For the past week, Chris had been popping in with twelve and Clara. The two were on constant adventures and it seemed to be up to Chris to get them out in the knick of time. If she was being honest, though, she was exhausted. She'd not gotten a real break in what felt like ages. All she wanted to do was sleep.
"There's no way out of this," Clara lamented, referring to the fact that she and The Doctor were currently chained to an outcropping of rocks, "We're going to die here."
"Pass me the Vibro-cutters," The Doctor said, not even looking at her
"They're in my pocket," Clara told him
"Come on then, pass them to me," The Doctor said impatiently
"In my other jacket," Clara rolled her eyes, "At home."
"Why have you got two jackets?" The Doctor wondered, finally looking at her, "Is one of them faulty?"
"Look, I don't have the Vibro-cutters," Clara said, "If I had the Vibro-cutters, I wouldn't be able to pass you the Vibro-cutters. We're going to starve to death out here."
"Of course we won't starve," The Doctor told her, "The sand piranhas will get us long before that."
There was a flash of bright light and The Doctor smiled as he watched Chris appear before him.
"-Vibro-cutters…" Chris trailed off as she looked at the two of them, "oh for godsakes. Why the hell do I even bother anymore? Of course, that's why there're Vibro-cutters in my pocket."
She pulled out the Vibro-cutters and tossed them to The Doctor before sitting down and leaning against the rock, closing her eyes. She ignored the two as she relaxed. This was the third time she'd saved them today.
"No," Chris snapped as she appeared in another flash of light as The Doctor and Clara ran from what seemed to be fish people, "you two are getting yourselves out of this one, I'm done."
She caught the almost hurt look from twelve but couldn't bring herself to care. She needed a break. She needed to sleep, she needed to eat, and more importantly, she needed a shower. She was covered in sand, seaweed, mud, feces, and an unidentifiable goo.
"Come along," Twelve said, grabbing Chris' hand and tugging her along. Chris sighed and started to run with them, not before kicking one of the fish people away from them and getting covered in even more seaweed.
"How much further?" Clara yelled at The Doctor as they ran down the hall, avoiding the lasers that were being shot at them.
"Tardis has got to be round this corner," The Doctor said, "I hate soldiers. Don't you hate soldiers?"
"Yeah," Clara agreed wholeheartedly.
"Just keep running!" The Doctor said when there was a flash of light ahead of him.
"I can't do this anymore," Chris said before stumbling forward, collapsing.
The Doctor ducked to catch her, narrowly avoiding a laser that may have otherwise hit him.
Chris opened her eyes to see that she was in the med bay of the Tardis. She could feel an IV in her arm and was sorely tempted to tear it out like they did in the movies but she knew it was there for a reason, despite how uncomfortable it was.
"How long had it been since you slept?" A Scottish voice asked from her bedside and she turned to see The Doctor in his twelfth incarnation.
"This is my first time meeting this you," She noted, ignoring his question. She felt fine now so it didn't really matter when she had slept last.
"Chris," he admonished, "you were severely dehydrated, nearly malnourished, and incredibly sleep deprived."
"So it's obviously been awhile since I'd slept," She told him, sitting up slowly, "but I'm fine now so can you please take this damned thing out."
"Language," The Doctor reprimanded but he took out the IV so Chris chose to ignore him.
She winced as he pulled out the needle and then covered it with a bandaid. She wanted to get off the bed but she had the feeling that he'd reprimand her for it, and she wasn't in the mood.
Honestly, she was still tired and wouldn't have minded another few hours of sleep but she had too much energy to do so right now.
Chris studied The Doctor, who was fiddling with some equipment nearby and seemed like he was full of a nervous energy.
"What's up?" She asked when he didn't calm down.
"How long?" He asked, turning around and watching her intently.
"I told you it didn-" She started before he interrupted her.
"No," He said, "how long have you been traveling with me?"
Chris tilted her head to the side, trying to figure out the answer.
"I don't know, a month maybe?" She said, "Maybe two?"
"Ah," The Doctor said, "so you're young."
"And you're old," Chris returned, closing her eyes and sinking into the bed, she opened one eye when The Doctor didn't respond, "sorry, thought we were stating the obvious."
The Doctor simply shook his head before going to sit back in the chair next to her bed.
"Have I gone over the rules of time travel with you?" The Doctor asked and held up a hand, much to her dissatisfaction, when she tried to talk, "rather, have I gone over your rules of time travel?"
"My rules of time travel?" Chris said, tilting her head to the time.
"Yes," The Doctor nodded, "you told me these rules sometime during my eleventh regeneration."
"Okay," Chris said slowly, "what are my rules of time travel?"
"Your first one is ridiculous: always wear socks," The Doctor said, mimicking Chris' voice.
"That's actually… reasonable," Chris said after a moment, "my feet get cold easily. What's next?"
"Always listen to The Doctor," He said, though she knew he was keeping part of that to himself.
"Always listen to The Doctor?" She repeated, leaving it open and giving him a chance to elaborate.
"Always listen to The Doctor unless he's being and idiot, then don't listen to The Doctor," he finished reluctantly.
"That's what I thought," Chris said with a grin, "do I have more rules?"
The Doctor nodded, "Your final rule of time travel is to use downtime to your advantage, especially when you're younger and have a tendency to run yourself into the ground."
"You're telling me I need to take a break, aren't you?" Chris said with a raised brow.
"Yes, I am," The Doctor said before helping Chris stand up, he led her out of the med bay with a palm to her back, "off to the library with you."
"Why the library?" Chris wondered even though she didn't protest.
"Because I've known you for over two thousand years, Chris," The Doctor said, "I know that when you're not gonna sleep you like to spend your time in the library."
Chris nodded, understanding his logic and agreeing with it, "I do have to admit that it's a little disconcerting that you know me so well."
"Tell me about it," The Doctor said, raising one of his bushy eyebrows at her.
"So, where we off to?" Clara wondered upon entering the Tardis that was parked in her livingroom.
"Clara, you, you look lovely today," The Doctor said in surprise, having not expected her, despite where he was parked, "Have you had a wash?"
"Why are you being nice?" Clara wondered, "did you have alone time with Chris?"
"Because it works on you," The Doctor said, frowning at her remark as he tried to keep the scanner out of her view, "And no I haven't had alone time with Chris. Listen, I'm sorry but there's going to be no trip today. I'm sorry. Er, I've got to do a thing. It might take a while."
"What thing?" Clara wondered stalking around the console in order to see what he was looking at.
"Just a thing," The Doctor said simply.
"You're being mysterious, and do you know what means?" Clara said, raising a brow at his attempts to keep her in the dark.
"I'm a man of mystery," The Doctor commented, passing his hand over his face to prove his point.
"Hmm. It means that you are a very clever man making the mistake, common to very clever people, of assuming that everybody else is stupid," Clara finished jumping to grab the scanner from The Doctor who had just switched to a view of the galaxy, "Where are you going?"
"Undercover," The Doctor said, "Deep cover."
"Can you do deep cover?" Clara wondered with a laugh.
"What do you mean?" The Doctor asked offended.
"Have you seen you?" Clara asked, gesturing to him.
"Of course I can do deep cover," The Doctor assured haughtily
"Where, the Magic Circle?" Clara wondered with a giggle.
"I'll see you when I see you," The Doctor said, snapping to open the Tardis doors.
Clara snapped and the doors closed as she demanded: "When's that?"
"When I see you," The Doctor said, snapping again.
"Hmm. Hmm," Clara hummed suspiciously, as she made her way to the doors, deciding to give The Doctor a chance, "I'll be sure to have a wash."
"Excellent," The Doctor said faux cheerfully, "I was meaning to bring it up."
Clara slowly left the Tardis only to open it again, startling The Doctor. She gestured that she was watching him before closing the doors again.
The Doctor flipped a switch on the console and the scanner brought up what he'd been looking at before Clara barged in, East London.
"She's gonna be pissed, y'know," Chris said from where she'd been leaning against the entryway to the console, watching their exchange, "you could've at least warned her."
The Doctor glanced briefly at Chris before moving around the console, pushing buttons and pulling levers. He didn't comment.
"I know you don't want her to get involved but this is her school, Doctor," Chris said, "Don't you think she deserves to know?"
"Then why don't you tell her?" The Doctor snapped, "you're the one who knows what's going to happen."
Chris raised a brow, hiding her hurt behind an otherwise blank mask, "I'd have thought that by now you would understand why I can't" She said coldly before turning around and making her way to her room.
"Chris-" The Doctor called after her but Chris ignored him.
Will he ever get easier to deal with? Chris asked Rain as she fell onto the bed and covered her eyes to hide the forming tears.
You know him better than I do, Rain reminded with what felt like a smirk.
Do I really though? Chris asked You have more of a connection to him than I ever will.
You can't know that, Rain said secretively.
You're a time lady, that's already more of a connection than I could ever hope to have, not to mention you're the one who can communicate telepathically with him, not me.
Well, that is true, but Chris, he doesn't even know I exist, Rain said, Well, to my knowledge he doesn't know. This him might.
Is that supposed to make me feel better? Chris asked dejectedly.
I don't know, you tell me, Rain said.
There was a knock on the door and Chris was tempted to ignore it but the door was already swinging open to reveal an almost startled Doctor. Chris took a moment to curse the Tardis who merely chuckled at her.
"What?" Chris snapped, not looking at the time lord, wiping at her eyes to hide the evidence of her tears.
"I'm sorry, Chris," The Doctor said, looking very uncomfortable, "what I said was uncalled for. And I do understand."
"You could've fooled me," Chris snapped, sitting up to glare at him, "I've been here what, three hours and you're trying to guilt me for something I literally cannot control? I would have expected this from your ninth self, not this you."
The Doctor looked away from Chris with a frown. "I'm sorry Chris," The Doctor said, walking up to take Chris' hand but she pulled away.
"Don't touch me," Chris snapped, moving further away from The Doctor, "just give me some space, Doctor, we can talk later."
The Doctor regarded her for a moment before nodding and leaving. Chris sighed and buried her face in her hands.
"Can I just stay in here for the rest of my life?" She asked no one in particular before getting up and getting new clothes to wear for after her shower.
Chris glared at The Doctor, who was already wearing his caretaker jumpsuit since he'd started working the night before, one final time before going into Armitage's office. She was still upset with the time lord but she wasn't going to let that keep her out of an adventure. It was early in the morning and she had wanted to sleep in when the time lord had woken her up telling her to get into her 'best teaching humans' outfit.
"Good morning Ms. Wesley," Armitage greeted, "I'm glad you could make it this morning. Mrs. Smith, our drama teacher, is out on maternity leave and she recommended you as a replacement."
"She did?" Chris asked furrowing her eyebrows in confusion, "interesting."
Armitage nodded, "Trisha can go over the necessary paperwork with you. Mrs. Smith left detailed sub plans so there's no need to worry there."
Chris pulled out a file of papers from her bag and handed it to Armitage, "That won't be necessary. Everything's here and I've also talked with the school board last night."
"Oh," Armitage said, "Mrs. Smith did say that you were organized."
"When I see her next I'll tell her thanks," Chris said, not wanting Armitage to see how unsettled she was.
"Now, there is a staff meeting after class gets out today but you won't need to come in until the end," Armitage continued, "we're just covering who's taking over for whom in the coming couple days."
"Will I not be covering for anyone then?" Chris asked, grateful that she didn't have to be there, she was not a fan of meetings.
Armitage shook his head, "since you're filling in for Mrs. Smith as it is you won't have to cover for anyone else."
"Ah," Chris nodded, "makes sense."
"Well, that's all I've got for you," Armitage said, standing, "enjoy your class, Ms. Wesley."
"Thank you, Mr. Armitage," Chris said, rising as well to shake his hand.
"Which means, Jo, you'll have to cover for 8/4M in L3," Chris could hear Armitage say from her spot just outside the room, across from The Doctor, "Hold on, there is just one more thing. Atif's off sick and Christi is on maternity leave, so we've got a couple newbies, I did ask them to come along."
At that, The Doctor opened the door and spun around so he was facing the room. She had tried to get him to at least leave the broom but he had refused. Chris rolled her eyes before plastering a grin on her face and following him into the room.
"Ah, here they are," Armitage said, leaving the introductions to then.
"I'm the new caretaker. John Smith," The Doctor greeted grimly.
"Welcome to Coal Hill, Mister Smith," Danny Pink greeted, shaking hands with the time lord.
"Thanks. Yes, John Smith's the name. But, you know, here's a thing. Most people just call me-" The Doctor started only to be interrupted by Chris.
"A dork," She said with a grin, before turning to face the group, "sorry, he's my very cross uncle. Don't mind him too much, he can be quite rude, I think it's the eyebrows. I'm Chris Wesley, filling in for Mrs. Smith while she's away."
"Anyways, if anybody needs me, just, you know, give me a shout," The Doctor continued after glaring at Chris, "I'll be in the storeroom just getting the lie of the land."
"I've got to be off as well," Chris said with a smile as The Doctor left, "I've got sub plans to read and drama to catch up on." She paused, "get it, cause I'm teaching drama."
When no one reacted Chris simply nodded, Clara tried to mouth something to her but Chris shrugged helplessly before leaving not wanting to get caught by Clara who looked quite peeved. And rightly so, though Chris was to blame as much as The Doctor, she just didn't think it was her place to tell Clara what was going on.
"Yes, nobody's taking any notice at all," The Doctor said once Chris caught up, "Absolutely good news because it means I must be coming across just as an absolutely boring human being like you. Deep cover. Deep cover."
Chris simply hummed, not wanting to start anything over his comment of 'boring human'. She was already part of one argument with him, she had no need of starting another, even if he was a bit rude.
"Uncle," The Doctor said suddenly facing Chris, "really?"
"Would you rather be my father?" Chris asked with a raised brow.
The Doctor thought about it for a moment, "ah, Uncle is good. Did you have to make the comment about the eyebrows?"
"They are rather cross looking. Though that might just be you," Chris teased, "Where to next?"
"You're going to go look over your sub plans while I look at the building plans," The Doctor said.
"Alright," Chris shrugged, "if that's what you want."
The Doctor glanced at Chris shocked as she started to walk away. He knew that she was pissed but it had been centuries since she hadn't argued back or even simply ignored him when he was like this. He needed to make it up to her before things got worse but now was not the time.
"So, you recognized me, then," The Doctor said when Clara entered the room. He was looking at the floor plans like he'd told Chris he'd be doing, but he was not happy at all.
It seemed that no one was happy right now and he had the feeling that it was all his fault.
"You're wearing a different coat," Clara noted, crossing her arms over her chest.
"But you saw straight through that," The Doctor said, not looking at her.
"Deep cover in my school? Why?" Clara asked, she moved closer but The Doctor blocked her approach with a broom "Where's Atif, what have you done with him? And Christi?"
"He's fine. Hypnotised," The Doctor said, following her movements with the broom, "He thinks he's got the 'flu. Also a flying car and three wives. It's going to be a rude awakening. And Christi is on maternity leave."
"Is it aliens?" Clara said, coming to a realization, "Oh, my God, is that why you're here? Are there aliens?"
"It's assembly," The Doctor said when the bell rang, thankful for the interruption, "You'd better get going. Go and worship something."
"Are there aliens in this school?" Clara demanded, hiding her fear behind anger.
"Listen, it's lovely talking to you, but I've really got to get on," The Doctor urged, "I'm a caretaker now. Look, I've got a brush."
"Doctor, is there an alien in this school?" Clara asked again.
"Yes, me. Now, go," The Doctor told her, trying to herd her out of the room, "The walls need sponging and there's a sinister puddle."
"You can't do this," Clara said, evading his attempted, "You cannot pass yourself off as a real person among actual people."
"I lived among otters once for a month," The Doctor told her, "Well, I sulked. Chris and I, we had this big fight, she spent that month with River."
"Human beings are not otters!" Clara snapped
"Exactly," The Doctor agreed, "It'll be even easier."
"Okay. One question," Clara conceded, "And you will answer this question. Are the kids safe?"
The Doctor shook his head: "No. Nobody is safe. But soon the answer will be yes, everybody is safe, if you let me get on. Now, pretend you don't know me. Stay out of my way. The less you know, the better. I'll explain it all later. Go and sing with the otters."
"I hate you," Clara hissed, glaring at him.
"That's fine," The Doctor said, sensing she was lying but saying nothing about it, "That's a perfectly normal reaction."
"Why are you guys here," Clara demanded, not even giving Chris the chance to finish her bite of salad.
"Hello to you too, Clara," Chris said, swallowing her salad then standing to dump the rest of it in the trash. She wasn't sure why she'd gotten salad anyways, she only ever ate half of it.
Clara followed her as she walked around the drama room, organizing things and trying to figure out what to say without pissing the brunette off even further.
"I can't tell you," Chris said, not looking at Clara.
"Can't or won't?" Clara asked with narrowed eyes.
"Won't," Chris said, finally looking at the other woman with narrowed eyes. She could already see where this was heading and she was definitely not a fan.
"If you're not going to be useful why don't you stay in that Tardis?" Clara snapped. Her eyes widened in shock when she realized what she'd said but the impact had already been made.
Chris closed her eyes for a moment to prevent a reaction. She didn't want to react to comments like this, even if it hurt.
"Alright," Chris said calmly before opening her eyes. She walked slowly towards the door and threw out one last comment over her shoulder, "nice to officially meet you, by the way."
"You're an ass," Chris greeted when she entered the caretaker's rickety old shed, he looked up at her expectantly, she usually had a reason when she called him names, "Clara came to talk to me once she was done with you and now she refuses to even look at me."
"Why is that?" The Doctor said, showing what appeared to be actual concern for the first time since they'd arrived in London.
Chris shook her head, "because I told her that I couldn't explain what was going on right now because it's not my place to say."
The Doctor raised an eyebrow, "well that sounds like a reasonable reason not to tell her."
Chris nodded her agreement, "and then she told me that if I wasn't gonna be useful then I should just go sit in the Tardis."
"Wha-" The Doctor started but Chris just continued talking as she walked past The Doctor.
"Which is what I'm going to do because apparently, I can't do anything right." Chris finished before entering the Tardis and shutting the doors behind her. She made sure the doors were locked and asked the Tardis is ensure she was left alone before heading to her room to shower.
Are you okay? Rain asked, trying to comfort Chris but failing.
Would you be okay in my place? Chris snapped Sorry, that's not fair. You're experiencing this too. God, I just want one adventure, just one, where The Doctor trusts me and is not an asshole.
He trusted you when you first got here. Rain pointed out.
Yeah, I guess I just thought that this him would, y'know, care more, Chris said, I mean, he was the one who told me to take a break when I first showed up and then next thing you know he's making it my fault that he's not telling Clara what is going on in her flipping school. I am so done with this right now. Honestly. And now Clara's pissed at me because I'm not telling her the future either. I mean, why is it always on me to explain things?
Why don't you shower and get some sleep, Rain suggested, lord knows you haven't gotten enough of it recently.
Yeah, I'm gonna do that. Chris agreed before grabbing a change of clothes and going into the bathroom.