7 days before escape

Clara entered a dining hall shuffling her legs tiredly. Her hands were hurt from working at mines and had marks on them from the previous day. She tried to look for a quiet place, where nobody could disturb her, but the place appeared to be too busy.

She watched carefully for Pepe. She had no willing desire to meet that bastard again after yesterday incident. But today she was lucky for she couldn't find him anywhere.

Clara got the food on her tray and sat on the table without much thought. She was staring at her porridge wondering what it was made of, tasting like a salmon but surely it was something alien. She gave it a sniff and regretted almost immideately.

"Clara?" She heard her name and became tense because she thought it was Pepe. But when her eyes dared to look who it was, it appeared to be the Doctor who was sitting at the same table with her. Something very heavy momentarily left her and she inched closer to him.

"Doctor! How did you know it was me?"

"Oh, when do I not know it is you." He smiled and was looking straight at her, giving the effect that he could actually see her. But he could not. Probably he had practiced a lot on Barney to look more convincing.

"Yeah, very flattering. Has Barney told you I'm here?"

"Yes." The Doctor nodded. His arms were opened, waiting... for her hug? But was it wise? She hadn't seen Pepe but he could be anywhere. And if he saw them together… no, he could not. She wouldn't let him. The moment he knew she had something with the Doctor, and not only her, he would be in trouble too. Adding to his state, blindness, it was a very dangerous luxury.

Damn that man again, she couldn't be close to someone she cared about.

So she took his hands in hers and put them down the table surface, where it was safe from everyone's eyes.

"How was your day?" The Doctor asked, not without sadness in his voice.

"The best day of my life," she joked bitterly.

They were stuck on this planet, weren't they? For all the time she was here, she'd never seen a ship in the sky, except for the one that had brought them here, and it landed far away from where they were now. In any different circumstances, screw the ship, screw the TARDIS, she knew the Doctor would make something up and save the day. In their best days, the Doctor would save everyone not only in this prison state in particular but the whole planet, and far beyond it. He would crush everyone who was behind this prison system and would change it for good. No TARDIS, no screwdriver – this was what the Doctor used to call a temporary misfortune.

Guess, it wasn't their best day, Clara chuckled bitterly.

She closed her eyes and thought. What would she do if she was the Doctor without his beloved time machine and the very handy sonic screwdriver? Consider the Doctor, a play Missy had taught her long years ago. Don't think what or why, always think how. How could you escape the planet with nothing more than a tea spoon?

His hands were touching hers, massaging stiff fingers and callosities, putting more strength where it was needed and releasing stress.

How would she save them?

"Barney told me you've got a bruise." The Doctor's breath was tickling at her shoulder. While she was thinking, he managed to embrace her in a somewhat side hug. "What happened?"

Shewasn'tincontrolshewasn'tincontrol

"It's nothing, don't worry."

"He said it's new, big and dark. On your wrists." The Doctor carried on.

"Let's concentrate on getting me out of mines so I can be closer to you, shall we?"

"Can I touch it?" The Doctor didn't wait for the answer, cupping her hand in his. "Hurts, doesn't it?"

"Yes. And don't you dare using your regeneration on me." She added just to be safe, she knew he could do that without a single thought.

The Doctor was inspecting the bruise with his fingers, never letting his eyes drift from her face. It had an enticing effect on her, and she remembered quite a few times he had worn that look in different situations.

"Oh, believe me, my Clara, I won't." He dug his thumb into it, making pain growl in strong wave.

"Wha–"

"Clara, it's a bruise!" His other hand was shaking down her wrist to where the pulse used to be. She snapped her hand out of his reach.

"Don't you see? You must! You're the one who can! It's a bruise, Clara, a bruise!" He was drawing several funny looks from another prisoners.

She couldn't understand what he was fussing about, but when he said 'a bruise!' the third time and went bug-eyed on her she knew.

A bruise could exist only on one condition — if there was a blood circulation, that's what the Doctor was hobbling about. Except she knew about her new state a tiny bit more than him, she literally lived through that stage of decline, and she was so sorry for him.

"Doctor, I know what you mean. I'm sorry to say it, but it's temporary."

"You don't under—"

"I'm in a time-loop. I can be hurt, or I can cut my hair but it will all be reversed in twenty-four hours. There won't be any bruises tomorrow."

His eyes closed, and he'd gone silent. And breathed. She knew she hurt him somewhere deep, he had looked so relieved for a moment, dare she say happy. Clara thought if she really had to say it out so harsh and loud. But she had to make her small voice of conscience hush. Because if she hadn't, she would give him hope, something very dangerous in their case.

"Oh. Don't be. Silly me," he smiled sadly. But he was the Doctor, so he changed the topic as swiftly as possible. "I think I know how to break from the prison."

She was glad he didn't mention her bruise anymore.

The Doctor described her his idea without details, giving her just a base plain image of what he thought might work for them. He spoke without much enthusiasm in his voice, and frankly he desperately needed Barney to show up and take him someway, just away. He needed to think, he needed to consider the new information Clara gave him. She could take changes but only for twenty-four hours. Why twenty-four? As in a day? But twenty-four hours were working only for Earth measuring system. Was she bound to her home this way? Or what? What did it all mean to them? Was it good? Was there a hope to get her out of the loop without his original quite painful and gruesome plan? Why was she in a loop? To recharge? Recharge what, immortality?

Clara shook him out of his thoughts by asking, "What about the mines? How can we convince the jail manager to put me working with you?"

The Doctor instantly thought about her hands. Hard skin with moils, several cuts – one in the middle of left palm and two small cuts at her index finger of the right hand. Surely, tomorrow it would be alright, just as she said. But if her body didn't renew itself, what would her hands feel in his then? If this had been her hands after a one-day work, she would have suffered.

"I'm thinking," the Doctor promised her. Because it was all he could do for now.

They sat in silence, the only thing that reassured him she was beside him was her breathing, which was just a mere habit she couldn't give up. No light shield aura. No heat. No pheromones. He might as well had made her up back in the dungeon.

"Why are you so quiet, Doctor?" Clara broke the silence first.

The Doctor shrugged. "I've been thinking."

"You haven't touched your food." She observed. "You're all skin and bones, even skinnier than when I met you. You'll need your strength for what we're about to do."

"Are you caring for me?" The Doctor smirked. She put a spoon in his hand and shoved a bowl in another.

"Just eat your porridge, clever man. You'll find it delicious."

"Who are you lying to, miss Oswald? I was here long before you. It's disgusting."

"Eat."

"But–"

"I said eat it."

"Stop it. I've never liked it when you were bossy on me, and I still don' – " he was shut up with a spoonful of porridge which was just disgusting as he had remembered it.

"Good boy." Clara patted his knee in approval.

"Please, don't do that again, I can manage on my own." The Doctor said while he was chewing his porridge.

"Prove it to me then." He could hear her smile.

So he clenched a spoon in his hand, shoved it inside the bowl and heard the spoon reach its destination with a slush. On the second thought…

The Doctor sent it to his mouth.

Why had Clara freaked out about him using regeneration power on her? Did she know something that he didn't know? And if he used it on her, would it break the loop she's in? He must experiment firstly, of course. If anything, he could made it only worse, and if it could be done, she should grant him her permission. The last part was harder than experimenting, because from what he could understand Clara was in no mood to return back to life. His impossible girl faced the raven, he should be proud but he couldn't think of that.

He should think…

They met together again, at the evening, Clara was taking the same route to the library, never quit smiling. When she reached the corner, there was a face she hoped she would never see again.

Pepe was waiting for her with a cigarette sticking out of his thin lips and when he saw her he gave her a measuring look. "Damn, haven't anyone told you you look hot in blue!"

"Whatever you want, the answer is no." Clara said bitterly, hiding her bruised wrists in armpits.

"Oh, are you about our little yesterday fight? Every couple has one of them from time to time. You must get used to it."

"We're not a couple." Clara hissed.

"But we're! I've already told it everyone! They even congratulated me on that!"

Clara felt her self control slipping away. She clenched her teeth together and considered her chances to hide away from this prick.

"Are you going to the library? We could go together, you know. I like reading books."

She was about to say something but stopped. Clara realised in horror that if Pepe ever went to the library he might learn somehow about the Doctor, and she couldn't let that happen. But she had promised the Doctor she would be with him today and they would talk, and she desperately needed a cuddle with him after avoiding it in the dining hall.

Realising she had no other choice, she said, "You know what? I think I'll go to my cell."

"Then I'll go with you, my precious babydoll." Clara cringed at that one.

He was talking to her about something, well, something about him, but she didn't listen. All her thoughts were with the Doctor, and she thought what would he think. She wasn't giving him hope she would become his companion again, but she didn't want him to suffer in his loneliness. He was waiting for her.

They reached her cell, and by then Clara knew that Pepe wouldn't just get off her back.

She said no to Pepe again and he hit her, calling her a dirty slut. And then he left her, as if nothing had happened, wishing her a good night.

6 days before escape

Clara was sitting at her table looking for the Doctor and watching carefully for Pepe.

She had to close her eyes for a moment and brace herself. Today Pepe had been after her again, in the mines, 'helping' her and talking non-stop about his self. And everyone had been looking at them like it was okay, giving them smiles and approving nods. Not like she knew those people and was worried what they would think of her. But Pepe had given them his smiles back. She was surrounded by Pepe's people, she had realised then, and it was a far much scarier situation than having to deal with him alone.

When she opened her eyes again, she was relieved to see the Doctor and Barney at the entrance, the Doctor just a little behind the big mass of Barney and close enough to him to hear comments about their surroundings. Having noticed Clara, Barney whispered something to him, only lips moving, barely any sound, and the Doctor became somewhat more hopeful, his spine stretched. Barney led him to her table, nodded politely and went to get them food.

He was saying nothing at first trying to find words. Clara was thinking to say something first but then was found speechless. Where should she begin?

"Why didn't you come?" It was breaking her faulty heart to hear something like this from him but, she decided, she couldn't tell him the real reason.

"They caught me and made me clean floors." She made a comical sigh like it was only five minutes ago. "I promise, today it'll be all fine."

"What's with cheek?"

"What's with my cheek?" Her hand darted to the place that still stung from Pepe's yesterday hit. "Ah, this. Nothing, just a bruise. Working in mines, y'know."

"Yeah…" She wasn't sure if he believed her but was grateful nonetheless when he didn't ask anything else. "Look…umm. Have you eaten?"

"Barely. Why?"

"You think we can clear off quietly?"

"Doctor?"

"I'm just a bit tired of Barney." He sighed uncomfortably shifting on the bench. "He's always looking after me and… not that I'm not grateful! But I will be fine on my own and he doesn't understand that."

"What about guards? Will they just let us go?" Clara's eyes darted to two full-armed men in protective costumes at the entrance.

"They know I'm working for administration. I don't think they have any reason to not let us."

"Okay. Should I take your hand?"

"No. I'll follow you."

When Clara looked back to the Doctor, he was going the other way from her. She made sure nobody was looking at them and called for him.

"Doctor?" His head turned to her voice. He probably realised his mistake because his ears gone red.

"Sorry, I forgot I can't feel your… doesn't matter. I'll take your hand." Clara took it anyway before he could finish.

Surprisingly, guards didn't even ask anything.

"Where are we going?" Clara whispered to him.

"Wherever you want. It's all the same to me."

"Can we go to the library?"

"Barney would expect us there. Maybe courtyard?"

She considered it, and thought it was too dangerous if she was surrounded by Pepe's people. Worse, Pepe himself could catch them together.

"I don't want anyone to see us," she said.

"Hmm. Your cell?" His tone dropped an octave and she barely trusted herself not to smack lightly his head.

"Don't be so cocky." She chuckled.

"How can I not," the Doctor smirked and winked at her.

He felt Clara's hand forcing his down asking him to sit, that's when he knew they were at her place. He couldn't stop from smiling then. Finally, he was with Clara, away from Barney and everyone else. He gently closed his eyes letting them rest for however much time they got and sighed.

"Tired of blinking?" Clara asked him coyly.

"Not something weeping angels would like to hear but yes." The Doctor laughed.

"You still haven't told me."

"Told you what?"

"Your blindness," she pronounced it somewhat quietly. "I know you can be reckless sometimes but you always get away from major aftermaths. What's gone wrong this time?"

"We had adventure together, me and Bill, Nardole too, just a quick trip to distress signal, a camping, fix things, get back to Earth, nothing difficult. The space station had no oxygen and we had to use suits to gain it. They were semi-automatic with AI system and Bill's suit rebelled all the time. Faulty. I should have seen it and do something… We found the crew. Or what was left of it. Others… were turned into walking zombies by suits, and they were more than eager to kill us."

"Suits?"

"Yeah. We needed to go to outer space to different section. And in an airlock it happened again. Bill's suit rebelled, her helmet had a malfunction, and it simply took it off. We had little time so I gave her mine."

"You were in vacuum with no protection."

"Basically, yes. I thought I'd be fine. TARDIS has appropriate equipment to cure any recent kinds of trauma."

Of all the things the Doctor didn't like when people felt sorry for him. However, she knew that and asked him something different.

"How did you fight suits?"

"Ingeniously." He smiled widely, so proud of himself.

He heard a door to the cell opened and a male voice interrupting them.

"Clara, I've brought you a present!" It seemed the man noticed him and stopped on his track. "Oh, sorry. That's your–. 'Kay, I'll visit you tomorrow, yes? Right. See you then."

The Doctor smiled. He had known Clara would find a friend sooner or later, but he hadn't supposed it would be that faster.

"Who's your new friend and why didn't you tell me anything about him?"

He felt a slight shift in the air surrounding them, something familiar he hadn't felt since a long time ago. He didn't know why he felt it or what was the cause of it or was it another hint he waited for to pull Clara's soul away from death's claws.

"Clara, what are you afraid of?" He asked very carefully taking her hand in his. She jerked away momentarily.

"I thought you can't feel my anything."

"I don't need a good sniff to know when you're properly scared."

"I was just surprised to see him, that's all," she answered him too quickly. Whoever he was, she wasn't in a mood to talk about him.

"Does he have a name?"

"Pepe. He's working at mines with me."

Something wasn't right, he could tell that. He was missing something. If only he could see Clara, he would know instantly what it was.

But Clara asked him to continue his story about rebel suits and he had to let it.