly.
He turned to her and could see what she was really asking of him in her expression. 'Will you still have me travel with you?' Her dark round eyes stared at him as if they could see right to his soul.
"No. No more cloud." He spoke.
"Why not?"
"It rained." He said with a smile. He offers her his hand as he opens up the wooden doors. "Will you still come away with me?" He was sure she'd say 'yes' only a moment before, but he couldn't help hold his breath at the fear of rejection.
"Of course." She smiled warmly at him.
They enter the blue box silently as the Doctor sends them into the time vortex. It had been so long since he'd travelled. Let alone with a companion. He didn't really know where to go. They'd just been running for their lives. Both of them nearly dying. Maybe they could just settle in? He realised he actually didn't know Clara very well. Who was this woman who would jump into a "magic box" with a strange man and fly away?
The Doctor looked up from the controls and watched as Clara ran her hands along the rails and took in the sight of the advanced technology. It occurred to him that Clara was his first companion to come from such...well, primitive lifestyle. She was still wearing the heavy dress that had gotten her stuck in the window to which he'd blurted out embarrassingly about taking her clothes off. He tried not to blush at the memory.
"Clara?" he called. She turned with a smile. "Um, if...if you want to rest or change or anything, the TARDIS, she...I can have her make a room. For you. Your own room."
"Really? That's incredible!" She ran up to him and gave him a hug. He awkwardly patted her on the back. Not sure of what else to do with his hands.
"I'm actually rather tired. Maybe something to do with running around all night. Saving the world," she said with a smirk.
"How long till it's ready? I could lay down somewhere else for a bit. I can't imagine building an entire room could be done so quickly that I'd be able to sleep in it tonight." Clara yawned then covered her mouth in embarrassment.
The Doctor gave a small chuckle as he hit a few buttons.
"It's ready now." He said with a bright smile. The Doctor loved seeing the way her face lit up all the while her mind was trying to understand how it all worked.
"I...I feel like I already know where it is," she said in amazement. "How?"
"Ah, the Old Girl is communicating with you. The TARDIS is a sentient ship. She's nudging you in the right direction."
Clara grinned and dashed off down the TARDIS corridor, excited to find her very own room. The Doctor was surprised when he heard her footsteps running back in his direction. Clara emerged from the corridor and went to the Doctor, where she brought him in for another embrace. This time he was more comfortable to respond in kind.
"Thank you," she whispered into his ear. The feel of her breath so close to his skin made him shiver. She pulled away and looked into his eyes. He didn't know who leaned in first, but now they were kissing. Again. Only this time, he was kissing her back. It was like they were magnets being drawn together as he pushed her up against the console. He knew it was probably not appropriate. Taking advantage of her after offering her all of time and space.
"I... I'm sorry." He says as he pulls back. The Doctor had his eyes closed, not wanting to face her, but she had a devious look on her face when he opened them.
"We could make good use of my new room." She said as she leaned back into him.
...
"I told you, you liked me," Clara announced amusedly a while later in her new room on the TARDIS. She pulled the blanket up past her shoulders and snuggled into the Time Lord's now bare chest.
The Doctor was about to quip something back, but when he looked into her eyes, he could see that she wasn't looking at him with an expression of mockery but of something else. Something pure and wholesome. He was speechless when it came to Clara and her magic. What else could it be? Because Clara Oswin Oswald most definitely put a spell on The Doctor.
Seeing the way she looked at him only reinforced the feeling that had been growing inside him when he first met her outside the Rose and Crown. The Doctor was pretty sure he was looking at her in the exact same way. It wasn't the first time the Time Lord had felt this particular feeling. Although it had been some time ago. And he'd never felt it this soon after meeting someone. His hazel green eyes, carrying the weight of the world, now looking into the endless pools of deep brown with a look of...love.