Disclaimer: I do not own Doctor Who and I never will unfortunately :(

Chapter Three:

The Christmas Invasion

Part 3

Once she got back to the flat, Clara went into the living room to find Jackie, Mickey, and Rose standing around, watching the telly. Harriet Jones was on there and sitting at a desk, speaking to the world. Clara listened to her as she leaned against the wall, next to the entrance of the living room.

"Ladies and gentlemen…if I may take a moment during this terrible time," Harriet started off solemnly. "It's hardly the Queen's speech, I'm afraid that's been cancelled." She turned her to the side, addressing someone off screen, "Did we ask about the royal family?" She waited for a reply and her eyes were sad as she faced the camera again, "Oh. They're on the roof. But – Ladies and gentlemen – this crisis is unique, and I'm afraid to say, it might get much worse."

Clara almost snorted. Good idea, making everyone more afraid than they already were.

"I would ask all of you to remain calm. But I have one request: Doctor. If you're out there…we need you."

Jackie turned to look at Mickey and Rose, but her daughter wasn't looking at her. Though she couldn't see her face, Clara had a feeling that she was fighting back tears from the way her shoulders were shaking. Turning her attention back to the telly, she wondered how just one man could stop this from happening. Yeah, he was an alien, but still. He couldn't do it on his own. Or maybe he could. Clara didn't know him well enough to make that assumption.

Even if he could stop them, it didn't matter. The Doctor was still out of it, unable to help.

Clara sighed.

"I don't know what to do…" Harriet continued, looking and sounding defeated, "But if you can hear me, Doctor…"

Rose turned away from the telly.

"If anyone knows the Doctor, if anyone can find him…the situation has never been more desperate."

Clara glanced at Rose as she headed over to the Doctor's room. She felt empathy for the blonde…even if she didn't understand why Rose thought she lost the Doctor when he was right there, alive and breathing.

"Help us. Please, Doctor. Help us."

A sob broke out in the direction where Rose was. She was obviously done fighting back the Doctor. Jackie immediately hurried over to her daughter and Clara watched as Rose turned to her mother and spoke, choked up with tears.

"He's gone. The Doctor's gone. He's left me, mum. He left me, mum…" She sobbed harder as Jackie kissed her forehead and embraced her.

Watching this made Clara's heart ache. It just reminded her of the time where she had been picked on, being called a bookworm and sobbing to her mother about the awful things those kids said. And with no words, Ellie Oswald embraced her and whispered soothing words in her ear.

As that memory crossed Clara's mind, her eyes clouded over with tears and she looked away from them as Jackie said soothing words into Rose's ear.

"It's all right…I'm sorry…

Just then, the windows in the flat smashed. The sound of it made Clara jump and she automatically jumped out of the way as glass showered the floor. No one had gotten as they were all out of the way of the windows.

What the hell was that? What was happening?

Rose, Jackie, and Mickey ran out of the flat to see what was going on. Clara didn't follow them. For some reason, her mind was on the Doctor.

With him in mind, she ran to the bedroom to find that he was still asleep. There was glass on the floor from the window as well, so Clara was careful as she walked over to his bed and she kneeled next to him.

"Doctor, you have to get up again, it's getting much worse out there," she told him desperately. "The people out there need your help. If you don't get up, they could get hurt. I don't know if you really can save them by yourself, but I must believe that you can. If I don't, then who else will. So, please wake up. We don't know what to do…we need you."

He didn't stir from his sleep and Clara's shoulders slumped in disappointment. This was useless. He wasn't going to wake up. But why did he wake up last time?

Clara tried to think of what someone did different. All she could remember was her giving him some tea…

As that crossed her mind, she realized something. It was tea! He needed more tea! Why didn't she realize this sooner? Tea made everything better, so why couldn't it make the Doctor better? Clara quickly stood to her feet and was about to run out of the room to make some tea when Rose came running into the room. She jumped out of the way as the blonde quickly went up to the Doctor. Mickey and Jackie came into the room.

"Clara!" Rose's mum called to her and enveloped her into a hug. "Are you alright?"

Clara nodded. "I'm alright…" Then a concerned look crossed her face. "What's going on?"

Jackie opened her mouth to respond, but Rose cut her off as she spoke to Mickey.

"Mickey, we're going to carry him," she told him as she pulled the duvet off the Doctor. "Mum – get your stuff, and get some food. We're going."

"Well, where to?"

"The TARDIS," Rose responded. "It's the only safe place in the universe."

Clara blinked at this. "How can a box be the safest place to be?" she asked.

"There's no time to explain," Rose said quickly. "We have to get out of here."

"But what're we gonna do in there?!" Jackie exclaimed.

"Hide."

Clara's eyes widened at that. "We can't just hide! That's even worse than doing nothing!" she argued. "Those people out there – standing on those ledges – need our help! We can't just leave them!"

"She's right!" Jackie agreed with her, causing a sore look to cross Rose's face.

"There's nothing we can do to save them!" Rose shouted. "Look at the sky! There's a great big alien invasion – and I don't know what to do alright?! I've travelled with him, and I've seen all that stuff, but when I'm at home, I'm useless!"

Clara looked at her in disbelief. Was she that dependent on a man?

"Now all we can do is run and hide, and I'm sorry. Now move."

Jackie didn't argue, and she left the room to get her stuff, along with food.

Though she wanted to argue some more, Clara didn't as she sighed and followed Jackie to help her.

After getting everything, they exited the flat and headed over to where the TARDIS was.

Rose and Mickey were carrying the Doctor while Jackie and Clara held onto the food. It was a lot of food, but it wasn't as much as before. There was more. Rose told them, well Jackie as she seemed content to just ignore the fact that Clara was there, to leave some of the food back at the flat.

They made it to the TARDIS. Clara expected to hear the voice again. It never came, though, surprising making her frown for some reason she didn't know. Mickey and Rose with the Doctor went into the TARDIS first. Then Jackie after she looked around to make sure no one was looking.

Clara didn't step inside yet as she stared at the box. How were all of them going to fit in that small box? The rest of them were able to as she could hear their voices inside. Clara lifted a hand and touched the surface of the box. A surprising feel of familiarity shot through her. It was the same feeling she got when she met the Doctor for the first time. It just…was so strange. Clara snapped out of her thoughts when she heard Jackie call her name. Letting out a breath she didn't know that she had been holding in, she finally stepped inside of the TARDIS, closing the door behind her.

Her mouth dropped as soon as she was inside.

"It's…it's…it's…" Clara stuttered.

Rose rolled her eyes from where she was near the console after her and Mickey sat the Doctor on the ground. Then she opened her mouth to finish Clara's sentence, but the young girl cut off, awe in her voice.

"It's smaller on the outside…"

Not expecting this, Rose just stared at her. Clara didn't notice as she looked around the TARDIS in awe.

"So, what do we do? Just sit there?" Mickey asked her.

Rose sighed at the question, a clearly frustrated look crossing her face. "That's as good as it gets."

Jackie stepped forward, holding a thermal flash. "Right, here we go," she said brightly. "Nice cup of tea."

Clara snapped out of her awe at the sound of this, making her remember her earlier realization.

"Hmm, the solution to everything," Rose said sarcastically.

Jackie scowled at her daughter a bit, getting tired of her attitude. "Now, stop your moaning," she scolded her. "I'll get the rest of the food." Before she left, Clara asked,

"Do you need any help?"

The older woman shook her head as she smiled at Clara. "No, I can get it on my own, love. Thanks for the offer though." She handed Mickey to thermal flash before leaving the TARDIS. Clara watched her leave, not noticing the glare on Rose's face and she never would as it disappeared when she looked down at the Doctor with a sad look on her face.

"Tea. Like we're having a picnic while the world comes to an end. Very British." Mickey joked trying to break the tension, but Rose didn't laugh. Clara laughed a little though even though she didn't find the joke all that funny. She just didn't want him to feel bad. Mickey smiled as he changed the subject, turning his attention to the computer on the TARDIS console. "How does this thing work? It picks up TV, maybe we could see what's going on out there."

"That would be great if we could," Clara commented as she moved over to Mickey, who nodded his head enthusiastically in agreement as he pressed a few buttons on the computer.

"What do you do to it?" he asked Rose.

"I dunno," Rose answered in a rather snappy voice, making Clara frown. Just because she was upset didn't mean she had to take it out on everyone else. "It sort of tunes itself." She casually pressed a few buttons and a few minutes later, a loud beeping sound came from the computer. It sounded like some sort of alarm to Clara. Something she went to voice out loud, but Mickey got to it first, though he said something entirely different.

"Maybe it's a distress signal." He suggested, and Rose rolled her eyes from her spot in the captain's chair.

"Fat lot of good that's gonna do…" she muttered.

"Are you gonna be a misery all night?"

"Yes." Rose said bluntly, earning a sigh from her boyfriend.

"You should look at it from my point of view." He told her. "Stuck in here with your mother's cooking." He said the last thing in a joking tone, causing Clara to crack a smile as she stared at the computer, which was still making that beeping sound. She was trying to figure out where it was coming from, but she had no idea. Maybe Mickey was right, and it was just a distress signal.

At this, Rose frowned as she looked around the TARDIS. "What is she?"

Mickey shrugged while Clara glanced over at Rose. "She went outside to get the rest of the food…" she answered her question.

Rose nodded in response, remembering her mother saying that now as she jumped to her feet. "Right, well, I'd better go and give her a hand. It might start raining missiles out there." Before she could start leaving, Clara asked politely,

"Need any extra help?"

Since Rose's back was turned, she didn't see her roll her eyes. "No, I think I can help my mum by myself."

Clara frowned at her tone as Rose started towards the TARDIS doors. She still didn't know what Rose's problem was with her. She didn't think she did anything wrong to her…

"Tell her anything from a tin can is fine," Mickey said to Rose.

"Why don't you tell her yourself?"

"I'm not that brave."

Rose paused at the door with her hand on the doorknob and looked over at him with a smile. "Oh, I don't know…"

He smiled back at her and she stepped out the door. Then seconds later, she screamed.

Instantly, Mickey ran towards the door, dropping the thermal flash of tea next to the Doctor's head.

Clara didn't notice that it had started leaking into the grilling of the TARDIS as she ran towards the doors. Before she could reach them, the doors slammed shut. She barely saw what was going outside before it closed. But she did see Mickey running back towards the TARDIS to close the doors, but no need for that anymore as they were already closed. It was as if they closed by themselves.

Clara banged on the doors. "Let me out!" After a couple more bangs, she kicked it rather hard. "Stupid machine!" Then she let out a yelp as her hands were shocked. "Hey!" Clara glared at the doors. "What was that for?!"

'Because you called me stupid, I'm far from stupid, Miss Oswald.' The voice from before grumbled irritably.

Clara was startled by the fact that the voice knew who she was and the fact that it was the TARDIS. "You know who I am?"

'Of course, I know everything. Even things my Thief knows nothing about.'

"Who?"

'The Doctor. He stole me…or well I stole him…so I guess that makes me the thief then.'

"Okay…" Clara said slowly. "Well…I'm sorry for calling you stupid…" She felt the TARDIS beam at her in her mind.

'It's okay…just don't do it again, Impossible Girl.'

Those last words made her remember that other voice, who called her, my Impossible girl.

"That other voice…who was it?" Like before, she felt the TARDIS shake her head.

'That I can't tell you…because he doesn't exist…not yet at least…and not for a long time.'

This left Clara confused. What did that even mean? She opened her mouth to speak, but the TARDIS interrupted her.

'I'm sorry, Clara, but I really can't explain…you'll understand in time. But first…you should go to the Doctor.'

Before she could ask why, Clara heard a groan from behind her, and she didn't need to turn around to know it was the Doctor. But she did turn around to run over to him and kneel beside his body. Then he bolted upright. Luckily, she was out of the way, or else she would have gotten smacked in the forehead and she didn't want a headache, thank you very much.

Eyeing him, the Doctor looked a lot better. He looked around for a moment before turning his head and meeting Clara's eyes.

"Clara!" He exclaimed her name and again, she loved how her name sounded coming from his lips.

"Good to know you remember my name this time." Clara found herself teasing him. She hadn't teased someone that easily in a long time.

"Yes, Weeelll…" He dragged out as he stood up to his feet, brushing off his pajamas. "I heard it much clearer than the last time."

He remembered that? What else did he remember?

"Now, you were saying about people getting hurt?" The Doctor asked seriously.

"You heard me?" Clara looked up at him surprised.

He nodded. "Yes. Just because I was asleep doesn't mean that I wasn't listening."

"Right…"

"So, tell me. What's going on?"

And so, Clara did.

Once she did, the both left the TARDIS. Everyone, outside turned around to face them with Rose beaming at the Doctor as he smiled brightly.

"Did you miss me?"

Just like everyone said, the Doctor saved the day and now everyone was free to celebrate Christmas like they were supposed to.

Except for Clara.

She was sitting on the steps outside of the Powell Estate, her knees pulled up to her chest as she thought about her father, wondering what he was doing at this moment.

Was he missing her? Was he thinking about her? Was he having a good Christmas without her?

Clara sighed, pulling her knees closer to herself. It just wasn't fair. Why did that angel change her life like this? What did she do wrong?

Another sigh left her lips as she heard her name being called out. Clara looked up and saw the Doctor heading her way. An eyebrow rose at his new state of dress.

Gone was the pajamas and they were replaced with a fitted brown pinstriped suit and he had red Converse sneakers on.

"Nice suit." Clara commented.

The Doctor gave a boyish grin as he fixed his suit. "Thanks."

Clara softly laughed at this before she went quiet again, letting out another sigh.

The grin fell from the Doctor's lips as he frowned. "Something wrong?"

"Just thinking about my father…" Before he could respond, Clara continued as she stood up and went to stand in front of the Doctor. "Rose told me that you could help me…I doubted it at first…but after seeing how you handled those aliens and saved all those people made me realize that maybe you could…" She took a deep breath. "Yesterday, I went to see my mother…at her grave…she died recently, and I went to visit her…and a strange thing happened…there was this angel…" She didn't notice the way his eyes widened slightly while she went on with her story, "It looked like it was a weeping. I didn't think about it…that was my first mistake. I turned around…and then…"

"You blinked…" The Doctor mumbled quietly.

Clara looked at him surprised. "Yeah…and then I found myself here…"

"What time did you come from?" he asked suddenly.

"2005."

"But that's impossible!" The Doctor shook his head. "Weeping Angels aren't supposed to send people forward in time…just backwards." Then he gazed at her. "What makes you so different?"

Clara shook her head. "Nothing at all." She stared at him, hopefully. "Is there any way to get back to my time…?" As soon as she asked this, his eyes grew sad and her heart dropped.

"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry Clara…" He sighed. "But normally when a Weeping Angel sends someone back in time…they have to live in that period until they die…this may be a slightly different case…but I think the same rule applies…"

By the time he finished, Clara's eyes filled with tears. "So, I'll never see my father again? At all?"

"No…"

One of her hands went up to her mouth to hide the sob that threatened to escape.

The Doctor looked like he wanted to comfort her, but he didn't know how. He did know, however, that he didn't like seeing her like this. It was an odd feeling, considering he just met this young woman.

It took Clara a little while to calm down and she gave a sigh as she realized something that she didn't want to.

She had to accept that this was her reality and there was nothing that she could do to change that.

The only question she had was…what was she supposed to do now?

"Come with us?"

At this question coming from the Doctor, Clara's head snapped up and met his eyes. "What?"

"Me and Rose…come with us…" he said. "The TARDIS travels anywhere in time and space…I may not be able to help you go back to your time…so this is the least I can do…what do you say?"

Clara didn't say anything, taking in his words.

Anywhere in time and space? It sounded like a dream come true. She would be able to travel like she wanted to…before her mum died… Though she instinctually wanted to, she decided that she needed to think more about it.

"Ask me tomorrow."

The Doctor blinked her. "What?"

"Ask me tomorrow." Clara repeated herself. "I'll have my answer then." She almost let out a giggle at the dumbfounded look on the Doctor's face. "Come on, let's go inside. I'm starting to get cold."

Not waiting for a response, Clara turned around and headed back inside with the Doctor looking after her in disbelief.

She was impossible.

It was a good thing the Doctor liked impossible.

TBC...

In...

New Earth, Part 1