CHAPTER FIVE

'I see you've found the nursery.' The Doctor said.

Claire jumped in shock and turned her head to look at the Doctor. 'What, hey,' she blinked at his sudden appearance, 'what are you doing here, are you taking a break?'

'Break?' the Doctor asked.

'From the anti-Reaving thing, the exorcism? I thought it would take ages.' She looked closer at the Doctor, 'you're looking much better by the way.'

'Thank you, the "exorcism' as you so colourfully called it was a success,' the Doctor replied. 'But, Claire it's been hours.'

Claire shook her head in disbelief, 'Nah, it's only been half an hour, tops.'

The Doctor sighed as he looked around, 'You've been here a while, I'm guessing. Take a look at the light, its nearly dark.'

Claire looked about, she seemed to be the only one left standing in the hollow. Okay it was a little dimmer than a few minutes ago. But that could be a cloud passing overhead, right? Actually it was darker everywhere, maybe a really big cloud?

'What the hell's going on? I only arrived here a few minutes ago, just how long is a day around here?'

'You'll have to excuse my friend,' the Doctor addressed the small Floxian on Claire's hand. He plucked the shell from Claire and moved it closer to her thumb. 'Don't you think it's time for bed, young lady?' He addressed the baby.

The tiny Floxian stiffened it's arms, almost like it was protesting, the colours rippling across its skin in quick succession.

The Doctor just waggled the shell at it. 'You've had your fun, say night-night to Claire.'

The floxian turned it big black eyes in Claire's direction and after a tight squeeze with it's arms, it pushed off her thumb with a small burst of dark ink and swam it's way towards the shell.

'There we go,' the Doctor said as the baby disappeared back into it's shell, 'all tucked up.' He placed the shell carefully back on the sandy floor.

'And I repeat myself, what the hell?' Claire demanded.

'Question time again,' the Doctor replied, 'while you were off sight-seeing, I was getting de-Reaved, sound much better than an exorcism don't you think?'

'No not really, sounds daft, what happened to the Reaving?'

'Daft, who says daft anymore?'

'I do,' Claire protested, 'and you're avoiding the question of the Reaving.'

'Not avoiding,' the Doctor explained a tad grumpily, 'just trying to answer your endless questions.'

'They're not endless, I just have a lot of them and besides -' Claire broke off suddenly and looked about, 'wait are you trying to make me angry again. I thought the Reaving was gone.'

The Doctor grinned, 'You are clever, just checking to make sure it's really left the area. Wouldn't want it sticking around and ruining the spawning.'

Claire looked about, 'No, we wouldn't want that. so you're really a Reaving free zone, then?'

The Doctor smiled, 'Reaving free, might have lost a few memories along the way,' he shrugged, 'but how could I tell?'

'What's a few memories between friends? But how did it get out?'

'Same way it went in, but much faster and with its metaphorical tail between it's legs. When the Floxians put their collective minds to something well -' the Doctor gestured towards the hollow.

'Well what?'

'Reavings are banished and Waitresses stand for hours admiring baby Floxians.'

Claire snorted, 'Hours, as if.'

'No really, Floxians are renowned for their psychic abilities. Before they evolved into the advanced race they are today, Floxians hunted by mesmerizing their prey.'

'How does that work?' Claire asked.

'It means they convinced their lunch to stand very still until they ate it. Very much like how I found you, just then.'

'What? No way!' Claire protested. 'You mean that cute little baby -'

'Was practicing ancient hunting skills on you. You should be flattered, she really liked you.'

Claire shuddered, 'I don't feel flattered.'

'Come on,' the Doctor gestured for Claire to follow him as he turned and began walking away.

'Where we going now?' Claire asked, hurrying after him.

'Back to the TARDIS, unless you want to stay and watch the spawning. I have been reliably informed it's due to start two nights from now.'

'Two nights, uh, as interesting as watching a bunch of stuff floating about the sea sounds. I think I might pass, we'd never avoid Tork for two days anyway.'

'Tork?' the Doctor asked as Claire reached his side.

'Some guy I met, totally blue, he says he's some famous artist.' Claire tried to remember his full name, 'Tork of Xanadu II, that's it.'

The Doctor laughed at the idea, 'Tork of Xalanthes II, a famous artist? More like a wannabe hack, if you ask me.'

'Famous enough that you've heard of him.' Claire pointed out.

'Only because he talks about himself constantly to anyone who will listen, he just paints the same piece over and over again.'

'Well he's planning on adding models this time,' Claire shrugged casually, 'he asked me if I was interested.'

'You?'

'Oh thanks heaps,' Claire protested, 'a real friend would have been all "oh Claire, that's cool, you lucky thing!".'

The Doctor snorted, 'A real friend would have stopped you from doing something monumentally stupid as pose for Tork.'

'A really, real friend would have gotten their kit off and posed with me,' Claire muttered before stopping in shock. 'Did I just say that out loud?'

The Doctor took two steps before Claire's words registered, 'Kit off?' he looked back at her.

Claire rather desperately hoped the deepening gloom could hide the blush she felt growing across her cheeks. 'He was very naked, like all over naked. Did I mention he was blue?'

'That might have come up' the Doctor fought back a smile, 'I didn't take you for an exhibitionist.'

'I'm not!' Claire scoffed at the thought, 'but have you noticed everyone seems to be very clothing optional around here? We really stick out like -' Claire stuttered to a stop lost for words.

'Well dressed sore thumbs?' the Doctor finished for her.

Claire cleared her throat and began walking again, 'Can we just pretend that last few minutes never happened?'

The Doctor's long strides quickly caught up with her, 'If you like.'

The pair walked along for a few minutes in silence.

'If you're interested in posing, I know a few good artists.' The Doctor said.

'Oh yeah, who?'

'Da Vinci, Michaelangelo.'

'Oh I know this one, how about Donatello or Raphael?' Claire started humming the theme tune to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. She noticed the Doctor staring down at her. 'Oh I get it too low brow, not a fan of the movies, oh look,' she pointed in front of them, 'there's your ship.' She picked up her pace and hurried over to the blue box.

The Doctor shook his head, 'Movies, please, I'm a purist,' he muttered, 'give me the comics any day. The Saturday morning cartoons in a pinch if you must.'

Claire was pacing around the TARDIS, 'I can't believe that all that space is inside,' she placed a hand on the blue wooden surface, 'I mean how?'

The Doctor stopped by the door, reaching into his pocket for the key before realising Claire had it. 'Key.'

'What? Oh yeah, hang on,' Claire reached into the front of her shirt and pulled out the TARDIS key.

'Where were you hiding that?' the Doctor asked.

'In my bra.'

The Doctor stared at the key in Claire's outstretched hand, 'Why?'

'I was afraid I might lose it, only way home remember?' She waved her hand at the Doctor, 'are you taking it or what?'

The Doctor plucked the key from Claire's outstretched hand and placed it into the lock, but didn't turn the key. 'Trans-dimensional engineering.'

'You what?'

'You wanted to know how its bigger on the inside, well Time Lord technology, trans-dimensional engineering. Think of the interior and exterior as two different dimension coexisting in the same place at the same time.'

'You're just making words up now.'

The Doctor smiled as he pushed the door open. 'Would you prefer magical future technology?'

Claire laughed, 'It would make as much sense and how come the water isn't rushing in?'

'Force field.'

'Oh that I understand.'

The Doctor gestured towards the door, 'Waitresses first, and try it with your eyes open this time.'

'I'm never going to hear the end of that am I?'

The Doctor laughed, 'Probably not.'

Claire took a deep breath and stepped over the raised wooden threshold and into the ship. Claire could hear a faint humming as she walked forward into the cool interior and she swore she felt a slight pop of her ears, but that might have been because she went from water to air. Looking around she still couldn't believe that all this was sitting inside that small blue shell.

'Definitely future technology magic,' she stated as the Doctor walked past her.

'Magical future technology,' the Doctor corrected her as he began opening and closing filing cabinet drawers.

'Brr,' Claire rubbed at her bare arms. 'Is it freezing in here or is it just me?' Claire felt more than heard the slight squelching sound and looked down at her bare feet. 'Oh sorry, I'm dripping all over your floor.'

'Ah here they are, heads up!'

Claire looked up in time to be hit in the face by something white and fluffy. 'Hey watch it,' she protested as the large towel slithered to the floor. 'Warn a person next time.'

'I did,' the Doctor said, another towel in his hand.

'Yeah as you were throwing it,' Claire hopped onto the towel. She could feel the seawater dripping off her braid. 'Could I have another?'

'Are you sure,' the Doctor gestured towards her with the towel, 'might be a bit sudden. Would you prefer a few days warning first?'

'Just throw the thing already.'

The Doctor slowly lobbed the towel at Claire. Who caught it in front of her and flicked it open. It was huge, more a sheet than a towel, not that Claire was about to complain as she swung it about her shoulders and let it drape down almost to her knees.

'Nice towels, bet they cost a packet,' Claire said snuggling into the softness.

'Hmm?' The Doctor's head emerged from his own towel where he had been drying his hair. His hair was a mess, parts of it was standing on end and on the left side of his head it was smushed flat.

'You look ridiculous,' Claire told him.

'And you look like a half drowned rat, but you didn't hear me mentioning it,' running a hand over his head the Doctor draped his towel over one shoulder and walked towards Claire. 'Move over,' he stepped onto the towel on the floor as Claire shuffled across to give him some room. 'Turn around, I don't think you'll need your hydro-whatsis anymore.'

Claire laughed as she turned around, 'I thought that had a more technical term.'

'It does,' the Doctor said, as he unclipped the blue-black cord from about Claire's neck, 'but I like your version better.'

'More commercial,' Claire said turning back to see the Doctor curling the cord about his hand.

'More fun to say,' he replied.

'Hard to believe that little thing was keeping me alive underwater.' Claire said as the Doctor walked back towards the filing cabinets. He reached up and took off his hydro-whatsis and placed them both back in a drawer. 'Ain't future technology grand?'

'Seemed the fastest and simplest way to get you outside,' the Doctor said, closing the drawer, 'I do have an old diving suit around here somewhere, if you were looking to go real old school.' Turning around he noticed Claire shivering on her towel. 'Ah, you're cold, come on.'

'Come on where?' Claire asked as the Doctor began walking away. 'Where are we going?'

'Showers,' the Doctor said over his shoulder as he led Claire towards some big doors.

'There's more,' Claire muttered to herself as she hurried after him. 'Just how big is this place?'

Pushing the big double doors open the Doctor looked back at Claire. 'Not sure,' he admitted, 'I've never felt the need to count the rooms.'

'Never counted the rooms?' Claire was astounded at the concept as she followed the Doctor down a long stone corridor. 'You really are Batman, aren't you?'

'Batman?' The Doctor looked back at her.

'Got all the tech gadgets under the sun, lives in a huge mansion type ship and is probably stinking rich to boot. Tork was right, who just hops in his spaceship and jets off to other planets? Rich toffs, that's who!'

'Money isn't important,' the Doctor said, as they turned into another corridor.

'Only rich people say that.' Claire's steps faltered for a moment, when had the walls stopped being stone and become white tiles? Claire realised the Doctor had stopped walking too.

'I'm not rich.'

'You own a spaceship, seems rich to me.'

'Well, I wouldn't say own exactly.' He answered a little evasively, before starting to walk away.

'Well what would you say, exactly?' Claire trotted a few steps to catch up with him.

'I acquired her,' the Doctor turned into another corridor.

Claire sighed deeply, honestly she was going to need a road map or a really big ball of string to find her way out again. 'When you say acquired, are we talking in an auction or what?'

'Or what,' the Doctor peered down a darker corridor before continuing straight ahead.

'Well that doesn't sound dodgy at all!'

'Ah,' the Doctor stopped into front of a closed door, one of many identical doors lining the corridor, 'here we are.'

'No, don't change the subject, what does "or what" mean?'

The Doctor rested his hand on the doorknob. 'It means, I might have borrowed the TARDIS.'

'And by borrowed were we planning on giving it back one day or do we really mean nicked it?' Claire asked.

'The shower room,' the Doctor opened the door, 'long hot soak should warm you up, don't worry, the water won't run out.'

Claire folded her arms and stayed in the corridor. 'Doctor,' her voice took on a warning tone. 'I've put a lot of faith in you, an almost complete stranger, don't turn out to be an axe murderer on the run or something.'

The Doctor sighed as he looked back at Claire. 'Borrowed as in permanently,' he noted her shocked expression, 'she was being decommissioned, it was a waste of resources,' his face took on an almost wistful expression, 'and there was so much of the universe I hadn't seen yet.'

Claire shook her head, 'You know what you are, a teenage joyrider. "Oh no, officer, I didn't nick the Ferrari from the museum. I was liberating it back to the wild where it belongs!"'

The Doctor laughed, 'Something like that, although I wouldn't have called myself a teenager back then, even if it was several lifetimes ago.'

Claire sighed as she leaned against the door-frame. 'So no axe murderer?'

'No, I don't think I even own an axe.'

'Good,' Claire dropped her arms to her sides as she pushed herself off the frame and walked into the room. 'Because that would have made me a really bad judge of character for trusting you.'

'Can't have that.' The Doctor pointed towards a brass hatch near the door. 'Towels and clothes go in there.' He then gestured towards a wall cabinet placed on the far wall, 'shampoo or whatever you might need over there.' He concluded before turning to walk away.

'Wait, where are you going?'

The Doctor turned back, 'To dry off and get changed.'

'But,' Claire waved vaguely, 'I don't have any other clothes.'

'Don't worry, clothes in the chute and they'll come back clean when you need them.'

'You have a laundry service in here too?'

The Doctor shrugged, 'Probably.'

Claire moved back to stand in the doorway. 'But how do I find my way back?'

The Doctor gestured to his right, 'Right, right, left, right again, then straight on until morning.'

Claire watched for a minute as the Doctor walked away before stepping back into the shower room and closing the door. '"Left, right, left right",' she muttered in a deep voice before returning to her own tone. 'Man directions, I hate man directions.' Realising she hadn't repeated the Doctor's instructions correctly, Claire closed her eyes and tried to remember what he had said. was it right, right, then left; or right, left, then right? 'Oh crap,' she opened her eyes, 'I'm going to get totally lost aren't I?' Sighing she walked over to the shower, 'just for that, I'm using up all his hot water.'


The big double metal doors swung open with an 'oomph,' from Claire. 'Call off the hounds,' she announced loudly, 'I'm still alive!' She stood there in the threshold, arms raised dramatically, only to be met by silence. 'Uh, hello, anyone here?' Claire looked around the console room, 'don't tell me I made another wrong turn.' Raising her voice Claire shouted, 'Doctor!'

The Doctor's head popped up from behind a large armchair, 'There you are,' he said, 'what took you so long?'

'I got lost,' Claire replied as she walked over to where he was sitting. 'Someone gave me lousy directions.'

'Lousy,' the Doctor stood up, 'right, right, left, right, how hard was that?'

'All the corridors looked the same,' Claire protested, 'I work better with visual references, would it kill you to put a picture on a wall every now and then?' She noted the Doctor's attire. 'I thought you were getting changed?'

The Doctor looked down at what he was wearing. 'I did.'

'You look exactly the same.'

'As do you.'

'Yeah but I have nothing else to change into, do you have identical outfits or something?'

'You said it yourself,' the Doctor said, as he gestured Claire towards another armchair, 'laundry service.'

'As in automated or are there other people living here, like do you have Minions, or robots?' Claire sank into her chair, 'robots would be very cool.'

'I had a robot dog once,' the Doctor said, sitting back down in his own chair. He leaned over a small table that had been placed between them and pulled a cover off a large metal tray, resting underneath was a plate of buttered toast and a tea set. 'Shall I be Mother?'

Claire nodded, 'Makes a change from me doing it,' she reached across towards the toast before pulling her hand back. 'May I, please, have some toast?'

Teapot in one hand and the strainer in the other the Doctor smiled at Claire's sudden politeness. 'Of course.' he began pouring the tea.

'No teabags, how fancy.' Claire noted as she sat back in the chair, with her triangle of toast.

'Only the best for the Waitress.' Finishing pouring the Doctor placed the strainer and teapot back on their respective coasters and picked up the sugar bowl. He waved it vaguely in Claire's direction.

Her mouth full of buttery toast Claire just waggled two fingers at him.

Dropping two cubes into her cup the Doctor asked, 'Milk?'

Swallowing the last of her toast Claire replied, 'Black's fine, thanks.'

Pushing the cup and saucer towards Claire the Doctor took his cup and sat back in his chair.

'So,' Claire leaned forward and stirred her tea, 'is it always like this, saving the world then back to the ship for tea?'

'Pretty much,' the Doctor blew across the top of his cup before taking a small sip. 'Hmm, dash more milk.' He picked up the milk jug.

'You really are a very English Batman,' Claire said, playfully.

'And you watch too much television,' the Doctor snorted at her.

Claire took up her cup and scooted back in her chair, sitting cross legged so her bare feet were no longer touching the cool floor. 'Maybe I prefer the graphic novels.'

'Well I take it all back then,' the Doctor noted Claire's feet, 'your socks and shoes must be about somewhere,' he looked about the room. 'Ah there they are.'

'I'll get them,' noting where the Doctor was looking Claire stood up, placing her cup back on the table, and walked across the room.

The large console area was filled with little armchair nooks, this one was nearer to the door, and she assumed must have been where they had ended up the first time Claire and the Doctor had entered his ship. Claire sat down and pulled on her socks and shoes. It felt like a lifetime ago, before she had walked on another planet and met actual aliens, she glanced back at the Doctor, well alien looking aliens.

'Your coat's there, too.' the Doctor said.

'What?' Claire looked about, draped on the back of the chair beside her bag was a large duffle coat. 'No, its not.'

'Yes, it is.'

Claire picked up the heavy duffle and saw her own coat underneath.

'That one's yours, too.' the Doctor indicated the duffle in her hand. 'The zippers broken on the other one, you need a new coat.'

'I know the zippers broken,' Claire hefted the new coat in her hand, 'are you serious?'

'Of course, Doctor's orders,' the Doctor shrugged casually, 'can't have you catching a cold.'

Slipping the heavy tan coat on Claire admired it, 'Its brand new.' She fastened up the big wooden toggles, it was a little big but that wasn't a bad thing, left room to add more layers on those really cold winter days.

'That old thing,' the Doctor scoffed, 'found it in the back of the wardroom.'

'Wardroom?' Claire took the coat off and draped it back over the chair before wandering back to her tea.

'Think wardrobe, but a really big room.'

Claire picked up her cup and another piece of toast. 'Next you'll tell me you have a wardroom for every season.'

'Now there's an idea,' the Doctor replied, 'you never know what the weather will be like when you visit other planets.'

'Other planets,' Claire laughed at the idea, 'some people have all the fun.'

'You could be one of those people,' the Doctor said, quietly.

'Me?' Claire almost dropped her toast in her lap. 'Why me? I'm not brave or anything.'

'Brave?' the Doctor shook his head, 'Claire I've seen you run towards danger twice, I leave you alone on an alien planet and you thrived, even made friends if that request module from the translator was anything to go by, they only hand those out to VIPs or people they really like.'

Claire looked down at her hand, realising that somewhere along the way the snot blob Harry had given her had disappeared, probably washed off when she showered. She felt a little sad about that, it had been a tangible thing, a reminder of her alien excursion and now it was gone.

'Well?' the Doctor asked. 'What do you think, want to travel and see the universe?'

Claire opened her mouth to say "yes", but closed it again. Frowning she picked up her cup and drank some tea, stalling for time. She wasn't sure what to say, on one hand this was the chance of a lifetime, see the universe and travel with the Doctor. Even if it did seem a little dangerous at times, but on the other . . .

'Ah,' the Doctor sat back in his chair, 'you're going to say no, aren't you?'

'No, I mean, yes, I -,' Claire stuttered to a halt. She took a moment to try and collect her thoughts.

'It's alright,' the Doctor said, he finished his tea, placed the cup on the table and stood up. 'I'd better change the co-ordinates.' He began walking over the console.

'Are you angry with me?' Claire asked as she watched him turn something on the console and flick a few switches.

'Nonsense,' the Doctor looked back at Claire, shaking his head, 'it does my ego good to be rejected now and then.'

'No, wait, its not like that,' Claire protested. placing her half filled cup on the table she stood up, 'it's all your fault, you know.'

The Doctor turned around. 'My fault? You saying no is all my fault?'

'Yeah,' Claire laughed nervously, 'kinda. Before I met you I had a very normal, boring life. Get up, go to work, go home, rinse and repeat.'

'All the more reason to come travel with me.' The Doctor pointed out.

'Probably,' Claire rocked forward on the balls on her feet, then back again, as she tried to articulate her feelings. 'I think I was in a rut. Got no life, got no purpose. Then you come along and show me,' she waved her arms about the room, 'everything!'

'Still not sure how this is my fault.'

Claire smiled. 'Because you made me want to me more. I saw the Floxians and Harry, how they helped people -'

'Harry?'

Claire tapped the back of her hand. 'The translator seal.'

The Doctor frowned as he leaned back against the wooden finish of the console. 'His name was Harry?'

'He asked for a name,' Claire explained.

'And you went with Harry?'

'Not the point!'

The Doctor waved away Claire's protest. 'Carry on.'

'I saw how they helped people, helped you and I thought, "I want to do that". Not the mind hypnotism thingy,' Claire waved a hand near her head, 'but just help. I keep thinking about Thomas, how I couldn't help him.'

'It wasn't your fault,' the Doctor said.

'Kinda was, the Reaving was after us and got him instead. But what if he hadn't been there that night, what if someone had helped him off the street? I couldn't save Thomas but maybe I could help the next person.'

'You could still do that,' the Doctor pushed himself away from the console, 'time machine, remember?'

'Tempting,' Claire said, 'but I feel like if I don't do this now, I might chicken out, you know?'

The Doctor nodded. 'How do you think I ended up with the TARDIS?'

Claire laughed. 'Spontaneous theft, you just woke up one morning and thought "gonna nick that blue box". How did you get away with it?'

'Nobody else wanted her and I have one of those faces, remember?' He began walking towards Claire, hand outstretched, 'Speaking of which, phone please.'

'I'm not -, oh who am I kidding?' Claire walked over to her bag and pulled out her phone. Handing it over she watched as the Doctor began typing.

'There,' he handed the phone back, 'one more friend.'

Claire opened her friend list, there at the top was the name Alcovian, Doctor.

'Top of the list,' the Doctor pointed out, helpfully, 'can't have Becky being your number one, can we?'

'Better hope I never make a friend called Adam or Abby,' Claire hit the dial button and raised the phone to her ear.

Over by the console a phone started ringing, the Doctor looked to Claire.

'Go on,' Claire said, 'it might be for you.'

The Doctor walked over and picked up the receiver of an old fashioned telephone. 'Hello?'

His voice echoed in Claire's ear as she laughed and hung up.

'Why did you do that for?' The Doctor asked.

'Just checking you didn't give me a wrong number.'

'But why would do that I want you to have my number.'

'Sometimes people fob you off with a fake number,' Claire shrugged as she put her phone back in her bag.

'Stupid people,' the Doctor stated. Just then the blue shards in the centre of the console stopped moving. 'Ah, we're here.'

'London?'

The Doctor checked his co-ordinates. 'Dreary old London,' he looked over to Claire. 'Still time to change your mind.'

Claire took a deep breath and, letting it out slowly, shook her head.

'Better put on your new coat, it's nippy outside.' The Doctor said as he walked over to Claire.

'Yes, dad,' Claire rolled her eyes at him as she slipped on the duffle coat. Slinging her bag over her right shoulder and picking up her old coat Claire turned and looked at the Doctor. 'Well.'

The Doctor nodded. 'Well.'

'I'd offer to shake your hand,' Claire said, 'but look how that all turned out last time.'

'Hug then?'

Dropping her coat back on the chair, Claire stepped into the Doctor's open arms.

They stood there quietly for several minutes before Claire gave the Doctor one last squeeze. 'Right,' she drew back and looked up at him, 'better be off, then.'

Smiling down at her the Doctor let Claire go and stepped back. 'Off to save the world.'

Claire nodded. 'One person at a time, no idea what I'm going to do, though.'

'Whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll be magnificent.'

'I'll settle for good, great in a pinch.'

The Doctor laughed. 'You're that, already.'

Feeling tears starting to well Claire cleared her throat. 'Oh hey,' she tapped her bag, 'if you ever need help, I'm a call away.'

'Same.'

Claire walked towards the door and opened it, outside was the same empty lot, it was like she had never left. '"Oh I've had such a curious dream",' Claire whispered to herself. Looking back at the Doctor she smiled. 'Bye.'

'Bye.'


Stepping out of the TARDIS Claire closed the door, wiping the tears from her eyes she quickly walked away. A low rumbling sound behind her caused Claire to turn around and she watched in awe as the Doctor's blue box faded from sight.

'Abracadabra,' Claire said, with a sad smile.

Sighing Claire looked around. Just past those bushes was the main road and her bus stop. The Doctor, the TARDIS, walking under water and talking to Harry, really did feel like a dream. Had she just made the biggest mistake of her life?

A text message noise from her bag caused Claire to fumble into its depths. 'That had better not be Marcus,' she grumbled.

It was from the Doctor, looking up she waited a moment in case he was coming back before opening the message.

Check your left pocket.

Reaching into the pocket of her new duffle coat, Claire pulled out a small greenish shell. Her phone beeped again.

Something from Floxaica, to remember.

'As if I could ever forget.' Smiling at the gesture Claire carefully placed the shell back in her pocket before quickly texting a thank you. 'Now, Claire,' she looked across the empty lot, 'day one of the rest of your life. What would the Doctor do?' Claire shook her head at the thought. 'Nah, I wonder what the Waitress would do!' Looking back at the empty space that had once contained the TARDIS she thought of Thomas. 'Where I could find me some dragons?'